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Anthropogenic activities like overgrazing, deforestation and mismanaged land use accelerate soil erosion (SE), causing nutritional and organic matter loss. In this study, we predicted the annual rate of soil loss in the Salt Range, extending south from the Pothohar plateau, Pakistan, using the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE). The RUSLE model parameters and erosion probability zones were estimated using remote sensing and Geo‐Spatial methods. The annual average soil loss rates were calculated by considering five geo‐environmental factors, that is, slope length and steepness (LS), rainfall erosivity (R), cover management (C), soil erodibility (K), and conservation practice (P) range from 0–559 527, 1404–4431, 0–1, −0.14 to 1.64, and 0.2–122 t.ha−1.year−1$$ \left(t.{ha}^{-1}.{year}^{-1}\right) $$ respectively. This research determined that the yearly average rate of SE in the Salt Range varies from over 50 to above 350 t.ha−1.year−1$$ \mathrm{t}.{\mathrm{ha}}^{-1}.{\mathrm{year}}^{-1} $$. The distribution of land area across different SE probability zones reveals that a small portion (2.11%) is classified as High, a moderate portion (7.13%) falls under the category of Moderate, while the majority (90.7%) is classified as Low in terms of proneness towards erosion. The land devoid of vegetation and characterized by steep slopes is especially prone to SE. The Salt Range is highly vulnerable to SE risk due to climatic variations and improper land use practices. The result provides a spatial distribution of SE across the salt range, utilized for management planning processes and conservation at the policy level among decision‐makers and land‐use planners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pakistan has large freshwater reservoirs and Satluj river is one of them. Length of river Satluj in Pakistan comprises 329 miles. Through the Indus Water Treaty between Pakistan and India, three rivers management has been assigned to India, Satluj is one of them.Pakistan with the help of World Bank, has made water reservoirs and link canals to use the river bed of Satluj. The main objective of study was to find out Water Quality Parameters during the present study seasonally. Overall seven factors were selected for the current study; which were temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, total dissolved solids, total alkalinity and total hardness. All the water quality parameters under investigation revealed their presence in permissible limits as prescribed by National and International quality guidelines (except dissolved oxygen) and fit for aquatic fauna. Dissolved oxygen remained 4 ppm in summer) and (4.5 ppm in winter) at SZ-1. It might be due the less water discharge and the presence of municipal and industrial wastes at Sulemanki Barrage (study zone-1) of the study area. Moreover, the river water of Satluj investigated throughout the research period indicated that water contamination was due to the various anthropogenic activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the funding statement, the project number from the funder Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University is listed incorrectly. The correct project number is: PSAU/2024/01/99520.By Dan Zheng; Abdullah Addas; Liaqat Ali Waseem; Syed Ali Asad Naqvi; Muneeb Ahmad and Kashif SharifReported by Author; Author; Author; Author; Author; Author [Extracted from the article]

This descriptive, cross-sectional study aimed to assess the need for interdisciplinary medical and dental training by evaluation of the level of awareness among medical doctors for the relationship between periodontal disease and systemic health. The study was carried-out in public, private and military hospitals of Islamabad and Rawalpindi. Data were collected from medical doctors (MBBS, Post-FCPS, and Consultants only). A sample size of 375 was selected through convenient sampling technique. A pre-validated, self-administered questionnaire was used consisting of questions regarding knowledge about relationship between systemic health and periodontal disease among medical doctors. Data were analysed using SPSS v24. Of the total 375 medical doctors, 358 agreed that there is an association between systemic health and periodontal disease, while 17 disagreed. Majority (309) of the participants knew about some of the signs and symptoms of the periodontal disease and only small number of them (66) were unaware of the symptoms. Many of the doctors (264) thought of gingival bleeding to be the primary clinical sign of periodontal disease whereas 102 doctors listed gingival pain as the primary symptom. Besides, majority of the doctors (249) expressed awareness about the association between the diabetes and periodontal disease while 213 medical doctors pointed out cardiovascular diseases and obesity to be linked to periodontal disease. Knowledge about relationship between systemic health and periodontal disease was satisfactory among medical doctors of Islamabad and Rawalpindi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dengue is one of Pakistan's major health concerns. In this study, we aimed to advance our understanding of the levels of knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAPs) in Pakistan's Dengue Fever (DF) hotspots. Initially, at-risk communities were systematically identified via a well-known spatial modeling technique, named, Kernel Density Estimation, which was later targeted for a household-based cross-sectional survey of KAPs. To collect data on sociodemographic and KAPs, random sampling was utilized (n = 385, 5 % margin of error). Later, the association of different demographics (characteristics), knowledge, and attitude factors-potentially related to poor preventive practices was assessed using bivariate (individual) and multivariable (model) logistic regression analyses. Most respondents (>90 %) identified fever as a sign of DF; headache (73.8 %), joint pain (64.4 %), muscular pain (50.9 %), pain behind the eyes (41.8 %), bleeding (34.3 %), and skin rash (36.1 %) were identified relatively less. Regression results showed significant associations of poor knowledge/attitude with poor preventive practices; dengue vector (odds ratio [OR] = 3.733, 95 % confidence interval [CI ] = 2.377-5.861; P < 0.001), DF symptoms (OR = 3.088, 95 % CI = 1.949-4.894; P < 0.001), dengue transmission (OR = 1.933, 95 % CI = 1.265-2.956; P = 0.002), and attitude (OR = 3.813, 95 % CI = 1.548-9.395; P = 0.004). Moreover, education level was stronger in bivariate analysis and the strongest independent factor of poor preventive practices in multivariable analysis (illiterate: adjusted OR = 6.833, 95 % CI = 2.979-15.672; P < 0.001) and primary education (adjusted OR = 4.046, 95 % CI = 1.997-8.199; P < 0.001). This situation highlights knowledge gaps within urban communities, particularly in understanding dengue transmission and signs/symptoms. The level of education in urban communities also plays a substantial role in dengue control, as observed in this study, where poor preventive practices were more prevalent among illiterate and less educated respondents., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2023 The Authors.)