Physical Education, Health and Social Sciences

Political Persuasion in Bilawal Bhutto’s Speech in the Debate on Sustainable Peace and Security: A Critical Discourse Analysis

2025-07-09T05:15:11+03:00

This study analyzes Bilawal Bhutto’s speech as a reflection of the Pakistani community's perception and the country’s stance on pressing global issues. The speech addresses key concerns such as climate catastrophe, terrorism, regional conflicts, COVID-19, and Islamophobia, positioning Bhutto as a global leader during crises. The study has used Fairclough’s three-dimensional model for the analysis of the data through a mixed-method research approach, where frequencies of key terms have been retrieved quantitatively, while the interpretation of the speech has been carried out through the lens of the second layer of the 3D model. Discursive strategies like intensification, referential nomination, and prediction are employed to engage the audience and reinforce his persuasive appeal. His speech highlights the urgency of global cooperation in confronting shared challenges.

Fauna of Insect Pollinators of Cucurbits and their effects on yield at District Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

2025-07-03T06:32:00+03:00

The research work was conducted in open field at Tarnab farm, Regi and Mathra during active season from May till October, 2023.Three summer vegetables Bottle Gourd (Lageraria Seceraria), Ridge Gourd (Luffa acutungulara.) and Sponge Gourd (Luffa aegyptiaca) were cultivated in the present study to collect and identify pollinators and to find its impact on cucurbits yield. In the current study 11 species Amigela cingulata, Anthophora confuse, Apis cerana, A. dorsata, A. mellifera, Xylocopa pubescene, X. fenestrate, Delta dimidiatipenne, Eristalis tenax and Papilio demoleus of 5 genera were recorded. The experiment was designed in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) and structured with six treatments replicated three times. Experimental plot size was kept 6m2 with rows kept apart at 30cm while plant to plant distances were kept 15cm observed. Results showed that different varieties of vegetables along with covered and open flower were significantly affected weight and length of vegetables. Higher weight of vegetable was recorded from ridge gourd with uncovered flower while lower weight of vegetable was observed from the plots of bottle gourd with covered flowers. Maximum length of vegetable was noted from ridge gourd with uncovered flower while minimum length of vegetable was observed from the plots of bottle gourd with covered flowers. From the results it is cleared that yield of vegetables increases if pollination is allowed in the plant. As the pollinators fauna of the cucurbits is very diverse therefore it is recommended to further study the pollinators fauna on cucurbits to record the full diversity of pollinators.

The Effect of Social Support on Self-Care Activities and Emotional Distress Among Diabetic Patients

2025-07-16T22:19:29+03:00

The study examined how social support affected self-care activities and emotional distress among 200 purposively selected diabetic patients. The Multi-dimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (Zimet et al., 1988), Diabetes Distress Scale (Polonsky et al., 2005), and Mindful Self-Care Scale (Cook-Cottone & Guyler, 2024) were operationalised and quantified to measure the study's dimensions. Pearson correlation revealed a significant positive correlation between social support and self-care activities, and a negative correlation between social support and emotional distress. Multiple regression analysis demonstrated that perceived social support and its factors, i.e., Significant Others, Family, and Friends, were non-significant predictors of emotional distress and self-care activities. The present study's limitations, suggestions, and practical ramifications have also been discussed.

Preoperative C-section Associated Anxiety in Mothers Going for the Caesarian Section in a Tertiary Care Hospital Peshawar Pakistan

