(1E)-1-[4-(Dimethyl­amino)phen­yl]pent-1-en-3-one

The title mol­ecule, C13H17NO, is close to planar: the dihedral angle betweent the dimethyl amino group and the benzene ring is 7.94 (19)°. No significant inter­molecular inter­actions are observed in the crystal structure

Comparison of the Efficacy of Multi Dural Stab Craniectomy with Open Dural Flap Craniectomy in Patients Having Acute Subdural Hematoma

Background/Objective:  We compared the efficacy of multi-dural stab craniectomy with open dural flap craniectomy in patients having acute subdural hematoma. Materials and Methods:  A randomized controlled trial was conducted in the Department of Neurosurgery, Allied hospital, Faisalabad. 70 patients having acute subdural hematoma were included. All of the patients were randomized in two groups: group A received a multi-dural stab craniectomy, while group B received an open dural flap craniectomy. Efficacy was assessed after 3 months of treatment in terms of a good recovery. Results:  Out of 70 patients, the mean age was 34.51 ± 8.712 years. Because of similar age and presenting GCS, the data show a non-significant difference in clinical outcomes between patients undergoing multi dual stab and open dural flap operations. However, a significant difference between the clinical results occurred at 3 months after the surgery (p-value 0.004). The efficacy of the multi-dural stab procedure was significantly higher from the open dural flap surgery (p-Value 0.006). The efficacy of the multi-dural stab surgery was significantly higher in the under 35 years age group of patients compared to open dural flap surgery. The results highlight those better results were seen in both surgeries when the presenting GCS of patients was higher (GCS= 6 – 8) compared to poor outcomes in patients with GCS of less than 5/15. Conclusion:  Multi-dural stabs are a safer alternative to the open dural flap for removing acute SDH with satisfactory recovery

Performance comparison of structured H∞ based looptune and LQR for a 4-DOF robotic manipulator

We explore looptune, a MATLAB-based structured H1 synthesis technique in the context of robotics. Position control of a 4 Degree of Freedom (DOF) serial robotic manipulator developed using Simulink is the problem under consideration. Three full state feedback control systems were developed, analyzed and compared for both steady-state and transient performance using the Linear Quadratic Regulator (LQR) and looptune. Initially, a single gain feedback controller was synthesized using LQR. This system was then modified by augmenting the state feedback controller with Proportional Integral (PI) and Integral regulators, thereby creating a second and third control system respectively. In both the second and third control systems, the LQR synthesized gain and additional gains were further tuned using looptune to achieve improvement in performance. The second and third systems were also compared in terms of tracking a time-dependent trajectory. Finally, the LQR and looptune synthesized controllers were tested for robustness by simultaneously increasing the mass of each manipulator link. In comparison to LQR, the second system consisting of Single Input Single Output (SISO) PI controllers and the state feedback matrix succeeded in meeting the control objectives in terms of performance, optimality, trajectory tracking, and robustness. The third system did not improve performance in contrast to LQR, but still showed robustness under mass variation. In conclusion, our results have shown looptune to have a comparatively better performance over LQR thereby highlighting its promising potential for future emerging control system applications

Frequency of SCF Leakage in Post-operative Patients of Tethered Spinal Cord in A Tertiary Care Hospital

