Ultrasound processing has emerged as a promising non-thermal technology capable of modifying milk protein structure and enhancing functional properties. This study evaluated the effect of different sonication durations on the physicochemical, rheological, microbiological, and sensory properties of buffalo milk yogurt during 14 days of refrigerated storage. Buffalo milk was subjected to probe ultrasonication for 0 (control), 5, 10, 15, and 20 min prior to yogurt manufacture. Yogurt samples were analyzed at 0, 7, and 14 days for compositional parameters (moisture, protein, fat, ash), pH, titratable acidity, syneresis, water-holding capacity (WHC), apparent viscosity, rheological parameters (consistency coefficient and flow behavior index), total viable counts, and sensory attributes. Data were analyzed using two-way ANOVA (p < 0.05). Sonication significantly improved the structural and rheological properties of yogurt (p < 0.05). Syneresis decreased from 32.23

Microorganisms capable of survival in extremely high salt concentration are termed as halophiles and a significant source of various enzymes such as hydrolases. Many hydrolases e.g., proteases, amylases and lipases are widely employed in industrial applications. In the current study, we isolated, screened and characterized halophilic bacteria from the shoreline of Arabian Sea, Karachi Port, Pakistan. The water and soil samples collected from Karachi Port; Pakistan were tested for the presence of halophilic bacteria using increasing salt concentrations. Isolated strains were described using various biochemical assays i.e., KOH production, ammonia production, catalase activity, and oxidase activity. For amylase and protease activity, formation of clearance zones – around bacterial growth – was observed, on starch and gelatin agar plates, respectively. Two bacterial strains, N20 (PQ460959) and M3 (PQ460960), with notable amylase and protease activities, were identified via 16S rRNA sequencing as Halobacillus salinus and Halobacillus fulvus, respectively. Further exploration of saline environments is crucial for discovering microbiota with potential applications in biotechnology and environmental remediation.

Background: The problem of antimicrobial resistance in foodborne bacteria has become an increasing threat to the world as antibiotics no longer have an effect on the infections. Objective: The aim of this study was to identify antibiotic resistance genes and class 1 integrons in bacterial isolates of the raw meat and milk samples of Lahore in Pakistan. Methods: Meat and milk samples were collected and processed by means of serial dilution and biochemical identification to obtain nineteen ampicillin-resistant bacterial strains. The test was done on five antibiotics according to CLSI guidelines against cefixime, nitrofurantoin, tobramycin, doxycycline, and imipenem. PCR amplification and sequencing were done to determine resistance genes (IntI1, tetA, strA) and the phylogeny analysis was done with MEGA6 software. PCR and AST results were validated by positive (IntI1-positive E. coli) and negative (ATCC 25922) controls. Result: Class 1 integrons (IntI1) was found in 57.8% of the isolates frequently along with tetA and strA genes. The majority (95%) of the isolates were resistant to three or more antibiotic classes. Homology of IntI1 gene sequences was also found to be very close with the XerC superfamily of integrases and was deposited in the NCBI database bank by the accession numbers MK894883, MK894885, MK894884 for strains C6/M4/M7 respectively. This was further done by detecting and amplifying tetracycline resistance gene in strain C6 (MN746283). Conclusion: The study shows the presence of class 1 integrons and resistance genes in ampicillin resistant bacterial isolates of food sources in Lahore. These findings, however, are indicators of resistance gene presence and not prevalence of the population at large because the isolates were already selected in advance based on their antibiotic resistance. There is an immediate necessity in improved food safety and antimicrobial stewardship.

