STUDY OF MIXING IN NATURAL STREAMS AND AIR AGITATED TANKS.

Dept. of Chemistry and Biochemistry. Paper copy at Leddy Library: Theses & Major Papers - Basement, West Bldg. / Call Number: Thesis1978 .A448. Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 39-05, Section: B, page: 2406. Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Windsor (Canada), 1978

Acute vertebral compression fracture: differentiation of malignant and benign causes by diffusion weighted magnetic resonance imaging

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of diffusion weighted (DWI) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the diagnosis and differentiation between benign (osteoporotic/infectious) and malignant vertebral compression fractures in comparison with histology findings and clinical follow up. METHODS: The study was conducted at the Radiology Department, Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH) Karachi. It was a one year cross-sectional study from 01/01/2009 to 01/01/2010. Forty patients with sixty three vertebral compression fractures were included. Diffusion-weighted sequences and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) images on a 1.5 T MR scanner were obtained in all patients to identify the vertebral compression fracture along with benign and malignant causes. Imaging findings were compared with histopathologic results and clinical follow-up. RESULTS: Diffusion-weighted MR imaging found to have, 92% sensitivity, 90% specificity and accuracy of 85% in differentiation of benign and malignant vertebral compression fracture while PPV and NPV were 78 % and 90% respectively. CONCLUSION: Diffusion weighted magnetic resonance imaging offers a safe, accurate and non invasive modality to differentiate between the benign and malignant vertebral compression fracture

The uncatalyzed oxidation of toluene by sulphur dioxide.

Source: Masters Abstracts International, Volume: 40-07, page: . Thesis (M.A.Sc.)--University of Windsor (Canada), 1972

TBP2 is a substitute for TBP in Xenopus oocyte transcription

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>TATA-box-binding protein 2 (TBP2/TRF3) is a vertebrate-specific paralog of TBP that shares with TBP a highly conserved carboxy-terminal domain and the ability to bind the TATA box. TBP2 is highly expressed in oocytes whereas TBP is more abundant in embryos.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We find that TBP2 is proteolytically degraded upon meiotic maturation; after germinal vesicle breakdown relatively low levels of TBP2 expression persist. Furthermore, TBP2 localizes to the transcriptionally active loops of lampbrush chromosomes and is recruited to a number of injected promoters in oocyte nuclei. Using an altered binding specificity mutant reporter system we show that TBP2 promotes RNA polymerase II transcription <it>in vivo</it>. Intriguingly, TBP, which in oocytes is undetectable at the protein level, can functionally replace TBP2 when ectopically expressed in oocytes, showing that switching of initiation factors can be driven by changes in their expression. Proteolytic degradation of TBP2 is not required for repression of transcription during meiotic maturation, suggesting a redundant role in this repression or a role in initiation factor switching between oocytes and embryos.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The expression and transcriptional activity of TBP2 in oocytes show that TBP2 is the predominant initiation factor in oocytes, which is substituted by TBP on a subset of promoters in embryos as a result of proteolytic degradation of TBP2 during meiotic maturation.</p

The Impact of Behavioral and Social Biases on Investment Performance of Individual Investors: The Mediating Role of Perceived Market Efficiency In Pakistan

Behavioural finance is a philosophy that combines psychological and sociological theories with finance. The present study investigated the influence of behavioural and social components on perceived market efficiency and then, in turn, on the investment performance of individual investors. A survey method was used to gather data from the individual investor. The sample size consisted of 307 respondents. Data were analysed with the help of smart PLS and SPSS software. The finding of the study indicates that the behavioural (overconfidence and representativeness) and social (herding and social interaction) factors have a positive impact on perceived market efficiency and investment performance. This research consists of two behavioural variables and two social variables to determine the impact on investment performance. Hence this research helps practitioners and investors to upgrade their investments at the individual level

