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Hazara University

UniversityBaffa, Pakistan

Research output, citation impact, and the most-cited recent papers from Hazara University (Pakistan). Aggregated across the NobleBlocks index of 300M+ scholarly works.

Total works
9.1K
Citations
245.1K
h-index
154
i10-index
5.5K
Also known as
Hazara Universityجامعہ ہزارہ

Top-cited papers from Hazara University

Promoting employee's proenvironmental behavior through green human resource management practices
Bilal Bin Saeed, Bilal Afsar, Shakir Hafeez, Imran Khan +2 more
2018· Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management982doi:10.1002/csr.1694

Abstract Success of organizational initiatives for environmental sustainability hinges upon employees' proenvironmental behaviors. One of the contemporary important challenges faced by HR professionals is to ensure proper integration of environmental sustainability into human resource policies. The green human resource management (green HRM) has emerged from organizations engaging in practices related to protection of environment and maintaining ecological balance. The aim of this study is to examine the effects of green HRM practices (green recruitment and selection, green training and development, green performance management and appraisal, green reward and compensation, and green empowerment) on employee's proenvironmental behavior. Moreover, this study is going to test the mediating effect of proenvironmental psychological capital and the moderating effect of environmental knowledge on green HRM practices–proenvironmental behavior. Data from 347 employees working in coal generating, power industry, food, chemical, and pharmaceutical industries were collected. Results revealed that green HRM practices positively affected employee's proenvironmental behavior, and proenvironmental psychological capital mediated this link. Employee's environmental knowledge moderated the effect of green HRM practices on proenvironmental behavior.

The formation of human populations in South and Central Asia
Vagheesh M. Narasimhan, Nick Patterson, Priya Moorjani, Nadin Rohland +4 more
2019· Science777doi:10.1126/science.aat7487

By sequencing 523 ancient humans, we show that the primary source of ancestry in modern South Asians is a prehistoric genetic gradient between people related to early hunter-gatherers of Iran and Southeast Asia. After the Indus Valley Civilization's decline, its people mixed with individuals in the southeast to form one of the two main ancestral populations of South Asia, whose direct descendants live in southern India. Simultaneously, they mixed with descendants of Steppe pastoralists who, starting around 4000 years ago, spread via Central Asia to form the other main ancestral population. The Steppe ancestry in South Asia has the same profile as that in Bronze Age Eastern Europe, tracking a movement of people that affected both regions and that likely spread the distinctive features shared between Indo-Iranian and Balto-Slavic languages.

The first horse herders and the impact of early Bronze Age steppe expansions into Asia
Peter de Barros Damgaard, Rui Martiniano, Jack Kamm, J. Víctor Moreno-Mayar +4 more
2018· Science450doi:10.1126/science.aar7711

The Yamnaya expansions from the western steppe into Europe and Asia during the Early Bronze Age (~3000 BCE) are believed to have brought with them Indo-European languages and possibly horse husbandry. We analyzed 74 ancient whole-genome sequences from across Inner Asia and Anatolia and show that the Botai people associated with the earliest horse husbandry derived from a hunter-gatherer population deeply diverged from the Yamnaya. Our results also suggest distinct migrations bringing West Eurasian ancestry into South Asia before and after, but not at the time of, Yamnaya culture. We find no evidence of steppe ancestry in Bronze Age Anatolia from when Indo-European languages are attested there. Thus, in contrast to Europe, Early Bronze Age Yamnaya-related migrations had limited direct genetic impact in Asia.