The advent of plastic pollution demands innovative solutions minimizing their long-lasting environmental effects while remaining unobtrusive in everyday use of plastics. This study describes LDPE bioconversion to biodegradable PHA. Extremophiles from oil-fields, landfill, tannery and marina samples were screened and two promising strains PWF; Bacillus subtilis (PQ608828) and P23; Priestia flexa (PQ609274) were identified via 16S rRNA gene sequencing. During initial LDPE bioconversion studies, at 48 h strain PWF produced similar to 50% PHA (0.347 g/L), strain P23 produced similar to 37% PHA (0.361 g/L) while co-culture produced similar to 17.303% (0.12 g/L) PHA. Process optimization through adjustment of C/N ratio, K+ salt modification and Ca addition enhanced PHA yield. Subsequently, integration of biomass removal and substrate addition strategies paved the way for viable long-term (32 wk) LDPE bioconversion to PHA. Strain P23 produced similar to 78% PHA throughout with similar to 83.20% LDPE biodegraded at the end of study. Strain PWF showed similar to 80% PHA production with 84.18% LDPE degradation. Co-culture also showed significant PHA yield (similar to 78%) with 82.67% LDPE biodegradation. SEM revealed presence of microscopic brakes and crevices indicating the surface-dependent biodegradation. TEM confirmed presence of intracellular PHA granules while FT-IR spectra exhibited signature ester carbonyl peaks (similar to 1720 cm-1) while AFM imaging highlighted notable surface topology variations between PHA derived during glucose metabolism and LDPE bioconversion. Through integration of green circular economy practices with waste valorization, this study presents sustainable route for plastic pollution mitigation. Future studies be directed toward scaling up microbial bioconversion through omics approaches for insights into metabolic pathways driving LDPE bioconversion.

Ensuring access to safe drinking water remains a significant public health challenge in developing countries. This study systematically investigates coliform contamination in Lahore's municipal water supply, examining its public health implications, correlation with waterborne disease symptoms, and public perception of water quality. A systematic sampling approach was employed across 381 locations to assess water quality, with water samples analyzed for coliforms and Escherichia coli contamination. Coliform contamination was detected in several areas, including Chungi Amar Sidhu, Charar, Kirianwala, Kharas Mohalla, Shareefpura, Mustafaabad, and Kot Khawaja Saeed. To enhance data robustness, focused case studies with larger sample sizes were conducted in identified hotspots. The average coliform concentration and the percentage of affected households varied significantly across locations, with Shareefpura (3941.4 CFU/ml) and Mustafaabad (1668.2 CFU/ml) exhibiting the highest contamination levels. Mustafaabad also had the highest percentage of affected households (60.3%). Public perception of water quality varied significantly across areas, generally aligning with contamination levels. A Chi-Square Test for Independence showed a significant association between location and public perception (χ2 = 180.7, df = 20, P < 0.0001). Spearman's Rank Correlation revealed a moderate negative correlation between contamination and perception scores, suggesting that sensory cues and historical knowledge influence perception. This study provides critical insights for public health interventions and urban water management policies, highlighting the need for systematic water quality monitoring, infrastructure upgrades, and community awareness programs to mitigate public health risks associated with microbial contamination in urbanizing regions.

Background. Low-density polyethylene (LDPE) is a widely used plastic. A 4-5% annual increase in plastic usage has been observed since the 1960s. Once coined as a ‘‘magic material’’ for its resilience, flexibility, and affordability, plastic has now become an environmental threat due to its severe ecological burden, persistent nature, and non-degradability. The non-degradation of plastic is a major concern in this growing plastic world. The current study investigates the bacterial growth dynamics to degrade LDPE using it as the only carbon source. The bacteria’s potential to grow in stressed environments enhances their bioremediation ability. Methods. Four different types of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria were isolated from the landfill soil sample. After initial screening using the Sherman Manual, bacterial strains were grown in an enriched medium and LDPE was added after pretreatment with UV and ethanol. Results. At the start, no degradation was observed; gradually, the plastic started to degrade. Ultimately, almost 35% of degradation was observed after 60 days of incubation. Various parameters were also studied, including the light microscopic analysis, pH measurement, optical density, and FTIR analysis. During the experiment, the pH decreased, which caused an increase in the metabolic activity of bacteria. As a result of this high metabolic activity, an increase in the optical density of bacteria was observed. Holes were observed in the plastic sheet under the microscope after incubation. Peaks of 1150 cm-1 and 1870 cm-1 were observed in LDPE in the FTIR analysis after incubation in the bacterial consortia. Conclusion. This study reveals the desired/positive effect of bacterial consortia on plastic degradation. Hence, this method can be used to reduce environmental pollution.

