Hierarchical modulation with signal space and transmit diversity in Nakagami-m fading channel.

M. Sc. Eng. University of KwaZulu-Natal 2013.Hierarchical modulation (HM) is a promising scheme for wireless image and video transmission, exploiting the benefits of unequal error protection to ensure enhanced system performance. However, there is a limiting factor to the benefits of using only hierarchy to improve bit error rate (BER) performance of a transmission system. Diversity, namely signal space diversity (SSD) and Alamouti transmit diversity (ATD), can be introduced to improve BER performance results for HM systems. This dissertation presents the BER analysis of hierarchically modulated QAM with SSD and using maximal ratio combining (MRC) to retrieve the transmitted symbol from receiver antennas. In addition, the study includes the BER analysis of an identical system in an ATD scheme employing two transmit antennas and receiver antennas with MRC. SSD comprises of two fundamental stages: constellation rotation and component interleaving. The angle at which the constellation is rotated can affect the performance of the system. In the past, the rotation angle is determined based on a design criterion which maximizes the diversity order by minimizing the Euclidean square product or, alternatively, minimizes an SER expression. In this dissertation, a simple method for determining a rotation angle at which system performance is optimal for hierarchical constellations is presented. Previously, the BER analysis for HM involves an intricate approach where the probability of an error occurring is determined by considering the probability of a transmitted symbol exceeding past a set decision boundary. This dissertation presents the Nearest Neighbor (NN) union bound approach for determining an accurate approximation of the BER of an HM system with SSD. This method of analysis is later extended for an ATD scheme employing HM with SSD. Although introducing diversity elevates the system performance constraints on HM, it does so at the cost of detection complexity. To address this issue, a reduced complexity maximum-likelihood (ML) based detector is also proposed. While the conventional ML detector performs an exhaustive search to find the minimum Euclidean distance between the received symbol and all possible modulated symbols, the proposed detector only considers the nearest neighbors of the received symbol. By reducing the number of comparisons, a complexity reduction of 51.43% between the proposed detector and the optimal detector for 16-QAM is found

Efficacy of the Epidural Blood Patch for the Treatment of Post Epidural Puncture Headache

Objective: to evaluate the efficacy of the epidural blood patch for the treatment of post lumbar puncture headache (PEDPH). Methodology: This cross sectional study was conducted in the department of anesthesia and intensive care Nishtar hospital, Multan and Bahwal Victoria hospital Bahwalpur from August 2018 to April  2019. Collected Information was entered in SPSS computer software version 23.1 and analyzed for possible results. Mean and SD was calculated and presented for quantitative data like maternal age. Frequency (percentages) were calculated and presented for qualitative data such as gender, ASA status and efficacy (good/poor). Post stratification statistical chi square test was used to see effect modification. P value ≤ 0.05 was considered as significant. Results: Overall, there were 100% (n=326) patients in this study. There were 57.1% (n=186) males and 42.9% (n=140) females. ASA-1 and ASA-2 noted as 73.3% and26.7% respectively. The main outcome of this study was efficacy of treatment. It was observed that, after 1st patch, efficacy was noted as good in 75.8% (n=247) patients, while after 2nd patch it was good in 97.5% (n=318) patients (Table 3).There was significant difference between the efficacy of 1st and 2nd patch. (χ2 = 17.879 DF = 1, P value=0.000). Conclusion: Results of our study concluded that epidural blood patch (EDBP) is the better choice for treatment of epidural puncture headache (EDPH).  If one time it is incompletely effective its 2nd patch can be considered. Keywords: Headache, Epidural puncture, Blood patch, Effectiveness. DOI: 10.7176/JMPB/65-06 Publication date: April 30th 202

Number of Hofbauer Cells in Placentae from Normal and Pre Eclamptic Gestation

Background:. To compare the number ofHofbauer cell in placenta from normal pregnancywith placenta complicated by pre eclampsiaMethods: For this comparative study, fiftyplacentae were taken from normotensive mothers(Normotensive group) and fifty placentae were takenfrom mothers with hypertension (Hypertensivegroup). Placentae were fixed in formalin for 48hours. Placentae were divided into four parts, afterfixation and 5mm tissue was taken from the center ofrandomly selected two parts. After tissue processingand staining, number of Hofbauer cells wascounted in both groups.Results: The number of Hofbauer cells wasincreased in hypertensive group. The quantitativedifference between number of Hofbauer cells innormotensive and hypertensive groups werestatistically significant.Conclusion: Number of Hofbauer cells wasincreased in hypertensive group and it may be theresult of placental hypoxia which is a commonfinding in pre eclampsi

