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Purpose: The research on social media adoption and use is on the rise in Pakistan. However, researchers did not focus on investigating the risks associated with social media use for library services. So, this study examines perceived risks of library services through social media in the university libraries of Pakistan. Also, suggest possible solution to overcome the observed risks. Methodology: Using a structured questionnaire, a national-level survey was conducted. Respondents of the study were professional librarians designated as Head or Chief or University librarian representing their organization. The study was conducted in an organizational perspective and required a single response from each organization. The questionnaire was distributed among 181 university librarians working both in public and private sector university libraries in Pakistan. However, valid responses were 124 (69%). Findings: The Pakistani university libraries are using social media platforms for library services. However, the research findings reveal that there are several risks to offering library services through social media. Among the responded libraries, the libraries that do not use social media platforms for service delivery feel riskier compared to the libraries that offer library services through social media. It is also found that there is no formal policy on social media usage in the libraries. Practical implications: The research findings provide valuable insight to university administration, library social media users, and developers on how to consider the identified risks while designing state-of-the-art library services through social media. Also, the study findings may be easily generalized at national level due to the coverage of the whole population. Originality: This is a novel study that explores the perceived social media risks associated with using social media to offer library services. Also, the study is first attempt that covers whole population through a census survey in an organizational perspective.

Post-disaster functionality of the potable water supply infrastructure is crucial for maintaining public health and safety. The failure of the water supply system may harm inhabitants and significant users, which can impact other services and various types of infrastructures. It is vital to assess climate change impacts on water resources to ensure resilience and sustainable management. The study assessed the resilience of 22 municipal water schemes using an indicator-based framework, How Tough is Wash (HTIW), across six domains: environment, infrastructure, community governance, water supply management, supply chains, and institutional support. The sites of municipal water supply were purposively selected based on specific criteria to include those water supply schemes which have been directly affected by flooding or are vulnerable to the impact of the flood. The resilience scores ranged from (6 to 7.5) for schemes with very low resilience, (7.5 to 10.5) for those classified as poor, and (10.6 to 16.5) for schemes considered moderately resilient. It was discovered that protective measures against the risk of flood were negligible. Community engagement governance and water supply management needed to be stronger. Local governments can pinpoint current advantages and disadvantages by utilizing these metrics and their impact on the public water supply's resilience and strategically allocate resources for optimal outcomes. Furthermore, the metrics that have been suggested simplify and unify the multiple dimensions of the elements, enabling decision-makers to optimize the measures.

Abstract Cancer cells undergo significant metabolic reprogramming to support their rapid growth and survival. This study examines important metabolic pathways like glycolysis, oxidative phosphorylation, glutaminolysis, and lipid metabolism, focusing on how they are regulated and their contributions to the development of tumors. The interplay between oncogenes, tumor suppressors, epigenetic modifications, and the tumor microenvironment in modulating these pathways is examined. Furthermore, we discuss the therapeutic potential of targeting cancer metabolism, presenting inhibitors of glycolysis, glutaminolysis, the TCA cycle, fatty acid oxidation, LDH, and glucose transport, alongside emerging strategies targeting oxidative phosphorylation and lipid synthesis. Despite the promise, challenges such as metabolic plasticity and the need for combination therapies and robust biomarkers persist, underscoring the necessity for continued research in this dynamic field. Graphical Abstract

Green finance is one of the emerging research areas, particularly in academia and industries. However, its contribution to green growth remains relatively unexplored. Unlike previous studies, the current research contributes to the existing literature by using green finance as a policy tool for achieving green growth. The method of moment quantile regression is used to investigate the link between green finance and other control variables on green growth in the 19 selected OECD economies from 1990 and 2021. The main findings of the study support the idea that green finance accelerates green growth in the selected countries. Similarly, the results for human capital show a significantly positive relationship with green growth. Additionally, increase in globalization and GDP decrease green growth. To promote green growth and achieve the sustainable environmental goals set by OECD economies, policymakers and regulators must prioritize green finance.

