Poly(ether ether ketone) (PEEK) is a high-performance semi-crystalline thermoplastic polymer. Exposure of the polymeric surface to solvents can have a strong effect like softening/swelling of polymeric network or dissolution. In this study, nano-indentation analysis was performed to study the effect of acetone on the surface mechanical properties of PEEK using different exposure time. The experiments were performed with a constant loading rate (10 nm/s) to a maximum indentation displacement (1000 nm). A 30-second hold segment was included at the maximum load to account for any creep effects followed by an unloading segment to 80% unloading. The indentation hardness and the elastic modulus were computed as a continuous function of the penetration displacement in the continuous stiffness mode (CSM) indentation. The experimental data showed that the peak load decreased from ∼5.2 mN to ∼1.7 mN as exposure time in solvent environment increased from 0 to 18 days. The elastic modulus and the hardness of PEEK samples also displayed a decreasing trend as a function of exposure time in the solvent environment. Two empirical models were used to fit the experimental data of hardness as a function of exposure time which showed a good agreement with the experimental values.

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Background and Aim: Congenital heart disease is defined as the heart or intra-thoracic great vessel structural abnormalities present since birth with significantly functional irrespective of their detection age. It is the most prominent congenital anomaly and cause of morbidity and mortality among the pediatric age group population. The present study aimed to investigate the clinical pattern and malnutrition among children with congenital heart disease. Methodology: This descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out on 132 congenital heart disease patients in the Department of Pediatric, Imran Idrees Teaching Hospital Sialkot from January 2021 to December 2021. Children with clinical basis of cyanosis, feeding refusal, decreased activity, cough, hurried breathing, fever, and excessive sweating were enrolled. Acquired heart diseases and post-operative cardiac cases were excluded. Eligible children were assessed for sociodemographic details, physical examination, nutritional status, history, and types of congenital heart diseases. SPSS version 25 was used for data analysis. Results: Of the total 132 CHD children, there were 92 (69.7%) male and 40 (30.3%) females. The prevalence of acyanotic heart diseases, cyanotic heart diseases, complex CHD, and valvular diseases were 98 (74.2%), 22 (16.7%), 10 (7.6%), and 2 (1.5%) respectively. Age-wise distribution of all the children were as follows: 38 (28.8%) < 1 month, 62 (47%) 1 month-1 year, 20 (15.2%) 1-5 years, and 12 (9.1%) 5-10 years. Based on presented symptoms, the incidence of breathlessness, fever, cough, and other symptoms were 68 (51.5%), 58 (43.9%), 54 (40.9%), and 49 (37.1%) respectively. The incidence of protein-energy malnutrition and normal cases were 72 (54.5%) and 60 (45.5%) respectively. Anemia was the most prevalent risk factor CHD in 52 (39.4%) cases followed by pneumonia 41 (31.1%). Conclusion: The present study concluded that acyanotic heart diseases were the most commonly found in children followed by cyanotic, complex, and valvular diseases. Infancy and childhood age are more susceptible to congenital heart diseases. Breathlessness and fever were the most common symptoms. Nutritional anemia followed by pneumonia and failure to thrive were the major risk factors for congenital heart diseases among children. Keywords: Congenital heart diseases, Clinical pattern, Malnutrition

Objectives: To compare the mean hemoglobin level before and six weeks after giving intravenous iron sucrose therapy in malnourished children having iron deficiency anemia. Study Design: Quasi Experimental Study. Setting: Nutritional Stabilization Centre, Children Hospital and Institute of Child Health, Multan. Period: From July 2018 to December 2018. Material & Methods: A total of 80 patients were enrolled in the study. Hemoglobin level at baseline was recorded. IV iron sucrose therapy was divided into 3 equal doses and administered on 3 consecutive days. After 6 weeks of administration of iron sucrose, hemoglobin level was noted. Independent sample T-test was applied to compare Hb level before and after therapy with p-value≤0.05 as significant. Results: Overall, mean age was 13.39±6.11months. There were 54 (67.5%) males and 28 (32.5%) females. The mean weight of patients was 5.06±1.45kg and mean height was 64.59±8.72cm. The weight for height ratio was <-3SD in all patients (100%). The mean hemoglobin level of patients at baseline was 7.37±0.44g/dl, which was improved to 9.47±0.47g/dl after 6 weeks treatment. This was significant improvement (p<0.05). Conclusion: Thus intravenous iron sucrose therapy can significantly improve the condition of child and rectify the IDA.

Gladiolus is one of the leading bulbous flowers due to the high demand of its double row spikes of different colors in domestic and international markets. Gladiolus flower quality and growth performance are largely depending on growing media, environmental condition but planting dates are considered as key factor which effect the growth indices and quality attributes of the flowers. To evaluate the effect of different sowing dates on growth and flowering of gladiolus, a study was conducted at National Agriculture Research Council Islamabad (NARC) during the year of 2017. Results revealed that sowing date of gladiolus flower significantly affect the reproductive and vegetative phase of plants. It has been observed that seed emergence and spike length was enhanced when seeds were sown at initial dates as compared to late sowing. In contrary to these, plant height and rachis length was reduced at early sowing dates but significantly increased with sowing of seeds at later dates. Overall, it has been concluded from the present study that gladiolus growth performance and flowers quality are improved when seeds were sown at earlier dates compared to late sowing.