Strategies to mitigate secondary salinization in the Indus Basin of Pakistan: a selective review

Salinity control / Water table / River basins / Irrigation management / Water quality / Irrigation practices / Drainage / Sodic soils / Pakistan

Modelling and control of chaotic processes through their Bifurcation Diagrams generated with the help of Recurrent Neural Network models: Part 1—simulation studies

Many real-world processes tend to be chaotic and also do not lead to satisfactory analytical modelling. It has been shown here that for such chaotic processes represented through short chaotic noisy time-series, a multi-input and multi-output recurrent neural networks model can be built which is capable of capturing the process trends and predicting the future values from any given starting condition. It is further shown that this capability can be achieved by the Recurrent Neural Network model when it is trained to very low value of mean squared error. Such a model can then be used for constructing the Bifurcation Diagram of the process leading to determination of desirable operating conditions. Further, this multi-input and multi-output model makes the process accessible for control using open-loop/closed-loop approaches or bifurcation control etc. All these studies have been carried out using a low dimensional discrete chaotic system of Hénon Map as a representative of some real-world processes

Nutritional value of Pleurotus (Flabellatus) Djamor (R-22) cultivated on sawdusts of different woods

The sawdust of different woods were investigat ed for the cultivation of exotic strain of Pleurotus (flabellatus) djamor (R-22) to find out the efficiency of different nutrients including protein, fat, crude fiber, ash, dry matter and moisture. Among all type of nutrients, protein, fat, cr ude fiber, ash, dry matter and moisture of Pleurotus ostreatus on sawdust of different woods were observed. Protein was observed on cont rol treatment (cotton waste, kikar, mango, mixed sawdust, simbal and kail (21.89), (21.64), (21.34), (21.16), (21.03) and (20.75) % respectively. Fat was observed on control treatment (cotton waste, kikar, mango, mi xed sawdust, simbal and kail (0.80), (0.53), (0 .41), (0.33), (0.24) and (0.11)% respectively. Crude fiber was observed on control treatment (cotton waste, kikar, mango, mixed sawdust, simbal and kail (8.92), (8.45), (8.17), (7.96), (7.70) and (7.32) % respectively. Ash was observ ed on control treatment (cotton waste, kikar, mango, mixed sawdust, simbal and kail (7.65), (6.75), (6 .47), (6.39), (6.33) and (6.23%) respectively. Dry matter was observed on control treatment (cotton waste, kikar, mango, mixed sawdust, simbal and kail (6.47), (6.27), (6.13), (6.01), (5.87) and (5.67) % respectively. Moisture was observed on control treatment (c otton waste, kikar, mango, mixed sawdust, simbal and kail (84.55), (81.20), (79.85), (76.26), (74.35) and (71.14) % respectively. Oyster mushroom showed relatively more contents on control treatment cotton waste as compared to other substrates. The maximum protein, fat, crude fiber, ash, dry matter and moisture contents in Pleurotus (flabellatus) djamor (R-22) was obtained on Kikar sawdust .The lowest contents was obtained on kail sawdust

Wideband harmonic radar detection

Radio sites consist naturally of metallic structures. Metals are always covered by an oxide film due to the metal reacting chemically with the oxygen in air. The rate of this oxide formation depends largely on the environment. Any oxide film between metallic contacts will cause non-linearity. RF currents passing through these junctions would generate harmonics. When RF signals at two frequencies fl and f2 pass-through a non-linearity they create signals at their sum and difference frequencies. These are known as 'inter-modulation products'. This generation of inter-modulation products when radio waves interact with rusty parts is called as the 'Rusty Bolt Effect'. Radio spectrum is carefully controlled for optimal usage of the available frequencies so that different services operate in well-defined frequency channels. Ofcom has set some standards for radio site engineering. This set of standards is given in the document 'MPT 1331: Code of Practice for Radio Site Engineering'. Any transmission site which is not following these codes would likely cause interference to other users. It is important that radio engineers should check the sites for their compliance with these codes. If a particular radio site is causing interference due to the rusty-bolt effect, the corroded points must be located to minimize their effect using a Harmonic Radar. A 'Harmonic Radar' is a device that illuminates a region of space with RF waves and receives the harmonics of the transmitted frequencies. The received data can then be processed to find the exact location and mobility of the points causing the generation of these harmonics. It works on the principle of radar transmitting a chirp signal and receiving harmonics of the transmitting frequency. Work is currently being carried out at the 'Centre for Communication Systems' in Durham University funded by HMGCC on the design and implementation of a novel Wideband Harmonic Radar system. The radar system would employ advanced sub-systems i.e. a suitable waveform and multiple antenna arrays processing super-resolution algorithms for angular information

Modelling of Metallurgical Processes Using Chaos Theory and Hybrid Computational Intelligence

The main objective of the present work is to develop a framework for modelling and controlling of a real world multi-input and multi-output (MIMO) continuously drifting metallurgical process, which is shown to be a complex system. A small change in the properties of the charge composition may lead to entirely different outcome of the process. The newly emerging paradigm of soft-computing or Hybrid Computational Intelligence Systems approach which is based on neural networks, fuzzy sets, genetic algorithms and chaos theory has been applied to tackle this problem In this framework first a feed-forward neuro-model has been developed based on the data collected from a working Submerged Arc Furnace (SAF). Then the process is analysed for the existence of the chaos with the chaos theory (calculating indices like embedding dimension, Lyapunov exponent etc). After that an effort is made to evolve a fuzzy logic controller for the dynamical process using combination of genetic algorithms and the neural networks based forward model to predict the system’s behaviour or conditions in advance and to further suggest modifications to be made to achieve the desired results

