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Chickenpox is caused by varicella-zoster-virus (VZV). VZZ is DNA virus of the group of herpes that is transferred by direct contact with infected individuals. A VZV model is studied in this article. An NSFD scheme is used to obtain the numerical solution of the studied model. The stability and consistency of the developed scheme are discussed. The simulation results are presented. The developed scheme gives reliable estimations in order to describe the studied SVEIR model of VZV.

Capital is needed to accelerate the development process, but developing nations struggle with minimum resources. Since foreign direct investment (FDI) is essential to solve the funding shortage, developing nations make every effort to attract FDI to their countries. This study was conducted to explore the impact of institutional quality on sectoral FDI in Pakistan using time series data for the period from 1986 to 2019. To create a solid foundation for policy formulation, this study developed a single measure of institutional quality by utilizing a wide range of institutional indicators. It evaluates the impact of overall institution quality on sector-level FDI and examines the causal relationship between institutions and sectoral FDI with a clear focus on a single-country analysis. The dynamic simulated autoregressive distributed lag technique was employed to explore the impact of institutional quality and other factors on FDI. The results of the study explained that institutional quality and TO have a positive and significant effect on the FDI of the primary FDI sector at 5%, while in the case of the secondary sector, the effect of institutional quality, HDI and GDP on FDI inflow is significant at 10% and TO has a significant effect on secondary sector FDI at 5%. In addition, institutional quality and GDP have a positive relationship with tertiary sector FDI at 5%. The empirical findings show that higher institutional quality in emerging economies such as Pakistan encourages large transfers of technological advances through FDI, increasing the overall performance of the economy. This study found that institutional quality significantly increases sectoral FDI in Pakistan. Finally, this study prescribes some policy measures to increase FDI based on the findings.

Objective: To assess efficacy of functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) in treatment of postnasal drip (PND) as an ancillary procedure to Septoplasty with Turbinoplasty. Study Design: Quasi experimental study. Methodology: Sample size was n-200, Patients were placed in two groups Group A (n-126) had septoplasty with turbineplasty. Group B (n-74) included patients with Septoplasty and Turbinoplasty combined with functional endoscopic sinus surgery. Post operative results regarding postnasal drip were compared amongst the Two groups. Results: Data was analysed in SPSS-17, Septoplasty along with turbinectomy was performed in n-126 patients (group A). And septoplasty, turbinectomy along with functional endoscopic sinus surgery was performed in n-74 patients (group B). Post nasal drip was significantly reduced in group B at 3 months follow up (p

Objective: To share our experience of tracheostomy in COVID-19 positive patients. Study Design: Prospective observational study. Place and Duration of Study: Pak-Emirates Military Hospital, Rawalpindi Pakistan, from Apr to Jul 2020. Methodology: A total of 94 COVID-19 positive cases admitted to the Intensive Care Unit of this hospital, placed on ventilatory support and who ultimately underwent tracheostomy (whether percutaneous or surgical) were included in the study. Patients were included irrespective of any age group or gender. Results: Out of 94 patients placed on ventilator, tracheostomy was performed only in 17 patients. Male predominance was 13 (76%), with mean age of patients as 55.59 ± 12.93 in 12 patients, surgical tracheostomy was performed (70.58%) whereas in 5 (29.4%) cases percutaneous tracheostomy was done. On post-operative follow-up 8 out of 17 (47%) patients recovered and were successfully decannulated whereas 9 (52.9%) patients could not survive. Tracheostomy was successfully performed as early as 8th day of mechanical ventilator support. Health Care Workers (HCWs) involved were subjected to RT-PCR and remained negative for SARS-CoV-2. There was statistically significant association between the type and indication of tracheostomy, p=0.002. Conclusion: Tracheostomy, in COVID-19 positive patients, being aerosol-generating procedure remains a medical hazard for the HCWs. By following strict safety protocols according to the medical resources available and training of the HCWs, it can be performed with complete safety. It can be done as early as 8th day of ventilator support. © 2021, Army Medical College. All rights reserved.

