The Republic of Korea Presents a Strong Case to Go Nuclear, A Perspective from Pakistan

( Khurshid Khan ) 한국국방연구원 2023 The Korean Journal of Defense Analysis Vol.35 No.2

The Ukraine crisis proves that unless a state is militarily strong, it is liable to be quashed if it fails to toe its line with that of a strong neighboring state. The present fiasco in Europe/Asia Pacific is a clear indicator that the future lies with states that can defend themselves independently. It also endorses the realist school which considers the international system, an anarchic system, meaning no higher authority sits above the state that can be relied on. Like Russia against Ukraine, North Korea enjoys a “double asymmetry of power” and maintains an aggressive posture towards the Republic of Korea (South Korea). Due to uncertain American assured backup support with nuclear weapons, South Korea presents a strong case to go nuclear for its survival. Still, one may suggest that in the long-term interests of the region, Pyongyang may be persuaded to roll back its nuclear weapons program and extend greater cooperation towards Seoul. From a theoretical angle, this study has been conducted from the prism of the “rational choice theory” (RCT), focusing on the security concerns of South Korea.

Balancing Relations with China and the United States in the Backdrop of the CPEC, Pakistan in Catch-22

Khurshid Khan 한국국방연구원 2018 The Korean Journal of Defense Analysis Vol.30 No.4

It is always a risky affair, especially for a weak state to strike the right balance while dealing with two great powers having serious conicting interests in a particular region. For a country like Pakistan which remains dependent on foreign aid, running an independent foreign policy seems quite difcult. While Pakistan’s relations with China continued to remain smooth throughout history, its relations with the United States has been more of a roller coaster than a smooth ride but still both could never be too apart from each other because of various compelling reasons. Currently, China and Pakistan are extensively engaged in promoting their mutual economic and strategic interests that go against the U.S. interests. Therefore, in the case of a possible conflict between United States and China, Pakistan might be trapped in a catch-22 because it cannot afford to infuriate the United States beyond certain limits. In such a trap, staying neutral might be even riskier. Slow and steady change in the status of Gilgit–Baltistan beyond a certain level for promotion of the China– Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) would also be a serious trap. Pakistan could afford to lose economic benefits of the CPEC but it cannot afford to give up its claim over Kashmir which remains the “lifeline” for its survival. Pakistani Generals ghting on exterior fronts must therefore, make smart moves to ensure that at no stage should Islamabad be compelled to put all its eggs in one basket.

Prevalence of Depression and Glucose Abnormality in an Urbanizing Rural Population of Bangladesh

Khurshid Natasha,Akhtar Hussain,A. K. Azad Khan,Bishwajit Bhowmik 대한당뇨병학회 2015 Diabetes and Metabolism Journal Vol.39 No.3

Background: Depression and glucose abnormality are increasing in Bangladesh including its rural area. This study was designed to determine the prevalence of depression in an urbanizing rural population of Bangladesh with or without glucose abnormality (including diabetes mellitus [DM], and pre-diabetes which combines impaired fasting glucose and impaired glucose tolerance pre-DM). Methods: A total of 2,293 subjects aged ≥20 years were investigated. Sociodemographic and anthropometric details, blood pressure, fasting (fasting plasma glucose) and 2 hours after 75 g plasma glucose (2-hour plasma glucose), were studied. Montgomery- Asberg Depression Rating Scale was used to assess depression. Results: The overall prevalence of DM was 7.9% and pre-DM was 8.6%. Prevalence of depression was 15.31% (n=351; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.59 to 1.36) with mean depressive score 17.62±3.49. Female were more likely to have depression (17.16%). The 22.35% of male and 29.46% of female with pre-DM and 26.58% male and 36.27% female with DM had depressive symptoms. There was no significant variation in the mean age of different groups (healthy, depressed and with glucose abnormality). Depression was significantly associated with age, marital status, occupation, high physical activity, and low body mass index. The odds ratio (OR) for depression was significantly increased in patients with glucose abnormality compared with those without pre-DM (OR, 2.49; 95% CI, 1.76 to 3.51; P>0.000) and DM (OR, 3.27; 95% CI, 2.33 to 4.60; P>0.000). Conclusion: Prevalence of depression found alarming in our study area though lesser than previous studies and it is significantly related to glucose abnormality. The study reveals that mental health should get more focused specially along with metabolic diseases.

