Socio-Economic Analysis of Household Energy Security: Evidence from 3D Energy Losses Surface Maps (ELSMs) of a Town Using Conjuncture of Factors Matrix, Digital and Mathematical Analysis

Pakistan is facing perpetual and worsening energy crisis. For vision 2025, the most important litmus test is to overcome energy crisis and ensure energy security by imaginative and innovative energy alternatives. In the same context, scientists, experts and researchers have been focusing on renewables and non-renewable energy generation alternatives, but have largely ignored the flip side. The extravagant use of energy, unlawful connections and losses in distribution system are contributors to ongoing energy crisis. For energy security in a developing country like Pakistan, elimination of energy losses seems a viable option, alongside generation of energy. Therefore, there is a need to have socio-economic analysis of energy losses. In this paper, energy losses for electricity were estimated for Lali Bagh Town of Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province using a versatile and innovative socio-economic framework. This framework was based on factors matrix comprising socio-economic, environmental and energy factors pertaining to households. Within the factors matrix approach, three methods were used for analysis of energy losses; the statistical analysis to obtain trend and ratings of electricity losses, digital analysis of the data by computer assisted qualitative data analysis software (CAQDAS) to get the digitally iterated and attenuated models along with representative equations and mathematical analysis of equations by Newton-Leibniz integration process to obtain numerical value of the ratings. Based on the results obtained, three dimensional energy losses surface maps (ELSMs) were prepared for Lali Bagh Town of Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province. At the end, policy recommendations have been given in the context of vision 2025. Paper is a unique combination of theoretical, mathematical and digital cum spatial economics. JEL Classification: O22, Q21, Q31, Q41. Keywords: Socio-economic, Analysis, Energy, Security, Electricity, Losses, Factors, Matrix, Digital, Maps

Spatial Distribution of Socio-economic Inequality: Evidence from Inequality Maps of a Village in Tribal Region of Pakistan

Economic and social inequality is consistently persisting in tribal region of Pakistan. People in the tribal region of Pakistan are living in deprived state whereby they lack even basic necessities in their lives. As described by Gul, the tribal areas are different than the rural areas because tribal areas are located in far flung mountainous terrain where accessibility to basic amenities is much lower than the rural areas [Gul (2013)]. In recent times, the Government of Pakistan initiated many efforts for provision of basic amenities in tribal areas as an essential component of development in the context of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). However, according to John the desired state is yet to be achieved in tribal areas [John (2009)]. Tribal life is characterised by hardship and great insecurity especially for poor labour. Given the income vulnerabilities, the long run welfare is forgone for short run securities. Interruption, reduction or loss of earnings from the contingencies such as unemployment, underemployment, low wages, low prices and failure to find the market for the produce, old age, ill-health, sickness, disability etc. are the situations which call for social security and protection. As concluded by Talbot, this constant state of deprivation has generated deep rooted inequalities in the tribal society [Talbot (1998)]. People take rescue measures such as sending their earners to urban areas and if possible to foreign countries. Those who have lands and doing agriculture are the blessed one, although, the earning pattern is distorted due to law and order situation. To have an assessment of the overall economic inequality in the tribal region, author conducted a study in a small village Naryab which is located in the tribal region. Primary data was collected from the households physically and it was thoroughly analysed to conclude the pattern of inequality. This inequality was then mapped using latest mapping software “SURFER”

Library Anxiety among Undergraduate Students: A case study of faculty of Management Science, University of Peshawar

Library anxiety is a psychological barrier to the academic performance of university students. This study was conducted among undergraduate students at the faculty of management sciences, the University of Peshawar to examine the factors which predict library anxiety. Library anxiety is a psychological barrier to academic success among college students. This study of 843 undergraduate team was administered by hand to all the sample size among university students in order to examine factors that predict library anxiety, a sample size of 262 was drawn 244 questionnaires was collected with a response rate of 93.12% based on Krejcie and Morgan’s (1970) table of sample size determination. The results indicate that the students were more anxious about the staff of the library than other factors. Thus it can be inferred that the attitude of library staff made a significant contribution to the degree of library anxiety among students which made them unable to effectively utilize library resources and services. Such behavior also contributed to other areas of library anxiety-like non-use or avoidance of the library by students, which results in achieving poor academic grades

The Mediating Role of Emotional Exhaustion in the Relationship between Abusive Supervision and Employee Cyberloafing Behaviour.

