Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Research Articles

Assessing the Effectiveness of a Short Injectable Treatment Regimen for Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculosis: Clinical Outcomes in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Assessing the Effectiveness of a Short Injectable Treatment Regimen for Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculosis: Clinical Outcomes in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Molecular Prevalence, Phylogenetic Analysis, and PCR-based Detection of Brucella melitensis in Humans and Cattle in Southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

Brucellosis is a bacterial disease due to Brucella melitensis, considered a zoonotic agent affecting humans and animals, especially in areas with high disease occurrence, south Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. This work was designed to evaluate the molecular rate of B. melitensis in humans and cattle species and also to perform a phylogenetic analysis between both species. A cross-sectional survey involving 800 participants, including 600 cattle and 200 human participants, underwent blood sample collection with conventional PCR and IS711 locus PCR amplification and Sanger sequencing. The findings detected Brucella melitensis in 37 of the 800 samples, with a molecular prevalence of 3.1% in cattle and 9% in humans. The molecular trees play a role in zoonotic transmission and point to the necessity of a further unified approach toward the management of brucellosis in both humans and animals. This is further backed by the use of 95% C.I for the prevalence rates making the results statistically robust. This research shows that using the IS711 insertion sequence is an efficient and selective method for identifying Brucella species.

Factors affecting farmers' choice to adopt risk management strategies: The application of multivariate and multinomial probit models

This study investigates the factors that impact farmers' adoption of risk management strategies (RMS) in Pakistan during times of uncertainty. The study examines farmers' RMS adoption choices using both multinomial probit (MNP) and multivariate probit (MVP). Data were collected from 382 sampled farmers from four districts in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province of Pakistan via a multistage sampling technique. This study utilizes the MNP model, considering the assumption of Independence of Irrelevant Alternatives (IIA) and incorporating correlated error terms. The objective is to understand farmers' behavior in risky situations and determine if there is heterogeneity. Results are compared with the MVP model to assess robustness and gain insights into farmers' decision-making processes.The research findings reveal that our results are robust, and farmers behave homogeneously in different settings of the provision of risk management strategies. Farmers adopt RMS individually or in combination to mitigate the adverse effects of natural calamities on their livelihood. The risk-averse farmers, who perceive weather-related risks as a threat, access credits and information, and have farms close to a river are more likely to adopt RMS, irrespective of the format of the strategies available. Moreover, the predicted probabilities and correlation of the RMS and RM categories further strengthened our model estimation. These findings provide insights into the behavior of farmers in adopting RMS which are helpful for policymakers and stakeholders in developing strategies to mitigate the impacts of natural calamities on farmers.

Molecular characterization of Peste des petits ruminants virus (PPRV) in sheep and goats and risk factors associated with it in selected districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa-Pakistan.

Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) is an economically significant transboundary viral disease of sheep and goats caused by the PPRV virus, affecting annual losses of 1.45-2.10 billion US dollars globally. We designed the current study to evaluate the positive cases, molecular characterization, phylogenetic analysis, and risk factors correlated with the disease in various districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, with the aim of contributing to these strategies. A total of 384 samples from three selected districts, i.e., Peshawar, Charsadda and Chitral (n = 128 each), were collected, and the virus was investigated by using the sandwich ELISA, while the N gene of the virus was used as a target for molecular detection via RT-PCR. The confirmed samples were then sequenced, and phylogenetic analysis was performed. According to our findings, the highest positive cases was found in district Peshawar (50.87%), followed by Charsadda and Chitral (24.56%), respectively, while risk factor analysis showed that certain categories, such as species, sex, and age less than two years, have higher risk (P < 0.05) in contrast to their respective categories. Furthermore, sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of representative samples showed that the PPRV strains in the current study clustered in lineage IV, which is circulating in the small ruminant population of Asia, the Middle East, and African countries. Comparative residue analysis highlighted the mutation by representing 242 variable sites out of 371 locations. PPRV has foremost importance in Pakistan because the virus was detected in a considerable number of samples, and most of which were sourced from subsidiary areas where veterinary services are not prioritized.