Unity in diversity—food plants and fungi of Sakartvelo (Republic of Georgia), Caucasus
Rainer W. Bussmann, Narel Y. Paniagua-Zambrana, Inayat Ur Rahman, Zaal Kikvidze +4 more
2021· Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine424doi:10.1186/s13002-021-00490-9

Abstract Background The Republic of Georgia is part of the Caucasus biodiversity hotspot, and human agricultural plant use dates back at least 6000 years. Over the last years, lots of ethnobotanical research on the area has been published. In this paper, we analyze the use of food plants in the 80% of Georgia not occupied by Russian forces. We hypothesized that (1) given the long tradition of plant use, and the isolation under Soviet rule, plant use both based on home gardens and wild harvesting would be more pronounced in Georgia than in the wider region, (2) food plant use knowledge would be widely and equally spread in most of Georgia, (3) there would still be incidence of knowledge loss despite wide plant use, especially in climatically favored agricultural regions in Western and Eastern Georgia. Methods From 2013 to 2019, we interviewed over 380 participants in all regions of Georgia not occupied by Russian forces and recorded over 19,800 mentions of food plants. All interviews were carried out in the participants’ homes and gardens by native speakers of Georgian and its dialects (Imeretian, Rachian, Lechkhumian, Tush, Khevsurian, Psavian, Kakhetian), other Kartvelian languages (Megrelian, Svan) and minority languages (Ossetian, Ude, Azeri, Armenian, Greek). Results The regional division was based primarily on historic provinces of Georgia, which often coincides with the current administrative borders. The total number of taxa, mostly identified to species, including their varieties, was 527. Taxonomically, the difference between two food plant groups—garden versus wild—was strongly pronounced even at family level. The richness of plant families was 65 versus 97 families in garden versus wild plants, respectively, and the difference was highly significant. Other diversity indices also unequivocally pointed to considerably more diverse family composition of wild collected versus garden plants as the differences between all the tested diversity indices appeared to be highly significant. The wide use of leaves for herb pies and lactofermented is of particular interest. Some of the ingredients are toxic in larger quantities, and the participants pointed out that careful preparation was needed. The authors explicitly decided to not give any recipes, given that many of the species are widespread, and compound composition—and with it possible toxic effects—might vary across the distribution range, so that a preparation method that sufficiently reduces toxicity in the Caucasus might not necessary be applicable in other areas. Conclusions Relationships among the regions in the case of wild food plants show a different and clearer pattern. Adjacent regions cluster together (Kvemo Zemo Racha, and Zemo Imereti; Samegrelo, Guria, Adjara, Lechkhumi and Kvemo and Zemo Svaneti; Meskheti, Javakheti, Kvemo Kartli; Mtianeti, Kakheti, Khevsureti, Tusheti. Like in the case of the garden food plants, species diversity of wild food plants mentioned varied strongly. Climate severity and traditions of the use of wild food plants might play role in this variation. Overall food plant knowledge is widely spread all-across Georgia, and broadly maintained.

Transformational leadership and innovative work behavior
Bilal Afsar, Waheed Ali Umrani
2019· European Journal of Innovation Management409doi:10.1108/ejim-12-2018-0257

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of transformational leadership on employee’s innovative work behavior, and the mediating role of motivation to learn, and the moderating role of task complexity and innovation climate on the link between transformational leadership and innovative work behavior. Design/methodology/approach A questionnaire, designed as a self-reported survey, was distributed to full-time employees and their respective supervisors working in 35 firms (services and manufacturing sectors) in Pakistan. Data were collected from 338 employee–supervisor dyads. The hypotheses were tested using structural equation modeling. Findings Results showed that transformational leadership had a positive impact on employees’ innovative work behavior and motivation to learn mediated transformational leadership–innovative work behavior link. The study further showed that task complexity and innovation climate moderated the relationship between transformational leadership and employees’ innovative work behavior. Research limitations/implications Based on the premises of interactionist perspectives on individual innovation, this study integrated multi-level variables to investigate leaders’ influences on followers’ innovative work behavior. This study contributed to the existing literature by providing empirical evidence on influence of transformational leadership on employees’ innovative work behavior as well as the impact of both individual and organizational level variables. Practical implications The close connection among transformational leadership, motivation to learn and innovative work behavior suggests that transformational leadership traits among managers are important to enhance employees’ innovative work behavior. Organizations should pay attention to creating a climate that is supportive of innovation and encourage individuals to learn new knowledge and skills, and provide employees with opportunities to use their acquired knowledge and skills. Originality/value This paper contributed to leadership and innovation literatures and provided insights into how the practitioners could use an appropriate leadership style to enhance innovative work behavior among employees. The study adopted a distinct model comprising five variables to investigate innovative work behavior from a multi-level perspective, i.e., motivation to learn and innovative work behavior at the individual level, task complexity at the unit level and innovation climate and leadership at the organizational level. This integrated model of using predictors from multiple levels supported the theoretical assumptions that innovative work behavior resulted from the interaction of individual, group and organizational level factors.

