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Abstract Urban power systems rely on intricate wire networks, known as the power grid, which form the essential electric infrastructure in cities. While these networks transmit electricity from power plants to consumers, they are vulnerable to faults caused by manufacturing errors and improper installation, posing risks to system integrity. Thus, accurate identification and assessment of these faults are crucial to prevent damage and maintain system reliability. The objective of this research is to present an innovative and efficient methodology for diagnosing complex wire networks through the application of time domain reflectometry (TDR) combined with the particle swarm optimization (PSO) and least squares support vector machine (LSSVM) algorithm. This research addresses the imperative need to accurately locate and assess breakage faults within wire networks, emphasizing their role in both power transmission and communication infrastructure. To model the TDR answer of a specific complex wire network, a forward model is established utilizing resistance, inductance, capacitance and conductance (RLCG) parameters and the finite difference time domain (FDTD) method. Subsequently, the PSO‐LSSVM approach is used to solve the inverse problem of localizing faults in complex wire networks. The experimental results validate the practicality of this approach in real‐world systems.

Abstract This paper proposes an extended state observer (ESO)‐based second‐order sliding mode control (SMC) for dynamic voltage restorers (DVRs). Unlike the conventional first‐order SMC and some second‐order SMC (SOSMC) methods that suffer from chattering, the proposed control method can alleviate chattering and achieve finite‐time convergence. Chattering suppression (i.e. eliminating discontinuities) is achieved via continuous control input which is also used to generate the pulse width modulation signals. However, while removing the discontinuities in the control input, the performance of the control method is degraded when it is subjected to disturbances. Therefore, an active disturbance rejection (ADR) based on an ESO is proposed to enhance the performance. In addition, an advanced single‐phase phase‐locked loop (PLL) using linear observer and quasi‐type‐1 PLL is also proposed. The effectiveness of the proposed method is verified through simulation and experimental results which are compared with the results of the existing SMC methods applied to DVR.

Abstract Under the presence of nonlinear load, the most existing virtual impedance (VI) methods-based control solution performs poorly in reactive power sharing among droop-operated VSIs in microgrids (MGs). This may be due to the involved estimation techniques for extracting the current harmonics at selected frequencies, which suffer from either poor accuracy of the harmonic estimation and/or the effect of DC offset in the measurements. Such an issue may affect the performance of the virtual impedance control, hence, the system stability. To bridge this gap, the implementation of the virtual impedance based on multiple enhanced second-order generalized integrator (MESOGI) suitable for harmonics and DC-offset estimation/rejection, is proposed in this paper. The MESOGI can offer an accurate estimation of the current quadrature components free from DC offset at selected frequencies, required to implement the virtual impedance control. Therefore, it makes the designed virtual impedance-based control scheme robust to voltage distortions, immune to DC disturbance, and capable of sharing properly the power harmonics. As a result, this may contribute to improving the reactive and harmonic power-sharing between droop-controlled VSIs within an islanded MG. The modeling of the MESOGI scheme and its performance investigation is carried out. In addition, the mathematical model of the implemented virtual impedance is derived. Further, analysis based on the obtained model of the equivalent output impedance including virtual impedance is established to study its effect. Simulation and experimental tests are performed to prove the effectiveness of the control proposal in improving the reactive power sharing under nonlinear load operating conditions.

The precast industry offers slab panels of different geometries according to the field conditions. These slab panels are popular in temporary constructions and beneficial in sustainability but have some financial limitations and local constraints. For a long time, the construction industry has used the arch action method, which restricts the stresses to the compression zone in concrete members and develops the required load-carrying capacity. For the same motives, industrial buildings have preferred semi-circular precast roofs, but the morphology was not suitable. For the proposed slab in this research, firstly, the typical industrial precast slab panel was doubled in width to minimize the time and efforts required for its casting, curing, and placement. Secondly, that doubled-in-width slab was provided with the arch action to confine the stresses to compression and benefit from the section entirely. Lastly, the top of the slab was kept flat to take advantage of the roof space. All these changes aimed for structural stability, reduced material's weight, improved load-carrying capacity, appropriate mobilization, and financial viability. A numerical approach and practical testing were adopted using the finite element modeling software, ABAQUS, to analyze load–deflection responses of both slabs through the concrete damage plasticity model. The proposed slab exhibited better performance as its capacity enhanced by about 1.5 times that of a typical slab. Although the volume of the material in the proposed slab increased slightly from 0.040 m3 to 0.045 m3, the reductions in joint filler materials, reinforcements, and efforts required for mixing and lifting machinery compensated for this increase significantly. Hence, the slab can be recommended for the industry to save the costs while taking heavier loads efficiently.

Traditionally concrete strength determination has been a costly and time-consuming process, relying on periodic laboratory testing using compression tests on concrete-filled cylinders. To address these challenges, an innovative framework has been developed using the Internet of Things (IoT) technology-based low-cost wireless sensors. These sensors have been programmed to integrate with a real-time data monitoring platform using the Firebase cloud computing application. This framework allows remote real-time concrete compressive strength monitoring while reducing the need for on-site laboratory testing. This aspect can ultimately add digital competencies to the construction industry. The IoT-based data is further integrated with the Building Information Modeling (BIM) model of the structure, developing its Digital Twin (DT), which enables the concerned authorities to remotely access the concrete compressive strength parameters, particularly in the early stages. The proposed system presents notable advantages compared to traditional methods by enabling remote real-time monitoring of concrete strength parameters in the BIM environment and facilitating informed decision-making to optimize the construction schedule utilizing the Active BIM system. It serves as a pioneering advancement in internet/remote applications designed to monitor early-age compressive strength. By assisting project managers in timely actions such as formwork removal, post-tensioning, curing termination, and reshores removal, it generates significant cost savings in terms of labor and expedites the completion of construction activities.

Steel bearings have been commonly used to counteract induced loading from thermal and traffic conditions in numerous bridges. However, their effectiveness has been compromised due to aging and maintenance limitations, potentially impacting the overall bridge system performance. Existing monitoring techniques for detecting malfunctioning steel bearings lack automation and precision, making them inadequate for long-term and real-time bridge dynamics assessment. This study proposes a response-based approach to identify bearing malfunction by analyzing the traffic-induced response in the bearing vicinity. To implement this approach, laser displacement sensors and wireless acceleration sensors were employed to monitor both malfunctioning and well-functioning steel bridge bearings. Significant differences in bearing performance were observed through response analysis and comparison. Laser sensor measurements revealed larger vertical deflections in the girder at malfunctioned bearing under traffic loading. Moreover, the investigation of the acceleration response in the bearing locality indicated that bearing malfunction could alter the vibrational characteristics of the vicinity, significantly affecting Cross Power Spectral Density (CPSD) and cross-correlation. To quantitatively evaluate the performance of steel bearings, a Condition Score (CS) was introduced. The CS exhibited a strong correlation with bearing damage, providing valuable insights for maintenance and decision-making processes in bridge asset management. This study offers a comprehensive and automated method for identifying steel bridge bearing malfunction by utilizing advanced monitoring techniques and introducing the CS for assessment. The results obtained from this approach can enhance bridge maintenance strategies and contribute to effective bridge asset management.

