Use of a Knowledge-based Iterative Reconstruction Technique, IMR, to Improve Image Quality and Lower Radiation Dose

Use of IMR in Clinical Practice IMR is used in a variety of ways in our practice. Since our department has already reduced radiation dose as part of standard practice, we use IMR to improve the image quality at a given radiation dose. [...]we use IMR for CT angiography (CTA) examinations that require high contrast and high spatial resolution; in these cases, IMR is useful to reduce section thickness and lower noise (Case 5). Because IMR images are virtually noise free, they appear different from iDose4 images. [...]in the initial stages, reviewing images side-by-side with both reconstruction techniques may help to achieve familiarity with the new technique. The dissection flap (red arrow) is also more sharply delineated from the surrounding true and false lumen on the IMR image (C). [...]using the same CT examination, but 2 different processing techniques, it is apparent that with IMR, there is better contrast resolution between the lesion and the surrounding parenchyma, improving the sensitivity for lesion detection and providing better visualization of the abnormality, compared to iDose4

Cosmic rays

The design and implementation of an automatic data collectionsystem, using an eight channel microcomputer data acquisition unit,is described in the early part of this thesis. The calibration ofthe system and the methods of data collection and analysis arediscussed. The system is used to measure the response of geigercounters and scintillation counters on the passage of cosmic ray muons and electrons. An experiment is described to measure the flux of cosmic ray muons at different zenith angles and to note whether there is any difference between the flux of particles from the east and the fluxfrom the west. This work used a Geiger-Muller cosmic ray telescopeconsist of two layers of Geiger-Muller counters each containingsix identical counters. The rate of coincidence events using acoincidence unit has been measured by using a microcomputer dataacquisition system to record both the occurrence time of an eventand the geiger counter pulse height in each layer of counters. Thedistribution in time separation of the occurrence times of theevents has also been studied. A second experiment is described which used two scintillation counters to measure the density spectrum of electrons at sea level over the range 1 - 335 electrons m(^-2). Discriminators and a two fold coincidence are used and a microcomputer data acquisition system is employed to record the scintillator pulse heights. The experiment used two scintillation counters each of 0.4 m(^2) area and 5 cm thick

Yak (Bos grunniens): The Mammal of Socio-Economic Importance in Gilgit- Baltistan, Pakistan

The yaks are long-haired humped bovid, a multipurpose animal that can survive in a low oxygen and cold environment at an elevation of 2000 to 6000 meters above sea level. The animal has the ability to graze diverse foliage from coarse shrubs to short grasses. The majority of yak population is still living in central Asian highlands, which include parts of Tibet, China, Indo-Pak. Yak rearing in Pakistan is bounded to higher elevations (3,500–4,500 meters a.s.l) of Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) and Chitral, where yak is important and places the only means of livelihood through theprovision of milk, meat, and wool, hairs and hides. The GB region of Pakistan has an estimated population of 25,000 yaks and more than 100,000 yak hybrids. Yaks and yak hybrid population showed an increasing trend in GB region over the past fifteen years, but yak husbandry in the region has yet to become an economically viable activity. In previous studies where grazing and rangeland management, feeding, breeding, diseases and health hazards management were altered and reviewed lines of the literature directed our attention towards some neglected aspects of yak husbandry at GB region in comparison to other highland highlighted. The prime issues faced by yak husbandry and the yak-raising communities in GB region include low productivity, lack of grazing and rangeland management, demarcation and closure of borders (restrictions on grazing in trans-border pastures), unplanned breeding, poor disease management, lack of veterinary and extension services, lack of markets for yak produceas well as subsequent workforce. In addition, yak husbandry can be transformed into generally acceptable, environmentally favorable and economically viable agropastoral business by these highland dwellers by improving the productivity of yak and their crossbreeds, promoting sustainable rangeland management, enhancing the forage productivity of the available pasture, improving marketing conditions and developing value chains for yak meat, wool, hair and hides. That could be best achieved by strengthening the veterinary services, improving breeds and building the awareness and capacity among the herders. More focused research and studies are needed on ongoing changes in yak-farmers’ livelihood strategies that perfectly analyze the past and the present socioeconomic importance of yak keeping. Finally, such studies on the economic contribution of the yak to household income and the respective effects of different yak management approaches will help to formulate policies aiming at sustaining the poor communities of Gilgit-Baltistan

The impact of (DEM) Accuracy on the Watersheds areas as a function of spatial data

Digital Elevation Model (DEM) is main input for watershed modelling. Recently, (DEM) is available online for free in different accuracies, and spatial resolutions as a product of several remote sensing satellites. Hence, it is necessary to find out which one is the best for watershed modeling in the study area. In this study, the different accuracies 30m spatial resolution DEMs of (Copernicus, SRTM, and ASTER) can be examined by using Remote sensing (RS) and Geographic Information systems (GIS) techniques to delineate and calculate the topographic characteristics for five different size and topography watersheds (Swaidy, Garlond, Khuwayr Hirah, Naqab, and Kalak) located on both sides of the Mosul reservoir in the northeastern part of Iraq. The analysis results can be led to find that the Copernicus (GLO-30) 30 m resolution DEM is the optimum and most accurate DEM in the selected study area at the vertical accuracy (1.3521 m) and with 95% confidence level is (2.6502 m) represented by the minimum Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) of the elevations differences between check points (MOWR elevations and LIDAR DEM 1 m resolution) and the used DEMs. The watershed delineation and calculated topographic characteristics (watersheds boundary, elevations, area, perimeter and slope areas) are affected by DEM accuracy. Where the considerable accuracy of the differences is with the (Copernicus-SRTM) DEMS at the minimum RMSE of watersheds characteristics

