Food drying is an essential preservation operation in the food industry and contributes to the development of shelf-stable ingredients and consumer products. Industrial food-drying technologies, including pretreatments, processing methods, equipment, and quality-control systems, have advanced considerably in recent years. Novel approaches, including microwave assisted drying, ultrasound-assisted drying, high-electric-field drying, heat-pump drying, and refractance-window drying, have…

Background: Musculoskeletal Injuries (MSKIs) significantly impact the functional independence and academic consistency of college students. While the Functional Movement Screen (FMS) is widely deployed to identify movement dysfunctions, its isolated prognostic utility remains highly controversial.

Objective: To determine whether combining the FMS with targeted physical performance measures improves the predictive accuracy for non-contact MSKIs in…

As one of the most commonplace forms of trace evidence uncovered at crime scenes, human hair serves as a critical biological link during violent physical encounters. Historically, forensic trichology relied on microscopic evaluation-a technique invaluable for ruling out suspects but incapable of absolute individualization. However, integrating Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), Short Tandem Repeat (STR) profiling, and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequencing has revolutionized hair analysis,…

Background: Academic procrastination, defined as the voluntary delay of intended academic tasks despite potential harm, is exceedingly common among students. It is conceptualized as a failure of self-regulation and motivation that leads to negative outcomes in performance and well-being.

Objective: This review synthesizes contemporary research on student procrastination, covering definitions, prevalence (global and India), theoretical models,…

Background/Aim: While periodontal disease (PD) has been linked to various systemic malignancies, extensive research regarding its association with gliomas is currently lacking. The aim of the present study was to evaluate potential differences in periodontal status between patients diagnosed with diffuse astrocytomas and oligodendrogliomas (WHO Grade 2 and 3), and healthy controls.

Materials and Methods: In this retrospective case-control study, 85…

Background: Second Hand Smoke (SHS) exposes nonsmokers to harmful chemicals that contribute to cardiovascular diseases, including endothelial dysfunction and increased oxidative stress. Tender Coconut Water (TCW), rich in antioxidants and essential nutrients, has been suggested as a potential natural intervention to mitigate SHS-induced cardiovascular damage.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of TCW on structural and physiological…

Background: Glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) is a widely used indicator of chronic glycemic exposure and is central to diabetes diagnosis, monitoring, and prevention of microvascular and macrovascular complications. Because diabetes affects multiple organ systems, interpretation of HbA1c may be strengthened when renal, hepatic, and lipid biomarkers are assessed concurrently.

Objective: This study evaluated the age- and sex-stratified distribution of…

Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) remains a major contributor to chronic liver disease, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Pakistan is considered an intermediate-burden country with heterogeneous regional prevalence and genotype distribution. This study summarizes clinical, demographic, serological, and treatment-related patterns in a Pakistani HBV dataset and interprets the findings in the context of known genotype distribution in Pakistan. De-identified electronic health-record data were…

Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) remains a major cause of chronic liver disease, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma, and Pakistan continues to experience one of the highest HCV burdens globally. This cross-sectional study estimated HCV prevalence in a sample population from Pakistan and explored variations across age and gender groups. Fifty-seven individuals who underwent HCV testing during routine clinical assessment were included. HCV status was determined using serological testing, and…

Background: Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory demyelinating disorder of the central nervous system in which Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), cerebrospinal fluid findings, evoked potentials, and clinical follow-up remain central to diagnosis and monitoring. Many patients with MS also explore complementary or alternative approaches for symptom relief, although the evidence base for disease modification remains limited and inconsistent.

Case…