Allama Iqbal Open University

This study aims at exploring the potential of inorganic wide-bandgap mixed-halide aluminum-containing perovskites of Cs3AlIxBr6−x for solar harvesting, by investigating their structural, electronic and optical properties through density functional theory using the augmented plane wave plus local orbital method. The structural properties were calculated with the PBE-GGA potential. Volume optimization and negative formation energies confirm the structural and thermal stability of the compounds. The electronic and optical properties were calculated using Tran–Blaha modified Becke–Johnson (TB-mBJ) potential. The TB-mBJ corrected band gaps revealed that these materials belong to the wide-bandgap (WBG) perovskite family, displaying band gaps in the range of 3–5 eV. The electronic properties confirm their direct bandgap nature, with the I-p and Br-p states mainly contributing to the formation of the valence band and the Al-s, Al-p and Cs-d states to the conduction band. Absorption coefficients range from 10 to140 × 10⁴ per cm in the UV region, thus making these WBG perovskites suitable for applications in this region. Optical properties show absorption of light beyond 3 eV and validate the calculated electronic band gaps. Absorption coefficients, optical conductivity and dielectric function (real and imaginary) were calculated and revealed a peak shift from higher to lower energies with increasing I concentration. The above results suggest that these materials can be highly considered for use in photovoltaics, optoelectronic devices (light-emitting diodes, photodiodes), to power small batteries in the Internet of Things, in agrivoltaics and in fabrication of semi-transparent solar cells.

Illustration of the MXene synthesis process from MAX phases, involving electro-deposition, etching, and sonication.

Posttranslational modifications (PTMs) are essential for regulating protein localization and stability, significantly affecting gene expression, biological functions, and genome replication. Among these, sumoylation a PTM that attaches a chemical group to protein sequences—plays a critical role in protein function. Identifying sumoylation sites is particularly important due to their links to Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. This study introduces XGBoost-Sumo, a robust model to predict sumoylation sites by integrating protein structure and sequence data. The model utilizes a transformer-based attention mechanism to encode peptides and extract evolutionary features through the PsePSSM-DWT approach. By fusing word embeddings with evolutionary descriptors, it applies the SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) algorithm for optimal feature selection and uses eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) for classification. XGBoost-Sumo achieved an impressive accuracy of 99.68% on benchmark datasets using 10-fold cross-validation and 96.08% on independent samples. This marks a significant improvement, outperforming existing models by 10.31% on training data and 2.74% on independent tests. The model’s reliability and high performance make it a valuable resource for researchers, with strong potential for applications in pharmaceutical development.

Background: Child Sexual Abuse (CSA) is a growing healthcare issue worldwide. However, the acquittance rape is one of the underrepresented phenomena due to certain social and cultural concerns. Consequently, the role of parents is of greater significance to ensure the safety of their children outside and insider of their homes. Aims: This research investigated the parents' awareness, identification, and communication practices about acquaintance rapes against Pakistani children. Methods: Data was gathered from 314 respondents having one or more children below sixteen years of age and further analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Findings: Results showed that a majority of parents (70 %) were aware of child sexual abuse (CSA), especially acquaintance rape, as a prevalent phenomenon. However, they stayed neutral (50 %) about the possibility of female acquaintances as the possible cause of CSA and male children as victims of sexual abuse. They further reported physical and psychological signs to help identify acquaintance rape among children, with consensus ranging from 50 % to 60 %. Further, they showed different communication approaches, including telling children about CSA (50 %), their private body parts (around 45 %), abstaining from accepting gifts (50 %) and cautioning against going anywhere, even with someone they know (50 %), implying actively educating children about CSA as an effective strategy. Conclusions: Effective communication between parents and children about sexual abuse is critical for deterrence. Continued efforts to challenge stereotypes, promote inclusive attitudes, and encourage comprehensive prevention approaches are important to creating safer environments for children in Pakistani society.

Data journalism is one of the trending journalistic approaches. However, although many countries practice data journalism, it still faces many issues in the developing region, particularly Pakistan. This study also investigated the three primary challenges that hinder data journalism in Pakistan. Based on the social construction of technology theory, the qualitative data was gathered by n = 20 journalists working in different organizations. Findings revealed that despite journalists indicating a sound awareness of data journalism and its importance, they showed its future is still being determined due to the current crisis in Pakistani media organizations. The participants argued that lack of interest in designing relevant policies and the government's involvement in news proceedings are vital obstacles to data journalism. Besides, the lack of technical expertise and limited institutions offering formal data journalism education hinder professional practices. Finally, insufficient financial resources and a lack of interest in investing in data journalism are some financial constraints hindering data journalism practices in Pakistan. It is concluded that data journalism is one of the significant journalistic practices today. By resolving these challenges, we can ensure a brighter future for data journalism in Pakistan. Consequently, it will promote transparency, audit, and informed decision-making in Pakistan.

