Diagnostic value of HRCT-Thorax for pandemic COVID-19 pneumonia in Pakistan

Background: In the scenario of, inadequate testing, the low sensitivity of the COVID-19-PCR test, limited availability of testing kits, and low detection rate, we aimed to investigate the usefulness of high-resolution computed tomography of chest (HRCT) for diagnosing pandemic coronavirus (COVID-19) pneumonia. Objective: To determine the diagnostic efficacy of HRCT thorax in Covid-19 pandemic pneumonia. Materials and Methods: This prospective, cross-sectional study was conducted in the Pulmonology–OPD of Gulab Devi Teaching Hospital, Lahore-Pakistan from 01-04-2020 to 15-07-2020.   121 patients with dry cough, fever, and dyspnea of sudden onset were included while patients with Bronchial Asthma, ILD, Tuberculosis, Bronchiectasis, COPD, and overt heart failure were excluded. Patients were investigated with chest x-ray, HRCT, COVID-PCR, and hematological tests. HRCT films were evaluated by a qualified and experienced radiologist. Findings were summarized, organized and statistical analysis was done by using SPSS-26 software to make an inference. Results: Five patients were diagnosed as non-covid. Out of 116-diagnosed covid-19 patients, 38(32.75%) showed sub-pleural consolidation, 19(16.37%) consolidation with air-bronchogram, 29(25.0%) crazy paving sign, one pleural effusion (0.86%) and 18 cases (15.51%) displayed reticulations. 11cases(9.48%) had isolated ground glass appearances, while all categories showed it to variable extent. 65 patients (56.03%) were PCR-positive while  51(43.96) patients with positive-HRCT findings for COVID-19 pneumonia had negative nasopharyngeal-PCR. HRCT-Thorax revealed sensitivity: 97.41 %, specificity: 80%, PPV: 99.12%, NPV: 57.14%, and diagnostic accuracy of 96.69% for COVID-19 pneumonia. Conclusion: HRCT-Thorax, having high sensitivity and adequate specificity, can provide foundations for evidence-based early diagnosis and quantification of coronavirus pneumonia.  It can be tremendously useful for decision making in   PCR-negative patients and anticipating respiratory improvement or decline by serial scans

Efficacy of Botanical Plant Extracts on the Population Dynamics of Cotton Aphid, Aphis gossypii Glover (Hemiptera; Aphididae)

Synthetic pesticides are excessively consumed to control crop pests but abundant use of chemicals may implicate the whole ecosystem badly in the end. Despite the growing concern, few natural products are commercialized for pest control whilst on-farm use of existing botanically-based pesticides remains a small, but growing, component of crop protection practice. The experiment was conducted to assess the potential trade-offs of using botanical extracts (Neem leaf extract, NLE, and Moringa leaf extract, MLE) along with synthetic insecticide, Confidor 200 SL, against Aphis gossypii Glover. Meanwhile, impact of these insecticides on natural enemies were also determined in the field experiment. Data were recorded 12h before, as well as 1, 3, and 7 days after the application (DPA) of insecticides. Results revealed that chemical insecticide after 1DPA were showed higher mortality (%) of aphid’s population at leaf (33%) and boll stage (41%), whereas, the botanical treated plots showed lower mortality used alone as well combined application but lower numbers were observed on the negative controls. The same trend of insecticidal activity was observed from all treatments after 3DPA, but interestingly, after 7DPA, the resurgence of beneficial insects were only recorded in botanical extract-treated plots. The Confidor presented an adverse effect on natural enemies whereas no or few natural enemies were observed compared to herbal extracts. Overall, for long-term control, the combined use of botanical insecticides is proved to be more efficient in the management of the aphids than Confidor and caused no or little adverse impact on the beneficial insects

A Note on Solutions of the SIR Models of Epidemics Using HAM

Recently, Awawdeh et al. (2009) discussed the solutions of SIR epidemics model using homotopy analysis method. This comment points out some crucial flaws in (Awawdeh et al. 2009). Particularly, results presented in Figure 1 of the (Awawdeh et al. 2009) do not represent the 20 term solution of the considered problem as stated. The present paper also provides a new approach for solving SIR epidemics model using homotopy analysis method. The new approach is based on dividing the entire domain into subintervals. In each subinterval the three-term HAM solution is sufficient for obtaining accurate and convergent results. The comparison of the obtained solution using new approach is made with the numerical results and found in excellent agreement

Design and Implementation of a 7-8 GHz Low-Noise Amplifier

The thesis describes the LNA design for the European UWB regulations for 6.0-8.5 GHz. The design of low-noise amplifier is a critical step while designing the front-end of the receiver architecture. This work covers the design and simulation of the LNA using the PHEMT transistor ATF-36163. The thesis includes the bias network design, stability analysis, matching network design and layout design of the LNA RF module with layout simulation. The electronic design automation tool, Advance Design System (ADS) is used. After implementation of LNA on a printed circuit board (PCB), the LNA is measured with the help of the vector network analyzer. The simulated noise figure is 1.096 dB and simulated power gain is 9.01 dB at 7.5 GHz and power gain of simulated layout component is 6.5 dB. The measured power gain is 2.36 dB

