National Defence University, Pakistan

About: National Defence University, Pakistan is a education organization based out in Islamabad, Pakistan. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Decision support system & Population. The organization has 802 authors who have published 816 publications receiving 3701 citations. The organization is also known as: National Defence University of Pakistan & National Defence University Islamabad.

Side-polished multimode fiber biosensor based on surface plasmon resonance with halogen light.

Abstract: A side-polished multimode fiber sensor based on surface plasmon resonance (SPR) as the transducing element with a halogen light source is proposed. The SPR fiber sensor is side polished until half the core is closed and coated with a 37 nm gold thin film by dc sputtering. The SPR curve on the optical spectrum is described by an optical spectrum analyzer and can sense a range of widths in wavelengths of SPR effects. The measurement system using the halogen light source is constructed for several real-time detections that are carried out for the measurement of the index liquid detections for the sensitivity analysis. The sensing fiber is demonstrated with a series of refractive index (RI) liquids and set for several experiments, including the stability, repeatability, and resolution calibration. The results for the halogen light source with the resolution of the measurement based on wavelength interrogation were 3×10−6 refractive index units (RIUs). The SPR dip shifted in wavelength is used as a measure of the RI change at a surface, and this RI change varies directly with the number of biomolecules at the surface. The SPR dip shift in wavelength, which was hybridized at 0.1 μM of the target DNA to the probe DNA, was 8.66 nm. The all-fiber multimode SPR sensor, which has the advantages of being low cost, being disposable, having high stability and linearity, being free of labeling, and having potential for real-time detection, permit the sensor and system to be used in biochemical sensing and environmental monitoring.

Artificial neural networks classification and clustering of methodologies and applications – literature analysis from 1995 to 2005

Abstract: Based on a scope of 10,120 articles on ANNs, this paper uses data mining including association rules and cluster analysis, to survey these ANNs papers through keyword classification and clustering of articles from 1995 to 2005, exploring the ANNs methodologies and application developments during that period. The four decision variables of keywords, author’s nationality, research category, and year of publication, are implemented for data mining with total of 110,080 data items. The research findings show that some specific ANNs methodologies and applications pattern can be extracted from the mining results, and these describe the ANNs development over this period. In addition, using more data mining approaches for analysis could provide different explanations for ANNs development. Finally, discussion and brief conclusion are presented.

Healthcare needs of people with intellectual disability in institutions in Taiwan: outpatient care utilization and implications.

Abstract: Background The present study assessed the outpatient care use of people with intellectual disability (ID) in order to identify patterns of healthcare needs and the factors affecting this utilization. Methods The primary method used in this study was a cross-sectional survey of 1390 subjects with ID in Taiwan. Data were obtained from questionnaires completed at 30 registered institutions caring for people with ID. Results The findings show that people with ID in Taiwan are likely to make more outpatient visits per year than members of the general population. The prevalence of illness in people with ID was 41%, with epilepsy being the most frequently reported disease. A total of 39.5% of individuals with ID took medicine regularly, and 38.9% had used alternative forms of medication besides Western medicine. In terms of the use of outpatient facilities by people with ID, paediatric clinics were the most frequently utilized. The average monthly number of outpatient visits per person with ID was 2.18 (around 26 visits per year). This study found that the need for outpatient care is determined by a variety of factors relating to: the age of people with ID, the type of handicap, the place of medical treatment, having a family physician, the accessibility of medical care, the time-consuming nature of the medical visits, having an illness, ID accompanied with other disabilities, and finally, a need for rehabilitative care. Conclusions From the examination of the expressed needs of people with ID, it was found that these individuals have a heightened need for healthcare and the treatment of special diseases/disorders in comparison to members of the general population in Taiwan. Within the context of ordinary services, it is particularly important to have a precise view of the ways in which the health needs of people with ID are different from the general population as a whole. This will enable healthcare services to respond to these needs, either through support systems within generic care or, in some cases, through the delivery of specific healthcare through specialized services which are kept separate from generic care.