This study is theoretically supported by parental mediation theory and gathered qualitative data through semi-structured, face-to-face, online interviews with 12 parents with children under 18. The relatively small sample size was chosen to allow for in-depth exploration of individual perspectives, although it may limit the generalizability of the findings. Data analyzed using thematic qualitative analysis revealed that parents demonstrated a nuanced understanding of children’s internet usage patterns. While acknowledging the educational benefits of the Internet, parents also expressed concerns about its possible risks, including exposure to inappropriate content and online predators. Regular communication, confidence-building practices, and active monitoring approaches are essential for protecting children’s online experiences. These results highlight the critical role of parental mediation in navigating the complexities of children’s internet use and encouraging a secure online environment. Considering the findings, it is concluded that parents can effectively mitigate possible risks associated with children’s internet use by promoting open communication and implementing assertive monitoring strategies. These insights highlight the need for ongoing research and collaborative efforts among parents, educators, and policymakers to develop comprehensive frameworks prioritizing children’s digital well-being in an increasingly connected world.

Purpose The need to implement innovative smart services in libraries is becoming more widely recognized. This paper investigates the current status of innovation in smart library services, how university librarians can support innovation in library services through their capacities and dynamic strategies, the implications that innovative initiatives have on overall effectiveness, and the challenges that university librarians perceive. Methodology A mixed-method approach was employed in this study. In the qualitative method, in-depth interviews were conducted with 10 chief librarians of university libraries and 150 university library professionals made up the sample for the quantitative investigation from throughout Pakistan. Findings The provision of smart services is clearly in the plans for the growth of university libraries in Pakistan, and the majority of university librarians also discuss the challenges in implementing innovations and provide solutions to these problems. The study uncovers significant barriers to adopting innovative library services, such as the fear of job displacement due to technology and financial constraints. However, it underscores the potential of focused training, AI, and IoT technologies to enhance library services. Originality These advancements can boost user engagement and operational efficiency and are crucial for aligning library services with global educational and sustainability goals. The research stresses the need for strategic planning and investment in financing and infrastructure, advocating that these measures can enhance educational outcomes and reduce information access disparities, thereby benefiting the entire community.

We present the development of a type-II heterojunction photodetector (PD) comprising Ag/ZnO nanowires (NWs)/ZnSe/In, fabricated on a commercially available Si substrate. ZnO NWs were hydrothermally synthesized on thermally evaporated ZnSe thin films, with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis revealing uniform, vertically aligned ZnO NWs on the ZnSe layer. Cross-sectional SEM imaging determined the thickness of the In/ZnSe thin film to be approximately 460 nm, with ZnO NWs exhibiting an average diameter of ∼161 nm. Structural analysis of the ZnSe thin film, annealed at 370 °C in an ambient environment, identified a prominent ZnSe peak at 27.48° alongside peaks at 30.98° and 33.21° corresponding to In2O3 and ZnSeO3, respectively. The ZnO NWs, under similar annealing conditions, displayed a strong (002) peak, confirming vertical growth. Hall effect measurements revealed a transition from p-type carriers in as-deposited ZnSe thin films to n-type in the annealed ZnSe and ZnO NWs, attributed to the formation of In2O3 as evidenced by XRD. The PD exhibited the highest photoresponse under IR illumination (950 nm), surpassing responses to green (515 nm) and blue (456 nm) LEDs, with a short-circuit current (Isc) of −26 μA and an open-circuit voltage (Voc) of +80 mV, characteristic of a self-powered device. In contrast, minimal photoresponse was observed in a Schottky-type Ag/ZnSe/In junction on the Si substrate. The photoresponse mechanism was elucidated using an energy band diagram, while density functional theory simulations using Vienna ab initio simulation package provided a strong correlation with the experimental data, validating the structural and electronic properties of the heterojunction.

