Day: April 7, 2023

Lahore, April 07, 2023 (PPI-OT): Emerging technologies and the digital transformation open up new business possibilities that deviate from conventional needs. Digital twins (DT), also known as digital replicas of physical entities, are evolving quickly and opening up new avenues for invention. Keeping up with trends in the general areas of computer science and information technology, the University of Lahore (UOL) invited international and local experts to the 4th International Conference on Advancements in Computational Sciences (ICACS 2023).

This mega-scale conference brought together the representatives of academia, researchers, students, scientists, and IT industrialists around the world to discuss advances, innovations, and newly emerging trends in computer science. They also discussed their novel ideas and latest research findings and illustrated how computer technologies are becoming central to shaping other fields on this platform. During the conference, Dr Ramona Trestian (Senior Lecturer in Computing, Middlesex University, UK) spoke on the topic of ‘Seeing Double? The Future of Digital Twins’ and explored the latest advancements in this field. Informing the participants about benefits, use cases, challenges, and opportunities, she said that applications of digital twin technology have been growing at an exponential rate and are transforming the way businesses operate.

She explained that digital twins encompass four key technologies: The Internet of Things (IoT), cloud computing, extended reality (XR), and artificial intelligence (AI). These technologies work together to create a virtual replica of a physical object or system and continuously update it with real-time data. She further maintained that applications of DT technology have been growing at an exponential rate and that it is transforming the way businesses operate.

Sharing specific DT projects from the London Digital Twin Research Centre, Dr Trestian shed light on their research work in Digital Twin for Industry 4.0 smart factories, Digital Twin for structural health monitoring, urban resilience in agriculture through highly automated vertical farming in Vietnam and the UK, developing connected curriculum on Digital Twin for health system resilience, a framework for restoration of heritage using Digital Twin (Fresh-DT), and Digital Twin for open RAN (5G and 6G networks). The UK’s senior university lecturer also discussed the current and future opportunities in health, industrial, and smart city management systems applications where this promising technology will be seen directly affecting daily lives. ‘Digital twins have started to take place in our lives in other civil fields as well as in industrial and engineering fields, with the advantages they offer in terms of time and cost,’ she mentioned.

On the other hand, many other foreign and renowned national researchers discoursed on various topics during the ICACS’23 conference. This conference extended the domain of computer science and information technology. The major conference sought research contributions in research paper formats for the ease of attendees at the event in all computational sciences domains. General areas of interest to ICACS’23 included but were not limited to: data sciences and knowledge systems; computer vision and pattern recognition; networks and communication technologies; software engineering; artificial intelligence and robotics; and security and privacy.

For more information, contact:
The University of Lahore
1 – KM Defence Road, Lahore, Pakistan
Tel: +92-42-111-865-865, +92-42-35322501 +92-42-35321761
Email: info@uol.edu.pk
Website: www.uol.edu.pk

Lahore, April 07, 2023 (PPI-OT): With the surge of spirituality in Ramadan, Muslims all across the globe make sure to fast and make the most out of this holy month. However, patients who are suffering from some serious medical issues struggle to keep up with the Ramadan spirit and fluster on managing their diseases along with fasting. Diabetes is one of those medical issues that requires patients to be hyperaware of their condition while fasting. Many diabetics have the fervour to fast in this holy month but fail to take necessary medical measures into account. It is important for a diabetic to check whether his or her diabetes is on track; if not, it can create complications.

To help diabetes patients escape such complications, the University of Lahore (UOL)

organised an explicatory public awareness seminar titled “Diabetes and Ramadan” on March

22, 2023. The seminar was organised in collaboration with the Pakistan Society of Internal

Medicine (PSIM) National Diabetes Chapter.

During the seminar, Dr Somia Iqtadar (a physician), shared that the prevalence of diabetes is rising worldwide and Pakistan is at number 3 in the world for its increasing number of diabetes patients. She gave a summary of the guidelines presented by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), on the basis of which diabetics are exempted from fasting. According to IDF guidelines, there are three categories of diabetes patients: red, yellow, and green. Red is a high-risk category, and patients in this category are strictly prohibited from fasting; the yellow category is the moderate-risk category, and patients in this category can fast based on a shared decision with their physician while in the green category patients can observe quickly. Dr. Iqtadar wrapped up the discussion by saying that diabetes should be continually monitored and followed up.

Prof Dr M. Zaman Shaikh (Endocrinologist) highlighted the golden pearls of fasting, an exercise routine in Ramadan, and circumstances in which patients can break their fast. Mr Shaikh said, “Diabetes is the most dangerous disease among other deadly diseases. The complications of this disease and the organs it affects include the eyes, heart, brain, nerves, feet, and kidneys.”

Dr Arsalan Nawaz (Assistant Professor, Medicine, UOL) revealed that in Pakistan, 73% of Pakistani diabetics observe fasting, of whom 96% have type 2 diabetes and 4% have type 1 diabetes. He said that diabetics observe fasts for spiritual satisfaction but do not consult their doctors for guidelines to manage their diabetes and rely on myths. One of the prominent myths is that there is no need for insulin or any other medication; fasting alone is enough to control blood sugar levels. People do not test their sugar levels, misbelieving that pricking the skin can break the fast; they also show an unwillingness to self-screen for hypoglycaemia.

Dr Nawaz’s strategy to get rid of such myths was to work on focused, structured diabetes education among the public via seminars. A unified message from medical professionals and religious clerks should be disseminated regarding the management of diabetes.

Prof Aziz ur Rehman (Professor of Medicine) highlighted the adjustment of medicines during fasting. He said, “We adjust oral medicines so that patients take them 1-2 times per day (at dawn and/or sunset). The doctors characterise diabetes medicine into three groups that include low-, medium-, and high-potency drugs. According to Prof Aziz, there are medicines that lower blood sugar levels by improving the way body handles insulin. It is usually prescribed for diabetes when diet and exercise alone have not been enough to control blood sugar levels. He shared different formulas of the medicines that are helpful and are prescribed by the doctors to the patients in Ramadan.

Prof Dr Aftab Mohsin (a Gastroenterologist) shared beneficial diet suggestions that can help in managing diabetes and avoiding other major health issues during Ramadan. He said fasting causes a metabolic switch that leads to ketosis and results in the burning of unnecessary fats. So, it is good to observe fasts, but avoid fatty foods and try to consume unsaturated fats, e.g., use olive and mustard oil. Avoid using processed sugar. He ended the talk on a positive note, stating that people should eat everything in controlled proportions and consume clean and halal food.

For more information, contact:
The University of Lahore
1 – KM Defence Road, Lahore, Pakistan
Tel: +92-42-111-865-865, +92-42-35322501 +92-42-35321761
Email: info@uol.edu.pk
Website: www.uol.edu.pk