Prevalence of Depression and Glucose Abnormality in an Urbanizing Rural Population of Bangladesh (Diabetes Metab J 2015;39:218-29)

Khurshid Natasha,Akhtar Hussain,A. K. Azad Khan,Bishwajit Bhowmik 대한당뇨병학회 2015 Diabetes and Metabolism Journal Vol.39 No.6

Optimality of Linear MIMO Detection for 5G Systems via 1-Opt Local Search

Khurshid Kiran,Khan Adnan Ahmed,Siddiqui Muhammad Haroon,Hadi M. Usman,Rashid Imran,Imran Muhammad 대한전기학회 2021 Journal of Electrical Engineering & Technology Vol.16 No.2

Multiple input multiple output (MIMO) symbol detection problem belongs to non-deterministic polynomial acceptable hard combinatorial optimization (CO) class. One of the key trials in design of MIMO scheme is to develop a low complexity detection algorithm without much compromise in performance. Detection approaches proposed in the literature can be split into non-linear and linear algorithms. Vertical Bell-Labs Layered Space Time (V-BLAST) and Sphere Decoder (SD) are non-linear methods used for extracting transmitted data; whereas, Zero-Forcing (ZF) and Minimum Mean Square Error (MMSE) detections are comparatively in complex and eff ectual linear techniques. In this work, the heuristic 1-Opt local search method used for solving computationally hard combinatorial optimization problems is applied to the ZF and MMSE detection algorithms. First, simple MIMO decoding using ZF and MMSE is accomplished to fi nd the estimated symbol then the transmitted symbol is calculated using the heuristic 1-opt approach by means of the estimated symbol. Simulation results demonstrate that 1-opt search when applied to the ZF and MMSE displays better bit error rate (BER) performance than the simple ZF and MMSE detectors. It is also verifi ed through simulations that the proposed 1-Opt based detectors display better BER performance as compared to the complex nonlinear VBLAST and SD at considerably reduced complexity. Hence, the proposed detectors are appropriate for eff ective hardware implementations.

Corrigendum:Prevalence of Depression and Glucose Abnormality in an Urbanizing Rural Population of Bangladesh

Khurshid Natasha,Akhtar Hussain,A. K. Azad Khan,Bishwajit Bhowmik 대한당뇨병학회 2016 Diabetes and Metabolism Journal Vol.40 No.1

Increasing U.S.-China Strategic Competition: Implications for Pakistan

( Fouzia Amin ),( Khurshid Khan ) 한국국방연구원 2017 The Korean Journal of Defense Analysis Vol.29 No.3

Historically, China had been a great power and had maintained the largest economy in the world for quite a long time. It would, therefore, like to regain its lost status. There is consensus among many scholars that China would rise peacefully by adopting the five “principles of peaceful co-existence”, thus, it would take a leading role in the 21st century. It is viewed that the United States is already convinced to a great extent that it might not be able to maintain sole dominance for too long in the backdrop of the rising Chinese economic and military power. Based on an in-depth analysis of the issue, the study concludes that China would avoid clashing with Washington and its allies while protecting its economic interests across the globe. Nevertheless, the Chinese would react if their core interests are threatened by the United States and its allies including India. In order to protect its long-term interest in the region and beyond, China would gradually develop its military including its maritime capabilities to increase its influence beyond China`s periphery. However; it is highly unlikely that in the near future, China would contest the United States and its allies beyond the South China Sea. The study also concludes that in this great ongoing game between the quadrangles of the countries, if India makes a principle decision to stand by the United States in the case of a conflict with China over the Indian Ocean, such a scenario would limit Pakistan`s options to either join China or stay neutral. Either of the two options would pose a serious challenge for Pakistan. A decision to stay outside the Great Powers` power politics would be even more difficult.

Impact of salicylic acid and calcium chloride on quality attributes of peach stored at refrigeration temperature

Nosheen Khalid,Shehla Sammi,Sumaira Miskeen,Imran Khan,Inam-u-llah,Muhammad Liaquat,Khurshid Anwar,Adnan Khan,Abdul Majeed Shah,Abdul Sattar Shah,Awatif Abid Mohammed Al-Judaibi,하재원,Muhammad Jahangir 한국식품과학회 2023 Food Science and Biotechnology Vol.32 No.9

Salicylic acid (SA) in different concentration were used to assess its individual effect as well as combined impact with 3% calcium chloride (CaCl2) on Swat No. 8 variety of peach stored at refrigerated temperature (6 ± 2 °C) for 21 days. Interestingly, the results revealed that applying 2 mmol L−1 SA with 3% CaCl2 maintained maximum nutritional value and least decay percent (44.1%) as compared to other treatments during storage. Moreover, this combination also exhibited significant weight loss and chilling injury at 6 ± 2 °C whereas increased levels of total phenolic, flavonoids, tannin, alkaloid, ascorbic acid, and antioxidant activity were observed as compared to other treatments. The combination treatment (2 mmol L−1 SA with 3% CaCl2) maintained other sensory attributes of peach fruit during refrigerated storage, therefore, its commercial use was recommended to store peach fruit for up to three weeks without any significant nutritional and physical loss.

