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Pakistan is one of the most climate change and natural disaster-affected countries in the globe, where the lives and livelihoods of people are repeatedly affected due to these natural disasters. Over the past few decades, the country has been impacted by numerous devastating floods, droughts, and storms. As a result, households face enormous complications, particularly those dwelling in disaster-prone areas. Therefore, this study intends to explore the status of household vulnerability and resilience practices of hazard-prone communities in Pakistan from existing literature. This study has identified the 17 most relevant documents. It argues that household vulnerability is increasing consistently with the increasing rate of disaster intensity. Frequent flooding, landslide, erosion, and crop loss are the leading causes of household vulnerability. This study reveals five types of household vulnerability components which look into several livelihood vulnerability indicators of Pakistani households. Moreover, the study unfolds that the main causes of disaster vulnerability are widespread crop loss, a lack of water, loss of soil fertility, and low socioeconomic situations. The major vulnerability components of dwellers are exposure (increasing summer duration, the rapid increase of population house build-up in the riparian areas, and increasing occurrence of hailstorms), sensitivity, low access to education facilities, human loss, diseases infestation, food insecurity, and social conflict), and less adaptive capacity (social networks, migration, poor emergency services, multiple income sources, and less access to the health facility). To address the household vulnerability, this study has also identified four key aspects of resilience, like social resilience, economic resilience, institutional resilience, and physical resilience. The findings will effectively help to understand the dynamics of household vulnerability and resilience and its measurement and management strategy from developed indicators.

This study looked into the scope of integrating the aspirations of zakah and corporate social responsibility (CSR) to counter poverty, inequity, illiteracy, malnutrition and environmental pollution to ensure peace, happiness, prosperity and sustainability as envisaged in sustainable development goals (SDGs).

This is a qualitative research study conducted using both primary and secondary data. Primary data were collected from 29 business enterprises in Bangladesh employing a semi-structured interview protocol. The secondary data were collected through content analysis of annual reports, websites and CSR publications of sample organizations. Finally, collected qualitative data have been analyzed thematically following the due procedures to address the research questions.

The findings reveal that integration of the aspirations of zakah and CSR is a convenient and wholehearted approach for entrepreneurs resulting in pursuing SDGs. In addition, business entrepreneurs in Bangladesh consider such practices as killing two birds with one stone because this approach warrants performing both religious and social obligations simultaneously. Interestingly, the study explores that shariah compliance acts as a guiding force for selecting well-being-oriented projects in zakah-funded CSR resulting in pursuing the priority goals – No Poverty (1), Zero Hunger (2) – of SDGs, thereby addressing some of the most critical issues of emerging economies such as Bangladesh.

The findings of this research can be used as a guide to incorporate the spirit and principle of zakah into the CSR programs aimed at pursuing SDGs mainly in Muslim countries representing one-fourth of the world population.

Integration of the aspirations of zakah and CSR is an innovative move and net addition to the literature on sustainability, CSR and zakah because Muslim business entrepreneurs will now conveniently be able to use the entrepreneurs' zakah money – readily available in each financial year – to fund the entrepreneurs' various CSR projects (within shariah framework) relating to poverty alleviation, humanitarian and disaster relief, health and sanitation and environmental conservation which will eventually contribute to pursuing various SDGs.

The purpose of this study is to fabricate a highly sensitive humidity sensor for observing the humidity effect on a robot’s body as an application of the Internet of Things. The sensor has been fabricated by depositing a thin sensing layer of nickel phthalocyanine (NiPc) between two silver electrodes.

The structure of the thin film was observed by X-ray diffraction, optical properties by UV Vis and surface morphology by scanning electron microscope. The capacitance and the resistance with respect to change in relative humidity from 0 to 100%RH have been measured by LCR meter at 1 kHz.

The sensor’s response time is 7.5 s and its recovery time is 3.7 s, with high sensitivity of 127,259 pF/%RH and 332.287 MΩ/%RH. The authors have also used a proposed sensor on a steel body and observed humidity values. The analysis of all measured values was performed through the classical and neutrosophic approaches. By comparing, the authors have observed that the neutrosophic approach is more efficient in analyzing the sensor data.

In this work, the authors will fabricate a capacitive and resistive-type humidity sensor using the thin film of NiPc. The structural, optical and morphological properties of NiPc thin film will be investigated with different characterization techniques. The electric properties, i.e. capacitance and resistance, will be measured at intervals with an LCR meter by changing relative humidity (%RH). Moreover, the measured data will be analyzed through different statistical approaches, as already used in [12].

