The University of Agriculture, Peshawar

The aim of the study was to evaluate the toxic metals (TMs) pollution, bioaccumulation and its potential health risk via consumption of different vegetables irrigated by different water sources released from industrial estates of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Water (fresh and waste), soil and vegetables samples were collected in triplicates and acid digested. Digestion of samples were followed by evaporation and filtration and then assessed for TMs via atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The results showed that mean concentration of TMs were below the permissible limits (0.003-2mg/L) set by World Health Organization, except cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) in freshwater, while mean concentrations of TMs exceeded the permissible limits except manganese (Mn) in wastewater of all industrial estates. The contamination factor (CF) and pollution load index (PLI) results showed that TMs had high pollution levels (especially for Pb, Ni and Mn). The average bioaccumulation factor (BAF) values of TMs were below threshold (< 1) in all vegetables. The hazard risk index (HRI) values of all TMs were below (< 1) in all vegetables of industrial estates, except Pb. The total hazard index (THRI) of TMs for all vegetables exceeded the acceptable limit (> 1). Carcinogenic risk (CR) of selected TMs was substantially higher and exceeded the permissible limit. Hence, the present findings revealed that long-term irrigation with the wastewater result to TMs contamination in soil and vegetables, and may pose a detrimental impact on human health.

An uncommon, hereditary, autosomal dominant neurological condition, Huntington’s disease (HD) is marked by increasing motor dysfunction, cognitive loss, and mental symptoms (Stoker et al., 2022). A trinucleotide (CAG) repeat expansion in the HTT gene on chromosome 4 is the cause of the illness (Kumar et al., 2020). Clinical onset usually happens in mid-adulthood, and symptoms steadily get worse over time, eventually resulting in death and severe disability (Ogilvie et al., 2023). One important diagnostic characteristic is a rich family history spanning several generations (Kringlen et al., 2017). Genetic counseling, family screening, and proper symptom treatment all depend on early detection of HD.

The Upper Indus Basin is a significant freshwater resource for Pakistan’s irrigation system, with approximately half of its annual water resources are produced from glacier and snow nourished basin within the Himalaya, Karakorum, and Hindu Kush (HKH) region. The basin is increasingly vulnerable to climate change, making it important to study and assess the spatiotemporal changes of snow cover area (SCA) and their relationships with climatic factors for actual water resource management. This study is focused on the sub-basin of Upper Indus Basin Astore region, using Landsat imagery from 1998 to 2023 to calculate SCA during the summer season through the indices of the Normalized Difference Snow Index. Climatic variables, with precipitation and temperature were downloaded from NASA’s Prediction of worldwide energy resources (POWER) dataset. Results illustrate a significant decline in SCA at a rate of -4.92 km2 per year, which is associated with increasing mean annual temperature and decreasing precipitation. These findings confirm that increasing temperature and reduced precipitation are contributing to the reduction of snow cover in Astore. This study highlights the significance of regional scale studies to know the consequence of climate change on change in snow cover within the Upper Indus Basin.

The examination had been carried out to find out how guar gum affects the nutritional and qualitative characteristics of bakery goods, particularly cookies and cakes. At first guar beans were analyzed for their different physiochemical characteristics and guar gum was produced from guar beans. Then, using various concentrations, guar gum was introduced as a fat substitute in cookies and cakes. After thorough examination of these items, assessing a variety of quality factors, nutritional characteristics and sensory qualities. The prepared products will be assessed in terms of quality factors, nutritional characteristics and sensory attributes. According to the research, the mean values of the components of cookies’ moisture, fat, ash, protein and fibre ranged from 2.98% to 3.35%, 9.36% to 15.05%, 1.41% to 2.17%, 6.64% to 7.34% and 1.41% to 2.17%, respectively. Similar results were found for cakes, where the mean values for moisture, fat, ash, protein and fibre, respectively, ranged from 19.06% to 23.03%, 6.70% to 7.34%, 12.6% to 15.17%, 1.55% to 2.35% and 1.49% to 2.22%. Physical factors including cookie thickness, spread factor and hardness as well as sensory traits were significantly altered. Additionally, the presence of guar gum had a significant impact on the physiochemical characteristics (volume and colour) and sensory qualities of cakes. The results of this physiochemical and sensory analysis conclusively showed that guar gum addition significantly increase the positive impact on the quality characteristics and customer acceptance of a variety of bakery items.

