bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Detection of Phenolic Compounds by Colorimetric Bioassay Using Crude Polyphenol Oxidase
Authors: Gul I. , Hussain A. , Sami A. , Ahmad Z. , Naqvi S.M.S. , Ilyas N. , Ahmad M. S.
Published: January 2025

Monitoring of phenolic compounds in food components and industrial processes is of great importance.  Routine analytical techniques used for determination of phenolics are costly and tedious. Enzymatic bioassays can be good alternate due to their inalienable specificity, simplicity and fast responsiveness. The present study was designed to develop a colorimetric bioassay for detection of phenolics using crude extract of polyphenol oxidase (PPO). Crude PPO was extracted from apple and conditions were optimized for enzyme activity. Enzyme was immobilized on solid support (Whatman paper-1 and TLC plate) by over-spotting with 3-mthyl-2-benzothiazolinone hydrazine hydrochloride hydrate (MBTH) to develop bioactive spot. Solutions of four substrates; catechol, 4-methyl catechol, L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA) and L-tyrosine were independently loaded on bioactive spots where the PPO catalyzed the reaction in which substrate was converted to quinones which formed pink colored adduct with MBTH. Color change was detectable by naked eye but color intensity was determined by image analysis software. The detection limit for catechol, 4- methyl catechol and L-DOPA was 64 ?M, 512 ?M and 4 mM respectively with 5 minutes of response time under optimized conditions (16 enzyme units, 6mM MBTH at pH 7 and 25 °C). The change in color intensity was concentration dependent for each substrate beyond its minimum detection limit. A simple, portable, disposable and low cost colorimetric bioassay was developed for detection of phenolic compounds.
Fatigue Life Estimation of TIG Welded Aluminum Alloy (Aa2219) Under Combined Loading
Authors: Shahzadi A. , Chohan G. Y. , Ullah Mudaser , Ali Q.
Published: January 2025

Fatigue life of structural components is greatly influenced by increase in temperature. It is therefore important to study the behavior of materials under Combined Thermal Cycling (CTC). Components and parts made from aluminum are subjected to cyclic loading under high operational temperatures; hence it is necessary to determine fatigue behavior of aluminum alloys under such conditions. In this study crack initiation and fatigue life of aluminum alloy is investigated under four point rotating bending fatigue test at high temperature. CTC and notch geometry effects were also investigated in this study. High temperature testing fixture was developed and installed on the machine to carry out tests at higher temperatures. S-N curves obtained in this study shows that the fatigue life of subjected aluminum alloy is low at higher temperatures. A detailed investigation on microstructure was also made and used to show harmonious experimental results.
Poling Field Induced Phase Transitions in [111]-oriented (1-x)Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3-xPbTiO3
Authors: Shabbir G.
Published: January 2025

The effect of poling field on phase transitions of (1-x)Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3-xPbTiO3 (PMN-xPT) [111]-oriented single crystal was examined through temperature dependent complex capacitance study. Two first order phase transitions from paraelectric cubic to ferroelectric tetragonal and then to ferroelectric rhombohedral phases were observed in the unpoled crystal. An additional low temperature anomaly was also observed at a temperature of ~40 oC in the field poled crystal. The new anomaly was associated to the field assisted monoclinic phase due to rotation of polarization vector.
Performance Evaluation of Software Defined Networking vs. Traditional Networks
Authors: Lali M.I. , Mustafa R.U. , Ahsan F. , Nawaz M.S. , Aslam W.
Published: January 2025

Emerging mega trends in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and many Internet applications have offered new challenges to future Internet, of which dynamic management and high bandwidth rank high. High bandwidth needed for transporting huge data cannot be realized with traditional networking methods, wherein configurations of devices are carried out manually and capability of network infrastructure is not fully utilized. Software Defined Networking (SDN) is an emerging solution for such problems. In this article, we analyze the performance of SDN using its standard OpenFlow protocol by considering a scenario of medium enterprise data center. Performances of SDN are executed for parameters such as latency, packet delivery ratio and processing overhead in various topologies using simulations carried out in Mininet. Results indicate significant performance improvements of SDNs over traditional networks.
Study of the Multi Particle Processes in Proton-Carbon and Deuteron-Carbon Interactions at 4.2 A GeV/c
Authors: Khan A. , Suleymanov M.K. , Wazir Z. , Aslam J.
Published: January 2025

In this paper, multi particle productions in hadron-nucleus and nucleus-nucleus interactions have been analyzed. The experimental data coming from 2m Propane Bubble Chamber, Joint Institute for Nuclear Research (JINR), Dubna, Russia has been used. The results have been compared with the simulated data from the Cascade Code. We could observe that the cascade code had problem in describing the experimental data for the multi particle events. One can conclude that the problem with the code could be connected due to production of ?-resonance and exclusion of collective phenomena in the Cascade code.
A Facial Image Analysis based Algorithm to Detect Human Personality
Authors: Tauseef H. , Shafique S. , Fahiem M.A. , Farhan S.
Published: January 2025