2025-07-05T04:43:03+03:00

Background: A common response to stress is anxiety which present in patient undergoing c -section surgery as compared to general surgical population. the primary aim of this study was to investigate pre-operative anxiety in patient who were undergoing for C-section surgery at tertiary care hospital in Peshawar Pakistan
Objective: The study's main goal was to look into pre-operative anxiety in patients having C-section surgeries in a tertiary care facility in Peshawar, Pakistan.
Methodology: An institutional base cross-sectional study was conducted from July 2023 to September 2023 with total of 100 patients who undergoing for C-section surgery were included and STAI Was the study tool use for assess pre –operative anxiety in patient who were undergoing for C-section surgery.
Results: The overall pre-operative anxiety rate was respectively (13,9,78%) mild, moderate, and sever. but the study's findings indicated that patients undergoing for C section surgery had a high anxiety rate of (78%), Additionally, the looked at the significant relationships between anxiety age, and gravida, as well as between STATE and TRAIT anxiety. According to the results of the chi-square test, there was a positive relationship between anxiety TRAIT and gravida
Conclusion: Study discovered that the participant average anxiety levels were measured at 78%. The high rate of pre-operative anxiety shown in this study emphasizes how important it is for healthcare professional to identify and treat this problem in order to improve the overall surgical experience and patient outcome.

Factors Effects Academic Performance Among Bachelor of Nursing Students

2025-07-06T15:58:17+03:00

Nursing students' academic performance is a critical determinant of their future success and the quality of healthcare services they provide. Academic achievement in nursing education is influenced by a complex interplay of factors, including personal, familial, and institutional elements. Understanding these factors is essential for developing targeted interventions to support nursing students and enhance their academic outcomes. To determine the factors effects academic performance among bachelor of nursing students at College of Nursing, Female Nawabshah. A quantitative research approach was employed, utilizing a descriptive research design and convenient sampling technique. A closed-ended questionnaire was administered to 200 BSN students from different semesters in selected nursing colleges. The questionnaire captured data on demographic characteristics, parental involvement, study habits, distractions, and academic performance. The home related factors, Students related factor, School related and teacher dynamics. The majority of participants (200 out of total) were within the age group of 18–25 years, representing 96.0% of the total sample. Other age groups included 26–30 (2.0%), 31–35 (2.0%), and a minor proportion in older groups up to 35 years. This study successfully explores those factor that effect on academic performance and also importance of parental involvement, self-motivation, and effective study habits in nursing students' academic performance. The findings have implications for nursing education and practice and highlighting the need for targeted interventions to support students and enhance their academic outcomes, foster effective study habits can contribute to improved academic performance and future success in the nursing profession.

A Statistical Investigation of the Determinants of Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) In Various Areas of Lower Dir, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

2025-07-12T04:09:27+03:00

The Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) is widely recognized as a crucial indicator of overall population health. This study explores the trends, causes, and factors influencing the IMR in the Lower Dir district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Using secondary data collected from four major public hospitals, DHQ Hospital Temargara, THQ Hospitals in Chakdara, Samar Bagh, and Maidan, this research investigates the neonatal and post-neonatal mortality trends for the years 2023 and 2024. A total of 16,339 live births were analyzed over the two-year period. The study employs descriptive statistics, mortality rate calculations, and inferential analysis using the Chi-Square test to identify associations between hospital and type of infant death. The findings show a decline in IMR from 81.37 per 1,000 live births in 2023 to 69.24 in 2024, while neonatal mortality remained significantly higher than post-neonatal mortality in both years. DHQ Hospital Temargara recorded the highest IMR and neonatal death proportion. Key factors contributing to infant mortality include inadequate maternal healthcare, lack of skilled birth attendants, malnutrition, and limited access to postnatal care. The study highlights disparities in healthcare service delivery among hospitals and emphasizes the urgent need for targeted interventions, improved health infrastructure, and community health education to reduce preventable infant deaths. The results provide valuable insights for public health planners and policymakers aiming to strengthen child health outcomes and align with national and global health objectives, including the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Level of Depression and Anxiety and Associated Factors Among the Traumatic Orthopedic Injured Inpatients of District Swabi, Pakistan.