The current research was conducted to synthesize Parietaria alsinifolia-mediated iron oxide nanoparticles (P.A@FeONPs) using the green and eco-friendly protocol. The biosynthesized P.A@FeONPs were characterized using various approaches like UVs, FTIR, SEM, EDX, and DLS. The mean crystallite size was calculated to be ~ 21.48 nm using the Debye–Scherrer equation. Further, various in vitro biological assays were performed to analyze the therapeutic potentials of FeONPs. 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazy (DPPH) antioxidant activity was performed to reveal the DPPH radical scavenging potential of P.A@FeONPs and was calculated as 72%. Similarly, the total reducing power was determined as 65.45 ± 1.77%. In addition, P.A@FeONPs exhibited a significant total antioxidant capacity of 87 ± 4.8%. Antibacterial and antifungal assays were performed using the disc diffusion method. Among the different bacterial strains accession (EFB-10–2023 M.B), Rhodococcus jostii has shown the highest zone of inhibition (23.9 mm at 1000 μg/mL), while Escherichia coli displayed a 22.65 mm zone of inhibition at (1000 μg/mL). Similarly, Aspergillus niger exhibited a substantial zone of inhibition (28.75 mm). A brine shrimp cytotoxicity assay revealed the cytotoxicity potential (LC50 244.92 μg/mL). P.A@FeONPs were also tested against red blood cells, HEK-293, and VERO cell lines (< 200 μg/mL) to validate their biocompatibility. An alpha-amylase inhibition assay demonstrated 68.66% inhibition and substantial cytotoxicity against Hep-2 liver cancer cells (IC50 100 μg/mL). In conclusion, P.A@FeONPs have shown significant bioactivities. In the future, we recommend other biological and catalytic activities using different animal models to explore its potential further.

The application of nanotechnology in agriculture represents a revolutionary approach to enhancing crop productivity, improving soil health, and minimizing environmental impact. This chapter explores the development and potential of nano-formulations, with a focus on their role in targeted delivery systems for agrochemicals, including fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides. Nano-formulations offer significant advantages over traditional methods, such as increased efficacy, reduced dosages, and minimized environmental contamination. By examining advancements in nano-carriers, such as nano-encapsulation, and nanoscale emulsions, this chapter provides a comprehensive overview of how these innovations are reshaping sustainable agricultural practices. It also highlights the transformative potential of nanoscale materials in addressing urgent agricultural challenges, offering novel solutions for nutrient delivery, crop protection, and sustainable farming. The study delves into the development of nanopesticides, which, while offering enhanced efficacy over traditional pesticides, also raise concerns about new types of environmental waste. A thorough review of nanopesticide sources, their environmental and health impacts, and strategies for controlled, stimuli-responsive delivery systems is presented, emphasizing slow, sustained, and targeted release of agrochemical ingredients and genetic material. The integration of green synthesis in nanoparticle production is emphasized as a sustainable alternative to conventional methods, supporting the broader application of nanotechnology in agriculture. The chapter elucidates the mechanisms through which these nano-formulations interact with plants, enhancing their resilience to biotic and abiotic stresses induced by climate change. Additionally, it addresses the challenges of large-scale implementation of nano-formulations, including regulatory concerns, safety, and public perception. This synthesis underscores the potential of nanotechnology to drive the next wave of agricultural innovation, ensuring food security and environmental sustainability.

Using nanotechnology in agriculture offers a viable way to increase agricultural yield while reducing environmental effects. The benefits of using nanoparticles in agriculture include lower toxicity, more efficiency, and better plant health when applied as fertilizer and insecticide. However, the use of nanotechnology in agriculture is hampered by ethical issues and regulatory obstacles, particularly when it comes to possible hazards to the environment and public health. Unanswered questions about the safety and toxicity of these systems on ecosystems and human health give rise to ethical considerations. Because the use of nanoparticles in agriculture has the potential to negatively impact aquatic life, agriculture, and human health, careful risk assessment and regulatory frameworks are required to address these issues. Through the development of nano-agrochemicals such as nanopesticides and nanofertilizers, which improve solubility, bioavailability, and targeted delivery while lowering chemical pollution and raising productivity, nanotechnology in agriculture offers enormous potential benefits. Unanswered questions about the safety and toxicity of these systems on ecosystems and human health give rise to ethical considerations. Because the use of nanoparticles in agriculture has the potential to negatively impact aquatic life, agriculture, and human health, careful risk assessment and regulatory frameworks are required to address these issues. In order to ensure the safe and moral application of nanotechnology in agriculture, more research and regulatory frameworks are required. This is because the interactions between nanoparticles at the cellular level are not well understood, and the health risks associated with engineered nanoparticles are constantly changing. The necessity for sustainable development, responsible innovation, and the establishment of regulatory agencies to guarantee the safe and moral application of nanotechnologies in agriculture and food safety are only a few of the ethical and regulatory ramifications of nanotechnology. It is imperative to tackle these ethical dilemmas if we are to fully utilize nanotechnology in agriculture while preserving the environment and public health.

