[en] Urinary tract infection (UTI) is a very common health problem and Escherichia coli (E coli) are the most common organisms associated with community acquired UTI. Unfortunately these bacteria have developed extensive resistance against most of the commonly used anti-bacterials. The objective of this study was to determine the frequency and resistance pattern of E coli in patients of community acquired UTI in an area in northern part of Pakistan. Methods: Urine specimens were collected from patients who were clinically diagnosed as community acquired UTI. Urine routine examination (Urine RE) was done and samples positive for UTI (Pus cells >10/High Power Field) were included in the study. These samples were inoculated on Eosin Methylene Blue (EMB) agar plates and incubated at 37 degree C for 36 hours. Suspected colonies were then inoculated further on EMB plates for pure cultures of E coli characterized by certain morphological characteristics. IMViC was applied for the confirmation of E coli. In vitro antibiotic susceptibility tests of E coli were performed with standardized commercial susceptibility discs (OXOID). Results: Out of 50 specimens, positive for UTI by urine RE, 20 showed pure growth of E coli on culture (40%). The majority of the isolates (28%; n=14) were from women while only 12% (n=6) were from men. Escherichia coli showed a high rate of resistance towards Ampicillin (90%), Tetracycline (70%), Erythromycin (70%) and Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole (55%). Sparfloxacin showed better results (45%) than ciprofloxacin (50%). Out of 20 E coli isolates, two (10%) were resistant to all the antibacterials except chloramphenicol, eight isolates (40%) showed resistance to six or more than six while 14 (70%) were resistant to four or more than four drugs. Conclusion: Rate of resistance of E coli against commonly used antibacterials was quite high and majority of the strains showed multidrug resistance. (author)

[en] We present results of molecular dynamics study using the embedded atom potential to examine the equilibrium bulk properties of Ag. We calculate the total energy and the lattice parameters as a function of temperature. From these we determine the specific heat and linear coefficient of thermal expansion. The comparison with experimental results of these two quantities is found to be excellent. We have also calculated the mean square displacement of the atoms in the three directions. As expected because of symmetry the displacements in the three directions are comparable and increase with increasing temperature. (author) 5 figs

[en] The authors investigated the shift of local energy spectra with SPECT rotation for the GE 400 AT and the Picker Prism 3000 tomographs. A Co-57 flood source was taped to the parallel-beam collimator of the GE 400 AT; a Tc-99m line source was placed at the focus of the fan-beam collimator of one head of the Picker Prism. The count-based method, which employs a narrow window (about 4 keV) on the maximum slope of the photopeak, was used with both systems. Non-linear, polynomial spectral fittings was applied to x-y-E data acquisitions with the GE camera. The fitting yielded either shifts or shifts and width changes. Results show (1) the shifts are pseudo-sinusoidal with angle and similar for different spatial locations, (2) the average of their absolute value is 0.71 keV and 0.13 keV for the GE and Picker cameras, respectively, (3) width changes for the GE camera are small and appear random, (4) the calculated shifts from the count-based method for the central part of the GE camera are correlated with those from the spectral fitting method. They are 12% smaller. The conclusion is that energy shift with angle may be present with many rotating cameras although they may be smaller with newer cameras. It might be necessary to account for them in schemes designed for high-accuracy compensation of Compton-scattered gamma rays although they possibly could be ignored for newer cameras

[en] The recent trend in deploying communication networks in digital control systems to form Networked Control Systems (NCSs) brings the need for utilizing dynamic methods to assess the reliability of these systems. The methods should be able to capture the behaviour and interaction of the hardware, the software and the communication network in the NCSs. They should also be able to incorporate time dependency and multi-state behaviour. In this paper, it is demonstrated how the Dynamic Flowgraph Methodology (DFM) can be a promising method to fulfill these requirements. The behaviour and the effect of the communication network on NCS performance is emphasized. The information provided by analysis of the implemented model facilitates the improvement of the control system performance.

[en] The isotope determination was carried out on gas samples collected from various producing oil and gas fields of Indus basin and also on seepage samples collected from Makran coastal area of Balochistan basin. The analyses were carried out of Federal Institute of Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR), Germany. The study was undertaken to correlate various associated gases of Potwar and gases of Sulaiman area. The results indicate that most of gases from the producing fields of properties of associated gases. The gas samples from Sulaiman area are of thermogenic origin with the exception of Mari gas field which contains admixture of bacterial gas. The gas samples from Badin fields are associated thermogenic gases The seepage from Makran coastal area reveal mixed origin. (author)

No abstract available

[en] The neodymium fluoride was reduced to metal by thermal reduction or pyro-metallurgical process using calcium as reducing agent. Thermal reduction was carried out in a sealed reactions chamber in inert atmosphere with a nickel crucible having dry calcium fluoride lining. The stoichiometric mixture of neodymium fluoride and calcium metal chips were used in the form of pallets for pyro-metallurgical reactions. Small iodine was also added to increase heat available during ignition and to yield a lower melting and more fluid slag. The contents were heated electrically at a predetermined rate until ignition took place. The reaction was self-supporting and neodymium metal was obtained with fairly good efficiency. (author)