2025-07-12T04:17:13+03:00

Purpose: Common mental, psychiatric disorders such as depression and anxiety in traumatic patients of orthopedic received a little attention in the study. The objective of the study was to examine the predominance of enthusiastic clutters among traumatic orthopedic injury patients and distinguish statistics, social and clinical chance variables.
Material and Methods: This cross-sectional think about was performed in Traumatic injured patients with orthopedic injury conceded to government hospitals of district Swabi between September 2021 and February 2022. The sample size was 306 and convenient sampling technique was used. Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and visual analog scale were utilized to assess the seriousness of uneasiness and misery status.
Result: the total number of participants was 306. For pain evaluations the visual analog scale was used; 36(11.8%) participants were in mild pain, 140(45.8%) participants were in moderate pain and 130(42.5%) participants were in severe pain and the mean and SD of visual analog scale were 3.30±0.67. With respect to hospital anxiety and depression, the 18(5.9%) participants were normal, 76(24.8%) participants were in borderline of anxiety and depression and 212(69.3%) were in abnormal level of anxiety and depression and the mean and SD of hospital depression and anxiety scale were 2.63±0.59.
Conclusion: This study concluded that the prevalence of anxiety and depression is more in male than female in inpatients of district Swabi likewise the visual analog scale also showed that male weas more affected by pain. Visual analog scale also reported that fracture patients were in severe pain than joint dislocation and soft tissue problems. With respect to hospital anxiety and depression scale the fracture patients were in more in abnormal level of anxiety and depression than joint dislocation and soft tissue disease.

A Comprehensive Review of Clinical Laboratory Regulations in Punjab: Compliance, Challenges, and Future Directions.

2025-07-17T03:56:57+03:00

Clinical laboratories in Punjab are critical to the healthcare system, contributing significantly to accurate diagnosis, treatment planning, and patient safety. This review explores the current regulatory framework governing clinical laboratories in Punjab, highlighting its evolution, challenges, and areas requiring reform. Despite the existence of national and provincial regulatory bodies such as the Punjab Healthcare Commission (PHC) and the Punjab Blood Transfusion Authority (PBTA), many laboratories especially in rural areas struggle with compliance due to infrastructural deficits, financial constraints, lack of trained personnel, and outdated practices. Key challenges include non-standardized laboratory practices, inadequate implementation of Quality Management Systems (QMS), and insufficient awareness of biosafety protocols. The role of stakeholders such as government agencies, professional bodies, clinicians, and laboratory staff is crucial in establishing a culture of compliance and continuous quality improvement. Emphasis is placed on the need for stakeholder engagement, strategic investment, ongoing training, and technology integration. Drawing from international models and best practices, the paper recommends strengthening licensing mechanisms, revising legal frameworks, and enhancing accreditation and surveillance systems to elevate laboratory services across Punjab. These improvements are essential for achieving high-quality, standardized, and safe laboratory diagnostics, ultimately improving healthcare outcomes in the region.

Development of Indigenous Scale of Nomophobia, Urdu Version

2025-06-26T07:29:38+03:00

Nomophobia is the fear of being without one's mobile phone, and it is considered a modern phobia that has evolved as a result of people's involvement with mobile information and communication technologies, particularly smartphones. In this study, a questionnaire to evaluate nomophobia was devised, and its psychometric features were established while keeping Pakistani cultural norms in mind. As a result, the considerable literature on Nomophobia was researched and evolved into a nomophobia questionnaire. The investigation was divided into three stages. Items were constructed during the first stage based on literature and DSM-V Nomophobia criteria. The second stage comprised the evaluation of items by experts. At the third step, pilot testing was carried out. A total of 55 items from the first version of the Nomophobia Scale were presented to a panel of 5 experts in the relevant field (Two PhD Doctors and Three PhD Scholars in Psychology) for content validity. Following expert approval, the newly developed "Nomophobia Scale" was tested on 150 university students aged 18 to 26 (75 male & 75 female) to assess its usefulness and any potential ambiguities. To collect data, the first generation of the Nomophobia Scale with 55 items was employed. Initial results revealed that the scale has a strong internal consistency, according to the pilot study, with a Cronbach's alpha score of .90. EFA and CFA were used to complete the underlying structure for the newly developed Nomophobia scale. For EFA and CFA, convenient sampling was used to choose a sample of 500 participants (Male =250; Female = 250) ranging in age from 18 to 26 years. Exploratory factor analysis validated a structure of 4 factors with 40 items. Confirmatory factor analysis was employed to verify the structure obtained from EFA, and the model demonstrated a satisfactory fit with (chi-square = 614.130, df = 146, CFI = .964, RMSEA = .073, and GFI = .900). The research has clinical and counseling significance; a common issue can be tackled with the existing scale.

