STRUCTURE AND TEXTURE SYNTHESIS

An approach for filling-in blocks of missing data in wireless image transmission is presented in this paper. When compression algorithms such as JPEG are used as part of the wireless transmission process, images are first tiled into blocks of 8x8 pixels. When such images are transmitted over fading channels, the effects of noise can destroy entire blocks of the image. Instead of using common retransmission query protocols, we aim to reconstruct the lost data using correlation between the lost block and its neighbours. If the lost block contained structure, it is reconstructed using an image inpainting algorithm, while texture synthesis is used for the textured blocks. The switch between the two schemes is done in a fully automatic fashion based on the surrounding available blocks. The performance of this method is tested for various images and combinations of lost blocks

Impact of Public-Private-Partnership Programmes on Students’ Learning Outcomes: Evidence from a Quasi-Experiment

Learning outcomes refer to the performance of the students in academic tests pertaining to the respective grade level. In Pakistan, survey evidences from Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) show a significant dispersion in learning outcomes of public schools as compared with private sector counterpart. The perceived results of learning outcomes in private schools very clear but less evidence is found for educational outcome of schools run under public-private partnership programs. This becomes especially relevant when status of curricular, co-curricular, and extra-curricular activities is compared between public school, private schools, and schools run under public private partnership. In recent literature, it is found that schools taken up by public-private partnership have been providing a better learning environment—Infrastructure Rehabilitation and Development, Administrative changes, Academic Innovation and Planning, Teacher Reform and Student Affairs—is perceived to have a positive impact on learning outcomes. It is to investigate and document that the investments in these areas are justifiable. To promote this fact, we conduct a quasi-experiment to examine the profiles of students in a public-private partnership school at Karachi (running under Zindagi Trust program) and a public school (as counterfactual) in the same neighbourhood. We also recorded the household and socioeconomic characteristics to create a good set of control variables. The propensity-score results show that public-private school is performing better than that of comparison group in attaining learning outcomes thus showing positive effects of PPP. Finally, the study probed into household and parental covariates of student's educational outcomes to enhance internal validity of results. JEL Classification: I21, C21, L32. Keywords: Educational Learning Outcomes, Public-Private Partnership, Quasi-experiment

Colorectal carcinoma, preoperative evaluation by spiral computed tomography

Objectives: To assess the capability of spiral computed tomography (CT) scan in preoperative evaluation of colorectal carcinoma (CRC).Methods: A cross sectional study on 52 patients with recent histopathologic diagnosis of CRC was conducted over a period of one year at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi. All these patients underwent spiral CT with oral and intravenous contrast administration. Surgery was subsequently done in all cases and surgical specimens were sent for detailed pathologic analysis. The radiologic findings on the CT scans were compared with the pathological findings.Results: The results proved that spiral CT had 60% sensitivity and 83% specificity for assessment of local spread of disease, 66% sensitivity and 76% specificity for the evaluation of lymph nodal metastases and 89% sensitivity and 94% specificity for hepatic metastases. In all the cases, the visualized tumour growth with wide zone of resection and regional nodal chains were surgically removed. It was however, the distant metastases which made a difference to the type of curative or palliative surgery planned and in this study spiral CT had 92% accuracy for detection of hepatic metastases.CONCLUSION: With technological advances and improvement in imaging protocols the results for local tumor spread are expected to improve, however based on the accuracy in detecting hepatic metastases in clinically unsuspected patients, this study proves that spiral CT has a significant role in preoperative evaluation and subsequent management of CRC

Allium stracheyi (Baker), the endangered and traditional medicinally important herb of Uttarakhand Himalaya, India: A Review

 Allium stracheyi (Alliaceae), is the high-altitude growing plant, commonly known as Jamboo, and Dhungar in Uttarakhand, India. It is a good source of income for the tribal communities and cultivars of Uttarakhand with medicinally and economically importance. A. stracheyi has higher amount of fibre and protein contents with lower fat and carbohydrates. It is used in various ailments. Considering phytoconstituents studies revealed different types of compounds like hydrocarbons, terpenes, terpenoids and sulfur-containing components as volatile constituents. The present study aimed to provide a general review of the available literature of A. stracheyi on phytochemistry, biological activities and pharmacological uses with special reference to traditional and economic importance