Understanding the technical and socioeconomic dimensions to resilience is core to making a business case for property-level flood risk adaptation. The study investigates the socioeconomic factors that impact the technical dimensions to property-level flood risk adaptation, and whether there is a typology of households adopting similar adaptation measures in Port Harcourt.

Exploratory and inferential statistical analysis of data collated from 407 questionnaires was carried out. Using chi-square analysis, significant bivariate associations were sought between the level of uptake of different categories of property level adaptation and the socioeconomic characteristics of households. A two-step cluster analysis was used to explore discernible patterns of households implementing similar adaptation measures. Logistic regression analysis was further used to evaluate the extent to which socioeconomic parameters impact residents' willingness to undertake adaptation measures given the option of relocation.

The chi-square analysis highlighted a lack of significant association between some socioeconomic parameters and the uptake of individual adaptation measures. The regression analysis however showed that the socioeconomic parameters exert varying degrees of influence on the residents' willingness to undertake adaptation measures. Two homogeneous groups of residents with similar socioeconomic characteristics were identified via the cluster analysis but did not translate into strongly discernible adaptation differences/patterns.

The study shows that although socioeconomic parameters to some extent underlie the technical dimensions to flood resilience, there is no distinctive typology of households in Port Harcourt adopting a similar combination of measures.

The study offers insights into understanding property-level flood risk adaptation responses within the context of the developing world.

This article investigates the long-run impact of remittance inflows on agricultural productivity (AGP) in emerging Asian economies (Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, India, Nepal, Philippines, Pakistan, and Vietnam), employing a panel dataset from 2000 to 2018.

This study initially applies cross-sectional dependence (CSD), second-generation unit root, Pedroni, and Westerlund panel co-integration techniques. Next, it uses the augmented mean group (AMG) and common correlated effect mean group (CCEMG) methods to investigate the long-term impact of remittance inflows on AGP while controlling for several other important determinants of agricultural growth, such as cultivated area, fertilizers, temperature change, credit, and labor force.

The empirical findings are as follows: The results first revealed the existence of CSD and long-term co-integration between AGP and its determinants. Second, remittance inflows significantly boosted AGP, indicating that remittance inflows played a crucial role in improving AGP. Third, global warming (changes in temperature) negatively impacts AGP. Finally, additional critical elements, for instance, cultivated area, fertilizers, credit, and labor force, positively affect AGP.

This study suggests that policymakers of emerging Asian economies should develop an exclusive remittance-receiving system and introduce remittance investment products to utilize foreign funds and mitigate agricultural production risks effectively.

This is the first empirical examination of the long-term impact of remittance flows on agricultural output in emerging Asian economies. This study utilized robust estimation methods for panel data sets, such as the Pedroni, Westerlund, AMG, and CCEMG tests.

This paper aims to quantitively assess the resilience of residential properties to urban flooding in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, and assess whether they vary at spatially aggregated scales relative to the level of flood exposure.

The study synthesizes theoretical constructs/indicators for quantifying property level resilience, as a basis for measuring resilience. Using a two-stage purposive/stratified randomized sampling approach, 407 questionnaires were sent out to residents of 25 flood-prone areas, to solicit information on the resilience constructs as indicated by the adaptation behaviors of individual households and their property attributes. A principal component analysis approach is used as a mechanism for weighting the indicators, based on which aggregated spatial-scale resilience indices were computed for the 25 sampled areas relative to their levels of flood exposure.

Area 11 located in the moderate flood zone has the lowest resilience index, while Area 20 located in the high flood zone has the highest resilience index. The resilience indices for the low, moderate and high flood zone show only minimal and statistically insignificant differences indicating maladaptation even with incremental levels of flood exposure.

The approach to resilience measurement exemplifies a reproducible lens through which the concept of “living with floods” can be holistically assessed at the property level while highlighting the nexus of the social and technical dimensions.

The study moves beyond theoretical conceptualization, to empirically quantify the complex concept of property-level flood resilience.

This paper investigates the thermal comfort properties of quilted (jersey cord) fabrics produced with different width of diamond pattern, different filling yarn linear density and different types of material.

A total of 12 fabrics were knitted by varying the width of diamond pattern (1 and 3 cm), the filling yarn linear density (300 and 900 denier) and the type of materials (cotton, polyester and their combination). In this regard, air permeability, thermal conductivity, thermal resistance, thermal absorptivity and relative water vapor permeability of these fabrics were measured and evaluated statistically.