The Influence of Meme Culture on Youth: Addiction and Linguistic Impact

2025-07-02T19:14:54+03:00

In the digital era, meme culture has become an integral part of youth communication, social interaction, and identity expression. While memes offer entertainment and cultural commentary, their pervasive consumption raises questions about psychological dependency, cognitive changes, and linguistic evolution. This research investigates the impact of meme culture on youth behaviour and language, focusing on meme addiction, reduced attention span, and the emergence of meme-based slang. Through a synthesis of scholarly literature and observational analysis, the report highlights the consequences of excessive meme consumption on academic performance, social communication, and misinformation spread. It further discusses how visual memes, GIFs, and emojis have reshaped youth discourse, creating fragmented yet impactful linguistic trends. The study adopts qualitative analysis and secondary data review, aiming to contribute to media literacy discussions and propose strategies for balancing digital engagement with critical thinking.

Understanding University Educator’s Pedagogical Preferences and Perceptions: A Qualitative Inquiry into Teaching Beliefs and Practice

2025-07-02T19:27:16+03:00

This qualitative study explores university educators’ preferences for specific pedagogical approaches and their underlying beliefs, motivations, and challenges. Using semi-structured interviews with twelve educators from diverse institutional backgrounds, the research uncovers how teaching preferences are shaped by experiential, cognitive, and contextual factors. Thematic analysis revealed that while lectures remain widely used, many educators favor interactive and student-centered strategies such as hands-on learning, cross-questioning, feedback loops, and case-based instruction. Motivations for these preferences included the desire to foster critical thinking, improve comprehension, and enhance student satisfaction. Educators’ beliefs reflected confidence in the transferability of global pedagogies and the importance of tailoring instruction to diverse learners. However, significant challenges—such as lack of resources, large class sizes, technological barriers, and institutional resistance—were also reported. The findings highlight the need for pedagogical development initiatives that are aligned with educators’ lived experiences and support both innovation and instructional autonomy.

The Role of Artificial Intelligence Based Models in The Diagnosis of Covid-19 On Computed Tomography-A Systematic Review

2025-07-02T19:37:49+03:00

The main objective of this study is to emphasize the role of Artificial Intelligence based models in the diagnosis, differentiation, evaluation of the severity of COVID-19 while utilizing CT as imaging modality AI based models. This review was according to guidelines of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analysis (PRISMA). Fifteen articles were reviewed for the evaluation of the results of AI based models in diagnosis and in assessment of the severity of COVID-19. The presented models shows higher accuracy, sensitivity and specificity. The presented models diagnosis the virus in rapid way and it also reduces the workload on radiologists. The models are categorized in differentiating the patients with normal person from COVID-19, other pneumonia and the affected part of lungs by COVID-19.Various tests are performed for the robustness of these models, and the comparison of the AI based models results with experienced radiologists that makes them more useful and accurate in diagnostic approach. COVID-19 is continuously spreading across the World. Advanced classifying and diagnostic models for COVID-19 based on AI are widely available and proved favorable in the diagnosis of COVID-19. The models based on “deep learning” “machine learning” “multiple instance learning” and “transfer learning” are available for the diagnosis of this disease and differentiating it from others pneumonia.The sensitivities and the specificities are greater than 85%, which makes them a valuable tool for diagnosis.By improving the geographical information and number of patients for the training, can make these models very fast diagnostic tools for COVID-19.

