The natural hemp aggregates and their bio-composite panels which have been developed for sustaina... more The natural hemp aggregates and their bio-composite panels which have been developed for sustainable construction with low thermal conductivity and high hygrothermal efficiency. The combination of the hemp aggregates with natural matrix materials results in exceptionally low thermal conductivity and high hygrothermal efficiency compared to conventional materials of construction as a result of their microporosity and breathability. In addition, the developed biobased composites with nanotechnology improve resistance to liquid water and protect the hemp shiv from biodegradation without impacting the natural ability of the shiv to buffer moisture vapor. The chapter assesses the physical characteristics of hemp aggregates in terms of their density, microstructure and porosity. Hemp-concrete and novel Hemp-organic composite have been studied and compared. Measurements of the thermal conductivity of hemp-composite panels are described which confirm their highly insulating properties. Hygroscopic testing demonstrates their effectiveness in absorbing and releasing moisture. The thermal and hygroscopic performance of hemp-composite panels in test cells is reported together with their application in construction. The life cycle assessment of hempcrete and hemp organic composite were performed. This chapter is part of the output of the ISOBIO programme supported by the European Union Horizon 2020 program, within the 'Materials for Building Envelopes' call for Energy Efficient Buildings.
This study focuses on the development of advanced water-resistant bio-based membranes with enhanc... more This study focuses on the development of advanced water-resistant bio-based membranes with enhanced vapour permeability for use within building envelopes. Building walls are vulnerable to moisture damage and mold growth due to water penetration, built-in moisture, and interstitial condensation. In this work, breathable composite membranes were prepared using micro-fibrillated cellulose fiber (CF) and polylactic acid (PLA). The chemical composition and physical structure of CF is responsible for its hydrophilic nature, which affects its compatibility with polymers and consequently its performance in the presence of excessive moisture conditions. To enhance the dispersibility of CF in the PLA polymer, the fibers were treated with an organic phosphoric acid ester-based surfactant. The hygroscopic properties of the PLA-CF composites were improved after surfactant treatment and the membranes were resistant to water yet permeable to vapor. Morphological examination of the surface showed b...
Hemp shiv has been widely used as a plant aggregate incorporated into natural building composites... more Hemp shiv has been widely used as a plant aggregate incorporated into natural building composites such as hemp-lime due to its low thermal conductivity and high moisture buffer value. The aim of this research is to study the intrinsic physical parameters such as the porosity and cell wall structure of hemp shiv, which are responsible for the favourable thermal and hygric properties of hemp shiv. Scanning electron microscope observations of hemp shiv revealed microstructural features. A computed tomography (CT) scan improved the vizualization of pore shape and pore connectivity in three dimensions. The vessels exhibit little variation in size and there is no clear pore arrangement with a diffuse-porous distribution. The vessels are mostly solitary although some small groups of adjacent vessels exhibit shared cell walls between them. The vessels are approximately 50 to 100 µm in diameter and are surrounded by relatively thick fibre cells. These thick-walled fibres are located between ...
Journal of Ayub Medical College, Abbottabad : JAMC, 2019
Plasma cell leukaemia (PCL) is a very rare plasma cell dyscrasia with a significant number of mon... more Plasma cell leukaemia (PCL) is a very rare plasma cell dyscrasia with a significant number of monoclonal plasma cells in the peripheral blood. It is diagnosed by the presence of ≥ 2x109 /L plasma cells in the blood or by plasma cells making up ≥20% of the leukocyte count. It can arise from a leukemic transformation of multiple myeloma, or more commonly it can be primary. Regardless of its origin, it carries a very dire prognosis. It responds very poorly to the traditional chemotherapy regimens used for multiple myeloma. We present the case of a 50 years old female who presented to our hospital with a complicated UTI and severe generalized body aches. She was diagnosed as a case of plasma cell leukaemia and was treated with cyclophosphamide and dexamethasone, however she failed to go into remission. Her condition deteriorated and she ultimately passed away 1.5 months after diagnosis. The recommended treatment for PCL is aggressive combination chemotherapy followed by stem cell transp...
