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Papers by Sher Shah

The present study reveals socio-economic and biological condition of Saif-ul-Malook National Park... more The present study reveals socio-economic and biological condition of Saif-ul-Malook National Park, District Mansehra, Pakistan. Study was conducted during May to October, 2011. Questionnaire was developed for data collection based on socioeconomic and biological conditions. In socio-economic conditions gender, age, marital status, educational level, monthly income of the local people was discussed while in the second section biological condition include the flora and fauna of the parks and adjacent area. A total of 37 people interviewed, all of them were male in which 2 were>18 which makes 5.405%, 18 were 18-30 (48.64%), 10 were 31-40 (27.02%), 2 were 41-50 (5.405%), 5 were above 50 years (13.51%). 31 were married (86.48%), 5 were unmarried (13.51%), out of these 6 were literate having metric qualification (16.26%), while other were Illiterate 31 (83.78 %). 48.64 % of the people occupation was rearing the cattle’s, 45.95 % depend on agriculture. Monthly income was categorized int...

The spatio-temporal distribution of forests is related to climate. Pinus sibirica is a native spe... more The spatio-temporal distribution of forests is related to climate. Pinus sibirica is a native species in areas subject to continental temperate cold climate that favors its growth. This study was carried out with the aim of evaluating the climatic suitability of northeast and northwest China for the introduction of Pinus sibirica. For this purpose, climate of the northeast and northwest China was compared with the climate of Western Siberia (Russia). The Climatic data was obtained from NMKI Climate explorer and China meteorological administration. The Tukey Pairwise Comparison test found that Mohe weather station in northeast China shows (-4.7 °C, -3.26 °C, -5.31 °C and -3.9 °C) resemblance in temperature with three of western Siberian stations where Pinus sibirica is distributed in association with Larix sibirica and Picea obovata. The annual mean precipitation for all the weather stations including Mohe and Huma, China was more than 420 – 609 mm. This specie is also found to grow ...

Assiut Veterinary Medical Journal, 2014

Parasitosis, especially parasitic gastro-enteritis, constitute to cause a serious health threat a... more Parasitosis, especially parasitic gastro-enteritis, constitute to cause a serious health threat and a limitation to the productivity of small ruminants due to the associated morbidity, mortality, cost of treatment and control measures. A survey of the prevalence of gastro-intestinal tract (GIT) parasites in goats was conducted in and around Sulaimani province/Kurdistan Region /Iraq. Fecal survey of eggs/oocysts of gastrointestinal parasites of goats on the Sulaimani farms was conducted between September 2009 and May 2010 out of 316 fecal samples were collected from local bread type goats and from four selected area of Sulamani province that was Sulamani center, Arbat, Aghgeler and Said sadeq 142 (44.9%) were positive. All fecal samples were examined by using saturated sodium chloride floatation technique. Relative percentage prevalence 55(38.7%), 47(33%), 29(20.4%), 4(2.8%) was obtained for Nematodirus spathiger, Marshallagia marshalli, Trichuris ovis and Eimeria oocysts respectively. Total mixed infection that means more than one type of parasite infected were 7(2.2%) Mixed infection by Trichuris ovis eggs+Nematodirus spathiger eggs had the highest prevalence of 4(2.8%) while the lowest was by Nematodirus spathiger+Marshallagia marshalli+Trichuris ovis with 1(0.7%). Other mixed infection was Trichuris ovis+ Eimeria oocysts with 2(1.4%).

Pakistan Journal of Botany, 2019

The Altai Mountains in Northwest China has a great potential for dendroclimatological studies. De... more The Altai Mountains in Northwest China has a great potential for dendroclimatological studies. Dendrochronological and climatological response analysis potentials of the northwest China Altai Mountains are hitherto unexplored. In this study, for the first time we have developed chronology statistics and climate response growth analysis of Pinus sibirica using (dplR) and (Treeclim) packages of the R program, with the overall goal of documenting baseline information for future research. The chronology covered a span of up to 202 years in the study site. The results highlighted that the chronology showed highly significant negative correlation to the previous year June and highly positive significant correlation to the late winter March maximum, minimum and average temperature respectively. The results further revealed negative responses for the previous year March in term of Palmer Drought Severity Index (PDSI) value (-0.027) but positive PDSI values (0.035, 0.014, 0.027) for April, May, and June. The results indicate that tree ring widths are not responding positively to the previous year growing season at the current chronologies of 202 years. These findings suggest more extensive research on the climate-growth reconstruction and Response Function Analysis of the trees for longer chronologies up to their natural age of 800 years.

Open Journal of Forestry, 2018

Forest carbon monitoring and reporting are critical for informing global climate change assessmen... more Forest carbon monitoring and reporting are critical for informing global climate change assessment. The regional estimates of forest carbon attached greater attention, to assess the role of forest in carbon mitigation. Here using field inventory, we examined the carbon sink and mitigation potential of monospecific Deodar forest in the Kumrat valley, of Hindu Kush Himalaya, Region of Pakistan, at a different elevation. The elevation of monospecific Deodar forest ranges from 2300 to 2700 m (a.s.l). We divided the forest into three elevation classes (that is 2300-2400 m (EI) 2400-2500 m (EII) and 2500-2700 m (EIII) a.s.l respectively). In each elevation class, we laid out 09 sample plots (33*33 m 2) for measuring carbon values in living tree biomass (LT), soil (SC), litter, dead wood, cone (LDWC) and understory vegetation (USV). Our results showed that the carbon density at EI was 432.37 ± 277.96 Mg•C −1 , while the carbon density at EII and EIII was 668.35 ± 323.94 and 1016.79 ± 542.99 Mg•C −1 respectively. Our finding revealed that the carbon mitigation potential of the forest increases with increasing elevation. Among the different elevation classes, EIII stored significantly higher carbon due to the dominance of mature, old age, larger trees, and the minimum anthropogenic disturbance, whereas EI stored statistically lower carbon because of maximum anthropogenic disturbance, which resulted in the removal of mature and over-mature trees. Furthermore, our correlation analysis between tree height and carbon stock and basal area and LT carbon, underlines that the basal area is the stronger predictor of LT carbon estimation than height. Overall our results highlight that deodar forest stored 716.94 ± 462.

