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Objective: Evaluation of the clinical outcome of inguinal herniotomy in children at a single center. Study Design: Retrospective cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Department of surgery, Northern Area Armed Forces Hospital Hafer al Batin, Saudi Arabia, from July 10, 2011, to Oct. 10, 2021. Materials and Methods: A total of 256 patients admitted with inguinal hernia underwent inguinal herniotomy. All the patients were treated by single senior pediatric surgeon. The age ranged from 2 months to 13 years. The data was collected regarding age at operation, gender, location, investigations performed, operative procedure, and complications of the surgical intervention. The follow up was also done in the outpatient clinic for 12 months to assess the complications and outcome of the procedure. The data was analyzed by IBM SPSS version 26.0. The Fischer exact test was applied to evaluate the association of site of inguinal hernia with gender. The p value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: One hundred and seventeen (46%) patients had right sided inguinal hernia, 124 (48%) had left sided and 15 (6%) were having bilateral inguinal hernia. There was no per-operative and post-operative complication. There was no testicular atrophy. There was no recurrence of inguinal hernia during follow up of 12 months after surgery. All the children had successful clinical outcome on follow up of 12 months period. Fischer exact test was applied to find the association of type of inguinal hernia with gender and the p value was 0.166 which is considered statistically nonsignificant. Conclusion: Early inguinal herniotomy on next available elective list is safe, effective and feasible procedure to treat children with inguinal hernia.

Objective: To evaluate clinical efficacy of single stage laparoscopic orchiopexy by modified Prentiss procedure for the treatment of impalpable undescended testis within 2.5 cm from deep ring in children. Study Design: This was a retrospective case series study design. Place and Duration of Study: Department of surgery, section of pediatric surgery. Northern Area Armed Forces Hospital Hafer Al Batin, Saudi Arabia, from June 15, 2011, to Sep 15, 2021. Materials and Methods: All the children admitted with diagnosis of impalpable undescended testis were treated by single stage laparoscopic orchiopexy by modified Prentiss technique during the study period from June 15, 2011, till Sep 15, 2021. The total number of patients was 22. The age of the patients ranged from 1 year to 7 years. Seventeen (77.26 %) children had unilateral (10 with left sided and 7 with right sided) impalpable undescended testis. Five (22.72%) children had bilateral impalpable undescended testis. All the patients were evaluated by ultrasound and MRI abdomen to confirm the abdominal location. The patients were operated by single stage laparoscopic orchiopexy using modified Prentiss technique by single senior pediatric surgeon after confirming the location of testis within 2.5 cm from deep inguinal ring. All the patients were followed up in outpatient clinic after 1 week, after 6 months and after 1 year. The operative time, degree of post- operative pain, per operative and post- operative complications and follow up results were analyzed to evaluate the clinical outcome in terms of testicular location in the scrotum and size. Results: A total of 22 children were treated successfully by single stage laparoscopic orchiopexy by modified Prentiss technique. The age ranged from one year to 7 years at the time of surgery. Ten (45.45%) patients had left sided non-palpable testis, 7 (31.81%) had right sided and 5 (22.72%) children were having bilateral non palpable testis. There was no per-operative complication. One patient (4.54%) had scrotal hematoma which resolved spontaneously. All the children had successful outcome in terms of testicular size and location within scrotum after surgery on follow up of more than one year. There was no case (0%) of testicular atrophy in this series. Thirteen (59%) patients had testis in lowest position of scrotum, eight (36.36%) patients had testis in the middle scrotum and one (4.54%) patient had testis in the neck of the scrotum. Conclusion: Single stage Laparoscopic orchiopexy by modified Prentiss procedure is feasible, safe and effective technique to treat children with impalpable low abdominal undescended testis in children

