118 research outputs found
Impact of Changes in Reserve Requirement on Banks Profitability: A Case of Commercial Banks in Pakistan
This study examines the relationship between Reserve Requirement Ratio and Banks Profitability in Pakistan. It emphasizes on the effect of changes in CRR on commercial banking profitability and how it affects the ROE and ROA. The data collected for the research was secondary and quantitative time series data for the ten year period 2005-2014. Using correlation analysis followed by Linear Regression carries the empirical analysis of the study. The finding of study reveal that CRR taken as measure for Reserve Requirement has significant inverse relationship on banks’ financial performance, which is measured by ROA and ROE
Impact of Changes in Reserve Requirement on Banks Profitability: A Case of Commercial Banks in Pakistan
This study examines the relationship between Reserve Requirement Ratio and Banks Profitability in Pakistan. It emphasizes on the effect of changes in CRR on commercial banking profitability and how it affects the ROE and ROA. The data collected for the research was secondary and quantitative time series data for the ten year period 2005-2014. Using correlation analysis followed by Linear Regression carries the empirical analysis of the study. The finding of study reveal that CRR taken as measure for Reserve Requirement has significant inverse relationship on banks’ financial performance, which is measured by ROA and ROE. Keywords: Reserve Requirement Ratio (RRR), Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR), Return on Assets (ROA), Return on Equity (ROE)
In-silico analysis of interacting pathways through KIM-1 protein interaction in diabetic nephropathy
BACKGROUND: Human Kidney Injury Molecule-1, also known as HAVCR-1 (Hepatitis A virus cellular receptor 1), belongs to the cell-surface protein of immunoglobulin superfamily involved in the phagocytosis by acting as scavenger receptor epithelial cells. The study focused on pinpointing the mechanisms and genes that interact with KIM-1. METHODS: This in-silico study was done from March 2019 to December 2019. The Enrichment and protein-protein interaction (PPI) network carefully choose proteins. In addition, the diagramed gene data sets were accomplished using FunRich version 3.1.3. It was done to unveil the proteins that may affect the regulation of HAVCR1 or may be regulated by this protein. These genes were then further considered in pathway analysis to discover the dysregulated pathways in diabetic nephropathy. The long list of differentially expressed genes is meaningless without pathway analysis. RESULTS: Critical pathways that are dysregulated in diabetic nephropathy patients have been identified. These include Immune System (Total = 237, P < 0.05), Innate Immune System (Total = 140, P < 0.05), Cytokine Signaling Immune system (Total = 116, P < 0.05), Adaptive Immune System (Total = 85) and Neutrophil degranulation (Total = 78). CONCLUSION: The top 5 genes that are interacting directly with HIVCR1 include CASP3, CCL2, SPP1, B2M, and TIMP1 with degrees 161, 144, 108, 107, and 105 respectively for Immune system pathways (Innate Immune System, Cytokine Signaling Immune system, Adaptive Immune System and Neutrophil degranulation)
Original Article Characterization of Staphylococcus species isolated from raw milk and milk products (lben and jben) in North Morocco
Background: To investigate the incidence and antibiotic resistance of staphylococcal strains isolated from milk and milk products and to trace the ecological origin of the Staphylococcus aureus isolated. Methodology: Eighty-one samples of raw milk, lben (whey) and jben (cheese) were analyzed for the presence of staphylococcal strains. Isolates were identified by Gram stains, tests for coagulase, the API staph system and the WalkAway ® 40/96, which also determines the antimicrobial susceptibility profiles. The S. aureus strains were biotyped, and variable regions of the coagulase gene were amplified using the polymerase chain reaction. Results: The identification results showed a predominance of coagulase-negative staphylococci (54 %). Coagulase-positive staphylococci that were identified were divided into 3 groups comprising S. aureus (40%), Staphylococcus intermedius (2 %) and Staphylococcus hyicus (4%). Among the S. aureus that was isolated, biotype C was the predominant biotype. Among 40 coagulase gene PCR-amplification products, 37 produced a single band, while 3 isolates produced two bands. The antimicrobial susceptibility-profile of the staphylococcal strains revealed a high incidence of S. aureus to penicillin G. In addition, Staphylococcus lentus presented considerable resistance to the oxacillin, erythromycin and lincomycin. Conclusions: The presence of staphylococci in raw milk, lben and jben in areas of northern Morocco poses a health hazard, so it is necessary for the public health inspectors to properly examine the conditions during production, storage an
MOESM2 of Case report: lady with bone pains for 5Â yearsâparathyroid carcinoma
Additional file 2. Para cancer patient perspective. Title of Data: Patient Perspective. Description of Data: describes the patientâs view on how challenging the diagnosis of parathyroid cancer had been for her and her family, and the toll it took on them. She emphasizes the importance of creating awareness about the condition amongst general practitioners to expedite early referral to concerned speciality
Enhanced Evolutionary Sizing Algorithms for Optimal Sizing of a Stand-Alone PV-WT-Battery Hybrid System
