Mediating Role of Death Anxiety between Supernatural Beliefs and Life Satisfaction among Muslim Adults

The belief in supernatural forces is so pervasive in Pakistani society that it is nearly universal among illiterate and semi-literate people. Few literate individuals also subscribe to the idea of supernatural beings and entities. Such beliefs may invoke anxieties resulting in reduced satisfaction with life. In the current study, a cross-sectional survey of Muslim people was used to examine the potential mediation effect of death anxiety between supernatural beliefs and life satisfaction. A purposive sample (N = 220; with equal representation of both genders) of adults was recruited from different areas of district Sargodha. The supernatural Belief Scale, Arabic Scale of Death Anxiety, and Satisfaction with Life Scale were employed for assessing supernatural belief, death anxiety, and life satisfaction, respectively. Path analysis in Amos revealed the positive direct effect of supernatural belief on death anxiety and the negative direct effect of death anxiety on life satisfaction. Supernatural beliefs also demonstrated a negative indirect effect on life satisfaction through death anxiety. Overall, we found that individuals with supernatural beliefs were more likely to feel death anxiety, which might make them less satisfied with their life. Clinicians and mental health practitioners must envisage such therapeutic strategies as could counter the supernatural beliefs of the clients so that they might enjoy a more fulfilling and satisfying life

Evaluation of bacterial strains for the induction of plant biochemicals, nutritional contents and isozymes in barley

The controlled placement of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) in poly­(styrene-<i>b</i>-isoprene-<i>b</i>-styrene) [SIS] triblock copolymer thin films was achieved by tuning the surface chemistry of the AuNPs. Facile thiol ligand exchanges permitted quick and thorough exploration of the surface chemistry effects on AuNP segregation behavior. By using thiol-functionalized polystyrene (PS-SH) or 1-dodecanethiol (C₁₂SH) ligands to tune nanoparticle surface chemistry, AuNPs were selectively incorporated into either the polystyrene (PS) or the polyisoprene (PI) domains. Nanocomposite polymer films were characterized by atomic force microscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and TEM tomography. AuNPs synthesized with a C₁₂SH capping ligand preferentially segregated into PI-rich domains. However, after exchanging C₁₂SH with PS-SH ligands to a C₁₂SH:PS-SH molar ratio of approximately 5:1, AuNPs showed an affinity for PS-rich domains. The C₁₂SH:PS-SH transition ratio was much higher than expected, based on molecule-averaged surface energy arguments that predicted a ratio of 0.4:1 to 0.8:1. The unexpected transition ratio was rationalized according to the area-averaged enthalpic contributions of the capping ligands. Furthermore, mixing and incorporating PI- and PS-preferential AuNPs created a well-mixed nanocomposite, which highlights the versatility of the AuNPs

Insecticide Screening For Effectiveness of Controlling Onion Thrips (Thrips Tabaci, Lindemann)

For the control of Thrips tabaci Lindeman Three insecticides product Movento240SC+Biopower276.6SL, Acephate75SP and Confidor200SL were applied against the onion (Allium cepa) thrips (Thrips tabaci Lindeman). The movento240SC+Biopower 276.6SP gave the highest results against the onion (Allium cepa) thrips (Thrips tabaci Lindeman) as compared to the other market standard insecticides of Acephate75SP and confidor200SL. The dose of Movento 240SP + Biopower 276.6SL 2.8 + 4.7 ml having more good results as compared to the other dose Movento 240SP +  Biopower 276.6 SL 2.4 + 4.7 ml. Keywords: onion thrips, insecticide use, insect contro

Advancing sustainable decomposition of biomass tar model compound: Machine learning, kinetic modeling, and experimental investigation in a non-thermal plasma dielectric barrier discharge reactor

This study examines the sustainable decomposition reactions of benzene using non-thermal plasma (NTP) in a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) reactor. The aim is to investigate the factors influencing benzene decomposition process, including input power, concentration, and residence time, through kinetic modeling, reactor performance assessment, and machine learning techniques. To further enhance the understanding and modeling of the decomposition process, the researchers determine the apparent decomposition rate constant, which is incorporated into a kinetic model using a novel theoretical plug flow reactor analogy model. The resulting reactor model is simulated using the ODE45 solver in MATLAB, with advanced machine learning algorithms and performance metrics such as RMSE, MSE, and MAE employed to improve accuracy. The analysis reveals that higher input discharge power and longer residence time result in increased tar analogue compound (TAC) decomposition. The results indicate that higher input discharge power leads to a significant improvement in the TAC decomposition rate, reaching 82.9%. The machine learning model achieved very good agreement with the experiments, showing a decomposition rate of 83.01%. The model flagged potential hotspots at 15% and 25% of the reactor’s length, which is important in terms of engineering design of scaled-up reactors.Web of Science1615art. no. 583

