Lahore School of Economics

ABSTRACT Following a high economic growth path, the group of G7 economies is found to be utilising more and more material, causing a material footprint (MF), which in turn contributes to pollution. The MF can be derived from various factors, including fossil fuels, building materials, and biomass. But the G7 countries heavily rely on carbon‐based fuels, which are considered the key source of the MF. The energy security issues further call for control of the situation by lowering the MF and improving the quality of the environment by enhancing the use of renewable sources of energy. The current study intends to add to the literature by exploring the linkages between economic growth and MF, keeping in view the energy security issues in G7 economies over the period from 1985 to 2018. The study crafts a model of environmental pollution by evaluating the effects of economic growth, the energy security risk (ESR), and renewable energy consumption (REC) on the fossil material footprint (FMF). The inferences are drawn using the panel quantile regression (PQR) technique. The outcomes showed that FMF significantly and positively correlated with the ESR, but in the last two upper quantiles, the impact of ESR becomes significantly negative. Likewise, the utilisation of renewable energy is found to control FMF across all quartiles. Moreover, the association between economic growth and FMF proves the invalidity of the EKC hypothesis. Keeping in view the outcomes generated, the study recommended certain policy implications which could help G7 countries to secure SDG 07, SDG 12 and SDG 13 (climate action) directly, whereas SDG 08 and SDG 09 are indirectly.

Herbal remedies have been utilised in traditional medicine systems to manage chronic illnesses. The present research investigated the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiarthritic effects of Chenopodium murale L. The C. murale (CMMeE) methanolic extract, prepared from the whole plant by maceration, was analysed for phytochemicals using LC-MS. The antioxidant effects of CMMeE were assessed in an in vitro DPPH assay. The efficacy of CMMeE was assessed in in vivo carrageenan and histamine-induced acute inflammatory models, and in formaldehyde and complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA)-induced chronic arthritis models. Three different doses of CMMeE (250, 500, and 750 mg/kg) and 10 mg/kg of diclofenac sodium were administered orally to the animals. Different parameters, including reductions in paw oedema, arthritic index (AI), histopathological, biochemical, and haematological changes, were noted. ELISA and qPCR methods were used to assess the expression of antioxidant and inflammatory biomarkers in serum samples. CMMeE possesses moderate antioxidant activity (IC50 = 199.7 µg/mL) when compared to gallic acid (IC50 = 178.9 µg/mL) in an in vitro DPPH assay. Treatment with CMMeE alleviated paw oedematous conditions in the acute models. The CMMeE and diclofenac sodium-treated groups demonstrated a noticeable decline (p < 0.05) in joint inflammation and overall arthritic scores. Treatment with the extract and diclofenac sodium resulted in reductions in superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in the serum samples. Moreover, remarkable (p < 0.05) induction of interleukin-4 and -10 and suppression of COX-2, IL-1, IL-6, NF-kβ, mPGE, and TNF-α was noticed in a dose-dependent manner in the samples of CMMeE and dilcofenac sodium treated animals. Complete blood count (CBC) data indicated no noticeable differences (p > 0.05) in RBCs and Hb levels, but a decline in platelet and WBCs levels in CMMeE-treated groups. Reduced pannus formation, bone deterioration, and synovitis were observed in tissue sections of animals treated with CMMeE and diclofenac sodium. Overall, CMMeE exhibits anti-inflammatory and antiarthritic effects, which may be due to TNF-α-directed downregulation of oxidative stress and inflammatory mediators.

ABSTRACT Financial distress can adversely affect a firm's long‐term sustainability and have devastating consequences for stakeholders. Given the increased use of social media platforms as corporate disclosure channels, this research examines whether financially distressed firms tend to alter the tone/sentiment of their social media disclosures and whether governance mechanisms can help mitigate such potential opportunistic behaviour. Using a sample of tweets and posts by 106 Pakistani firms from 2017 to 2022, this research finds that distressed firms are more likely to utilise a less positive tone in their social media disclosures. Further, we find that under good governance, this effect is strengthened, while under weak governance structures, financially distressed firms are more inclined to utilise impression management. We contribute to the corporate social responsibility literature by providing evidence that, under the right governance conditions, social media platforms can be conducive to more truthful disclosures and help firms engage with, communicate to, and build trust among different stakeholders.