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), produced by bacteria, emerging as a promising green biopolymer, offering a sustainable alternative to conventional plastics because of their prompt biodegradability and biocompatibility. A total of six PHA-producing bacterial strains were isolated and cultured individually and synergistically using glucose and agricultural waste (fruit peels). They were identified as Ochrobactrum sp., Pseudomonas putida, Bacillus halotolerans, Bacillus amyloliqueficians, Halomonas salina, and Pannonibacter phragmitetus. The strains produced the highest PHA percentage of 61.65% when cultured in monocultures using glucose and 46.12% with agricultural waste. When cultured synergistically, the PHA percentage came out to be 69% and 62% using glucose and agricultural waste, respectively. Transmission electron microscopic analysis confirmed their linear and centralized presence intracellularly. Fourier transfer infrared and nuclear magnetic resonance analyses confirmed the presence of carbonyl groups and the formation of the copolymer 3PHB-co-3PHV by mixed bacterial cultures utilizing agricultural waste. Furthermore, atomic force microscopy revealed a more uniform surface morphology produced from agricultural waste with maximum profile height as 21.37 nm as compared to glucose which is 71.23 nm. Enhancing PHA production through mixed bacterial cultures offers a promising and sustainable approach for converting agricultural waste into valuable biopolymers.

Chromium, a hazardous and carcinogenic substance, is widely used in multiple industries. Its global presence is increasing, posing a significant risk to living organisms can be addressed with bioremediation. The current research examined the effects of chromate stress on exopolysaccharide (EPS) production capabilities of indigenous Cr (VI) resistant bacterial strains AKR2, UT25, LM3, UT8, NY2 and LM8. These strains demonstrated a marked increase in EPS production when cultured in Luria-Bertani (LB) broth under Cr (VI) stress (1500 mu g/mL). The total protein and carbohydrate content of extracted EPS significantly elevated in response to Cr (VI) exposure. Characterization of extracted EPS through Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) revealed a highly intricate composition in all strains. Optimization of EPS production revealed 37 degrees C and pH 7 optimized physiological conditions through a one-variable-at-a-time strategy. Most strains showed enhanced exopolymer production with yeast extract and glucose as the sole source of nitrogen and carbon in presence of Cr (VI) stress (1000 mu g/mL). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images of EPS from chromate treated strains indicated a dense assembly of cells enveloped by an EPS matrix. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) of strain UT25 illustrated the role of EPS in remediation of Cr (VI).

Polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) aliphatic polymers however efficiently biodegradable, still pose a contradiction with the principles of green chemistry. Use of bacterial strains capable of degrading synthetic plastics for the production of biopolymers i.e., PHAs may aid in reduction of plastic pollution. Bacterial strains PWA; Bacillus subtilis (MH142143), PWF; Bacillus tequilensis (MH142145), and PWG; Bacillus safensis (MH142146) were grown on waste shredded PET and PET flakes. Highest bioconversion of PET to PHA was observed using PET flakes. Strain PWF produced 40.47 % (0.815 g/L) and 31.80 % (0.626 g/L) PHA using PET flakes and shredded PET at 48 h, respectively. Whereas highest PHA production (53.67 % PHA; 1.15 g/L) on glucose was obtained from 2.19 g/L CDW at 48 h. FT-IR analysis showed absorptions at known PHA marker bands at 1720.398 cm-1 in PHA sample of strain PWF. Polymer degradation in natural environment (20-week soil burial) was measured in terms of weight loss (decigrams; dg). PHA from Strain PWF showed up to 61 % degradation by weight i.e., from 1.0 dg to 0.391 dg. SEM analysis of degraded polymer films showed presence of cracks, crevices, bumps, and fractures. Bacterial and fungal colonization amidst crevices was also observed. This study provides a cost-and-time economic, green synthesis-based method for reliable repurposing of nondegradable plastic wastes. Focus of subsequent studies can be the role of ambient microbiota during polymer degradation and how it impacts the natural soil environment.

The present study investigated the clinical and hematological effects of chronic lead exposure in the population residing in Shadi Pura, a small industrial zone in Lahore, Pakistan. A cross-sectional analysis of 149 participants recruited through health camps was conducted to explore the hematological manifestations of environmental lead exposure, focusing on various red blood cell (RBC) indices and morphology. Moreover, the study examined the differences in the impact of lead exposure on RBC indices and morphology between men, women, and children. Participants exhibited symptoms of lead poisoning, including fatigue, muscle pain, and headache, with a significant percentage of women (44%) reporting miscarriages. Iron deficiency anemia was highly prevalent among all sub-groups of the study population, with adult females showing a significantly higher prevalence than adult males. Male children were the most affected subgroup, with 93% displaying anemia. The RBC count in children remained unchanged, while 31% of male and 7% of female participants displayed elevated RBC counts. RBC indices, mainly mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), were below normal levels, with children being more affected than adults and adult males being the least affected group. Furthermore, RBC morphology was severely affected, with a considerable proportion of females and children displaying hypochromic microcytic morphology. Our results highlight variations in the hematological impacts of lead exposure in different sex and age cohorts. Overall, our findings underscore the urgency of addressing the issue of environmental lead exposure in similar industrial zones. It is critical to implement appropriate measures to reduce lead exposure and enhance the infrastructure for safe drinking water and waste disposal to protect the health of populations in such areas.