Role of Military Elite in Politics of Pakistan; A Case Study of Imran Khan’s Government (2018-2022)

2025-07-04T03:48:11+03:00

This study examines the lasting impact of the military upon Pakistan's political scene as regards the recent ascent and decline of Imran Khan's regime. Since Pakistan became independent, its civil along with military bureaucracies have made policy centrally, often sidelining democratic institutions. Early dominance was achieved by Chaudhry Muhammad Ali, Iskandar Mirza, Ayub Khan, and Ghulam Muhammad; they were called the "Gang of Four". This dominance did lay a foundation for any military intervention. For example, the Rawalpindi Conspiracy and the Ayub-Mirza alliance depict some events. The civil bureaucracy enabled military ascendancy for that time. In the late 1950s, the military was dominant among political forces. The 2018 general elections culminating this historical trend into the 21st century saw Imran Khan’s electoral success through important military backing. However, power dynamics shifted as well as tensions grew between Khan and the military so this all led to the erosion of this support as well as his political downfall. This study shows how the military always involves itself in government by civilians with consequences for Pakistan's democracy.

Factors Leading to Political Activism in University Students: Case Study of Musa Khan’s Death

2025-07-04T03:58:18+03:00

The death of Musa Khan at University of Malakand has become a national issue because of the effective role played by social media in spreading news, mobilizing the people, hence, demanding justice. Social media sources like Facebook, Twitter (X), Instagram, and TikTok played a major role in spreading news, emotional tributes, and protest calls with the use of trending hashtags like #Justice_for_Musa_Khan. This online trend converted Musa’s incident from a local incident to a national debate. Social media has become a principal tool for organizing students and starting protests against the university administration and demand for justice and accountability. The trend caught the focus of politicians and human rights’ activists regarding the incident. Social media platforms gave voice to the voiceless, ensured that the incident was no longer buried, and forced administration and society to confront uncomfortable truths, all demonstrating how social media emerged as a powerful tool for social action and collective action. The study was aimed to investigate how this incident happened at university and how it led to a vibrant political activism amongst the students.

The Role of AI in Criminal Justice: Predictive Policing, Bias, and Due Process

2025-07-06T03:26:41+03:00

The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in criminal justice systems across the world is transforming past ways of doing things in terms of law enforcement, judicial proceedings, and criminal prevention. More precisely, predictive policing technologies are designed to make policing as efficient as possible by predicting crime patterns and revealing possible perpetrators with the use of machine learning algorithms. Nonetheless, the speed at which such tools are used is causing significant concerns about legality and ethical aspects especially those arising due to bias in algorithms, lack of transparency, and violation of due process of law.
The following paper analyzes the use of AI in contemporary criminal justice systems, its involvement in predictive analytics, its tendency to reproduce systemic favoritism, and the effect in terms of fundamental rights. This paper critically re-assesses global best practices in an interdisciplinary background and with a particular focus upon the changing legal framework in Pakistan through evolving discourse by the academics and the formation of policies. It ends by recommending practical steps to be taken in order to make sure that implementation of AI in the context of criminal justice leads to improvement in the understanding but not diminishment of the idea of fairness, accountability, and legality.

Combined Effect of Leader’s Narcissism and Power Distance on Perceived Procedural Justice and Counterproductive Work Behaviour

2025-07-06T11:23:59+03:00

A substantial body of literature has illustrated the negative consequences associated with dark triad of leadership. More recently, researchers have paid increasing attention to the effects of narcissist leadership in organizational dynamics, but the research is still in its youth. This study examines the effect of leader’s narcissism on counterproductive work behaviour of employees (in the context of social exchange theory). The study examines the relation in cultural context by introducing the moderating role of Power Distance by investigating the mediating role of employees perceived procedural justice. A total of 260 questionnaires were distributed in the employees from different sectors but mostly from service industry. A sample of 202 employees was chosen to investigate these effects. Regression analysis on the data of 202 employees reveals that perceived procedural justice partially mediates the relationship of leader’s narcissism and counterproductive work behaviour. Study also finds that leader’s narcissism has a strong negative correlation with perceived procedural justice with employees having low power distance than for the employees having high power distance. The research gives us a complete framework of the intensity of a leader’s negative traits in different cultural contexts. The study also examines that how different contextual parameters such as culture act as buffer in dark triad of leader’s personality and CWB. Organizations can make use of the research findings to predict the future behavioural outcomes of the employees and the effect of the leadership in the long run.

