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Inspired by its success in financial sectors, the blockchain technique is emerging as an enabling technology for secure distributed control and management of wireless networks. In order to fully benefit from this distributed ledger technology, its limitations, cost, complexity and empowerment also have to be critically appraised. Depending on the specific context of the problem to be solved, these limitations have been handled to some extent through a clear dichotomy in the blockchain architectures, namely by conceiving both permissioned and permissionless blockchains. Permissionless blockchain requires massive computing power to achieve consensus, while its permissioned counterpart is energy efficient but would require trusted participants. To combine these benefits by gaining trust at a high energy efficiency, a novel mechanism is proposed for automatically learning the trust level of users in a public blockchain network and granting them access to a private blockchain network. In this context, machine learning is a very powerful tool capable of automatically learning the trust level. We have proposed reinforcement learning for bridging the dichotomy of blockchains in terms of striking a trust vs complexity trade-off in an unknown environment. Benefits and limitations of various forms of blockchain techniques are analyzed, followed by their reinforcement-aided evolution. We demonstrate that the proposed reinforcement learning aided blockchain is capable of supporting high-integrity autonomous operation and decision making in wireless networks. The win-win amalgamation of these techniques has been demonstrated for striking a compelling balance between the benefits of permissioned and permissionless blockchain networks through the case-study of the proposed blockchain based unmanned aerial vehicle aided wireless networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors investigate physical layer security design, which employs a random linear network coding with opportunistic relaying and jamming to exploit the secrecy benefit of both source and relay transmissions. The proposed scheme requires the source to transmit artificial noise along with a confidential message. Moreover, in order to further improve the dynamical behaviour of the network against an eavesdropping attack, aggregated power controlled transmissions with optimal power allocation strategy is considered. The network security is accurately characterised by the probability that the eavesdropper will manage to intercept a sufficient number of coded packets to partially or fully recover the confidential message. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To determine the efficacy of mini-craniotomy for evacuation of mix-density subdural hematoma in terms of early clinical outcome. Study Design: Quasi-experimental study. Place and Duration of Study: Neurosurgery Department, Combined Military Hospital, Rawalpindi Pakistan, from Jan to Dec 2020. Methodology: Eighty patients with mixed-density subdural hematoma were included in the study. All were subjected to minicraniotomy under general anaesthesia. Post-operative Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) was monitored and compared with the preoperative Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) to see the early clinical outcome of the patients. Results: Out of 80 patients with mixed-density subdural, 38(47.5%) were females, whereas 42(52.5%) were males. The mean age of the patients was 70.9±6.98 years. Improvement in Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) after 24hrs showed that 68(85%) patients had a favourable outcome, while 12(15%) had the same condition post-operatively. Conclusion: Mini-craniotomy is a suitable surgical procedure for the treatment of mixed-density subdural hematoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel 1D-Bismuth(III) coordination polymer, {(4-Hmapy)[(μ-2,3-pydc)(2,3-pydcH)Bi(NO3)].2H2O}n (1) (pydc H2= pyridine-2,3-dicarboxylic acid, 4-mapy = 2-amino-4-methylpyridine) has been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis and IR spectroscopy as well as by X-ray structure analysis. Thermal decomposition of 1 in the peresence of polyethylene glycol led to nanoparticles of Bi2O3. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used to characterize the structure and morphology of synthesized powder. The powder XRD pattern established the formation of Bi2O3with α polymorph structure. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Objective: To compare the efficacy of titanium mesh to autologous bone grafting in cranioplasty and assessing complications like seroma and abscess formations and subjective measures of pain. Study Design: Comparative cross-sectional study Place and Duration of Study: Neurosurgery Department, Combined Military Hospital, Rawalpindi Pakistan from Aug 2017 to Dec 2018. Methodology: Twenty patients (Women=12, Men=8) were randomly assigned to Titanium Mesh (TM) group and 20 patients (Women=7, Men=13) to Autologous Bone Graft (ABG) group. All were subjected to cranioplasty using Titenium Mesh and Autologous Bone Graft procedures to assess cranial seroma and abscess formation and pain. Results: Comparison of pain on day 3 showed 7(35%) patients in titenium mesh group experienced pain compared to 14(70%) patients in the autologous bone graft group, which was statistically significant (p<0.001). Similarly, a comparison on day 7, revealed that pain in the titenium mesh group reduced to 5(25%) patients compared to 11(55%) patients in the autologous bone graft group, which again was statistically significant (p<0.001). Four(20%) patients in titenium mesh group and 7(35%) patients in autologous bone graft group developed seroma on day 3 and the difference was significant (p<0.001). Two(10%) patients in titenium mesh