Maximum Contraflow Evacuation Planning Problems On Multi-network

Contraflow approach for the evacuation planning problem increases outbound capacity of the evacuation routes by the reversal of anti-parallel arcs, if such arcs exist. The existing literature focuses on network contraflow problems that allow only anti-parallel arcs with equal transit time. However, the problems modeled on multi-network, allowing parallel as well as anti-parallel arcs with not necessarily equal transit time, seem more realistic. In this paper, we study the maximum dynamic contraflow problem for multi-network and propose efficient solution techniques to them with discrete as well as continuous time settings. We also extend the results to solve earliest version of the problem for two terminal series parallel (TTSP) multi-network

Soil Chemical Properties Under Conservation Agriculture and Cereal-Based Cropping System in Eastern Tarai of Nepal

Field experiments were conducted for four years (2014-2017) at five locations namely Salbani, Bhokraha, Simariya, Bhaluwa and Kaptanganj of Sunsari district to assess the changes in soil chemical properties under conservation agriculture (CA)-based practices in two cropping systems namely rice-kidney bean-maize at Salbani and rice-wheat at rest of the locations. In rice-wheat cropping system, there were four treatments: (1) conventional tillage (CT) for rice transplantation and subsequent wheat sowing, (2) conventional tillage rice transplantation followed by zero tillage (ZT) wheat, (3) unpuddled rice transplantation followed by zero tillage wheat, (4) zero tillage in both rice and wheat. Similarly, in rice-kidney bean-maize cropping system, there were four treatments; (1) conventional tillage for rice transplantation and sowing of both kidney bean and maize, (2) conventional tillage rice transplantation followed by zero tillage in both kidney bean and maize, (3) unpuddled rice transplantation followed by zero tillage in both kidney bean and maize, (4) zero tillage in all three crops. Soil samples were taken at initial and every year after rice harvest.The soil samples were analyzed for total nitrogen, available phosphorus, available potassium, pH and soil organic matter.Total nitrogen (N) showed a slightly decreasing trend in the first three years and showed a slight increase at the end of experiment under ZT in all locations. The total N under ZT changed from 0.12 to 0.13%, 0.05 to 0.06%, 0.10 to 0.12%, 0.11 to 0.08% and 0.09 to 0.13% in Salbani, Bhokraha, Simariya, Bhaluwa and Kaptanganj, respectively.  All locations showed the positive values of available potassium; Salbani  revealing considerable change of 64.3 to 78.5 mg/kg in CT while 68.4 to 73.3 mg/kg in ZT condition. The treatment where rice was transplanted in unpuddled condition and zero tilled to wheat, had a mean value of available phosphorus and potassium as 87.3 and 81.9 mg/kg respectively. Soil pH ranged from 4.8 to 7.1 in CT while it was 5.2 to 6.8 in ZT across the locations. The change in soil organic matter in CT of all locations except Salbani was narrower as compared to ZT

Open data in building resilience to recurrent natural hazards in remote mountainous communities of Nepal

The concept of using open data in development planning and resilience building to frequent environmental hazards has gained substantial momentum in recent years. It is helpful in better understanding local capacities and associated risks to develop appropriate risk reduction strategies. Currently, lack of accurate and sufficient data has contributed to increased environmental risks, preventing local planners the opportunity to consider these risks in advance. To fulfil this gap, this study presents an innovative approach of using openly available platforms to map locally available resources and associated risks in two remote communities of Nepal. The study also highlights the possibility of using the combined knowledge of technical persons and citizen scientists to collect geo-spatial data to support proper decision making. We harnessed the power of citizen scientists to collect geo-spatial data by training them on currently available tools and platforms. Also, we equipped these communities with the necessary instruments to collect location based data. Later, these data collected by citizen scientists were uploaded in the online platforms. The collected data are freely accessible to community members, government and humanitarian actors which could be used for development planning and risk reduction. Moreover, the information co-generated by local communities and scientists could be crucial for local government bodies to plan activities related to disaster risk reduction. Through the piloting in two communities of Nepal, we have found that using open data platforms for collecting and analysing location based data has a mutual benefit to researchers and communities. These data could be vital in understanding the local landscape of development, environmental risk and distribution of resources. Furthermore, it enables both researchers and local people to transfer the technical knowledge, collect location specific data and use them in better decision making

Participatory mapping and collaborative action for inclusive and sustainable mountain landscape development in Far West Nepal

Nepal is one of the world’s most vulnerable countries to the impacts of climate change due to its high-relief topography, heavy monsoon rainfall, and weak governance. Landslides are common across almost all Nepal’s vast Himalaya mountains, of which the Far Western region suffers most, and climate change, coupled with severe under-development is expected to exacerbate the situation. Deficiency in spatial data and information seriously hinder the design and effective implementation of development plans, especially in the least developed areas, such as Seti River Basin in Far Western Nepal, where landslides constantly devastate landscapes and communities. We adopted a participatory mapping process with emerging collaborative digital mapping techniques to tackle the problem of critical information gaps, especially spatial risk information at local levels which compromise efforts for sustainable landscape planning and uses in disaster prone regions. In short, participatory here refers to working with local stakeholders and collaborative refers to crowdsourced map information with citizens and professionals. Engaging a wide range of stakeholders and non-stakeholder citizens in this integrated mapping processes eventually structure human capital at local scales with skills and knowledge on maps and mapping techniques. Also, this approach increases spatial knowledge and their uses in development planning at the local level and eventually increases landscape resilience through improved information management. We will further discuss how this integrated approach may provide an effective link between planning, designing, and implementing development plans amid fast policy and environmental changes and implications for communities in the developing world, especially in the context of climate change and its cascading effects