Objective:  The study aimed to report the incidence of CSF leakage in patients with a tethered spinal cord, post-operatively. Materials and Methods:  A total of 75 individuals aged more than 2 years and of either gender who were hospitalized for surgery for tethered cord syndrome were included. All patients had a preoperative MRI of the spine, and those above the age of 6 had urodynamic tests. Clinical evaluations were performed until hospital release, then again at 3, 6, and 12 months. Urodynamic tests and spine MRIs were redone one year following surgery. Under general anesthesia, all patients had microscopic untethering procedures to release tethering materials and heal the thecal sac. Results:  52% of patients fall under TCS type ‘simple’, whereas, 48% of patients found with complex TCS. The frequency of CSF leakage in post-operative patients with a tethered spinal cord was found in 17.33%. No CSF leak was reported in the majority of patients (49%) patients in the age group 2-30 years. 52% of patients with simple TCS reported no CSF leak, whereas, only 13(18%) patients with complex TCS reported CSF leaks. 40% of patients reported no CSF leak who was diagnosed with complex TCS. There existed a significant relationship between the types of TCS (simple/complex) for CSF leak distribution. Conclusion:  This study concluded that the frequency of CSF leakage in post-operative patients with tethered spinal cord was found in 17.33% of patients. Keywords:  Tethered Spinal Cord (TCS), CSF Leakage, Lipomyelomeningocele

The Role of Institutional Quality in Enhancing Social Cohesion

Social cohesion is considered to be important for a society. The role of state institutions is to bring state closer to its population. The effective connection between state and society may be possible only through changing institutions. Present study is an attempt to explore the impact of institutional quality in enhancing social cohesion in a society. For analysis purpose, the study uses five year average panel data from 1990 to 2010 of 68 developing countries. For estimation purpose fixed effect and random effect models as suggested by Hausman test have been used in different specification of the model. The results of the study reveal that better institutional quality enhances social cohesion and income inequality is a threat to social cohesion while diversity is not a harmful to social cohesion. Furthermore, equality and prosperity both enhance social cohesion. The study recommends that on one hand efforts should be made to reduce inequality and on the other hand there is a need to build up social cohesion. These can be achieved through redesigning the institutions ensuring that it is better fit to local needs. The study concludes that social cohesion can be achieved through introducing and re-structuring the policy reforms in developing countries

Causes of higher ecological footprint in Pakistan: Does energy consumption contribute? Evidence from the non-linear ARDL model

The impact of human activities on environmental degradation has been increasing over time, and ecological footprint measures the impact of human activities on the environment. An increase in ecological footprint has created alarming situations around the globe. This study explores the causes of Pakistan’s high ecological footprint (EFP). The asymmetric analysis of fossil fuels and renewable energy consumption on EFP has been carried out from 1990 to 2020. The results obtained from the NARDL approach revealed that the positive shocks of fossil fuel consumption increase EFP, but its negative shocks decline EFP. Meanwhile, both positive and negative shocks of renewable energy consumption decline EFP in Pakistan. This study suggests that renewable energy consumption can play a significant role in reducing the EFP in Pakistan

EVALUATION OF SERUM ANTIOXIDANT CAPACITY AND LIVER FUNCTIONS IN HEPATITIS B AND C VIRAL INFECTIONS

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the serum antioxidant capacity and status of liver function parameters in Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) infected patients. METHODS: In this case-control study, fifty patients with HBV (28 male & 22 females), fifty HCV patients (28 male & 22 females) and age and gender matched fifty healthy controls were enrolled from May to August 2016. The antioxidant status was determined by measuring trolox equivalent oxidant capacity (TEAC) through the Ferric Reducing Ability of Plasma assay. Serum levels of alkaline phosphates (ALP), Alanine amino transferase (ALT) and Albumin were estimated. Results: Serum ALT levels (U/L) were 119.69±5.03 & 24.3±3.01 in male HBV patients and controls; 176.34±75.48 and 25±3.01 in female HBV patients & Controls; 114.71±5.03 and 22.61±2.33 in male HCV patients and controls and 165±5.03 & 25±3.01 in female HCV patients & Controls respectively. Serum ALP levels (U/L) were 317.69±5.13, 240.17±23.9 in male HBV & controls, 159.34±5.03 & 138.4±3 in female HBV & Controls; 129.28±4.57, 230.47±33.5 in male HCV & controls and 169±3.65 and 165.10±5.70 in female HCV & Controls respectively (p<0.01). Serum TEAC (μg/mL) were 266.1±13.71, 413±18.21, 214.42±11.1, 395.71±16.33 in male HBV & control and female HBV & control respectively as compared to 264.6±14.55, 409.8±17.54, 273.4±13.84 and 395.5±14.23 in male HCV & control and female HCV & control respectively (p<0.01). CONCLUSION: A significantly high HBV & HCV induced oxidative stress and deranged liver parameters were observed in male and female patients, suggesting a possible association between viral pathogenesis and level of oxidative stress

