Contribution to securing wireless mesh networks

A wireless mesh network (WMN) comprises of mesh access points (MAPs)/mesh routers and mesh clients (MCs), where MAPs are normally static and they form the backbone of WMNs. MCs are wireless devices and dynamic in nature, communicating among themselves over possibly multi-hop paths, with or without the help of MAPs. Security has been a primary concern in order to provide protected communication in WMNs due to the open peer-to-peer network topology, shared wireless medium, stringent resource constraints and highly dynamic environment. These challenges clearly make a case for building multi-layer security solution that achieves both wide-range protection and desirable network performance. In this thesis, we attempt to provide necessary security features to WMNs routing operations in an efficient manner. To achieve this goal, first we will review the literature about the WMNs in detail, like WMN’s architecture, applications, routing protocols, security requirements. Then, we will propose two different secure routing protocols for WMNs which provide security in terms of routing, data and users as well. The first protocol is a cross-layer secure protocol for routing, data exchange and Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) problems (in case of LAN based upon WMNs). Our protocol is a ticket-based ad hoc on demand distance vector (TAODV) protocol, a secure routing protocol that is based on the design of the Ad Hoc on demand distance vector (AODV) protocol. Due to the availability of a backbone, we incorporate the Authentication Server (AS) for the issuance of tickets which are further used for secure routing, transfer of public keys and MAC addresses in one single step. By incorporating the public keys, source and destination can easily generate their shared secret key based upon Fixed Diffie-Hellman key exchange protocol for data encryption and decryption. Our protocol is secure against both active as well as passive attacks. The second proposed protocol is to “achieve user anonymity in WMNs”. This protocol is also ticket-based protocol. The ticket is issued by Network Operator (NO) which provides user anonymity, user authentication and data confidentiality/privacy throughout the WMN. Our protocol is inspired by the blind Nyberg-Rueppel digital signature scheme. In this protocol NO issues tickets to valid users only and these users can then use these tickets to access Internet or to access services provided by Internet Gateway (IGW). IGW can only verify these tickets whether tickets are valid or not but can not check “Identity of ticket holder”. This way, user anonymity has been achieved along with user authentication and data privacy throughout WMN

Navigating Brain Lesions Via Craniometric Points of Human Skull. Effectiveness in Targeted Craniotomy

Background and Objectives: Navigating brain pathologies via external landmarks helps in guiding neurosurgeon to perform and plan brain surgeries without feeling compromised in their competence, when modern neuronavigation is not available. We assessed the navigating art of human craniometry in brain surgery, in terms of accuracy and safety, of our patients.Materials and Methods: A descriptive study was in Department of Neurosurgery Quaid-e-Azam International Hospital on utilizing the art of Craniometry in navigating brain lesions and to see how effective this art is in the execution of neurosurgical procedures.Results: Total of hundred patients were subjected in our study, who were according to inclusion criteria. Mean age calculated was 44 years with STD ± 6, with minimum age of 8months and maximum age of 83years. There were 61% male, and 39% female patients. Supratentorial lesions were 72%, ventriculoperitoneal shunts 11%,and 17% were infratentorial.In 89 surgeries, we were exactly on the target according to our external skull landmarks, in 4 cases we slightly deviated about 0.3 cm, and in 7 surgeries we encounter some difficulty in navigating lesions.Conclusion: Modern navigating technology is very much helpful in neurosurgery, and this fact is undeniable, but because of resources restrained is not always available. Mastering the art of craniometery of human skull guide neurosurgeons to perform/plan neurosurgical procedure of brain without feeling compromised in theircompetence

Post Traumatic Mask Face, Diagnostic Dilemma in Bilateral Traumatic Facial Palsy. Case Report

Traumatic temporal bone fractures, most of the time presents with complications in the form of cerebrospinal fluid leak, facial nerve injury as it enters the petrous part of temporal bone and also sometimes hearing loss due to concomitant vestibulocochlear nerve injury.2,3,4 Second most vulnerable nerve in head injury is facial nerve, with olfactory nerve being the first, and one reason for this is the tortuous bony course in the skull base and temporal bone.8-12 Evaluating facial nerve injury in head injury patient start with an inspection of the temporal bone for any signs of injury, i.e. laceration or visible auditory cartilage or any hematomas or bruises over mastoid, which is called Battle sign.10-12 Functional testing of facial nerve should be recorded in head injury with temporal bone fracture as soon as possible.1, 3- D CT reconstruction of the skull and temporal bone should be carried out when there is suspicion of facial nerve injury.11,12 Complementary electro diagnostic testing should also be performed in order to assess the severity of facial nerve injury.2,3,4 These all helps in early detection and further management of facial nerve injury.5,6,7,11 We presented a case of 18years old male who had road traffic accident on 29.10.2018. This patient suffered with the head injury with bleeding from nose and right ear.&nbsp

