122 research outputs found
Inclusive Fitness Theory: is it still relevant in discussions of altruism?
No full textFor nearly 50 years, Inclusive Fitness Theory has provided researchers an avenue to understand altruistic interactions among individuals in a colony. It has recently come under fire by prominent academics suggesting it is unsatisfactory in describing altruism. This thesis aims to provide a history of inclusive fitness theory and dissect the arguments against the theory and in favor of it. Using scientific research articles from such publications as Nature and Science, I have collected information on the history of Inclusive Fitness Theory and the development of the theory over time. Furthermore, this thesis will also delve into the methods of testing Inclusive Fitness Theory as well as fields that have arisen due to the theory. Ultimately, using arguments made by opponents and proponents to the theory, conclusions will be drawn about the validity of the theory. While the arguments against the theory seem sound, they ultimately fail to provide alternative insights into the development of altruism in colonies, and moreover these arguments are successfully refuted by leaders in the field.M.S.Includes bibliographical referencesIncludes vitaby Daniel Wasim Awar
Refugee without refuge: Wasim, Phillip Adams, and a nation divided
No full textThis study follows on from previous work (Pedersen et al., 2008) that examined the situation of the stateless asylum seeker, Wasim. In the present study, a blog discussion stemming from an editorial about Wasim (Adams, 2008) was analysed. Participants were identified as 'Do-Gooders' and 'Do-Badders'; categories that indicate their orientation to asylum seeker debates (labels originated from the blog itself). We identified several features of the blog discussion. While similar themes and discursive devices were used by the two groups, they were used very differently. The Do-Gooders were more likely to offer accurate information about asylum seekers or Wasim and to show humani- tarian concerns for Wasim and others like him. The Do-Badders were more likely to display emotion, show the 'Phillip Adams Effect' (addressing the author of the editorial, Phillip Adams, in their sub- missions) and name-call. However, there was no significant difference with respect to whether participants addressed Wasim's situation specifically rather than focusing on the general issue of asylum seekers. The blog demonstrates, in microcosm, the divided orientation of Australians regard- ing asylum seekers
Diagnosis of hepatoma using grayscale and Doppler ultrasound in patients with chronic liver disease
No full textWasim A Memon, Zishan Haider, Mirza Amanullah Beg, Muhammad Idris, Tanveer-ul-Haq, Waseem Akhtar, Sidra IdrisRadiology Department, Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan Every author contributed equally to the workObjective: To determine the diagnostic accuracy of liver ultrasound for the detection of hepatoma in chronic liver disease (CLD) patients by either taking histopathology or serum α-fetoprotein levels or a biphasic computed tomography (CT) scan (whichever is available) as the gold standard.Study design: Cross-sectional.Place and duration of study: Radiology Department, The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan, from January 2007 to January 2010.Methods: A total of 239 patients (156 males and 83 females) with clinical suspicion or surveillance of hepatoma in CLD referred to the radiology department for ultrasound evaluation followed by either liver biopsy and histopathology or serum α-fetoprotein level or biphasic CT scan.Results: The sensitivity of ultrasound for hepatoma detection in CLD was 65%, specificity was 85%, and accuracy was 70%, and positive predictive value and negative predictive value were 92% and 45%, respectively.Conclusion: Ultrasound is a relatively quick, safe, reasonably accurate, and noninvasive imaging modality for the detection of hepatoma in CLD and can be complemented with clinical assessment of screening high-risk patients.Keywords: hepatoma, ultrasound, radiology, chronic liver diseas
Isolated Gastric Tuberculosis Mimicking Malignancy
No full textIsolated tuberculosis of upper gastrointestinal tract is a rare pathology, often mimicking malignancy in clinical presentation and radiological features. We present a case of middle aged gentleman with isolated tuberculosis of stomach, proven on histopathology and showing remarkable improvement on follow up
Book: Journey to God. Sufis and Dervishes in Islam
No full textJürgen Wasim Frembgen (2008) Journey to God. Sufis and Dervishes in Islam, Karachi, Oxford University Press. Since 1981, the author has been conducting ethnographic fieldwork on Islamic mysticism and Sufi cults in South Asia and more particularly in Pakistan. His latest book is a revised English version translated of the German one by Jane Ripken. Jürgen Wasim Frembgen here focuses on the role played by Sufis and dervishes in shaping social and cultural environments in the whole Muslim world ..
MDCT of Small Bowel Obstruction: How Reliable Are Oblique Reformatted Images in Localizing Point of Transition?
