Identification of latent classes of randomized controlled trials based on integrity and reporting characteristics.

Objectives: Reliable, well-conducted, and adequately reported research is essential for decision-making. This study uses an exploratory clustering approach to identify patterns (subgroups) of trials based on research conduct and reporting characteristics to better understand heterogeneity. Describing features of these subgroups may help elucidate mechanisms of poor planning and reporting that can be acted upon by the research community to improve the research practices.

Analyzing the performance of metaheuristic algorithms in speed control of brushless DC motor: Implementation and statistical comparison.

A brushless DC (BLDC) motor is likewise called an electrically commutated motor; because of its long help life, high productivity, smaller size, and higher power output, it has numerous modern applications. These motors require precise rotor orientation for longevity, as they utilize a magnet at the shaft end, detected by sensors to maintain speed control for stability. In modern apparatuses, the corresponding, primary, and subsidiary (proportional-integral) regulator is broadly utilized in controlling the speed of modern machines; however, an ideal and effective controlling strategy is constantly invited.

Many randomized trials in a large systematic review were not registered and had evidence of selective outcome reporting: a metaepidemiological study.

Objectives: The primary objectives were to describe characteristics of trial registration in the chronic low back pain (CLBP) field and assess the association of trial registration status (registered vs unregistered, prospectively registered vs retrospectively registered) with risk of bias, sufficient sample size, quality of reporting, and treatment effect estimates. Secondary objectives were to describe trial registration consistency with the final report and assess its association with risk of bias, sufficient sample size, and treatment effect estimates.

Study Design And Setting: A cross-sectional metaepidemiological study of trials included in a large Cochrane review on exercise treatments for CLBP.

The effect of antibiotic selection on collateral effects and evolvability of uropathogenic .

Trimethoprim is recommended as a first-line treatment of urinary tract infections (UTIs) in the UK. In 2018, 31.4% of isolated from UTIs in England were trimethoprim-resistant, leading to overreliance on other first and second-line antibiotics.

Carrier-free chemo-phototherapeutic nanomedicines with endo/lysosomal escape function enhance the therapeutic effect of drug molecules in tumors.

Carrier-free nanomedicines offer advantages of extremely high drug loading capacity (>80%), minimal non-drug constituent burden, and facile preparation processes. Numerous studies have proved that multimodal cancer therapy can enhance chemotherapy efficiency and mitigate multi-drug resistance (MDR) through synergistic therapeutic effects. Upon penetration into the tumor matrix, nanoparticles (NPs) are anticipated to be uptaken by cancer cells, primarily through clathrin-meditated endocytosis pathways, leading to their accumulation in endosomes/lysosomes within cells.

Comparative assessment of differently randomized accelerated particle swarm optimization and squirrel search algorithms for selective harmonics elimination problem.

A random initialization of the search particles is a strong argument in favor of the deployment of nature-inspired metaheuristic algorithms when the knowledge of a good initial guess is lacked. This article analyses the impact of the type of randomization on the working of algorithms and the acquired solutions. In this study, five different types of randomizations are applied to the Accelerated Particle Swarm Optimization (APSO) and Squirrel Search Algorithm (SSA) during the initializations and proceedings of the search particles for selective harmonics elimination (SHE).

Metal pollution in the topsoil of lands adjacent to Sahiwal Coal Fired Power Plant (SCFPP) in Sahiwal, Pakistan.

Coal fly ash from a coal fired power plant is a significant anthropogenic source of various heavy metals in surrounding soils. In this study, heavy metal contamination in topsoil around Sahiwal coal fired power plant (SCFPP) was investigated. Within distance of 0-10, 11-20, 21-30 and 31-40 km of SCFPP, total 56 soil samples were taken, 14 replicate from each distance along with a background subsurface soil sample beyond 60 km.

Occupational Burnout Among Obstetrics And Gynaecology Healthcare Professionals In A Public Hospital In Islamabad, Pakistan.

