A Data Layout Descriptor Language (LADEL).

To transfer data between devices and main memory, standard C block I/O interfaces use block buffers of type char. C++ programs that perform block I/O commonly use typecasting to move data between structures and block buffers. The subject of this thesis, the layout description language (LADEL), represents a high-level solution to the problem of block buffer management. LADEL provides operators that hide the casting ordinarily required to pack and to unpack buffers and guard against overflow of the virtual fields. LADEL also allows a programmer to dynamically define a structured view of a block buffer\u27s contents. This view includes the use of variable length field specifiers, which supports the development of a general specification for an I/O block that optimizes the use of preset buffers. The need for optimizing buffer use arises in file processing algorithms that perform optimally when I/O buffers are filled to capacity. Packing a buffer to capacity can require reasonably complex C++ code. LADEL can be used to reduce this complexity to considerable extent. C++ programs written using LADEL are less complex, easy to maintain, and easier to read than equivalent programs written LADEL. This increase in maintainability is achieved at a cost of approximately 11 % additional time in comparison to programs that use casting to manipulate block buffer data

Pakistan: State Autonomy, Extraction, and Elite Capture—A Theoretical Configuration

―When groups are adequately stated, everything is stated!‖1 Management of actions and interest groups has historically been sovereign‘s existentialist imperative. The paper revitalizes philosophical state autonomy debate and then narrows down its focus to capture extractive antics of as erratic a state as Pakistan. A typology of factions – captioned as Elites – operative in extractive realm of Pakistan is developed to round them in theory, identify their properties, and lay bare mechanics of intra-elite and elite-non-elite transactions. The paper seminally develops the rational actor dilemma confronting Pakistani elites and identifies the modes through which the dilemma plausibly resolves itself. The transactional engagement between Pakistan‘s internal and external rational actors is dissected to theorize that Pakistan essentially is an equilibrium consensus subsistence state thereby opening up vast vistas for future research. The paper concludes with the glum finding that Pakistan in its current essence and manifestation is fundamentally a captive state – beholden to elites of Pakistan. JEL Classification: H1 Keywords: State Autonomy; Elite Capture; Pakistan‘s Tax System; Pakistani Elites; Elites‘ Rational Actor Dilemma; Equilibrium Consensus Subsistence State; Captive Stat

Pakistan: Withholdingisation of the Economic System—A Source of Revenue, Civil Strife, or Dutch Disease+?

The paper takes an incisive shot at the systemic inadequacies that have tiptoed into the economic order of the state over time via the apparently innocuous mechanism of withholding taxes. Withholding tax—a legitimate instrument of preponing the state revenues on clearly identifiable chunks of incomes—has historically been resorted to by most states, and to that extent it should be normal with Pakistan, too. However, what has happened in Pakistan is that the tool of withholding taxation has been used as a source of revenues way too large in scale, size, scope and intensity. In addition to the pulling forward of tax collection on clearly demarcated chunks of incomes, a large number of transactions have also been roped into its nexus and then charged to tax by presumptivising gross receipts as income—a withholdingisation of the sorts not only of the tax system but of the entire economic system as a weighty portion of ubiquitous withholding taxes gets stuck into the pricing structure of the final goods and services produced in the economy rendering them price-incompetitive in the international market. This overwhelming withholdingisation of the economic system, it is argued, has been brought about by a numb state continually operating under, using a Freudian framework, the “pleasure principle” instead of the “reality principle” with political governments complacently choosing to continue harvesting quick bucks into the exchequer, pushing the extractive system into a total disarray, the society into burgeoning civil strife, and the economy to the Dutch Disease effect. JEL Classification: H1 Keywords: Withholdingisation; Withholding Taxes, Pakistan Tax System; Federal Board of Revenue; Civil Strife; Dutch Disease Effect; Cost of Collection; Tax Refor

