Two new Bacidina species (Lecanorales, Ascomycota) from Pakistan

Bacidina margallensis and B. iqbalii from Pakistan are described and illustrated. Phylogeny of ITS nrDNA region confirms their position within the genus Bacidina, and morphological data make them distinct from other known species of the genus. Based on molecular data, corticolous Bacidina margallensis appears to be a sister species to B. chloroticula, but morphologically, when dry, is the most similar to known from Europe B. mendax because of the granular and warted greenish grey thallus, whitish-cream to dark brown and often piebald apothecia. It differs from that species by shorter, wider and less septate ascospores; 1–3-septate in B. margallensis vs 3–5(6)-septate in B. mendax, and by unusual parrot-green colour of wet thallus. Saxicolous Bacidina iqbalii is closely related to B. neosquamulosa but differs in having crustaceous thallus, transculent when wet entirely pale apothecia, larger asci and less septate large ascospores

Correlation of Foot Wears with MSK Disorders in Ankle Joints Among Females

AIM: This paper is a report of study conducted to explain the factors that causes ankle sprain by wearing high heels among students of Sargodha medical college and university of Sargodha.BACKGROUND: High heeled shoes have been worn for several centuries and despite numerous cautions against their use, they remain extremely popular. Wearing high heeled shoes is thought to increase the individual’s likelihood of experiencing a lateral ankle sprain. The 19th century saw the first warnings that wearing high heels footwear could lead to trips and falls. Previous investigations have shown that high heeled shoes align the foot in planter flexion, modifying the relative orientation of the skeletal structures of ankle, midtarsal, and metatarsophalangeal joints, and alter the insertion angles of the foot and gliding joint muscles, therefore increasing the risk factor for ankle sprain.METHODS: observational non-experimental study was conducted via a questionnaire which was distributed among 500 female students of SMC (Sargodha medical college) and university of Sargodha. These female students fall in age group between18-26.RESULT: The result of our study concluded that the types of heel and height of heel are the most significant factors that cause ankle sprain. The ankle sprain caused by wearing pencil heels and by use of <3 inch heels are greatest. Keywords: Pencil heel, height of heel, Ankle sprain, SMC, Female student. DOI: 10.7176/JHMN/80-09 Publication date:September 30th 202

The Smart Future; Innovations in Materials

With the advent and innovation in the fields of nanotechnology and biomedicine new and promising frontiers are being introduced regularly, these aim for improved efficiency and reliability by inculcating the use of smart materials and structures. Biomedical applications of smart materials include their use in tissue engineering, cell culture, biomimetic actuators etc. Smart materials have revolutionized many areas of dentistry including orthodontic wires, coils and springs. Cercon smart ceramics, Resin modified glass ionomer cements (RMGIC), Smart composites. These offer natural esthetics coupled with excellent durability and biocompatibility. These innovations in material science have already marked the beginning of the smart future of dentistry. This review provides a selective summary of smart materials in dentistry

Knowledge Attitude and Practice of Dental Professionals Towards Diabetes Mellitus in Islamabad Dental Hospital

OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to determine general dentists and dental students knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding diabetes mellitus, a major public health issue with oral complications. METHODOLOGY This cross-sectional study design was conducted in Islamabad dental hospital for three months on House officers and final year BDS students. A convenience sampling technique was used for the sample. A pretested questionnaire was selected from the previous study. After approval of the IRB, the questionnaires were distributed among participants of the research. The descriptive analysis of the collected data was done by using SPSS software version 20. RESULTS The overall results of knowledge of dentists towards diabetes scored high (90%), 80% of the respondents had a positive attitude towards diabetes mellitus. Less than half (20%) of the dentists scored poor in the practice of diabetes mellitus, while about three fourth of the respondents had a good score (80%). CONCLUSION Dentists in Islamabad dental hospital have good knowledge and practice skills regarding diabetes. The attitude of the dental practitioners in Islamabad dental hospital regarding diabetes is also positive

