Fate of Urban Groundwater in Shallow Confined Aquifers. Case Study of Baldia Town, Karachi, Pakistan

A study was carried out to assess the groundwater quality for drinking purpose in Baldia Town, Karachi. For this purpose, groundwater samples (n = 18) were randomly collected from various depths (> 100 feet) through boring wells after monsoon season. Data revealed that except two (BT-5, 8) which were turbid and smoky, rest of the samples were colorless, non-turbid and sweet in taste. Groundwater temperature fluctuates between 19-26 ˚C. The pH varies between slightly acidic to slightly basic (range: 6.8-7.3) where two third of total samples have pH < 7. All the samples have very high TDS content (range: 1240-16910 mg/L; mean: 6832 mg/L) which exceeded the national drinking water quality standard (1000 mg/L) set by PCRWR. Hardness values varied in the extreme range (1000-9500 mg/L; mean: 2366 mg/L). Relative abundance of major cations follows the order of Mg > Ca > Na> K while anions varied in the order of HCO3> SO4> NO3> Cl. Dissolved Fe+3 (mean: 0.01 mg/L) varies within WHO permissible limit (0.3 mg/L) while Mn showed concentration < 0.01 mg/L. Concentration of trace elements declined in the order of Ni > Zn > Cr > Co. It is concluded that groundwater of study area not fit for drinking purpose. It is strongly influenced by semi-arid climate and water rock interaction which is manifested by geochemical signatures of limestone (Ca, Zn) and clays (Ni, Co, Cr). Due to confined aquifer system the anthropogenic contamination is not significant

Impact of Body Weight on Self-Esteem among Undergraduate Young Adult Students of Doctor of Physiotherapy, Karachi

Objectives: To determine the recurrence of body disappointment, loss of control and self- related wellbeing in interpose the relationship among body weight and impairments in self-esteem among students of Doctor of Physiotherapy (DPT) Material and Methods: The research was among youthful understudies of the two sexes (boys and girls) of Doctor of Physiotherapy in both campuses—removed for blind review---. Concluded an overview through the questionnaire (Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale according to the sample size of 298 computed through online programming Open Epi. The survey was acknowledged globally and it was standardized questionnaire. The data was assembled by figuring the BMI among body weight understudies of (DPT) and to check the level of self-esteem by Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale. The survey conducted from January 2019 to February 2019. Results: Normal weight was adjusted to 18.50 till 24.90 – a total of 81 respondents, Overweight was adjusted to 25.00 till 29.90 of 35 respondents, obese category was adjusted to 30.00 or more a total of 17 respondents were adjudged to be in this category as per weigh ranges BMI. After analyzing the Chi-Square tabulation, it was found that the highest self-esteem was found in the normal weight BMI category respondents followed by the overweight category and the lowest self-esteem was found in obese category. As the table shows that girls have more self-esteem as compared to the boys, although the girl’s respondents are more so than boys are. Conclusion: It has been conclude that the proportion of the highest self-esteem were found in the normal weight BMI category respondents followed by the overweight category and the lowest self-esteem was found in obese category. Keywords: Body Mass Index, Stress, Obesity, Body image, Depression and Self-esteem

Methanogenic Diversity and Taxonomy in the Gastro Intestinal Tract of Ruminants

To elucidate the microbial dynamics inside rumen of animals of livestock importance and to provide a better ration to them in order to control various metabolic disorders, a better understanding of the rumen microbial ecology is pivotal. The fundamental knowledge of methanogenic population inside gut environment and ruminal fermentation is of considerable importance as it has a significant impact on the various metabolic activities of the animal. The major methanogens isolated and characterized from ruminants like cattle, sheep, steers, goats, reindeers are from the order Methanobacteriales, Methanomicrobiales, Methanococcales, Methanosarcinales and Methanomassiliicoccales. The chapter deals with present knowledge available regarding the methanogenic diversity present in the gastro-intestinal tract of ruminants all over the world primarily through constructing 16S rRNA gene clone libraries and tries to uncover the new genera in ruminant’s microbiome and their adaptations in extreme environment. To get a better idea regarding the composition of methanogen community, further studies are required in relation to the effect of diet and animal species to the rumen methanogens

