924 research outputs found
Caring for flooded lawns
"Once the flood waters have receded and the homes are recovered, it will be time to clean up the yard. Grass has been described as Mother Nature's forgiveness for our disruption of the earth. This time, people will hide the scars of Mother Nature with a blanket of grass. Common sense would tell you to pick up any debris, such as wood, glass, stones, nails and other metal objects, deposited on lawn areas. This debris is a safety hazard to operators and can damage power mowers or other equipment used on the lawn. Remove leaves or any other material that smothers grass."--Page 1.Reviewed by Manoj Chhetri (MU Extension Horticulture Field Specialist), Karen Kerkhoff (Area Horticulture Specialist), David D. Minner (State Turfgrass Specialist, Department of Horticulture)
Multi-objective decision analytics for short-notice bushfire evacuation: An Australian case study
This paper develops a multi-objective optimisation model to compute resource allocation,shelter assignment and routing options to evacuate late evacuees from affected areas to shelters.Three bushfire scenarios are analysed to incorporate constraints of restricted time-window and potential road disruptions.Capacity and number of rescue vehicles and shelters are other constraints that are identical in all scenarios.The proposed mathematical model is solved by ?-constraint approach.Objective functions are simultaneously optimised to maximise the total number of evacuees and assigned rescue vehicles and shelters.We argue that this model provides a scenario-based decision-making platform to aid minimise resource utilisation and maximise coverage of late evacuees
Optical Properties of High-Frequency Radio Sources from the Australia Telescope 20 GHz (AT20G) Survey
Our current understanding of radio-loud AGN comes predominantly from studies
at frequencies of 5 GHz and below. With the recent completion of the Australia
Telescope 20 GHz (AT20G) survey, we can now gain insight into the
high-frequency radio properties of AGN. This paper presents supplementary
information on the AT20G sources in the form of optical counterparts and
redshifts. Optical counterparts were identified using the SuperCOSMOS database
and redshifts were found from either the 6dF Galaxy survey or the literature.
We also report 144 new redshifts. For AT20G sources outside the Galactic plane,
78.5% have optical identifications and 30.9% have redshift information. The
optical identification rate also increases with increasing flux density.
Targets which had optical spectra available were examined to obtain a spectral
classification.
There appear to be two distinct AT20G populations; the high luminosity
quasars that are generally associated with point-source optical counterparts
and exhibit strong emission lines in the optical spectrum, and the lower
luminosity radio galaxies that are generally associated with passive galaxies
in both the optical images and spectroscopic properties. It is suggested that
these different populations can be associated with different accretion modes
(cold-mode or hot-mode). We find that the cold-mode sources have a steeper
spectral index and produce more luminous radio lobes, but generally reside in
smaller host galaxies than their hot-mode counterparts. This can be attributed
to the fact that they are accreting material more efficiently. Lastly, we
compare the AT20G survey with the S-cubed semi-empirical (S3-SEX) models and
conclude that the S3-SEX models need refining to correctly model the compact
cores of AGN. The AT20G survey provides the ideal sample to do this.Comment: Accepted for publication in MNRA
A Comprehensive and Detailed Within-Host Modeling Study involving crucial Bio markers and Optimal Drug regimen for Lepra Type-I Reaction : A Deterministic Approach
Leprosy (Hansen's disease) is an infectious, neglected tropical disease
caused by the Mycobacterium Leprae (M. Leprae). Each year there are
approximately 2,02,189 new cases are detected globally. In the year 2017 more
than half million people were disabled due to leprosy and almost 50000 new
cases are added every year world wide. In leprosy, lepra reactions are the
major cause for nerve damage leading to disability. Early detection of lepra
reactions through study of biomarkers have important role in prevention of
subsequent disabilities. To our knowledge there seems to be very limited
literature available on within-host modeling at cellular level involving the
crucial biomarkers and the possible optimal drug regimen for leprosy disease
and lepra reactions. Motivated by these observations, in this study, we have
proposed and analyzed a three dimensional mathematical model to capture the
dynamics of susceptible schwann cells, infected schwann cells and the bacterial
load based on the pathogenesis of leprosy. We estimated the parameters from
various clinical papers to make the model more practical. The sensitivity of
couple of parameters was evaluated through PRCC method to find out the single
most influential parameter and also combination of two most influential
parameters was studied using SRCC method. The sensitivity of other remaining
parameters was evaluated using Sobol's index. We then have framed and studied
an optimal control problem considering the different medication involved in the
Multi Drug Therapy (MDT) as control variables. We further studied this optimal
control problem along with both MDT and steroid interventions. The finding from
this novel and comprehensive study will help the clinicians and public health
researchers involved in the process of elimination and eradication of leprosy
Making space for experiences
Leisure and retail providers need to understand the elements of the visitor experience and the way in which they evaluate their satisfaction. This article suggests a holistic prism model of the interaction between the management and the visitor in a leisure space. This is applied to a netnographic study of visitors to a folk festival to illustrate the interconnectiveness of the different attributes causing dissatisfaction. It found that the physical and operational attributes were evaluated not through a checklist of individual features but as hindrances to the visitor's desire to make best use of the time. Visitors also evaluated the experience in the light of their own values and concerns, passing judgement on the values communicated by the management. At the heart of the experience was the enjoyment of choosing from an abundant offer and discovering something new. The main attraction is often only the pretext for enjoying the company of friends so places to meet before and chill-out afterwards are vital to the experience. The distinctiveness of the setting, the food and drink can become the sensory cues which give the event or location its uniqueness. The challenge to retail and leisure organisations is to design these elements of a memorable experience into their offerings
