Analysis of optimal control strategies on the fungal Tinea capitis infection fractional order model with cost-effective analysis.

In this study, we have formulated and analyzed the Tinea capitis infection Caputo fractional order model by implementing three time-dependent control measures. In the qualitative analysis part, we investigated the following: by using the well-known Picard-Lindelöf criteria we have proved the model solutions' existence and uniqueness, using the next generation matrix approach we calculated the model basic reproduction number, we computed the model equilibrium points and investigated their stabilities, using the three time-dependent control variables (prevention measure, non-inflammatory infection treatment measure, and inflammatory infection treatment measure) and from the formulated fractional order model we re-formulated the fractional order optimal control problem. The necessary optimality conditions for the Tinea capitis fractional order optimal control problem and the existence of optimal control strategies are derived and presented by using Pontryagin's Maximum Principle. Also, the study carried out the sensitivity and numerical analysis to investigate the most sensitive parameters and to verify the qualitative analysis results. Finally, we performed the cost-effective analysis to investigate the most cost-effective measures from the possible proposed control measures, and from the findings we can suggest that implementing prevention measures only is the most cost-effective control measure that stakeholders should consider.

Mathematical assessment of monkeypox disease with the impact of vaccination using a fractional epidemiological modeling approach.

This present paper aims to examine various epidemiological aspects of the monkeypox viral infection using a fractional-order mathematical model. Initially, the model is formulated using integer-order nonlinear differential equations. The imperfect vaccination is considered for human population in the model formulation. The proposed model is then reformulated using a fractional order derivative with power law to gain a deeper understanding of disease dynamics. The values of the model parameters are determined from the cumulative reported monkeypox cases in the United States during the period from May 10th to October 10th, 2022. Besides this, some of the demographic parameters are evaluated from the population of the literature. We establish sufficient conditions to ensure the existence and uniqueness of the model's solution in the fractional case. Furthermore, the stability of the endemic equilibrium of the fractional monkeypox model is presented. The Lyapunov function approach is used to demonstrate the global stability of the model equilibria. Moreover, the fractional order model is numerically solved using an efficient numerical technique known as the fractional Adams-Bashforth-Moulton method. The numerical simulations are conducted using estimated parameters, considering various values of the fractional order of the Caputo derivative. The finding of this study reveals the impact of various model parameters and fractional order values on the dynamics and control of monkeypox.

Determinants of bank's efficiency in an emerging economy: A data envelopment analysis approach.

This study aims to assess the influence of internal and external factors on the Efficiency of banks in Pakistan using the Data Envelopment Analysis Approach (DEA). Bank's Efficiency is measured through DEA Model using input and output variables. The input variable includes the number of employees, number of branches, administration expenses, non-interest expenses, and loan loss provisions. In contrast, the output variable consists of net interest income, net commissions, and total other income. This study considers the internal determinants of the bank's Efficiency as corporate governance, enterprise risk management, ownership structure (state, foreign, and domestic ultimate owned banks), return on equity, financial leverage, and the size of the bank. The external determinants of the bank's Efficiency include banking structure and macroeconomic conditions. The study has used data from seventeen commercial banks over the period of 2011 to 2020. The study used the Data Envelopment Analysis Approach (DEA) and Logit and Probit Regression Model to evaluate research hypotheses. The Logit model results show that corporate governance, ultimate global ownership, and return on equity have a statistically significant and positive impact on the bank's Efficiency. Enterprise risk management and financial leverage adversely affect the bank's Efficiency. Better corporate governance can help banks to control the risk and cost of capital and enhancement the effectiveness of capital. Similarly, better risk management of banks can lead to better operational and strategic decisions in the competitive banking environment.

The effect of gross domestic product, urbanization, trade openness, financial development, and renewable energy on CO2 emission.

The purpose of this study is to analyze the influence of GDP, urbanization, trade openness, financial development, and renewable energy consumption on CO2 emissions in Pakistan using yearly time series data from 1985 to 2018. The study utilized the cointegration technique and Granger causality for empirical estimation. The results of the study indicated that urbanization, financial development, and trade openness upsurge CO2 emission. Whereas using renewable energy resources is favorable for the environment and possesses negative relation with CO2 emission. All variables possess long-run relation with Co2 emission. Granger causality shows unidirectional causality from GDP and renewable energy to CO2 emission. The study contains insight for policymakers in Pakistan with beneficial policy recommendations to work toward a sustainable green environment.