The exterior beam-column joint (BCJ) within reinforced concrete (RC) frame structures is acknowledged as a vulnerable component prone to seismic failure. This article proposes a practical and economical strengthening method for exterior BCJs using a perforated steel haunch system. This method is designed to mitigate damage in BCJs and improve the seismic performance of the structure. Employing finite element modeling (FEM) techniques, the study evaluates the impact of perforated steel haunches on the BCJs’ behavior and performance. The investigation involves creating nine distinct models, each representing a BCJ with a steel haunch system. These models include a control model without any perforations and eight variations with different levels of perforation (ranging from 10% to 50%) within the steel haunch system. Furthermore, the study analyzes the influence of perforation shapes on the connections’ performance, considering square, circular, hexagonal, and triangular shapes. The results reveal that utilizing a steel haunch without perforations significantly increases the load-carrying capacity of a BCJ by about 89%. Additionally, circular or square-shaped perforations, up to 30–35% within the steel haunch, effectively prevent the joints’ failure and promote the ductile behavior. These findings hold the potential to advance the design methodology for RC joints subjected to seismic loads, thereby enhancing the structural resilience in earthquake-prone regions.

Abstract In voltage‐controlled voltage source inverters (VSIs)‐based microgrids (MGs), the inner control is of prime interest task for guaranteeing safe and stable operation. In this paper, an in‐depth investigation of the modelling, control design, and analysis of the voltage and current inner control loops intended for single‐phase voltage‐controlled VSIs is established. The main objective of this work is to provide a comprehensive study of the mathematical modelling, control design, and performance evaluation of the inner control's loops considering different proportional‐integral (PI) controller types with and without compensation, and to determine the optimal scheme that can offer better performance in terms of implementation simplicity, robustness, and transient and steady‐state responses. Thus, the mathematical closed‐loop models of designed outer voltage and inner current control schemes based on PI, P, and feedforward controllers with and without compensation are, first, derived. Following this, a systematic and effective control design for tuning the different PI controllers’ parameters is proposed. Furthermore, an analysis revealing the performance of the designed voltage and current control schemes is provided. This analysis enables us to choose a P controller and PI feedforward controller for the current control loop and the voltage control loop, respectively. The chosen P and PI controllers should be simple; meanwhile, they should offer a wide bandwidth. A simulation study is carried out in MATLAB/Simulink software to assess the performance of the adopted inner control scheme for both linear and non‐linear loads. In addition, an experimental setup, based on a TMS320F2837xD μC, of a single‐phase VSI supplying linear and non‐linear loads is built to verify the effectiveness and the robustness of the adopted inner controller. The results demonstrated: (1) the necessity of introducing the compensation term, which is responsible for offering control improvement against voltage perturbation, (2) the high tracking performance of the chosen controller in terms of dynamic and steady‐state responses as well as its simplicity of implementation.

Abstract In the context of ARVC, a systematic review of the validation of the ARVC risk score can provide insights into the accuracy and reliability of this score in identifying patients at high risk of ARVC. Digital databases were searched to identify the relevant studies using Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). A total of 8 studies were included in this systematic review. A total of 8 studies were included in this review. The review found that the sensitivity of the ARVC risk scores ranged from 80 to 95%, and the specificity ranged from 31 to 79%. The PPV was 55%, and the NPV was 88%. The ARVC score provided a C-index for a 5-year VA risk prediction of 0.84 [95% CI (0.74–0.93)] and a Harrell C-index of 0.70 (95% CI 0.65–0.75). The calibration slope was 1.01 (95% CI 0.99–1.03). ARVC score demonstrated a significant event 5-year threshold between 15 and 20% and the classical ARVC 5-years/freedom-from-VA rate was 0.76(0.66–0.89) and the non-classical form 5-years/freedom-from-VA rate was 0.58 (0.43–0.78). In conclusion, the validation of ARVC risk scores is an essential step toward improving the accuracy of ARVC diagnosis and risk stratification. Further studies are needed to establish the accuracy and reliability of ARVC risk scores and to address the limitations of the current evidence.

Abstract This paper implements Broyden's Method Assisted Differential Evolution (BMADE) algorithm for eliminating third and fifth harmonics in the output voltage of 7‐level cascaded H‐Bridge multilevel inverter (CHB‐MLI) using selective harmonic elimination technique. Calculations of switching angles are done for various modulation index values (M). Initial guess for Broyden's method is calculated by Differential Evolution (DE). Exact value of switching angles is then calculated by Broyden's method using initial guess obtained from DE. Code of BMADE algorithm for obtaining the required switching angles is written in MATLAB. Results obtained with BMADE algorithm are compared with various other techniques that is, Genetic Algorithm (GA), DE, and Whale Optimization Algorithm (WOA). BMADE is able to successfully eliminate third and fifth order harmonics in the output voltage. Along with removing the desired harmonics, BMADE also provides lower THD than GA, DE, and WOA for certain range of M. The results also showed that BMADE is faster than GA, DE, and WOA as the execution time of BMADE is lesser than GA, DE, and WOA. Moreover, laboratory experiments are used to test the simulation's findings. The experimental results support the simulation results.

Nearly six million people worldwide have died from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. Although COVID-19 vaccines are largely successful in reducing the severity of the disease and deaths, the decline in vaccine-induced immunity over time and the continuing emergence of new viral variants or mutations underscore the need for an alternative strategy for developing broad-spectrum host-mediated therapeutics against SARS-CoV-2. A key feature of severe COVID-19 is dysregulated innate immune signaling, culminating in a high expression of numerous pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines and a lack of antiviral interferons (IFNs), particularly type I (alpha and beta) and type III (lambda). As a natural host defense, the myeloid differentiation primary response protein, MyD88, plays pivotal roles in innate and acquired immune responses via the signal transduction pathways of Toll-like receptors (TLRs), a type of pathogen recognition receptors (PRRs). However, recent studies have highlighted that infection with viruses upregulates MyD88 expression and impairs the host antiviral response by negatively regulating type I IFN. Galectin-3 (Gal3), another key player in viral infections, has been shown to modulate the host immune response by regulating viral entry and activating TLRs, the NLRP3 inflammasome, and NF-κB, resulting in the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines and contributing to the overall inflammatory response, the so-called “cytokine storm”. These studies suggest that the specific inhibition of MyD88 and Gal3 could be a promising therapy for COVID-19. This review presents future directions for MyD88- and Gal3-targeted antiviral drug discovery, highlighting the potential to restore host immunity in SARS-CoV-2 infections.

