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The primary objective of the present research is to examine the impact of touch and gustatory stimuli on airline image and repurchase intention. Furthermore, the present research examines the moderating role of price fairness and mediation impact of airline image. The researchers gather data from the customers of PIA and Airblue travelling abroad from Islamabad International Airport, Karachi International airport and Lahore International airport by employing multi-stage sampling technique. Total of 576 questionnaires was distributed among the respondents, and the response rate was 68.9%. For the analysis of data received, the researcher employed PLS-SEM. The finding of the study confirmed the significant impact of touch and gustatory stimuli on airline image and repurchase intention. Findings of the study revealed the mediating role of airline image among touch, gustatory and repurchase intention was significant as well. At the end, perceived price fairness also moderated the relationship of airline image and repurchase intention. The present study fills the gap of limited studies conducted in the past regarding sensory stimuli in the context of the airline industry, the role of airline image as a mediator under SOR model and moderating impact of perceived price. Findings of the present study are helpful for policymakers and practitioners of the airline industry in Pakistan to develop the strategy by which they can retain their customers on international routes.

Abstract Background The establishment of stable porcine embryonic stem cells (pESCs) can contribute to basic and biomedical research, including comparative developmental biology, as well as assessing the safety of stem cell-based therapies. Despite these advantages, most pESCs obtained from in vitro blastocysts require complex media and feeder layers, making routine use, genetic modification, and differentiation into specific cell types difficult. We aimed to establish pESCs with a single cell-passage ability, high proliferative potency, and stable in long-term culture from in vitro-derived blastocysts using a simplified serum-free medium. Methods We evaluated the establishment efficiency of pESCs from in vitro blastocysts using various basal media (DMEM/F10 (1:1), DMEM/F12, and a-MEM) and factors (FGF2, IWR-1, CHIR99021, and WH-4-023). The pluripotency and self-renewal capacity of the established pESCs were analyzed under feeder or feeder-free conditions. Ultimately, we developed a simplified culture medium (FIW) composed of FGF2, IWR-1, and WH-4-023 under serum-free conditions. Results The pESC-FIW lines were capable of single-cell passaging with short cell doubling times and expressed the pluripotency markers POU5F1, SOX2, and NANOG, as well as cell surface markers SSEA1, SSEA4, and TRA-1-60. pESC-FIW showed a stable proliferation rate and normal karyotype, even after 50 passages. Transcriptome analysis revealed that pESC-FIW were similar to reported pESC maintained in complex media and showed gastrulating epiblast cell characteristics. pESC-FIW were maintained for multiple passages under feeder-free conditions on fibronectin-coated plates using mTeSR™, a commercial medium used for feeder-free culture, exhibiting characteristics similar to those observed under feeder conditions. Conclusions These results indicated that inhibition of WNT and SRC was sufficient to establish pESCs capable of single-cell passaging and feeder-free expansion under serum-free conditions. The easy maintenance of pESCs facilitates their application in gene editing technology for agriculture and biomedicine, as well as lineage commitment studies.

Mucormycosis is an opportunistic fungal infection that primarily affects immunocompromised individuals and rarely presents as renal mucormycosis (RM). Diagnosis can be challenging for many physicians. We report a rare case of primary, unilateral RM which triggered diabetic ketoacidosis in a type 2 diabetic patient. The case was later complicated by a bronchopleural fistula and a meropenem-resistant Klebsiella infection. The patient was ultimately treated with surgical intervention, liposomal amphotericin B, and polymyxine E. Early diagnosis and timely treatment of this life-threatening disease and its complications are significant in reducing mortality.

This paper explores the incorporation of aramid fibers, recognized for their high mechanical flexibility and low thermal conductivity (TC), to serve as reinforcing agents within the highly porous aerogel matrix in order to overcome their fragility and weak mechanical structure that impose limitations on their practical utility especially in piping insulation. The thermal properties are determined using a micromechanical modeling approach that considers parameters such as temperature, fiber volume fraction, thermal conductivity, and porosity of the silica aerogel. For specific conditions, including an Aramid fiber radius of 6 microns, a silica aerogel thermal conductivity of 0.017 W.m-1.K-1, and a porosity of 95%, the resulting AFRA composite exhibits an Effective Thermal Conductivity (ETC) of 0.0234 W.m-1.K-1. Notably, this value is lower than the thermal conductivity of air at ambient temperature. The findings are further validated through experimental and analytical techniques. A response surface methodology (RSM) based on Box-Behnken design (BBD) is employed. This approach leads to the development of a quadratic equation intricately relating the key parameters to the ETC of the AFRA. The aim is optimization, identifying target optimal values for these parameters to further enhance the performance of AFRA composites.

