Bushra Haider

1. Regression analysis (RA) is a fundamental statistical tool, widely applied in economics, social sciences, engineering, and natural sciences. Its main purpose is to describe and model the relatio...

1. Regression analysis serves as the fundamental techniques in statistical modeling, enabling researchers to explore and quantify relationships between dependent and independent variables. Among it...

Traditional regression estimators like Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) and classical ridge regression often fail under multicollinearity and outlier contamination respectively. Although recently developed two-parameter ridge regression (TPRR) estimators improve efficiency by introducing dual shrinkage parameters, they remain sensitive to extreme observations. This study develops a new class of Two-Parameter Robust Ridge M-Estimators (TPRRM) that integrate dual shrinkage with robust M-estimation to simultaneously address multicollinearity and outliers. A Monte Carlo simulation study, conducted under varying sample sizes, predictor dimensions, correlation levels, and contamination structures, compares the proposed estimators with OLS, ridge, and the most recent TPRR estimators. The results demonstrate that TPRRM consistently achieves the lowest Mean Squared Error (MSE), particularly in heavy-tailed and outlier-prone scenarios. Application to the Tobacco and Gasoline Consumption datasets further validates the superiority of the proposed methods in real-world conditions. The findings confirm that the proposed TPRRM fills a critical methodological gap by offering estimators that are not only efficient under multicollinearity, but also robust against departures from normality.

Background: Surgical site infections (SSIs) are a significant complication following orthopedic implant surgeries, often resulting in prolonged hospital stays, increased healthcare costs, and adverse patient outcomes. Despite advances in surgical techniques and infection control, SSIs continue to be a concern, particularly in resource-limited settings. This study aimed to determine the frequency, risk factors, and microbiological profile of SSIs in patients undergoing orthopedic implant surgeries at Northwest General Hospital, Peshawar. Materials and Methods: A prospective descriptive study was conducted from August 2023 to January 2024, involving 78 patients undergoing orthopedic implant surgery. Patients aged 5–75 years were included, while those with previous SSIs, open fractures requiring external fixation, or non-implant surgeries were excluded. Data on demographics, comorbidities, implant types, and postoperative outcomes were collected. SSIs were diagnosed based on clinical signs and confirmed with microbiological culture. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 25; associations were tested using Fisher’s exact and chi-square tests. Results: The mean age was 40 ± 2.13 years; 51.3% were male. The most common procedure was ORIF (44.9%), and plates/screws were the most frequently used implants (39.7%). Only one superficial SSI (1.3%) was observed, with no deep infections. No statistically significant associations were found between SSIs and patient age, gender, implant type, or comorbidities. Conclusion: A low SSI rate (1.3%) was observed, with no deep infections. Rigorous aseptic techniques, early postoperative follow-up, and standardized antibiotic prophylaxis likely contributed to favourable outcomes.

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to compare the functional outcome between the first and second knee replacement in patients who underwent staged bilateral total knee arthroplasty. Methods: 40 patients who had staged bilateral knee replacements were identified and post operatively followed for one, three and twelve months. Data on pain scores, walking ability, use of walking aids, range of movement, instability, muscle strength, and length of hospital stay (LOS) were recorded. The difference in data between the first and second knee was assessed. Results: Between the first and second procedure, groups maintained their statistical comparability. There was a significant difference between the first and second knee in three results. In terms of postoperative walking ability, the second knee's mean score was 4.67, while the first knee's was 3.26 (p=0.029). The mean score for the need for a walking aid following surgery was 4.93 for the second knee and 5.48 for the first (p=0.01). Second knee mean LOS was 4.19 days, while first knee mean LOS was 5.92 days (p=0.05). Every other comparison of data was not statistically significant. Conclusion: After second knee replacement, patients have a decreased LOS and continue to improve with regards to walking ability and use of walking aids.

A hostel is a type of housing that provides shared living spaces for travelers and students, particularly offered by educational institutions where students share their living space. This study aims to evaluate the challenges faced by female students living in university hostels and the impact of these issues on their academic performance. Additionally, it identifies common problems such as satisfaction with hostel facilities, security, and how the hostel environment influences their lifestyle. The population for this study includes all female students residing in Peshawar University hostels. Information was obtained from the Provost's office of the University of Peshawar, showing a total of 1951 female students residing in various hostels during the 2015-16 session across all academic programs with an age range of twenty to twenty-five years. An open-ended questionnaire was developed for in-depth interviews, and various statistical tests were employed in this study. The chi-square test of independence was used to examine associations among different factors, revealing significant associations in most cases. The odds ratio was applied to assess the strength of these associations, uncovering a strong correlation between students' health and the type of food provided by the hostel mess. Additionally, a strong association was found between students' academic performance and group discussions. ANOVA was used to analyze the number of girls in the hostel rooms, leading to the rejection of the null hypothesis. To determine student satisfaction with hostel facilities, a logistic regression model was employed. The results highlighted significant factors such as the name of the hostel, education level, water issues, generator availability, toilet conditions, hostel environment, room accommodation, health facilities, mess condition, academic performance, TV availability, internet access, and good security. Consequently, the study's findings can help improve the quality of hostel services in Pakistan, potentially increasing students' satisfaction with hostel life.

The primary objective of this research is to investigate and determine the positive and negative influences of smartphones on students' academic performance. This is a comparative study of the effects of using smartphones on the academic performance of university students as students use their smartphones for both educational and recreational purposes. The research was conducted at different educational institutes in the Nawabshah district. The questionnaire was developed for this study and the sample size was 300, simple random sample techniques were used for data collection. Cross-tabulation and chi-square techniques were used to analyze the data. The result of the study found that students' smartphone use influences them positively and negatively. Also, most students consider smartphones useful for obtaining academic content. As a result, it is suggested that teachers use this medium to connect with students more frequently like chat groups to help everyone to stay connected. In addition, Educational institutions should also implement software that bans students from the use of social networking sites while attending class. Further, it is revealed that smartphones have a wide range of effects on the academic career of undergraduate students at Shaheed Benazir Bhutto University, Degree Boys' College Nawabshah, and the Shaheed Benazir Bhutto University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences Sakrand. Arguments. Hence, this study contributes to a deeper understanding of the impact of smartphone usage on academic performance and provides insights into potential strategies for raising a balanced and productive relationship between students and their smartphones in the educational context.