Search

Pakistan has significant geothermal potential but due to poor energy management and low utilization of rich geothermal energy, the country is ranked among the energy deficient nations in the world. In this study, integrated geophysical techniques were used to assess the geothermal energy potential of various hot springs in the Sindh province. The study revealed that Naing Shareef and Gaji Shah hot springs have remarkable potential for geothermal energy having pool water temperature of 43 °C and 45 °C, respectively. Geophysical resistivity survey was carried out at both Naing Shareef and Gaji Shah hot spring to determine depth, thickness and quality of thermal water. At Naing Shareef hot spring, only a single thermal aquifer zone has been pinpointed within the shale composition of the Oligocene Nari Formation, and it is on average 55.07 m depth and 29.8 m thick. At an average depth of 100.66 m and an aquifer thickness of 77.03 m, the Gaji Shah hot springs exclusively possess a thermal aquifer region established within the sandstone composition of the Oligocene Nari Formation.

This study is based on the Lie group method for the nonlinear elastic structural element equation (ESE Equation). We obtain a three-dimensional Lie algebra. By utilizing this Lie algebra a four-dimensional optimal system is constructed. The governing ESE Equation is converted to nonlinear ordinary differential equations (ODEs) via symmetry reduction. We use a modified auxiliary equation (MAE) procedure to deal with nonlinear ODEs. These ODEs reveal the dynamics of the periodic and soliton solutions. We obtain soliton solutions through rational, trigonometric, and hyperbolic functions. Wolfram Mathematica simulations vividly illustrate the wave characteristics of the derived solutions, affirming their properties as singular periodic solutions, a singular solution, an optical dark soliton solution, and a singular soliton solution. We also obtain the local conservation laws by a new conservation theorem introduced by Ibragimov.

This article analyzes the analytic and solitary wave solutions of the one-dimensional Zabolotskaya-Khokholov (ZK) dynamical model which provides information about the propagation of sound beam or confined wave beam in nonlinear media and studies of beam deformation. By the Lie symmetry analysis method, we acquire the vector fields, commutation relations, optimal system, reduction, and analytic solutions to the specified equation by exerting the Lie group method. Moreover, the solitary wave solutions of the ZK model are procured by exerting the new auxiliary equation method (NAEM). The behavior of the acquired outcomes for several cases is exhibited graphically through two and three-dimensional dynamical wave profiles. Furthermore, the conservation laws of the ZK model are acquired by Ibragimov’s new conservation theorem.

Abstract Despite the historical position of the F-expansion method as a method for acquiring exact solutions to nonlinear partial differential equations (PDEs), this study highlights its superiority over alternative auxiliary equation methods. The efficacy of this method is demonstrated through its application to solve the convective–diffusive Cahn–Hilliard (cdCH) equation, describing the dynamic of the separation phase for ternary iron alloys (Fe–Cr–Mo) and (Fe–X–Cu). Significantly, this research introduces an extensive collection of exact solutions by the auxiliary equation, comprising fifty-two distinct types. Six of these are associated with Weierstrass-elliptic function solutions, while the remaining solutions are expressed in Jacobi-elliptic functions. I think it is important to emphasize that, exercising caution regarding the statement of the term ’new,’ the solutions presented in this context are not entirely unprecedented. The paper examines numerous examples to substantiate this perspective. Furthermore, the study broadens its scope to include soliton-like and trigonometric-function solutions as special cases. This underscores that the antecedently obtained outcomes through the recently specific cases encompassed within the more comprehensive scope of the present findings.