Objective: The aim of this study was to present the experience of 331 cases treated by laparoscopic appendectomy in children operated by single pediatric surgeon and to analyze the outcome. Study Design: A descriptive retrospective study design Place and Duration of Study: All the children treated by laparoscopic appendectomy between period of June 15, 2011, to October 15, 2021 at Northern Area Armed Forces Hospital, Hafr al Batin, Saudi Arabia. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective study of 331 cases of acute appendicitis in children treated by laparoscopic appendectomy between the period of June 15, 2011, to Oct 15, 2021. Acute appendicitis was diagnosed on clinical basis supported by lab tests including leukocytosis and increased neutrophils count and occasionally by radiological studies including AXR showing fecalith, ultrasound abdomen showing free pelvic fluid and CT scan abdomen with thick walled or perforated appendix. All cases were operated by the same pediatric surgeon. Patient's gender, age, weight, clinical symptoms and signs, laboratory and radiological data, results of surgical treatment, operative and post-operative complications and outcome were studied. The electronic data of the operation room was collected and analyzed by the operating pediatric surgeon with permission from the hospital ethical committee. The outcome of laparoscopic appendectomy was analyzed. Results: Three hundred and thirty-three children with acute appendicitis were treated by laparoscopic appendectomy. There were 199 males and 132 female patients. The mean age was 10 years (1 to 14 years). The mean surgery time was 45 minutes. The peritoneal suction -wash was performed in 300 cases and drainage of peritoneal cavity was done in 3 cases of perforated appendicitis. No conversion to open appendectomy was done in this series. The rate of operative and post-operative complications was zero percent. The overall incidence of postoperative wound infection was low (

Abstract Background White lupin (Lupinus albus L.) is a multi-purpose, climate resilient, pulse crop with exceptionally high protein content that makes it a suitable alternative of soybean in livestock feed. Although white lupin grows well on marginal sandy soils, previous studies have reported its sensitivity towards salinity stress. This experiment aims to assess the influence of salinity stress and mitigating role of plant growth regulators (PGRs) on performance of white lupin. Methodology The white lupin plants were sown in pots maintained at three salinity levels (1, 3 and 4.5 dS m− 1) throughout the growing season and foliar sprayed with different PGRs, including ascorbic acid, potassium chloride, boric acid, ammonium molybdate and methionine at sowing, four weeks after emergence and at the initiation of flowering. Foliar spray of distilled water and salinity level of 1 dS m− 1 were maintained as control treatments. Data were recorded for seed germination indices, plant growth, antioxidant enzymes and photosynthetic efficiency variables. Results The severe salinity stress (4.5 dS m− 1) reduced the germination indices by 9–50%, plant growth traits by 26–54%, root nodulation by 12–26%, grain development by 44–53%, antioxidant enzymes activity by 13–153% and photosynthetic attributes by 1–8% compared to control (1 dS m− 1). Different PGRs improved several morpho-physiological attributes in a varied manner. The application of potassium chloride improved seed vigour index by 53%, while ascorbic acid improved root nodulation by 12% and number of pods per cluster by 75% at the severe salinity level. The foliar application of PGRs also displayed a recovery of 140% in the activity of superoxide dismutase and 70% in catalase. The application of multi zinc displayed an improvement of 37% in plant relative chlorophyll, while ascorbic acid brought an increase of 25% in non-photochemical quenching and 21% in photochemical quenching coefficient at the severe salinity level. On contrary, the application of PGRs brought a relatively modest improvement (8–13%) in quantum yield of photosystem II at slight to moderate (3 dS m− 1) salinity stress. The correlation analysis confirmed a partial contribution of leaf area and seed vigour index to overall photosynthetic efficiency of white lupin. Conclusions Clearly, salinity exerted a negative impact on white lupin through a decline in chlorophyll content, activity of antioxidant enzymes and efficiency of photosynthetic apparatus. However, PGRs, especially ascorbic acid and potassium chloride considerably improved white lupin growth and development by mitigating the negative effects of salinity stress.

Introduction: Postoperative sore throat (POST) is a common cause of distress and dissatisfaction after general anesthesia. POST is one of the most distressing symptoms after general anesthesia. Incidence of POST ranges from 14.4% to 90% following laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation. Various drugs with different routes are examined to prevent POST. We intended to compare the effectiveness of nebulized dexamethasone and magnesium sulfate (MgSO4) in decreasing the incidence and severity of POST. Materials and Methods: In this prospective double-blind study, adult patients with either sex undergoing laryngoscopy and intubation for surgery were randomly assigned into dexamethasone (Group D) and MgSO4 (Group M). The primary outcome was to assess incidence and severity of POST, and secondary outcome was to assess the incidence of hoarseness and cough. Continuous variables were presented as mean ± standard deviation, and t-test was applied for comparing the difference of means between the two groups. P ≤0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The incidence of POST in Group D was much lower as compared to Group M at 0 h (P = 0.0262), but after that, there was no significant difference between groups. Severity of POST was compared between Group D and Group M at 0, 4, 8, 12, and 24 h postoperatively. At 0 h, Group D had 22 patients with no pain at rest (Grade 0) whereas Group M had 12 patients. The secondary outcomes (pain at deglutition, hoarseness, and cough) at 0, 4, 8, 12, and 24 h were not statistically significant (P > 0.05). Conclusions: Preoperative MgSO4 nebulization is as effective as dexamethasone nebulization in decreasing the incidence and severity of POST without causing any adverse effect. Incidence of pain on deglutition, hoarseness, and cough are also reduced effectively by both drugs.