Customers’ Financing Needs Vis-À-Vis Financial Products Offered by Islamic Banks in Pakistan: A Case Study of Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa Province

The profit and loss sharing and mark- up financing products are the two parent principles of Islamic financing. Profit and loss sharing products are equity based products while mark-up (Murabaha) and lease (Ijara) are debt based financing products.  Ironically, the theory of Islamic finance entirely relies on the profit and loss sharing products, while the practice is dominated by the mark-up or deferred sale. This paper analyses the products (either equity based or debt based) offered by Islamic banks in Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa (KPK) province Pakistan. It was found that there is a dichotomy between the theory of Islamic banking and what is actually practiced by Islamic banks.  An analysis of this dichotomy, with special reference to investors and customers (being the main stakeholders of Islamic banks) is important for understanding the basis of Islamic financing, the future of Islamic financial institutions and the contribution which these institutions may make to individual Muslim economies as well as to the global economic scene

2-[2-(1,3-Dioxoisoindolin-2-yl)acetamido]­acetic acid

The title mol­ecule, C12H10N2O5, is non-planar with dihedral angles of 89.08 (7) and 83.21 (7)° between the phthalimide and acetamide mean planes, and the acetamide and acetic acid mean planes, respectively. In the crystal, symmetry-related mol­ecules are linked via N—H⋯O and O—H⋯O hydrogen bonds, forming an undulating two-dimensional network. There are also a number of weak C—H⋯O inter­actions, leading to the formation of a three-dimensional arrangement

Carcinoma in situ is significantly underdetected by prenephroureterectomy ureteroscopy in the management of upper tract urothelial cancers

Objective. Diagnostic reliability of prenephroureterectomy ureteroscopy (PNU) for the detection of upper tract carcinoma in situ (CIS) remains unproven in particular and underreported in general. Methods. Patients who underwent radical nephroureterectomy (RNU) in a large multicentre retrospective study for upper tract transitional cell carcinoma (UT-TCC) between January 2002 and December 2013 were identified from our hospitals databases. PNU appearances, stage, and grade of ureteroscopic biopsy were compared with final histology results of RNU to assess the diagnostic reliability of PNU for carcinoma in situ (CIS). Results. Three hundred patients underwent RNU for UT-TCC. 106 (106/300; 35.3%) of the cohort had PNU using white light with biopsies taken in most (92/106; 86.7%). Postnephroureterectomy histology of the cohort showed CIS in 65 (65/300; 21.6%) patients. Thirty nine of patients with CIS (39/65; 60%) had prenephroureterectomy ureteroscopy biopsies. Out of ten patients with CIS on ureteroscopic biopsies, six did not show CIS on final histopathology (6/10; 60%). Moreover, grading and staging on PNU biopsies of obvious tumours showed a significant nonconcordance with final histopathology of RNU specimen (P=0.02). Overall survival was also shorter in patients with CIS compared with those without; this showed strong statistical significance (P=0.004). Conclusions. There is a high incidence of CIS in upper tract with significant underdetection and discordance rate between the histopathology of biopsy samples obtained by white light PNU and resected specimen of radical nephroureterectomy. The presence of concomitant CIS and high stage disease in the upper tract TCC carried a poor prognosis following radical nephroureterectomy

catena-Poly[[triphenyl­tin(IV)]-μ2-[3-(cyclo­hexyl­carbamo­yl)propanoato-κ2 O 1:O 3]]

The Sn atom in the polymeric title compound, [Sn(C6H5)3(C10H16NO3)]n, is five-coordinated within a trans-C3O2 donor set that defines an approximate trigonal-bipyramidal geometry. The carboxyl­ate ligand is monodentate and the amide O atom bridges a symmetry-related Sn atom, generating a chain along [010] with a linear topology. An intra­molecular carboxyl­ate–carbonyl N—H⋯O hydrogen bond is responsible for the curved conformation within the carboxyl­ate ligand

