Management and Complications of Arnold Chiari Hydrocephalus at Tertiary Health Care Center

Objective: to investigate the role of CT and MRI in diagnosis of Arnold chiari malformation of hydrocephalus and its treatment with VP shunt along with complications. Study Design: Prospective study Place and duration: Department of Neurosurgery, DG Khan Medical College from May 4, 2018 to May 4, 2019. Methodology: Fifty patients of congenital hydrocephalus who were not treated previously were selected. Detailed history about disease and clinical examination of patients was performed. Follow ups were done at neurosurgery OPD. SPSS software for data analysis was used and mean ± SD, frequency and percentages were calculated for variables. P value ≤0.05 was considered as significant. Results: Treatment in case of congenital hydrocephalus as VP shunt, intra-aneurysmal coiling, excision of meningomyelocele with VP shunt and suboccipital craniectomy + upper cervical laminectomy (scucl) were observed as 10%, 6%, 8% and 8% respectively.  Twelve percent of patients were not treated. Conclusion: CT and MRI are the main diagnostic tools for diagnosis of Arnold chiari malformation and VP shunt is the treatment of choice. Among complications of VP shunt infection of shunt and shunt block are the main complications

CHANGING US WAR POLITICS IN SOUTHWEST ASIA AND REGIONAL COOPERATION THROUGH CPEC

The changing dynamics of international politics with US military withdrawal from Afghanistan have affected the Southwest Asian geopolitical landscape. While international players have their interests, they involve regional and neighbouring states in their actions frequently; thus, regional complexities arise. Pakistan was engaged in peaceful execution of the US exit strategy from Afghanistan; however, it demanded an overall shift in policy in a changing regional environment. Besides, Pakistan's strategic and economic cooperation with China through CPEC has further enforced its prospects to be a significant player in regional politics. Pakistan's challenges are countering India's regional hegemonic designs and aggressiveness in Indian illegally occupied Kashmir, maintaining a neutral stance over the Iranian front vis-a-vis Saudi Arabia, and addressing the TTP factor. Despite international players' competition, Pakistan has multiple options for attaining balance through CPEC and shifting from competition to cooperation. This paper, therefore, analyses international players' security interests in the region and suggests openings for Pakistan through CPEC considering Regional Security Complex theory.   Bibliography Entry Gul, Saima, and Shamaila Farooq. 2021. "Changing US War Politics in Southwest Asia and Regional Cooperation through CPEC." Margalla Papers 25 (2): 91-97

Antineutrino-induced charge current quasi-elastic neutral hyperon production in ArgoNeuT

Doctor of PhilosophyDepartment of PhysicsTimothy A. BoltonThis dissertation presents the first topological study of the charge current quasi-elastic (CCQE) neutral hyperon production induced by antineutrinos in the ArgoNeuT detector, a liquid argon time projection chamber (LArTPC) at Fermilab, using 1.20 × 10²⁰ protons-on- target (POT), in the NuMI beam operating in the low energy antineutrino mode. The total cross section for the CCQE neutral hyperon production is reported at the mean production energy of 3.42 GeV. The event yield in data is consistent with the predicted cross section, σ = 2.7 × 10−40 cm²: σ(CCQE[subscript Λ0+Σ0] ) = (3.7 ± 1.9(stat.) ± 1.5 (sys.)) × 10⁻⁴⁰ cm². The study sets a 90% confidence level (C.L.) upper limit on the total cross section of CCQE neutral hyperon production: σ(CCQE[subscript Λ0+Σ0] ) < 7.3 ×10⁻⁴⁰ cm² at 90% C.L

Laws of Consumption - An Economic Construal

Consumption is one of the important variables of macro economics.  It is that part of income of a house hold which is not saved.  It plays a vital role in the economy; this is the reason that, Quran has given special emphasis on it and gives some basic laws in this regard.  Quran has warned the human being that your consumption is under observation of God and on the Day of Judgment questions will be asked about that.  Moreover it is also ordered that, do not waste your wealth in any way and consume it in the optimum manner.  In addition gratitude of wealth is also compulsory.  The way of gratitude is the obedience of laws of God.  Keywords: Quran; Verses, Consumption, Wastage; Obedience