First principles study of electronic and nonlinear optical properties of A–D–π–A and D–A–D–π–A configured compounds containing novel quinoline–carbazole derivatives

Materials with nonlinear optical (NLO) properties have significant applications in different fields, including nuclear science, biophysics, medicine, chemical dynamics, solid physics, materials science and surface interface applications. Quinoline and carbazole, owing to their electron-deficient and electron-rich character respectively, play a role in charge transfer applications in optoelectronics. Therefore, an attempt has been made herein to explore quinoline–carbazole based novel materials with highly nonlinear optical properties. Structural tailoring has been made at the donor and acceptor units of two recently synthesized quinoline–carbazole molecules (Q1, Q2) and acceptor–donor–π–acceptor (A–D–π–A) and donor–acceptor–donor–π–acceptor (D–A–D–π–A) type novel molecules Q1D1–Q1D3 and Q2D2–Q2D3 have been quantum chemically designed, respectively. Density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) computations are performed to process the impact of acceptor and donor units on photophysical, electronic and NLO properties of selected molecules. The λ(max) values (321 and 319 nm) for Q1 and Q2 in DSMO were in good agreement with the experimental values (326 and 323 nm). The largest shift in absorption maximum is displayed by Q1D2 (436 nm). The designed compounds (Q1D3–Q2D3) express absorption spectra with an increased border and with a reduced band gap compared to the parent compounds (Q1 and Q2). Natural bond orbital (NBO) investigations showed that the extended hyper conjugation and strong intramolecular interaction play significant roles in stabilising these systems. All molecules expressed significant NLO responses. A large value of β(tot) was elevated in Q1D2 (23 885.90 a.u.). This theoretical framework reveals the NLO response properties of novel quinoline–carbazole derivatives that can be significant for their use in advanced applications

Structural analysis of Kirthar Fold Belt, Lower Indus Basin, Balochistan, Pakistan; implications from compression and inversion tectonics

The current research work mainly focuses on tectonic evolution of the Central Kirthar Fold Belt. It also deals with the structural impact of the Late Cretaceous/Paleocene, Indian-Eurasian collision on the Central Kirthar Fold Belt which is situated in the western shear zone of Indian Plate. The Kirthar Fold Belt is different from the rest of western shear zone because it is mainly deformed by compressional tectonics which has created wide anticlines, narrow synclines and overturned folds as shown by geological mapping. It has been observed that thin-skinned deformation has played a major role in structural disharmony which is mainly seen in the Early Eocene Ghazij and Oligocene Nari formations. Seismic data shows thick-skinned deformation because the faults seem to penetrate deeper stratigraphic levels. Involvement of the basal decollement and the penetration of the interpreted faults to the level of basement rocks is also evident from the exposure of Jurassic/Cretaceous rocks at surface on the western part of the mapped area. Cross sections data shows that Kirthar Thrust Fault has a structural throw around 3-4 km in the Kirthar Folded Zone featuring deformational front while the seismic data and well data shows that this intensity decreases in the Kirthar Foredeep Zone towards east where the structural throw is about 2-3 km. Restoration of cross sections show an overall 17.3% shortening which shows that the area is under influence of compressional stresses

3,5-Dimethyl-2,6-diphenyl-3,4,5,6-tetra­hydro-2H-pyran-4-one

The mol­ecular structure of the title compound, C19H20O2, reveals a slightly distorted chair conformation for the tetra­hydro­pyran ring with the two methyl and two phenyl substituents in equatorial positions