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Electronic relaxation dynamics of solution-phase redox-exfoliated molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) monolayer and multilayer ensembles are described. MoS2 was exfoliated using polyoxometalate (POM) reductants. This process yields a colloidal heterostructure consisting of MoS2 2D sheet multilayers with surface-bound POM complexes. Using two-dimensional electronic spectroscopy, transient bleaching and photoinduced absorption signals were detected at excitation/detection energies of 1.82/1.87 and 1.82/1.80 eV, respectively. Approximate 100-fs bandgap renormalization (BGR) and subsequent defect- and phonon-mediated relaxation on the picosecond timescale were resolved for several MoS2 thicknesses spanning from 1 to 2 L to ∼20 L. BGR rates were independent of sample thickness and slightly slower than observations for chemical vapor deposition-grown MoS2 monolayers. However, defect-mediated relaxation accelerated ∼10-fold with increased sample thicknesses. The relaxation rates increased from 0.33 ± 0.05 to 1.2 ± 0.1 and 3.1 ± 0.4 ps−1 for 1–2 L, 3–4 L, and 20 L fractions. The thicknesses-dependent relaxation rates for POM-MoS2 heterostructures were modeled using a saturating exponential function that showed saturation at thirteen MoS2 layers. The results suggest that the increased POM surface coverage leads to larger defect density in the POM-MoS2 heterostructure. These are the first descriptions of the influence of sample thickness on electronic relaxation rates in solution-phase redox-exfoliated POM-MoS2 heterostructures. Outcomes of this work are expected to impact the development of solution-phase exfoliation of 2D metal-chalcogenide heterostructures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the challenges and issues surrounding the reliability of medical journals in Pakistan. It highlights the prevalence of unethical practices such as gift authorship, scientific misconduct, and the sale and purchase of authorship. The lack of transparency in the publication processes of many medical journals in Pakistan is also mentioned. The article emphasizes the need for competent editors who comply with international authorship guidelines and publication ethics. Efforts are being made by organizations like the Pakistan Association of Medical Editors (PAME) to train editors and improve the quality and standard of biomedical journals in Pakistan. [Extracted from the article]

In this study, Washingtonia fibres (AW) and Kenaf fibres (KF) were utilized as environmentally friendly fillers to improve the quality of the resin matrix. The mechanical, morphological, and physical properties of the WA/KF biocomposites were assessed throughout this research. The mechanical tests (tensile strength and moduli, elongation at break, flexural strength along with moduli, and the impact properties) were carried out. The hybrid biocomposites (3AW/7KF) exhibited the highest tensile strength (16.05 MPa) and modulus (4.6 GPa) among pure and other hybrid biocomposites. The impact strength and resistance of hybrid biocomposites (1AW/1KF and 7AW/3KF) showed the highest impact strength (1694 J/m2) while the 3AW/7KF hybrid biocomposite, the impact strength value was 1630 J/m2 (17.2 J/m). SEM images indicated good distribution and bonding of hybrid biocomposites. The investigation using morphological tests (Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM)) displays the longitudinal roughness on the surface, which acts as a very significant function in the adhesion between the AW/KF fibres and the resin. Furthermore, the results of SEM confirm better bonding in the biocomposites, fibre fracture, pull-out, fibre shearing, and tearing in the pure and hybrid composites. From the water absorption test, it was observed that, when increasing the immersion time of biocomposites, the WA percentage of KF biocomposite significantly increased (37%) compared to other biocomposites. However, the hybrid and pure biocomposites exhibited more resistance to increase the WA percentage after increasing the immersion times, compared to other biocomposites. Furthermore, the thickness swelling (TS) of hybrid biocomposites increased compared to pure biocomposites. The biocomposite sample (3AW/7KF) was thicker on the 7th day exhibiting the greatest increases in thickness swelling (4.98%) while the hybrid biocomposite exhibited greater WA value compared to other correspondence samples. Finally, the KF and AW hybrid blends can be appropriate for several applications, for example, textiles, machinery part production industries, medicine, and automobiles, and construction, specifically buildings, bridges, and structures such as boat hulls, swimming pool panels, racing car bodies, shower stalls, bathtubs, storage tanks. Overall, the findings exhibit that the hybridisation of natural fibres (KF/AW) is a sustainable approach for obtaining biocomposites with advanced mechanical and thermal performance. Hence, they could be used in numerous specific applications, including automobile panels, structural products, sporting goods and furniture tools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highly functional and robust biobased materials are still in research to produce valuable composites for various applications. The literature shows the gap of new raw biobased materials in market which can functionally tuned and structurally modified for development of 2d/3d architectures. Thus, in the present study, very cheap, easily available agricultural waste, pineapple leaf fiber (PL-raw) was used for the isolation of microcrystalline cellulose (PL-MCC) and further functionalized using upscaled chemical approach to carboxymethyl microcrystalline cellulose (PL-CMMCC). Very advanced techniques like Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX), X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) served to characterize the raw material, high crystalline PL-MCC, and modified carboxy methyl MCC. FTIR determined presence of different absorbed peak at approximately 1620.2 cm−1, and at 1423.8 cm−1, carboxyl groups were assigned to PL-CMMCC. On the other hand, the XRD findings verified that PL-CMMCC's crystalline structure has decreased. Analysis by SEM revealed a damaged surface morphology for PL-CMMCC. Following chemical treatments, the EDX analysis revealed that each fiber sample contained a highly pure cellulose elemental composition. Thus, results explain the utilization of agricultural waste, pineapple leaf fiber to high valuable products like highly crystalline PL-MCC, in addition further modification of PL-MCC could leads to formation of highly functional material that could be used for other applications too in future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highly functional and robust biobased materials are still in research to produce valuable composites for various applications. The literature shows the gap of new raw biobased materials in