Abstract This study explores the complex relationships involving ecological footprints, energy use, carbon emissions, governance efficiency, economic prosperity, and financial stability in South Asian nations spanning the period from 2000 to 2022. Employing various methodologies such as cross-sectional dependence tests, co-integration analysis, and first- and second-generation unit-root tests, we use a panel Autoregressive Distributed Lag model, feasible generalized least squares, and Panel Corrected Standard Errors to ensure the robustness of our findings. We find noteworthy positive correlations between several variables, including heightened ecological consciousness, effective governance structures, increased GDP per capita, and amplified CO2 emissions. These relationships suggest potential pathways to strengthen the financial stability of the entire region; they also highlight the latent potential of embracing ecologically sustainable practices to fortify economic resilience. Our results also underscore the pivotal role of appropriate governance structures and higher income levels in bolstering financial stability in South Asian countries. Interestingly, we also find negative coefficients associated with the use of renewable energy, suggesting that escalating the adoption of renewable energy could create financial instability. This finding stresses the importance of diversification in energy strategies, cautioning policymakers to carefully consider the financial ramifications of potentially costly imports of renewable energy sources while seeking to reduce carbon emissions, emphasizing the need to strike a balance between ambitious sustainability goals and the pursuit of sustained economic robustness in the region. In considering the implications of these findings, it is crucial to consider each country’s broader socioeconomic context. Our results offer valuable insights for policymakers in developing renewable energy strategies.

The study analyses the scope and role of Bloom's Taxonomy (1956) in reforming teaching-learning practices in the classroom by employing a systematic balance of questions from both the lower and higher domains of learning in the summative assessment. Thus, this study analyses the annual question papers designed by the Boards of Intermediate and Secondary Education (BISE) Karachi, Hyderabad, Sukkur, and Mirpurkhas for the subject of English grade XII from the year 2014 to 2018. It employs Bloom's Taxonomy to analyze and categorize each item included in these annual question papers to ascertain the higher and lower domains of learning. At Sindh province level, it has been found that 74% of questions refer to the lower domains whereas only 26% are used for higher domains. Given the formative assessment practices, teachers and students remain focused only on the lower domains, but by altering the course, the pedagogical practices and teaching-learning process in Sindh province can remarkably be reformed and transformed from sheer memorization and rote-learning to critical thinking, solution-making, knowledge-building process, and analytical skills.

Introduction: Single-station N2 (ssN2) versus multi-station N2 has been used as a selection criterion for treatment recommendations between surgical versus non-surgical multimodality treatment in stage III-N2 NSCLC. We hypothesized that clinical staging would be susceptible to upstaging on pathologic staging and, therefore, challenge this practice. Methods: A retrospective study of prospectively collected routine clinical data for patients with stage III-N2 NSCLC that had completed computed tomography (CT), positron emission tomography (PET), and staging endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) and had been confirmed clinical stage III-ssN2 at multidisciplinary team discussion and went on to complete surgical resection as the first treatment to provide pathologic staging. The study was completed in two cohorts (A) across a single cancer alliance in England (Greater Manchester) January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2018 and (B) across five United Kingdom centers to validate the findings in part A January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2020. Results: A total of 115 patients met the inclusion criteria across cohort A (56 patients) and cohort B (59 patients) across 15 United Kingdom hospitals. The proportion of cases in which clinical stage III-ssN2 was upstaged to pathologic stage III-multi-station N2 was 34% (19 of 56) in cohort A, 32% in cohort B (19 of 59), and 33% across the combined study cohort (38 of 115). Most patients had a single radiologically abnormal lymph node on CT and PET (88%, 105 of 115). In the majority, the reasons for missed N2 disease on staging EBUS were due to inaccessible (stations 5, 6, 8, 9) N2 nodes at EBUS (34%, 13 of 38) and accessible lymph nodes not sampled during staging EBUS as not meeting sampling threshold (40%, 15 of 38) rather than false-negative sampling during EBUS (26%, 10 of 38). Conclusions: During multidisciplinary team discussions, clinicians must be aware that one-third of patients with stage III-ssN2 on the basis of CT, PET, and staging EBUS do not truly have ssN2 and this questions the use of this criterion to define treatment recommendations.

