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Denitrification in pasture soils is mediated by microbial and physicochemical processes leading to nitrogen loss through the emission of N₂O and N₂. It is known that N₂O reduction to N₂ is impaired by low soil pH yet controversy remains as inconsistent use of soil pH measurement methods by researchers, and differences in analytical methods between studies, undermine direct comparison of results. In addition, the link between denitrification and N₂O emissions in response to carbon (C) mineralization and pH in different pasture soils is still not well described. We hypothesized that potential denitrification rate and aerobic respiration rate would be positively associated with soils. This relationship was predicted to be more robust when a high resolution analysis is performed as opposed to a single time point comparison. We tested this by characterizing 13 different temperate pasture soils from northern and southern hemispheres sites (Ireland and New Zealand) using a fully automated- high-resolution GC detection system that allowed us to detect a wide range of gas emissions simultaneously. We also compared the impact of using different extractants for determining pH on our conclusions. In all pH measurements, soil pH was strongly and negatively associated with both N₂O production index (IN₂O) and N₂O/(N₂O+N₂) product ratio. Furthermore, emission kinetics across all soils revealed that the denitrification rates under anoxic conditions (NO+N₂O+N₂ μmol N/h/vial) were significantly associated with C mineralization (CO₂ μmol/h/vial) measured both under oxic (r² = 0.62, p = 0.0015) and anoxic (r² = 0.89, p<0.0001) conditions.

Intensively managed agricultural pastures contribute to N₂O and N₂ fluxes resulting in detrimental environmental outcomes and poor N use efficiency, respectively. Besides nitrification, nitrifier-denitrification and heterotrophic denitrification, alternative pathways such as codenitrification also contribute to emissions under ruminant urine-affected soil. However, information on codenitrification is sparse. The objectives of this experiment were to assess the effects of soil moisture and soil inorganic-N dynamics on the relative contributions of codenitrification and denitrification (heterotrophic denitrification) to the N₂O and N₂ fluxes under a simulated ruminant urine event. Repacked soil cores were treated with ¹⁵N enriched urea and maintained at near saturation (−1 kPa) or field capacity (−10 kPa). Soil inorganic-N, pH, dissolved organic carbon, N₂O and N₂ fluxes were measured over 63 days. Fluxes of N₂, attributable to codenitrification, were at a maximum when soil nitrite (NO₂⁻) concentrations were elevated. Cumulative codenitrification was higher (P = 0.043) at −1 kPa. However, the ratio of codenitrification to denitrification did not differ significantly with soil moisture, 25.5 ± 15.8 and 12.9 ± 4.8% (stdev) at −1 and −10 kPa, respectively. Elevated soil NO₂⁻ concentrations are shown to contribute to codenitrification, particularly at −1 kPa.

Correction to: Scientific Reports https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-02278-y, published online 19 May 2017. This article contains an error in Figure 3, where the y-axis ‘DOC (μg g⁻¹ soil)’ is incorrectly labelled as ‘DOC (mg g⁻¹ soil)’.

Objectives: To assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice of parents regarding antibiotic usage for treating upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) among children. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 320 randomly selected parents attending a primary health clinic using self-administered questionnaires. Results: About two-thirds (69.1%) of the parents had poor knowledge level. Only 25.2% and 21.6% of the parents could correctly identify amoxicillin and penicillin as the treatment of children’s URTI. However, about two-thirds (67.5%) of the parents were aware of the antibiotic resistance caused by overuse of antibiotics. A significant association was noted between the father’s and mother’s educational level and family income with the knowledge level. Only mother’s educational level depicted a significant association with the attitude. Conclusion: The knowledge of parents regarding antibiotic usage for URTI was poor. More numbers of health promotions and educational campaigns are required to help parents understand about antibiotic usage.

