Ghazi University

This paper examines the predictors of financial performance in the Islamic banking sector of Pakistan, namely, the assessment of the impact of multifaceted measures of innovation such as financial, specific, and horizon innovation, as well as combined risk management measures. The study will use a purposive sampling method whereby annual financial statements of five leading Islamic commercial banks in Pakistan will be purposively sampled to extract the longitudinal secondary data. According to the empirical results, innovative financial strategies are strongly positively correlated with institution performance, and horizon and specific innovations can be taken as initiatives of competitive advantage. Nevertheless, in the course of the analysis, the problem of non-standardization of data is also observed, which is why the predictive capabilities of the model can be increased by broadening the time frame and including more macroeconomic indicators. These findings are significant to stakeholders and regulators who need to streamline the Shariah-compliant financial environment using structured innovation and effective risk mitigation systems.

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is one of the most important food crops that contributed significantly to human civilization. Wheat production at the global level has increased significantly over the years. Wheat plays a vital role in Pakistan’s economy, contributing around 14% to agricultural value addition and about 3% to the national GDP. It accounts for approximately 37% of total food energy intake among the population, underscoring its importance as a dietary staple. Lead (Pb) contamination in agricultural soils poses a significant threat to crop growth and productivity. This study investigates the effects of three growth stimulants Moringa leaf extract as treatment (MLE 100, 200 mL), zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs, 100 ppm, 200 ppm), and sulfocyclic acid (SCA, 100 ppm, 200 ppm) on the growth and biochemical parameters of wheat grown under Pb-stressed conditions. A controlled experiment was conducted to assess plant growth attributes, chlorophyll content, antioxidant enzyme activity, and oxidative stress markers. Results revealed that Pb toxicity severely impaired wheat growth, reducing biomass accumulation and photosynthetic efficiency while increasing oxidative stress. However, the application of growth stimulants significantly mitigated Pb-induced stress. Among the treatments, MLE enhanced plant height and biomass, ZnO NPs improved chlorophyll content and nutrient uptake, while SCA effectively reduced oxidative damage by boosting antioxidant enzyme activity. These findings suggest that MLE, ZnO NPs, and SCA can be promising strategies for improving wheat growth and resilience under heavy metal stress. Further molecular and genetic studies will be recommended for sustainable wheat production in contaminated soils.

Smoking is a long-established modifiable risk factor, which adversely affects the outcome of dental implants, as it affects vascularization, bone metabolism, immune response, and microbial balance. These have a direct impact when choosing implant loading protocols since immediate and delayed loading would require the body to face different biological and mechanical loads during the process of osseointegration. This review is a synthesis of recent high-level evidence regarding the effects of smoking on dental implant outcomes, particularly, comparative outcomes in immediate versus delayed loading procedures. Systematic reviews, meta-analyses and clinical studies have repeatedly shown that there is a dose-dependent correlation between the intensity of smoking and heightened implant failure, marginal bone loss and peri-implant complications. The study shows that dental implants are characterized by a high survival probability, but smoking affects all outcomes negatively. There is a clear dose response relationship, where increasing the intensity of smoking would correlate with increasing the rate of early and late implant failure, increasing marginal bone loss, and the rate of peri-implant complications. In smokers, delayed loading gives fairly better outcomes. The immediate loading of smokers is linked with the increased risk of premature failure caused by impaired healing and lower implant stability, and delayed loading provides comparatively better results as it allows more time to induce biological integration, but the risk level is still high when compared to non-smokers. Smoking cessation has a clinical importance because former smokers experience greater implant prognosis than active smokers. This study highlights the significance of personal risk evaluation, case selection, the use of modified or delayed loading in smokers, and the incorporation of smoking-cessation counseling to enhance the short and long-term success of implants.

The cotton leafhopper, Amrasca biguttula Ishida (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae), is a significant pest that feeds on various host plants, particularly cotton, resulting in substantial annual economic losses. Trichogramma chilonis Ishii (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) is an effective parasitoid that targets the eggs of various pests preventing them from hatching into harmful larvae. Its ability to be mass-reared makes it a popular choice as biological control agent in integrated pest management programs worldwide. The presence of the bacterium Wolbachia, an intracellular symbiont found in arthropods, has a profound impact on the biology of their hosts. This research examined Wolbachia strain diversity in both species using seven genes: wsp, 16S rRNA, and five housekeeping MLST genes. Additionally, the molecular identification of A. biguttula and its egg parasitoid, T. chilonis was also accomplished through the use of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene. Phylogenetic exploration based on 16S rRNA, wsp, and multilocus sequence typing (MLST) revealed that A. biguttula anchorages two new Wolbachia strains along with another Wolbachia strain in its egg parasitoid, T. chilonis from supergroup (B) We enumerated Wolbachia strains in A. biguttula from both study locations in Pakistan, identifying distinct strains wAbig1 and wAbig2 for A. biguttula and wTchiB for T. chilonis. Wolbachia amplification in A. biguttula showed infection rates of 29% to 66% across seven genes, with the highest rates in Bahawalpur, followed by Faisalabad. Ten adult samples of the egg parasitoid T. chilonis from each locality were also tested, revealing infection rates of 50% to 90%, again highest in Bahawalpur. This is the first report of Wolbachia in A. biguttula populations, detecting high Wolbachia prevalence and suggesting vertical transmission. Although no additional strains were identified beyond those mentioned in the present research, further research should investigate the potential for additional strains within these populations. Wolbachia bacteria are important for pest management as they suppress pest populations, reduce disease transmission in vectors and provide pathogen resistance to hosts, while potentially increasing pest susceptibility to insecticides. As a sustainable and species-specific alternative to chemical pesticides, Wolbachia offers environmentally friendly control strategies for pests like planthoppers.