[en] To document presents the most common histologic pattern of carcinoma of lung among patients presenting to a local hospital with clinical findings suspicious of lung cancer. This is a prospective clinico pathologic study comprising consecutive case series attending a local hospital. The study lasted from January, 1998 to December, 1999. A total of eighty patients presented with signs and symptoms suggestive of carcinoma of lung. Thirty-nine were found to harbour bronchogenic carcinoma. Thirty five were males, only four patients with lung carcinoma were females. The predominant histological cell types was squamous cell carcinoma 41% in all. This was followed by small cell carcinoma 30%. The majority of patient were in their late fifties and the time of presentation. The mean age was 60.6 years. Squamous cell carcinoma is still one of the most common types of lung cancer encountered in our local Pakistani population. Most of the patients with this histologic category were males, and current heavy smokers. Women were uncommon victim of this ailment in the current cohort of patients. (orig./A.B.)

[en] A field experiment for the comparison among different wheat genotypes (Iqbal-2000, Chenab-2000, Aqab-2000) for its maximum yield potential in response to different moisture regimes, a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with split plot arrangement in triplicate run was carried out during the year 2006-07. Factors were: wheat genotypes (Iqbal-2000, Chenab-2000, Aqab-2000) in main plots and five irrigation levels 0= no irrigation (control), 1= irrigation at tillering, 2= irrigation at tillering + booting, 3= irrigation at tillering + booting + anthesis and 4= irrigation at tillering + booting + anthesis + milking in subplots. Results showed that maximum LAI was attained on 2 February and 4 March harvest and genotype Iqbal-2000 was superior compared to other genotypes. Irrigated treatments significantly increased LAI than control (0) treatments at all harvest dates. Iqbal-2000 showed maximum CGR (32.69 g m/sup -2/ d/sup -1/) and LAD (319.42) compared with lowest CGR (25.49 g m/sup -2/ d/sup -1/) and LAD (278.50) given by genotype Chenab-2000 under 3 and 4 treatments throughout the growing season. Radiation use efficiency ranged from 17.58-18.27 DM MJ-1 of intercepted radiation. Mean accumulated radiation interception (754, 736 and 784 MJm-2) was assessed in genotypes (Iqbal-2000, Chenab-2000 and Aqab-2000), respectively but not significant effect on net assimilation rate. Genotype Iqbal-2000 and Aqab-2000 had highest TDM (21670; 21220 kg ha/sup -1/) respectively while 4 (Irrigation at tillering + booting + anthesis + milking) had the highest TDM 22240 kg ha/sup -1/ verses I0 (no irrigation) 18070 kg ha/sup -1/. Aqab-2000 showed the highest grain yield (5458.78 kg ha/sup -1/) as compared to Chenab-2000 (4536.71 kg ha/sup -1/) whereas 4 (Irrigation at tillering + booting + anthesis + milking) produced more grain yield (6376.25 kg ha/sup -1/) than all other irrigation treatments. (author)

[en] Diurnal (24 hours) observations of dissolved nutrients, Chlorophyll-a, water quality (salinity, dissolved oxygen, temperature, pH and suspended solid matter) were recorded at one site in the Hajamro Creek of Indus Delta during the North East Monsoon period. The zoo- and phyto-plankton were recorded during low and high tides. Primary productivity was measured only during the day time. Dissolved nutrient concentration ranges were NH/sub 4/ (1.81 mu M -12.30 mu M), NO/sub 3/ (0.03 mu M -1.48 mu M), NO/sub 2/ (0.04 mu M -0.122 muM), PO/sub 4/ (0.45 mu M -1.69 mu M), SiO/sub +/ (4.84 mu M -24.49 mu M) and averages were 6.41, 0.28, 0.055, 0.722, 12.12 mu M respectively. The suspended load ranged from 36.0 mg/l to 87.8 mg/l, pH from 8.24 to 8.38, temperature from 18.73 degree C to 22.37 degree C and salinity from 35.995 ppt - 37.062 ppt. Higher Chlorophyll-a concentration was recorded during the high tide in daytime and its range was 0.45 mu g/l - 1.69 mug/l while its average concentration was 1.94 mu g/l. The moderate value of primary productivity was recorded to be (0.475 g C/m3/day). Eleven groups of zooplankton were identified. Copepods were the main species which were abundant during high tide. Bivalve, fish eggs, crab and polychaete larvae were observed during low tide. The present study shows that high amounts of suspended solids, dissolved nutrients (phosphate, silicate, nitrate and ammonia) and relatively more salinity in sea water were recorded during low tide. Presence of adequate dissolved nutrients and high turbidity is probably restricting productivity in the Hajamro Creek. (author)