Professional Secrecy and Privileged Communication in Medical Practice

A medical professional has the faith and confidence of society in him/her. It is his utmost duty and responsibility to uphold the ethical standards of confidentiality, set forth in the Hippocratic Oath, the Declaration of Geneva, the International Code of Medical Ethics and the World Health Organization. Communication between the physician and his patient is privileged. This information can only be divulged, in part, under special circumstances

Interleaving Gains for Receive Diversity Schemes of Distributed Turbo Codes in Wireless Half–Duplex Relay Channels

This paper proposes the interleaving gain in two different distributed turbo-coding schemes: Distributed Turbo Codes (DTC) and Distributed Multiple Turbo Codes (DMTC) for half-duplex relay system as an extension of our previous work on turbo coding interleaver design for direct communication channel. For these schemes with half-duplex constraint, the source node transmits its information with the parity bit sequence(s) to both the relay and the destination nodes during the first phase. The relay received the data from the source and process it by using decode and forward protocol. For the second transmission period, the decoded systematic data at relay is interleaved and re-encoded by a Recursive Systematic Convolutional (RSC) encoder and forwarded to the destination. At destination node, the signals received from the source and relay are processed by using turbo log-MAP iterative decoding for retrieving the original information bits. We demonstrate via simulations that the interleaving gain has a large effect with DTC scheme when we use only one RSC encoder at both the source and relay with best performance when using Modified Matched S-Random (MMSR) interleaver. Furthermore, by designing a Chaotic Pseudo Random Interleaver (CPRI) as an outer interleaver at the source node instead of classical interleavers, our scheme can add more secure channel conditions

Spatial and temporal assessment of groundwater recharge in the Fordwah Eastern Sadiqia (South) Project area

Irrigation programs / Drainage / Groundwater / Monitoring / Recharge / Aquifers / Water table / Irrigation systems / Irrigation canals / Waterlogging / Pakistan / Indus Basin / Fordwah Eastern Sadiqia

Waterlogging and salinity management in the Sindh Province, Pakistan. Volume 1, supplement I.C. Drainage in the LBOD Project: operational concerns and quality of pumped effluent

River basin development / Irrigation programs / Subsurface drainage / Effluents / Drains / Operations / Maintenance / Tube wells / Groundwater / Water quality / Salinity / Simulation models / Geology / Irrigation canals / Climate / Water balance / Aquifers / Recharge / Evapotranspiration / Pakistan / Sindh Province / Lower Indus Basin / Rohri Canal / Jamrao Canal / Sukkur / Hyderabad / Nawabshah

A novel framework for software defined wireless sensor networks

© 2017 IEEE. A novel framework for software defined Wireless Sensor Networks (SDWSNs) is presented that draws on Software Defined Networking (SDN) concepts and capabilities to enhance control, management, and security, whilst reducing device complexity. These inherent complexities pose significant challenges toward the advancement of ubiquitous sensing and sensory data access through Sensing-as-a-Service (S2aaS) model. Therefore, it is advantageous to utilize SDN to decouple the control and the data forwarding planes and incorporate greater control over dynamic virtualization and approaches to improve the quality of experience. Enhanced algorithms can be applied on improved knowledge of the network conditions that is attainable when SDN is employed. We run simulations based on sensor flow model and provide a comprehensive analysis of the SDWSN framework, architecture and implementation constraints

A survey on enhancing grid flexibility through bidirectional interactive electric vehicle operations

Smart grids (SG) constitute a revolutionary concept within the energy sector, enabling the establishment of a bidirectional communication infrastructure. This infrastructure significantly improves control, efficiency, and overall service quality in power systems. The study provides an in-depth survey on the classification of EVs, including both plug-in and non-plug-in EVs, and the integration process of V2G, including bidirectional power flow analysis. Moreover, various control strategies for EV integration are explored, ranging from centralized and decentralized to hierarchical control structures. Further, the research thoroughly examines the potential benefits of EV integration and addresses associated challenges, such as battery degradation, infrastructure requirements, cybersecurity and communication issues, grid congestion, and consumer behavior. The study goes beyond theoretical exploration and offers a comprehensive simulation analysis. This analysis leverages the storage capabilities of EVs to provide grid support services. A real-time dynamic dispatch strategy is formulated to integrate EVs into the automatic generation control of multi-energy systems. The findings demonstrate that EVs can effectively mitigate forecasting errors in a power network heavily reliant on wind energy sources. Consequently, the storage capabilities of EVs contribute to enhancing grid flexibility in managing the intermittency of renewable energy resources

