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Papers by qasim zia

Research paper thumbnail of Determinants of Anxiety in Amputees Owed to Traumatic & Non-Traumatic Causes in Quetta

Annals of PIMS-Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Medical University

Objective: To find out the causes and factors of anxiety among amputees suffering from traumatic ... more Objective: To find out the causes and factors of anxiety among amputees suffering from traumatic and non-traumatic causes. Methodology: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in Quetta from the month of May 2018 to July 2018. This study included those clients with amputations as a result of Traumatic & non-traumatic causes and the data was collected from them. This study involved a total of 54 participants. All amputees who visited the three Physical Rehabilitation Centre were included during data collection process. A structured adopted questionnaire using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) according to the inclusion & exclusion criteria & then tabularized and analyzed by applying Chi square test. Results: This study involved a total of 54 participants of whom 7(13%) were females and 47(87%) males. Among amputees 36(66.7 %), amputations were due to Traumatic injuries and 18(33.3%) were due to non-traumatic amputations. In traumatic, the majority was due ...

Research paper thumbnail of A review on chitosan for the removal of heavy metal ions

Research paper thumbnail of A Review of Recent Developments in Smart Textiles Based on Perovskite Materials

Textiles

Metal halide perovskites (MHPs) are thought to be among the most promising materials for smart el... more Metal halide perovskites (MHPs) are thought to be among the most promising materials for smart electronic textiles because of their unique optical and electrical characteristics. Recently, wearable perovskite devices have been developed that combine the excellent properties of perovskite with those of textiles, such as flexibility, light weight, and facile processability. In this review, advancements in wearable perovskite devices (e.g., solar cells, photodetectors, and light-emitting diodes) concerning their device architectures, working mechanisms, and fabrication techniques have been discussed. This study also highlights the technical benefits of integrating MHPs into wearable devices. Moreover, the application challenges faced by wearable perovskite optoelectronic devices—from single devices to roll-to-roll manufacturing, stability and storage, and biosafety—are briefly discussed. Finally, future perspectives on using perovskites for other wearable optoelectronic devices are sta...

Research paper thumbnail of Metrics for Quality Assurance of Web based Applications

Global journal of computer science and technology, Nov 14, 2015

Web-Commerce applications are now an indispensable aspect of businesses around the world. More bu... more Web-Commerce applications are now an indispensable aspect of businesses around the world. More businesses are now migrating from outdated applications to a new type of combined ebusiness designs. With such large volumes of applications that need to be put online, there is now a dire need for measurable and quantifiable metrics that can help in gauging the quality of these websites. The development considerations for both domains may be deemed similar in their final purpose, that is to provide a service to its end-users, however, web-applications today face a myriad of constraints, with most businesses opting to go online, the crucial questions are; Is the Web info metrics are any different, or is it just an application of classical metrics (desktop metrics) to a new medium (web metrics). In our research, we propose to investigate these issues, and present the distinguishable metrics for the Quality Assurance(QA) processes involved in Web-Applications, as opposed to traditional desktop software application.

Research paper thumbnail of A review on advances in doping with alkali metals in halide perovskite materials

SN Applied Sciences, 2021

Recent progress in doping of halide perovskite materials (HPM) by using targeted elements has pro... more Recent progress in doping of halide perovskite materials (HPM) by using targeted elements has provided a dimension beyond structural and compositional modification, for achieving desired properties and resulting device performance. Herein doping of alkali metal ions (Li+, Na+, K+, Rb+, and Cs+) in three-dimensional HPM is reviewed to lay a particular focus on advances in synthesis, doping-induced changes in optical and electrical properties, and their optoelectronic applications. The introduction of alkali metals in HPM shows an effective route for improved morphology, suppressed ion migration, reduction in non-radiative recombination, passivation of bulk and interface defects, and increased thermal stability. In the end, we provide our perspective that the effect of alkali metal incorporation on the efficiency and stability of HPM should be further investigated via in-situ characterization methods and doped HPM should be considered for more functional applications. Graphical abstract

Research paper thumbnail of Metrics for Quality Assurance of Web Based Applications

Innovation & Management Science eJournal, 2015

Web-Commerce applications are now an indispensable aspect of businesses around the world. More bu... more Web-Commerce applications are now an indispensable aspect of businesses around the world. More businesses are now migrating from outdated applications to a new type of combined e-business designs. With such large volumes of applications that need to be put online, there is now a dire need for measurable and quantifiable metrics that can help in gauging the quality of these websites.The development considerations for both domains may be deemed similar in their final purpose, that is to provide a service to its end-users, however, web-applications today face a myriad of constraints, with most businesses opting to go online, the crucial questions are; Is the Web info metrics are any different, or is it just an application of classical metrics (desktop metrics) to a new medium (web metrics).In our research, we propose to investigate these issues, and present the distinguishable metrics for the Quality Assurance(QA) processes involved in Web-Applications, as opposed to traditional deskto...