RESOURCE USE AND FARM PRODUCTIVITY UNDER CONJUNCTIVE WATER MANAGEMENT IN PAKISTAN

The paper describes a study of canal and supplemental ground water used by 544 farmers for wheat crop in the Rechna Doab catchment of Pakistan. The main objective was to assess the on-farm financial gains through conjunctive water use. For econometric analysis, a linear relationship between the wheat production and different determinant variables was assumed. The results highlighted the problem of increased use of tubewells water in the saline zones that had resulted in the deterioration of the groundwater quality and led to the problem of permanent upconing of saline groundwater. Conjunctive water management increased the farm income by about Rs. 1000 and 5000 per hectare compared to only using the canal and tubewell water, respectively The results of financial analysis show that the net-gains were 30 percent higher on the farms using conjunctive water management as compared to the farms using only tubewell irrigation.Environmental Economics and Policy, Resource /Energy Economics and Policy,

Pakistan‟s Governance Goliath: The Case of Non-Professional Chairman, FBR

The governance crisis of Pakistan‘s public sector is wide, deep and historically imbedded. There are a host of factors which contribute at varying degrees towards the extant of governance mess. The body of scholarship created to analyse the underlying factors of public sector management mess of Pakistan is not only scant but also deficient in quality, coverage and construct validity. In the entire administrative morass of Pakistan, the quagmire of Federal Board of Revenue (FBR)—house of the state‘s extractive function—is by far the most sombre and serious one. The paper picks up FBR as the unit of analysis and there too, only one variable, that is, appointment of a non-professional generalist as its Chairman to analyse below par performance of Pakistan‘s revenue function—by far the lowest in the world. It posits that appointment of non-professional Chairman, FBR, is a compelling exposition of a collusive duopoly arrangement between elites and generalist cadres of Pakistan civil services—both symbiotically pursuing their perverse particularistic interests at the expense of citizenry at large. The paper develops a theoretical framework within which it attempts to analyse domination of Pakistan‘s extractive function over history from various dimensions. It argues that, since the entire institutional infrastructure of the state has fallen hostage to elitesgeneralist duopoly paradigm, the control of its extractive function is only a logical consequence thereof, and that a non-professional generalist chairman is imposed on the revenue function only to precisely, and fully control the extractive policy formulation process as well as the extractive operations on the ground—to the ultimate advantage of the duopoly. JEL Classification: H1 Keywords: Public Sector Management, Federal Board of Revenue, Civil Service of Pakistan, Inland Revenue Service, Chairman, FBR, Institutionalis

DEVELOPMENT AND CHARACTERIZATION OF IN SITU GEL OF XANTHAN GUM FOR OPHTHALMIC FORMULATION CONTAINING BRIMONIDINE TARTRATE

Objective: The goal of this study was to develop and characterize an ion-activated in situ gel-forming brimonidine tartrate, solution eye drops containing xanthan gum as a mucoadhesive polymer.Method: Sol-gel formulation was prepared using gellan gum as an ion-activated gel-forming polymer, xanthan gum as mucoadhesive agent, and hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC E50LV) as release retardant polymer. Phenylethyl alcohol is used as preservatives in borate buffer. The 23 factorial design was employed to optimize the formulation considering the concentration of gelrite, xanthan gum and HPMC as independent variables, gelation time, gel strength, and mucoadhesive force (N). Gelation time , gel strength, mucoadhesive force (N), viscosity (cP) and in vitro percentage drug release were chosen as dependent variables. The formulation was characteristics for pH, clarity, isotonicity, sterility, rheological behavior, and in vitro drug release, ocular irritation, and ocular visualization.Result: Based on desirability index of responses, the formulation containing a concentration of gelrite (0.4%), xanthan gum (0.21%), and HPMC (HPMC E50 (0.24%) was found to be the optimized formulation concentration developed by 23 factorial design. The solution eye drops resulted in an in situ phase change to gel-state when mixed with simulated tear fluid. The gel formation was also confirmed by viscoelastic measurements. Drug release from the gel followed non-fickian mechanism with 88% of drug released in 10 h, thus increased the residence time of the drug.Conclusion: An in situ gelling system is a valuable alternative to the conventional system with added benefits of sustained drug release which may ultimately result in improved patient compliance

