Review Paper on IoT Based Smart Applications, Home Automation

This paper discusses internet of things and their applications in various domains such as healthcare, manufacturing, retail, transportation, etc. It highlights the importance of IoT technology in enabling devices and sensors to communicate and exchange data, leading to more efficient and connected systems. The paper explores different applications of IoT, including smart agriculture, smart cities, smart energy, and smart traffic monitoring systems, smart environment, and smart home automation. It also addresses the challenges and problems associated with IoT, such as privacy and security issues, handling big data, connectivity, data transmission, and compatibility. The literature review section examines the development of IoT in smart homes, identifies challenges and hindrances to widespread adoption, and discusses intelligent home automation systems. The survey analysis focuses on the gaps in IoT implementation, including security, interoperability, scalability, data management, ethical concerns, edge computing, and legal/regulatory frameworks. Overall, the paper provides an overview of IoT-based smart applications, their benefits, challenges, and future prospects

Enhancement of empathy in children through interventions

This is a quasi-experimental study; a four-month intervention-program designed to boost the empathetic attitude in public school students of Pakistan. The empathy towards bullying was assessed in experimental (199) and control (184) groups.  The study had three phases. In the first phase the students  were  engaged in different activities to foster empathy which established that empathetic score of students increased and the score of bullying tendencies decreased after the use of interventions. The activity began with a story, followed by a group discussion, highlighting the different aspects of human feelings, emotions and behaviors, alongside encouraging children to give their feedback. In the second phase 98 students were selected from treated group, boys (N= 53) and girls (N= 45). Six more interventions were applied including  reciting stories, question-answer sessions related to stories, followed by asking about the lessons students learnt from these stories. These conversations ended on  brief lectures of trainers about empathy guided by the researcher during the training of trainers. After completion of this session, in the third phae, for qualitative assessment selected students from treated group were asked to write a story about empathy. The study found that the boys and girls grasped the concept of empathy differently. For boys described empathy as being helpful while girls as a means of getting happiness; but both did not associate empathy with kindness. Also, the boys believed that parents are the first to notice changes in their personality while girls think its their teachers. Moreover, for adopting the attitude of empathy, unlike boys, girls showed more collective rather than personalized  approach. &nbsp

Maternal Serum Ferritin Levels and its effect on Cord Blood Hemoglobin in patients with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus

Background Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a common medical complication of pregnancy that can have harmful impacts on maternal and neonatal outcomes. Literature shows that elevated serum maternal ferritin levels may cause dysregulation in glucose metabolism in GDM. This study aims to determine the association between serum ferritin, iron and hemoglobin levels in GDM patients at the time of delivery as well as cord hemoglobin and iron levels in newborns. Methods In this case-control study, a total of 100 patients were included i.e., 50 cases (GDM) and 50 controls (non-GDM) having aged-matched individuals of normal pregnancy. The hemoglobin, iron and serum ferritin, and hsCRP levels of the mother were determined using maternal blood. A cord blood sample was taken to determine neonatal iron and hemoglobin levels. Results The  study participants mean age  was 29.2 ± 5.6 years. The ferritin levels of GDM mothers (42.3 ± 6.7) were significantly higher than non-GDM patients (34.4 ± 3.8) with p<0.001. Similarly, Cord hemoglobin levels of newborns of GDM mothers were significantly higher than newborns of non-GDM patients (p<0.01). In GDM mothers, maternal ferritin levels were inversely correlated to cord hemoglobin levels (r= - 0.29, p =0.004). Conclusions Elevated maternal serum ferritin levels are linked to increased oxidative stress and effects fetal intrauterine and post-partum health. The placental iron transfer and fetal hemoglobin synthesis will be affected by oxidative stress

Role Of Low Dose Aspirin In Preventing Preterm Birth In Patients With Previous History Of Preterm Delivery

Objective: Preterm birth (PTB) occurs between 24-37 weeks of gestation. The important risk factor for PTB is a previous PTB and currently progesterone is used for the management of recurrent spontaneous PTB. Some studies have shown good outcomes but recent studies revealed that the use of vaginal progesterone was not related to a decreased likelihood of PTB or neonatal adverse effects. Thus, the controversy in the literature suggests multiple underlying pathological mechanisms involved in the progression of PTB. This study aims to determine the role of low-dose aspirin in the prevention of preterm birth in patients with a previous history of preterm delivery. Methodology: In this randomized controlled trial, a total of 172 patients fulfilling the inclusion criteria were selected from the inpatient and outpatient departments. Patients were divided randomly into two groups (group A and group B), using random number tables. In Group A, low-dose aspirin (75mg) was given while group B was taken as a control group. Patients were called every 8 weeks in the outpatient department for the assessment of compliance and side effects of the drug. The data were entered and analyzed by using SPSS v25.0. Chi-square was used to compare the two groups for incidence of preterm birth. Relative risk (along with a 95% confidence interval) for the decrease in the incidence of preterm birth with the use of aspirin was calculated. Results: The age of participants included in the study was 18 to 40 years. The mean age of patients in group A was 33.85±5.210 years and in group B was 32.86±4.139 years. The mean fetal birth weight in group A was 2281.1962±363.125 grams and in group B was 2271.4344±374.797 grams. In the low-dose aspirin group, 10(11.6%) had preterm birth and 31(36.0%) in the control group with a p-value of 0.001, which is statistically significant. The risk of having preterm birth with low-dose aspirin was 1.801 times less than controls. Conclusion: aspirin in low dose  given before 14 weeks of gestation decrease spontaneous preterm birth as compared to the control group in a woman with a history of previous  preterm birth which was spontaneou

A Commentary on Telerehabilitation Services in Pakistan: Current Trends and Future Possibilities

