Post-operative Status of Facial Nerve in Cerebello-Pontine Angle Lesion via Retro-Sigmoid Approach; Complications and Outcome

  Objective:  To assess the post-operative status of Facial Nerve in cerebellopontine angle (CPA) lesion via retro-sigmoid approach and also its complications and outcome. Materials & Methods:  This prospective study was conducted at the Department of Neurosurgery, JPMC Karachi from a period of 10-12-2021 to 10-06-2022.The sample size of our study was 37 patients. All the patients were operated for CPA lesions and followed for three months to assess the outcome efficacy. Results:  Our study showed that the mean age was 37 years, with a range of 27 to 65 years, in which the males were 18 (48.6%) and the females were 19 (51.4%). Out of 37 patients, 28 (75.7%) were diagnosed with vestibular schwannoma, while 6 (16.2%) were meningiomas, and 3 (8.1%) were epidermoid cysts. Gross total resection was performed in 14 (37.8%) patients, while subtotal resection (STR) in 23 (62.2%). Facial nerve function in terms of House-Brackmann at 3 months was found to be grade I in 26 (70.3%), grade II in 9 (24.3%), grade III in 1 (2.7%), and grade IV in 1 (2.7%). Conclusion:  The CPA is a small corridor through which important neurovascular structures pass. Identification of CN VII is important in large CPA tumours to preserve facial motor nerve function.  For all kinds of CPA lesions, gross total excision should be the aim of surgery

Population Trend of Canola Aphid, Lipaphis Erysimi (Kalt) (Homoptera: Aphididae) And It’s Associated Bio-Control Agent, Coccinella Septempunctata (Linnaeus) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) in Different Brassica Lines

Studies regarding the determination of population trend of Lipaphis erysimi (Kalt) and its associated bio-control agent, Coccinella septempunctata (Linnaeus) in different brassica lines, were conducted at the New Developmental Farm, The University of Agriculture Peshawar during cropping season (2012-2013). Four different brassica lines IBGE-I, IBGE-II, IBGE-III and IBGE-IV were used, which were replicated four times in Randomized Complete Block Design. The data revealed that aphid’s infestation invariably started in all four varieties during 2nd week of February 2013 (1st observation). The peak population of 2.47 aphid’s leaf -1 was recorded during 3rd week of March and lowest population of 1.67 aphid’s leaf -1 was recorded during 2nd week of April. The specie of ladybird beetle (Coccinella septempunctata) was first time appeared on 14th February with mean number of (0.22 ladybird beetle plant -1). At the time when aphid’s population started to increase, the peak population of C. septempunctata (1.32 ladybird beetle plant-1) was recorded on the 3rd week of March. Among all the Brassica lines, IBGE-I showed comparatively more resistance by recording least number of aphids on it as compared to IBGE-III, IBGE-IV and IBGE-II. IBGE-II showed least resistance against Lipaphis erysimi, which was found to be most susceptible cultivar by recording highest mean number of aphid’s population on it. IBGE-I was also found superior in terms of bio-control agents. Maximum number of bio-control agents was recorded on IBGE-I followed by IBGE-III and IBGE-IV. Lowest number of beetles was recorded on IBGE-II. Keywords: Lipaphis erysimi, Coccinella septempunctata, Brassica lines

Studies of oil from cowpea (vigna unguiculata ( l.) walp.) cultivars commonly grown in Pakistan

The physiochemical properties and fatty acid ( FA) composition of oil from seeds of 4 cowpea cultivars viz., Elite, CP(1), White Star and SA dandy, commonly grown in Pakistan, were investigated. Oil contents ranged from 2.71-2.96% with triacylglycerols being present in highest amount. Iodine values were found highest in CP1 while SA dandy and CP1 excelled in saponification values and acid values, respectively. Despite variations unsaturated fatty acids were observed as being present in higher concentration in all cultivars. Among sterols, stigmasterol was present in highest amount followed by beta-sitosterol and campesterol. Among tocopherols, alpha-, and beta-tocopherols were observed as being present in highest and lowest concentrations, respectively. Results from most of the parameters revealed not significant (

Antifungal and nematicidal activity of selected legumes of Pakistan

The antifungal activity of legume seed extracts was tested against 6 fungi, viz., Trichophyton longifusus, Candida albicans, Aspergilus flavus, Microsporum canis, Fusarium solani and Candida glaberata. The extracts showed moderate activity against different fungal strains. Nematicidal activity has also been carried out to evaluate their potential toxicity against juveniles of the root-knot nematode Meloidogyne spp. In vitro results showed that ethanolic extract of these legumes caused appreciable mortality of second stage juveniles of Meloidogyne javanica and Meloidogyne incognita. The concentrations used @ 1% and 0.5% were found more effective and produced significant results as compared to 0.25%, and 0.1%. The mortality rate increased with increasing exposure time for most of the extracts

Bases farmacológicas del uso de Acorus calamus L. en enfermedades inflamatorias y las vías de transducción de señales subyacentes

