Outcome of Anterior Cervical Discectomy with PEEK Cage Fixation for Single Level Cervical Disc Disease

Objective:  To assess the outcome of anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) with PEEK cage. Material and Methods:  This prospective study was conducted in the Departments of Neurosurgery Prime Teaching Hospital and Irfan General Hospital Peshawar. Patients undergoing one level ACDF with PEEK cage fixation were enrolled in the study. Patients who needed multiple level ACDF or corpectomy with plating and redo cases were excluded from the study. A proforma, which included age, gender, address, level of prolapsed disc, sign and symptoms, pain score, MRI findings were filled. All patients were assessed on day of discharge and on follow-up visit after one month. Data was analyzed with SPSS version 22. Results:  Total 95 patients were included out of which 58 (61%) were male and 37 (39%) were female. Range of patients` Age was from 27 years to 64 years with 50.4 years mean age. Most patients (65%) had C6 radiculopathy. 58 patients (61%) had right sided radicular pain. 5 patients (5.26%) had radiculomyelopathy. C5 – C6 was the most common level operated (68 patients). Excellent results were achieved in 75 patients (79%) while satisfactory results in the rest of patients using Odom’s criteria. Bony fusion occurred in 92% of patients at 6 months. Conclusion:  ACDF with PEEK cage fixation is a safe and beneficial procedure in one level cervical prolapse disc diseas

Outcome of Endoscopic Third Ventriculostomy: An Experience of 80 Treated Patients

Objective: To examine the outcome of Endoscopic Third Ventriculostomy in 80 consecutive patients operated in Irfan General Hospital and Prime Teaching Hospital Peshawar.Materials and Methods: Prospective observational study was conducted in the neurosurgery department of Prime Teaching Hospital and Irfan General Hospital Peshawar. 80 patients (48 male and 32 female) were followed for 3 months. The inclusion criteria all patients with Third ventricular hydrocephalus were included in this study and the exclusion criteria unwilling patients and those who opted for VP shunting rather than ETV. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 22.Results: ETV was performed in 80 patients. With highest success rate inAqueductal stenosis and posterior fossa tumors 88% and 87% respectively. ETV had a lowest success score of 50% in patients with Hydrocephalus TBM. Common post-operative complications were seizures and CSF leakage.Conclusion: ETV is less invasive and effective treatment for non-communicating hydrocephalus.ETV is most effective in treating aqueductal stenosis and posterior fossa tumors. The overall success rate of ETV is 74%. Based on these findings, it is recommended that ETV should be attempted as first line treatment for patients with triventricular hydrocephalus due to various pathologies

A Systematic and Comprehensive Survey of Recent Advances in Intrusion Detection Systems Using Machine Learning: Deep Learning, Datasets, and Attack Taxonomy

Recently, intrusion detection systems (IDS) have become an essential part of most organisations’ security architecture due to the rise in frequency and severity of network attacks. To identify a security breach, the target machine or network must be watched and analysed for signs of an intrusion. It is defined as efforts to compromise the confidentiality, integrity, or availability of a computer or network or to circumvent its security mechanisms. Several IDS have been proposed in the literature to efficiently detect such attempts exploiting different characteristics of cyberattacks. These systems can provide with timely sensing the network intrusions and, subsequently, notifying the manager or the responsible person in an organisation. Important actions are then carried out to reduce the degree of damage caused by the intrusion. Organisations use such techniques to defend their systems from the network disconnectivity and increase reliance on the information systems by employing intrusion detection. This paper presents a detailed summary of recent advances in IDS from the literature. Nevertheless, a review of future research directions for detecting malicious operations and launching different attacks on systems is discussed and highlighted. Furthermore, this study presents detailed description of well-known publicly available datasets and a variety of strategies developed for dealing with intrusions

Empirical Evidence of Co-Movement between the Canadian CDS, Stock Market And TSX 60 Volatility Index: A Wavelet Approach