An increase in the world’s population results in high energy demand, which is mostly fulfilled by consuming fossil fuels (FFs). By nature, FFs are scarce, depleted, and non-eco-friendly. Renewable energy sources (RESs) photovoltaics (PVs) and wind turbines (WTs) are emerging alternatives to the FFs. The integration of an energy storage system with these sources provides promising and economical results to satisfy the user’s load in a stand-alone environment. Due to the intermittent nature of RESs, their optimal sizing is a vital challenge when considering cost and reliability parameters. In this paper, three meta-heuristic algorithms: teaching-learning based optimization (TLBO), enhanced differential evolution (EDE), and the salp swarm algorithm (SSA), along with two hybrid schemes (TLBO + EDE and TLBO + SSA) called enhanced evolutionary sizing algorithms (EESAs) are proposed for solving the unit sizing problem of hybrid RESs in a stand-alone environment. The objective of this work is to minimize the user’s total annual cost (TAC). The reliability is considered via the maximum allowable loss of power supply probability ( L P S P m a x ) concept. The simulation results reveal that EESAs provide better results in terms of TAC minimization as compared to other algorithms at four L P S P m a x values of 0%, 0.5%, 1%, and 3%, respectively, for a PV-WT-battery hybrid system. Further, the PV-WT-battery hybrid system is found as the most economical scenario when it is compared to PV-battery and WT-battery systems
The Phytochemical Compounds and the Antimicrobial Activity of Portulaca grandiflora Aqueous & Methanol Extracts in Iraq
Inhibitory activity against bacterial and fungal pathogens is one of the many diseases for which phytochemical compounds are useful in medicine. By using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) on the floral parts of Portulaca grandiflora s in Iraq, several phytochemicals were extracted for this study. The study\u27s objective is to determine the active substances found in the species\u27 vegetative parts and evaluate their ability to inhibit pathogens. In the current study, various medical phytochemical compounds that have been isolated from Portulaca grandiflora from the floral parts that showed antifungal activity as Candida albicans and antibacterial as Proteus mirabilis. The phytochemicals of Portulaca grandiflora floral parts were exposed to gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis. The results revealed the highest activity against fungal and bacteria. The study used six concentrations of the floral parts (5,10,20,40,60,80) mg/ml for both aqueous and methanolic extracts. The aqueous extract showed high inhibition against Candida fungi, It was (0.00mm, 0.00mm, 0.00mm, 0.00mm, 12.00mm, 22.00mm) respectively in the diameter of colonies Thus, the aqueous extract indicated high inhibition against bacteria Proteus mirabilis . It was (0.00mm, 0.00mm, 0.00mm, 10.00mm, 14.00mm, 18.00mm) separately in the diameter of colonies. The methanolic extracts of floral parts have lower inhibition rates compared to the aqueous extract.which was giving results against Candida fungi (0.00mm, 0.00mm, 4.00mm, 6.00mm, 10.00mm, 24.00mm) respectively in the diameter of colonies, so that in a result with the inhibition against bacteria Proteus mirabilis . It was (0.00mm ,3.00mm, 6.00mm,10.00mm, 15.00mm, 25.00mm) respectively in the diameter of colonies. The analysis of compounds to P. grandiflora floral parts by GC-MS showed the presence of five bioactive phytochemical compounds as: Benzaldehyde : Cyclohexene , 1-methyl-4-(1-methylethenyl)-: (S), Linalool : Naphthalene : and Cyclohexanol, 1-methyl-4-(1-methylethenyl)-, acetate. Inhibitory activity against bacterial and fungal pathogens is one of the many diseases for which phytochemical compounds are useful in medicine. By using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) on the floral parts of Portulaca grandiflora s in Iraq, several phytochemicals were extracted for this study. The study\u27s objective is to determine the active substances found in the species\u27 vegetative parts and evaluate their ability to inhibit pathogens. In the current study, various medical phytochemical compounds that have been isolated from Portulaca grandiflora from the floral parts that showed antifungal activity as Candida albicans and antibacterial as Proteus mirabilis. The phytochemicals of Portulaca grandiflora floral parts were exposed to gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis. The results revealed the highest activity against fungal and bacteria. The study used six concentrations of the floral parts (5,10,20,40,60,80) mg/ml for both aqueous and methanolic extracts. The aqueous extract showed high inhibition against Candida fungi, It was (0.00mm, 0.00mm, 0.00mm, 0.00mm, 12.00mm, 22.00mm) respectively in the diameter of colonies Thus, the aqueous extract indicated high inhibition against bacteria Proteus mirabilis . It was (0.00mm, 0.00mm, 0.00mm, 10.00mm, 14.00mm, 18.00mm) separately in the diameter of colonies. The methanolic extracts of floral parts have lower inhibition rates compared to the aqueous extract.which was giving results against Candida fungi (0.00mm, 0.00mm, 4.00mm, 6.00mm, 10.00mm, 24.00mm) respectively in the diameter of colonies, so that in a result with the inhibition against bacteria Proteus mirabilis . It was (0.00mm ,3.00mm, 6.00mm,10.00mm, 15.00mm, 25.00mm) respectively in the diameter of colonies. The analysis of compounds to P. grandiflora floral parts by GC-MS showed the presence of five bioactive phytochemical compounds as: Benzaldehyde : Cyclohexene , 1-methyl-4-(1-methylethenyl)-: (S), Linalool : Naphthalene : and Cyclohexanol, 1-methyl-4-(1-methylethenyl)-, acetate.