Human personality plays an essential role in many fields of life. Facial features are used for, but are not limited, to different face recognition, pain detection, spontaneous and non-spontaneous action detection and personality detection systems. The main objective of this study is to judge human personality through facial features. Normalized facial images are used as an input. Interest points and features are extracted using Convolution Neural Network and distance metrics. Human personality is predicted using rule based classification. An accuracy of 84% for personality prediction with 8 fold cross validation is achieved.
An Ensemble Classifier based Leaf Recognition Approach for Plant Species Classification using Leaf Texture, Morphology and Shape
Authors: Riaz A. , Farhan S. , Fahiem M. A. , Tauseef H.
Published: January 2025

Plant recognition is a main problem for biologists, environmentalists and chemists. Human experts of these fields perform plant recognition manually, which requires more time and is less efficient. Plant recognition systems are used to classify plants into appropriate taxonomies. Such information is useful for botanists, industrialists, food engineers and physicians. Botanists use morphological features of the leaves to identify them. These features are used in terms of automation in identifying the plants. Leaf images of different plants have different characteristics which help in the classification of these species. The proposed approach identifies plant species in three distinct phases: (1) preprocessing, (2) feature extraction and (3) classification. Leaf features like texture, morphology and Zernike moments are extracted and treated as input vector to the four different classifiers. The best accuracy achieved by a combination of textural and morphological features is 87%.
Evaluation of Garlic Genotypes for Yield and Yield Components in Islamabad, Pakistan Environment
Authors: Khan H. , Hussain M. M. , Jellani G. , Tariq S. , Naseeb T. , Mahmood S.
Published: January 2025

Seven different cultivars of garlic (Allium sativum L.) were evaluated for yield and yield parameters at the vegetable program (HRI), National Agricultural Research Council (NARC) Islamabad in 2014-15 and 2015-16.Yield parameters like survival %age, no of leaves/plant, plant height, no. of cloves/bulb, avg. bulb weight and fresh yield were recorded. In both years, it was observed that Cultivar “NARC-G1” gave the best survival (100%), minimum and wider leaves/plant (10), average plant height (38.2 cm), minimum cloves (8.3) per bulb and comparatively larger bulbs, maximum bulb weight (126.6 gm) and maximum fresh yield (25.6 t/ha), followed by Cultivar “ Italian”, which gave (22.4 t/ha), while Cultivar “Lehson Gulabi” was noted at the bottom and gave (15.2 t/ha).Hence, “NARC-G1” cultivar could be utilized in term of better yield and as well as industrial use for value addition purposes.
The Confidence Building Measures Between India & Pakistan: A Constructivist View
Authors: Rehman S. , Azam A. , Hussain W. , Ahmad K. M.
Published: January 2025

Confidence building measure are generally viewed as important agents of change for introducing peace and stability among rival states. Both of the nuclear states of South Asia have undertaken confidence building measures in the post nuclearization scenario but these measures are not actually building confidence between the two states when seeing from the constructivist perspective. The study suggests that confidence building measure may be used for deconstruction if they are focused in changing existing norms, ideas and shared understanding.
Assessment of Iodine Deficiency in Pregnant Women and Neonates in the Capital Territory of Pakistan
Authors: Zafeer N. , Altaf J. , Rafi M. , Chaudhry M. M. , Qayyum M. , Naz S.
Published: January 2025

One of the major nutritional problems in Pakistan is the deficiency of iodine in different groups of population, e.g., pregnant women and neonates. The neonates and their expectant mothers have been significant target groups of the population to be studied for the deficiency of iodine. The objective of the present research work was to evaluate the status of iodine deficiency in neonates and their mothers in Islamabad, Pakistan. A hospital based study was carried out on two hundred sixty one pregnant women and one hundred twenty five neonates of these women, to find out iodine level among these samples. Fifty healthy and non pregnant women were used as control in the maternity and gynecological unit of the hospitals of Islamabad. The status of iodine of the pregnant and non-pregnant women was assessed by catalytic reduction method. Thyroid function was assessed by determining the concentration of TSH in the cord blood of neonates using radioimmunoassay technique, in the environmental laboratory of the Chemical and Materials Engineering Department at Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences (PIEAS) Islamabad. Ninety-four percent pregnant women and ninety-eight percent non-pregnant women exhibited urinary iodine concentration (UIC) between 20 Âµg/L to 99 Âµg/L respectively. It indicates that there was severe to mild iodine deficiency in population of study area. The median values of urinary iodine concentrations in the pregnant women and control group were 30.37 Âµg/L and 19.08 Âµg/L respectively. Statistically it was found that there was a significant (p<0.05) difference between the levels of urinary iodine concentration of non-pregnant and pregnant women. It was also found that there was a non-significant (p>0.05) difference in the concentration of urinary iodide between the pregnant women of different age groups. An overall 57.14% neonates exhibited TSH levels >5 mIU/L. From these results, it is concluded that the pregnant women had moderate iodine deficiency while their neonates had severe iodine deficiency. Keeping in view these results it is suggested that the practice of iodized salt utilization could be continued, and it is recommended that the screening of neonates or TSH levels should be compulsory in the iodine deficient areas.
A Hybrid Water Cycle Algorithm-Least Square based Framework for Robust Estimation of
Authors: Ashraf M. M. , Obaid Ullah M. , Malik T. N. , Waqas A. B. , Iqbal M. , Siddiq F.
Published: January 2025