This paper provides an in-depth examination of the issues hindering the adoption of digital textile printing in Pakistan. It presents background on commonly used printing techniques, and analyses industry data to identify major printing defects using quality tools such as Pareto charts and correlation analysis. The root causes of the main defects were determined through cause-effect diagrams and the 5 Whys approach. Preventive solutions are proposed in connection with fabric preparation, process controls, equipment maintenance, training, and sustainable practices. Instead of recommending broad strategies, the study focused on actionable solutions for addressing specific challenges in digital printing, including practical measures for improving operational efficiency in recycling. The analysis provides a comprehensive roadmap for Pakistan's textile industry to overcome current limitations and successfully transition to digital systems for improved productivity, innovation, profitability and global competitiveness.

The application of remote sensing techniques in geological investigation are used to determine the prospected area of gypsum rocks in the Qara Darbandi Anticline, Kurdistan Region of Iraq. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of Spectral Angle Mapper (SAM) supervised classification in mapping gypsum rocks applying Landsat Imagery. Rapid-Eye and Landsat multispectral satellite images are used. Image enhancement techniques such as Minimum Noise Fraction (PCA) and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) were employed to perform image transformation methods. The spectral data was collected using an Analytical Spectral Devices (ASD) field spectrometer, and the spectra of gypsum rocks were utilized as the training area zone for the classification of SAM. SAM output map displays the best indication of the gypsum rocks distribution in the southwestern part of Qara Darbandi anticline. Results showed that the FCC (R:3; G:4; B:1); MNF (R:1; G:2; B:3 and R:4; G:3; B:2) and PCA (R:3, G:1, B:2) are the best compositions to determine the outcrop of the Gypsum rocks within the selected area. These findings show the capability of spectral bands of the Rapid-Eye sensors, and Landsat imagery, in addition to the capability of the image processing methods to detect and map the exposed Gypsum rocks. In conclusion, the findings of this study are supported by the fieldwork conducted, the analysis of geochemistry data, and the examination of available geological maps.

Background and Aims: Gabapentin (GBP) has been found to decrease the pain scores and analgesic requirements following total abdominal hysterectomy, spinal surgery, and ear, nose, and throat surgery. It has been suggested that central neuronal sensitization may play an important role in postoperative pain. This study compares the effect of two different doses of preemptive GBP on morphine requirement and postoperative pain relief in patients undergoing mastectomy. Methods: This randomized comparative trial included 70 patients scheduled for unilateral mastectomy. They were divided into two groups. Group 1 received 800 mg oral GBP and Group 2 received 1200 mg oral GBP 2 h before surgery. After surgery, we recorded the pain score at different time points using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) at rest. Patients were also asked about possible side effects of the premedication drug. Patients received morphine 0.1 mg/kg intravenous on demand. The time of first rescue analgesia was recorded along with the total rescue analgesic requirement in the first 24 h. Results: In our study, the mean VAS score, postoperatively at 2, 4, 12, 24 h in Group 2, was less than Group 1 but the difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.9, 0.1, 0.8, 0.4, respectively) Patients of Group 1 demanded rescue analgesia earlier (5.8 ± 3.4 h) than Group 2 (9.6 ± 5.9 h). The total 24 h morphine consumption in Group 1 (10.97 ± 4.01 mg) was higher than Group 2 (6.71 ± 5.02 mg). No significant side effects were observed during the perioperative period. Conclusion: We conclude that GBP in higher doses, when used preemptively, provides a greater degree of analgesia with opioid-sparing effect.

This study aimed to synthesize novel compounds as more effective carbonic anhydrase II inhibitors. For this purpose, 2-(3-methoxy-4-(prop-2-yn-1-yloxy)phenyl)-4,5-diphenyl-1H-imidazole (3) was reacted with 3-methoxy-4-(prop-2-yn-1-yloxy)benzaldehyde through the glyoxal reaction to produce a series of imidazole-based 1,2,3-triazoles 5a-f. The synthesized compounds were structurally confirmed using IR, 1H, and 13C NMR techniques. To evaluate their potential as inhibitors of carbonic anhydrase II enzyme, the synthesized compounds were tested via in vitro enzyme inhibition assay. Among the derivatives, compounds 5f and 5a exhibited the most promising inhibitory potential, with IC50 values of 0.025 ± 0.001 and 0.032 ± 0.003 µM, respectively. Both 5a and 5f derivatives have comparable inhibitory potential but 5f was found to be more potent than 5a: Molecular docking analysis revealed that compounds 5a and 5f displayed excellent binding scores of -8.0 and -8.4 kcal mol-1, respectively. The results were further validated by MD simulations. The RMSD analysis revealed the average values of 3.20 Å for the ligand-protein complex, 1.38 Å for the apoprotein, and 7.15 Å for the ligand molecule. Based on the chemical stability and biological importance, the compound 5f was identified as potential lead candidates for the development of more effective carbonic anhydrase II inhibitors.