Pakistan Journal of Medical and Health Sciences, 2021
Objective: To compare the diagnostic accuracy of MRI and CT for detection of acute cerebral haemo... more Objective: To compare the diagnostic accuracy of MRI and CT for detection of acute cerebral haemorrahge. Study Design: Comparative Study Place and Duration: Mohiuddin Islamic Teaching Hospital Mirpur AJK for period of six months from 1st August, 2020 to 31stJanuary, 2021. Methodology: A total of 20 patients of both genders with age of 25 years and onward with intracerebral hemorrhage who underwent MRI following CT in the first 6 hours of onset and last known well time and admission in stroke center were included in the study. The follow up time duration for both the scans was 24 hours to 48hours. The Mc-Nemar test was used to determine the comparison between MRI and CT on contingency table. Results: The mean age of the participants was 53.26±2.45. The frequency of the male participants was 13(65%) and that of female was 7(35%). All cases were of acute ICH 20(100%). The number of positive cases on MRI and CT scan was 17, while the frequency of positive cases on MRI and negative on CT...
Sacral giant cell tumors (GCTs) are rare entities that exhibit slow progressive growth and become... more Sacral giant cell tumors (GCTs) are rare entities that exhibit slow progressive growth and become clinically apparent when they reach a considerable size. The current case report discusses the presentation, investigation, and management of a young male patient diagnosed with a large sacral mass. A 17-year-old male patient presented with uremia, bilateral lumbar pain, and severe weakness of his lower extremities. Imaging revealed a midline sacral mass causing bilateral upper tract obstruction. The patient underwent bilateral nephrostomies followed by a partial en bloc sacrectomy and curettage of the tumor bulk. Histopathology revealed a giant cell tumor of the sacrum. Postoperatively, the patient received adjuvant radiotherapy and rehabilitation for his neurological symptoms. Sacral GCTs are essentially benign but behave like a malignant tumor in view of frequent recurrences and reports of malignant transformation. Surgery with wide local excision remains the ideal modality for complete clearance of sacral tumors. Nevertheless, limitations include their large size, difficult operative access, risk of fatal intraoperative bleeding, and inevitable high postoperative morbidity.
In this work, we report the results of the compositional analysis of an aluminum gallium arsenide... more In this work, we report the results of the compositional analysis of an aluminum gallium arsenide (AlGaAs) sample using the calibration-free laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (CF-LIBS) technique. The AlGaAs sample was doped with three various concentrations of gallium (Ga), arsenic (As), and aluminum (Al), as reported by the manufacturer, and the CF-LIBS technique was employed to identify the doping concentration. A pulsed Q-switched Nd: YAG laser capable of delivering 200 and 400 mJ energy at 532 and 1064 nm, respectively, was focused on the target sample for ablation, and the resulting emission spectra were captured using a LIBS 2000+ spectrometer covering the spectral range from 200 to 720 nm. The emission spectra of the AlGaAs sample yielded spectral lines of Ga, As, and Al. These lines were further used to calculate the plasma parameters, including electron temperature and electron number density. The Boltzmann plot method was used to calculate the electron temperature, and ...
In this report, two collinear laser pulses were used to investigate the laser-induced breakdown s... more In this report, two collinear laser pulses were used to investigate the laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) emission from aluminum (Al) plasma, for the two cases with and without magnetic field. Time-integrated emission spectra for atomic lines with combined techniques of dual-pulse LIBS (DP-LIBS) and magnetic field were measured to be higher than those recorded with DP-LIBS only. The enhancement factors of about 11 and 5 were obtained in DP-LIBS with and without magnetic field, respectively. The effect of inter-pulse delay time on the intensity enhancement shows a maximum enhancement factor of about 70 and 40 in DP-LIBS with and without magnetic field for atomic line (308.2 nm). It was obvious that the combined enhancement effects of dual-pulse and magnetic field in LIBS was stronger than that of DP-LIBS only.
