Qurtuba University of Science and Information Technology

This study employs first-principles calculations based on density functional theory (DFT) with the GGA + U and TB-mBJ approximations to examine the structural, electronic, magnetic, and thermoelectric properties of MgCNi₃. The results reveal that MgCNi₃ is a weak ferromagnetic and metallic material, characterized by strong covalent bonding and a net magnetic moment of 0.15 μB per formula unit. Spin-polarized calculations further indicate that the material exhibits a non-zero magnetization, with the spin-up and spin-down electron densities showing distinct distributions. The thermoelectric evaluation demonstrates remarkable energy conversion efficiency, with a significant Seebeck coefficient and high figure of merit (ZT) across temperatures ranging from 300 to 900 K. The ZT plot suggests that P-type doping may offer the best performance. These findings provide critical insights into the material’s potential for applications in thermoelectrics, superconductors, and spintronics, emphasizing its suitability for integration into advanced functional devices.

Natural substances play a crucial role in modern medicine by targeting cellular pathways associated with diseases. Medicinal plants, rich in bioactive compounds, offer promising therapeutic potential. This study examines the phytochemicals and biological activity of Curio radicans extracts. Gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry analysis identifies 29 compounds in the ethanolic extract and 7 in the ethyl acetate extract. The ethanolic extract contains 3,4‐Bis (Methoxycarbonyl)furan (15.76%) and 4‐Imidazolidinone (14.17%), while the ethyl acetate extract is dominated by Diisooctyl phthalate (49.25%). Genoprotective activity, using the comet assay on human lymphocytes, demonstrates significant dose‐dependent reductions in H2O2‐induced DNA damage. The ethyl acetate extract reduces total comet score (TCS) from 265.3 ± 20.4 to 33.0 ± 4.3 at 100 mg/100 mL (p < 0.0001), outperforming the ethanolic extract, which reduced TCS from 226.7 ± 41.6 to 44.0 ± 7.2 (p < 0.001). Antioxidant activity, assessed via the DPPH method, reveals moderate activity for the ethyl acetate extract (72.61 ± 1.65%, IC50: 137.58 μg/ml) and lower activity for the ethanolic extract (67.52 ± 0.44%, IC50: 156.52 μg/ml). These findings underscore the therapeutic potential of C. radicans, particularly the ethyl acetate extract, which demonstrates genoprotective effects. Researchers should focus on isolating active compounds and exploring their potential in drug development.

Purpose Dexlansoprazole (DX) is a commercially available proton pump inhibitor (PPI). It is an oral delayed-release (DR) formulation that takes 1–2 h to reach the systemic circulation. To overcome the delayed onset of action of conventional formulation and patient inconvenience, orodispersible tablets (ODTs) have been formulated. Drug delivery systems, especially in elderly and frequent travelers, are limited by conventional dosage forms, and ODTs are an ideal dosage form for the fast onset of action and ease of administration for these patients and are more convenient than conventional tablets for patient compliance. Methods The formulation was optimized via Design Expert® software (version 13.0) and evaluated for in vitro and in vivo attributes. The ODTs were compressed by the most convenient method of compression, that is, direct compression, the formulation contains a combination of citric acid and sodium bicarbonate along with Kyron T-314® (polymer). Pre- and post-compression evaluations were performed, and a comparative pharmacokinetic study of the DX ODT was carried out in human volunteers. Results Drug plasma concentrations were analyzed at different time intervals through high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). PK Summit® software was used to calculate various pharmacokinetic parameters. The pharmacokinetic results revealed that the Tmax of 0.4 h was significantly lower than that of conventional DX, indicating rapid onset of action. Stability studies indicated that the formulation was stable under both intermediate and accelerated conditions. Conclusion The ODTs exhibited good physical characteristics, with a pleasant taste and disintegrated rapidly in the saliva due to the addition of a superdisintegrant and an effervescent pair. Pharmacokinetics revealed a rapid therapeutic effect with good Cmax. Furthermore, this formulation is cost-effective in terms of fewer manufacturing steps and a lower cost for excipients, along with a good stability profile.