Effect of humidity and temperature on organic semiconductor CuPc films deposited at different gravity conditions
In this paper effects of humidity and temperature on the electrical properties of thin films of organic semiconductor CuPc deposited from four different solutions (acetone, benzene, methanol and toluene) at different gravity conditions (1g and 70g) by centrifugation are reported. Surface-type samples were fabricated using copper thin films as electrodes deposited on glass substrates. Impedance and capacitance variations at room temperature were measured as a response of relative humidity ranging from 32%~98% at 1 kHz frequency. Similar parameters were measured at 1 kHz and fixed humidity for variable temperatures of 25~70°C. In addition, depending on the solution used during the deposition process, decrease in impedance and increase in capacitance with an increase in either humidity or temperature is also observed. Change in the properties of the CuPc films, deposited at different gravity conditions from different solutions, can be considered due to the changes in the structure and composition of the films. The results of the investigations potentially can be used for the fabrication of organic electronic devices that can be used in instrumentation and optoelectronics
FinTech Innovations and Financial Inclusion: Digital Credit, Micro-Lending, and Poverty Alleviation
This research explored the transformative impact of FinTech innovations on financial inclusion, focusing on the roles of digital credit, micro-lending, and their contributions to poverty alleviation in developing economies. Employing a mixed-methods research design that integrated survey data and participant interviews, the study analyzed how technology-driven financial services enhanced accessibility, affordability, and equity among financially marginalized populations. The findings indicated that FinTech significantly reduced barriers to credit access through mobile-based lending platforms and algorithmic credit scoring, thereby improving economic resilience, entrepreneurial growth, and household income. However, the study also revealed disparities in adoption, with women, rural residents, and individuals with limited digital literacy facing greater challenges. The analysis emphasized that while FinTech served as a catalyst for inclusion, its success depended on strong regulatory oversight, consumer protection, and digital financial education. Qualitative insights further highlighted users’ perceptions of increased autonomy, trust, and empowerment through digital finance. The study concluded that FinTech holds substantial potential for inclusive growth but requires careful alignment with social, institutional, and ethical frameworks. Recommendations included expanding digital infrastructure, strengthening financial literacy, and ensuring equitable algorithmic governance to enhance sustainability and social justice in financial ecosystems.
References
Airlangga, T., Sunitiyoso, Y., & Sudrajad, O. Y. (2025). The role of FinTech lending in financial inclusion and poverty alleviation: A systematic review. International Journal of Management, Entrepreneurship, Social Science and Humanities, 8(2). https://doi.org/10.31098/ijmesh.v8i2.3115
Alaeddin, O., Altounjy, R., Zainudin, Z., & Kamarudin, F. (2023). Financial inclusion through digital transformation: The role of FinTech adoption among micro-entrepreneurs. Journal of Financial Services Marketing, 28(2), 145–158. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41264-023-00197-2
Amnas, R., Selvam, D., & Parayitam, S. (2024). Digital financial literacy and financial inclusion: The mediating role of FinTech adoption in emerging markets. Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Finance, 42, 101998. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbef.2024.101998
Asif, M., Pasha, M. A., & Shahid, A. (2025). Energy scarcity and economic stagnation in Pakistan. Bahria University Journal Of Management & Technology, 8(1). 141-157.