In this work, we investigated the plasma morphology induced by a Nd:YAG laser with the aim of imp... more In this work, we investigated the plasma morphology induced by a Nd:YAG laser with the aim of improving the understanding of the formation and dynamics of the plasma in two cases, with and without a magnetic field. Single laser pulse production of a plasma in the absence and presence of a magnetic field was performed with an aluminum target in air. A fast photography technique was employed to obtain information about the expansion dynamics and confinement of the aluminum plasma in each case. The generation of the laser plasma was allowed to expand at two locations with different magnetic field strengths, which correspond to the strength 0.58 T in the center of two magnetic poles and 0.83 T at a distance of 4 mm from the upper pole (N). The plume showed lateral confinement at longer delays when the target was placed at the center of the two poles. When the target was placed at a distance of 4 mm from the upper pole it was observed that the plume was divided into two lobes at the initial stage and traveled towards the center of the magnetic field with further elapse of time.
In this report, micro-emulsion method was used to obtain La, Mn-doped Ba3Co2 [Formula: see text][... more In this report, micro-emulsion method was used to obtain La, Mn-doped Ba3Co2 [Formula: see text][Formula: see text] single-phase Z-type hexa-nanoferrites by maintaining annealing temperature at 1200∘C. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis shows lattice parameters, crystallite size, and volume are significantly enhanced by introducing La and Mn ions instead of Ba and Fe, respectively. Moreover, La and Mn ion doping improved the preferred orientation of atoms through the basal plane of Z-type hexaferrite. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) study reveals that the surface morphology of La- and Mn-doped Ba3Co2 [Formula: see text][Formula: see text], Z-type ferrites show ultrafine and small particle size. The analysis of X-Ray absorption near edge spectroscopy (XANES) suggests that transition in [Formula: see text] has occurred from 3d core level to empty electronic state above the Fermi level. Furthermore, it is observed that in the Z-type ferrites Co exist as divalent ion a...
The natural hemp aggregates and their bio-composite panels which have been developed for sustaina... more The natural hemp aggregates and their bio-composite panels which have been developed for sustainable construction with low thermal conductivity and high hygrothermal efficiency. The combination of the hemp aggregates with natural matrix materials results in exceptionally low thermal conductivity and high hygrothermal efficiency compared to conventional materials of construction as a result of their microporosity and breathability. In addition, the developed biobased composites with nanotechnology improve resistance to liquid water and protect the hemp shiv from biodegradation without impacting the natural ability of the shiv to buffer moisture vapor. The chapter assesses the physical characteristics of hemp aggregates in terms of their density, microstructure and porosity. Hemp-concrete and novel Hemp-organic composite have been studied and compared. Measurements of the thermal conductivity of hemp-composite panels are described which confirm their highly insulating properties. Hygroscopic testing demonstrates their effectiveness in absorbing and releasing moisture. The thermal and hygroscopic performance of hemp-composite panels in test cells is reported together with their application in construction. The life cycle assessment of hempcrete and hemp organic composite were performed. This chapter is part of the output of the ISOBIO programme supported by the European Union Horizon 2020 program, within the 'Materials for Building Envelopes' call for Energy Efficient Buildings.
This study focuses on the development of advanced water-resistant bio-based membranes with enhanc... more This study focuses on the development of advanced water-resistant bio-based membranes with enhanced vapour permeability for use within building envelopes. Building walls are vulnerable to moisture damage and mold growth due to water penetration, built-in moisture, and interstitial condensation. In this work, breathable composite membranes were prepared using micro-fibrillated cellulose fiber (CF) and polylactic acid (PLA). The chemical composition and physical structure of CF is responsible for its hydrophilic nature, which affects its compatibility with polymers and consequently its performance in the presence of excessive moisture conditions. To enhance the dispersibility of CF in the PLA polymer, the fibers were treated with an organic phosphoric acid ester-based surfactant. The hygroscopic properties of the PLA-CF composites were improved after surfactant treatment and the membranes were resistant to water yet permeable to vapor. Morphological examination of the surface showed b...