Research paper thumbnail of Current trends in antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of Salmonella typhi and paratyphi

Rawal Medical Journal, 2020

Objective: To evaluate the current trend of antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of Salmonella ty... more Objective: To evaluate the current trend of antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of Salmonella typhi and paratyphi. Methodology: This observational laboratory based study was conducted at Department of Microbiology, Khawaja Muhammad Safdar Medical College, Sialkot from January 1, to June 30, 2019. Blood culture samples were collected aseptically, sub cultured and identified as Samonella typhi or paratyphi A, as recommended by clinical laboratory standard institute. Results: A total of 2773 samples were collected, among these 1945(70%) were from neonates and were excluded from the study. Among rest 828(30%) blood culture samples, 55(6.64%) yielded growth of Salmonella typhi and paratyphi. Out of total Salmonella species, 44(80%) were Salmonella typhi and 11(20%) were Salmonella Paratyphi A. Multidrug resistant salmonella were 47% and extensively drug resistant salmonella were 16%. Meropenem and azithromycin showed 100% sensitivity while ceftriaxone in 84% cases. Conclusion: Trends of...

Research paper thumbnail of Compatibility of Jamama oil (Eruca sativa L.) with different stages of Trichogramma chilonis (Ishii) (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae)

significantly increased by all the concentrations of Jamama oil as compared with the control. The... more significantly increased by all the concentrations of Jamama oil as compared with the control. The results showed that the highest concentration of Jamama oil (1.25%) gave the minimum percent of parasitism, adult emergence and longevity (1, 0.75, 0.5 and 0.25% respectively). Lowest emergence time was recorded by utilizing the lowest concentration of Jamama oil (0.25%) followed by 0.5, 0.75, 1 and 1.25%, respectively. Same trend was also observed in all these parameters in post oviposition of T. chilonis in eggs stage, larval stage and pupal stage by utilizing the different concentration of Jamama oil. In the post oviposition of T. chilonis in adult stage, the highest concentration (1.25%) significantly reduced the adult longevity followed by the lower concentrations respectively. Highest longevity was recorded by using the lowest concentration of Jamama oil (0.5%). These studies showed that Jamama oil adversely affected percent parasitism, adult emergence, emergence time, and longevi...

Research paper thumbnail of Cross-linked chitosan coated biodegradable porous electrospun membranes for the removal of synthetic dyes

Reactive and Functional Polymers, 2021

Abstract Chitosan crosslinked with 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane was coated on porous poly (L-lact... more Abstract Chitosan crosslinked with 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane was coated on porous poly (L-lactic acid) nanofibrous membrane to remove dyes from wastewater in the present study. The adsorption capacity of the composite membrane for the removal of methylene blue and rhodamine B was comprehensively studied. Large porous framework provided a high surface area to effectively immobilize the cross-linked chitosan on nanofibrous membranes. Batch trials were performed to evaluate the adsorption behaviour of membranes with variable crosslinking ratio, pH, initial concentration, temperature and time. Moreover, the adsorbent membranes before and after adsorption were characterized using scanning electron microscopy, x-ray energy dispersive analysis, and Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometer. Under optimum parameters, the adsorbent showed the removal capacity of 86.43 and 82.37 mg/g for rhodamine B and methylene blue, respectively. Isothermal and kinetic experiments showed that Langmuir isotherm and pseudo second order kinetics correlated best with adsorption data. Finally, the mechanism of adsorption and reusability of membrane for five cycles was studied.

Research paper thumbnail of Photodegradation of textile pollutants by nanocomposite membranes of polyvinylidene fluoride integrated with polyaniline–titanium dioxide nanotubes

Chemical Engineering Journal, 2021

In this research article, the PVDF (polyvinylidene fluoride)-PANI (polyaniline)-titanium nanotube... more In this research article, the PVDF (polyvinylidene fluoride)-PANI (polyaniline)-titanium nanotube (TNT) based nanocomposite membranes were synthesised through phase inversion method. The composition and structural properties of nanocomposite membranes were characterised by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Fouriertransform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The significant properties of synthesised membranes such as distribution of pore size, thermal properties, mechanical properties, and photocatalytic behaviour of membranes were also studied. The hydrophilic properties of the composite membranes increased with filler content (PANI-TNT) and results in improved pure water flux (484.8 ± 2.9 L/m 2 h −1) compared to that (312.0 ± 1.91 L/m 2 h −1) of the pure PVDF membrane. The pure PVDF and nanocomposite membrane were further analysed in terms of their filtration properties such as adsorption of dyes (methyl orange, Allura red) and UV self-cleaning properties. The newly developed nanocomposite membranes showed excellent pollutant removal efficiency (~90%). The synthesised nanocomposite membranes also showed photocatalytic activities due to the presence of TNTs, and adsorption of methyl orange (MO) reduces significantly with the UV light irradiations. The UV self-cleaning property of the composite membrane was further confirmed due to their high flux recovery ratio of about 94%. The results show that embedded PANI-TNT within nanocomposite was photo-catalytically active and degrade the dye molecules from the surface of the nano composite membrane.

