Experimental demonstration of a transparent graphene millimetre wave absorber with 28% fractional bandwidth at 140 GHz.

The development of transparent radio-frequency electronics has been limited, until recently, by the lack of suitable materials. Naturally thin and transparent graphene may lead to disruptive innovations in such applications. Here, we realize optically transparent broadband absorbers operating in the millimetre wave regime achieved by stacking graphene bearing quartz substrates on a ground plate.

Knowledge and practices of barbers regarding HIV transmission in Karachi: a cross-sectional study.

A barber shop is a potential place for non-sexual transmission of deadly blood borne diseases such as acquired immuno-deficient syndrome. Few researches have been conducted to assess the knowledge of barbers regarding human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission in Pakistan. With majority of the population visiting roadside saloons, it is imperative to have local data in this regard.

AIPL1 implicated in the pathogenesis of two cases of autosomal recessive retinal degeneration.

Purpose: To localize and identify the gene and mutations causing autosomal recessive retinal dystrophy in two consanguineous Pakistani families.

Methods: Consanguineous families from Pakistan were ascertained to be affected with autosomal recessive retinal degeneration. All affected individuals underwent thorough ophthalmologic examinations.

Polyethylene glycol conjugated polymeric nanocapsules for targeted delivery of quercetin to folate-expressing cancer cells in vitro and in vivo.

In this work we describe the formulation and characterization of chemically modified polymeric nanocapsules incorporating the anticancer drug, quercetin, for the passive and active targeting to tumors. Folic acid was conjugated to poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) polymer to facilitate active targeting to cancer cells. Two different methods for the conjugation of PLGA to folic acid were employed utilizing polyethylene glycol (PEG) as a spacer.

Prevalence of plasmid-mediated AmpC β-lactamases in Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumonia at tertiary care hospital of Islamabad, Pakistan.

Enterobacteriaceae produces AmpC β-lactamases that make them resistant to commonly used antibiotics. AmpC β-lactamases can be chromosomal-mediated or plasmid-mediated AmpC β-lactamases (PABLs). The present study was undertaken to determine the occurrence of PABLs production in clinical isolates in Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae.

A novel CHSY1 gene mutation underlies Temtamy preaxial brachydactyly syndrome in a Pakistani family.

Temtamy preaxial brachydactyly syndrome (TPBS) is an autosomal recessive rare disorder characterized by hyperphalangism of digits, facial dysmorphism, dental anomalies, sensorineural hearing loss, delayed motor and mental development, and growth retardation. Loss of function mutations have been recently reported in the CHSY1 gene to cause the TPBS. Here, we report a novel missense mutation (c.

Human parechovirus genotypes -10, -13 and -15 in Pakistani children with acute dehydrating gastroenteritis.

Human parechoviruses are known to cause asymptomatic to severe clinical illness predominantly respiratory and gastroenetric infections. Despite their global prevalence, epidemiological studies have not been performed in Pakistan. In this study, we retrospectively analyzed 110 fecal specimen and found 26 (24%) positive for viral RNA with HPeV-10 (n = 3, 23%), HPeV-13 (n = 4, 31%) and HPeV-15 (n = 6, 46%) genotypes.

Patient communication in radiology: current status of breaking bad news among radiologists and radiology trainees in Pakistan.

Breaking bad news can be an intimidating task for any physician. The aim of this study was to record the practices of breaking bad news to the patients by Pakistani radiologists and trainees. The radiologists and trainees attending the 26th National Radiological Conference in October 2010 in Karachi, Pakistan, were surveyed.

Fever of unknown origin at a teritiary care teaching hospital in Pakistan.

The aim of this study was to determine the causes of fever of unknown origin (FUO) at a tertiary care teaching hospital in Pakistan. We conducted this cross sectional descriptive study at the Department of Medicine, Civil Hospital Karachi, from January 2006 to December 2011. We reviewed the medical records of all patients aged > 12 years with a primary diagnosis of FUO.

UGT1A1 gene mutations in Pakistani children suffering from inherited nonhemolytic unconjugated hyperbilirubinemias.

Two inherited unconjugated hyperbilirubinemias, Crigler-Najjar syndrome and Gilbert syndrome, arise due to deficiency of UGT1A1 enzyme activity. Crigler-Najjar syndrome type 1 (CN1) lies at the extreme severe end of the spectrum of UGT1A1 activity characterized by complete absence, followed by the less severe Crigler-Najjar syndrome type 2 (CN2). Gilbert syndrome is the mild form having only partial loss of UGT1A1 activity.

Energy-efficient cognitive radio sensor networks: parametric and convex transformations.

Designing energy-efficient cognitive radio sensor networks is important to intelligently use battery energy and to maximize the sensor network life. In this paper, the problem of determining the power allocation that maximizes the energy-efficiency of cognitive radio-based wireless sensor networks is formed as a constrained optimization problem, where the objective function is the ratio of network throughput and the network power. The proposed constrained optimization problem belongs to a class of nonlinear fractional programming problems.

Impact of environmental factors on the population dynamics, density and foraging activities of Odontotermes lokanandi and Microtermes obesi in Islamabad.