Globally, the occurrence of skin cancers has been increasing day by day due to unprotected skin and exposure to UV radiation. This research is focused toward the evaluation of the antioxidant potential of an OH-free flavanone derivative that was synthesized by using 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane–polyethylene glycol (DABCO-PEG) 400. Ionic liquid was prepared via the alkylation of DABCO using 1-pentyl bromide followed by mixing with PEG 400. The structure of the synthesized molecules was characterized through single-crystal XRD. The target flavanone, viz., 2-(4-isobutylphenyl)chroman-4-one, was subjected to free radical activity. In addition, in silico studies were carried out with proteins ribonucleotide reductase and tyrosinase and isobutyl containing flavanone, viz., 2-(4-isobutylphenyl)chroman-4-one. The flavanone 2-(4-isobutylphenyl)chroman-4-one showed significant inhibition at a concentration of 25 μg/ml compared to vitamin C, which was also supported by the molecular docking studies. The flavanones exhibit binding energies of −6.45 and −6.83 kcal/mol for ribonucleotide reductase and tyrosinase, respectively. The results were further validated by molecular dynamic simulations, which recommended that further investigation of this flavanone must be carried out before using it in potent drug discovery in the field of skin cancer.

Objectives: We determined the pulse oximetry benefit in pediatric pneumonia mortality risk stratification and chest-indrawing pneumonia in-hospital mortality risk factors. Methods: We report the characteristics and in-hospital pneumonia-related mortality of children aged 2-59 months who were included in the Pneumonia Research Partnership to Assess WHO Recommendations dataset. We developed multivariable logistic regression models of chest-indrawing pneumonia to identify mortality risk factors. Results: Among 285,839 children, 164,244 (57.5%) from hospital-based studies were included. Pneumonia case fatality risk (CFR) without pulse oximetry measurement was higher than with measurement (5.8%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 5.6-5.9% vs 2.1%, 95% CI 1.9-2.4%). One in five children with chest-indrawing pneumonia was hypoxemic (19.7%, 95% CI 19.0-20.4%), and the hypoxemic CFR was 10.3% (95% CI 9.1-11.5%). Other mortality risk factors were younger age (either 2-5 months [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 9.94, 95% CI 6.67-14.84] or 6-11 months [aOR 2.67, 95% CI 1.71-4.16]), moderate malnutrition (aOR 2.41, 95% CI 1.87-3.09), and female sex (aOR 1.82, 95% CI 1.43-2.32). Conclusion: Children with a pulse oximetry measurement had a lower CFR. Many children hospitalized with chest-indrawing pneumonia were hypoxemic and one in 10 died. Young age and moderate malnutrition were risk factors for in-hospital chest-indrawing pneumonia-related mortality. Pulse oximetry should be integrated in pneumonia hospital care for children under 5 years.

Background Heavy metal pollution has become a global environmental issue. Heavy metals are contaminating the agro-soils, growing crops, and vegetables through different agricultural practices. In this study, besides the phytoremediation potential of maize, the role of chromium (Cr) and lead (Pb) on crop and soil health has been investigated. Methods Two maize varieties, Pak-Afgoi and Neelem, were grown under varying concentrations of Cr (50–300 ppm) and Pb (30–300 ppm) and different growth parameters i.e., seed germination, leaf size/number, stem girth, plant height, biomass, chlorophyll content, relative growth rate (RGR), and net assimilation rate (NAR) were studied under Cr and Pb stress. Likewise, the effect of metals was also assessed on different soil characteristics including soil texture, pH, EC, soil organic matter, urease activity and nutrients. Results Studied plant attributes were adversely affected by heavy metals toxicity. Affected values of RGR and NAR showed a linear correlation with affected growth and dry matter yield of maize. Heavy metals impacted different soil parameters including soil microbial performance and revealed a declining trend as compared to control soil. Maize varieties showed a significant phytoremediation potential i.e., uptake of Cr and Pb was 33% and 22% in Pak-Afgoi, while Neelem showed 38% and 24% at 300 ppm, respectively. Data regarding metal translocation factor (TF), bioaccumulation factor (ACF), and biomagnification ratio (BMR) significantly revealed the potential of maize varieties in the removal of Cr and Pb metals from affected soils. However, Cr-accumulation was higher in shoots, and Pb accumulated in plant roots showed a differential behavior of metal translocation and affinity with the varieties. These maize varieties may be recommended for general cultivation in the Cr and Pb-contaminated areas.