Measurement of two independent phase-shifts using coupled parametric amplifiers

In this article, we demonstrate a scheme capable of two-phase measurement, i.e. the simultaneous measurement of the two phase-shifts occurring in two independent Mach-Zehnder interferometers using one intensity detector. Our scheme utilizes dark-state-enhanced coupled parametric amplifiers in an atomic medium to mix the multiple fields probing the various arms of the interferometers in parallel. The two phase-differences are then encoded in separate continuous-variable parameters in the spectral waveform of the parametrically amplified atom-radiated signal field, which can be directly decoupled in a single intensity measurement. Besides resolving two phase differences in parallel, this method can also be used to increase the channel capacity in optical and quantum communication by the simultaneous use of phase-modulation and amplitude-modulation.Comment: 8 pages, 4 figure

The F waves study in young healthy individuals

Background: The F wave is a CMAP (compound muscle action potential) evoked by a supramaximal stimulation of a motor nerve. F waves are particularly useful for the diagnoses of polyneuropathies at an early stage and proximal nerve lesions.Methods: Healthy males (n=64) and females (n=26) medical students of BPKIHS with age 20 to 24 years were enrolled. Anthropometric parameters; F wave latencies, persistence and chronodispersion of bilateral median, ulnar and tibial nerves were recorded in Neurophysiology Lab II of BPKIHS. Descriptive analysis was done.Results: Mean age, height and weight of the subjects were 21.64±1.19 years, 165.61±5.4cms and 64.07±5.5kg. Mean minimum F wave latencies (ms) of right median, ulnar and tibial nerves were 24.09±1.95, 24.02±1.76, 44.34±3.02 while on the left side were 23.92±1.96, 24.11±1.92, 44.07±2.83 respectively. F persistence was above 80%. F chronodispersion (ms) for right and left median, ulnar and tibial nerves were 2.77±0.70, 2.79±0.65, 2.71±0.67, 2.80±0.56, 3.48±0.73 and 3.45±0.64 respectively.Conclusions: Maximum and minimum F wave latencies, F chronodispersion and F persistence were derived for both sexes in an age group of 20-24 years

Village Baseline Study: Site Analysis Report for Rupandehi, Madhuri Village, Nepal

This is the report of the village baseline study of Madhuri Village in the CCAFS benchmark site of Rupandehi, Nepal conducted from June 5-9, 2011 to complement an earlier household baseline survey done in the same village. Madhuri is located in the fertile area of the Indo-Gangetic Plain in Nepal yet faces challenges due to increasing populations, encroachment on forests, decreasing soil fertility, limited agriculture and animal productivity, lack of opportunities, and variable climatic conditions. Its circumstances present manageable opportunities to prevent an increase in food insecurity and further degradation natural resources. Madhuri has yet to incur any food or environmental crises

Migrating a Large Scale Legacy Application to SOA: Challenges and Lessons Learned

Abstract—This paper presents the findings of a case study of a large scale legacy to service-oriented architecture migration process in the payments domain of a Dutch bank. The paper presents the business drivers that initiated the migration, and describes a 4-phase migration process. For each phase, the paper details benefits of using the techniques, best practices that contribute to the success, and possible challenges that are faced during migration. Based on these observations, the findings are discussed as lessons learned, including the implications of using reverse engineering techniques to facilitate the migration process, adopting a pragmatic migration realization approach, emphasizing the organizational and business perspectives, and harvesting knowledge of the system throughout the system’s life cycle. I

Papua New Guinea vision-specific quality of life questionnaire: A new patient-reported outcome instrument to assess the impact of impaired vision

Background: The aim of this study was to develop and validate a new vision-specific quality of life (VS QoL) instrument and to assess the impact of vision impairment and eye disease on the quality of life of adults in Papua New Guinea (PNG). Design: This study was designed as community based cross-sectional. Participants: Six hundred fourteen adults aged 18 and above were included in this study. Methods: Focus groups and interviews guided development of a 41-item instrument. Two valid subscales of the instrument were obtained using pilot data after an iterative item reduction process guided by Rasch-based parameters. The person measures (in logits) of 614 participants were used to assess quality of life using univariate and multivariate regression analysis. Main Outcome Measures: Rasch logits. Results: Rasch analysis confirmed a 17-item instrument containing an 8-item activity limitation subscale and a 9-item well-being subscale. Both subscales were unidimensional and demonstrated good fit statistics, measurement precisions and absence of significant differential item functioning. A consistent deterioration in vision-specific quality of life was independently and significantly associated with levels of vision. Severity of vision impairment and ocular morbidity were independently associated with activity limitation and emotional well-being. Participants with refractive error had lower quality of life score than those with no ocular abnormality but higher score than those with cataract and other eye diseases. Conclusions: The 17-item PNG-VS QoL instrument is a valid and reliable instrument for the assessment of impact of impaired vision on quality of life in PNG. Vision-specific quality of life was significantly worse among participants who were older and less-educated, had lower income and have had ocular morbidities