A knowledge based system to assist in the selection of appropriate geotechnical field tests

The variety in geological conditions and range of geotechnical problems has led to the development of a considerable number of different in-situ test methods. The correct selection of the appropriate in-situ tests allows a safer and cost-efficient design to be achieved. A prototype Knowledge-Based System has been developed to assist in the selection of appropriate geotechnical in-situ tests. The system is model-based and has been implemented using PDC Prolog on a Personal Computer to perform two functions: i) general querying of the knowledge bases which it incorporates and ii) advise on selecting in-situ tests. The system consists of two knowledge bases (the Ground Knowledge Base and the Tests Knowledgebase), an Extended Inference Mechanism consisting of search rules developed to allow inheritance and transitivity inferences (as well as information retrieval facilities), an advisory rule developed for offering assistance in the selection of appropriate field tests, and a menu driven user interface to achieve ease of use. The Extended Inference Mechanism, and the user interface implemented for it, form a basic expert system shell. The knowledge required to be included in the system was obtained in two ways: i) from technical literature and ii) from a small knowledge elicitation exercise in the form of a questionnaire. The representation scheme adopted is the same for both knowledge bases and allows modifications (additions or deletions) of the existing knowledge to be easily made. Towards the completion of this research program, a comparative exercise was performed by re-implementing part of the system using the PROKAPPA software on a Sun Sparkstation 2 (both of which became available at that time). Throughout this exercise, the differences between the two implementation schemes were evaluated and the advantages and disadvantages of each of the schemes were identified

Preferences For Interior Public Spaces In Kuala Lumpur Shopping Malls

As users of shopping malls, people’s needs play an important role in designing shopping malls, as it is not only for the quality of its shops and hospitality that matter, but also the interior public space it provides. People carry out various activities in interior public spaces whereby these spaces are crucial for the comfort of the customers who come to the malls. Unfortunately, the trend in the Malaysian malls’ interior public spaces have not been as public spaces, as they are rather designed specifically for business spaces. It is therefore suggested that the interior public spaces at shopping malls be designed according to people’s needs and preferences. Thus, this study was carried out to investigate preferences of the Kuala Lumpur residents towards interior public spaces at shopping malls. For this, a survey was conducted on among 240 participants in Bukit Bintang, MidValley and Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman in Kuala Lumpur. The major part of the survey was the photo-questionnaire of the interior public spaces at malls. Besides photo questionnaire, the survey also consists of questions to gauge the participants’ perceived importance of the interior landscape elements at the public spaces in malls. The results from the analysis indicated that interior public spaces at malls could be categorized into three dimensions, namely Business, Green and Seating Dimensions. Green Dimension refers to the dimension, which has the highest mean preference rating while Business Dimension is the dimension with the lowest mean preference rating. The analysis also revealed that seating places, public clocks, plants and water features are perceived as important interior landscape elements at the public spaces provided while artificial plants and business entities are perceived as less important than other interior landscape elements involved in this study. Based on the people’s preferences, the study also showed five significant findings: the interior space at shopping malls as a place for public to spend time, to utilize and to relax, people preferred green interior and water features, while coherence and legibility are two important preference factors for the interior public spaces at shopping malls. The fourth and final significant findings are the rejection of business entities at public spaces in malls and that the age of the people who visited these places did matter in designing these spaces

Economic Assessment of Henna Production in District Naushahero Feroze, Sindh, Provnce of Pakistan

Henna (Mehendi) (Lawsonia Alba/ Lawsonia sp) is an important cash and minor crop of Pakistan. After wheat and cotton henna is major crop of district Naushahero Feroze Sindh Pakistan. It ranks at the 3rd position in its acreage and production in study area. The required information and data were collected on pre-tested questionnaire through personal interviews and observations. It was found that almost all the selected henna growers owned their own land they were owner. The data showed the status of grower in study area. The research findings describes that on average age of grower is 51.2 years while on average the total family and educated family size is 5.885 and 3.81 accordingly, on average total land holding of family size is 19.2 and land holding for henna is 4.77 acres. Average price per mounds is 1548 rupees and average production per acre is 36.8 mounds, on average single farmer has productive assets of 449391.67, so on average 184.3 mounds of production, while 283873.3 of income, similarly 124175 of cost and profit of 159698.3 obtained by a family. So the study describe that on average minimum expenditure of family on acre is 20000 and maximum expenditure 750000. Similarly the study describe that on average minimum income of family on acre is 40000 and maximum income 1500000. The study describe that on average minimum profit of family on acre is 19000 and maximum profit 750000. Keywords: Assets, Cash crop, Henna, Total Cost, Total Revenue

Economic Assessment of Sugarcane Production and Its Marketing Constraints in Sindh, Pakistan