Objective: To assess burnout by the extent of exhaustion and disengagement, and to compare the two elements among obstetrics and gynaecology healthcare professionals.

Methods: The cross-sectionalstudy was conducted at the Federal Government Polyclinic Hospital, Islamabad, Pakistan, in July and August, 2020 during the coronavirus disease-2019 pandemic, and comprised healthcare professionals from the obstetrics and gynaecology department. Data was collected online using the 25-item Oldenburg Burnout Inventory.

Quantification and characterization of microplastics (MPs) pollution in peri-uburban agricultural lands of Lahore, Pakistan.

Microplastics (MPs) contaminate every conceivable terrestrial and aquatic environment including high peaks and deep marine trenches. Agricultural lands alone are expected to receive plastic up to 23 times more than ocean basins. In this study, soil samples were collected from peri-urban agricultural lands of Lahore on four sides including Kala Shah Kaku (KSK), Punjab University (PU), Dera Gujran (DG), and Sagian (SG).

Correlation Between Serum Ferritin and Degree of Hepatic Fibrosis on Fibroscan in Thalassemic Patients.

Aim and objective This study aimed to examine the relationship between serum ferritin levels and the degree of hepatic fibrosis as detected on Fibroscan in thalassemia patients. Materials and methods This was a single-center and cross-sectional study conducted from April 2021 to December 2022. The sample population comprised 55 beta-thalassemia patients receiving treatment at the National Institute of Blood Diseases and Bone Marrow Transplantation, Karachi, Pakistan.

Applications of Metformin in Dentistry-A review.

Metformin is a versatile drug with numerous medical uses. It is known primarily as an anti-hyperglycemic drug that has become the main oral blood-glucose-lowering medication for managing type 2 diabetes mellitus globally. Its use has been reported in a variety of oral conditions and dentistry in general.

Effects of dietary counselling on lipid profile among liposuction patients.

Objectives: To observe the effects of dietary counselling on weight management after liposuction.

Methods: The case-control study was conducted at the La Chirurgie Cosmetic Surgery Centre and Hair Transplant Institute, F-8/3, Islamabad, Pakistan, from January to July 2018, and comprised adults (100) of either gender undergoing liposuction and/or abdominoplasty who were followed for three months in the postoperative period. The subjects were divided into dietary-counselled group A, which received diet plans, and control group B, which followed up without any dietary advice.

Relationship between physical activity level and BMI among Pakistani labourers in Saudi Arabia: A cross-sectional study.

Objective: To study the level of physical activity of Pakistani labourers in Saudi Arabia, and to find its relationship with body mass index.

Methods: The observational study was conducted inside the Pakistan Embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from October 2017 to March 2018, and comprised Pakistani males aged 22-60 years doing unskilled and semi-skilled jobs. Body mass index was calculated, and the level of physical activity was assessed using the short form of International Physical Activity Questionnaire.

Study of metabolic syndrome indicators in newly diagnosed diabetes mellitus type 2 patients in Pakistani population.

Background: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) being a biological abnormality confers the highest risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Aim: To assess MetS indicators in the newly diagnosed T2DM Pakistani population.

Methods: A cross-sectional study ( = 123) with newly diagnosed T2DM patients (gender: both, Mean: 49.

Arthroscopic Retrograde Intramedullary Nailing of Periprosthetic Fractures After Total Knee Arthroplasty-Technique, Safety, and Outcomes.

Background: Periprosthetic fractures after total knee arthroplasty are notoriously challenging entities to manage. The 2 major fixation techniques utilized include locking compression plates and retrograde intramedullary nailing. The challenges in obtaining correct entry points in the presence of the superimposing femoral component in retrograde intramedullary nailing often warrants a full knee joint arthrotomy.

Modified W-type configuration for a single-phase reduced parts count 81-level inverter.

The technology of modern power systems is revolutionizing as renewable energy sources are being integrated with electric power grids. In the form of inverters, power electronic converters are becoming an integral part of power systems due to their massive demand for grid integration of photovoltaic (PV) systems. Existing multilevel inverter topologies either require an output filter to get a sinusoidal voltage or generate a higher number of output voltage levels at the expense of many hardware resources.

