Nutritional composition and sensory quality of iron fortified fruit cheese

Fruits are protective foods as they are rich in vitamins and minerals though they are highly perishable because of high moisture. It is possible to ensure their extended shelf life through preserved products such as fruit cheese. Fortification of food with iron salts is an effective strategy to address global iron deficiency problem. With this in view, iron fortified fruit cheese were developed as they are rich in organic acids which enhance iron absorption. Preparation of fruit cheese using guava and pineapple pulp was standardized and these were fortified with iron salts. These were subjected to nutritional and sensory evaluation. Nutritional composition indicated the following range of values per 100 g of product, protein, 1.6-1.8 g; fat, 4.6-5.2; calcium, 49-52.5 mg; phosphorus, 45-52.1. Iron in the fortified fruit cheese was found to be 20.6-20.8 mg/100 g product, whereas in non fortified fruit cheese, it was 0.1-1.9 mg/100 g. Guava cheese fortified with ferrous fumerate had highest sensory acceptance whereas ferrous sulfate fortified guava cheese had higher iron bioavailability (18.6%). Pineapple cheese had good sensory characteristics and with no colour change on fortification with iron salts. The iron bioavailability did not vary much between the fortified samples (17.2% to 18.3%) in pineapple cheese. Therefore, it can be inferred that both guava and pineapple cheese are compatible food vehicle for iron fortification

Do investors herd with industries or markets? Evidence from Pakistan stock exchange

This study investigates investors' herd behavior at market and industry level in Pakistan stock exchange (PSX). The novel contribution of this study is the incorporation of stock trading volume to explore the herding behavior laterally with daily stock returns. Using daily observations of the stock trading volume and stock closing prices of 254 firms listed on PSX for the period January 2000 - December 2014. Our empirical results found stock trading volume is the more robust predictor of herding than stock returns by employing ordinary least square method for cross-sectional absolute deviation (CSAD). Findings under stock returns indicate herding in eight industries at the industry level and in only one industry at market level. However, stock trading volume significantly predicts herding for 5 out of 11 industries both at industry and market level. This study recommends investor to focus more on daily trading volume than daily stock returns to devise their trading strategies

Global research of future trends and development in cash holding: a bibliometric review

Cash holdings are becoming a growing issue for worldwide scholars in finance to understand the importance of the strategic approach of corporate cash policy of cash reserves. In practice, firms have faced challenges in adopting an appropriate corporate cash holdings policy. It would be appropriate to study the notions of cash holding (CH) to explore suitable strategies to overcome the inadequacy of financial policy of cash reserves in the financial system worldwide. Thus, this paper aims to conduct a bibliometric analysis and fill this literature gap by identifying and evaluating the current status and developing trends of the cash holdings domain to provide meaningful insights and assist in further discussion. Bibliometric studies have proven to be beneficial in helping researchers better exploring the current research trends in a particular field of research. From Scopus database, this study identifies the knowledge evolution trend in the field of cash reserves or cash holdings, where 1,073 published articles from year 1971 to 2022 were reported. The current study's findings demonstrate that the number of publications in the domain of cash holdings has intensified in the past few years. The results also identify that Economics, Econometrics, and Finance were the more popular subject categories in the field of cash holdings from the past few decades. In terms of keyword analysis, the most frequently used keyword by authors associated with cash holdings are corporate governance and financial constraints. Moreover, co-authorship with researchers finds that most collaboration has taken place among United States, China, and the United Kingdom. Finally, citation analysis reveals the Journal of Corporate Finance dominates this field of research. Future strings of research should focus on the cash holdings and financial constraints, investment and external drivers that have an effect on cash holdings

A Spatio-Temporal Assessment Of Land use Land Cover Change on Agriculture Productivity in Punjab, Pakistan

Introduction/Importance of Study: The agricultural sector is crucial to the development of any nation, particularly where food security is a concern. In Punjab province, urban settlements are increasingly encroaching on established agricultural lands, posing a significant threat to agriculture in the region. This issue is compounded by the continuous urban expansion and encroachment on fertile lands. The primary aim of this study is to assess the impact of Land Use and Land Cover (LULC) changes on agricultural productivity in Punjab. Utilizing the Earth Engine, this research performs LULC classification and estimates wheat crop yields in the province. Novelty Statement: This study presents an innovative application of Earth Engine analytics to monitor and analyze the effects of LULC changes on agricultural productivity in Punjab province. Material and Method: The research employs 20 years of Land Use and Land Cover data from the MODIS dataset, accessed via Google Earth Engine (GEE). In addition, wheat crop production is estimated using the capabilities of GEE. Result and Discussion: The findings indicate a substantial shift in land cover in Punjab, which has significantly affected wheat crop production. The study emphasizes the importance of public awareness campaigns and the adoption of advanced agricultural technologies. Continuous monitoring of LULC changes using GEE can enable timely interventions to mitigate negative impacts. Concluding Remarks: By integrating urban growth management strategies with the preservation of agricultural lands, long-term agricultural sustainability and development can be achieved. This research highlights the urgent need for comprehensive policies and collaborative efforts to counteract the adverse effects of urban expansion on agricultural productivity

A Spatio-Temporal Assessment Of Land use Land Cover Change on Agriculture Productivity in Punjab, Pakistan