Animals, 2019

Pastoralist–wolf conflict over livestock depredation is the main factor affecting conservation of... more Pastoralist–wolf conflict over livestock depredation is the main factor affecting conservation of grey wolf worldwide. Very limited research has been carried out to evaluate the pattern and nature of livestock depredation by wolf. This study aims to determine the status and nature of human–wolf conflict across different villages in the Hind Kush region of Pakistan during the period January 2016–December 2016. For this purpose, a total of 110 local male respondents from all walks of life were interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire. The grey wolf was declared as a common species in the area by 51.3% of the locals with an annual sighting rate of 0.46 each. During the year (2016), a total of 358 livestock were lost to grey wolf predation and disease. Of the total livestock loss, grey wolf was held responsible for a total 101 livestock losses. Goat and sheep were the most vulnerable prey species as they accounted for 80 (79.2%) of the total reported depredations. Out of the to...

Pakistan Journal of Botany, 2019

Using ground inventory and remotely sensed data, this study explored the tree distribution patter... more Using ground inventory and remotely sensed data, this study explored the tree distribution pattern, growing stock characteristics and carbon mitigation potential of different forests of the Hindukush region in Kumrat valley, of northern Pakistan. The results showed that forestland covered an area of 51.13% of the valley. Stem density varied between 243±55 to 585±221 ha-1. Tree height was found in the range of 3 m and 49.85 m among the different forests. The regression analysis between stem density and diameter showed a week correlation in Cedrus deodara (CD) and Abies pindrow forest (AP), but showed positive correlation in Pinus wallichiana (PW), mixed coniferous (MC), and open forest (OF). Tree basal area and stem volume ranged from 343.45±210.68 to 159.64±58.41 m 2 ha-1 and 343.45±210.68 to 2160.4±974.91 m 3 ha-1 respectively. The range of calculated tree biomass was between 244.06±153.25 and 1499.5±627.74 Mg C ha-1. The carbon values varied between 122.03±76.62 and 749.69±313.85 Mg C ha-1. The results showed that among the different forests, CD had the highest carbon mitigation potential and OF had the lowest carbon mitigation potential. Furthermore, our results showed that the values of stem volume, total tree biomass and carbon in each forest were highly correlated with the basal area. Additionally, our findings provide evidence that basal area is the best predictor of biomass carbon estimation in each forest that suggests the use of the basal area for biomass carbon estimation. This approach could considerably reduce both, financial and physical efforts in carbon inventory regarding the field data collection particularly over the extensive tract of underrepresented carbon forests in Pakistan.

Applied Ecology and Environmental Research, 2019

Due to high temperatures and dry summer in most subtropical regions, forest fires are of a regula... more Due to high temperatures and dry summer in most subtropical regions, forest fires are of a regular occurrence. Fires emit CO2 and other greenhouse gases which retroact on the ecological systems. This study provides CO2 emission estimates from forest fires and risk zones in subtropical and temperate forests of Pakistan. CO2 emission was calculated using average dry matter g/m 2 , burned area, combustion factor (CF) and burning efficiency (Ef) following the guidelines of Intergovernmental Panel on climate change (IPCC). Fire risk zones were created by using GIS tools considering anthropogenic and natural geological factors. Results showed that average dry organic matter is 13837 ± 5774.64 gm-2 , while average annual CO2 emission is 7280 ± 5369 Gg with 56.6% average annual increase of CO2 emission. Meanwhile, highest emission of about 22799 Gg was recorded in 2009 corresponding to about 145.6 ha of burnt forests. Additionally, over 56% of the area or 9.33% (extreme risk zone) and 45.20% (high risk zone) is threatened by fire. Forest fire trends are mainly due to an increase anthropogenic activities and changes in weather conditions. Understanding forest fire threats and trends, will aid the government authorities in making appropriate conservation programs to curtail these forest fire threats and carbon dioxide emission trends.

Zoology in the Middle East, 2008

Abstrac t. Small mammal trapping ""as carried Qut in the SajalUmm Ar-Rimth Protected Area 10 dete... more Abstrac t. Small mammal trapping ""as carried Qut in the SajalUmm Ar-Rimth Protected Area 10 determine the sp«ies composition and 10 comp,ate standard-Length Sherman 100 conunonly available cagc uaps. Five rodent species w~ caplum! from December 2002 10 December 2003. TlIe cage traps COO$iSknlly trapped mon: rodents than the Sherman traps and the: Baluchistan Gerbil, Ger/1i11u$ nanus, showed a clear preference for the cage traps. Then: was no marked difference in the failure raleS of the Iwo uap types. Seasonally, the tnlpping frequencies were nOi randomly distributed, wilh high~ captu"" niles for most species during tt..:: cool season. Significant differences were ~ in the mean weightS of the five n::tdem $p«ies captured, b ... no significam differ-C1ICC uislw bnw«o Ihe mean weights of !he ro<knts succcssfully ClIpWrcd in either lrnp lype. We conclude thaI bolh lrap types were iucccssful in lrnpping rooenls in the observed weight rnnge. and that spccies-spe<:ific behavioural differences andfor differences in trap design could af_ fe<:ttrnp efficiency. Consequently;t is aojviJ.ablc to USoO a combination oftl1lp types when Studying rodent ecology. It is also Strongly m:omrnrndcd that pilot 5IUd~s be ronductcd to heip idmtify any potential shonoomings in study design and field ~ures,

Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 1983

When hydrophobic parameters in addition to solubility were used, better correlations with protein... more When hydrophobic parameters in addition to solubility were used, better correlations with protein functionality than using solubility alone were obtained. The hydrophobicity was measured fluorometrically before (So) and after (S,) unfolding protein samples. Significant correlations were found for emulsifying capacity, emulsion stability, and fat binding capacity of heat-denatured proteins with surface hydrophobicity (So) and solubility. For foaming capacity, an exposed hydrophobicity (S,) and viscosity played important roles; however, net charge was the most influential factor for foam stability. The S, and available SH-group content showed good correlations with thermal functional properties of proteins, e.g., heat coagulation, gelation, and thickening. Protein hydrophobicity, the hydrophile-lipophile balance (HLB) value of surfactants, and polarity of partition chromatography seem to be closely related. Ultimately, protein functionality is dependent on hydrophobic, electrostatic, and steric parameters of the proteins, which are all essential for defining the protein structure. More advanced data processing techniques, e.g., multivariate analysis, are needed for studying these relations. Elucidation of the mechanism of protein functionality has been attempted by many food protein chemists. The most recent monographs are the ones edited by Cherry (1981). However, the demand from the industry to predict the functionality of food proteins has not yet been met. In the case of general chemical compounds, it has been suggested that hydrophobic, electronic, and steric parameters can be independent variables for predicting their functional properties (Stuper et al., 1979). Although many papers have been published to emphasize the importance of hydrophobicity and hydrophobic interactions in protein functionality, the quantitative administration of this parameter is not facile. The quantitation of protein hydrophobicity can be an essential step for accurate prediction of protein functionality. The objective of this article is to discuss the relationship between hydrophobicity which effects structure and functionality of food proteins. However, the discussion is restricted to only quantitative data. Most general discussions without quantitative supporting data or with indirect evidence of the importance of hydrophobicity, e.g., data using dissociating agents, are therefore excluded. Solubility and Hydrophobicity Relationship. Solubility is an important property governing the functional behavior of proteins and their potential application to food processing. Denaturation implicates damages to functionality and is usually measured as a loss of solubility. Generally, soluble proteins possess superior functional attributes for most applications in food processing. However, there have been several contradictory reports showing that emulsifying properties and solubility are not closely correlated (