Corporate Business Strategy and Tax Avoidance Culture: Moderating Role of Gender Diversity in an Emerging Economy.

Tax payments stimulate business enterprises to choose tax management through tax avoidance activities, which is the legal practice to reduce the amount of tax payable. In developing economies, taxation is considered more critical for budget and revenues of a country. This paper investigates whether various business strategies influence corporate tax avoidance decisions of firms by adopting business strategies. Besides, it explores how gender diversity can ease this relationship. This study has chosen a sample of organizations from non-financial sector in Pakistan. The time frame is 5 years, including once a year. The present model employed a generalized moment method (GMM) and tested the proposed hypothesis to draw the results. The study has taken the size, leverage, and business profitability as control variables of firms. The study outcomes by using the GMM method demonstrate that the presence of female directors reduces tax avoidance behavior in prospector companies. This study provides insight into future research for stakeholders, government officials, tax authorities, and policymakers. The findings offer valuable recommendations and practical insights and implications. The findings provide future directions for research to test different frameworks to attain beneficial results to promote the responsibility of tax payment culture.

Consumers' Intention to Adopt m-payment/m-banking: The Role of Their Financial Skills and Digital Literacy.

The adoption of mobile payment (m-payment) and mobile banking (m-banking) is low in several countries, despite its associated benefits. The present study examines the impact of Pakistani consumers' financial skills and digital literacy on their intention to adopt m-payment/m-banking using the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). The data were collected from 454 individual smartphone users residing in Punjab province via an online and offline questionnaire survey. Structural equation modeling was used to analyze the consumers' data. The results endorse that (1) their financial skills have no association with intention to adopt but through perceived usefulness; (2) their digital literacy bridges a strong association with intention and through perceived ease of use. Furthermore, this study discusses the theoretical and practical implications of the findings, as well as limitations and future directions.

Impact of tourism on sustainable development in BRI countries: The moderating role of institutional quality.

This study investigated the influence of tourism on sustainable development while considering institutional quality as a moderating variable. Moreover, exchange rate, urbanization, household consumption, per capita income and renewable energy per capita were also essential factors in determining sustainable development. The sample consists of 64 Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) countries from 2003-2018. The outcomes of the two-step system GMM confirmed the statistically significant and positive dynamic nature of sustainable development and its relationship with tourism and other determinants at a significance level of 1% for BRI countries. Institutional quality enhanced the 4.693% sustainability path to achieve the sustainable development goals (SDGs) agenda with regionally interconnected countries at significance level of 1%. Renewable energy per-capita and income per-capita played a significant and positive role, while the exchange rate, household consumption, and urbanization negatively influenced by hurting thd path of sustainable development. The current research findings have valuable contributions to academics as it offers novel insights about the 0. 351% influence of tourism on sustainable development at significance level of 1%, and it proposes valued suggestions to policymakers concerning tourism development strategies.

The dynamic impact of financial, technological, and natural resources on sustainable development in Belt and Road countries.

This study attempts to determine the untapped factors that affect sustainable development in 64 Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) countries from 2006 to 2019. The study employed the two-step system Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) validated through Two-stage Least Square (2SLS). The findings of system-GMM revealed a significant dynamic nature of the relationship between sustainable development and its determinants. Findings demonstrate that financial development, financial inclusion, energy efficiency ratio, per capita health expenditure, per capita income growth, governance, and integration of before and after BRI dummy show a significant positive impact by contributing to BRI countries' sustainable development path. However, e-government, natural resource rent, macroeconomic conditions, and government size have a significant but negative effect by hurting sustainable development. Integration of BRI further enhances and promotes a country and regional sustainable development path. Therefore, better regional policies for financial development, financial inclusion for poverty alleviation, and e-government development are required, boosting per-capita income and sustainable development in the coming years. The study concludes that BRI country's natural resources rent contributes to national saving but declines the natural resources. Also, it endorses the theory that a nation should adopt the "Hartwick rule" to reinvest rents from the depletion of the natural resources in reproducible capital forms to shift from a weak sustainable path. This study also proposes significant policy implications for balanced and sustainable growth in light of the current research findings.

Pathways to Financial Success: An Empirical Examination of Perceived Financial Well-Being Based on Financial Coping Behaviors.

