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Rising energy demand, resource depletion, and environmental issues tied to fossil fuels demand a transition to renewable energy. Solar power, abundant and well-established, presents a promising solution to address our expanding energy requirements. The sun radiates an astonishing amount of energy every second, far more than humanity’s current and future energy needs. Accurate solar radiation prediction is crucial for optimizing solar panel design, placement, and grid integration. This paper aims to predict daily global solar radiation data for six Pakistani cities: Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Quetta, Peshawar, and Multan. It highlights the importance of advanced algorithms and introduces an innovative data collection method using pyranometer sensors and microcontrollers, making data storage and analysis more affordable and efficient while reducing the financial burdens associated with traditional equipment. Focusing on Pakistan’s diverse solar radiation potential, this research evaluates eight machine learning algorithms using seven key statistical metrics to understand and compare their performance in predicting solar radiation. Four algorithms, k-nearest neighbors, Random Forest Regression, Gradient Boosting Regression, and Support Vector Regression (SVR), consistently exhibit remarkable precision, achieving outstanding R2 values of up to 99%. This highlights the crucial role of algorithm selection in solar radiation prediction, with SVR emerging as the top choice. SVR’s precise and reliable forecasts empower renewable energy planning and decision-making. This study provides valuable guidance for decision-makers to optimize solar energy utilization across diverse geographical regions and contributes invaluable insights to the field of renewable energy forecasting.

Abstract Background Lung separation may be achieved through the use of double lumen tubes or endobronchial blockers. The use of lung separation techniques carries the risk of airway injuries which range from minor complications like postoperative hoarseness and sore throat to rare and potentially devastating tracheobronchial mucosal injuries like bronchus perforation or rupture. With few case reports to date, bronchial rupture with the use of endobronchial blockers is indeed an overlooked complication. Case presentation A 78-year-old male patient with a left upper lobe lung adenocarcinoma underwent a left upper lobectomy with a Fuji Uniblocker® as the lung separation device. Despite an atraumatic insertion and endobronchial blocker balloon volume within manufacturer specifications, an intraoperative air leak developed, and the patient was found to have sustained a left mainstem bronchus rupture which was successfully repaired and the patient extubated uneventfully. Unfortunately, the patient passed on in-hospital from sepsis and other complications. Conclusion Bronchial rupture is a serious complication of endobronchial blocker use that can carry significant morbidity, and due care should be exercised in its use and placement. Bronchoscopy should be used during insertion, and the volume and pressure of the balloon kept to the minimum required to prevent air leak. Bronchial injury should be considered as a differential in the presence of an unexplained air leak.

Building is a process of technology that enables human wellbeing by engaging a multitude of stakeholders. However, it is often seen in the literature that all stakeholders involved in the building process are disintegrated, which seems to be a management and systemic orientation problem when trying to address the built environment as a sustainable system design. That means the design and design aesthetics of any building cannot be simply influenced by technological revolution and efficiency improvements to attain the three pillars of sustainable development. A systemic transformation of the whole process is a pre-requisite, which is complex and oft underestimated mainly due to the lack of subjective characteristics involved available for transformation research, that addresses policy choice in the development of a paradigm shift. Addressing built environment as a system for transformation research practice, this study extensively reviewed the UNEP built environment report to identify global variables that define the roughly correct system as an artifact to be studied. The UNEP report covers the system level transformation requirement until 2003, which seems to be more or less the same in almost all the research studies as of now. Using the Vester Sensitivity Model, the roughly correct built environment as a system is analyzed to identify the future leverage potential and variables’ interdependency. The in-depth systems analysis indicates global variables Enabling condition and New material are potential system leveraging variables for built environment system transition to sustainable design, which require further scrutiny. The leveraging variables are influenced by other global variables which can only be negotiated for sustainable development goal actualization for future success.

The problem of contamination in ceramic insulators was found to be frequent in power transmission lines and transformers. The key aim was to develop aquaphobic zirconium oxide (ZrO2) thin films using DC reactive magnetron sputtering over glass insulators to mitigate contamination problems. This was achieved by introducing O2 and Ar gas in the sputtering chamber, and three properties, namely, structural, optical, and aquaphobic, were inspected by changing the sputtering gas ratio (oxygen/argon). These properties were chosen based on comparison with the bulk ZrO2. These deposited ZrO2 samples were identified by X-ray diffractometer (XRD), atomic force microscopy (AFM), UV-Vis-NIR spectrophotometer, and contact angle goniometer (CAG). For all the samples, coatings were found to be limpid, clear, and aquaphobic. Coarseness (62.813 nm) and the contact angle made by water to the surface (107.45°) were found utmost as deposited at 0.25 oxygen/argon gas ratios. The transmittance and band gap were also found to be 90% and 5.33 eV, respectively, at this particular ratio.