Background and Aims: The traditional practice of administrating neuromuscular blocking drugs (NMBDs) after checking face mask ventilation is challenged repeatedly. This study compared the efficiency of face mask ventilation before and after administrating an NMBD in a patient with a normal airway. The secondary outcome measured was the grade of mask ventilation and tracheal intubating conditions. Methods: After ethical approval, patients (n = 120) in the age group of 18–65 years scheduled for elective surgery under general anaesthesia were randomly assigned into two groups. Group 1 received an NMBD before checking face mask ventilation. Group 2 received an NMBD after checking face mask ventilation. Lungs were ventilated for 180 s, during which expiratory tidal volume (Vte) was recorded as the primary outcome. Hans's grading for face mask ventilation was used to grade mask ventilation. The ease of intubation was assessed based on intubating conditions (ease of laryngoscopy, vocal cord movement, and limb movement). SPSS 20.0 software was used for statistical analysis. Results: For a total of 180 seconds of mask ventilation, the mean (standard deviation) Vte measured after apnoea was significantly higher in Group 1 versus Group 2 [471.9 (63.3) vs 434.8 (77.0) mL/breath, P = 0.004]. The intubating condition was either excellent or good in all patients. Conclusion: The administration of NMBDs resulted in a larger mask Vte and shorter intubation time.

In this study, graphene oxide (GO) was prepared with modified Hummer’s method while reduce graphene oxide (rGO) was prepared in the presence of hydrazine hydrate and then coated on polyester cotton (PC) blend camouflage pattern print fabric using the pad-dry-cure method. The as-synthesized GO and rGO were characterized by dynamic light scattering (DLS) analysis, X-ray diffraction (xRD), and UV-visible spectrophotometry. The surface morphology and the thermal camouflage property of the coated fabric were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and infrared thermal imaging test, respectively. The average particle size of GO and rGO were 99.8 nm and 0.4 nm, respectively. The fabrics treated with GO and rGO apparently reduced the emitting temperature of the human body and made it similar to the surrounding environment. The increase in the concentration of coating materials (GO and rGO) resulted in the enhancement of camouflage property. Interestingly, the camouflage property of the coated fabric was very good even after several washing cycles. Based on these scientific outcomes, the coating of PC fabric with GO and rGO is a novel and successful approach in the development of thermal camouflage technical textiles which can be potentially applied on pilot-scale experiments to establish its industrial-scale feasibility.

Soft materials, including diblock copolymers, are advancing nanotechnology due to their unique properties, applications materials include energy harvesting, water sanitation, environmental treatment, nanosensors, drug delivery and nanolithography. These materials are light, cheap, efficient, sensitive, durable and more functional, whose new morphologies have been predicted by mathematicians through simulation. This work produces and predicts the pattern of packing of nano-cylinders by using confinement to appreciate the frustration in the packing of nano-cylinders under the influence of curvature. In this contribution, the cell dynamic simulations model is used to examine the impact of circular annular pore confinement on system orientation toward cylindrical morphologies. A 9-point stencil approximates the isotropic Laplacian by finite-difference discretization on a polar grid to meet the requirement of a cell dynamic simulation model. FORTRAN codes are generated for the set of PDEs included in the CDS model. OPEN DX is used to visualise the predicted cylindrical patterns. The consistency of our results with experimental observations makes our research valid and significant.