The current study empirically tests a financial well-being (FWB) model built on financial socialization (FS) and early childhood consumer experience (ECCE). The current study was conducted based on primary data obtained through structured questionnaires. By using a convenient sampling technique, data were collected from 1,500 respondents from Pakistan. Results advocated that childhood experiences directly affect the FWB in adults. In addition, FS agents, such as parents, have direct and indirect effects on the FWB in adults. Findings revealed that financial coping behaviors mediate the relationship among FS agents, such as parents, students, and the FWB. Surprisingly, FS agent peers do not impact adult FWBs. The study concluded that FWB could be improved by socializing with parents and teachers and using childhood experiences. Considering the importance of the role of parents and teachers, they should discuss financial issues with children. Policymakers should work to provide some opportunities for children so that they can practice and gain experience.

Mathematical assessment of constant and time-dependent control measures on the dynamics of the novel coronavirus: An application of optimal control theory.

The coronavirus infectious disease (COVID-19) is a novel respiratory disease reported in 2019 in China. The COVID-19 is one of the deadliest pandemics in history due to its high mortality rate in a short period. Many approaches have been adopted for disease minimization and eradication. In this paper, we studied the impact of various constant and time-dependent variable control measures coupled with vaccination on the dynamics of COVID-19. The optimal control theory is used to optimize the model and set an effective control intervention for the infection. Initially, we formulate the mathematical epidemic model for the COVID-19 without variable controls. The model basic mathematical assessment is presented. The nonlinear least-square procedure is utilized to parameterize the model from actual cases reported in Pakistan. A well-known technique based on statistical tools known as the Latin-hypercube sampling approach (LHS) coupled with the partial rank correlation coefficient (PRCC) is applied to present the model global sensitivity analysis. Based on global sensitivity analysis, the COVID-19 vaccine model is reformulated to obtain a control problem by introducing three time dependent control variables for isolation, vaccine efficacy and treatment enhancement represented by u 1 ( t ) , u 2 ( t ) and u 3 ( t ) , respectively. The necessary optimality conditions of the control problem are derived via the optimal control theory. Finally, the simulation results are depicted with and without variable controls using the well-known Runge-Kutta numerical scheme. The simulation results revealed that time-dependent control measures play a vital role in disease eradication.

Mathematical assessment of the dynamics of novel coronavirus infection with treatment: A fractional study.

In this paper, a mathematical model is formulated to study the transmission dynamics of the novel coronavirus infection under the effect of treatment. The compartmental model is firstly formulated using a system of nonlinear ordinary differential equations. Then, with the help of Caputo operator, the model is reformulated in order to obtain deeper insights into disease dynamics. The basic mathematical features of the time fractional model are rigorously presented. The nonlinear least square procedure is implemented in order to parameterize the model using COVID-19 cumulative cases in Saudi Arabia for the selected time period. The important threshold parameter called the basic reproduction number is evaluated based on the estimated parameters and is found R 0 ≈ 1.60 . The fractional Lyapunov approach is used to prove the global stability of the model around the disease free equilibrium point. Moreover, the model in Caputo sense is solved numerically via an efficient numerical scheme known as the fractional Adamas-Bashforth-Molten approach. Finally, the model is simulated to present the graphical impact of memory index and various intervention strategies such as social-distancing, disinfection of the virus from environment and treatment rate on the pandemic peaks. This study emphasizes the important role of various scenarios in these intervention strategies in curtailing the burden of COVID-19.

Nexus of regional integration, socioeconomic determinants and sustainable development in belt and road initiative countries.

This study evaluates the nexus of regional integration, socioeconomic determinants and sustainable development (SD) by investigating the effect of health, humans and age structure on sustainable development, with the regional integration (RI) as the moderating variable. Socioeconomic determinants have an important role in sustainable development, while regional integration has fueled up the development process. The sample is based on 64 Belt and Road (BRI) countries from 2003-2018. Pair-wise correlation results indicate that human development, health expenditure and age structure showed a positive relationship with sustainable development. Two-step System-GMM direct effect outcomes are mixed and reveal that human development, health expenditure per capita, age structure, governance index and population size have a positive impact on sustainable development. On the other hand, e-government, government size, and globalization showed negative effects on SD. Apart from that, the moderating channel of regional integration (RI), interaction term with human development and health expenditure, showed a significant and positive impact on sustainable development. However, age structure interaction with regional integration showed a negative impact on SD. Other socio-economic factors, i.e., governance index and population contribute positively towards SD. It can be concluded that the dynamic nature of sustainable development is positive and the net present value is increasing. Therefore, BRI countries are on the sustainable path from 2003-2018, as suggested by economic and social welfare theory. The integration of BRI can be labeled as an entrance to successful sustainable development. However, weak e-government systems, globalization and government resources need to be utilized amicably in Belt and Road countries. Driscoll-Kraay standard-errors regression confirmed and validated the two-step System-GMM results. The findings of the current research have important policy implications for balanced and sustainable growth.

