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Abstract Investing in cryptocurrencies is progressively becoming a norm; however, these assets are excessively volatile and often decrease or increase in value instantly. Thus, rational investors holding cryptocurrencies for extended periods firmly search for assets that can diversify their risk, preferably with assets other than cryptocurrencies. In this study, we consider the two most studied cryptocurrencies with the highest capitalization and trading volume/value, namely Bitcoin and Ethereum. Specifically, we examine whether high-performing leading US tech stocks (Facebook, Amazon, Apple, Netflix, Google [FAANG]) can provide any diversification benefits to cryptocurrency investors. To do so, we employ dynamic conditional correlation (DCC), asymmetric DCC, time-varying parameter vector autoregression-based connectedness measures, dynamic correlation-based hedge and safe-haven regression analyses, portfolio optimization and hedging strategies, time- and frequency-based wavelet coherence, and high-frequency 10-min intraday data from January 1, 2018 to January 31, 2023. We find that FAANG stocks can be considered (at least weak) safe havens for Bitcoin and Ethereum during the sample period. Our subperiod analyses reveal that the safe-haven role of FAANG stocks, specifically for Bitcoin, has noticeably increased. While the safe-haven property of Facebook is the most promising, for Netflix it is blurred between a weak–safe-haven and a hedge. Our findings may help investors, policymakers, and academicians to invest in cryptocurrencies, formulate relevant investment guidelines, and extend the literature on cryptocurrencies, respectively.

Concrete, the most commonly utilized building material, possesses a high compressive strength but has very low tensile and flexural strength. Steel is the most popular type of flexural and tensile strength enhancer in Cement concrete, however due to the rapid increase in the cost of steel as a result of the financial crises experienced in several countries, research is currently being done to use other affordable and easily accessible material to decrease the quantity of reinforcement steel, as Tensile as well as flexural reinforcement. Coconut fiber, also known as coir fiber, Due to its thread-like structure has previously been shown to help boost concrete's flexural and tensile strength, having said that it negatively affects the workability of fresh concrete. So we can use a workability enhancer to overcome this negative effect while getting optimum benefits in terms of enhancement of flexural and tensile strength. The goal of the study is to discover how coir fiber affects concrete's flexural and tensile strength under uniform workability, with the help of a super plasticizer. It also attempts to find the ideal content of fiber to be used in concrete. The methodology is that with the assistance of a hit-and-trail procedure, we find out the amount of plasticizer needed for each fraction of fiber percentage, to create a constant range workability of 40±5mm for every proportion. Beams and cylinders were cast, curing was done for 28 days, and then their flexural capacity and tensile strength were analysed for each fraction of coconut fiber: 0%,0.4%,0.8%,and1% (by WT of cement )in comparison to plain concrete, the flexural strength improved by 21 percent,25 percent,and15.24 percent at fibers proportions of 0.4%, 0.8%, and 1%, respective, while the tensile strength increased by 29.66 percent, 38.66 percent, and 22.81percent. The best outcomes were discovered at 0.8%. It's determined that the addition of coir fiber results in a considerable improvement in flexural strength and Tensile strength meanwhile plasticizer proves to be good cure against workability loss due to fibers.

Abstract Renewable energy‐based microgrids (MGs) strongly depend on the implementation of energy storage technologies to optimize their functionality. Traditionally, electrochemical batteries have been the predominant means of energy storage. However, technological advancements have led to the recognition of hydrogen as a promising solution to address the long‐term energy requirements of microgrid systems. This study conducted a comprehensive literature review aimed at analysing and synthesizing the principal optimization and control methodologies employed in hydrogen‐based microgrids within the context of building microgrid infrastructures. A comparative assessment was conducted to evaluate the merits and disadvantages of the different approaches. The optimization techniques for energy management are categorized based on their predictability, deployment feasibility, and computational complexity. In addition, the proposed ranking system facilitates an understanding of its suitability for diverse applications. This review encompasses deterministic, stochastic, and cutting‐edge methodologies, such as machine learning‐based approaches, and compares and discusses their respective merits. The key outcome of this research is the classification of various energy management strategy methodologies for hydrogen‐based MG, along with a mechanism to identify which methodologies will be suitable under what conditions. Finally, a detailed examination of the advantages and disadvantages of various strategies for controlling and optimizing hybrid microgrid systems with an emphasis on hydrogen utilization is provided.

Introduction: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a lifelong hereditary neurodevelopmental disorder characterised by a lack of social communication and restricted and repetitive behaviours. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) classified symptoms of autism into two domains: the social communication and interaction domain. However, studies on autism in Saudi Arabia are still insufficient. Therefore, awareness and knowledge about autism can facilitate early detection and treatment, resulting in better outcomes. Aim: To evaluate parents’ knowledge, awareness, and attitude towards their autistic children in a tertiary care hospital in Saudi Arabia. Materials and Methods: This hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted at Baljurashi Mental Health Hospital, AL-Baha region, Saudi Arabia, from January 2023 to November 2023. A total of 69 parents with autistic children who attended the outpatient clinic at Baljurashi Mental Health Hospital were included in the study. A questionnaire was administered among parents to assess their knowledge, awareness, and attitude regarding autism. Data was statistically analysed using descriptive statistics and the Chi-square test. Results: The age of the parents ranged from 16 to over 50 years, with 47 (68.1%) being males and 22 (31.9%) being females. Almost 29 (42.0%) of the parents were postgraduates, and 21 (30.4%) had a university-level education. About 24 (34.8%) of the participants believed that consanguineous marriage increases the risk of autism, 19 (27.5%) believed that some vaccines increase the risk of autism, and 39 (56.5%) knew that autism is associated with learning disabilities. Three-quarters of the participants, 54 (78.3%), stated that autism was known to them, 50 (72.5%) thought that an autistic child could be affected by a normal child, and 53 (76.8%) had good knowledge about autism. Conclusion: The study showed that the majority of parents had good knowledge about autism disorder. The findings reflect the positive impact of focused training initiatives and public awareness efforts aimed at improving parents’ knowledge, awareness, and attitude toward autism.

The study aimed to explore prevalence, risk factors, and intervention approaches related to adolescent smoking in Pakistan. Databases included PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Google Scholar, and ProQuest. Studies were selected on Pakistani adolescents aged 10-21 years, original or secondary articles published in English, and the use of qualitative and quantitative methods. Out of 1300 articles, 300 duplicates were removed. After reviewing titles and abstracts, 980 records were excluded. The full text of the 18 remaining studies was reviewed based on inclusion criteria, with 13 eligible studies included. Data extraction included author, age, setting, design, sample, theory, prevalence, risk factors, findings, and appraisal. Ten eligible studies reported varying prevalence rates of adolescent smoking in Pakistan, ranging from 09% to 61.14%. Individual risk factors associated with smoking included disposition, mood, and substance abuse. Social risk factors included family and peer influences, including father's smoking status, family members' tobacco use, and peer pressure. Environmental risk factors, including attendance at a public school, school-related pressure, exposure to tobacco use on social media, and lower socioeconomic status, significantly increased the likelihood of smoking among adolescents. Three studies evaluating prevention and intervention approaches demonstrated positive outcomes, including increased awareness of smoking harms, attitude shifts, and increased intention to quit smoking. This scoping review identified the influence of individual, social, and environmental risk factors on adolescent smoking. Educational interventions showed positive results on knowledge and attitude; however, none specifically focused on smoking cessation. Future research should focus on addressing these risk factors and implementing theoryguided interventions.

