Imran Khan

Abstract Comparative efficiency of rectal palpation and milk progesterone profiles in diagnosing ovarian contents was studied in Nili-Ravi buffalo. One hundred lactating buffaloes were randomly selected, ovaries were palpated per rectum and progesterone concentrations in milk samples were determined using enzyme immunoassay (EIA) technique. Post-slaughter examination of ovarian contents was used for the confirmation of rectal and EIA diagnosis of ovarian contents. Twelve of the 122 rectal diagnoses (9.84%) ...

Silicon carbide has been the focus of intense research in recent years. Its higher breakdown field and higher thermal conductivity than silicon gives it the potential for high power applications with superior performance. To exploit these advantages, a vertical MOS-based power device is developed. The vertical orientation of the device takes advantage of the higher bulk electron mobility in that direction. This device structure has been optimally designed to potentially block 7.5kV in the off-state, while maintaining a high drive current in the on-state. To accomplish both design constraints, two technological innovations were implemented. First, the device design was improved through the incorporation of an extended p-bottom region. This design feature protects the gate oxide from high fields without significant loss of the drive current. Finally, the processing technique was improved with the invention of a self aligned implant mask to avoid degradation of the on-state from the p-bottom implant. The fabricated devices exhibit blocking voltages of 5.0kV with specific on-resistance of 105mΩcm2. These devices currently demonstrate the highest blocking voltage for a UMOSFET structure in SiC. The drive current of these devices exceeds those reported in literature having similar blocking voltages but different design structures. ^ The advancement of MOS-based power devices in SiC are profoundly repressed by the low inversion channel mobility. Ongoing studies on SiC MOS structures have shown improvement of the inversion channel mobility on lateral devices, but there is no corresponding data for vertical devices. Part of this thesis, describes experiments performed in an attempt to bridge the information gap between lateral and vertical SiC MOS structures. The results of the experiments indicate that similar improvements are attainable on the sidewall of a vertical MOSFET (UMOS).^ Currently in the silicon community, the device dimensions are being scaled down aggressively, resulting in very thin thermal gate oxides. The resulting excessive gate leakage current has propelled the investigation of alternative insulators with high dielectric constants (k) as a replacement of thermal oxide. The final aspect of this thesis presents some of the exploratory work done on evaluating these high-k dielectrics as a supplant to thermal oxide for the gate insulator in SiC MOS power devices. The higher k-value can induce greater inversion channel charge for similar insulator electric fields, and so diminish the impact of low inversion channel mobility. Successful capacitors were formed with higher k values (about 10) but their high gate leakage did not provide a significant advantage over thermal oxides. ^

Infections caused by Leishmania are becoming major public health problems on a global scale. Many species of Leishmania around the world are obtaining resistance levels of up to 15 folds, as estimated by the World Health Organization. Leishmania showing resistance is relatively difficult to observe and maintain in laboratory settings. The current study deals with the generation of Leishmania tropica strains that are resistant to amphotericin B (amp B). The L. tropica strain was attenuated using continuous passaging 20 times. The infectivity of L. tropica was confirmed in BALB/c mice. The L. tropica resistant strain was produced in vitro using a continuous increase in drug pressure. The cross resistance of L. tropica to other drugs was also investigated. After 20 continuous passages, the BALB/c mice tested negative in the development of leishmaniasis. At a concentration of 0.1 µg/mL, L. tropica showed resistance to amp B. The newly developed promastigotes were 16 times more resistant compared to the resistance of the wild type promastigotes. The resistant L. tropica strain showed cross resistance to itraconazole and had a resistance index that was greater than five. The resistant strain displayed maximum stability for more than three months in the drug-free medium. The resistant strain of L. tropica can be produced in laboratories using continuous drug pressure. The attenuated resistant strain has significant implications (both medically and academically) in the ability to overcome resistance.

