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New Makran simulations imply two generalized zones of mid-field tsunami hazard in greater Karachi. The simulations presuppose seven megathrust ruptures that strike east-west, range in area from 100 × 150 km to 355 × 800 km, and lie west of the city by no less than 100 km. The assumed seismic slip is uniform across each rupture area. The smallest rupture approximates the 1945 Makran earthquake of magnitude 8.1, while the largest corresponds to a previously conjectured giant Makran earthquake of magnitude 9.2. None of the sources include a complication in 1945: late-arriving waves from submarine slides or splay faulting. Consequently, the first simulated wave is the largest in each of the seven scenarios. And because the sources are to the west, the simulated waves are higher, and arrive sooner, at Karachi Port (1.5 hr) than 30 km farther east at Port Qasim (nearly 3 hr). These combinations of height and arrival time can be generalized as properties of two hazard zones: a western one that includes Karachi Port, and an eastern one that includes Port Qasim. The simulated flooding extends farthest inland into low-lying residential areas of the western zone. Neither hazard zone is near-field or far-field. That is, neither is near enough to the fault ruptures for felt seismic shaking to dependably warn of a fast-arriving tsunami, yet neither is distant enough to receive more than three hours of advance notice through tsunami warning systems. Our simulations are intended to support emergency management in this mid-field setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents estimates of surface reflectivity (SR) over time of global navigation satellite system (GNSS) signals scattered from a partially frozen lake surface. A portable ground-based GNSS reflectometry sensor system that collects both scattered global positioning system L1 signals and independent validation data (lidar and camera) was deployed on the Lake Michigan waterfront in Chicago at a time when the lake surface was a mixture of ice and water. Lidar surface scans were merged with camera images and mapped, along with estimated reflection zones. For three satellites whose reflection points scan across ice and water over time, the relative SR and mean red intensity (differentiating ice from water) of camera pixels inside the first Fresnel zone were computed and shown to be correlated. This system concept will be used in the future for more complete mapping of phase changes of snow and ice in the cryosphere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The present systematic review was conducted to give an overview of toothbrush contamination among the general population and the factors affecting toothbrush contamination with an evidence‐based approach. Data/Sources: Medline (Pub Med), CINAHL Plus, Cochrane Library and Dentistry and Oral Health Sciences Source were searched for the results after applying the search strategy from January 2012 to May 2022, following inclusion and exclusion criteria. The data were collected using a self‐made data collection form on study characteristics, population attributes and the main features, including the study's outcomes. The methodological quality of the included studies was independently evaluated based on the Joanna Briggs Institute's (JBI) critical appraisal checklist for cross‐sectional studies and the Risk of Biasness Tool‐1 (Rob‐1) for randomized controlled trials (RCTs). A descriptive analysis of the included studies was done using SWiM guidelines. The impact of charcoal and non‐charcoal brushes on toothbrush disinfection was quantitatively analysed using a forest plot. Study Selection: Of the 687 studies screened by title and abstract, 27 articles were selected for full‐text evaluation using the EndNote reference program (Ver. X9.2). From these, 15 qualified and were included in the systematic review. Among the selected studies, eight were RCTs, six were cross‐sectional studies, and the remaining one was an in vitro experimental study. Conclusions: The toothbrush becomes contaminated even after its first usage, and the contamination level rises with continued use. There are a number of factors that lead to the contamination of brushes, such as increased humidity brought on by a plastic cover or a toilet setting. Charcoal brushes show significant efficacy as compared to regular bristles in reducing toothbrush contamination; however, more RCTs are needed to further assess its efficacy. Nevertheless, rinsing with chlorhexidine mouthwash after daily brushing shows favourable results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Currently, is there no consensus on a widely accepted measurement technique for calculating the Hill-Sachs lesion (HSL). The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of the techniques and imaging modalities to assess the HSL pre-operatively. Methods: Four online databases (PubMed, Embase, MEDLINE, and COCHRANE) were searched for literature on the various modalities and measurement techniques used for quantifying HSLs, from data inception to 20 November 2021. The Methodological Index for Non-Randomized Studies tool was used to assess study quality. Results: Forty-five studies encompassing 3413 patients were included in this review. MRA and MRI showed the highest sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy values. Intrarater and interrater agreement was shown to be the highest amongst MRA. The most common reference tests for measuring the HSL were arthroscopy, radiography, arthro-CT, and surgical techniques. Conclusion: MRA and MRI are reliable imaging modalities with good test diagnostic properties for assessment of HSLs. There is a wide variety of measurement techniques and imaging modalities for HSL assessment, however a lack of comparative studies exists. Thus, it is not possible to comment on the superiority of one technique over another. Future studies comparing imaging modalities and measurement techniques are needed that incorporate a cost-benefit analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Controlling the material flow under the blank holder in hydroforming is a delicate point that can be controlled by the blank holder force (BHF), cavity pressure (CP) and the blank holder gap (BHG). BHG is one of the effective parameters to control the material flow. A numerical and experimental approach studied the impact of the BHG on the Hydromechanical Deep Drawing (HDD) of a hemispherical cup made with 2/1 Glare sheets, including another two factors, CP and BHF. BHGs with different thickness was used in the experiments to form Glare Laminate. Simulation and experiment illustrate that an optimized value of these parameters has a good effect on the forming quality and depth of the final product. Finally, an appropriate value of the BHG is projected and the explanations of the failure modes are discussed.

