Differentiable Genetic Programming

We introduce the use of high order automatic differentiation, implemented via the algebra of truncated Taylor polynomials, in genetic programming. Using the Cartesian Genetic Programming encoding we obtain a high-order Taylor representation of the program output that is then used to back-propagate errors during learning. The resulting machine learning framework is called differentiable Cartesian Genetic Programming (dCGP). In the context of symbolic regression, dCGP offers a new approach to the long unsolved problem of constant representation in GP expressions. On several problems of increasing complexity we find that dCGP is able to find the exact form of the symbolic expression as well as the constants values. We also demonstrate the use of dCGP to solve a large class of differential equations and to find prime integrals of dynamical systems, presenting, in both cases, results that confirm the efficacy of our approach

Biosorption of fluoride ion from water using the seeds of the cabbage tree (Moringa stenopetala)

Conventional water treatment technologies for the removal of fluoride ion may not be feasible for developing countries due to their high investment and operational costs. The aim of this study was therefore, to investigate the fluoride biosorption potential of the seeds of the cabbage tree (Moringa stenopetala). The influence of Moringa dosage, pH, contact time, and initial concentration of fluoride ion was investigated. The maximum fluoride sorption capacity was found to be 1.32 mg.g-1 of dry weight of Moringa seeds at a biomass dosage of 2 g L-1, pH 7.00, initial fluoride ion concentration of 10 mg.L-1 and a contact time of 60 min. The fluoride level was reduced from 10 to 3.4 mg L-1. The adsorption of fluoride ion onto Moringa powder was best described by the pseudo-second-order kinetic model (R2 = 0.99). Theadsorption equilibrium data have been fitted well to Langmuir as well as Freundlich adsorption models (R2≥0.97 for both models). The distribution constant (Kd) and maximum adsorption capacity (Bmax) were significantly influenced by the amount of Moringa and equilibrium fluoride ion concentration (p<0.05). The desorption tests indicated that only 20% of the initially bound fluoride ion was regenerated, while the remaining 80% were bounded with the Moringa powder. This suggests that chemisorption was the possible mechanism of fluoride removal.Key words: Biosorption, chemisorption, desorption, fluoride, isotherm, Moringa stenopetala

Effect of improved cookstove intervention on childhood acute lower respiratory infection in Northwest Ethiopia: a cluster-randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Household air pollution exposure is linked with over 3.5 million premature deaths every year, ranking highest among environmental risk factors globally. Children are uniquely vulnerable and sensitive to the damaging health effects of household air pollution which includes childhood acute lower respiratory infection (ALRI). The use of improved cookstoves has been widely encouraged to reduce these health burdens. It is, however, unclear as to whether it is possible to prevent household air pollution-related disease burdens with biomass-fuelled improved cookstove intervention and the evidence regarding its child health effect still attracts wide debate. Therefore, we investigated the child health effect of improved baking stove intervention compared with the continuation of the open burning traditional baking stove. METHODS: A cluster-randomized controlled trial was conducted to assess the health effect of improved baking stove intervention. A total of 100 clusters were randomly allocated to both arms at a 1:1 ratio, and a total of four follow-up visits were carried out within 1 year immediately after the delivery of the intervention to all households allocated into the intervention arm. Data were analyzed in SPSS-22, and the intervention effect was estimated using a Generalized Estimating Equations modeling approach among the intention-to-treat population. RESULTS: A total of 5508 children were enrolled in the study across 100 randomly selected clusters in both arms, among which data were obtained from a total of 5333 participants for at least one follow-up visit which establishes the intention-to-treat population dataset. The intervention was not found to have a statistically significant effect on the longitudinal childhood ALRI with an estimated odds ratio of 0.95 (95% CI: 0.89-1.02). Nevertheless, the longitudinal change in childhood ALRI was significantly associated with age, baseline childhood ALRI, location of cooking quarter, secondary stove type and frequency of baking event measured at baseline. CONCLUSIONS: We found no evidence that an intervention comprising biomass-fuelled improved baking stove reduced the risk of childhood ALRI compared with the continuation of an open burning traditional baking stove. Therefore, effective cooking solutions are needed to avert the adverse health effect of household air pollution, particularly, childhood ALRI. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The trial was registered on August 2, 2018 at clinical trials.gov registry database (registration identifier number: NCT03612362)

Pengaruh Marketing Mix terhadap Keputusan Nasabah untuk Menabung Simpedes di PT. Bank Rakyat Indonesia (Persero) Tbk Unit Batang Kapas Cabang Painan

This study was conducted to determine the effect of services Marketing Mix Decision Against Customer For Saving Simpedes PT . BRI (Persero) Tbk Branch Painan Cotton Trunk UnitThe population in this study are all customers who save Simpedes in PT. BRI (Persero) Tbk Branch Painan Cotton Trunk Unit, with a sample of 100 respondents. The sampling technique used is porposive Sampling. The type of data used are primary and secondary data. To analyze the effect of services Marketing Mix Influence Customer Decision Against For Saving Simpedes PT. BRI (Persero) Tbk Cotton Trunk Branch Unit Painan using multiple linear regression models with SPSS V.16.0 analysis tools .Based on the results of the hypothesis test is carried out partially can be seen that price, promotion, and process, does not have a positive and significant impact on customer decisions to save Simpedes in PT. BRI (Perser ) Tbk Branch Painan Cotton Trunk Unit. Meanwhile, product, location, people and physical evidence has a positive and significant effect on the customers decision to save Simpedes in PT. BRI (Persero) Tbk Branch Painan Cotton Trunk Unit. Then simultaneously Product, Price, Location, Promotion, People (People), Process, and Physical Evidence has a positive and significant impact on customer decisions to save Simpedes in PT . BRI (Persero) Tbk Branch Unit Cotton Trunk Paina

Effect of human-induced environmental changes on bird diversity and abundance in natural wetlands of Southwest Ethiopia

The diversity and abundance of wetland birds have been threatened by increasing anthropogenic activities during recent decades. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of human-induced disturbance on bird species richness and abundance of natural wetlands in southwest Ethiopia. Bird surveys were performed at 56 locations during both the wet and dry seasons in 2010 and 2011. Generalized linear modeling (G) was used to correlate species richness with environmental variables. It was found that wetlands with low human disturbance were characterized by a higher richness (n > 10) of wetland dependent specialist birds (depending completely on wetlands for food and nesting) than the highly disturbed wetlands. However, for wetland-associated birds (those able to nest and feed in wetlands as well as in other habitats), there was no significant difference (P = 0.31) in species richness between disturbed and non-disturbed wetlands. The abundance of wetland dependent specialist birds was significantly affected (P < 0.001) by human disturbance, whereas the abundance of wetland associated birds was not (P = 0.39). Fifty-three percent of the variation in species richness of wetland dependent birds was explained by a combination of water depth, sludge depth, conductivity, chlorophyll a, total phosphorus, human disturbance and vegetation cover. It is recommended that anthropogenic activities should be minimized and controlled in and around these wetlands to conserve biodiversity