Abstract Objective This systematic review of literature aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of dual‐chamber ICDs for LBBAP in patients with left bundle branch block (LBBB). Methods Digital databases were searched systematically to identify studies reporting the left bundle branch area pacing (LBBAP) with implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) placement in patients with LBBB. Detailed study and patient‐level baseline characteristics including the type of study, sample size, follow‐up, number of cases, age, gender, and baseline characteristics were abstracted. Results In a total of three studies, 34 patients were included in this review. There was a significant improvement reported in QRS duration in all studies. The mean QRS duration at baseline was 170 ± 17.4 ms, whereas the follow‐up QRS duration at follow‐up was 121 ± 17.3 ms. Two studies reported a significant improvement of 50% in LVEF from baseline. No lead‐related complications or arrhythmic events were recorded in any study. The findings of the systematic review suggest that dual‐chamber ICD for LBBAP is a promising intervention for patients with heart conditions. Conclusion The procedure offers significant improvements in QRS duration and LVEF, and there were no lead‐related complications or arrhythmic events recorded in any of the studies.

Objective: To compare the analgesic efficacy and adverse effect profile of using caudal anaesthesia versus caudal combined with spinal anaesthesia for paediatric patients undergoing bilateral inguinal hernia surgery. Study Design: Prospective longitudinal study. Place and Duration of Study: Anaesthesia Department of Combined Military Hospital, Rawalpindi Pakistan, from Mar to Aug 2022. Methodology: Eighty paediatric patients between ages 5-10 years requiring bilateral inguinal hernia repair were included in the study. The Caudal Group received 0.25% Bupivacaine per the Armitage regime at a 1 ml/kg volume to reach an effective sensory level of T10. The Combined Group received spinal anaesthesia at a dose of 0.3 mg/kg for >15 kg patients and 0.4 mg/kg for 5-15 kg patients in the L4-L5 epidural space for an effective spinal level of T10. Once the spinal was administered, the same caudal dose as per the caudal Group's Armitage regime. Results: The total duration of block and subsequent reversal to the S1 level was 326.2±12.6 minutes in the Caudal Group versus 441.22±31.8 minutes in the Combined Group (p

Shellfish grown for food are vulnerable to environmental contamination, potentially rendering them unsafe for human consumption. Non-invasive gape (valve openness) sensing allows in-situ monitoring of bivalve shellfish behaviours, such as feeding, that can result in exposure to contaminated waters. Sensors were attached to Blue mussels and deployed for 10 days on natural mussel beds in Dundrum Bay, Northern Ireland. Data showed a tidally synchronous behaviour pattern of high openness at high water and vice versa. It is likely that this is, at least in part, due to extreme salinity variation (1.8–33.6) resulting from near total water exchange with each tide in the bay. This behaviour is likely to infer a degree of protection from contaminants during periods of low water, a time at which runoff-derived pollutants are most concentrated.

Abstract Computation of active and reactive powers is a crucial step in droop‐controlled single‐phase voltage source inverters (VSIs) in standalone microgrid since the performance and stability of the power‐sharing strategy are strongly influenced by its speed and accuracy, especially in the case of non‐linear loads. Here, an improved performance of power‐sharing among single‐phase droop‐controlled VSIs in an islanded microgrid, considering DC component and nonlinear loads is presented. To achieve this goal, an enhanced power‐sharing control scheme including a Multiple Enhanced Second‐Order Generalized Integrator Frequency‐Locked Loop (MESOGI‐FLL) for power calculation is proposed. As a result, the proposed power computation technique provides high rejection capability of DC component and current harmonics, hence, perfect estimation of the fundamental component of the inverter output current and its 90◦ phase‐shifted component. This strategy makes the power calculation method‐based control scheme immune to disturbance effects of the DC component and the high current harmonics. Detailed analysis, mathematical modelling of MESOGI, as well as a comparison with recent methods, are also provided. Simulation and experimental tests were carried out and the obtained results have shown the effectiveness and robustness of the proposed power‐sharing controller even under nonlinear load operating conditions.

Culverts fulfill the vital function of safely channeling water beneath railway tracks, highways, and overpasses. They serve various purposes, including facilitating drainage in areas such as watercourses, drainage zones, and regions with restricted ground-bearing capacity. Precast reinforced concrete (RC) box culverts are a popular choice because they are strong, durable, rigid, and economical. However, culverts are prone to corrosion due to exposure to a range of environmental factors and aggressive chemicals. Therefore, enhancing the design and construction of this crucial infrastructure is imperative to effectively combat corrosion and to adhere to modern standards of reliability and affordability. In this study, carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) was used to strengthen corroded culverts, with promising potential to improve safety and longevity in these structures. This study compared the behavior of corroded RC box culverts to CFRP-strengthened ones using the finite element method (FEM). It explored the impact of varying the damage thicknesses owing to corrosion, ranging from 0 mm to 20 mm, on the structural performance of the box culverts. The results showed that the CFRP model exhibited a substantial 25% increase in the capacity and reduced the damage compared to the reference model. Moreover, a parametric study was conducted for establishing a cost-effective design, in which numerous CFRP strip configurations were examined for a damaged-culvert model. The results indicated that a complete CFRP sheet was most effective for the maximum design capacity and repair effectiveness. The study’s outcomes provide valuable insights for professionals engaged in enhancing the strength of box culverts, aiming to increase the capacity, enhance the stability, and strengthen corroded culverts.

This study investigates the influence of blast loading on Reinforced Concrete (RC) beam-column connections, which are critical components for maintaining the structural integrity of buildings during extreme events like explosions. The impact of varying blast loads, detonation distance, and reinforcement detailing on the extent of damage in the RC frame and connections is analyzed using ABAQUS/CAE Finite Element Method (FEM) software. Joint rotation is used as a damage indicator to assess the damage level in the structure. The study evaluates the effect of reinforcement detailing on the blast damage resistance of the RC frame and connections and proposes recommendations for reducing damage in the connections through the effective placement of steel reinforcement. The effectiveness of different configurations of reinforcing steel bars is also analyzed, and the presence of shear and diagonal reinforcements is found to reduce joint damage by 3-4 times. This study highlights the significance of reinforcement detailing and recommends its careful consideration in the design of blast-resistant structures.

Abstract A proportional‐resonant (PR)‐based current control strategy for grid‐connected packed‐E cell (PEC) inverter is presented. Unlike the existing control strategies, which are based on proportional‐integral controller, developed for packed‐U cell and PEC inverters, the proposed PR‐based control strategy achieves zero steady‐state error in the grid current. Furthermore, it eliminates the necessity of employing the control loop for regulating the dc capacitor voltages. Also, the grid current synchronization is achieved by using a Lyapunov filter‐based phase locked loop (PLL). The consequence of using Lyapunov filter‐based PLL is that sinusoidal synchronization signal can be extracted from the distorted grid voltage. The performances of the proposed control strategy under steady‐state, load variation and non‐ideal grid voltage are investigated on a laboratory‐scale experimental prototype. It is reported that the control of both dc‐ and ac‐side variables of the system are accomplished.