In this paper, we develop a novel approach for a joint platform of radar and communication systems. The previous approaches for dual-function radar-communication systems focused only on the simultaneous transmission of radar and communications in radar active mode. To increase the throughput of communications without affecting the radar operation, we enable communication during the whole pulse repetition interval by using two generalized sidelobe cancellers. We propose two different operational modes of the dual-function radar-communications system. In active mode, the radar function is achieved through the mainlobe, and communications are achieved through the sidelobes. In active mode, only one generalized sidelobe canceller is functional. In rest mode, both the generalized sidelobe cancellers are functional. The first generalized sidelobe canceller has the mainlobe and sidelobe levels as in active mode, and the second generalized sidelobe canceller has the same mainlobe level but double the power in the sidelobes. The output is the difference between the two, in which the mainlobe is canceled, while the sidelobes have the same power, as in the case of active mode. The effectiveness of the proposed scheme is investigated in terms of the bit error rate. Moreover, the proposed system allows communication during the whole pulse repetition interval, thus, enhancing the throughput tremendously.

Background We investigated the effectiveness of automated pupillometry on monitoring cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and predicting return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) in a swine model of cardiac arrest (CA). Methods Sixteen male domestic pigs were included. Traditional indices including coronary perfusion pressure (CPP), end-tidal carbon dioxide (ETCO2), regional cerebral tissue oxygen saturation (rSO2) and carotid blood flow (CBF) were continuously monitored throughout the experiment. In addition, the pupillary parameters including the initial pupil size before constriction (Init, maximum diameter), the end pupil size at peak constriction (End, minimum diameter), and percentage of change (%PLR) were measured by an automated quantitative pupillometer at baseline, at 1, 4, 7 min during CA, and at 1, 4, 7 min during CPR. Results ROSC was achieved in 11/16 animals. The levels of CPP, ETCO2, rSO2 and CBF were significantly greater during CPR in resuscitated animals than those non-resuscitated ones. Init and End were decreased and %PLR was increased during CPR in resuscitated animals when compared with those non-resuscitated ones. There were moderate to good significant correlations between traditional indices and Init, End, and %PLR (|r| = 0.46–0.78, all P Conclusion The automated pupillometry may serve as an effective surrogate method to monitor cardiopulmonary resuscitation efficacy and predict ROSC in a swine model of cardiac arrest.

Objective: To explore the feasibility and advantage of using multi-rotor drones in a county emergency medical service system.Methods: This study was conducted in Changxing County, Zhejiang Province from January to September 2018. We applied drones to simulate the transfer of first aid materials from health centers to the Changxing County People's Hospital. A total of 3 indicators were obtained: (1) The flight time of the drone; (2) The estimated time of ambulance dispatched from the county hospital was measured by Baidu map, Amap and Tencent map software; (3) The road transportation time measured by Amap software at 0: 00, 8: 00, 10:00, 12:00, 14:00, 16:00, 18:00, 20:00.Results: A total of 10 health centers were included in this study. Linear distance from county people's hospital to these centers was (10.97±3.59) km, and the road distance was (13.61±4.95) km. (2) The flight time of drones were (16.35±5.15) min, less than road transportation time measured by Amap, Baidu, and Tencent map software, which was (21.40±5.15) min, (22.50±6.11) min, (22.00±5.23) min, respectively (P＜0.01). The road transportation time measured using Amap software was longer than that of drones from 0:00 to 20:00 (P＜0.01), with the maximum time of (27.80±6.12) min at 18:00, and the minimum time of (21.40±5.15) min at midnight. Drones could save up to 14.07 min at most and 2.8min at least, with an average save of (7.98±1.32) min.Conclusions: Drone was faster than road transportation to transfer first aid medical supplies within a county. Further researches are needed to integrate drone into emergency medical service system.

Deceptive jamming is a popular electronic countermeasure (ECM) technique that generates false targets to confuse opponent surveillance radars. This work presents a novel approach for hiding the actual target while producing multiple false targets at the same time against frequency diverse array (FDA) radar. For this purpose, the modified FDA radar is assumed to be mounted on the actual aircraft. It intercepts the opponent’s radar signals and transmits back to place nulls in the radiation pattern at the desired range and direction to exploit FDA radar’s range-dependent pattern nulling capability. The proposed deceptive jammer produces delayed versions of the intercepted signals to create false targets with multiple ranges to confuse the opponent’s radar system. The novel mathematical model is proposed whose effectiveness is verified through several simulation results for different numbers of ranges, directions, and antenna elements.

