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Green nanotechnology has gained attraction in recent years due to the growing awareness of the environmental and health risks associated with traditional methods of nanomaterial synthesis. In the present study, nanocomposite (NCs) of silver and Iron were prepared using Zanthoxylum Armatum seeds aqueous extract which acts as a reducing, stabilizing, and capping agent. The synthesized NCs were characterized using UV/Vis Spectroscopy, powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and EDX. The UV/Vis spectroscopy analysis of the NCs revealed the presence of a surface plasmonic resonance band occurring at 420 nm. Examination of the NCs through SEM demonstrated that they exhibited a nearly spherical morphology, with an average particle diameter measuring 54.8 nm. The crystalline nature of these NCs was verified through X-ray diffraction (XRD), and the calculation of crystallite size using the Scherrer-Debye equation yielded a value of 12.6 nm. The adsorption ability of newly synthesized nanocomposites was investigated against Acid Black 234 Dye. The results showed that a 0.5 g of NCs dose at pH 4 removed 99.3% of 10 mg/L of Acid Black 234 Dye within 60 min. Based on the findings of this research, it can be inferred that the that Ag-Fe NCs synthesized from Zanthoxylum Armatum seeds aqueous extract hold significant potential for addressing environmental pollution caused by Acid Black 234 Dye. The NCs were used as adsorbent for the removal of Acid Black 234 dye from the wastewater sample and showed 98% removal of dye from the commercial sample within 60 min. In this context, the research highlights that the environmentally friendly synthesis of Ag-Fe nanocrystals (Ag-Fe NCs) using Zanthoxylum Armatum as a mediator offers an efficient and cost-effective solution for mitigating environmental pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Starting from a Black feminist standpoint, this reflexive article uniquely draws on empirical data and recollections from two research studies to consider experiences of researching Pakistani communities from the assumed position of an insider. In doing so the article provides a first-hand account of insider-outsider experiences in the field from the perspective of a qualitative researcher (who is a woman of minority ethnic background). Examples from the data reveal how factors such as a deep understanding of social and religious practices constitute types of insider knowledge necessary for gathering culturally relevant and fine-grained information. The methodological and ethical advantages and dilemmas of conducting research positioned as an insider include, knowledge of place and cultural identification as aiding access to and research with communities seldom heard in research, but also how commonalities–gender, race– can fuel participant reluctance and hostility. The articles main contribution, however, is to expose the shifting nature of the insider-outsider position whereby in some instances the assumed insider can become an outsider. This has methodological and ethical implications such as profound emotional impacts on the researcher and potentially destabilising effects on research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using data from a large primarily qualitative research project on how people from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) communities experience and access health services, this methodological article focuses on the role of the community gatekeeper – a role that has significance for research teams globally when attempting to involve those facing multiple forms of exclusion. Drawing on standpoint feminist principles and using a reflexive approach, researcher positionality, situated knowledges, and the power dynamics between researchers, participants, and community gatekeepers are reflected upon. Addressing a gap in the literature by providing real-life examples of the power and influence of gatekeepers at all stages of the research process, the findings reveal: the extent to which gatekeepers of research with BAME participants are facilitative or obstructive during the research process; how they affect processes such as the recruitment of participants, access to community venues, the conduct of the research interview, and the dissemination of findings; and finally, the implications for future research with so called “hard-to-reach” groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Voting rights are fundamental human rights, but for women, getting them has been a difficult and protracted process. Even though women have recently made tremendous progress towards gender equality, they still encounter several challenges when trying to exercise their right to vote. In Pakistan, women got their right to vote since county's inception but their electoral participation remains quite meagre in all the general elections held in past. In the general elections of 2018 the total women turnout in Pakistan was 46.89% and the turnout of women in the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was 32.96%. A country richly endowed with human capital along with a low women electoral participation is a phenomenon that raises many social-cultural, economic, educational, and political related questions. Based on such facts the dependent variable chosen in the present study is Women's Electoral Participation in the general elections of 2018. Its value is taken as one of the women has used her right to cast vote, zero otherwise. District Kohat is the universe of this study where women's turnout was 37.22%. A study is conducted to dig out the socio-cultural, economic, educational and Political barriers in the way of women voting rights. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The focus on sustainable utilization of agricultural waste is currently a leading area of scientific research, driving significant advancements in technology and circular economy models. The fundamental capacity of bio-based products, bioprocessing techniques, and the crucial involvement of microbial treatments are opening opportunities for efficient solutions in various industries. One of the most popular green vegetables, peas are members of the Fabaceae family and have a pod-like structure. Every year, a significant amount of pea pods is discarded as waste products of peas that have negative impacts on our environment. In this comprehensive review, we explore innovative methods for utilizing pea pods to minimize their environmental footprint and optimize their viability across multiple industries. A large portion of the pea processing industry's output consists of pea pods. Variety of proteins, with major classes being globulin and albumin (13%), dietary fiber (43-58%), and minerals are abundant in these pods. Because of their diverse physiochemical properties, they find applications in many diverse fields. The porous pea pods comprised cellulose (61.35%) and lignin (22.12%), which could make them superior adsorbents. The components of these byproducts possess valuable attributes that make them applicable across treatment of wastewater, production of biofuels, synthesis of biocolors, development of nutraceuticals, functional foods, and enzymes for the textile industry, modification of oil, and inhibition of steel corrosion., 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. Data availability statement. The data will be available upon request., (© 2024 The Authors.)