The advancement in blockchain applications in the smart sustainable city infrastructure is evaluated in this paper through a comprehensive mapping review. The evaluation is carried out by posing four research questions that address current developments in blockchain technology in the context of smart cities and point out areas where additional study is needed. This study also includes a scoping of blockchain applications in a smart city context to highlight the obstacles to incorporating blockchain technology into smart city infrastructure. Finally, some suggestions for overcoming the problems of incorporating blockchain technology with smart city infrastructure are offered. This research will help researchers and policymakers gain a better understanding of blockchain applications in smart cities.

In order to reach the ambitious net-zero emission target by 2050, various technological solutions need to be developed to ensure efficient utilisation of energy. Commercial and residential buildings are a big source of greenhouse gas emissions, where efficient utilisation of energy can play a major role towards decarbonisation of the buildings sector. Heat pumps have recently emerged as an effective solution for space heating applications in buildings. Energy-efficient operation of heat pumps will make a significant contribution toward making buildings energy-efficient. In this context, heat pump control systems have a major role. Some of the existing literature on the heat pump control systems assume that various system states are available to measure. This may not always be true and/or economical to measure all the states. Moreover, the system is subject to various disturbances which cannot be directly measured. To reduce the number of sensors in heat pump control systems, an adaptive observer is developed in this paper to estimate inaccessible system states and disturbances simultaneously. An advantage of the proposed approach is that it does not require any bound on the disturbance itself, however, only assumes that the rate of change of disturbance is bounded. This is always the case in practice. In the developed method, adaptive control techniques and variable structure control techniques are combined to implement the proposed observer. In order to estimate the unknown disturbance, an augmented systems model is considered. Globally uniformly ultimately bounded property of the error dynamical systems is established by suitably designing the adaptive laws. The developed method is applied to a model of the heat dynamics of a house floor heating system connected to a ground source-based heat pump. Different disturbance signals formats and amplitudes are considered to show the effectiveness of the proposed technique. Simulation results are given to demonstrate the suitability of the proposed method.

This article studies the problem of fundamental frequency positive-sequence component separation in unbalanced three-phase systems for grid-integration applications. We propose a-simple-to-implement approach involving a modified delayed signal cancellation method and moving average filtering. A delay-based linear-regression framework is considered to make the sequence component separation frequency-adaptive, providing fast and accurate frequency estimation. Comparative experimental results demonstrate the suitability of the proposed method over conventional approaches.

The widespread biomedical and commercial applications of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have increased their potential for human and environmental exposure and toxicity to human health. The bio-distribution and toxicity of AgNPs in rodents following inhalation, intratracheal instillation, and oral ingestion are well documented; however, little is known about the bio-distribution of intravenously (IV)-administered AgNPs and their organ-specific pathophysiological effects. Here, we investigate the pharmacokinetic pattern and tissue distribution of AgNPs in male rats following IV administration. The animals were humanely sacrificed after 10 min, 1 h, 6 h, 12 h, 24 h, and 168 h of AgNP administration, and the silver (Ag) content was measured from blood samples and various tissues following acid digestion. The AgNPs were readily absorbed and subsequently distributed into most organs predominantly in the colon, small intestine, kidney, and heart after 6 h; however, they were the highest in the spinal cord after 168 h. White blood cells (WBCs) were significantly increased (42–60%) in AgNP-administered animals at all time points except 10 min. Regarding platelets, all AgNP-administered animals showed counts 7.8–39.2% lower, with the lowest count at 168 h post-administration. In the case of lymphocytes (LYMs), the AgNP-treated animals exhibited a count 19.5–41% lower at 10 min and 1 h post-administration; however, the animals at 168 h post-administration showed a count 30.5% more. The mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) counts from the AgNP-treated animals were decreased by 50–62%. The concentrations of aspartate transaminase (AST), urea, and creatinine were increased in the AgNP-treated animals. Taken together, the results suggest that the acute IV administration of AgNPs alters metabolic and hematological parameters in animals and may pose a health risk to humans.

Objective: To compare the analgesic effects of Pregabalin and Gabapentin during elective abdominal surgeries. Study Design: Quasi-experimental study. Place and Duration of Study: Combined Military Hospital, Rawalpindi Pakistan, from Feb to Aug 2021. Methodology: Patients with ASA physical status I, II, and III were enrolled in the study. The total number of patients was 152,divided into Group-A, which received 300mg of oral Gabapentin. In contrast, Group-B received 75 mg of oral Pregabalin an hour before induction of general anaesthesia. In addition, the analgesic requirement in the postoperative period, pain visual analogue scores and side effects were recorded. Results: Out of 152 patients recruited in the study 68(44%) were males whereas 84(56%) were females with a mean age of 42.86±7.07 years. Based on ASA classification, 33(22%) patients were from ASA-I, 91(60%) patients were from ASA-II, and 27(18%) patients were from ASA-III. Pregabalin was a potent analgesic with a significant influence on the visual analogue score, increased duration to the first analgesic administration and a decreased consumption of opioids post-operatively compared with Gabapentin revealing significant results (p-value

This study emphasizes the significance of beam–column joints (BCJs) within reinforced concrete (RC) structures and investigates their performance when subjected to seismic forces. Accurately predicting the load-carrying capacity of exterior BCJs under seismic loading poses a significant challenge. The development of a reliable and user-friendly predictive model is of paramount importance for facilitating cost-effective and safe design practices for RC structures. To address this requirement, we propose an artificial intelligence (AI)-based model that utilizes gene expression programming (GEP) to accurately predict the load-carrying capacity of exterior BCJs under monotonic loading conditions. The model is developed using GEP and utilizes a database of 128 joint load-carrying capacity results of exterior BCJs obtained from a validated finite element (FE) model using ABAQUS, which considers the effects of material and geometric factors, which have often been overlooked in prior studies. These factors encompass multiple aspects, including the beam and column dimensions, concrete material properties, longitudinal reinforcements in beams and columns, and axial loads applied to the columns. This study also compared the results of the proposed GEP model with the numerical data obtained from the validated FE model, demonstrating good accuracy and reliability. The proposed model has the potential to improve the accuracy and reliability of joint load-carrying capacity predictions, thereby aiding the design of safe and cost-effective RC structures.

The building and construction industry’s demand for steel reinforcement bars has increased with the rapid growth and development in the world. However, steel production contributes to harmful waste and emissions that cause environmental pollution and climate change-related problems. In light of sustainable construction practices, bamboo, a readily accessible and eco-friendly building material, is suggested as a viable replacement for steel rebars. Its cost-effectiveness, environmental sustainability, and considerable tensile strength make it a promising option. In this research, hybrid beams underwent analysis through the use of thoroughly validated finite element models (FEMs), wherein the replacement of steel rebars with bamboo was explored as an alternative reinforcement material. The standard-size beams were subjected to three-point loading using FEMs to study parameters such as the load–deflection response, energy absorption, maximum capacity, and failure patterns. Then, gene expression programming was integrated to aid in developing a more straightforward equation for predicting the flexural strength of bamboo-reinforced concrete beams. The results of this study support the conclusion that the replacement of a portion of flexural steel with bamboo in reinforced concrete beams does not have a detrimental impact on the overall load-bearing capacity and energy absorption of the structure. Furthermore, it may offer a cost-effective and feasible alternative.