Assessing Public Awareness and Ethical Perceptions of CRISPR-Cas9 Gene Editing Technology

2025-07-06T19:14:30+03:00

Background: CRISPR-Cas9 represents an innovative gene editing technology that has the power to revolutionize medicine, agriculture, and biotechnology. Nevertheless, public understanding and ethical acceptance are paramount for its integration into society.
Objective: This study explores public awareness, self-reported knowledge, and ethical attitudes towards CRISPR-Cas9, with a special emphasis on its therapeutic and enhancement-related purposes.
Methods: A structured questionnaire was administered to 107 participants with a wide range of demographic backgrounds. The questionnaire asked for information on age, gender, education, and occupation, as well as opinions on CRISPR awareness, ethical opinions, and the role of cultural or religious beliefs. Quantitative analysis was carried out using descriptive statistics.
Results: 51.4% of 107 participants reported knowing about CRISPR, and only 42.1% reported having sufficient knowledge to hold an opinion.
The participants rated their level of understanding in gene editing as an average of 2.64 out of 5. While therapeutic uses were moderately supported (mean = 3.0/5), respondents opposed embryo editing (2.84/5) and enhancement (2.79/5) less. Religious and cultural beliefs moderately affected opinions (3.19/5). Awareness and acceptance were greater among more educated and younger individuals.
Conclusion: The research indicates a knowledge deficit in the public's awareness of CRISPR-Cas9 and the necessity of focused education. Therapeutic uses tend to be approved, but ethical issues persist, particularly for non-therapeutic purposes. Prompts for informed public discussion are necessary to ethically regulate gene editing technologies.

An Overview of Pakistan's Commitments to the Paris Agreement, 2016

2025-07-08T18:02:05+03:00

This research examines Pakistan commitment to the Paris Agreement 2016. Given Pakistan’s acute vulnerability to climate change and environmental degradation, the study investigates how national afforestation and sustainability campaigns contribute to climate mitigation and adaptation goals. Through a qualitative methodology based on secondary data analysis of government reports, academic studies, and institutional publications, the research explores the ecological, socio-economic, and policy impacts of these initiatives. The study reveals that Pakistan has a dedicated ministry for climate change having professionals and field experts dedicated to achieve the commitments made by Pakistan with the global community and mitigate the challenge of global climate change. Pakistan; through various initiatives, has significantly increased forest cover, improved biodiversity, and created thousands of green jobs, thereby enhancing carbon sequestration and local livelihoods.

Integrating Physical Activity and Resilience into the Job Demands–Resources Model: Effects on Burnout and Work Engagement in Remote Employees

2025-07-11T05:30:20+03:00

This mixed‐methods study investigated how physical activity and personal resilience integrate into the Job Demands–Resources (JD–R) model to predict burnout and work engagement among remote employees (Bakker & Demerouti, 2007). A cross‐sectional survey of 350 teleworkers measured job demands, job resources, weekly physical activity, resilience (Connor & Davidson, 2003), burnout (Maslach et al., 1996), and engagement (Schaufeli & Bakker, 2004). As hypothesized, job demands correlated positively with burnout (r = .45, p < .001) and negatively with engagement (r = –.38, p < .001), while job resources correlated positively with engagement (r = .52, p < .001) and negatively with burnout (r = –.40, p < .001). Physical activity demonstrated a modest negative correlation with burnout (r = –.30, p = .002) and a positive correlation with engagement (r = .28, p = .004). Resilience was inversely related to burnout (r = –.35, p < .001) and positively related to engagement (r = .40, p < .001).
Twenty semi‐structured interviews underwent reflexive thematic analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2006), yielding four themes: Digital Boundary Management, Movement as Resilience, Virtual Social Support, and Self‐Directed Recovery. Participants described how regular exercise routines and resilience practices mitigated stressors inherent in remote work, fostering higher engagement and lower exhaustion. These findings suggest that embedding physical activity and resilience‐building interventions within remote work policies can enhance well‐being and performance.
Keywords: Integrating, Physical Activity, Resilience, Job Demands–Resources Model, Burnout, Work Engagement, Remote Employees

