First Record of Echinoparyphium recurvatum (Trematoda, Echinostomatidae) in Pakistan with New Avian Definitive Host, Vanellus leucurus

Parasitological examinations of White-tailed Lapwing Vanellus leucurus (Charadriiformes: Charadriidae) collected from Dadu district (Sindh Province, Southern Pakistan) were carried out at the Department of Zoology, University of Sindh, Jamshoro. A total of 64 trematodes belonging to the genus Echinoparyphium [1], were collected from the small intestine of two individual hosts. On the basis of the number and varying size of collar spines, number and size of ventral spines, body shape, arrangement of genital organs, distribution of vitellaria and other diagnostic characters, these trematodes were identified as Echinoparyphium recurvatum [2]. Our study provides the first Pakistan record of the trematode E. recurvatum with also the first record of V. leucurus as avian definitive host

Growth Responses of Fish During Chronic Exposure of Metal Mixture under Laboratory Conditions

Growth responses of five fish species viz. Catla catla, Labeo rohita, Cirrhina mrigala, Ctenopharyngodon idella and Hypophthalmichthys molitrix were determined, separately, under chronic exposure of binary mixture of metals (Zn+Ni) at sub-lethal concentrations (1/3rd of LC50) for 12 weeks. Randomized complete block design (RCBD) was followed to conduct this research work. The groups (10 fish each) of Catla catla, Labeo rohita, Cirrhina mrigala, Ctenopharyngodon idella and Hypophthalmichthys molitrix having almost similar weights were investigated for their growth responses and metals bioaccumulation patterns in their body organs during chronic exposure of Zn+Ni mixture. The bioaccumulation of metals in the fish body organs viz. gills, liver, kidney, fins, bones, muscle and skin were also determined before and after growth trails under the stress of metals mixture. The exposure of fish to sub-lethal concentrations of mixture caused significant impacts on the average wet weight increments of five fish species. Ctenopharyngodon idella and Labeo rohita attained significantly higher weights, followed by that of Hypophthalmichthys molitrix, Cirrhina mrigala and Catla catla. However, the growth of metals mixture exposed fish species was significantly lesser than that of control fish (un-stressed). Significantly variable condition factor values reflected the degree of fish well-beings that correlated directly with fish growth and metal exposure concentration. Any significant change in feed intake, due to stress, is reflected in terms of fish growth showing the impacts of metal mixture on fish growth were either additive or antagonist / synergistic. Accumulation of all the metals in fish body followed the general order: liver>kidney>gills> skin >muscle> fins >bones

Multidisciplinary Design Optimization (MDO) of Transonic Fan Blade

RÉSUMÉ La conception de pales d’un rotor est une tâche complexe et difficile en raison de l’écoulement transsonique, du large espace de design et de l’implication de plusieurs disciplines de l'ingénierie dans le but d’augmenter les performances de métriques multidisciplinaire tels que l'efficacité, le rapport de pression, le stress. Pour faire face à tous ces défis, une comparaison d’approches pour les optimisations aérodynamiques et multidisciplinaires automatisés (MDO) des pales de soufflante transsonique est présentée. Le processus de conception proposé intègre une méthode de paramétrisation géométrique des pales, une modélisation CAO et des outils d’analyse hautefidélité pour l'aérodynamique, la structure et la dynamique. Une méthode de paramétrisation de pales à multi-niveau a été utilisée pour modifier efficacement la géométrie de la pale avec un faible nombre de variables de conception. Le modèle CAO a été construit dans CATIA afin d'utiliser un modèle commun pour les analyses de structure et dynamiques. Le modèle des équations de Navier-Stokes (RANS) tridimensionnelles moyennées intégré au logiciel commercial CFD ANSYS CFX, a été utilisé pour l'analyse aérodynamique du rotor transsonique tandis qu’un modèle éléments finis (EF) implémenté sur ANSYS a été utilisé pour réaliser les analyses de structure et dynamique. Des algorithmes d'optimisation heuristiques et hybrides sont utilisés pour résoudre le problème d'optimisation de la forme des pales. La vérification des codes et des méthodes a été effectuée en comparant les résultats calculés à des données expérimentales disponibles dans la littérature pour le NASA Rotor 67, un cas test représentatif d'écoulement complexes en trois dimensions. Afin de vérifier la faisabilité du processus automatisé intégré dans l'optimisation, une optimisation aérodynamique visant à maximiser l'efficacité du point de conception tout en maintenant le débit massique et le rapport de pression constant, est élaboré et exécuté pour redessiner le cas de test Rotor 67. En outre, ce cas a aidé à sélectionner l'algorithme d'optimisation adapté à la résolution du problème et explorer l'espace de conception. Cependant, la conception de pale de soufflante transsonique est inévitablement un processus pluridisciplinaire qui nécessite la participation de nombreuses disciplines telles que l'aérodynamique, la structure, la dynamique, etc., au cours des différentes étapes du processus de conception. En outre, les procédures de conception actuelles impliquent une optimisation de la structure et de la dynamique après l’optimisation aérodynamique.----------ABSTRACT The design of current transonic fan blades is a complex and challenging task due to multifaceted transonic flow field, large design space and involvement of many engineering specialists to increase performance on multidisciplinary metrics such as efficiency, pressure ratio, stress. To tackle all these challenges, a comparison of approaches for the automated aerodynamic and multidisciplinary optimizations (MDO) transonic fan blades is developed. The developed design process integrates the fan blades geometrical parameterization method, CAD modeling and highfidelity analysis tools for aerodynamics, structure and dynamics disciplines. A multi-level parameterization method of fan blade was utilized to efficiently modify the blade geometry with a low number of design variables. The CAD model was built in CATIA, to use a common model for structure and dynamic analyses. The three-dimensional Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) equations based commercial software ANSYS CFX was used for aerodynamic analysis of transonic rotor; whereas Finite Element (FE) analysis based commercial software ANSYS Mechanical was used to conduct the structure and dynamic analyses. Heuristic and hybrid optimization algorithms are employed to solve the fan design optimization problem. The capability of the codes and methodologies was validated by comparing the computed results to experimental data available in the open literature for NASA Rotor 67, a test case representative of complex three-dimensional flow structures in transonic blade design problems. In order to verify the feasibility of automated integrated optimization working flow, an aerodynamic optimization aiming to maximize the design point efficiency while maintaining the mass flow rate and pressure ratio, is formulated and executed to redesign a test case. It further helped to select the suitable optimization algorithm and explore the design space. However, transonic fan blade design is inevitably a multidisciplinary process which requires involvement of many disciplines such as aerodynamics, structure, dynamics, etc., during different stages of design process. In addition, the current design procedures involved the structure and dynamic disciplines optimization after aerodynamic discipline i.e. a sequential discipline optimization. The main drawback of this procedure is that a good aerodynamic design might not satisfy the structural and dynamic design requirements which make this design procedure an iterativ