International Journal of Food Microbiology, 2002

The food industry is directing new product development towards the area of functional foods and f... more The food industry is directing new product development towards the area of functional foods and functional food ingredients due to consumers' demand for healthier foods. In this respect, probiotic dairy foods containing human-derived Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium species and prebiotic food formulations containing ingredients that cannot be digested by the human host in the upper gastrointestinal tract and can selectively stimulate the growth of one or a limited number of colonic bacteria have been recently introduced into the market. The aim of these products is to affect beneficially the gut microbial composition and activities. Cereals offer another alternative for the production of functional foods. The multiple beneficial effects of cereals can be exploited in different ways leading to the design of novel cereal foods or cereal ingredients that can target specific populations. Cereals can be used as fermentable substrates for the growth of probiotic microorganisms. The main parameters that have to be considered are the composition and processing of the cereal grains, the substrate formulation, the growth capability and productivity of the starter culture, the stability of the probiotic strain during storage, the organoleptic properties and the nutritional value of the final product. Additionally, cereals can be used as sources of nondigestible carbohydrates that besides promoting several beneficial physiological effects can also selectively stimulate the growth of lactobacilli and bifidobacteria present in the colon and act as prebiotics. Cereals contain water-soluble fibre, such as h-glucan and arabinoxylan, oilgosaccharides, such as galacto-and fructo-oligosaccharides and resistant starch, which have been suggested to fulfil the prebiotic concept. Separation of specific fractions of fibre from different cereal varieties or cereal by-products, according to the knowledge of fibre distribution in cereal grains, could be achieved through processing technologies, such as milling, sieving, and debranning or pearling. Finally, cereal constituents, such as starch, can be used as encapsulation materials for probiotics in order to improve their stability during storage and enhance their viability during their passage through the adverse conditions of the gastrointestinal tract. It could be concluded that functional foods based on cereals is a challenging perspective, however, the development of new technologies of cereal processing that enhance their health potential and the acceptability of the food product are of primary importance.

Human Reproduction, 2006

BACKGROUND: In its recent report 'Human Reproductive Technologies and the Law', the House of Comm... more BACKGROUND: In its recent report 'Human Reproductive Technologies and the Law', the House of Commons' Select Committee on Science and Technology called for greater efforts to establish the potential demographic impact of sex selection across all sectors of UK society. Given the well-known preference for boys over girls among some communities, there is concern that a readily available service for social sex selection may upset the balance of the sexes. Of particular interest are the gender preferences and the demand for sex selection among Pakistanis. METHODS: We conducted a social survey on gender preferences and potential demand for preconception sex selection among 301 pregnant women in Karachi, Pakistan, using a self-report questionnaire consisting of 14 questions. RESULTS: About 41.5% wish to have a family with an equal number of boys and girls; 3.3% would like to have only boys, 1.0% only girls, 27.6% more boys than girls and 4.3% more girls than boys, and 22.3% stated that they do not care about the sex composition of their family. Whereas 6.3% could imagine employing cytometric sperm separation for social sex selection, 76.1% could not and 17.6% were undecided. About 27.2% felt that social sex selection ought to be legal, 48.8% thought it ought to be illegal and 23.9% were undecided. CONCLUSIONS: Although Pakistani women do show a statistically significant preference for boys over girls, the number of women willing to subject themselves to cytometric sperm separation appears to be too small to cause a severe imbalance of the sexes. However, further research among British citizens of Pakistani origin is needed to establish whether sex selection poses a serious threat to the sex ratio of UK communities.

Food Hydrocolloids, 1991

... The importance of investigations into protein-polysaccharide interaction for understanding th... more ... The importance of investigations into protein-polysaccharide interaction for understanding the mechanisms of structure formation processes in food systems is shown. Introduction An important feature of food systems is their multicomponent nature. ...

Circulation: Cardiovascular Genetics, 2012

Background— Carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) is a widely accepted marker of subclinical athe... more Background— Carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) is a widely accepted marker of subclinical atherosclerosis. To date, large-scale investigations of genetic determinants of cIMT are sparse. Methods and Results— To identify cIMT-associated genes and genetic variants, a discovery analysis using the Illumina 200K CardioMetabochip was conducted in 3430 subjects with detailed ultrasonographic determinations of cIMT from the IMPROVE (Carotid Intima Media Thickness [IMT] and IMT-Progression as Predictors of Vascular Events in a High Risk European Population) study. Segment-specific IMT measurements of common carotid, bifurcation, and internal carotid arteries, and composite IMT variables considering the whole carotid tree (IMT mean , IMT max , and IMT mean-max ), were analyzed. A replication stage investigating 42 single-nucleotide polymorphisms for association with common carotid IMT was undertaken in 5 independent European cohorts (total n=11 590). A locus on chromosome 16 (lead single-n...

ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 2012

A series of TiO 2 −reduced graphene oxide (RGO) nanocomposites were prepared by simple one-step h... more A series of TiO 2 −reduced graphene oxide (RGO) nanocomposites were prepared by simple one-step hydrothermal reactions using the titania precursor, TiCl 4 and graphene oxide (GO) without reducing agents. Hydrolysis of TiCl 4 and mild reduction of GO were simultaneously carried out under hydrothermal conditions. While conventional approaches mostly utilize multistep chemical methods wherein strong reducing agents, such as hydrazine, hydroquinone, and sodium borohydride are employed, our method provides the notable advantages of a single step reaction without employing toxic solvents or reducing agents, thereby providing a novel green synthetic route to produce the nanocomposites of RGO and TiO 2. The as-synthesized nanocomposites were characterized by several crystallographic, microscopic, and spectroscopic characterization methods, which enabled confrimation of the robustness of the suggested reaction scheme. Notably, X-ray diffraction and transmission electron micrograph proved that TiO 2 contained both anatase and rutile phases. In addition, the photocatalytic activities of the synthesized composites were measured for the degradation of rhodamine B dye. The catalyst also can degrade a colorless dye such as benzoic acid under visible light. The synthesized nanocomposites of biphasic TiO 2 with RGO showed enhanced catalytic activity compared to conventional TiO 2 photocatalyst, P25. The photocatalytic activity is strongly affected by the concentration of RGO in the nanocomposites, with the best photocatalytic activity observed for the composite of 2.0 wt % RGO. Since the synthesized biphasic TiO 2 −RGO nanocomposites have been shown to effectively reduce the electron− hole recombination rate, it is anticipated that they will be utilized as anode materials in lithium ion batteries.