The results showed that fabrics knitted using cotton yarn in both front and back surfaces exhibit higher thermal conductivity, thermal absorptivity and relative water vapor permeability characteristics; whereas samples knitted using polyester yarn in both surfaces have higher air permeability and thermal resistance. As the linear density of filling yarn increases, thickness and thermal resistance of the samples increase and air permeability, thermal conductivity, water vapor permeability characteristics decrease. When the effect of the width of diamond pattern compared, it is seen that an increase in the width of pattern lead to an increase in thickness and thermal resistance and a decrease in thermal conductivity, thermal absorptivity and water vapor permeability values.

Many researches were carried out on the thermal comfort properties of knitted fabrics, however there is a lack of research efforts regarding thermal comfort properties of quilted fabrics.

The practice of consanguinity has been culturally preferred in most Arab countries, including Morocco. This behavior leads to an increase in genetic abnormalities, such as hypertension and diabetes. This paper examines the prevalence and determinants of first-cousin marriages and their impact on diabetes among offspring.

Data on 882 couples were collected through face-to-face interview via a pre-established questionnaire based on the variables selected within the objectives of this study. The authors used the multiple logistic regression modeling procedure in this study.

The results of the study indicate that the prevalence of first-cousin marriages were 15% among students’ parents. From the multiple logistic regression modeling, the authors found a significant effect of paternal and maternal grandparents’ first-cousins marriage on that of parents (aOR = 3.27 and aOR = 3.36, respectively). However, an 11-fold higher risk of first relative marriages among parents once the paternal and maternal grandparents were first-cousins and the father was illiterate (aOR = 11.01). Moreover, the authors reported a diabetes risk of more than 14 times when the effects of first-cousin maternal grandparents and parents and the hypertension among mother or her sibling were combined (aOR = 14.48) or when the effects of first-cousins maternal grandparents, first-cousin parents and mother’s age at marriage between 21 and 29 years were combined (aOR = 14.56).

First-cousin marriage depends on the father’s illiteracy and the consanguinity of grandparents’ factors. The cumulative effect of first-cousin marriage among grandparents, parents and a family history of hypertension among mother or her sibling increase the risk of diabetes among these mothers.

The purpose of this study was to produce yarns from three different spinning techniques, i.e.Murata Vortex Spinning (MVS) ring spinning and rotor spinning. Those yarns were then used to produce fabrics. Then, the effect of silicone softener on tactile comfort of fabric was investigated.

Three different yarns, i.e. Ring, Rotor and MVS yarns, were used to make fabrics using CCI sample loom which were then subjected to post treatments like desizing, scouring and bleaching. After the completion of the dyeing process, silicone-based softener was used to improve the hand feel of fabrics. The structures of three yarns were evaluated using Scanning electron microscopy. The fabrics were evaluated against compression, bending and surface properties using Kawabata evaluation system.

The fabric made of MVS yarn depicted more geometrical roughness, coefficient of friction and bending rigidity but less compressibility as compared to fabrics made with other yarns. It was observed that softener concentration has a direct relationship with thickness and bending rigidity of the fabric, and inverse relationship with coefficient of friction and geometrical roughness of the fabric.

MVS yarn has some superior properties over rotor and ring spun yarn like high production rates, high resistance to pilling, clear appearance and stability against deformation but has disadvantage that it has less compressibility. Therefore, softener is applied on the fabric, to address this issue, so that it could also be used for apparels application.

This study aims to focus on second grade fluid flow over a rotating disk in the presence of chemical reaction. Uniform magnetic field is also taken into account. Because of the smaller magnetic Reynolds number, induced magnetic field is negligible. Heat equation is constructed by considering heat source/sink.

Suitable variables are used to transform nonlinear partial differential equations to ordinary ones. Convergent series solutions are attained by applying homotopy analysis method.

Trends of different parameters on concentration, velocity and temperature are shown graphically. Skin friction coefficient and local Nusselt number are calculated and investigated under the effect of elaborated parameters. An elevation in the value of magnetic field parameter causes collapse in the velocity distributions. Velocity distribution in increasing function of viscoelastic parameter. Temperature and concentration profiles are decreasing functions of viscoelastic parameter. Concentration distribution reduces by increasing the chemical reaction parameter. There is more surface drag force for larger M, while opposite behavior is noted for β.

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, such consideration is yet to be published in the literature.