Burden of 375 diseases and injuries, risk-attributable burden of 88 risk factors, and healthy life expectancy in 204 countries and territories, including 660 subnational locations, 1990–2023: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2023
Masayuki Teramoto, Kanyin Liane Ong, Damian Santomauro, A Bhoomadevi +4 more
2025· The Lancet379doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(25)01637-x

BACKGROUND: For more than three decades, the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) has provided a framework to quantify health loss due to diseases, injuries, and associated risk factors. This paper presents GBD 2023 findings on disease and injury burden and risk-attributable health loss, offering a global audit of the state of world health to inform public health priorities. This work captures the evolving landscape of health metrics across age groups, sexes, and locations, while reflecting on the remaining post-COVID-19 challenges to achieving our collective global health ambitions. METHODS: The GBD 2023 combined analysis estimated years lived with disability (YLDs), years of life lost (YLLs), and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) for 375 diseases and injuries, and risk-attributable burden associated with 88 modifiable risk factors. Of the more than 310 000 total data sources used for all GBD 2023 (about 30% of which were new to this estimation round), more than 120 000 sources were used for estimation of disease and injury burden and 59 000 for risk factor estimation, and included vital registration systems, surveys, disease registries, and published scientific literature. Data were analysed using previously established modelling approaches, such as disease modelling meta-regression version 2.1 (DisMod-MR 2.1) and comparative risk assessment methods. Diseases and injuries were categorised into four levels on the basis of the established GBD cause hierarchy, as were risk factors using the GBD risk hierarchy. Estimates stratified by age, sex, location, and year from 1990 to 2023 were focused on disease-specific time trends over the 2010-23 period and presented as counts (to three significant figures) and age-standardised rates per 100 000 person-years (to one decimal place). For each measure, 95% uncertainty intervals [UIs] were calculated with the 2·5th and 97·5th percentile ordered values from a 250-draw distribution. FINDINGS: Total numbers of global DALYs grew 6·1% (95% UI 4·0-8·1), from 2·64 billion (2·46-2·86) in 2010 to 2·80 billion (2·57-3·08) in 2023, but age-standardised DALY rates, which account for population growth and ageing, decreased by 12·6% (11·0-14·1), revealing large long-term health improvements. Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) contributed 1·45 billion (1·31-1·61) global DALYs in 2010, increasing to 1·80 billion (1·63-2·03) in 2023, alongside a concurrent 4·1% (1·9-6·3) reduction in age-standardised rates. Based on DALY counts, the leading level 3 NCDs in 2023 were ischaemic heart disease (193 million [176-209] DALYs), stroke (157 million [141-172]), and diabetes (90·2 million [75·2-107]), with the largest increases in age-standardised rates since 2010 occurring for anxiety disorders (62·8% [34·0-107·5]), depressive disorders (26·3% [11·6-42·9]), and diabetes (14·9% [7·5-25·6]). Remarkable health gains were made for communicable, maternal, neonatal, and nutritional (CMNN) diseases, with DALYs falling from 874 million (837-917) in 2010 to 681 million (642-736) in 2023, and a 25·8% (22·6-28·7) reduction in age-standardised DALY rates. During the COVID-19 pandemic, DALYs due to CMNN diseases rose but returned to pre-pandemic levels by 2023. From 2010 to 2023, decreases in age-standardised rates for CMNN diseases were led by rate decreases of 49·1% (32·7-61·0) for diarrhoeal diseases, 42·9% (38·0-48·0) for HIV/AIDS, and 42·2% (23·6-56·6) for tuberculosis. Neonatal disorders and lower respiratory infections remained the leading