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New Zealand (NZ) construction industry suffers from negative implications of disputes in construction projects similar to any other country. Hence, the importance of avoiding disputes has become a vital topic to discuss and research. Avoiding disputes in construction projects has always been challenging, and very few studies have addressed this area and none have investigated possible pre-contract steps to avoid potential disputes in the New Zealand construction industry. To address this research gap, this study has been designed, and it has only been limited to construction projects in NZ that followed the traditional procurement path. Fourteen professionals in the NZ construction industry with significant experience and knowledge in construction disputes were interviewed, and the data gathered was analysed qualitatively. 84 Pre-contract measures to avoid potential construction related disputes have been identified under 5 themes (themes of causes of disputes). The most responsible party/parties and most applicable pre-contract stage/s for each dispute avoidance step has also been presented. Clarity & communication, risk management, proper documentation & standardization, review & continuous improvements and collaboration are the main underlying  characteristics of the identified avoidance measures. Amongst the identified avoidance measures, clear scope documentation and expectation management meetings were mostly highlighted by the respondents. The proposed dispute avoidance measures could be useful for Principals, tenderers, and consultants in NZ in avoiding potential disputes. Moreover, this study has paved further research paths to investigate dispute avoidance strategies for other procurement paths (other than traditional procurement path) and to further study on practically workable ways of documenting the construction scope clearly.           

Behind every statistic lies a patient, a family, and a devastated health system unable to function, say Ameer Ali and colleagues

Purpose The construction industry is complex, human-intensive and driven by monetary values. Hence, disputes are widespread. Initial conflicts among parties may develop into a disastrous dispute that costs the project success and good relationships and affects stakeholders' expectations. There has been a focus on causes of construction-related disputes, and studies over the past three decades have attempted to identify a more comprehensive list of reasons for disputes. Some of these studies' limitations were geographical, project delivery methods and project types. The purpose of this study is to identify the most recent and conclusive list of causes of disputes based on current literature by undertaking a systematic literature review (SLR). Design/methodology/approach Considering the large number of studies that focused on causes of disputes, this study aims to develop a comprehensive list of causes, using a SLR, as it ensures that all previous articles in multiple databases are reviewed to produce a comprehensive outcome. A six-stage SLR was followed from background study to analysis and reporting. Findings Not surprisingly, the number of publications has increased over time, most from the Middle East region. The interconnected nature of the causes was widely emphasised. The SLR has produced eight common core causes of disputes. They are: poor contractual arrangements, employer-initiated scope changes, unforeseen site changes, poor contract understanding and administration, contractor’s quality of works, the inability of the contractor to achieve time targets, non- or delayed payments and poor quality of design. The majority of previous authors realised that disputes could be avoided by parties’ involvement during the early stages, avoiding being opportunistic and acting collaboratively. Originality/value Even though numerous studies have been carried out to identify the causes of disputes in the construction industry, none did a SLR. This study aggregates all the previous studies that focused on construction-related disputes systematically. Categorising causes based on the party primarily responsible help various stakeholders by providing a distinct list of factors to avoid that contribute to disputes.

This review reports the effects of yttrium (Y) on the physicochemical characteristics of tin(II) dioxide (SnO2) nanoparticles (NPs), which were efficiently synthesized via a simple hydrothermal chemical route with different doping concentrations (0, 2 and 4 at%) of Y. The structural, optical and photocatalytic properties of the as-prepared Y-doped SnO2 (Y:SnO2) NPs were investigated, and the results are described. X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies showed that the undoped and Y:SnO2 NPs had a fine crystalline texture with a tetragonal structure and particle size range of 27–15 nm, although the size decreased with Y doping. High-resolution scanning electron microscopy (HRSEM) morphological analysis revealed spherical NPs forming agglomerates. Optical absorption was investigated by UV-visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, and showed a redshift in bandgap energy for Y3+-doped SnO2 NPs, and photoluminescence spectroscopy revealed the most intense emission peaks in the visible light region. Enhanced photocatalytic activity was observed for the doped samples, and the 4% Y:SnO2 NPs exhibited excellent photodegradation of methylene blue aqueous (MB) dye in visible light, demonstrating 92.34% degradation in 180 min. The other photocatalysts also demonstrated greater than 85% photodegradation efficiency and high stability, with no significant reduction in activity observed after five cycles. The results indicate that the superoxide (·O2−) radical, a key reactive species, played a vital role in the degradation of aqueous MB dye. The probable photocatalytic mechanism of the Y:SnO2 NPs was thoroughly investigated.

Background Faith healing at Sufi shrines holds enduring cultural and spiritual significance in Pakistan. Despite advancements in biomedical healthcare, many individuals, particularly in rural and underserved areas, continue to seek healing through shrine-based practices. This persistence reflects a complex integration of spirituality with health-seeking behavior, influenced by cultural beliefs, socioeconomic constraints, and limited access to formal healthcare services. This study investigates the socio-demographic and economic factors influencing visitation to the Makhdoom Sakhi Syedi Mossani shrine, explores the motivations behind faith healing, and examines the ceremonial and symbolic practices employed in the healing process. Methods We used an exploratory qualitative design based on grounded theory principles. We conducted in-depth interviews (IDIs), focus group discussions (FGDs), and participant observation with purposively selected shrine visitors. The FGDs and IDIs were conducted in the local language, Urdu, using a semi-structured interview guide and were audio-recorded with the participants' consent. Data collection continued until thematic saturation was achieved and was subsequently analyzed using NVivo software version 14. Data analysis was conducted using a consensual approach to identify themes and sub-themes. Results Ten IDIs and Four FGDs with a diverse group of participants, including native residents, visitors, devotees, caretakers, religious leaders, and key informants. This diversity allowed us to capture a well-rounded understanding of the phenomenon under investigation. Faith healing practices were found to be shaped by an interplay of factors, including low educational attainment, economic hardship, cultural belief systems, and distrust or inaccessibility of formal medical care. Participants frequently employed mixed treatment approaches, combining biomedical and spiritual practices. Conclusion Shrine-based faith healing in rural Pakistan reflects a culturally embedded, pragmatic response to economic hardship, healthcare inaccessibility, and spiritual belief systems. Rather than opposing biomedicine, such practices represent adaptive strategies where spiritual and medical approaches coexist. These findings highlight the need for culturally responsive healthcare interventions that integrate spiritual worldviews with improved access to formal services. The study underscores the need for culturally responsive health interventions that respect traditional belief systems while promoting accessible and effective medical care, particularly for marginalized populations.