Research paper thumbnail of Hierarchical porous poly(l-lactic acid)/SiO2 nanoparticles fibrous membranes for oil/water separation

Journal of Materials Science, 2020

A two-step strategy has been developed to introduce silica nanoparticles into highly porous poly(... more A two-step strategy has been developed to introduce silica nanoparticles into highly porous poly(l-lactic acid) (PLLA) nanofibers. Silica nanoparticles (SiNPs) were firstly synthesized and then modified to be hydrophobic. After PLLA/SiNPs composite fibrous membranes were electrospun and collected, they were re-crystallized by acetone at room temperature for a few minutes. With the re-arrangement of PLLA chains, the nano-/micro-electrospun fibres were transformed from non-porous ones to be porous ones with high surface area. Consequently, SiNPs that were completely covered by PLLA before acetone treatment showed up at the fibre surface. Higher PLLA crystallization also enhanced the Young’s modulus and tensile strength (420 and 8.47 MPa) of the composite membrane. However, incorporation of SiNPs into porous PLLA membranes reduced their modulus and tensile strength (280.66 and 5.92 MPa), but an increase in strain to fracture (80.82%) was observed. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), fo...

Research paper thumbnail of Mortality Related Factors in Patients with Variceal Bleeding with MELD Score ≥18

Journal of the College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan, 2019

Objective: To find and analyse the associated determinants of mortality in admitted patients in c... more Objective: To find and analyse the associated determinants of mortality in admitted patients in cirrhotic patients with MELD score >18 presenting in emergency department with variceal bleeding.

Research paper thumbnail of Hierarchical Porous Poly(l-lactic acid) Nanofibrous Membrane for Ultrafine Particulate Aerosol Filtration

ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 2019

Ultrafine particulate aerosols less than 100 nm diffuse randomly in the air and are hazardous to ... more Ultrafine particulate aerosols less than 100 nm diffuse randomly in the air and are hazardous to the environment and human health. However, no technical standards nor commercial products apply for filtering particle sizes under 100 nm yet. Here we report the development of a porous poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA) nano-fibrous membrane filter with an ultra-high specific surface area via electrospinning and a post-treatment process. After PLLA fibres were electrospun and collected, they were treated by acetone to generate a blossoming porous structure throughout each individual fibre. Characterizations of morphology, crystallinity, mechanical and thermal properties demonstrated that the porous structure can be attributed to the non-solvent induced spinodal phase separation during electrospinning and solvent induced recrystallization during post treatment. The blossoming porous structure with high specific surface area contributed to excellent filtration efficiency (99.99%) for sodium chloride (NaCl) ultrafine aerosol particles (30-100 nm) with a low pressure drop (110-230 Pa). Notably, under 7.8 cm/s air flow rate, the membrane samples performed better for filtering smaller-sized aerosol particles than the larger ones when evaluated by the quality factor (0.07). Finally, this finding demonstrates that the electrospun membrane with hierarchical pore structure and high specific surface area hold great potential in applications as air filtering materials.

Research paper thumbnail of Porous poly(L–lactic acid)/chitosan nanofibres for copper ion adsorption

Carbohydrate Polymers, 2019

Porous poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA) nanofibrous membrane with the high surface area was developed b... more Porous poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA) nanofibrous membrane with the high surface area was developed by electrospinning and post acetone treatment and used as a substrate for deposition of chitosan. Chitosan was coated onto porous nanofibrous membrane via direct immersion coating method. The porous PLLA/chitosan structure provided chitosan a high surface framework to fully and effectively adsorb heavy metal ions from water and showed higher and faster ion adsorption. The composite membrane was used to eliminate copper ions from aqueous solutions. Chitosan acts as an adsorbent due to the presence of aminic and hydroxide groups which are operating sites for the capture of copper ions. The maximum adsorption capacity of copper ions reached 111.66±3.22 mg/g at pH (7), interaction time (10 min) and temperature (25 °C). The adsorption kinetics of copper ions was established and was well agreed with the second-order model and Langmuir isotherm. Finally, the thermodynamic parameters were studied.

Research paper thumbnail of Modelling the properties of pigment‐printed polypropylene nonwoven fabric using the Box–Behnken technique

Coloration Technology, 2015

The aim of this study was to develop statistical models for the effect of binder concentration an... more The aim of this study was to develop statistical models for the effect of binder concentration and curing temperature and time on the air permeability, tear strength, tensile strength, and crocking fastness of pigment-printed nonwoven polypropylene fabric. The design and analysis of the experimental work were carried out using Minitab® statistical software according to the Box–Behnken design of response surface methodology. Models were successfully developed. It was found that binder concentration improves the wet crocking and tensile strength while having a negative impact on all other responses. Increase in curing temperature and time affects the fabric tear strength negatively but has a positive effect on wet crocking fastness and fabric tensile strength. It could be concluded that pigment prints of good dry crocking fastness may be obtained on polypropylene nonwovens without deterioration in the mechanical strength and air permeability to a commercially unacceptable level. However, further work is required to improve the wet crocking fastness properties.

