OPERATIONAL RESEARCH TOOLS IN IRRIGATION - A REVIEW

Operational research optimization is an old method for allocating scarce resources with maximum benefits and efficiency. With increasing global water scarcity, earliness and tiredness in demand base water supply, economical issues, maximizing crop per drop of water, OR is getting popular in irrigation and agriculture sector as well. This paper is intended to review different optimization techniques used so far in the field of irrigation.Key Words: Operation research, optimization, irrigation, water delivery, genetic algorithm, simulated annealing, fuzzy sets, swarm optimization

COMPARISON OF OUTCOMES OF ENDOSCOPIC MICRODISCECTOMY VERSUS CONVENTIONAL DISCECTOMY FOR LUMBER DISC DISEASES

Introduction: Chronic lumbosacral pain is a communal and difficult clinical condition at the center of pain management. The most common surgical indication is back pain or intractable and severe functional impairment that does not respond to conservative measures. In this study we have compared the results of endoscopic d microdiscectomy and conventional discectomy procedure. Material and Methods: We included 54 patients with severe lower back pain who did not improve after long-term conservative treatment and who had level 3 disc prolapse, radiating to one or both lower limbs. Oswestry Disability Index (For Low Back Pain) was documented with questionnaire comeback and applied as a clinical tool for valuation. Results: The average age of the 54 patients was 46 years and 75% of patients have paracentral disc protrusion. The mean endoscopic microdiscectomy surgery time was 110 minutes; was longer than conventional discectomy (82 minutes). However, blood loss was very small compared to conventional discectomy. According to the ODI result, both conventional and endoscopic discectomy gave same outcomes in all classes. Conclusion: Endoscopic microdiscectomy is a new, effective and safe procedure that reduces the invasiveness of the surgical approach. The results obtained by this approach are comparable with those obtained with open discectomy to alleviate symptoms during prolonged observation, and because the tissue has minimal trauma, it is much better in early mobilization and morbidity

Digestive cellulose hydrolyzing enzyme activity (endo- β–1, 4- D-glucanase) in the gut and salivary glands of blister beetle, Mylabris pustulata

Abstract.-Mylabris pustulata (blister beetle) was studied for the enzymes involved in hydrolysis of cellulose. Carboxy methyl cellulose hydrolyzing activity (endo-β-1, 4-D-glucanase) was detected in the salivary glands and fore gut, very little activity was present in the hind gut. The multiple forms of the enzyme activity were detected on zymogram after non-denaturing PAGE. One of the fractions was purified by gel filtration and preparative native PAGE. The purified protein appeared as single band on SDS-PAGE with a molecular weight of 150 kilo Dalton. The characteristics of the enzyme showed two optimum pH values, one acidic and one neutral 2.0 and 7. The optimum temperature for endo-β -D-1, 4-glucanase was 50 °C. The enzyme was maximum activity against carboxy methyl cellulose. Km and Vmax of the enzyme was determined as 0.6g/l and 0.3, respectively. To our knowledge this is first report on the digestive cellulose hydrolyzing activity of Mylabris pustulata

OPERATIONAL RESEARCH TOOLS IN IRRIGATION - A REVIEW

Operational research optimization is an old method for allocating scarce resources with maximum benefits and efficiency. With increasing global water scarcity, earliness and tiredness in demand base water supply, economical issues, maximizing crop per drop of water, OR is getting popular in irrigation and agriculture sector as well. This paper is intended to review different optimization techniques used so far in the field of irrigation.Key Words: Operation research, optimization, irrigation, water delivery, genetic algorithm, simulated annealing, fuzzy sets, swarm optimization

Progress on the national action plan of Pakistan on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) : a narrative review and the implications

Introduction: The emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a threat to public health. In 2015, the World Health Organization (WHO) introduced a global action plan to tackle AMR in the World Health Assembly. Pakistan’s national action plan (NAP) for AMR was released in May 2017 by the Ministry of National Health Services. Based on the NAP, strategies have been initiated on a national and provincial scale in Pakistan. Areas covered: This narrative review of the five components of the Pakistan NAP has been undertaken to discuss some of the challenges in implementation of the NAP for AMR in Pakistan including different opinions and views of key stakeholders, combined with suggestions on potential ways to reduce the burden of the AMR. Expert opinion: Going forward, healthcare authorities should focus on screening and monitoring of all the objectives of the NAP by establishing proper policies as well as promoting antimicrobial stewardship interventions and Infection prevention and control (IPC) practices. Overall, the comprehensive strengthening of the healthcare system is required to adequately implement the NAP, tackle continued inappropriate antimicrobial use and high AMR rates in Pakistan

Identification and characterization of antibacterial compound(s) of cockroaches (Periplaneta americana)