market which can functionally tuned and structurally modified for development of 2d/3d architectures. Thus, in the present study, very cheap, easily available agricultural waste, pineapple leaf fiber (PL-raw) was used for the isolation of microcrystalline cellulose (PL-MCC) and further functionalized using upscaled chemical approach to carboxymethyl microcrystalline cellulose (PL-CMMCC). Very advanced techniques like Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX), X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) served to characterize the raw material, high crystalline PL-MCC, and modified carboxy methyl MCC. FTIR determined presence of different absorbed peak at approximately 1620.2 cm−1, and at 1423.8 cm−1, carboxyl groups were assigned to PL-CMMCC. On the other hand, the XRD findings verified that PL-CMMCC’s crystalline structure has decreased. Analysis by SEM revealed a damaged surface morphology for PL-CMMCC. Following chemical treatments, the EDX analysis revealed that each fiber sample contained a highly pure cellulose elemental composition. Thus, results explain the utilization of agricultural waste, pineapple leaf fiber to high valuable products like highly crystalline PL-MCC, in addition further modification of PL-MCC could leads to formation of highly functional material that could be used for other applications too in future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highly functional and robust biobased materials are still in research to produce valuable composites for various applications. The literature shows the gap of new raw biobased materials in market which can functionally tuned and structurally modified for development of 2d/3d architectures. Thus, in the present study, very cheap, easily available agricultural waste, pineapple leaf fiber (PL-raw) was used for the isolation of microcrystalline cellulose (PL-MCC) and further functionalized using upscaled chemical approach to carboxymethyl microcrystalline cellulose (PL-CMMCC). Very advanced techniques like Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX), X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) served to characterize the raw material, high crystalline PL-MCC, and modified carboxy methyl MCC. FTIR determined presence of different absorbed peak at approximately 1620.2 cm−1, and at 1423.8 cm−1, carboxyl groups were assigned to PL-CMMCC. On the other hand, the XRD findings verified that PL-CMMCC’s crystalline structure has decreased. Analysis by SEM revealed a damaged surface morphology for PL-CMMCC. Following chemical treatments, the EDX analysis revealed that each fiber sample contained a highly pure cellulose elemental composition. Thus, results explain the utilization of agricultural waste, pineapple leaf fiber to high valuable products like highly crystalline PL-MCC, in addition further modification of PL-MCC could leads to formation of highly functional material that could be used for other applications too in future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studying the drilling of a hybrid jute/palm composite material offers significant contributions to sustainable material development. Incorporating renewable jute and palm fibers represents an innovative, eco-friendly approach compared to synthetic composites. This research aims to optimize drilling parameters to reduce defects and evaluate the performance of different drilling tools, crucial for industrial applications. Drilling is performed via three different types of drills bit: High-Speed Steel, HSS-Co5 coated high-speed steel with 5% cobalt, and carbide. The drilling process involves adjusting the feed and rotational speed. Response Surface Methodology (RSM) was used to select drilling settings by validating experimentally obtained data and predicting the behavior of the structure based on cutting circumstances. The findings indicated that the most effective cutting parameters for minimizing delamination are achieved using the HSS drill bit, namely at lower feed and rotational speeds. Delamination remains below the threshold of 1.106 when the feed is 0.04 mm/rev and the rotational speed is 1592 rpm. The analysis of the results obtained using the response surface methodology indicates that the R2 coefficient for cylindricity is 0.96%. In contrast, the rate of delamination is 0.79% and the rate of circularity is 0.89%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Accurate measurement is indispensable for effectively managing hypertension (HTN); any error in technique or instrumentation can lead to misdiagnosis and improper management. Thus, the present study aimed to assess the knowledge and skills of blood pressure (BP) measurement among nurses at a tertiary care cardiac center in Karachi. Materials and methods: Nursing staff responsible for BP assessment at various stations were identified, observed, and interviewed to evaluate their skill and knowledge levels regarding BP measurement techniques. Nurses' skill levels were assessed using a checklist based on the American Heart Association (AHA) guidelines for BP assessment. Results: Seventy-five nurses participated in the study, with 49 (65.3%) being male and a mean age of 32.1 ± 6.2 years. Only 25 (33.3%) nurses reported reading the AHA guidelines for BP measurement. None of the nurses demonstrated excellent skills; 19 (25.3%) showed good skills, while 56 (74.7%) showed poor skills in BP measurement. A poor compliance was observed on a total of 14/31 steps with compliance rate of less than 50%. Similarly, none of the nurses exhibited excellent knowledge; only 3 (4%) had good knowledge, while 72 (96%) had poor knowledge about BP measurement. A poor knowledge was observed on a total of 18/36 items with correct response rate of less than 50%. Conclusion: Nurses working at various stations of a tertiary cardiac center exhibited inadequate skills and knowledge regarding BP measurement. This underscores the necessity for comprehensive training and education to enhance the accurate assessment of BP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents a novel method for nanocellulose production using [Bmim]Cl as a green solvent, with enhanced hydrolysis efficiency achieved through the addition of a transition metal complex as a catalyst. The redox capability of the transition metal complex to break the glycosidic bonds in cellulose is amplified by the addition of an oxidizing agent. This protocol represents the latest innovation in the field of nanocellulose production, resulting in improved yield and reduced particle size. Nanocellulose (NC) was extracted from date seeds using 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride [Bmim]Cl coupled with a transition metal complex comprising copper metal and pyridine as a ligand along with H 2 O 2 as an oxidizing agent. Unlike conventional [Bmim]Cl hydrolysis, which typically yields only microcrystalline cellulose (MCC), this approach resulted in a 25% higher yield of NC than that of MCC. Dynamic