Water and wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) receive various types of microplastics (MPs), with fibers and fragments being dominant shapes. Here we investigated the removal behavior and transformation of MPs (polypropylene and polyethylene terephthalate fibers and fragments) in simulated water and wastewater treatment units, including activated sludge process, coagulation, sand filtration, and advanced oxidation/disinfection. Sand filtration demonstrated the highest average efficiency in removing MPs (98 %), followed by activated sludge process (61 %) and coagulation (55 %), which was associated with their physicochemical properties (shape, size, density, surface functional groups, etc). In activated sludge process and coagulation, the polymer type had a greater impact on the removal of MPs than the particle shape, while in sand filtration, the particle shape played a more important role. When subjected to the long-term operation and backwashing of sand filters, approximately 15 % of the initially filtered fragments broke through the sand media, with nearly no fibers escaping. UV-based advanced oxidation and chlorination induced the leaching of dissolved organic matters with different molecular characteristics from fragment MPs, resulting in varying levels of cytotoxicity and bacterial toxicity. Our study provides important information for predicting the fate of MPs and mitigating their impacts in WWTPs.

Hemodialysis is a process in which the blood is resected using a dialysis apparatus and a specific strainer known as dialyzer. Poor nutritional status is common among hemodialysis patients, but only a few studies are found on how hemodialysis is affected by other factors in the local environment. The aim of this study was to find out hemo-dialysis patients’ nutritional status and the factors that influence it. A total of 100 hemodialysis individuals (50 patients and 50 volunteers) was enrolled in this study. Anthropometry and biochemical assays, as well as nutrition assessments, were used as additional evaluation methods. According to multiple linear regression analysis, malnu-trition is linked to older age, poor and lean body mass, and higher body mass index. Factors, such as interdialytic weight gain, insufficient calorie and protein consumption, and existence of morbidities, are considered along with inflammation. This study was performed at various hospitals of Sargodha district in Pakistan. Various variables of hemodialysis patients’ poor nutritional status are changeable, and these must be considered when developing and implementing effective intervention programs for this vulnerable group. Nutritional health status of hemodialysis patients was evaluated using Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ), concerning multiple factors, such as demographics, anthropometrics, body composition, vital signs, clinical manifestations, dietary intake, edema on the feet, triceps skin fold thickness, mild arm circumference, hand grip strength, and micronutrients. FFQs showed the overall effect of hemodialysis. Further statistical calculations and studies were conducted using SPSS, Minitab 8.1 for descriptive analysis tests for demographic features, and analysis of variance ANOVA.

The soil hosts a wide array of bacterial species capable of producing diverse bioactive compounds. This research aimed to screen bacterial isolates for their bioactive potential from extreme environments in Pakistan. Out of the 69 isolates examined, only 7 exhibited antagonistic activity against Bacillus sp. and Escherichia coli test strains. Notably, the B. cereus DS-2 strain demonstrated the highest antibacterial potential (31 mm and 15 mm) against the Bacillus and E. coli test strains, respectively. Mode-of-action studies suggested that the crude extract might have induced morphological abnormalities in the Bacillus sp. (test strain), causing cell contraction, chain breakage, and deformation. Furthermore, the B. cereus DS-2 strain displayed significant antioxidant potential (64.8

Individuals may experience internal identity asymmetry when they feel misidentified and believe their colleagues do not recognize their work-related identities. This research examines the impact of internal identity asymmetry on their behavior and emotional outcomes at the workplace in Pakistan. Data was collected through a survey and received responses from 393 participants at different levels of management in various sectors of Pakistan. A partial least square-based structural equation modeling technique has been used to validate the proposed research model and develop hypotheses. The findings indicate that psychological distress has a positive indirect effect on both outcomes, such as individual work performance and well-being during personal and professional base asymmetries time. The result indicates that employees face psychological distress while experiencing internal identity asymmetries, which may decrease the performance and well-being of the employees. Findings highlight the importance of coping strategies in improving the performance and well-being of employees. Managers can be supportive in maintaining a positive workplace environment where individuals can have a more accurate self-perception and a better understanding of their colleagues' perspectives. This, in turn, enables them to adopt appropriate coping strategies to enhance both performance and well-being.