Abstract Background Plaque-induced gingivitis is a chronic inflammatory condition characterized by complete reversibility of tissue damage once the periodontal biofilm has been disorganised. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of two commercially available mouthwashes (MWs) versus a chlorhexidine (CHX) 0.12% MW in reducing gingival bleeding (GB) in adults with plaque-induced gingivitis. Methods The present study was a double-blind, parallel, randomized controlled trial involving 6492 gingival sites (i.e. 39 subjects × 28 teeth × 6 sites/tooth) aged 18–75 years. During a 2-week period, subjects were randomized to receive MWs: a control CHX 0.12% MW (group C, 1818 sites); a MW test containing CHX 0.09% + Citrox®/P complex (group CX, 2628 sites); a MW test based on natural compounds (group P, 2016 sites). GB was assessed at the inclusion visit (T0) and after 2 weeks of MW use (T1). Analyses of GB were compared between groups and then restricted to subjects with bleeding sites between 10 and 30% (moderate gingivitis) or ≥ 30% (severe gingivitis) at T0. Pairwise comparisons were made between groups and logistic regression was used to identify correlates of GB (T1). Results For total bleeding site analysis, GB reduction between T0 and T1 ranged from 23% (C), 26% (CX) and 36% (P), respectively (all p

Top speed of an aircraft is limited by the stiffness and damping of a structure which are contributing to aeroelastic response such as divergence and flutter, respectively. This study explores stiffness tailoring of Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) spars using a proposed bi-level framework. Frequency-based aeroelastic approaches are fast but less accurate for highly flexible structures, while time-based methods utilizing Fluid-Structure Interaction offer high accuracy but at a significant computational cost. This work addresses the computational challenge by proposing a bi-level framework for efficient and accurate aeroelastic analysis. This framework employs a two-step process: Initially, a frequency-based approach in MSC NASTRAN provides an initial prediction of critical velocities. However, this method can be over-conservative for flexible structures due to limitations in capturing non-linear aerodynamics such as wake, viscous effects and induced drag. Subsequently, the framework utilizes ANSYS for more detailed analysis beyond the earlier predicted velocities. Essentially, this bi-level approach can reduce the computational cost upto 60% compared to a full-time-based analysis depending upon flight envelope, while maintaining an acceptable error margin of within 5%. Furthermore, this work investigates the impact of parametric optimization of stacking sequence on the CFRP spar. While maximizing shear modulus increases flutter speed, it comes at the expense of decreased divergence speed highlighting the importance of design trade-offs for improved aeroelastic performance. In conclusion, results of the aeroelastic tailoring showed that mass of the wing is reduced by 17.7% compared to baseline whereas divergence and flutter speed is increased by 10 and 22.8%, respectively.

هدفت الدراسة الحالية إلى بناء برنامج تعليمي مقترح قائم على تطبيقات الذكاء الاصطناعي، وقياس فاعليته في تنمية المفاهيم الجغرافية الحديثة لدى الطلاب الموهوبين بالمرحلة الثانوية في المملكة العربية السعودية. ولتحقيق ذلك، اختيرت عينة عشوائية متيسرة بلغت (37) طالبًا من مجتمع الدراسة، وقد وقع الاختيار على إحدى المدارس الثانوية – نظام المقررات – في مدينة الطائف عشوائيًا، وعلى خمسة طلاب من مجموعة الدراسة لإجراء دراسة الحالة، بعد الحصول على موافقتهم للمشاركة. واتبعت الدراسة منهجية التثليث، التي تضمنت ثلاث مناهج بحثية، وهي: المنهج الوصفي الوثائقي لبناء البرنامج التعليمي المقترح، والمنهج شبه التجريبي– ذو تصميم المجموعة الواحدة لقياس فاعلية البرنامج التعليمي المقترح، ومنهج دراسة الحالة لإثراء الدراسة بالبيانات النوعية التي تدعم تفسير النتائج الكمية. وجمعت بيانات الدراسة الكمية باستخدام اختبار التحصيل المعرفي للمفاهيم الجغرافية الحديثة، أيضًا استخدمت لجمع البيانات النوعية أسئلة المقابلة شبه المقننة. وحُللت البيانات الكمية بالأساليب الإحصائية الوصفية والاستدلالية المناسبة باستخدام برنامج (SPSS)، ورُتبت البيانات النوعية وصُنفت لدراسة الحالة، وعُرضت نتائجها بالطريقة المستندة إلى الطريقة المجذرة لتحليل البيانات النوعية. وكشفت نتائج الدراسة في جانبها الكمي عن وجود فروق ذات دلالة إحصائية عند مستوى الدلالة (0.01 ≥ α)، بين متوسطي درجات مجموعة الدراسة في التطبيقين القبلي والبعدي للمتغير المعتمد في اختبار التحصيل المعرفي للمفاهيم الجغرافية الحديثة، لصالح التطبيق البعدي. كشفت النتائج أيضًا عن تأثير كبير(مرتفع) للبرنامج التعليمي المقترح؛ فقد بلغ معامل التأثير (7.28)، ووصلت نسبة معامل بلاك للكسب المعدل للمتغير المعتمد إلى (1.27)، مما يدل على فاعلية عالية للمتغير المعتمد على البرنامج التعليمي. كما أكدت النتائج النوعية على الدور الرائد للبرنامج التعليمي في تزويد الطلاب الموهوبين بالمفاهيم الجغرافية الحديثة؛ لارتباطها بواقعهم الحالي. وبناءً على نتائج الدراسة؛ قُدمت مجموعة من التوصيات والمقترحات ذات الصلة.

Abstract Background Musculoskeletal disorders are common health problems worldwide. Several factors cause these symptoms, including ergonomics and other individual considerations. Computer users are prone to repetitive strain injuries that increase the risk of developing musculoskeletal symptoms (MSS). Radiologists are susceptible to developing MSS because they work long hours analysing medical images on computers in an increasingly digitalised field. This study aimed to identify the prevalence of MSS among Saudi radiologists and the associated risk factors. Methods This study was a cross-sectional, non-interventional, self-administered online survey. The study was conducted on 814 Saudi radiologists from various regions in Saudi Arabia. The study's outcome was the presence of MSS in any body region that limited participation in routine activities over the previous 12 months. The results were descriptively examined using binary logistic regression analysis to estimate the odds ratio (OR) of participants who had disabling MSS in the previous 12 months. All university, public, and private radiologists received an online survey containing questions about work surroundings, workload (e.g., spent at a computer workstation), and demographic characteristics. Results The prevalence of MSS among the radiologists was 87.7%. Most of the participants (82%) were younger than 40 years of age. Radiography and computed tomography were the most common imaging modalities that caused MSS (53.4% and 26.8%, respectively). The most common symptoms were neck pain (59.3%) and lower back pain (57.1%). After adjustment, age, years of experience, and part-time employment were significantly associated with increased MSS (OR = .219, 95% CI = .057–.836; OR = .235, 95% CI = 087–.634; and OR = 2.673, 95% CI = 1.434–4.981, respectively). Women were more likely to report MSS than males (OR = 2.12, 95% CI = 1.327–3.377). Conclusions MSS are common among Saudi radiologists, with neck pain and lower back pain being the most frequently reported symptoms. Gender, age, years of experience, type of imaging modality, and employment status were the most common associated risk factors for developing MSS. These findings are vital for the development of interventional plans to reduce the prevalence of musculoskeletal complaints in clinical radiologists.

Friction stir welding is a solid-state welding process used extensively for aluminium alloys. EN AW-1100 alloy is mostly used for its exceptional corrosion resistance, high ductility, high thermal and electrical conductivities, and cost-effectiveness. This study is focused on the optimisation of friction stir welding parameters to achieve enhanced mechanical properties of 5mm thick EN AW-1100 alloy plates welded with a single pass, using Taguchi L9 orthogonal array and ANOVA analysis. Experimental results revealed that maximum tensile strength of 79 MPa and percentage elongation of 38.87 % were achieved. The maximum Vickers hardness achieved in the stir zone was 34.15. These results were used for optimisation using Minitab and it was determined that 2000 RPM, 30 mm·min−1 traverse speed and square probe profile came out to be the best parameters for maximum tensile strength. 4000 RPM, 30 mm·min−1 traverse speed and square probe geometry were the best parameters for maximum hardness in the stir zone. ANOVA analysis showed that the most significant parameter for tensile strength was traverse speed. None of the considered parameters were influencing the hardness value in the stir zone at a 95 % confidence level.