light scattering analysis showed a substantial reduction in hydrodiameter from 1200 nm for MCC to 128.7 nm for NC, highlighting the remarkable efficiency of this process. Thermal analysis demonstrated the high stability of NC, which showed a T onset of 286 °C and an activation energy ( E a ) of 220.41 kJ/mol. X-ray diffraction analysis indicated that NC possessed a high degree of crystallinity ( C rl = 70.28%). Furthermore, NC underwent modification with 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane to replace free hydroxyl groups (–OH), making it redispersal and suitable for various applications. This modification was confirmed through Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, which showed the presence of characteristic functional groups, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, which verified the elemental composition. Zeta potential measurements revealed surface charge differences, with MCC at − 27.87 mV, NC at − 27.28 mV, and modified NC at − 44.72 mV, indicating improved colloidal stability after modification. These findings highlight the protocol's effectiveness and its potential impact on the NC production industry, offering improved yields and the production of nanosized fibers using green solvents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents a novel method for nanocellulose production using [Bmim]Cl as a green solvent, with enhanced hydrolysis efficiency achieved through the addition of a transition metal complex as a catalyst. The redox capability of the transition metal complex to break the glycosidic bonds in cellulose is amplified by the addition of an oxidizing agent. This protocol represents the latest innovation in the field of nanocellulose production, resulting in improved yield and reduced particle size. Nanocellulose (NC) was extracted from date seeds using 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride [Bmim]Cl coupled with a transition metal complex comprising copper metal and pyridine as a ligand along with H 2 O 2 as an oxidizing agent. Unlike conventional [Bmim]Cl hydrolysis, which typically yields only microcrystalline cellulose (MCC), this approach resulted in a 25% higher yield of NC than that of MCC. Dynamic light scattering analysis showed a substantial reduction in hydrodiameter from 1200 nm for MCC to 128.7 nm for NC, highlighting the remarkable efficiency of this process. Thermal analysis demonstrated the high stability of NC, which showed a T onset of 286 °C and an activation energy ( E a ) of 220.41 kJ/mol. X-ray diffraction analysis indicated that NC possessed a high degree of crystallinity ( C rl = 70.28%). Furthermore, NC underwent modification with 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane to replace free hydroxyl groups (–OH), making it redispersal and suitable for various applications. This modification was confirmed through Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, which showed the presence of characteristic functional groups, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, which verified the elemental composition. Zeta potential measurements revealed surface charge differences, with MCC at − 27.87 mV, NC at − 27.28 mV, and modified NC at − 44.72 mV, indicating improved colloidal stability after modification. These findings highlight the protocol's effectiveness and its potential impact on the NC production industry, offering improved yields and the production of nanosized fibers using green solvents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of natural fibers has seen a significant rise in the composites sector, resulting in the creation of polymer composites with exceptional strength. These environmentally-friendly alternatives offer a compelling substitute for synthetic composites. This study explores the use of date palm waste as reinforcement for the fabrication of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) composites. A surface modification method was essential for improving the binding interaction between palm fibers and PVC composites. The two-hour benzoyl chloride treatment at 140 °C played a crucial role. The study examined the effects of hydrothermal aging on mechanical properties of composites, using various techniques such as surface morphology analysis, Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy, and Thermogravimetric Analysis, on composites made of untreated fibers and those treated with benzoyl chloride. Although the treatment of palm fiber-reinforced composites with benzoyl chloride improved their mechanical properties, it is crucial to note that hydrothermal aging reduced their tensile strength by 10%. Despite this, these composites prove to be well-suited for applications requiring moderate strength and stiffness in mild environmental conditions. These composites, while utilizing benzoyl chloride for surface treatment, still represent a more sustainable alternative to traditional synthetic composites by incorporating renewable date palm waste and enhancing mechanical properties, which potentially reduces overall environmental impact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study systematically examines how different fiber contents—Diss, Sisal, and luffa—affect the mechanical properties of bio-composites at rates of 10%, 15%, and 25%, with a particular focus on water absorption behavior. It investigates the relationship between water absorption and bending behavior, utilizing response surface methodology (RSM) optimization and analysis of variance (ANOVA) to thoroughly analyze input parameters, including a 44-day absorption duration, fiber type, and fiber content. The findings reveal that sisal-reinforced composites demonstrate the highest flexural strength, with an average stress of 31.15 ± 1.82 MPa for a 10% sisal fiber rate. However, an increase in fiber content leads to a decrease in mechanical properties and an increase in water absorption, with water absorption ratios of 2%, 3% and 5% for sisal biocomposites at fiber rates of 10%, 15% and 25%, respectively. The study's reliability is confirmed by a significant R-squared coefficient of 0.94, indicating strong consistency between predicted and observed results. This comprehensive investigation offers valuable insights into how varying fiber content impacts both mechanical performance and water absorption in fiber-reinforced composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using proposed system psychologists can use technology to make decisions which can provide ease for both patients and psychologists. Psychologists can check the progress of patients by analysing emotions reports of patient over time. Using historical data and emotion detection technology psychologists can make more accurate decisions. Using proposed system patient and psychologists don't have to go to anywhere they only need a device and internet. Based on the characteristics of patient emotion psychologist only need report generated by system and prescribe medicine