Â The power quality is becoming an extensively addressing aspect of power system because of sensitive operation of smart grid, awareness of power quality and modern power system equipment. This paper proposes a new hybrid framework of Water Cycle Algorithm-Least Square (WCA-LS) for estimation of harmonics present in time varying noisy power signals. Water Cycle Algorithm (WCA) is a population based algorithm which realizes the concepts of exploitation and exploration to find global optimal in search space under consideration. This algorithm exploits the concept of natural hydrologic cycle to perform heuristic optimization. In hydrologic cycle water flow in the form of streams, rivers and sea. When the rain falls from clouds and snow melts from glaciers, water flows downhill in the form of streams. When streams combine at one point they generate rivers which ultimately fall into the sea. Water from lakes is evaporated and the trees also transpire the water during photosynthesis process into atmosphere to generate clouds. These clouds release water back to the earth in the form of rains and precipitation to complete the cycle. The Proposed approach has been applied on test system from literature and results prove the effectiveness of technique in terms of precision and computational time. Results are further authenticated by estimating harmonics of real time voltage waveform of Axial Flux Parmanent Magnet Synchronous Generator (AFPMSG). The proposed WCA-LS delivers promising results compared to some of the state of art frameworks such as Genetic Algorithm (GA) and Particle Swarm Optimization with Passive Congregation based Least Square (PSOPC-LS).
High Temperature Instabilities in Sr0.75Ba0.25Nb2O6 Ferroelectric Relaxor
Authors: Shabbir G.
Published: January 2025

Â [001]-oriented tungsten bronze type Sr0.75Ba0.25Nb2O6 uniaxial relaxor ferroelectric single crystals have been examined by the temperature dependent complex capacitance study. The capacitance dispersion maximum temperature was observed at T~58 oC with strong frequency dependence above and below this temperature. At temperatures T>Tmax three additional instabilities were exhibited by the complex capacitance in the unpoled crystal during heating cycle whereas these instabilities could not be seen in the subsequent cooling cycle. Similarly these instabilities disappeared upon poling the crystal at room temperature. These additional high temperature instabilities of the metastable character were associated to different kinds of random inhomogeneous structures trapped in strong random field matrix of SBN-x uniaxial relaxor.
Assessment of Leaf Rust Resistance in Wheat Genotypes in Natural Environmental Conditions of Tandojam
Authors: Ismail M. , Asad M. Azeem , Tariq J. A. , Memon R. M. , Sial M. A.
Published: January 2025

Identification of sources of resistance and their incorporation in crop germplasm is the most effective method for disease management. Therefore, present work has been conducted to find out resistance in thirty two (32) wheat genotypes against leaf rust during wheat season 2015-2016 and 2016-2017. The results of the study revealed significant variation among these genotypes against leaf rust in both seasons. In 2015-16 wheat season genotypes C217 and C228 were free of leaf rust, T11, T12, T16 and T18 were found resistant and T1, T2 and T19 showed moderately resistant reaction. Maximum leaf rust severity of 50S has been noticed on T14. In 2016-17 normal sowing trial, less rust development has been observed on all genotypes due to late appearance of disease. While in late sowing trial, seventeen genotypes have been found susceptible with maximum rust severity of 60S on T20. Twelve are rated moderately susceptible to susceptible. While the genotypes T1and T2 showed moderately resistant -moderately susceptible reaction against the disease in late sowing trial. Among thirty two genotypes, T16 has been found free of leaf rust in both trials. Thus the potential of T1, T2 and T16 as source of resistance against leaf rust can be investigated further. These results can be used in wheat breeding program to incorporate leaf rust resistance in wheat genotypes.
A Comprehensive Study on Cognitive Radio Based Internet of Things
Authors: Afzal H. , Aslam W. , Mufti M.R.
Published: January 2025

The extension of Internet to the physical world realizes the Internet of Things (IoT). It increasingly connects heterogeneous devices wirelessly for remotely accessing and controlling them. IoT devices mostly use unlicensed wireless spectrum bands. Soon these bands will become congested creating collisions among users and thus resulting in spectrum scarcity problem. In order to support massive deployment of IoT systems, the radio spectrum must be used efficiently. Cognitive Radio (CR) is an emergent technology that overcomes this problem by efficient utilization of spectrum, ensuring reliability. CR is based on opportunistic use of licensed radio spectrum whenever it is sensed free. Thus CR based IoT is a promising research area, though posing challenges that must be tackled before its acceptance as a technology. In this paper, first IoT and CR are elaborated individually and then CR based IoT systems are discussed.
RFID Enabled Chipless Humidity Sensor
Authors: Javed N. , Habib A. , Noor T. , Amin Y. , Tenhunen H.
Published: January 2025

