About Pyramid Structure in Convolutional Neural Networks

Deep convolutional neural networks (CNN) brought revolution without any doubt to various challenging tasks, mainly in computer vision. However, their model designing still requires attention to reduce number of learnable parameters, with no meaningful reduction in performance. In this paper we investigate to what extend CNN may take advantage of pyramid structure typical of biological neurons. A generalized statement over convolutional layers from input till fully connected layer is introduced that helps further in understanding and designing a successful deep network. It reduces ambiguity, number of parameters, and their size on disk without degrading overall accuracy. Performance are shown on state-of-the-art models for MNIST, Cifar-10, Cifar-100, and ImageNet-12 datasets. Despite more than 80% reduction in parameters for Caffe_LENET, challenging results are obtained. Further, despite 10-20% reduction in training data along with 10-40% reduction in parameters for AlexNet model and its variations, competitive results are achieved when compared to similar well-engineered deeper architectures.Comment: Published in 2016 International Joint Conference on Neural Networks (IJCNN

Machine Learning and Location Verification in Vehicular Networks

Location information will play a very important role in emerging wireless networks such as Intelligent Transportation Systems, 5G, and the Internet of Things. However, wrong location information can result in poor network outcomes. It is therefore critical to verify all location information before further utilization in any network operation. In recent years, a number of information-theoretic Location Verification Systems (LVSs) have been formulated in attempts to optimally verify the location information supplied by network users. Such LVSs, however, are somewhat limited since they rely on knowledge of a number of channel parameters for their operation. To overcome such limitations, in this work we introduce a Machine Learning based LVS (ML-LVS). This new form of LVS can adapt itself to changing environments without knowing the channel parameters. Here, for the first time, we use real-world data to show how our ML-LVS can outperform information-theoretic LVSs. We demonstrate this improved performance within the context of vehicular networks using Received Signal Strength (RSS) measurements at multiple verifying base stations. We also demonstrate the validity of the ML-LVS even in scenarios where a sophisticated adversary optimizes her attack location.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figure

Experiences of indigenous women with maternal nutrition in climate change (Cold weather) in rural Bajaur, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan: Implications for maternal-infant health

Background: Pakistan is one of the countries that is most susceptible to the effects of climate change. The country’s Northern regions have experienced several extreme cold weather events, including floods, heavy snowfall, and heavy rains, in recent years, significantly impacting maternal and infant health. Indigenous child-bearing age women in the northern rural areas are the most vulnerable populations experiencing food insecurity, disruptive food systems, increasing food prices, and disrupting food production due to climate change exacerbation.Aim of the study: The study aimed to explore the experiences of indigenous women with maternal nutrition in harsh winter caused by climate change in rural Bajaur, Pakistan.Methodology: An exploratory descriptive qualitative (EDQ) design was used in the study. The study was conducted in the Public Rural Center Health of Pashat, Bajaur. A total of 12 study participants were included in the study, through the purposive sampling technique. Data was collected through an in-depth semi-structured interview guide. The collected data was analyzed manually through Content analysis approaches.Results: The findings revealed four major themes: (i) Impact of climate change on food security and navigating strategies ii) Climatic impact on maternal health, pregnancy outcomes, and infant well-being iii) Effect of climate change on household food expenditures iv) Dietary patterns and their significance during pregnancy. The findings also established that the study participants experienced maternal malnutrition and food insecurity, which subsequently increased the risk of preterm births and stillbirths during severe winters. Additionally, children also grappled with malnutrition issues in the winter months due to the scarcity of fruits and vegetables in snowy conditions.Conclusion: The study has uncovered many challenges faced by the rural women of Bajaur. Both existing literature and current study findings highlight the importance of addressing food insecurity related to heavy snowfall, rainfall, and prolonged freezing temperatures during winter. These weather conditions have adverse effects on maternal health and pregnancy outcomes. The study also directs policymakers and stakeholders to formulate and execute climate-smart agricultural policies, and food-sustainable programs in the context of climate change. The study also suggests assisting rural populations in adapting to climate change by providing them with information and strategies for adapting to the climate change impact

Identification, Screening, and Molecular Characterization of Bacterial Microbiota in the guts of Epinephelus sp.