Spectrum of Ocular Tuberculosis in Tertiary Care Hospitals of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Peshawar

Purpose: To describe the spectrum of ocular tuberculosis (TB), highlight the difficulty in diagnosis and treatment of such cases encountered in a tertiary care hospital of Peshawar, Pakistan. Study Design: Descriptive Case series. Place and Duration of Study: Khyber teaching hospital MTI Peshawar from Jan 2021 till July 2022. Methods: Eleven cases with Ocular tuberculosis are described. At presentation, complete history was taken and detailed examination was done including fundus examination and OCT macula. For diagnosis, a combination of Tuberculin skin test (TST) and Quantiferon-Gold was performed. On the basis of results of both tests Anti-TB treatment (ATT) was started and continued for an average of 9 months. Results: This study highlights the diverse ocular manifestations of TB in patients, even without a known history of systemic disease. Among 11 patients, 3 presented with panuveitis, 6 with posterior uveitis, and 2 with serpiginous-like choroidopathy with uveitis. Notably, only 2 had a known history of systemic TB. The patients were treated primarily with Anti-Tuberculosis Therapy (ATT) along with steroids or other adjunct therapies. Most cases showed improved vision and stable disease post-treatment, with visual acuity ranging from 6/24 to 6/6. However, two patients were lost to follow-up, leaving their outcomes unknown. Conclusion: In this case series, we explore different cases of Ocular Tuberculosis (OTB) seen at a busy hospital in Peshawar, Pakistan. There are variety of symptoms with which the patients present. The combined use of TST and Quantiferon-Gold proved an effective and affordable approach for diagnosis and timely initiation of ATT in ocular TB.

Assessment of Mental Health Literacy among School Teachers A Descriptive Cross-Sectional Study in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

This study aims to look at Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistani school teachers' mental health literacy (MHL). More specifically, focuses on the teachers' capacity to identify knowledge of psychological disorders, their comprehension of risk factors, and their perspectives on mental health. A cross-sectional approach was utilized for the collection of data from five hundred teachers working in government and private schools in the districts of Peshawar and Swabi. The Mental Health Literacy Scale was utilized to obtain this information. The results show that teachers at private schools are consistently more knowledgeable about mental health than those in public schools, especially when it comes to self-treatment awareness. On the other hand, instructors employed by the government demonstrated more positive attitudes regarding recognizing mental health disorders and seeking assistance for them. Additionally, substantial disparities were discovered between teachers from Peshawar and Swabi, with teachers from Peshawar displaying increased knowledge of mental health than Swabi instructors. To better support teachers' mental health, the findings highlight the necessity of specialized training programs to improve mental health literacy (MHL) amongst teachers, particularly in locations with limited resources or resources.

Navigating Challenges Resilience of Women Entrepreneurs in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Entrepreneurial Ecosystem

This research paper examines how women entrepreneurs in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa navigate the entrepreneurial ecosystem and social support structures. Grounded in an interpretivist research philosophy, the study delves into the subjective experiences of women entrepreneurs, highlighting their roles in fostering economic stability within their communities. A hybrid inductive and deductive research approach, combined with a multiple case study method, was employed to gain a comprehensive understanding of the challenges faced by women entrepreneurs. Data were collected through in-depth semi-structured interviews with 18 purposively sampled women entrepreneurs. The analysis, using a hybrid thematic approach, identified key themes related to the resilience of women entrepreneurs in the face of social and financial challenges, social advocacy, and economic independence. The findings illustrate how these women overcome socio-cultural barriers and limited institutional support, leveraging their entrepreneurial ventures to create inclusive spaces and advocate for gender equality.