Moderating the effect of globalization on financial development, energy consumption, human capital, and carbon emissions: evidence from G20 countries.

The policy debate on the financial development and dynamic of carbon dioxide (CO2) emission is topical. Globalization can affect this relationship by making financial investments in green energy and environment-friendly technology, as environmental sustainability is the primary concern for modern society. This study proposes a newly formulated conceptual framework to explore globalization's moderating role on exoplanetary variables (financial development, energy consumption, human capital, and gross domestic product) and CO2 emission. We employed Fixed Effect Ordinary Least Squares (FE-OLS), Driscoll-Kraay standard error approach (D-K), and Dumitrescu and Hurlin's (2012) panel causality test. Our sample of the study comprised full and subsamples of G20 countries (excluding the European Union) from 1986 to 2018. The results indicated that financial development and human capital decreased carbon emissions, while GDP and energy consumption substantially increased carbon emissions during the study time. Further, globalization moderated the positive impact of financial development and human development on carbon emissions. A sustainable environmental agenda is achieved by a stronger financial system, encouraging green finance, and including technical education that improves production efficiency. However, globalization moderated the negative impact of energy consumption and GDP on carbon emission. Besides, we also reported the bidirectional causal relationship of GDP to energy consumption. Our empirical research provides new insights for policymakers and governments to formulate country-based policies to protect environmental quality while achieving sustainable economic goals.

Landfill site selection by integrating fuzzy logic, AHP, and WLC method based on multi-criteria decision analysis.

Rapid population growth integrated with poor governance and urban planning is highly challenging resulting key for the selection of unsuitable landfill sites, particularly in developing counties. Therefore, the aim of this study is to investigate the suitable solid waste landfill sites in the capital of the country as a case study, by the integration of Geographical Information System (GIS) with fuzzy logic, analytical hierarchy process (AHP), and weighted linear combination (WLC) method based on multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM). We chose thirteen (13) criteria (9 factors and 4 constraints) and grouped them into two main categories (environmental and socioeconomic) to achieve the objectives. The AHP was employed to evaluate the relative importance of the factors followed by standardization of criteria factors based on fuzzy set theory. Subsequently, all criteria factors were combined based on AHP and fuzzy logic-WLC method in order to obtain land suitability map. Finally, the sites were identified by the intersection of two combined suitability index layers. The obtained results depicted that the integration of fuzzy logic, AHP, and WLC technique with GIS can produce satisfactory results for the suitable locations of solid waste landfill sites over complex topographic regions. Overall, the land suitability obtained based on fuzzy-WLC is more refined and smooth because of its better segregation and its potential to consider full tradeoff between factors and average risk. The AHP was identified (47 km2) as high suitable while fuzzy-WLC generated 36 km2 as suitable area. Finally, the intersection of both suitability index map shows numerous suitable landfill sites available in Islamabad city; however, the surface areas of the sites are small at individual level (less than 15 ha).

Industrial growth and CO2 emissions in Vietnam: the key role of financial development and fossil fuel consumption.

The increase in greenhouse gas emission has a major global issue, catching the attention of the researcher and policymakers around the world. The combustion of fossil fuel is the main cause of the rising greenhouse gas emission particularly in developing countries including Vietnam. Meanwhile, the purpose of the study is to evaluate the linkage between fossil fuel consumption, financial development, industrial progression, and CO2 emission over the period from 1970 to 2019, particularly in Vietnam. The study applied the ARDL econometric technique and Bayer-Hanck cointegration approach with structural break to confirm long run relationship and the EKC hypothesis between industrial growth and CO2 emission, in Vietnam, which assume the U-shaped link between CO2 emission and industrial growth in Vietnam. Which further confirmed by Lind and Mehlum U test in addition, the Granger causality exists between fossil fuel consumption and CO2 emission in both short run and long run. The causal relationship is unidirectional in the short run running from fossil fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emission; therefore, the study proposed to adopt low-carbon emission technology.