Asongu, S. A., Nwachukwu, J. C., & Orim, S. M. (2021). Mobile banking and financial inclusion: Empirical evidence from Africa. Information Technology for Development, 27(1), 1–25. https://doi.org/10.1080/02681102.2019.1650784
Bongomin, G. O. C., & Ntayi, J. M. (2020). Trust: Mediator between mobile money adoption and usage and financial inclusion in Uganda. International Journal of Social Economics, 47(6), 747–763. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSE-06-2019-0361
Demirgüç-Kunt, A., Klapper, L., Singer, D., & Ansar, S. (2022). The Global Findex Database 2021: Financial inclusion, digital payments, and resilience in the age of COVID-19. World Bank. https://doi.org/10.1596/978-1-4648-1897-4
Fatima, N., Rafiq-uz-Zaman, M., Arshad, I., Rasheed, I., & Fatima, A. (2025). The role of human resource management in teacher training for inclusive education: A phenomenological study. Indus Journal of Social Sciences, 3(3), 551–564. https://doi.org/10.59075/ijss.v3i3.1921
Ghosh, S., & Gupta, P. (2022). FinTech innovations and financial inclusion: Evidence from emerging markets. Applied Economics Letters, 29(14), 1305–1310. https://doi.org/10.1080/13504851.2021.1884072
Ha, D., Le, P., & Nguyen, D. K. (2025). Financial inclusion and FinTech: A state-of-the-art systematic literature review. Financial Innovation, 11, Article 69. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40854-024-00741-0
Ha, T. T., Le, T. T., & Nguyen, D. P. (2025). Financial technology and the transformation of banking and financial inclusion: A bibliometric and conceptual analysis. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 208, 123876. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2025.123876
Hasan, I., Jackowicz, K., Kowalewski, O., & Kozłowski, Ł. (2021). Do FinTech firms increase financial inclusion? Cross-country evidence. Journal of Banking & Finance, 133, 106221. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbankfin.2021.106221
Hu, X., Huang, Y., Li, B., & Lu, T. (2023). Inclusive FinTech lending via contrastive learning and domain adaptation. arXiv Preprint. https://arxiv.org/abs/2305.05827
Islam, M. A., & Grönlund, Å. (2023). Microfinance digitalization and poverty reduction: Evidence from developing economies. Information Systems Frontiers, 25(3), 815–832. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10796-022-10367-9
Koomson, I., Villano, R. A., & Hadley, D. (2021). The effects of mobile money adoption on financial inclusion and welfare in Ghana. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 167, 120729. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2021.120729
Kunwar, A., & Chhetri, B. (2025). Mobile banking and financial inclusion in rural Nepal: Evidence from post-pandemic adoption patterns. Sustainability, 17(4), 2101. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17042101
Mansyur, F. (2025). The impact of FinTech penetration on regional economic growth and inclusion in Indonesia. Journal of Asian Economics, 92, 102079. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.asieco.2025.102079
Nagar, V., & Singh, A. (2023). Impact of digital micro-lending platforms on entrepreneurship and poverty alleviation in South Asia. Journal of Economic Studies, 50(4), 789–804. https://doi.org/10.1108/JES-06-2022-0299
Offiong, U. P. (2024). FinTech as a digital innovation in microfinance companies. Emerald Emerging Markets Review. https://doi.org/10.1108/EEMR-09-2023-1236772
Ozili, P. K. (2024). Digital financial inclusion and poverty reduction in Africa: New evidence and policy implications. Review of Development Finance, 14(1), 45–59. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rdf.2024.01.003
Rafiq-uz-Zaman, M. (2025). Beyond the blackboards: Building a micro-edtech economy through teacher-led innovation in low-income schools. Journal of Business Insight and Innovation, 4(1), 46–52. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.16875721
Rafiq-uz-Zaman, M. (2025). Bridging the skills divide: A comparative study of skill-based education across SAARC countries with a policy roadmap for Pakistan. Social Science Review Archives, 3(3), 787–795. https://doi.org/10.70670/sra.v3i3.913
Rafiq-uz-Zaman, M. (2025). Empowering the excluded: A review of skill-based education for eunuchs in South Asia. Global Political Review, X(III), 60–69. https://doi.org/10.31703/gpr.2025(XIII).06
Rafiq-uz-Zaman, M. (2025). The Integrated Skill-Based Education Framework (ISEF): An empirically grounded model for reforming skill-based education in Pakistan. Global Social Sciences Review, X(III), 157–167. https://doi.org/10.31703/gssr.2025(X-III).14
Rafiq-uz-Zaman, M., & Asif Nadeem, D. M. (2025). Unveiling Critical Success Factors for Skill-Based Education Programs: A Student-Centred Analysis in Pakistani Schools. Inverge Journal of Social Sciences, 4(3), 11–19. https://doi.org/10.63544/ijss.v4i3.139