Background: Saudi Arabia has an overall smoking rate of 15.9%. The link between smoking and periodontal disease has been studied extensively. It is possible for human gingival fibroblasts to accumulate nicotine intracellularly over a period of four hours. Additionally, unmetabolized nicotine is released into the environment. Tobacco presence can impair tissue inflammation, wound healing, and organ development. To counterbalance tobacco toxins, vitamin C has been added to a variety of products. Aim: This study aims to analyze the RNA expression of antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and wound healing proteins in human gingival fibroblasts from smokers and nonsmokers using polymerase chain reaction. Materials and Methods: hGFs were extracted from clinically healthy periodontium sites of adult male subjects. Both heavy cigarette smokers and never-smokers participated as subjects. Cells were cultured and subcultured in supplemented growth medium. Vitamin C was inducted in the medium at the experimental 6th passage. RNA expression analysis (qRT-PCR) was performed to analyze adhesion, proliferation, and extracellular matrix expression. Results: The results revealed marked expression of a wound healing gene (VEGF-A) in never-smokers (p value = 0.016). GPX3 and SOD3 represent antioxidants that are highly expressed in treated never-smoker cells. SOD2 significantly increased (p value = 0.016) in smokers after vitamin C exposure. The anti-inflammatory markers IL-6 and IL-8 were lower among smokers than among nonsmokers (p

This study investigates the fabrication process of biocomposites and their resultant mechanical and thermal properties, essential for evaluating the performance of finished products. Polypropylene random copolymer (PPRC) was employed as the matrix phase, while rice husk (RH), a biowaste filler, was incorporated in varying concentrations. The rice husk fiber was treated with alkali (RHT) to enhance its lignocellulosic content. To improve interfacial bonding, maleic anhydride and NaOH treatment were utilized. Glass fiber grafted on polypropylene (PPGF) and talc powder functioned as additives. Both raw and treated rice husk fibers were characterized using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and analytical methods to quantify the composition of lignin, cellulose, hemicellulose, and ash. Significant structural changes were observed, with cellulose content increasing from 26% to 53%. Wood polymer composites (WPC) produced from raw and treated rice husk were evaluated based on morphological studies, Izod impact testing, water absorption, heat distortion temperature (HDT), and VICAT softening temperature (VST). The results demonstrated that the HDT and VST of WPC improved by 24% and 7%, respectively, compared to PPRC, indicating enhanced structural and thermal properties. Additionally, impact strength and water absorption were found to be dependent on cellulose concentrations in the biocomposite. This study underscores the environmental benefits of utilizing biowaste rice husk in biocomposites, promoting sustainability by converting agricultural waste into valuable materials with enhanced properties for various industrial applications.

This study was based on the experimental performance evaluation of a wood polymer composite (WPC) that was synthesized by incorporating untreated and treated rice husk (RH) fibers into a polypropylene random copolymer matrix. The submicron-scale RH fibers were alkali-treated to modify the surface and introduce new functional groups in the WPC. A compatibilizer (maleic anhydride) and a thermos-mechanical properties modifier (polypropylene grafted with 30 % glass fiber) were used in the WPC. The effects of untreated and treated RH on the WPC panels were studied using FESEM, FTIR, and microscope images. A pin-on-disk setup was used to investigate the bulk tribological properties of PPRC and WPC. The complex relationship between the friction coefficient of different loading of RH fibers in the WPC, as a function of sliding distance, was analyzed along with the temperature and morphology of the surface. It was observed that untreated RH acted as a friction modifier, while treated RH acted as a solid lubricant. Microhardness was calculated using the QCSM module on nanoindentation. It was found that untreated RH led to an increase in microhardness, while treated RH caused a decrease in hardness compared to PPRC.

The farmers in most regions of Pakistan are heavily reliant on traditional farming approaches all year round and tend to cultivate exhaustive crops like wheat, cotton, maize, and sugarcane in most areas of the country. Consistently adopting this system leads to depleting the soil fertility status, which they overcome by instigating an uneconomical way of using excessive chemical fertilizers to maximize crop yields. These fertilizers are truly acidic and adversely affect soil health. Adopting sustainable farming approaches by the incorporation of legumes into the farming system with an integrated nutrient supply restores soil fertility and maintains the sustainability of the agro-ecosystem. A field experiment was performed to determine the significance of the integrated source of nutrient management on the growth and yield of sole and mixed cultures of sorghum and mungbean crops in areas with moisture regimes. The fertility treatments applied to the sole and intercrops of sorghum and mung-bean in a given sequence; i) Control, ii) Compost @ 10 t/ha, iii) FYM @ 20 t/ha, iv) NP @ 40 kg N + 30 kg P2O5 ha-1, v) ½ of recommended Compost @ 5 t/ha + ½ of recommended NP @ 20 kg N & 15 kg P2O5 ha-1, vi) ½ of recommended FYM @ 10 t/ha + ½ of recommended NP @ 20 kg N & 15 kg P2O5 ha-1. The sole crop of mungbean gave a maximum grain yield of 2229.1 kg/ha over an intercrop of 1779.7 kg/ha. Similarly, the highest grain yield of 2779.8 kg/ha of sorghum was obtained in sole culture over its intercrop of 2150.9 kg/ha. The interaction effect of cropping pattern and fertility treatments showed that sorghum and mungbean gave significant results for growth and yield parameters where a combined dose of organic & mineral fertilizers were provided in comparison to the plots where these fertilizers were applied in split doses.

Abstract Over the last several decades, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) have been a staple in the treatment of hypertension and renovascular disorders in children. One of the ACEIs, captopril, is projected to have all the benefits of traditional vasodilators. However, conducting clinical trials for determining the pharmacokinetics (PK) of a drug is challenging, particularly in pediatrics. As a result, modeling and simulation methods have been developed to identify the safe and effective dosages of drugs. The physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) modeling is a well-established method that permits extrapolation from adult to juvenile populations. By using SIMCYP simulator, as a modeling platform, a previously developed PBPK drug-disease model of captopril was scaled to renally impaired pediatrics population for predicting captopril PK. The visual predictive checks, predicted/observed ratios (ratiopred/obs), and the average fold error of PK parameters were used for model evaluation. The model predictions were comparable with the reported PK data of captopril in mild and severe chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients, as the mean ratiopred/obs Cmax and AUC0−t were 1.44 (95% CI 1.07 − 1.80) and 1.26 (95% CI 0.93 − 1.59), respectively. The successfully developed captopril-CKD pediatric model can be used in suggesting drug dosing in children diagnosed with different stages of CKD.

Background: Ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO) is the most common cause of antenatal hydronephrosis. The incidence is around 1: 750–1500 live births. The standard treatment for (UPJO) is open pyeloplasty (OP) with a high success rate of 90%–95%. In the last 20 years, minimal invasive pyeloplasty (MIP) became an excellent alternative technique to OP which was historically the standard of care. Materials and Methods: The study participants were male and female patients aged 14 years old or less who had undergone open/minimally invasive pyeloplasty during 2015–2020 and who had at least 1-year follow-up after surgery. The data were collected retrospectively from patients’ charts. The patients were categorized into two cohort groups: OP and on the other arm minimally invasive pyeloplasty (robotic/laparoscopic) comparing the outcomes as a 1ry endpoint. 2ry endpoints were hospital stay, duration of surgery, and anteroposterior diameter of renal ultrasound. Results: A total of 133 patients were included in the study. Eighty-four underwent MIP while 49 patients underwent OP. 1ry endpoint was the success rate in both groups. The success rate was 94% (n: 79) and 98% (n: 48) in patients who underwent MIP and OP, respectively. P

Recent terrorist attacks have emerged as a formidable menace to global peace and security, giving rise to an acute humanitarian and economic crisis characterized by the loss of numerous lives and the incurring of substantial financial damages. In response to this pressing concern, the scholarly community has introduced a range of AI-driven predictive analytics methodologies as prospective instruments in the fight against terrorism. Machine Learning (ML) techniques, commonly employed in counter-terrorism efforts, face the formidable challenge of accurately forecasting terrorism activities due to the escalating complexity and voluminous nature of the underlying data. In this context, we present a solution in the form of an optimal weighted voting ensemble classifier, specially tailored for the classification of weapon types in terrorist attacks. Leveraging the computational capabilities of the Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) algorithm, we determine the optimal weight assignments for the base learners, namely Random Forest and Xtreme Gradient Boosted Machines. Additionally, we developed several machine learning models to predict the likelihood of casualties in the aftermath of a terrorist incident. Rigorous validation of these models is carried out utilizing the publicly available Global Terrorism Database (GTD), necessitating meticulous data preprocessing to rectify anomalies and address class imbalances, a task effectively accomplished through the application of the Synthetic Minority Over-sampling Technique (SMOTE). To underscore the effectiveness of our proposed model, we conduct an extensive comparative analysis, bench-marking it against state-of-the-art machine learning models. The comprehensive experimental results unequivocally demonstrate the superiority of our models, as they consistently achieve the lowest error rates, thereby highlighting their enhanced generalizability and performance. Our detailed experiments show that the PSO-based classifier achieves 95% accuracy in weapon classification, while in case of casualty prediction, The XGB model showcases the most consistent and reliable performance across all datasets from Pakistan, India, and Afghanistan, with the lowest Mean Squared Error. The findings derived from our study furnish invaluable insights to empower counter-terrorism agencies, facilitating data-driven decision-making and the proactive implementation of measures to mitigate and counteract the scourge of terrorist acts.