Objective: The red palm weevil (RPW), is one of the most threatening pests of date palm trees worldwide, causing significant economic losses annually for date palm growers, both globally and in the Middle East, including Saudi Arabia. The primary objective of this research was to assess the insecticide market in Saudi Arabia, test various insecticides claimed to be effective against RPW, and evaluate their efficacy in laboratory settings. This evaluation aims to inform further trials under field conditions. Methods: Six insecticides, including imidacloprid, thiamethoxam, fipronil, emamectin benzoate, deltamethrin, and fenitrothion, were tested to assess their toxicity against red palm weevil 8th instar larvae by diet incorporation under laboratory conditions. The insecticides were applied according to the manufacturer’s recommendations with dosages of 1000 µl, 0.20 µl, 7.5 µl, 0.25 µl, 0.25 µl, and 0.5 µl for imidacloprid, thiamethoxam, fipronil, emamectin benzoate, deltamethrin, and fenitrothion, respectively. Results: The results revealed that all tested insecticides exhibited 100 % mortality against 8th instar RPW larvae, with the exception of deltamethrin. However, the time required to achieve this mortality varied. Fenitrothion caused 100 % mortality after 72 h, while thiamethoxam, imidacloprid, and fipronil caused 100 % mortality after 96 h. Emamectin benzoate and deltamethrin resulted in 100 % and 93 % mortality, respectively, after 10 days. The variability in mortality rates may be attributed to differences in their active ingredients, which show varying levels of lethality. In conclusion, all tested insecticides showed effectiveness against RPW larvae and represent viable options for controlling this pest in date palm orchards in Saudi Arabia.

The study analyses the African identity portrayed in Achebe’s novels Things Fall Apart (1958) and An Arrow of God (1964) from the vantage point of the postcolonial theoretical perspective or Postcolonial African identity Discourse of Frantz Fanon. Twenty-first-century Africa is a diverse continent, especially when looked at from the perspective of post-colonialism, where various groups of people exist. Because of past colonial residue and experience, the governments in the region are still divided, and people live with fragmented identities. The continent has undergone drastic changes before and after its independence. In this regard, the study of postcolonial African literature seems to be incomplete without the study of the African colonial past and the ideologies emerging from this part of the world. In this regard, Chinua Achebe is one of the prominent writers of African literature who presents the glaring picture of African culture by celebrating its identity as self-sufficient. He introduces the reader to the critical contextualizing historical and cultural perspectives of African history and identity. The novels written by Achebe not only depict the history and culture of Africa but also serve as a direct response to the whole canon of Eurocentric writings in which African race, history, culture, religion, and society have been misrepresented as inhuman and savage, which are nothing but false constructs when viewed from a ppostcolonialperspective. His novels, mainly Things Fall Apart and An Arrow of God, paint a grim picture of the colonization of Nigeria in particular and the African continent in general. He illustrates various ways of representing the self-sufficiency of African nations with a strong sense of African identity.

The undertaken research aims to analyse the homosexual identity development of an Edwardian gentleman named Maurice Hall depicted in E.M. Forster’s novel ‘Maurice’. The qualitative data has been reviewed from the text of the novel to analyse the homosexual identity development in the protagonist of the novel from the vantage point of the six-staged Cass identity model (1979) based on identity confusion, identity comparison, identity tolerance, identity acceptance, identity pride, and identity synthesis. The model further elucidates identity foreclosure, which is failure to complete any of these stages and stagnate the process of identity development. It has been found that Maurice Hall deems himself undesirable until he makes peace with his sexual identity by passing through each step of the Cass Identity Model.

Abstract Breast cancer (BC) is a multifaceted disease characterized by distinct molecular subtypes and varying responses to treatment. In BC, the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) pathway has emerged as a crucial contributor to the development, advancement, and resistance to treatment. This review article explores the implications of the PI3K pathway in predictive, preventive, and personalized medicine for BC. It emphasizes the identification of predictive biomarkers, such as PIK3CA mutations, and the utility of molecular profiling in guiding treatment decisions. The review also discusses the potential of targeting the PI3K pathway for preventive strategies and the customization of therapy based on tumor stage, molecular subtypes, and genetic alterations. Overcoming resistance to PI3K inhibitors and exploring combination therapies are addressed as important considerations. While this field holds promise in improving patient outcomes, further research and clinical trials are needed to validate these approaches and translate them into clinical practice. Graphical Abstract

Pilling resistance of Regenerated Bamboo (100%) and Regenerated Bamboo-Cotton (50:50) blended, woven fabrics was poor (grade 3 to 1.5). There are different techniques available that may help to improve the pilling resistance of fabrics. Bio polishing is one of the effective ways to control the pilling of cellulosic knitted fabric however very few studies have been conducted on woven fabrics. Therefore, this study aims to statistically evaluate the effectiveness of bio polishing agents on the improvement of pilling of regenerated bamboo and bamboo/cotton woven fabrics. Effect of bio-polishing agent (acid cellulase) on Regenerated Bamboo and Regenerated Bamboo-Cotton woven fabrics was investigated using 23 31 mixed-level factorial design. Four factors were studied; Fabric weave, blend ratio, pretreatment and concentration of acid cellulase were selected. Influence of Fabric weave, blend ratio and pretreatment was examined at two levels, whereas concentration of acid cellulose was tested at three levels. The influence of the individual factors and their interactions on pilling resistance, tensile strength, tear strength and Berger whiteness were analyzed using the software Design-Expert 8.13. The outcome of this study showed that bio-polishing improved the pilling resistance of Regenerated Bamboo and Regenerated Bamboo-Cotton blended woven fabrics and did not affect tear and tensile strengths and whiteness of the plain and satin fabrics, significantly.