level 3 CMNN causes globally in 2023, although both showed notable rate decreases from 2010, declining by 16·5% (10·6-22·0) and 24·8% (7·4-36·7), respectively. Injury-related age-standardised DALY rates decreased by 15·6% (10·7-19·8) over the same period. Differences in burden due to NCDs, CMNN diseases, and injuries persisted across age, sex, time, and location. Based on our risk analysis, nearly 50% (1·27 billion [1·18-1·38]) of the roughly 2·80 billion total global DALYs in 2023 were attributable to the 88 risk factors analysed in GBD. Globally, the five level 3 risk factors contributing the highest proportion of risk-attributable DALYs were high systolic blood pressure (SBP), particulate matter pollution, high fasting plasma glucose (FPG), smoking, and low birthweight and short gestation-with high SBP accounting for 8·4% (6·9-10·0) of total DALYs. Of the three overarching level 1 GBD risk factor categories-behavioural, metabolic, and environmental and occupational-risk-attributable DALYs rose between 2010 and 2023 only for metabolic risks, increasing by 30·7% (24·8-37·3); however, age-standardised DALY rates attributable to metabolic risks decreased by 6·7% (2·0-11·0) over the same period. For all but three of the 25 leading level 3 risk factors, age-standardised rates dropped between 2010 and 2023-eg, declining by 54·4% (38·7-65·3) for unsafe sanitation, 50·5% (33·3-63·1) for unsafe water source, and 45·2% (25·6-72·0) for no access to handwashing facility, and by 44·9% (37·3-53·5) for child growth failure. The three leading level 3 risk factors for which age-standardised attributable DALY rates rose were high BMI (10·5% [0·1 to 20·9]), drug use (8·4% [2·6 to 15·3]), and high FPG (6·2% [-2·7 to 15·6]; non-significant). INTERPRETATION: Our findings underscore the complex and dynamic nature of global health challenges. Since 2010, there have been large decreases in burden due to CMNN diseases and many environmental and behavioural risk factors, juxtaposed with sizeable increases in DALYs attributable to metabolic risk factors and NCDs in growing and ageing populations. This long-observed consequence of the global epidemiological transition was only temporarily interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The substantially decreasing CMNN disease burden, despite the 2008 global financial crisis and pandemic-related disruptions, is one of the greatest collective public health successes known. However, these achievements are at risk of being reversed due to major cuts to development assistance for health globally, the effects of which will hit low-income countries with high burden the hardest. Without sustained investment in evidence-based interventions and policies, progress could stall or reverse, leading to widespread human costs and geopolitical instability. Moreover, the rising NCD burden necessitates intensified efforts to mitigate exposure to leading risk factors-eg, air pollution, smoking, and metabolic risks, such as high SBP, BMI, and FPG-including policies that promote food security, healthier diets, physical activity, and equitable and expanded access to potential treatments, such as GLP-1 receptor agonists. Decisive, coordinated action is needed to address long-standing yet growing health challenges, including depressive and anxiety disorders. Yet this can be only part of the solution. Our response to the NCD syndemic-the complex interaction of multiple health risks, social determinants, and systemic challenges-will define the future landscape of global health. To ensure human wellbeing, economic stability, and social equity, global action to sustain and advance health gains must prioritise reducing disparities by addressing socioeconomic and demographic determinants, ensuring equitable health-care access, tackling malnutrition, strengthening health systems, and improving vaccination coverage. We live in times of great opportunity. FUNDING: Gates Foundation and Bloomberg Philanthropies.