Hemp shiv has been widely used as a plant aggregate incorporated into natural building composites... more Hemp shiv has been widely used as a plant aggregate incorporated into natural building composites such as hemp-lime due to its low thermal conductivity and high moisture buffer value. The aim of this research is to study the intrinsic physical parameters such as the porosity and cell wall structure of hemp shiv, which are responsible for the favourable thermal and hygric properties of hemp shiv. Scanning electron microscope observations of hemp shiv revealed microstructural features. A computed tomography (CT) scan improved the vizualization of pore shape and pore connectivity in three dimensions. The vessels exhibit little variation in size and there is no clear pore arrangement with a diffuse-porous distribution. The vessels are mostly solitary although some small groups of adjacent vessels exhibit shared cell walls between them. The vessels are approximately 50 to 100 µm in diameter and are surrounded by relatively thick fibre cells. These thick-walled fibres are located between ...
Journal of Ayub Medical College, Abbottabad : JAMC, 2019
Plasma cell leukaemia (PCL) is a very rare plasma cell dyscrasia with a significant number of mon... more Plasma cell leukaemia (PCL) is a very rare plasma cell dyscrasia with a significant number of monoclonal plasma cells in the peripheral blood. It is diagnosed by the presence of ≥ 2x109 /L plasma cells in the blood or by plasma cells making up ≥20% of the leukocyte count. It can arise from a leukemic transformation of multiple myeloma, or more commonly it can be primary. Regardless of its origin, it carries a very dire prognosis. It responds very poorly to the traditional chemotherapy regimens used for multiple myeloma. We present the case of a 50 years old female who presented to our hospital with a complicated UTI and severe generalized body aches. She was diagnosed as a case of plasma cell leukaemia and was treated with cyclophosphamide and dexamethasone, however she failed to go into remission. Her condition deteriorated and she ultimately passed away 1.5 months after diagnosis. The recommended treatment for PCL is aggressive combination chemotherapy followed by stem cell transp...
Pakistan Journal of Medical and Health Sciences, 2021
Objective: To compare the diagnostic accuracy of MRI and CT for detection of acute cerebral haemo... more Objective: To compare the diagnostic accuracy of MRI and CT for detection of acute cerebral haemorrahge. Study Design: Comparative Study Place and Duration: Mohiuddin Islamic Teaching Hospital Mirpur AJK for period of six months from 1st August, 2020 to 31stJanuary, 2021. Methodology: A total of 20 patients of both genders with age of 25 years and onward with intracerebral hemorrhage who underwent MRI following CT in the first 6 hours of onset and last known well time and admission in stroke center were included in the study. The follow up time duration for both the scans was 24 hours to 48hours. The Mc-Nemar test was used to determine the comparison between MRI and CT on contingency table. Results: The mean age of the participants was 53.26±2.45. The frequency of the male participants was 13(65%) and that of female was 7(35%). All cases were of acute ICH 20(100%). The number of positive cases on MRI and CT scan was 17, while the frequency of positive cases on MRI and negative on CT...
Sacral giant cell tumors (GCTs) are rare entities that exhibit slow progressive growth and become... more Sacral giant cell tumors (GCTs) are rare entities that exhibit slow progressive growth and become clinically apparent when they reach a considerable size. The current case report discusses the presentation, investigation, and management of a young male patient diagnosed with a large sacral mass. A 17-year-old male patient presented with uremia, bilateral lumbar pain, and severe weakness of his lower extremities. Imaging revealed a midline sacral mass causing bilateral upper tract obstruction. The patient underwent bilateral nephrostomies followed by a partial en bloc sacrectomy and curettage of the tumor bulk. Histopathology revealed a giant cell tumor of the sacrum. Postoperatively, the patient received adjuvant radiotherapy and rehabilitation for his neurological symptoms. Sacral GCTs are essentially benign but behave like a malignant tumor in view of frequent recurrences and reports of malignant transformation. Surgery with wide local excision remains the ideal modality for complete clearance of sacral tumors. Nevertheless, limitations include their large size, difficult operative access, risk of fatal intraoperative bleeding, and inevitable high postoperative morbidity.