Summary: This review explores the hallmarks of cancer resistance, including drug efflux mediated by ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters, metabolic reprogramming characterized by the Warburg effect, and the dynamic interplay between cancer cells and mitochondria. The role of cancer stem cells (CSCs) in treatment resistance and the regulatory influence of non-coding RNAs, such as long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), microRNAs (miRNAs), and circular RNAs (circRNAs), are studied. The chapter emphasizes future directions, encompassing advancements in immunotherapy, strategies to counter adaptive resistance, integration of artificial intelligence for predictive modeling, and the identification of biomarkers for personalized treatment. The comprehensive exploration of these hallmarks provides a foundation for innovative therapeutic approaches, aiming to navigate the complex landscape of cancer resistance and enhance patient outcomes.

This paper investigates a new consensus-oriented distributed approach for the event-triggered (ET) economic dispatch problem (EDP) over a smart grid under ramp-rate limits (RRLs) integrated with green power sources (GPSs) such as solar and wind energy for demand response strategies over hybrid energy power systems. To address the RRL condition, the authors have transformed the RRLs as minimum and maximum bounds on the derivative of generation for a generator. Then, a Karush–Kuhn–Tucker (KKT) condition and a more practical approximate KKT condition are developed for determining the optimality conditions. A practical ET protocol is proposed over a topology between generators by application of the proposed approximate KKT condition. In contrast to existing distributed optimization methods, this paper provides both optimally condition and distributed optimization scheme for dealing with RRLs integrated with sustainable hybrid energy systems. In addition, a computationally efficient ET mechanism, eliminating Zeno behaviour, has been considered for dealing with the efficient utilization of communication resources. This study incorporates the real-time input data from thermal production plants and GPSs for experimental analysis. RETScreen software having data-set of over 6,700 local meteorological stations is applied to obtain input data for GPSs. Furthermore, Weibull and Beta distribution functions have been applied for dealing with uncertainty in wind and solar energy sources. Two case studies are examined (with and without GPSs), and simulation results demonstrated the suitable performance of the proposed distributed ET EDP approach.

The present study is aimed at designing bilayer-floating tablets to improve the drug concentration in the stomach for enhanced therapeutic efficacy. The tablets are comprised of an upper layer of levofloxacin (466.5 mg) and a lower layer of famotidine (133.5 mg). Five formulations (F1-F5) were developed by using hydroxypropyl methylcellulose grades (K4M, K15M, and K100M) along with Carbopol 934. In the case of the effervescent system (F1-F3), sodium bicarbonate was added to impart buoyancy to the tablets; while in the case of noneffervescent formulations (F4 & F5), guar gum and xanthan gum were incorporated to induce flotation and swelling and retard the release of a drug. The precompression characteristics of tablets depict the suitability of all formulation powder for direct compression. The ATR-FTIR analyses have shown that the components of both effervescent and noneffervescent tablets are compatible with each other. The total weight of each tablet was 600 mg, with a weight variation of about ≤10 mg. Both the layers were smooth and flat with a thickness ranging from 3.16±0.04 to 3.54±0.01 mm. The diameters of prepared floating tablets were about 15 mm, optimum for oral administration. After adjusting the tablet’s hardness to 6-7 kg/cm2, its friability was found to be