Assessment of Hearing Loss by Audiometry - Our Experience at Tertiary Care Hospital

Objective: To analyze the results of pure tone audiometry in the terms of age, sex, and type of hearing loss attending the hospital with the complaint of hearing loss. Materials and Methods: In this descriptive study, patients attending Benazir Bhutto hospital with complaints of hearing loss were included. The data analysis was done under the terms of age, sex and unilateral/bilateral, and type of loss after pure tone audiometry of every case. The type of hearing loss was determined as conductive, SNHL, and mixed hearing loss. Results: There were 47 patients. Males were 34 (72.34%) outnumbering13females 13(27.66). Adults were44 (93.61%) and children were 3(6.34%). Mixed hearing loss was28 (59.57%)% compared to conductive hearing loss 15 (31.91) and SNHL4 (8.51%). Conclusion: Hearing loss is more common in adults and more prevalent in males. It is mostly bilateral. Mixed hearing loss is more common as compared to conductive and SNHL respectively. Sociacusis is to be taken seriously. &nbsp

Trans-mastoid approach to otogenic brain abscess

The treatment of otogenic brain abscess initially involves excision or aspiration of the abscess through a temporal or sub-occipital route depending on its location. This is followed by a mastoidectomy by the ENT surgeon to eradicate the primary source of infection. During the last three years, we have approached such lesions through a mastoidectomy followed by excision of the abscess through the same approach. This trans-mastoid approach is technically feasible in following the tract of suppuration, and clearing the cause and effect of pathology, at the same sitting. This paper describes our initial experience with the trans-mastoid approach to otogenic brain abscesses. On the basis of our results, we believe that transmastoid approach is an effective and logical option for the treatment of otogenic brain abscess, and merits further investigation in the form of a prospective study

The Improvement in Kyphotic Angle after Anterior Decompression and Cage Placement in Tuberculosis of Thoraco-lumbar Spine

Background: Musculoskeletal Tuberculosis is a rare form of TB comprising only 3% of all Tuberculosis patients. The commonest and most dangerous form of Tuberculosis, Spinal Tuberculosis accounts for 50% of all cases of musculoskeletal Tuberculosis. The anterior decompression with cage alone without added instrumentation with bone graft is cost effective as compared to added instrumentation in patients of third world countries.Objective: To determine the improvement in terms of mean change in postoperative kyphotic angle after anterior decompression and cage placement with bone graft in tuberculosis of Thoraco-lumbar spine.Materials and Methods: The Quasi Experimental study was conducted in the Department of Orthopaedics and Spine of Ghurki Trust Teaching Hospital, Lahore from 1st May 2014 to 31st Apr 2016.60 patients who qualify the inclusion criteria were included. All patients underwent anterior decompression and placement of Inter body Titanium Mesh Cage with packed bone graft. Pre, Post-operative and follow-up lateral view x-rays were taken to check and record the post operative change in kyphotic angle as well as loss in follow up. All the patients were followed for at least 1 year. Boston brace was applied for at least 6 months. Data was analyzed using SPSS 17.0Results: There were 38 (63.3%) males and 22 (36.7%) females. The patients aged between 15 – 30 years were 32 (53.3%), those between aged 31 – 45 years were 15 (25%) and between 46 – 60 years there were 13 (21.7%). There were 10 (16.6%) patients with 0 – 10 degree improvement, 36 (60%) patients with 11 – 20 degree improve-ment and 14 (23.4%) patients with 21 – 30 degree improvement. Paired t-test result for change in angle is p = 0.000 which is statistically significant.Conclusion: Anterior decompression with Standalone Titanium mesh cage and bone graft in patients suffering from caries spine showed immediate post operative improvement in kyphotic angle as well as no significant loss in correction in follow-up