Evaluation of the English Syllabus Prescribed by Punjab Text Board for Grade IV

2025-07-15T18:48:06+03:00

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the English syllabus prescribed by the Punjab Text Board for grade IV. For this purpose, two research objectives and two research questions were framed. The survey research method was used for this study. The questionnaire consisted of 20 closed-ended statements, developed on a five point Likert-type scale. The reliability of the instrument was found at .904. A purposive sampling technique was used to select the sample of 100 English teachers from public sector primary schools in Lahore district. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze data. An Independent t-test was used to find out the difference between genders. Based on the analysis of teachers’ perceptions, the findings indicate that the English syllabus plays a significant role in guiding and structuring the learning experience. It provides clarity, organization, and progression in language learning, particularly in areas such as vocabulary, grammar, and sentence structure. So. It is concluded that while the English syllabus for Grade IV generally fulfills the academic needs of students, it requires further improvement to address the practical language needs of students in a socially and linguistically diverse society.

Artificial Intelligence in Cancer Diagnostics: Clinical Performance, Workflow Impact, and Future Directions

2025-07-17T03:39:19+03:00

A subset of artificial intelligence (AI), deep learning (DL) is rapidly transforming cancer detection. This review explores how artificial intelligence can enhance digital pathology's repeatability, workflow efficiency, and diagnostic accuracy by means of data integration from several studies evaluating AI systems for different tumors types. Designed to find melanoma, prostate cancer, and breast cancer metastases, artificial intelligence (AI) tools outperform human experts either exactly or slightly. Moreover, systematic reviews and reproducibility models in existence call for the imperative necessity of standardized assessment and judicious integration into clinical protocols. Despite the breakthroughs achieved, numerous issues with regard to clinical interpretability, generalizability, and ethical utilization persist and remain of major concern. Besides advancing accuracy in medical evaluations, the deployment of artificial intelligence in cancer diagnosis also has the potential to diminish healthcare disparities considerably, particularly in underdeveloped or under-resourced areas. As artificial intelligence platforms evolve and enhance themselves, the prospect of them playing a positive role in patient outcomes and healthcare processes becomes more evident and realized. It should be noted, however, that oncology artificial intelligence technologies are still in their infancy stage of evolution; thus, their safe and effective use in clinical environments is contingent on rigorous validation processes and judicious consideration of ethical implications. The aim of this paper is to examine the evolving role of artificial intelligence in oncologic diagnostics, as well as in-depth analysis of its current strengths and weaknesses, benefits, and strategic long-term guidance that is necessary to facilitate stable, scalable, and equitable clinical adoption.

Optimizing Concrete Strength: A Case for Sustainable Use of Local Resources

2025-07-17T04:16:04+03:00

To improve the sustainability of building materials, this study explores the use of sodium chloride (NaCl) in concrete mixtures as a partial substitute for cement. The study examines the various ways that salt affects concrete, taking into account how it affects durability, long-term structural integrity, and early strength development. Over time, chloride ions from NaCl may seep through the cement matrix and cause embedded steel reinforcement to corrode. However, NaCl can speed up hydration and encourage the production of calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H) at ideal dosages (usually less than 5% by weight of cement), which improves early-age compressive strength. To maximize the advantages of quicker setting without sacrificing long-term performance, a careful balance is essential when adding salt to concrete. It is crucial to assess the intended use, exposure conditions in the environment, and the existence of reinforcement. Strategies for adding salt that optimize performance while addressing durability issues are still being investigated, especially for non-structural or short-life applications with low corrosion threats.