ACTINOMYCOSIS is a rare chronic granulomatous disease caused by anaerobic filamentous gram-positive bacteria, the most common of which is Actinomyces israelii. Actinomycetes are commensal inhabitants of the oral cavity and gastrointestinal tract, but they may become pathogenic through invasion of breached or necrotic tissue. Pelviabdominal ACTINOMYCOSIS is uncommon and can mimic a variety of disease processes, including abdominal mass mimicking malignancy, acute abdomen, asthenia, and weight loss. We describe a 38-year-old woman who presented with acute abdominal pain and tenderness, as well as constitutional manifestations and elevated inflammatory markers. On initial computerized tomography (CT) and MRI, a large fluid collection underlining the anterior abdominal wall at the false pelvic cavity, as well as parietal peritoneal enhancement and smudging of the mesenteric fat and a bulky fibroid uterus with an implanted IUD, were identified. The ultrasound guided aspiration and anaerobic culture revealed positive growth for Actinomyces bacteria. An exploratory laparoscopy revealed extensive adhesions between the abdominal wall and the small intestine, as well as hyperemic and thickened peritoneum, and peritoneal biopsy confirmed ACTINOMYCOSIS. After the diagnosis was established, the IUD was removed and the patient was given Ceftriaxone 2 gm once daily for 6 weeks before switching to oral doxycycline 100 mg twice daily for another 3 months. A significant regression of the suprapubic fluid collection, and peritoneal-mesenteric changes were confirmed on follow-up. The case is discussed, and the relevant literature reviewed and analyzed.

Objective: To determine the sensitivity of axillary ultrasound in detecting axillary nodal metastasis in clinically and radiologically uninvolved axillary nodes in early carcinoma breast by comparing with sentinel node biopsy histopathology on frozen section. Study Design: Comparative cross-sectional study Place and Duration of Study: Breast Clinic, CMH, Rawalpindi Pakistan, from Aug 2020 to May 2021. Methodology: Patients included in the study presented with breast cancer lesions with clinically impalpable axillary lymph nodes aged 18-75. Patients with clinically impalpable nodes underwent an ultrasound of the axilla; if suspicious nodes were found, the patient had subsequent axillary node dissection. Sentinel node biopsy (SLNB) was performed on axillary ultrasound in all patients with no suspicious or benign-looking nodes. Histopathological reporting was taken as standard. Lymph nodal status on axillary ultrasound, SLN biopsy and axillary lymph node clearance were documented and analyzed. Results: Twenty-nine patients were included who had benign-looking lymph nodes on axillary ultrasound and underwent sentinel lymph node biopsy. The mean age of the patients was 54.03 ± 7.94. Out of 29 patients, 24(82.8%) patients had negative Sentinel lymph node biopsy, and 5(17.2%) had positive Sentinel lymph node biopsy, who then underwent axillary lymph node dissection. Conclusion: Sentinel lymph node biopsy is the gold standard to determine axillary lymph nodes involved in early carcinoma breast, which seem benign on pre-operative axillary ultrasound.

One of the tenets of global emergency medicine (GEM) is to create equitable relationships between high-resource and resource-denied countries to promote emergency care for all. Health interventions proposed by those working in GEM too often lack input from local and indigenous communities result in “voluntourism,” research authorship inequity, under-representation and under-valuation of technical expertise and lived experience of leaders from resource-denied countries. We present a decolonization toolkit with specific recommendations that target and disrupt counter-productive power dynamics in GEM education. We held a workshop at the 2022 Society for Academic Emergency Medicine Annual Meeting to collectively develop strategies to address inequalities and increase diversity in GEM education. GEM practitioners were divided into small groups representing five thematic areas and asked to identify specific action items to address inequities related to their theme. Following the workshop, a group of authors reviewed small group responses and data was divided into themed qualitative matrices and recommendations were revised based on targeted literature review. Five thematic areas discussed included access, awareness and cultural humility, language, representation, and recognition. Specific recommendations and action items were created to address inequities related to these themes which can be applied by individuals and institutions in both HICs and LMICs. Despite being a relatively new academic discipline, GEM has replicated colonial structures that are prevalent in global health. However, using targeted recommendations described in our toolkit, individuals, and institutions can build a new framework for GEM that actively combats structural vulnerabilities and academic inequities.

Purpose – This study aims to identify and measure the lexical gap between the old and young generations in the Jizani dialect and determine the causes of that gap. Design/methodology/approach – A 20-item questionnaire was distributed randomly among 104 participants. Next, 12 participants were selected and interviewed. SPSS software was used to analyse the quantitative data from the questionnaire. The data elicited from the interviews was qualitatively analysed, considering age and gender factors. Findings – The major findings revealed that a lexical gap between old and young language speakers in the Jizani dialect exists. The gap between young females and the older generation was greater than that between young and old males. Some old words are likely to disappear in the coming decades. Social media, which is a time-consuming and word-borrowing medium for young people, was one of the reasons, besides the tendency of females to use prestigious words. Originality/value – This study attempted to find the differences between the vocabularies of old and young speakers. If it does exist, is it significant? What are the reasons for this lexical gap? This will help other researchers and dialectologists register the old words before they die out and try to bridge that lexical gap.

Background: Smoking and the severity of periodontal disease have long been associated. In Saudi Arabia, tobacco smoking is rising, contributing to the increased demand for products that counter its detrimental effects. The antioxidant properties of vitamin C (vit C) make it a powerful countermeasure to tobacco toxicity. Observation of these effects on human gingival fibroblasts (hGFs) would suggest use of vitamin C in future dental applications. Aim: To examine the proliferation, adhesion, and expression of extracellular RNA in human gingival fibroblasts extracted from cigarette smokers when compared to never-smokers, in association with vitamin C. Materials and Methods: Human gingival fibroblasts were extracted from Periodontal free sites of healthy adult male participants. Group 1; consisted of Heavy cigarette smokers (n = 1) while group 2 was never-smokers (n = 1). Collected cells were cultured and subcultured in supplemented growth medium. Vitamin C was then induced in the medium at the experimental sixth passage. RNA expression analysis using quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction was performed to analyze the adhesion, proliferation, and extracellular matrix expression. Results: Expression of the adhesion gene (CD44) in the smoker group was significantly downregulated than never-smoker group (p-value = 0.024). After the induction of vitamin C, the smoker samples showed a significant improvement in their gene expression levels. The extracellular genes involved in this study (COL1A1, LAMA3, and TGFB3) were significantly affected by the smoking status. In addition, the proliferation of MK167 and CCNB1 genes in smokers and never-smokers was increased. Conclusion: Cigarette smoking affects the overall properties of human gingival fibroblasts’ adhesion, proliferation, and extra-cellular matrix formation. Furthermore, the addition of vitamin C affects these cellular properties in a positive manner.

Introduction: Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is related to increased risk of stroke. However, very few studies analyzed association of LVH assessed by Echocardiography (Echo) in ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke separately. Aims & Objectives: To determine the association of left ventricular hypertrophy on echocardiography with hemorrhagic or non-hemorrhagic stroke. Place & Duration of Study: Study was done in Department of Cardiology Shaikh Zayed Hospital Lahore for six months from 01-01-2019 to 30-06-2019. Material & Methods: Total 190 patients, fulfilling inclusion and exclusion criteria were selected. All patients underwent for echo and LVH was noted. Left ventricular posterior wall (PW) and inter ventricular septum (IVS) thickness>11mm in males and >10mm in females labeled as LVH. Results: Results of this study showed that risk of LVH was 1.66 times higher among patients who presented with Hemorrhagic: 57.9% vs Non-hemorrhagic stroke: 34.7%. Elderly age group patients (RR: 1.85), female patients (RR:2.53), overweight patients (RR:2.38), longer duration of stroke (RR:2.42) and diabetic patients had higher association with LVH in hemorrhagic stroke. Conclusion: It was observed in this study that patients having hemorrhagic stroke had higher association of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) as compared to Non- Hemorrhagic stroke. Further studies are needed in this domain to address the association between LVH and hemorrhagic stroke.

This study is the first to test a financing-based misvaluation factor (UMO, undervalued-minus-overvalued), first proposed by Hirshleifer and Jiang (2010), for the Pakistani stock market. I find that the UMO factor, long underpriced (repurchase) stocks and short overpriced (new issue) stocks, earns significant mean and risk-adjusted returns. Further, I jointly examine the performance of UMO-augmented factor models – the Capital Asset Pricing Model, Carhart's four-factor model, and Fama and French's three-, five- and six-factor models – to find out which of these models or their subsets is most pertinent in the Pakistani stock market. A battery of tests – factor spanning regressions, Barillas and Shanken's (2017) maximum squared Sharpe ratio tests, and examination of two-way and one-way sorted portfolios using Gibbons-Ross-Shanken and Fama and French (2015, 2018) performance metrics over the 2003–2018 period – reveals that the UMO factor carries distinctive information that cannot be described by other factors under study. Finally, this study proposes a parsimonious four-factor model that combines the market, UMO, size, and profitability factors and outperforms the other models in Pakistan.