in emergency situation. Proposed system improves consultancy method by using machine learning emotion detection algorithm. Proposed system detects facial emotion of patient by using CNN with HAAR cascade classifier. We use FER 2013 dataset to train our model. We use VGG 19 architecture to train our model for optimization function to enhance the accuracy of model. We use RELU. We use DJANGO framework for integration with frontend. Result of our model on dataset 82.3% after find tuning the accuracy goes to 82.3% to 92%. We use recall and F1 method to check the performance of model. We trained model on the testing dataset which have gray scale images and 48*48pixel images to achieve his performance. To achieve our accuracy goal, we split dataset into trainee validation and testing dataset. We use CNN and achieve 93% accuracy in our system which help patient to get feedback only selected question and psychologist. Patients select psychologist to answer questions of psychologist system stores emotions of patient against every question to generate emotion report. Psychologist can analyze emotion report to provide better prescription to patient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study examines the influence of successive treatments on the fiber surface (NaOH, hydrogen peroxide, and acetic anhydride). The palm petiole fibers were incorporated as reinforcement in linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) composites with a loading of 15 wt% and evaluated for mechanical, morphological, and dynamic mechanical properties. The effect of treatments on fiber surfaces has been confirmed using FTIR. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) results showed that the enhanced interfacial adhesion between the fibers and the matrix makes treated composites more rigid and homogeneous, which means that the fibers are distributed uniformly. The tensile modulus and flexural strength were all enhanced by adding 15% of untreated palm petiole fibers recorded at 598 MPa and 15.56 MPa, respectively, while the tensile strength was decreased. Palm-petiole fiber composites' storage modulus increased, and the acetylated-alkali fiber (FNA) reinforced LLDPE composite showed the highest storage modulus. Loss modulus increased when palm petiole fibers were strengthened. The Tan delta of composites made from palm petiole fibers was low initially but expanded with fiber addition. We concluded that successive treatments improve the performance of the palm petiole fiber residue and have the potential to create a new type of sustainable and eco-friendly material for various applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

How low can you reduce the carbon footprint associated with an index-based portfolio without creating unacceptable levels of active risk versus a capitalization-weighted benchmark? We find that an investor may be able to reduce the carbon footprint of a typical index-based portfolio by more than 50%, while keeping active risk low, near 1% tracking error volatility. This involves investing in companies with low greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and reducing exposure to companies with high emissions. The intensity of emissions per unit of revenue is a particularly helpful metric. Portfolio screening is an effective approach that removes emissions-intensive companies from an index, but can create unintended sector, industry, country, and factor exposures in the portfolio. Using an integrated portfolio optimization approach to minimize carbon intensity, we can explicitly constrain multiple risk dimensions. Another approach we explore is a two-step process: 1) apply a screen to invest only in lower carbon-intensity stocks, then 2) optimize the portfolio by minimizing tracking error versus the index. We study the effects of constraints on the optimization problem and find that loosening sector and industry constraints enables a greater reduction in carbon emissions, without a significant increase in overall active risk. Specifically, underweights to utilities, energy, and materials allow for a greater reduction in carbon emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In an attempt to increase the biodiversity of natural fibers, new sources of natural fibers should be discovered. Long textile-grade date palm (DP) fibers were used in the manufacturing of 50:50 polypropylene nonwoven composite. DP fibers are considered newcomers to the natural fiber library. The main aim of this work was to benchmark different types of DP fiber composites in comparison to other commercial leaf fiber composites, namely, sisal, abaca, and banana, in addition to FlexForm automotive composites. The composites were mechanically and physically characterized in order to determine their properties. The results showed that the void content in DP composites was lower than that in sisal and abaca by 33% and 40% respectively. DP composites have tensile strength within the same range as sisal composites and higher than that of banana by nearly 33%. The modulus of elasticity and failure strain of DP composites were nearly 3 GPa and up to 3% respectively. The flexural strength of DP composites (35 MPa) was in the same range as that of sisal and abaca. The normalized impact energy of DP composites was higher than that of banana by 50%. The dynamic mechanical analysis of the six composites showed similar behavior with a glass transition temperature around 10 °C. Finally, the water absorption behavior of DP composites was better than the other composites (lower than sisal by 63%). The results showed that DP fibers are good candidates for applications in automotive interior composites, given their competitive performance and high potential availability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PURPOSE: Real-world evidence comparing health care resource use (HRU) and costs between novel targeted therapies among patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is lacking. We compared all-cause and CLL-specific HRU and costs between patients initiated on B-cell lymphoma 2 inhibitor (venetoclax)– or Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitor (BTKi)–based regimens in the second-line (2L) setting. METHODS: This is a retrospective observational study using Optum Clinformatics Data Mart of adult patients with CLL/small lymphocytic lymphoma who received 2L venetoclax- or BTKi-based regimens (January 2018-December 2021) for the first time and had ≥one CLL diagnostic claim after 2L initiation and ≥two claims for venetoclax or BTKi. Baseline characteristics were balanced using stabilized inverse probability of treatment weights. Mean monthly cost difference (MMCD) between cohorts for all-cause and CLL-specific per patient per month (PPPM) costs was estimated. Rates of PPPM-HRU were compared between cohorts using rate ratios (RRs). RESULTS: Of 280 patients, median age 75.5 years, 64.6% and 35.4% received BTKi- versus venetoclax-based regimens, respectively. Most