The study focuses to assess the natural forest Shinkiari and the Man-made Plantation Parachinar (... more The study focuses to assess the natural forest Shinkiari and the Man-made Plantation Parachinar (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa). The purpose is to estimate the Above Ground Biomass, below ground biomass and carbon stock in the forest upper and understory vegetation in both the forest. Total 60 circular plots with an area of 0.1 hectare were systematically laid in both the forest in a circle with a diameter of 17.84m. Aboveground biomass, Diameter at breast height (DBH) and all the trees height in a sample plot were measured in the field. Results shows that the natural forest have 7310 total stems per hectare, 7668.42t/ha the total biomass and 3834.3t/ha the total carbon stock. While the Man-made plantation, the total stem number per hectare 24640, the total biomass 2034.58t/ha while the total carbon stock is 1025.45t/ha. Therefore, these forests may generate carbon stock equal to 4829.48 tons. If the rate of one carbon credit price is US 30,theincomemaybeachieved1938983.430, the income may be achieved 1938983.430,theincomemaybeachieved1938983.4 from these ca...

Journal of ICT, Design, Engineering and Technological Science, 2021

Testing soil and knowing its strength parameters is one of the basic components in construction. ... more Testing soil and knowing its strength parameters is one of the basic components in construction. Testing of ill soil is carried out to ind whether the existing soil can endure the burden of structure withheld upon it or not. In the case of weak soil, one can ind it dif icult to pursue construction or any development project. While talking of solutions, there are many methods to improve its strength and properties: one of them which we decided to work on is 'stabilization of ill soil using bricks waste which is normally easily available material. The main objective of our test is to check the effectiveness of bricks waste on the mechanical properties of illing material. The testing comprised of performing Atterberg limits, Uncon ined Compression, Direct Shear, Sieve Analysis, Moisture Dry Density, and Permeability. The Bricks waste passing no. 40 sieve is mixed with ill soil and testing on different proportions i.e. 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20 percent was carried out. The summary was prepared showed improvement in soil regarding the shear strength and toughness as the Plasticity Index of the soil was improved. The uncon ined compression test results show a pattern in which the peak stress is increased as we move to higher percentages. Also, the moisture content is increased for this test because the brick debris absorbed water. Direct shear test on percentages up to 15% showed that the peak shear stress increased, which indicates that on higher percentages the sample took more load as compared to small percentages. Moisture Dry Density relationship provides a clear indication of an increase in density of soil as moved to higher percentages and decrease in Optimum Moisture Content which suggests that, clay absorbs more water content as compared to brick debris.

Journal of entomology and zoology studies, 2016

This study was carried out in the Karaker Barikot forest of district Swat Pakistan to assess the ... more This study was carried out in the Karaker Barikot forest of district Swat Pakistan to assess the impact of forest resources on the insects, fauna and socioeconomic conditions of local people. Total 75 out of 300 households were selected for the study. The main forest resources identified were grasses (38%), trees (29%), Shrubs (20%) and herbs (13%). Major wild life species were as; i. animals (Canis aureus, Felis chaus, and Macaca mulatta) ii. The major insect fauna were (Apis cerana, Bombus terrestris and Papilio bianor) respectively. Honey production was calculated @ 5kg/year having value of Rs. 9000. The forest provides digestible nutrients and crude protein to different number of livestock. It was concluded that forest fauna especially insects significantly contributing to the economic condition of local community. Medicinal plants provide hosting to insects while insects play role in pollination. Therefore the presence of forest resources must be preserved for the survival of i...

Objective: To determine the comparative effect of two cavity liners on postoperative sensitivity ... more Objective: To determine the comparative effect of two cavity liners on postoperative sensitivity in amalgam restoration. Materials & Methods: A randomized clinical trial (RCT) study included one hundred patients (both genders) having class 1 cavity divided into two equal groups by blocked randomization. Visual Analogue Scale was used to record pain intensity in patients before restoration, 24 hours and seven days after restoration. In a group, A dentin adhesive and in group B Copal varnish was used as a cavity liner under Amalgam restoration. All the findings were recorded in proforma and data was analyzed using SPSS 20. Results: The age ranges of 18-45 years and in both groups, male were more in number. There was no statistically significant difference between the ages and gender distribution of the treatment groups {p= 0.223 and p=0.538} respectively. Values of sensitivities to the cold application before the treatment for group A and B were recorded to be 2.08±0.518 and 2.12±0.62...

Arabian Journal of Geosciences, 2021

The western Himalayan region in northern Pakistan is one of the most sensitive hotspots to climat... more The western Himalayan region in northern Pakistan is one of the most sensitive hotspots to climate change, due to the rapidly increasing population and delicate mountainous ecosystem. The relatively limited observed instrumental record impedes our understanding of long-term climate variability and their assessment. Using standard dendrochronological techniques, a 395-year (1620 to 2014 C.E.) tree-ring chronology of Abies pindrow (Royle) (Himalayan fir) was developed from the western Himalayan region in northern Pakistan. The results of the growth-climate relationship demonstrated that the radial growth of Abies pindrow was limited by minimum temperature. Using a robust reconstruction model, a 310-year (1705 to 2014 C.E.) minimum temperature was reconstructed from the western Himalayan region in northern Pakistan. The reconstructed minimum temperature accounts for 38% variance of the actual minimum temperature, and provides the evidences of Dalton minimum and modern maximum periods. The coldest years in the reconstruction were 1726, 1727, 1892, 1921, and 2001, whereas the hottest years were 1789, 1807, 1814, 1846, 2011, and 2013. Multi-taper method (MTM) spectral analysis showed a significant shorter quasi-cycles (2.3 to 3.5 years) and decadal cycles (11.5 to 17.5 years), suggesting a possible teleconnections with El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO), and Northern Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) and Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO) respectively.

