MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT CRISES IN THE DEVELOPING COUNTRIES: A CASE STUDY OF PESHAWAR CITY

Due to the speedy increase in population, the solid waste management issues are becoming a challenge for the developing countries. Unhealthy collection, improper transportation and open dumping of the Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) is causing a serious threat to the environment and the people residing in the surroundings. In Pakistan, unsustainable way of solid waste management, lack of the authorities to deal with effectively with the MSW and least vision of the society towards the emerging issues of the solid waste is depicting the worst situation in the country. To highlight the significant Municipal Solid Waste Management (MSWM) issues in the developing countries of the world, Peshawar city has been selected as a case study. Peshawar city is experiencing serious environmental issues due to speedy urbanization pace, rapid industrialization, deficiency of the authorities to manage the solid waste issues properly and lack of public awareness towards the challenging issue. Open dumping of the MSW on the open lands, utilized as dumping sites are responsible for the environmental problems increasing day by day. The research findings clearly reveal the MSWM crises in the city. Improper MSWM practices are not only creating air, land and water pollution but it also causes the blockage of open drains, smaller canals and ruining the aesthetics of the city

Efficacy and safety of sofosbuvir based antiviral therapy for chronic hepatitis C infection in patients with advanced chronic kidney disease

Background: Screening studies for hepatitis C have proved that it is more prevalent in patients with renal diseases. Chronic hepatitis C infection in patients with kidney disease not only accelerates renal deterioration but also adversely effects morbidity and mortality. Availability of direct acting antiviral drugs has revolutionized treatment of hepatitis C even in difficult patients. In advanced kidney diseases, selection of treatment is difficult. Aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Sofosbuvir based DAAs in patients with advanced CKD.Methods: In this Quasi experimental study, CHC patients with or without cirrhosis having advance CKD (eGFR <30 ml/min per 1.73 m2) and/or on dialysis were enrolled. End points of the study were documentation of SVR 12 or discontinuation of therapy. Different regimens of oral DAAs with or without Ribavirin were used.Results: 86 patients with a median age of 53 years were enrolled. 37 patients were on maintenance dialysis and 49 were not on dialysis with eGFR <30 ml/min per 1.73 m2. Virological response was 92.68% at the end of treatment and SVR was achieved by 90.2% twelve weeks after therapy. Insomnia 14%, headache 11% and anemia 7% were main dverse effects. Mean eGFR and creatinine before and after treatment remained the same. Only 2 patients relapsed, both were on dialysis thrice weekly.Conclusions: All Sofosbuvir based regimens used for the treatment of CHC in patients with end stage renal disease are effective and well tolerated. Close follow up is advised to monitor side effects

MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT CRISES IN THE DEVELOPING COUNTRIES: A CASE STUDY OF PESHAWAR CITY

Due to the speedy increase in population, the solid waste management issues are becoming a challenge for the developing countries. Unhealthy collection, improper transportation and open dumping of the Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) is causing a serious threat to the environment and the people residing in the surroundings. In Pakistan, unsustainable way of solid waste management, lack of the authorities to deal with effectively with the MSW and least vision of the society towards the emerging issues of the solid waste is depicting the worst situation in the country. To highlight the significant Municipal Solid Waste Management (MSWM) issues in the developing countries of the world, Peshawar city has been selected as a case study. Peshawar city is experiencing serious environmental issues due to speedy urbanization pace, rapid industrialization, deficiency of the authorities to manage the solid waste issues properly and lack of public awareness towards the challenging issue. Open dumping of the MSW on the open lands, utilized as dumping sites are responsible for the environmental problems increasing day by day. The research findings clearly reveal the MSWM crises in the city. Improper MSWM practices are not only creating air, land and water pollution but it also causes the blockage of open drains, smaller canals and ruining the aesthetics of the city

Clinicopathological prognostic factors of oral squamous cell carcinoma: An experience of a tertiary care hospital

