Dynamic real-time hierarchical heuristic search for pathfinding.

Movement of Units in Real-Time Strategy (RTS) Games is a non-trivial and challenging task mainly due to three factors which are constraints on CPU and memory usage, dynamicity of the game world, and concurrency. In this paper, we are focusing on finding a novel solution for solving the pathfinding problem in RTS Games for the units which are controlled by the computer. The novel solution combines two AI Planning approaches: Hierarchical Task Network (HTN) and Real-Time Heuristic Search (RHS). In the proposed solution, HTNs are used as a dynamic abstraction of the game map while RHS works as planning engine with interleaving of plan making and action executions. The article provides algorithmic details of the model while the empirical details of the model are obtained by using a real-time strategy game engine called ORTS (Open Real-time Strategy). The implementation of the model and its evaluation methods are in progress however the results of the automatic HTN creation are obtained for a small scale game map

A Clinical Study of Newborns with Tachypnea: Frequency, Aetiologies and their Outcome

Aims & Objectives: To estimate the frequency, aetiologies and outcome of neonates admitted with Tachypnea in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) FGPC PGMI Islamabad.To identify the causes of Tachypnea in newborns, analyze outcome at present, and to plan better outcome in futureMaterials & Methods: A prospective study was conducted at Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of Federal Government Polyclinic Hospital PGMI from 1st June 2016 till 31st July 2017.Data were collected from all patients enrolled in the study during this period. Aim of our study is to identify the causes of Tachypnea in newborns, analyze outcome at present, and to plan better outcome in future.Results: Total 826 neonates were admitted, of which 248 were enrolled in the study. The frequency of tacyopnea was found to be 29.9%.The commonest causes of Tachypnea in our study were Respiratory distress syndrome 82 cases (33.1%), Transient Tachypnea of newborn 71 cases (28.6%) , Meconium Aspiration syndrome 31 cases (12.5%), Congenital heart disease 17 cases (6.8%).Cesearean section was the most common predisposing factor associated with development of  RDS & TTN( the two most common causes of respiratory distress in our study) 146 (58.9%) cases. The mortality rate of tacyopnea in our study was 103 cases (41.5%).Conclusion: Tachypnea is one of the most common problems encountered in neonatal ICUs of which RDS, TTN, MAS and CHD are the common ones. Prematurity, low birth weight neonates and neonates born via Cesearean section show a poorer outcome, needing advanced respiratory support and longer duration of hospital stay. Thus, timely decisions regarding the mode of delivery, prevention of preterm deliveries, and appropriate management of Tacyopnea may reduce neonatal mortality

Effect of Addition of Nebulized Magnesium Sulphate to Standard Therapy in Children with Severe Asthma

  Objective: To compare the outcome of addition of nebulized magnesium sulphate to the standard treatment in children with acute severe asthma. Methodology: The trial was undertaken at the emergency of Paediatrics Department, Federal Government Polyclinic (Post Graduate Medical Institute), Islamabad from 1st April to 30th September 2019.Children between 1 to 12 years of age with acute severe asthma were initially nebulized with salbutamol thrice and ipratropium once.All the patients were also given intravenous steroid.Those not responding to this treatment and still classified as acute severe asthma were randomly divided into two groups each having 38 patients.Each patient in Group A received 2.5 ml (150 mg) of isotonic magnesium sulphate via nebulizer, thrice20 minutes apart, while group B received 2.5 ml of isotonic saline via nebulizer, thrice20 minutes apart.Each nebulization also contained salbutamol. Yung Asthma Severity Score (ASS) was determined at the start of treatment, at30 minutes and at 60 minutes of treatment. Results: After 60 minutes, the mean Asthma Severity Score of children in group A was 6.95 ± 1.29 and 7.63 ± 1.03 in group B (p < 0.05). In group A, 18 (47.4%) children were discharged and 20 (52.6%) were admitted in the hospital. In group B, 7 (18.4%) children were discharged while 31 (81.6%) were admitted in the hospital (p < 0.05). Conclusion: It is concluded that nebulized magnesium sulphate along with salbutamol can give a better outcome than salbutamol alone in children with acute severe asthma