Abstract Background Despite its rare incidence of 1/40,000, fetal cardiac rhabdomyoma (CR) represents the prevailing type of benign cardiac fetal tumors, which commonly affects the ventricles. Fetal CRs rarely occur in the right atrium. Thus, the presentation of atrial fibrillation and premature atrial contractions (PAC) due to a solitary cardiac rhabdomyoma is an extremely rare scenario. Our literature review found that only 2% (1 out of 61) of rhabdomyoma cases were found in the right atrium. The majority of fetal cardiac rhabdomyomas are associated with tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC). Case presentation A 7-day-old male neonate presented with arrhythmias and an atrial mass for further evaluation. Echocardiography revealed a hyperechoic, round, uniform right atrial mass (25 mm). An abdominal and testicular ultrasound showed multiple thin-walled cortical cysts in both kidneys and a scrotal hydrocele, respectively. His laboratory workup was insignificant except for hypomagnesemia. Electrocardiography revealed junctional rhythm and PACs with wave distortions. A brain magnetic resonance imaging scan revealed multiple subependymal lesions on the frontal and occipital horns of the lateral ventricles. These findings (Fig. 1), along with a family history of TSC, confirmed the diagnosis of TSC with associated CR. The patient was treated symptomatically with an anti-convulsant and monitored with regular follow-ups. Surgical resection was not required. Conclusion Despite CR’s predominance in the ventricles, a diagnosis of rhabdomyoma should be kept in mind in the presence of a solitary atrial mass and PACs. Physicians should evaluate systemic findings related to TSC and provide appropriate follow-up and family screening. Surgical resection is not always required, and symptom management can be achieved through medical treatment alone.

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) is a global public health challenge, contributing significantly to morbidity and mortality worldwide. This research aims to investigate the epidemiology, clinical characteristics, diagnostic methods, and early mortality rate among pediatric patients with pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) and extrapulmonary tuberculosis (EPTB) who were admitted to a hospital in Syria. Methods: This retrospective cohort study was conducted at the University Children's Hospital in Syria, involving pediatric patients diagnosed with TB between January 2013 and January 2023. Data were collected from medical records and encompassed socio-demographic characteristics, diagnostic methods, clinical presentation, chest radiography findings, and patient outcomes. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 25. Results: A total of 129 patients were included in the study, with 26.4 % diagnosed with PTB and 73.6 % with EPTB. The most common types of EPTB were lymphatic (25.6 %) and gastrointestinal (17.1 %). Patients with PTB and EPTB did not differ significantly in terms of age, weight, or gender. Significant cough was more common in PTB cases (67.6 %), while lymphadenopathy was more prevalent in EPTB cases (48.4 %). Chest X-ray abnormalities were found in 58.1 % of patients, with PTB patients more likely to have abnormal findings (97.1 %). Microbiological confirmation was higher in PTB cases (76.5 %) compared to EPTB cases (25.3 %). The overall mortality rate was 14 %, with higher mortality observed in patients with EPTB (16.8 %), particularly in cases of TB meningitis. Conclusion: Our study highlights the epidemiological challenges of TB among hospitalized children, with a focus on the complexities of diagnosing and managing EPTB. We emphasize the urgent need for enhanced diagnostic and management strategies, particularly in conflict zones like Syria, where TB control efforts face significant obstacles. Prompt solutions are imperative to improve outcomes, given the high occurrence of EPTB and its associated mortality rates. Clinical recommendations stress the need for comprehensive contact histories and awareness of varied clinical presentations in pediatric TB diagnosis.