Rural-to-urban migration has emerged as a significant socio-economic phenomenon in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, driven by multiple environmental and agricultural stressors. This study investigates the impact of declining agricultural productivity, rainfall variability, and land degradation on the migration decisions of rural households in the region. Utilizing a quantitative empirical approach, data were collected from 300 rural households through structured questionnaires. Statistical analyses, including correlation and regression, were conducted to examine the relationship between environmental stressors and migration patterns. Results indicate that reduced crop yield, unpredictable rainfall, and land degradation significantly increase the likelihood of rural-to-urban migration. The study provides evidence that environmental and agricultural challenges are critical push factors, with implications for policymakers, agricultural planning, and urban development strategies. The findings contribute to the broader literature on climate-induced migration and offer actionable insights for mitigating rural distress and promoting sustainable livelihoods.

ABSTRACT Background Toxoplasma gondii ( T. gondii ) infection poses significant risks during pregnancy, yet data on seroprevalence and genotype diversity in Ethiopia are scarce. Objective This study aimed to determine the seroprevalence, associated risk factors, and genotype distribution of T. gondii among pregnant women in Northwest Ethiopia. Methods A cross‐sectional study was conducted among 554 pregnant women attending antenatal care in public hospitals between January 2022 and April 2024. Systematic random sampling was used. ELISA detected T. gondii ‐specific IgG and IgM antibodies, and PCR‐RFLP targeting B1 and SAG2 loci were used for genotyping. Results Overall seroprevalence was 54.3%, with 6.1% testing IgG‐positive only, 9.4% IgM‐positive only, and 38.8% positive for both. Cat ownership (AOR = 2.2; 95% CI: 1.4–3.5) and dog ownership (AOR = 4.9; 95% CI: 2.9–8.1) were significantly associated with infection. Among 28 IgM‐positive samples, Type II strains predominated (50%), followed by Types I and III (25% each). Conclusion These findings support targeted screening and pet‐handling education to reduce the risk of congenital toxoplasmosis. Further molecular surveillance is recommended to inform public health strategies.

Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) is an economically important cash crop in Pakistan; however, its productivity is severely constrained by insect pests, particularly aphids and budworms. Excessive reliance on synthetic insecticides has raised concerns regarding environmental safety, resistance development, and residue contamination, necessitating the evaluation of alternative pest management strategies. The present study was conducted during 2025 at Sikandari Dagi, District Swabi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, to assess the comparative efficacy of a synthetic insecticide (lambda-cyhalothrin) and selected botanical extracts against major insect pests of tobacco. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with seven treatments and an untreated control, replicated three times. Treatments included lambda-cyhalothrin, neem oil, chongan, chinaberry seed, bakain leaf, and moringa leaf extracts, all applied at 5% concentration. Pest populations were recorded before treatment and at 24, 48, and 7 days after application, while plant height and cured leaf yield were also evaluated. Results revealed that lambda-cyhalothrin provided the most effective and consistent suppression of budworm populations, followed by moringa and neem extracts. Although botanical treatments exhibited comparatively lower efficacy than the synthetic insecticide, all treatments significantly reduced pest populations relative to the untreated control. Lambda-cyhalothrin also resulted in the maximum plant height (105.74 cm) and highest cured leaf yield (2097.7 kg ha⁻¹), whereas botanical extracts produced moderate but statistically significant improvements in growth and yield over the control. The findings suggest that while synthetic insecticides remain highly effective for rapid pest suppression, certain botanical extracts, particularly moringa and neem, hold potential as environmentally safer components of integrated pest management programs for tobacco cultivation.