Allocative Efficiency of Resource use on Beekeeping in Chitwan District of Nepal
Agriculture is facing with increasing pollinators decline all over the world affecting the functioning of regulatory and production service of pollination in adverse manner. Study on ways to conserve pollinating agents like bee is crucial in modern intensive agriculture. In this context a study was conducted to estimate the productivity and resource use efficiency of bee keeping in Chitwan district of Nepal. The study used data collected from randomly selected 48 bee keepers using face to face interview technique in the year 2014. Descriptive statistics, gross margin analysis, benefit cost analysis and multiple regression analysis using Cob-Douglas form were employed to achieve study objectives. It was found that farmers were rearing honey bee on an average of about 34 hives per farm with annual productivity of bee products equivalent to 36 Kg honey per hive. Gross margin of beekeeping in the research area was found to be NRs. 3111.55 per hive with undiscounted benefit cost ratio of 1.71. Human labour use, expenditure on sugar, drugs and comb foundation and; migration cost were significantly contributing to the productivity of beekeeping and were required to increase their use by 39%, 34% and 74%, respectively to achieve optimum profit. It was suggested to increase the level of all variable inputs through loan, subsidy and insurance to promote beekeeping enterprise in the study area for ensuring optimum profit to farmers and conservation of the most important agent of pollination
SOUVENIR ALL INDIA COORDINATED RESEARCH PROJECT FOR DRYLAND AGRICULTURE CRIDA, HYDERABAD XV Working Group Meeting (24th-27th December, 2015) BISWANATH CHARIALI CENTRE ASSAM AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY
Not AvailableIt is my proud privilege to express heartfelt thanks to the entire AICRPDA family for giving me the responsibility of bringing out a souvenir to commemorate the occasion of XVth Working Group Meeting of AICRPDA at Biswanath Chariali Centre, BNCA, Assam Agricultural University. I, on behalf of the editorial board do extend a warm welcome to all delegate scientists and dignitaries coming from different parts of our country to this holy historic place of Biswanath, popularly known as ‘Gupta Kanshi’.
Holding such a mega event of national importance for the first time at a place like Biswanath Chariali at the far east of the country amidst the bounty of natural resources and an area being almost entirely rainfed is of great significance. In view of the aim of realizing the dream of another green revolution that is envisaged from the rainfed areas of the country particularly the eastern and north eastern parts; this workshop is expected to march ahead further for achieving the goal. The vast ‘Gene’ resource of the North East India offers plenty of scope for their utilization to cope up the challenges of rainfed agriculture. This is a challenging task of converting these ‘Gene’ resources into viable ‘Seed Resources’ for their commercial exploitation keeping the very natural resource base and integrity unaltered. A holistic effort with all modern technological interventions is the need of the hour to bring into sustainable utilization of the natural resource base of the region.
The idea of bringing out the souvenir in its present form came with the realization of the need of accumulating the multitude of the concepts required for framing the objectives of rainfed area research particularly for the North Eastern part of India. I am fortunate to have the wholehearted response from many luminaries from several ICAR institutes including CRIDA and number dignified scientists from the Assam Agricultural University contributing their valuable articles. I, do express gratitude and thankfulness from my inner core of the heart to all of them for their valuable contributions.
I am extremely grateful to the Honorable Vice Chancellor, AAU, Dr. Kamalmalla Bujarbaruah sir, for his constant inspiration and suggestions all along the organization of the workshop. I would also like to express my sincere gratitude to Dr. Srinivasa Rao, Director, CRIDA, Dr. G. N. Hazarika, Director of Research (Agri), AAU, Dr.G.Rabindra Charry, PC, AICRPDA, Dr. T.C. Baruah, Associate Dean, BNCA, Dr. P.K. Sarma, CS, AICRPDA and all associated scientists for their encouragement, moral support and valuable suggestions. Last but not the least, all the Research Associates working under AICRPDA, BNCA, do deserve due share of thanks for their all round helps in bringing out the souvenir.Not Availabl
Optimal Drug Regimen and Combined Drug Therapy and its Efficacy in the Treatment of COVID-19 : An Within-Host Modeling Study
The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in more than 30.35 million infections and
9, 50, 625 deaths in 212 countries over the last few months. Different drug
intervention acting at multiple stages of pathogenesis of COVID-19 can
substantially reduce the infection induced mortality. The current within-host
mathematical modeling studies deals with the optimal drug regimen and the
efficacy of combined therapy in treatment of COVID-19. The drugs/interventions
considered include Arbidol, Remdesivir, Inteferon (INF) and
Lopinavir/Ritonavir. It is concluded that these drug interventions when
administered individually or in combination reduce the infected cells and viral
load. Four scenarios involving administration of single drug intervention, two
drug interventions, three drug interventions and all the four have been
discussed. In all these scenarios the optimal drug regimen is proposed based on
two methods. In the first method these medical interventions are modeled as
control interventions and a corresponding objective function and optimal
control problem is formulated. In this setting the optimal drug regimen is
proposed. Later using the the comparative effectiveness method the optimal drug
regimen is proposed based on basic reproduction number and viral load. The
average infected cell count and viral load decreased the most when all the four
interventions were applied together. On the other hand the average susceptible
cell count decreased the best when Arbidol alone was administered. The basic
reproduction number and viral count decreased the best when all the four
interventions were applied together reinstating the fact obtained earlier in
the optimal control setting. These findings may help physicians with decision
making in treatment of life-threatening COVID-19 pneumonia.Comment: 16 pages, 13 figure
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