The aim of the study was to investigate teachers' challenges at the elementary school level in District Sialkot after shifting to English medium instruction. This research study used a mixed-method design. The study population consisted of all the teachers teaching Social Studies (S.St.), Mathematics (Maths), and Science (Sc) to grades 7 and 8 in District Sialkot. A random stratified sampling technique was applied to select 1,500 elementary school teachers. The number of respondents was divided into two groups, males and females, comprising 722 males and 778 females, while 1,208 were from rural areas and 292 from urban areas. All the selected teachers taught (S.St), (Maths), and (Sc) in English in grades 7 and 8. The results were obtained by using a questionnaire designed on a five-point Likert scale with five closed-ended items related to perceptions about English as a medium of instruction and two open-ended items regarding possible remedies to the problems identified. Data sets were analyzed by frequency, percentage, and independent sample t-test. The findings of the research study showed irrespective of gender; educators found it hard to instruct (S.St), (Maths), and (Sc) after the change of medium of instruction from Urdu to English; instructor problems in rural areas were as prevalent and often more prevalent than those found in urban areas. The study concluded that the introduction of the medium of instruction (MI) of teaching from Urdu to English alone resulted in a deteriorating performance among teachers who were not involved in professional development before this change.

The simultaneous presence of pharmaceuticals and heavy metals (HMs) in wastewater generated by the pharmaceutical industries may result in a variety of environmental concerns. For that reason, it is necessary to remove HMs and pharmaceuticals before releasing industrial effluent in the environment. The aim of this work was to develop an improved and optimized adsorption process employing modified activated carbon (MAC) to remove HMs from pharmaceutical wastewater and evaluate the suitability of the treated effluent for irrigation purposes. Pecan shells were used to produce the activated carbon (AC), which was then modified with FeCl2 and FeCl3. The modified activated carbon (MAC) was characterized using various analytical techniques including Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), Vibrating Sample Magnetometry (VSM) and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET). The response surface method (RSM) with central composite design (CCD) was used to optimize the conditions of the adsorption process for the removal of HMs from pharmaceutical wastewater (PWW). To test its impact on plant growth parameters and germination, two distinct pea plant (Pisum sativum) varieties (Climax and P-2009) were irrigated with treated effluent. The results revealed that the MAC performed excellently under the optimized condition of a MAC dose of 0.6 g/L, pH 11, contact time of 65 min, and temperature of 35 °C, removing more than 90% of the selected HMs (Pb, Cd, and Cu) from PWW. The elimination of HMs from pharmaceutical effluent reduces its toxicity, as evidenced by the greater germination percentage and germination index for P. sativum irrigated with treated wastewater as opposed to untreated wastewater. In addition, the P. sativum irrigated with treated wastewater exhibited significantly improved outcomes from the untreated wastewater in terms of plant growth indicators such as biomass, number of leaves, leaf area, number of branches, and length of roots and shoots.

The raising voices on social justice are at an increase in the Skardu district of Pakistan. The popular notion is that 'Socially Just' societies reflect teachers and educational institutions who nurture future generations. The perception and practices of teachers regarding social justice are influenced by social justice education. This qualitative phenomenological study explores the perceptions and practices of public sector teacher educators regarding teaching for social justice in Pakistan. The study was carried out in two teacher education institutions in District Skardu. Data collection was done through interviews, focus group discussions, and observations. Thematic analysis following an inductive approach was used. The lens used for data analysis focused on ‘Teaching for social justice.' The findings of the study revealed that the participants highlighted prominent commonalities regarding diversity, such as differences in abilities, attitudes, behaviors, region, religion, gender, culture, and socioeconomic condition of students in the classrooms. It further uncovered that the teacher educators perceived the concept of social justice in terms of equality and equity, relationships and differences, role models, and well-being. They were concerned about the discrimination and marginalization faced by the prospective teachers and were committed to mitigating such issues. These findings provide potential insight both for pre-service teachers and experienced teacher educators in Skardu, Pakistan.