Purpose: A growing recognition of the importance of oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) has led to the development of several instruments to measure their relationship with health. The objective of this review was to update the knowledge on the general and psychometric characteristics of the instruments to measure the quality of life (QoL) related to oral health that emerged after publication in 1997 of the results of the conference 'Measuring Oral Health and QoL'.Materials and Methods: A bibliographic search was carried out to identify publications published in January from 1998 to June 2018, using EMBASE, PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL and Web of Science databases. Specific criteria were established based on international reference frameworks for the inclusion, collection, and analysis of general and psychometric properties of the instruments.Results: 233 articles were identified, of which 10 met the eligibility criteria and were included. All the instruments were multidimensional, presented psychometric properties and were mostly based on prior measurement tools and the classification of impairments and disabilities. All studies presented information on the internal consistency of their instruments. Validity to discriminate was also rated positively in all of the instruments except OHRQoL-UK instrument. Among the instruments, the criterion that was found to be least was a response to change, as only three instruments met the criteria. Reliability and construct validity criteria were also present in most of the studies.Conclusion: The dental profession has shown great progress towards a more comprehensive measurement of the oral health needs of the population, it is necessary to move from focusing on sick patients and theories of disabilities to incorporating healthy patients and resource-based theories and capacities in their measurements of OHRQoL, that would improve patient safety, quality of care and risk management, and improve clinical decision making for healthcare professionals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study uses a production function approach to identify the impact of student, parent, teacher, and school policy variables on student performance as measured by test scores. Our statistical analysis is conducted in a comparative institutional context that includes government, private, and non-governmental organization schools. We find that, at least in the Pakistani context, non-governmental organization schools are more effective than government or private schools. (Contains 8 tables and 22 notes.)

Examines the relationship between a public-sector teacher salary structure based on qualifications and experience and teacher effectiveness in rural Pakistan. Findings raise questions regarding the rationality of the salary structure's assumed positive association between teacher monetary incentives, teacher cognitive skills, and student academic achievement. (Contains 19 references.) (PKP)

This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to generate pooled evidence for the association between excessive weight and pregnancy induced periodontitis. EMBASE, SCOPUS, PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Science, BVS/LILACS, Cochrane Library and SCIELO databases were accessed. Eligibility criteria were: human clinical studies published between year 2000 and 2021. Newcastle-Ottawa scale was used to evaluate risk of bias of the studies. Meta-analysis was performed using MedCalc® Statistical Software. Eleven studies were included, evaluating 2152 pregnant women (743 with overweight/obesity and 1409 with normal body mass index - BMI), with a mean age of 29.62 years. Most studies had low risk of bias. A positive association between overweight/obesity and periodontitis was found, with an average of 61.04% of women with overweight/obesity and periodontitis, showing the overall random-effects relative risk and 95% CI of 2.21 (1.53–3.17) (p < 0.001). Arterial hypertension, gestational diabetes mellitus and excessive gestational weight gain were the most common adverse effects of maternal obesity that may have been linked to periodontitis induced pro-inflammatory state. In conclusion, a positive association was found between overweight/obesity and periodontitis during pregnancy. However, the high heterogeneity between the studies related to sample size, periodontal classification and the cutoff-points for BMI are the main limitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A recent shift in allocation of public resources away from elementary and secondary education to higher education in Pakistan is criticized as not cost-effective, unjustified, inefficient, and inappropriate public policy. Issues of equity and privatization and the impact of the current student loan system are considered. (Author/MSE)

Utilizes the Granger causality test to estimate case and effect relationships between literacy and labor productivity in Pakistani manufacturing and agricultural sectors. Despite data set limitations, literacy appears to "cause" labor productivity to increase in the manufacturing sector. (27 references) (MLH)

Voltage lift is a well‐known technique to improve the voltage gain of the converter. A combination of switched inductor and the conventional voltage lift technique can be used to achieve high gain, but the semiconductor's stress is still high. An improved voltage lift technique by employing an extra diode and capacitor and a switched inductor is proposed, which significantly increases the voltage boosting factor and reduces the voltage stress of semiconductor devices. The proposed converter is transformerless and non‐isolated in nature. The proposed topology has a continuous input source current and has a common connection between the source and the load. The converter is controlled by a single switch, making it simple to use. The steady‐state relations are drawn out in both continuous conduction mode (CCM) and discontinuous conduction mode (DCM). The effect of the unequal inductance on the voltage gain is carried out in detail. The improved voltage lift technique can develop the n‐stage converter to improve voltage gain further and reduce stress on semiconductors. The proposed topology is compared with the recent converters, and the effect of the non‐idealities on the voltage gain and losses occurring in the components is discussed in detail. A hardware prototype with a rating of 20V/300V, 250 W is built to test the suggested topology's performance and theoretical analysis. At a 20‐V input, the highest efficiency was measured to be 95.8%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]