Abstract The utilization of the Lie group method serves to encapsulate a diverse array of wave structures. This method, established as a robust and reliable mathematical technique, is instrumental in deriving precise solutions for nonlinear partial differential equations (NPDEs) across a spectrum of domains. Its applications span various scientific disciplines, including mathematical physics, nonlinear dynamics, oceanography, engineering sciences, and several others. This research focuses specifically on the crucial molecule DNA and its interaction with an external microwave field. The Lie group method is employed to establish a five-dimensional symmetry algebra as the foundational element. Subsequently, similarity reductions are led by a system of one-dimensional subalgebras. Several invariant solutions as well as a spectrum of wave solutions is obtained by solving the resulting reduced ordinary differential equations (ODEs). These solutions govern the longitudinal displacement in DNA, shedding light on the characteristics of DNA as a significant real-world challenge. The interactions of DNA with an external microwave field manifest in various forms, including rational, exponential, trigonometric, hyperbolic, polynomial, and other functions. Mathematica simulations of these solutions confirm that longitudinal displacements in DNA can be expressed as periodic waves, optical dark solitons, singular solutions, exponential forms, and rational forms. This study is novel as it marks the first application of the Lie group method to explore the interaction of DNA molecules.

In this article, we explore several significant nonlinear physical models, including the Benjamin–Bona–Mahony–Peregrine–Burgers (BBMPB) equation, the Burgers–Korteweg–De Vries (BK) equation, the one-dimensional Oskolkov (OSK) equation, the Klein–Gordon (KG) equation with quadratic non-linearity, and the improved Boussinesq (IB) equation. Utilizing the (G′G)-expansion method ansatz, we derive new exact traveling wave solutions for these models. These solutions, expressed in the forms of rational, hyperbolic, and trigonometric functions, present a novel contribution distinct from existing literature. The physical dynamics of these solutions are elucidated through Mathematica simulations.

Objective: To compare the hemodynamic effects of spinal anesthesia in sitting vs. lateral maternal positions in terms of patient comfort and anesthetist convenience. Study Design: Quasi-experimental study. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Anesthesia, Combined Military Hospital, Lahore Pakistan, from Jun 2018 to Dec 2018. Methodology: Two hundred and sixteen patients admitted for Cesarean deliveries were randomly selected and divided into two groups of 108 each for spinal anesthesia in sitting (S-Group) or lateral (L-Group) positions. Baseline heart rate and blood pressure were recorded and readings for both were measured after every two minutes for 15 minutes. Hypotension and bradycardia were noted and treated. Patients were interviewed afterwards for comfort in sitting or lateral position and the number of spinal anesthesia attempts made were also recorded. Results: In L-Group, 36(33%) patients had hypotension while 60(55.5%) had hypotension in S-Group. In L-Group, 4(3.7%) patients and 8(7.4%) patients in S-Group had bradycardia. Six patients (5.5%) in the Lateral-Group and 13(12%) in Sitting-Group required therapy for which the p-value came out to be significant. In Lateral-Group, 98 patients (90.7%) were comfortable and 9(8.3%) were uncomfortable, 1(0.97%) was agitated whereas in Sitting-Group 78(72%) were comfortable, 25(23%) were uncomfortable and 5(5%) were agitated. Subarachnoid puncture was 87% successful in S-Group and 74% successful in L-Group in 1st attempt. Conclusion: Lateral spinal position was more comfortable with better hemodynamics however sub arachnoid puncture was easier in sitting position.

Objective: To investigate the general health status in patients of Adhesive Capsulitis Study Design: Prospective study Place and duration: Occupational Therapy Unit of Rehabilitation Department of Fauji Foundation Hospital Rawalpindi from July 1, 2019 to September 30, 2019. Methodology: There were many patients suffering from shoulder pain. Among them, 52 patients who were suffering from adhesive capsulitis included. After the history of subjects, assessed for pain and restriction of range of motion in their affected shoulder. Lateral rotation, abduction, and medial rotation (LAM) test was performed. The inclusion criteria for subjects was symptomatic shoulder problems with restricted active and passive range of motion along with positive (LAM) test in ages between 30 to 80 years. The exclusion criteria was: (1) any neurological conditions affecting shoulder (2) any pathology other than adhesive capsulitis (3) any surgery of head, neck or upper limb. Data was analyzed using SPSS 25. Results: Our study showed that all 52 patients were suffering from a very acute state of pain, sleep cycle disturbance, difficulty in activities of daily living (ADLs) and recreational activities. Some patients were jobless due to acute shoulder pain of adhesive capsulitis. Conclusion: Adhesive capsulitis disturbs the daily life, sleep cycle, activities of daily living and difficulty in recreational activities. it is advocated that further researches must be conducted to point out the difficulties of such patients.