Locoregional recurrence accounts for majority of the treatment failures in oral cancer patients. Current study aimed to determine the predictors of recurrence and survival in patients with biopsy proven Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC) of the oral cavity. This study included 88 patients of squamous cell carcinoma treated at our institution from 2007 till 2013. Primary intervention was surgery in all patients with radiation and chemotherapy in selected patients. Primary end point was locoregional recurrence, distant metastasis and death. Out of 88 patients, 23 (26.1%) patients developed locoregional recurrence and 6 (6.8%) patients developed distant metastasis. Overall survival rate was 77.3%. Follow up ranged from 1 month to 63 months with mean of 17.8±16.2. On multivariate analysis, lymph node involvement and loco-regional recurrence were independent parameters related to decrease overall survival. Lymphovascular invasion, perineural spread, TNM stage and lymph node involvement had significant impact on recurrence

Serious Games in Science Education. A Systematic Literature Review

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In vitro and in vivo evaluation of different measures to control Ascochyta blight in chickpea

Ascochyta blight, an infection caused by Ascochyta rabiei is a destructive disease in many chickpea growing regions and it caused significant yield losses. To minimize the impact of Ascochyta blight, 5 fungicides viz., Aliette, Cabrio Top, Thiovit Jet, Cymoxanil and Difenoconazole, 5 plants extracts namely Azadirachta indica, Azadirachta azedarach, Datura stramonium, Chenopodium album and Allium sativum L. and two strains T-22 and E58 of bio-control agents (BCAs) Trichoderma viride and Aspergillus flavus were evaluated on the growth of A. rabiei under in vitro conditions by using the food poison technique. The colony growth of Ascochyta rabiei was inhibited at all concentrations of fungicides @ 0.07, 0.15, 0.21%, plants extracts @ 4, 6, 9% and bio-control agents @ 105, 106 and 107 conidia ml-1 respectively. Among all applied treatments, maximum inhibition colony growth of pathogen was recorded in the case of Aliette (83.4%), followed by Cabrio Top (74.3%), Azadirachta indica (50.3%) and Trichoderma viride (60.3%) at their high concentrations. Field trials showed that Aliette and Cabario Top significantly reduced the disease severity to 10 % and 24% respectively, followed by Azadirachta indica and Allium sativum which reduced the disease severity to 40% and 50% respectively. Bio-control agent Trichoderma viride proved less effective in controlling Ascochyta bight severity under field conditions. The present study showed that systemic and sulphur containing fungicides, plant extracts and bio-control agents (BCAs) have the potential to control Ascochyta blight in both in vitro and in vivo conditions

Estimation of Phenotypic and Genotypic Correlation Analysis in F3 Populations of Bread Wheat Genotypes

Wheat is one of the most important crops all over the world in terms of yield, production, consumption, cultivation, and adoptability. Wheat genotypes exhibiting different yield associated traits which influence each other in many ways. Therefor genotypic and phenotypic correlations are the breeder’s utmost priority to know about the inter-relationship between two or more traits which may be either directly influencing each other in a positive direction or indirectly swaying each other in a negative direction in breeding programs. To find out phenotypic and genotypic correlations among different productive traits, this study was designed at the research area of The Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, The University of Agriculture, Peshawar, during 2022-23. The experiment was carried out by using 27 wheat genotypes comprising of nine parents and 18 F3 populations evaluated in RCB design with three replications. Overall the study exhibited that kernel yield plant-1, which is one of the most yield contributing trait, was significantly correlated with thousand-kernel weights, tillers plant-1and biomass yield, along some other yield contributing traits. The parental genotype, Janbaz, and cross combinations Watan × AUP-5008, Pirsabak-2005 × AUP-5008, Saleem-2000 × Janbaz and Watan × Tatara were the most promising genotypes for most of quantitative traits and; hence are recommended to be evaluated in further breeding schemes. Both phenotypic and genotypic correlation study exhibited that kernel yield spike-1 was significant and positively associated with plant height, tillers plant-1, thousand-kernel weight and biomass yield. Based on correlations, yield, and production the parental genotype, Janbaz, and F3 combinations Watan × AUP-5008, Pirsabak-2005 × AUP-5008, Saleem-2000 × Janbaz and Watan × Tatara were the most promising genotypes for most of the quantitative traits, which can be incorporated in further breeding program

Climate change and potential distribution of potato (Solanum tuberosum) crop cultivation in Pakistan using Maxent