In this work, we propose a new and efficient algorithm to mitigate the signal look direction error problem in adaptive beamforming without broadening the main beam. The algorithm exploits a reference lobe in the region of signal look direction error. This reference lobe is the main beam of the generalized sidelobe canceller when there is no direction of arrival mismatch for the desired signal. The desired pattern is forced to follow the reference beam in the region of signal look direction error by utilizing multiple additional constraints. Simulations are performed in MATLAB to check and test the validity of the proposed algorithm on the basis of different scenarios.

OBJECTIVE: The main purpose to conduct this study is to investigate about the magnitude of Pregnancy Induced Hypertension (PIH) in women who come to Gynaecology OPD of Services Hospital, Lahore. This study helps us to find out about the associated risk factors and contributing factors in induction of hypertension during pregnancy. Another purpose of study is dissemination of findings to policy makers and health planners leading to women health planning and implementation for better health for mothers and children and avoiding as well as preventing maternal mortality and morbidity due to PIH. DESIGN It was a cross-sectional descriptive study to determine the number of cases of hypertension among pregnant women PLACE The study was carried out in Gynaecology and Obstetrics outdoor of Services Hospital Lahore, a teaching hospital with a bed strength of 1096. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Study population consisted of all the pregnant women between the age of 15-45 years visiting antenatal check up in gynae and obs outdoor at Services Hospital Lahore. Sampling unit consists of a pregnant female of age 15-45 years visiting for antenatal outdoor for routine antenatal care. Non-probability, quota, convenience sampling technique was used to collect the required number of samples. 137 pregnant female of age 15-45 years were selected. To collect the data regarding the pregnant females, a semi-structured questionnaire was designed. The questionnaire used was pre-tested and necessary changes were made. The interviewing of the pregnant females was conducted at the outdoor with the help of auxiliary staff of antenatal clinic.Data entry sheet was prepared and all the responses were entered in the sheet and then data was transferred to master sheet and final analysis was performed manually with the help of scientific calculator (CASIO fx-82MS). RESULTS: About 6% of the females were having confirmed hypertension during pregnancy which is very close to the international quoted figure of hypertension during pregnancy. CONCLUSION/RECOMMENDATIONS: There is immense need to establish ante-natal services through out the country especially in the backward areas. There is also dire need to develop health education campaign for early warning/danger signs during pregnancy.

Background: The tonsils are a significant structure for immunological capacities and are made out of nasopharyngeal and palatine tonsils. They bear a shifting level of antigenic affront. Objective: To look at the reticular epithelium and basic high endothelial venules of human nasopharyngeal and palatine tonsils. Material and Methods: This was relative cross-sectional research, led in Mayo Hospital, Lahore from February 2018 to January 2019. Thirty examples every one of human nasopharyngeal, right palatine and left palatine tonsils were gathered by accommodation examining system. Haematoxylin and eosin recoloured paraffin areas were inspected for patches of the reticular epithelium. The separation between the patches was estimated and high endothelial venules in the subepithelial compartments were determined. Results: The reticular epithelium had the same structure in the two tonsils. The separation between two patches was (181.18 ± 17.83) tim in nasopharyngeal and (726.01 ± 48.89) µm in palatine tonsils. The research yielded noteworthy factual contrast (P=0.000). The mean includes of high endothelial venules in lymphoid compartments underneath these patches of nasopharyngeal and palatine tonsils were (2.19 ± 0.1) and (1.85 ± 0.12) separately with no significant factual contrast (P=0.075). Conclusion: The comes about suggested that regardless of the way that the level of reactivity of reticular epithelium in the two sorts of tonsils could be equivalent, however, the nasopharyngeal tonsil may react to antigenic lift all the more rapidly when contrasted with palatine tonsil by morals of more visit reticulation of epithelium on mucosal surface of past contrasted with a short time later.

