Deterministic scheduling for energy efficient and reliable communication in heterogeneous sensing environments in industrial wireless sensor networks

The present-day industries incorporate many applications, and complex processes, hence, a large number of sensors with dissimilar process deadlines and sensor update frequencies will be in place. This paper presents a scheduling algorithm, which takes into account the varying deadlines of the sensors connected to the cluster-head, and formulates a static schedule for Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) based communication. The scheme uses IEEE802.15.4e superframe as a baseline and proposes a new superframe structure. For evaluation purposes the update frequencies of different industrial processes are considered. The scheduling algorithm is evaluated under varying network loads by increasing the number of nodes affiliated to a cluster-head. The static schedule generated by the scheduling algorithm offers reduced energy consumption, improved reliability, efficient network load management and improved information to control bits ratio

Ranging with Synthetic Aperture RADAR

RADAR is an acoustic mechanism for the identification and place, reflecting the message, of destination items such as planes, vessels, satellites, cars, individuals and nature. The radio waves are used for the electromagnetic measurement of the perspective, variety or speed of items. Before and during the Second World War, RADAR was created in numerous countries. The RADAR system uses many specific aspects of electrical engineering technology such as image handling, data processing, waveform structure, electromagnetic dispersion, tracking, data parameter estimation, information collection, antennas, propagation stations, and receivers. Only 110 years earlier the first radar was invented. In the meantime, there were countless apps and scheme ideas were used for the accessible techniques. Speed control, aerial traffic control, synthetic opening radar, aerial and space missions, militaries and remote sensing are the typical apps. Medical radar research is well underway in the identification of breast cancer and in the localization of tumors. Automotive radar is now generated in millions per year to save and autonomous driving. The modern radar scheme ideas will almost encounter a revolution in the next few years. Although the radar systems have progressed considerably, they have not developed over the past 20 years, like communication or other techniques. In a few years, certain fresh techniques will enter the radar structure and revolutionize ideas of the radar scheme. New radar characteristics and methods to signal processing are then possible. 2 | P a g e Si

6 Minute Walk Test (6MWT) for Healthy Adult Volunteers

Objectives: To determine the 6-minute walk test (6MWT) for healthy volunteers in our population and find out the factors affecting 6MWT. Furthermore, comparing our results with published National and International data. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: This study was carried in the physiology department of Rawalpindi Medical College, from 1st July 2019 to 31st December 2019. Materials and Methods: A total of 129 adult healthy volunteers between 18 and 60 years of age were included in this study after the application of inclusion and exclusion criteria. A 6-minute walk test (6MWT) was carried out in a standardized procedure. The height, weight, and BMI were recorded on predesigned Performa. Distance covered in 6-minute, heart rate, systolic BP, Diastolic BP, SPO2, Borg Scale Dyspnea score, Borg Scale Fatigue score were recorded before and after the 6-minute walk test. Correlation and its significance were calculated among anthropometric and physiological variables. Results: Seventy (54%) men and Fifty-nine (46%) women participated in the study. The mean distance covered for all subjects was 430.412±63.0150. The distance covered by the female subject was 388.720±30.104 and 439.533±68.355 by male subjects. The mean age of the subjects was 31.64 ±12.36, while the mean BMI was 22.06 ±4.15. The mean heart rate value before the test is 77.72±1.48 and after the test is 92.84±1.12. The mean systolic BP value before the walk was 122.65±11.75 and after the walk, it was 106.5±9.83. Mean diastolic BP before the walk was 80.55±12.61 and after the walk, it was 76.5±9.83. SPO2 mean value before the walk was 96.23±1.4 and after the walk is 98.2±1.17. Borg scale dyspnea score mean value before the test is 0 ± 0 and after the test it was 0.67±0.76 and Borg scale fatigue score mean value before the walk is 1.32±0.73 and after the walk is 1.62±0.92. A positive correlation was noted with height, while a negative correlation was noted with age and BMI. Gender also showed a significant relationship with the 6MWD. Conclusion: The distance covered in 6-minute is shorter than the studies carried out in different parts of the world. Age, gender, height, and BMI showed a significant relationship with 6MWD. Those reference values for the 6MWD should not be used in our population, as it overestimates the distance and may interfere with the significance of the test

Comparison of Letrozole and Clomiphene citrate on ovulation in achievement of successful Pregnancy

Objective: to compare the efficacy of letrozole and clomiphene citrate in terms of pregnancy achievement and in anovulatory infertile women. Study Design: A randomized controlled trial. Place and Duration: study conducted at the department of obstetrics and gynaecology DG Khan Teaching Hospital. DG Khan from March 2017 to March 2018. Methodology: Two hundred and ten patients were included in this study. The patients were equally divided into two Groups as Group A and Group B by random number method. Study was started after permission from hospital ethical committee. Study variables were age and duration of infertility. SPSS version 24 was used to analyze data. T test and chi square test were applied and p≤0.05 was taken as significant.  Results: the mean age and duration of infertility of Group B was 25.66±3.39 years and 3.72±2.01 years, respectively. There were 73.3% patients between 18-30 years and 26.7% in 31-40 years of age. There were 79% patients had <5 years of duration of infertility and 21% had >5 years of duration of infertility. The difference was statistically significant (p=0.000) for age. The efficacy of Group A and B was observed as 16.2% and 45.7%, respectively. The difference was statistically significant, (p=0.000). Conclusion: use of Letrzole is safe and more effective for achieving pregnancy in anovulatory infertile women as compared to clomiphene citrate. Keywords: Letrozole, Clomiphene Citrate, Ovulation, pregnancy rate, Infertility