Automated planning for pathfinding in real-time strategy games

This thesis is focused on the design of a new path planning algorithm to solve path planning problems in dynamic, partially observable and real-time environments such as Real-Time Strategy(RTS) games. The emphasis is put on fast action selection motivating the use of Monte-Carlo planning techniques. Three main contributions are presented in this thesis. The first contribution is a Monte-Carlo planning technique, called MCRT, that performs selective action sampling and limits how many times a particular state-action pair is explored to balance the trade-off between exploration of new actions and exploitation of the current best action. The thesis also presents two variations of MCRT as the second contribution. The first variation of MCRT randomly selects an action as a sample at each state seen during the look-ahead search. The second variation, called MCRT-CAS, performs the selective action sampling using corridors. The third contribution is the design of four real-time path planners that exploit MCRT and its variations to solve path planning problems in real-time. Three of these planners are empirically evaluated using four standard pathfinding benchmarks (and over 1000 instances). Performance of these three planners is compared against two recent rival algorithms (Real-time D*-Lite (RTD) and Local Search Space-Learning Real-Time A* (LSS-LRTA)). These rival algorithms are based on real-time heuristic search. The results show that a variation of MOCART, called MOCART-CAS, performs action selection significantly faster than the rival planners. The fourth planner, called the MG-MOCART planner, is evaluated using a typical Real-Time Strategy game. The MG-MOCART planner can solve the path planning problems with multiple goals. This planner is compared against four rivals: Upper Confidence bounds applied to Trees (UCT), LSS-LRTA, Real-Time Dynamic Programming (RTDP) and a rapidly-exploring random tree (RRT) planner. The performance is measured using score and planning cost. The results show that the MG-MOCART planner performs better than its rival techniques with respect to score and planning cost.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

Effect of Addition of Probiotics to Standard Treatment on Neonatal Jaundice

Objective: To compare the mean change in the bilirubin levels with addition of probiotics to standard treatment for the management of neonatal jaundice. Methodology: The randomized controlled trial was undertaken at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of the Paediatrics Department, Federal Government Polyclinic (Post Graduate Medical Institute), Islamabad from 1st April to 30th September 2019.  Neonates with hyperbilirubinemia requiring phototherapy were randomly divided into two groups, each having 30 patients. Group A received probiotics along with phototherapy while group B received phototherapy alone. Primary outcome was serum total bilirubin, which was calculated on 0, 1 and 3 days of treatment. Duration of phototherapy and patient's outcome was also recorded. Data was analyzed statistically using SPSS v. 23. Results: The mean serum bilirubin level after 24 hours was 14.27 ± 4.35 mg/dl in combination group while 16.43 ± 4.36 mg/dl in phototherapy group (p > 0.05). After 48 hours, the mean serum bilirubin level was 12.37 ± 3.33 mg/dl in combination group while 14.09 ± 3.60 mg/dl in phototherapy group (p > 0.05). After 72 hours, the mean serum bilirubin level was 11.09 ± 2.87 mg/dl in combination group while 11.72 ± 2.96 mg/dl in phototherapy group (p > 0.05). The mean time required of blue light phototherapy was 43.47 ± 20.71 hours in combination group while 61.53 ±28.27 hours in phototherapy group (p < 0.05). All neonates were discharged. Conclusion: Addition of probiotics to standard treatment decreased the time required for the phototherapy in neonatal jaundice. However no statistically significant difference was seen in the bilirubin levels between the two groups

Determine the Severity of Acute Respiratory Infections by Using Pediatric Respiratory Severity Score (PRESS) in Children Visiting Federal Govt. Polyclinic hospital, Islamabad

Objective: To determine the severity of acute respiratory infections in children by using Pediatric Respiratory Severity Score (PRESS). Methodology: This descriptive cross sectional study was conducted at the outpatient and emergency paediatric department of the Federal Govt. Polyclinic hospital, Islamabad, from October 2017 to December 2019. One hundred and seventeen children with acute respiratory infections were enrolled in the study by a non-probability sampling technique. Epidemiologic variables of interest included age, sex, and breastfeeding or not. Clinical variables of interest included respiratory rate, use of accessory respiratory muscle, wheeze on auscultation, and oxygen saturation at room air.  PRESS assessed tachypnea, wheezing, accessory muscle use, SpO2 and feeding difficulties with each component given a score of 0 or 1, and the total score were categorized as a mild(0-1), moderate (2-3) or severe(4-5). Results: Out of 117 children, 98 (83.8%) belonged to the age group > 2 months– 12 months, while 19 (16.2%) belonged to the age group > 12 months– 24 months. Among them, 17 (14.5%) were mild, 53 (45.3%) were moderate, and 47 (40.2%) were severe according to their severity of respiratory distress. The hospitalization rate for moderate infection was 84.9% while 100% for severe infection and none of the patient with mild infection was hospitalized (p<0.001). Conclusion: Early assessment by simple bedside technique will help in managing the respiratory distress according to its severity, reducing the undue investigation and improving the outcome of illness. Moreover it can be easily administered at primary health care facilities for triage of pediatric patients with respiratory distress