Branching Ratio and CP-asymmetry for B-> 1^{1}P_{1}gamma decays

We calculate the branching ratios for B_{d}^{0}->(b_{1},h_{1})gamma at next-to-leading order (NLO) of alpha_{s} where b_{1} and h_{1} are the corresponding radially excited axial vector mesons of rho and omega respectively. Using the SU(3)symmetry for the form factor, the branching ratio for B_{d}^{0}->(b_{1},h_{1})gamma is expressed in terms of the branching ratio of the B_{d}^{0}-> K_{1}gamma and it is found to be B(B_{d}^{0}->b_{1}gamma)=0.71* 10^{-6} and B(B_{d}^{0}-> h_{1}gamma) =0.74*10^{-6}. We also calculate direct CP asymmetry for these decays and find, in confirmity with the observations made in the literature, that the hard spectator contributions significantely reduces the asymmetry arising from the vertex corrections alone. The value of CP-asymmetry is 10% and is negative like rho and omega in the Standard Model.Comment: 10 pages, 2 figure

Evaluation of Records of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Cases Reported at Abbasi Shaheed Hospital and Karachi Medical and Dental College, Pakistan

Background: Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery department is a diverse field in dentistry. Record maintenance has been established as one of the key factors in the success and integrity of health care institutes.Objective: The objective of the study was to evaluate the records of oral and maxillofacial surgery casesreported to oral and maxillofacial surgery department, Abbasi Shaheed Hospital and oral surgery OPD ofKarachi Medical and Dental College.Methods: Cross sectional study was conducted in at ASH and KMDC from July 2019 to September 2019.The data from January 2017 to July 2019 was retrospectively noted through electronic surgical recordof ASH and records of the Oral Surgery OPD of KMDC. Inclusion criteria was patients records of bothgenders of 5–70 years age, having complaint of any oral or dental pathology or pathologies, trauma andimpactions. Data was calculated manually by calculating frequencies and percentages for the trauma,impaction and pathology cases of patients.Results: In 2017, 239 cases were treated under general anesthesia from which trauma 11. 45% (n=11),followed by 48. 11% (n=115) cases of oral pathologies, total 11.7% (n=28) cases of complicated exodontias. In2018, among 211, 51.1% (n=108) cases were trauma followed by 39.3% (n=83) cases of oral pathologies,whereas, total 9.4% (n=20) complicated exodontias cases were observed. During 2019 (January to July),168 cases 36.2% (n=62) cases were diagnosed as trauma, in oral pathology, overall 36.2% (n=62) caseswere surgically excised. Total 23.2% (n=39) complicated exodontias. In 2017, 25122 cases were reported in Surgery OPD of Karachi Medical and Dental College. Total 36.2% (n=9097) teeth were extracted from which 1.93% (n=486) cases were surgical impaction. On the other hand, 1.65% (n=416) patients were treated through minor oral surgeries. In 2018, 29008 cases were reported in Surgery OPD. Total 42.7% (n=12377) teeth were extracted from which 0.92% (n=268) cases were surgical impaction. On the other hand, 0.71% (n=208) patients were treated through minor surgeries. In 2019, January till July 13028 cases were reported in Surgery OPD. Total42.6% (n=5559) teeth were extracted from which 0.66% (n=87) cases were surgical impaction. On the other hand, 0.68% (n=89) patients were treated through minor surgeries.Conclusion: It has been concluded that evaluation of the records of oral and maxillofacial surgery casesreported to oral and maxillofacial surgery department, Abbasi Shaheed Hospital and oral surgery OPD ofKarachi Medical and Dental College were high and appropriate measures should be taken in order tomanage these problems timely and effectively

Deterministic and Probabilistic Binary Search in Graphs

We consider the following natural generalization of Binary Search: in a given undirected, positively weighted graph, one vertex is a target. The algorithm's task is to identify the target by adaptively querying vertices. In response to querying a node $q$, the algorithm learns either that $q$ is the target, or is given an edge out of $q$ that lies on a shortest path from $q$ to the target. We study this problem in a general noisy model in which each query independently receives a correct answer with probability $p > \frac{1}{2}$ (a known constant), and an (adversarial) incorrect one with probability $1-p$. Our main positive result is that when $p = 1$ (i.e., all answers are correct), $\log_2 n$ queries are always sufficient. For general $p$, we give an (almost information-theoretically optimal) algorithm that uses, in expectation, no more than $(1 - \delta)\frac{\log_2 n}{1 - H(p)} + o(\log n) + O(\log^2 (1/\delta))$ queries, and identifies the target correctly with probability at leas $1-\delta$. Here, $H(p) = -(p \log p + (1-p) \log(1-p))$ denotes the entropy. The first bound is achieved by the algorithm that iteratively queries a 1-median of the nodes not ruled out yet; the second bound by careful repeated invocations of a multiplicative weights algorithm. Even for $p = 1$, we show several hardness results for the problem of determining whether a target can be found using $K$ queries. Our upper bound of $\log_2 n$ implies a quasipolynomial-time algorithm for undirected connected graphs; we show that this is best-possible under the Strong Exponential Time Hypothesis (SETH). Furthermore, for directed graphs, or for undirected graphs with non-uniform node querying costs, the problem is PSPACE-complete. For a semi-adaptive version, in which one may query $r$ nodes each in $k$ rounds, we show membership in $\Sigma_{2k-1}$ in the polynomial hierarchy, and hardness for $\Sigma_{2k-5}$