Background. Endodontic infections caused by remaining biofilm following disinfection with chemical fluids encourage secondary bacterial infection; hence, employing laser pulses to activate the fluids is advised to improve microbial biofilm clearance. This study investigated the performance of Er,Cr:YSGG laser in photon-induced photoacoustic streaming (PIPS) agitation of 5.25% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) to enhance the removal of mature Enterococcus faecalis (E. faecalis) biofilms in complex root canal systems. Methods. The mesial roots of the lower first and second molars were separated and inoculated with E. faecalis bacteria for 30 days. The roots were irrigated with 5.25% NaOCl, some of them were agitated with passive ultrasonic irrigation (PUI), and the other roots were agitated by Er,Cr:YSGG laser using PIPS at 60 µs/pulse, 5 Hz, and 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1, and 1.25 W. An atomic force microscope (AFM) was used as a new method to obtain the results in the isthmus area; the results that have been obtained from each group were compared with each other. ANOVA was utilized to compare the means of the test groups. Results. Based on the AFM and SEM analyses, laser agitation and passive ultrasonic activation groups have shown higher antimicrobial efficacy than the conventional syringe irrigation group (P

Biosensors have the potential to revolutionize healthcare by providing rapid and accurate diagnosis of diseases. Biosensors are analytical devices that convert molecular recognition of a target analyte into a measurable signal. Older diagnostic techniques, such as immunoaffinity column assays, fluorometric, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, are laborious, require qualified personnel, and can be time consuming. In contrast, biosensors offer improved accuracy, sustainability, and rapidness due to their ability to detect specific biomarkers with high sensitivity and specificity. The review covers various bacterial cellulose (BC)-based biosensors, from SARS-CoV-2 detection to wearable health monitoring and interaction with human-computer interfaces. BC's integration into ionic thermoelectric hydrogels for wearable health monitoring shows its potential for real-time health tracking. Incorporating BC in biosensors for low-noise electrodes, and wearable sensors has been elaborated. The invention of a phage-immobilized BC biosensor for S. aureus detection is a significant contribution to the field, highlighting the biosafety and efficiency of BC in pathogen identification and demonstrating BC's versatility across multiple sensing platforms. Palladium nanoparticle-bacterial cellulose hybrid nanofibers show excellent electrocatalytic activity for dopamine detection, whereas Au-BC nanocomposite biosensors show efficacy in glucose detection, with potential therapeutic applications. The “lab-on-nanopaper” device, utilizing BC nanopaper, not only visually detects human serum albumin but also establishes itself as a new-generation optical biosensing platform with superiority over conventional substrates. This review contributes to the ongoing advancements in biosensor technology, highlighting the potential of BC as a versatile material for developing innovative biosensors. This is crucial for improving the accuracy, sensitivity, and efficiency of diagnostic tools in healthcare.

There is a critical need to use the abundantly available solar energy worldwide due to the global energy crisis. The goal of this study is to demonstrate the residential use of a stirling engine powered by solar energy in Karachi, Pakistan. The design was carried out to produce a power output of 5 kW in order to address the issues with household and rural area power generating. The design was simulated using MATLAB. The use of solar energy as the engine's heat input was one of the design's key components. This allowed the engine to be built for locations with a lot of solar radiation. In regions with abundant solar energy, solar cookers, sun air warmers, and other appliances may be used. For power generation, however, the Stirling engine was chosen. Calculations of the sun intensity showed that 5 kW of Stirling engine output could be generated from 12 kW of solar electricity. The concentrator for concentrating and reflecting the incoming radiations to the Stirling engine was selected as a solar parabolic dish. This process heated the engine's working fluid, which then expanded and contracted due to thermodynamic forces to produce the engine's power strokes.

Recently, oscillating heat pipes (OHPs) filled with nanofluid (NF) as the operating fluid has drawn researchers’ attention because of their improved thermal conductivity, and heat/mass transfer (HT/MT) characteristics. An OHP is an HT device based on a two-phase fluid flow that transfers heat between heat sources and heat sinks which is applicable in industries in terms of its highly effective thermal conductivity. According to previous research, in previous experimental and computational studies, the effect of adding metal oxide NPs into the operating fluid of an OHP was not studied. Therefore, adding Fe3O4 NPs to the operating fluid of the water flowing into an OHP with nano dimensions will be the research work ahead that can increase the efficiency of designed structures. The maximum density, velocity, temperature, and heat flux after 20 ns are examined to determine the effects of NP size and an external magnetic field (EMF). The numerical findings show that heat flux increased from 1561 to 1602 W/m2 when the NPs' size grew from 5 to 10. Therefore, the HT/MT of Fe3O4-H2O simulated NF showed enhanced thermal behavior as NP's radius increases. Furthermore, the results show that the presence of an EMF enhanced the thermal behavior of NF in the OHP. The heat flux increased from 1563 to 1586 W/m2 when the magnetic field magnitude increased from 1 to 5 T.

