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The uncontrolled concentrations of heavy metals introduced into the water sources need an effective method for their removal. The dithiocarbamate (dtc) ligands are the most popular precipitating agents used for the removal of metals from wastewater. Presently, two novel dtc ligands, one without methylene linker (K2L1) and the other with methylene linker (K2L2) were used for the removal of eight heavy metals ions including Fe2+, Co2+, Ni2+, Cu2+, Cd2+, Ag+, Zn2+ and Pb2+ from the aqueous solution. These dtc ligands contain acyl (NH-C = O) and S, S (thiolate) functional groups. The results indicated that the metal removal efficiency of both ligands was almost 100% at pH 4 and 7 and free of the linker effect and acyl functional groups but depends on the S, S binding sites. It exhibited a distinct selectivity for the removal of metal ions (Pb2+ ∼ Cu2+ ∼ Ag1+ > Cd2+ > Co2+ > Ni2+ > Zn2+ > Fe2+). The developed methods have the potential for the removal of heavy metals and can be used for other thiophilic metals that are water-soluble. HIGHLIGHTS Water treatment, contaminated by heavy metal ions. Synthesis and characterization of two novel dithiocarbamate ligands. Effect of methylene (-CH2-) linker of dithiocarbamtes on heavy metals extraction. pH and temperature effect on the extraction efficiency of ligands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Escherichia coli is the most studied among those bacteria causing urinary tract infections. This study was aimed to find out antibacterial activity and minimum inhibitory concentration of selected antibacterial agents against E. coli isolates of hospitalized UTI patients. The specimens were inoculated on Eosin Methylene Blue medium. E. coli isolates were identified via colonial morphology, biochemical testing and API-20 kit. The susceptibility pattern of antibacterial agents was determined applying disc diffusion method (Kirby-Bauer) and dilution tube method. Among all, 38.82% (n=158/407) specimens were positive for E. coli, while the rest showed either no growth or exhibited colonies other than E. coli. while observing the susceptibility pattern, Imipenem was found the most effective (73.42%) antibacterial agent, followed by nitrofurantoin (52.53%), cefpirome (44.94%) and tazobactam/ piperacillin (44.94%), whereas the E. coli isolates were highly resistant to sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim (71.52%), followed by Amoxicillin-clavulanic acid (67.72%), nalidixic acid (66.46%) and Tobramycin (62.03%), when tested by disc diffusion method. The isolates were susceptible to cefpirome (39.87%) and tobramycin (39.87%) and resistant to sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim (75.32%), followed by levofloxacin (61.39%), when tested by tube dilution method. The study concluded high degree of resistance against Sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim, in contrast, cephalosporin and Imipenem exhibited good potency which can be recommended for UTI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this research, the phenomenon of heat and mass transfer in 3D radiative flow of hybrid nanofluid over a rotational disk is investigated. Nanoparticles of Al 2 O 3 and Cu are being used with water (H 2 O) as base fluid. The mathematical flow model in terms of PDEs is constructed by considering the heat transport mechanism due to Joule heating and viscous dissipation. This set of PDEs is converted into a system of ODEs by introducing the proper similarity transformations, which is then solved with the computational strength of Lobatto IIIA method. Demonstrations of graphical and numerical data are offered to examine the variation of velocity and thermal field against various physical constraints. The variable trend of heat transfer rate and skin friction coefficient through numerical data are also investigated. It is found that rate of heat transfer is proportional to Brinkman number, magnetic effect and concentration of nanoparticles. Achieved accuracy in term of relative error upto the level of 1e-14 shows the reliability and worth of solution methodology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Staphylococcus aureus exhibits a high nasal colonization rate (42.86%) among equines. • Methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant S. aureus (VRSA) are emerging and prevailing among different equine species. • Phylogenetic analysis revealed high potential of transfer of pathogens within and between animal species. • Local isolates revealed varying resistance pattern against various antibiotics. The purpose of the current study was to investigate the nasal colonization and drug resistance profile of Staphylococcus aureus , methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), and vancomycin-resistant S. aureus (VRSA) in donkeys (n =63), mules (n = 42), and horses (n = 98). MRSA and VRSA were confirmed based on phenotypic and molecular methods, followed by phylogenetic analysis. Furthermore, the association of various animal and management-based risk factors with S. aureus colonization was also evaluated. The presence of nuc gene on polymerase chain reaction showed an overall prevalence of 42.86% of S. aureus in equines. Based on Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion test, 26.44% of isolates showed resistance to vancomycin. Further, mecA and vanB genes were targeted which showed an overall 14.94% and 13.79% prevalence of methicillin and vancomycin-resistant isolates, respectively. The phylogenetic analysis revealed a significant variation of the study isolates with each other and with already reported sequences of mecA and vanB genes. Risk factor analysis revealed that raising purpose (P =.011), work intensity (P <.001), stocking density (P =.006), presence of other livestock animals in surroundings (P =.043), and common drinking water source (P =.023) as significant. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing of MRSA and VRSA isolates showed high resistance to various commonly used antibiotics. Furthermore, all the tested isolates showing resistance to three or more than three antibiotics were considered multiple drug-resistant. The current study manifests the molecular evidence of MRSA and VRSA isolated from equines in Pakistan which will help to address the emerging issue of multidrug resistance in S. aureus in equines and emphasizes the need for possible measures to tackle this issue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite significant recent advancement in research, biogeochemical behavior of heavy metals with respect to their applied form is still topical. Moreover, metal toxicity to plants may vary with their stage of development/maturity. Therefore, this study for the first time evaluated the influence of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) and citric acid (CA) on cadmium (Cd) accumulation and toxicity to germinating and young pea seedlings as well as in younger and older leaves. The experimental setup of current study consisted of two separate studies. The first study was performed on germinating seedlings grown in a Cd-contaminated sand media. Pea seeds were treated with two levels of Cd (Cd-25 and Cd-100) alone and combined with different levels of EDTA and CA. The second study was carried out in hydroponic solution. The influence of organic amendments on Cd accumulation and toxicity to pea plants was evaluated by determining Cd contents in pea seedlings, H 2 O 2 contents, chlorophyll contents and lipid peroxidation in younger and older leaves. Cadmium stress caused overproduction of H 2 O 2 in roots and leaves of pea seedlings. Cadmium-induced overproduction of H 2 O 2 caused a decrease in the pigment contents and increased lipid peroxidation. Application of EDTA at higher levels (81 and 200 µM) increased Cd accumulation by pea plants. However, CA did not affect Cd accumulation by pea. Both EDTA and CA increased Cd-induced H 2 O 2 production and lipid peroxidation. Younger pea leaves showed more sensitivity to Cd stress compared to older leaves. Similarly, Cd toxicity was more pronounced in germinating seedlings than young seedlings. Moreover, Pearson correlation and principal component analysis (PCA) showed very interesting correlations between treatments and stress responses of germination and young seedlings as well as younger and older leaves. Based on multivariate analysis, it is proposed that the Cd toxicity to pea plants greatly vary with its growth stage and the maturity of organs (younger or older leaves). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nickel (Ni) toxicity in agricultural crops is a widespread problem while little is known about the role of biochar (BC) and other organic amendments like farm manure (FM) from cattle farm and compost (Cmp) on its alleviation. A greenhouse experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of BC, Cmp and FM on physiological and biochemical characteristics of maize ( Zea mays L.) under Ni stress. Maize was grown in Ni spiked soil without and with two rates of the amendments (equivalent to 1% and 2% organic carbon, OC) applied separately to the soil. After harvest, plant height, root length, dry weight, chlorophyll contents, gas exchange characteristics and trace elements in plants were determined. In addition, post-harvest soil characteristics like pH s , EC e and bioavailable Ni were also determined. Compared to the control, all of the amendments increased plant height, root length, shoot and root dry weight with the maximum increase in all parameters by FM (2% OC) treatment. Similarly, total chlorophyll contents and gas exchange characteristics significantly increased with the application of amendments being maximum with FM (2% OC) application. Amendments significantly increased copper, zinc, manganese and iron concentrations and decreased Ni concentrations in the plants. The highest reduction in shoot Ni concentration was recorded with FM (2% OC) followed by BC (2% OC) being 73.2% and 61.1% lower compared to the control, respectively. The maximum increase in soil pH and decrease in AB-DTPA extractable Ni was recorded with BC (2% OC) followed by FM (2% OC). It is concluded that FM (2% OC) was the most effective in reducing Ni toxicity to plants by reducing Ni uptake while BC (2% OC) was the most effective in decreasing bioavailable Ni in the soil through increasing soil pH. However, long-term field studies are needed to evaluate the effects of these amendments in reducing Ni toxicity in plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organic farming is the best option for producing quality and healthy agriculture products on cheaper costs. The present study was conducted to assess the influence of composted poultry