Workplace Spirituality: A Catalyst for Job Satisfaction? Exploring Cultural and Gender Contingencies

Work-Place spirituality is on the fast track and those days are gone when scholars face problem in defining the same. Spirituality has deep relation with personality and all the linked abstracts with personality are in lab with workplace spirituality at current time. This study is one of the case of that chain where spirituality is observed with job satisfaction, organizational culture and role of gender. The method for gathering the data was stratified random sampling. 457 replies were obtained from 500 teaching faculty members at several universities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, who were given an approved questionnaire. AMOS and SPSS Package-21 have been used to find analytical results. The tool's validity and dependability were guaranteed. Values for the model fit index were confirmed. The study has shown and analyzed the model's path coefficient with and without moderating and interaction factors. It was discovered that Work-place Spirituality has encouraging behavior for job satisfaction of the employee and organizational culture further enhance the behavior while gender is unaware about the behavior of WPS. The study's role in literature and industry has been defined. At the completion of this inquiry, there are limitations and recommendations based on the findings.

Does Discipline Selection Based on Personal Interest Matter in Higher Education? Reflecting Students’ Perceptions

This study examines students' perceptions of self-interest-based discipline choice and its effect on educational excellence in tertiary education. The main objective was to analyze the effect of self-interest-based discipline selection on educational excellence at the BS level program. A mixed-method approach was adopted. A phenomenological design was applied for the qualitative part while a survey research design was utilized for the quantitative part. The target population consisted of BS (7th &amp; 8th semesters) students from 10 higher education institutions (HEIs) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Word Cloud and Thematic Analysis were used for qualitative data analysis, while Pearson (r) and Linear Regression were applied as inferential statistics for the quantitative part. The findings reveal a moderate positive association between self-interest-based discipline selection and academic success. Recommendations include encouraging learners to choose discipline aligned with their self-interest instead of relying on others. Parents, teachers, and other stakeholders should respect learners' interests.

Investigating the Impact of Admission Requirements on Academic Performance in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Medical Teaching Institutions

Investigating the Impact of Admission Requirements on Academic Performance in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Medical Teaching Institutions

Current Technological Trends Used in Libraries: A Study of Public Sector Universities of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

Current Technological Trends Used in Libraries: A Study of Public Sector Universities of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

Exploring Climate Change’s Psychological Association, Between Eco-Anxiety, Eco-Grief and Attitude Towards Environment

This study investigates the psychological correlations among eco-anxiety, eco-grief, and attitudes toward the environment within the context of climate change. Data were collected using convenience sampling from a sample size 200 in the Malakand district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. The sample included 124 males and 76 females. Data collection involved the Eco-Anxiety Questionnaire comprising 22 items, the Eco Grief Questionnaire consisting of 6 items, and the Environmental Attitude Scale containing 20 items. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences was utilized to conduct correlation and t-tests, assessing the frequencies and percentages of demographics, as well as calculating the mean, standard deviation, reliability, and skewness of variables. The correlation analysis indicated a positive relationship among eco-anxiety, eco-grief, and environmental attitudes. A significant positive correlation was observed between eco-anxiety and environmental attitude (r=0.82, p&lt;0.01), and between eco-grief and environmental attitude (r=0.80, p&lt;0.01). The T-test was utilized to examine gender differences in the experiences of eco-anxiety and eco-grief. The findings demonstrated that females achieved significantly higher scores on the eco-grief scale compared to males. The findings indicate that eco-anxiety and eco-grief play a crucial role in fostering a proactive environmental attitude among adults, revealing notable differences between genders. The research highlights that eco-anxiety and eco-grief can strengthen an individual's emotional connection to nature. This increased connection often leads to a stronger commitment to preservation, thereby fostering a positive environmental attitude.

Role of English Textbooks in Language Skills Development: A Case Study Of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Role of English Textbooks in Language Skills Development: A Case Study Of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Terrorism in Pakistan Impact on National Security

Terrorism presents a substantial obstacle in the current global political landscape, leading to changes in approaches to national security. The 9/11 attacks had a significant and far-reaching effect, on South Asia, notably in Pakistan, prompting leaders such as President George W. Bush to intensify worldwide counter-terrorism efforts. This research examines the relationship between terrorism and national security, focusing on Pakistan's experience with cross-border terrorism from Afghanistan, particularly in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. The study argues that terrorism surpasses conventional conflict standards and poses existential risks to national security. The study also highlights the impact of terrorist spillover from Afghanistan on Pakistan's territorial integrity, political sovereignty, and core institutions. The study also highlights the degradation of civil freedoms, economic pressures, and social divides due to terrorism. The research advocates for strong counter-terrorism strategies and global collaboration to strengthen national security and maintain global peace. The research advocates for a comprehensive strategy to address terrorism, emphasizing self-sufficiency and global cooperation, aiming to successfully battle terrorism while preserving national autonomy and democratic government in international affairs.