As the global population ages, robust technological solutions are increasingly necessary to support and enhance elderly autonomy in-home or care settings. This paper presents a novel computer vision-based activity monitoring system that uses cameras and infrared sensors to detect and analyze daily activities of elderly individuals in care environments. The system integrates a frame differencing algorithm with adjustable sensitivity parameters and an anomaly detection model tailored to identify deviations from individual behavior patterns without relying on large volumes of labeled data. The system was validated through real-world deployments across multiple care home rooms, demonstrating significant improvements in emergency response times and ensuring resident privacy through anonymized frame differencing views. Upon detecting anomalies in daily routines, the system promptly alerts caregivers and family members, facilitating immediate intervention. The experimental results confirm the system’s capability for unobtrusive, continuous monitoring, laying a strong foundation for scalable remote elderly care services and enhancing the safety and independence of vulnerable older individuals.

The article is devoted to study a class of fractional order R,L∈(3,4]$\mathfrak {R},\mathfrak {L}\in (3,4]$ coupled hybrid Hadamard fractional differential equations having generalized hybrid Hadamard differential boundary conditions. If R=L=4$\mathfrak {R}=\mathfrak {L}=4$, a fourth‐order ordinary differential equation is obtained, which has many applications in coupled beam vibration, nanofluid flow and many fields of science and engineering. The existence theory of the coupled hybrid problem is established using a simple integral method. In addition, uniqueness and at least one solution of the proposed coupled system will be established through the Banach contraction principle and the hybrid fixed point theorem, respectively. For stability, the corresponding perturb integral equations of the suggested model are explained, and it is shown that such a problem is stable in the Hyers–Ulam sense under certain conditions. At the end of the analysis, two examples are explored to verify all the results and illustrate the solution behavior through graphs.

Malak Rustam Kayani (M. R. Kayani) has adopted a unique style in his speeches, addresses, and columns, as mentioned in his texts. Stylistics is the application of linguistic techniques and an objective method of interpretation to explore the style of an author. Through stylistics, critics analyze a literary piece and derive meaning from it. An intellectual titan in the fields of linguistics and cognitive science, Paul Simpson played a vital role in analyzing the style of an author. Style tells us about the manner of expression and how ideas and philosophy are depicted through this manner of expression. Besides manner of expression, choice of words, usage of literary devices, rhythm, the elements of composition, the structure and length of a sentence are also considered integral parts of style. This study is about the stylistic strategy of Kayani's speech, "Misfortunes Come Not Alone" for which Paul Simpson's Stylistics is used as a theoretical framework. The speech is replete with subtle attacks on dictatorship, despotism, and raising voices for civil supremacy. His usage of metaphor, simile, and irony can be put under the barometer of the tools of stylistics in this research paper.

The present study aimed to investigate the perceptual stance of teachers regarding principal-distributed leadership practices at the secondary school level. Positivism research philosophy was applied. Thus, survey research was employed. A sample of 351 SSTs was selected from four districts (D.I. Khan, Bannu, Lakki Marwat, and Tank) by using a stratified sampling method. Yamane's (1967) formula was applied to determine the representative sample size. An adapted scale, known as the Distributed Leadership Readiness Scale (DLRS), was developed by the Connecticut Department of Education and based on Elmore's (2000). The Content Validity Index (CVI) was utilized by the researcher to evaluate the content validity, whereas the reliability of the instrument was estimated by using Cronbach's Alpha, which was estimated at .835. The researcher used an independent sample t-test, and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was applied. The result of the study indicates that male school heads engaged teachers in different school activities, such as decision-making processes, community practices, and professional development activities, compared to female school heads. The study concluded that principals who were more qualified and experienced engaged teachers in school activities as compared to those principals who were less qualified and less experienced. The study recommended that the government may arrange workshops for principals regarding distributed leadership and may try to implement it in schools to uplift the quality of education.