The present study reveals socio-economic and biological condition of Saif-ul-Malook National Park... more The present study reveals socio-economic and biological condition of Saif-ul-Malook National Park, District Mansehra, Pakistan. Study was conducted during May to October, 2011. Questionnaire was developed for data collection based on socioeconomic and biological conditions. In socio-economic conditions gender, age, marital status, educational level, monthly income of the local people was discussed while in the second section biological condition include the flora and fauna of the parks and adjacent area. A total of 37 people interviewed, all of them were male in which 2 were>18 which makes 5.405%, 18 were 18-30 (48.64%), 10 were 31-40 (27.02%), 2 were 41-50 (5.405%), 5 were above 50 years (13.51%). 31 were married (86.48%), 5 were unmarried (13.51%), out of these 6 were literate having metric qualification (16.26%), while other were Illiterate 31 (83.78 %). 48.64 % of the people occupation was rearing the cattle’s, 45.95 % depend on agriculture. Monthly income was categorized int...

The spatio-temporal distribution of forests is related to climate. Pinus sibirica is a native spe... more The spatio-temporal distribution of forests is related to climate. Pinus sibirica is a native species in areas subject to continental temperate cold climate that favors its growth. This study was carried out with the aim of evaluating the climatic suitability of northeast and northwest China for the introduction of Pinus sibirica. For this purpose, climate of the northeast and northwest China was compared with the climate of Western Siberia (Russia). The Climatic data was obtained from NMKI Climate explorer and China meteorological administration. The Tukey Pairwise Comparison test found that Mohe weather station in northeast China shows (-4.7 °C, -3.26 °C, -5.31 °C and -3.9 °C) resemblance in temperature with three of western Siberian stations where Pinus sibirica is distributed in association with Larix sibirica and Picea obovata. The annual mean precipitation for all the weather stations including Mohe and Huma, China was more than 420 – 609 mm. This specie is also found to grow ...

Assiut Veterinary Medical Journal, 2014

Parasitosis, especially parasitic gastro-enteritis, constitute to cause a serious health threat a... more Parasitosis, especially parasitic gastro-enteritis, constitute to cause a serious health threat and a limitation to the productivity of small ruminants due to the associated morbidity, mortality, cost of treatment and control measures. A survey of the prevalence of gastro-intestinal tract (GIT) parasites in goats was conducted in and around Sulaimani province/Kurdistan Region /Iraq. Fecal survey of eggs/oocysts of gastrointestinal parasites of goats on the Sulaimani farms was conducted between September 2009 and May 2010 out of 316 fecal samples were collected from local bread type goats and from four selected area of Sulamani province that was Sulamani center, Arbat, Aghgeler and Said sadeq 142 (44.9%) were positive. All fecal samples were examined by using saturated sodium chloride floatation technique. Relative percentage prevalence 55(38.7%), 47(33%), 29(20.4%), 4(2.8%) was obtained for Nematodirus spathiger, Marshallagia marshalli, Trichuris ovis and Eimeria oocysts respectively. Total mixed infection that means more than one type of parasite infected were 7(2.2%) Mixed infection by Trichuris ovis eggs+Nematodirus spathiger eggs had the highest prevalence of 4(2.8%) while the lowest was by Nematodirus spathiger+Marshallagia marshalli+Trichuris ovis with 1(0.7%). Other mixed infection was Trichuris ovis+ Eimeria oocysts with 2(1.4%).

Pakistan Journal of Botany, 2019

The Altai Mountains in Northwest China has a great potential for dendroclimatological studies. De... more The Altai Mountains in Northwest China has a great potential for dendroclimatological studies. Dendrochronological and climatological response analysis potentials of the northwest China Altai Mountains are hitherto unexplored. In this study, for the first time we have developed chronology statistics and climate response growth analysis of Pinus sibirica using (dplR) and (Treeclim) packages of the R program, with the overall goal of documenting baseline information for future research. The chronology covered a span of up to 202 years in the study site. The results highlighted that the chronology showed highly significant negative correlation to the previous year June and highly positive significant correlation to the late winter March maximum, minimum and average temperature respectively. The results further revealed negative responses for the previous year March in term of Palmer Drought Severity Index (PDSI) value (-0.027) but positive PDSI values (0.035, 0.014, 0.027) for April, May, and June. The results indicate that tree ring widths are not responding positively to the previous year growing season at the current chronologies of 202 years. These findings suggest more extensive research on the climate-growth reconstruction and Response Function Analysis of the trees for longer chronologies up to their natural age of 800 years.

Open Journal of Forestry, 2018

Forest carbon monitoring and reporting are critical for informing global climate change assessmen... more Forest carbon monitoring and reporting are critical for informing global climate change assessment. The regional estimates of forest carbon attached greater attention, to assess the role of forest in carbon mitigation. Here using field inventory, we examined the carbon sink and mitigation potential of monospecific Deodar forest in the Kumrat valley, of Hindu Kush Himalaya, Region of Pakistan, at a different elevation. The elevation of monospecific Deodar forest ranges from 2300 to 2700 m (a.s.l). We divided the forest into three elevation classes (that is 2300-2400 m (EI) 2400-2500 m (EII) and 2500-2700 m (EIII) a.s.l respectively). In each elevation class, we laid out 09 sample plots (33*33 m 2) for measuring carbon values in living tree biomass (LT), soil (SC), litter, dead wood, cone (LDWC) and understory vegetation (USV). Our results showed that the carbon density at EI was 432.37 ± 277.96 Mg•C −1 , while the carbon density at EII and EIII was 668.35 ± 323.94 and 1016.79 ± 542.99 Mg•C −1 respectively. Our finding revealed that the carbon mitigation potential of the forest increases with increasing elevation. Among the different elevation classes, EIII stored significantly higher carbon due to the dominance of mature, old age, larger trees, and the minimum anthropogenic disturbance, whereas EI stored statistically lower carbon because of maximum anthropogenic disturbance, which resulted in the removal of mature and over-mature trees. Furthermore, our correlation analysis between tree height and carbon stock and basal area and LT carbon, underlines that the basal area is the stronger predictor of LT carbon estimation than height. Overall our results highlight that deodar forest stored 716.94 ± 462.

