Future RAN architecture: SD-RAN through a general-purpose processing platform

In this article, we identify and study the potential of an integrated deployment solution for energy-efficient cellular networks combining the strengths of two very active current research themes: 1) software-defined radio access networks (SD-RANs) and 2) decoupled signaling and data transmissions, or beyond cellular green generation (BCG2) architecture, for enhanced energy efficiency. While SD-RAN envisions a decoupled centralized control plane and data-forwarding plane for flexible control, the BCG2 architecture calls for decoupling coverage from the capacity and coverage provided through an always-on low-power signaling node for a larger geographical area; the capacity is catered by various on-demand data nodes for maximum energy efficiency. In this article, we show that a combined approach that brings both specifications together can not only achieve greater benefits but also facilitate faster realization of both technologies. We propose the idea and design of a signaling controller that acts as a signaling node to provide always-on coverage, consuming low power, and at the same time host the control plane functions for the SDRAN through a general-purpose processing platform. The phantom cell concept is also a similar idea where a normal macrocell provides interference control to densely deployed small cells, although our initial results show that the integrated architecture has a much greater potential for energy savings than phantom cells

Nutritional status and physical abuse among the children involved in domestic labour in Karachi Pakistan: a cross-sectional survey.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of physical abuse among domestic child labours and to assess the nutritional status by calculating the Body Mass Index of children involved in domestic labour in Karachi. METHODS: A cross sectional study was conducted in the squatter settlements of Karachi. Questionnaire based interviews were conducted to capture physical abuse with 385 children who worked as domestic labour in the household of their employer. The ages of the children were between 10 to 14 years belonging to both genders. The children were enrolled in study by snow-ball sampling technique. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of physical abuse among domestic child labour in Karachi was found to be 8.3 %. Over 9 % had low weight and about 90% were stunted. This study also highlighted that 95% of the children involved in domestic labour perform overtime work in their employer\u27s home, more than once per week. CONCLUSIONS: There is high burden of physical abuse among the domestic child labour and these children are malnourished. There is a need to recognize and regulate this form of labour in Pakistan

Indo-USA 123 Deal and Nuclear Cooperation Agreement Feature and Reasons: Perspective of China and Pakistan

India and United States have led to a strategic partnership due to mutual interests in global politics such as promoting democracy and fighting terrorism. After that, they extend their collaboration across the economy, technology and atomic energy. After 1998 nuclear tests United States imposed sanctions on both India and Pakistan and stopped any kind of aid and assistance to them. But after the incident of September, 11 USA changed her strategies toward both countries and started Global war on terrorism (GWOT). In the South Asian security environment, the United States of America (USA) and India have a strong bond of strategic partnership due to the power struggle between the regional powers. India and USA started nuclear deal on 2005 which was completed on 2006. Behind this deal, both states increase their influence in this region. After this USA took steps toward India and signed the deal with it because in this region USA has only one watch dog in the shape of India. China is emerging as global power that is threatening situation for United States of America. In response of Indo-USA nuclear deal, arms race between India and Pakistan added risk of accidental use of nuclear technology due to unsophisticated command and control system. Key Words: Minimum deterrence, China, GWOT, Nuclear deal, section 12

ROLE OF USING GENEXPERT MTB/RIF ASSAY IN DETECTION OF MYCOBACTERIUM TUBERCULOSIS

Background; The annual incidence of tuberculous meningitis (TM) is unknown. TM is a disease that still often results in residual sequelae, and has a mortality rate ranging between 15 and 51%. Experience of countries such as Pakistan where drug-resistant tuberculosis and TM are prevalent is important. Objective:  To determine the frequency of M. Tuberculosis detection in CSF of patients with suspected tuberculous meningitis. Materials and Methods; The study was conducted at the Inpatient department of Medicine, Nishtar Hospital Multan. The demographic data like age, sex, height, weight, monthly family income and address of the patients was collected. Cases of TBM fulfilling inclusion and exclusion criteria were included in the study. CSF was collected after consent, through lumbar puncture (LP) done by the post graduate trainee (author or colleagues) under aseptic measures and was sent to the designated hospital laboratory for GeneXpert MTB/Rif assay and report was assessed for M. tuberculosis detection. Data was collected and entered in SPSS and analyzed. Results; total of 95 patients with tuberculous meningitis meeting inclusion criteria of our study were included in this study. Of these 95 study cases, 37 (38.9%) were male patients while 58 (61.1%) were female patients. Mean age of our study cases was 26.62 ± 5.94 years. Of these 95 study cases, 49 (51.6%) were from rural areas and 46 (48.4%) belonged to the urban areas while 62 (65.3%) were from poor families. Seventeen (17.9%) had diabetes and 25 (26.3%) were having history of hypertension. Mean weight of our study cases was 56.16 ± 10.27 kilograms and 66 (69.5%) had up to 60 kilograms of weight. Mycobacterium tuberculous was noted in 49 (51.6%) of our study cases Conclusion; High frequency of Mycobacterium tuberculosis was observed in our study in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of suspected patients of tuberculosis meningitis using genexpert MTB/RIF assay. Mycobacterium tuberculosis was significantly associated with age, socioeconomic status, diabetes and hypertension. Keywords; Tuberculous meningitis, Mycobacterium TB, Genexpert