Comparing the Efficacy of Postoperative Diclofenac Suppository with Intramuscular Diclofenac in Children under going Inguinal Hernia Surgery

Objective: To compare the analgesic effect of postoperative Diclofenac suppository with intramuscular Diclofenac in children undergoing inguinal hernia surgery. Methodology: This study was held in Paeds Surgery Department, Nishtar Hospital Multan, Bahawal Victoria hospital Bahawalpur. from August 2018 to March 2019. Total no. of 160 patients were divided into two groups, one receiving diclofenac suppository group DS and the other which was group DI received intramuscular diclofenac injection. Numerical variables like age and weight were analyzed statistically by taking their mean and standard deviation while the outcome variable i.e. severity of pain was assessed through facial expressions as no pain, mild, moderate and severe pain in frequency percentage at 0, 2 and 4 hours interval. Results: Total 160 patients were divided into 2 groups equally, 80 in each (DS & DI). There was no significant difference in the efficacy of diclofenac suppository and diclofenac intramuscular when calculated at 0, 2 and 4 hours interval. When Chi-Square was applied to determine the association, it was observed that pain severity was significantly associated with age. But the association of pain severity with weight and with time intervals in two groups was not statistically significant.  Conclusion: From this study we conclude that there is no significant difference between the postoperative analgesic effect of either suppository or intramuscular diclofenac but suppository route has an advantage over intramuscular in that it is easier and safer, less prone to injury, easy to administer and has longer duration of action, especially preferable in pediatric patients. Keywords: Children, diclofenac Sodium, inguinal Hernia, intramuscular, suppository DOI: 10.7176/JMPB/65-05 Publication date: April 30th 202

Role of Pakistani Press in Constructing National Identity with Reference to India

Drawing upon social identity theory and Ruth Wodak's framework of national identity construction, this study analyzes role of Pakistani indigenous media in positioning Pakistan's national identity in relation to India. The framework of analysis comprised of positive self-representation of Pakistan and negative other-representation of India. While applying mixed methods approach, content analysis and discourse analysis were carried out. The researcher selected Pakistani leading daily English and Urdu newspapers including Dawn, Jang, Nawa-i-Waqt, and The News. Systematic sampling technique was used to draw the sample for this study. Unit of analysis was news story published in the newspapers regarding Pakistan India issues. Ruth Wodak and Van Dijk's principles of linguistic and discourse analysis were adapted and utilized. Results show that Pakistani English and Urdu press positioned positive identity of Pakistan as confident, resilient, and peaceful self in comparison to India

Optimized production of tannase and gallic acid from fruit seeds by solid state fermentation

Purpose: To investigate the possibility for gallic acid production from different tannin-rich fruit seeds using Aspergillus oryzae via solid-state fermentation. Methods: Fruit seeds of apple, guava, tamarind, black plum and watermelon were analyzed to estimate the synthesis of an enzyme tannase and its product gallic acid. Various physicochemical parameters were optimized to increase the gallic acid yield. Gallic acid was extracted by Soxhlet apparatus and identified by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). It was quantitatively determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Results: Amongst the various substrates tested, black plum seeds gave the highest activity of 34.40 U/g for tannase and 16.66 mg/g for gallic acid under optimized physicochemical conditions, i.e., 1:3 substrate: moisture ratio, 30 °C, 96 h incubation period and pH 5.5. Addition of carbon source had a negative effect on production while ammonium sulphate (0.2 %) as nitrogen source increased the yield of both products. The gallic acid produced was 98.5 % pure, compared to the standard. Conclusion: Production of tannase and gallic acid via solid-state fermentation conditions has been optimized in vitro. The optimized conditions can be utilized on a commercial scale for economically viable production of gallic acid

A Quality-of-Things model for assessing the Internet-of-Things\u27 nonfunctional properties

