How investment in children shape fertility choices of families: Evidence from Pakistan.

Fertility patterns are transitioning globally in that couples are choosing to have fewer children as they become more affluent, and parents are investing more time and resources in the lives of their children than they can receive back. This change is more established in developed countries and is now being recognized in developing countries. We explored this phenomenon and its implications for family planning in Pakistan, hypothesizing a quantity-quality transition underway.

The Impact of Exercise Interventions on Pain, Function, and Quality of Life in Patients With Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a prevalent degenerative joint disease that significantly impacts mobility and quality of life (QoL). Exercise interventions, including aerobic training, resistance exercises, and multimodal programs, are widely recommended for managing symptoms. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of various exercise interventions on pain, physical function, and QoL in individuals with knee and hip OA.

Breaking the Mould: Comparing 3D-Printed and Composite Bone Models in Orthopaedic Training.

Background and aim Synthetic composite bone models (reinforced solid foam) have become the standardised material used in practical orthopaedic education. However, with discussions regarding whether composite foam truly replicates human bone, there has been a drive to explore other available models. Three-dimensional (3D) printing has risen in both popularity and availability, providing a new option in the creation of anatomically accurate bone models.

Effects of fermentation conditions on molecular weight, production, and physicochemical properties of gellan gum.

Gellan gum has been widely used in many industries due to its excellent physical properties. In this study, the effects of different fermentation conditions on molecular weight and production of gellan gum were analyzed, and the optimized fermentation conditions for a high molecular weight gellan gum (H-GG: 6.42 × 10 Da) were obtained, which increased the molecular weight and yield of gellan gum by 201.

Silica Nanoparticles Tailored with a Molecularly Imprinted Copolymer Layer as a Highly Selective Biorecognition Element.

Molecularly imprinted silica nanoparticles (SP-MIP) are synthesized for the real-time optical detection of low-molecular-weight compounds. Azo-initiator-modified silica beads are functionalized through reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization, which leads to efficient control of the grafted layer. The copolymerization of methacrylic acid (MAA) and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EDMA) on azo initiator-coated silica particles (≈100 nm) using chain transfer agent (2-phenylprop-2-yl-dithiobenzoate) is carried out in the presence of a target analyte molecule (l-Boc-phenylalanine anilide, l-BFA).

Causal Effects of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases on the Risk of Kidney Stone Disease.

Background: Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs), including Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, have been increasingly associated with kidney stone disease, posing significant health challenges globally.

Objective: This research sought to determine the causal relationship between kidney stone disease risk and inflammatory bowel disorders.

Methodology: This retrospective cohort study included patients with IBDs, such as ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease, who were diagnosed at least 18 years of age.

Abatement of Aerosols by Ionic Wind Extracted From Dielectric Barrier Discharge Plasma.

Lahore (Pakistan), being an industrial city, has high emission of aerosols that affects and contaminates the air quality. Therefore, the abatement/inactivation of aerosols is necessary to restrict their infectious activities. In this project, ionic wind isolated from dielectric barrier discharge plasma (DBD plasma) has been utilized to abate the aerosols trapped in the Surgical Mask and KN95 Respirator.

Assessing the reliability of tele-refraction for real time consultation with a remote optometrist.

Introduction: Uncorrected refractive errors pose a significant challenge globally, particularly in remote regions of low-middle income countries where access to optometric care is often limited. Telerefraction, which involves refraction by a trained technician followed by real-time consultation with remote optometrist, is a promising approach for such remote settings. This study aimed to evaluate the accuracy of this model.

Insight into the inhibitory potential of metal complexes supported by ()-2-morpholino--(thiophen-2-ylmethylene)ethanamine: synthesis, structural properties, biological evaluation and docking studies.

A thiophene-derived Schiff base ligand ()-2-morpholino--(thiophen-2-ylmethylene)ethanamine was used for the synthesis of M(II) complexes, [TEM(M)X2] (M = Co, Cu, Zn; X = Cl; M = Cd, X = Br). Structural characterization of the synthesized complexes revealed distorted tetrahedral geometry around the M(II) center. investigation of the synthesized ligand and its M(II) complexes showed considerable anti-urease and leishmanicidal potential.