This paper presents a conformable 9-bit chipless radio frequency identification (RFID) humidity sensor,with an overall diameter of 12.4 mm. The semi-circle shaped tag is operating within a frequency band of6-16 GHz. The tag structure is based on Taconic TLX-0 (substrate), copper (radiator) and a thinKaptonïƒ’HN sheet (superstrate). The Kaptonïƒ’HN sheet is deployed over the innermost slot to obtain thesensing response from the respective resonant slot. A comparative analysis is derived by analyzing thetag design for Rogers RT/5880, Taconic TLX-0 and FR4 substrates, to observe the quality of resonantdips. Linearly polarized plane waves are used for excitation of the tag. A simple tag composition enableseasy printability feature without requiring highly precise printing devices. This proposed tag can beutilized in many areas including pharmaceutical industries, beverage items, agriculture and in variouslow-cost RFID sensing applications.
2D Seismic Interpretation to Understand the Structural Geometry of Cretaceous Sand Packages, Jabo Field, Pakistan
Authors: Khan M. J. , Umar M. , Khan M. , Das A.
Published: January 2025

This study is focused on interpretation of 2D seismic reflection profiles coupled with borehole logs ofJabo Field (JF). The seismic interpretation revealed the configuration of basin fill deposits, subsurfacegeological structural geometries and their association with tectonic interventions in JF, Lower IndusBasin, Pakistan. Primarily, the tectonic stresses control the dimensions, geometry and style ofdeformation of geological structures which contribute in development of hydrocarbon trapping system.We have studied the structural geometries of Cretaceous sand packages which serve as a reservoir in oil& gas prone JF. Isochron and isopach maps were prepared to delineate the geological structure ofTop of Lower Goru (TLG), Top of Middle Sand (TMDS) and Top of Basal Sand (TBSL). TLG forms athree-way dip closure bounded by a NE-SW trending major fault of the JF; the geological structureat TMDS level is a two-way fault bounded since to the north and south it is bounded by dipping blocks;and the structural closure at TBSL level is two-way dip and two-way faults bounded. The structuralclosure to the north and south provided by the dipping horizons, from west by Main Fault Line (MFL) ofJF and from east the closure is provided both by Secondary Fault Line (SFL) of the JF and dippingsurfaces of sand packages. Interpretation shows the geological implications of extensional regime in thestudy area, dominated by horst and graben structures which are believed to be promising hydrocarbon traps.
Simulation Modeling of Multi-Junction Solar Cell for Efficiency Improvement
Authors: Ali M. A. , Akram S.
Published: January 2025

Current trends in the design of Multi-Junction Solar Cells (MJSC) and quantum dot applications formthe backbone of the Concentrated Solar Photovoltaic (CSPs) Systems. There are a number ofdevelopments in solar power technology because of their improved power production, high efficiency,high absorption coefficients and cost-effectiveness. Selection of solar photovoltaic (PV) materials ofdifferent band gap energies to absorb complete solar spectrum is close to a reality with decrease in priceto performance ratio. This paper presents a generalized MJSC simulation model. The present modelassumes a mathematical approach, investigating solar cell characteristic curves including currentdensity (Jsc) and power (P) curves concerning the applied voltage for a different number of junctions andby varying the material properties of the multi-junction (MJ). The proposed model simulates differentparameters and performance characteristics of two different natures of MJSC includingInGaN/AlGaAs/InGaAs Triple Junction Solar Cell (TJSC) and InGaN/InGaN/AlInP/AlInP/AlGaAs/AlGaAs/AlGaAs Seven-Junction Solar Cell. Simulation results presented in this paper are in agreementwith experimental results. Solar cell parameters including short circuit current (Jsc), open circuit voltage(Voc), leakage current (Jo), output power (Pout) have also been calculated in this work. The efficiency(%ðœ‚) of a TJSC for visible light, ultraviolet (UV), visible and infrared (IR) light is presented. Theefficiency (%ðœ‚) of seven junction solar cell is calculated to be 63%. Characteristic curves of the solarcell are plotted as a function of voltage for different concentration levels and the number of junctions,which helps to design a solar power array that can operate to its peak power point. The objective of thisresearch is to improve the overall efficiency of MJSC.
On the Design of a Content based Image Retrieval System
Authors: Farhan S. , Fahiem M. A. , Tauseef H.
Published: January 2025

With the abundance of multimedia content on the World Wide Web, research and learning of effectivefeature representation and similarity measures have become crucial. Image searching poses severalchallenges. Lately, many researchers have been exploring the field. Automatic annotation of imagesbased on digital content processing proves to be an encouraging direction in the field. Content basedimage retrieval system development is an emerging field. Accuracy of the results of semantic searchdepends on the understanding of searcherâ€™s purpose, the meaning of conditions imposed in the searchquery and their mapping in the searchable data space. A visual content semantic search engine isproposed in this paper. The search engine employs digital image features for searching the imagedatabase. The presented algorithm produces promising results. The performance of our algorithm istested on an extensive set of tags and queries resulting in accurate and efficient results.
Decision Support Mechanism for Cellular Production System â€“ Application of NSGA-II Meta-heuristic and TOPSIS Ranking
Authors: Khan A. S. , Ullah R.
Published: January 2025

