Planting Trees in Drought Fields: A Story of Tree Planting with Children in an Elementary School in Pakistan

This story is about my experiences of getting children involved in tree planting activities in a school setting. This tree planting activity was carried out in a primary school. This is a Government Girls Elementary School situated in a village Mohra Mari, Tehsil Gujar Khan, District Rawalpindi. This school is a part of the Union Council Kauntrilla in Punjab Province in Pakistan. Tree planting activities in the school were organized by the school staff, students along with their parents who also participated as part of tree plantation campaign. Considering the important role that trees can play in protecting societies and the local communities, the tree planting activities are considered a useful curriculum resource for young children providing them hands on learning experiences in countries like Pakistan

Frequency of erectile dysfunction in COPD patients

Objective: Objective of study was to investigate the frequency of erectile dysfunction in COPD patients. Methods: This cross sectional study was conducted in pulmonology department of Nishtar Hospital Multan. 336 outpatients diagnosed as COPD according to Global Initiative of Chronic Lung Disease criteria, were included by non-probability consecutive sampling from February 2016 to august 2016 after taking the approval from ethics committee of the institution. Written consent of the study was signed by all patients. All patients were divided in mild, moderate, severe and very severe form of COPD on basis of FEV1. All patients completed International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) Questionnaire. Data was analyzed by using SPSS vol 23. Numerical variables like age, BMI and duration of COPD were statistically analyzed by using their mean and standard deviation and t-test was used to check their significance. Non numerical variables like area of living, income status, smoking status and different stages of COPD were statistically analyzed by using their frequency and chi square test was applied to check the significance. P value <0.05 was taken as significance. Results: Overall, 100% (n=336) male patients were included, in this study. The main outcome variable of this study was Erectile Dysfunction (ED). Classification of erectile dysfunction was noted as no, mild, moderate and severe as 32.7% (n=110), 23.5% (n=79), 16.4% (n=55) and 27.4% (n=92) respectively. Classification of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) was observed as mild, moderate, severe and very severe as 5.1% (n=17), 45.8% (n=154), 32.1% (n=108) and 17% (n=57) respectively. No association was found between erectile dysfunction and area (p=0.484), stratified age (p=0.970), stratified BMI (p=0.283), except income (p=0.000) and smoking status (p=0.000) Conclusion: Erectile dysfunction is hidden and under discuss comorbidity in COPD patients. There is significant prevalence of erectile dysfunction in COPD patients. All respiratory physicians should ask and investigate erectile dysfunction in COPD patients. All patients of COPD should be encouraged to share their sexual problems. Key words: COPD, Erectile dysfunction, sexual functio

FAB: Fast Angular Binary Descriptor for Matching Corner Points in Video Imagery

Image matching is a fundamental step in several computer vision applications where the requirement is fast, accurate, and robust matching of images in the presence of different transformations. Detection and more importantly description of low-level image features proved to be a more appropriate choice for this purpose, such as edges, corners, or blobs. Modern descriptors use binary values to store neighbourhood information of feature points for matching because binary descriptors are fast to compute and match. This paper proposes a descriptor called Fast Angular Binary (FAB) descriptor that illustrates the neighbourhood of a corner point using a binary vector. It is different from conventional descriptors because of selecting only the useful neighbourhood of corner point instead of the whole circular area of specific radius. The descriptor uses the angle of corner points to reduce the search space and increase the probability of finding an accurate match using binary descriptor. Experiments show that FAB descriptor’s performance is good, but the calculation and matching time is significantly less than BRIEF, the best known binary descriptor, and AMIE, a descriptor that uses entropy and average intensities of informative part of a corner point for the description

Methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus outbreak in a neonatal intensive care unit

The global and national burden of communicable and noncommunicable diseases continues to rise, thus making access to Healthcare workers (HCWs) colonized with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) may pose transmission risk to vulnerable patients including neonates. This study reports an MRSA outbreak in a level-II neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of a secondary care hospital in Pakistan. Once identified, an infection control team from the parent hospital visited the facility, risk factors were listed and infection control measures taken to control the outbreak. Screening cultures of NICU staff and environmental cultures from NICU were obtained for the presence of MRSA. Five neonates were positive for MRSA; one HCW was found to be colonized with MRSA, the antibiogram pattern of which matched with that of the outbreak strain. Decolonization of colonized HCWs and re-deployment from NICU to outpatient department were taken and the outbreak was declared over once no further MRSA cases were identified. Identification of an outbreak situation is the cornerstone for its control and multiple measures taken simultaneously help in curbing the outbreak. Although an epidemiological link was established with the HCW, a molecular link could not be proven

Cell Block Method: An Imperative Tool for Cytological Diagnosis of Oral Potentially Malignant Lesions

Globally, oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is one of the commonest reported malignancies usually arising from oral potentially malignant lesions (OPMLs) such as leukoplakia, erythroplakia, oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF) and oral lichen planus (OLP). Hence timely and early diagnosis of these disorders is of prime importance to halt their malignant transformation. A search of published works was done using the online databases of PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library”. Data from resource-constrained laboratory settings worldwide shows limited documentation of the efficacy of advanced cytological techniques, including LBC and cell block preparations. The oral mucosa can be a suitable area for regular cytological screening due to its easy accessibility. Liquid-based cytology (LBC) can preserve the cellular details and reduce the overlapping of cells, enabling precise interpretation, reducing false-negative results and aiding in the diagnosis of premalignant and malignant lesions of the oral cavity with more accuracy compared to exfoliative cytology.  The remaining sample in LBC can be used in cell block formation and various ancillary tests like immunocytochemistry, immunofluorescence, and molecular studies. Literature showed a scarcity of data available regarding Pakistan. Therefore, the review is aimed to explore the cell block method as a minimally invasive technique for reducing morbidity and mortality associated with OSCC. Keywords: Cell Biology; Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Malignancy