Research paper thumbnail of A Survey of Data-Centric Protocols for Wireless Sensor Networks

Journal of Computer Science & Systems Biology, 2015

Many changes have been made in sensor fields which are different for different applications and t... more Many changes have been made in sensor fields which are different for different applications and there are many more which are under development. It is under research to develop sensor nodes which utilize low power and are of low cost. In this paper we have overviewed different data centric protocols and their up gradation. After this there is comparison in some of the latest data centric protocols on different performance metrics that affect the application or wireless sensor network.

Research paper thumbnail of HIV-related stigmatized attitudes among health care providers in Aceh, Indonesia: The findings from a very low HIV case-load region

Polish Annals of Medicine, 2015

Introduction: Study of HIV-related stigmatized and discriminatory attitudes is predominantly cond... more Introduction: Study of HIV-related stigmatized and discriminatory attitudes is predominantly conducted in the regions with high HIV prevalence; therefore, understanding about stigmatized and discriminatory attitudes dynamic in the region with a very low HIV prevalence is needed. Aim: To identify the levels of stigmatized attitudes toward people living with HIV (PLHIV) and their predictors among health care providers (HCPs) in Aceh, the lowest HIV prevalence province in Indonesia. Material and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in seven regencies in Aceh. Structured questionnaires were used to collect data from 589 HCPs (doctors, nurses, midwifes and supporting staffs). Univariate analyses including one-way analysis of variance, ttest and correlation test were performed according to data type. Multiple linear regression was conducted to identify the predictors of stigmatized attitudes. Results and discussion: The level of HIV-stigmatized attitudes among HCPs in Aceh was high. Univariate analysis revealed that location, experience of direct contact with PLHIV, knowledge on HIV transmission and prevention, value-driven stigma and overestimated risk to HIV transmission were associated significantly with stigmatized attitudes levels (P < 0.05).

Research paper thumbnail of In situ deposition of TiO2 nanoparticles on polyester fabric and study of its functional properties

Fibers and Polymers, 2015

ABSTRACT In situ deposition of TiO2 nanoparticles on polyester fabric has been carried out using ... more ABSTRACT In situ deposition of TiO2 nanoparticles on polyester fabric has been carried out using hydrothermal method by changing the process conditions. The morphology and crystalline structure of as-deposited particles has been studied by using SEM and XRD. The chemical composition of nanoparticles was determined using energy dispersive spectroscopy. The treated sample exhibited photocatalytic solution discoloration and good washing fastness properties. The study of UV protection and moisture management of fabric showed that it had excellent UV protection factor and comfort properties

Research paper thumbnail of A Plan for Implementation of Hospital Information System in Developing Country: Recommendation from socio-technical perspective

lnu.diva-portal.org

Hospital Information System (HIS) is considered as an important factor in health care sector for ... more Hospital Information System (HIS) is considered as an important factor in health care sector for managing the administrative, financial and clinical aspects of a hospital. A large number of hospitals from both developing and developed countries are adopting hospital information system to bring efficiency in their current system. Current study is conducted to contribute to the literature regarding HIS implementation in developing country settings as there is scarce literature. This study attempts to improve the understanding of HIS implementation in developing countries. In this study, socio technical model is used to understand the current working system of cardiology department of Combined Military Hospital (CMH). Qualitative case study is conducted for this research. Data is collected with the help of interviews done online via Skype and some secondary data resources to highlight the problems and solutions before HIS implementation. The data collection, generation of results and analysis is done on the basis of structure, people, technology, and process perspective originating from the sociotechnical model. Findings of this study are presented in the form of recommendations which need to be considered for making a HIS implementation plan.

Research paper thumbnail of A Review on Chitosan for the Removal of Heavy Metals Ions

Journal of Fiber Bioengineering and Informatics, 2019

There has recently been an increasing interest in water treatment methods as a result of growing ... more There has recently been an increasing interest in water treatment methods as a result of growing concerns over shortages of clean water. This paper aims to review the past and present researches on chitosan for the adsorption of heavy metals from the wastewater. Adsorption is considered to be the most efficient method for the removal of metal impurities from drinking water. Chitosan, a deacetylated derivative of chitin, has many commercial applications due to its biocompatibility, nontoxicity, and biodegradability. Moreover, amine groups are present on the backbone of chitosan. For this reason, chitosan has been used for the adsorption of heavy metals. To begin with, mechanism of adsorption of heavy metal ions on chitosan and disadvantages of heavy metal ions were reviewed. Further, a detailed review had been done on the adsorption capacities of crosslinked chitosan, chitosan nanofibers, chitosan nanoparticles, chitosan composites, modified/pure chitosan, and porous chitosan. Lastly, research gaps and future recommendations were given for further development and accurate results of adsorption.