Financial Socialization, Childhood Experiences and Financial Well-Being: The Mediating Role of Locus of Control.

The present study evaluates an empirical model of financial well-being (FWB) based on early childhood consumer experiences (ECCE) and financial socialization (FS). FWB is the overall satisfaction with one's current financial situation, and that plays a vital role in the overall success and helps to overcome psychological health issues among adults. The results of the study suggested that ECCE has a significant direct effect on the FWB among adults. Moreover, FS agents such as peers harm the financial well-being of the adults. The results also revealed that financial locus of control (LOC) mediates the relationship between FS agents such as parents, teachers, and FWB. Surprisingly, FS agent peers and ECCE do not affect the FWB of adults when LOC works as a mediator. Possibly, when adults socialize more with parents and teachers, they often disregard the role of peers. Adults' belief and confidence in their skills are vital in explaining the above relationships. Educationists and practitioners should focus on improving discussions with parents and teachers about the financial matters that result in improvements in financial well-being. The present study also provides theoretical and practical implications for adults, parents, and policymakers.

The nexus between capital structure, firm-specific factors, macroeconomic factors and financial performance in the textile sector of Pakistan.

The study aimed to analyse the role of the capital structure in the financial performance of 90 textile firms listed in Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) during the period 2008-2017. The dependent variable was return on equity as a proxy for financial performance. The independent variables were the debt to equity, total debt to total assets, asset turnover ratios, sales growth, taxation, and export growth, while the firm size was taken as a control variable. The panel regression estimation technique was employed for analysis purposes, and both cross-sectional and time-series data were collected for this study. This study used the random-effect regression estimation model based on the Hausman diagnostic test statistics. The results indicate that the capital structure debt to equity variable has a negative and significant relationship with financial performance while the asset turnover ratio and firm performance showed a negative and statistically insignificant relationship. Export growth and sales growth have a considerable positive connection with financial performance; however, firm size has a negative and significant impact on firm performance, in favour of our alternative research hypothesis. The remaining variables include tax payable and the total debt to total assets ratio, which have an insignificant connection with financial performance (ROE) and validate the agency theory. With better corporate governance by putting more pressure on managers or increasing managerial ownership, institutional investors can reduce the capital, leverage risk and the overall firm capital cost that help to improve the firm's financial performance and economic stability.

Characterization of inheritance and preliminary biochemical mechanisms of spirotetramat resistance in Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley: An economic pest from Pakistan.

Phenacoccus solenopsis is an economically important insect pest of different agronomic and horticultural field crops. In Pakistan, the cotton crop was severely attacked by P. solenopsis during 2007 and since then a varied group of insecticides are used by farmers to manage this pest. As a result, insecticide resistance has become a barrier in control of P. solenopsis. The current study was designed to explore the basics of genetics, realized heritability and possible genetic mechanisms of resistance against spirotetramat in P. solenopsis. Before selection, the wild population (Wild-Pop) showed 5.97-fold resistance when compared with lab-reared susceptible strain (Susceptible Lab-Pop). The P. solenopsis was selected with spirotetramat to 21 generations, called Spiro-SEL Pop, which showed 463.21-fold resistance as compared with the Susceptible Lab-Pop. The values of LC50 for F1 (Spiro-SEL Pop ♂ × Susceptible Lab-Pop ♀) and F1 (Spiro-SEL Pop ♀ × Susceptible Lab-Pop ♂) populations were statistically similar and values of dominance level were 0.42 and 0.54, respectively. Reciprocal crosses between Susceptible Lab-Pop and Spiro-SEL Pop showed that resistance was of autosomal in nature with incomplete dominant traits. According to the fit test, monogenic model estimation of the number of genes, which are responsible for the development of spirotetramat resistance in a population of P. solenopsis, showed that multiple genes are involved in controlling the resistance levels in tested strains of P. solenopsis. The value of heritability for resistance against spirotetramat was 0.13 in P. solenopsis. Our results suggested the presence of a metabolic-based resistance mechanism associated with the monooxygenases in P. solenopsis, while testing the synergism mechanism. These results will provide the baseline to design an effective control strategy to manage P. solenopsis in the field.