Reprogramming tumor-associated macrophages as a unique approach to target tumor immunotherapy

In the last ten years, it has become increasingly clear that tumor-infiltrating myeloid cells drive not just carcinogenesis via cancer-related inflammatory processes, but also tumor development, invasion, and metastasis. Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) in particular are the most common kind of leucocyte in many malignancies and play a crucial role in establishing a favorable microenvironment for tumor cells. Tumor-associated macrophage (TAM) is vital as the primary immune cell subset in the tumor microenvironment (TME).In order to proliferate and spread to new locations, tumors need to be able to hide from the immune system by creating an immune-suppressive environment. Because of the existence of pro-tumoral TAMs, conventional therapies like chemotherapy and radiotherapy often fail to restrain cancer growth. These cells are also to blame for the failure of innovative immunotherapies premised on immune-checkpoint suppression. Understanding the series of metabolic changes and functional plasticity experienced by TAMs in the complex TME will help to use TAMs as a target for tumor immunotherapy and develop more effective tumor treatment strategies. This review summarizes the latest research on the TAMs functional status, metabolic changes and focuses on the targeted therapy in solid tumors

Difficult Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy and Its Conversion to Open Cholecystectomy Using Intra-Operative Scoring System

Objective: To determine the frequency of conversion of laparoscopic cholecystectomy to open cholecystectomy using proposed intra-operative scoring system and to check the validity of the scoring system. Study Design: Descriptive cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted in the Department of Surgery, Federal Government. Polyclinic Hospital (FGPC) Islamabad from 1 February 2019 to 31 July, 2019. Materials and Methods: This study enrolled 197 patients of either gender with age ranging between 20-60 years planned for laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC). All the recruits were assessed intraoperatively using proposed objective intraoperative scoring-system for difficult LC. The conversion rate of LC to open cholecystectomy was recorded in correlation with demographic data and co-morbidities. Data was entered and analyzed using SPSS version 25.0. Results: Out of 197 enrolled patients, 64% were females. The mean age of study population was 42.7 ± 12.1 years. Forty six percent (46%) patients had co-morbidities with fifty-nine (n=59) being diagnosed as hypertensive and thirty-two (n=32) as diabetic. A total of 8.1% (n=16/197) patients underwent conversion to open cholecystectomy. The overall mean objective intra-operative score was 3.6 ± 1.73; which was significantly higher in patients who underwent conversion to open cholecystectomy compared to those who did not undergo conversion (7.19 ± 0.83 vs 3.28 ± 1.39; p-value = 0.001). Conversion rate was significantly more in the patients who were above 40 years, hypertensive, and diabetic. (p<0.05 in all cases). Conclusion: The intra-operative scoring system can be used as a valuable predictor of difficult LC and conversion to open surgery to improve clinical outcome for the patients indicated for LC

Study protocol of DIVERGE, the first genetic epidemiological study of major depressive disorder in Pakistan

INTRODUCTION: Globally, 80% of the burdenof major depressive disorder (MDD) pertains to low- and middle-income countries. Research into genetic and environmental risk factors has the potential to uncover disease mechanisms that may contribute to better diagnosis and treatment of mental illness, yet has so far been largely limited to participants with European ancestry from high-income countries. The DIVERGE study was established to help overcome this gap and investigate genetic and environmental risk factors for MDD in Pakistan. METHODS: DIVERGE aims to enrol 9000 cases and 4000 controls in hospitals across the country. Here, we provide the rationale for DIVERGE, describe the study protocol and characterise the sample using data from the first 500cases. Exploratory data analysis is performed to describe demographics, socioeconomic status, environmental risk factors, family history of mental illness and psychopathology. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Many participants had severe depression with 74% of patients who experienced multiple depressive episodes. It was a common practice to seek help for mental health struggles from faith healers and religious leaders. Socioeconomic variables reflected the local context with a large proportion of women not having access to any education and the majority of participants reporting no savings. CONCLUSION: DIVERGE is a carefully designed case-control study of MDD in Pakistan that captures diverse risk factors. As the largest genetic study in Pakistan, DIVERGE helps address the severe underrepresentation of people from South Asian countries in genetic as well as psychiatric research