Self-disclosure on social networking sites (SNSs) leads to social capital development, connectedness, and relationship building. Due to several benefits associated with this behavior, self-disclosure has become a subject of research over the last few years. The current study investigates the antecedents of self-disclosure under the lens of the technology acceptance model (TAM). The research is quantitative, and the data were collected from 400 Pakistani Facebook users with a variety of demographic characteristics. The partial least squares-structural equation model (PLS-SEM) analysis technique was employed to analyze the data. The study′s findings confirmed that perceived usefulness is a strong predictor of personal information sharing, and it along with other variables causes a 31% variation in self-disclosure behavior. However, trust (medium and social) mediates the relationshipof perceived usefulness, privacy concerns, and self-disclosure behavior.

Zinc is a micronutrient that plays a role in immune system strengthening and regulation of intestinal epithelial cells, and can reduce the duration and severity of diarrhoea. We conducted a systematic review of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) to assess the effectiveness of zinc compared to no zinc for the management of acute and persistent diarrhoea in children. We searched PubMed, the Cochrane Library, Scopus, CINAHL, ClinicalTrials.gov, and World Health Organization (WHO) International Clinical Trials Registry Platform from inception until 31 July 2023 for studies published from year 2000 onwards that assessed the use of zinc in the management of acute and persistent diarrhoea in children aged less than 10 years. We conducted the meta-analysis in Cochrane’s RevMan software, determined risk of bias in individual studies using the Risk of Bias 2 (RoB 2) tool, and assessed the quality of evidence through the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach. This review was commissioned by the WHO for revision of their guidelines for childhood diarrhoea management. We included 38 RCTs in this systematic review. Our findings suggest that, in children with acute diarrhoea, zinc supplementation resulted in a greater proportion of children who recovered from diarrhoea at last follow-up (risk ratio (RR) = 1.07; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.03, 1.1; moderate certainty of evidence) and a reduction in the duration of diarrhoea (mean difference (MD) = −13.27 hours; 95% CI = −17.66, −8.89; moderate certainty of evidence) when compared to placebo. A significant number of children in the zinc group compared to placebo experienced vomiting (RR = 1.46; 95% CI = 1.22, 1.76; moderate certainty of evidence), however, there were few vomiting episodes in low-dose zinc group compared to high-dose (RR = 0.80; 95% CI = 0.72, 0.89; moderate certainty of evidence). In children with persistent diarrhoea, zinc supplementation led to a greater proportion of children who recovered from diarrhoea (RR = 1.75; 95% CI = 1.34, 2.30; low certainty of evidence). The low certainty of evidence ratings were mostly due to high heterogeneity among the studies. Zinc should continue to be recommended in children under the age of 10 years with acute or persistent diarrhoea, but moderate certainty of evidence concludes that the dose of zinc should be reduced. However, further multi-country randomised clinical trials are required with a direct comparison to assess the appropriate dosage, duration and adverse effects. PROSPERO: CRD42023439028.

Diarrhoeal diseases are the second leading cause of morbidity and mortality in children under five, accounting for an estimated 370 000 deaths in 2019 worldwide [1]. Most childhood diarrhoeal cases and the associated morbidity and mortality occur in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Children in these nations experience, on average, three diarrhoeal episodes every year [1], […]

Selected volumes of the Pakistan Development Review (PDR) and the Pakistan Economic and Social Review (PESR) were analysed to find the citation pattern of their articles. Eight volumes of each journal were selected, two volumes representing a decade. The results revealed that the PDR has been the most cited journal. The mean score of citations per article remained insignificantly different in the two core journals. More than 50 per cent of the citations from both journals were single‐authored. More than 50 per cent of the citations were from non‐journal sources, mainly books. Although citations from online sources were seen, it was a negligible number. About 47 per cent of the total citations of the PDR were up to five years old compared with the citations of the PESR, where only 25 per cent fell into this category. Most of the authors used foreign books as citations. There is a significant similarity in the top most cited journals in both cases. Most of the frequently cited journals were from the USA.

Report on a survey of alumni of the Pakistan Library Association’s Computer Training Center in Lahore to determine the impact of the Certificate in Library Automation (CLA) on librarianship in Pakistan. The survey provided information on: the profile of the respondents; their participation in computer training before and after taking the CLA; the impact of their training on their success in job seeking; their access to and use of computers; their participation in library automation projects and other auto-mation related activities; and suggestions regarding further courses and the improvement of the Training Centre. The results showed that the courses were attended mainly by comparatively young professional librarians, most of whom were working in Lahore. Their computer training contributed a lot to their success in getting new jobs. Most of them had access to computer facilities in their offices and use them daily, and have participated significantly in automation activities in their libraries. Many also applied their computing knowledge in writing books, articles, delivering lectures and providing consultancy services. Many suggestions were made for improving the courses.

Diarrhoea, a persistent global health concern, is defined as the passage of three or more loose or liquid stools per day or an increase in stool frequency [1]. This condition significantly impacts children under the age of five in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and is responsible for approximately 11% of annual child deaths in […]