Animals, 2019

Pastoralist–wolf conflict over livestock depredation is the main factor affecting conservation of... more Pastoralist–wolf conflict over livestock depredation is the main factor affecting conservation of grey wolf worldwide. Very limited research has been carried out to evaluate the pattern and nature of livestock depredation by wolf. This study aims to determine the status and nature of human–wolf conflict across different villages in the Hind Kush region of Pakistan during the period January 2016–December 2016. For this purpose, a total of 110 local male respondents from all walks of life were interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire. The grey wolf was declared as a common species in the area by 51.3% of the locals with an annual sighting rate of 0.46 each. During the year (2016), a total of 358 livestock were lost to grey wolf predation and disease. Of the total livestock loss, grey wolf was held responsible for a total 101 livestock losses. Goat and sheep were the most vulnerable prey species as they accounted for 80 (79.2%) of the total reported depredations. Out of the to...

Pakistan Journal of Botany, 2019

Using ground inventory and remotely sensed data, this study explored the tree distribution patter... more Using ground inventory and remotely sensed data, this study explored the tree distribution pattern, growing stock characteristics and carbon mitigation potential of different forests of the Hindukush region in Kumrat valley, of northern Pakistan. The results showed that forestland covered an area of 51.13% of the valley. Stem density varied between 243±55 to 585±221 ha-1. Tree height was found in the range of 3 m and 49.85 m among the different forests. The regression analysis between stem density and diameter showed a week correlation in Cedrus deodara (CD) and Abies pindrow forest (AP), but showed positive correlation in Pinus wallichiana (PW), mixed coniferous (MC), and open forest (OF). Tree basal area and stem volume ranged from 343.45±210.68 to 159.64±58.41 m 2 ha-1 and 343.45±210.68 to 2160.4±974.91 m 3 ha-1 respectively. The range of calculated tree biomass was between 244.06±153.25 and 1499.5±627.74 Mg C ha-1. The carbon values varied between 122.03±76.62 and 749.69±313.85 Mg C ha-1. The results showed that among the different forests, CD had the highest carbon mitigation potential and OF had the lowest carbon mitigation potential. Furthermore, our results showed that the values of stem volume, total tree biomass and carbon in each forest were highly correlated with the basal area. Additionally, our findings provide evidence that basal area is the best predictor of biomass carbon estimation in each forest that suggests the use of the basal area for biomass carbon estimation. This approach could considerably reduce both, financial and physical efforts in carbon inventory regarding the field data collection particularly over the extensive tract of underrepresented carbon forests in Pakistan.

Applied Ecology and Environmental Research, 2019

Due to high temperatures and dry summer in most subtropical regions, forest fires are of a regula... more Due to high temperatures and dry summer in most subtropical regions, forest fires are of a regular occurrence. Fires emit CO2 and other greenhouse gases which retroact on the ecological systems. This study provides CO2 emission estimates from forest fires and risk zones in subtropical and temperate forests of Pakistan. CO2 emission was calculated using average dry matter g/m 2 , burned area, combustion factor (CF) and burning efficiency (Ef) following the guidelines of Intergovernmental Panel on climate change (IPCC). Fire risk zones were created by using GIS tools considering anthropogenic and natural geological factors. Results showed that average dry organic matter is 13837 ± 5774.64 gm-2 , while average annual CO2 emission is 7280 ± 5369 Gg with 56.6% average annual increase of CO2 emission. Meanwhile, highest emission of about 22799 Gg was recorded in 2009 corresponding to about 145.6 ha of burnt forests. Additionally, over 56% of the area or 9.33% (extreme risk zone) and 45.20% (high risk zone) is threatened by fire. Forest fire trends are mainly due to an increase anthropogenic activities and changes in weather conditions. Understanding forest fire threats and trends, will aid the government authorities in making appropriate conservation programs to curtail these forest fire threats and carbon dioxide emission trends.

Zoology in the Middle East, 2008

Abstrac t. Small mammal trapping ""as carried Qut in the SajalUmm Ar-Rimth Protected Area 10 dete... more Abstrac t. Small mammal trapping ""as carried Qut in the SajalUmm Ar-Rimth Protected Area 10 determine the sp«ies composition and 10 comp,ate standard-Length Sherman 100 conunonly available cagc uaps. Five rodent species w~ caplum! from December 2002 10 December 2003. TlIe cage traps COO$iSknlly trapped mon: rodents than the Sherman traps and the: Baluchistan Gerbil, Ger/1i11u$ nanus, showed a clear preference for the cage traps. Then: was no marked difference in the failure raleS of the Iwo uap types. Seasonally, the tnlpping frequencies were nOi randomly distributed, wilh high~ captu"" niles for most species during tt..:: cool season. Significant differences were ~ in the mean weightS of the five n::tdem $p«ies captured, b ... no significam differ-C1ICC uislw bnw«o Ihe mean weights of !he ro<knts succcssfully ClIpWrcd in either lrnp lype. We conclude thaI bolh lrap types were iucccssful in lrnpping rooenls in the observed weight rnnge. and that spccies-spe<:ific behavioural differences andfor differences in trap design could af_ fe<:ttrnp efficiency. Consequently;t is aojviJ.ablc to USoO a combination oftl1lp types when Studying rodent ecology. It is also Strongly m:omrnrndcd that pilot 5IUd~s be ronductcd to heip idmtify any potential shonoomings in study design and field ~ures,

Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 1983

When hydrophobic parameters in addition to solubility were used, better correlations with protein... more When hydrophobic parameters in addition to solubility were used, better correlations with protein functionality than using solubility alone were obtained. The hydrophobicity was measured fluorometrically before (So) and after (S,) unfolding protein samples. Significant correlations were found for emulsifying capacity, emulsion stability, and fat binding capacity of heat-denatured proteins with surface hydrophobicity (So) and solubility. For foaming capacity, an exposed hydrophobicity (S,) and viscosity played important roles; however, net charge was the most influential factor for foam stability. The S, and available SH-group content showed good correlations with thermal functional properties of proteins, e.g., heat coagulation, gelation, and thickening. Protein hydrophobicity, the hydrophile-lipophile balance (HLB) value of surfactants, and polarity of partition chromatography seem to be closely related. Ultimately, protein functionality is dependent on hydrophobic, electrostatic, and steric parameters of the proteins, which are all essential for defining the protein structure. More advanced data processing techniques, e.g., multivariate analysis, are needed for studying these relations. Elucidation of the mechanism of protein functionality has been attempted by many food protein chemists. The most recent monographs are the ones edited by Cherry (1981). However, the demand from the industry to predict the functionality of food proteins has not yet been met. In the case of general chemical compounds, it has been suggested that hydrophobic, electronic, and steric parameters can be independent variables for predicting their functional properties (Stuper et al., 1979). Although many papers have been published to emphasize the importance of hydrophobicity and hydrophobic interactions in protein functionality, the quantitative administration of this parameter is not facile. The quantitation of protein hydrophobicity can be an essential step for accurate prediction of protein functionality. The objective of this article is to discuss the relationship between hydrophobicity which effects structure and functionality of food proteins. However, the discussion is restricted to only quantitative data. Most general discussions without quantitative supporting data or with indirect evidence of the importance of hydrophobicity, e.g., data using dissociating agents, are therefore excluded. Solubility and Hydrophobicity Relationship. Solubility is an important property governing the functional behavior of proteins and their potential application to food processing. Denaturation implicates damages to functionality and is usually measured as a loss of solubility. Generally, soluble proteins possess superior functional attributes for most applications in food processing. However, there have been several contradictory reports showing that emulsifying properties and solubility are not closely correlated (