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted the surgical practice throughout the world, including elective surgical care. This study investigated the characteristics of patients undergoing elective surgery, the prevalence of COVID-19 infection, the surgical procedures performed, and 30-day mortality in general and pediatric surgical settings in selected tertiary-level hospitals in Bangladesh from November 2020 to August 2021.MethodsThis serial cross-sectional study included 264 patients scheduled for elective surgeries during the study period. All patients underwent COVID-19 real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing within 24 hours before surgery. Data on age, sex, common comorbidities, surgical procedures, and 30-day mortality were collected and analyzed. Furthermore, comparisons were made between COVID-19 positive and negative patients.ResultsThe prevalence of COVID-19 infection among patients was 10.6%. Older age, a history of major surgery within the last three months, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus were significantly associated with COVID-19 infection. All COVID-19-negative patients underwent surgery, while only 46.4% of COVID-19-positive patients underwent surgery. The most common surgical procedures were related to the digestive system, breast, and urinary system. Only one patient (0.4%) died within 30 days after surgery among the COVID-19-negative patients, whereas two patients (7.1%) died among the COVID-19-positive patients: one before surgery and one after surgery.ConclusionsThis study provides valuable insights into the characteristics, burden of COVID-19 infection, and 30-day mortality of patients undergoing elective surgery in tertiary care centers in Bangladesh during the pandemic.

Abstract Development of advanced grid‐synchronization technique for unbalanced and distorted grid is considered in this paper. In this context, self‐tuning filter (STF) is considered to extract the fundamental component from the measured unbalanced and distorted voltages. Standard STF considers balanced grid voltages which is not always possible to ensure in the actual power grid. To mitigate this issue, an extended STF is proposed by analyzing the standard STF in the state‐space framework. To make the proposed ESTF grid‐following, a robust open‐loop frequency estimator is also applied. The closed‐loop system enjoys excellent filtering benefit from the extended STF side while taking advantage of the fast convergence speed property of the open‐loop frequency estimation technique. Numerical simulation and experimental results with double second‐order generalized integrator phase‐locked loop are provided to validate the theoretical developments.

Unreinforced masonries are weak against seismic loads which necessitates their retrofitting. Ferrocement is widely used as it is cheaper than alternative methods of retrofitting. Some crucial parameters can significantly affect the performance of such retrofitted structures under cyclic loading conditions, such as: aspect ratio, difference of wire mesh arrangements & pattern of retrofitting. To quantify the impact of these parameters, this study has implemented two variations of each parameter. This study conducts experimental investigations of the ferrocement retrofitted unreinforced masonry walls (URM) and evaluation of their properties such as energy dissipation, stiffness degradation, hysteretic damping, ductility, and load deformation responses. Results show notable increase in strength after ferrocement retrofitting of URM walls. Retrofitting of URM walls with inexpensive material such as ferrocement is gaining popularity, our research is guided towards finding the in-plane cyclic load characteristics of such method of retrofitting. Sample walls were prepared in two categories: (1) Long walls (aspect ratio 0.57) and (2) Short walls (aspect ratio 1). A total of ten clay masonry walls (five for each category) were constructed with reinforced concrete base slab. The first variable parameter for the tests was ferrocement coating difference. Some sample walls were retrofitted completely even the base slab & wall panel connection point while on some walls the ferrocement lamination was only applied on the wall panels. Steel wire mesh’s opening size is another crucial variable test parameter. Two different wire mesh opening sizes: (1) 3.2 × 3.6 mm and (2) 8.5 × 8.5 mm were used on the walls. One control specimen with no retrofitting for both short and long walls were prepared for test comparison purpose. Laterally reversed cyclic loads and vertical loads both were applied to the sample walls during tests. Improvements in hysteretic damping, stiffness, energy dissipation and ductility were scrutinized in particular. Finally, a comparison was drawn between the test findings and allowable load provisions prescribed in the Bangladesh National Building Code (BNBC) 1993.

Objective: To compare mean endotracheal tube cuff pressures generated using two endotracheal tube cuff inflation methods;just-Seal versus Stethoscope-Guided in patients undergoing elective surgery under general Anaesthesia. Study Design: Quasi-experimental study. Place and Duration of Study: Anesthesia Department, Combined Military Hospital, Rawalpindi Pakistan, from Jan to Jul 2021. Methodology: A total of 100 patients undergoing elective surgery under general endotracheal tube anaesthesia between 18–60 years of age of either gender were included. Patients were equally allocated (n=50 each) to two Groups, A (Just Seal Group) and B (Stethoscope Guided Group). In the Group-A method, the air was injected until no air leak could be heard. The pressure was measured using a “Portex cuff pressure manometer”. In the Group-B method, a stethoscope bell was placed on the thyroid lamina, and harsh breath sounds were auscultated during ventilation. Cuff was inflated till the sounds changed to smooth sounds. The pressure was measured and then noted down. Results: Among 100 patients, 39 % were males, and 61 % were females. The mean endotracheal cuff pressure in Group-A was 39.90±3.19 centimetres of water and 28.42±3.52 centimetres of water, with Group-B (p-value of 0.001). Conclusion: Post-intubation cuff pressure measured in patients undergoing elective surgery under general anaesthesia of the just seal group is higher than that in the stethoscope-guided group. Keywords: Cuff pressure, Stethoscope-guided, Tracheal intubation.

Objective: Effectiveness of Rikli and Regazzoni Three column theory in treating an intra-articular fracture of the distal radius with T-plate and K-wire in terms of the functional outcome and fracture union. Methods: This comparative study was done using consecutive sampling technique at the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology, King Edward University, Mayo Hospital Lahore from June 2013 to March 2017. The sample size was 60 patients, ages between 15- 60year of age, closed intraarticular fracture of the distal radius, less than one month older were included. Two groups were separated. Group A was managed by percutaneous K-wire fixation, and Group B was dealt with by way of open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) the usage of T- plates. We observed the wound infection, supination and pronation, flexion, and extension at the wrist joint, bone union, and function. All patients were followed up in the out-patient department (OPD), and wound infection and supination & pronation of the forearm were observed clinically. Union was observed using Hammer et al. criteria, and function was evaluated using the DASH score Results: There were 49 (81.7%) males and 11 (18.3%) females with an overall male to female ratio of 4.45:1. There were 33 (55%) cases that had the right side, and 27 (45%) cases had left side involved. The mean age in group-A and group-B was 48.83±11.11 years and 49.87±13.45 years, respectively (p-value >0.05). The median DASH score after 12 months in group A and group B was recorded as 17.4±11.10 and 12.1±6.3, respectively.