Background: As a specialty, internal medicine's historical and philosophical roots lie in the German medical tradition of the second half of the 19th century. However, what uniquely defines the specialty of internal medicine is certainly not fully captured in its name. Objective: To assess the knowledge of Saudi population regarding the scope of internal medicine speciality, 2020. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study that utilized an online questionnaire for data collection. All those who consent and can fill the Arabic online form were eligible to participate in the study. The only exclusion criteria were health-care workers and non-Arabic speakers. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences software (SPSS, version 26.0). Results: A total of 1692 responses were analyzed, of which 60.7% were females and (76.8%) had university education. The majority (77.5%) see that the term is clear. Of the total sample, only (35.8%) answered correctly when asked about the role of internal medicine doctor. When asked if the term (internal medicine) is clear, educational level and region were significantly associated (P = 0.004, 0.03), respectively. Conclusion: The Arabic contrast of the term (internal medicine) may not describe the true meaning or the job of internal medicine doctors as approximately only one third (35.8%) knew the role of medical internists. A variety of factors other than the Arabic synonymous of the term (internal medicine) can influence the understanding of the public to what is internal medicine.

Aim: Our aim was to evaluate Saudi patient knowledge and awareness regarding smoking as a risk factor for bladder cancer, kidney cancer, and erectile dysfunction (ED). Settings and Design: This quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted across three major tertiary hospitals in Riyadh, the capital city of Saudi Arabia. Material and Methods: A self-administered questionnaire was distributed to 539 patients in the urology outpatient clinic. Statistical Analysis: Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Studies 21.0. For descriptive statistics, the frequency was calculated for all study variables. Chi-squared test was used for categorical variables. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: A total of 539 urological patients completed the questionnaire. There were 460 (85.4%) male and 79 (14.6%) female respondents. Only 60.9%, 41.2%, and 36.9% of participants were aware that smoking was a risk factor for ED, kidney cancer, and bladder cancer, respectively. Conclusions: The knowledge and awareness were low among urological patients regarding smoking as a risk factor for urological diseases.

Periodontal regeneration using a barrier membrane can be affected by several factors, including patient-related factors (such as smoking habits), surgical techniques, and type of barrier membrane. Smoking exposure has a negative impact on the periodontium due to its direct inhibition of gingival fibroblast function. Vitamin C is widely recognized as an antioxidant that can be used to mitigate the detrimental impact of smoking products on periodontal cells. This study aimed to investigate whether vitamin C could improve the proliferation and viability of gingival fibroblasts extracted from smoking and non-smoking donors and then cultured on non-crosslinked (CopiOs Pericardium) and crosslinked (BioMend) collagen membranes. To address this aim, human gingival fibroblasts were extracted from healthy periodontium of smoker patients (Group 1) and non-smoker patients (Group 2). The cells were cultivated and subsequently subcultured in a growth medium supplemented with the required nutrients. Subsequently, the medium at passage six was supplemented with vitamin C, i.e., at the start of the experiment. An evaluation of cell proliferation and viability was carried out using cell migration assays and AlamarBlue® assays for cells grown on BioMend and CopiOs Pericardium collagen membranes. Assessment of the morphology and attachment of gingival fibroblasts to the experimental collagen membranes was conducted using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The viability and proliferation assessments of hGFs from the migration assay were evaluated using AlamarBlue®. The results exhibited significant fluorescent intensity of gingival fibroblasts on both membrane groups (BioMend and CopiOs Pericardium) in the smoker group compared to the non-smoker group (p < 0.05), which was interpreted to be the result of hGF metabolic activity and the exclusion of any cytotoxic effects, particularly from vitamin C addition. Vitamin C positively affected cells from the smoker group with statistically significant results in the BioMend group (Wilcoxon signed-rank test of p value < 0.05; p = 0.028). SEM images revealed the crosslinking pattern of the BioMend membrane and the non-crosslinked natural tissue structure of the CopiOs Pericardium membrane, which did not change regardless of whether the cultured smoker or non-smoker hGFs were treated with vitamin C. Small numbers of attached hGFs in membrane matrices in all samples, mainly in the peripheries, were observed. It can be concluded that the addition of vitamin C to collagen membranes in vitro seems to combat the adverse effects of smoking products on gingival fibroblasts.

An earthquake is a force which is unpredictable and can cause serious damage to a structure and its structural components. For improved safety, the seismic design of the building should be adequate, and measures should be taken for vibration control. In order to mitigate effects, base-isolation techniques must be provided to counter seismic loads; this is a seismic isolation technique which prevents the transfer of energy from the base of the structure to the upper stories. In the research, two similar 3D frame models were modelled with and without base isolators and analyzed following the provisions and codes. The real ground motion data of the earthquake was selected, then matched to a design spectrum to obtain the matched time history. The story response plots obtained after the time history analysis indicate that base isolation is a reliable and effective technology to improve the seismic performance of the building, particularly with inadequate seismic design.

Rapid globalization during the last few decades has caused many difficulties for firms to survive, sustain, and maximize shareholders’ wealth. The Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system provides extensive access to data and upgraded information to achieve the specified objectives. This study examines how Innovative Organizational Culture (IOC) affects firm performance in Pakistan. In doing so, this study collects a comprehensive dataset from 234 high- and medium-level managers working in different sectors across six major cities of Pakistan. We construct several hypotheses and employ Partial Least Squares Structural Equation modeling to test the selected premises. The results reveal that IOC and the benefits of ERP are positively related to firm performance, IOC is also positively associated with the implementation of ERP, and the implementation of ERP is positively related to the benefits of ERP. Regarding mediating relationship among the constructs, this study shows that the implementation of ERP mediates the relationship between IOC and the benefits of ERP and the benefits of ERP mediate the relationship between the implementation of ERP and firm performance. Given that Pakistan has been facing a chronic energy crisis for the last few decades, this study conducts a subsample analysis and divides the sample into two groups—“energy and manufacturing” and “service and non-manufacturing” sector firms. Our robustness tests reveal that the implementation of ERP is positively and significantly related to firm performance only in the subsample of service and non-manufacturing sector firms. In contrast, it is negatively and insignificantly related to firm performance in the subsample of energy and manufacturing sector firms. The findings of this study provide numerous operational insights to managers to adequately emphasize and strengthen IOC to sustain the change management system. Specifically, this study suggests that senior- and medium-level managers should continuously monitor the implementation of ERP and determinedly engage themselves in the team management and communication process to achieve higher firm performance.

Objective: To determine patient preferences in the surgical options of early breast cancers and surgeon’s role in the decisionmaking. Study Design: cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Breast Surgery Department, Combined Military Hospital Rawalpindi Pakistan, from Nov 2020 to May 2021. Methodology: Patients having early carcinoma breast were studied, i.e., clinical stage 1 or 2, and their surgical preference was recorded. The cases were discussed in multidisciplinary meetings, and a discussion session with patient conducted and then final decision taken from the patient was recorded again, and the results compared. Results: A total of 28 patients were included in this study and their surgical preferences recorded. Of these patients 22 (78.5%) agreed to breast conservation initially, whereas one of the patients wanted mastectomy. Five (17.8%) patients were undecided between the two. After multidisciplinary team recommendation and discussion with surgeon, only one patient opted for mastectomy (3.6%). Conclusion: Patients with early breast cancer when offered a surgical decision between breast conservation and mastectomy mostly opt for breast conservation; those who select mastectomy do so because of the fear of recurrence.

Objective: To describe the technique and results of mucosectomy; A surgical technique that is easy to perform, and has a lower morbidity and complication rate as compared to standard appendectomy in cases of complicated appendicitis. Study Design: Quasi-experimental study. Place and Duration of Study: Surgical - A Unit, Ayub Teaching Hospital, in Abbottabad, from Mar 2017 to Mar 2019. Methodology: Patients included were those who presented with appendicular mass, phlegmon, recurrent appendicitis, appendicitis in uncommon locations, presence of adhesions, those cases of appendicular mass and phlegmon which was either not responding to medical treatment, or diagnosed per operatively being clinically not palpable or not seen on ultrasound. Per operative and post-operative variables were documented and analyzed. In mucosectomy, thesubserosal portion of the appendix i-emuscularis and mucosa of the appendix was dissected out from the serosa after ligation of the appendicular base, or ligation done after delivering the appendix out of the serosa. The serosa that was adherent to the surrounding gut, omentum or other viscera was left intact. Results: A total of 192 patients were included in this study, half of which underwent standard appendectomy and a mucosectomy was performed on the rest. The mean time of surgery was 30 ± 1.2min as compared to the standard appendectomy group (55min ± 3.6). More than half of the patients undergoing standard appendectomy required extension of the incision (56.2%), only 8% required so from those on whom mucosectomy was performed. Per operative hemorrhage was seen in 32.2%, however inmucosectomy group only 1%.