Research paper thumbnail of Determinants of Anxiety in Amputees Owed to Traumatic & Non-Traumatic Causes in Quetta

Annals of PIMS-Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Medical University

Objective: To find out the causes and factors of anxiety among amputees suffering from traumatic ... more Objective: To find out the causes and factors of anxiety among amputees suffering from traumatic and non-traumatic causes. Methodology: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in Quetta from the month of May 2018 to July 2018. This study included those clients with amputations as a result of Traumatic & non-traumatic causes and the data was collected from them. This study involved a total of 54 participants. All amputees who visited the three Physical Rehabilitation Centre were included during data collection process. A structured adopted questionnaire using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) according to the inclusion & exclusion criteria & then tabularized and analyzed by applying Chi square test. Results: This study involved a total of 54 participants of whom 7(13%) were females and 47(87%) males. Among amputees 36(66.7 %), amputations were due to Traumatic injuries and 18(33.3%) were due to non-traumatic amputations. In traumatic, the majority was due ...

Research paper thumbnail of A review on chitosan for the removal of heavy metal ions

Research paper thumbnail of A Review of Recent Developments in Smart Textiles Based on Perovskite Materials

Textiles

Metal halide perovskites (MHPs) are thought to be among the most promising materials for smart el... more Metal halide perovskites (MHPs) are thought to be among the most promising materials for smart electronic textiles because of their unique optical and electrical characteristics. Recently, wearable perovskite devices have been developed that combine the excellent properties of perovskite with those of textiles, such as flexibility, light weight, and facile processability. In this review, advancements in wearable perovskite devices (e.g., solar cells, photodetectors, and light-emitting diodes) concerning their device architectures, working mechanisms, and fabrication techniques have been discussed. This study also highlights the technical benefits of integrating MHPs into wearable devices. Moreover, the application challenges faced by wearable perovskite optoelectronic devices—from single devices to roll-to-roll manufacturing, stability and storage, and biosafety—are briefly discussed. Finally, future perspectives on using perovskites for other wearable optoelectronic devices are sta...

Research paper thumbnail of Metrics for Quality Assurance of Web based Applications

Global journal of computer science and technology, Nov 14, 2015

Web-Commerce applications are now an indispensable aspect of businesses around the world. More bu... more Web-Commerce applications are now an indispensable aspect of businesses around the world. More businesses are now migrating from outdated applications to a new type of combined ebusiness designs. With such large volumes of applications that need to be put online, there is now a dire need for measurable and quantifiable metrics that can help in gauging the quality of these websites. The development considerations for both domains may be deemed similar in their final purpose, that is to provide a service to its end-users, however, web-applications today face a myriad of constraints, with most businesses opting to go online, the crucial questions are; Is the Web info metrics are any different, or is it just an application of classical metrics (desktop metrics) to a new medium (web metrics). In our research, we propose to investigate these issues, and present the distinguishable metrics for the Quality Assurance(QA) processes involved in Web-Applications, as opposed to traditional desktop software application.

Research paper thumbnail of A review on advances in doping with alkali metals in halide perovskite materials

SN Applied Sciences, 2021

Recent progress in doping of halide perovskite materials (HPM) by using targeted elements has pro... more Recent progress in doping of halide perovskite materials (HPM) by using targeted elements has provided a dimension beyond structural and compositional modification, for achieving desired properties and resulting device performance. Herein doping of alkali metal ions (Li+, Na+, K+, Rb+, and Cs+) in three-dimensional HPM is reviewed to lay a particular focus on advances in synthesis, doping-induced changes in optical and electrical properties, and their optoelectronic applications. The introduction of alkali metals in HPM shows an effective route for improved morphology, suppressed ion migration, reduction in non-radiative recombination, passivation of bulk and interface defects, and increased thermal stability. In the end, we provide our perspective that the effect of alkali metal incorporation on the efficiency and stability of HPM should be further investigated via in-situ characterization methods and doped HPM should be considered for more functional applications. Graphical abstract

Research paper thumbnail of Metrics for Quality Assurance of Web Based Applications

Innovation & Management Science eJournal, 2015

Web-Commerce applications are now an indispensable aspect of businesses around the world. More bu... more Web-Commerce applications are now an indispensable aspect of businesses around the world. More businesses are now migrating from outdated applications to a new type of combined e-business designs. With such large volumes of applications that need to be put online, there is now a dire need for measurable and quantifiable metrics that can help in gauging the quality of these websites.The development considerations for both domains may be deemed similar in their final purpose, that is to provide a service to its end-users, however, web-applications today face a myriad of constraints, with most businesses opting to go online, the crucial questions are; Is the Web info metrics are any different, or is it just an application of classical metrics (desktop metrics) to a new medium (web metrics).In our research, we propose to investigate these issues, and present the distinguishable metrics for the Quality Assurance(QA) processes involved in Web-Applications, as opposed to traditional deskto...