International Journal of Food Microbiology, 2002

The food industry is directing new product development towards the area of functional foods and f... more The food industry is directing new product development towards the area of functional foods and functional food ingredients due to consumers' demand for healthier foods. In this respect, probiotic dairy foods containing human-derived Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium species and prebiotic food formulations containing ingredients that cannot be digested by the human host in the upper gastrointestinal tract and can selectively stimulate the growth of one or a limited number of colonic bacteria have been recently introduced into the market. The aim of these products is to affect beneficially the gut microbial composition and activities. Cereals offer another alternative for the production of functional foods. The multiple beneficial effects of cereals can be exploited in different ways leading to the design of novel cereal foods or cereal ingredients that can target specific populations. Cereals can be used as fermentable substrates for the growth of probiotic microorganisms. The main parameters that have to be considered are the composition and processing of the cereal grains, the substrate formulation, the growth capability and productivity of the starter culture, the stability of the probiotic strain during storage, the organoleptic properties and the nutritional value of the final product. Additionally, cereals can be used as sources of nondigestible carbohydrates that besides promoting several beneficial physiological effects can also selectively stimulate the growth of lactobacilli and bifidobacteria present in the colon and act as prebiotics. Cereals contain water-soluble fibre, such as h-glucan and arabinoxylan, oilgosaccharides, such as galacto-and fructo-oligosaccharides and resistant starch, which have been suggested to fulfil the prebiotic concept. Separation of specific fractions of fibre from different cereal varieties or cereal by-products, according to the knowledge of fibre distribution in cereal grains, could be achieved through processing technologies, such as milling, sieving, and debranning or pearling. Finally, cereal constituents, such as starch, can be used as encapsulation materials for probiotics in order to improve their stability during storage and enhance their viability during their passage through the adverse conditions of the gastrointestinal tract. It could be concluded that functional foods based on cereals is a challenging perspective, however, the development of new technologies of cereal processing that enhance their health potential and the acceptability of the food product are of primary importance.

Human Reproduction, 2006

BACKGROUND: In its recent report 'Human Reproductive Technologies and the Law', the House of Comm... more BACKGROUND: In its recent report 'Human Reproductive Technologies and the Law', the House of Commons' Select Committee on Science and Technology called for greater efforts to establish the potential demographic impact of sex selection across all sectors of UK society. Given the well-known preference for boys over girls among some communities, there is concern that a readily available service for social sex selection may upset the balance of the sexes. Of particular interest are the gender preferences and the demand for sex selection among Pakistanis. METHODS: We conducted a social survey on gender preferences and potential demand for preconception sex selection among 301 pregnant women in Karachi, Pakistan, using a self-report questionnaire consisting of 14 questions. RESULTS: About 41.5% wish to have a family with an equal number of boys and girls; 3.3% would like to have only boys, 1.0% only girls, 27.6% more boys than girls and 4.3% more girls than boys, and 22.3% stated that they do not care about the sex composition of their family. Whereas 6.3% could imagine employing cytometric sperm separation for social sex selection, 76.1% could not and 17.6% were undecided. About 27.2% felt that social sex selection ought to be legal, 48.8% thought it ought to be illegal and 23.9% were undecided. CONCLUSIONS: Although Pakistani women do show a statistically significant preference for boys over girls, the number of women willing to subject themselves to cytometric sperm separation appears to be too small to cause a severe imbalance of the sexes. However, further research among British citizens of Pakistani origin is needed to establish whether sex selection poses a serious threat to the sex ratio of UK communities.

Food Hydrocolloids, 1991

... The importance of investigations into protein-polysaccharide interaction for understanding th... more ... The importance of investigations into protein-polysaccharide interaction for understanding the mechanisms of structure formation processes in food systems is shown. Introduction An important feature of food systems is their multicomponent nature. ...

Circulation: Cardiovascular Genetics, 2012

Background— Carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) is a widely accepted marker of subclinical athe... more Background— Carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) is a widely accepted marker of subclinical atherosclerosis. To date, large-scale investigations of genetic determinants of cIMT are sparse. Methods and Results— To identify cIMT-associated genes and genetic variants, a discovery analysis using the Illumina 200K CardioMetabochip was conducted in 3430 subjects with detailed ultrasonographic determinations of cIMT from the IMPROVE (Carotid Intima Media Thickness [IMT] and IMT-Progression as Predictors of Vascular Events in a High Risk European Population) study. Segment-specific IMT measurements of common carotid, bifurcation, and internal carotid arteries, and composite IMT variables considering the whole carotid tree (IMT mean , IMT max , and IMT mean-max ), were analyzed. A replication stage investigating 42 single-nucleotide polymorphisms for association with common carotid IMT was undertaken in 5 independent European cohorts (total n=11 590). A locus on chromosome 16 (lead single-n...

ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 2012

A series of TiO 2 −reduced graphene oxide (RGO) nanocomposites were prepared by simple one-step h... more A series of TiO 2 −reduced graphene oxide (RGO) nanocomposites were prepared by simple one-step hydrothermal reactions using the titania precursor, TiCl 4 and graphene oxide (GO) without reducing agents. Hydrolysis of TiCl 4 and mild reduction of GO were simultaneously carried out under hydrothermal conditions. While conventional approaches mostly utilize multistep chemical methods wherein strong reducing agents, such as hydrazine, hydroquinone, and sodium borohydride are employed, our method provides the notable advantages of a single step reaction without employing toxic solvents or reducing agents, thereby providing a novel green synthetic route to produce the nanocomposites of RGO and TiO 2. The as-synthesized nanocomposites were characterized by several crystallographic, microscopic, and spectroscopic characterization methods, which enabled confrimation of the robustness of the suggested reaction scheme. Notably, X-ray diffraction and transmission electron micrograph proved that TiO 2 contained both anatase and rutile phases. In addition, the photocatalytic activities of the synthesized composites were measured for the degradation of rhodamine B dye. The catalyst also can degrade a colorless dye such as benzoic acid under visible light. The synthesized nanocomposites of biphasic TiO 2 with RGO showed enhanced catalytic activity compared to conventional TiO 2 photocatalyst, P25. The photocatalytic activity is strongly affected by the concentration of RGO in the nanocomposites, with the best photocatalytic activity observed for the composite of 2.0 wt % RGO. Since the synthesized biphasic TiO 2 −RGO nanocomposites have been shown to effectively reduce the electron− hole recombination rate, it is anticipated that they will be utilized as anode materials in lithium ion batteries.