COVID-19 outbreak: current scenario of Pakistan
Abdul Waris, U.K. Atta, Mohsin Ali, Ali Asmat +1 more
2020· New Microbes and New Infections376doi:10.1016/j.nmni.2020.100681

COVID-19 outbreak was first time experienced in the Wuhan City of China at the end of December 2019. Which spread rapidly in China and then worldwide in 209 countries of America, Europe, Australia and Asia including Pakistan. There are more than fifty thousand mortalities and one million plus people have been affected worldwide, while figure increases rapidly. Different steps have been taken worldwide for the control of COVID-19. Even with less resources Pakistan also taken rigorous measures like designed special hospitals, Laboratories for testing, quarantine facilities, awareness campaign and lock down to control the spread of virus. We highlighted the efforts of government to combat this deadly pneumonia.

The Contribution of Sustainable Tourism to Economic Growth and Employment in Pakistan
Faiza Manzoor, Longbao Wei, Muhammad Asif, Muhammad Zia Ul Haq +1 more
2019· International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health374doi:10.3390/ijerph16193785

In the global economy, tourism is one of the most noticeable and growing sectors. Thissector plays an important role in boosting a nation's economy. An increase in tourism flow canbring positive economic outcomes to the nations, especially in gross domestic product (GDP) andemployment opportunities. In South Asian countries, the tourism industry is an engine ofeconomic development and GDP growth. This study investigates the impact of tourism onPakistan's economic growth and employment. The period under study was from 1990 to 2015. Tocheck whether the variables under study were stationary, augmented Dickey-Fuller andPhillips-Perron unit root tests were applied. A regression technique and Johansen cointegrationapproach were employed for the analysis of data. The key finding of this study shows that there isa positive and significant impact of tourism on Pakistan's economic growth as well as employmentsector and there is also a long-run relationship among the variables under study. This studysuggests that legislators should focus on the policies with special emphasis on the promotion oftourism due to its great potential throughout the country. Policy implications of this recent studyand future research suggestions are also mentioned.

Anticancer Plants: A Review of the Active Phytochemicals, Applications in Animal Models, and Regulatory Aspects
Tariq Khan, Muhammad Ali, Ajmal Khan, Parveen Nisar +3 more
2019· Biomolecules367doi:10.3390/biom10010047

The rising burden of cancer worldwide calls for an alternative treatment solution. Herbal medicine provides a very feasible alternative to western medicine against cancer. This article reviews the selected plant species with active phytochemicals, the animal models used for these studies, and their regulatory aspects. This study is based on a meticulous literature review conducted through the search of relevant keywords in databases, Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, and Google Scholar. Twenty plants were selected based on defined selection criteria for their potent anticancer compounds. The detailed analysis of the research studies revealed that plants play an indispensable role in fighting different cancers such as breast, stomach, oral, colon, lung, hepatic, cervical, and blood cancer cell lines. The in vitro studies showed cancer cell inhibition through DNA damage and activation of apoptosis-inducing enzymes by the secondary metabolites in the plant extracts. Studies that reported in vivo activities of these plants showed remarkable results in the inhibition of cancer in animal models. Further studies should be performed on exploring more plants, their active compounds, and the mechanism of anticancer actions for use as standard herbal medicine.

Global expansion of chikungunya virus: mapping the 64-year history
Braira Wahid, Amjad Ali, Shazia Rafique, Muhammad Idrees
2017· International Journal of Infectious Diseases342doi:10.1016/j.ijid.2017.03.006

Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is a mosquito-transmitted alphavirus that is emerging as a global threat because of the highly debilitating nature of the associated disease and unprecedented magnitude of its spread. Chikungunya originated in Africa and has since spread across the entire globe causing large numbers of epidemics that have infected millions of people in Asia, the Indian subcontinent, Europe, the Americas, and Pacific Islands. Phylogenetic analysis has identified four different genotypes of CHIKV: Asian, West African, East/Central/South African (ECSA), and Indian Ocean Lineage (IOL). In the absence of well-designed epidemiological studies, the aim of this review article was to summarize the global epidemiology of CHIKV and to provide baseline data for future research on the treatment, prevention, and control of this life-threatening disease.