Cellular arrangement is considered beneficial for the distribution of heavy workload, resource utilizationand fast paced production. In such mechanisms, machines, tools and product features are classified intodifferent cells. Such arrangement impacts the overall performance of system in the form of productivityand throughput. In current study, serial, parallel and tubular systems have been analyzed with multiplevariants of each production system. The objective is to select variants on the basis of optimal productiontime, least cost and higher productivity. Two methods have been used owing to the complex andcombinatorial nature of the problem. Initially, a modified version of Non Sorting Genetic Algorithm(NSGA-II) has been used to provide Pareto fronts where possible candidates for optimum solution havebeen presented. A Multi Attribute Decision Making (MADM) approach of Technique for Order ofPreference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) criteria has been used to select the best compromiseof optimal result. The results show that the objectives of cost, time and productivity are in conflict witheach other and a global solution cannot be attained against the optimal values of all objectives. Also, anincreased productivity can be assured by reducing the total time with an increase in cost.
Structural Delineation and Hydrocarbon Potential Evaluation of Lockhart Limestone in Basal Area, Upper Indus Basin, Pakistan
Authors: Shakir U. , Amjad M. R. , Mehmood M. F. , Hussain M. , Abuzar M. K. , Ahmad T. , Aftab F. , Tahir A. R.
Published: January 2025

The Basal area is situated in Upper Indus Basin of Pakistan dominated by intense thrust faulting alongwith the involvement of salt tectonics, which are responsible for the formation of structural traps in studyarea. Oil reserves in sedimentary rocks are the source of hydrocarbons for the energy and these reservesare trapped in a structure provided by tectonics. Integration of geological and geophysical tools providean insight to explore these reserves in the sub surface. Main focus of this research paper is to delineatea suitable structure favorable for hydrocarbon entrapment in the Basal area by integrating seismic andwell log data near Fateh Jhang, Attock district, Upper Indus basin, Pakistan. The Upper Indus basin liesin compressional tectonic regime exhibiting thrust faulting with inference of overprints oftranspressional strike-slip deformation. Basal oil field lies 77 km south-west of Islamabad with MainBoundary Thrust (MBT) in north, Khairi Murat thrust in south, Jhelum/Soan river in east and Indus riverin west. Seismic data interpretation has been performed on given seismic lines by marking faults andreservoir horizons of Chorgali and Lockhart formations using formation tops and making T-D charts viaanalysis of multiple velocity functions (MVF) of all seismic lines. Mapping of the reservoir formationshave confirmed the presence of fault-propagated anticlinal structure in study area. One main fault (throw~ 100-200 ms) and two back thrust faults EW-oriented with moderate dipping angles have been markedwith dips towards North and South respectively. Petrophysical analysis is done on the well Garhi X-01,Gamma Ray, Resistivity and Porosity tracks have confirmed the presence of hydrocarbon in LockhartFormation of Paleocene age. Three zones have been identified, out of which zone 2 is considered mostfavorable one due to less shale volume (Vsh), sufficient effective porosity and high hydrocarbonsaturation values.
Formal Analysis of Improved and Secure Architecture of E-voting System using Hierarchical Coloured Petri Nets
Authors: Ahmad Z. , Ahmad F. , Gondal Z. A
Published: January 2025

Casting a vote is the fundamental right of any citizen. Pakistan follows the traditional manual votingsystem and there are number of factors influencing in such a way that put a question as if the vote hasbeen casted correctly and should be considered towards final count. Manual counting process of vote donot provide the security measures minimizing the attempts of frauds like increase or decrease in the votecount. Therefore, the idea of secure and improved E-voting system is proposed to overcome such flawsin current voting system in Pakistan. In this manuscript, an improved component-based architecture,security features and future recommendations are presented. Different techniques linked with voterâ€™sauthentication, confidentiality and integrity are suggested to minimize the flaws and maximize thebenefits of voting system. Further, the proposed architecture is formally modelled through â€˜colouredPetri netsâ€™ to validate it. Formal analysis is also performed based on the state space generated tosimulate the hierarchical coloured Petri net based formal model of proposed E-voting system.
Reorganization of Pakistanâ€™s Science and Technology Enterprise
Authors: Khan M. N.
Published: January 2025

Ability of any modern society to develop and fully exploit advancements in Science and Technology(S&T) is critical to its long-term prosperity. While public investments in S&T throughout the developingworld are abysmally low, what is more disturbing is the ineffective use of scarce resources. In theabsence of a clear understanding of how investments in S&T enterprise improve the quality of life ofcitizens and enhance their security. It is not surprising that developing countries struggle to formulateand implement knowledge-driven, cost-effective, climate resilient development strategies. Changes inclimate, natural disasters and increasing levels of environmental pollution are likely to aggravate thegovernance challenge in developing countries. This paper outlines key pillars of a reorganizationstrategy that aims to reenergize Pakistanâ€™s S&T enterprise with the objective of tackling the complexarray of societal challenges that changes in environment are likely to exacerbate. While S&T enterpriseencompasses public and private sector institutions of higher education, research and development, thefocus of this research paper is on the Ministry of Science and Technology â€“ the federal government entityresponsible for planning and management of scientific research and technology development inPakistan. After briefly describing the history and evolution of the United States (US) S&T enterprise, thesocial and geopolitical context in which Pakistan has planned its past investments in science, technologyand higher education is examined. The author argues, that environmental change and degradation posesa serious risk to the economic wellbeing of a state and its people. Any effective strategy aimed atmitigating and managing the adverse impacts must have it at its core the goal of building and sustainingboth public and private sector institutions capable of seeking and fully exploiting relevant scientificknowledge and technology in pursuit of their respective mission.
Characteristics of Dispersed Latin Squares
Authors: Mahfooz S. Z. , Khan Y.
Published: January 2025