BTKi-treated patients received monotherapy (88.4%), whereas 62.3% of venetoclax-treated patients received combination therapy with anti-CD20 agents. The median duration of 2L therapy was 11.6 and 11.0 months for BTKi versus venetoclax cohorts, respectively. All-cause total costs were lower for venetoclax versus BTKi (MMCD [SE], $–2,497.64 [$1,006.77] in US dollars (USD); P =.01), driven by lower medication costs offsetting medical costs; trends were similar for CLL-specific estimates. Outpatient HRU was higher for venetoclax versus BTKi (RR all-cause: 1.22 versus CLL-specific: 1.64). CONCLUSION: Venetoclax was associated with total monthly cost savings versus BTKis, illustrating the economic value of time-limited venetoclax-based regimens in the 2L setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: In the past three decades, the expansion of Islamic banking has been recognized as one of the most significant financial developments across the world, and to enhance their market share in the highly competitive global banking market, these Islamic banking institutions must continue to be innovative. Credit cards are popularized worldwide; developing countries are also intrinsically motivated to adopt this product for performing financial transactions; however, understanding the factors influencing Islamic credit card (ICC) adoption remains limited, and the ICC still needs to attain adequate market share in the banking sector. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the determinants of ICC in Pakistan. Design/methodology/approach: For empirical estimation, sample data from 499 respondents, including ICC users and individuals willing to use ICC, is utilized through partial least square structural equation modeling. Findings: The results show that attitude, compatibility, perceived behavioral control and religiosity are positive, while complexity negatively affects ICC adoption. In contrast, social influence, trust and satisfaction are insignificant determinants of ICC's intention to use in Pakistan. Originality/value: As a banking service, ICCs are viewed as a new banking product in Pakistan and have limited scope in the literature. Therefore, this study contributes to the existing literature by providing more integrating policy insights to academians and banking managers on ICC service in Pakistan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Anthracycline-taxane is the standard chemotherapy strategy for treating high-risk early breast cancer despite the potentially life-threatening adverse events caused by anthracyclines. Commonly, the combination of docetaxel and cyclophosphamide (TC) is considered an alternative option. However, the efficacy of TC compared to anthracycline-taxane chemotherapy is unclear. This study compares disease-free survival (DFS), overall survival (OS) and cardiotoxicity between adjuvant TC and anthracycline-taxane for stages I–III, HER2-negative breast cancer. Methods: A systematic search on MEDLINE, Embase and Cochrane CENTRAL for randomized-controlled trials published until 11 March 2024, yielded 203 studies with 11,803 patients, and seven trials were included. Results: TC results in little to no difference in DFS (HR 1.09, 95% CI 0.98–1.20; moderate-certainty of evidence); OS (1.02, 95% CI 0.89–1.16; high-certainty of evidence); and cardiotoxicity (RR 0.54, 95% CI 0.16–1.76; high-certainty of evidence), compared to anthracycline-taxane. In the subgroup analysis, patients with ≥4 lymph nodes had improved DFS from anthracycline-taxane over TC. Conclusions: Overall, there was no difference between TC and anthracycline-taxane in DFS, OS and cardiotoxicity. In women with ≥4 nodes, anthracycline-taxane was associated with a substantial reduction in relapse events, compared to TC. Our study supports the current standard of practice, which is to use anthracycline-taxane and TC chemotherapy as a reasonable option in select cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phenylacetaldehyde (PAH), an aromatic compound, is present in a diverse range of fruits including overripe bananas and prickly pear cactus, the two major host fruits for Drosophila melanogaster. PAH acts as a potent ligand for the ionotropic receptor 84a (IR84a) in the adult fruit fly and it is detected by the IR84a/IR8a heterotetrameric complex. Its role in the male courtship behavior through IR84a as an environmental aphrodisiac is of additional importance. In D. melanogaster, two distinct kinds of olfactory receptors, that is, odorant receptors (ORs) and ionotropic receptors (IRs), perceive the odorant stimuli. They display unique structural, molecular, and functional characteristics in addition to having different evolutionary origins. Traditionally, olfactory cues detected by the ORs such as ethyl acetate, 1‐butanol, isoamyl acetate, 1‐octanol, 4‐methylcyclohexanol, etc. classified as aliphatic esters and alcohols have been employed in olfactory classical conditioning using fruit flies. This underlines the participation of OR‐activated olfactory pathways in learning and memory formation. Our study elucidates that likewise ethyl acetate (EA) (an OR‐responsive odorant), PAH (an IR‐responsive aromatic compound) too can form learning and memory when associated with an appetitive gustatory reinforcer. The association of PAH with sucrose (PAH/SUC) led to learning and formation of the long‐term memory (LTM). Additionally, the Orco1, Ir84aMI00501, and Ir8a1 mutant flies were used to confirm the exclusive participation of the IR84a/IR8a complex in PAH/SUC olfactory associative conditioning. These results highlight the involvement of IRs via an IR‐activated pathway in facilitating robust olfactory behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the last decade, the phase field method was developed to simulate fatigue fracture processes. The biggest advantage of phase field modeling is its unified framework, in which the entire fracture evolution from nucleation to propagation is covered. Even though it is known that surface roughness has an essential impact on fatigue life, it has rarely been considered directly in phase field models for fatigue processes due to the required computational effort. In this work, we provide a simulation setup to incorporate roughness profiles into a phase field model for fatigue cracks. We have used a roughness model for our studies and also present initial results that show agreement between simulation and experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a grading impact and analysis of Pakistani biomedical academic journals by citations in 2024. Data shows the impact factor and quartile ranking of biomedical academic journals indexed in Science Citation Indexed Expanded, the Web of Science Core Collection, and the Emerging Sources Citation Index, that include "Nature Reviews Drug Discovery," "Lancet" and "New England Journal of Medicine." It also identifies journals that achieved a place in analytics company Clarivate.