Corporate social responsibility and pro‐environmental behavior at workplace: The role of moral reflectiveness, coworker advocacy, and environmental commitment
Bilal Afsar, Waheed Ali Umrani
2019· Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management341doi:10.1002/csr.1777

Abstract Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is gaining significance in the business world. However, scholars have not sufficiently examined the factors that influence the small, everyday sustainability behaviors that individual employees might choose to perform. It is evident that organizations are continuously contributing toward environmental dilapidation. This may be reduced by focusing employees' involvement in pro‐environmental behaviors. Therefore, this study examined the effect of perceived CSR on employee's pro‐environmental behaviors. In addition, responding to the call for more empirical research regarding the underlying mechanisms that transmit the effect of perceived CSR on microlevel outcomes, this study tested the mediating effects of moral reflectiveness, coworker pro‐environmental advocacy, and environmental commitment on CSR‐pro‐environmental behavior link. The hypothesized relationships of the research model were tested using the structural equation modeling technique. Data were collected from 560 employees through a survey. Results showed that perceived CSR directly impacted moral reflectiveness, coworker pro‐environmental advocacy, and environmental commitment. Moral reflectiveness and coworker pro‐environmental advocacy significantly and positively influenced environmental commitment. Moral reflectiveness, coworker pro‐environmental advocacy, and environmental commitment partially mediated the relationship between perceived CSR and employee pro‐environmental behavior. This study aims to fill the gap of the underlying mechanism that how perceived CSR affects employee pro‐environmental behavior.

Insight into <em>Acinetobacter baumannii</em>: pathogenesis, global resistance, mechanisms of resistance, treatment options, and alternative modalities
Muhammad Asif, Iqbal Ahmad Alvi, Shafiq ur Rehman
2018· Infection and Drug Resistance324doi:10.2147/idr.s166750

, once considered a low-category pathogen, has emerged as an obstinate infectious agent. The scientific community is paying more attention to this pathogen due to its stubbornness to last resort antimicrobials, including carbapenems, colistin, and tigecycline, its high prevalence of infections in the hospital setting, and significantly increased rate of community-acquired infections by this organism over the past decade. It has given the fear of pre-antibiotic era to the world. To further enhance our understanding about this pathogen, in this review, we discuss its taxonomy, pathogenesis, current treatment options, global resistance rates, mechanisms of its resistance against various groups of antimicrobials, and future therapeutics.

Tourism and Development in Developing Economies: A Policy Implication Perspective
Asif Khan, Sughra Bibi, Lorenzo Ardito, Jiaying Lyu +1 more
2020· Sustainability308doi:10.3390/su12041618

Tourism is considered a competent driver of development in emerging economies. This study assesses the role of tourism in shaping the fundamental pillars of development in developing economies by targeting the case of Pakistan. Various econometric techniques and approaches were used to investigate the causal relationships of tourism with economic growth, energy and agriculture development, and poverty. This study highlights the important role of tourism in the development of emerging economies. The findings of our study suggest that a 1% increase in tourism significantly enhances gross domestic product (GPD) by 0.051%, foreign direct investment by 2.647%, energy development by 0.134%, and agriculture development by 0.26%, and reduces poverty by 0.51% in the long run. Hence, policy-makers should be informed that through public interventions, tourism can advance development by the design and implementation of integrated policies in developing economies. In addition, policy consistency and coherence are essential for competitiveness, sustainability, and maximizing benefits from tourism.

Responsible leadership and employee's proenvironmental behavior: The role of organizational commitment, green shared vision, and internal environmental locus of control
Bilal Afsar, Ahsen Maqsoom, Asad Shahjehan, Sajjad Ahmad Afridi +2 more
2019· Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management299doi:10.1002/csr.1806