Goal: The purpose of this study is to investigate the mediating role of supply chain integration for Supply chain risks heading toward organizational performance. This study is mainly focused on the dairy sector of emerging economies. Design / Methodology / Approach: This is quantitative research, in which a multi-item scale web-based survey was conducted to collect primary data. 407 stakeholders of the dairy industry, specifically the customers and the ones dealing with supply chain operations and the planning and integration department were investigated. Confirmatory factor analysis and internal consistency were applied to test the reliability and fitness of the measurement model and structural equation modeling-SEM is used to test the proposed hypotheses. Results: The results suggest that in the dairy sector, both customer and supplier risks, act as barriers to implementing (SCI) supply chain integration and also negatively influence (OP) organizational performance. However, supplier risks, belonging to the dairy industry of an agricultural-based country like Pakistan, have a comparatively less negative impact on organizational performance as compared to customer risk, conversely, supply chain integration helps the organization to achieve better performance. The integration indeed acts as a strong mediator in reducing the negative impact of supply chain risk. Limitations of the investigation: This study utilizes cross-sectional data, which restricts the researchers to depict the entire manifestation of (SCR) supply chain risk, supply chain integration, and organization performance, for businesses operating in the dairy sector of a developing economy, like Pakistan. Practical implications: This study helps managers to use SCI as a tool to reduce the impact of supply chain risk i.e. supplier risk and customer risk on organizational performance. Also, this study explains the importance of customer risk as compared to supplier risk associated with perishable products. Originality / Value: This paper enriches the literature in an evolving area of SCI and SCR, by investigating the mediating role of SCI. Two key risks i.e. supplier risk and customer risk associated with the supply chain network of dairy sector organizations are addressed, along with the mediating ability of supply chain integration to improve firm performance is investigated.

Abstract Cancer has become a growing burden in Pakistan in recent times, posing a significant cause for concern. The World Health Organization has reported a steady increase in the incidence of cancer in Pakistan. According to the present study, breast cancer (24.1%), oral cavity (9.6%), colorectum (4.9%), esophagus (4.2%), and liver cancer (3.9%) were the five most prevalent cancers. Males were more likely to have oral cavity cancer (14.9%), colorectum cancer (6.8%), liver cancer (6.4%), prostate cancer (6.0%), and lung cancer (6.0%). In women (41.6%), breast (6.9%), oral cavity (5.5%), cervix (4.7%), and uterus cancer (4.1%) were the most common cancers. Middle-aged people (43.0%) were most likely to develop cancer, followed by seniors (30.0%) and adults (20.0%). Children and adolescents were most likely to develop cancers of the central nervous system (CNS), leukemia (18.7%), and Hodgkin (17.3%), followed by breast, oral cavity, colorectum, and prostate at other ages. Most patients were from Punjab (40.4%) and Sindh (32.2%). Approximately 30.0% of patients were diagnosed at stage III and stage IV. In terms of registered cases, breast cancer, oral cavity cancer, colon cancer, esophagus cancer, and liver cancer are among the highest. In the future, this information may prove useful for assessing the effectiveness of interventions.

A sustainable alternative to fossil fuels, cow dung is a renewable energy source that might considerably lower carbon emissions. By modifying its characteristics, such as its gross calorific value (GCV), it could be utilized as a flexible and effective fuel for both industrial and domestic use. To create a fuel composite with a higher heating value, this research examines the heating values and proximate analysis of local cow dung as well as the effects of blending it with agricultural waste. To provide the best heating value, the technique comprises infusing prepared agricultural biomass blends and cow dung at particular ratios. The composite’s quality was enhanced by increasing GCV from 3066 Kcal/kg to 3600 Kcal/kg, increasing volatile matter content, i.e., from 60% to 68%, as well as lowering the ash content of the resultant pellet from 19% to 11%, on average.

The red palm weevil (RPW) is a significant threat to date palms. Conventional pest control has been ineffective. This study aims to evaluate entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) indigenous to Saudi Arabia and commercial against RPW. We used 33 soil samples collected from four areas of Saudi Arabia. The indigenous EPNs were isolated and cultured using an insect baiting method to obtain infective juveniles. Pathogenicity bioassays were conducted against different stages of RPW, including eggs, larvae, and adults. The bioassay was performed using all the isolates at 1 × 106 IJ/mL. Distilled water was used as a control. The results revealed that only 9.09% of soil samples contained positive EPNs. Through DNA sequencing analysis, the positive samples were identified as indigenous isolates belonging to Heterorhabditis indica and Steinernema carpocapsae EPN species. In pathogenicity tests, 90% mortality of RPW eggs was observed after five days. Similar mortality trends were seen in RPW larvae and adults, with 90% mortality recorded after ten days for all the EPN treatments. Mortality increased with the duration of post-EPN inoculation exposure. The 1 × 106 IJ/mL concentrations of EPN effectively killed various stages of RPW in the laboratory. More research is needed to test EPNs against RPW in the field.