Impact of Polygamous Marriages on Marital Ties and Family Relationships in District Battgaram of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

Impact of Polygamous Marriages on Marital Ties and Family Relationships in District Battgaram of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

Molecular detection of Rickettsia aeschlimannii, Candidatus Rickettsia shennongii, Rickettsia sp. and Coxiella burnetii in ticks collected from camels

Tick-borne bacteria of the genera Rickettsia and Coxiella cause several emerging veterinary and human infectious diseases. Ticks of the genus Hyalomma are medically important vectors due to their potential role in the transmission of pathogens to vertebrate hosts. There is an inadequate knowledge on tick-borne Rickettsia spp. and Coxiella spp. in ticks infesting transhumant camels in Pakistan. In this study, we conducted a molecular survey for screening of Rickettsia spp. and Coxiella spp. in ticks infesting camels. Seven hard tick species including Hyalomma dromedarii, Hyalomma anatolicum, Hyalomma scupense, Hyalomma isaaci, Hyalomma turanicum, Hyalomma asiaticum, and Rhipicephalus sanguineus s.l were confirmed on camels in three distinct physiographic regions of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. A subset of morphologically identified ticks were subjected to molecular assays for the genetic characterization of ticks and the detection and genetic characterization of Rickettsia and Coxiella species using standard genetic markers. Ticks screened for pathogens resulted in the detection of Rickettsia aeschlimannii and Candidatus Rickettsia shennongii and Coxiella burnetii. The molecular analysis further reveals the presences of an undetermined Rickettsia aeschlimannii-like species, that is making a distinct phylogenetic clade with R. aeschlimannii. The detection of pathogens in camel ticks poses potential health hazards as these ticks frequently bites humans. Molecular screening of Rickettsia spp. and Coxiella spp. associated with camel ticks is a preliminary step toward the surveillance of evaluating their zoonotic threats in the region.

Babesia bigemina and Theileria annulata infections in cattle: molecular detection, phylogenetic analysis, and assessment of risk factors.

Babesia bigemina and Theileria annulata are tick-borne protozoans that cause piroplasmosis in cattle, resulting in huge damages to the livestock industry. The prevalence of these infections depends on various intrinsic and extrinsic risk factors. In Pakistan, there is no information regarding the molecular characterization of Babesia bigemina and the risk factors associated with piroplasmosis. This study aimed to molecularly characterize Babesia spp. and Theileria spp. infecting various cattle breeds in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, and to shed light on risk factors associated with these infections. Altogether, 219 blood samples were collected from various symptomatic cattle breeds, including Holstein Friesian (65.3%; 143/219), Jersey (21.5%; 47/219) and Sahiwal (13.2%; 29/219). Isolated genomic DNA from these blood samples was used in PCR for the amplification of the 18S rRNA fragment of apicomplexan parasites. Obtained 18S rDNA sequences from cattle hosts showed 99.5% identity with B. bigemina, or 100% with T. annulata. Having an overall infection rate of 61.6% (135/219), the highest infection rate was recorded for T. annulata (43.8%; 95/219), followed by B. bigemina (18.3%; 40/219). Phylogenetic analysis of 18S rDNA sequences revealed that B. bigemina clustered with corresponding species reported from Bolivia, and South Africa, while T. annulata grouped with same species from Italy, India, and Turkey. Among the different risk factors, the breed, season, and tick infestation were found to have a significant (P < 0.05) association with the piroplasmid infections. The information obtained in this study can be employed for effective surveillance and control of babesiosis and theileriosis in Pakistan. In addition to confirming our previous molecular detection of T. annulata in cattle, this study provides the first molecular surveillance and phylogenetic position of B. bigemina and associated risk factors in the study region.