© 2019 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. The Internet of Things (IoT) is in a “desperate” need for a practical model that would help in differentiating things according to their nonfunctional properties. Unfortunately, despite IoT growth, such properties either lack or ill-defined resulting into ad hoc ways of selecting similar functional things. This paper discusses how things\u27 nonfunctional properties are combined into a Quality-of-Things (QoT) model. This model includes properties that define the performance of things\u27 duties related to sensing, actuating, and communicating. Since the values of QoT properties might not always be available or confirmed, providers of things can tentatively define these values and submit them to an Independent Regulatory Authority (IRA) whose role is to ensure fair competition among all providers. The IRA assesses the values of nonfunctional properties of things prior to recommending those that could satisfy users\u27 needs. To evaluate the technical doability of the QoT model, a set of comprehensive experiments are conducted using real data sets. The results depict an acceptable level of the QoT estimation accuracy

Association of Serum PSA Levels with Histopathological Pattern of Prostate Lesions

Background: Pathological changes that mainly affect prostate gland are prostatitis, benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and cancerous lesions. Digital rectal examination (DRE), Transrectal Ultrasonography (TUS), and prostate specific antigen (PSA) followed by histopathological examination, are routinely used tests for diagnosis of prostate lesions. The aim of the present study is to determine the role of serum PSA levels in differentially diagnosing the different types of prostate lesions.Material and Methods: This retrospective (observational) study was conducted in Ibn-e-Sina Hospital Multan. Data of 2189 patients who were operated from 2007 to 2017 due to prostatic lesions were included in this analysis. Patients with BPH, prostatitis, prostate carcinoma and Prostatic Intraepithelial Neoplasia (PIN) were grouped according to serum PSA levels (ranging from 0 to >100 ng/ml) into five groups. Frequencies and percentages were calculated for different histopathological findings. Association of PSA levels with different histological patterns was determined with chi-square test with P-value < 0.05 taken as significant difference.Results: Mean age of patients was 62.45+10.64 years. On histopathology, BPH was diagnosed in 1676 (76.56%) patients, prostatitis in 133 (6.07%), carcinoma in 378 (17.26%) and PIN in 02 (0.09%) patients, respectively. Serum PSA levels of 4.01-10 ng/ml were found in 1050 (62.64%) BPH patients and in 59 (44.36%) prostatitis patients. Serum PSA levels of 10.01-20 ng/ml were found in only 40 (2.4%) BPH patients, 47 (35.33%) prostatitis patients, 22 (5.82%) carcinoma patients and in 1 (50.0%) PIN patient. Serum PSA levels of 20.01-100 ng/ml were found in 32 (1.9%) BPH patients, 11 (8.27%) prostatitis patients, 302 (79.89%) carcinoma patients, and in 1 (50.0%) PIN patient. Serum PSA levels of >100 ng/ml were absent in patients with BPH and PIN, and present in 1 (0.75%) prostatitis and 54 (14.28%) carcinoma patients.Conclusion: Benign prostatic hyperplasia was the commonest lesion in our patients (76.56%) with serum PSA levels >10 ng/ml reported in all patients with prostate carcinoma and prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN) patients

Antiulcerogenic Activity of Vitamin E on Gastric Ulcers produced by Indomethacin

Objective: To study the morphological and histological effects of vitamin E on gastric lesions produced by indomethacin.Materials and Methods: This was an animal interventional study, 48 adult healthy albino mice were selected and were split into four groups A, B, C and D. Number of animals in each group was 12. Group A was categorized as control. Evion 400mg/kg was administered to Group B. Indocid 25mg/kg was given to group C. Indocid and Evion both (25mg/kg &400 mg/kg respectively) were administered to Group D. In all group, six animals were selected and treated for three days and rest for eight days with calculated doses of drugs. Mice were sacrificed and dissection was done 24 hours after the last dose. The stomach was identified, washed, and observed under dissecting microscope to study the number and shape of ulcers. The dimension of ulcers was measured under a compound microscope.Results: No ulcers were seen in groups A and B. 35 and 10 ulcers were observed in groups C and D respectively. The mean number of ulcers in groups C and D was statistically significant (p-value=0.000). In comparison to group D, Pindot, linear, Irregular, and punched-out ulcers were more prevalent in group C and were statistically significant (p-value < 0.05). The mean linear dimension of ulcers in group C was much greater than in group D. The mean dimension of ulcers in group C1 and C2 was 262.50µm and 232.5µm respectively. Whereas in group D1 and D2 given both Indocid and vitamin E the dimensions were 56.5µm and 50µm.Conclusion: Vitamin E has an anti-ulcerogenic effect on stomach mucosa by reducing the number and dimension of ulcers