Zinc deficiency affects one third of the population worldwide, and vitamin A deficiency is a prevalent public health issue in Sub-Saharan Africa and South-Asia, including Nepal. Crop biofortification is the sustainable solution to these health—related problems, thus we conducted two different field trials in an alpha lattice design to identify zinc and provitamin A biofortified maize genotypes consistent and competitive in performance over the contrasting seasons (Season 1: 18 February to 6 July 2020 and Season 2: 31 August to 1 February, 2020/21). In our study, the performance of introduced maize genotypes (zinc—15 and provitamin A biofortified—24) were compared with that of the local check, focusing on the overall agro-morphology, yield attributes, yield, and kernel zinc and total carotenoid content. Zinc and total carotenoid in the tested genotypes were found in the range between 14.2 and 24.8 mg kg−1 and between 1.8 and 3.6 mg 100 g−1. Genotypes A1831-8 from zinc and EEPVAH-46 from provitamin A biofortified maize trial recorded kernel zinc and total carotenoid as high as 52.3, and 79.5%, respectively, compared to the local check (DMH849). The provitamin A genotypes EEPVAH-46 and EEPVAH-51 (total carotenoid: 3.6 and 3.3 mg 100 g−1), and zinc biofortified genotypes A1847-10 and A1803-42 (20.4 and 22.4 mg kg−1 zinc) were identified as superior genotypes based on their yield consistency over the environments and higher provitamin A and zinc content compared to the check. In addition, farmers can explore August sowing to harvest green cobs during December-January to boost up the emerging green cob business.

Background: Teenage pregnancies are a global problem but occur most often in poorer and marginalized communities. It is a high-risk situation for both mother and child because of their vulnerability to many health challenges. This study aimed to compare the obstetric outcome of teenage pregnant mothers (13-19 years) with that of adult pregnant mothers (20–29 years). Methods: Hospital-based cross-sectional descriptive comparative study design was adopted. The study was carried out in Nepal medical college and teaching hospital, Kathmandu and Mahakali hospital, Kanchanpur, using a non-probability purposive sampling technique. The data were collected from 94 teenage mothers (13-19 years) and 94 adult mothers (20-29 years) comprising of 2 health facilities. Face to face interview technique was used for the collection of socio-demographic information and obstetric-outcomes related information was collected by observations and hospital/delivery records through pre-designed proforma. Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 16 was used for data analysis. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used for statistical analysis. Results: The findings of this study showed higher proportion of anemia (28.7% vs. 5.3%, p < 0.001), Pereineal tear (42.3% vs. 16.1%, p = 0.001), pre-term birth (19.1% vs. 5.3%, p = 0.004) and low birth weight infants (30.9% vs. 8.5%, p < 0.001) occurred among teenagers compared to adult mothers (20-29 years). However, caesarean section was found to be lower and vaginal deliveries in higher proportion among teenagers. Conclusions: Teenage pregnant mothers had significantly higher rates of anemia, perineal tear, pre-term birth, and low birth weight. Focusing on girl-child education, strict law to prohibit teenage marriage, proper antenatal care in case if teenage pregnancy occurs can reduce teenage pregnancy and its related complications.

The efficacy of oral risperidone treatment in prevention of schizophrenia is well known. However, oral side effects and patient compliance is always a problem for schizophrenics. In this study, risperidone was formulated into matrix transdermal patches to overcome these problems. The formulation factors for such patches, including eudragit RL 100 and eudragit RS 100 as matrix forming polymers, olive oil, groundnut oil and jojoba oil in different concentrations as enhancers and amount of drug loaded were investigated. The transdermal patches containing risperidone were prepared by solvent casting method and characterized for physicochemical and in vitro permeation studies through excised rat skin. Among the tested preparations, formulations with 20% risperidone, 3:2 ERL 100 and ERS 100 as polymers, mixture of olive oil and jojoba oil as enhancer, exhibited greatest cumulative amount of drug permeated (1.87 ± 0.09 mg/cm2) in 72 h, so batch ROJ was concluded as optimized formulation and assessed for pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic and skin irritation potential. The pharmacokinetic characteristics of the optimized risperidone patch were determined using rabbits, while orally administered risperidone in solution was used for comparison. The calculated relative bioavailability of risperidone transdermal patch was 115.20% with prolonged release of drug. Neuroleptic efficacy of transdermal formulation was assessed by rota-rod and grip test in comparison with control and marketed oral formulations with no skin irritation. This suggests the transdermal application of risperidone holds promise for improved bioavailability and better management of schizophrenia in long-term basis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Glaucoma is a multifactorial disease characterised by damage to Retinal Ganglion Cells (RGCs) that inturn results in damage of nerve fibers resulting in functional visual impairment. Aim: To evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of Ganglion Cell Complex (GCC) parameters and Retinal Nerve Fibre Layer (RNFL) thickness obtained with Spectral Domain-Optical Coherence Tomography (SD-OCT) and to determine their role in the diagnosis of primary open-angle glaucoma patients. Materials and Methods: A case control observational study was conducted on 55 patients of Primary Open Angle Glaucoma (POAG) cases and 50 normal (control) patients presenting to the Eye OPD at tertiary eye hospital over a period from August 2015 to November 2017. Institutional ethical clearance was taken and tenants of a declaration of Helsinki were adhered to. Apart from complete ophthalmic examination, all patients underwent reliable standard automated perimetry (30-2) testing and SDOCT imaging for RNFL thickness, Optic Nerve Head (ONH) analysis and GCC. Receiver Operating Characteristic Curves (ROC) were studied for all parameters. Results: The diagnostic ability for distinguishing between normal and glaucoma patients were same when we consider average RNFL thickness and avgerage GCC thickness. Diagnostic accuracy increases when we consider both RNFL and GCC thickness. There was a significant difference in both RNFL and GCC thickness between normal and glaucoma patients (p