We report undoped and Ni-doped TiO 2 (x Ni = 0.00, 0.50, 1.00, 1.50, 2.00 and 2.50 wt.%) thin films fabricated on glass substrates by using a combination of solid-state reaction and dip coating techniques. The structural properties are observed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), which have depicted that annealing at 650 • C results in rutile Ni-doped TiO 2 as a major phase along with a minor anatase phase. The surface morphology of the deposited thin films, as measured by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), indicates granular spherical shaped nanostructures. Room-temperature ferromagnetism (RTFM) has been illustrated by all the grown thin films, as elucidated by vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). Although Ni content has no pronounced effect on the crystallinity that indicates a substitutional replacement of Ni in TiO 2 lattice, however, Ni content is observed to influence the ferromagnetic behavior. Therefore, the present study signifies the potential spintronic applications of Ni-doped TiO 2 diluted magnetic semiconductors, fabricated by a low-cost method, as it exhibits RTFM with nanograins at the surface.

BACKGROUND: Performance management is pivotal in determining employee outcomes. Firms may face undesired consequences in the absence of an impartial and fair performance appraisal system. Organizational justice theory predicts the negative outcomes of performance appraisal politics that the study examines in the form of mediating and outcome variables. OBJECTIVES: There is a paucity of research regarding the impact of justice/fairness perceptions on employee outcomes in the performance appraisal context. Therefore, the study examines the effect of performance appraisal politics on deviant work behavior with the mediating role of job satisfaction. METHODS: Survey data were collected from 309 employees of banks through a likert type scale questionnaire. Structural equation modeling was used to test the model. RESULTS: The results show that performance appraisal politics is positively related to deviant work behaviors. The mediating role of job satisfaction in the relationship is also substantiated. CONCLUSIONS: The findings confirm the view of organizational justice theory regarding the negative impact of performance appraisal politics. The findings also highlight the need to design effective interventions to mitigate the negative effects of such politics. The study provides fresh insight into the dynamics of the interplay between performance appraisal politics, job satisfaction and deviant work behaviors.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of A1 and A2 subgroups of blood group A in healthy blood donors of northern Pakistan. Study Design: Cross sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Armed Forces Institute of Transfusion, Rawalpindi Pakistan, from Sep to Dec 2017. Methodology: The blood samples of donors reported during the study period at Armed Forces Institute of Transfusion were collected. ABO typing was performed and those in group A and AB were further subtyped using anti-A1 lectin and thus the individuals were labelled as A1 (and A1B) or A2 (and A2B). The serum of individuals with groups A2 and A2B was tested for anti-A1 based on the reaction with A1 red cells. Results: Out of total 4485 donors, 1116 (24.88%) were of blood group A and 422 (9.41%) individuals were of AB group. Out of 146 (13.08%) individuals among 1116 blood group A donors were of subgroup A2. While out of 422 of blood group AB, 80 (18.95%) were A2B. 21 (14.38%) out of 146 individuals of A2 blood group, had anti-A1 antibody while among 80 individuals with A2B blood group only 2 (2.50%) had anti-A1 antibody in their serum. Conclusion: Blood group A2 is quite prevalent in our population. Although anti-A1 is present in significant fraction of A2 blood group individuals, the routine testing is not needed to identify the A2 group and cross match compatibility is the only requirement as anti-A1 is rarely active at 37° C.

Black Drongo is an insectivorous bird native to Pakistan. The present study focused on its feeding preferences, behaviour, ecology and habitat relationships. The study was carried out from first week of December, 2019 to the second week of April, 2020 in the two villages of Rawalpindi named as Daultala (Location-I) and Nata Gujarmall (Location-II). Observations were made by point count method on foot using line transect method. Air (52.27%) was the most commonly used feeding substrate. Aerial feeding mode (52.27%) is preferred over plant or tree gleaning (n=58) and ground feeding (n=47). Most common perching site was man made obstacle, wire (37.72%). Thirteen indigenous tree species and two exotic trees including Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus camaldulensis) and Bottle brush (Callistemon citrinus) were used as perching site by Black Drongo throughout the study. Black Drongo remained solitary (36.36%) during feeding rituals and shared (63.63%) its intimate habitat with other birds. At Location-I and Location-II, habitat was shared with 12 and 16 bird species, respectively. The mean time of prey capturing attempt was lower at Location-I (1.93±0.17 min) than Location-II (2.16±0.16 min). The time range of prey capturing attempt was (0.1±0.16 min) to (11.5±0.17 min). Black Drongo captured prey successfully by first attempt (59.54%), maximum attempts noted were 6. After preying attempts Black Drongo came back to same perch site (67.27%); which is a representative of resource abundance.