Plan Dose Evaluation of Three Dimensional Conformal Radiotherapy Planning (3D-CRT) of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma (NPC): Experience of a Tertiary Care University Hospital in Pakistan

Abbasi, Ahmed Nadeem,Hafiz, Asim,Ali, Nasir,Khan, Khurshid Ahmed Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2013 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.14 No.10

Background: Radiation therapy is the mainstay of treatment for nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Importance of tumor coverage and challenges posed by its unique and critical location are well evident. Therefore we aimed to evaluate our radiation treatment plan through dose volume histograms (DVHs) to find planning target volume (PTV) dose coverage and factors affecting it. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study covered 45 histologically proven nasopharyngeal cancer patients who were treated with definitive 3D-CRT and chemotherapy between Feb 2006 to March 2013 at the Department of Oncology, Section Radiation Oncology, Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan. DVH was evaluated to find numbers of shrinking field (phases), PTV volume in different phases and its coverage by the 95% isodose lines, along with influencing factors. Results: There were 36 males (80%) and 9 females (20%) in the age range of 12-84 years. Stage IVA (46.7%) was the most common stage followed by stage III (31.1). Eighty six point six-percent received induction, 95.5% received concurrent and 22.2% received adjuvant chemotherapy. The prescribed median radiation dose was 70Gy to primary, 60Gy to clinically positive neck nodes and 50Gy to clinically negative neck regions. Mean dose to spinal cord was 44.2Gy and to optic chiasma was 52Gy. Thirty seven point eight-percent patients completed their treatment in three phases while 62.2% required four to five phases. Mean volume for PTV3 was $247.8cm^3$ (50-644.3), PTV4 $173.8cm^3$ (26.5-345.1) and PTV5 $119.6cm^3$ (18.9-246.1) and PTV volume coverage by 95% isodose lines were 74.4%, 85.7% and 100% respectively. Advanced T stage, intracranial extension and tumor volume > $200cm^3$ were found to be important factors associated with decreased PTV coverage by 95% isodose line. Conclusions: 3D CRT results in adequate PTV dose coverage by 95% isodose line. However advanced T stage, intracranial extension and large target volume require more advanced techniques like IMRT for appropriate PTV coverage.

Etiology of hepatocellular carcinoma and treatment through medicinal plants: a comprehensive review

Sundas Nasreen,Sobia Safeer,Kamaran Khurshid Dar,Saiqa Andleeb,Mubashir Ejaz,Muhammad Adeeb Khan,Shaukat Ali 경희대학교 융합한의과학연구소 2018 Oriental Pharmacy and Experimental Medicine Vol.18 No.3

Liver is a power house of the body for many components such as vitamins, minerals, iron and glycogen and play role in biotransformation. Some ingredients of our diet (foodstuff s may contain with afl atoxin B1, vinyl chloride, tobacco, heavy alcohol intake, fried meat, coff ee and oral contraceptives),when metabolized become tremendous for liver and leads toward hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). HCC occurs through cyclical liver injury due to infl ammation and DNA damaging as a result of oxidative stress. Phytochemicals of medicinal plants have curative potential against liver cancer due to presence of linalool, eucalyptol, borneol, thujone, camphor, 4-terpineol, monoterpenes and α -cadinol, sophytotherapies have several advantages over conventional chemotherapies. According to literature survey Acanthus ilicifolius, Allium sativum, Artemisiaprinceps, Artemisia vulgaris, Amorphophallus campanulatus, Brucea javanica, Broussonetia luzonica, Dracocephalum kotschyi, Graptopetalum paraguayense, Nigella sativa, Petasites japonicas, Silybum marianum, Bergenia ciliata , Cassia fi stula and Picrorhiza scrophularilora have vital bioactive compounds used against hepatocellular carcinoma.