Workplace Wellbeing and Extra-Role Behavior: A Study of Quality of Work Life, Job Involvement and Organizational Citizenship Behavior in Pakistan’s Public Sector

2025-07-09T14:34:08+03:00

Purpose: Organizational effectiveness and sustainability are increasingly linked to employee well-being and discretionary behaviors that go beyond formal job requirements. Quality of Work Life (QWL), reflects employees’ perceptions of a supportive and fulfilling work environment, plays a crucial role in fostering such positive behaviors. While prior studies have examined the direct effects of QWL on Organizational Citizenship Behavior (OCB), the psychological mechanisms underlying this relationship remain underexplored. This study aims to investigate job involvement (JI) as a mediating variable in the relationship between QWL and OCB, within the context of a public sector organization in Pakistan.
Design: A cross-sectional survey was conducted using an online questionnaire distributed to employees of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Education Monitoring Authority (KPEMA), Pakistan. A total of 265 responses were collected from 14 districts across the province.
Methods: To examine the mediating effect of job involvement between QWL and OCB, Hayes’ PROCESS Macro (Model 4) was applied using SPSS Version 20. However, AMOS 26 was used for confirmatory factor analysis. The model allowed for the assessment of both direct and indirect effects within the hypothesized framework.
Findings: The results revealed a significant positive relationship between QWL and OCB. Moreover, job involvement significantly mediated this relationship, indicating that employees who perceive higher quality of work life are more likely to become psychologically engaged in their roles, which subsequently enhances their organizational citizenship behavior.
Conclusions: The findings of the study underline that enhancing the QWL fosters greater JI. Moreover JI in turn promotes OCB. This chain of influence highlights JI as an important psychological mechanism through which QWL shapes positive discretionary behaviors in the workplace.
Implications: The study provides valuable insight for public sector organizations. Specifically, those organizations who are seeking to enhance employee driven organizational performance. By prioritizing QWL initiatives like fair compensation, career growth, work life balance and safe work environment, managers can cultivate a more engaged workforce. Such workforce is more likely to exhibit higher levels of OCB. This can ultimately contribute to a more collaborative and productive work environment in an organization.

Impact of Corporate Life Cycle Stages on Financial Restructuring: The Moderating Effect of Financial Distress

2025-07-12T04:26:01+03:00

In the current era of uncertainty, the importance of restructuring an organization has increased even more. Among several ways of reorganizing a firm, financial restructuring stands out as one of the key strategies that organizations adopt to improve their performance. The current study aims to find the impact of corporate life cycle stages on financial restructuring. The independent variable in the study is the stages of the corporate life cycle, classified using the methodology developed by Dickinson (2011). The stages include Birth, Growth, Maturity, Shakeout, and Decline. Financial restructuring is measured through three different proxies, i.e., dividends, net debt, and net equity. Financial distress serves as a moderating variable in the study. The influence of corporate life cycle stages on financial restructuring is analyzed both individually and in the context of financial distress. The study uses a panel data set of 314 non-financial Pakistani firms across thirteen diverse sectors over ten years, from 2013 to 2022. The study utilizes a multiple regression model to investigate the impact of CLC stages on financial restructuring empirically. The results indicate that firms in Pakistan typically avoid dividend payments across all stages of the Corporate Life Cycle (CLC), except the decline stage. Financially distressed firms reduce dividend payments to shareholders throughout all stages of the corporate life cycle (CLC). firms at all stages of their lifecycle tend to increase net debt, except during the decline stage. financially distressed firms in Pakistan are inclined to adopt debt financing. When firms face financial difficulties, they typically have limited internal funds, leading them to depend more on debt. Pakistani firms utilize equity financing at all stages of their lifecycle, except during the decline stage.