Research paper thumbnail of Current trends in antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of Salmonella typhi and paratyphi

Rawal Medical Journal, 2020

Objective: To evaluate the current trend of antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of Salmonella ty... more Objective: To evaluate the current trend of antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of Salmonella typhi and paratyphi. Methodology: This observational laboratory based study was conducted at Department of Microbiology, Khawaja Muhammad Safdar Medical College, Sialkot from January 1, to June 30, 2019. Blood culture samples were collected aseptically, sub cultured and identified as Samonella typhi or paratyphi A, as recommended by clinical laboratory standard institute. Results: A total of 2773 samples were collected, among these 1945(70%) were from neonates and were excluded from the study. Among rest 828(30%) blood culture samples, 55(6.64%) yielded growth of Salmonella typhi and paratyphi. Out of total Salmonella species, 44(80%) were Salmonella typhi and 11(20%) were Salmonella Paratyphi A. Multidrug resistant salmonella were 47% and extensively drug resistant salmonella were 16%. Meropenem and azithromycin showed 100% sensitivity while ceftriaxone in 84% cases. Conclusion: Trends of...

Research paper thumbnail of Compatibility of Jamama oil (Eruca sativa L.) with different stages of Trichogramma chilonis (Ishii) (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae)

significantly increased by all the concentrations of Jamama oil as compared with the control. The... more significantly increased by all the concentrations of Jamama oil as compared with the control. The results showed that the highest concentration of Jamama oil (1.25%) gave the minimum percent of parasitism, adult emergence and longevity (1, 0.75, 0.5 and 0.25% respectively). Lowest emergence time was recorded by utilizing the lowest concentration of Jamama oil (0.25%) followed by 0.5, 0.75, 1 and 1.25%, respectively. Same trend was also observed in all these parameters in post oviposition of T. chilonis in eggs stage, larval stage and pupal stage by utilizing the different concentration of Jamama oil. In the post oviposition of T. chilonis in adult stage, the highest concentration (1.25%) significantly reduced the adult longevity followed by the lower concentrations respectively. Highest longevity was recorded by using the lowest concentration of Jamama oil (0.5%). These studies showed that Jamama oil adversely affected percent parasitism, adult emergence, emergence time, and longevi...

Research paper thumbnail of Cross-linked chitosan coated biodegradable porous electrospun membranes for the removal of synthetic dyes

Reactive and Functional Polymers, 2021

Abstract Chitosan crosslinked with 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane was coated on porous poly (L-lact... more Abstract Chitosan crosslinked with 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane was coated on porous poly (L-lactic acid) nanofibrous membrane to remove dyes from wastewater in the present study. The adsorption capacity of the composite membrane for the removal of methylene blue and rhodamine B was comprehensively studied. Large porous framework provided a high surface area to effectively immobilize the cross-linked chitosan on nanofibrous membranes. Batch trials were performed to evaluate the adsorption behaviour of membranes with variable crosslinking ratio, pH, initial concentration, temperature and time. Moreover, the adsorbent membranes before and after adsorption were characterized using scanning electron microscopy, x-ray energy dispersive analysis, and Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometer. Under optimum parameters, the adsorbent showed the removal capacity of 86.43 and 82.37 mg/g for rhodamine B and methylene blue, respectively. Isothermal and kinetic experiments showed that Langmuir isotherm and pseudo second order kinetics correlated best with adsorption data. Finally, the mechanism of adsorption and reusability of membrane for five cycles was studied.

Research paper thumbnail of Photodegradation of textile pollutants by nanocomposite membranes of polyvinylidene fluoride integrated with polyaniline–titanium dioxide nanotubes

Chemical Engineering Journal, 2021

In this research article, the PVDF (polyvinylidene fluoride)-PANI (polyaniline)-titanium nanotube... more In this research article, the PVDF (polyvinylidene fluoride)-PANI (polyaniline)-titanium nanotube (TNT) based nanocomposite membranes were synthesised through phase inversion method. The composition and structural properties of nanocomposite membranes were characterised by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Fouriertransform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The significant properties of synthesised membranes such as distribution of pore size, thermal properties, mechanical properties, and photocatalytic behaviour of membranes were also studied. The hydrophilic properties of the composite membranes increased with filler content (PANI-TNT) and results in improved pure water flux (484.8 ± 2.9 L/m 2 h −1) compared to that (312.0 ± 1.91 L/m 2 h −1) of the pure PVDF membrane. The pure PVDF and nanocomposite membrane were further analysed in terms of their filtration properties such as adsorption of dyes (methyl orange, Allura red) and UV self-cleaning properties. The newly developed nanocomposite membranes showed excellent pollutant removal efficiency (~90%). The synthesised nanocomposite membranes also showed photocatalytic activities due to the presence of TNTs, and adsorption of methyl orange (MO) reduces significantly with the UV light irradiations. The UV self-cleaning property of the composite membrane was further confirmed due to their high flux recovery ratio of about 94%. The results show that embedded PANI-TNT within nanocomposite was photo-catalytically active and degrade the dye molecules from the surface of the nano composite membrane.