The impacts of climate change are projected to become more intense and frequent. One of the indirect impacts of climate change is food insecurity. Agriculture in Pakistan, measured fourth best in the world, is already experiencing visible adverse impacts of climate change. Among many other food sources, potato crop remains one of the food security crops for developing nations. Potatoes are widely cultivated in Pakistan. To assess the impact of climate change on potato crop in Pakistan, it is imperative to analyze its distribution under future climate change scenarios using Species Distribution Models (SDMs). Maximum Entropy Model is used in this study to predict the spatial distribution of Potato in 2070 using two CMIP5 models for two climate change scenarios (RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5). 19 Bioclimatic variables are incorporated along with other contributing variables like soil type, elevation and irrigation. The results indicate slight decrease in the suitable area for potato growth in RCP 4.5 and drastic decrease in suitable area in RCP 8.5 for both models. The performance evaluation of the model is based on AUC. AUC value of 0.85 suggests the fitness of the model and thus, it is applicable to predict the suitable climate for potato production in Pakistan. Sustainable potato cultivation is needed to increase productivity in developing countries while promoting better resource management and optimization

Skill assessment of Saudi-KAU and C3S models in prediction of spring season rainfall over the Arabian Peninsula

A skillful prediction of precipitation has great value, particularly for regions that suffer from water stress. In this study, we assess the potential predictability and skill of the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) and SaudiKAU models in their simulation of precipitation over the Arabian Peninsula during spring (March–May) for the period 1993–2016. For this purpose, data from individual models as well as the multi-model ensemble (MME) is used. The prediction data for MAM precipitation initialized at Feb (Lead 1), Jan (Lead 2), and Dec (Lead 3), were obtained from the 5 C3S and Saudi-KAU coupled global climate model. The potential predictability was computed by evaluating the signal to noise ratio and the theoretical limit of correlation skill, while the prediction skill was estimated from the temporal anomaly correlation co-efficient. The results show that the Saudi-KAU, CMCC, and UKMO models have slightly higher potential predictability of about 0.25, 0.35, and 0.25 respec­ tively, as compared to other models. It is also observed that individual models as well as their MME show a high (low) potential predictability over southwestern (northern) regions of the Peninsula. Moreover, the Saudi-KAU, CMCC, and MME show a reasonably good correlation skill (0.68, 0.59, and 0.57) while the SEAS model displays lower skill (0.14) for spring precipitation. All model simulations reveal a decrease in prediction skill for longer lead times. On the other hand, the individual models and their MME successfully reproduced the Pacific (i.e. ENSO) teleconnection patterns while displaying lower skill over the tropical Atlantic Ocean. The results indicate that the model biases have negative impacts on potential predictability and prediction skill over the Arabian Peninsula during the spring season

Blockchain adoption for sustainable supply chain management : economic, environmental, and social perspectives

Due to the rapid increase in environmental degradation and depletion of natural resources, the focus of researchers is shifted from economic to socio-environmental problems. Blockchain is a disruptive technology that has the potential to restructure the entire supply chain for sustainable practices. Blockchain is a distributed ledger that provides a digital database for recording all the transactions of the supply chain. The main purpose of this research is to explore the literature relevant to blockchain for sustainable supply chain management. The focus of this review is on the sustainability of the blockchain-based supply chain concerning environmental conservation, social equality, and governance effectiveness. Using a systematic literature review, a total of 136 articles were evaluated and categorized according to the triple bottom-line aspects of sustainability. Challenges and barriers during blockchain adoption in different industrial sectors such as aviation, shipping, agriculture and food, manufacturing, automotive, pharmaceutical, and textile industries were critically examined. This study has not only explored the economic, environmental, and social impacts of blockchain but also highlighted the emerging trends in a circular supply chain with current developments of advanced technologies along with their critical success factors. Furthermore, research areas and gaps in the existing research are discussed, and future research directions are suggested. The findings of this study show that blockchain has the potential to revolutionize the entire supply chain from a sustainability perspective. Blockchain will not only improve the economic sustainability of the supply chain through effective traceability, enhanced visibility through information sharing, transparency in processes, and decentralization of the entire structure but also will help in achieving environmental and social sustainability through resource efficiency, accountability, smart contracts, trust development, and fraud prevention. The study will be helpful for managers and practitioners to understand the procedure of blockchain adoption and to increase the probability of its successful implementation to develop a sustainable supply chain network