Cascading RG Flows from New Sasaki-Einstein Manifolds

In important recent developments, new Sasaki-Einstein spaces $Y^{p,q}$ and conformal gauge theories dual to $AdS_5\times Y^{p,q}$ have been constructed. We consider a stack of N D3-branes and M wrapped D5-branes at the apex of a cone over $Y^{p,q}$. Replacing the D-branes by their fluxes, we construct asymptotic solutions for all p and q in the form of warped products of the cone and $R^{3,1}$. We show that they describe cascading RG flows where N decreases logarithmically with the scale. The warp factor, which we determine explicitly, is a function of the radius of the cone and one of the coordinates on $Y^{p,q}$. We describe the RG cascades in the dual quiver gauge theories, and find an exact agreement between the supergravity and the field theory beta functions. We also discuss certain dibaryon operators and their dual wrapped D3-branes in the conformal case M=0.Comment: 22 pages, 6 figures; v2 minor corrections; v3 refs, orbifold discussion added; v4 more ref

Supplementing a-Linolenic acid in the in vitro maturation media improves nuclear maturation rate of oocytes and early embryonic development in the Nili Ravi buffalo

The present study was conducted to investigate the effect of omega-3 poly unsaturated fatty acid (PUFA), α-linolenic acid (ALA; 18:3 n-3) on the in vitro maturation (IVM) of buffalo oocytes and subsequent embryonic development. Buffalo cumulusoocyte complexes (COCs; n = 2282) were in vitro matured in TCM-199 (0.6% fatty acid free bovine serum albumin, 0.02 Units/ml FSH, 1 µg/ml 17-β-estradiol, 10 µg/ml epidermal growth factor, 50 µg/ml gentamicin) supplemented with 0 (control), 25, 50, 100, 150 or 300 µm ALA under an atmosphere of 5% CO2 in air at 38.5ºC for 22-24 h. The matured oocytes were then fertilized in Tyrode’s Albumin Lactate Pyruvate (TALP) medium and cultured in synthetic oviductal fluid (SOF) medium. Concentrations up to 100 μm ALA improves (P ≤ 0.05) the cumulus expansion compared to control. Higher percentage of oocytes reaching MII stage was observed at 50 μm and 100 μm of ALA compared to control (P ≤ 0.05). Concentrations of 150 and 300 µm ALA were detrimental both for cumulus expansion and nuclear maturation rate of buffalo oocytes. Moreover, supplementation with 100 μm ALA improved (P ≤ 0.05) cleavage rate compared to control and treatment with 50 and 100 μm ALA yielded significantly higher morulae compared to control. The results of present study indicate that the supplementation with 100 μm ALA to the IVM medium improves nuclear maturation rate of buffalo oocytes and subsequent early embryonic development

Antibacterial efficacy of indigenous Pakistani honey against extensively drug-resistant clinical isolates of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi: an alternative option to combat antimicrobial resistance