Sensitive and fast-responding potentiometric sensors are described for the determination of warfarin and ibuprofen. They consist of PVC matrix membranes containing the drag-ferroin ion-association complexes as electroactive materials and dioctylphthalate as a solvent mediator. Linear dynamic response range between 1 × 10−2 and 2 × 10−5M with Nernstian slopes of 59–60 mV/decade concentration and a detection limit of 0.8–1.3 μg/ml are obtained. A wide range of organic anions and drag excipients do not interfere. Titration of the drugs with a standard ferroin solution using either a drag-ferroin or ferroin-TPB PVC sensor in conjunction with an Ag-AgCl reference electrode displaysS-shaped titration curves with sharp potential breaks at stoichiometric 1∶2 (ferroin:drug) reaction. Differential titration curves with well-defined peaks at the equivalence points are obtained using drug-ferroin/ferroin-TPB PVC membrane sensors. Direct potentiometry and potentiotitrimetry of warfarin and ibuprofen in various pharmaceutical preparations are presented and compared. Several advantages over the pharmacopoeial methods and other techniques in current use are offered by the proposed technique.

Background Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) pose a significant health threat, particularly among adolescents in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) such as Pakistan. Unhealthy habits, including poor diet, physical inactivity, and substance use, often begin in childhood. These behaviors not only increase the risk of NCDs later in life but can also cause serious health problems during adolescence or early adulthood. This protocol aims to assess the feasibility and potential efficacy of the School eHealth Education Program Pakistan (eSHEPP) in improving the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of school students in Karachi regarding NCDs and their risk factors. Methods and analysis A sequential mixed-methods design will be used, combining qualitative and quantitative approaches. In Phase 1, focus group discussions (FGDs) and interviews with stakeholders will identify barriers and facilitators to implementation, as well as gather perspectives on the eHealth application’s design and content. In Phase 2, a pilot cluster randomized controlled trial (cRCT) will assess the program’s feasibility and potential efficacy in improving participants’ KAP regarding NCDs. In Phase 3, FGDs with intervention participants will explore the program’s usability, acceptance, and task–technology fit. Participants The study will engage a diverse group of stakeholders across three phases. Phase 1 will involve four FGDs, two with students and two with teachers (eight participants per FGD), and ten key informant interviews (five with parents and five with school administrators). In Phase 2, 272 secondary and higher secondary school students aged 13–18 years will be recruited from selected schools in Karachi. Phase 3 will include two FGDs with students (eight participants per FGD). Written assents and consents will be obtained from all participants. Intervention The eSHEPP will deliver digital health education via an interactive eHealth application to raise awareness about NCDs and their risk factors among adolescents. Students in the intervention group will attend health-promoting sessions in the classroom for over two months, while the control group will receive no intervention and continue with the routine teaching schedule. Outcomes Phase 1 will identify barriers and facilitators to implementing the eSHEPP in secondary and higher secondary schools and explore stakeholders’ perceptions of its design and content. Phase 2 will assess feasibility, defined as achieving recruitment, retention, and treatment fidelity rates above 70%, and potential efficacy, indicated by a ≥ 25% improvement in KAP after two months. Phase 3 will evaluate the program’s acceptability, perceived usefulness, and task–technology fit to determine how well it meets students’ needs and expectations in the school setting. Ethics and dissemination Ethical approval has been obtained from the Aga Khan University Ethical Review Committee (Ref: 2023-9277-27367) and the National Bioethics Committee Pakistan (Ref: 4–87/NBCR-1089/23/1896). Findings will be disseminated through peer-reviewed journals and national and international conferences. Trial registration number NCT06674798. Strengths and limitations of this study The sequential mixed-methods design will enhance understanding and credibility of the eSHEPP through data triangulation. The pilot cRCT will rigorously evaluate the program while controlling for confounders, strengthening internal validity. Diverse stakeholder perspectives will enrich the data by highlighting barriers, facilitators, and potential efficacy. Findings may not be generalizable to educational settings or cultural contexts beyond Karachi, Pakistan. The small number of clusters ( N  = 4) limits statistical power; therefore, analyses are exploratory, and results should be interpreted with caution.

