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The discharge capacity of the piano key weir (PKW) is an important flow feature which ultimately decides the design of PKWs. In the present research work, the different architecture of artificial neural networks (ANNs) was employed to predict the discharge capacity of the trapezoidal piano key weir (TPKW) by varying geometric parameters. Furthermore, adaptive neuro-fuzzy interference system (ANFIS), support vector machines (SVMs) and non-linear regression (RM) techniques were also applied to compare the performance of best ANN models. The performance of each model was evaluated using statistical indices including scatter-index (SI); coefficient of determination (R2) and mean square error (MSE). The prediction capability of all the models was found to be satisfactory. However, results predicted by ANN-22(H-15) [R2 = 0.998, MSE= 0.0024, SI = 0.0177] were more accurate than ANFIS (R2 = 0.995, MSE = 0.00039, SI=0.0256), SVM (R2 = 0.982, MSE = 0.000864, SI =0.0395) and RM (R2 = 0.978, MSE = 0.001, SI = 0.0411). It was observed that Si/So, Wi/Wo and L/W ratios have the greatest effect on the discharge performance of TPKW. Furthermore, sensitivity analysis confirmed that h/P is the most influencing ratio which may considerably affect the discharge efficiency of the TPKW and ANN architecture having a single hidden layer and keeping neurons three times of input parameters in hidden layers generated better results. HIGHLIGHTS Application of artificial neural networks in the prediction of discharge capacity of a trapezoidal piano key weir.; Experimental study of the type-A trapezoidal piano key weir.; Prediction of most influencing geometric parameters on the discharge capacity of a trapezoidal piano key weir.;

Introduction: Hip surgery is a common surgical procedure in the elderly population, leading to significant pain. Ultrasound (USG)guided regional nerve blocks are a newer, safe, and effective postoperative pain control modality for elderly patients. Aim: To compare the analgesic efficacy of Fascia Iliaca Compartment Block (FICB) with the three-in-one block for postoperative analgesia in elderly patients after lower limb orthopaedic surgeries. Materials and Methods: It was a randomised double- blinded study performed at Uttar Pradesh University of Medical Sciences, Saifai, Etawah, Uttar Pradesh, India on 60 elderly patients of Americian Soceity of Anaesthesiologists (ASA) class I-II scheduled for elective hip and femur shaft surgery under spinal anaesthesia.All patients were randomly allocated into two groups. Group A received ultrasound-guided FICB with 35-40 mL of 0.25% bupivacaine, and group B received ultrasound-guided three-in-one block with 35-40 mL of 0.25% bupivacaine after completion of surgery. In the postoperative period, pain was assessed using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), and inj. diclofenac sodium 1.5 mg/kg intravenous (i.v.) was given as rescue analgesic whenever VAS was ≥4. The primary outcome was changes in VAS scores at rest and during passive leg elevation between the two groups at various time intervals within 24 hours. Secondary outcomes measured were the duration of analgesia and total rescue analgesic required in 24 hours. Qualitative variables were compared between groups using the Chi-square test. A p-value

Objective: It is a crucial to understand the pattern of Bone Mineral Density (BMD) in a population to prevent and manage the complication of osteoporosis along with diagnosis. The purpose of the study is to evaluate the factors causing osteoporosis in an apparently healthy population and examine the bone health status. Methodology: A retrospective study was performed by examining the medical records in a Muneefa cardiac and general clinic for those subjects who had done with BMD measurements for preventive health checksup. The BMD was measured by using a Sonost 3000(Ultrasound Bone Densiometer) from Osteosys CO. Ltd. Korea. Results: About 161 subjects of aged 50.0±12.4 years (range: 20–70 years) were assessed, which included 93 male subjects which is 57.7% and 68 female subjects which is 42.23%. The evaluation of data revealed that 13.26% of the subjects fall under the category of Osteoporosis, in which 17.64% were female and 10.75% were male, while 22.98% subjects fall under the category of osteopenia in which 30.88% were female and 17.20% were male. Prevalence ratio of osteoporosis is higher in female subjects than male. According to the category of age - groups (20–29, 30–39, 40–49, 50–59, 60–69, and =70 years) in males osteoporosis rate were 30, 20, 20, 10, 10, and 10 percent respectively, while prevalence in females were 8.33, 16.66, 8.33, 25, 25, and 16.66 percent respectively, at peripheral (radius) bone. Body mass index, and lifestyle including (smoking, physical activity, and diet) were correlated with BMD. In elderly patients’ osteoporosis and osteopenia are common conditions that can seriously affect their quality of life. Conclusion: Further prospective studies are required to elucidate the comparative importance of nutritional status, level of activity, medication usage, and other factors in the pathways that correlate age and gender specified illnesses to BMD.

IntroductionMild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a stage between health and dementia, with various symptoms including memory, language, and visuospatial impairment. Chiropractic, a manual therapy that seeks to improve the function of the body and spine, has been shown to affect sensorimotor processing, multimodal sensory processing, and mental processing tasks.MethodsIn this paper, the effect of chiropractic intervention on Electroencephalogram (EEG) signals in patients with mild cognitive impairment was investigated. EEG signals from two groups of patients with mild cognitive impairment (n = 13 people in each group) were recorded pre- and post-control and chiropractic intervention. A comparison of relative power was done with the support vector machine (SVM) method and non-parametric cluster-based permutation test showing the two groups could be separately identified with high accuracy.ResultsThe highest accuracy was obtained in beta2 (25–35 Hz) and theta (4–8 Hz) bands. A comparison of different brain areas with the SVM method showed that the intervention had a greater effect on frontal areas. Also, interhemispheric coherence in all regions increased significantly after the intervention. The results of the Wilcoxon test showed that intrahemispheric coherence changes in frontal-occipital, frontal-temporal and right temporal-occipital regions were significantly different in two groups.DiscussionComparison of the results obtained from chiropractic intervention and previous studies shows that chiropractic intervention can have a positive effect on MCI disease and using this method may slow down the progression of mild cognitive impairment to Alzheimer’s disease.

Purpose: The purpose of the study is to explore how the green awareness of followers influences the green organizational commitment of leaders. This investigation took into account the moderating role of followers perceived organizational support and the mediating effect of leaders' green intrinsic motivation. Design/methodology/approach: The quantitative data collected from pharmaceutical companies was analyzed through SEM-PLS and Johnson–Neyman's moderated mediation plot. Findings: The findings reveal the significance of all hypotheses. Follower green awareness emerges as a crucial catalyst for instigating green practices within pharmaceutical companies, concurrently fostering leaders' commitment to environmentally friendly initiatives. Additionally, Leader Green Intrinsic Motivation (LGIM) plays a partial mediating role in the association between Follower Green Awareness (FGA) and Leader Green Organizational Commitment (LGOC). Notably, the indirect relation involving FGA, LGIM, and LGOC is subject to moderation by Follower Perceived Organizational Support (FPOS). Practical implications: These results highlight the pivotal role of Follower Green Awareness (FGA) in promoting eco-friendly practices within companies. Consequently, organizations should prioritize recruiting, retaining, and investing in followers who possess a heightened level of green awareness to reinforce Leader Green Organizational Commitment. The perspective of green followership holds significant importance in advancing sustainability efforts. Originality/value: This research examined Shamir's (2007) ``Reversing the Lens'' viewpoint, asserting that followers hold a crucial position in leadership. The results indicated that followers play an equally significant role as leaders in the context of effective green leadership. Furthermore, the findings expand upon the Leader-Member Exchange theory by proposing that followers contribute valuable resources to leaders, including knowledge, expertise, and support.