Clinical radiology research in Pakistan: from evidence to practice

OBJECTIVE: To assess the clinical radiology research productivity in Pakistan by type of publication, sources of funding and name of journals. METHODS: A systematic search strategy using key words related to techniques and type of clinical radiology was carried out to identify various studies published in Indexed (Medline) and non-indexed (Pakmedinet) medical journals. RESULTS: Total of 397 studies were identified out of which 173(43%) from Medline (indexed database) and 220 (57%) from pakmedinet (Indexed and non- indexed database of Pakistan Medical journals). Original articles were 294 (74%) but most of them (68%) were published in non-indexed journals and significantly different from other articles types (case reports, short reports, review articles and letter to editors) (p-value \u3c 0.001). No Randomized Controlled Trial was identified. No research was funded by any formal financial agency. As high as 78% of indexed studies were published by radiology centers of Sind province. Private hospitals having radiology department contributed significantly in indexed journals compared to government hospitals (p-value \u3c 0.001). Majority (74%) of the studies were done by radiologists as compared to other non-radiology clinical colleagues (p-value \u3c 0.001). The most preferred journal for publication was the Journal of Pakistan Medical Association (JPMA; N = 43) followed by Annals of King Edward medical college (Ann KEMC; N = 20). Australasian journal of radiology was the most preferred international journal for publication (Australas Radiol N = 3). No significant difference was found in radiology research production in terms of number of publication from and before the year 2000 (p-value 0.51). CONCLUSION: Clinical radiology research production from Pakistan is low in terms of quality and number. Only few studies reach the standard of publication in international medical journals. There is an urgent need of building the foundation of research programmes in radiology and strengthen research capacity building at facility and health policy level

Interventions for improving research productivity in clinical radiology

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of research promotion activities on overall quality and quantity of research output in a clinical department of a teaching tertiary care hospital. Simple research enhancing strategies including regular journal club, research hour, basic research skills training, hiring of research faculty, research awards, and annual research retreat and research board to increase research production were implemented in the Department of Radiology of a teaching hospital in Pakistan. A total of 77 papers were produced by the Department of Radiology before the intervention, which increased to 92 after the introduction of research initiatives. There was a significant increase in the overall proportion of publications in the international journals after the intervention (p \u3c 0.001) with an increasing trend towards indexed journals (p \u3c 0.001). The research enhancing interventions had a positive effect on increasing clinical research output by the Department of Radiology. Such interventions can also be replicated in other clinical departments to increase their research productivity

Assessment of menisci and ligamentous injuries of the knee on magnetic resonance imaging: correlation with arthroscopy

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the validity of MRI, in the assessment of the meniscal and cruciate ligamenteous injuries of the knee joint and comparison with arthroscopic findings. METHODS: A one year prospective cross-sectional study from January 2006 to January 2007, was performed on 50 patients (32 males & 18 females) with knee injury presenting at the orthopedic unit of AKUH. The patients were referred to radiology department for MRI evaluation and arthroscopy. RESULTS: The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy for MRI of the menisci and ligaments were as follows: medial meniscus resulted in 100% sensitivity, 69.27% specificity, 90% PPV, 100% NPV and 92% accuracy: lateral meniscus resulted in 87.5% sensitivity, 88.23% specificity, 77% PPV, 93% NPV and 88% accuracy: anterior cruciate ligament resulted in 86.67% sensitivity, 91.43% specificity, 81% PPV, 94% NPV and 88% accuracy; posterior cruciate ligament resulted in 100% sensitivity, 95.83% specificity,50% PPV, 100 NPV and 96% accuracy. CONCLUSION: Magnetic resonance imaging is a good, accurate and non invasive modality for the assessment of menisci and ligamenteous injuries. It can be used as a first line investigation in patients with soft tissue trauma to knee

To identify the features differentiating peritoneal tuberculosis from carcinomatosis on CT scan abdomen taking omental biopsy as a gold standard

OBJECTIVE: To differentiate peritoneal tuberculosis from carcinomatosis on computed tomography scan of abdomen, taking omental biopsy as the gold standard.. METHODS: This retrospective diagnostic accuracy review of cases was conducted at Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, and comprised patient\u27s medical record files from February 2007 to February 2016. Computed tomography scan findings were compared with diagnosis made on the basis of histopathology. Multiple logistics regression analysis was done and sensitivity and specificity were tested through Pearson chi square test. RESULTS: Of the 98 patients identified, 62(63.2%)were found to be cases of disseminated tuberculosis and 36(36.7%) were diagnosed as malignant on histopathology. Computed tomography features were significantly specific to differentiate abdominal tuberculosis from carcinomatosis (p=0.004). On computed tomography,4 findings showed statistical significance: Smooth thickening of the peritoneum (p\u3c0.001), abdominal mass (p=0.03), lymph node necrosis (p=0.024) and high-density ascitic fluid (p\u3c0.001). Out of these, smooth thickening of the peritoneum (sensitivity=77%; specificity=86.1%) and high-density ascitic fluid (sensitivity=68.9%; specificity=72.2%) were more specific findings. Overall, the sensitivity and specificity of computed tomography was found to be 88.5% and 83.3%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Although no single finding on a computed tomography scan was diagnostic proof of peritoneal tuberculosis, a combination of findings could reliably distinguish between peritoneal tuberculosis and carcinomatosis