Purpose This research aims to explore how racist language in service interactions in the health and education sectors affects service consumers belonging to the Sheedi community in Pakistan’s Sindh province. This research questions the use of racist language and proposes the use of inclusive language in service sectors to reduce the discrimination the Sheedi community faces because of such racist language. Design/methodology/approach This empirical study takes place in the health and education sectors in Sindh province. Using a qualitative and narrative approach, this study categorizes Sheedi service consumers’ personal experiences to gain deep and holistic insights into the racist language used in service interactions and proposes the use of inclusive language. Findings Findings demonstrate how some non-Sheedis used racist language against the Sheedi service consumers in the health and education sectors, and how such racist language was influenced by class consciousness and gender bias. Inclusive language, which emphasizes professional lexicon, culturally appropriate terminology, gender-neutral vocabulary and other socially acceptable terms, was proposed to be used in the service interactions with Sheedi service consumers. Originality/value This study makes a conceptual contribution to existing literature on the use of language in service interactions and documents how the Sheedi community is treated in Pakistan’s Sindh province. This research can help researchers expand research in contexts where the use of racist language hinders progress, while the use of inclusive language can lead to sustainable development of service sectors.

This study investigates the clashing discourses of linguistic human rights in Pakistan’s multilingual Sindh province, where Sindhis are the majority, and English, Urdu, and Sindhi are used as official languages. The Sindhi language activists want Sindhi to be used as the medium of instruction for the first five formative years of education, while many Sindhi parents want their children to be taught in English. Such diverging demands have caused the clash of discourses on linguistic human rights in Sindh. Therefore, by conducting semi-structured interviews of 20 participants, this study investigates why Sindhi language activists and parents hold different views of what constitutes language human rights. Findings demonstrate that the Sindhi language activists’ conceptualization of linguistic human rights emphasizes cultural heritage, ethnic consciousness, and linguistic unity. In contrast, the Sindhi parents’ conceptualization of linguistic human rights focuses on upward social mobility, prestige, and linguistic domination.

In this study, a sustainable filler made from papyrus fiber ash (PFA) is used as a partial cement replacement in hot mix asphalt mixtures (HMA). The replacement levels used are 0, 5, 10, and 15% by weight of ordinary Portland cement. The hot mix asphalt samples were subjected to Marshal volumetric properties (stability, flow, and air voids) and service tests (tensile strength ratio test and immersion compression test) to predict the influence of the used filler modifier on the moisture sensitivity of blended HMA. Best results have been achieved by using 10% of PFA, whereas all the prepared samples with the mentioned percentage of the filler modifier showed a lower sensitivity to moisture in comparison with the control samples, which contained 0% of PFA. The used technique proved to be very efficient in keeping the pavement safe from deformation caused by moisture. At the same time, using sustainable filler materials proved to be an environmentally eco-friendly method.

Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-derived exosomes are recognized a promising cell-free therapy for alopecia. These nano-vesicles facilitate intercellular communication and contain a variety of bioactive molecules that can potentially stimulate hair follicle regeneration. However, the safety and efficacy of exosome therapy for alopecia remains to be determined. This systematic analysis aimed to determine the clinical safety and effectiveness of exosome therapy for hair growth, particularly androgenetic alopecia (AGA) and other forms of hair loss. Systematic searches were conducted on PubMed, Scopus, and Embase databases to find clinical studies published from inception until 10th May 2025 that explored exosome-based interventions for hair loss. Eleven studies included: two RCTs, three retrospective studies, three prospective single-arm studies, one case series, and two case reports. Extracted data included method of preparation, outcomes of hair regrowth (density, thickness, patient satisfaction), and side effects. Quality of evidence was assessed using the Oxford Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine (OCEBM) levels and risk of bias tools (RoB 2 and ROBINS-I). All the studies included demonstrated improvements in at least one hair parameter, with MSC-derived exosomes from adipose tissue, placenta, hair follicles, bone marrow, foreskin, and umbilical cord having substantial increases in hair density (9.5 to 35 hairs/cm²) and hair thickness (up to 13.01 µm). Patient satisfaction was generally high (3-10 point scales), and no serious adverse events were noted. The greatest level of evidence came from RCTs with adipose- and plant extract-derived exosome formulation. However, heterogeneity in design and outcome limited direct comparisons. Exosome therapy, particularly with MSC-derived sources, appears to be a new and safe treatment modality for hair restoration in AGA and other alopecias. The current evidence is, however, limited by heterogeneity in studies, small sample sizes, and varying follow-up durations. More well-standardized, high-quality RCTs are required to confirm these findings and establish standardized treatment protocols.

The longing to recapture the glorious past of Islam is almost universal in the Muslim world. An accurate diagnosis of failed experiences in the past and a methodology to exploit any emerging opportunities are essential to achieve this objective. An opportunity arose in the recent past that should have been thoughtfully utilised in this venture. How and why did the Muslim world squandered that opportunity and what are the consequences? Is a return to the past glory ever possible?