This paper aims at to investigate Kushana`s era: the Rise of Gandhara civilization, the ancient regional political history which deems the Zenith of Gandhara civilization that met its climax in the Northwest of the Indian subcontinent. Gandhara as Greek had rich political history and tremendous contributions on the part of regional politico-historical discourse. In this paper it would be endeavored to address the Rise of Gandhara civilization by focusing on Kushana`s era. The employed design to address the question is historical and qualitative both in the term of collecting and analysis of the data. The consulted sources are archival documents, books, encyclopedias, reputed journals and historical literature associated to the present study. The Kushana`s era is the golden period of Gandhara civilization. Kanishka contributed enormously to the politico-historical development in the region. The role of religion in politics and shaping the international relation is the significant contributions in this context. Rise of Gandhara civilization reflect the splendid past being a great period of the region.

The current study focuses on how university teachers' work performance in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) is influenced by psychological capital. The current study is correlational in nature because the positivist research approach was adopted. A sample of 335 teachers was selected through a stratified sampling technique. The questionnaire comprised two sections: the first section focused on respondent demographics, while the second section contained items related to psychological capital and work performance commitment, measured on a 5-point Likert scale. Descriptive and Inferential Statistics were applied. The study concluded that positive relationship was found between Psychological Capital (PsyCap) and teachers’ Work Performance (WP) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa HEIs. The study also came to the conclusion that PsyChe significantly influenced employees’ performance at work. Additionally, employees' resilience, optimism, and adaptability have improved the quality of their work performance. The good psychological capital of teachers has improved their performance at work. The study recommended that good and healthy environment may be implemented in the HEIs which boost the psychological capital of teachers, which ultimately influenced their performance.

Pakistan’s tribal belt is facing a renewed wave of insurgency with changes in tactics and approaches from TTP. The overall strategic and security environment in the tribal belt is becoming a no-go area again. The challenges are complex. Ranging from past security vacuums to the structural flaws in governance and denial of winning public trust in pre- and post-insurgency scenarios. The resurgence of TTP is a complex phenomenon as a result of complex variables, both internal and external. The leadership of Noor Wali Mehsud played an important role in re-organizing and restructuring TTP in the tribal belt and KP. This issue and counterinsurgency strategy were badly ignored in the tribal belt. The consequences are now in front of state and security forces in Pakistan. Therefore, this paper aims to critically analyze Pakistan's counter-insurgency strategies in the post-military actions in the tribal belt and will look at major policy errors and loopholes in this regard.

This study investigated the impact of social media and absenteeism on students' motivation to learn. Building on existing literature, the research formulated objectives and hypotheses to guide the investigation. A mixed-methods approach was employed, with primary data collected from all high schools in District Khyber. A sample of 336 Class 10 students was selected using the Rao soft formula, and data was gathered through closed-ended questionnaires. Following permission from relevant authorities, data analysis was conducted using SPSS, confirming the reliability and validity of the variables. Regression analysis revealed significant relationships between absenteeism, social media influence, and student motivation. The findings indicate that absenteeism negatively affects motivation, diverting students' attention from learning, while excessive social media usage correlates with decreased motivation levels. The study highlights the importance of accurate attendance records, parental notification, and vigilant monitoring of social media usage to minimize distractions. By addressing these factors, educators can foster an environment that enhances student motivation at the secondary level.

Gemcitabine (GC)-loaded chitosan (CS) nanoparticles were synthesized using the ionic gelation method. CS solution was prepared in glacial acetic solution 1% v/v under magnetic stirring for 2 h at 60˚C. The pH of resulting CS solutions was adjusted to 5 ± 0.03 with sodium hydroxide aqueous solution 20% w/v and then filtered. Sodium tripolyphosphate (TPP) solution was prepared in double distilled water and filtered. For the preparation of nanoparticles, the required amount of GC was first dissolved in the desired concentration of TPP, which was then added dropwise to a specific CS solution at room temperature with uninterrupted magnetic stirring. The volume ratio of CS to TPP was 5:2 in all cases. The nanoparticle suspension obtained was kept under gentle stirring for 1 h and then centrifuged at 10,000 rpm for 30 min. The obtained nanoparticles were re-dispersed in double distilled water, trehalose dihydrate 5% (w/v), as a cryoprotectant was added, frozen at −30°C for 12 h, and finally lyophilized at −50°C for 24 h. The prepared nanoformulation (OF) was subjected to various physiochemical evaluations, including in vitro characterization like dynamic light scattering, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray diffraction analysis, scanning electron microscopy, drug release, cytotoxicity and in vivo pharmacokinetic studies.

