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The contractor is the primary stakeholder in materializing a project concept. For the successful completion of any project, it is compulsory for the contractor to have relevant experience. The selection of the appropriate contractor depends on various criteria. This study aims to study these selection criteria. Based on 71 questionnaire forms received from representatives of contractor, consultant and client firms involved in execution works of construction activities it is found that quality, bid amount, technical capability, financial stability, and experience are five commonly adopted criteria for contractor selection in construction works in Pakistan. On the other hand, quality, technical capability, financial stability, equipment availability, and management capability are reported as the top five effective criteria for appropriate contractor selection for any construction project.

Wind energy has emerged as a dominant alternative power generation source. Conventional energy resources are depleting and their increasing cost cannot be ignored. Wind energy has taken an important role in replacing fossil fuels and nuclear energy. However, optimal exploitation of wind energy systems has remained a thought-provoking problem due to the nonlinear behavior of the wind speed. Distribution generation system and isolated micro-grid (MG) are mainly used in a wind energy system in order to utilize maximum potential of wind through the maximum power tracking algorithm based on DCDC boost power electronic converter. In this paper, authors propose a technique which is effectively workable, highly reliable, of low cost and induces less mechanical stress on the wind generator system (WGS). Experimental results of the proposed system verify that the effectiveness near optimal WGS output power increased approximately up to 50%. Thus, better exploitation of the available wind power is obtained under low wind speeds.

Background: Obesity, around the world, is becoming more and more common. With greater prevalence, more of the mal-effects have begun to manifest, among which obesity-hypoventilation syndrome is the most under-rated, seldom-recognized and mostly un-diagnosed condition, despite its serious impact on the quality of life of an individual. Objective: This research hopes to study the frequency of obesity-hypoventilation (pickwickian) syndrome among patients presenting at a tertiary care hospital.Methodology: The study was carried out on patients presenting at department of pulmonology (chest medicine) at Liaquat University Hospital from June 2016 to June 2017. The data was collected using a structured interview based questionnaire and relevant investigations after taking written informed consent and all necessary measures were employed to ensure anonymity of the data subjects. The data obtained was analyzed using Microsoft Excel 2016 and SPSS v. 21.0. The frequency of patients was analyzed and its trends studied against gender, sociodemographic variations and time of the year.Results: 13 male and 12 female patients presented with obesity-hypoventilation syndrome in the designated study duration. Among the total 25 patients, 1 patient belonged to the lower economic class, 7 belonged to the middle economic class and 17 patients belonged to upper economic class. Most patients presented during the winter months and least during the summer months. The mean BMI of the subjects stood at 31 kg/m2 and the mean age was recorded to be 54 years.Conclusion: After careful consideration, the results make it abundantly clear that, patients with obesity-hypoventilation syndrome scarcely, but do present at tertiary care hospitals at our settings. What is worrisome however, is that with the predicted increase in obesity, the frequency of patients may rise and thus healthcare professionals should practice vigilantly and advise appropriate investigations, especially arterial blood gasses whenever the disease is suspected in obese patients. Keywords: Obesity, Hypoventilation, Pickwickian Syndrome, Hypercapnia and Hypoxemia.

Objective: This study hopes to assess the prognostic validity of desaturation during a SMWT using repeated evaluation against the Baseline Dyspnea Index - dyspnea rating in patients of primary pulmonary hypertension. Methodology:This retrospective analysis comprised of the SMWT and dyspnea rating records of a total of 377 pre-diagnosed patients of primary pulmonary hypertension, re-approached after their initial presentation at a pulmonology specialist setting after a minimum of 1 year of initial recorded results of SMWT and Baseline Dyspnea Index and evaluated again against the Baseline Dyspnea Index and a 3 day – Mean Blood Pressure. The data obtained was analyzed using SPSS v. 21. 0 and the results used to draw a conclusion. Results: Among the 37 subjects, 23 were males while 14 were females. Mean age of the subjects was 43 years. The mean distance result of the SMWT was 347 m with the highest and lowest values measuring at 329 and 378 respectively. Upon re-approaching and evaluation against the Baseline Dyspnea Index and a 3 day – Mean Blood Pressure, the patients with yielded interesting results. Patients with an SMWD of more than 347, reported a subsequent mean Baseline Dyspnea Index of Grade 3 or more, while patients with a SMWD of less than 347 reported a subsequent mean Baseline Dyspnea Index of Grade 2 or less. In addition, patients with an SMWD of more than 347, reported a subsequent 3 day – Mean Blood Pressure of less than 130/90 mmHg, while patients with a SMWD of less than 347 reported a subsequent mean 3 day – Mean Blood Pressure of more than 130/90 mmHg. Conclusion: After careful consideration, it can safely be concluded that a mean SMWD of 337 or less is prognostic of better eventual 1 year outcome. While a SMWD of more than 337 is prognostic of worse eventual 1 year outcome evaluated against the Baseline Dyspnea Index – Dyspnea rating. Keywords: Primary Pulmonary Hypertension, Hypertension. SMWT, SMWD, Dyspnea, Blood Pressure, Prognostic Value