ABSTRACT In this paper the performance of Cooperative-Cognitive Networks is analyzed using the Double Threshold Energy Detection algorithm. Introducing Double Threshold Energy Detection improves the spectrum detection accuracy and also it reduces the noise uncertainty. Monte Carlo Simulation is performed to show the significant improvement in the performance of Cooperative-Cognitive networks for proposed algorithm over Nakagami-m fading channels and using Maximal Ratio Combining (MRC) on the receiver. The results show that the proposed algorithm effectively improves the Collision Probability at a cost of little decrease in Detection Probability and Probability of spectrum unavailable.

ABSTRACT ZrSiN thin films are synthesized by using plasma focus through various numbers of focus shots (10, 20, and 30), with samples placed at 9 cm away from the tip of anode. Crystal structures, surface morphologies, and elemental compositions of ZrSiN films are characterized by X-ray diffractometer (XRD) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) attached with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). XRD patterns confirm the formations of polycrystalline ZrSiN films. Crystallinity of nitride increases with the increase of focus shot number. The average crystallite size of zirconium nitride increases from 27�3 nm to 73�8 nm and microstrain decreases from 2.28 to 1.0 with the increase of focus shot number. SEM results exhibit the formations of granular and oval-shaped microstructures, depending on number of focus shots. EDS results confirm the presences of silicon, zirconium, nitrogen, and oxygen in the composite films. The content values of Zr and N in the composite films increase with the increase of focus shot number.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and post-transplant diabetes mellitus (PTDM) are non-synonymous forms of diabetes. Glucokinase (GCK) plays a key role in glucose metabolism. The relationship between the GCK promoter and specific types of diabetes, such as PTDM and T2DM, in the Asian Indian population is unknown. We examined the occurrence of a specific GCK promoter variant (-258G/A) in patients with T2DM and PTDM. The case-control study enrolled 640 Asian Indian subjects, including controls (n = 250) and T2DM (n = 250), PTDM (n = 42), and non-post-transplant diabetes mellitus (non-PTDM) (n = 98) patients. Purified Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) was genotyped with the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis. The digested PCR products were analyzed on 12% polyacrylamide gels. The anthropometric, biochemical, and clinical details of each group were documented. GCK -258G/A alleles and genotypes were not associated with T2DM. However, among PTDM subjects, we detected a higher frequency of heterozygotes (52.4%) and a positive association with alleles/genotypes. The results suggest that the promoter region (-258G/A) of GCK plays an important role in PTDM in Asian Indians.

Genetic and environmental factors play an important role in susceptibility to type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Several genes have been implicated in the development of T2DM. Genetic variants of candidate genes are, therefore, prime targets for molecular analysis. In this study, we have selected 3 candidate genes, namely, TCF7L2, SLC30A8, and IGF2, for assessing their association with T2DM in an Indian population. Five hundred individuals were enrolled in this case-control study- 250 T2DM patients and 250 healthy control individuals. Clinical characteristics were obtained for all subjects, and genotype analysis was performed by PCR-RFLP analysis. Allele and genotyping frequencies, odds ratios, and 95% confidence intervals were calculated for 3 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), 1 each from TCF7L2 (rs7903146), SLC30A8 (rs13266634), and IGF2 (rs680) in T2DM patients. The rs7903146 and rs680 polymorphisms were found to be significantly associated with T2DM (p < 0.05), whereas th...

Citrus is susceptible to a large number of diseases caused by plant pathogens. Economic losses due to plant diseases can be severe, but fortunately, not all pathogens attacking citrus are present in Florida. Major citrus diseases currently present in Florida include: Alternaria brown spot, blight, citrus canker, greasy spot, melanose, Phytophthora-induced diseases (foot and root rot, brown rot), postbloom fruit drop (PFD), scab, and tristeza. An exotic, destructive disease called citrus greening (Huanglongbing) has recently been found in Florida. Any exotic diseases, if introduced, will increase production costs and decrease profitability for Florida growers. Exotic diseases could affect the viability of the industry or the varieties that could be profitably grown. Background information for each exotic citrus disease is presented in a series of fact sheets to: 1) provide a basis for evaluating exotic pathogens that may pose potential risks to Florida citrus; and 2) create a decisio...

Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is caused by genetic defects involving the low density lipoprotein-receptor (LDL-R), predisposing affected people to premature atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and death. The aim of the present study was to assess certain exons in the LDLR gene mutation detection analysis affecting in the Saudi population with FH. This case-control study was carried out with 200 subjects; 100 were FH cases and 100 were healthy controls. Five mL of venous blood samples were collected from all the subjects and used for biochemical and genetic analysis. DNA was extracted from 2mL of the EDTA samples, and precise primers were designed for LDL-R gene which includes Exon 3, 4 and 8. PCR was followed by DNA sequencing. In our study, we found 25 mutations in cases in Exon-3 and 2 mutations in controls, however, we have found only 5 mutations in exon 4 and none of the mutations were identified in exon 8. We conclude that screening of FH among Saudi population is very ...

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is defined as carbohydrate intolerance of variable severity that develops during pregnancy. Recent studies indicate that GDM onset is rapid, and that women with GDM will develop other metabolic disorders such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease in their future. Serine/threonine kinase 11 (STK11) is engaged in the insulin signaling pathway and encoded protein is an important activator of adenosine monophosphate activated protein kinase. Based on the previously reported association between the STK11 gene and diabetes, we aimed to investigate whether the rs8111699 polymorphism in STK11 has any role in gestation diabetes in Saudi women. In this case-control study, we recruited pregnant Saudi women based on biochemical analysis of their blood samples. Genomic DNA was obtained from confirmed subjects (200 GDM cases and 300 non-GDM). PCR-RFLP analysis was performed to detect the C528G polymorphism in the STK11 gene. The anthropometric and clinical data were similar between the GDM and non-GDM subjects (p > 0.05), whereas the biochemical analysis was significantly different between the cases and controls (p > 0.05). The genotype and allele frequencies between of the STK11 gene were not statistically significant difference between the GDM and non-GDM groups (OR=0.82; 95% CI:=0.6-1.0; p=0.12). Our study suggests that the rs8111699 polymorphism has no role in the development of GDM in pregnant Saudi women.

Despite the intense debate around the repeat instability reported on the large group of neurological disorders caused by trinucleotide repeat expansions, little is known about the mutation process underlying alleles in the normal range, diseases range, large normal alleles (LNAs). In this study, we assessed the CAG repeats at SCA17 in 188 clinical SCA patients and 100 individuals without any neurological signs. This highly polymorphic population displayed high variability in the CAG repeats and ranged from 19-38 CAG repeats in patients with mode of 20 and 19-32 CAG repeats in controls with mode of 24. The triplet repeat expansion was not detected in any of the 188 patients, as per the reference pathogenic range (>43 repeats); however, 2.7% of the patients had >33 CAG repeats with a clinical phenotype close to what is expected of SCA 17 patients. The findings of this study implicate a more sophisticated interpretation of SCA17 gene and raise the question about the diagnostic thresh hold between normal and expanded repeats in our population.

Al2O3 surface-layers were deposited on Al substrates by thermal evaporation technique. Samples were treated for different (1 h, 2 h, 3 h, 4 h and 5 h) treatment time in open air environment by keeping the temperature (550oC) of the evaporator plate constant. XRD patterns revealed the emergence of Al2O3 H2O (111), Al (OH)3 (214) and Al2O3 (20 6) planes. Crystallinity of the above mentioned phases was attributed with treatment time. However, minimum treatment time to break oxygen hydrogen bonds and the formation of Al2O3 plane was 5 h. Crystallite size and compressive stress found in Al2O3 (2 0 6) plane were 14.31 nm 0.53 GPa respectively. SEM microstructure features revealed the formation of rounded grains, irregular patches and rods. AFM analysis exhibited the formation of dome shapes microstructures. The grain size and surface roughness were increased from 1 μm to 2.5 μm and from 35 nm to 115 nm respectively. This variation in surface roughness and grain sizes was associated with t...