An Assortment of Evolutionary Computation Techniques (AECT) in gaming

© 2020, Springer-Verlag London Ltd., part of Springer Nature. Real-time strategy (RTS) games differ as they persist in varying scenarios and states. These games enable an integrated correspondence of non-player characters (NPCs) to appear as an autodidact in a dynamic environment, thereby resulting in a combined attack of NPCs on human-controlled character (HCC) with maximal damage. This research aims to empower NPCs with intelligent traits. Therefore, we instigate an assortment of ant colony optimization (ACO) with genetic algorithm (GA)-based approach to first-person shooter (FPS) game, i.e., Zombies Redemption (ZR). Eminent NPCs with best-fit genes are elected to spawn NPCs over generations and game levels as yielded by GA. Moreover, NPCs empower ACO to elect an optimal path with diverse incentives and less likelihood of getting shot. The proposed technique ZR is novel as it integrates ACO and GA in FPS games where NPC will use ACO to exploit and optimize its current strategy. GA will be used to share and explore strategy among NPCs. Moreover, it involves an elaboration of the mechanism of evolution through parameter utilization and updation over the generations. ZR is played by 450 players with varying levels having the evolving traits of NPCs and environmental constraints in order to accumulate experimental results. Results revealed improvement in NPCs performance as the game proceeds

Outcomes in Patients With COVID-19 Disease and High Oxygen Requirements

Background: Approximately 19% of people infected with the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) progress to severe or critical stages of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) with a mortality rate exceeding 50%. We aimed to examine the char- acteristics, mortality rates, intubation rate, and length of stay (LOS) of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 disease with high oxygen re- quirements (critically ill). Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis in a single center in Brooklyn, New York. Adult hospitalized patients with confirmed COVID-19 disease and high oxygen requirements were included. We performed multivariate logistic regression analyses for statistically significant variables to reduce any confounding. Results: A total of 398 patients were identified between March 19th and April 25th, 2020 who met the inclusion criteria, of which 247 (62.1%) required intubation. The overall mortality rate in our study was 57.3% (n = 228). The mean hospital LOS was 19.1 ± 17.4 days. Patients who survived to hospital discharge had a longer mean LOS compared to those who died during hospitalization (25.4 ± 22.03 days versus10.7 ± 1.74 days). In the multivariate analysis, increased age, intubation and increased lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were each independently as- sociated with increased odds of mortality. Diarrhea was associated with decreased mortality (OR 0.4; CI 0.16, 0.99). Obesity and use of vaso- pressors were each independently associated with increased intubation. Conclusions: In patients with COVID-19 disease and high oxygen requirements, advanced age, intubation, and higher LDH levels were associated with increased mortality, while diarrhea was associated with decreased mortality. Gender, diabetes, and hypertension did not have any association with mortality or length of hospital stay

Early Childhood Teachers’ Experiences During the COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic posed unique challenges for early childhood teachers while facilitating the learning and development of young students. This study examined early childhood teachers’ (K-2 grade levels) experiences with online/hybrid classes and the transition back to in-person classes from Spring 2020 to Fall 2021, in Pakistan and the US. It comprised of two phases: survey (consisting of closed- and open-ended questions) (n = 53) and interviews (n = 12). Survey findings from closed-ended items indicated some shared experiences of teachers in the US and Pakistan with regards to student engagement, use of technological tools, support/resources from school administration, peers, and parents, collaboration with parents, and stress during online classes, as shown by t-test results (ps > .05). Pakistani teachers reported higher scores within the themes of students’ internet accessibility, preparedness (online/hybrid and in-person classes), self-efficacy (online/hybrid classes), and US teachers reported higher scores within the theme of stress (in-person classes) (ps < .05). Common challenges with the transition back to in-person classes that teachers in Pakistan and the US reported in the open-ended survey items were the students’ learning gaps and the need for social-emotional learning. Following themes emerged from the interview responses of teachers: Online Classes (proficiency in technology-use, challenges of online teaching, limited resources, parental involvement, planning, student engagement, increased workload, positive aspects of online teaching), Challenges of hybrid teaching, In-person Classes (adjustment for teachers and students, learning gaps), Suggestions for School Administrators. Some experiences that were unique to Pakistani teachers and affected their experiences with online classes also showed up, like electricity shortages disrupting online classes, and gender-based expectations of managing household responsibilities, leading to increased workloads for female teachers

Dataset on the scale validation of Islamic piety

The data obtained from banking sector of Pakistan aims to enhance the understanding of the Islamic Piety. A semi-structure questionnaire was used to collect data from banking staff in Pakistan. The variable of the dataset is Islamic Piety which comprises of two sub- constructs that is; Islamic spirituality (IS) and Islamic social responsibility (ISR). Mohsen (2007) questionnaire for Islamic Piety was use and collected data from 500 employees. These employees were affiliated with the top nine credit rated banks of Pakistan in the federal and provincial capitals of the country. The data collected from the survey contributes itself to quantitative analysis using both descriptive as well as inferential statistics both of which are needed to respond to the research questions. The two sub-constructs are established based on the data