The article discusses the history of China, focusing on the Western incursions and the loss of sovereignty. It also highlights the development of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) over a thousand years, contrasting it with Western Medicine. TCM aims to heal the body as a whole, using careful observations and studies. TCM doctors examine patients by considering their pulse, voice, mental state, and physical discomforts. The article concludes by mentioning ongoing studies that combine Western medicine and TCM, suggesting that this combination is more effective. [Extracted from the article]

The article discusses the history of China, focusing on the Western incursions and the loss of sovereignty that occurred in the late 19th century. It also mentions the various movements and wars that took place, leading to the establishment of the Republic of China in 1949. The article then shifts its focus to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), highlighting its progress over a thousand years and its holistic approach to healing the body. It mentions key figures and texts in the development of TCM, as well as ongoing studies that combine Western medicine with TCM. [Extracted from the article]

In present study, a simple, scalable, cost effective, and single step of carboxymethylation was conducted to functionalize cellulosic fibers from pineapple leaf (PALF) and kenaf core (KCF) into carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) product. During the surface modification, an etherification process was applied to prepare CMC from cellulosic fibers using monochloroacetic acid and sodium hydroxide as the solvent medium. The obtained CMC products were characterized using various advanced techniques like SEM, EDX, FTIR, XRD, DSC, and particle size analysis. The FTIR analysis revealed the occurrence of a new absorbed peak at around 1620.2 cm−1, reflecting to the vibrational stretch of carboxyl groups (COOH) and another observed peak at 1423.8 cm−1 was assigning to the salts of carboxyl groups for carboxymethyl cellulose (COONa). Meanwhile, the XRD results confirmed the reduction of crystalline structure for CMC after the synthesis process. The native cellulose characteristic peaks for CMC became almost unobservable due to their transformation into an amorphous structure. Besides this, the SEM examination presented the CMC powder with ruptured surface morphology, while showing cracked and deformed structure owing to the breakdown of the CMC polymer chain after reaction with 40% NaOH concentration. Furthermore, the EDX analysis showed highly pure cellulose elemental composition in each fiber sample after chemical treatments. Moreover, the thermal behavior was stable for both CMC product from PALF and KCF by showing a relatively uniform horizontal curve of DSC pattern. Therefore, the obtained CMC product has potential used for pharmaceutical and food additives application fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Whitefly (Bemisia tabaci) population poses significant threat to cotton production in tropical and subtropical countries, and act as a vector for plenty of viruses predominantly begomoviruses and associated satellite molecules. Plant mediated RNAi (PM-RNAi) based approach carrying in silico identified miR166b of Gossypium hirsutum cv. HS6 targeting ESTs (Expressed Sequence Tags) of B. tabaci has been effective against whitefly insect and also providing tolerance from cotton leaf curl disease (CLCuD) as reported earlier. Current study focuses on stability of transgene in subsequent generations of transgenic cotton lines and its effectiveness in providing protection against CLCuD. Subsequent generations showed reduced diseased symptoms and no phenotypic abnormality from exogenous construct. Overall findings demonstrate effectiveness of RNAi based construct against insect vector whitefly and its stable inheritance across subsequent generations underscore the potential of this approach for sustainable protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cotton (Gossypium spp.) is a powerhouse of the textile industry, playing a crucial role in global fibre production. Unfortunately, cotton is not the easiest crop to genetically modify, it is highly recalcitrant with respect to transformation and regeneration. Despite progress in transformation protocols, it's efficiency in many elite cotton varieties still remains around 0.01-3%. Certain cotton genotypes, such as coker, show more favourable responses to gene transfer, resulting in a dependence on these varieties for genetic alterations. A reliable and efficient protocol for transforming cotton was standardized in Gossypium hirsutum cv HS6. Shoot tip explants from in-vitro germinated cotton seedlings were cultured on MS medium. These explants were genetically transformed with Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain LBA4404, carrying pBI121 expression vector containing neomycin phosphotransferase (nptII) marker gene. The explants were consistently transferred every week to fresh MS selection media. Remarkably, unlike previous protocols that utilized various phytohormones for cotton regeneration, our procedure does not involve use of any phytohormones, yet the growth of shoots and roots was not affected by the absence of phytohormones. Interestingly, natural hormones within cotton plants regulate growth, eliminating the need for external phytohormones in the medium during tissue culture. The overall transformation efficiency reported in the current protocol was 5%, which is significantly higher than previous reports. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To find out the frequent site of squamous cell carcinoma of oral cavity and pattern of neck node involvement in cross sectional population. Study Design: Prospective Study. Setting: Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Abbasi Shaheed Hospital Karachi and Karachi Medical and Dental College. Period: 01-06-2023 to 31-12-2023. Methods: Patients who biopsy proven squamous cell carcinoma of oral cavity visited ENT department Abbasi Shaheed Hospital were include in this study. Proforma was made in which detail history and examination were noted. Oral cavity examined to see the size and site of tumor. Neck was palpated to see palpable cervical lymph node. CT scan head and neck with contrast was done. Those patients who fulfilled the inclusion and exclusion criteria included in this. Result: 56 patients were selected in this study who fulfill the inclusion criteria. Male were 37 (66%). Maximum number of patients were between the 41-50 years of age, 24 patients (42.8%). Most common site of carcinoma was buccal mucosa 27 (48.2%). Highest number of patients presented with T3 stage 22 patients (39.2%). The frequency of lymph node involvement noted in 35 (62.5%) patients while 21 (37.5%) came with no lymph node. Level I was the most frequent level involved, it was involved in 28 patients (50%). Conclusion: Oral squamous cell carcinoma usually reported late. Early referral to otorhinolaryngologist and educate patient to consult Otorhinolaryngologist as earliest for early diagnosis and appropriate treatment plan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the author's perspective on the organization of medical conferences and professional specialty organizations in Pakistan. The author argues that these academic activities should be organized at medical institutions rather than expensive hotels, as the majority of the population in Pakistan lacks access to basic healthcare. The author believes that organizing conferences at medical institutions offers advantages and promotes a more affordable and community-focused approach to healthcare. The article also highlights the need for ethical practices and cost reduction in conference organization. [Extracted from the article]