Background: The term ‘‘erectile dysfunction’’ (ED) is defined as the inability to achieve and maintain an erection sufficient for satisfactory sexual performance. ED affects millions of men throughout the world, with a strong negative effect on the quality of life and well-being of men and couples. The etiology of ED once was considered to be mainly psychogenic. However, because of advances in the understanding of the physiology of erection and the development of modern diagnostic techniques, it is now generally agreed that the etiology of ED is often multifactorial, with psychological, neurological, endocrine, vascular, traumatic or iatrogenic causes.Objective: Smoking, among many other causes, is believed to be associated with smoking. This study hopes to compare the incidence and extent of erectile dysfunction (ED) among smokers and non-smokers presenting at a male sexual health clinic in an attempt to further understand the association. Methodology: This casual-comparative analysis was conducted upon a total of 64 male patients presenting with erectile dysfunction at a sexual health clinic. Inquiries regarding the habit of smoking were made using a structured interview based questionnaire and extent of erectile dysfunction was investigated using the “International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5) Questionnaire”. The data obtained was analyzed using MS. Excel 2017 and SPSS v. 21.0. Results: Smokers showed a markedly high incidence when compared to non-smokers. The extent of erectile dysfunction too was observed to be significantly high among smokers in comparison to non-smokers. Ex-smokers too showed a more worrisome IIEF-5 score, when compared to non-smokers. Conclusion: The results obtained, make it abundantly clear that, the association between the incidence and extent of erectile dysfunction and smoking is strong. Although, the research does not attempt to control co-founding variables, the results can be regarded as reliable due to the sheer difference in incidence and extent of erectile dysfunction between smokers and non-smokers. Keywords: Erectile Dysfunction, Smoking, The International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5) Questionnaire, Sexual Health & Sex Related Quality of Life.

Objective: Whether or not patients of ischaemic stroke should undergo investigations for coronary artery disease (asymptomatic) is debatable yet scarcely ever have the risk of vascular death and myocardial infarction after a stroke been quantitatively evaluated. Immediately preceding the incidence of an acute stroke, a high risk of recurrence is seen yet the prime factor driving up mortality rates after a stroke is myocardial infarction and coronary artery disease. This paper hopes to indirectly assess the risk of schaemic heart disease in patients who have formerly faced episode(s) of acute ischaemic stroke. Methodology: A sample of consecutive 100 known cases of Myocardial Infarction presenting at Liaquat University Hospital, Department of Cardiology (Emergency and Out-Patient Department) was included in this retrospective quantitative analysis during the month of January 2016. After taking written informed consent, inquiries were made regarding previous incidences of ischaemic stroke (if any) and the time elapsed since the incident. Inquiries were also made regarding previous history of cardiac illness. The data obtained was analyzed using SPSS v. 17. Results: 60% of the sample comprised of males while 40% comprised of females, each with a mean age of 59 years and 65 years respectively. 20 out of a total of 100 patients presenting with Myocardial Infarction gave affirmative previous history of ischaemic stroke. 80% of the patients with a positive history of ischaemic stroke were males while the remaining 20% with a positive history were females. Conclusion : A careful evaluation of the results reveals that incidence of myocardial infarction among known patients of ischaemic stroke is worrisomely high. More worryingly the incidence is particularly higher in males as compared to females. Keywords: Ischaemic Stroke, Myocardial Infarction, Retrospective & Quantitative Analysis