An algorithm is proposed for the detection and joint estimation of target parameters for a radar with a two-element rotating antenna. Rotation of the antenna introduces unwanted effects, which may cause inaccuracy in the parameter estimation. Target detection is performed by adding the processed data from two sensors. Joint estimation of range, Doppler, and direction of arrival (DOA) is carried while compensating the effects of antenna rotation. The detection performance is analyzed in terms of the receiver operating characteristics. Analytical expressions of Cramer–Rao Bound for Doppler, the range and DOA are derived. Computational complexity is also discussed. A simulation demonstrates and verifies the proposed algorithm and its analyses.

This work presents a Soft Queuing Model (SQM) for number of active users present in a cognitive radio network (CRN) at some given instant. Starting with the existing cellular network where the upper limit for the number of channels and active users is well defined. The idea is then extended to the complicated scenario of CRNs where the upper limit is not deterministic for both the number of channels and the active users. Accordingly a probabilistic SQM is proposed under the condition that the number of channels and active cognitive users are both random variables. The proposed model will be useful to offer the level of reliability to the clients connected with CRN and hence to offer secure communication even on a cooperative CRN. The proposed model has been verified theoretically and simulations have been carried out in diversified set ups to evaluate the performance.

This study presents a technique which utilizes the movement of the peak of the main beam towards the presumed signal direction with negative diagonal loading for robust general-rank beamformer. The main beam symmetry along presumed signal direction is improved by this movement. When desired signal is contained in the data snapshots, the conventional beamformers face the problem of performance degradation even if there is a small mismatch between the presumed and the actual signal direction. Diagonal loading is a popular technique to mitigate this problem. There is no definite criterion to find diagonal loading level. A new diagonal loading method has been proposed in the literature which utilizes the movement of the peak of main beam towards the presumed signal direction with positive diagonal loading. The proposed technique works iteratively for the selection of negative diagonal loading level to move the main beam at a position to get the beam symmetry at desired level and hence the desired robustness. The mismatched signal will not be cancelled as long as it is within the half of the width of the main beam. But there is the tradeoff between this robustness and interference cancelling capability.

In this study, we compare the performance of three null steering techniques using uniform linear array. These techniques include Null Steering without using Phase Shifters, Null Steering by Decoupling the Real Weights and Null Steering by Decoupling the Complex Weights. The evaluation criteria of these techniques is based on the bases of different parameters i.e., null depth, main beam width, side lobe levels, number of steerable nulls, computational complexity and number of sensors used in the array. The validity and effectiveness of these techniques is reflected by the resultant radiation pattern of the array.

An easy and efficient approach, based on artificial intelligence technique, is proposed to jointly estimate the amplitude, elevation, and azimuth angles of far field sources impinging on 2-L-shape array. In these proposed artificial intelligence techniques, the metaheuristics based on genetic algorithm and simulated annealing are used as global optimizers assisted with rapid local version of pattern search for optimization of the adaptive parameters. The performance metric is employed on a fitness evaluation function depending on mean square error which is optimum and requires single snapshot to converge. The proposed approaches are easy to understand, and simple to implement; the genetic algorithm specifically hybridized with pattern search generates fairly good results. The comparison of the given schemes is carried out with 1-L-shape array, as well as, with parallel-shape array and is found to be in good agreement in terms of accuracy, convergence rate, computational complexity, and mean square error. The effectiveness and efficiency of the given schemes are examined through Monte Carlo simulations and their inclusive statistical analysis.

There is a great geographical variation in disease burden around the world, which is due primarily to environmental, genetic, social and economic factors. Similar variations exist in worldwide mortality figures from a particular disease that can be attributed almost entirely to the access and efficacy of healthcare facilities. We did this audit to identify the major causes of morbidity and mortality in patients admitted in a medical unit of a tertiary care hospital and to highlight the importance of primary prevention. The audit was carried out in West Medical Ward Mayo Hospital Lahore, Pakistan from 1st January 2004 to 31st December 2004. All patients admitted with medical problems from the Outpatient and Emergency Departments were included. During the year 2004, a total of 2045 patients were admitted, out of which maximum number of patients admitted in the ward were suffering from chronic liver disease (17%) followed by ischemic heart disease (14.4%) cerebrovascular accidents (10.4%) and renal diseases. Total number of deaths were 321 with male mortality was 167 (14.40%) and female mortality 154 (17.40%). Chronic liver disease also had the highest mortality (16.8%) followed by cerebrovascular accidents (14%), renal disease (11.5%) and ischemic heart disease (7.8%). Even the mortality due to chronic liver disease was significantly higher (p

