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The performance of Photovoltaic (PV) modules heavily relies on their structural strength, manufacturing methods, and materials. Damage induced during their lifecycle leads to degradation, reduced power generation and efficiency. Mechanical stresses, originating from manufacturing, transportation, and operational phases impose significant loads on PV modules. These in-service loads encompass various environmental forces such as wind, snow, dust, hail, rain, and heat. In-service loads encompass static and dynamic forces such as wind, snow, dust, hail, rain, and heat. Among these factors, the mechanical loads from hail impacts play a crucial role in PV module performance and require a comprehensive investigation. This research focuses on evaluating the impact of hail loads on different PV modules, following international standards like ASTM 1038-10 and IEC-61215-2. The developed simulator effectively assesses the reliability of PV modules. The number of busbars within a PV module was identified as a key factor influencing the module's resilience to hail impacts. Notably, mono-crystalline PV modules exhibited better resistance to hail loads compared to their poly-crystalline counterparts. The PV modules experience micro-cracking due to hail impacts, leading to an efficiency reduction of 4.15% in mono-crystalline modules and 12.59% in poly-crystalline modules. Similarly, the generated power output decreased by 3.3% and 12.5%, respectively, in these module types.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1011461.].

In this study, we evaluated the impact of viral variant, in addition to other variables, on within-host viral burden, by analysing cycle threshold (Ct) values derived from nose and throat swabs, collected as part of the UK COVID-19 Infection Survey. Because viral burden distributions determined from community survey data can be biased due to the impact of variant epidemiology on the time-since-infection of samples, we developed a method to explicitly adjust observed Ct value distributions to account for the expected bias. By analysing the adjusted Ct values using partial least squares regression, we found that among unvaccinated individuals with no known prior exposure, viral burden was 44% lower among Alpha variant infections, compared to those with the predecessor strain, B.1.177. Vaccination reduced viral burden by 67%, and among vaccinated individuals, viral burden was 286% higher among Delta variant, compared to Alpha variant, infections. In addition, viral burden increased by 17% for every 10-year age increment of the infected individual. In summary, within-host viral burden increases with age, is reduced by vaccination, and is influenced by the interplay of vaccination status and viral variant.

Objective: To assess the clinical and neurophysiological profile of peripheral nerve injuries in patients following intramuscular injections. Method: The descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted at the Department of Neurology, Mayo Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan, from July 2019 to January 2021, and comprised adult patients of either gender with isolated peripheral nerve injuries following intramuscular injections. Nerve conduction studies were performed for each patient. Data was analysed using SPSS 26. Results: Of the 99 patients, 59(59.6%) were males and 40(40.4%) were females. The mean age was 26.7+/-18.1 years, 34(34.3%) patients were under weight and 78(78.8%) were either illiterate or had low literacy level. Radial nerve was involved in 56(56.6%) cases, followed by sciatic in 39(39.4%) and axillary nerve 4(4.04%). Overall, 14(14.14%) injection had been administered by doctors, while the other 85(85.85%) were given by paramadics. Marked reduction in compound muscle action potential 72(72.7%) and sensory nerve action potential 82(82.8%) was noted, while re-innervation was seen in 78(78.7%). Conclusion: Intramuscular nerve injuries can be greatly minimised by spreading awareness regarding safe injection techniques and strict implementation of standard operating procedures in hospitals and clinics. Key Words: Intramuscular injections, (M, Peripheral nerve injuries, PNI, Neuropathy.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to identify the antecedents and precedents of on-job bullying regardless of the gender. Lower the Job stress and on-job bullying, higher the effectiveness and productivity of the employees. Employee engagement has also been identified as a mediator in some studies between on-job bullying and job performance of employees. Somewhere there is a lack of information stating the antecedents and precedents of on-job bullying in a comprehensive manner covering the versatile combination of both manufacturing and service sector. Methodology: This face-to-face interview based qualitative study is conducted on employees of manufacturing firms and banks of Faisalabad and Lahore. Interview Protocol was designed, consisting of four main questions along with multiple probing questions. It has been observed after five interviews that the saturation of data floated among all. The data was thus observed using NVivo 10 software to analyze the data deeply. Multiple techniques like Nodes, Word Tag Clouds, and Word Trees validate the collected data. Findings: This study is vital as it acts as a beacon of light to deprive the concept of this harmful norm of our society. Although this is significant to uproot the belief that women are bullied on job only. This study also provided the general recommendations based upon the suggestions of both the respondents and researcher. Implications: This study paves a path for its audience to identify and mitigate the factors that unbalances their job environment.