Reliable, fast, and power aware communication is needed for Ad-Hoc wireless networks. Current techniques based on client-server and Publish/Subscribe communication models are not suitable in multi-robot systems and generally for mobile applications. For this we propose a reliable peer-to-peer protocol based on a UDP Broadcast and Token Passing (UBTP). The protocol is implemented on a WLAN using the Stargate embedded

ABSTRACT Design of Notched Chamfered Rectangular shaped two elements Dielectric Resonator Antenna (DRA) array is presented for wireless (WLAN and WiMAX) applications. In this paper, the DRA array is excited by conformal patch connected to microstrip line which is an effective feed mechanism and more efficient in energy coupling than other types of feeding techniques. Simulation results show, the proposed antenna achieves an impedance bandwidth from 2.18 to 3.75 GHz and 4.84 to 5.14 GHz covering 2.4, 3.6 and 5 GHz WLAN bands and 3.4 to 3.7 GHz WiMAX bands. Comparison is done among various shapes of the rectangular DRA arrays (Simple Rectangle, chamfered and chamfered with notched). A parametric study is carried out by varying the ground plane's dimension of the final design. The proposed antenna gives the appreciable gain and radiation pattern at the resonant frequencies.

The paper presents a new Multi Inputs and Single Output (MISO) VM Universal Biquadratic Filter (UBF) employing only two low voltage dual output current conveyors (DOCCIIs) along with two resistors and two capacitors. The proposed circuit realizes six standard biquadratic responses, viz., low pass high pass, non inverting band pass, inverting band pass, band elimination and all pass. The filter

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is defined as glucose intolerance first recognized during pregnancy. Insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism of a 287 bp Alu repetitive sequence in intron 16 of the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) gene has been widely investigated in Asian Indian populations with different ethnic origins. The present study examined possible association between I/D polymorphism of the ACE gene and GDM in Asian Indian pregnant women. A total of 200 pregnant women (100 GDM and 100 non-GDM) were recruited in this study and I/D polymorphism of a 287 bp Alu1 element inside intron 16 of the ACE gene was examined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based gel electrophoresis. The distribution of the variants like II, ID, and DD genotypes of ACE gene showed differences between normal GDM versus non-GDM subjects, and the frequency of the ID+ DD Vs II genotype was significant (p=0.0002) in the GDM group. ACE gene polymorphism was associated with GDM in Asian Indian pregnant ...

Angiotensin I converting enzyme (ACE) insertion and deletion (I/D) polymorphism has been implicated in the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis (OA). In recent years, numerous genetic factors have been identified and implicated in OA. In this Asian Indian population-based study, we aimed to evaluate the relationship between ACE (I28005D) gene polymorphism and primary OA. We performed a case-control association study to identify and explore the correlation between clinically, radiologically diagnosed individuals with primary knee OA and the ACE I/D polymorphism. Genomic DNA was isolated from 200 samples, including 100 OA cases and 100 healthy volunteers. DNA was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using I and D allele-specific primers. PCR products were assessed via UV visualization of products electrophoresed on 2% agarose gels. The groups differed significantly in genotype distributions (p < 0.05). The primary knee OA group showed a considerably higher incidence of the DD gen...

A 19-year-old woman presented with a 4-week history of headache, ataxia, vertigo, confusion, intermittent blurred vision in the right eye and intermittent hearing loss. MRI revealed white matter lesions and 'pepper pot' lesions of the corpus callosum. The cerebrospinal fluid had raised protein and lymphocytes. Fundal examination revealed multiple peripheral arterial occlusions in the both eyes confirmed with fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA). A diagnosis of Susac's syndrome was made. The patient was initially treated with steroids, followed by azathioprine and intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIg). Clinical improvement was noted, associated with improvement of the retinal circulation on FFA.

Abstract—Anomaly detection is currently an important and active research problem in many fields and involved in numerous applications. Most of the existing methods are based on distance measure which can produce better results as compared to other methods. But in case of ...

Five commercial LaSota strain Newcastle disease (ND) vaccines namely A, B, C, D and E were evaluated for their potency, efficacy, thermostability and influence on productivity in broilers. A 3-log10 difference of EID50 and two-to-eight fold difference of HA activity was found among the various vaccines tested. One hundred and fifty day-old broiler chicks were divided into six equal groups