The COVID-19 pandemic has created a more stressful and uncertain work environments, disrupting personal and organizational lives, and particularly the impact of this crises on health care professionals (i.e., doctors and nurses) is unprecedented. COVID-19 has increased the workload and job risks for frontline health care professionals, causing them significant emotional stress. In such testing times, individual’s personal effectiveness ensued by the utilization of one’s personal energy may be helpful in not only ensuring wellbeing but also providing other desired results, for example, enhanced performance. Based on this notion, we conducted a study (amidst the third wave in mid-2021) using a multi-wave design to investigate the role of professional self-efficacy of health care professionals in well-being and behavioral outcomes during crises of COVID-19. The hypothesized relationships were tested by collecting data from 361 frontline healthcare professionals dealing with COVID-19 patients in hospitals in Northern part of Pakistan. The study results verified our assumed relationships and revealed that health care workers’ professional self-efficacy was positively related to their well-being, in terms of workplace thriving, and it also showed positive association with work role performance. In addition, the results of the study also revealed that perceived strengths use mediated the relationship between professional self-efficacy and outcomes. This study discusses implications, limitations, and future directions in detail, including how the findings can be used to inform interventions and support healthcare professionals dealing with the emotional and professional stresses brought on by the pandemic.

The macroscopic continuum traffic flow models are being investigated to predict and ameliorate traffic more efficiently. These models are beneficial implementation tools to comprehend and complement the shortfalls in traffic evolution. Despite the significant enhancements in devising the traffic dynamics, the practical utilization of these macroscopic models is not being fully explored. In this study, the Non-Homogeneous Stimulus-Response Model (NHSRM) (Imran et al., 2023) is investigated for its application in forecasting traffic flow on a curvy highway during various weather conditions. The weather impact, in the specific, dry, light rainfall, moderate rainfall, and heavy rainfall on the travel time, velocity, and density spatiotemporal evolution on a curvy highway is analyzed. The flow during different weather conditions is investigated over two curved roads with 120 m, and 500 m radii. As evident from the results, significant velocity breakdowns during heavy rainfall impact the upstream traffic which contributes to congestion development. The average velocity of traffic depletes significantly, and the congestion formation upstream is significant. While the travel time of particular highway segments elevates sharply during heavy rainfall. A comprehensive understanding of the insights, and the criticality associated with the parameters of the model, in particular, on the choice of the maximum velocity of the highway has been presented for NHSRM.

Abstract Porous materials are promising for energy applications and MOF‐derived layered double hydroxide (LDH) nanosheets vertically align on the conductive substrates showed an ultrathin porous morphology with tunable coordination environments for the metallic sites. This unique structure provides larger surface area, better intrinsic electrochemical activity than conventional LDH nanosheets. Herein, the synthetic strategies of MOF‐derived LDHs and their promising applications in electrochemistry are reviewed, presenting the significant potential and challenges of MOFs‐derived LDH nanosheets in advanced energy storage and conversion applications, providing an effective platform for efficient and sustainable MOFs‐based systems in future.

Despite its worldwide adoption in many countries, rubberized asphalt mixtures are not fully incorporated as an alternative paving material in current Italian road specifications. This reluctance stems from a lack of experience, resistance to change in established work practices, and, sometimes, insufficient evidence demonstrating tangible benefits with local specifications. Furthermore, conventional characterization methods such as void checks and indirect tensile strength testing by means of IDT may not accurately capture the true benefits of using alternative paving materials. This study introduces performance-driven characterization approaches with the final aim of evaluating whether more advanced procedures may provide additional information compared to current practices and, in turn, promote the use of alternative paving materials. Hence, an investigation has been conducted to compare the rutting behavior of conventional asphalt mixtures with those modified with engineered crumb rubber (ECR). This comparison utilized performance-driven characterization approaches, including a basic IDT-based methodology at higher temperatures (HT-IDT), as well as two more sophisticated approaches, the Stress Sweep Rutting (SSR) and Flow Number (FN) tests, using the asphalt mixture performance tester (AMPT). Finally, the results were compared with those obtained using the IDT, a conventional method as specified by the major Italian road authority. As a result, the addition of ECR proves beneficial in enhancing the qualities of dense mixtures tailored for use on urban and secondary roads; however, only performance-driven characterization, with both basic and advanced methodologies, can clearly describe the pivotal role of ECR in achieving discernible enhancements in the rutting behavior of asphalt mixtures.

Despite most episodes of low back pain (LBP) being short-lasting, some transition into persistent long-lasting problems. Hence, the need for a deeper understanding of the physiological mechanisms of this is pertinent. Therefore, the aims of the present study are (1) to map pain-induced changes in brain activity and blood gene expression associated with persistent LBP, and (2) to explore whether these brain and gene expression signatures show promise as predictive biomarkers for the development of persistent LBP. The participants will be allocated into three different pain groups (no pain, mild short-lasting, or moderate long-term). One in-person visit, where two blood samples will be collected and sent for RNA sequencing, along with resting 64-channel electro-encephalography measurements before, during, and after a cold pressor test, will be conducted. Thereafter, follow-up questionnaires will be distributed at 2 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months. Recruitment will start during the second quarter of 2024, with expected completion by the last quarter of 2024. The results are expected to provide insight into the relationship between central nervous system activity, gene expression profiles, and LBP. If successful, this study has the potential to provide physiological indicators that are sensitive to the transition from mild, short-term LBP to more problematic, long-term LBP.

