D2^2CSG: Unsupervised Learning of Compact CSG Trees with Dual Complements and Dropouts

We present D$^2$CSG, a neural model composed of two dual and complementary network branches, with dropouts, for unsupervised learning of compact constructive solid geometry (CSG) representations of 3D CAD shapes. Our network is trained to reconstruct a 3D shape by a fixed-order assembly of quadric primitives, with both branches producing a union of primitive intersections or inverses. A key difference between D$^2$CSG and all prior neural CSG models is its dedicated residual branch to assemble the potentially complex shape complement, which is subtracted from an overall shape modeled by the cover branch. With the shape complements, our network is provably general, while the weight dropout further improves compactness of the CSG tree by removing redundant primitives. We demonstrate both quantitatively and qualitatively that D$^2$CSG produces compact CSG reconstructions with superior quality and more natural primitives than all existing alternatives, especially over complex and high-genus CAD shapes.Comment: 9 page

Distribution of Common Coot (Fulica atra) Collected from Wet Lands of Punjab, Pakistan

Population survey was conducted to evaluate the population of common coot (Fulicaatra) and ten years population trend at Chashma Barrage (29883±6458), Taunsa Barrage (4198±515), Ucchali Lake (7253±1466), Head Qadirabad (2789±785), Head Marala (3226±984), Head Rasool (3261±84)), Khabbeki Lack (1486±230), Head Sulaimanki (1809±180), Jhalar Lake (526±206) and Head Islam (1779±257). The population atChashma barrage was statistically highly significant as compared to other wetlands. The overall year wise abundance and relative abundance of different wet lands were recorded. To evaluate the food preference, total weight of gut (63.98±3.946), total weight of gizzard (26.99 ± 1.325), weight of food material (3.59±0.187), gizzard weight without food material (23.39± 1.244), weight of seed (1.24± 0.075), weight of vegetation (1.65±0.103) and weight of other material (0.69±0.067) were calculated. The comparison between male and femalegave results that the total weight of gut, total weight of gizzard, weight of food material, Gizzard weight without food material and weight of other material was statistically highly significant and weight of seed, weight of vegetation was statistically significant.The richness, abundance, Shannon’s variety list, Simpson’s variety record and evenness for gizzard contents were calculated. Among the 40 samples, 19 samples were found infected in by parasites of seven types of Gastro-intestinal parasites were distinguished and recorded as Amidostomum anseris, Capillaria contorta, Strongyloides avium, Echinoparyphium recurvatum, Notocotylus attenuatus, and Giardia sp. D. balacea was recorded among the six wetlands. S. avium and N. attenuates wererecorded among the four wetlands, A. anseris, E. recurvatum and Giardia sp. wererecorded among the three wetlands, and C.contortawererecorded among the two wetlands.The current study provides the information for the management planning, conservation and improvement of habitat of common coot. The knowledge of parasites can be helpful to grasp the host-parasite interactions and give important standard data to the assessment of fitness and wellbeing status of this species

Classification of anomalous machine sounds using i-vectors

The objective of the proposed work is to analyze and study the use of i-vectors for Anomalous Detection of Sounds (ADS) in Machines. I-vectors, to the best of our knowledge, have not been studied for machine sounds. We will be using the database ToyADMOS for testing both supervised and unsupervised ADS techniques using i-vectors generated from the data.M.S

Rule of Law, Corruption Control, Governance, and Economic Growth in Managing Renewable and Nonrenewable Energy Consumption in South Asia

Strong governance is vital for developing environmental policies to promote renewable energy consumption and discourage nonrenewable energy sources. The present research explores the effect of economic growth and different governance indicators on renewable and nonrenewable energy consumption in Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka using data from 1996 to 2019. For this purpose, the study uses different econometric techniques to find the long-term effects of the rule of law, regulatory quality, corruption control, government effectiveness, political stability, voice and accountability, and economic growth on oil, natural gas, coal, hydroelectricity, and renewable energy consumption. The results show that economic growth has a positive impact on all investigated renewable and nonrenewable energy sources. Additionally, regulatory quality measures also increase all types of renewable and nonrenewable energy consumption. Except for natural gas, the impact of the rule of law is negative, and government effectiveness positively affects all energy sources. Control of corruption has a positive effect on natural gas consumption. Political stability has a negative effect on nonrenewable energy sources and a positive impact on renewable energy sources. The magnitudes of the effects of economic growth and most governance indicators are found to be larger on nonrenewable sources than renewable sources. The testing of the energy consumption and governance nexus is scant in global literature and is missing in South Asian literature. Hence, the study results contribute to how South Asian economies can be more sustainable in energy use by enhancing governance indicators in the economies. Particularly, the results imply that these countries should focus on improving the rule of law, corruption control, governance, regulatory quality, political stability, and economic growth to help maintain a sustainable balance of renewable and nonrenewable energy sources. Moreover, this issue needs further attention in developing countries, as governance indicators would play an effective role in promoting sustainable energy

Rule of Law, Control of Corruption and CO2 Emissions in Pakistan

The rule of law and control of corruption would play an effective role in managing CO2 emissions in Pakistan. The present research has explored this issue in Pakistan controlling economic growth during 1996-2019. Further, the unit root and cointegration tests are used. We found the long and short-run relationships in the model. Economic growth has a positive effect on CO2 emissions. The rule of law could not impact in the long run and negatively impacts in the short run. Hence, improving law and order conditions would reduce CO2 emissions in the short run, and further improvements in the rule of law could have pleasant long-run environmental effects. The control of corruption has a positive impact on CO2 emissions in the long run. However, the short-run effects of control of corruption with first and second lags are found negative.     