In this article, the nonlinear (3+1) dimensional Wazwaz Benjamin Bona Mahony (WBBM) equation is considered for analysis which is related to some specific undular bore evolution through a long wave in shallow water. One-dimensional optimal system of Lie infinitesimal generators, associated vector field, commutation relations, and adjoint representation for the WBBM equation are illustrated. Moreover, the symmetry reductions are made, and closed-form solutions of the WBBM equation are obtained based on the optimal system. In addition, we make use of the transnational symmetries to reduce the governing equation to a nonlinear ordinary differential equation which is solved using the new extended direct algebraic method (NEDAM) to obtain the traveling wave profile of the WBBM equation.

With the continuous rise in the energy consumption of buildings, the study and integration of net-zero energy buildings (NZEBs) are essential for mitigating the harmful effects associated with this trend. However, developing an energy management system for such buildings is challenging due to uncertainties surrounding NZEBs. This paper introduces an optimization framework comprising two major stages: (i) renewable energy prediction and (ii) multi-objective optimization. A prediction model is developed to accurately forecast photovoltaic (PV) system output, while a multi-objective optimization model is designed to identify the most efficient ways to produce cooling, heating, and electricity at minimal operational costs. These two stages not only help mitigate uncertainties in NZEBs but also reduce dependence on imported power from the utility grid. Finally, to facilitate the deployment of the proposed framework, a graphical user interface (GUI) has been developed, providing a user-friendly environment for building operators to determine optimal scheduling and oversee the entire system.

A solitary wave, characterized as a localized perturbation in a medium, emerges as a result of a delicate equilibrium between nonlinear and dispersive phenomena. Solitons, a subtype of solitary waves, exhibit persistent shape and velocity during propagation, representing a fundamental phenomenon observed widely in natural systems and possessing various applications in nonlinear dynamics. This investigation focuses on two nonlinear evolution equations (NEEs), specifically the Zakharov–Kuznetsov–Benjamin–Bona–Mahony (ZKBBM) equation and the generalized Zakharov–Kuznetsov–Benjamin–Bona–Mahony (GZKBBM) equation, which find relevance in domains such as fluid dynamics and ocean engineering. Utilizing an ansatz-based methodology, soliton solutions of both bright and dark characteristics are derived, alongside exploration of rogue wave-type solutions. Notably, the manifestation of dark, bright, and rogue waves aligns with the physical interpretation of the generated solitons. Computational simulations conducted using Wolfram Mathematica aim to provide a comprehensive description of the physical phenomena. The novelty of this study lies in its unreported investigation, contributing new insights into the solitonic dynamics within the considered models.