Purpose- The prime objective of this study was to find the co-movement between the Canadian credit default swaps market, the Stock market and volatility index (TSX 60 Index) Design/ Methodology- To achieve this purpose, daily data containing 2870 observations starting from the 1st of January 2009 to the 30th of December 2019 were analyzed. This study employed the wavelet approach to present results in short-term, medium-term, long-term, and very long time. Findings- The findings of this study showed a negative correlation between the CDS market, stock market, and the TSX 60 index in the short-term as well as in the long-term term, while in medium-term and very long-term period correlation is strongly positive. The wavelet co-movement results in the short-term and long-term were negative, while this relationship in the medium-term and very long-term period was strongly positive. Practical Implications- This research provides simultaneous valuable information for investment decisions in the short, medium, and long term time horizons, as well as for the policymakers in the Canadian credit default swaps market, stock market, and the volatility index (TSX 60 Index)

Biomorphic Study of Rhipicephalus Sanguineus (Acari: Ixodidae) Under Laboratory Conditions

Rhipicephalus sanguineus can complete up to four generations per year, depending on factors such as climate and host availability. Biomorphic studies of R. sanguineus were conducted under laboratory conditions. The larval, nymphal and adult ticks were fed on sheep at 250C, 60 % relative humidity (RH) and exposed to daylight. The incubation period was lasted 35 days. The average mean of premoulting and moulting period of larvae was 70 ± 0.91 and 7.4 ± 0.6 days, respectively. The time durations of premoulting and moulting of nymphs were 62 ± 1.66 and 13 ± 6.4 days, respectively. The average developmental periods were 6.09, and 5.15 days for larval pre-feeding, and feeding, respectively. The average developmental periods were 3.54, and 6.11 days for nymphal pre-feeding, and feeding, respectively. The complete life cycle of R. sanguineus was 180 days with range of 120-286 days. The average weights of the unfed larvae, and nymphs were 0.04 ± 0.03, and 0.40 ± 0.09 mg, respectively while 0.60 ± 0.05, and 5.02 ± 0.20 mg for engorged larvae and nymphs, respectively. The index of reproduction efficiency (REI), egg production efficiency (EPE), and the index of reproductive fitness (RFI) averaged 14.99 ± 3.65, 0.31 ± 0.08, and 11.74 ± 3.01, respectively. Scutum length and width of male was 2.2 and 1.2mm, respectively while length and width of female was 1.04 and 0.99 mm, respectively. The current study findings could help the workers in adopting different management studies for ticks in the world

Do Non-Traditional Income, Size, and Growth Affect the Performance of the Banks? : Evidence from the Big Three Countries of South Asia

Purpose- The aim of this study is to examine the impact of non-traditional income, size and growth on the performance of the banks in big three economies of South Asia, as in the modern banking, non-traditional income plays a vital role by acting as a link between bank and its customers. Design- This study utilized the annual data over the period from 1996 to 2015, data were obtained from Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED). This study examines the long-run as well as the short-run relationship among variables through the statistical technique of Panel ARDL. Findings- The findings of this study showed a significant and positive relationship between non-traditional income and return on assets as well as bank size and return on assets. While the association among the growth and return on assets is negative but significant. Policy Implications- Policy recommendation of this study suggests that banks should also explore new avenues of non-interest valued added services to their customers which will not only facilitate their customers also attract new customers which ultimately enhance the performance of the banks as well as the country

Sowing Dates and Irrigation Schedule Influenced on Yiled and Yield Components of Berseem in District Peshawar