Impact of Body Weight on Self-Esteem among Undergraduate Young Adult Students of Doctor of Physiotherapy, Karachi

Objectives: To determine the recurrence of body disappointment, loss of control and self- related wellbeing in interpose the relationship among body weight and impairments in self-esteem among students of Doctor of Physiotherapy (DPT) Material and Methods: The research was among youthful understudies of the two sexes (boys and girls) of Doctor of Physiotherapy in both campuses—removed for blind review---. Concluded an overview through the questionnaire (Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale according to the sample size of 298 computed through online programming Open Epi. The survey was acknowledged globally and it was standardized questionnaire. The data was assembled by figuring the BMI among body weight understudies of (DPT) and to check the level of self-esteem by Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale. The survey conducted from January 2019 to February 2019. Results: Normal weight was adjusted to 18.50 till 24.90 – a total of 81 respondents, Overweight was adjusted to 25.00 till 29.90 of 35 respondents, obese category was adjusted to 30.00 or more a total of 17 respondents were adjudged to be in this category as per weigh ranges BMI. After analyzing the Chi-Square tabulation, it was found that the highest self-esteem was found in the normal weight BMI category respondents followed by the overweight category and the lowest self-esteem was found in obese category. As the table shows that girls have more self-esteem as compared to the boys, although the girl’s respondents are more so than boys are. Conclusion: It has been conclude that the proportion of the highest self-esteem were found in the normal weight BMI category respondents followed by the overweight category and the lowest self-esteem was found in obese category. Keywords: Body Mass Index, Stress, Obesity, Body image, Depression and Self-esteem

Comparative Study of Conventional Groundwater Quality Results with WQI Technique: A Case Study of Surjani Town, Karachi, Pakistan

Present study is aimed to calculate the water quality index (WQI) of Surjani Town by using weighted arithmetic index method to assess its suitability for drinking purpose. For calculating WQI, 12 parameters (pH, TDS, EC, Hardness, Na, Ca, K, Mg, HCO3, SO4, NO3 and Cl) have been taken into account. Except pH, all physicochemical parameters are exhibiting the maximum prominence in WQI quality rating scale (Qn) which suggests that groundwater is highly polluted. The computed value of water quality index (WQI= 331.62) is also found to be high which is comparable with enormously high concentrations of physicochemical parameters that are violating the WHO admissible limit for drinking purpose. Results revealed that the groundwater is under the influence of anthropogenic activity from nearby Jam Chakro solid waste dumping site. It is concluded that groundwater is highly deteriorated which is immensely inappropriate for drinking purpose according to WQI rating score

Productivity and Efficiency Analysis of Pakistani Textile Industry using Malmquist Productivity Index Approach

The key purpose of this study is to evaluate the total factor productivity of the textile sector by using DEA (Data Envelopment Analysis) and also identifying the components which play a significant role in the growth of productivity. This paper examines productivity performance of the Pakistan’s textile manufacturing industry using firm-level panel data of a total of 64 firms for the period 2011-2015. Moreover, the sources of expansion and compression in output are recognized for the whole textile industry as well as for the three sub sectors comprising of 35 firms from spinning, 21 from composite and 8 from weaving textile sector. Empirical results suggest that total factor productivity growth of composite, spinning and weaving textile sectors are not presenting skewed distribution. Moreover, the component of technological change had a negative impact on spinning textile sector. Technical efficiency and technological change, both, had a positive impact on the productivity of composite and weaving textile sectors. Overall, the spinning textile sector has no contribution in the productivity growth. A critical evaluation of the production factors is necessary for the maintenance of the performance of the organization. This paper provides information to the decision makers and policy makers about the allocation, acquisition and anticipation of the resources. To eradicate the industry’s pitfalls, textile sector in combination of subsectors has been selected providing a comparative analysis of the efficiencies adding to the existing body of literature by detecting the primary zones for improving productivity performance in Pakistani textile manufacturing as the pure efficiency component. &nbsp