Galectin-3 (Gal3) is one of the most studied members of the galectin family that mediate various biological processes such as growth regulation, immune function, cancer metastasis, and apoptosis. Since Gal3 is pro-inflammatory, it is involved in many diseases that are associated with chronic inflammation such as cancer, organ fibrosis, and type 2 diabetes. As a multifunctional protein involved in multiple pathways of many diseases, Gal3 has generated significant interest in pharmaceutical industries. As a result, several Gal3-targeting therapeutic drugs are being developed to address unmet medical needs. Based on the PubMed search of Gal3 to date (1987–2023), here, we briefly describe its structure, carbohydrate-binding properties, endogenous ligands, and roles in various diseases. We also discuss its potential antagonists that are currently being investigated clinically or pre-clinically by the public and private companies. The updated knowledge on Gal3 function in various diseases could initiate new clinical or pre-clinical investigations to test therapeutic strategies, and some of these strategies could be successful and recognized as novel therapeutics for unmet medical needs.

Hand-eye calibration enables proper perception of the environment in which a vision guided robot operates. Additionally, it enables the mapping of the scene in the robots frame. Proper hand-eye calibration is crucial when sub-millimetre perceptual accuracy is needed. For example, in robot assisted surgery, a poorly calibrated robot would cause damage to surrounding vital tissues and organs, endangering the life of a patient. A lot of research has gone into ways of accurately calibrating the hand-eye system of a robot with different levels of success, challenges, resource requirements and complexities. As such, academics and industrial practitioners are faced with the challenge of choosing which algorithm meets the implementation requirements based on the identified constraints. This review aims to give a general overview of the strengths and weaknesses of different hand-eye calibration algorithms available to academics and industrial practitioners to make an informed design decision, as well as incite possible areas of research based on the identified challenges. We also discuss different calibration targets, which is an important part of the calibration process that is often overlooked in the design process.

In this paper, a simple control methodology is proposed to stabilize the position of the sprung mass of the quarter car system. The simplicity of the structure of the proposal facilitates the application in real systems. Such methodology allows five different continuous sliding-mode controllers to be selected by means of two similar designs to mitigate the chattering effect. These robust controllers ensure the exponential stability of the sprung mass of a quarter car system in the presence of some class of non-vanishing disturbances. The closed-loop stability is guaranteed by means of a Lyapunov function approach and Input-to-State Stability properties. Some simulations and comparisons show the effectiveness of the proposed control schemes compared to a classic linear approach. Additionally, some experimental results show the effectiveness of the proposed controllers in the Quanser Active Suspension System.

Grid synchronization plays an important role in the grid integration of renewable energy sources. To achieve grid synchronization, accurate information of the grid voltage signal parameters are needed. Motivated by this important practical application, this paper proposes a state observer-based approach for the parameter estimation of unbalanced three-phase grid voltage signal. The proposed technique can extract the frequency of the distorted grid voltage signal and is able to quantify the grid unbalances. First, a dynamical model of the grid voltage signal is developed considering the disturbances. In the model, frequency of the grid is considered as a constant and/or slowly-varying but unknown quantity. Based on the developed dynamical model, a state observer is proposed. Then using Lyapunov function-based approach, a frequency adaptation law is proposed. The chosen frequency adaptation law guarantees the global convergence of the estimation error dynamics and as a consequence, ensures the global asymptotic convergence of the estimated parameters in the fundamental frequency case. Gain tuning of the proposed state observer is very simple and can be done using Matlab commands. Some guidelines are also provided in this regard. Matlab/Simulink based numerical simulation results and dSPACE 1104 board-based experimental results are provided. Test results demonstrate the superiority and effectiveness of the proposed approach over another state-of-the art technique.

This paper studies the phase and frequency estimation problem of single-phase grid voltage signal in the presence of DC offset and harmonics. For this purpose, a novel parameterized linear model of the grid voltage signal is considered where the unknown frequency of the grid is considered as the parameter. Based on the developed model, a linear observer (Luenberger type) is proposed. Then using Lyapunov stability theory, an estimator of the unknown grid frequency is developed. In order to deal with the grid harmonics, multiple parallel observers are then proposed. The proposed technique is inspired by other Luenberger observers already proposed in the literature. Those techniques use coordinate transformation that requires real-time matrix inverse calculation. The proposed technique avoids real-time matrix inversion by using a novel state-space model of the grid voltage signal. In comparison to similar other techniques available in the literature, no coordinate transformation is required. This significantly reduces the computational complexity w.r.t. similar other techniques. Comparative experimental results are provided with respect to two other recently proposed nonlinear techniques to show the dynamic performance improvement. Experimental results demonstrate the suitability of the proposed technique.

Grid-connected converters are an important class of power electronic systems. Many power and energy applications require grid-connected converters. To control grid-connected converters, precise information of the grid voltage frequency and phase are required. Gradient estimators can be very useful in this regard. They are suitable to estimate the frequency and phase of the grid voltage signal. Various gradient estimators are already available in the literature e.g. regression-based techniques. However, most of them are designed by using the instantaneous estimation error as the cost-function. This amplifies the effect of noise in the estimated parameters. To overcome this issue, an integral cost-function is considered in this paper. The integral cost-function tries to minimize the estimation error over the integration window leading to reduce the effect of noise in the estimated frequency and phase. Moreover, the cost-function uses tunable forgetting factor to give more importance to recent data. The proposed gradient estimator assumes the grid frequency to be constant. However, in practice the frequency is variable with known nominal value. To overcome this problem, a frequency estimation block is coupled with the gradient estimator. The frequency estimation block uses the idea of phase-based frequency estimation. Comparative numerical simulation and experimental studies are performed to demonstrate the suitability of the proposed technique over three other advanced techniques from the literature.