The electricity crisis in Pakistan has been triggering grid power outages (load shedding) for many decades, which has not only affected the commercial and industrial sectors but also the domestic sector, specifically the livelihood of rural areas of the country. However, the extant literature advocates that renewable energy technologies (RETs), such as solar photovoltaic (PV) can be the remedy. Given the abundant availability of solar energy in Pakistan that can be converted into electrical energy using a solar PV system, this study examines the determinants of solar PV adoption in rural areas of Pakistan. Our preliminary investigations—using government/official publications—indicate that despite the huge potential of solar energy in Pakistan, the usage of solar PV systems at the household level in rural areas is still untapped, which makes this research agenda more appealing and provocative. In doing so, this study first conducts surveys, face-to-face comprehensive interviews, and questionnaires in four different districts of Pakistan and then implements a stepwise two-stage novel approach on a sample of 1,140 selected rural households. The first stage focuses on the determinants of solar PV system adoption, whereas the second stage focuses on the determinants of the type of solar PV system adopted. Using logistic regression, this study finds that age, education, children in school, income level, access to credit, gender (female), and price of a solar PV system are the factors significantly affecting the solar PV system adoption. In the second stage, we use a multivariate probit model and find that among these significant factors, the former five are significantly positive for the uptake of solar home-system, whereas the latter two are significant for both solar shed-lighting and solar panel-kit systems. In addition to these factors, landholding and access-to-road are significant for solar home systems, whereas household size, distance-to-market, and access-to-grid-electricity are significant for both solar shed-lighting and solar panel-kit systems. Since burning fossil fuels and solid biomass fuels for domestic energy needs are common in rural areas globally and cause carbon emissions and several severe health issues, the findings of this study are useful in many ways. In specific, we contribute to the literature examining the determinants of RETs in rural communities in developing countries.

Context: Urinary tract stones are a highly prevalent problem affecting public health worldwide. Studying demographic variability in urolithiasis across different geographical areas in terms of prevalence, age, sex, stone composition, climate, and comorbidities can aid in differentiating between varieties of stone types and identifying high-risk populations. Aims: We conducted this study to identify correlations and demonstrate the demographic variability in urinary tract stone cases in Saudi Arabia. Settings and Design: We retrospectively reviewed the data of all patients who underwent stone analysis in our institution between May 2015 and June 2017. Subjects and Methods: We used Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy for stone analysis to analyze the chemical composition of each stone. We recorded the different seasons when the stones were initially analyzed and the demographics of our patients, including age, sex, general comorbidities such as hypertension, diabetes, and other patient-specific comorbidities, and stone type. Statistical Analysis Used: We analyzed our data using the statistical data analysis software IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, version 25.0 (Armonk, NY, USA: IBM Corp). Results: We divided the ages of the patients into seven distinct age groups (0–14, 15–24, 25–34, 35–44, 45–54, 55–64, and + 65) to easily define and compare the incidence of stones within each age group and between sexes. We divided the year into hot and cold seasons according to the annual climate in Saudi Arabia. We also defined patients' coexisting comorbidities in our results. Conclusion: We found that the incidence of some types of urinary tract stones could be predicted by the presence of chronic illnesses in the middle-aged population in Saudi Arabia.

The paste viscosity attributes of starch, measured by rapid visco analyzer (RVA), are important factors for the evaluation of the cooking and eating qualities of rice in breeding programs. To determine the genetic roots of the paste viscosity attributes of rice grains, quantitative trait loci (QTLs) associated with the paste viscosity attributes were mapped, using a double haploid (DH) population derived from Zhongjiazao 17 (YK17), a super rice variety, crossed with D50, a tropic japonica variety. Fifty-four QTLs, for seven parameters of the RVA profiles, were identified in three planting seasons. The 54 QTLs were located on all of the 12 chromosomes, with a single QTL explaining 5.99 to 47.11% of phenotypic variation. From the QTLs identified, four were repeatedly detected under three environmental conditions and the other four QTLs were repeated under two environments. Most of the QTLs detected for peak viscosity (PKV), trough viscosity (TV), cool paste viscosity (CPV), breakdown viscosity (BDV), setback viscosity (SBV), and peak time (PeT) were located in the interval of RM6775–RM3805 under all three environmental conditions, with the exception of pasting temperature (PaT). For digenic interactions, eight QTLs with six traits were identified for additive×environment interactions in all three planting environments. The epistatic interactions were estimated only for PKV, SBV and PaT. The present study will facilitate further understanding of the genetic architecture of eating and cooking quality (ECQ) in the rice quality improvement program.

Abstract In this paper, we present the palynostratigraphy, petrography, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) investigations to evaluate hydrocarbon reservoir potential of the Jurassic clastic-carbonate mixed sequence of the Kala Chitta Range, northwest Pakistan. The chronostratigraphic sub-divisions of the diverse lithologies within the sequence were made by using palynostratigraphy. The clastic dominated sequence of Datta Formation was assigned Toarcian-Bajocian age, while the Shinawari Formation was deposited during the Bajocian-middle Bathonian. The carbonate shoal facies of the Samana Suk Formation showed late Bathonian-Tithonian time of deposition. The primary and secondary porosities augmented by the plug porosity and permeability data suggest that the sandstone of Datta Formation is an excellent reservoir. The dominance of diverse matrix within the Shinawari Formation occluded the primary porosity. However, based on dissolution and dolomitization, the Shinawari Formation is categorized as a moderate reservoir. The dominance of various types of matrix and cement with superimposed burial diagenesis has occluded the primary porosity within the Samana Suk Formation. However, the diagenetic dissolution and dolomitization during the telogenetic stage were supported by the SEM and bulk geochemical data. Such diagenetic overprinting has significantly enhanced the reservoir potential of the unit.

Because of the privilege of the city of Karbala with its religious character, this city has become a destination for all visitors from all cities of the world; as a consequence, there are now more people living in Karbala, which has increased the number of vehicles on the road and, consequently, the amount of traffic congestion. In this study, the degrees of public transportation service in the city of Karbala as well as the urban road network, were assessed using GIS. The collected data include the number of nodes, links, and the total length of Karbala's urban road network using a GIS program and traffic composition (bus and minibus). Then, a set of coefficients for evaluating the urban road network was calculated) β- Index, α- Index, γ- Index, η- Index and GTP- Index), After determining the percentage of buses and minibusses, it became clear that public transportation in Karbala is very weak and needs development, as the percentage of buses and minibusses did not exceed 30% of the total traffic volume.

This study was aimed to determine the effect of LFA (Lakhra Fly Ash) as partial replacement of cement in concrete. To conduct this study, a total of 72 standard concrete cylinders were cast with 1:2:4 proportions at 0.5 water-binder ratios. Cement was partially replaced by weight with LFA and the percentage replacements of FA (Fly Ash) were kept as 0, 5, 15, 25, 40 and 50%. In addition to that, workability of each mix was determined by Slump Cone test and Compaction Factor test. Out of 72 cylinders, 36 cylinders were tested to determine the compressive strength while the remaining 36 cylinders were tested to determine the tensile strength of concrete, at 7 days curing period, by using UTM (Universal Testing Machine). The results revealed that 25% replacement of binder with LFA, determined an increase in compressive strength of concrete up to 15% as compared to normal cement concrete. Moreover, the tensile strength of concrete also increased up to 16% for the same percentage replacement. Furthermore, it also increased the workability, cohesiveness and surface finishes of concrete. This finding can help to reduce the admixture dosage or the water content of the mix. On the contrary, the compressive strength as well as the tensile strength of concrete decreased in case of 40 and 50% replacements of the cement with FA.

The sustainable development of collection and delivery points and urban street network is an important consideration of logistic planners. Urban street networks have a significant impact on collection and delivery points' location, but the spatial relationship between the centrality of urban street network and collection and delivery points has not been studied using spatial design network analysis. In a multiple centrality assessment model, we used point of interest and street network data to evaluate the location of two types of collection and delivery points and the centrality of streets in Nanjing city, based on four indicators: closeness, betweenness, severance, and efficiency. Then, kernel density estimation and spatial autocorrelation are used to study spatial patterns of distribution and centrality coupling effects of urban street network and collection and delivery points. The results show that the centrality of Nanjing streets has a big influence on the location of the collection and delivery points, and the directions of different types of centrality also vary. The location of the Cainiao Stations are largely related to closeness, followed by betweenness, severance, and efficiency. China Post Stations and street centrality have a weak correlation between efficiency and severance, but no correlation between closeness and betweenness. Our results can help logistics enterprises and urban planners to develop collection and delivery points' network based on the urban street network.