The present research was conducted for the purpose to find out the effect of sowing dates and irrigation schedule influenced on yield and yield components of berseem in district Peshawar. The experiment was carried out at New Developmental Farm, The University of Agriculture Peshawar, Khyber Paktunkhwa, Pakistan during 2012-2013. The experiment was planted in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replication having split plot arrangements. Irrigation schedule (2, 5, 7 and 10) were allotted to main plots (Factor A) and Four sowing dates (15th November 2012, 15th December 2012, 15th January 2013, and 15th February 2013) were allotted to sub plots (Factor B).  Plots sown in November and December showed better performance as compared with sowing in January and February. Sowing dates had significant effect on all parameter. Maximum receme weight (2.99 g), thousand grain weight (3.52 g), number of seeds head-1 (45), biological yield (8003 kg ha-1) and seed yield (653 kg ha-1) were obtained from sowing on 15th November. Irrigation schedule also had significant effect on receme weight (g), number of seeds head-1, thousand grain weight (g), biological yield (kg ha-1) and seed yield (kg ha-1). Receme weight (2.76 g), number of seeds head-1 (40), thousand grain weight (3.55 g), biological yield (8530 kg ha-1) and seed yield (508 kg ha-1) were highest with 10 irrigations treatment, while two irrigations resulted minimum non productive branches plant-1 (1.48), receme weight (2.02 g ), thousand grain weight (2.99 g ), number of seeds head-1 (33) and seed yield (429 kg ha-1). It was concluded that planting of berseem either on 15th November or 15th December with ten irrigations were better in term seed yield production, and thus recommended for obtaining maximum yield in agro-climatic condition of Peshawar. Keywords:Berseem (Trifolium alexandrinum L.)  Sowing dates, irrigation number Seed yield, yield component

Real-Time Optical Monitoring of Endotracheal Tube Displacement

Proper ventilation of a patient with an endotracheal tube (ETT) requires proper placement of the ETT. We present a sensitive, noninvasive, operator-free, and cost-effective optical sensor, called Opt-ETT, for the real-time assessment of ETT placement and alerting of the clinical care team should the ETT become displaced. The Opt-ETT uses a side-firing optical fiber, a near-infrared light-emitting diode, two photodetectors with an integrated amplifier, an Arduino board, and a computer loaded with a custom LabVIEW program to monitor the position of the endotracheal tube inside the windpipe. The Opt-ETT generates a visual and audible warning if the tube moves over a distance set by the operator. Displacement prediction is made using a second-order polynomial fit to the voltages measured from each detector. The system is tested on ex vivo porcine tissues, and the accuracy is determined to be better than 1.0 mm. In vivo experiments with a pig are conducted to test the performance and usability of the system

IMPACT OF CSR ON CORPORATE REPUTATION, CUSTOMER LOYALTY AND ORGANIZATIONAL PERFORMANCE

Promoting corporate social responsibility (CSR) has become a crucial task in marketing strategy for the banks. Due to growing interest of academicians and policy makers, the concept of CSR is receiving a lot of attention in recent times. With this background, the present research empirically investigates how banks’ CSR activities generate positive organizational outcomes in the form of corporate reputation (CR), customer loyalty (CL) and organizational performance (OP). Working with a sample of 308 banking customers in Pakistan, Structural equation modeling technique was used for data analysis of present write-up. The results show that CSR positively influences CR, CL and OP in banking sector of Pakistan . Banks must include CSR in their long-term strategic plans to improve overall customer experience because banks’ CSR activities result in customer identification which improves their repute and ultimately enhances OP.&nbsp

Anti-Tick Properties/Repellency of Neem, Azadirachta Indica on Rhipicephalus Sanguineus (Acarina) under Laboratory Conditions

Animal production is highly affected due to ticks and diseases caused by ticks. Tick control is critical for the economic well-being of the animal industry. This study focused on anti-tick properties of the Neem, Azadirachta indica extracts against Rhipicephalus sanguineus in vitro conditions. R. sanguineus exhibited a high (P \u3c 0.05) dose revolting reaction to A. indica. There were no significant differences in reaction magnanimity between both sexes. The essence also prominently (p \u3c 0.05) retarded the shedding of 60 % of R. sanguineus engorged nymphs. It resulted in that mortality percentage increasing with an increase in the dose of A. indica. At 20 % of A. indica, 87.76 % of tick mortality was recorded, while 53.23 % at 15% concentration. Probit analysis showed a repellent EC50 of A. indica for male and female ticks was 4.87, and 4.87 mg/mL, respectively. The findings advocate to A. indica is potent enough to use for anti-tick action. Further studies are needed to test Neem extract on other developmental stages i.e. eggs, nymphs, and larvae of tick