Staggered vegetation patches (central and outer) in an open channel have a significant effect on flow structure and river geomorphology. Although investigation on vegetation patches has been done in the past, however none of the past studies was carried out for varying submergence conditions from outer to central patches or for layered staggered patches with varying submergence. This knowledge gap has been attempted to bridge in this study. In this research work, a numerical technique has been used to analyze the flow behavior in a riverine flow by modeling central and outer vegetation patches as rigid elements in a rectangular channel. The influence of various vegetation patch configurations and submergence conditions were studied on flow characteristics. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) package FLUENT was used for simulation purposes. Results showed that the flow in the central region of the channel was highly non-uniform, having a longitudinal distribution of velocities with alternating peaks and troughs throughout the central portion of the channel. However, in the outer regions, the velocity pattern acquired sawtooth distribution inside the patch regions (PR) but stabilized in the free regions (FR). Outer FR has 9% less velocities as compared to central FR. Moreover, the inflection point in velocity profiles and the bulge in contour plots was observed which triggered the shear layer at the top of submerged vegetation and at the interface of outer FR and central PR or vice versa. A complex pattern of secondary flow was also observed due to the turbulence anisotropy in the channel and its magnitude ranged from 0.1 to 3.7% of average velocity U. The results also showed that the state of submergence has a notable effect on the flow blockage and percentage of discharge passing through various regions.

Brand Service Recovery Strategies (BSRS) have garnered significant attention due to their transformative potential in traditional business practices. However, the precise influence of BSRS on fostering positive Electronic Word of Mouth (eWOM) remains inadequately elucidated within the academic literature. Most scholarly investigations have tended to adopt either a theoretical perspective or have overlooked intermediary factors, particularly the role of consumer attitudes toward the brand. Drawing upon the Social Exchange Theory, this study presents an empirical model that seeks to examine whether consumer attitude toward the brand mediates the relationship between BSRS and positive eWOM. Based on survey data from 292 Executive MBA students in a large Chinese university, our study confirms that BSRS strongly impact consumer attitudes, leading to increased positive eWOM. Additionally, we discover that consumer power plays a moderating role, highlighting its contextual importance in this relationship. This study provides vital practical insights for businesses, emphasizing the need for comprehensive strategies involving BSRS, fostering positive consumer attitudes, active eWOM engagement, tailored approaches for consumer power, and ongoing adaptation to customer feedback, all contributing to improved brand perception and customer satisfaction in today’s business environment.

AbstractThis purpose of this study is to examine the underline mechanism (i.e. green employee empowerment (GEE)) between the relationship of green human resource management (GHRM) and green knowledge sharing (GKS) of employees. Additionally, is to examine the moderating effect of individual green value (IGV) between the relationship of GEE and GKS behaviors. Survey method was used to collect the data from employees working in manufacturing organizations of Pakistan. The study hypotheses were test with a usable sample of 359 through SPSS 22.0 and AMOS 22.0. The findings explain that GHRM has positive influence on GEE, and GEE positively influence GKS behaviors. Further, the results confirmed that GEE mediated the relationship of GHRM and GKS behaviors. Moreover, the findings also established the moderating role of IGV between the relationship of GEE and GKS behaviors such as the relationship is strengthened at high level of IGV. Also, based on the finding, implication for theory and practice, and directions for future research are discussed.

Objectives: In this study, we explored the effects of chiropractic spinal adjustments on resting-state electroencephalography (EEG) recordings and early somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) in Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. Methods: In this randomized cross-over study, 14 adults with Alzheimer’s disease (average age 67 ± 6 years, 2 females:12 males) and 14 adults with Parkinson’s disease (average age 62 ± 11 years, 1 female:13 males) participated. The participants underwent chiropractic spinal adjustments and a control (sham) intervention in a randomized order, with a minimum of one week between each intervention. EEG was recorded before and after each intervention, both during rest and stimulation of the right median nerve. The power-spectra was calculated for resting-state EEG, and the amplitude of the N30 peak was assessed for the SEPs. The source localization was performed on the power-spectra of resting-state EEG and the N30 SEP peak. Results: Chiropractic spinal adjustment significantly reduced the N30 peak in individuals with Alzheimer’s by 15% (p = 0.027). While other outcomes did not reach significance, resting-state EEG showed an increase in absolute power in all frequency bands after chiropractic spinal adjustments in individuals with Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. The findings revealed a notable enhancement in connectivity within the Default Mode Network (DMN) at the alpha, beta, and theta frequency bands among individuals undergoing chiropractic adjustments. Conclusions: We found that it is feasible to record EEG/SEP in individuals with Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. Additionally, a single session of chiropractic spinal adjustment reduced the somatosensory evoked N30 potential and enhancement in connectivity within the DMN at the alpha, beta, and theta frequency bands in individuals with Alzheimer’s disease. Future studies may require a larger sample size to estimate the effects of chiropractic spinal adjustment on brain activity. Given the preliminary nature of our findings, caution is warranted when considering the clinical implications. Clinical Trial Registration: The study was registered by the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (registration number ACTRN12618001217291 and 12618001218280).

The present work aims to evaluate Rosa x damascena Herrm. and Pelargonium graveolens L’Hér. essential oils, and the major constituent geraniol for their in vitro and in silico inhibitory activities against 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX), cyclooxygenase (COX), acetyl cholinesterase (AChE), butyryl cholinesterase (BuChE), and angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE2) enzymes. Geraniol most potently inhibited the ACE2 relative to other enzymes. R. damascena essential oil moderately inhibited the cancer cell lines with no toxic effects on healthy HEK 293 cells. P. graveolens essential oil inhibited a number of cancer cell lines including A549, MCF7, PC3, and HEK 293 that are reported here for the first time. The molecular docking of geraniol with the target enzymes revealed that it binds to the active sites similar to that of known drugs. Geraniol carries the potential for further drug development due to its drug-like binding mode for the target enzymes. Our work confirms that these essential oils possess similar biological activities due to their similar phytochemistry in terms of the major constituents of the plants. The promising biological activities reported in this work further warrant the inclusion of in vivo studies to establish safe use of the target essential oils and their constituents.

Spur dikes are widely used as river training structures throughout the globe to improve navigation, strengthen flood protection, and save erodible banks. This study investigates the flow behaviour of multiple spurs using similar and different head shapes instead of adding an extra structure. The novelty of the study lies in finding out the best combination of head shapes among circular (C), rectangular (R), and triangular (T) that can reduce the responsible factors of scouring and erosion. The responsible factors for scour and erosion include high magnitude velocity, pressure, turbulence kinetic energy (TKE), Reynold stresses, and wall shear stresses. Nine combinations (3 same, i.e., CCC, RRR, and TTT and six different, i.e., CRC, CTC, RCR, RTR, TCT, TRT) of spurs were investigated using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) code FLUENT. Firstly, in the analysis of similar head shapes, more reduction in the values of scour and erosion responsible factors were observed in CCC combination (20% in velocity, 45% in pressure, 41% in TKE, and 43% in normal Reynold stresses). Finally, the reduction was further improved in analysing different head shapes. The CTC combination showed the most effective results in reducing the prescribed factors (43% in velocity, 57% in pressure, 51% in TKE, and 54% in normal Reynold stresses) compared to both combinations of head shapes. Therefore, to protect riverbank and spur head failure due to severe turbulent flow, the combination of spurs (CTC) could be preferred.