Research paper thumbnail of Hierarchical porous poly(l-lactic acid)/SiO2 nanoparticles fibrous membranes for oil/water separation

Journal of Materials Science, 2020

A two-step strategy has been developed to introduce silica nanoparticles into highly porous poly(... more A two-step strategy has been developed to introduce silica nanoparticles into highly porous poly(l-lactic acid) (PLLA) nanofibers. Silica nanoparticles (SiNPs) were firstly synthesized and then modified to be hydrophobic. After PLLA/SiNPs composite fibrous membranes were electrospun and collected, they were re-crystallized by acetone at room temperature for a few minutes. With the re-arrangement of PLLA chains, the nano-/micro-electrospun fibres were transformed from non-porous ones to be porous ones with high surface area. Consequently, SiNPs that were completely covered by PLLA before acetone treatment showed up at the fibre surface. Higher PLLA crystallization also enhanced the Young’s modulus and tensile strength (420 and 8.47 MPa) of the composite membrane. However, incorporation of SiNPs into porous PLLA membranes reduced their modulus and tensile strength (280.66 and 5.92 MPa), but an increase in strain to fracture (80.82%) was observed. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), fo...

Research paper thumbnail of Mortality Related Factors in Patients with Variceal Bleeding with MELD Score ≥18

Journal of the College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan, 2019

Objective: To find and analyse the associated determinants of mortality in admitted patients in c... more Objective: To find and analyse the associated determinants of mortality in admitted patients in cirrhotic patients with MELD score >18 presenting in emergency department with variceal bleeding.

Research paper thumbnail of Hierarchical Porous Poly(l-lactic acid) Nanofibrous Membrane for Ultrafine Particulate Aerosol Filtration

ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 2019

Ultrafine particulate aerosols less than 100 nm diffuse randomly in the air and are hazardous to ... more Ultrafine particulate aerosols less than 100 nm diffuse randomly in the air and are hazardous to the environment and human health. However, no technical standards nor commercial products apply for filtering particle sizes under 100 nm yet. Here we report the development of a porous poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA) nano-fibrous membrane filter with an ultra-high specific surface area via electrospinning and a post-treatment process. After PLLA fibres were electrospun and collected, they were treated by acetone to generate a blossoming porous structure throughout each individual fibre. Characterizations of morphology, crystallinity, mechanical and thermal properties demonstrated that the porous structure can be attributed to the non-solvent induced spinodal phase separation during electrospinning and solvent induced recrystallization during post treatment. The blossoming porous structure with high specific surface area contributed to excellent filtration efficiency (99.99%) for sodium chloride (NaCl) ultrafine aerosol particles (30-100 nm) with a low pressure drop (110-230 Pa). Notably, under 7.8 cm/s air flow rate, the membrane samples performed better for filtering smaller-sized aerosol particles than the larger ones when evaluated by the quality factor (0.07). Finally, this finding demonstrates that the electrospun membrane with hierarchical pore structure and high specific surface area hold great potential in applications as air filtering materials.

Research paper thumbnail of Porous poly(L–lactic acid)/chitosan nanofibres for copper ion adsorption

Carbohydrate Polymers, 2019

Porous poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA) nanofibrous membrane with the high surface area was developed b... more Porous poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA) nanofibrous membrane with the high surface area was developed by electrospinning and post acetone treatment and used as a substrate for deposition of chitosan. Chitosan was coated onto porous nanofibrous membrane via direct immersion coating method. The porous PLLA/chitosan structure provided chitosan a high surface framework to fully and effectively adsorb heavy metal ions from water and showed higher and faster ion adsorption. The composite membrane was used to eliminate copper ions from aqueous solutions. Chitosan acts as an adsorbent due to the presence of aminic and hydroxide groups which are operating sites for the capture of copper ions. The maximum adsorption capacity of copper ions reached 111.66±3.22 mg/g at pH (7), interaction time (10 min) and temperature (25 °C). The adsorption kinetics of copper ions was established and was well agreed with the second-order model and Langmuir isotherm. Finally, the thermodynamic parameters were studied.

Research paper thumbnail of Modelling the properties of pigment‐printed polypropylene nonwoven fabric using the Box–Behnken technique

Coloration Technology, 2015

The aim of this study was to develop statistical models for the effect of binder concentration an... more The aim of this study was to develop statistical models for the effect of binder concentration and curing temperature and time on the air permeability, tear strength, tensile strength, and crocking fastness of pigment-printed nonwoven polypropylene fabric. The design and analysis of the experimental work were carried out using Minitab® statistical software according to the Box–Behnken design of response surface methodology. Models were successfully developed. It was found that binder concentration improves the wet crocking and tensile strength while having a negative impact on all other responses. Increase in curing temperature and time affects the fabric tear strength negatively but has a positive effect on wet crocking fastness and fabric tensile strength. It could be concluded that pigment prints of good dry crocking fastness may be obtained on polypropylene nonwovens without deterioration in the mechanical strength and air permeability to a commercially unacceptable level. However, further work is required to improve the wet crocking fastness properties.