group and 5(25%) patients in autologous bone graft group developed abscess, which was significantly different (p<0.001). Conclusion: Cranioplasty using titenium mesh is better than autologous bone graft because complications like seroma, abscess and pain are attenuated in surgical cohorts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two novel barium(II) 2D coordination polymers, {[Ba(μ-H2O)(H2O)2(μ-pyzdc)]}n (1) and {[Ba(H2O)2(μ-Hpyzdc) (Hpyzdc)]·2H2O}n (2) (pyzdcH2=pyrazine-2,3-dicarboxylic acid), were prepared by reaction of barium(II) chloride dihydrate and pyrazine-2,3-dicarboxylic acid under similar experimental conditions (slightly different pH values) and characterised by elemental analysis, IR spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis/differential thermal analysis methods. Their crystal structures were determined by single-crystal X-ray structure analysis and it was revealed that the barium(II) ion has a distorted bicapped square antiprismatic coordination geometry in 1 and a distorted tricapped trigonal prismatic geometry in 2, composed of water molecules, carboxylate O, and pyrazine N atoms in both cases. The polymers 1 and 2 have different connectivity, as the pyrazine-2,3-dicarboxylate ion acts as multidentate bridging ligand in both 1 and 2, but also as an N,O′-bidentate terminal ligand in 2. There are terminal coordinated water molecules in both 1 and 2, but bridging water molecules are present only in 1 and water molecules of crystallisation only in 2. BaCO3 nanoparticles were formed by thermal decomposition of 1 in the presence of polyethylene glycol, and their structure and morphology were studied by powder X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. According to the powder X-ray diffraction pattern, BaCO3 was formed with an orthorhombic witherite structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: to study the functional outcome of the subjects of acute subdural hematoma subjected to decompressive craniectomy by multiple dural stabs versus open dural flap using the Glasgow outcome score. Study Design: Quasi-experimental study. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Neurosurgery Combined Military Hospital, Rawalpindi Pakistan, from Jan to Jun 2019. Methodology: Eighty patients with acute subdural hematoma were recruited for this study and equally divided into two groups. In Group-A, decompressive craniectomy was performed using multiple dural stabs, whereas patients of Group-B had open dural flap craniectomy. Results: The mean age of the patients was 30.9±9.98 years in Group-A and 31.2±8.9 years in Group-B. A comparison of functional outcomes based on the Glasgow Outcome Score on the 14th day showed that 62.5% of patients had an unfavourable outcome in Group-A, while 90.60% had the same in Group-B. On the other hand, 37.7% of Group-A patients had a favourable outcome, whereas 9.6% had a favourable recovery in Group-B (p-value: 0.001). Conclusion: Acute subdural hematoma treated with multiple dural stabs technique of decompressive craniectomy has a better outcome as compared to open dural flap technique in terms of functional status of the patient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To compare the efficacy of titanium mesh to autologous bone grafting in cranioplasty and assessing complications like seroma and abscess formations and subjective measures of pain. Study Design: Comparative cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Neurosurgery department, CMH Rawalpindi, from Aug 2017 to Dec 2018. Methodology: Twenty patients (Women=12, Men=8) were randomly assigned to Titanium Mesh (TM) group and 20 patients (Women=7, Men=13) to Autologous Bone Graft (ABG) group. All were subjected to cranioplasty using Titenium Mesh and Autologous Bone Graft procedures to assess cranial seroma and abscess formation and pain. Results: Comparison of pain on day 3 showed seven (35%) patients in titenium mesh group experienced pain compared to 14 (70%) patients in the autologous bone graft group, which was statistically significant (p<0.001). Similarly, a comparison on day 7, revealed that pain in the titenium mesh group reduced to five (25%) patients compared to 11 patients (55%) in the autologous bone graft group, which again was statistically significant (p<0.001). Four (20%) patients in titenium mesh group and 7 (35%) patients in autologous bone graft group developed seroma on day 3 and the difference was significant (p<0.001). Two (10%) patients in titenium mesh group and five (25%) patients in autologous bone graft group developed abscess, which was significantly different (p<0.001). Conclusion: Cranioplasty using titenium mesh is better than autologous bone graft because complications like seroma, abscess and pain are attenuated in surgical cohorts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are two types of diabetes: Diabetes Mellitus and Diabetes insipidus. Diabetes mellitus occurs because of pancreatic beta-cell destruction and insulin deficiency, Diabetes insipidus occurs because of the deficiency of vasopressin (AVP). This study was conducted to determine the Insilico efficacy and suitability of the chemical constituents of medicinal plants that are used to cure diabetes. The chemical compounds of medicinal plants: Bauhinia Variegata, Prunella Vulgaris, Aloe Vera, and Clematis Montana, used to cure diabetes were checked for toxicity, only 5 chemical constituents lying in non-toxic classes, were further analyzed and docked with mutated Insulin-B and Vasopressin proteins. All the chemical compounds best fit in the pockets of proteins and does not leave the complex, in all the docked complexes the common interacting amino acid residues were ALA, VAL, LEU, HIS, LYS, TRP, and SER. It determines their suitability to be used as medicine against diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]