Mucopolysaccharidoses (MPSs) are inherited lysosomal storage disorders (LSDs). MPSs are caused by excessive accumulation of mucopolysaccharides due to missing or deficiency of enzymes required for the degradation of specific macromolecules. MPS I-IV, MPS VI, MPS VII, and MPS IX are sub-types of mucopolysaccharidoses. Among these, MPS III (also known as Sanfilippo) and MPS IV (Morquio) syndromes are lethal and prevalent sub-types. This study aimed to identify causal genetic variants in cases of MPS III and MPS IV and characterize genotype-phenotype relations in Pakistan. We performed clinical, biochemical and genetic analysis using Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) in 14 Pakistani families affected with MPS III or MPS IV. Patients were classified into MPS III by history of aggressive behaviors, dementia, clear cornea and into MPS IV by short trunk, short stature, reversed ratio of upper segment to lower segment with a short upper segment. Data analysis and variant selections were made based on segregation analysis, examination of known MPS III and MPS IV genes, gene function, gene expression, the pathogenicity of variants based on ACMG guidelines and in silico analysis. In total, 58 individuals from 14 families were included in the present study. Six families were clinically diagnosed with MPS III and eight families with MPS IV. WGS revealed variants in MPS-associated genes including NAGLU, SGSH, GALNS, GNPTG as well as the genes VWA3B, BTD, and GNPTG which have not previously associated with MPS. One family had causal variants in both GALNS and BTD. Accurate and early diagnosis of MPS in children represents a helpful step for designing therapeutic strategies to protect different organs from permanent damage. In addition, pre-natal screening and identification of genetic etiology will facilitate genetic counselling of the affected families. Identification of novel causal MPS genes might help identifying new targeted therapies to treat LSDs.

Objective: Termites are well known for being the most destructive pests of household commodities as well as agricultural crops around the globe. The termite fauna (Isoptera) has about 2650 described species worldwide. Several species are the pests of crops and cause damage to wood structures. Methods: In the present study, 29 specimens of termites collected from different localities of the Riyadh region were identified using mitochondrial gene cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) sequence. COI gene was PCR amplified using universal primers (LCO 1490 and HCO 2198). MEGA7 software was used for phylogenetic tree construction which showed that all 29 specimens grouped together in a single clade indicated close relatedness of all specimens. Results: All the obtained sequences were submitted into Genbank database and accession numbers were obtained. Phylogenetic analysis showed that all specimens of present research grouped together into a single monophyletic clade, were confirmed to be highly closely related to one another, and proved to be members of the same species. Pairwise nucleotide sequence divergence analysis showed that there was less divergence among all specimens ranging from 0% to 7.8%. Sequence analysis revealed the confirmed precise identification of 29 samples of Anacanthotermes ochraceus with COI barcode analysis. Conclusions: Molecular data analysis has confirmed morphological identification of all 29 studied samples of A. ochraceus. However, this technology offers strong support for identification of cryptic species which are difficult to identify on the basis of morphological features. Further studies of complete mitogenome can be helpful for accurate identification of termites at species level.

Objective: Red palm weevil, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus is a crucial pest of date palm, in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia including several other palm producing countries of the World. The vitellogenin gene play very important role for oocytes development in all oviparous animals. Recently, we have silenced the vitellogenin gene by injecting the RfVg-based dsRNA and proved that RNAi technology can be used to manage red palm weevil. The main challenge in RNAi-based plant protection methods is selecting a suitable tactic for successfully delivering the dsRNA. Methods: In the present study, 9-10th instar red palm weevil larvae were provided with Vg-based dsRNA in diet and as drops to determine its effects on red palm weevil reproductive traits, such as pre-oviposition period, fecundity, oviposition period, post oviposition period, eggs size, and female and male life span. Results: Results demonstrated that the RfVg gene function was successfully suppressed using Vg-based RNAi. When applied via drops, resulting in a significant decline in red palm weevil eggs hatchability and Vg expression measured by quantitative real time Polymerase chain reaction. However, when applied via diet, Vg-based dsRNA did not show any significant effect on fecundity, oviposition period, post oviposition period, eggs size, and female and male life span. Conclusions: Based on present overall results and our previous findings, along with the documented information, we can conclude that Vg-based RNAi has a high potential for use as a target specific and eco-friendly technique for the sustainable control of this crucial pest.