Microbial Fuel Cell Formulation from Nano-Composites

Petroleum and oil industry is a rich source of nonrenewable energy that ultimately results in threatening of ecosystem due to emission of greenhouse gases into the environment. In the current panorama of the energy demand, industries focus on alternate and renewable energy resources to meet energy gaps. Thus, an expedient fuel cell based on microbes can be valued as an economical and ecofriendly substitute of energy generator. These microbial fuel cells have commercialized platinum electrodes to generate cost-effective energy after oxidation of organic wastes catalyzed by biocatalyst. Nowadays, conventional carbon electrode as an anode is taking popularity in microbial fuel cell but displays poor performance. So, to improve the chemistry of electrodes, nano-composites fabricated from polar polymeric material as well as cost-effective oxides of metals are the raw material. In this chapter, green synthesis of nano-composites from conducting polymers and oxides of transition metals has been discussed. Anode modification by composite to treat wastewater as well as its role to generate electricity has been discussed briefly

PHENOTYPIC AND GENOTYPIC CHARACTERISTICS OF PROGRESSIVE FAMILIAL INTRAHEPATIC CHOLESTASIS TYPE 3 IN PEDIATRIC POPULATION IN PAKISTAN

OBJECTIVE: To determine the phenotypic and genotypic characteristics of progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis (PFIC) type 3 in Pakistani children in a hospital setting. METHODS: This cross-sectional observational study was conducted at department of Pediatrics Gastroenterology & Hepatology, The Children’s Hospital Lahore, Pakistan from October 2020 to March 2021. Patients of either sex under 16 years of age presenting with jaundice, pruritus, neonatal cholestasis or with chronic liver and gamma glutamyl transferase >100 IU/ml were included in the study after taking informed consent by parents. For Molecular genetics 2ml blood in EDTA was sent to an international laboratory free of cost on research basis. Reports were assessed and levels were noted and genetic coding was also recorded. Data was entered and analyzed in SPSS version 22. Molecular data was interpreted with the help of clinical geneticist. RESULTS: Out of 34 children, 14 (41.2%) were males and 20 (58.8%) were females. Mean age of children was 6.71±3.10 years. Consanguinity was noted in 32 (94.1%) parents having positive family history in 24 (70.6%) cases. The most common mutation was c. 1783C>T p.(Arg595*),  noted in 12 (35.3%) cases, followed by c. 2861G>T p.(Gly954 ASP) [8 (23.5%) cases], c. 153G>A p.(Trp51) [3 (8.8%) cases], c. 1714 C>T p.(Gln572*) c. 1906C>T p. (Gln636), c. 3220G>A p.(Gly1074Arg, c. 3433del p. (val1145Leufsx7)  in 2 (5.9%) cases each, c. 3859 C>T p.(1287Argext*) c. 88-91del p.(Lys30gly fsx7) and c. 1429c>T p. (Gln477) in one (2.9%) case each. CONCLUSION: Children with PFIC type 3 have variable phenotypic and genotypic presentation

A Review on Strong Impacts of Thermal Stress on Plants Physiology, Agricultural Yield; and Timely Adaptation in Plants to Heat Stress

In this review, we checked the harsh influence of high temperature or heat stress on plant metabolism and crop yield. Plants can bear a minimum range of temperature; temperature more than this optimum range comes in the term of heat stress. Climate changes increase the number and severity of heat waves that reduced the development of plants and resulted in the death of the entire plant. Heat stress is a major stressful environment that destroys plant growth, biochemical reactions, and the yield of crops across the world. High-temperature influences many physiological and chemical reactions in plants. HS is now a big deal for crop production and the essential goal of agriculture is to maintain a high yield of crops. A plant lives in the conditions of high temperature based on its capacity to receive the HT stimulus, generate and change the signal, and then initiate physiological and biochemical changes. The plants show physiological and biochemical responses to heat the stress, is an active area of research. To deal with HT, different molecular techniques are in progress. After thoroughly reviewed of the different discoveries on plants’ responses, adaptation, and forbearance to HT at the cellular, organelles, and entire plant levels, this article described several approaches that could be taken to increase thermo- forbearance in plants

How to punish cyber criminals: a study to investigate the target and consequence based punishments for malware attacks in UK, USA, China, Ethiopia & Pakistan

Numerous research studies have highlighted the exponential growth of malware attacks worldwide, posing a significant threat to society. Cybercriminals are becoming increasingly merciless and show no signs of pity towards individuals or organizations. It is evident that cyber criminals will stop at nothing to gain unauthorized access to confidential information. To effectively combat malware attacks, strict cyber laws are necessary, and the use of malware is punishable in many countries. However, the literature has not addressed whether these penalties create deterrence or not. This research article has addressed this gap. In this study, the effectiveness of criminal laws related to malware-related crimes in various jurisdictions was analyzed using the doctrinal research methodology. The cyber laws of the USA, UK, Ethiopia, Pakistan, and China were examined to determine whether the penalties imposed for these crimes are appropriate given the severity of the harm caused. The study concludes that malware penalties should take into account the creation or use of malicious code, targeting individuals or organizations, and the magnitude of consequences, regardless of whether mens rea is present or not