Forensic Geotechnical Distress Evaluation of Damaged Buildings in Alluvial-Loessic Soils; A Case History

The city of Hyderabad is a part of lower Indus Basin with arid-tropical climatic conditions. Geologically, the soil deposits near Hyderabad are of alluvial-loessic nature underlain by limestone beds alternating with clay layers. Groundwater is present at shallow depth which fluctuates to even shallower depths during monsoon season in the months of July and August. In recent past, large number of buildings built over shallow foundations in the city suffered structural damages of varying scale in the form of cracks and settlements. Some of these buildings were declared dangerous from safety and stability view point and got vacated by local administration. A forensic geotechnical distress evaluation was carried out to identify the causes and process of damages. The study comprised survey of structural distresses and review of original geotechnical investigation report, selected design parameters, construction materials used and quality controls implemented. Additional geotechnical field and lab investigations using conventional and geophysical techniques were carried out to characterize the existing foundation soil conditions. Presence of problematic soil layers of swelling nature were found within the zone of influence of all the damaged structures. Investigations indicate swell pressure to be the major source of distresses leading to foundation failure. Leakages of water from supply lines, sewerage pipes and fluctuating ground water table are identified as the sources of water responsible for swelling. The paper includes detailed methodology of geotechnical distress evaluation, recommendations to enhance geotechnical investigation for problematic soils and selection of appropriate design parameters. It is hoped the lessons learnt from this case history would enhance practical geotechnical engineering practices in Pakistan and elsewhere

Management of Chemicals in Pakistan: Concerns and challenges

Abstract Key Words

Effect of air pollution on daily morbidity in Karachi, Pakistan

Levels of daily particulates (PM2.5) were monitored at two sites in Karachi, Pakistan. One site (Korangi) is an industrial and residential neighborhood, while the other (Tibet Center) is a commercial and residential area near a major highway. Monitoring was done daily for a period of six weeks during spring, summer, fall and winter. Particulate levels were extraordinarily high, with the great majority of days falling into the “unhealthy for sensitive groups” or “very unhealthy” categories. The mean PM2.5 levels in Karachi exceeded the WHO’s 24 h air quality guideline almost every day and often by a factor of greater than 5-fold. Daily emergency room (ER) visits and hospital admissions for cardiovascular diseases were obtained by review of medical records at three major tertiary and specialized hospitals. ER and hospitalizations were reported relative to days in which the concentration of PM2.5 was less than 50mg/m3 , and by 50 mg/m3 increments up to 300mg/m3 . There were statistically significant elevations in rates of hospital admissions at each of the PM2.5 categories at the Korangi site, and at concentrations .150mg/m3 at the Tibet Center site. ER visits were significantly elevated only at PM2.5 concentrations of between 151 and 200 mg/m3 at both sites. These results show that the extremely elevated concentrations of PM2.5 in Karachi, Pakistan are, as expected, associated with significantly elevated rates of hospital admission, and to a lesser extent, ER visits for cardiovascular disease

Management of Chemicals in Pakistan: Concerns and challenges

The Chemical Industry has gradually attained central role in modern and transitioning economies of the world. Globally, the trade in chemicals is generating business in trillions of dollars. For instance, the chemical industry in the U.S. is amongst the top exporters; and based on its significance out of seventy-seven industrial sectors the chemical industry ranks ninth. (Murmann, 2002) The chemical products are extremely important for national economy, and the strong dependence between chemical industry and other industries is mutually reinforcing. Therefore, few targeted attacks against chemical infrastructure can have consequences far greater than the immediate deaths and destructions. (Dixon, 2002) Handling chemicals at any stage is cumbersome and risky. Therefore, the safety and security of chemicals and related facilities has immense importance for avoiding the chemical accidents, preventing inadvertent and deliberate misuse of chemicals