Background While there is extensive research on leadership’s role in fostering proactive behavior among, only a few studies have examined the link between inclusive leadership (IL) and followers’ challenge-oriented organizational citizenship behavior (COCB). This relationship remains largely unexplored in the information and technology industry, where the challenges are unprecedented, and creativity is essential for survival. Objective The study aims to validate the proposed association between IL and COCB in the context of IT industry. Moreover, this research introduces creative self-efficacy (CSE) as a mediator and organizational innovative climate (IC) as moderator, deepening the understanding of the mechanisms further. Design/Methodology Cross-sectional study was conducted on 321 respondents employed in IT industry. To test our hypotheses, SEM analysis was conducted to measure the path coefficients, followed by bootstrapping analysis to assess the indirect impacts of creative self-efficacy at work. Results The findings indicate that inclusive leadership promote subordinates’ COCB directly, as well as through enhancing CSE, and these relationship are stronger in organizational IC. Conclusion Managers should promote inclusive leadership through HR practices and training, select leaders with inclusive traits, and foster an innovative climate with regular cross-departmental events to boost challenge-oriented OCB and organizational effectiveness.

This book chapter aims to present the state-of-art cybersecurity issues related to the UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) swarm operations, and the most important and emerging challenges in securing unmanned aerial vehicles. Some of the security threats presented include communication security threats; how organizations protect their information assets. Various methods that can be adapted to handle software and hardware vulnerabilities are presented. Lastly, the reliability of the decision-making processes in indeterministic systems is presented. It also looks at the issues of integration due to the diverse UAV platforms in the system and looks at the aspects of the system’s robustness against advanced threats such as cyber-attacks by AI among others. The authorities, ethics, and UAV swarm cybersecurity emphasis on human factors for improving operational security are also covered. The future research avenues include; novel threat identification through AI, protective autonomy, distributed messaging through blockchain, reliable edge computing, legislation, people-centered security, and inter-sub-disciplinary cooperation. This chapter seeks to enrich the reader with information and best practices for the effective establishment of protective measures against cyber-crimes that are inevitable with increased use of UAVs especially in operation configurations, especially UAV swarms.

This article is devoted to the investigation of the existence and uniqueness of solutions and Ulam-type stability of nonlinear impulsive Hammerstein integro-dynamic, nonlinear impulsive mixed integro-dynamic, and nonlinear impulsive Volterra Fredholm Hammerstein integro-dynamic adjoint equations on finite time scale intervals. Primary tools utilized to verify the existence and uniqueness of solutions for the discussed models are the Banach contraction principle and the Picard operator. Furthermore, Ulam-type stabilities are obtained by an extended integral impulsive inequality on time scales. To address the challenges in achieving the desired outcomes, certain assumptions are introduced. To demonstrate the practical applications of the obtained results, illustrative examples are presented.

As the global urgency for environmental sustainability intensifies, leadership plays a pivotal role in shaping eco‐friendly behaviors within organizations and beyond. This study examines the role of green inclusive leadership (GIL) in fostering pro‐environmental behaviors within the hospitality industry, utilizing the ability, motivation, and opportunity (AMO) theory as a conceptual framework to explain how GIL influences sustainable behaviors. The study highlights AMO as a theoretical model that outlines how AMO can drive organizational success, while addressing motivation as a practical driver of employee behavior. Time‐lagged data were gathered from hotel employees and managers in Pakistan. The findings demonstrate that GIL positively affects employees' voluntary green behaviors both at work and in their personal lives. This relationship is mediated by a green work climate and environmental commitment, highlighting the spillover effect from workplace behaviors to daily life. The originality of this work lies in its novel application of AMO theory beyond the workplace, offering insights into how leadership can inspire sustainable actions that extend beyond organizational boundaries, especially in a high‐impact sector like hospitality.