Commercial boundaries have been erased by markets globalization. Companies around the world compete with each other and thus are enforced to improve their products and processes. These improvements depend on a number of factors such as proper management, working environment, and available technology, etc. Inappropriate design of the working environment is one of the main reasons for lower productivity. Inadequate and incomplete working environments caused by ignoring standard methods in planning level, persistent physical disorders and increase mistakes impact the productivity in the working environment. Maximum productivity, with less physical load and energy consumption, is achieved when the compliance occurs between worker and task. This paper aims to optimize ineffective time and eliminate undesired operations at Molding Compound Manufacturing plants using the time and motion study techniques. The results represent a significant improvement in the production process in productivity and cycle time to optimize the system. There is a substantial increase in the production of the product by simplifying the working method and changing the work sequence. Productivity is improved by eliminating unnecessary movements, simplifying individual tasks and changing operations sequence. Results show that time for each milling operation reduced from 36.3 minutes to 22.5 min, the number of machines reduced from 4 to 3.48 and productivity improved from 5 bags per hour per worker to 7.14 bags per hour per worker.

Objective: To compare the oncological outcomes after colorectal cancer surgery in patients undergoing laparoscopic versus open procedures for colorectal carcinoma. Study Design: Comparative Cross-sectional Study. Place and Duration of Study: Surgical Department Combined Military Hospital, Rawalpindi and Histopathology Department Armed Forces Institute of Pathology Rawalpindi Pakistan, from June 2021 to March 2022. Methodology: This study was conducted on 60 patients who underwent oncological surgery for colorectal cancer via the open or laparoscopic method. Data were collected for all the patients from the Histopathology Department regarding proximal margin involvement, circumferential margin involvement, distal margin involvement, tumour perforation and lymph nodes resected. These parameters were compared in patients undergoing open or laparoscopic methods. Results: Out of 60 patients included in the final analysis, 41(68.3%) were males, and 19(31.7%) were females. The mean age of patients who underwent open or laparoscopic surgery for colorectal cancer in our study was 44.67±7.537 years. 32(53.3%)patients underwent laparoscopic surgery, while 28(46.7%) underwent an open surgical procedure. Statistical tests revealed that both Groups found that proximal margin involvement, circumferential margin involvement, distal margin involvement,tumour perforation, and the number of lymph nodes resected were not statistically significant (p-value>0.05). Conclusion: Oncological outcomes on histopathology were not different in patients undergoing the open or laparoscopic procedure. Therefore, laparoscopic colonic resection is oncologically equivalent to open resection.

It is looked into how fractional MHD and viscous fluid naturally flow across a vertical plate that oscillates with a steady heat flux in a porous medium. The analytical solution for non-dimensional momentum was generated using the Laplace transform and the Boussinesq approximation. Comparisons are presented between Fourier’s law-described classical thermal transport and Prabhakar-like fractional time free convection flows in terms of temperature and velocity. By using fractional viscous fluid, we were able to produce conventional viscous fluid solutions and complete their objective. Finally, diagrams are used to show how different parameters such as Prandtl number, fractional parameters, Grashof number, effective permeability, time on temperature and velocity, and graphically recovered the solution available in the literature.

Abstract Background Pakistan being a low‐ and middle‐income country, its institutes are substantially deficient in scientific and technological aspects and share limited research contributions to the world repositories. Therefore, there is a rising concern to reflect on the history and status of publishing attitudes among medical students in Pakistan and to highlight and address the barriers that they are facing. Methods A study was conducted aiming to determine the experience, motivation, and attitude of medical students in regarding publishing practices throughout Pakistan in several medical colleges. A multivariable logistic regression model was used to find the independent predictors of students publishing a research article. Forward selection was used to arrive at the final stepwise logistic regression. Odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated. p

Even though alternative paving materials, like rubberized asphalt, are sometimes present in specifications, these are still not widely adopted from road agencies mainly due to a lack of experience, reticence in changing work habits and, often, a lack of evidence of real gains in the change. Authors believe that performance-based laboratory characterization is a solution to highlight differences with conventional asphalt mixtures. Hence, this research wants to highlight the differences between designing asphalt mixtures modified with engineered crumb rubber (ECR) on the basis of conventional indirect tensile testing (ITS), as prescribed by Italian specifications, and by means of performance-related characterization. ECR allows to asphalt mixtures to be modified through a dry process without inconveniences such as uncontrolled swelling and the generation of fumes; on the other hand, performance-related characterization focuses on highlighting rutting behavior by using a basic approach, still based on ITS, and a more advanced viscoplastic methodology using the asphalt mixture performance tester (AMPT). As a result, performance-related characterization is necessary to highlight clear gains in the rutting behavior of the asphalt mixtures modified with ECR. Advanced methodology by means of AMPT provides a fine-tuned characterization; however, the basic approach by means of ITS already highlights the differences in performance. ECR could be widely used to improve the properties of dense mixtures for roads with low traffic; in fact, it solves many of the practical issues of adding crumb rubber through a dry process and greatly improves paving material properties compared to conventional asphalt mixtures, with an increase in cost of only 10%.

Scene recognition is used in many computer vision and related applications, including information retrieval, robotics, real-time monitoring, and event-classification. Due to the complex nature of the task of scene recognition, it has been greatly improved by deep learning architectures that can be trained by utilizing large and comprehensive datasets. This paper presents a scene classification method in which local and global features are used and are concatenated with the DCT-Convolutional features of AlexNet. The features are fed into AlexNet's fully connected layers for classification. The local and global features are made efficient by selecting the correct size of Bag of Visual Words (BOVW) and feature selection techniques, which are evaluated in the experimentation section. We used AlexNet with the modification of adding additional dense fully connected layers and compared its result with the model previously trained on the Places365 dataset. Our model is also compared with other scene recognition methods, and it clearly outperforms in terms of accuracy.

Global competitiveness leads industry to meet the customer needs by short lead time to market and quality products with low prices. Survival in such a market can be accomplished by either adopting latest technologies or improving the existing systems to the best possible level. Acquiring these technologies need heavy investments and consistent demands due to which small and medium industries skip this option and tend to opt for other choice that is: improve the existing system. Material handling activities contributes a significant investment in production cost. Effective handling system reduces total production cost while considering ergonomics issues improves the productivity. This paper presents a conceptual framework with material handling systems design and the effects of human factors to improve productivity by reducing cost and optimizing quality. The framework provides a general methodology for analyzing a manufacturing/production line. Procedure for its implementation is discussed in a hierarchical way and finally the framework is used to analyze the production lines of a petrochemical industry. The analysis results in successful improvement of the process with 15% increase in overall manufacturing cycle efficiency.