Background: The plant pathogens significantly affect quality and marketability of several cereal crops. Of these, seed-borne phytopathogens are responsible for quality and quantity losses in crops on commercial scale. The aim of this study was to isolate and detect the seed-borne mycoflora from seed lots of various bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) genotypes widely grown in Bahawalpur division of south Punjab, Pakistan. Methods: Eleven commercial wheat cultivars/genotypes were investigated through standard blotter paper method. The samples were randomly collected from farmer fields and grain markets. The collected samples were brought to the laboratory and analyzed with different methods to detect the mycoflora. Results: Twenty-one fungal species were recovered from seeds lots of diversified gene pool. The most frequently isolated fungi were Alternaria alternata, Fusarium monoliformae, Aspergillus flavus, Helminthosporium spp., Curvularia spp., Bipolaris sorokiniana, Phoma spp. and Penicillium spp. The one devasting fungal specie Alternaria alternata (88.8%) was the dominating species in all wheat genotypes included in the study. Conclusion: These results divulge the presence of fungal pathogens in all wheat cultivars and could exert adverse effect on their allometric traits. So, there is a potential need to control these seed borne pathogens to minimize the crop yield losses.

Extended Spectrum Beta-lactamase producing E. coli have emerged as important food-borne pathogens. Food producing animals, especially poultry have been discussed as an important source for transmission of ESBL producing pathogens to human being. In the present study, samples were collected from poultry (n=515) from north-eastern Karnataka region during the period November 2017 to April 2018 were analysed. The samples were processed and analysed for the cultural isolation, biochemical characterization and confirmation of E. coli by PCR. ESBL production was detection by phenotypic confirmation test as per guidelines given by CLSI (2012). An mPCR method for the molecular characterization of major genes of ESBL E. coli was adopted using primer pairs targeting genes; blaTEM, blaCTX-M and blaSHV. The results obtained by conventional methods were compared with that of mPCR. The percent of ESBL E. coli detection by phenotypic method was 45.04 percent and by mPCR method targeting major genes was 18.25 percent among the samples(n=515) analysed. ESBL producing E. coli was found among the poultry population under study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was planned to study the phenotypic characterization of Extended Spectrum Betalactamase (ESBL) producing Escherichia coli (E. coli) in poultry. North-Eastern region of Karnataka was selected for the study. Samples were collected from broiler farms (n=98), layer farms (n=99), backyard poultry (n=67) and poultry retail shops (n=133). Samples like cloacal swab, litter, soil, water, feed, hand swabs of butcher, processing table, cutting knives were collected. The samples were inoculated in McConkey broth followed by McConkey agar plates. The plates showing pink coloured tiny colonies were further inoculated on EMB agar plates. The EMB plates showing tiny, dark purple coloured colonies with metallic sheen were considered as positive further confirmed by biochemical tests. The phenotypic identification of Extended Spectrum Beta-lactamase producing E. coli was carried by subjecting the E.coli isolates to antibiotic sensitivity test using Ceftazidime (30 mcg) alone and Ceftazidime(30mcg) in combination with Clavulanic acid(10mcg). In the present study out of 397 samples, 163(41.05%) samples were positive for ESBL E.coli. In broilers out of 98 samples, 51 (52.04%) were found positive, in layers out of 99 samples 54(54.54%) were found positive, in backyard poultry out of 67 samples 21(31.34%) were found positive and in poultry retail shops out of 133 samples 47(41.59%) were found positive. It was concluded that the ESBL producing E.coli is prevalent in North-Eastern region of Karnataka. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT In this paper an improved phonon imaging for GaP has been calculated, this crystal is one of III-V group. In the presence of piezoelectric properties, the computation treatment is based on increasing the number of points in the reduced Brillouin zone and increasing the size of the phonon image matrix. The phonon images can be calculated by large number of points in the reduced Brillouin zone which represent the wave vectors and these vectors can be transformed to group velocity vectors using Christoffel equation, these set of group velocity vectors can be projected in a certain direction to form the phonon image. A program was prepared in MATLAB language to calculate these images by determining the number of points in the reduced zone and determining the size of the matrix that represents the phonon images in addition to the direction of the projections. To calculate the phonon images in the presence of the effect of the piezoelectric properties, it is through the presence of the k44 factor, which indicated of the influence of the piezoelectric properties on the phonon images. The results showed that the size of the image matrix is more effective factor than the number of points in the reduced Brillouin zone especially when the number of points is greater than 8×〖10〗^5 points, and when the number of points less than 〖10〗^4 points all the obtained phonon images is not clear.