Effect of Methylphenidate and buspirone-methylphenidate co-administration on biochemical and hematological parameters in rats: Implications for safe and confrontational use.

Methylphenidate (MPH) is a psychostimulant, beneficial in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Previously it has been shown that MPH-induced locomotor sensitization could be attenuate by buspirone co administration however the effect of chronic MPH and co-administration of MPH-buspirone on biochemical and hematological parameters are unknown. This study is designed to investigate these parameters after long term administration of MPH, Buspirone and their combination in rats.

Impact of parameter control on the performance of APSO and PSO algorithms for the CSTHTS problem: An improvement in algorithmic structure and results.

Cascaded Short Term Hydro-Thermal Scheduling problem (CSTHTS) is a single objective, non-linear multi-modal or convex (depending upon the cost function of thermal generation) type of Short Term Hydro-Thermal Scheduling (STHTS), having complex hydel constraints. It has been solved by many metaheuristic optimization algorithms, as found in the literature. Recently, the authors have published the best-achieved results of the CSTHTS problem having quadratic fuel cost function of thermal generation using an improved variant of the Accelerated PSO (APSO) algorithm, as compared to the other previously implemented algorithms.

Biosensors and Point-of-Care Devices for Bacterial Detection: Rapid Diagnostics Informing Antibiotic Therapy.

With an exponential rise in antimicrobial resistance and stagnant antibiotic development pipeline, there is, more than ever, a crucial need to optimize current infection therapy approaches. One of the most important stages in this process requires rapid and effective identification of pathogenic bacteria responsible for diseases. Current gold standard techniques of bacterial detection include culture methods, polymerase chain reactions, and immunoassays.

Neurophysiological Markers of Internet Gaming Disorder: A Literature Review of Electroencephalography Studies.

Pathological online gaming is a relatively newer psychiatric disorder. It is the second behavioral addiction (after internet gambling disorder) included in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Psychiatric Disorders (DSM), 5 edition as "Internet Gaming Disorder" (IGD). Recent research is showing high morbidity associated with IGD, thus encouraging researchers to find valid and reliable biomarkers of IGD.

Determining the release kinetics of risperidone controlled release matrices to treat schizophrenia.

Risperidone is an atypical antipsychotic agent clinically used to treat schizophrenia, bipolar diseases, and autism. Usually, the frequency of doses is twice daily. In the present study, risperidone controlled release matrices formulated using hydrophilic and hydrophobic polymers.

COVID-19 outbreak and air quality of Lahore, Pakistan: evidence from asymmetric causality analysis.

This paper aims to examine the impact of COVID-19 restrictions on the air quality of Lahore city of Pakistan for the period 26th February, 2020 to 31st August, 2020. The study employs asymmetrical Granger causality tests for analyzing the effects of COVID-19 cases and deaths on particulate matter (PM) emissions in the city. The results show positive shocks in COVID-19 cases and deaths improve the air quality of the city.

Demographic Differences and Trends of Vitamin D Levels Among the Teenaged Girls in Balochistan.

Background Vitamin D is a vital micronutrient and plays a vital role in defining the bone mineral density of an individual. There are many factors that regulate the levels of vitamin D in our body. The deficiency in vitamin D leads to various complications, with the most important one weakening of bones.

Contamination of heavy metals in poultry eggs: a study presenting relation between heavy metals in feed intake and eggs.

This study aims to quantify heavy metals (Ni, Pb, Zn, Mn, Cr, Cu and Se) in eggs obtained from poultry farms and backyard raised hens by comparing the concentration of metals in their feed intake. Overall, 90 samples of egg and 12 samples of poultry feed (6 each with food and water) were collected from 3 different poultry farms and backyards located in peri-urban areas of Lahore. A di-acid digestion method was adopted for digestion, after which digested samples were analyzed under atomic absorption spectrophotometer.