Objectives: During winter 2022, as part of a multifaceted approach to optimise oral antiviral uptake in the Barwon South West region in Victoria, Australia, the Barwon South West Public Health Unit (BSWPHU) implemented an innovative, targeted SMS messaging program that encouraged people with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) to be assessed for antiviral treatment. In this study, we investigated patterns of antiviral uptake, identified barriers and facilitators to accessing antivirals, and examined the potential impact of targeted SMS messaging on oral antiviral uptake. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of notified COVID-19 cases aged 50 years and older, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 30-49 years, in the BSWPHU catchment area over a 6-week period commencing 21 July 2022. We analysed survey data using descriptive statistics and generalised linear models. Results: Of the 3829 survey respondents, 36.7% (95% confidence interval (CI) 35.2, 38.2) reported being prescribed oral antivirals, with 75.4% (95% CI 72.8, 77.9) of these aged ≥70. Antiviral prescriptions increased significantly over the 6-week survey period. Most prescriptions (87.5%; 95% CI 85.7, 89.2) were provided by the respondents’ usual general practitioners (GPs). Barriers to receiving antivirals included respondents being unable to get a medical appointment in time (3.7%; 95% CI 3.1, 4.2), testing too late in their illness (2.3%; 95% CI 1.8, 2.8) and being unable to access medications in time after receiving a prescription (0.2%; 95% CI 0.1, 0.6). Facilitators to receiving antivirals included respondents first hearing about antivirals from a trusted source such as a family member, friend or usual doctor. Nearly one in eight people who were prescribed antivirals reported first hearing about them from the SMS message sent by BSWPHU. Conclusions: Oral antiviral treatment uptake in south-west Victoria in July−August 2022 was high among survey respondents and increased over time. GPs were the key prescribers in the community. Targeted SMS messaging to COVID-19 cases is a simple, low-cost intervention that potentially increases antiviral uptake.

The Lie group method stands as a significant, powerful, and straightforward mathematical tool for discovering precise invariant solutions and traveling wave solutions in prevalent nonlinear evolution equations across engineering, applied mathematics, and physics. The interplay of dispersive effects arising from material microstructure, combined with nonlinearities, results in the formation of solitary waves. In this article, we apply the Lie group method to derive invariant and comprehensive traveling wave solutions for the strain wave equation in microstructured solids. This yields a diverse array of exact solutions, including traveling wave solutions, solitons, shock waves, periodic, singular, and rational solutions, all of which bear potential significance in various engineering applications.

The propagation of elastic waves in hyperelastic materials is described by a nonlinear system of partial differential equations (PDEs) governing the material’s motion. Hyperelastic materials are characterized by a strain–energy density function that correlates material deformation with stored elastic energy. For simplicity, we focus on the one-dimensional case where the displacement field, denoted as ϕ(x,t), signifies material deformation along the x-direction at position x and time t. The governing equation for elastic wave propagation in hyperelastic materials is derived from the strain–energy density function and associated stress–strain relations. In this study, Lie symmetry analysis is used to examine a nonlinear system of such equations relevant to the propagation of elastic waves in hyperelastic materials. The resulting equations are solved by applying Lie’s invariance criterion, yielding a ten-dimensional Lie algebra. An optimal system is derived from this algebra, allowing for the identification of invariant solutions under certain conditions. Additionally, the multiplier approach and Ibragimov’s new conservation laws are utilized to obtain the conservation laws for this coupled system of elastic waves. The outcome presented here is innovative and suggests utilizing the Lie symmetry method for investigating hyperelastic materials.

The objective of the current study is to provide a variety of families of soliton solutions to pseudo-parabolic equations that arise in nonsteady flows, hydrostatics, and seepage of fluid through fissured material. We investigate a class of such equations, including the one-dimensional Oskolkov (1D OSK), the Benjamin-Bona-Mahony (BBM), and the Benjamin-Bona-Mahony-Peregrine-Burgers (BBMPB) equation. The Exp (-ϕξ)-expansion method is used for new hyperbolic, trigonometric, rational, exponential, and polynomial function-based solutions. These solutions of the pseudo-parabolic class of partial differential equations (PDEs) studied here are new and novel and have not been reported in the literature. These solutions depict the hydrodynamics of various soliton shapes that can be utilized to study the nature of traveling wave solutions of other nonlinear PDE’s.