Efficacy of wet cupping in the pain management of cervical spondylosis - A randomized, controlled, open -label, parallel-group clinical trial.

Background And Objective: Cervical spondylosis is a chronic degenerative process of the cervical spine characterized by pain in neck, degenerative changes in intervertebral disc and osteophyte formation. Cervical spondylosis is translated as Waja' ur Raqaba, a type of joint pain. The present study was aimed to evaluate the effect of wet cupping in the pain management of cervical spondylosis.

Utilization of social franchising in family planning services: a Pakistan perspective.

Introduction: Pakistan's private sector caters to around 65% of family planning users. Private sector family planning was promoted in the Delivering Accelerated Family Planning in Pakistan (DAFPAK) program by UK's Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) in 2019. We use data from DAFPAK to analyze the clientele and products distributed by two major NGOs, Marie Stopes Society (MSS) and DKT Pakistan, that support private providers in Pakistan.

Evaluating empathy level amongst the dental students using jefferson scale of physician empathy- health professional students.

Background: Empathy is described as one's ability to perceive and apprehend another person's feelings, situation, emotions, and problems as their own. Empathetic behavior increases patients' satisfaction, reduces discomfort, and helps with patient's satisfaction.

Objective: To evaluate the psychometric properties of the Jefferson Empathy Scale and compare the measure of invariance within genders and amongst the public and private sector dental students.

Shape Memory Hydrogels for Biomedical Applications.

The ability of shape memory polymers to change shape upon external stimulation makes them exceedingly useful in various areas, from biomedical engineering to soft robotics. Especially, shape memory hydrogels (SMHs) are well-suited for biomedical applications due to their inherent biocompatibility, excellent shape morphing performance, tunable physiochemical properties, and responsiveness to a wide range of stimuli (e.g.

Comparative analysis of the equilibrium, kinetics, and characterization of the mechanism of rapid adsorption of Congo red on nano-biosorbents based on agricultural waste in industrial effluents.

This study aims to remove Congo red dye from industrial effluent using economical agriculturally-based nano-biosorbents like magnetic orange peel, peanut shells, and tea waste. The nano-biosorbents were characterized by various analytical techniques like SEM, FT-IR, BET and XRD. The highest adsorption capacity was obtained under the following ideal conditions: pH = 6 (orange peel and peanut shells), pH = 3 (tea waste), and dosages of nano-biosorbents with varying timeframes of 50 min for tea waste and peanut shells and 30 min for orange peel.

An Unusual Case of Apixaban-Induced Small Vessel Vasculitis: Leukocytoclastic Vasculitis.

Apixaban is a rare cause of drug-induced leukocytoclastic vasculitis (LCV). We report a case of apixaban-induced LCV in a 55-year-old male with deep vein thrombosis who developed systemic symptoms and pruritic rash in the bilateral lower extremity after 17 days of apixaban therapy. A skin biopsy confirmed the LCV, and he was diagnosed with apixaban-induced LCV after ruling out all other possible causes.

Energy and social factor decomposition to identify drivers impeding sustainable environmental transition in emerging countries: SDGs-2030 progress assessment using LMDI analysis.

The balance between human growth, economic prosperity, and the consumption of hydrocarbon energy factors has become a prerequisite for environmental sustainability. However, the complexities of these factors force researchers to work for more viable combinations of such a balance. Therefore, this study attempted to determine the factors driving environmental sustainability in leading populated economies.

Occurrence of selected antibiotics in urban rivers in northwest Pakistan and assessment of ecotoxicological and antimicrobial resistance risks.

Antibiotics in aquatic systems of developing countries are a growing concern, particularly with the potential ecological risks and emergence of antimicrobial resistance. In Pakistan, antibiotics are widely consumed and released untreated into rivers, however, there is little information on their occurrence and potential risks. In this study, the concentrations and risk assessment of three commonly consumed antibiotics, ciprofloxacin (CIP), amoxicillin (AMX), and cefixime (CFM) belonging to different classes of fluoroquinolone, penicillin, and cephalosporin respectively were investigated in the Kabul River and its two tributaries, Bara River and Shah Alam River in the northwest region of the country.