Based on social learning theory, the present study investigates the influence of inclusive leadership on employees’ helping behaviors. Further, psychological mechanisms (psychological safety and psychological engagement) are investigated in the relationship between inclusive leadership and employees’ helping behaviors. The data was collected in three time-lags through a questionnaire from 409 nurses working in the health sector of Pakistan. The collected data was analyzed through IBM-SPSS and AMOS to test the proposed model. The study’s findings show that inclusive leadership positively influences employees helping behaviors. Moreover, the psychological factors (i.e., safety and engagement) mediate the relationship between inclusive leadership and employees’ helping behaviors. Theoretical and practical implications for managers, practitioners, and organizations are discussed, while study limitations and directions for future research are also highlighted.

In recent years, heavy metals and other organic compound pollution has increased and become a considerable global problem due to its direct impacts on the aquatic ecosystem. This study is aimed to see how efficient the poultry manure-derived biochar is in removing chromium (VI) and methyl orange simultaneously from the aqueous solutions through adsorption. Chromium present in the form of reactive ions such as HCrO4− and Cr2O72− at pH 2–6 values and in stable form, CrO4− at alkaline pH. In this study, biochar was synthesized by the slow pyrolysis of feedstock in a muffle furnace at 550°C temperature with 2 mm particle size. This study provided the biochar with SBET 16.0921 m2/g rough stomata-like pores with a volume of 0.0074 cm³/g, pore diameter 1.84 nm, aromatic groups, and structural diversity. A batch adsorption experiment was conducted to investigate the adsorption efficiency, and mechanism was elucidated by fitting isotherm and kinetic models and result analysis along with the thermodynamics. From the linear Langmuir fit results the maximum adsorption capacity (qmax) of biochar reached up to 20.8 and 19.09 mg g−1 for MO and Cr, respectively. Different operational factors like reaction time, pollutant initial concentration, effect of temperature, and sorbent material dose were studied at pH 4 and initial concentration of 100 mg/L using 2 g of the adsorbent dose. The linear Langmuir well fitted with the experimental data having R2 value of 0.99 and 0.99 for MO and Cr, respectively. From the obtained results, the highest adsorption efficiency reached 88.80% and 90.231% for MO and Cr, respectively.From kinetics study, non-linear pseudo–second-order (PSO) model are highly fitted with the obtained data with R2 of 0.97 and 0.974 for MO and Cr, respectively. The result analysis revealed that HCrO4− and Cr2O72− ions compete with the SO3− to attach on the surface of the sorbent which leads to competitive adsorption of Cr (VI) and MO onto BC. Thermodynamic study presents that the change in Gibbs free energy ΔG° is negative, indicates that the whole process was favorable and completed. The adsorption process was monolayer physisorption, irreversible, and endothermic. Hence, it can be said that this material is environmental friendly and an economical sorbent for high adsorption efficiency.

Previous studies highlighted the role of STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education in the development of mathematical skills while how mathematical skills influence STEM multidisciplinary literacy is under researched. Therefore, the purpose of current study is to explore the significance of mathematical skills (spatial imagination ability, calculation ability, and reasoning ability) in STEM multidisciplinary literacy. Further, to better understand the relationship between mathematical skills and STEM multidisciplinary literacy, students learning capacities was investigated as a mechanism. The theoretical findings of the study show that spatial imagination ability, calculation ability, and reasoning ability positively linked with STEM multidisciplinary literacy. Additionally, the findings show that students learning capabilities mediate the relationship between mathematical skills and STEM multidisciplinary literacy. Future directions of the study are also discussed.

We study the models submitted to round 12 of the Critical Assessment of protein Structure Prediction (CASP) experiment to assess how well the binding properties are conserved when the X-ray structures of the target proteins are replaced by their models. To explore small molecule binding we generate distributions of molecular probes – which are fragment-sized organic molecules of varying size, shape, and polarity – around the protein, and count the number of interactions between each residue and the probes, resulting in a vector of interactions we call a binding fingerprint. The similarity between two fingerprints, one for the X-ray structure and the other for a model of the protein, is determined by calculating the correlation coefficient between the two vectors. The resulting correlation coefficients are shown to correlate with global measures of accuracy established in CASP, and the relationship yields an accuracy threshold that has to be reached for meaningful binding surface conservation. The clusters formed by the probe molecules reliably predict binding hot spots and ligand binding sites in both X-ray structures and reasonably accurate models of the target, but ensembles of models may be needed for assessing the availability of proper binding pockets. We explored ligand docking to the few targets that had bound ligands in the X-ray structure. More targets were available to assess the ability of the models to reproduce protein–protein interactions by docking both the X-ray structures and models to their interaction partners in complexes. It was shown that this application is more difficult than finding small ligand binding sites, and the success rates heavily depend on the local structure in the potential interface. In particular, predicted conformations of flexible loops are frequently incorrect in otherwise highly accurate models, and may prevent predicting correct protein–protein interactions.

This study is focused on the investigation of low iron lateritic clay-based geopolymer as a potential adsorbent for the higher uptake of Ni(II) and Co(II) ions from aqueous solutions. BET analysis revealed that the sieved geopolymer sample (SGS) was characterized by 17.441 m2/g of surface area, 0.005 cm3/g of pore volume, and 13.549 Å of pore diameter. SEM investigation confirmed the presence of pores and cavities onto the surface of SGS. XRD analysis showed that the geopolymer is semi-crystalline in nature. It was found that the adsorption ability of SGS remained 520 mg/g for Ni(II) ions and 500 mg/g for Co(II) ions when 0.5 M solutions were stirred with SGS for 60 min. The temperature and pH of the solution were maintained at 60 °C and 7.0, respectively. The adsorption data of both heavy metal (HM) ions fitted best in the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. The low activation energy value i.e. 2.507 kJ/mol for Ni(II) ions and 2.286 kJ/mol for Co(II) ions confirmed adsorption is physisorption. Adsorption data were tested with Langmuir and Freundlich models, the data showed comparatively better fitting in the Freundlich model. The greater value of monolayer adsorption capacity (Xm) for Ni(II) ions was found 1.77 × 10−2 mol/g while for Co(II) ions it remained 1.69 × 10−2 mol/g confirming the better interaction of metal ions with the adsorbent surface. Negative values of ΔG° confirmed the spontaneity of the process while the positive value of ΔS° showed the randomness of adsorbate particles. The positive value of ΔH° showed that the adsorption process remained endothermic for both HM ions. The experimental results confirmed the ability of laterite clay-based geopolymer for better removal of HM ions and hence can be employed for the wastewater treatment processes at low-cost adsorbent.