Acute mesenteric ischaemia is one of the serious abdominal surgical emergency, which has got very high morbidity and mortality. During the pandemic of COVID -19, besides respiratory complications, the virus was causing venous and arterial thromboembolism that can lead to acute mesenteric ischaemia in otherwise healthy individuals. Early diagnosis and suitable surgical procedures are the key to the better outcome of this disease. Surgical resection of gangrenous gut, leaving healthy gut is an important step of this operation. Leaving less than 200 cm of small intestine leads to short bowel syndrome which has got its own complication. This case report is on a healthy COVID -19 positive patient who presented with acute mesenteric ischaemia. After surgical resection only 1.5 feet small bowel (60 cm) was left behind and anastomosis was done with healthy transverse colon. ---Continue

Hand-eye calibration is an important step in controlling a vision-guided robot in applications like part assembly, bin picking and inspection operations etc. Many methods for estimating hand-eye transformations have been proposed in literature with varying degrees of complexity and accuracy. However, the success of a vision-guided application is highly impacted by the accuracy the hand-eye calibration of the vision system with the robot. The level of this accuracy depends on several factors such as rotation and translation noise, rotation and translation motion range that must be considered during calibration. Previous studies and benchmarking of the proposed algorithms have largely been focused on the combined effect of rotation and translation noise. This study provides insight on the impact of rotation and translation noise acting in isolation on the hand-eye calibration accuracy. This deviates from the most common method of assessing hand-eye calibration accuracy based on pose noise (combined rotation and translation noise). We also evaluated the impact of the robot motion range used during the hand-eye calibration operation which is rarely considered. We provide quantitative evaluation of our study using six commonly used algorithms from an implementation perspective. We comparatively analyse the performance of these algorithms through simulation case studies and experimental validation using the Universal Robot’s UR5e physical robots. Our results show that these different algorithms perform differently when the noise conditions vary rather than following a general trend. For example, the simultaneous methods are more resistant to rotation noise, whereas the separate methods are better at dealing with translation noise. Additionally, while increasing the robot rotation motion span during calibration enhances the accuracy of the separate methods, it has a negative effect on the simultaneous methods. Conversely, increasing the translation motion range improves the accuracy of simultaneous methods but degrades the accuracy of the separate methods. These findings suggest that those conditions should be considered when benchmarking algorithms or performing a calibration process for enhanced accuracy.

A grid-synchronization-based fundamental frequency positive-sequence (FFPS) and negative-sequence (FFNS) amplitudes estimation technique is proposed for unbalanced and distorted grid. In this technique, the sequence amplitudes are extracted by extracting the phase-angle of the FFPS and FFNS components. The extracted phase-angles have DC and double frequency AC components. The AC component is filtered out by using a Moving Average Filter (MAF) of appropriate window length. From the extracted phase-angle, the unknown frequency can be estimated by using a suitable controller. A frequency-fixed equidistant samples-based pre-loop filter is also applied to eliminate the effect of measurement offset. The proposed technique has a very simple structure and is easy to tune. Small-signal modeling-based stability analysis and gain tuning procedure are also provided. The proposed technique strikes a good balance between fast convergence and disturbance rejection capability. Comparative numerical simulation and experimental results with similar other techniques demonstrate the suitability and performance enhancement by the proposed technique.

The culverts are used to safely convey water under railways, highways, and overpasses. They are utilized in drainage areas or water channels and in areas where the bearing capacity of soil is low. The design and construction of this crucial infrastructure need to be improved to meet contemporary demands of reliability and affordability. Precast reinforced box culverts are popular alternatives as they ensure strength, durability, rigidity, and economy. This research seeks to develop an effective and affordable design improvement procedure for a precast box culvert using modern numerical tools. The Finite Element Method (FEM) based approach is used in studying the effects of haunch geometry and additional steel reinforcement on the load-bearing capacity of box culverts. A conventional box culvert is analyzed to create the numerical models in the Abaqus FEM code and to investigate the load-bearing capacity of culverts with an expanded span. The outcomes of the study reveal the critical places for stress concentration as well as the location of maximum damage. It is found that haunch geometry and additional reinforcement at these critical places significantly affect the load-carrying capacity of a culvert. From the comparison of capacity curves of models with and without haunches and diagonal reinforcement, it is found that a 25% increase in load-carrying capacity is achievable with the recommended changes. The proposed design improvement technique can be employed for the cost-effective and safe design of a concrete box culvert with larger span lengths and high water-flowing capacities. The findings of this study are expected to assist practitioners in strength enhancement tasks of box culverts for increased structural stability and drainage efficiency.

Beam–column connections are the most critical components of reinforced concrete (RC) structures. They serve as a load transfer path and take a significant portion of the overall shear. Joints in RC structures constructed with no seismic provisions have an insufficient capacity and ductility under lateral loading and can cause the progressive failure of the entire structure. The joint may fail in the shear prior to the connecting beam and column elements. Therefore, several modeling techniques have been devised in the past to capture the non-linear response of such joints. Modeling techniques used to capture the non-linear response of reinforced-concrete-beam–column joints range from simplified lumped plasticity models to detailed fiber-based finite element (FE) models. The macro-modeling technique for joint modeling is highly efficient in terms of the computational effort, analysis time, and computer memory requirements, and is one of the most widely used modeling techniques. The non-linear shear response of the joint panel and interface bond–slip mechanism are concentrated in zero-length linear and rotational springs while the connecting elements are modeled through elastic elements. The shear response of joint panels has also been captured through rigid panel boundary elements with rotational springs. The computational efficiency of these models is significantly high compared to continuum models, as each joint act as a separate supe-element. This paper aims to provide an up-to-date review of macro-modeling techniques for the analysis and assessment of RC-beam–column connections subjected to lateral loads. A thorough understanding of existing models is necessary for developing new mechanically adequate and computationally efficient joint models for the analysis and assessment of deficient RC connections. This paper will provide a basis for further research on the topic and will assist in the modification and optimization of existing models. As each model is critically evaluated, and their respective capabilities and limitations are explored, it should help researchers to improve and build on modeling techniques both in terms of accuracy and computational efficiency.

Cancer is a fatal disease worldwide. Each year ten million people are diagnosed around the world, and more than half of patients eventually die from it in many countries. A majority of cancer remains asymptomatic in the earlier stages, with specific symptoms appearing in the advanced stages when the chances of adequate treatment are low. Cancer screening is generally executed by different imaging techniques like ultrasonography (USG), mammography, CT-scan, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Imaging techniques, however, fail to distinguish between cancerous and non-cancerous cells for early diagnosis. To confirm the imaging result, solid and liquid biopsies are done which have certain limitations such as invasive (in case of solid biopsy) or missed early diagnosis due to extremely low concentrations of circulating tumor DNA (in case of liquid biopsy). Therefore, it is essential to detect certain biomarkers by a noninvasive approach. One approach is a proteomic or glycoproteomic study which mostly identifies proteins and glycoproteins present in tissues and serum. Some of these studies are approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Another non-expensive and comparatively easier method to detect glycoprotein biomarkers is by ELISA, which uses lectins of diverse specificities. Several of the FDA approved proteins used as cancer biomarkers do not show optimal sensitivities for precise diagnosis of the diseases. In this regard, expression of phosphoproteins is associated with a more specific stage of a particular disease with high sensitivity and specificity. In this review, we discuss the expression of different serum phosphoproteins in various cancers. These phosphoproteins are detected either by phosphoprotein enrichment by immunoprecipitation using phosphospecific antibody and metal oxide affinity chromatography followed by LC-MS/MS or by 2D gel electrophoresis followed by MALDI-ToF/MS analysis. The updated knowledge on phosphorylated proteins in clinical samples from various cancer patients would help to develop these serum phophoproteins as potential diagnostic/prognostic biomarkers of cancer.