Background: Burns in developing countries account for significant morbidity and mortality which have been shown by increasing burn first aid awareness. In general, flames, scalds, and contact burns are the most common causes, but in children scalds are the most common. Objectives: This study aims to assess the general knowledge and practices related to burn first aid among Majmaah community. Methods: This study is a cross-sectional study. Data were collected in 2018 using convenience sampling technique. Saudi men and women age 18 years and older living in Majmaah were included in the study. Data were collected from 390 males and females. The sample size was collected using precision formula. Data were encoded into Microsoft Excel worksheets and imported to Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS®) software for analysis. Results: A total of 390 individuals responded to the survey. Regarding the demographic data of the study participants, 49.2% were between 30 and 49 years old. Most of them were females (71.8%). Regarding burn first aid knowledge, 82.6% of the study participants knew that the first thing is to stop, drop, and roll when your clothes catch fire, 43.8% knew to apply cold water if hot oil spills on the hands, 41.0% knew that all burn injuries must be treated at hospital, whereas most of them 78.5% knew never to apply raw eggs or herbs to burn wounds. Conclusion: The knowledge of Majmaah community toward first aid is found to be low in spite of most of the respondents having a positive attitude toward first aid. The majority of the study participants (73.8%) were well-educated and had a bachelor's degree.

In the wake of the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals—zero hunger and affordable modern/clean energy for all—many developing countries have taken serious steps in recent years to increase clean energy access for the rural population. The government of Pakistan has similarly made numerous efforts to promote the use of clean energy sources in the rural areas of the country. Therefore, this study examines rural households’ energy choices for cooking and lighting in Pakistan. In doing so, a comprehensive dataset is collected from three different districts of Pakistan between 2020 and 2021, and multivariate probit (MVP) model and Chi-square tests are employed. The Chi-square results indicate that the age, education level, and occupation of the household-head; household size and income; distance to market and wood source; and biogas system ownership are the significant factors affecting cooking choices. The MVP results show that an increase in education level, school-going children, access to credit facilities, and gender (female) are the key positive factors, whereas an increase in the distance to nearest market/road, household size, and age are the factors that negatively affect the likelihood of using clean energy sources for lighting. While comparing the propensity to use modern/clean energy fuels across the three districts, infrastructural development and literacy rate were found to be crucial factors.

At 22 years following heart transplantation, a patient presented with incessant atrial flutter. During electrophysiologic study, 2 simultaneous atrial arrhythmias were mapped, 1 from the donor and 1 from the recipient’s heart. High-density mapping allowed for rapid identification of electrically abnormal areas, which were successfully ablated, thus restoring sinus rhythm. (Level of Difficulty: Advanced.)

Background: Standard recommendations to maintain daily oral hygiene include tooth brushing and interdental cleaning. Evidence from literature indicates that using a mouthrinse as an adjunct provides benefit beyond mechanical methods. The objective of this article was to evaluate the short- and long-term effect of a mouthwash containing essential oils (LISTERINE®) in improving oral health. Methods: PubMed (MEDLINE) and bibliographies from the relevant retrieved reviews were searched to identify clinical studies involving the use of LISTERINE mouthrinse. The primary outcome measure was short- and long-term efficacy of mouthrinse containing essential oil (LISTERINE®) in improving oral health. Results: Based on our search, 26 studies supported the use of essential-oil-containing mouthrinse (LISTERINE®) as an adjunct to daily oral health regimen. Most studies were conducted in healthy subjects, 2 studies in orthodontic patients, 1 each in xerostomia patients and mentally disabled patients. Of these, 13 studies supported the short-term (

Detailed study of the Samana Suk Formation has been carried out from the Khanpur Dam Section. Two lithological units have been identified in the studied section, limestone and dolomite (60% and 40% respectively). The dolomite is present in the form of beds or veins filling fracture and joints. In the field three types of dolomitization can be observed, yellowish, brown and saddle varieties. Microscopic studies reveal either partial, complete and selective dolomitization, which include (1) fine crystalline planar-euhedral, subhedral dolomite and non-planer anhedral dolomites (2) fine to medium crystalline non-planar-anhedral dolomite, (3) medium crystalline planar-euhedral dolomite, (4) coarse crystalline planar-subhedral dolomite, (5) coarse crystalline non-planar-Anhedral dolomite and (6) saddle dolomites. The dolomitic facies have intercrystalline porosity compared to limestone facies, which is characterized by inter-particles, moldic, vug, intraparticle, fractures and burrows porosities. The porosity of the limestone facies varies between 3% and 6%, which increase to 12% in the fractured samples, while the porosity of the dolomitic facies is in the range of7% and 14%. It has been concluded that the increasing porosity is the direct result of dolomitization. This interpretation is consistent with the field and petrographic observation, which indicate that dolomitization is secondary in nature. The dolomitization is the direct result of fluid along the fault plane due to tectonic loading creating pressure gradient.

The present work, presents the Luminol immobilized electrochemiluminescence (ECL) for the detection of hydrogen peroxide. Herein, the ECL behavior of luminol immobilized on graphite as a paste electrode has been studied in nearly neutral solution (pH = 8) for the detection of hydrogen peroxide. Under the optimized conditions, a strong electron-transfer reaction occurs between luminol immobilized electrode and hydrogen peroxide in solution. Electrochemiluminescence response of proposed sensor for hydrogen peroxide was linear in the range of 1 × 10−8 to 1 × 10−3 μM with detection limit of 0.7 × 10−8 μM ​(S/N ​= ​3) at +0.6 ​V in PBS (pH ​= ​8). The sensor showed response for hydrogen peroxide concentration in less than 7 ​s. The prepared electrode is simple, fast, reproducible and stable. The effect of EDTA and other divalent interfering metal ions in the presence of hydrogen peroxide was also studied. The successful application of Luminol based ECL sensor was employed to study hydrogen peroxide in commercial hydrogen peroxide samples.

