Exploiting peer group concept for adaptive and highly available services

This paper presents a prototype for redundant, highly available and fault tolerant peer to peer framework for data management. Peer to peer computing is gaining importance due to its flexible organization, lack of central authority, distribution of functionality to participating nodes and ability to utilize unused computational resources. Emergence of GRID computing has provided much needed infrastructure and administrative domain for peer to peer computing. The components of this framework exploit peer group concept to scope service and information search, arrange services and information in a coherent manner, provide selective redundancy and ensure availability in face of failure and high load conditions. A prototype system has been implemented using JXTA peer to peer technology and XML is used for service description and interfaces, allowing peers to communicate with services implemented in various platforms including web services and JINI services. It utilizes code mobility to achieve role interchange among services and ensure dynamic group membership. Security is ensured by using Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) to implement group level security policies for membership and service access.Comment: The Paper Consists of 5 pages, 6 figures submitted in Computing in High Energy and Nuclear Physics, 24-28 March 2003 La Jolla California. CHEP0

A Contribution to the Previous Study for Genus Agaricus in and around Ayubia National Park, Pakistan

Agaricus is among the most valuable and familiar genera belonging to Basidiomycota. These are known to have a partial veil on their stipe, which helps to protect the gills when they are immature. Escalating human activity and distribution pattern of the species has introduced some new one in the territory while pushing the previously reported one to extinction. Ayubia Nationa Park always remains a suitable place for mushroom hunters and number of species of plants and fungi has already been reported. The present survey was aimed at improving the previous collection and also to check the certain characters of the genus Agaricus. Keywords: Genus Agaricus, Ayubia National Par

Outcome of Fistula in Ano after Incision Drainage of Acute Peri Anal Abscess

OBJECTIVES:  To determine outcome of fistula in ano after incision drainage of acute peri anal abscess. METHODOLOGY: This descriptive case series study was conducted after approval of the Ethical committee. A total of 154 patients were observed for a six-month duration. Pre-design proforma was used to collect data. An inclusive criterion was age between 18-50 years of both genders with acute perianal abscess with low-level fistula (submucosal and mucocutaneous) and high-level fistula (ischiorectal and pelvirectal). Exclusive criterion was observed in all admitted patients who include secondary abscess formation for example diabetes mellitus, tuberculosis, and carcinoma with any previous history of fistula in ano. The result was analyzed through the SPSS-24 version. RESULTS: Ratio 35 (22.72%) was obtained for age group 18-30, 49 (31.81%) for age group 31-40 and 70 (45.44%) were in age group 41-50. The mean age was 38.25 years with SD ±9.70. The ratio of Males 143 (92.85%) leads high to females 11 (7.15%).  The fistula was found in 64 (41.55%) patients postoperative after incision drainage for perianal abscess. Among 64 patients, 54 (37.01%) were male and 7 (4.54%) females. 90 (58.44%) patients had no fistula postoperatively. Low-level 45 (29.22%) and 19 (12.33%) high-level fistula was found in patients. Among the low-level ratio, 40 were male and 5 were female. Similarly, in high-level fistula 17 were male and 2 were female. CONCLUSION: Fistula is more common in males than females. Low lying fistula leads the chart more than a high lying fistula. The incidence of anal fistula in our observed patient’s abscess was 41.55%

Radial forearm free flap: A dynamic flap for single-staged multiple subunit reconstruction

We report the case of a middle aged patient with biopsy proven squamous cell carcinoma of buccal mucosa who presented to us in Aga Khan University Hospital Karachi in April, 2017 and required reconstruction of buccal mucosa, upper lip and lower lip. As per protocol of our institute the lesion was excised by the head and neck surgeon and the defect was reconstructed by our team. The defect was large comprising of buccal mucosa including the left oral commissure, upper lip and the lower lip. It was reconstructed via a free flap and a radial forearm free flap. A specially designed radial forearm free flap was harvested and used for reconstruction which resulted in a good aesthetic and functional outcome

Knowledge Attitude and Practices of adolescent youth regarding Hepatitis B & C in district Hyderabad