JOB-RELATED CONSTRAINTS FACED BY WORKING WOMEN IN RURAL AREAS: A CASE STUDY OF AKBAR PURA DISTRICT NOWSHERA, KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWA, PAKISTAN

The study was conducted in Akbar Pura village, located in the Nowshera district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, with the objective of examining the job-related constraints faced by working women. The study aimed to identify the types and nature of jobs undertaken by these women and investigate the challenges they encountered both in the workplace and at home due to family responsibilities. A sample of households with working women was selected using simple random sampling, representing twenty-five percent of the total households. The findings of the study indicated that most of the respondents were literate, belonged to the young age group, and were unmarried; the majority of the working women were involved in teaching professions. The practice of pardah (veiling) was common among the respondents, and it was perceived as both a cultural and Islamic practice. The study identified several constraints and difficulties faced by working women, these included problems related to transportation, instances of men staring at women, time constraints, managing household responsibilities, lack of respect for female workers, and the expectation to return home early. The majority of the women shared these problems with their family members. Based on the findings, the study recommended the provision of a conducive and secure environment for working women so that they can perform their jobs effectively and support their families. It also emphasized the importance of prioritizing women's education to enable them to shoulder the economic burdens of their families. In summary, the study conducted in Akbar Pura village highlighted the job-related constraints faced by working women. The findings emphasized the need for a supportive environment and increased education for women to empower them economically and address the challenges they face in both the workplace and their homes.  Article visualizations

Nonclassical Symmetry Analysis of Boundary Layer Equations

The nonclassical symmetries of boundary layer equations for two-dimensional and radial flows are considered. A number of exact solutions for problems under consideration were found in the literature, and here we find new similarity solution by implementing the SADE package for finding nonclassical symmetries

Separating snow, clean and debris covered ice in the Upper Indus Basin, Hindukush-Karakoram-Himalayas, using Landsat images between 1998 and 2002

NOTICE: this is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in the Journal of Hydrology. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in the Journal of Hydrology Volume 521, February 2015, Pages 46–64. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2014.11.048The full text of this version of the article is embargoed for 24 months from the date of publication to meet the publisher's requirementsThe Hindukush Karakoram Himalayan mountains contain some of the largest glaciers of the world, and supply melt water from perennial snow and glaciers to the Upper Indus Basin (UIB) upstream of Tarbela dam, which constitutes greater than 80% of the annual flows, and caters to the needs of millions of people in the Indus Basin. It is therefore important to study the response of perennial snow and glaciers in the UIB under changing climatic conditions, using improved hydrological modeling, glacier mass balance, and observations of glacier responses. However, the available glacier inventories and datasets only provide total perennial-snow and glacier cover areas, despite the fact that snow, clean ice and debris covered ice have different melt rates and densities. This distinction is vital for improved hydrological modeling and mass balance studies. This study, therefore, presents a separated perennial snow and glacier inventory (perennial snow-cover on steep slopes, perennial snow-covered ice, clean and debris covered ice) based on a semi-automated method that combines Landsat images and surface slope information in a supervised maximum likelihood classification to map distinct glacier zones, followed by manual post processing. The accuracy of the presented inventory falls well within the accuracy limits of available snow and glacier inventory products. For the entire UIB, estimates of perennial and/or seasonal snow on steep slopes, snow-covered ice, clean and debris covered ice zones are 7238 ± 724, 5226 ± 522, 4695 ± 469 and 2126 ± 212 km^2 respectively. Thus total snow and glacier cover is 19,285 ± 1928 km^2, out of which 12,075 ± 1207 km^2 is glacier cover (excluding steep slope snow-cover). Equilibrium Line Altitude (ELA) estimates based on the Snow Line Elevation (SLE) in various watersheds range between 4800 and 5500 m, while the Accumulation Area Ratio (AAR) ranges between 7% and 80%. 0 °C isotherms during peak ablation months (July and August) range between ~ 5500 and 6200 m in various watersheds. These outputs can be used as input to hydrological models, to estimate spatially-variable degree day factors for hydrological modeling, to separate glacier and snow-melt contributions in river flows, and to study glacier mass balance, and glacier responses to changing climate