Insight into COVID-19 responses and initiatives from Pakistan

The coronavirus pandemic is a rapidly evolving outbreak that has tremendously distressed people worldwide. The paper aims to present some key rapid responses and initiatives to COVID-19 undertaken in Pakistan. The information has been gathered by reviewing material and documents pertinent to COVID-19 in the context of Pakistan. The incidences of COVID-19 cases are gradually increasing; however, the case fatality rate is relatively lower in Pakistan as compared to developed countries. The government has taken massive actions, in terms of lockdowns, quarantine homes, testing facilities, closure of schools, and mass gatherings at places, to combat COVID-19. However, the measures seem to be insufficient due to the fear and stigma attached to it and the low socio-economic conditions. The government has launched initiatives, like Ehsaas cash dissemination programme, for the underprivileged families to address their basic needs; and philanthropic organisations are also coming forward to support these families. The spread of the pandemic is gradually increasing in Pakistan and we recommend strategies like increasing public awareness campaigns, improving screening capacity, and contact tracing to augment the efficiency of the current responses and initiatives

Easy-Weigh-Out: Design and Implementation of Internet of Things-based Smart Luggage System

The Internet of Things (IoT) has dominated the digital world by enabling thousands of physical devices to communicate with each other and share useful data over the Internet. With use cases spanning every sphere of modern life, the IoT is all set to revolutionize the traveling sector by extending services associated with safety, security, surveillance, tracking, comfort, and a lot more. This paper presents the design and implementation of a prototype Easy-Weigh-Out, based on the principles of the IoT which enables a user to run Android-based mobile application and view the weight of luggage and track its location without any contact with it. The hardware of the system is built around Arduino UNO microcontroller which interfaces with a load cell (20 kg) via A/D converter and a NEO-6M Global Positioning System (GPS) module for tracking of the bag. The system uploads data to a Cloud server using ESP8266 Wi-Fi module. Our results show the real-time weight and tracking of the bag at a click of a button as well as long-term data logging

Oral Health Status of Pregnant Women and their Referral to Dentist during Antenatal Period

AbstractObjective: The aim of this study was to assess oral health status of pregnant women and theirreferral to dentist during antenatal period.Methodology: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in Outpatient Department,(Gynae and Obs.) Jinnah Hospital Lahore, Pakistan after ethical committee approval. The sample sizewas calculated using formula for finite population and found to be 340 pregnant women who wereconveniently sampled and interviewed by using a self-administered questionnaire following verbaland written consent. Oral health status was examined clinically using dental mirror and Michiganprobe. Scoring was done using WHO oral health assessment form for adults, 2013 includingCommunity periodontal index, DMFT, and Dean's fluorosis index. Data was statistically analyzedusing SPSS version 24. Chi-square test was applied to compare categorical variables (p≤ 0.05 assignificant).Results: Total 236 (69.4%) out of 340 pregnant women had oral health problems. Only 11 (3.2%)participants were referred by the gynaecologist to dentist for their oral health issue. Out of 236participants, 67% had dental caries, 80.9% had gingival bleeding, 58.8% had gingival pockets, 41.7%had loss of attachment, 1.8% had dental erosions, 63.8% had dental fluorosis and 1.5% had oralmucosal lesions. The majority of pregnant women who participated in this study had lowsocioeconomic status (mean income PKR 20300±10304.14) reported with more oral health problems.Conclusion: As reported in this study, majority of pregnant women had oral health problems andonly few of them were referred to dentist by gynaecologist.Key Words: Pregnant women, Oral health status, Gynaecologist, Antenatal perio