Abstract This study develops a research model that elaborates the mechanism through which responsible leadership influences employee's proenvironmental behavior. Little is known, however, about the mechanisms through which this type of leadership affects proenvironmental behavior, and the conditions under which any such effects are enhanced or attenuated. The present research sought to fill this gap by examining a dual process model in which organizational commitment and green shared vision served as two explanatory mechanisms in the impact of responsible leadership on employee's proenvironmental behavior. Furthermore, we differentiated these two mechanisms by proposing employee's internal environmental locus of control as a moderator. Based on multilevel data collected from 329 employees and 88 supervisors in Pakistan, green shared vision mediated the effect of responsible leadership on proenvironmental behavior, and this indirect effect was stronger for employees with high internal environmental locus of control. However, the indirect relation between responsible leadership and proenvironmental behavior via organizational commitment did not occur. Results also supported that internal environmental locus of control moderated the indirect effect of responsible leadership on employee's proenvironmental behavior through organizational commitment, such that the indirect effect was significantly positive when internal environmental locus of control was high but nonsignificant when internal environmental locus of control was low. These findings provided valuable contribution to responsible leadership and employee's proenvironmental behavior, by exploring the relationships between them. Practical implications and directions for future research are also discussed.

Employees' corporate social responsibility perceptions and organizational citizenship behaviors for the environment: The mediating roles of organizational identification and environmental orientation fit
Sadia Cheema, Bilal Afsar, Farheen Javed
2019· Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management297doi:10.1002/csr.1769

Abstract The importance of organizational citizenship behaviors for the environment (OCBEs) has been clearly established in the environmental literature. The purpose of this study is to examine the mediation of organizational identification and environmental orientation fit on the relationship between employees' corporate social responsibility (CSR) perceptions and their engagement in organizational citizenship behaviors for the environment. On the basis of 374 survey responses from employees, our structural equation modeling results indicated that CSR perceptions had a positive effect on employees' OCBEs. Moreover, both organizational identification and environmental orientation fit mediated the effect of CSR perceptions on employees' OCBEs. This study contributed to three literature streams (i.e., CSR, pro‐environmental behaviors and environmental management, and person–environment fit). Managerial implications and recommendations for future research are given at the end.

Structural and optical properties of pure and copper doped zinc oxide nanoparticles
Muhammad Sajjad, I. Ullah, Mohammad Iqbal Khan, Jamshid Khan +2 more
2018· Results in Physics290doi:10.1016/j.rinp.2018.04.010

Pure and copper-doped zinc oxide nanoparticles (NPs) have been synthesized via chemical co-precipitation method where hydrazine is used as reducing agent and aqueous extract of Euphorbia milii plant as capping agent. Main objectives of the reported work are to investigate the effect of copper doping on crystal structure of ZnO nanoparticles; to study the effect of copper doping on optical band gap of ZnO nanoparticles and photoluminescence (PL) study of pure and copper-doped ZnO nanoparticles. To achieve the aforementioned objectives, XRD and SEM tests were performed for the identification and confirmation of crystal structure and morphology of the prepared samples. From XRD data the average grain size for pure ZnO was observed to be 24.62 nm which was first decreased to 18.95 nm for 5 wt% Cu-doped sample and then it was found to increase up to 37.80 nm as the Cu doping was increased to 7 wt%. Optical band gap of pure and Cu-doped ZnO nanoparticles was calculated from diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) spectra and was found to decrease from 3.13 eV to 2.94 eV as the amount of Cu increases up to 7 wt%. In photoluminescence study, PL technique was used and enhanced visible spectrum was observed. For further characterization FT-IR and EDX tests were also carried out. Keywords: Copper-doped ZnO nanoparticles, Co-precipitation method, Band gap studies and photoluminescence

Phosphorus and phosphate solubilizing bacteria: Keys for sustainable agriculture
Motsim Billah, Matiullah Khan, Asghari Bano, Tamoor Ul Hassan +2 more
2019· Geomicrobiology Journal283doi:10.1080/01490451.2019.1654043