In linear regression, when predictors exhibit collinearity, the problem of multicollinearity arises, leading to a reduction in the efficiency of the ordinary least squares (OLS) estimator. In this paper, we develop quantile-based two-parameter ridge weighted Kibria-Lukman (QTPRKL) estimators to address this issue. The proposed QRTRKL estimators are constructed using the eigenvalues of the correlation matrix of predictors. Extensive Monte Carlo simulations are conducted in terms of mean squared error (MSE) criteria to evaluate the performance of the proposed estimators. The results demonstrate that the new QTPRKL0.99 estimator outperforms existing alternatives. Furthermore, the proposed estimator is a generalization of both one and two-parameter ridge estimators and exhibits superior performance compared to OLS. Finally, the effectiveness of the QTPRKL estimators is illustrated using Tobacco dataset, where the findings confirm their superior performance.

This research paper proposes the effect of collaborative projects on acquisition of critical thinking skills by architecture students in the form of a quantitative, cause and effect research design. Against this background, collaborative learning has been strongly encouraged in the face of the growing interest in problem-solving, creativity, and reflective thinking in architectural education. Nonetheless, there is not much empirical data on its effectiveness in terms of its measurement in architecture programs. A pre-test/ post-test control group study was conducted to fill this gap to access 120 undergraduate architecture students in three South Asian universities. Experimental group engaged in team-based design projects which were organized and the control group had projects of the same nature but were done individually. The Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal was used to evaluate the abilities of critical thinking at the beginning and the end of the semester. Findings revealed that students who participated in team learning were much improved in terms of their critical thinking scores than those who learned on their own (p &lt; 0.01). The results indicate that collaborative project-based learning is not just effective in improving design competence, but also in the development of very crucial cognitive skills that are important in future architectural practice. The research indicates the importance of the introduction of collaborative pedagogies in the architectural school curricula and offers evidence-supported suggestions to curriculum developers, educators, and academic policy makers.

Decision-making remains a defining challenge in both engineering and organizational domains. Human choices, while enriched by intuition and experience, are often undermined by bias, stress, and inconsistency. Machines, in contrast, deliver speed and analytical precision but struggle with context, ethics, and adaptability. This chapter examines how the decision-making landscape has shifted from human reliance to algorithmic models and now toward integrated human–machine systems. By outlining the cognitive processes behind human judgment, the computational methods that guide machine reasoning, and the design of collaborative frameworks, it highlights how hybrid approaches can achieve more resilient and transparent outcomes. Practical applications, ethical concerns, and emerging challenges are discussed, offering engineers and practitioners a roadmap for developing systems that balance efficiency with human values.

ABSTRACT Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) has been a formal part of environmental governance in Pakistan for almost three decades. Yet, its effectiveness continues to be questioned. In this letter, the authors discuss the future of impact assessment in Pakistan by reflecting on two decades of teaching, research, and practice in the country. Progress in teaching and research remains negligible, and although some improvements in practice have recently been made, these remain largely limited to a single province. At this trajectory, the benefits of EIA will continue to erode. To make meaningful progress in future, deliberate efforts are required to strengthen both teaching and research. Moreover, practice needs to improve, for which close collaboration is required among Environmental Protection Agencies, academics, and consultants. Enhancing EIA requires collective will and effort by all stakeholders, beginning with a critical reflection on the weaknesses and a joint effort to find a way forward.

ABSTRACTNon‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a rising global health concern closely linked with obesity, insulin resistance, and metabolic syndrome. Despite its prevalence, there are currently no approved pharmacological treatments. Conyza bonariensis (CB), a traditional medicinal plant, has demonstrated antioxidant, anti‐inflammatory, and hepatoprotective properties, making it a promising candidate for NAFLD therapy. This study investigates the therapeutic potential of CB n‐hexane extract in a rat model of high‐fat diet (HFD)‐induced NAFLD. In silico molecular docking was conducted to assess the binding affinity of major bioactive constituents to NAFLD‐associated targets, including PPAR‐α, PPAR‐γ, AMPK, and SREBP‐1c. In vivo, Sprague–Dawley rats (200–300 g) were divided into six groups: control, HFD‐induced NAFLD, Silymarin Group, and three treatment groups of three doses of 250, 500, and 750 mg/kg of CB extracts for 28 days. Biochemical markers (lipid profile, complete blood profile, hemoglobin levels, and glucose parameters) and histopathological liver changes were evaluated. In vivo, extract‐treated groups showed significant improvement in liver function tests, lipid profiles, and oxidative stress markers (p < 0.05), with the highest dose group (750 mg/kg) displaying histologically reduced hepatic steatosis and inflammation. CB n‐hexane extracts demonstrated significant hepatoprotective and metabolic regulatory effects in HFD‐induced NAFLD in rats, potentially mediated through modulation of PPAR and AMPK pathways. The integration of in silico and pharmacological data supports further exploration of CB as a potential natural therapeutic for NAFLD.