Restructuring of WAPDA: A Reality or a Myth

Serious financial crisis in Pakistan energy sector, mainly due to poor governance, rising fuel prices and rampant corruption, led to the decision of corporatisation of Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) in 1992. However, this decision has been highly debated in the context of its socio economic benefits as the energy crises continues unabated. This study, by using semi-structured interview from energy experts in the power sector, attempts to find the factors that withheld the positive effects of this decision. The objective is to provide useful input to frame future energy policy to overcome critical energy crises in Pakistan. The study concludes that the decision of corporatisation of WAPDA was a forced decision without proper homework recommended by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) which worked as an obstacle to achieve required targets in context of energy crises. However, expert opinion shows that unbundling of WAPDA if managed adequately in line with the ground realities would help bring in the competition in market and support the neoliberal theory which calls for deregulation of businesses and privatisation of publicly owned assets, thus minimising the state intervention. Therefore, the only choice for the government is to move forward with the reforms to frame efficient and effective power policy. Chile, with successful power reforms, is the example quoted by the experts to be followed by Pakistan to overcome load shedding and black outs. JEL Classification: H7 Keywords: Energy, Pakistan Energy Sector, WAPDA, Neoclassical Theory, Corporatisation, Privatisation, Restructuring, Governanc

Analisa Kelayakan Perkerasan Lentur Ditinjau dari Uji Core Drill (Ruas Jalan Arteri Siring Porong KM 4+970 S.D 4+600)

One of the government's main programs is infrastructure development, which has an important role to shorten the time in the process of national and regional development. To realize good road infrastructure and to support the comfort of road infrastructure users, highway pavements are needed, especially flexible pavements that meet the requirements and are suitable for use. One of the feasibility studies of flexible pavement on the asphalt compaction section carried out in the Sidoarjo-Gempol-Pandaan-Malang-Kepanjen Road and Bridge Preservation Project is by testing the core drill in the field. The core drill test is a method that performs asphalt sampling on a road segment. The sample that has been taken (cylindrical shape) is then taken to the laboratory to be tested for its specific gravity and then compared with the specific gravity of solid asphalt, if the ratio of the two specific gravity is above 98%, the compaction on the road section meets the requirements and is suitable for use. In this journal, an analysis of the feasibility of compacting asphalt will be carried out on the Siring Porong Arterial Road Section Km 4+970 to 4+600 on September 7-8, 2022

Value of periappendiceal fat sign on ultrasound in acute appendicitis

Introduction: Acute right lower quadrant abdominal pain is one of the most common surgical presentations to the emergency department with acute appendicitis being the topmost differential diagnosis. Although computed tomography (CT) is the gold standard in diagnosing appendicitis, in our setup ultrasound is often the initial imaging modality available in urgent care settings especially for children and pregnant females. On ultrasound, an inflamed appendix has a diameter of 6 mm or more and is non-compressible. Increased periappendiceal fat echogenicity is an important ancillary sign of acute appendicitis that supports the sonographic diagnosis of acute appendicitis. To determine the association of periappendiceal fat echo sign (PFES) on ultrasound in surgically proven cases of acute appendicitis.Methods: This cross-sectional study was held at the Department of Radiology at the Aga Khan University Hospital in Karachi, Pakistan. Periappendiceal fat echogenicity was assessed and prospectively graded in 59 patients. These patients had sonographic features of acute appendicitis which was later confirmed by surgery. Data were collected on a proforma and later analyzed. Frequency of increased periappendiceal fat echogenicity in acute appendicitis was calculated. Association of PFES with gender and ascites was evaluated with Fischer\u27s exact test and with patient\u27s age and appendiceal diameter was assessed using analysis of variance (ANOVA).Results: Increased periappendiceal fat echogenicity was seen in 89.8% of patients with acute appendicitis. 10.2% of patients had acute appendicitis with normal surrounding fat. Mean appendiceal diameter in patients with grade 3 PFES was significantly more than those with grade 2 or grade 1 PFES. PFES had no association with age and gender of the patient or with ascites.Conclusion: Increased periappendiceal fat echogenicity is an important ancillary sign of acute appendicitis that helps support its sonographic diagnosis

Treatment of Reactive Routing Protocols Using Second Chance Based on Malicious behavior of Nodes in MANETS

Mobile nodes of various routing protocols in Mobile Ad hoc Networks follow different strategies in transmission and receiving of data. Security, packet delivery and routing overhead are important concerns for any protocol during designing them. The presence and absence of malicious nodes in the network affect a lot on the performance of the protocol. This research focused on the study of the threats, attacks and reasons for malicious behavior of nodes in the network for reactive routing protocols in MANETS. DSR and AODV are the two reactive routing protocols that considered the study to propose a second chance strategy to given to the nodes considering the reason for malicious behavior to improve the packet delivery ratio and reduce the routing overhead in the network. A simulative study has conducted using Ad hoc Simulator (ASIM) considering the DSR and AODV routing protocols in the presence of malicious nodes and in the absence of malicious nodes that showed, that the packet delivery ratio is low and routing overhead is high in the absence of malicious nodes. The second chance strategy proposed considers the reasons for malicious behavior and helps the node to be reintegrate in the network to improve the packet delivery ratio and reduce the routing overhead