In wireless sensor networks (WSNs), sensor nodes are randomly distributed to transmit sensed data packets to the base station periodically. These sensor nodes, because of constrained battery power and storage space, cannot utilize conventional security measures. The widely held challenging issues for the network layer of WSNs are the packet-dropping attacks, mainly sinkhole and wormhole attacks, which focus on the routing pattern of the protocol. This thesis presents an improved version of the second level of the guard to the system, intrusion detection systems (IDSs), to limit the hostile impact of these attacks in a Low Energy Adaptive Clustering Hierarchy (LEACH) environment. The proposed system named multipath intrusion detection system (MIDS) integrates an IDs with ad hoc on-demand Multipath Distance Vector (AOMDV) protocol. The IDS agent uses the number of packets transmitted and received to calculate intrusion ratio (IR), which helps to mitigate sinkhole attacks and from AOMDV protocol round trip time (RTT) is computed by taking the difference between route request and route reply time to mitigate wormhole attack. MATLAB simulation results show that this cooperative model is an effective technique due to the higher packet delivery ratio (PDR), throughput, and detection accuracy. The proposed MIDS algorithm is proven to be more efficient when compared with an existing LEACH-based IDS system and MS-LEACH in terms of overall energy consumption, lifetime, and throughput of the network.

Cellulosic fabric finishing via silver nanoparticles to develop antimicrobial properties and to upsurge its esthetic worth is flourishing in the textile industry. To contribute this research effort, the current project was conducted for the application of starch-embedded stable silver nanoparticles on cotton fabric before and after dyeing using a newly synthesized heterofunctional reactive dye. SEM imaging was used to check the morphological changes in cellulose polymeric structure after silver nanoparticles loading. Interaction between silver nanoparticle finishing and dyeing properties (colorimetric, fastness, and UV protection) of samples was explored and delineated. Silver-loaded cotton samples retained antimicrobial activities even after five laundry actions and pre- and post-dyeing treatment had no significant effect on the antimicrobial activity. Superb color buildup of samples revealed that silver nanoparticles should be applied before dyeing because pre-application of nanoparticles would increase the active surface area of cotton fabric which increased color strength and esthetic quality of fabric. Fastness properties and UPF of dyed cellulosic fabric were improved due to silver nanoparticles finishing. Future perspectives of the current study comprised the application and assessment of dyeing properties of new heterofunctional azo reactive dye on polyester cotton (PC) fabric.

Antibiotics have been found extensively in the environment, particularly in groundwater, sediments, and surface water. The purpose of this study was to isolate and identify antibiotic-resistant bacteria from wastewater collected from sewage (Sher Shah Colony, Raiwind) and an industrial area (Hudiara Drain Gajju Matta) in Lahore. Ten bacterial strains (Z1, Z2, Z3, Z4, Z5, Z6, Z7, Z8, Z9, and Z10) were isolated from the samples. All of these strains were gram-positive. Antibiotic resistance profiling showed that strain Z1 was most resistant to ampicillin (1500 μg/ml) among all of the antibiotics (tetracycline, penicillin, erythromycin, and chloramphenicol) that were tested. A growth curve study revealed that these strains showed constitutive enzyme activity. Exopolysaccharide (EPS) production of strains Z1 and Z3 was 1.34±0.010 g/L and 1.35±0.011 g/L, respectively, under non stress conditions, while in the presence of ampicillin stress, strain Z1 produced higher EPS (1.61±0.017 g/L) than strain Z3 (0.85±0.012 g/L). Thin layer chromatography (TLC) analysis of the extracted EPS of strain Z1 showed that it contained carbohydrates and amino acids. Fourier transform Infrared (FTIR) study of EPS produced by strain Z1 showed that it is made up of many different functional groups, including alkenes, alkynes, and carboxylic acids. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) revealed that EPS became firmly connected to the cells in the presence of stress. The 16S rRNA gene sequence of strain Z1 (OR177988) showed 100% homology with the Bacillus paramycoides (MCCC1A04098). The findings contribute to the understanding of the microbial ecology of wastewater systems and highlight the need for further research on biofouling, bacterial adaptability, and the potential implications for public health and the environment.