Cyberloafing is becoming a common problem in every organization that directly affects organizational productivity. In this study we are going to study the influence of abusive supervision on cyberloafing, further, we are studying the mediating effect of emotional exhaustion generated due to abusive supervision behaviour, motivating employees towards cyberloafing. The data were collected from 150 employees working in Saif Textile Mills Ltd & Kohat Textile Mills Ltd, Pakistan through questionnaires. The study sample was drawn using a convenience sampling technique. This study used SPSS 25 and process Hayes (2013) model 4 for data analysis and for model fitness we used CFA (AMOS 22). The data findings demonstrate that abusive supervision significantly and positively affects cyberloafing and also emotional exhaustion mediates this relation significantly. Therefore we conclude that abusive supervision is the main factor for employees to be exhausted and ultimately move towards cyberloafing. Based on these finding managers plays a vital role to maintain organization environment friendly

Comparative metal distribution in scalp hair of Pakistani and Irish referents and diabetes mellitus patients

Background: The essential metals, chromium (Cr), magnesium (Mg), manganese (Mn) and zinc (Zn), are necessary for many metabolic processes and their homeostasis is crucial for life. The toxic metals, cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb), have no beneficial role in human metabolism. The aim of this study was to investigate the levels of Cd, Cr, Mg, Mn, Pb, and Zn in scalp hair samples of type 2 diabetes mellitus patients of both genders, ages ranging from 30 to 50 y, and belong to urban areas of Ireland and Pakistan. For comparison purposes, age matched non-diabetic subjects of both countries were selected as referents. Methods: The concentrations of metals in scalp hair samples were measured by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrophotometer and atomic absorption spectrophotometer after microwave-assisted acid digestion. The validity and accuracy of the methodology were checked by conventional wet-acid-digestion method and using certified reference materials. Results: The mean values of Cd and Pb were significantly higher in scalp hair samples of both Pakistani and Irish diabetic patients as compared to referents of both countries (P<0.001). In contrast, lower Cr, Mg, Mn, and Zn (P<0.01) concentrations were detected in scalp hair derived from patients with type 2 diabetes versus healthy subjects of both countries. Conclusion: This study showed that, increased toxic elements and decreased essential elements are associated with diabetes mellitus. Therefore, these elements may play a role in the development and pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus

Evaluation of essential trace and toxic elements in scalp hair samples of smokers and alcohol user hypertensive patients

The incidence of hypertension has been associated to cigarette smoking and consumption of alcohol. In the present study, trace and toxic elements were determined in scalp hair of patients diagnosed with hypertension who are smokers and habitual alcohol drinkers living in Dublin, Ireland. These results were compared with age- and sex-matched healthy, nonsmokers, nondrinking controls. The concentrations of trace and toxic elements were measured by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrophotometer after microwave-assisted acid digestion. The validity and accuracy of the methodology were checked using certified reference material (NCS ZC 81002b) and by the conventional wet acid digestion method on the same certified reference material and on real samples. The recovery of all the studied elements was found to be in the range of 97.5%–99.7% in certified reference material. The results of this study showed that the mean values of cadmium, copper, iron, nickel and lead were significantly higher in scalp hair samples of both smoker and nonsmoker hypertensive patients than referents (P < 0.001); whereas, the concentration of zinc was lower in the scalp hair samples of hypertensive patients of both genders. The deficiency of zinc and the high exposure of trace and toxic metals as a result of cigarette smoking and alcohol consumption may be synergistic with risk factors associated with hypertension