Purpose: This study aims to explore phenomenal role of financial literacy on investment decisions. Financial literacy enables the individuals to manage their financial resources through pursuing alternative investment opportunities and portfolio diversification. Individual investors tried to balance their income-expenditures by availing latest investment opportunities in stocks, bonds, shares and financial instruments of the companies through stock exchanges, conventional and non-conventional investment channels. In current economic situations low stock prices, capital gains, financial interest, stock market rumors induce individual investors to trade in stock markets. As these indices, provide fair opportunities of investment as compared to bank deposits and other modes of investments. However, financial literacy (FL) offers a bridge to investors for making sound investment decisions through the best utilization of resources. Methodology: This study is based on the exploration of the role of financial literacy from individual investor’s perspective. Therefore, research method for this study is ‘Grounded theory’ under the qualitative approach. For the purpose of data collection, researcher conducted in-depth personal interviews. NVIVO software has been used for qualitative analysis of the data gathered through interviews. Different techniques such as, Word Tag Cloud, Word Tree and Tree Map were used to elaborate the themes of the study. Findings: This study found that financial literacy, economic, political and market factors influence the quality of investment decisions of the individuals. Moreover, rumors in financial markets also affect the investment decisions of the individuals. Implications: This study provide better outlook about the FL and investment decisions made by people based on knowledge about finance. Generally, financial activities are performed in financial markets divided into two categories; primary and secondary markets.

Purpose: The study aimed at exploring those factors by following the procedures of qualitative research as well as exploration of rich sources of information contemplated by parents in order to get a better idea of schooling institutions. Methodology: The data was collected by interviewing the parents who had lately admitted their kids to the schools and had the selection process fresh in their memory. To provide more valuable insights to the readers and by keeping in view the importance of parents’ mindfulness in the decision making, only those participants were considered who had at least 14 years of education themselves; about half of them are working as faculty members in the education sector in Pakistan. An in-depth qualitative analysis was done using NVIVO 20 software by utilizing the thematic analysis technique. Findings: The findings revealed that numerous factors were considered by the parents such as the affordability of the educational expenses, the cultural values, the transportation issues, involvement of school in extra-curricular activities, the distance from home, the environment, the infrastructure of the school, the faculty and education level as well as the skills and creativity enhancement of kids. Although the educated participants talked about affordability issue but most of them were of the view that quality education of children should not be compromised because of this issue and other expenses could be lessened accordingly. The participants mostly relied on personal visits and consultation with educated people in their access for the collection of information about the institutes. Implications: The readers of the paper could benefit from these decision-making insights of educated citizens as well as of those involved with education sector professionally.

Shorter product life cycles, unpredictable demand patterns and the ever-shrinking time to market, have been constantly keeping the manufacturing firms under a lot of pressure. To face these challenges the manufacturing organizations have been shifting to Cellular Manufacturing (CM) due to its benefits of reducing manufacturing costs, increasing flexibility and delivering orders on time. Despite having several benefits, designing a Cellular Manufacturing System (CMS) for a real-life application is a tough ask. The main challenge is the part-machine grouping in cells. It becomes even more challenging when the group scheduling (GS) problem is handled alongside the part-machine clustering. To take up this challenge, an integrated model is developed during this research which handles the machine-part grouping and the GS problems, simultaneously. To optimize the multiple objectives of maximizing Grouping Efficacy (GE) and minimizing Makespan (Cmax), concurrently, a Hybrid Genetic Algorithm (HGA) based approach is developed. The proposed technique is validated through the famous benchmark problems, unlike the several approaches already available in literature. The computational results have shown that the integrated approach, presented in this paper, is more effective as compared to a sequential technique. Also, its accuracy remains intact even if it is applied to large sized problems.

Permutation flow-shop scheduling is the strategy that ensures the processing of jobs on each subsequent machine in the exact same order while optimizing an objective, which generally is the minimization of makespan. Because of its NP-Complete nature, a substantial portion of the literature has mainly focused on computational efficiency and the development of different AI-based hybrid techniques. Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) has also been frequently used for this purpose in the recent past. Following the trend and to further explore the optimizing capabilities of PSO, first, a standard PSO was developed during this research, then the same PSO was hybridized with Variable Neighborhood Search (PSO-VNS) and later on with Simulated Annealing (PSO-VNS-SA) to handle Permutation Flow-Shop Scheduling Problems (PFSP). The effect of hybridization was validated through an internal comparison based on the results of 120 different instances devised by Taillard with variable problem sizes. Moreover, further comparison with other reported hybrid metaheuristics has proved that the hybrid PSO (HPSO) developed during this research performed exceedingly well. A smaller value of 0.48 of ARPD (Average Relative Performance Difference) for the algorithm is evidence of its robust nature and significantly improved performance in optimizing the makespan as compared to other algorithms.