Predictive ARIMA Model with a Machine Learning (ML) Approach for COVID-19 Data in Pakistan

This study is based on the application of an ARIMA (p, d, q) based machine learning (ML) approach to evaluate the dynamics of COVID-19 pandemic. The focus is on estimating epidemic trends and performing diagnostic scrutiny with model fitting. The data including all four waves of the pandemic pertaining to Pakistan, covering all four provinces (Sindh, Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, as well as Gilgit Baltistan, Azad Jammu Kashmir, and the capital city Islamabad, collected from February 26, 2020, to September 30, 2021, is analyzed. The ML algorithm is used to optimize the results of ADF, unit root test which ensures the minimum of ACF, and PACF graphs intention of the data series. The results employ the fitted ARIMA models (1, 1, 1) and (1, 1, 7) for the 1st to 4th waves, confirming daily infected cases across the entire dataset of Pakistan. The cumulative trained observations are from the 1st wave (February 26, 2020, to October 20, 2020), 2nd wave (October 21, 2020, to March 16, 2021), 3rd wave (March 17, 2021, to July 10, 2021), and 4th wave (July 11, 2021, to September 30, 2021), with a further 14-day forecast (from October 1 to October 14, 2021). The results show a strong correlation between the trained and predicted values, ranging from 0.8789 to 0.99236. To select predictive model parameters, the model that results in the minimum Bayesian Information Criterion (BIC) value and residuals from the datasets obtained after detaching the unnecessary errors and the 95^% CI for the forecasting error ( ) are calculated. These values would help to decide the best fitted predictive model.

Impact of Fear of COVID-19, Burnout, and Social Support on Turnover Intention in Laboratory Professionals

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted healthcare workers, including laboratory professionals, leading to increased psychological stress, burnout, and turnover intention. This study explores the impact of fear of COVID-19 on turnover intention, with burnout as a mediator and social support as a moderator.Objective: To assess the effect of fear of COVID-19 on turnover intention in laboratory professionals, with burnout as a mediator and social support as a moderator.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from October 2021 to June 2022, using a convenience sample of 300 laboratory professionals in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Data were collected via an online questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS 25. Simple linear regression was used to evaluate associations, and mediation and moderation analyses were performed using PROCESS macro.Results: Fear of COVID-19 was significantly associated with turnover intention (β = 0.411, p &lt; 0.001), with burnout partially mediating this relationship (β = 0.177, p = 0.003). Social support did not significantly moderate the relationship (p = 0.88).Conclusion: Fear of COVID-19 increases turnover intention in laboratory professionals, with burnout as a partial mediator. Targeted interventions to reduce fear and burnout are necessary to retain healthcare professionals during crises.

Winged odyssey: Profiling bacterial vistas in migratory avifauna via 16S rRNA sequencing

Avian migration is an intrinsic biological phenomenon that involves trans-boundary movements to evade adverse ecological circumstances. During migration, avian gut bacterial taxa may serve as a potential source of bacterial dissemination via fecal contamination at stop-over sites. Therefore, bacterial taxa composition as well as diversities were investigated employing 16S rRNA sequencing in fecal samples collected from flocks of seven migratory avian species visiting southern districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. The analysis revealed that Grus virgo exhibits the highest alpha diversity, followed by Aythya ferina while G. grus reflects lowest diversity among all the migratory avian fecal samples. The findings depicted significant variations in the bacterial beta diversities of migratory avifauna. At phylum level, Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, and Actinobacteriota showed the highest relative abundance in Plegadis falcinellus, Chlamydotis undulata and Aythya ferina respectively. Further exploration within phyla elucidates finer-scale taxonomic differences at the family and genus levels. This study identified potential pathogenic bacteria such as Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, Enterococcus, Proteus, Clostridium sensu stricto 1, Fusobacterium and Escherichia that offers valuable insight into the microbiological hazards associated with migratory birds. Although pathogenicity was not directly assessed, the observed relative abundance of opportunistic bacterial genera suggests continuous surveillance of gut bacterial community during migration to safeguard avian biodiversity and mitigate escalating threats of infection emergence and dissemination.