No full textThe goal of this study is to prospectively assess the additional value of oblique reformatted images for localizing POT, having surgery as a reference standard. Materials and Methods. 102 consecutive patients with suspected small bowel obstruction (SBO) underwent 64-slice multidetector row CT (MDCT) using surgical findings as reference standard. Two independent GI radiologists reviewed the CT scans to localize the exact POT by evaluating axial images (data set A) followed by axial, coronal, and oblique MPR images. CT findings were compared to surgical findings in terms of diagnostic performance. McNemar’s test was used to detect any statistical difference in POT evaluation between datasets A and B. Kappa statistics were applied for measuring agreement between two readers. Results. There was a diagnostic improvement of 9.9% in the case of the less experienced radiologist in localizing POT by using oblique reformatted images. The more experienced radiologist showed diagnostic improvement by 12.9%
Influence of length and conformation of saccharide head groups on the mechanics of glycolipid membranes: Unraveled by off-specular neutron scattering
No full textThe mechanical properties of multilayer stacks of Gb3 glycolipid that play key roles in metabolic disorders (Fabry disease) were determined quantitatively by using specular and off-specular neutron scattering. Because of the geometry of membrane stacks deposited on planar substrates, the scattered intensity profile was analyzed in a 2D reciprocal space map as a function of in-plane and out-of-plane scattering vector components. The two principal mechanical parameters of the membranes, namely, bending rigidity and compression modulus, can be quantified by full calculation of scattering functions with the aid of an effective cut-off radius that takes the finite sample size into consideration. The bulkier "bent" Gb3 trisaccharide group makes the membrane mechanics distinctly different from cylindrical disaccharide (lactose) head groups and shorter "bent" disaccharide (gentiobiose) head groups. The mechanical characterization of membranes enriched with complex glycolipids has high importance in understanding the mechanisms of diseases such as sphingolipidoses caused by the accumulation of non-degenerated glycosphingolipids in lysosomes or inhibition of protein synthesis triggered by the specific binding of Shiga toxin to Gb3. (C) 2015 Author(s)
Octabuoy Concept and Spar Buoys: Non Linear Effects and Analysis
No full textThe age of the easy accessible hydrocarbon goes towards the end and new more challenging fields is the future of the oil industry. This is often synonymous with large depths where sea bed mounted platforms are highly uneconomical options. Floating platforms are therefore commonly chosen solutions.In this thesis two types of deep foating platforms are investigated; The spar buoy, a well known, well documented concept and the Octabuoy, a newly developed concept. Both platforms are analysed in two DNV programs, Wasim and Waqum. Wasim is a non linear time domain hydrodynamic program and Waqum is an impulse response function operator with the possibility of adding non linear eects. The spar bouy concept is used as a pilot test in the softwares. A recreation of the experimental results from H.A. Haslum's doctoral thesis from 2000 is attempted. The impact of non linear effects and mooring on both platforms is discussed. The subject of viscous damping is also approached.As has previously been confirmed by many researchers, the spar buoy is susceptible to non linear eects. The triggering of the Mathieu effect is shown in the Wasim analyses. Discussion is also made as to whether the spar might also be susceptible to large excitations due to second order difference frequency interactions between surface waves and body motions. Both these effects happen at low frequencies where radiation damping is low. Viscous damping is therefore of importance. From previous research mooring is found to be important to avoid the Mathieu effect by increasing the damping and moving pitch periods out of the danger zones.After analysing the spar buoy, the Octabuoy's motion characteristics are tested in mild to severe sea states in both softwares. Non linear effects are found to be significant in the vertical rotational degrees of freedom. The heave motion however seems relatively unaffected by non linear effects. Since Wasim models the free surface linearly, what makes the pitch/roll motion affected by non linearities is found to be either non linear hydro statics or non linear Froude-Krylov forces. The Octabuoy is designed to avoid the variation on hydrostatic stiffness. However, the deadrise angle is 10 degrees larger than the ideal angle. Whether this is what leads to non linear pitch/roll motion is not known at this stage.Two softwares are used in the thesis. Wasim has very long CPU time but calculates accurately and detailed information is easily accessed with for instance the Wasim application ForceInspector. Waqum is very quick, with CPU time in the order of minutes. The program requires an experienced user who knows what must be included for a complete analysis. There are uncertainties about the results from Waqum analysis and more verication is needed for the author to feel confident about the software.To conclude, the programs might work well together. Much can be tested quickly in Waqum, and then final configurations can be run more thoroughly in Wasim. It is the experience of the author that at least until the new version of HydroD is finished, running time domain analysis in Wasim should be done through scripting. This gives a larger control over the actual input and might decrease the chance for error.Keywords: Octabuoy, Spar Buoy, Non Linear Effects, Mooring, Wasim, Waqum
Clinical impact of incidental diagnosis of disease on non-contrast-enhanced helical CT for acute ureteral colic
No full textThe role of un enhanced helical CT (UHCT) in the evaluation of acute flank pain suggestive of urinary tract calculi is increasingly appreciated in the last few years. Recent studies have identified the advantages of UHCT in recognizing alternative findings within or outside the urinary tract. These incidental diagnoses on UHCT alter a patient\u27s management and demonstrate the pivotal role of UHCT in rapidly triaging these patients for appropriate management. Clinical impact of incidental diagnoses is maximal in identifying alternate emergent conditions mimicking reno-ureteric colic and in identifying malignancies at an early stage when they are potentially curable
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