Lisfranc’s dislocation and fracture in the Charcot Foot

AbstractDiabetic patients may present with Lisfranc’s Fracture Dislocation which may be confused with osteomyelitis. Rapid diagnosis and early intervention can prevent deformity. We suggest that the diagnosis of Charcot’s foot should be considered in any diabetic patient with unilateral swelling of lower extremity and/or foot

An Exploratory Study of Challenges Faced by Expatriates in Knowledge Transfer while Working in Pakistan

This research focuses on identifying the challenges faced by expatriates during knowledge transfer. Further it investigates the tools employed by these expatriates in facilitating knowledge transfer to the host country nationals. Fifteen challenges identified by Singhapong and Muenjohn (2008) that expatriates face and which affect their work (including knowledge transfer) in Thailand, have been taken for relevance to expatriates in Pakistan. Knowledge transfer tools identified by Smith (2004) have been taken for the purpose of this study to assess if these factors also apply to Pakistan. Data was collected from 26 respondents of four nationalities. Ranking method was employed using mean and standard deviation to rank the knowledge transfer tools and challenges faced by expatriates. Results demonstrate that restrictions on work permit were the biggest challenge faced by expatriates while working here in Pakistan. Verbal communication was found as the highly ranked knowledge transfer tool employed by expatriates through which host country nationals learn. This applied exploratory study contributes to the literature on knowledge management for Pakistan that will enable future in depth research in this area

Relation of Striae Gravidarum with Cesarean Scar and Peritoneal Adhesions

Objective: to find out the relation between striae gravidarum and, cesarean scar and peritoneal adhesions. Study Design: Cross sectional Study. Place and Study Duration: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, DG Khan Teaching Hospital Multan, from January 2018 to June 2018. Material and methods: A total number of 150 patients presenting to the department of gynecology and obstetrics for cesarean section were included in the study. Severity of striae gravidarum was assessed using Davey scoring system. Modified Blauer classification was used to define the intraperitoneal adhesions in five categories. Three groups were designed group 1, 2 and 3. In group 1 those women were involved that had no striae gravidarum, in group 2 were those women who had mild to moderate number of striae gravidarum and in group 3 women with severe amount of striae gravidarum were included. Students T test and Mann-Whitney test was applied to compare the two groups. Frequency and percentages were calculated for categorical variables and mean and standard deviation was calculated for continuous variables. P value of less than or equal to 0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Results: Grade 2-4 intraperitoneal adhesions, keloids and pigmentations were more in Group 2 and Group 3 but no statistically significant difference was present (p-value 0.517, 0.427 and 0.372, respectively). The appearance of scar was also not different among the three groups (p=0.541). Scar length was more in Group-3 (p=0.289) but the width was more in Group-1 (p=0.248) with no statistically significant difference. Conclusion: The results of this study show that striae gravidarum was associated with scar characteristics but no correlation between striae gravidarum and intraperitoneal adhesions could be observed as such. Keywords: Striae Gravidarum, Cesarean Section, Abdominal Adhesion

A critical analysis of research potential, challenges and future directives in industrial wireless sensor networks

In recent years, Industrial Wireless Sensor Networks (IWSNs) have emerged as an important research theme with applications spanning a wide range of industries including automation, monitoring, process control, feedback systems and automotive. Wide scope of IWSNs applications ranging from small production units, large oil and gas industries to nuclear fission control, enables a fast-paced research in this field. Though IWSNs offer advantages of low cost, flexibility, scalability, self-healing, easy deployment and reformation, yet they pose certain limitations on available potential and introduce challenges on multiple fronts due to their susceptibility to highly complex and uncertain industrial environments. In this paper a detailed discussion on design objectives, challenges and solutions, for IWSNs, are presented. A careful evaluation of industrial systems, deadlines and possible hazards in industrial atmosphere are discussed. The paper also presents a thorough review of the existing standards and industrial protocols and gives a critical evaluation of potential of these standards and protocols along with a detailed discussion on available hardware platforms, specific industrial energy harvesting techniques and their capabilities. The paper lists main service providers for IWSNs solutions and gives insight of future trends and research gaps in the field of IWSNs

A novel MAC proposal for critical and emergency communications in industrial wireless sensor networks

In this paper, three MAC protocols, EE-MAC, CF-MAC and OD-MAC, are proposed. EE-MAC incorporates emergency communication and allows immediate channel access for emergency traffic. CF-MAC compensates regulatory and open-loop control traffic and introduces a prioritized access for high priority nodes. It also allows nodes with critical data to reserve communication slots using control channel. Whereas OD-MAC presents a deadline based dynamic scheduler which ensures timely delivery of time-critical information. The paper presents mathematical modelling of the proposed protocols. For evaluation purposes, the performance of the proposed protocols is compared to IEEE 802.15.4e LLDN. The results show that the proposed protocols offer up to 92% reduction in delay in emergency communications at the cost of 5% to 15% increase in delay of time-insensitive data. A 60% and 85% reduction was observed in the channel access delay for regulatory and open-loop control traffic respectively along with notable improvements in communications reliability