Acorus calamus L. se utiliza como remedio anti-inflamatorio en el sistema tradicional de la medicina en Pakistán y la India. Este  estudio fue diseñado para explorar el mecanismo anti-inflamatorio de Acorus calamus L. y sus vías de señalización subyacentes. Fracciones  acuosa, butanólica y de n-hexano de Acorus calamus se ensayaron frente a la ciclooxigenasa (COX) y de la lipoxigenasa (LOX) mediada  por la producción de eicosanoides por el ácido araquidónico (AA). La fracción butanólica de Acorus calamus, pero no las fracciones acuosas  y de n-hexano, inhibieron la producción de COX mediada por tromboxano B2 (TXB2) y el producto lipoxigenasa 1 (LP1) - un metabolito  de la vía de LOX, 12 - (ácido hidroxieicosatetraenoico) HETE - otro producto de la ruta de LOX no fue afectado por  las tres fracciones. La  fracción butanólica de Acorus calamus mostró una fuerte inhibición contra la agregación plaquetaria inducida por AA. La investigación de  las vías de señalización subyacentes reveló que la fracción butanólica inhibió la fosfolipasa C (PLC) y la vía en las plaquetas, probablemente  actuando sobre la proteína quinasa C (PKC). Fracciones acuosas y de n - hexano de Acorus calamus no fueron eficaces contra ningún  agonista de plaquetas. Este estudio muestra que la fracción butanólica de Acorus calamus posee componentes que inhiben el metabolismo  del AA y la agregación plaquetaria a través de múltiples vías

Culturable aerobic and facultative anaerobic intestinal bacterial flora of black cobra (Naja naja karachiensis) in southern Pakistan

Using morphological analysis and biochemical testing, here for the first time, we determined the culturable gut bacterial flora (aerobes and facultative anaerobes) in the venomous Black Cobra (Naja naja karachiensis) from South Asia. The findings revealed that these snakes inhabit potentially pathogenic bacteria including Serratia marcescens, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Shewanella putrefaciens, Aeromonas hydrophila, Salmonella sp., Moraxella sp., Bacillus sp., Ochrobactrum anthropi, and Providencia rettgeri. These findings are of concern, as injury from snake bite can result in wound infections and tissue necrosis leading to sepsis/necrotizing fasciitis and/or expose consumers of snake meat/medicine in the community to infections

Bayesian estimation of P[Y \u3c X] Based on Record Values from the Lomax Distribution and MCMC Technique

Our interest is in estimating the stress-strength reliability R = P[Y \u3c X], where X and Y follow the Lomax distribution with common scale parameter. We discuss the problem in the situation where the stress measurements and the strength measurements are both in terms of records. Firstly, we obtain the MLE of R in general case (the common scale parameter is unknown). The MLE of the three unknown parameters can be obtained by solving one non-linear equation. We provide a simple fixed point type algorithm to find the MLE. We propose percentile bootstrap confidence intervals of R. A Bayes point estimator of R, and the corresponding credible interval using the MCMC sampling technique have been proposed. Secondly, assuming the common scale parameter is known, the MLE of R is obtained. Using exact distributions of the MLEs of the two unknown parameters, we construct the exact confidence interval of R. In this case, Bayes estimators have been obtained using Lindley\u27s approximations. Analysis of a simulated data set has been presented for illustrative purposes. Finally, the different proposed methods have been compared via Monte Carlo simulation study

COUNTER MODE DEVELOPMENT FOR BLOCK CIPHER OPERATIONS

There are two basic types of symmetric cipher: block ciphers and stream ciphers. Block ciphers operate on blocks of plaintext and ciphertext—usually of 64 bits but sometimes longer. Stream ciphers operate on streams of plaintext and ciphertext one bit or byte (sometimes even one 32-bit word) at a time. The Block cipher modes of operation can be applied as both stream and block cipher.In this paper we introduce three developments of Counter Mode of Operation of Block cipher. These developments merge between advantages of Counter Mode with other Modes. This gives a good secure Modes for General purpose block-oriented transmission Authentication, Random access, Stream-oriented transmission over noisy channel

Globalization: Information Technology and Economic Growth Nexus: Empirical Evidence from ARDL Model Approach to Co-integration and Causality Analysis

This study provides a realistic examination of link between economic growth, information technology and its elements with particular attention on the stock market advancement in Pakistan.  Our results recommend a positive connection between well-organized stock market and economic growth equally in long run and short run. In financial theory globalization information technology would affect the increase economic development. This study investigates the influence of globalization and economic advancement on income disparity in Pakistan. In this study, we used the annual time series data and also used autoregressive distributed lag model (ARDL) econometric technique. We collected this data 1973 to 2014 from state bank of Pakistan and international financial statistics. From this study, it is decided that, globalization information technology has substantial effect on income parity; the economic growth rate is also achieving the income equality. In the policy outlook trade openness, foreign payment, foreign direct investment, may contribute in reducing inequality, the key variables used in this study are like savings, inflation, and exchange rate, gross domestic product, investment. This implies that, if this country wants to increase the economic growth, then to formulate and strictly implement some particular policies that facilitate investment in ICT

Globalization: Information Technology and Economic Growth Nexus: Empirical Evidence from ARDL Model Approach to Co-integration and Causality Analysis

This study provides a realistic examination of link between economic growth, information technology and its elements with particular attention on the stock market advancement in Pakistan.  Our results recommend a positive connection between well-organized stock market and economic growth equally in long run and short run. In financial theory globalization information technology would affect the increase economic development. This study investigates the influence of globalization and economic advancement on income disparity in Pakistan. In this study, we used the annual time series data and also used autoregressive distributed lag model (ARDL) econometric technique. We collected this data 1973 to 2014 from state bank of Pakistan and international financial statistics. From this study, it is decided that, globalization information technology has substantial effect on income parity; the economic growth rate is also achieving the income equality. In the policy outlook trade openness, foreign payment, foreign direct investment, may contribute in reducing inequality, the key variables used in this study are like savings, inflation, and exchange rate, gross domestic product, investment. This implies that, if this country wants to increase the economic growth, then to formulate and strictly implement some particular policies that facilitate investment in ICT