litter (CPL) and fresh poultry litter (FPL) on the extractability and bioavailability of nutrients for application in Maize crop. The mean levels for the release of these metals were obtained in the order of Cu>Zn> Mn>Ni irrespective of the manure type. Other examined nutrients recorded in the order of P> Ca>K>Mg from poultry waste after 100 days of composting process as well as fresh manure. The concentrations of these nutrients were found apparently higher in composted material as compared to fresh one. The release of water soluble phosphorus obtained was higher in compost amended soil as compared to fresh one. Total phosphorus was also higher in compost amended soil compare to fresh manure. The concentration of nutrients in Maize tissue varied in the order of P > Ni> Mn> Cu> Zn in compost manure amended soil. The efficiency of manure used is highly dependent upon soil type and source of manure added. The applications of CPL to fields could reduce both synthetic fertilizer inputs and improve soil qualities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A novel MCDM based risk identification and mitigation framework has been proposed. • The study has been conducted in the context of Pakistan's electric power sector. • Fuzzy FUCOM has been used for gaging importance of five criteria of risk analysis. • Fuzzy VIKOR has been used for prioritizing forty-five risks. • Fuzzy QFD has been used for ranking fifteen risk mitigation strategies. The electric power sector is the driving force behind a country's economy and disruptions in its services have dire consequences. The purpose of this study is to identify the risk mitigation measures that should be incorporated by the electric power sector of Pakistan. These risk mitigation strategies were identified while considering the risks that are Most Probable, Severe, Costly, Difficult to Detect, and Control. This study employed Fuzzy Multi-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) techniques for the assessment of risks. The criteria for risk evaluation were gauged through Fuzzy Full Consistency Method (FUCOM) and Fuzzy VIKOR approach was used for ranking these risks. Moreover, the risk mitigation strategies were evaluated using the Fuzzy Quality Function Deployment (QFD) method, considering the previously prioritized risks. The analysis ranked Corruption, Circular Debts, Outdated Infrastructure, Energy Losses, and Lack of Research and Development as the most critical risks. For risk mitigation measures, Incorporation of the Internet of Things (IoT), Building an Investor-Friendly Environment, Improved Coordination between Organisations, and Maximizing the Energy Efficiency Potential gained preference, among other measures. The study proposed a novel framework for risk assessment and evaluation of risk mitigation strategies. Moreover, it fills a research gap in its application by focusing on the electric power sector of Pakistan, a developing country. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• This study aims to examine whether digital transactions can be increased by improved digital literacy of the customers. • The novelty of this research lies in the fact that research about digital literacy and the digital economy, especially in association with one another, is rare worldwide. • The study uses multiple linear regression models. • The findings suggest that digital literacy and digital media usage enablers influence digital sales and transactions. • The results are also discussed in the local context using digital firms Careem, Foodpanda, and TikTok. The digital economy in Pakistan holds abundant potential, yet its existence is far from commonplace for ordinary Pakistani citizens. Understanding and implementing strategies to expedite the onboarding of masses onto digital platforms is paramount for Pakistan's digital economy. This study aims to examine and confirm whether digital transactions can be increased by improved digital literacy of customers. The idea is to find whether companies that invest in digital literacy can reap benefits in the form of increased transactions. The novelty of this research topic lies in the fact that research about digital literacy and the digital economy, especially in association with one another, is scarce worldwide. The subject provides a theoretical foundation for developing countries like Pakistan, where digital technologies, unsatisfactory literacy rates, and low internet penetration exist. The study uses multiple linear regression models and found that digital literacy and digital media usage enablers influence digital sales and transactions in Pakistan. The practical implication of the finding can be linked with digital economy development in Pakistan in the form of the establishment of various new apps and businesses in transportation (Careem, Bykea), food (Foodpanda) and social media (TikTok). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Vehicle weight imposes external costs on a car accident collision partner. In the EU, the external costs through material damage are internalised through obligatory insurance, but this does not hold for the external costs related to injuries and fatalities. We estimate these external costs for the Netherlands for two-vehicle crashes. We find that a 500kg increase in the weight of the other car increases the probability of a fatality by about 70% over the mean fatality rate, in the same order, but somewhat higher than reported for US. For serious injuries, this effect is about 30%, very close to the results for US. However, because the mean fatality/serious injury rate due to two-vehicle crashes is low in the Netherlands, the annual marginal external costs of car weight are small (€50 per 500kg) and much smaller than the marginal tax of car weight (up to €800 per 500kg). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In Pakistan, provincial finances largely hinge on federal transfers from the divisible pool via the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award. While provincial share in tax revenue is less than 5 percent, provincial share in expenditure is over 25 percent, indicating dependence on federal transfers and the extent of vertical fiscal imbalance. The sustainability of public services provided by the provinces requires enough "own" revenues rather than reliance on federal transfers and grants. The 7th NFC Award and the 18th Constitutional Amendment reinforce the constitutional rights of the provinces to collect GST services. However, tax decentralisation is a complex issue in management of public finances in Pakistan. Its implementation seems difficult due to various factors like the difficulty to distinguish sales tax revenues from goods and services. This paper is an attempt to analyse the role of GST services in minimising vertical imbalances. The findings suggest that the vertical fiscal imbalance can be minimised by shifting the collection of GST services from the federal government to the provincial governments. They indicate that with full provincial share of GST services, provincial share in taxes would have doubled during 2006-10. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the major developments in 2009-10 was a successfully concluded 7th NFC Award [NFC Award (2009)], which has brought about some profound changes in the resource distribution formula. Since 1973, it is the first time when the distribution of resources among provinces is based not only on the population but also on other criteria such as backwardness, inverse population density, and revenue collection/generation. This Award has also helped resolve other issues such as GDS and Hydroelectricity Profit. This paper analyses the financial implications of the NFC Award 2009 and its impact on three major social services, namely, education, health, and water supply and sanitation. The result shows that as compared to the NFC Award 1997 and Presidential Distribution Order: Distribution of Revenues and Grants-in-Aid Order 2006, the changes made in vertical distribution of resources under the NFC Award 2009 favour the provincial governments (combined) rather than the federal government. An interesting finding is that while there is a decline in vertical share of the provinces under the NFC Award 2009 as compared to the NFC Award 1991, this decline is not evenly distributed among the provinces. In relative terms, the NFC Award 2009 benefits the two relatively more backward provinces, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, as compared to Sindh and Punjab. Moreover, the projected values of social sector expenditures indicate that the NFC Award 2009 has a positive impact on social sector spending. Given that Pakistan has a comparatively low spending on social services, this award is a positive move. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The transport sector has backward and forward linkages with other sectors of the economy. A strike in the transport sector can be disruptive for other interdependent sectors of the economy. This study investigates the macroeconomic impacts of a transportation strike using the Inoperability Input-Output (IIOM) model. The study uses 25 sectors Input-Output tables of Pakistan economy and combines IIOM approach with Monte Carlo Simulations to quantifies the impacts of 21 days (during 2012) transport strike on Pakistan economy. The results indicate that the most affected sector of that strike was financial intermediation sector followed by the food & beverages sector and petroleum, chemical & non-metallic mineral products sector being the second and third most affected sectors, respectively. The study is an application of IIOM in transportation strikes and has usefulness for the policymakers, researchers, and readers that has an interest in application and extensions of Input-Output based analysis. • Transport sector works as a backbone in the economy due to its backward and forward linkages with other sectors of the economy. • There is hardly any scholarly work based on developing countries that do study the impacts of transport strikes on the economy. • This research uses Inoperability Input-Output Model (IIOM) to study the impacts of transport strike on the Pakistan economy. • The study is useful for policymakers and researchers having an interest in the quantification of the impact of transport strike at the macroeconomic level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The author comments on a paper which analysed fiscal efforts by provincial governments in Pakistan. The author outlines his concerns over the set of assumptions used for the paper. The author questions the choices for tax bases for some sectors. The author emphasizes the need to further disintegrate the computing cost recovery index for social services.