Driver Fatigue Detection using Mean Intensity, SVM, and SIFT

Driver fatigue is one of the major causes of accidents. This has increased the need for driver fatigue detection mechanism in the vehicles to reduce human and vehicle loss during accidents. In the proposed scheme, we capture videos from a camera mounted inside the vehicle. From the captured video, we localize the eyes using Viola-Jones algorithm. Once the eyes have been localized, they are classified as open or closed using three different techniques namely mean intensity, SVM, and SIFT. If eyes are found closed for a considerable amount of time, it indicates fatigue and consequently an alarm is generated to alert the driver. Our experiments show that SIFT outperforms both mean intensity and SVM, achieving an average accuracy of 97.45% on a dataset of five videos, each having a length of two minutes

A Study on Length-Weight Relationships (LWR) and Growth Responses of Major Carps Exposed to Lead (Pb)

A group of Catla catla, Labeo rohita and Cirrhina mrigala, was exposed to sub-lethal concentrations of lead, separately, in glass aquaria whereas other another group was kept un-stressed as a control. The duration of trail was for 30 days. Both stressed and unstressed fish species were transferred to earthen ponds to rear, separately, for six months. After this exposure period, their growth performance in terms of weight, fork and total length were investigated at final harvest. Analysis of Variance and regression were applied to find out length and weight relationship of three fish species. Among three fish species Cirrhina mrigala gained maximum weight of 53.76± 7.39 g that varied significantly (p<0.05) from that of Labeo rohita (41.7± 9.48 g) but similar to the weight gains of Catla catla (52.65± 9.40 g). Fork and total length increments were observed significantly (p<0.05) higher in Cirrhina mrigala followed by that of Catla catla and Labeo rohita. Regarding length-weight relationship, all the three lead stressed fish species showed allometric growth. It was concluded that this investigation could stoutly be supportive to the researchers and policy makers for the preparation of very effectual sustainable management plans of fishery resources for the riverine systems

Evolution of Blood Banks of Islamabad in Ten Years (2006 -2016)

Objectives:  To assess the evolution of screening and associated practices in blood banks of Pakistan between 2006 & 2016 through a study in Islamabad. To identify shortcomings that still remain and discuss their fallouts on TTIs while suggesting practical improvements.Methodology: Data was collected twice, once in 2006 and then 10 years later, using structured questionnaires and specifically prepared checklists. Both public and private sector Blood banks of Islamabad were included in our survey.Results: Overall, practices were observed to have improved considerably with time. It was observed that 65% blood banks in Islamabad were screening samples for all five viral diseases i.e. HIV (Human immunodeficiency virus), Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and Hepatitis C virus (HCV), Malaria and Syphilis in 2016; reflecting significant improvement in TTI coverage as compared to 2006 when only 22 % blood banks were found screening for all five markers.  Though variations in the parameters being screened, techniques being employed, procedures being followed and care being exercised by different blood banks still existed, improvement in these aspects was also evident.Conclusion: The study revealed that screening & associated practices in vein - vein transmission chain have improved considerably in 10 years. Although both public and private sector blood banks were still found to have some issues even in 2016; the gaps identified in the screening practices are very bridgeable now. Bridging these gaps can go a long way in preventing TTIs