Experimental designs widely use Latin squares for controlled testing to understand causal processes.Among many existing Latin squares for a given order, a design of experiment may need a specific Latinsquare that offers its treatments (symbols) scattered at the desired locations. There is a need to studysystematic dispersion of symbols in Latin squares to assist effective research designs. This paperdescribes the attributes and applications of one of such designs known as Latin square of diamonddispersed pattern
Effect of Gap between Prefabricated Concrete Deck Elements on Stiffness of Composite Bridges
Authors: Abbas A. , Ajwad A. , Khan M. A. , Aqdas A. , Ilyas U. , Rashid M. U. , And Abdullah , Adnan M. A.
Published: January 2025

Composite bridges are a new dimension of todayâ€™s bridges, which involves two materials of different properties that are combined to give a unique property together. In this research, such a bridge made of Concrete and steel was chosen where the supporting medium was a steel beam with a concrete deck on top of it. One of the more advanced steps in this bridge was to prefabricate the concrete deck. The influence of the gap between the prefabricated concrete deck elements and its effect on the bridge stiffness was studied under serviceability loading. It was found out that increasing the gap did affect the stiffness of composite bridge. The deflection increased linearly with the increase in gap of concrete deck elements. Also when compared with the hand calculation, the results from ABAQUS showed presence of shear lag.
FISIOTERAPIA NO TRATAMENTO DA INCONTINÊNCIA URINÁRIA EM IDOSOS: ANÁLISE INTEGRATIVA
Authors: Paula Oliveira Beatriz , Schutte Ribeiro Fernanda , Denise Brandão Ana
Published: January 2025

A incontinência urinária (IU) é um problema de saúde comum em idosos, impactando significativamente a qualidade de vida. Este trabalho busca revisar a literatura e demonstrar a importância da fisioterapia no tratamento dessa condição e descrever medidas de tratamento relacionadas à prática clínica. Para isso, foi realizada uma revisão integrativa da literatura, utilizando as bases de dados Google Acadêmico, LILACS, SCIELO e PEDro. Foram selecionados artigos publicados nos últimos 10 anos, com foco em estudos sobre a importância da fisioterapia no tratamento de IU em idosos. A revisão evidenciou diversos estudos, demonstrando a eficácia de técnicas como exercícios de Kegel, biofeedback, eletroestimulação e outras abordagens. Essas técnicas visam fortalecer a musculatura do assoalho pélvico, melhorar o controle miccional e reduzir a frequência e a gravidade dos episódios de incontinência. A fisioterapia desempenha um papel fundamental no tratamento da IU em idosos, proporcionando uma melhora significativa na qualidade de vida dos pacientes. A prática regular de exercícios e técnicas específicas, sob orientação de um profissional fisioterapeuta, pode levar à redução dos sintomas e à recuperação da incontinência urinária.
A EFICÁCIA DA LASERTERAPIA NOS TRAUMAS MAMILARES NO PERÍODO PUÉRPERAL E ASPECTOS ASSOCIADOS: REVISÃO NARRATIVA
Authors: Regina Xavier de Oliveira Andrade Helen , Xavier de Oliveira Silva Heloisa , Dias Queiroz Brito Jussara , Altamir Batista da Costa José , Barreto Silva Bezerra Manuela
Published: January 2025

O presente trabalho aborda o aleitamento materno e os desafios enfrentados pelas mulheres no puerpério, tal como os traumas mamilares (TM) que são a causa mais comum do desmame precoce. Esses traumas, muitas vezes decorrentes da pega incorreta do recém-nascido, dificultam o aleitamento materno exclusivo. O objetivo principal do presente artigo foi identificar estudos sobre a eficácia da laserterapia no tratamento dessas lesões, com foco em sua contribuição para cicatrização e alívio da dor, bem como explorar práticas integrativas e complementares no manejo dessas condições. Foram enfatizados os benefícios do aleitamento materno e a relevância de tecnologias como a laserterapia, além das práticas integrativas reconhecidas pelo Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS). Trata-se de uma revisão de literatura, abrangendo publicações entre 2006 e 2024, realizada nas bases de dados SCIELO, BVS, PUBMED e manuais do Ministério da Saúde, entre outros acervos. Como resultado da pesquisa destaca-se que a laserterapia é eficaz na reparação tecidual, promovendo analgesia e reduzindo o tempo de cicatrização, com benefícios adicionais no conforto materno e na manutenção do aleitamento exclusivo. As discussões reforçaram a necessidade de capacitação dos profissionais e maior inclusão dessas práticas no SUS. Conclui-se que a laserterapia é uma abordagem recorrente, especialmente combinada com práticas integrativas; e que com a orientação adequada, a evidência disponível, ainda que limitada, aponta resultados positivos da laserterapia, contribuindo para o bem-estar do binômio mãe/bebê e a promoção da saúde pública.
Importance of community awareness of the Nipah virus
Authors: Ahmed MD. Faisal
Published: January 2025

Background: The Nipah virus (NiV), a zoonotic pathogen, poses a significant public health risk in high-prevalence regions like Bangladesh. The virus, transmitted primarily through fruit bats, can cause severe illnesses ranging from respiratory infections to fatal encephalitis. Given its high fatality rate and recurrent outbreaks, enhancing community awareness is crucial for effective prevention and control. This paper highlights the importance of community awareness in mitigating the spread of the Nipah virus and emphasizes the role of education in promoting preventive measures and early detection.