Affect of different environmental factors i.e., temperature, relative humidity and precipitation on population dynamics, density and foraging activities of Microtermes obesi Holmgren and Odontotermes lokanandi Chatarjee and Thakur (Isoptera: Termitidae) were studied from March 2010 to July 2012 in Islamabad.

Tree species as a potential source of bio-herbicides for controlling Parthenium hysterophorus L.

To assess the herbicidal potential of Eugenia jambolana Lam., Ricinus communis L., Ziziphus jujuba L.

Novel mutations in RPE65 identified in consanguineous Pakistani families with retinal dystrophy.

Purpose: To identify pathogenic mutations responsible for retinal dystrophy in three consanguineous Pakistani families.

Methods: A thorough ophthalmic examination including fundus examination and electroretinography was performed, and blood samples were collected from all participating members. Genomic DNA was extracted, and genome-wide linkage and/or exclusion analyses were completed with fluorescently labeled short tandem repeat microsatellite markers.

Epidemiology and genetic diversity of rotavirus strains in children with acute gastroenteritis in Lahore, Pakistan.

Pakistan harbors high disease burden of gastro-enteric infections with majority of these caused by rotavirus. Unfortunately, lack of proper surveillance programs and laboratory facilities have resulted in scarcity of available data on rotavirus associated disease burden and epidemiological information in the country. We investigated 1306 stool samples collected over two years (2008-2009) from hospitalized children under 5 years of age for the presence of rotavirus strains and its genotypic diversity in Lahore.

Double trouble: preseptal cellulitis due to two species with multidrug resistance.

A 2 Year old boy presented with painful ballooning of both eyes with the 2 days history of trauma to the head while playing. His vaccination was complete. On examination he was afebrile.

Undergraduate radiology education in private and public teaching hospitals in Karachi, Pakistan: teaching duties, methodologies, and rewards.

Background: In an integrated method of education, medical students are introduced to radiology in their preclinical years. However, no study has been conducted in Pakistan to demonstrate an academic framework of medical radiology education at an undergraduate level. Therefore, we aimed to document and compare the current level of teaching duties, teaching methodologies, and teaching rewards among radiologists and residents in private and public teaching hospitals in Karachi, Pakistan.

Identification of chloroplast genome loci suitable for high-resolution phylogeographic studies of Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott (Araceae) and closely related taxa.

Recently, we reported the chloroplast genome-wide association of oligonucleotide repeats, indels and nucleotide substitutions in aroid chloroplast genomes. We hypothesized that the distribution of oligonucleotide repeat sequences in a single representative genome can be used to identify mutational hotspots and loci suitable for population genetic, phylogenetic and phylogeographic studies. Using information on the location of oligonucleotide repeats in the chloroplast genome of taro (Colocasia esculenta), we designed 30 primer pairs to amplify and sequence polymorphic loci.

Determination of genetic variation among chickpea genotypes and their F₁ crosses with RAPD markers.

The intensity of genetic diversity amongst chickpea genotypes and their crosses is unknown. The current study investigated the genetic diversity of chickpea genotypes and their F₁ crosses by using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers. We assessed the variation among six chickpea genotypes and 15 F₁ crosses with the RAPD markers.

Deletion mutation in BSCL2 gene underlies congenital generalized lipodystrophy in a Pakistani family.

Background: Congenital generalized lipodystrophy (CGL) also known as Berardinelli-Seip Congenital Lipodystrophy (BSCL) is a genetically heterogeneous disorder characterized by loss of adipose tissues, Acanthosis nigricans, diabetes mellitus, muscular hypertrophy, hepatomegaly and hypertriglyceridemia. There are four subclinical phenotypes of CGL (CGL1-4) and mutations in four genes AGPAT2, BSCL2, CAV1 and PTRF have been assigned to each type.

Methods: The study included clinical and molecular investigations of CGL disease in a consanguineous Pakistani family.

Serotype diversity of astroviruses in Rawalpindi, Pakistan during 2009-2010.

Astroviruses are globally known enteropathogens causing gastroenteritis and diarrhea, with eight well defined serotypes. Epidemiological studies have recognized serotype-1 as the most common subtype but no such data is available in Pakistan. During 2009-2010, we found astroviruses in 41 out of 535 (7%) samples collected from hospitalized children.

Salicylic acid restrains nickel toxicity, improves antioxidant defence system and enhances the production of anticancer alkaloids in Catharanthus roseus (L.).

Salicylic acid (SA) has been reported to ameliorate various stresses in plants. In order to explore the role of SA under nickel (Ni) stress, thirty-days old plants of periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus L.) were supplied with eight treatments comprising basal application of Ni (0, 50, 100 and 150 mg kg(-1)) and foliar application of SA (0 and 10(-5)M) under net house conditions.

Estimation of distribution algorithm for resource allocation in green cooperative cognitive radio sensor networks.

Due to the rapid increase in the usage and demand of wireless sensor networks (WSN), the limited frequency spectrum available for WSN applications will be extremely crowded in the near future. More sensor devices also mean more recharging/replacement of batteries, which will cause significant impact on the global carbon footprint. In this paper, we propose a relay-assisted cognitive radio sensor network (CRSN) that allocates communication resources in an environmentally friendly manner.