In this current study, the potential-KdV equation has been altered by the addition of a new stochastic term. The transmission of nonlinear optical solitons and photons is described by the new stochastic potential-KdV (spKdV), which applies to electric circuits and multi-component plasmas. The Lie symmetry approach is presented to find out the symmetry generators. The matrices method is applied to develop the one-dimensional optimal system for the acquired Lie algebra. Based on each element of the one-dimensional optimal system, symmetry reductions are used to reduce the considered model into nonlinear ordinary differential equations (ODEs). One of these nonlinear ODEs is solved using a new novel generalized exponential rational function (GERF) approach. Graphical interpretation of a few of the acquired results is added by taking the suitable values of the constants. A novel general theorem which is known as Ibragimov’s theorem enables the computation of conservation laws for any differential equation, without requiring the presence of Lagrangians. The idea of the self-adjoint equations for nonlinear equations serves as the foundation for this theorem. We present that the spKdV equation is nonlinearly self-adjoint. The conserved quantities are computed in line with each symmetry generator using Ibragimov’s theorem.

Deep reinforcement learning (DRL) is a suitable approach to handle uncertainty in managing the energy consumption of buildings with energy storage systems. Conventionally, DRL agents are trained by randomly selecting samples from a data set, which can result in overexposure to some data categories and under/no exposure to other data categories. Thus, the trained model may be biased towards some data groups and underperform (provide suboptimal results) for data groups to which it was less exposed. To address this issue, diversity in experience-based DRL agent training framework is proposed in this study. This approach ensures the exposure of agents to all types of data. The proposed framework is implemented in two steps. In the first step, raw data are grouped into different clusters using the K-means clustering method. The clustered data is then arranged by stacking the data of one cluster on top of another. In the second step, a selection algorithm is proposed to select data from each cluster to train the DRL agent. The frequency of selection from each cluster is in proportion to the number of data points in that cluster and therefore named the proportional selection method. To analyze the performance of the proposed approach and compare the results with the conventional random selection method, two indices are proposed in this study: the flatness index and the divergence index. The model is trained using different data sets (1-year, 3-year, and 5-year) and also with the inclusion of solar photovoltaics. The simulation results confirmed the superior performance of the proposed approach to flatten the building’s load curve by optimally operating the energy storage system.

Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) exhibit diverse applications, including antimicrobial, UV-blocking, and catalytic properties, due to their unique structure and properties. This study focused on the characterization of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) synthesized from Juglans regia leaves and their application in mitigating the impact of simultaneous infection by Meloidogyne arenaria (root-knot nematode) and Macrophomina phaseolina (root-rot fungus) in cowpea plants. The characterization of ZnO NPs was carried out through various analytical techniques, including UV–visible spectrophotometry, Powder-XRD analysis, FT-IR spectroscopy, and SEM-EDX analysis. The study confirmed the successful synthesis of ZnO NPs with a hexagonal wurtzite structure and exceptional purity. Under in vitro conditions, ZnO NPs exhibited significant nematicidal and antifungal activities. The mortality of M. arenaria juveniles increased with rising ZnO NP concentrations, and a similar trend was observed in the inhibition of M. phaseolina mycelial growth. SEM studies revealed physical damage to nematodes and structural distortions in fungal hyphae due to ZnO NP treatment. In infected cowpea plants, ZnO NPs significantly improved plant growth parameters, including plant length, fresh mass, and dry mass, especially at higher concentrations. Leghemoglobin content and the number of root nodules also increased after ZnO NP treatment. Additionally, ZnO NPs reduced gall formation and egg mass production by M. arenaria nematodes and effectively inhibited the growth of M. phaseolina in the roots. Furthermore, histochemical analyses demonstrated a reduction in oxidative stress, as indicated by decreased levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and lipid peroxidation in ZnO NP-treated plants. These findings highlight the potential of green-synthesized ZnO NPs as an eco-friendly and effective solution to manage disease complex in cowpea caused by simultaneous nematode and fungal infections.