Sugarcane is an important cash crop of Pakistan. It ranks at the 5th position in its acreage and production and almost 15th position in sugar production in the world. Sugarcane is mainly grown for manufacturing sugar and other sweeteners (Shakar and Gur) and its by-products are used in chipboard and paper industries. It is an important source of income and employment for the farming community. The research was carried out with the objectives to investigate the average per hectare cost of production, sugarcane yield, net-return; input output ratio and cost benefit ratio, market issues and production practice constraints by the sugarcane growers in study area. Primary data with convenient sampling method was used in this study.  A sample of 60 sugarcane growers was selected by random sampling technique. The required information and data were collected on pre-tested questionnaire through personal interviews and observations. The results show that sugarcane grower faces economic, technical and social constraints. Keywords: Sugarcane, Production and marketing, average per hectare cost, sugarcane yiel

Use Case of Counterfactual Examples: Data Augmentation

Counterfactual explanations are gaining popularity as a way of explaining machine learning models. Counterfactual examples are generally created to interpret the decision of a model. In this case, if a model makes a certain decision for an instance, the counterfactual examples of that instance reverse the decision of the model. The counterfactual examples can be created by craftily changing particular feature values of the instance. In this work, we explore other potential application areas of utilizing counterfactual examples other than model explanation. We are particularly interested in exploring whether counterfactual examples can be a good candidate for data augmentation. At the same time, we look for ways of validating the generated counterfactual examples

“It was like I was not a person, it was like I was the nature”: The impact of arts-in-nature experiences on the wellbeing of children living in areas of high deprivation

Background: Nature can weaken the negative effects of deprivation on health, shifting away from pathogenic models of health and supporting the wellbeing of disadvantaged groups. Nevertheless, children living in deprived areas are nine times less likely to have access to nature compared to more affluent children. Schools can facilitate equity of access to nature, thereby playing a crucial role in addressing health inequities. What has received scant attention in existing literature is how access to, and engagement with, nature can be facilitated through arts experiences. // Methods: ‘Eco-capabilities’ is a pilot study exploring the impact of the arts-in-nature practice - ‘Artscaping’ - on the wellbeing of 101 children (aged 7–10) living in areas of high deprivation. Qualitative and arts-based methods were used to understand children's, artists' and teachers' experiences of participating in the intervention. Quantitative methods were used to gain preliminary information on children's self-reported measures of wellbeing pre- and post-intervention. // Findings: Children's wellbeing was supported by the development of: self-confidence and self-esteem; agency; slowliness and calmness; and connectedness with nature. Although children's self-reported measures of wellbeing did not reach statistically significance, the most noticeable changes were that children felt happier with their life as a whole, spending time outdoors and doing things away from home, and more optimistic about what future holds for them. // Conclusions: This study developed the proof of concept for the arts-in-nature intervention. Future research should focus on scaling-up this intervention in primary, secondary and special schools in a wider range of geospatial contexts. Future research should also prioritise the collaboration between artists and teachers to ensure the sustainability of this practice beyond the scope of the research

Eco-Capabilities as a Pathway to Wellbeing and Sustainability

Eco-Capabilities is an AHRC funded project situated at the intersection of three issues: a concern with children’s wellbeing; their disconnect with the environment; and a lack of engagement with arts in school curricula. It builds on Amartya Sen’s work on human capabilities as a proxy for wellbeing, developing the term eco-capabilities to describe how children define what they feel they need to live a fully good human life through environmental sustainability, social justice and future economic wellbeing. A total of 101 children aged 7–10 from schools in highly deprived areas participated in eight full days of arts in nature practice. The study drew on arts based research methods, participatory observations, interviews and focus groups with artists, teachers and children. Findings suggest that arts in nature practice contributed towards eight (eco-)capabilities: autonomy; bodily integrity and safety; individuality; mental and emotional wellbeing; relationality: human/nonhuman relations; senses and imagination; and spirituality. This was facilitated through four pedagogical elements: extended and repeated arts in nature sessions; embodiment and engaging children affectively through the senses; ‘slowliness’, which envelops children with time and space to (re)connect; and thoughtful practice, which facilitates emotional expression. We suggest that, through these elements, arts in nature practice supports children’s wellbeing, and guides them towards a more entangled relationship with nature and a clearer understanding of themselves as part of it, thereby motivating them to take better care of it

Study of metopic suture in south Indian skulls

Background: The cranial sutures and their development is the most interesting in the field of cranial growing and shaping. Metopism is partially or totally persisting suture extending from the nasion to the anterior angle of the bregma of frontal bone.  Methods: Total 100 human adult dry skulls were collected from south India for present study to find out the incidence of metopic suture.  Results: Out of 100 skulls, found one complete and one incomplete metopic suture.Conclusions: Present study may be useful for diagnostic and surgical intervention, particularly during frontal craniotomy