Joint Research Day, UClan, Burnley 2018

The Joint Research Day between Uclan and ELHT took place on the 27th of November, at Victoria Mills, Burnley. The event brought together researchers and clinicians to showcase recent research, share new ideas about clinical problems that need tackling and seek collaborative interest between ELHT and UCLan staff. Uclan researchers from various academic/ research disciplines such as engineering, computer science, psychology, and health participated. The event was an opportunity to: • Hear about current local research projects, • Get involved in planned research, • Develop research ideas, • Develop collaborative partnerships. The program included • Keynote lectures by Professor St John Crean, Pro Vice Chancellor, Uclan (the second keynote speaker to be announced), • Presentations and posters of local studies. • Workshops

WOMEN’S ACCREDITATION IN PAKISTANI URDU LITERATURE: A FEMINIST STUDY OF NIMRA AHMAD’S JANNAT KEY PATTY

This article addresses the women accreditation in Pakistani post-colonial Urdu fiction by analyzing a renowned novel Jannat Kay Patty by Nimra Ahmad. This novel seems to raise voice about the myth that women is depicted as a marginalized and oppressed entity in Pakistani Urdu literature. The analysis of the novel is carried out under the patronage of post- colonial feminist theory. The research design of this qualitative study is based on the textual analysis of regarded novel Jannat Kay Patty by analyzing the text, it has found but it is only a myth that women is outline as suppressive entity. And by analyzing, the outcome proves that although many of Urdu fictions presents the male’s hegemony and imparts a message that women are subservient to the socio-cultural norms and patriarchal society. But the results were much contrary to that hypothesis; it has found out that it is only a narrative that base on only hypothesis. This article proves that this is only a myth, women are depicted empowered in Urdu literature, and even this is proven by the feminist novel writer Nimra Ahmad

Metal(II) triazole complexes: Synthesis, biological evaluation, and analytical characterization using machine learning-based validation

The synthesis of many transition metal complexes containing 3,5-diamino-1,2,4-triazole (Hdatrz) as a ligand with different counter anions Br⎺, Cl⎺, ClO4⎺ and SO42- has been studied extensively, but the chemistry of transition metal nitrate and acetate compounds and their reactivity are relatively unexplored. In this research work, two new series of metal(II) complexes (M = Ni, Co, and Zn) {[Ni3(Hdatrz)6(H2O)6](NO3)6 (1), [Co3(Hdatrz)6(H2O)6](NO3)6 (2), [Zn3(Hdatrz)6(H2O)6](NO3)6 (3), [Ni3(Hdatrz)6(H2O)6](OAc)6 (4), [Co3(Hdatrz)6(H2O)6] (OAc)6 (5) and [Zn3(Hdatrz)6(H2O)6](OAc)6 (6)} have been synthesized. These synthesized complexes were characterized by various physicochemical techniques such as UV-vis spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and magnetic susceptibility measurements. All six complexes were found to be trinuclear and bridged through the Hdatrz ligand. Spectral data suggested a distorted octahedral environment around the central metal ions in these complexes. It also revealed that the NH and OH groups are involved in hydrogen bonding. These complexes were tested against the fungal strains Colletotrichum gloeosporioides and Aspergillus niger. These synthesized complexes have not been observed to have antifungal activities. The machine learning K-nearest neighbours evaluates the analytical characteristics and solubility behavior of the metal complexes. Machine learning models provide results with 75% precision

Role of Energy Mix in Determining Climate Change Vulnerability in G7 Countries

Anthropogenic activities are responsible for greenhouse gas emissions, causing extreme events like soil erosion, droughts, floods, forest fires and tornadoes. Fossil fuel consumption produces CO2, and trapping heat is the major reason for a rapid increase in global temperature, and electricity generation is responsible for 25% of greenhouse gas emissions. Fossil fuel consumption, CO2 emissions and their adverse impact have become the focus of efforts to mitigate climate change vulnerability. This study explores empirical determinants of vulnerability to climate change such as ecosystem, food, health and infrastructure. The sustainable use of energy is necessary for development, and a source of response to climate change. The present study focuses on renewable energy consumption to determine climate vulnerability in G7 countries between 1995 and 2019. The panel ARDL approach showed that the renewable to non-renewable energy mix showed a quadratic effect on vulnerability, whereby a minimum threshold of renewable energy is required to witness a reduction in food, health and infrastructure vulnerability. Other results indicate that trade openness and development expenditures reduce health vulnerability. Development expenditures also decrease ecosystem vulnerability, while trade openness increases it. However, both of these variables increase infrastructure vulnerability. Avoiding severe food and water crises requires investment to tackle climate change, conserve energy and water resources, reform global trade and food markets, and adapting and adopting climate-resilient responses to change