The high requirement of smaller size, lighter weight, and high performance Printed Circuit Board (PCB) in electronic packaging has contributed to the wide application of stencil printing for soldering process. However, during stencil printing stage contributes major concern compared to other stages in Surface Mount Technology (SMT). Unsuitable process parameters can cause the soldering defects that can lead to product failure in further processes in the production line. An investigation has been conducted to predict the real-time observation of solder paste Sn96.5Ag3.0Cu0.5 (SAC305) filling process into stencil apertures as well as print quality in stencil printing by using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) approach. A 3-Dimensional stencil printing model was developed and simulated in ANSYS Fluent 17 of different angles. It is found that squeegee angle 60° to 80° has potential to obtain the good print quality of solder paste.

We compared 30-day and 1-year survival among high-risk mitral regurgitation (MR) patients treated with the MitraClip (Abbott Vascular, Abbott Park, IL) with matched non-surgically treated patients from the Duke Echocardiography Laboratory Database (DELD). High-risk patients with 3+/4+ MR managed non-surgically between years 2000 and 2010 in the longitudinal DELD were matched to high-risk MitraClip patients. Patient matching was performed using the method of nearest available Mahalanobis distance metric within calipers defined by the propensity score. Kaplan-Meier estimates and stratified Cox proportional hazards models were used to compare survival at 30 days and 1 year. Among 953 high-risk DELD patients available for matching, 30-day and 1-year mortality were 6.5% and 26.2%. Close matches were obtained for 239 of the 351 MitraClip patients. The 30-day mortality in MitraClip patients was lower (4.2%) when compared with matched DELD patients (7.2%). The 1-year relative risk of mortality of the MitraClip compared with non-surgical treatment was 0.64 (95% CI 0.45-0.91; log-rank P = .013). These results in favor of the MitraClip remained significant upon further adjustment for baseline differences between groups (P = .043). This matched comparison of severe MR patients at high surgical risk supports the safety of the MitraClip relative to medical therapy at 30 days and a survival benefit at 1 year.

Progress towards The Lancet Commission on Global Surgery's 2030 targets has been too slow and too patchy, particularly in low-income and middle-income countries. The unmet need for surgery has continued to grow, reaching at least 160 million operations per year. Ensuring high-quality surgical care remains a crucial global challenge, with 3·5 million adults dying after surgery each year. The COVID-19 pandemic exposed the fragility of surgical services long undermined by chronic underfunding, workforce shortages, and under-resourced infrastructure. However, The Lancet Commission on Global Surgery inspired a new generation of surgeons to engage with policy, and several countries have developed national surgical plans, although most remain unfunded. Advancements in surgical data science have allowed health systems to identify priorities for improvement. Preserving this infrastructure is important, especially during periods of uncertain global health funding. The next decade requires urgent change to prevent economic instability and armed conflict from forcing surgery down the global health agenda. Reframing surgery as an essential service that saves lives, strengthens health systems, and fosters economic productivity could unlock much needed investment. Sustained progress requires integration of funding both within hospital infrastructure and across care pathways. Such holistic approaches would reinforce entire hospital systems, which are essential to national security and wellbeing.

The concurrence of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) with COVID-19 can complicate the clinical conditions of patients and affect the patterns of hospital resource utilization. This study aimed to investigate and analyze the direct treatment costs of AMI patients with concurrent COVID-19. This cross-sectional study collected and analyzed clinical data, including symptoms, readmission, and interventions, and treatment cost data for all patients at Tehran Heart Center using SPSS26 software. The mean medical costs of patients from January through May 2022 were also calculated. The COVID-19 group was composed of 72.9% male and 27.1% female patients, whereas the non-COVID-19 group consisted of 67.3% male and 32.7% female patients. Most of the patients in the COVID-19 group (60%) were in the elderly age group (>65 y). The length of stay was 8.70±5.84 days for the COVID-19 group and 6.31±4.42 days for the non-COVID-19 group. The mortality rate in the COVID-19 group was 24%, higher than the 5% rate in the other group. Additionally, the average total treatment costs were $6384.54±$6760.13 in the COVID-19 group and $6362.49±$4343.07 in the non-COVID-19 group (P>0.78 and P>0.050). The study found that the COVID-19 group had a significantly higher in-hospital mortality rate than the non-COVID-19 group. During the follow-up period, the incidence of complications (chest pain and heart failure) was higher in the non-COVID-19 group. It also showed that longer hospital stays resulted in higher treatment costs.