AbstractThis study is an attempt to estimate the incidence, severity, depth, and determinants of poverty in Jhang district, Punjab, Pakistan. For this purpose, the data were collected from 1,000 households through a specifically designed questionnaire using multistages sampling technique in all four subdistricts of Jhang district. The study used both income-regression model and logistic regression to assess the impact of demographic and socioeconomic factors on poverty incidence. The results show that 54.3% of households are below the poverty line, including 16% extremely poor. Poverty measures including headcount index, severity, and depth of poverty are worse among the households headed by farmers, daily-wagers, and illiterates. Moreover, the results confirm that the household’s livestock population, landholding, ownership of agricultural land, total assets, and earners per household considerably reduced the poverty incidence in Jhang district. While household size, age of household head, economic dependency ratio, and total dependency ratio significantly increased the level of poverty. The study concludes that demographic and socioeconomic characteristics of the households are of greater importance in alleviating poverty generally in Pakistan but particularly in rural areas. Hence, it is suggested that governments should increase public spending on socioeconomic programs and services with a particular focus on education, women’s empowerment, family planning, employment opportunity, pro-agriculture policies, and equitable distribution of land and wealth to alleviate poverty in rural areas of Pakistan. Further research can be conducted by selecting large sample size and analyzing the household characteristics at the disaggregated level incorporating time variations to develop a more impactful policy framework.

Abstract Background The purpose of this research is to generate new evidence on the economic consequences of multimorbidity on households in terms of out-of-pocket (OOP) expenditures and their implications for catastrophic OOP expenditure. Methods We analyzed Social Consumption Health data from National Sample Survey Organization (NSSO) 75th round conducted in the year 2017–2018 in India. The sample included 1,13,823 households (64,552 rural and 49,271 urban) through a multistage stratified random sampling process. Prevalence of multimorbidity and related OOP expenditure were estimated. Using Coarsened Exact Matching (CEM) we estimated the mean OOP expenditure for individuals reporting multimorbidity and single morbidity for each episode of outpatient visits and hospital admission. We also estimated implications in terms of catastrophic OOP expenditure for households. Results Results suggest that outpatient OOP expenditure is invariably lower in the presence of multimorbidity as compared with single conditions of the selected Non-Communicable Diseases(NCDs) (overall, INR 720 [USD 11.3] for multimorbidity vs. INR 880 [USD 14.8] for single). In the case of hospitalization, the OOP expenditures were mostly higher for the same NCD conditions in the presence of multimorbidity as compared with single conditions, except for cancers and cardiovascular diseases. For cancers and cardiovascular, OOP expenditures in the presence of multimorbidity were lower by 39% and 14% respectively). Furthermore, around 46.7% (46.674—46.676) households reported incurring catastrophic spending (10% threshold) because of any NCD in the standalone disease scenario which rose to 63.3% (63.359–63.361) under the multimorbidity scenario. The catastrophic implications of cancer among individual diseases was the highest. Conclusions Multimorbidity leads to high and catastrophic OOP payments by households and treatment of high expenditure diseases like cancers and cardiovascular are under-financed by households in the presence of competing multimorbidity conditions. Multimorbidity should be considered as an integrated treatment strategy under the existing financial risk protection measures (Ayushman Bharat) to reduce the burden of household OOP expenditure at the country level.

Objective: To compare the efficacy of Dexmedetomidine combined with Bupivacaine in supraclavicular block versus Bupivacaine alone in upper limb surgeries Study Design: Quasi-experimental study Place and Duration Of Study: Anaesthesia Department, Combined Military Hospital Quetta, Pakistan, from Sep to Feb 2022. Methodology: Patients planning to undergo plating of radius fractures were included. The patients were divided into two equal sets (n=20) by purposive sampling and marked as Group-A and Group-B. Patients in both groups received supraclavicular block under ultrasound guidance and general endotracheal anaesthesia followed by that. In the first Group,Bupivacaine plain (0.125%) was used to block the brachial plexus, and in the second Group, Bupivacaine (0.125%) with adjuvant Dexmedetomidine (1ug/kg) was given respectively. The visual analogue scale was used to measure pain perception in both groups. Results: The duration of analgesia in the Dexmedetomidine Group was 10 ±0.925 hours and 5.68 ±0.471hours in Bupivacaine Group, which holds statistical significance (p-value