Interaction between essential trace and toxic elements in the scalp hair samples of smokers and alcohol user diabetics

In the present study, trace and toxic elements were determined in the Scalp Hair (SH) samples of patients diagnosed with diabetes mellitus (DM) who were smokers and habitual alcohol drinkers living in Dublin, Ireland. The concentrations of elements were measured by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrophotometer after microwave-assisted acid digestion. The validity and accuracy of the methodology was checked using Certified Reference Material (CRM) (NCS ZC 81002b) and by the conventional wet acid digestion method on the same CRM. The results of this study showed that the mean values of cadmium, copper, iron, nickel and lead were significantly higher (P<0.001), in scalp hair samples of diabetic patients as compared to referents of both gender. While the smokers and alcohol drinker referents and DM patients have two to three time higher values of these elements than those subjects who were not smokers and teetotallers. The concentrations of zinc, chromium and manganese were lower in the scalp hair samples of diabetic patients as compared to referents. The deficiency of zinc, chromium and manganese, while the high exposure of cadmium, lead and nickel, as a result of cigarette smoking and alcohol consumption, may be synergistic with risk factors associated with diabetes

Interaction between zinc, cadmium, and lead in scalp hair samples of Pakistani and Irish smokers rheumatoid arthritis subjects in relation to controls

The incidence of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has been associated with cigarette smoking. The aim of our study was to assess the trace essential and toxic metals, cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn), in scalp hair samples of 32 Irish and 46 Pakistani smokers and non-smokers RA male patients with age range 42-56 years. For comparison purpose, the scalp hair samples of 27 Irish and 55 Pakistani non-RA male subjects of the same age group were collected. The concentrations of trace and toxic elements were measured by inductive coupled plasma atomic emission spectrophotometer and atomic absorption spectrophotometer prior to microwave-assisted acid digestion. The validity and accuracy of the methodology was checked using certified reference materials and using conventional wet acid digestion method on the same certified reference materials (CRMs). The recovery of all studied elements was found to be in the range of 97.5-99.7% of certified reference values of CRMs. The results of this study showed that the mean values of Cd and Pb were significantly higher in scalp hair samples of both smoker and non-smoker RA patients than in referents (P < 0.001), whereas the concentration of Zn was lower in the scalp hair samples of smokers and non-smokers rheumatoid arthritis patients. The deficiency of Zn and the high exposure of Cd and Pb as a result of cigarette smoking may be synergistic risk factors associated with rheumatoid arthritis

A Consolidated Review of Path Planning and Optimization Techniques: Technical Perspectives and Future Directions

In this paper, a review on the three most important communication techniques (ground, aerial, and underwater vehicles) has been presented that throws light on trajectory planning, its optimization, and various issues in a summarized way. This kind of extensive research is not often seen in the literature, so an effort has been made for readers interested in path planning to fill the gap. Moreover, optimization techniques suitable for implementing ground, aerial, and underwater vehicles are also a part of this review. This paper covers the numerical, bio-inspired techniques and their hybridization with each other for each of the dimensions mentioned. The paper provides a consolidated platform, where plenty of available research on-ground autonomous vehicle and their trajectory optimization with the extension for aerial and underwater vehicles are documented

A prospective hospital based study of relation between carotid artery intimal medial thickness in patients with type 1 diabetes

Background: The aim of this study was to found association between Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus and Carotid Arterial Intimal Thickness (CIMT).Methods: Study design: It was a prospective case control hospital-based study. One hundred type 1 diabetes patient between the age group 3-36 years were taken. The association between type 1 diabetes with CIMT was studied. All the measurements were standardized. 50 age and sex matched controls were taken for comparison.Results: There is positive correlation between type 1 diabetes and CIMT (p<0.0001). The correlation further extends between duration of diabetes, glycemic control, age of onset, frequency and severity of diabetic related complication with CIMT.Conclusions: Carotid atherosclerosis as measured by CIMT has definite association with type 1 diabetes