The present study discusses the optimization of process parameters of anti- pilling and resin finished rayon from 100% bamboo and 50:50 bamboo/ cotton fabrics used in home textile. Two weave structures, plain and five harness satin were selected. The optimization was carried out using desirability function a statistical technique for multiple response optimization. This was done by software called Design Expert 8.0.1. The five factors namely, Appretan® N 9211 as an anti-pilling agent (a non-ionic acrylate copolymer), Arkofix® NF as crease resistant agent (dimethylol dihydroxy ethylene urea, DMDHEU), fabric blend ratio, fabric weaves and curing method were analysed using 23 32 mixed level factorial design. The optimum conditions were explored for concentration of Appretan® N 9211, Arkofix® NF and curing methods. The process was evaluated with respect to pilling before and after wash, abrasion resistance, tensile, tear strength, Berger whiteness, yellowness index, dimensional stability, smoothness appearance and colour fastness to light. In order to generate the desirability values, the equal weightage was given to all response variables, but different importance was assigned based on the finish applied and industrial requirements. Four optimized recipes each for rayon from 100% bamboo and of 50:50 bamboo/cotton plain and satin weaves were suggested based on the high value of desirability.

This research study critically analyzes the scope and contribution of Bloom's Taxonomy in both assessment and teaching-learning process. Bloom's Taxonomy consists of six stages, namely; remembering, understanding, applying, analyzing, evaluating and creating and moves from lower degree to the higher degree. The study applies Bloom's Taxonomy to the prevailing assessment system at the level of secondary education in Sindh. The data are collected from the last five years' question papers used by the Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education (BISE), Karachi, Hyderabad Sukkur at secondary level for the subject of English. The questions asked in these papers are classified and analyzed from the vintage point of Bloom's Taxonomy to determine whether the present assessment system focuses on the lower degrees of learning like remembering, understanding, applying or it transcends to the higher degrees such as analyzing, evaluating and creating. The data are quantitative hence SPSS. 20 is used to analyze and draw conclusions and results. The findings of this study will help to improve both assessment and teaching-learning process, which will hopefully uplift the learner from the sheer practices of description, rote-learning and memorization to the profound level of analysis, evaluation and creativity.

Anti-pilling and easy care (resin finish) are the two most common finishes of Textile. In this paper performance of combined anti-pilling and easy-care finish of 100% rayon and 50:50 rayon/cotton without singed satin fabrics for home textile were evaluated. For this study four factors, namely, fabric blend ratio, concentration of Appretan N9211, Arkofix NF and curing method were selected. Fabric blend ratio and curing method were tested at two levels, whereas the concentration of Appretan N9211, Arkofix NF was tested at three levels. The performance of the finish was evaluated by testing eight response variables, namely, pilling before and after wash, dimensional stability, tear strength, Berger whiteness, yellowness index, smoothness appearance and light fastness. The study revealed that a recipe containing 100 g/l of Appretan N9211, 100 g/l of Arkofix NF and normal cure (at 150°C for 3 min) improved the pilling, dimensional stability, and smooth appearance and tear strength improved. However, the reduction in Berger whiteness and a minimum increment in yellowness index were observed. The light fastness of the fabrics, however, did not change significantly.

The world is currently dealing with a second viral outbreak, monkeypox, which has the potential to become an epidemic after the COVID-19 pandemic. People who reside in or close to forest might be exposed indirectly or at a low level, resulting in subclinical disease. However, the disease has lately emerged in shipped African wild mice in the United States. Smallpox can cause similar signs and symptoms to monkeypox, such as malaise, fever, flu-like signs, headache, distinctive rash, and back pain. Because Smallpox has been eliminated, similar symptoms in a monkeypox endemic zone should be treated cautiously. Monkeypox is transmitted to humans primarily via interaction with diseased animals. Infection through inoculation via interaction with skin or scratches and mucosal lesions on the animals is conceivable significantly once the skin barrier is disrupted by scratches, bites, or other disturbances or trauma. Even though it is clinically unclear from other pox-like infections, laboratory diagnosis is essential. There is no approved treatment for human monkeypox virus infection, however, smallpox vaccination can defend counter to the disease. Human sensitivity to monkeypox virus infection has grown after mass vaccination was discontinued in the 1980s. Infection may be prevented by reducing interaction with sick patients or animals and reducing respiratory exposure among people who are infected.