Suicide is one of the leading causes of death in world but its causes and methods may vary. We enrolled patients who presented to the emergency with attempted suicide. The end point was death, discharge or leaving the hospital against medical advice. The study was designed to know the modes of committing suicide and underlying causes. Of the total 107 patients, who presented to the emergency 59 (55%) were males and 48 (45%) were females. Most common poison ingested was wheat pill in 35 (33.3%) patients followed by bleach/bathroom cleaner in 27 (25.7%), benzodiazepines in 20 (19%) and a small proportion of patients had copper sulfate, organophosphorus compounds, rat pills, lice powder, dettol and varnish. Two patients presented after hanging. Twenty eight (26%) patients died, just after reaching hospital and 10 had permanent disability. For suicide the most common poisons used were those that were easily available and without any ban on their sale. So general awareness should be created among masses about them and legal restrictions should be imposed on their sale.

In the literature a technique for sidelobe suppression is presented that utilizes product of two polynomials. In this paper, a method is presented for efficient sidelobe suppression by proper selection of sidelobe region. For this purpose, it is proposed to observe the radiation pattern of the first polynomial to find out the position of right and left nulls adjacent to the main beam. The region outside these nulls is proposed to be utilized for sidelobe region while finding the weights of second polynomial that is meant for sidelobe suppression. This will provide maximum overlap of main beams of the two polynomials and suppress sidelobes efficiently. Simulation results confirm the validity of the proposed method.

In this paper, we propose a method based on evolutionary computations for joint estimation of amplitude, Direction of Arrival and range of near fleld sources. We use memetic computing in which the problem starts with a global optimizer and ends up with a local optimizer for flne tuning. For this, we use Genetic algorithm and Simulated annealing as a global optimizer while Interior Point Algorithm as a rapid local optimizer. We set up Mean Square Error as a fltness evaluation function which deflnes an error between actual and estimated signal. This fltness function is optimum and is derived from Maximum likelihood principle. It requires only single snapshot to converge and does not require any permutations to link it with the angles found in the previous snapshot as in some other methods. The e-ciency and reliability of the proposed scheme is tested on the basis of Monte-Carlo simulations and its inclusive statistical analysis.

In this paper, we propose a structure for independent null steering by decoupling complex weights. It has the advantage of independent steering of(N-1) nulls for a linear array having N elements and the complex weights are decoupled such that each weight corresponds to a particular null. For this purpose, the position of each zero of the array factor on the unit circle in the complex plane is controlled by the corresponding weight in the structure. It means that if a single jammer changes its position, only a single corresponding complex weight has to be recalculated, which reduces computational complexity.

In the present work, first-principles calculations were performed to obtain the structural, electronic and optical properties of lithium niobate crystal using two exchange-correlation functionals (GGA-PBE and TB-mBJ). The calculated structural parameters were very close to the experimental values. TB-mBJ functional was found to be good when compared to LDA and GGA functionals in case of bandgap energy of 3.715 eV of lithium niobate. It was observed that the upper valence and lower conduction bands consist mainly the O-2p and Nb-4[Formula: see text] states, respectively. Furthermore, calculations for real and imaginary parts of frequency-dependent dielectric function [Formula: see text] of lithium niobate crystal were performed using TD-DFT method. The ordinary refractive index n[Formula: see text], extraordinary refractive index n[Formula: see text], its birefringence and absorption peaks in imaginary dielectric function [Formula: see text] were also calculated.