Patient care after electrocardiography

Bakalaura darba tēma ir ‘’Pacientu aprūpe pēc elektrokardioversijas’’, kas sevī ietver teorijas un pētījuma daļas aprakstu par māsas sniegtās pacientu aprūpes kvalitāti x stacionārā kardioloģijas nodaļā. Pētījums veikts izmantojot kvalitatīvu pētījuma metodi. Tēmas aktualitāti pamato fakts, ka ātriju fibrilācijas atkārtošanās biežums pēc elektrokardioversijas, kas saistās ar nekvalitatīvas pacientu pašaprūpes veikšanu un zināšanu trūkumu, atkārtojas pat pēc dažām dienām no izrakstīšanās perioda. Lai arī komplikācijas novēro reti, ir nepieciešama aprūpes kvalitātes izvērtēšana un uzlabošana, lai mazinātu šo risku. Darba mērķis ir noskaidrot pacientu aprūpi pēc elektrokardioversijas. Izvirzītais pētniecības jautājums – kāda ir aprūpe pacientiem pēc elektrokardioversijas? Autore ir apkopojusi literatūru par pacientu aprūpi pēc elektrokardioversijas un analizējusi citu valstu rekomendācijas un pētījumus. Veikusi Virdžīnijas Hendersones māszinību teorijas analīzi un pielietojumu saistībā ar pētījuma tēmu, kā arī apkopojusi un analizējusi pētījuma rezultātus. Pētījuma empīriskajā daļā autore izstrādāja intervijas jautājumus, veica intervijas 5 x slimnīcas kardioloģijas nodaļas māsām ar vismaz piecu gadu pieredzi un analizēja pētījuma rezultātus, izmantojot kontentanalīzes tabulas. Pētījuma būtiskākie rezultāti: Respondenti izvērtē pacienta objektīvo un subjektīvo stāvokli, pielāgojoties aprūpes vajadzībām visā stacionēšanās periodā. Tiek sniegtas mutiskas rekomendācijas gan stacionārā, gan pirms izrakstīšanās pašaprūpes veicināšanai. Māsas veicina saskarsmi, nodrošinot psihoemocionālo atbalstu un pacienta zināšanas par ārstēšanas procesu. Darbs sastāv no 64 lappusēm, izmantoti 69 literatūras avoti, 11 kontentanalīzes tabulas. Atslēgas vārdi: elektrokardioversija, pacients, aprūpes process.The topic of the bachelor's thesis is "Patient care after electrocardiography", which includes a description of the theory and part of the research on the quality of patient care provided by the nurse in inpatient cardiology department. The research was performed using a qualitative research method. The topicality of the topic is justified by the fact that the frequency of recurrence of atrial fibrillation after electrocardiography, which is related to poor quality of patient self - care and lack of knowledge, recurs even a few days after the check-out period. Although complications are rare, the quality of care needs to be assessed and improved to reduce this risk. The aim of the work is to asses the care of patients after electrocardiography. Research question: What is the care for patients after electrocardiography? The author has compiled literature on patient care after electrocardiography and analyzed recommendations and research from other countries. Has performed the analysis and application of Virginia Henderson's theory of nursing in connection with the research topic, as well as summarized and analyzed the results of the research. In the empirical part of the research, the author developed interview questions, conducted interviews with five hospital cardiology nurses with at least five years of experience and analyzed the results of the study using content analysis tables. The most important results of the research: Respondents evaluate the patient's objective and subjective condition, adapting to the care needs throughout the inpatient period. Verbal recommendations are provided to promote self-care, both inpatient and pre-check-out. Nurses facilitate communication by providing psycho-emotional support and the patient's knowledge of the treatment process. The work consists of 64 pages, 69 literature sources, 11 content analysis tables. Keywords: electrocardiography, patient, care process

MHD two-phase fluid flow and heat transfer with partial slip in an inclined channel

The aim of this paper is to investigate the velocity and thermal slip effects in MHD flow and heat transfer of two-phase viscous fluid. It is assumed that both the phases have different densities, viscosities and electrical conductivities. The fully developed flow governed by a constant pressure gradient is passing through an inclined channel having inclination f with horizontal axis. The electrical conductivity in phase I is assumed to be zero so that the constant applied magnetic field of strength B0 in the transverse direction only effect the fluid in phase II. The method of successive approximation is used to develop the analytic solution of order 1 for the developed dimensionless coupled ordinary differential equations. The main focus is to discuss the influence of velocity and thermal slip parameters and Hartmann number on the velocity and temperature profiles

Effects of porosity and mixed convection on MHD two phase fluid flow in an inclined channel.

The present study deals with the flow and heat transfer analysis of two immiscible fluids in an inclined channel embedded in a porous medium. The channel is divided in two phases such that a third grade fluid occupies the phase I and a viscous fluid occupies the phase II. Both viscous and third grade fluids are electrically conducting. A constant magnetic field is imposed perpendicular to the channel walls. The mathematical model is developed by using Darcy's and modified Darcy's laws for viscous and third grade fluids respectively. The transformed ordinary differential equations are solved numerically using a shooting method. The obtained results are presented graphically and influence of emerging parameters is discussed in detail