Introduction: Globally Hepatitis B and C is a major public health problem & potential cause of substantial morbidity and mortality. Pakistan has been rated among countries which are endemic for hepatitis B and C where disease burden is high. Methodology: A cross sectional descriptive study was conducted from June- August 2006 in government colleges of district Hyderabad. 243 students were interviewed by using a pre-tested, closed ended questionnaire. The variables assessed were regarding knowledge, attitude and practice towards hepatitis B & C Results: 243 students were approached for interviewed. 10% (n=25) knew that hepatitis is caused by virus. 84% (n=205) agreed that it is transmitted from one person to another person. Among these 29% (n=71) agreed on reuse of syringes, 19% (n=47) attributed unscreened blood transfusion, 18% (n=44) consider reuse of blade and sexual intercourse as a mode of transmission. 45% (n=110) mentioned it as preventable disease, in this group 17% (n=42) advocated safe sex practices, 15% (n=37) stated vaccination, 12% (n=30) recommended use of new disposable syringe, 10% (n=25) advocated use of new blade and 8% (n=20) stressed screening of blood before transfusion. 71% (n=173) & 68% (n=166) respondents used new syringe & new blade respectively. 29% (n=71) were vaccinated against Hepatitis B. Television was the leading source of information. Conclusion: Students’ knowledge regarding Hepatitis is low, but their preventive practices are good. Majority of students were unvaccinated against Hepatitis B. Messages about Hepatitis may be incorporated in media to increase the level of awareness.   Key Words: KAP, Youth, Hepatiti

Modeling Information Anxiety

This paper traces the historical developments using selected literature related to ‘library anxiety’, ‘information seeking anxiety’ and ‘information anxiety’. These concepts existed independently and parallelly and attracted much attention from the researchers of their respective fields. The existing literature lacked a study establishing a relationship among these three concepts which led to the idea of a general model of information anxiety to inform researchers as well as professionals dealing with policy and practice. This model represents information anxiety as the general and broader concept nesting information seeking anxiety as its sub-set and library anxiety as a further sub-set. It highlights the development of library anxiety, information seeking anxiety, and information anxiety over time. It also outlines the theoretical and practical implications of information anxiety for information services, especially information literacy (IL) instruction, as previous research reported it as a potential determinant of lower levels of information anxiety. The researchers emphasize the necessity for a need-based IL curriculum for the alleviation of users’ anxiety related to information related tasks. The future directions for research on the proposed area considering the contemporary information environment have been discussed towards the end

Evidence on Psychometric Properties of Scales Assessing Information Related Anxieties: A Systematic Review

This systematic review examined the evidence of psychometric properties of scales available in studies reporting surveys measuring information related anxieties such as library anxiety, information seeking anxiety, and information anxiety. A systematic search in four databases such as Web of Science, Scopus, LISA, and LISTA was carried out using the keywords \u27library anxiety\u27, \u27information anxiety\u27, \u27information seeking anxiety\u27, and \u27information seeking\u27 AND \u27anxiety\u27. This review included those studies reporting the use of any scale measuring information related anxiety published in the English language and included all type of documents (e.g. journal articles, conference papers, book chapters, theses/dissertations, research reports). The screening process resulted in 45 studies meeting the eligibility criterion. The extracted data included author names, year of publication, type of scale used, scale title, background, type of construct assessed, number of items in the scale, scale origin, studies reporting use, studies contributing psychometric information, scale availability, and psychometric properties reported. The results indicated nine instruments assessing information-related anxieties. The classical test theory was applied for eight instruments. No psychometric properties were reported for a single instrument. Most psychometric instruments were developed in the United States. Face/Content validity through experts, construct validity through exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, and internal consistency reliability through Cronbach alpha was the most commonly used psychometric analysis. None of these studies applied the Rasch model of modern item response theory for psychometric examination. This review has serious implications on the inferences drawn by the practitioners and researchers based on the earlier assessment of information related anxieties. It suggests the development of standards for not only designing new psychometric tests but also for the use and reporting of such tests. This study contributes to the existing research on information-related anxieties by systematic reviewing the evidence of psychometric properties as no such study available so far

Prevalence of Poor Sleep and Relationship of Physical Exercise with Sleep among Male Adult Exercisers

Physical exercise has been suggested to show beneficial effects for various diseases and also for sleep. This study aims to assess the prevalence of sleep problems, and the relationship of physical exercise with sleep health among adult male exercisers. A total of 199 randomly selected athletes (all males) took part in this study. All participants responded to a questionnaire consisted of items related to demographic information that also included sports participation level, and playing experience. Self-reported sleep quality and physical exercise were using PQSI and three items concerning exercise frequency, intensity, and duration. The analysis revealed following main findings: 1) a significant negative correlation between physical exercise and sleep medication, 2) a significantly negative relationship between sports/ exercise participation level and sleep disturbance, 3) an 3.7 average global score of PSQI in total sample, 4) Exercise frequency was negatively correlated with daytime dysfunction whereas exercise intensity was negatively correlated with sleep disturbance and sleep efficiency but positively correlated with daytime dysfunction, 5) and prevalence of poor sleep in 22 % participants. There is some possibility to suggest that exercise may improve sleep health among adult male exercisers. The increased exercise frequency more positive impact to improve sleep but the relationship between exercise intensity and sleep remains inconclusive. existence of sleep problems in athletic population essentially require further attention for reducing the prevalence of poor sleep using other approaches along with continue doing exercise for good sleep