The bridges are one of important structures in any country. The failure of bridges occurs due to many factors including design flaws and manufacturing construction errors. Among all imperfections scouring around the pier is the most detrimental. So, the estimation of local scouring around a bridge pier is of fundamental importance for the safe design of bridges. Although numerous researches have been done on local scouring around a single bridge pier. The present study investigates the effect of angle of inclination of dual bridge pier configuration on local scouring around bridge piers. Principally rectangular shaped dual bridge piers were installed in sand bed of laboratory flume at angle of inclination of 0°,7°,12°,15° and 19° with vertical respectively. Three different flow rates 9, 14 and 18L/sec were considered during each trial. The duration of each trial was kept around 2 hours. The scour depth was measured separately around both piers with the help of point gauge under clear water condition. The value of scour depth around upstream pier was larger as compared to downstream pier because of the lower strength of horseshoe vortices around downstream pier. From the experimental results, it can be concluded that there is an inverse relationship between the angle of inclination and scour depth, an increase in the angle of inclination leads to decrease in scour depth around both piers. The value of scour depth was maximum when piers were at 0° and minimum at 19°. It was also found that scour depth increases with the increase in flow rate.

Left ventricular (LV) thrombus in patients with reduced LV systolic function carries significant thromboembolic risk. Direct oral anticoagulants are an attractive alternative to warfarin for LV thrombus management. However, there are not enough data regarding the safety and efficacy of direct oral anticoagulants for the treatment of LV thrombus. (Level of Difficulty: Beginner.)

Abstract A number of resources, every year, being spent to tackle early detection of cardiac abnormalities which is one of the leading causes of deaths all over the Globe. The challenges for healthcare systems includes early detection, portability and mobility of patients. This paper presents a categorical review of smartphone-based systems that can detect cardiac abnormalities by the analysis of Electrocardiogram (ECG) and Photoplethysmography (PPG) and the limitation and challenges of these system. The ECG based systems can monitor, record and forward signals for analysis and an alarm can be triggered in case of abnormality, however the limitation of smart phone’s processing capabilities, lack of storage and speed of network are major challenges. The systems based on PPG signals are non-invasive and provides mobility and portability. This study aims to critically review the existing systems, their limitation, challenges and possible improvements to serve as a reference for researchers and developers.

Background: The contingent negative variation (CNV) is a negative shift in electroencephalography (EEG) related to the planning and execution of an externally cued movement task. The CNV has the potential to be applied within stroke rehabilitation; however, there is insufficient knowledge about the CNV characteristics under movement conditions relevant to rehabilitation. This study explores the CNV characteristics during a functional movement task (versus a simple movement task) and when using an audio-visual cue that has been previously evaluated for its usability in stroke rehabilitation (versus a simple visual cue). Methods: Thirty healthy participants performed five randomized movement tasks: simple ankle dorsiflexion with a visual cue (1), audio-visual cue (2), and auditory-only cue (3), and sit-to-stand with a visual (4) and audio-visual cue (5). Fifty repetitions of each movement were performed while continuous EEG was recorded. The band-passed and Laplacian-filtered (Cz) EEG was averaged for each condition and the peak negativity (PN) latency and amplitude were identified. Results: PN latency was significantly later during sit-to-stand with the audio-visual cue versus the visual cue (p = 0.027). PN amplitude was significantly larger during sit-to-stand versus ankle dorsiflexion, with both visual and audio-visual cues (p < 0.0001). Conclusion: The CNV changes under more complex movement conditions. Assumptions about the MRCP from simple laboratory recordings should not be generalized to the rehabilitation setting.

Novel graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) microrods were prepared by chemical method via pre-treatment of melamine and molar solution of HNO3 at a lower temperature. The phase and morphological structure was examined by XRD and SEM, while elemental composition was found by performing EDX spectroscopy. SEM results revealed that the as-prepared g-C3N4 materials has rods like morphology with average length 3–5 µm. Furthermore, the vibrational modes were studied by FTIR, and optical properties were analyzed by UV–Vis and PL spectroscopy respectively. The optical measurements showed that the band gap of g-C3N4 microrods was 2.70 eV which make them useful for photocatalytic process under visible light. The blue PL emission at 455 nm was ascribed to band-to-band transition which also confirms the activation of g-C3N4 microrods in visible spectrum range. Finally, g-C3N4 microrods were utilized as photocatalyst for the decomposition of hazardous Methyl Orange (MO) dye, and the results showed that they exhibited excellent performance (k = 0.026 min−1) visible light irradiation. Keywords: Graphitic carbon nitride, Melamine, Microrods, Photocatalyst

Interpersonal helping behaviors, i.e., voluntarily assisting colleagues for their workplace related problems, have received immense amount of scholarly attention due to their significant impacts on organizational effectiveness. Among several other factors, authoritarian leadership style could influence helping behavior within organizations. Furthermore, this relationship could be mediated by workplace stressor such as rumination, known as a critical psychological health component leading to depressive symptoms, hopelessness and pessimism. In the meantime, less research attention has devoted to probe the crucial role of psychological ownership, which can buffer the adverse effects of authoritarian leadership upon rumination. Building on conservation of resources theory, this study investigates the adverse impacts of authoritarian leadership on employees' helping behaviors through mediating role of rumination, and also examines the moderating effect of psychological ownership between the relationship of authoritarian leadership and rumination. The data were collected from 264 employees in education and banking sectors and the results show: (i) authoritarian leadership has adverse impacts on helping behavior, (ii) rumination mediates the relationship between authoritarian leadership and employees' helping behaviors, and (iii) psychological ownership moderates the positive relationship between authoritarian leadership and rumination. This study concludes that authoritarian leadership has adverse impacts upon helping behavior, which needs to be controlled/minimized. The findings are of great significance for managers, employees, and organizations in terms of policy implications. The limitations and future research directions are also discussed.

This study aimed to validate the efficacy of single-task event-related potential (ERP) measures of cognitive workload to be implemented in exergame-based rehabilitation. Twenty-four healthy participants took part in a novel gamified balance task where task-irrelevant auditory tones were presented in the background to generate ERPs in the participants’ electroencephalogram (EEG) as a measure of cognitive workload. For the balance task, a computer-based tilt-ball game was combined with a balance board. Participants played the game by shifting their weight to tilt the balance board, which moved a virtual ball to score goals. The game was manipulated by adjusting the size of the goalposts to set three predefined levels of game difficulty (easy, medium, and hard). The participant’s experience of game difficulty was evaluated based on the number of goals scored and their subjective reporting of perceived difficulty. Participants experienced a significant difference in the three levels of task difficulty based on the number of goals scored and perceived difficulty (p < 0.001). Post hoc analysis revealed the lowest performance for the hardest level. The mean amplitude of the N1 ERP component was used to measure the cognitive workload associated with the three difficulty levels. The N1 component’s amplitude decreased significantly (p < 0.001), with an increase in the task difficulty. Moreover, the amplitude of the N1 component for the hard level was significantly smaller compared to medium (p = 0.0003) and easy (p < 0.001) levels. These results support the efficacy of the N1 ERP component to measure cognitive workload in dynamic and real-life scenarios such as exergames and other rehabilitation exercises.