Negative predictive value of ultrasound in predicting tumor-free margins in specimen sonography

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the success of ultrasound in post-excision specimen visualization, and negative predictive value of ultrasound for estimation of tumor-free margins using histopathology as the gold standard. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional analytical study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan, from May 2010 till January 2013. METHODOLOGY: Sonography of all breast nodules was done before and after exicision by two female radiologists with at least five years clinical experience. All surgeries were performed by the same referring breast surgeons. All nodules were non-palpable and had histopathology as well as specimen sonography performed at AKUH. Subjects were excluded, if histopathology was not available, post-procedure sonogram not done or done in another hospital and nodules that were not seen on ultrasound. After needle localization in 47 patients using ultrasound and in 7 patients using mammogram was done, sonogram was conducted in all 54 lesions. These were then assessed by ultrasound for detection of lesion and tumor-free margins in malignant lesion. Post-excision ultrasound was performed for the evaluation of lesion whether visualized or absent with localizing needle in situ, lesion dimensions, depth measurement between the superior margin of the lesion and its edge. RESULTS: All 54 lesions were present on post-exicison scan, out of which 28 were documented as malignant and 26 as benign. Ultrasound declared all specimens as tumor-free. On histopathology, two lesions were documented as having tumor-positive margins and were proven to be invasive lobular carcinoma. Therefore, the negative predictive value of the specimen sonography for margin detection was 26/28 (92.8%). CONCLUSION: Ultrasound of the excised breast tumor specimen is a simple and reliable technique for confirmation of the tumor-free margins in non-palpable breast lesions

Effects of environmental factors on the physiology and development of honey bees

Environmental aspects have a substantial impact on the physiological and morphological attributes of social bees. Living organisms including plants, animals, and human are much influenced by the environment. Environmental factors including temperature, nutrition, light, beehive conditions and social interactions are compelling agents in alteration of morphology, development, and health of honeybees. Beekeeping may also be at risk due to climate change effect on agriculture, which appears to be a major concern for the sector. Temperature variations impair the honeybee colony's internal functions, including food storage, brood rearing, and social stability. Colony collapse has been caused by nutritional stress brought on by habitat loss, infestation by various pests and diseases, and chemical exposure. The honeybees decline, queens are replaced, and eventually the colony breaks down and dies by the viruses and parasites. Foraging behaviour is influenced by temperature as activity levels drop as the temperature rises. The foraging activity peaked at 20° C and peaked at 43° C. Like humans, nutrition affects the gut microbiome of bees, makes them more susceptible to disease, shortens their life span, and is the primary factor in the collapse of honeybee colonies. Comprehensive investigation on the influence of environmental changes on honeybee condition and protection against hazardous environmental circumstances. It has been shown that since the start of industrialization, a variety of causes threatened honeybees’ lives. The protection of bees and biodiversity is an urgent matter of concern and demands serious efforts from different stake holders to play their legitimate role

Biomarkers of Metabolic Syndrome in Cardiomyopathy: A Leading Cause of Heart Failure

Cardiomyopathy is a disease of the heart muscle, which makes the muscles harder to pump blood to the rest of the body leading to heart failure. The main types of cardiomyopathies include dilated cardiomyopathy, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, ischemic cardiomyopathy, arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia, restrictive cardiomyopathy, and Takotsubo cardiomyopathy. On the other hand, Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is the clustering of different medical conditions, which requires at least three of the five following diseases. These diseases are high blood sugar, high blood pressure, high serum triglycerides, low serum high-density lipoprotein, and central obesity. The risk of developing type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease associated with metabolic syndrome. In MetS, many different biomarkers are used in the early detection and risk stratification of MetS patients. It includes adiponectin, leptin, interleukin 6, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, uric acid, interleukin 10, ghrelin, adiponectin, paraoxonase, oxidized low-density lipoprotein, and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1. This chapter provides an overview and focuses on the basic role of major biomarkers of metabolic syndrome in the pathogenesis of different types of cardiomyopathies, which mainly highlights recent pathophysiological aspects in the development and progress of cardiomyopathy which is the leading cause of heart failure. In conclusion, biomarkers of metabolic syndrome play a significant role in the development and progress of cardiomyopathy which is the leading cause of heart failure