Association Of Raised Serum Triglycerides With Incidence Of Pre-Eclampsia

Background: Pre-eclampsia, a serious multi-systemic pregnancy complication is estimated to occur in 5-10% of pregnancies worldwide. Objective: To determine the frequency of pre-eclampsia in pregnant females with hyper-triglyceridemia and to study its associations. Methodology: This Cross-sectional study was conducted at Gynecology Dept. Poly Clinic Hospital, Islamabad (March - Sept. 2022). Pregnant females of age 15-40 years, gestational age 13-20th weeks and singleton pregnancy were included. Known hypertensives, receiving lipid-lowering or anti-hypertensives, chronic kidney or liver disease, teenage pregnancies, primigravida, history of CVA, IHD, epilepsy or endocrine disorders were excluded. After the detailed clinical evaluation, fasting serum triglyceride levels were checked. A total of 225 cases with elevated serum triglycerides were finally selected and evaluated for the presence of pre-eclampsia by monitoring the blood pressure, cardiovascular, gynaecological examination and urine for the presence of proteinuria. Patients were followed till the development of pre-eclampsia or completion of pregnancy.  Results: Among 225 pregnant females with raised serum triglycerides, the mean age was 24.28+5.5 years. Pre-eclampsia was observed in 47(20.89%) of patients.  The Chi-square tests of association between pre-eclampsia and each of parity, residential status, and socio-economic status were insignificant while BMI and Gestational age were significant.  Conclusion: There is a high prevalence of pre-eclampsia in pregnant women with hypertriglyceridemia. Serum triglyceride levels may predict the women at risk for pre-eclampsia. The risk of preeclampsia in women with hyper-triglyceridemia is independent of parity, and socioeconomic or residential status. Hypertriglyceridemia may predispose to pre-eclampsia even at lower BMI levels. The development of hypertriglyceridemia in early gestation may be an additional risk factor. Early screening of women at risk may lead to better outcomes

First observation of low energy electron neutrinos in a liquid argon time projection chamber

Citation: Acciarri, R., Adams, C., Asaadi, J., Baller, B., Bolton, T., Bromberg, C., . . . ArgoNeu, T. C. (2017). First observation of low energy electron neutrinos in a liquid argon time projection chamber. Physical Review D, 95(7), 15. doi:10.1103/PhysRevD.95.072005The capabilities of liquid argon time projection chambers (LArTPCs) to reconstruct the spatial and calorimetric information of neutrino events have made them the detectors of choice in a number of experiments, specifically those looking to observe electron neutrino (nu(e)) appearance. The LArTPC promises excellent background rejection capabilities, especially in this "golden" channel for both short and long baseline neutrino oscillation experiments. We present the first experimental observation of electron neutrinos and antineutrinos in the ArgoNeut LArTPC, in the energy range relevant to DUNE and the Fermilab Short Baseline Neutrino Program. We have selected 37 electron candidate events and 274 gamma candidate events, and measured an 80% purity of electrons based on a topological selection. Additionally, we present a separation of electrons from gammas using calorimetric energy deposition, demonstrating further separation of electrons from background gammas

Mental health challenges and psycho-social interventions amid COVID-19 pandemic: A call to action for Pakistan

The increase in death and spread-related coronavirus (COVID-19) has shifted the world focus to the containment of the disease by emphasising measures to prevent spread in the general population. Such a complex, threatening, and unprecedented situation has left the psycho-social wellbeing needs of general public unaddressed. This paper aims to review the current COVID-19 scenario and its effects on the psycho-social wellbeing of people; and an attempt to shed some light on the aforementioned questions. Furthermore, the review will propose some recommendations for overcoming the mental illness issues, during and after the COVID-19 outbreak. We extracted information from reliable published international and national literature and reviewed anecdotes from media content from January to June 2020. The mental health implications of this outbreak will be long-lasting; however, by prioritising, investing diligently, and taking a collective approach, this challenge can be dealt with in a promising manner