In the modern world, regional organizations play a crucial role in fostering regional integration and connectivity. This research paper examines the role of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in advancing the development of its member countries, drawing on statistical data from secondary sources. It also explores the SCO's capacity to enhance regional connectivity, achieve strategic objectives, and act as a major stakeholder in the region. The findings reveal the Organization's significant contributions to security, infrastructure development, and policy coordination. However, the SCO faces challenges, including regional rivalries, governance complexities, and interference from global powers.

Despite advancements in contemporary medical techniques and large investments in its care, diabetes mellitus, in particular type II diabetes (T2D), continues to pose a serious threat to world health. Over the years, a variety of therapeutic approaches, including insulin therapy and the use of different drugs, have been investigated; however, some of these treatments have related negative effects. An increasing amount of research suggests that functional foods and their bioactive components may be used as adjunctive therapy for type 2 diabetes mellitus because of their biological qualities. The potential of functional foods and nutraceuticals in reducing postprandial hyperglycemia, influencing adipose tissue metabolism, and modulating both carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, has been highlighted by numerous studies carried out in vitro, using animal models. To fully utilize their potential, there are a few significant drawbacks and areas that require more study. A large portion of current research is preliminary and frequently derived from animal or in vitro studies, which restricts the research's applicability to human populations. It is yet unclear exactly how these foods work, thus more research into their molecular processes is necessary.

The current living conditions of those in urban areas, particularly their food systems, jeopardize human health and wellbeing and societal cohesion. To achieve a successful transition toward sustainable communities, people must redesign how they manufacture, distribute, and utilize food. In terms of administration and innovation, this chapter builds conceptual connections between studies on urban food chains and smart city designs. The idea of a “modern city” is related to an urban research focus that aims to integrate technological and data-selection advancements into urban infrastructure. Market-driven and technical solutions for municipal governments and growth are emphasized within this neoliberal paradigm. The urban food transition, which includes a variety of urban food-manufacturing methods, grassroots social advances, and, more recently, debates on food security, has taken a different path than that of modern cities. Recognizing these epistemological and ideological distinctions (between modern cities and urban food movements) is critical for reconceptualizing modern cities’ food administration. This chapter argues that innovative technologies might be critical components of an approach to solving food problems in modern cities but only when combined with social advances that enable flexible methods of administration that are technologically and socially oriented and connected to the specific conditions in cities and regions. City identity, new organizational structures, connectivity, a circular urban metabolism, and social behaviors are all important components.

This study assessed the growth, biomass, and carbon storage potential of four urban tree species—Pinus roxburghii, Broussonetia papyrifera, Jacaranda mimosifolia, and Eucalyptus camaldulensis—in Islamabad’s greenbelts. Sampling was conducted using a quadrat method, covering five sites (F-9, G-8, H-8, I-8, Zero-Point), with 400 trees analyzed. Growth parameters such as diameter at breast height (DBH), height, aboveground biomass (AGB), aboveground carbon density (ACD), belowground carbon density (BCD), basal area (BA), and volume were measured. E. camaldulensis recorded the highest AGB (mean: 2.07 t ha⁻¹, range: 0.05–6.54 t ha⁻¹), ACD (mean: 971.43 t ha⁻¹), and BCD (mean: 233.14 t ha⁻¹), along with the largest DBH (mean: 47.31 cm) and height (mean: 20.10 m). B. papyrifera showed significant carbon storage potential, with mean ACD and BCD values of 373.94 t ha⁻¹ and 89.75 t ha⁻¹, respectively. In contrast, J. mimosifolia displayed the lowest mean AGB (0.2493 t ha⁻¹) but showed considerable variability, with DBH ranging from 7.68 to 59.83 cm. P. roxburghii exhibited moderate values, with a mean AGB of 0.45 t ha⁻¹ and ACD of 212.36 t ha⁻¹. Overall, mean AGB, ACD, and BCD across all species were 0.89 t ha⁻¹, 418.73 t ha⁻¹, and 100.49 t ha⁻¹, respectively, while basal area ranged from 12.07 to 154.94 m² ha⁻¹ (mean: 61.84 m² ha⁻¹). Statistical analysis revealed significant positive correlations among DBH, height, and biomass parameters (p < 0.05). The findings underscore E. camaldulensis as the most effective species for urban carbon sequestration, while B. papyrifera demonstrated positive soil fertility implications. Future research should explore long-term ecological impacts and management strategies for these species in urban landscapes.