Precision agricultural techniques try to prevent either an excessive or inadequate application of agrochemicals during pesticide application. In recent years, it has become popular to combine traditional agricultural practices with artificial intelligence algorithms. This research presents a case study of variable-rate targeted spraying using deep learning for tobacco plant recognition and identification in a real tobacco field. An extensive comparison of the detection performance of six YOLO-based models for the tobacco crop has been performed based on experimentation in tobacco fields. An F1-score of 87.2% and a frame per second rate of 67 were achieved using the YOLOv5n model trained on actual field data. Additionally, a novel disturbance-based pressure and flow control method has been introduced to address the issue of unwanted pressure fluctuations that are typically associated with bang-bang control. The quality of spray achieved by attenuation of these disturbances has been evaluated both qualitatively and quantitatively using three different spraying case studies: broadcast, and selective spraying at 20 psi pressure; and variable-rate spraying at pressure varying from 15-120 psi. As compared to the broadcast spraying, the selective and variable rate spray methods have achieved up to 60% reduction of agrochemicals.

La1-xCaxMnO3 nanoparticles (x = 0.1, 0.2, 0.3) (LCMO NPs) were synthesized using the coprecipitation method. The prepared samples were investigated using x-ray diffraction (XRD), which confirmed the single-phase structure. The nanoparticle’s crystallite size was determined using Debye–Scherrer’s formula. Scanning electron microscopy showed that the size of the nanoparticles was between 33 nm and 55 nm. Energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDX) was used to determine the elemental composition of samples. The four-probe method was used to measure the temperature-dependent electrical resistivity. Magnetic properties, such as hysteresis loop, magnetoresistance, and magnetization versus temperature, were measured using a vibrating sample magnetometer. The study of magnetization versus applied magnetic field M(H) showed that, at 77 K, all the loops exhibit ferromagnetism. DC magnetization versus temperature at a 70-Oe-applied field for all samples showed a paramagnetic-ferromagnetic phase transition. A decrease in Curie temperature Tc after increasing the concentration of x was observed. The real and imaginary parts of temperature-dependent ac magnetic susceptibility were measured and revealed a transition from the ferromagnetic to the paramagnetic phase at a particular temperature Tc, with DC magnetization behavior.

English is a second language (L2) in Sindh, Pakistan. Most of the public sector schools in Sindh teach English as a subject rather than a language. Besides, they do not distinguish between generic pedagogy and distinctive approaches used for teaching English as a first language (L1) and second language (L2). In addition, the erroneous traditional assessment focuses on only writing and reading skills and the listening and speaking skills of L2 remain excluded. There is a great emphasis on summative assessments, which contribute to a qualification; however, formative assessments, which provide timely and continuous appraisal and feedback, remain ignored. Summative assessment employs only paper-and- pencil based test, while the other current means of alternative assessments like self-assessment, peer-assessment, and portfolio assessment have not been incorporated, and explored yet. Teaching English as a subject not as a language, employing summative assessment not formative, depending on paper-and-pencil based test, and not using the alternative modes of assessment are some of the questions this study will deal with. The study under discussion suggests that current approaches employed for teaching English are misplaced as these take a subject teaching approach rather than a language teaching approach. It also argues for the paradigm shift from a product to process approach to assessment by administering modern alternative assessments.

Abstract Red palm weevil [Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Olivier)], is native to South Asia and expanding its distribution range globally. Recent invasions of red palm weevil around the world, including Saudi Arabia, has become a global constraint for the production of palm species. Although, several control measures have been tested, none of them seemed successful against this invasive species. Therefore, we focused on silencing the reproduction control gene vitellogenin (Vg) based on RNA interference (RNAi) strategy for its possible application in the management of R. ferrugineus. The Vg is a major yolk protein precursor critical for oogenesis. To do this, fat body transcriptome of R. ferrugineus female adults was sequenced, which provided partial Vg gene transcript (FPKM 5731.60). A complete RfVg gene transcript of 5504 bp encoding 1787 amino acids was then sequenced using RCAE-PCR strategy and characterized. Phylogenetic analysis suggested that RfVg has closer ancestry to the coleopteran insects. The RfVg-based RNAi significantly suppressed the expressions of Vg gene. The 15, 20 and 25 days post-injection periods suppressed Vg expressions by 95, 96.6 and 99%, respectively. The suppressed Vg expressions resulted in the dramatic failure of Vg protein expression, which caused atrophied ovaries or no oogenesis and ultimately eggs were not hatched. These results suggest that knockdown of Vg gene involved in R. ferrugineus reproduction is a promising target for RNAi-based management of R. ferrugineus.