Background and Aiims: Percutaneous dilational tracheostomy (PDT) is a common procedure in intensive care unit (ICU) patients requiring long-term mechanical ventilation. PDT has gradually replaced surgical tracheostomy because it is associated with minimal invasiveness, reduced bleeding and simplicity in technique.This study was conducted to compare ultrasound-guided PDT versus conventional tracheostomy in terms of duration of the procedure, number of passes and immediate peri-procedural complications. Methods: A total of 72 patients with clinical indications of tracheostomy were recruited. A total of 12 patients met the exclusion criteria. The remaining were randomly assigned into two groups of 30 each: Group A (Landmark) with traditional anatomical landmark and Group B (USG) with real-time ultrasound guidance. Puncture positions were recorded with bronchoscopy. Midline deviation was captured on a bronchoscopy image using a protractor. Data on procedural safety and efficacy were also collected. Results: Group B had significantly fewer cases of midline deviation (11.33 ± 9.51) in comparison to Group A (16.60 ± 12.31). Trials > 2 were equal to 11 in Group A and 2 in Group B. However, the duration of the procedure was higher in Group B (20.07 ± 3.25 min) as compared to Group A (15.20 ± 3.71 min). Peri-procedural and post-procedural complications were also higher in the Landmark group. Conclusion: Ultrasound-guided PDT showed superiority over landmark PDT in terms of less number of trials, midline puncture and fewer complications. However, it took a little longer to perform USG-guided PDT.

Cotton is one of the most important commodity fibres and is widely employed in apparels. At present, the share of natural fibres in production of nonwoven fabrics is low and are used in opt applications. The cotton fibre is conventionally converted into woven and knitted fabrics by short staple spinning methods. The comber noil is short fibre waste produced when cotton yarns are combed. The aims of the current study were to employ comber noil for the preparation of hydroentangled cotton nonwovens at varying water jet pressures and conveyor speeds. The effect of these parameters was studied with respect to mechanical and comfort properties of the prepared fabrics. The results showed that these variables can help to manufacture fibrous assemblies with engineered properties, according to required application area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Military personnel are exposed to several harsh conditions and mosquitos in mountains and wild forests. Mosquito-repellent textiles can help them to cope with such conditions. The present research work established a sustainable approach for fabricating microcapsules from Eucalyptus oil, Moringa oleifera, and Arabic gum via a complex coacervation method. Moringa oleifera and Arabic gums were utilized as the outer shell of the microcapsules, whereas the core part was made of Eucalyptus oil in different concentrations. The military camouflage-printed polyester/cotton (PC) blended fabric was coated with the as-prepared microcapsules using the pad–dry–cure technique. The surface morphology of the microcapsules was examined using an optical microscope and scanning electron microscope (SEM), and the coated fabric’s mosquito-repellent property was investigated using a specified cage test according to a standard testing protocol. The water absorbency and air permeability of the treated samples were also evaluated in order to learn about the comfort properties. The cage test results revealed that the coated fabric had a good tendency to repel the mosquitoes used in the cage test. In addition, the coated fabric showed significant durability even after several rigorous washing cycles. However, the application of microcapsules to the fabric slightly affected the water absorbency and air permeability of the fabric. This study presents a novel sustainable approach for fabricating microcapsules from the mentioned precursors and their application in the field of textiles, particularly for military purposes.

Abstract In this paper, the semi-empirical tight binding method for the nearest neighbors in the first Brillouin zone has been used to calculate the energy band structure of GaAs crystal which have zinc blend ZB structure, the band structure has been calculated by using sp^3 model which have 9 parameters and sp^3 s^* which have 13 parameters, both these models are used to calculate the main characteristic of both valence and conduction bands. The matrix elements were determined using the method followed by Cohen and Vogl, by identifying points in the wave vector space within the reduced Brillouin zone between the points of high symmetry and calculating the eigenvalues of all these points by building a computer program in MATLAB to form the energy band structure. The effective mass m^* along the direction [111] for the lowest conduction bands has been calculated. A comparison between the sp^3 model used by Cohen and the sp^3 s^* model used by Vogl has been made. The energies of the band structure at points the high symmetry Γ and X obtained from the study were compared with the results of the published research. The results showed that there is a difference in the energy gap between sp^3 and sp^3 s^* models and there is good agreement between the band energies at high symmetry points between these two models and the published results.

Abstract In this paper, the band structure of gallium group of III-V semiconductor has been calculated with temperature, the semi-empirical tight binding method was used to calculate the band structure and the matrix elements were calculated for both models sp^3 and sp^3 s^*. A computer program in MATLAB was designed to calculate the energy eigenvalues for the wave vector points in the first Brillouin zone between high symmetry points to form energy bands. The effect of temperature on the energy band of these group of crystals has been studied by changing the values of the lattice constant under the influence of temperature according to the Pierron relation and thus calculating the change in the length of the bond with temperature, which in turn affects the change in the values of the elements of the Hamiltonian matrix. The energy gap and refractive index were calculated at points of high symmetry as a function of temperature. The results showed a decrease in the energy gap values of GaAs, GaSb and GaP crystals with increasing temperature. Then the experimental Varshni relation was used to calculate the change in the energy gap values of these crystals and the results obtained from current study were compared with the results of Panish and Bellani, where the results showed that a model sp^3 s^* gives better results than the model sp^3.As well as the calculations of the refractive index of these crystals using the Moss formula showed that the refractive index will gradually increase with increasing temperatures.