Second-Order Generalized Integrator -- Frequency-Locked Loop (SOGI-FLL) is a popular technique available in the grid synchronization literature. This technique uses gain normalization in the frequency locked-loop. This increases the computational complexity. In this paper, we propose an alternative implementation to reduce the computational complexity of the SOGI-FLL. The proposed implementation modifies mainly the frequency locked-loop part and requires normalized voltage measurement. dSPACE 1104 board-based hardware implementation shows that the proposed implementation executes 20% faster than the standard implementation. This could be very beneficial for high switching frequency application e.g. >= 1MHz. In addition to the nominal frequency case, multi-resonant implementation is also proposed to tackle grid harmonics using a~simpler harmonic decoupling network. Small signal dynamical modeling and tuning are performed for both implementations. Dynamical equivalence is also established between the two implementations. Experimental comparative analysis demonstrates similar or better performance (depending on test scenarios) with respect to the standard implementation of the SOGI-FLL.

Backgrounds: Malaria is a major public health problem in the tropical and subtropical areas of the world, including Africa. Most cases of malaria in Africa are caused by Plasmodium falciparum. Objectives: This study was aimed to assess the hematological changes in patient with falciparum malaria and to estimate the incidence of leucopenia, thrombocytopenia, and its response to anti-malaria therapy, and to correlate the association of the hematological changes with P. falciparum-positive (study group) and P. falciparum-negative (control group). Methodology: A total of 453 participants (353 cases and 100 as control group) were enrolled in this study, all of them were randomly selected from Elnihoud Teaching Hospital, Elnihoud Locality, West Kordufan State, Sudan. Questionnaire was filled by every participant and thick and thin blood films for malaria were prepared and stained by giemsa stain and the CBC was done by sysmex automated hematological analyzer. Results: Thrombocytopenia, leucopenia, microcytic hypochromic red blood cells and relative lymphocytosis have significant association with falciparum malaria with P-values 0.008, 0.001, 0.008, and 0.004, respectively. Conclusion: Patients with thrombocytopenia and/or leucopenia with malaria should receive anti-malaria therapy and follow-up by CBC, and shouldn't be hurried for a bone marrow examination.

Smart greenhouse farming has emerged as one of the solutions to global food security, where farming productivity can be managed and improved in an automated manner. While it is known that plant development is highly dependent on the quantity and quality of light exposure, the specific impact of the different light properties is yet to be fully understood. In this study, using the model plant Arabidopsis, we systematically investigate how six different light properties (i.e., photoperiod, light offset, intensity, phase of dawn, duration of twilight and period) would affect plant development i.e., flowering time and hypocotyl (seedling stem) elongation using an established mathematical model of the plant circadian system relating light input to flowering time and hypocotyl elongation outputs for smart greenhouse application. We vary each of the light properties individually and then collectively to understand their effect on plant development. Our analyses show in comparison to the nominal value, the photoperiod of 18 hours, period of 24 hours, no light offset, phase of dawn of 0 hour, duration of twilight of 0.05 hour and a reduced light intensity of 1% are able to improve by at least 30% in days to flower (from 32.52 days to 20.61 days) and hypocotyl length (from 1.90 mm to 1.19mm) with the added benefit of reducing energy consumption by at least 15% (from 4.27 MWh/year to 3.62 MWh/year). These findings could provide beneficial solutions to the smart greenhouse farming industries in terms of achieving enhanced productivity while consuming less energy.

Due to overexploitation and lower rainfall rates, it is essential to study the detailed water balance of the Keenjhar lake by considering the climate change impacts and higher water demands linked with the population growth. A hydrological model of Keenjhar Lake is developed based on a system dynamic approach using STELLA (Structural Thinking and Experiential Learning Laboratory with Animation). The model (STELLA) developed in the current research study comprises the following three sub-systems: population, water supply, and water demand. The hydrological and climate data for the period of seventeen years (2000–2016) is used in the current study. The monthly water budget of the Keenjhar Lake is determined by inflow components such as rainfall and the Kalri-Baghar Feeder (K.B.F) (upper) and outflow components such as evaporation, the K.B. Feeder (lower), and the Keenjhar-Gujju (K.G) canal from the lake. The water balance results revealed that the contribution of direct rainfall and the annual inflow components to the lake are 22.03% and 77.91%, respectively. Whereas the evaporation, outflow to K.B.F lower and water abstraction to the K.G. Canal constituted about 5.78%, 92.55%, and 1.57% of the total annual outflow from the lake, respectively. Moreover, the annual inflow components of the water budget of the lake showed a declining trend while the outflow components (water abstraction) intimated an increasing trend. The study results also acknowledged that the demand for water can increase from 3 × 1010 ft3/yr up to 1.2 × 1011 ft3/yr by the year 2050 (influence of overdrawing of water due to population growth), and water supply may decrease to 9.066 × 1010 ft3 (rainfall depletion due to climate change). A detailed water balance explains the main water loss components and will help in developing better water management practices and well-informed policy decisions.

The study empirically investigates the impact of managerial competency and learning orientation on job performance of individuals working in the software industry of Pakistan. Social skills have been introduced as a moderator alongside entrepreneurial leadership which acts as a mediator in both relationships. The data from 384 respondents, collected through survey, was analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) through SmartPLS. The results suggested that managerial competency and learning orientation are positively related to job performance, and entrepreneurial leadership partially mediated the relationship of managerial competency and job performance, and learning orientation and job performance. Social skills moderate the relationship of managerial competency and job performance, while the moderating role of social skills was not found for the association of learning orientation and job performance. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first investigation of its kind, incorporating technical and behavioral aspects (social skills) in a single framework. The study contributes to the existing literature by analyzing the impact of aforementioned relationships in the Pakistani organizational context. The study may present vital insights for organizations to prioritize development of managerial competencies, learning orientation, entrepreneurial leadership and social skills for improved job performance.

This study examines the relationship between knowledge management practices and firm innovation with the mediating effect of knowledge application. For the said purposes, data were collected from 140 firms that belong to the services sector. 600 questionnaires were distributed in the services sector by using the drop-off and pick up technique. The number of returned questionnaires was 545, but 45 questionnaires were rejected because they did not contain the required information. A simple random sampling technique is used for the data collection. The sampling technique followed the steps recommended for studies utilizing structural equational modeling (SEM). The data was entered into SPSS and AMOS for structural equation modeling. The empirical analysis shows that knowledge generation and knowledge diffusion have a significant positive effect on firm innovation while knowledge storage does not affect firm innovation. Moreover, knowledge application mediates the relationship between knowledge generation, knowledge storage, and firm innovation. While knowledge application does not play the mediation role between knowledge diffusion and innovation performance. Also, this study furnishes several future directions for academic scholars and participation. The limitations have also been discussed. Keywords: Knowledge Management Practices; Knowledge Generation; Knowledge Application; Knowledge Storage; Knowledge Diffusion; Innovation Performance JEL Classifications: O31; O32 DOI: https://doi.org/10.32479/irmm.10196