Abstract Background Acceptance of COVID-19 vaccination was noticed to be less common among parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other neurodevelopmental disorders. This study aimed to explore the beliefs and willingness of parents of children with neurodevelopmental disorders about COVID-19 vaccine and understand how certain factors influencing the vaccine decision-making process differ between them and other parents’ groups. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted between August to November 2021. An Arabic online survey was distributed in August 2021 to collect the study’s data. 400 parents from all the major regions in Saudi Arabia participated in and shared their beliefs about the new COVID-19 vaccination for their children. Results Out of 400 participants, 381 of them were eligible to answer the survey (95.2%). The total number of parents of children with neurodevelopmental disorder was 158 (41.5%), was compared to responses of parents of heathy children 223 (58.5%). 85 (53.8%) of them were ready to vaccinate their children with COVID-19 vaccine. While 36 (22.8%) were hesitant, the rest 37 (23.4%) did not want to vaccinate their children at all. Only a small number 16 (10.1%) have beliefs of vaccines as a cause of their child’s neurodevelopmental disorder. A total of 79 out of 131 responses were received from both parents’ groups. Fear of long-term side-effects was the most common reason reported by 41 responders out of 64 (64.06%) from parents of healthy children and 38 responders out of 67 (56.71%) from parents of diagnosed children. Another reason reported by parents of younger children in both groups was the child’s age. Having a healthcare relative worker was significantly associated with the vaccine decision making (p

This study thoroughly compares multiple single bidirectional and multiport converters (MPCs), highlighting the significant role of MPCs in multi-input and multi-output (MIMO) systems. MPCs offer a more efficient and cost-effective solution than multiple single converters, especially in applications involving photovoltaic (PV), electric vehicles (EVs) with storage systems, and power grids. This research emphasizes the importance of multi-input converters (MICs) in integrating diverse voltage sources. It notes the rising popularity of multi-output DC-DC converters in portable electronics, owing to their reduced component count, lower costs, and compact design. This paper emphasizes comparisons based on diverse aspects and applications, shedding light on recent developments in basic bidirectional converters. Additionally, it delves into the advancements in MPC topologies, focusing on efficiency, reliability, and modularity improvements. These advancements are crucial for harnessing cost reduction, simplicity, and compactness. Furthermore, this paper introduces an innovative multiport DC-DC converter tailored for integrating and managing renewable sources. This new converter design enhances PV system and battery storage performance by reducing power conversion steps, using fewer components, and improving voltage-boosting capabilities. Its unique bidirectional buck-boost structure allows for versatile connections between sources and loads with varying voltage and power requirements. The performance of this novel converter is evaluated through MATLAB/Simulink simulations under different scenarios. Experimental studies further validate its effectiveness, marking a significant contribution to power conversion and management in integrating renewable sources such as DC microgrids.

Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) play a pivotal role in diverse applications such as environmental monitoring, industrial automation, healthcare, and smart cities. The motivation behind the development of WSNs stems from their impact in providing real-time data on various environmental parameters. The challenge for WSNs is to achieve strong security and efficient energy saving together. Traditional methods sought to find solutions either through security or energy. In response, this study proposed a secure and energy-efficient framework for enhancing security measures in WSNs while minimizing the impact on energy resources by using the Enhanced Consumed Energy Leach (ECP-LEACH) protocol and the Enhanced Random Forest Classifier for Low Execution Time (ERF-LET) algorithm for attack detection named Security-Enhanced Energy Conservation with ERF-LET (S-2EC-ERF). The integration of the detection algorithm at the node level played a pivotal role in fortifying the security posture of individual nodes by detecting and mitigating potential security threats. Leveraging a comprehensive dataset obtained from NS3 simulations, the ERF-LET algorithm demonstrated its proficiency in differentiating between normal and attack packets, thereby laying a strong foundation for subsequent evaluations, where it achieved an accuracy of 98.193%. The proposed methodology was further validated through real-time simulations conducted on the NS3. The results demonstrated the superiority of the proposed S-2EC-ERF in terms of the packet delivery ratio (PDR), average throughput, end-to-end delay, and mean energy consumption compared to the Security-Enhanced Energy Conservation with Logistic Regression (S-2EC-LR), Security-Enhanced Energy Conservation with Decision Tree (S-2EC-DT), and Security-Enhanced Energy Conservation with AdaBoost (S-2EC-Ada) algorithms.