Composites from 2D nanomaterials show uniquely high electrical, thermal and mechanical properties1,2. Pairing their robustness with polarization rotation is needed for hyperspectral optics in extreme conditions3,4. However, the rigid nanoplatelets have randomized achiral shapes, which scramble the circular polarization of photons with comparable wavelengths. Here we show that multilayer nanocomposites from 2D nanomaterials with complex textured surfaces strongly and controllably rotate light polarization, despite being nano-achiral and partially disordered. The intense circular dichroism (CD) in nanocomposite films originates from the diagonal patterns of wrinkles, grooves or ridges, leading to an angular offset between axes of linear birefringence (LB) and linear dichroism (LD). Stratification of the layer-by-layer (LBL) assembled nanocomposites affords precise engineering of the polarization-active materials from imprecise nanoplatelets with an optical asymmetry g-factor of 1.0, exceeding those of typical nanomaterials by about 500 times. High thermal resilience of the composite optics enables operating temperature as high as 250 °C and imaging of hot emitters in the near-infrared (NIR) part of the spectrum. Combining LBL engineered nanocomposites with achiral dyes results in anisotropic factors for circularly polarized emission approaching the theoretical limit. The generality of the observed phenomena is demonstrated by nanocomposite polarizers from molybdenum sulfide (MoS2), MXene and graphene oxide (GO) and by two manufacturing methods. A large family of LBL optical nanocomponents can be computationally designed and additively engineered for ruggedized optics.Multilayer composites of 2D nanomaterials manufactured using a layer-by-layer methodology demonstrates strong polarization rotation, mechanical robustness and operational temperatures as high as 250 °C, despite being nano-achiral and partially disordered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the need for the decolonization of medical education and health services in Pakistan. It highlights the importance of revising the medical education curriculum to better train doctors for local conditions and to encourage them to serve the local population instead of immigrating to Western countries. The article also emphasizes the need for healthcare professionals to be trained to handle situations in conflict zones and to develop intervention strategies for these scenarios. Additionally, it calls for creating opportunities within Pakistan to retain healthcare professionals and provide them with decent and comfortable lives. [Extracted from the article]

The purpose of this research is to analyze whether Blockchain technology can affect the share-economy. Apart from that, blockchain technology has been innovating the whole of the industries and so the academics are discovering the possibilities and starting to incorporate them in order to provide additional tech possibilities. The sharing economic system is the system which enables to share asset among the one person to the other person. It has seen the remarkable growth in the last few years, Uber, Careem, Airbnb, Zostel, Hostel World are some companies to mention which have fueled this growth. Yet, the majority of the transactions through the sharing economy system are facilitated by a centralized infrastructure executing an intermediary role that might be vulnerable to issues of hacking and data breach and such operations come at a high cost and expending more effort in keeping the system active is also a factor worth mentioning. A different method which is free of control centers such as the peer-to-peer sharing and smart service model which is being implemented in the Hospitality industry can overcome those obstacles. Through the use of a blockchain-backed payment system based on an accommodation-sharing structure, the research will develop a prototype of the proposed system in the form of a DApp on the Ethereum blockchain. The aim of these studies and research is to inform the public about the revolution that is blockchain and its benefits for trade, technology, business, and daily life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Linearized dynamic bearing coefficients are commonly used to determine the vibration response of rotors supported by journal bearings. Journal bearings can, however, behave nonlinearly, particularly in the presence of bearing wear. This work was undertaken to examine the effect of bearing wear severity on the linear and nonlinear responses of a rigid rotor at low, moderately, and highly loaded operating regime. Numerical results showed that the center of the nonlinear orbit coincides with the center of the linear orbit for all three operating regimes in non-worn bearing. However, in worn bearings, the center of the nonlinear orbit shifts away from the center of the linear orbit for all three operating regimes. The nonlinear analysis also showed that super-synchronous vibration response may occur, particularly at highly loaded operating regimes and at the maximum wear depth investigated in this work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the relationship between mindfulness, digital competencies, social media usage, and work performance in Pakistan's automobile sector. The research explores the roles of trust, mindfulness, shared vision, digital competency, knowledge transfer, and network ties within this industry. The automobile industry demands high levels of employee performance, and social media networks are increasingly used for communication and interaction. This research hypothesizes that social media usage fosters employee trust, leading to better interaction and knowledge transfer. Additionally, mindfulness training is proposed to enhance work performance and reduce employee turnover. A quantitative approach with a conceptual framework will test these hypotheses. The findings will contribute to a better understanding of how these factors influence work performance in the Pakistani automobile industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cell plate formation during cytokinesis entails multiple stages occurring concurrently and requiring orchestrated vesicle delivery, membrane remodelling, and timely deposition of polysaccharides, such as callose. Understanding such a dynamic process requires dissection in time and space; this has been a major hurdle in studying cytokinesis. Using lattice light sheet microscopy (LLSM), we studied cell plate development in four dimensions, through the behavior of yellow fluorescent protein (YFP)-tagged cytokinesis-specific GTPase RABA2a vesicles. We monitored the entire duration of cell plate development, from its first emergence, with the aid of YFP–RABA2a, in both the presence and absence of cytokinetic callose. By developing a robust cytokinetic vesicle volume analysis pipeline, we identified distinct behavioral patterns, allowing the identification of three easily trackable cell plate developmental phases. Notably, the phase transition between phase I and phase II is striking, indicating a switch from membrane accumulation to the recycling of excess membrane material. We interrogated the role of callose using pharmacological inhibition with LLSM and electron microscopy. Loss of callose inhibited the phase transitions, establishing the critical role and timing of the polysaccharide deposition in cell plate expansion and maturation. This study exemplifies the power of combining LLSM with quantitative analysis to decode and untangle such a complex process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prof. Khwaja Sadiq Husain is a highly respected physician in Pakistan, known for his exceptional clinical skills and teaching abilities. He served as the Principal of King Edward Medical College and President of the College of Physicians & Surgeons of Pakistan. Despite his declining health, he maintains a great sense of humor. During a recent visit, he shared his contentment with life and expressed gratitude for his family and career. Prof. Husain has been a strong advocate for professional ethics in the medical field and has been recognized for his contributions to medical journalism. [Extracted from the article]

