Over recent years, the demand for supplies of freshwater is escalating with the increasing food demand of a fast-growing population. The agriculture sector of Pakistan contributes to 26% of its GDP and employs 43% of the entire labor force. However, the currently used traditional farming methods such as flood irrigation and rotating water allocation system (Warabandi) results in excess and untimely water usage, as well as low crop yield. Internet of things (IoT) solutions based on real-time farm sensor data and intelligent decision support systems have led to many smart farming solutions, thus improving water utilization. The objective of this study was to compare and optimize water usage in a 2-acre lemon farm test site in Gadap, Karachi, for a 9-month duration, by deploying an indigenously developed IoT device and an agriculture-based decision support system (DSS). The sensor data are wirelessly collected over the cloud and a mobile application, as well as a web-based information visualization, and a DSS system makes irrigation recommendations. The DSS system is based on weather data (temperature and humidity), real time in situ sensor data from the IoT device deployed in the farm, and crop data (Kc and crop type). These data are supplied to the Penman–Monteith and crop coefficient model to make recommendations for irrigation schedules in the test site. The results show impressive water savings (~50%) combined with increased yield (35%) when compared with water usage and crop yields in a neighboring 2-acre lemon farm where traditional irrigation scheduling was employed and where harsh conditions sometimes resulted in temperatures in excess of 50 °C.
Background: Melasma is hyper-pigmentation of skin, usually seen in young female adults, and previous studies have established substantial psychosocial burden associated with this disease. Aim: To measure the frequency of depression in melasma patients and its correlation with severity of melasma Study Design: Descriptive cross-sectional study. Place and duration of study: Dermatology OPD, HIT Hospital Taxila from 1st January 2021 to 31st August 2021 Methods: One hundred consecutive patients of melasma diagnosed by a skin specialist were enrolled. Elderly patients aged >60 years, those with previous psychiatric disease or chronic illnesses and on long term streroids were not included. After getting written informed consent, enrolled patients were screened for depression using Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ-9) Results: There were 17 males and 83 females. The mean age was 41.5±8.14 years. On MASI scale for assessing severity of melasma, 38 patients scored mild, 51 scored moderate and 11 scored severe. Using Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ-9) in patients with melasma, 18 patients didn’t have depression, 38 had mild depression, 31 had moderate depression, 6 had moderately severe depression and 7 had severe depression. Conclusion: The frequency of depression is quite high in patients suffering from melasma. It indicates a need for prompt diagnosis, appropriate intervention at correct time to ensure patient’s compliance to therapy to improve his disease outcome. Keywords: Depression, Melasma, Frequency
differentiations histologically, and their malignant potential is often defined by their mitotic activity, the presence of invasive borders and eventual lymphovascular invasion. Low-grade sarcomas represent the more frequent types, while benign endometrial stromal nodules (ESNs), which are non-invasive, are less common. Composed of cells reminiscent of proliferative-phase endometrial stroma, ESNs are benign tumours, which classically arise and are confined to the uterus. Extra-uterine locations of these benign entities are rare but not exceptional with most cases originating in endometriotic foci. Thus, primary cases have been reported in the colon, the rectovaginal septum, and even implanted in the placenta of a newborn. Broad ligament involvement is much more exceptional and to date, there has not been any article that summarizes them. We present an interesting and rare case of this benign entity occurring in the broad ligament of a pre-menopausal woman in the context of an absent background history of endometriosis. A brief review of the literature will be included.
Objective: This study was designed to evaluate the prevalence of depression in females with primary infertility at a tertiary care hospital in Rawalpindi and identify the factors associated with the condition. Study Design: Descriptive Cross-sectional study. Setting: Infertility Clinic of the Department of Obstetrics and Gyanecology, Benazir Bhutto Hospital, Rawalpindi. Period: February to August 2016. Material & Methods: Females between the ages of 18 and 40 years with primary infertility were included in the study. The presence and severity of depressive symptoms were assessed using the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D). Socio-demographic details and clinical information was collected on a pre-designed proforma. Results: A total of 102 females were included in the study. The mean age of the patients was 31 years with a STD of ± 4.3 years. 78.4% (n=80) patients were suffering from depression on the basis of HAM-D scores. 18 (17.6%) had mild depression, 34 (33.3%) had moderate depression, 20 (19.6%) had severe depression and 8 (7.8%) patients had very severe depression. An analysis of the socio-demographic factors showed that a majority of the females were educated, housewives and living in extended families. The frequency of depression was significantly associated with a low monthly household income (p=0.046). Conclusion: A high proportion of females with primary infertility suffer from depression. Screening for psychiatric illnesses should be part of the standard evaluation of these patients. Early detection and timely psychological intervention can lead to a significant reduction in long-term morbidity.
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