A comparative analysis of online learning versus face-to-face learning approach in problem based learning in dentistry.

Background: Problem-based learning (PBL), a student-centered approach which has been implemented in many educational institutes worldwide.

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate and compare the proficiency of students in 5 key areas of PBL process and assess perceptions of students towards PBL learning using a self-explanatory questionnaire.

Method: This cross-sectional study was conducted from March 2020 to September 2022 and evaluated perceptions of 1st year dental students of Batch 2021 (having Face-to-face PBL sessions) and batch 2020 (having online PBL sessions) using a questionnaire.

Color-tunable stable quasi-2D hybrid metal halide perovskites: synthesis, characterization, and optical analysis.

Metal halide perovskites show remarkable optical properties and useful applications in optoelectronic devices. However, the instability of three-dimensional (3D) metal halide perovskites limits their applications, leading to the emergence of more stable two-dimensional (2D) metal halide perovskites. Herein, we present a facile synthesis of the 2D hybrid metal halide perovskite (EDA)(MA)PbBr (EDA: ethylene diammonium, MA: methylammonium), where = 1-6, and MAPbBr perovskite layers using an anti-solvent co-precipitation technique.

Quantifying digital economy and green initiatives for carbon neutrality targets: a Kilian bias-adjusted bootstrap model evaluation of China economy.

Digitalization has emerged as a new hope for low-carbon sustainable economic growth after its successful trial during the COVID-19 measures. Therefore, both developed and developing economies focus on digitalization to cope with carbon neutrality targets. Thus, this study attempted to generate a meaningful relationship between the digital economy and green energy, innovation, and environmental tax policy to capture the role of factors in acquiring carbon neutrality.

Nano biomaterials based strategies for enhanced brain targeting in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases: an up-to-date perspective.

Neurons and their connecting axons gradually degenerate in neurodegenerative diseases (NDs), leading to dysfunctionality of the neuronal cells and eventually their death. Drug delivery for the treatment of effected nervous system is notoriously complicated because of the presence of natural barriers, i.e.

Novel Cu(II) complexes as DNA-destabilizing agents and their DNA nuclease activity.

Here, we report a series of four novel Cu complexes, namely 2-(piperidin-1-ylmethyl)quinoline copper(II) nitrate, [LCu(NO)] (), 4-(quinolin-2-ylmethyl)morpholine copper(II) nitrate, [LCu(NO)] (Cu2), 4-(quinolin-2-ylmethyl)morpholine copper(II) chloride, [LCuCl] (Cu3), and 2-(piperidin-1-ylmethyl)pyridine copper(II) chloride, [LCu(μ-Cl)Cl] (Cu4). X-ray diffraction studies revealed that the geometry around the Cu(II) center could be best described as distorted octahedral in Cu1 and Cu2, whereas Cu3 and Cu4 showed distorted tetrahedral and square pyramidal geometries, respectively. DNA binding studies showed that Cu complexes Cu1-3 containing quinoline interacted minor groove binding, whereas the Cu4 complex containing pyridine interacted intercalation.

Impact of COVID-19 on the self-esteem, psychological and dental esthetics of dental students.

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has badly affected the mental health, quality of life, and self-esteem of students worldwide.

Objective: The current study aimed to evaluate the psychological impact and self-esteem of dental students using Rosenberg self-esteem scale and PIDAQ during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Method: This cross-sectional research was conducted amongst the dental students studying at various dental colleges in Karachi, Pakistan from January to May 2022.

Perception of dental students and faculty regarding the practice of professionalism in dentistry using the Professionalism Mini Evaluation Exercise (P-MEX).

Background: Professionalism is one of the fundamental traits which includes behaviors, commitments, standards, and goals that helps define a profession.

Objective: This study aimed to assess the attitude of dental students and graduates regarding the practice of professionalism in dentistry using the Professionalism Mini Evaluation Exercise (P-MEX) questionnaire.

Method: This cross-sectional study was conducted amongst the dental undergraduates, lecturers and postgraduate faculty.