Phosphorus (P) is one of the most important minerals required for plant growth occupying a strong position among soil macro nutrients. Soil P deficiency is often fulfilled by phosphate fertilizers. P deficiency in soils is due to less total P contents in the soil and fixation of added P from chemical fertilizers as well as other organic sources like manures. The response of plant under P stress or even when it is present in adequate amount is very mild. The basic constraint in the availability of P is its solubilization as it gets fixed both in acidic and alkaline soil. Soil fixed P can only be solubilized by phosphate solubilizing microorganisms (PSMs).These bacteria released different types of organic acids in the soil which make P soluble and available to plants. The potential of these PSMs to solubilize P varies and mainly depends upon mechanism adopted for solubilization, their molecular genetics as well as their ability to release P in soil. The PSMs, having all the characteristics of phytohormone production, nitrogen fixation, as well as, heavy metal decontamination and creating salt stress tolerance in plants, are quite rare for sustainable agriculture. Application of this environment friendly approach for increasing crop productivity as well as its impact on soil and plant health is discussed in this review which will not only open new avenues of research but also provide fruitful information about phosphate solubilizing microbes for sustainable agriculture development.

Review of Applications of Polymer/Carbon Nanotubes and Epoxy/CNT Composites
Ayesha Kausar, Irum Rafique, Bakhtiar Muhammad
2016· Polymer-Plastics Technology and Engineering282doi:10.1080/03602559.2016.1163588

In this review, an overview of polymer and carbon nanotube composite is presented with special emphasis on their applications in technical fields. The general applications of polymer/carbon nanotube nanocomposite in actuators, sensors, sporting goods, and so on have been discussed. In addition, special features of epoxy and epoxy/carbon nanotube composites were discussed in detail. Enhancement in the characteristic features of epoxy matrix with the incorporation of carbon nanotube has been observed. Consequently, the main focus of the review is on applications of epoxy/carbon nanotube composites in different fields such as aerospace, automobiles, fuel cells, radar-absorbing material, wind turbine blades, and electromagnetic interface shielding.

Activating employee's pro‐environmental behaviors: The role of CSR, organizational identification, and environmentally specific servant leadership
Bilal Afsar, Sadia Cheema, Farheen Javed
2018· Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management275doi:10.1002/csr.1506

Abstract Environmental sustainability at the organization level is largely shaped by and dependent on individual‐level pro‐environmental behavior. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has been proposed as a useful tool for effective organizational, social and environmental functioning. Not surprisingly, various empirical studies have advocated its importance in generating positive outcomes at a macro level. This research seeks to investigate the effect of CSR on employees' pro‐environmental behaviors. Moreover, we incorporated the mediating effect of organizational identification and the moderating role of environmentally specific servant leadership. The study draws on a survey sample of 298 employees from diverse industry sectors. Key findings show that perceived CSR has both a direct and an indirect influence, through organizational identification, on pro‐environmental behavior. The results also lent support for the interactive effect of environmentally specific servant leadership with CSR in predicting employee pro‐environmental behaviors.

Transformational Leadership, Creative Self-Efficacy, Trust in Supervisor, Uncertainty Avoidance, and Innovative Work Behavior of Nurses
Bilal Afsar, Mariam Masood
2017· The Journal of Applied Behavioral Science259doi:10.1177/0021886317711891

This study examines how nurse managers’ transformational leadership relates to innovative work behavior of subordinate nurses through creative self-efficacy, trust in supervisor, and uncertainty avoidance. On the basis of an interactional approach, this study hypothesized that (a) there is an interaction between transformational leadership, trust in supervisor, and uncertainty avoidance that affects innovative work behavior, such that transformational leadership has the strongest positive relationship with innovative work behavior when nurses have high levels of trust and uncertainty avoidance; and (b) creative self-efficacy mediates the effect that this three-way interaction between transformational leadership, trust in supervisor, and uncertainty avoidance has on innovative work behavior. In Study 1, we used a time-lagged research design, collecting multisource data from 322 nurses and their respective head nurses (supervisors), working in public sector hospitals. The results of Study 1 supported our hypotheses. In Study 2, we used a more temporally rigorous research design in which data were collected in three stages, with a 3-month time interval separating Stages 1 and 2, and Stages 2 and 3. On the basis of the time-lagged and multisource data from 371 nurses and their respective head nurses (supervisors), from private sector hospitals, we found that Study 2 produced the same results as Study 1.