Microgrid Modeling and Grid Interconnection Studies

The demand for renewable energies and their integration to the grid has become more pressing than ever before due to the various reasons including increasing population energy demand, depleting fossil fuels, increasing atmospheric population, etc. Thus the vision of a sustainable future requires easy and reliable integration of renewable distributed generators to the grid. This master’s thesis studies the dynamics of distributed generators when they are connected with the main grid. Simulink MATLAB is used for the design and simulations of this system. Three distributed generators are used in this system: Photo-voltaic converter, Fuel cell and diesel generator. The control and design of the power electronics converters is done to function properly in both grid-connected and islanding mode. The turbine governors in diesel generators control the proper functioning of diesel generator in both modes. The converters in both battery and PV make sure that they work properly in both grid-connected and islanding mode. The control of battery converter is designed in a way to function for load-shaving during unplanned load changes in the microgrid. This fully functioning microgrid is then connected with the main grid using Kundur’s two-area system and simulated for various faults and load changes. A collection of data at the point of common coupling which is the point of connection of microgrid and main grid is gathered for various cases in the grid-connected mode. The cases for faults in the external grid are simulated and then WEKA software is used to develop decision trees. The development of the decision trees can help in predicting the decision of islanding of microgrid. By increasing this database for more scenarios; the response of the generators in grid and distributed generators in microgrid can be studied with decision trees giving more accurate results

Comparison of the Morbidity after Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy for Acutely Inflamed Gall Bladder with and without Drain Insertion: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract Objective: The study objective is to compare the pain frequency and mean hospital stay in patients with and without drain insertion, following laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acutely inflamed gallbladder. Methods: Randomized control trial was carried out in General Surgery Department Shifa International Hospital for a period of 1 year from October 2017 to October 2018. All patients with acutely inflamed gallbladder admitted underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy using conventional 4 port method. Applying Lottery method patients were sorted into two groups; (Group A) – without drain and (Group B) – with drain. Post operatively parameters of pain and total hospital stay were assessed. Data was entered into a standard SPSS sheet version 15.0. Results: Mean age of patients in without drain (group A) was 52.00±14.84 years and in with drain (group B) was 47.50±18.28 years. In without drain (group A), there were 9 (30.0%) males and 21 (70.0%) females, mean VAS was 2.37±1.22, 16.7% (5 of 60 patients) had pain, and mean hospital stay was 1.93+/-0.79 days. In with drain (group B), 13 (43.3%) were males and 17 (56.7%) were females, mean VAS was 3.2 +/-1.36, 36.7% (11 of 60 patients) had pain and mean hospital stay was 3.17+/- 0.87 days. The difference between the two groups for mean VAS was significant (P<0.05), for mean hospital stay was significant (P<0.05) but for pain frequency was insignificant (P>0.05). Conclusions: It has been concluded that without drain, more appropriate results have been obtained as compared to drain. Clinical Trial Number: NCT0434655

HRCT Spectrum in Initially COVID-19 RT-PCR Negative Patients

Objective: To analyze radiological spectrum of HRCT in COVID-19 patients, clinically symptomatic but initially having negative RT-PCR. Study Design: Prospective cross sectional descriptive study. Place and Duration of Study: Radiology and Medicine Department, DHQ Hospital Rawalpindi, from June to November 2020 Methodology: The study included 90 patients presenting with clinical symptoms of COVID-19 but with negative RT-PCR. All patients underwent chest computed tomography (CT). Patients with positive COVID-19 RT-PCR test or serology on subsequent repeat test were included in the study. Patients having non COVID-19 HRCT features with negative RT-PCR were excluded from the study. Results: Out of 90 symptomatic, RT-PCR negative patients, 7 had normal chest CT. According to BSTI classification, 50 patients showed classic, 11 had probable and 22 had indeterminate features. Despite supportive clinical and CT features, 17 (18.89%) patients had negative RT-PCR tests on subsequent testing. Unilateral changes were in 8 (8.9%) and bilateral in 75 (83.3%). Most common finding was mixed pattern of peripherally distributed GGN and bronchocentric nodules in 37 (41.1%) patients. Consolidations were in 19 (21.1%), pure ground glass haze in 13 (14.4%), crazy paving in 4 (4.4%), fuzzy bands and arcades in 7 (7.8%), and subtle gravitational GGH in 3 (3.3%) patients. CT-SS classified 69 (76.7%) patients as mild, 10 (11.1%) as moderate and 4 (4.4%) as severe disease. Conclusions: HRCT with CTSS is an important tool for diagnosing and prognosticating COVID-19 infection despite negative RT-PCR, timely identifying and isolating COVID-19 cohorts preventing cross infection and also aiding in prompt symptomatic management

Solution-Focused Brief Therapy for Major Depressive Disorder: A Single Case Study