Legitimacy and Significance of Art. 2A in the Constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan, 1973

Religion is a nearly common institution in humanity. It is found in all societies past and present. All the prehistoric societies have the influence of religions in their societies. Religion goes back to commencement of the culture itself. There is no primeval society without religion. It is social treatise that deals with familiarity and restraint. Religion is concerned with the shared beliefs and practices of human being. Allah being creator of this universe delegates his authority to those who owes it as a sacred trust in order to maintain peace and justice on this earth as per his commandments. Islam is an ideology sanctioned by revealed law. It is a way of life universal, humanitarian, eternal and egalitarian based on equality, fraternity, justice and liberty. Now, it is the duty of the state as well as the people of Pakistan to resort to the golden rules of Islam as enunciated by the Holy Quran and Muhammad (PBUH), in all fields of life. The key concern of this research is to evaluate the legitimacy of Art. 2A in the constitution of Pakistan and how is it practiced in Pakistan?&nbsp

Awareness to Handle Research and Healthcare Waste (RHCW) in teaching and research institutes; a comprehensive review

Environmental pollution has become the major challenge not only for developing countries but also for developed ones Worldwide. The major goal of this comprehensive review is to compile the reference data regarding the different types of waste generated in teaching, research, and healthcare institutes and specific strategy to manage such wastes. In addition to the pharmaceutical, leather, chemicals, food, and paper industries, teaching, research, and healthcare institutions are also significant sources of different types of Non-hazardous as well as hazardous wastes. Therefore, a simple and implementable guideline for cleaning and waste disposal services in such institutions requires strict adherence to applicable policies and procedures. Research and healthcare waste (RHCW) management is a joint effort among Research Laboratory Personnel, Healthcare facilitators, Building Services Personnel, and Local Environmental Health and Safety Personnel. As Pakistan is among the developing countries situated in South Asia, most of the institutes, including teaching, research, and healthcare, try to follow the WHO guidance or manage hazardous and non-hazardous wastes with self-planned strategies. Although most of the local Governing bodies and Institutional bodies are trying to handle the wastes at their levels by following different protocols, introducing a protocol at the National level is the need of the current era to fight against environmental pollutants.

Genetic Polymorphism of UDP-Glucuronosyltransferase

Genetic polymorphism is referred to the discontinuous interspecies genetic variability among individuals having distinct alleles on a particular locus. Genetic polymorphism of genes encoding drug-metabolizing enzymes constitutes individual’s susceptibility to drugs, affirmed by having discrete allelic frequencies by the individual, strengthening the concept of precision medicine. To combat with toxic consequences of drugs, the polymorphic genes associated with xenobiotic metabolism must be studied. Up to 70% xenobiotic elimination is believed to be dependent on UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT), an enzyme encoded by polymorphic UGT1A and UGT2B genes. Both bimodal and trimodal distribution patterns of UGT have been reported in various human populations studied. Genetic polymorphisms of UGT may even lead to truncated and shorter gene with grossly diminished enzymatic activity. The extent of phenotypic alteration inflicted by genetic polymorphisms depends on its nature and position on gene locus. The different isoforms of UGT superfamily differ from each other regarding substrate specificity and selectivity. The incidence of genetic polymorphisms and associated altered gene functions results in inter-individual variability in metabolic clearance and elimination of drugs. Hence, the critical interaction between genetics and biotransformation of drugs has recently been the focus of pharmacology research

Hepatoprotective effect of Cichorium Intybus linn (Kasni) Extracts against Carbon Tetrachloride induced Liver Damage

Background: To assess the effect of aqueous and alcoholic extracts of Cichorium intybus linn , frequently used by Hakims and traditional healers, on liver, against the carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) induced hepatic injury. Methods: In this experimental intervention study, forty rats were subdivided into four sub groups, ten in each group. Group I was kept as standard control. For this study three groups (II, III, IV) were made in which aqueous and alcoholic extract was given prior to hepatic damage by CCl4. Hepatoprotective effect was assessed by measuring serum levels of alanine transaminase(ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP). Results: Very significant hepatoprotective effect (p<0.001) was observed by alcoholic extract while aqueous extract showed no significant effect against CCl4 induced hepatic injury. Conclusion: Alcoholic extract of Cichorium intybus linn exhibits a very significant hepatoprotective effec