Introduction/Importance of Study: The agricultural sector is crucial to the development of any nation, particularly where food security is a concern. In Punjab province, urban settlements are increasingly encroaching on established agricultural lands, posing a significant threat to agriculture in the region. This issue is compounded by the continuous urban expansion and encroachment on fertile lands. The primary aim of this study is to assess the impact of Land Use and Land Cover (LULC) changes on agricultural productivity in Punjab. Utilizing the Earth Engine, this research performs LULC classification and estimates wheat crop yields in the province. Novelty Statement: This study presents an innovative application of Earth Engine analytics to monitor and analyze the effects of LULC changes on agricultural productivity in Punjab province. Material and Method: The research employs 20 years of Land Use and Land Cover data from the MODIS dataset, accessed via Google Earth Engine (GEE). In addition, wheat crop production is estimated using the capabilities of GEE. Result and Discussion: The findings indicate a substantial shift in land cover in Punjab, which has significantly affected wheat crop production. The study emphasizes the importance of public awareness campaigns and the adoption of advanced agricultural technologies. Continuous monitoring of LULC changes using GEE can enable timely interventions to mitigate negative impacts. Concluding Remarks: By integrating urban growth management strategies with the preservation of agricultural lands, long-term agricultural sustainability and development can be achieved. This research highlights the urgent need for comprehensive policies and collaborative efforts to counteract the adverse effects of urban expansion on agricultural productivity

Comprehensive Multi-Criteria Evaluation for Landfill Site Selection in Faisalabad, Pakistan

Introduction/Importance of Study: Solid waste management (SWM) has become a critical issue in urban planning due to population growth and urban migration, particularly in developing countries. In Pakistan, there are no standardized regulations for landfill site selection. Faisalabad, often referred to as the "Manchester of Pakistan" due to its industrial base and growing population, faces significant challenges in this regard. Identifying a suitable landfill site is essential to minimize health and environmental risks and ensure the long-term sustainability of both urban and peri-urban areas. Novelty Statement: This study aims to propose an optimized landfill site in Faisalabad, combining the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP), Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA), and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to guide sustainable solid waste management practices. Material and Method: The study utilized raster, vector, and attribute data based on eight key criteria: proximity to settlements, groundwater depth, roads, airport, surface water, power stations, railway infrastructure, and population density. Using AHP within the MCDA framework and GIS modeling with weighted overlay operations, we identified potential landfill sites for Faisalabad. Population data was incorporated to validate site suitability. Results and Discussion: Through geospatial analysis, we identified and prioritized three potential landfill sites. After a population analysis, we recommended Site-1, covering 147 acres, as the most sustainable option for the next 50 years. This site offers a balance between accessibility and environmental safety. Concluding Remarks: The integration of AHP and GIS under MCDA proved to be an effective method for landfill site selection. These tools can significantly aid decision-makers in achieving environmentally sustainable outcomes. Future research incorporating real-time data and community feedback could enhance site selection and decision-making processes

Comprehensive Multi-Criteria Evaluation for Landfill Site Selection in Faisalabad, Pakistan

Introduction/Importance of Study: Solid waste management (SWM) has become a critical issue in urban planning due to population growth and urban migration, particularly in developing countries. In Pakistan, there are no standardized regulations for landfill site selection. Faisalabad, often referred to as the "Manchester of Pakistan" due to its industrial base and growing population, faces significant challenges in this regard. Identifying a suitable landfill site is essential to minimize health and environmental risks and ensure the long-term sustainability of both urban and peri-urban areas. Novelty Statement: This study aims to propose an optimized landfill site in Faisalabad, combining the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP), Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA), and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to guide sustainable solid waste management practices. Material and Method: The study utilized raster, vector, and attribute data based on eight key criteria: proximity to settlements, groundwater depth, roads, airport, surface water, power stations, railway infrastructure, and population density. Using AHP within the MCDA framework and GIS modeling with weighted overlay operations, we identified potential landfill sites for Faisalabad. Population data was incorporated to validate site suitability. Results and Discussion: Through geospatial analysis, we identified and prioritized three potential landfill sites. After a population analysis, we recommended Site-1, covering 147 acres, as the most sustainable option for the next 50 years. This site offers a balance between accessibility and environmental safety. Concluding Remarks: The integration of AHP and GIS under MCDA proved to be an effective method for landfill site selection. These tools can significantly aid decision-makers in achieving environmentally sustainable outcomes. Future research incorporating real-time data and community feedback could enhance site selection and decision-making processes

The effect of crystal facets and induced porosity on the performance of monoclinic BiVO4 for the enhanced visible-light driven photocatalytic abatement of methylene blue

In this study, a unique two-step approach has been developed to synthesize mesoporous BiVO4 (m-BiVO4) photocatalysts. The synthesized photocatalysts were characterized by means of XRD, SEM, EDS, UV-vis, Raman, PL, DRS, and N2-physiosorption analysis techniques. The hybrid BiVO4/KIT-6 composite and m-BiVO4 particles exhibited selective growth of the (040) crystal facet, a smaller size, high surface areas, a large pore volume as a result of the porosity induced by KIT-6 and, a greater number of active sites. The charge recombination rate of m-BiVO4 was remarkably lower than that of conventional BiVO4. In addition, the bandgap energy of m-BiVO4 was 2.2eV, which is suitable for visible light irradiation. It was observed that the photocatalytic activity of m-BiVO4 was superior to that of conventional BiVO4 under visible-light illumination, due to the synergistic effect of the highly active monoclinic phase and large surface area of m-BiVO4. Furthermore, the monoclinic m-BiVO4 was also tested for photocatalytic degradation ability by using an anonymous industrial effluent for 3 h under visible light irradiation