Abstract In this research tight-binding method has been applied to calculate the band structure in ZnSe crystal, the matrix elements of have been calculated using the method used by Vogl and Cohen. A computer program has been designed in MATLAB language to calculate the band structure in the ZnSe crystal, a sample of points has been formed in the first Brillouin zone (reduced zone) between the high symmetry points (L →Γ,Γ→X→(U,K) →Γ) . The energy eigen values is calculated along the high symmetry paths, the obtained results have been compared with previous works of Vogl and Cohen which shows a good agreements. A comparison between the ZnSe band structure based on sp3 and sp3s* models has been done and the energy gap between the conduction and valence bands at the high symmetry points is calculated for the sp3s*. The effect of pressure on the ZnSe band structure is calculated in the range (10-40) Gpa by calculating the matrix element under different pressure, the results show broadening in band gap due to applied pressure, the conduction band is shifted toward the high energy while the valence band is shifted toward the lower energy. The band gap is calculated values for high symmetric points were determined with pressure change and compared with theoretical calculations.

Abstract The drift-diffusion model is considered as one of the most important models which is used to describe the characteristics of semiconductor devices and can be applied to wide range of applications started from micro up to nano scale devices after applying the suitable correction on it. The Poisson, continuity, and current equations are considered as the basic equations for semiconductor devices, these equations are partial differential equations, used in the drift diffusion model. These equations described the semiclassical electron and hole transport in semiconductor in the presence of uniformly applied electric field. In this paper a numerical method (finite difference method) has been used to find the solution of these equations depending on Gummel method and Scharfetter-Gummel scheme, the drift diffusion model is applied after many approximation and suitable boundary condition which has been considered for the pn diode in both equilibrium and non-equilibrium cases at room temperature, from this simulation model a MATLAB program has been prepared to obtained diode parameters as a function of distance at the junction region, these parameters are (conduction band, carrier concentration, electric field and charge density) two diode model has been tested with different doping concentration the first with N_A=N_D and the second with N_A>N_D also the diode characteristic in the forward biased is obtained.

Tourism is impacted by all types of crises, no matter how big or small. Even though many studies have examined tourism crises, most focus on the number of tourists arriving and departing. As a result of this lack of information, The adaptive differences in tourist behavior caused by various crises are not well understood. When it comes to inbound tourism, the financial and health-related crisis can significantly impact the tourist profile of the country and its visitors' spending habits. The findings show that the health crisis has a significant positive impact on tourism. Moreover, COVID_deaths and COVID_confirm_cases decrease the international tourism in developed and developing countries. According to the study's findings, tourists' sensitivity to crises varies between short- and long-haul markets. The evidence shows that financial inclusion has a significant positive impact on various aspects of tourism development in China. Hence, this article offers numerous policy and practical suggestions for sustainable tourism management.

Objectives: Dalbergia sissoo commonly known as ‘shisham’ is a multipurpose tree commonly used to produce high-quality timber wood. However, it is under extinction threat due to several biotic and abiotic factors. The fungi species causing dieback and wilt diseases are poorly studied and efficacy of different fungicides for their management has been rarely tested. Therefore, infected root and shoot samples of shisham trees were collected from different localities in Bahawalpur through this study. Methods: Samples were analyzed for pathological observations which revealed that Fusarium, Alternaria, Curvularia, Dreshcelera, Phoma, Aspergillus, Paecilomyces, Haphlographium, Steganosporium, Ostracoderma, Cephalospora, Penicillium, and Briosia spp were the fungi species infesting the collected samples. Four fungicides were tested to manage/suppress the mycelial growth of identified fungi species. Results: Mycelial growth of Fusarium, Alternaria, Phoma, Lichenocomium, Penicillium and Aspergillus was significantly inhibited by the application of Chlorothalonil and Procymidone fungicides, while Sulphur proved least effective by inhibiting the mycelial growth of Fusarium spp. Conclusions: The results revealed that various fungi species infest shisham trees and available fungicides can suppress the growth of these fungi species. Therefore, application of fungicides at appropriate time could lower shisham decline in the country. Nevertheless, field studies are required for further recommendations.