Rule of Law and Control of Corruption in Managing CO2 Emissions Issue in Pakistan

The rule of law and control of corruption would play an effective role in managing CO2 emissions in Pakistan. The present research has explored this issue in Pakistan controlling economic growth during 1996-2019. Further, the unit root and cointegration tests are used. We found the long and short-run relationships in the model. Economic growth has a positive effect on CO2 emissions. The rule of law could not impact in the long run and negatively impacts in the short run. Hence, improving law and order conditions would reduce CO2 emissions in the short run, and further improvements in the rule of law could have pleasant long-run environmental effects. The control of corruption has a positive impact on CO2 emissions in the long run. However, the short-run effects of control of corruption with first and second lags are found negative

Impact of Oil Price, Economic Growth and Urbanization on CO₂ Emissions in GCC Countries: Asymmetry Analysis

Oil prices and rapidly increasing urbanization could have a long-lasting impact on the environment in oil-abundant Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. Therefore, the environmental role of oil price, economic growth, and urbanization on CO2 emissions should be tested. The present study investigates the impact of oil price, economic growth, and urbanization on CO2 emissions in those countries, considering asymmetrical relationships. For this purpose, a nonlinear autoregressive distributive lag cointegration approach is applied in GCC countries during the 1980–2019 period, and cointegration is corroborated in all investigated models. Long-run results show that rising economic growth positively affects CO2 emissions in Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia. Decreasing economic growth positively affects CO2 emissions in Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Moreover, the rising oil price has a positive impact on CO2 emissions and shows a scale effect in Oman, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia. Moreover, it has a negative effect and corroborates technique and composition effects in Kuwait and the UAE. Further, decreasing oil prices has a positive impact on CO2 emissions in Bahrain and has a negative effect in Kuwait and the UAE. Lastly, urbanization positively affects CO2 emissions in Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, and the UAE. Economic growth is found asymmetrical in all GCC countries, and the asymmetrical effect of oil price is also observed in all GCC countries except the UAE

Gastrointestinal parasites of Common Teal (Anas crecca) in the wetlands of Punjab, Pakistan

During the present study total 40 samples (20♂ 20♀) were collected from different six wetlands of Punjab Pakistan. Among these samples total 17 samples (08% ♂, 09% ♀) were found infected with different gastro- intestinal parasites. The parasitic load was almost equally shared by the bird sampled from different sites (Chashma Barrage 37.50; Taunsa Barrage and Head Marala 40% both; waterlogged area of Bahawalnagar 44.4% and Head Sulaimanki and waterlogged areas of Faisalabad 50% both. The frequency of distribution in two sexes vary at different sampling sites, parasitic load was almost equally shared by both sexes (40% ♂, 45% ♀), and difference of both sexes were statistically non-significant (P>0.05). The total seven species of Gastrointestinal parasites were identified which belongs to four classes/phylum (Nematode, Trematodes, Cestodes and protozoan) and five families (Dioctophymidae, Echinostomatidae, Hymenolepidiae, Hexamitidaeand Cryptosporidiidae), in which Nematodes 15%, Trematodes 32%, Cestodes 23% and Protozones 30 %. The total seven species of parasites which were recorded as Hystrichis tricolor, Echinostoma revolutum, Hypoderaeum conoideum, Hymenolepis  longicirrosa, Diorchis  stefanski, Giardia sp. and Cryptosporidium sp.There is inadequate information on the parasites of wild migratory birds and this study will help to understand host-parasite interaction and provides valuable base line information for the evaluation of strength and health status of this species

Developing a Fully-glycosylated Full-length SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein Model in a Viral Membrane

This technical studydescribes all-atom modeling and simulation of a fully-glycosylated full-length SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) proteinin a viral membrane. First, starting from PDB:6VSBand 6VXX, full-length S protein structures were modeled using template-based modeling, de-novo protein structure prediction, and loop modeling techniques in GALAXYmodeling suite. Then, using the recently-determined most occupied glycoforms, 22 N-glycans and 1 O-glycan of each monomer were modeled using Glycan Reader & Modeler in CHARMM-GUI. These fully-glycosylated full-length S protein model structures were assessed and further refined against the low-resolution data in their respective experimental maps using ISOLDE. We then used CHARMM-GUI Membrane Builder to place the S proteins in a viral membrane and performed all-atom molecular dynamics simulations. All structures are available in CHARMM-GUI COVID-19 Archive (http://www.charmm-gui.org/docs/archive/covid19), so researchers can use these models to carry out innovative and novel modeling and simulation research for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19