In this work, we report the results of the compositional analysis of an aluminum gallium arsenide... more In this work, we report the results of the compositional analysis of an aluminum gallium arsenide (AlGaAs) sample using the calibration-free laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (CF-LIBS) technique. The AlGaAs sample was doped with three various concentrations of gallium (Ga), arsenic (As), and aluminum (Al), as reported by the manufacturer, and the CF-LIBS technique was employed to identify the doping concentration. A pulsed Q-switched Nd: YAG laser capable of delivering 200 and 400 mJ energy at 532 and 1064 nm, respectively, was focused on the target sample for ablation, and the resulting emission spectra were captured using a LIBS 2000+ spectrometer covering the spectral range from 200 to 720 nm. The emission spectra of the AlGaAs sample yielded spectral lines of Ga, As, and Al. These lines were further used to calculate the plasma parameters, including electron temperature and electron number density. The Boltzmann plot method was used to calculate the electron temperature, and ...
In this report, two collinear laser pulses were used to investigate the laser-induced breakdown s... more In this report, two collinear laser pulses were used to investigate the laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) emission from aluminum (Al) plasma, for the two cases with and without magnetic field. Time-integrated emission spectra for atomic lines with combined techniques of dual-pulse LIBS (DP-LIBS) and magnetic field were measured to be higher than those recorded with DP-LIBS only. The enhancement factors of about 11 and 5 were obtained in DP-LIBS with and without magnetic field, respectively. The effect of inter-pulse delay time on the intensity enhancement shows a maximum enhancement factor of about 70 and 40 in DP-LIBS with and without magnetic field for atomic line (308.2 nm). It was obvious that the combined enhancement effects of dual-pulse and magnetic field in LIBS was stronger than that of DP-LIBS only.
In this work, we investigated the plasma morphology induced by a Nd:YAG laser with the aim of imp... more In this work, we investigated the plasma morphology induced by a Nd:YAG laser with the aim of improving the understanding of the formation and dynamics of the plasma in two cases, with and without a magnetic field. Single laser pulse production of a plasma in the absence and presence of a magnetic field was performed with an aluminum target in air. A fast photography technique was employed to obtain information about the expansion dynamics and confinement of the aluminum plasma in each case. The generation of the laser plasma was allowed to expand at two locations with different magnetic field strengths, which correspond to the strength 0.58 T in the center of two magnetic poles and 0.83 T at a distance of 4 mm from the upper pole (N). The plume showed lateral confinement at longer delays when the target was placed at the center of the two poles. When the target was placed at a distance of 4 mm from the upper pole it was observed that the plume was divided into two lobes at the initial stage and traveled towards the center of the magnetic field with further elapse of time.
In this report, micro-emulsion method was used to obtain La, Mn-doped Ba3Co2 [Formula: see text][... more In this report, micro-emulsion method was used to obtain La, Mn-doped Ba3Co2 [Formula: see text][Formula: see text] single-phase Z-type hexa-nanoferrites by maintaining annealing temperature at 1200∘C. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis shows lattice parameters, crystallite size, and volume are significantly enhanced by introducing La and Mn ions instead of Ba and Fe, respectively. Moreover, La and Mn ion doping improved the preferred orientation of atoms through the basal plane of Z-type hexaferrite. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) study reveals that the surface morphology of La- and Mn-doped Ba3Co2 [Formula: see text][Formula: see text], Z-type ferrites show ultrafine and small particle size. The analysis of X-Ray absorption near edge spectroscopy (XANES) suggests that transition in [Formula: see text] has occurred from 3d core level to empty electronic state above the Fermi level. Furthermore, it is observed that in the Z-type ferrites Co exist as divalent ion a...
Uploads
Papers by Atif Hussain