Objective: To examine demographic characteristics, comorbidities, treatment patterns, and recovery outcomes among stroke patients, with a focus on associations between stroke type, recurrence, and pharmacological interventions. Study Design: Retrospective Observational study. Setting: Allama Iqbal Teaching Hospital, Dera Ghazi Khan. Period: May 2025. Methods: Using hospital records from 72 confirmed stroke patients admitted demographic data, comorbidities, stroke type, recurrence, treatment, and recovery outcomes were analyzed using SPSS version 23, with statistical significance set at p < 0.05. Results: Results reveal that ischemic stroke was more prevalent (76%) than hemorrhagic (24%). Stroke was most common in patients aged over 70 years. Recurrent strokes were more frequent in ischemic stroke (36%) than hemorrhagic (6%) (p = 0.016). Diabetes was significantly associated with ischemic stroke (p = 0.001), while hypertension was common across both types. Patients without hypertension or diabetes had the best recovery rates, while those with both had poorer outcomes and higher mortality (72%). Comorbidities significantly affected recovery outcomes (p = 0.010). Ischemic strokes were significantly more prevalent among older patients, whereas hemorrhagic stroke were more common in younger individuals (p = 0.032). Anti-platelets and statins were effective in ischemic stroke, whereas anti-convulsants and osmotic diuretics were used more in hemorrhagic cases. Conclusion: Patients without comorbidities had shorter hospital stays, while those with both hypertension and diabetes had longer stays, and higher mortality. Ischemic stroke, more common in older adults and linked to diabetes, showed higher recurrence, whereas hemorrhagic stroke was less frequent, largely non-recurrent, and seen more in younger patients. Anti-platelets and statins were effective in ischemic stroke, while anticonvulsants and osmotic diuretics were more beneficial in hemorrhagic stroke.

No new data were generated or analyzed in this study.

The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) technology with omics platforms improves herbal medicine research by facilitating superior discovery, characterization, and validation of bioactive components. The exploration of natural sources, particularly ethno-medicinal plants, has historically been a cornerstone in medication discovery. The enhancement in healthcare and quality of life is mostly attributed to the emergence of modern medicine, which relies on chemically manufactured pharmaceuticals. Centuries of traditional knowledge have produced a plethora of bioactive chemicals, serving as a crucial foundation for pharmaceutical advancement. Healthcare transformation meets its highest potential through AI technology while the combination of Ayurveda and AI creates new traditional medicine solutions. Researchers in traditional medicine have created a prescription assistance system with AI methodologies that adhere to established decision-making protocols. Investigation of herbal cures and their constituents relies on AI techniques for analysis. The integration of advanced technology, particularly AI, has revolutionized the process of discovering new pharmaceuticals from ethno-medical plants. As processing power increases and neural network techniques advance, AI is progressing swiftly. Nearly every scientific subject is employing AI to enhance research and derive advantages, including the healthcare sector. The implementation of AI within drug discovery strategies produces significant opportunities to develop fresh solutions against diseases with no present treatments. New drug discovery operations will become more productive through decreased research and development expenses and enhanced discovery success rates.

The presence of copper (Cu) in agricultural soils represents an increasingly serious environmental concern around the globe. In this regard, the use of organics byproducts as soil conditioners has gained much attention for restoring Cu contaminated soils; however, limited research has been available regarding the comparative effectiveness of compost (CP), rice husk (RH), rice husk induced biochar (RHB), poultry manure (PM) and animal manure (AM) when used with sunflower (Helianthus annus L.). A pot trial was arranged in a complete randomized design with five different treatments along with their three replicates each to evaluate the comparative effects of soil amendments for Cu immobilization in alkaline calcareous soil of arid region. The results showed the significant increase in soil pH in all soil conditioners treated soil. While, the slight reduction in CP amended soil was noticed by 0.1 unit over control. Though, the remaining soil conditioners exhibited the increment in soil pH over control. In addition, the profound reduction in Cu was recorded by 9%, 17.8%, 33.7% and 28.4% when CP, RH, RHB and PM were applied at 2% (w/w) respectively, over non-treated soil. This study demonstrated that the incorporation of RHB showed the prominent reduction Cu mobility into polluted soil. Moreover, all soil conditioners exhibited the prominent improvement in sunflower growth and reduced Cu absorption in sunflower shoots and roots. Hence, these soil conditioners represent an efficient strategy to transform organic wastes into valuable products like biochar and compost, promoting a circular economy approach.