The study focuses to assess the natural forest Shinkiari and the Man-made Plantation Parachinar (... more The study focuses to assess the natural forest Shinkiari and the Man-made Plantation Parachinar (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa). The purpose is to estimate the Above Ground Biomass, below ground biomass and carbon stock in the forest upper and understory vegetation in both the forest. Total 60 circular plots with an area of 0.1 hectare were systematically laid in both the forest in a circle with a diameter of 17.84m. Aboveground biomass, Diameter at breast height (DBH) and all the trees height in a sample plot were measured in the field. Results shows that the natural forest have 7310 total stems per hectare, 7668.42t/ha the total biomass and 3834.3t/ha the total carbon stock. While the Man-made plantation, the total stem number per hectare 24640, the total biomass 2034.58t/ha while the total carbon stock is 1025.45t/ha. Therefore, these forests may generate carbon stock equal to 4829.48 tons. If the rate of one carbon credit price is US 30,theincomemaybeachieved1938983.430, the income may be achieved 1938983.430,theincomemaybeachieved1938983.4 from these ca...

Journal of ICT, Design, Engineering and Technological Science, 2021

Testing soil and knowing its strength parameters is one of the basic components in construction. ... more Testing soil and knowing its strength parameters is one of the basic components in construction. Testing of ill soil is carried out to ind whether the existing soil can endure the burden of structure withheld upon it or not. In the case of weak soil, one can ind it dif icult to pursue construction or any development project. While talking of solutions, there are many methods to improve its strength and properties: one of them which we decided to work on is 'stabilization of ill soil using bricks waste which is normally easily available material. The main objective of our test is to check the effectiveness of bricks waste on the mechanical properties of illing material. The testing comprised of performing Atterberg limits, Uncon ined Compression, Direct Shear, Sieve Analysis, Moisture Dry Density, and Permeability. The Bricks waste passing no. 40 sieve is mixed with ill soil and testing on different proportions i.e. 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20 percent was carried out. The summary was prepared showed improvement in soil regarding the shear strength and toughness as the Plasticity Index of the soil was improved. The uncon ined compression test results show a pattern in which the peak stress is increased as we move to higher percentages. Also, the moisture content is increased for this test because the brick debris absorbed water. Direct shear test on percentages up to 15% showed that the peak shear stress increased, which indicates that on higher percentages the sample took more load as compared to small percentages. Moisture Dry Density relationship provides a clear indication of an increase in density of soil as moved to higher percentages and decrease in Optimum Moisture Content which suggests that, clay absorbs more water content as compared to brick debris.

Journal of entomology and zoology studies, 2016

This study was carried out in the Karaker Barikot forest of district Swat Pakistan to assess the ... more This study was carried out in the Karaker Barikot forest of district Swat Pakistan to assess the impact of forest resources on the insects, fauna and socioeconomic conditions of local people. Total 75 out of 300 households were selected for the study. The main forest resources identified were grasses (38%), trees (29%), Shrubs (20%) and herbs (13%). Major wild life species were as; i. animals (Canis aureus, Felis chaus, and Macaca mulatta) ii. The major insect fauna were (Apis cerana, Bombus terrestris and Papilio bianor) respectively. Honey production was calculated @ 5kg/year having value of Rs. 9000. The forest provides digestible nutrients and crude protein to different number of livestock. It was concluded that forest fauna especially insects significantly contributing to the economic condition of local community. Medicinal plants provide hosting to insects while insects play role in pollination. Therefore the presence of forest resources must be preserved for the survival of i...

Objective: To determine the comparative effect of two cavity liners on postoperative sensitivity ... more Objective: To determine the comparative effect of two cavity liners on postoperative sensitivity in amalgam restoration. Materials & Methods: A randomized clinical trial (RCT) study included one hundred patients (both genders) having class 1 cavity divided into two equal groups by blocked randomization. Visual Analogue Scale was used to record pain intensity in patients before restoration, 24 hours and seven days after restoration. In a group, A dentin adhesive and in group B Copal varnish was used as a cavity liner under Amalgam restoration. All the findings were recorded in proforma and data was analyzed using SPSS 20. Results: The age ranges of 18-45 years and in both groups, male were more in number. There was no statistically significant difference between the ages and gender distribution of the treatment groups {p= 0.223 and p=0.538} respectively. Values of sensitivities to the cold application before the treatment for group A and B were recorded to be 2.08±0.518 and 2.12±0.62...

Arabian Journal of Geosciences, 2021

The western Himalayan region in northern Pakistan is one of the most sensitive hotspots to climat... more The western Himalayan region in northern Pakistan is one of the most sensitive hotspots to climate change, due to the rapidly increasing population and delicate mountainous ecosystem. The relatively limited observed instrumental record impedes our understanding of long-term climate variability and their assessment. Using standard dendrochronological techniques, a 395-year (1620 to 2014 C.E.) tree-ring chronology of Abies pindrow (Royle) (Himalayan fir) was developed from the western Himalayan region in northern Pakistan. The results of the growth-climate relationship demonstrated that the radial growth of Abies pindrow was limited by minimum temperature. Using a robust reconstruction model, a 310-year (1705 to 2014 C.E.) minimum temperature was reconstructed from the western Himalayan region in northern Pakistan. The reconstructed minimum temperature accounts for 38% variance of the actual minimum temperature, and provides the evidences of Dalton minimum and modern maximum periods. The coldest years in the reconstruction were 1726, 1727, 1892, 1921, and 2001, whereas the hottest years were 1789, 1807, 1814, 1846, 2011, and 2013. Multi-taper method (MTM) spectral analysis showed a significant shorter quasi-cycles (2.3 to 3.5 years) and decadal cycles (11.5 to 17.5 years), suggesting a possible teleconnections with El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO), and Northern Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) and Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO) respectively.