Research paper thumbnail of A Survey of Data-Centric Protocols for Wireless Sensor Networks

Journal of Computer Science & Systems Biology, 2015

Many changes have been made in sensor fields which are different for different applications and t... more Many changes have been made in sensor fields which are different for different applications and there are many more which are under development. It is under research to develop sensor nodes which utilize low power and are of low cost. In this paper we have overviewed different data centric protocols and their up gradation. After this there is comparison in some of the latest data centric protocols on different performance metrics that affect the application or wireless sensor network.

Research paper thumbnail of HIV-related stigmatized attitudes among health care providers in Aceh, Indonesia: The findings from a very low HIV case-load region

Polish Annals of Medicine, 2015

Introduction: Study of HIV-related stigmatized and discriminatory attitudes is predominantly cond... more Introduction: Study of HIV-related stigmatized and discriminatory attitudes is predominantly conducted in the regions with high HIV prevalence; therefore, understanding about stigmatized and discriminatory attitudes dynamic in the region with a very low HIV prevalence is needed. Aim: To identify the levels of stigmatized attitudes toward people living with HIV (PLHIV) and their predictors among health care providers (HCPs) in Aceh, the lowest HIV prevalence province in Indonesia. Material and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in seven regencies in Aceh. Structured questionnaires were used to collect data from 589 HCPs (doctors, nurses, midwifes and supporting staffs). Univariate analyses including one-way analysis of variance, ttest and correlation test were performed according to data type. Multiple linear regression was conducted to identify the predictors of stigmatized attitudes. Results and discussion: The level of HIV-stigmatized attitudes among HCPs in Aceh was high. Univariate analysis revealed that location, experience of direct contact with PLHIV, knowledge on HIV transmission and prevention, value-driven stigma and overestimated risk to HIV transmission were associated significantly with stigmatized attitudes levels (P < 0.05).

Research paper thumbnail of In situ deposition of TiO2 nanoparticles on polyester fabric and study of its functional properties

Fibers and Polymers, 2015

ABSTRACT In situ deposition of TiO2 nanoparticles on polyester fabric has been carried out using ... more ABSTRACT In situ deposition of TiO2 nanoparticles on polyester fabric has been carried out using hydrothermal method by changing the process conditions. The morphology and crystalline structure of as-deposited particles has been studied by using SEM and XRD. The chemical composition of nanoparticles was determined using energy dispersive spectroscopy. The treated sample exhibited photocatalytic solution discoloration and good washing fastness properties. The study of UV protection and moisture management of fabric showed that it had excellent UV protection factor and comfort properties

Research paper thumbnail of A Plan for Implementation of Hospital Information System in Developing Country: Recommendation from socio-technical perspective

lnu.diva-portal.org

Hospital Information System (HIS) is considered as an important factor in health care sector for ... more Hospital Information System (HIS) is considered as an important factor in health care sector for managing the administrative, financial and clinical aspects of a hospital. A large number of hospitals from both developing and developed countries are adopting hospital information system to bring efficiency in their current system. Current study is conducted to contribute to the literature regarding HIS implementation in developing country settings as there is scarce literature. This study attempts to improve the understanding of HIS implementation in developing countries. In this study, socio technical model is used to understand the current working system of cardiology department of Combined Military Hospital (CMH). Qualitative case study is conducted for this research. Data is collected with the help of interviews done online via Skype and some secondary data resources to highlight the problems and solutions before HIS implementation. The data collection, generation of results and analysis is done on the basis of structure, people, technology, and process perspective originating from the sociotechnical model. Findings of this study are presented in the form of recommendations which need to be considered for making a HIS implementation plan.

Research paper thumbnail of A Review on Chitosan for the Removal of Heavy Metals Ions

Journal of Fiber Bioengineering and Informatics, 2019

There has recently been an increasing interest in water treatment methods as a result of growing ... more There has recently been an increasing interest in water treatment methods as a result of growing concerns over shortages of clean water. This paper aims to review the past and present researches on chitosan for the adsorption of heavy metals from the wastewater. Adsorption is considered to be the most efficient method for the removal of metal impurities from drinking water. Chitosan, a deacetylated derivative of chitin, has many commercial applications due to its biocompatibility, nontoxicity, and biodegradability. Moreover, amine groups are present on the backbone of chitosan. For this reason, chitosan has been used for the adsorption of heavy metals. To begin with, mechanism of adsorption of heavy metal ions on chitosan and disadvantages of heavy metal ions were reviewed. Further, a detailed review had been done on the adsorption capacities of crosslinked chitosan, chitosan nanofibers, chitosan nanoparticles, chitosan composites, modified/pure chitosan, and porous chitosan. Lastly, research gaps and future recommendations were given for further development and accurate results of adsorption.