Bacterial microbiota is predominantly present in all living organisms. Most of the bacteria present in the gut of the fish are contaminating the food chain. In the present study, we aimed to isolate and characterize the bacteria in the gut of Epinephelus sp. in the red sea of Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Bacteria were isolated from the guts of 10 fish samples and were grown on Luria Bertani (LB) and nutrient agar media. Total thirteen bacterial colonies were screen out by morphological identification i.e., color, shape, structure, etc. which were further reduced to 7 colonies e.g., IF001, IF002, F003, IF004, F005, IF006, and IF007. The bacterial isolates were also identified through molecular identification using 16S-rDNA sequencing. The genomic DNA was isolated and was sequenced using the Sanger® sequencing method. BLAST alignment results that IF001 and IF002 were members Bacillus sp. IF003 was a strain of photobacterium damselae, IF004 and IF006 were strains of Rothia endophytica, IF005 was a strain of Acinetobacter bouvetiiand IF007 was belonged to Shewanella oneidensis. The molecular identification confirmed the identification of bacterial isolates in the Epinephelus sp. obtained from the red sea

INFORMATION NEEDS AND SEEKING BEHAVIOR OF DISTANCE AND REGULAR UNDERGRADUATE UNIVERSITY STUDENTS OF KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWA-PAKISTAN

The main theme of this study is to investigate the information needs and seeking behavior of distance and regular Library and Information undergraduate students studying at different public sector universities of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa-Pakistan. Quantitative research method was used to carry out this research study. Adopted questionnaire was used as data collection tool. A total of 299 questionnaires were distributed among the respondents and 213 questionnaires were received. It was depicted that lectures and course books were the prime needed information of both groups for their academic qualifications. The prime needed information of both groups was found as “Information on course of study”, followed by Scholarships for onward education, job opportunities, postgraduate education and career development. It is recommended that with provision of course related information; some efforts should be made for provision of extra services like career development, job facilitation, scholarships searching and information for further education

The interrelationship between phagocytosis, autophagy and formation of neutrophil extracellular traps following infection of human neutrophils by Streptococcus pneumoniae

Neutrophils play an important role in the innate immune response to infection with Streptococcus pneumoniae, the pneumococcus. Pneumococci are phagocytosed by neutrophils and undergo killing after ingestion. Other cellular processes may also be induced, including autophagy and the formation of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), which may play a role in bacterial eradication. We set out to determine how these different processes interacted following pneumococcal infection of neutrophils, and the role of the major pneumococcal toxin pneumolysin in these various pathways. We found that pneumococci induced autophagy in neutrophils in a type III phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase dependent fashion that also required the autophagy gene Atg5. Pneumolysin did not affect this process. Phagocytosis was inhibited by pneumolysin but enhanced by autophagy, while killing was accelerated by pneumolysin but inhibited by autophagy. Pneumococci induced extensive NET formation in neutrophils that was not influenced by pneumolysin but was critically dependent on autophagy. While pneumolysin did not affect NET formation, it had a potent inhibitory effect on bacterial trapping within NETs. These findings show a complex interaction between phagocytosis, killing, autophagy and NET formation in neutrophils following pneumococcal infection that contribute to host defence against this pathogen

Synthesis of 3-aryl-3,4-Dihydroisocoumarins and sterically encumbered Biaryls by [3+3] Cyclocondensation Reactions and synthesis of Functionalized Fluoranthenes, trifluoromethyl-Substituted Di- and Terphenyls and tetraaryl-p-Benzoquinones by Pd(0)-Catalysed Cross-Coupling Reactions

Salicylates, 3-aryl-3,4-dihydroisocoumarins and sterically encumbered and functionalized biaryls were synthesized using 1,3-bis(silyl enol ethers) by TiCl4-mediated regioselective [3+3] cyclocondensation strategy. While functionalized fluoranthenes, 4-aryl-1-bromo-2-trifluoromethylbenzenes, 2,5-diaryl-1-trifluoromethylbenzene and terphenyls and tetraaryl-p-benzoquinones were synthesized by palladium(0)-catalyzed Heck and Suzuki cross coupling reactions

State-owned Enterprises not Burden: A case study of Pakistan International Airline

Despite covering a large share of the Pakistan aviation industry, Pakistan International Airline Corporation (PIAC) has been facing financial crises and losses for the past few years. The government subsidizes it every year for about Rs 456 billion. This study examined the operating revenue and operating expenses of the Pakistan International Airline Corporation (PIAC). The study finds that the performance of Pakistan International Airlines is affected by high employee burden, lack of management, political interference, poor services, corruption and human resource policies etc. The study suggests reforms in PIA, Public Private Partnership and Privatization of the PIA