Quantum Smearing in Hybrid Inflation with Chaotic Potentials

We study the impact of one-loop radiative corrections in a non-supersymmetric model of hybrid inflation with chaotic (polynomial-like) potential, $V_0 + \lambda_p \phi^p$. These corrections can arise from the possible couplings of inflaton with other fields which may play active role in the reheating process. The tree-level predictions of these models are shown to lie outside of the Planck's latest bounds on the scalar spectral index $n_s$ and the tensor to scalar ratio $r$. However, the radiatively corrected version of these models, $V_0 + \lambda_p \phi^p + A \phi^4 \ln \phi$, is fully consistent with the Planck's data. More specifically, fermionic radiative correction ($A<0$) reduces the tensor to scalar ratio significantly and a red-tilted spectral index $n_s<1$, consistent with Planck's data, is obtained even for sub-Planckian field-values.Comment: 14 pages, 25 figures (typos fixed

The burden of dysphagia and chest infection in acute ischemic stroke in a tertiary care hospital of islamabad capital territory

Stroke is the foremost cause of severe neurologic disability in adults and is associated with a variety of complications. Dysphagia complicates acute ischemic strokes (AIS) in 42% cases and is more evident during the first week after ischemic stroke. Chest infection complicates AIS in 32% of the cases and 89% of these cases are due to dysphagia. Videofluoroscopy is the gold standard for swallowing assessment but due to non availability, bedside swallowing assessment is a more handytool. Methods: From August 2013 to February 2014151 patients were enrolled according to the set criteria.Each patient was assessed for dysphagia according to the set protocol and monitored for the development of chest infection up to 1 week. Demographics and clinical features were recorded. Results: The mean age of patients was 59.09 ± 13.38 years with no sex predilection.Dysphagia was seen in 57 (37.7%) patients of AIS. Chest infection was seen in 38 (25.2%) of the patients. 32 (84.21%) patients with chest infection had dysphagia while 6 (15.78%) patients with chest infection did not have dysphagia. Conclusion: Chest infection is more common in patients of AIS with dysphagia

Surgical correction of aorto-pulmonary window: a rare and lethal cause of pulmonary hypertension

Aorto-pulmonary window is a relatively rare congenital cardiac malformation with an overall incidence of 0.1%. Pulmonary hypertension develops quickly if the lesion is left untreated hence early surgical intervention is warranted after diagnosis. The surgery for correction of APW has evolved over years, currently an open repair on cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) with a single patch technique yields good results. Mortality is affected by association of pulmonary hypertension and other cardiac malformations. We present a case of an infant with a large type II APW with a relatively low pulmonary vascular resistance. Hospital stay was complicated because of pulmonary arterial disease making it an important reason for correction in the first few months of life

Effectiveness of premedication at the time of separation from parent and mask induction in paediatric patients coming for congenital heart disease surgery

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effectiveness of oral midazolam and chloral hydrate on anxiety and sedation at various stages of pre-operative period in congenital heart surgery patients. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional comparative study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: Operating rooms of The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, from October 2009 to December 2010. METHODOLOGY: Sixty-six patients between the ages of 6 months and 6 years received either chloral hydrate (Group C) or midazolam (Group M) pre-operatively. All congenital heart disease patients coming for cardiac surgeries were included while cases of emergency surgery and those patients in whom premedication was not given were excluded. Effect of premedication observed and documented by Anaesthesia Consultant. Documentation included demographics, level of anxiety and sedation at the time of separation from parent and at the time of mask application. RESULTS: Forty study subjects were male (61%) and 26 were females (39%). Eleven patients received oral midazolam while 55 received oral chloral hydrate. Sixteen patients were tearful and anxious (24%) while rests were calm and asleep. Thirty patients in group C (60%) were well sedated at the time of separation. Mask induction was satisfactory in 76% of chloral hydrate patients. Increase dose was suggested in 23 patients by anaesthetizing physician. Out of these 6 belonged to group M (54.5%) while 17 to low dose chloral hydrate group (30.9%) [\u3c 40 mg/kg]. CONCLUSION: Chloral hydrate provides comparable anxiolysis but superior sedation and mask acceptance scores when compared with midazolam. Higher doses of chloral hydrate (50 mg/kg) were required to keep these patients calm and peaceful at the time of mask application for inhalation induction

Single lung ventilation in a young child for repair of coarctation of aorta

Single lung ventilation in small children is extremely challenging. In this case, a paediatric bronchial blocker was successfully inserted in a 19-month-old child to provide single lung ventilation using a modified insertion technique. It provided excellent working conditions during thoracotomy and our method of insertion may help in reducing the cost

Dual chamber pacemaker implants--a new opportunity in Pakistan for children with congenital and acquired complete heart block

Implantation of cardiac pacemakers has been practiced for at least five decades with continuous developments of the hardware. The invention of dual chamber pacemakers has initiated a debate concerning its superiority over single chamber ventricular pacemakers. Throughout the world, surgeons have been using dual chambered permanent pacemakers with successful follow ups. However, Pakistan has not yet taken the advantage of such pacemaker devices till now. We report three cases that underwent a dual chamber permanent pacemaker implantation for the first time in children less than 8 kg with successful follow ups

An Evaluation of Capital Structure Influencing on Profitability: An Evidence of General Industrial Sector Listed in KSE

The objective of this research paper is to an Evaluation of the Capital Structure Influencing on Profitability regarding General Industrial Sector and to ascertain the association ship and most influential variables that effect on Profitability. Method of sampling was used in Simple Pooled Regression Model technique taking samples of the 9 companies listed (General Industrial Sector) on the Karachi stock exchange for the periods of 11 years (2005-2015). The results showed that Capital Structure (Debt-Equity) has significant influence on Profitability such as (Return on assets, Return on equity, Return on Capital Employed and Net Profit Margin). Association betwixt Capital Structure (Debt-Equity) has negative with profitability (Return on Assets, Return on Capital Employed and Net Profit Margin) and Return on Equity is positive association with Debt-Equity. All variables are influential and significant to the Capital Structure regarding General Industrial Sector. This research paper will assist for the assessment of the capital structure regarding various sectors which is listed in the Karachi Stock Exchange. Keywords: Capital Structure, Profitability, Karachi Stock Exchange, Simple Pooled Regression