A 2014 World Health Organization (WHO) study reported that almost 27 million people with disability live in Pakistan with fewer than one allied rehabilitation professional per 10,000 people. The current study sought to determine the attitudes toward telerehabilitation via a survey administered to 329 Pakistani rehabilitation professionals. Study results indicate that rehabilitation professionals in Pakistan are knowledgeable about telerehabilitation and Information and Communication Technology (ICT), and are receptive to employing telerehabilitation programs and applications. Therefore, we can infer that the future of telerehabilitation can be bright in Pakistan but requires the attention of policy makers and non-government organizations to launch an appropriate program nationwide. The authors suggest that a range of telerehabilitation services (e.g., consultation, assessment, and therapy) could alleviate the shortage of rehabilitation personnel in Pakistan

Psychological and psychotherapeutic challenges of COVID-19

Coronavirus is a deadly disease, classified on 30th January 2020, by the World Health Organization (WHO) that acknowledged the outburst of coronavirus disease 2019  (COVID-19), after several cases were reported from China’s 34 regions. In 2020 the virus originated from the wholesale seafood market in Wuhan (China)spreading life all around the world. Quarantine, restraints, and economic closure can change a whole psychological environment in all the countries having coronavirus. affect Although this situation should give several opportunities for personal growth and family unity, disadvantages may compensate for these benefits affecting the psychological health of children and adolescents. But in this difficult time anxiety, and stress are common due to lake of relationships and also due to a reduction in other opportunities other risk includes parents’ mental illness, domestic violence, and lack of treatment for the child during an illness. This was especially common in adolescents and children because they need special care thus causing disabilities, traumatic experiences, and mental health problems. With all these above-mentioned problems this was definitely a challenging time. In Italy where Covid-19 had severe effects on physical health but on mental health also and psychological issues are long-term and main challenges for our healthcare systems where mental health gain not as much important as other physical illnesses

Determination of factors associated with critical weight loss in oral cavity carcinoma patients: A retrospective cohort study.

Introduction  Critical weight loss is defined as an unintentional weight loss of ≥ 5% at 1 month or ≥ 10% at 6 months from the start of treatment. Critical weight loss leads to deterioration of the immune function and reduced tolerance to treatment (surgery ± radiochemotherapy) as well as increased complication rates. Objective  Critical weight loss, defined as a weight loss of ≥ 5% after 1 month or ≥ 10% after 6 months from the start of treatment, is not uncommon in head and neck cancer patients. We aimed to assess the factors associated with critical weight loss during the treatment of oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma patients. Methods  A retrospective cohort study was performed at the Aga Khan University Hospital, in Karachi, Pakistan, on 125 patients. Patients receiving adjuvant therapy were considered exposed, and the outcome was critical weight loss. Results  The mean age of presentation was 46.9 ± 12.8 years in patients undergoing surgery and adjuvant therapy, with 119 (79.3%) of them being male and 31 (20.7%) female. One hundred and twelve patients (81.3%) developed critical weight loss at 6 months from the start of treatment, and the only significant variable associated with critical weight loss was the stage of the disease ( p  = 0.03). Conclusion  A large proportion of patients with oral cancer developed critical weight loss requiring a need for intervention. The overall stage of the disease is a significant predictor of critical weight loss in patients undergoing treatment

INDIGENOUS VESICULAR MYCORRHIZAL FUNGI EFFECT ON MAIZE UNDER DIFFERENT TEXTURES

Plant health and biomass relies on nutrient availability and the efficiency with which nutrients are taking in by plants. Vesicular Arbuscular Mycorrhiza (VAM) is a symbiotic association between plant roots and fungus. VAM improve plant growth by modifying its rhizosphere soil and helps in nutrient uptake by plants. Our aim was to evaluate the growth of maize (Zea mays) and quantify mycorrhizae under different textures and in phosphorous deficient soils. Treatments include different types of soil texture (pure soil, pure sand and 1:1 soil+sand) along with recommended rate of nitrogen and potassium fertilizer while no phosphorous fertilizer was used. Root colonization, growth rate of plant, biomass of plant root and shoot and effect of VAM and roots on rhizosphere soil pH were observed. Results showed that shoot biomass was significantly improved in plain soil treatment as compared to sandy texture soils. Root:shoot ratio was significantly decreased in plain soil as compared to plants in sand. pH was reduced in all treatments significantly. Root colonization ranges from 40-49% and colonization rates higher in sandy soils than others. Results suggested that VAM infection show well growth in its natural environment and improve plant growth and yield

Verdad extra-metódica y ontología de la praxis: la raciónalidad mediatora de la phronesis

Background: Lower back pain (LBP) not only remains the foremost cause of work absence and medical consultation but is also the leading cause of disability. It affects individuals from both developed and developing countries including children, adolescents, and the elderly. Aim: The aim of this research was to investigate the relationship between risk factors and lower back pain among the people of Pakistan. Methodology: A questionnaire-based cross-sectional study was conducted at a local medical college comprising both the students and the staff. Results: Prevalence of LBP in participants was 51%. Males reported a higher frequency of LBP as compared to females (r=.191, p=0.03). Students had a significantly higher incidence of LBP as compared to staff (r=.178, p=0.04). Smoking was also associated with LBP as smokers showed a significantly higher frequency of LBP (r=.366, p=0.006). Higher frequency of LBP was also linked with a higher grade of pain (r=0.346, p=0.005). Females reported a higher grade of pain as compared to males (r=0.292, p=0.01). Conclusion: There is a high frequency of LBP in students associated with gender, smoking and lifestyle. Proper education and planning are needed to address the situation. More prospective studies are indicated to further validate the results of this study.