Marital problems are one of the leading causes of depression in low income countries. In collectivistic cultures, inability to bear child makes individual more vulnerable towards depression. An increasing body of literature suggests the efficacy of solution-focused brief therapy for depressive disorders. People with eagerness to see change and not showing response for cognitive behaviour therapy respond to solution-focused brief therapy. This case study describes the course of major depressive disorder in a 39-year-old female and treatment strategy of solution-focused brief therapy. The client in this case responded to the therapy and also showed optimistic change in her attitude. Treatment implications of solution-focused brief therapy with its effectiveness on females with major depressive disorder have been discussed in the article

Effect of sensory reeducation training on upper limb in sensory brain calcification syndrome; a case report

Brain calcification is a neurodegenerative disease in which calcium deposits in various parts of the brain causing a wide variety of impairments in the affected patient. In the current study, a female patient presented with brain calcification in right parietal region. She has disturbing sensory lag and anosognosia along with changes in other combined cortical sensations. Patient received sensory discrimination training and sensory reeducation training for about 10-15 minutes a day up to 6 weeks. Data was collected at baseline, after 2 and 6 weeks of intervention. Sensory grading scale system was used, and hand mapping was done for tactile localization.Marked improvements were noted in sensory modalities.Thus, it can be concluded that sensory discrimination and sensory reeducation training both are an effective adjunct in treating patients with sensory impairments associated with brain calcifications. Key words: Brain calcification, sensory discriminative training, sensory reeducatio

Pattern of unnatural deaths during COVID-19 lockdown in comparison with deaths reported during 2019 in Sahiwal city

Background:  Lockdown, a social isolation restriction measure has a direct impact on covid-19 transmission but its effect on unnatural deaths remains unknown. Objective:  This study has been designed to observe the effects of covid-19 lockdown on unnatural deaths in Sahiwal by comparing with the same period in 2019. Study design: Descriptive retrospective study. Setting: The study was conducted in mortuary of DHQ Teaching Hospital Sahiwal attached with the Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology Sahiwal medical college, Sahiwal. Study Duration: Covid-19 lockdown period from 24th March 2020 to 9th May 2020 and the same period in 2019. Materials and Methods: This study includes 62 cases of unnatural deaths, out of which 23 Cases in 2019 and 39 cases in 2020. We have included age, sex, marital status, area of belonging, manner of death, and cause of death as variables in our study. Results: In total 62 cases, in 2019 there were 15 males and 8 females with a mean age of 37.30±19.55 years and in 2020, there were 27 males and 12 females with a mean age of 32.85±15.16 years. The age group in which most number of deaths occurred was 30-59 years (46.8%). In 2019 majority of victims died due to homicide 15(65.2%) while during the lockdown period 14 (35.9%) victims lost their lives in accidents. Firearm injuries were the cause of death in 11(47.8%) cases in 2019 while in the COVID 19 lockdown period the majority of cases 13 (33.3%) were those who died due to roadside accidents. Conclusions: We could not detect significant difference in the two periods examined with respect to sociodemographic factors, but manner of death was significantly affected

Design, synthesis, characterization and computational docking studies of novel sulfonamide derivatives

This study reports three novel sulfonamide derivatives 4-Chloro-N-[(4-methylphenyl) sulphonyl]-N-propyl ben- zamide (1A), N-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-4-methyl benzene sulfonamide (1B) and 4-methyl-N-(2-nitrophenyl) ben- zene sulfonamide (1C). The compounds were synthesised from starting material 4-methylbenzenesulfonyl chlo- ride and their structure was studied through 1H-NMR and 13C-NMR spectra. Computational docking was per- formed to estimate their binding energy against bacterial p-amino benzoic acid (PABA) receptor, the dihydrop- teroate synthase (DHPS). The derivatives were tested in vitro for their antimicrobial activity against Gram+ and Gram- bacteria including E. coli, B. subtilis, B. licheniformis and B. linen. 1A was found active only against B. linen; 1B was effective against E. coli, B. subtilis and B. linen whereas 1C showed activity against E. coli, B. li- cheniformis and B. linen. 1C showed maximum activity with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 50, 100 and 150 µg/mL against E. coli, B. licheniformis and B. linen respectively. 1C exhibited maximum affinity to DHPS with binding free energy of -8.1 kcal/mol. It enriched in the top 0.5 % of a library of 7663 compounds, ranked in order of their binding affinity against DHPS. 1C was followed by 1B which showed a moderate to low level MIC of 100, 250 and 150 µg/mL against E. coli, B. subtilis and B. linen respectively, whereas 1A showed a moderate level MIC of 100 µg/mL but only agai st B. linen. These derivatives may thus serve as potential anti-bacterial alternatives against resistant pathogens