Methods: The study reviews existing literature and case studies on community education initiatives, focusing on awareness campaigns in affected regions. The analysis covers strategies for disseminating information, addressing cultural barriers, and engaging local stakeholders to improve public health responses.

Results: Community education efforts have shown promising outcomes, including early detection of symptoms, reduced transmission rates, and improved adoption of preventive practices such as avoiding raw date palm sap. Awareness programs involving local leaders and healthcare workers have been particularly effective in increasing knowledge and reducing stigma associated with the disease.

Conclusion: Raising community awareness is a critical component of Nipah virus prevention strategies. Ongoing educational initiatives, integrated with broader health programs, can enhance public understanding and prepare communities to respond effectively to outbreaks. Investment in awareness campaigns is essential for building resilience against Nipah virus and other emerging infectious diseases.
Addressing Non-Communicable Diseases in Bangladesh: A Perspective on Lifestyle Changes and Public Health Strategies
Authors: Ahmed MD. Faisal
Published: January 2025

Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) have become a pressing public health concern in Bangladesh, accounting for approximately 67% of total deaths. The rising prevalence of NCDs such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancer, and chronic respiratory conditions is driven by urbanization, lifestyle changes, and an aging population. Changes in dietary habits, characterized by increased consumption of processed, calorie-dense foods, and reduced physical activity in urban settings, have significantly elevated NCD risks. Tobacco use remains widespread, affecting over 35% of adults, and rising alcohol consumption among urban youths exacerbates the problem. Stress from economic and urban transitions further contributes to the burden of NCDs and related mental health issues. The healthcare system faces critical challenges, including a shortage of trained professionals, limited resources, and high out-of-pocket costs for treatment, which often lead to financial hardship. Although the government’s National NCD Strategy and Action Plan (2016–2021) aims to address these issues, its implementation has been inconsistent. Public health interventions are vital for combating NCDs. Promising strategies include community-based programs to promote physical activity and healthy eating, educational campaigns, and regulatory measures to limit unhealthy food and tobacco consumption. The integration of mobile health (mHealth) initiatives has also shown potential in managing chronic diseases in resource-limited settings. Tackling the NCD burden requires a comprehensive approach involving strengthened healthcare infrastructure, public health initiatives, and community engagement. Prioritizing these efforts can significantly improve population health and reduce the socioeconomic impact of NCDs in Bangladesh.
Ecological Grief in Bangladesh’s Mental Health Landscape
Authors: Dock Elreacy
Published: January 2025

The intersection of climate change and ecological grief in Bangladesh’s mental health landscape presents a critical challenge for public health and environmental policy. The prevalence of mental health disorders impacts one-fifth of the adult population, which is further exacerbated by climate-related factors such as extreme weather events. Characterized by elevated temperatures, sea-level rise resulting in intense floods and increased humidity, exposure to climate-related factors has been shown to correlate with an increased likelihood of anxiety and depressive disorders. Ecological grief, or eco-grief, emerges as a distinct response to observed and anticipated environmental changes. This grief often manifests as feelings of helplessness, despair, and anxiety. Forecasts in World Bank Group’s Country and Climate Development Report for Bangladesh suggest that that country could lose one-third of its agricultural GDP and experience internal displacement of 13 million individuals due to severe climate events. These concerns not only reflect the imminent psychological impact of climate change in the present but also foreshadow socioeconomic disruptions that may significantly amplify mental health crises in coming decades. The synergistic effect of environmental stressors, ecological grief, and concerns surrounding psychological wellbeing further indicates the urgent need for integrated approaches to providing targeted interventions and support.
Effect of Pandemic Covid-19 on Tropical Forest Cover in Small Island: Case Mansinam Island Papua using Google Earth Imagery
Authors:   Faculty of Forestry, University of Papua, Manokwari, Indonesia 98314, Hematang F , Taran D ,   Faculty of Forestry, University of Papua, Manokwari, Indonesia 98314, Mutakim Mutakim ,   Faculty of Forestry, University of Papua, Manokwari, Indonesia 98314, Erari S ,   Faculty of Teacher and Science Education, University of Papua, Manokwari, Indonesia 98314, Luas A ,   Faculty of Literature and Culture, University of Papua, Manokwari, Indonesia 98314, Worabai D ,   Faculty of Forestry, University of Papua, Manokwari, Indonesia 98314, Beljai M ,   Faculty of Forestry, University of Papua, Manokwari, Indonesia 98314
Published: January 2025