Friction Stir Welding (FSW) is a solid-state joining process for metals, non-metals and polymers. It is carried out with the help of a specially designed, non-consumable tool. The heat required, for creating a softened region at the faying surfaces, is generated by rotation of tool against the work piece material. Being a solid-state welding process, it offers several advantages like inducing minimum effect on the mechanical properties of base material, reduced shrinkage and distortion, no spatter or Ultra Violet (UV) radiations etc. However, developing a sound weld requires an appropriate combination of several process parameters e.g. the design of tool, its rotational and traversing speeds etc. To substantiate this aspect, an approach based on Response Surface Methodology (RSM) is presented during this paper that optimizes the combination of process parameters while investigating their effect on the mechanical properties of a friction stir welded butt joint configuration of Polycarbonate. To minimize the total number of combinations a Central Composite Rotatable Design (CCRD) is used with three factors and two levels. The results have shown that the butt joints fabricated at a traverse speed of 14 mm/min, rotational speed of 1700 RPM and with simple cylindrical conical tool geometry yielded the maximum ultimate tensile strength of 51.299 MPa.

This research work explores the thermal and mass transport phenomena for a time-dependent Maxwell fluid flow in the presence of Cattaneo–Christov concept. The Maxwell fluid flow is analyzed through a stretching cylinder and sheet. Brownian motion, non-uniform heat source/sink, thermophoresis, and variable thermal conductivity are operated in this study. A theoretical analysis of the modeled system of equations is explored with the help of HAM. Impacts of fixed constraints on velocity, thermal, and concentration functions are offered graphically. It is concluded that the velocity profile heightens quickly for Newtonian fluid equated to non-Newtonian fluid (Maxwell) via curvature parameter while the temperature and concentration distributions increase quickly for non-Newtonian fluid as equated to the Newtonian fluid via curvature parameter. The presence of Maxwell and magnetic parameters increases the size of the trapping bolus.

Abstract Objective: To assess sensory symptoms on presentation as a predictor of respiratory insufficiency in patients of Guillain-Barre Syndrome. Methods: The descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted from November 2018 to March 2019 at the Neurology Department of King Edward Medical University, Lahore, Pakistan, and comprised patients aged 18-60 years suffering from Guillain-Barre Syndrome as per Brighton criteria. All patients were monitored for respiratory insufficiency by single breath count and arterial blood gases. Data was analysed using SPSS 22. Results: Of the 87 patients, 61(70.1%) were male and 26(29.9%) were female. The overall mean age was 37.51±15.36 years. Sensory symptoms were noted in 27(31%) patients, and respiratory distress in 17(19.5%). Of those who had sensory symptoms, 10(37%) also had sensory symptoms. Conclusion: Respiratory insufficiency in Guillain-Barre Syndrome patients presenting with sensory symptoms was common. Key Words: Guillain Barre syndrome, GBS), Respiratory distress, Sensory symptoms.

Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) is a rare cause of stroke that accounts for 0.5–1.0% of all strokes. Clinical presentation, predisposing factors, neuroimaging findings, and outcomes of CVST are extremely diverse, which causes a high index of suspicion in diagnosis. Therefore, early diagnosis of CVST is crucial for prompt treatment to prevent morbidity and mortality. Objective: The purpose of this prospective study is aimed at assessing the clinical characteristics, potential risk factors, and neuro-radiological features along with the topography of venous sinus involved in CVST patients in a tertiary care hospital, Lahore, Pakistan. Material and Methods: Consecutive patients enrolled in this study had a computed tomography (CT) scan, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and magnetic resonance venography (MRV) along with a clinical presentation to confirm the diagnosis of CVST. Categorical data were presented as percentages. Continuous variable and categorical data were compared (parenchymal lesions vs. non-parenchymal lesions) using the Student’s t-test and Chi-square test, respectively. Results: A total of 3261 patients with stroke were presented during the study period. Out of all patients, 53 confirmed patients with CVST (1.6%) were recruited; the predominant population was female (84.91%), having a male to female ratio of 1:4. Mean age of the cohort was 28.39 ± 7.19 years. Most frequent symptoms observed were headache (92.45%) followed by vomiting (75.47%), seizures (62.26%), papilledema (54.72%), visual impairment (41.51%), and altered consciousness disturbance (52.83%). The presumed risk factors associated with CVST were puerperium (52.83%), use of oral contraceptives (13.21%), antiphospholipid syndrome (7.55%), elevated serum levels of protein C and S (5.66%), and CNS infection (3.77%). On cranial CT scans, 50 patients (94.33%) showed abnormalities while 32 patients exhibited various parenchymal lesions. Seizures were more frequent in CVST patients with parenchymal lesions compared with subjects lacking parenchymal lesions. Seventy-two sinuses, either single or in combination, were involved in CVST patients, being more common in patients with parenchymal lesions than those without parenchymal lesions. The most frequent locations of CVST were the superior sagittal and transverse sinus. Conclusion: In short, non-contrast CT brain may be used as a first line investigation in suspected cases of CVST. Our study also demonstrates some regional differences in the clinical features, risk factors, and neuroimaging details of CVST as described by some other studies. Therefore, care must be taken while diagnosing and predicting the outcome of the CVST.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Pa), normally a soil commensal, is an important opportunistic pathogen in Cystic Fibrosis (CF) and non-Cystic Fibrosis Bronchiectasis (nCFBR). Persistent infection correlates with accelerated decline in lung function and early mortality. The horizontal transfer of DNA by temperate bacteriophages can add gene function and selective advantages to their bacterial host within the constrained environment of the lower lung. In this study, we chemically induce temperate bacteriophages from clonal cultures of Pa and identify their mixed viral communities employing metagenomic approaches. We compared 92 temperate phage metagenomes stratified from these clinical backgrounds (47 CF and 45 nCFBR Pa isolates) using MG-RAST and GeneWise2. KEGG analysis shows the complexity of temperate phage accessory gene carriage increases with duration and severity of the disease. Furthermore we identify the presence of Ig-like motifs within phage structural genes linked to bacterial adhesion and carbohydrate binding including Big_2, He_Pig and Fn3. This study provides the first clinical support to the proposed bacteriophage adherence to mucus (BAM) model and the evolution of phages interacting at these mucosal surfaces over time.

Though there are a number of benefits associated with cellular manufacturing systems, its implementation (identification of part families and corresponding machine groups) for real life problems is still a challenging task. To handle the complexity of optimizing multiple objectives and larger size of the problem, most of the researchers in the past two decades or so have focused on developing genetic algorithm (GA) based techniques. Recently this trend has shifted from standard GA to hybrid GA (HGA) based approaches in the quest for greater effectiveness as far as convergence on to the optimum solution is concerned. In order to prove the point, that HGAs possess better convergence abilities than standard GAs, a methodology, initially based on standard GA and later on hybridized with a local search heuristic (LSH), has been developed during this research. Computational experience shows that HGA maintains its accuracy level with increase in problem size, whereas standard GA looses its effectiveness as the problem size grows.

Corporate social responsibility is emerging topic in the modern business world. Employees are vital assets for any organization. Corporate Social Responsibility practices have a significant influence on employee’s performance. The study aimed to investigate the relationship between employee perception of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and employee’s outcome in Pakistan for SMEs. Additionally, it examined the relationship of Employee’ Perception of CSR as an independent variable. Further, this study considers mediating role of organizational justice between employee’s perception of CSR and employee’ outcomes. The quantitative method was used to collect data from 300 SME’s. Hypotheses were tested by using statistical software (SPSS). Correlation analysis shows the significant relationship between variables, i.e., employee’s perception of CSR and employee outcomes. Moreover, regression analysis was performed for mediation analysis. The results show that organizational justice partially mediated between employee’s perception of corporate social responsibility and employee’s outcomes. Practical implications were discussed, and future research directions were recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To ascertain the determinants of chronic lower back pain among patients presenting in primary care clinics. Methods: 300 participants from 18 to 75 years of age were enrolled from Primary Care Clinics, Primary Health Center, Sikanderabad and Family Medicine Health Center, Clifton, for a Cross-sectional study that was done from December 1, 2020, to June 30, 2021. Consultant family physicians took informed consent and then asked relevant history questions and performed a relevant physical examination, such as a straight leg raise on the patients. Results: The frequency of chronic lower back pain came out to be 16.7%(50). The median age was 31.99+15.7 years. For those who had chronic back pain, the majority were regularly taking Cholecalciferol supplements (20.8% p-value 0.05). The effect of depression increases the chances (0.688) of chronic lower back pain. (p-value 0.006) Conclusion: In our study, we concluded that lower back pain, especially chronic in duration, is very rampant in the community with male predominance. The majority reported a dull type of pain. Depressed people are more vulnerable to developing chronic back pain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]