ﻳﺘﻨﺎﻭﻝ ﻫﺬﺍ ﺍﻟﺒﺤﺚ ﺍﻻﻃﺎﺭ ﺍﻟﻔﻠﺴﻔﻲ ﻟﻘﻮﺍﻧﻴﻦ ﺍﻟﺸﺮﻛﺎﺕ، ﻭﺍﻟﺘﻄﻮﺭ ﺍﻟﻔﻘﻬﻲ ﻓﻲ ﻗﻮﺍﻧﻴﻦ ﺍﻟﺸﺮﻛﺎﺕ ﺍﻟﻤﻘﺎﺭنة. ﻳﺒﺪﺃ ﺍﻟﺒﺤﺚ ﺑاﺳﺘﻌﺮﺍﺽ ﺩﻭﺭ ﺍﻟﺪﻭﻟﺔ ﻓﻲ ﺣﻴﺎﺓ ﺍﻟﺸﺮﻛﺎﺕ ﺳﻮﺍﺀ ﻣﻦ ﺣﻴﺚ ﺍﻟﻨﺸﺄﺓ ﺃﻭ الإﺩﺍﺭﺓ، ﻭﻣﻦ ﺛﻢ ﻳﺘﻢ ﺍﻻﻧﺘﻘﺎﻝ ﺇﻟﻰ ﺍﻟﺼﺮﺍﻉ ﺣﻮﻝ ﺍﻟﺴﻴﻄﺮﺓ ﻋﻠﻰ ﺍﻟﺸﺮﻛﺎﺕ ﻭﺍﻟﻘﻮﺍﻋﺪ ﺍﻟﻘﺎﻧﻮﻧﻴﺔ ﺍﻟﻤﻨﻈﻤﺔ ﻟﻬﺬﻩ ﺍﻟﻤﺴﺄﻟﺔ. ﻭﻓﻲ ﺍﻟﻤﺒﺤﺚ ﺍﻟﺮﺍﺑﻊ ﻳﺘﻢ ﺍﺳﺘﻌﺮﺍﺽ ﺍلإﻃﺎﺭ ﺍﻟﻔﻠﺴﻔﻲ ﻟﻠﺸﺮﻛﺎﺕ ﻛﻜﻴﺎﻧﺎﺕ ﻗﺎﻧﻮﻧﻴﺔ، ﻭﺍﻟﺪﻭﺭ ﺍﻟﻤﻨوﻁ ﺑﻬﺎ ﻣﻦ ﻣﻨﻈﻮﺭ ﻗﺎﻧﻮﻧﻲ ﻭﻣﻦ ﺛﻢ ﻳﺘﻢ ﺍﺳﺘﻌﺮﺍﺽ ﺍلأﻫﺪﺍﻑ ﺍﻟﺮﺋﻴﺴﻴﺔ ﻟﻘﻮﺍﻧﻴﻦ ﺍﻟﺸﺮﻛﺎﺕ، ﺑﺸﻜﻞ ﺧﺎﺹ ﻣﺎ ﻳﻌﺮﻑ ﺑﻤﺸﻜﻠﺔ ﺍﻟﻮﻛﻴﻞ، ﺍﻟﺘﻲ ﺗﻌدُّ ﺍلإﻃﺎﺭ ﺍﻟﻤﺤﻮﺭﻱ ﻟﻘﻮﺍﻧﻴﻦ ﺍﻟﺸﺮﻛﺎﺕ، ﻭﻳﺘﻢ ﺗﺤﻠﻴﻞ ﺛﻼثة ﺃﻫﺪﺍﻑ ﺭﺋﻴﺴﻴﺔ ﻟﻘﻮﺍﻧﻴﻦ ﺍﻟﺸﺮﻛﺎﺕ: الاﺑﺘﺪﺍﺀُ ﺑﺪﻭﺭ ﻗﻮﺍﻧﻴﻦ ﺍﻟﺸﺮﻛﺎﺕ في تنظيم ﺗﻌﺎﺭﺽ ﺍﻟﻤﺼﺎﻟﺢ ﺑﻴﻦ ﻣﻼﻙ ﺍﻟﺸﺮﻛﺔ ﻭﺇﺩﺍﺭﺓ ﺍﻟﺸﺮﻛﺔ، ﺍﻟﻬﺪﻑ ﺍﻟﺜﺎﻧﻲ ﻭﺍﻟﻤﺘﻤﺜﻞ ﺑﺘﻨظﻴﻢ ﺗﻌﺎﺭﺽ ﺍﻟﻤﺼﺎﻟﺢ ﺑﻴﻦ ﻣﻼﻙ ﺍﻟﺸﺮﻛﺔ ﺍﻟﺬﻳﻦ ﻳﻤﺜﻠﻮﻥ ﺍلأﻏﻠﺒﻴﺔ ﻭﺍﻟﻤﻼﻙ ﺍﻟﺬﻳﻦ ﻳﻤﺜﻠﻮﻥ ﺍلأﻗﻠﻴﺔ، ﻭﻣﻦ ﺑﻌﺪ ﺫﻟﻚ ﻳﻨﺘﻘﻞ ﺍﻟﺒﺤﺚ ﻟﺘﻨﺎﻭﻝ ﺍﻟﻬﺪﻑ ﺍﻟﺜﺎﻟﺚ ﻟﻘﻮﺍﻧﻴﻦ ﺍﻟﺸﺮﻛﺎﺕ ﻭﺍلأﺧﻴﺮ، ﻭاﻟﻤﺘﻤﺜﻞ ﺑﺤﻤﺎﻳﺔ ﻣﺼﺎﻟﺢ ﺍﻟﻐﻴﺮ في ﺘﻌﺎﻣﻠﻬﻢ ﻣﻊ ﺍﻟﺸﺮﻛﺔ. ﻭﻓﻲ الختام يناقش ﺍﻟﺒﺤﺚ ﻣﺴﺘﻘﺒﻞ ﻗﻮﺍﻧﻴﻦ ﺍﻟﺸﺮﻛﺎﺕ ﺍﻟﻤﻘﺎﺭنة ﻓﻲ ﻇﻞ ﺍﻟﺘﻄﻮﺭﺍﺕ ﺍﻟﻔﻘﻬﻴﺔ ﻭﺍﻟﻔﻠﺴﻔﻴﺔ ﻟﻘﻮﺍﻧﻴﻦ ﺍﻟﺸﺮﻛﺎﺕ.

يتناول هذا البحث تطوّر التشريعات التجارية في ظل الأزمات المالية، والعلاقة التبادلية بين تطوّر التشريعات التجارية، والأزمات المالية والاقتصادية. ينقسم البحث إلى أربعة مباحث، حيث يتناول المبحث الأول التطوّر التاريخي للتشريعات التجارية في ظل الأزمات المالية - وبشكل خاص في الولايات المتحدة الأمريكية - وذلك منذ بدايات القرن العشرين. ومن ثمً ينتقل البحث إلى دراسة تداعيات الأزمة المالية التي عصفت بالاقتصاد العالمي في عام 2008 - وبشكل خاص التدخلات التشريعية ذات الطابع الاقتصادي. ويتناول المبحث الثالث التدخل التشريعي في الولايات المتحدة الأمريكية نتيجة الأزمة المالية لعام 2008، حيث أصدرت الولايات المتحدة الأمريكية قانون إصلاح متكامل للقطاع المالي، والذي يعدّ أحد أهم التشريعات في الوقت المعاصر. كما يتناول هذا المبحث أهم الأهداف التشريعية لقانون الإصلاح المالي، ومن ثم ننتقل إلى ما يعرف بمبدأ فولكر. وفي ختام المبحث يستعرض البحث الإطار القانوني لحماية المبلغين. ويتناول المبحثُ الرابع الإطار القانوني للشركات التي تمثّل خطرًا نمطيًا وذلك لما لهذه الشركات من أثر عظيم في استقرار، أو زعزعة استقرار اقتصاديات الدول.

Background: Flagellation with blades has been a ritual performed exclusively by Shiite population. People share blades during this ritual and become prone to various blood borne infections including the viral infections like hepatitis B and C. Objective: To determine the frequency of hepatitis B and C virus in Shiite population of University of AJK Muzaffarabad and AJK Medical College Muzaffarabad and its relationship with the ritual of zanjeer zani (flagellation with blades). Study type, settings and duration: The comparative study was conducted in University of AJK Muzaffarabad and AJK Medical College Muzaffarabad from May to August 2017. Methodology: All Shiite population of The University of AJK Muzaffarabad and AJK Medical College Muzaffarabad was screened for HBV and HCV by using the ELISA method. Questionnaires were given to determine the trend of performing the ritual of zanjeer zani among the target population. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression were used to establish the association between the study variables. Results: Out of 761 subjects, 401 were male and 360 were female. Mean age of the subjects was 24.5 (±7.975) years. Among them 34 (4.5%) had positive viral serology including 10 (1.3%) for HCV and 24 (3.2%) for HBV infection. Increasing age and mourning ritual of zanjir zani had p-value

The Kawagarh Formation is well exposed in Hazara basin in different sections. Due to deep depositional settings, the Kawagarh Formation is least appealing to geologists to investigate it as a hydrocarbon reservoir. In the present study, the diagenetic settings of Kawagarh Formation were chronologically studied to interpret its diagenetic history and the effect of different diagenetic phases on the reservoir potential. The dolomitization is also studied in depth to use it as a key for its reservoir potential. Kawagarh Formation is sampled at Khanpur Dam Section for porosity analysis. The samples were taken from limestone and dolomite facies randomly. The dolomites are in the form of veins and well developed thick size beds. These dolomites are secondary in nature which is hosted by fractures and joints of limestone, which affect about 25% of limestone facies. At outcrop scale different types of dolomites are recognised on the basis of color and texture, yellowish fine-grained, brown blackish coarse-grained in the top portion and saddle dolomites. In petrographic study partial and complete dolomitization are observed. On the basis of crystal sizes and geometry different types of dolomites are recognized which are; (1) fine crystalline planar-euhedral dolomite, (2) medium crystalline planar-subhedral dolomite, (3) medium crystalline non-planar-anhedral dolomite, (4) coarse crystalline planar-subhedral dolomite, (5) coarse crystalline, non-planar-anhedral dolomite and (6) saddle dolomites (SD1). In petrographic study, high inclusions and disturbance are observed at the surfaces of dolomitic rhombs which indicate low Mg replacement or dedolomitization phenomena. On image J porosity analysis, the porosity is found of limestone and dolomitic samples. In limestone facies which is mostly, non-laminated mudstone has very low up to 2 to 3% in the form of vugs and fractures. In dolomitic facies, the porosity is ranging from 5% to 14%. In most of the dolomitic samples, the porosity is round about 5%. From the structural analysis and the study of other carbonate formations, it is concluded that this dolomitization occurs in the Kawagarh Formation along the Khui da Maira fault. Near the fault, the dolomites occur in the irregular pattern, but as we move away from faulted section, the dolomites are converted into horizontal veins and beds. The dolomitization model has been evaluated for better understanding of the phenomenon of dolomitization.