The impact of intrinsic and extrinsic religiosity on ethical decision-making in management in a non-Western and highly religious country

The primary purpose of this study was to explore the indirect effect of intrinsic religiosity and extrinsic religiosity on ethical intention through ethical judgment. A review of the literature shows the need for more research at the intersection of religiosity and ethics, especially in non-Western, highly religious contexts. This research, therefore, addresses the research question: Do intrinsic religiosity and extrinsic religiosity indirectly impact ethical intention through influencing the ethical judgment of management professionals? Data were gathered from members of the Management Association of Pakistan through a questionnaire. Pearson correlation results show the overall trend between the constructs of interest. Multiple regression results show that both intrinsic religiosity and extrinsic religiosity are significant positive predictors of ethical judgment. Ethical judgment was also found to be a significant, positive predictor of ethical intention. The main contribution of the study is evidence that ethical judgment acts as a mediator between religiosity (whether intrinsic or extrinsic) and ethical intention in a non-Western highly religious context. This research also found that intrinsic religiosity impacts ethical intention directly as well as indirectly through ethical judgment, but extrinsic religiosity influences ethical intention only through its effect on ethical judgment. We discuss our results along with practical and research implications, and limitations of this research are highlighted to guide future research

The impact of intrinsic and extrinsic religiosity on ethical decision-making in management in a non-Western and highly religious country

The primary purpose of this study was to explore the indirect effect of intrinsic religiosity and extrinsic religiosity on ethical intention through ethical judgment. A review of the literature shows the need for more research at the intersection of religiosity and ethics, especially in non-Western, highly religious contexts. This research, therefore, addresses the research question: Do intrinsic religiosity and extrinsic religiosity indirectly impact ethical intention through influencing the ethical judgment of management professionals? Data were gathered from members of the Management Association of Pakistan through a questionnaire. Pearson correlation results show the overall trend between the constructs of interest. Multiple regression results show that both intrinsic religiosity and extrinsic religiosity are significant positive predictors of ethical judgment. Ethical judgment was also found to be a significant, positive predictor of ethical intention. The main contribution of the study is evidence that ethical judgment acts as a mediator between religiosity (whether intrinsic or extrinsic) and ethical intention in a non-Western highly religious context. This research also found that intrinsic religiosity impacts ethical intention directly as well as indirectly through ethical judgment, but extrinsic religiosity influences ethical intention only through its effect on ethical judgment. We discuss our results along with practical and research implications, and limitations of this research are highlighted to guide future research

NMDA encephalitis in an elderly with poor prognosis

We present a case of a 65 years old man from Islamabad who presented with six months history of psychiatric and behavioural symptoms, significant weight loss. Later on he developed difficulty swallowing and altered sensorium. This was followed by an episode of shortness of breath leading to respiratory arrest, followed by ICU stay on ventilator support, then developed focal deficit in form of left sided weakness, dysautonomia, bradycardia leading to cardiac arrest and another cardiopulmonary resuscitation, myoclonic jerks, orofacial dyskinesias, status epilepticus, coma ultimately resulting in death of the patient. Patient was found to be NMDA receptor antibody positive. CT chest and abdomen did not reveal any hidden malignancy. Patient was given intravenous pulse steroids for 5 days followed by five sessions of plasmapheresis but did not respond. He stayed on ventilator support for 40 days and did not improve. This is the second case of antibody proven NMDA encephalitis from Pakistan, the first being from Islamabad as well and published in this journal

Production and Characterization of Tailor-Made Polyhydroxyalkanoates by Bacillus cereus FC11

Abstract.-Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are non-toxic, biocompatible, piezoelectric, and biodegradable thermoplastic. This study was designed to isolate the bacterial strains from trinitrotoluene (TNT)-contaminated soil capable of giving PHAs at high yields with tailor-made compositions. The isolated bacterial strain B. cereus FC11 gave PHA yield at 76.40 wt% using 500 mL Erlenmeyer flasks each containing 200 mL synthetic medium in the presence of glucose as a sole carbon source at pH value 7.0, 30°C and 150 rpm after 48 h of incubation under submerged fermentation. Furthermore, tailor-made PHA compositions were synthesized by B. cereus FC11 by adding different co-substrates along with glucose in the medium. High performance liquid chromatography analysis revealed that the retention time of crotonic acid (by-product) obtained from digested PHA was approximately 24.97 min which was similar to the retention time of crotonic acid (by-product) obtained from the digestion of commercially available poly-3-hydroxybutyrate and poly-3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate (Sigma-Aldrich). Fourier transform infrared spectrum showed the absorption bands at 1719, 1275 and 2932 cm -1 , which were attributed to C=O, C-O stretching and C-H vibrations, respectively. The proton and carbon nuclear magnetic resonance analysis confirmed that this indigenously synthesized polymer was composed of 3-hydroxybutyrate (3-HB) and 3-hydroxyvalerate (3-HV) monomers. The number average molar mass (Mn) of copolymer was 37.98 kDa