Public governance has evolved in terms of safety and security management, incorporating digital innovation and smart-analytics-based tools to visualize abundant data collections. Urban safety and security are vital social problems that have many branches to be solved, simplified, and improved. Currently, we can see that data-driven insights have often been incorporated into planning, forecasting, and fighting such challenges. The literature has extensively indicated several aspects of solving urban safety problems, i.e., social, technological, administrative, urban, and societal. We have a keen interest in the data analysis and smart analytics options that can be deployed to enhance the presentation, promotional analysis, planning, forecasting, and fighting of these problems. For this, we chose to focus on crime statistics and public surveys regarding victimization and perceptions of crime. As we found through a review, many studies have indicated the vitality of crime rates but not public perceptions in decision-making and planning regarding security. There is always a need for the integration of widespread data insights into unified analyses. This study aimed to answer (1) how effectively we can utilize the crime rates and statistics, and incorporate community perceptions and (2) how promising these two ways of seeing the same phenomena are. For the data analysis, we chose four neighboring countries in Central Europe. We selected CECs, i.e., Hungary, Poland, Czech Republic, and Slovakia, known collectively as the Visegrád Group or V4. The data resources were administrative police statistics and ESS (European Social Survey) statistical datasets. The choice of this region helped us reduce variability in regional dynamics, regime changes, and social control practices.

This research is aimed at investigating the mechanical behavior of the bitumen by the addition of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and low-density polyethylene (LDPE) obtained from waste plastic bottles and bags. Polymers (HDPE and LDPE) with percentages of 0%, 2%, 4%, and 6% in shredded form by weight of bitumen were used to evaluate the spectroscopic, structural, morphological, and rheological properties of polymer-modified binders. The rheological properties for different factors; viscosity (ἠ) from Rotational Viscometer (RV), rutting factor G*/Sin (δ), fatigue characteristics G*. Sin (δ), for the modified binder from dynamic shear rheometer (DSR), Short and long-term aging from rolling thin film oven (RTFO), and pressure aging vessel (PAV) was determined. The thermal characteristics, grain size, and texture of polymers for both LDPE and HDPE were found using bending beam rheometer (BBR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD), respectively. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis revealed the presence of polymer contents in the modified binder. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images revealed the presence of HDPE and LDPE particles on the surface of the binder. Creep Rate (m) and Stiffness (S) analysis in relationship with temperature showed a deduction in stress rate relaxation. Results have revealed the best rutting resistance for 6% HDPE. It also showed an improvement of 95.27% in G*/Sin (δ) which increased the performance of the bituminous mix. Similarly, the addition of 4% LDPE resulted in maximum dynamic viscosity irrespective of the temperatures. Moreover, fatigue resistance has shown a significant change with the HDPE and LDPE. The festinating features of waste plastic modified binder make it important to be used in the new construction of roads to address the high viscosity and mixing problems produced by plastic waste and to improve the performance of flexible pavements all over the world.

Tacit knowledge is an essential foundation for developing students’ learning ability, especially in understanding and solving problems. However, the transforming of tacit knowledge confront a big challenge during the outbreak of Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), because most teaching and learning activities were conducted in online context, which impair a face-to-face interaction. To explore the effect of tacit knowledge on students’ learning ability in the online learning environments, the current study based on SECI model (The Socialization, Externalization, Combination, and Internalization) proposed to design the tacit knowledge transformation teaching approach. To assess the effectiveness of this approach, 60 elementary school students were recruited in the quasi-experiment. The results of retention test and transfer test showed that the experimental group, using the tacit knowledge transformation teaching approach, has significant improvement on learning ability than the control group. The current research theoretically provide a teaching strategy on tactic knowledge, and practically helps teachers to organize instructional activities, thereby, advocating the appropriate use of social media.

Tungstic acid (WO3·H2O) spherical particles were fabricated by economical solvothermal rout. Crystallinity, structural properties and elemental composition of fabricated material were characterized by XRD and EDX. Morphological structure was explored by using FEMSEM, and the results indicated that the as-prepared material has spherical shape with average size up to 500 nm. The existence of OWO stretching and υ(O-H) vibration modes in FTIR spectra confirm the formation of WO3·H2O spherical particles. Further, UV–VIS-NIR and PL spectra were studied which suggested that the as-prepared sample has band gap of 2.5 eV that was favorable for photocatalytic process. Finally, the as-synthesized material was utilized for the degradation of RhB and it demonstrated remarkable photo-degradation performance with k = 0.0244 min−1 that was about 4.3 times greater than that of bulk WO3·H2O. The possible mechanism for the photocatalytic process has been discussed by finding the valence and conduction band potentials of the photocatalyst. Keywords: Tungstic acid, Spherical particles, Rhodamine B

Zinc oxide (ZnO) microstructures were successfully fabricated by using the template free hydrothermal growth method. Crystalline phase, morphology, and elemental composition had been characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). FESEM graphs had showed that hexagonal astray like morphology along micro sized particles. Synthesized microstructures of ZnO were hydrogenated at high temperature 500 °C to get reduced ZnO microstructures. Furthermore, ultraviolet-visible-near infrared (UV–Vis-NIR) spectroscopy had been employed to determine the optical absorbance of ZnO microstructures. The direct optical band gap of 2.1 eV was acquired by using Davis-Mott model for reduced ZnO microstructures. Hydrogenation of ZnO microstructures made the material photoactive under visible light region. Visible light active (VLA) performance of reduced ZnO microstructures improved photocatalytic degradation of pollutants under solar light irradiation. Photocatalytic performance of prepared ZnO microstructures and reduced ZnO microstructures were investigated by using methyl orange under solar light irradiation.

Abstract Electroencephalogram (EEG) signal classification plays an important role to facilitate physically impaired patients by providing brain-computer interface (BCI)-controlled devices. However, practical applications of BCI make it difficult to decode motor imagery-based brain signals for multiclass classification due to their non-stationary nature. In this study, we aim to improve multiclass classification accuracy for motor imagery movement using sub-band common spatial patterns with sequential feature selection (SBCSP-SBFS) method. Filter bank having bandpass filters of different overlapped frequency cutoffs is applied to suppress the noise signals from raw EEG signals. The output of these sub-band filters is sent for feature extraction by applying common spatial pattern (CSP) and linear discriminant analysis (LDA). As all of the extracted features are not necessary for classification therefore, selection of optimal features is done by passing the extracted features to sequential backward floating selection (SBFS) technique. Three different classifiers were then trained on these optimal features, i.e., support vector machine (SVM), Naïve-Bayesian Parzen-Window (NBPW), and k-Nearest Neighbor (KNN). Results are evaluated on two datasets, i.e., Emotiv Epoc and wet gel electrodes for three classes, i.e., right-hand motor imagery, left hand motor imagery, and rest state. The proposed model yields a maximum accuracy of 60.61% in case of Emotiv Epoc headset and 86.50% for wet gel electrodes. The computed accuracy shows an increase of 7% as compared to previously implemented multiclass EEG classification.