In Pakistan, provincial finances largely hinge on federal transfers from the divisible pool via the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award. While provincial share in tax revenue is less than 5 percent, provincial share in expenditure is over 25 percent, indicating dependence on federal transfers and the extent of vertical fiscal imbalance. The sustainability of public services provided by the provinces requires enough "own" revenues rather than reliance on federal transfers and grants. The 7th NFC Award and the 18th Constitutional Amendment reinforce the constitutional rights of the provinces to collect GST services. However, tax decentralisation is a complex issue in management of public finances in Pakistan. Its implementation seems difficult due to various factors like the difficulty to distinguish sales tax revenues from goods and services. This paper is an attempt to analyse the role of GST services in minimising vertical imbalances. The findings suggest that the vertical fiscal imbalance can be minimised by shifting the collection of GST services from the federal government to the provincial governments. They indicate that with full provincial share of GST services, provincial share in taxes would have doubled during 2006-10. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the major developments in 2009-10 was a successfully concluded 7th NFC Award [NFC Award (2009)], which has brought about some profound changes in the resource distribution formula. Since 1973, it is the first time when the distribution of resources among provinces is based not only on the population but also on other criteria such as backwardness, inverse population density, and revenue collection/generation. This Award has also helped resolve other issues such as GDS and Hydroelectricity Profit. This paper analyses the financial implications of the NFC Award 2009 and its impact on three major social services, namely, education, health, and water supply and sanitation. The result shows that as compared to the NFC Award 1997 and Presidential Distribution Order: Distribution of Revenues and Grants-in-Aid Order 2006, the changes made in vertical distribution of resources under the NFC Award 2009 favour the provincial governments (combined) rather than the federal government. An interesting finding is that while there is a decline in vertical share of the provinces under the NFC Award 2009 as compared to the NFC Award 1991, this decline is not evenly distributed among the provinces. In relative terms, the NFC Award 2009 benefits the two relatively more backward provinces, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, as compared to Sindh and Punjab. Moreover, the projected values of social sector expenditures indicate that the NFC Award 2009 has a positive impact on social sector spending. Given that Pakistan has a comparatively low spending on social services, this award is a positive move. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The author comments on a paper which analysed the degree of integration between provinces in Pakistan through the internal migration patterns in the country. The author highlights the failure of the paper to include any variable related to public finance in the model used in the analysis. The author emphasizes the need to investigate empirically the linkages between National Finance Commission (NFC) award and migration.

The author comments on a paper which investigated the effects of fiscal policy or government budget deficit shocks on the current account and other macroeconomic variables for Pakistan over the period 1960-2009. The author highlights the lack of discussion of structural changes in the trend of macroeconomic variables like gross domestic product (GDP). The author argues that the empirical findings seem unconvincing in the case of Pakistan.