Infectious diseases remain a significant threat to human health, contributing to more than 17 million deaths, annually. With the worsening trends of drug resistance, there is a need for newer and more powerful antimicrobial agents. We hypothesized that animals living in polluted environments are potential source of antimicrobials. Under polluted milieus, organisms such as cockroaches encounter different types of microbes, including superbugs. Such creatures survive the onslaught of superbugs and are able to ward off disease by producing antimicrobial substances. Here, we characterized antibacterial properties in extracts of various body organs of cockroaches (Periplaneta americana) and showed potent antibacterial activity in crude brain extract against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and neuropathogenic E. coli K1. The size-exclusion spin columns revealed that the active compound(s) are less than 10 kDa in molecular mass. Using cytotoxicity assays, it was observed that pre-treatment of bacteria with lysates inhibited bacteria-mediated host cell cytotoxicity. Using spectra obtained with LC-MS on Agilent 1290 infinity liquid chromatograph, coupled with an Agilent 6460 triple quadruple mass spectrometer, tissues lysates were analyzed. Among hundreds of compounds, only a few homologous compounds were identified that contained isoquinoline group, chromene derivatives, thiazine groups, imidazoles, pyrrole containing analogs, sulfonamides, furanones, flavanones, and known to possess broad-spectrum antimicrobial properties, and possess anti-inflammatory, anti-tumour, and analgesic properties. Further identification, characterization and functional studies using individual compounds can act as a breakthrough in developing novel therapeutics against various pathogens including superbugs

Congenital vallecular cyst: A case report of rare cause of upper air way obstruction in infant

Congenital vallecular cyst is one of the rare etiologies of upper airway obstruction. Due to the scarcity of literature review, the exact incidence is not known. We report the case of a 10-month-old infant, who came to to Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH) for the first time with signs of upper airway obstruction; was initially misdiagnosed as foreign body aspiration for which an emergency bronchoscopy was performed that did not reveal any foreign body. The patient was then managed in the pediatric intensive care unit, where he was diagnosed as a congenital vallecular cyst on a subsequent laryngoscopy after extubation failure. The cyst was aspirated and cauterized by the ENT team. The patient was successfully extubated without any signs of upper airway obstruction. In evaluating a child with signs and symptoms of upper airway obstruction, it is crucial to consider not only common causes like foreign body, acute epiglottitis, and croup, but also rare factors such as laryngeal cysts

The Reflection of Edmund Burke’s Sublime in Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s Selected Poetry

This paper explores Edmund Burke’s concept ‘the sublime’ in Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s poetry. Coupled with his concept of ‘the beautiful’, Burke’s the sublime features conspicuous in creative arts. While beauty is an integral constituent or rather product of art, the sublime is no less desirable in amplifying a given piece of art. Unlike the beautiful, reflection of the sublime is considerably rare in poetry specifically the romantic. Coleridge is an exception in creating sublime effect in his poetry. His major poems especially The Rime of the Ancient Mariner and Kubla Khan not only reflect but almost embody the sublime as shown in this analysis. The secret of Coleridge’s fame as a supernatural poet owes largely to his use of the sublime. While the thematic critiques of Coleridge’s poetry are overshadowed by the supernatural, this brief textual analysis is an improvement in being different, entailing the sublime

The Reflection of Edmund Burke’s Sublime in Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s Selected Poetry

This paper explores Edmund Burke’s concept ‘the sublime’ in Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s poetry. Coupled with his concept of ‘the beautiful’, Burke’s the sublime features conspicuous in creative arts. While beauty is an integral constituent or rather product of art, the sublime is no less desirable in amplifying a given piece of art. Unlike the beautiful, reflection of the sublime is considerably rare in poetry specifically the romantic. Coleridge is an exception in creating sublime effect in his poetry. His major poems especially The Rime of the Ancient Mariner and Kubla Khan not only reflect but almost embody the sublime as shown in this analysis. The secret of Coleridge’s fame as a supernatural poet owes largely to his use of the sublime. While the thematic critiques of Coleridge’s poetry are overshadowed by the supernatural, this brief textual analysis is an improvement in being different, entailing the sublime. Keywords: sublime, beautiful, Burke, Coleridge, supernatura

Life-threatening complication of retropharyngeal abscess in an infant: a case report

Abstract Background Deep neck space infections are uncommon in infants. Retropharyngeal abscess (RPA) is a deep space neck infection that can present with subtle signs and symptoms. Delay in diagnosis can lead to life-threatening complications. Here we describe life-threatening complication of retropharyngeal abscess. Case presentation We report a life-threatening complication of retropharyngeal abscess in 10-month old Asian infant weighing 8.2 kg. The patient presented with fever, right-sided neck swelling, hoarseness of voice, and respiratory distress. The clinical and radiological findings were suggestive of airway obstruction complicated by retropharyngeal abscess. The patient was urgently taken to the operating room and underwent (grade 3) intubation. After stabilization, the patient underwent endoscopic trans-oral incision and drainage, during which 5 cc pus was aspirated. Antibiotics were prescribed for 2 weeks following the procedure based on the sensitivity result of the pus culture. Conclusion In retropharyngeal abscess, a delay in diagnosis can result in life-threatening complications. This report highlights the importance of prompt recognition of a threatened airway and the management of retropharyngeal abscess by emergency physicians. If an emergency physician suspects RPA with airway obstructions, the airway should be immediately secured in a secure environment by otolaryngologist and an anesthesiologist