A uniform linear array ofnantenna elements can steer up ton-1nulls. In situations where less thann-1nulls are required to be steered, the existing algorithms have no criterion to utilize the remaining weights for sidelobe suppression. This work combines sidelobe suppression capability with null steering by independent weight control. For this purpose, the array factor is transformed as the product of two polynomials. One of the polynomials is used for null steering by independent weight control, while the second one is for sidelobe suppression whose coefficients or weights are determined by using convex optimization. Finally, a new structure is proposed to incorporate the product of two polynomials such that sidelobe suppression weights are decoupled from those of null steering weights. Simulation results validate the effectiveness of the proposed scheme.

We report a simple but effective experimental technique by utilizing standard off-the-shelf optical fiber cut-off measurement equipment for measuring the second order mode cut-off of channel waveguide in LiNbO3. The scheme applies multimode excitation of channel waveguide and cut-off wavelength is calculated by comparing guided optical power with respect to modal power in the reference multimode fiber. Typical channel waveguide designs at 1310 and 1550 nm windows are used for experimentation and simulations. Simulations are performed using Optiwave BPM CAD software and the experimental results match well with simulations.

Cognitive radio system is an innovative technology in the wireless communication that has the capability to smartly communicate with each other by opportunistically exploiting the vacant spectrum of primary users. In this work we present a new idea of sidelobe suppression applicable for cognitive users on transmitter and receiver sides. In case of spectrum sharing with the primary users by suppressing the side-lobes at the transmitter and receiver side, the cognitive users will be able to increase the throughput without cooperating the permissible interference temperature limit of the license spectrum. We suggest two generalized sidelobe cancellers (GSCs) that operate in parallel. The first GSC planned to attain the two conflicting objective at the same moment: firstly maximize the cognitive users self throughput; secondly minimize the interference generated by cognitive users at each primary receiver. The second GSC generates two main beams at the positions of the highest amplitude sidelobes of the first one. The values of main beams are equal to the two sidelobe peaks. The subtraction of the outputs of the two GSCs, results in the suppression of the highest pair of sidelobes. This process is repeated iteratively to result in an adaptive algorithm. Simulation results are there to provide the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm.

Conventional Phase Controlled Rectifier injects low order current harmonics into the AC mains. Large size filtering components are required to attenuate these harmonics. In this paper, Three Phase Six-Switch PWM Buck Rectifier[1] is presented which operates at nearly unity power factor and provides variable output voltage. Small size energy storing components are required depending upon switching frequency. MATLAB simulation is performed and modified Sinusoidal Pulse Width Modulation(SPWM) switching technique is used in 3kW prototype converter to demonstrate low input current THD, nearly unity displacement factor, well regulated output voltage and reduced switching losses compared to conventional SPWM.

In this paper, utilization of hybrid computational approach is evaluated for the joint estimation of amplitude and Direction of Arrival of far field sources impinging on a uniform linear array. In this hybrid approach, swarm intelligence based on Particle swarm optimization is exploited as a global optimizer assisted with pattern search technique as a rapid local search technique. The optimization of adaptive parameters depending upon the amplitudes and direction of arrival is performed using the fitness function based on Mean Square Error that defines an error between desired response and estimated response. The interest in this function is due to its ease in implementation, efficiency and simplicity of concept. It is derived from Maximum Likelihood and requires only single snapshot to converge. The proposed algorithm is robust enough to produce fairly good results even in the presence of low signal-to-Noise Ratio and requires relatively less number of antenna elements in the array. The results of hybrid technique are much better as compared to Particle Swarm Optimization and pattern search alone. A number of test cases are discussed on the basis of different number of sources impinging on the array with different number of sensors in the array. The accuracy and reliability of the proposed scheme is tested on the basis of Monte-Carlo simulations and its superior statistical analysis.

A High Efficiency Interleaved Bi-Directional ZVS DC-DC converter is presented in this paper. This converter can be operated in both buck and boost mode. CoolMOS is used as a power device to achieve low conduction losses and fast turn off. The value of inductance is selected such that the CoolMOS drain-to-source voltage always falls to zero before it turns on and ZVS is achieved. Multiphase interleaved inductors are used to achieve high power and low ripple currents. Converter is operated at 50kHz and MATLAB Simulink simulation is performed. 6kW prototype converter is implemented in buck mode and simulation results are verified.