Natural fibers are currently highly valued due to the need for environmentally friendly alternatives. With the advancement of technology, natural fibers have substituted steel, polypropylene, carbon, and glass fibers in some applications. The potential for employing Washingtonia mesh waste (WMW) as a reinforcement for sustainable and lightweight building materials is investigated for the first time as per the authors' knowledge. For this purpose, the three-variable process, which included WMW content from 1 to 3%, was treated with an alkaline (NaOH) concentration from 1 to 5% for a time period of 4 to 24 h, with artificial neural network (ANN) techniques and response surface methodology (RSM) being used for optimization purposes. Consequently, the aim of this study is to estimate and optimize the factors that influence the properties of WMW-reinforced bio-mortars. The results showed that the amount of WMWs, the percentage of NaOH, and the duration of immersion have an impact on the mechanical and physical properties. Furthermore, it was shown that replacing 1% cement with its equivalent of WMWs that had been immersed in 2.5% NaOH for 4 h resulted in a good combination that offers improved flexural and compressive strength. Moreover, the ANN and RSM models correlate strongly with the experimental data. It is also noticed that the model accuracy using artificial neural networks is higher. The mathematical models developed to estimate the attributes of the WMW-reinforced bio-mortars were shown to be very pertinent, having better accuracy with fewer than 7% errors by performing MSE, RMSE, and MAPE calculations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Media exists as the primary route through which the public learns about new technologies and thus plays an important role in shaping public sentiments. This article examines the influence of news media partisanship on the coverage of the controversial artificial intelligence (AI) technology facial recognition. A mixed-methods content analysis of news articles (N = 451) from 23 US-based news outlets highlights the emergence of several frames in coverage of facial recognition pertaining to issues of privacy and surveillance, bias, technology's ability to provide solutions, and its problematic development and implementation. Coverage was differentiated by partisanship, whereby left-leaning media focused more on ethical problems associated with the technology compared to their right-leaning peers who highlighted its abuses by foreign governments. Right-leaning media also referred more to technology's positive uses, such as helping law enforcement, compared to left-leaning media. Finally, AI companies were the most dominant suppliers of information to the media regarding the technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the influence of bamboo fibre loadings (30, 40, 50 and 60 wt%) on the physical, tensile and dimensional behaviour of short‐bamboo‐fibre‐reinforced bio‐epoxy matrix composites. Water absorption, thickness swelling, density, void content, tensile and thermomechanical analysis were determined. The findings indicated that higher fibre loading led to elevated water absorption and increased thickness swelling in bamboo fibre composites. The order of thickness swelling and water absorption behaviour was bio‐epoxy < B‐30 < B‐40 < B‐50 < B‐60. Similarly, the measured density of composites increased with respect to fibre loading. However, the void content decreased when the fibre loading was >40 wt%. Concerning tensile characteristics, it was observed that all composite materials displayed lower tensile strength compared to the bio‐epoxy matrix. However, there was a notable enhancement in the elasticity of the composites. As an example, B‐60 exhibited the highest Young's modulus at 7.33 GPa. The analysis of the fracture behaviour of tension‐tested samples was conducted using images obtained from SEM. The coefficient of thermal expansion was increased drastically as fibre loading increased. This indicated that the dimensional change was higher. Thus, it is desirable to have lower fibre loading to obtain better dimensional stability under the influence of temperature. © 2023 Society of Industrial Chemistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Osteoporosis constitutes a significant public health concern necessitating proactive prevention, treatment, and monitoring efforts. Timely identification holds paramount importance in averting fractures and alleviating the overall disease burden. The realm of osteoporosis diagnosis has witnessed a surge in interest in machine learning applications. This burgeoning technology excels at recognizing patterns and forecasting the onset of osteoporosis, paving the way for more efficacious preventive and therapeutic interventions. Smart walkers emerge as valuable tools in this context, serving as data acquisition platforms for datasets tailored to machine learning techniques. These datasets, trained to discern patterns indicative of osteoporosis, play a pivotal role in enhancing diagnostic accuracy. In this study, encompassing 40 participants—20 exhibiting robust health and 20 diagnosed with osteoporosis—data from force sensors embedded in the handlebars of conventional walkers were gathered. A windowing action was used to increase the size of the dataset. The data were normalized, and k-fold cross-validation was applied to assess how well our model performs on untrained data. We used multiple machine learning algorithms to create an accurate model for automatic monitoring of users' gait, with the Random Forest classifier performing the best with 95.40% accuracy. To achieve the best classification accuracy on the validation dataset, the hyperparameters of the Random Forest classifier were further adjusted on the training data. The results suggest that machine learning-based automatic monitoring of gait parameters could lead to accurate, non-laborious, cost-effective, and efficient diagnostic tools for osteoporosis and other musculoskeletal disorders. Further research is needed to validate these findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Torus fractures are a common paediatric injury involving the distal radius. Patients typically present following a fall onto the outstretched hand, with wrist pain as their primary complaint. The principal investigation of choice is a plain radiograph of the wrist joint. These fractures should be managed with a soft-bandage and immediate discharge approach and do not require specialist follow-up. Clinicians have historically had differing views regarding optimal management of torus fractures. It is therefore important for hospital clinicians to uniformly understand the most up-to-date management of this condition. This review provides an overview of the epidemiology, anatomy, diagnosis and management, with an aim to improve outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]