Medicinal plants have therapeutic value because of the chemical substances present in them. This study was performed to explore the antibacterial and antioxidant potential of three medicinally important plants, such as Caesalpinia bonduc (karanjuwa), Tinospora cordifolia (Giloy), and Quercus infectoria (Majuphal) extract; that are locally used for the cure of various diseases, particularly dengue fever. To study the anti-bacterial, phytochemical and antioxidative potential of these plants, plant extracts were made in ethanol, methanol, and ethyl acetate. Antibacterial assay revealed that all the selected plant extracts of C. bonduc, T. cordifolia, and Q. infectoria variably inhibited the growth of test bacterial strains. The maximum antibacterial activity observed for the ethyl acetate extract of T. cordifolia was against Bacillus (41 mm) and Pseudomonas (38 mm). Phytochemical analysis of extracts of C. bonduc, T. cordifolia, and Q. infectoria revealed the presence of alkaloids, quinones, flavonoids, phenols, and reducing sugars. Antioxidative analysis of the extracts of C. bonduc, T. cordifolia, and Q. infectoria, as revealed by the 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay (66%, 62% and 77%), phosphomolybdate (480, 520 and 490 µg/ml), showed ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay (266%, 371% and 265%), and total flavonoid content (75%, 170% and 155%) assay. Due to significant antibacterial and antioxidant potential, the extract of T. cordifolia was subjected to Thin-layer chromatography (TLC) analysis that confirmed the presence of different bioactive components in the extract of T. cordifolia (Giloy). Gas Chromatography-Mass spectrophotometry (GCMS) analysis of the bioactive fractions revealed Phthalic acid and Benzene acetic acid as the compounds responsible for imparting good antibacterial and antioxidative potential to the ethyl acetate extract of T. cordifolia. These findings highlight the potential of T. cordifolia as a valuable medicinal plant for the development of future antimicrobial drugs.

This study aimed to determine the prevalence and antibiotic resistance among the bacteria isolated from the makeup products of two salons. This study has significant importance as it raises the overlooked issue of antibiotic resistance in cosmetic products and the mode of transmission of antibiotic resistance from one person to another by using shared make-up products in salons. 20 samples of all the make-up items (face powder, primers, contour, blush-on, lipsticks, lip-gloss, eye-liner, eye-shadow, and mascara) were collected from salons in Lahore and Shakargarh, Pakistan. The microbial load reported in samples exceeded the threshold limit set by the Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety, and Food and Drug Administration Authority. Then, the antibiotic resistance of all strains was assessed using the different stock concentrations and Muller-Hinton Agar. The highest resistance of 14.29% was reported against fluoroquinolone,11.90% for Tetracycline,9.52% for chloramphenicol, 2.38% to Gentamycin, and no resistance was observed against neomycin and streptomycin. From all biochemical tests, the tentatively identified strains include Staphylococcus aureus, Shigella sp., Enterococcus sp., Neisseria sp., Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus sp., and Citrobacter sp. Among the antibioticresistant strains, the IntI 1 gene was detected in two strains, then these strains were identified by the Sanger sequencing method and these strains included Acinetobacter shindleri with accession number PP978765 and Enterobacter cloacae with accession number PP978766. From the results, it can also be concluded that these strains exhibit IntI 1 gene-mediated resistance. There is an urgent need to tackle the growing issue of resistance to cosmetic products. This study highlights the importance of raising awareness among people and calls for stricter hygiene regulations in salons and the cosmetic industry to ensure safety and quality.

Great attention has been paid to the projects' success, which is the core of project management. It is not surprising that much research is being done in this area, as several factors contribute to the project's success. However, the moderating effect of top management support (TMS) on the relationship between transformational leadership (TL) and project success (PS) has not been investigated before. This study aims to examine whether the relationship between a project manager's transformational leadership and project success is moderated by top management support. This study uses a post-positivism philosophical objective to investigate the theoretical model. A cross-sectional time-lagged survey design was used to collect quantitative data. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire from 273 team members, project managers, and stakeholders working in Pakistan's public sector. The factor and hierarchical regression analysis were used for analysis. Our results showed that TL and TMS significantly impacted project success. Moreover, we found that TMS moderates the relationship between TL and PS.