Rafiq-uz-Zaman, M., & Malik, N. (2025). STEAM for the future: A comparative evaluation of educational strategies in Pakistan and India. ProScholar Insights, 4(3), 137–147. https://doi.org/10.55737/psi.2025c-43113
Rafiq-uz-Zaman, M., Bukhari, S. T., Malik, N., Rehman, L., & Qamar, A. H. (2025). Gender differences in the use and challenges of breakthrough technology in higher education: Evidence from Punjab. The Critical Review of Social Sciences Studies, 3(3), 1056–1073. https://doi.org/10.59075/hpdvq714
Rafiq-uz-Zaman, M., Khalid, N., & Susanto, E. (2025). Addressing environmental and social challenges: A mixed-method study on the education and inclusion of eunuchs in South Punjab, Pakistan. Social Science Review Archives, 3(1), 284–299. https://doi.org/10.70670/sra.v3i1.311
Sahay, R., Čihák, M., & N’Diaye, P. M. (2020). FinTech, financial inclusion, and inclusive growth. International Monetary Fund. https://doi.org/10.5089/9781513529172.001
Shair, F., Jabeen, S., Zafar, S., & Hassan, M. (2024). Digital finance and financial inclusion: Empirical evidence from developing economies. Borsa Istanbul Review, 24(1), 32–48. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bir.2023.04.007
Smith, G. (2025). The gendered algorithm: Navigating financial inclusion & equity in AI-facilitated access to credit. arXiv Preprint. https://arxiv.org/abs/2504.07312
Smith, L. (2025). Gendered algorithms and financial inclusion: Examining bias in FinTech credit scoring. Information Systems Frontiers, 27(2), 455–472. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10796-024-10467-1
Rubio, J. (2025). Financial inclusion as a pathway to poverty alleviation and income-inequality reduction in Latin America and the Caribbean. Journal of Risk and Financial Management, 18(7), 392. https://doi.org/10.3390/jrfm18070392
Tang, K. K., & Nguyen, C. V. (2022). Digital financial services and household welfare: Evidence from developing Asia. World Development, 156, 105910. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2022.105910
The impact of FinTech adoption on traditional financial inclusion in Sub-Saharan Africa. (2024). Finance Research Letters, 61, 104822. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.frl.2023.104822
Trivedi, P., & Yadav, R. (2022). Role of FinTech in promoting financial inclusion and entrepreneurial development. South Asian Journal of Business Studies, 11(3), 387–404. https://doi.org/10.1108/SAJBS-10-2021-0227
Wang, Y., & He, G. (2023). Digital finance, poverty alleviation, and sustainable development: Empirical evidence from China. Sustainability, 15(3), 2339. https://doi.org/10.3390/su15032339
Zhou, T., & Hu, H. (2021). FinTech development and inclusive finance: The moderating role of government policy. Finance Research Letters, 43, 102010. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.frl.2021.10201
Cu@Phosphorene as a Promising Catalyst for CO2 to Formic Acid Conversion: A Mechanistic DFT Approach
Carbon dioxide is naturally present in the Earth’s atmosphere and plays a role in regulating and balancing the planet’s temperature. However, due to various human activities, the amount of carbon dioxide is increasing beyond safe limits, disrupting the Earth’s natural temperature regulation system. Today, CO2 is the most prevalent greenhouse gas; as its concentration rises, significant climate change occurs. Therefore, there is a need to utilize anthropogenically released carbon dioxide in valuable fuels, such as formic acid (HCOOH). Single-atom catalysts are widely used, where a single metal atom is anchored on a surface to catalyze chemical reactions. In this study, we investigated the potential of Cu@Phosphorene as a single-atom catalyst (SAC) for CO2 reduction using quantum chemical calculations. All computations for Cu@Phosphorene were performed using density functional theory (DFT). Mechanistic studies were conducted for both bimolecular and termolecular pathways. The bimolecular mechanism involves one CO2 and one H2 molecule adsorbing on the surface, while the termolecular mechanism involves two CO2 molecules adsorbing first, followed by H2. Results indicate that the termolecular mechanism is preferred for formic acid formation due to its lower activation energy. Further analysis included charge transfer assessment via NBO, and interactions between the substrate, phosphorene, and the Cu atom were confirmed using quantum theory of atoms in molecules (QTAIM) and non-covalent interactions (NCI) analysis. Ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) calculations examined the temperature stability of the catalytic complex. Overall, Cu@Phosphorene appears to be an effective catalyst for converting CO2 to formic acid and remains stable at higher temperatures, supporting efforts to mitigate climate change
- …