The equations in which time derivative appears in the highest order derivative term are called pseudo-parabolic equations. In this article, we will propose new singular and dark soliton solutions to a few such equations. We first find the symmetry algebra of such equations, and then by invariant reduction we obtain the exact solutions. Then, we classify the solutions by using their Lie subalgebras. Also, we will discuss the travelling wave solutions by using tanh–coth method. Moreover, we will discuss reciprocal Bäcklund transformations of the conservation laws.

In this paper the system of equations arising from a simplified micromorphic model is studied using the Lie symmetry approach. The advantage of this approach is that is provides exact invariant solutions rather than numerical or approximate ones reported in the literature in earlier studies. We obtain the Lie point symmetries for the model and the one dimensional optimal system of Lie subalgebras. Using the one-dimensional optimal system, symmetry reductions are performed and some corresponding invariant solutions are found. To illustrate the physical importance of group invariant solutions, 2D, 3D and contour plots are drawn.

Objective: To compare the assessment of the timing of insertion of supraglottic airway device in children by trapezius squeeze test versus jaw thrust as an indicator of the depth of anaesthesia. Study Design: Prospective comparative study. Place and Duration of Study: Combined Military Hospital, Quetta Pakistan, from Jan to Dec 2021. Methodology: Eighty children undergoing surgical interventions under Sevoflurane anaesthesia with supraglottic airway device having ASA physical status I or II were divided into two sets of 40 children. Both groups were labelled Group-A (trapezius squeeze test) and Group-B (jaw thrust). Supraglottic airway device iGel was inserted immediately after the negative trapezius squeeze test or jaw thrust. A negative test was defined as the absence of cough, reflex movements, breath-holding, gag reflex and laryngospasm. Insertion time and the number of attempts were carefully recorded. Results: The mean age of patients in the study was 4.8±2.028years, and the mean weight was 17.05±5.34. 47% of patients were in ASA-I, 52% in ASA-II in Group-A, 40 % were ASA-I and 60% in ASAII in Group-B. The mean insertion time was 143.42±5.56 seconds in Group-A and 117.525±7.15 seconds in Group-B with a p-value of 0.002. Conclusion: We concluded that the trapezius squeeze test provides better insertion conditions for supraglottic airway devices than jaw thrust during Sevoflurane anaesthesia in pediatric patients.

Documenting floristic diversity, its natural history traits and habitat affiliation offers crucial insights for developing conservation strategies and management plans for regional biodiversity. In this study, we employed random sampling technique to investigate the floristic composition, natural history trait diversity and habitat distribution among 12 major forest types spread across an elevational gradient of 350–3450 m a.s.l. in the western Himalayan region of Jammu and Kashmir. We recorded 451 species belonging to 90 families in the study region, with herbaceous growth form, perennial life span and therophyte categories dominant. We observed a steady increase in species richness from 800 to 2000 m a.s.l., with highest at 1750 m a.s.l. in the Himalayan dry temperate forest type and then a decreasing trend with elevation. In terms of species turnover, the lowest dissimilarity of 36.8% was found between the Himalayan dry temperate and Fir forests. Whereas, considering species replacement (βsne), the highest similarity of 17.3% was found between the lower western Himalayan and Himalayan dry temperate forests. This shows that beta‐diversity patterns between different forest types are mostly driven by species replacement. Multivariate analysis revealed three major groups in the entire forest species pool. Habitat‐wise, 34% species were recorded in the natural habitats, while the remaining 66% were found in human‐modified habitats (roadsides, piospheres). Our findings will improve scientific understanding of the forest vegetation of this Himalayan region and help in guiding forest policy and management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]