Abstract Background Extensively drug-resistant (XDR) Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi (S. Typhi) poses a grave threat to public health due to increased mortality and morbidity caused by typhoid fever. Honey is a promising antibacterial agent, and we aimed to determine the antibacterial activity of honey against XDR S. Typhi. Methods We isolated 20 clinical isolates of XDR S. Typhi from pediatric septicemic patients and determined the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of diferent antibiotics against the pathogens using the VITEK 2 Compact system. Antimicrobial-resistant genes carried by the isolates were identifed using PCR. The antibacterial efcacy of fve Pakistani honeys was examined using agar well difusion assay, and their MICs and minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBCs) were determined with the broth microdilution method. Results All 20 isolates were confrmed as S. Typhi. The antibiogram phenotype was confrmed as XDR S. Typhi with resistance to ampicillin (≥32 µg/mL), ciprofoxacin (≥4 µg/mL), and ceftriaxone (≥4 µg/mL) and sensitivity to azithromycin (≤16 µg/mL) and carbapenems (≤1 µg/mL). Molecular conformation revealed the presence of blaTM-1, Sul1, qnrS, gyrA, gyrB, and blaCTX-M-15 genes in all isolates. Among the fve honeys, beri honey had the highest zone of inhibition of 7–15 mm and neem honey had a zone of inhibition of 7–12 mm. The MIC and MBC of beri honey against 3/20 (15%) XDR S. Typhi isolates were 3.125 and 6.25%, respectively, while the MIC and MBC of neem were 3.125 and 6.25%, respectively, against 3/20 (15%) isolates and 6.25 and 12.5%, respectively, against 7/20 (35%) isolates. Conclusion Indigenous honeys have an efective role in combating XDR S. Typhi. They are potential candidates for clinical trials as alternative therapeutic options against XDR S. Typhi isolates. Keywords Antimicrobial resistance, Natural antibiotics, XDR S. Typhi, MIC, Honey, Resistance gene

Scenarios of Global Change: Integrated Assessment of Climate Impacts

Using the MIT Integrated Global System Modeling (IGSM) framework, we assess the climate impacts of emission scenarios exhibiting global mean surface temperatures ranging between 2.4°C and 4.3°C above pre-industrial by 2100. We compare the outcomes from these forward-looking scenarios against the common goal described by the target-driven scenario of 2°C. Without further policy measures, the agreement at COP-21 in Paris is projected to result in a 3.5°C increase in global temperature in 2100 relative to pre-industrial levels. Scenarios developed by Shell International (called Mountains and Oceans) exhibit a substantial movement towards temperature stabilization, as they result in increases of only 2.4–2.7°C by 2100. Valuable components of these scenarios include a substantial shift to renewable energy and deployment of carbon capture and storage (CCS). These scenarios are successful in mitigating a large portion of water stress impacts and air pollution damages. They also significantly mitigate increases in ocean acidity. These projections show the significant value of policies that do not quite reach 2°C stabilization, but fall substantially close to that target by the end of the century. The challenge of meeting the Paris Agreement’s aspiration to limit warming to 1.5°C is monumental, yet may be desirable if societies see the 2°C impacts, described here, as running too much risk.The MIT Joint Program on the Science and Policy of Global Change is supported by the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Science under grants DEFG02-94ER61937, DE-FG02-08ER64597, DE-FG02-93ER61677, DE-SC0003906, DE-SC0007114, XEU-0-9920-01; the U.S. Department of Energy, Oak Ridge National Laboratory under Subcontract 4000109855; the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency under grants XA-83240101, PIv83412601-0, RD-83427901-0, XA-83505101-0, XA-83600001-1, and subcontract UTA12-000624; the U.S. National Science Foundation under grants AGS-0944121, EFRI-0835414, IIS-1028163, ECCSv1128147, ARC- 1203526, EF-1137306, AGS-1216707, and SES-0825915; the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration under grants NNX06AC30A, NNX07AI49G, NNX11AN72G and Sub Agreement No. 08-SFWS-209365.MIT; the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration under grants 06-C-NE-MIT, 09-C-NEMIT, Agmt. No. 4103-30368; the U.S. Department of Transportation under grant DTRT57-10-C-10015; the Electric Power Research Institute under grant EP-P32616/C15124, EP-P8154/C4106; the U.S. Department of Agriculture under grant 58-6000-2-0099, 58-0111-9-001; and a consortium of industrial and foundation sponsors (for the complete list see: globalchange.mit.edu/sponsors/all). Shell participated actively in this study, supplying all the background data behind their scenarios. MIT remain responsible for 32 all analysis and conclusions. Shell provided a gift of USD 250,000 to the MIT Joint Program, to defray costs related to this research. Martin Haigh represents the Scenarios Team at Shell International Ltd. The paper also benefited from comments from David Hone