Due to their unique layered microstructure, the presence of various functional groups at the surface, earth abundance, and attractive electrical, optical, and thermal properties, MXenes are considered promising candidates for the solution of energy- and environmental-related problems. It is seen that the energy conversion and storage capacity of MXenes can be enhanced by changing the material dimensions, chemical composition, structure, and surface chemistry. Hence, it is also essential to understand how one can easily improve the structure–property relationship from an applied point of view. In the current review, we reviewed the fabrication, properties, and potential applications of MXenes. In addition, various properties of MXenes such as structural, optical, electrical, thermal, chemical, and mechanical have been discussed. Furthermore, the potential applications of MXenes in the areas of photocatalysis, electrocatalysis, nitrogen fixation, gas sensing, cancer therapy, and supercapacitors have also been outlooked. Based on the reported works, it could easily be observed that the properties and applications of MXenes can be further enhanced by applying various modification and functionalization approaches. This review also emphasizes the recent developments and future perspectives of MXenes-based composite materials, which will greatly help scientists working in the fields of academia and material science.

The coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) has badly affected the social, physical, and emotional health of workers, especially those working in the healthcare sectors. Drawing on social exchange theory, we investigated the effects of participative leadership on employees’ workplace thriving and helping behaviors among frontline workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, we examined the moderating role of a leader’s behavioral integrity in strengthening the relationship between participative leadership, and employees’ workplace thriving and helping behaviors. By using a two-wave time-lagged design and data collected from 244 healthcare workers, a moderated hierarchal regression was implemented to test the proposed hypotheses. As hypothesized, participative leadership predicted employees’ workplace thriving and helping behaviors. The leader’s behavioral integrity strengthened the relationship between participative leadership and employees’ thriving and moderated the relationship between participative leadership helping behaviors. Implications for research, theory, and practice are discussed.

In the present study, the role of calcination of a low iron lateritic clay sample was investigated to synthesize the geopolymer. The analyses like X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectroscopy for chemical composition, X-ray diffractometry (XRD) for mineral composition, and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy & scanning electron microscopy (SEM) for structural changes upon calcination at 500, 700 and, 900 °C were used to assess the suitability of selected lateritic clay sample for geopolymer. The drop in electrical conductivity and greater consumption of calcium hydroxide by CS-900 confirmed its potential reactivity than CS-700, CS-500, and CS-Control. The quality of geopolymer derived from un-calcined and calcined lateritic clay samples by alkali activation was evaluated by comparing results of compressive strength, water absorption test, and stability in the aggressive environment of chloride, FT-IR, XRD, and SEM analyses. The experimental results reveal that the quality of geopolymer enhances as the calcination temperature of the lateritic clay sample increases, However, calcination of the lateritic clay sample at 900 °C gives significant results and yield good quality geopolymer with 24.8 MPa of compressive strength, 7.07% of water absorption and 2.22% loss in mass in an aggressive environment.

The present study has concentrated on online crisis response strategies that stimulate online purchase and the acceptance of online purchase intention (OPI) in the marketplace. However, few studies have examined the online crisis response strategies undertaken to alleviate the online crisis. Therefore, on the basis of the Stimulus Organism Response framework and online crisis response strategies, this study offered and tested a model that inspected the effect of online crisis response strategies on OPI through online brand attitude (OBA). Brand perceived usefulness (BPU) was observed as a borderline condition between OBA and OPI. We recruited 392 working professionals undertaking the Master of Business Administration program at a large public university in China. The results suggest that OBA mediates the association between online crisis response strategies and OPI. Similarly, BPU moderates the association between OBA and OPI. The responses with high BPU maximize the effect of online crisis response strategies on OBA. On the basis of the study outcomes, contributions to theory and practice, limitations, and future guidelines are well discussed.

In this research, the impact of infrastructure improvement as a result of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) initiative on the well-being and quality of life (QOL) of residents has been studied. Using the primary data collected from the local population of the Baluchistan province of Pakistan, a link between the socio-cultural effects of CPEC development and the subjective well-being of local citizens has been established. A total of 495 relevant responses were used to assess the well-being of the population through structural equation modeling. Results have shown that the social, cultural, and educational benefits of local communities are significant predictors of the well-being of citizens, and QOL issues have shown to have a major impact on the well-being of citizens. However, findings have also shown that the community resource has an important link with the subjective well-being of citizens. Furthermore, the results also give the local community perceptions of the CPEC initiative; hence the officials of the province can use the findings of this study to create prospective approaches based on the local community perceptions toward better exploitation of CPEC as an opportunity.

Summary: How the extracellular matrix (ECM) affects the progression of a localized tumor to invasion of the ECM and eventually to vascular dissemination remains unclear. Although many studies have examined the role of the ECM in early stages of tumor progression, few have considered the subsequent stages that culminate in intravasation. In the current study, we have developed a three-dimensional (3D) microfluidic culture system that captures the entire process of invasion from an engineered human micro-tumor of MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells through a type I collagen matrix and escape into a lymphatic-like cavity. By varying the physical properties of the collagen, we have found that MDA-MB-231 tumor cells invade and escape faster in lower-density ECM. These effects are mediated by the ECM pore size, rather than by the elastic modulus or interstitial flow speed. Our results underscore the importance of ECM structure in the vascular escape of human breast cancer cells.

Purpose: The aim of the study is to evaluate the influence of performance management mechanisms upon worker efficiency or productivity in the banking sector of Karachi. Design/Methodology/Approach: A quantitative approach is perceived to be an ideal technique to be employed for this research study. The size of the sample for the research paper is 252. SPSS software is being used to scrutinize the statistics or information composed through questionnaires. Descriptive statistics & multiple regression analysis are being used to measure the influence of performance management on worker productivity in the context of the banking industry in Pakistan Findings: The outcomes of the study reveals that Pakistani banks must appraise their workers often by means of targets, organizational objectives, accomplishments, efficiency, and time management for the purposes of act assessment as it will result in enhanced the intensity of worker efficiency. Moreover, the research asserts that timely feedback and training sessions will also result in enhanced work performance and increased efficiency. The research also demonstrated that effectual compensation administration has a favorable bearing on worker productivity. Implications/Originality/Value: The study recommends that in order to improve the working & the employee efficiency, several techniques of performance assessment must be imposed by the banks operating in the country to enable workers’ participation in target setting & comprehend the part of duty so as to additionally enhance the organizational productivity. Employers should involve their workers in positive feedback and inspire them verbally from time to time. The study further recommends that Pakistani banks are required to involve their workers in well-organized and regular training to upgrade and advance the knowledge and skills of the staff. Such training sessions can be conducted on monthly basis. Finally, the banking sector in Pakistan also needs to inspire and motivate the workers by compensating them in relative to their past attempts since this has been proved to enhance worker output or efficiency