Covid-19 became a global pandemic in 2020 and has multiple impacts on the economy, social, culture, food systems, and also the environment, especially on tropical forest cover in small island. This study aims to determine the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the forest cover of small populated islands. Using remote sensing and geographic information system technology based on high-resolution satellite imagery from google earth imagery, land cover was observed in 2018, 2020, and 2023. This study found that during the 2020 pandemic, tropical forest cover on small populated islands has decreased. Mansinam's forest cover decreased by 4.3%, bare land increased by 80.6%, agricultural land increased by 75.3%, and shrubs increased by 54.9%. Another important finding is that 78.9% of the total deforestation was due to forest conversion to bare land and agricultural land. Land and forest utilization on small islands will increase when accessibility is limited, especially during the pandemic. Future studies will be on the structure and composition of species in locations that experienced deforestation during the pandemic and detailed studies related to changes in the occupations of Mansinam people due to the pandemic that have a relationship with forests.
Avicennia alba, an Additional Potential Carbon Sequester in Mangrove Ecosystems
Authors:   Pusat Pengajian Sains, Fakulti Sains Gunaan, Universiti Teknologi MARA Cawangan Negeri Sembilan, Kampus Kuala Pilah, Kuala Pilah, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia 72000, Ramli N H , Rahim N A ,   Pusat Pengajian Sains, Fakulti Sains Gunaan, Universiti Teknologi MARA Cawangan Negeri Sembilan, Kampus Kuala Pilah, Kuala Pilah, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia 72000, Osman N A ,   Pusat Pengajian Sains, Fakulti Sains Gunaan, Universiti Teknologi MARA Cawangan Negeri Sembilan, Kampus Kuala Pilah, Kuala Pilah, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia 72000, Sidik N J ,   Fakulti Sains Gunaan, Blok C, Kompleks Sains 2, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia 40450, Mawi N ,   Pusat Pengajian Sains, Fakulti Sains Gunaan, Universiti Teknologi MARA Cawangan Negeri Sembilan, Kampus Kuala Pilah, Kuala Pilah, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia 72000, Razali N B ,   Bahagian Perubahan Iklim, Pusat Gas Rumah Kaca Kebangsaan, Kementerian Sumber Asli dan Kelestarian Alam, Blok F11, Kompleks F, Presint 1, Pusat Pentadbiran Kerajaan Persekutuan, Wilayah Persekutuan Putrajaya, Malaysia 62000, Farinordin F A ,   Pusat Pengajian Sains, Fakulti Sains Gunaan, Universiti Teknologi MARA Cawangan Pahang, Kampus Jengka, Bandar Tun Abdul Razak Jengka, Pahang, Malaysia 26400
Published: January 2025

Mangrove forests have exceptional carbon sequestration capacity for mitigating climate change impacts. Increased atmospheric CO2 can accelerate crop growth, improve water-use efficiency, and disrupt soil-plant balance. The performance of Avicennia alba in terms of morphometrics and biomass under environmental stresses such as elevated CO2 was poorly understood. Thus, this study aims to determine the growth response and survivability of A. alba by examining height, leaf number, and growth rate under elevated CO2 in the early stages of development. A number of 120 seed samples of A. alba was divided into two groups; 60 germinated seeds were placed in a CO2 incubator and 60 in a shade house as a control. The growth rate, plant height, leaf number, and mortality were compared between the two groups and statistical analyses were conducted. The treated seedlings exhibited significantly greater mean height (11.98 ± 1.09 cm), improved growth rates (1.09 ± 0.76 vs. 1.07 ± 0.46), and higher survivability (U = 1470, p-value < 0.05). There is a significant positive relationship between height and number of leaves (β = 0.298, R² = 0.535, p-value < 0.001), indicating that taller seedlings tend to produce more leaves. A comprehensive understanding of the balance between enhanced growth and reduced leaf production under elevated CO₂ levels provides valuable insights into how plants may adapt or respond to changing environmental conditions in future climate change scenarios.
Non-timber Forest Products in Bu Gia Map National Park: Local Use and Sustainable Management
Authors:   Thu Dau Mot University, Number 6, Tran Van On Street, Phu Hoa Ward, Thu Dau Mot City, Binh Duong Province, Vietnam 75000, Dinh T S
Published: January 2025

Non-timber forest products (NTFPs) in Bu Gia Map National Park (BGMNP) have played a critical role in local livelihood. Thus, the park resources have been threatened by local harvesting. Yet, the local perspective of the NTFP utilization between Indigenous Ethnic Minorities (IMs) and Kinh people (KPs) has been poorly understood. Besides, in order to analyze the resource use between the IMs and the KPs, the “walk-in-the-wood” method and the Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) were employed. This paper revealed that the local NTFP utilization gradually shifted from purely self-consumption to more income generation (p-value = 0.000 < 0.05). Besides, the IMs relied much upon the NTFPs, whereas the KPs were less dependent upon these resources. The IMs harvested these resources for more subsistence related to their traditional and basic needs than those KPs. Based on the local findings, the institutional management strategies in BGMNP should emphasize resource utilization patterns, human capital empowerment, and group-based arrangements. Likewise, group-based arrangements in BGMNP would play an important role in the local livelihood improvement and the sustainable park development.