GSM mobility management using an intelligent network platform

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Digitally-enabled crop disorder management based on farmer empowerment for improved outcomes

Crop disorder incidents such as pests and disease attacks are the major reason of crop losses that require timely actions and can adversely affect agriculture production. In order to address this problem, a model was designed that empowers farmers to identify crop disorder incidents instantly and manage them effectively by providing relevant information in context. In contrast, the existing approaches reported in the literature rely on identifying crop disorders from images that depict the presence of symptoms in the crop. However, due to the inherent characteristics of the images, these approaches are effective only in more controlled environments and provide limited support in crop disorder identification. We have created a crop disorder search space model that is composed of mapping between different crop disorders and symptom(s) that provide unique identification characteristics specific to each crop disorder. We call these unique mappings as disorder identifiers. This model was later converted into a mobile-based artifact, and the information required to perform the search operation on the search space was obtained from farmers through it. The artifact was deployed among a group of farmers to evaluate how well it could aid in identifying crop disorders. It was noted that the developed artifact was able to identify most crop disorders instantly, mitigating the issues associated with crop disorder identification. In the rest of the cases, it gives subject experts the ability to identify crop disorders. The experiments conducted on the effectiveness and usability of the artifact indicate that disorder identifiers providing clear and consistent representations of the presence of crop disorders can be used to identify them rapidly. Further, it has been also demonstrated that farmers are capable of correlating their field observations with a list of crop disorder identifiers provided through the artifact. The correct selection of the disorder identifier will lead farmers to know about the presence of crop disorder in the field and recommend control measures instantly. Moreover, farmers’ perception of various impact indicators showed that, as compared to previous cultivation seasons, yield quality and quantity losses were reduced due to the reduced crop disorder incidents. The application of agrochemicals and associated expenses of farmers were also significantly reduced, thereby increasing their revenues

Achieving Agriculture Biotic Sustainability through Mobile-based Information System: Adapting the characteristics of Geographical Information Systems (GIS)

Agriculture is the foundation of the economy in Sri Lanka. Presently, many factors affect agriculture production leading to crop losses and food waste in Sri Lanka. An in-depth study of these factors exposed that the root causes were the improper agricultural practices followed by the farmers and inaccessibility to the required information at the right time for optimal decision-making. As a solution, earlier, a mobile-based application called Govi Nena was developed for farmers in Sri Lanka. In this work, we have extended the earlier version of the application to suit the different needs of farmers. This extension includes delivering the required information similar to how the information is delivered in GIS and a new module for farmers to manage real-time pest/disease incidences. Finally, the prototyped version of the application was tested among several farmers in Sri Lanka to understand the suitability of the work concerning farmers\u27 requirements

Optimal Vaneless Diffuser Design For A High-End Centrifugal Compressor

Turbochargers are widely used in the automotive industry to reduce engine emissions and to increase the power. Centrifugal compressors are an integral part of turbochargers. Centrifugal compressors comprises primarily of inducer, impeller, diffuser and volute. The diffuser has an important role in the isentropic efficiency of the compressor. Over the past few decades, researchers have been trying to increase the total-to-total compressor stage efficiency by altering the diffuser’s geometries. Many different methods have been adopted for this purpose, like pinching the diffuser walls, tilting the diffuser walls etc. Pinching increases the outer width of the diffuser while tilting provides an increased radial length. In the present study, both these methods have been used simultaneously. The primary benefit of doing so is to make the turbocharger compressor stage more compact in design, which is the current requirement of the automotive market. In order to investigate the effect of pinching and tilting of diffuser walls, a Computational Fluid Dynamics based solver has been used to predict the flow phenomena within the compressor, especially in the vaneless diffuser. Design of Experiments, using Taguchi’s method, has been incorporated in this study to statistically define the scope of the numerical work, and to obtain the optimal configuration of pinching and tilting that leads to maximum total-to-total compressor stage efficiency. The results depict that the compressor stage efficiency increases up to a tilt angle of 6.25º, after which it starts to decrease. Furthermore, the stage efficiency increases with increase of diffuser outlet width i.e., pinching the diffuser passage, however, this increasing trend has been observed up to an outlet width ratio of 1.23, after which the stage efficiency starts to decrease. Hence, the optimal diffuser model, based on the combined tilting and pinching results obtained, which leads to the maximum total-to-total compressor stage efficiency, has been identified and analysed

Examining the Characteristics of Heterogeneous Traffic at Various Lane Closures

The primary aim of this study is to support the policy decisions on selection of a work zone layout that would have least deterrence to the traffic flow on busy urban arterials carrying heterogeneous traffic. The traffic flow characteristics were recorded with two cameras and the speed variation was obtained by plying probe vehicles fitted with Global Positioning Systems (GPSs) repeatedly in the section. The traffic stream speed and capacity of the various types of work zone sections were analyzed and it is found that near side lane closure has a relatively least effect on capacity (15 %) whereas the effect of run around type closure is maximum (46 %). The reasons for the variations in speed and capacity at these types of work zones were examined and reported. Besides, the application of the study results with respect to planning of work zone layout is discussed

Optimal vaneless diffuser design for a high-end centrifugal compressor.

Turbochargers are widely used in the automotive industry to reduce engine emissions and to increase the power. Centrifugal compressors are an integral part of turbochargers. Centrifugal compressors comprises primarily of inducer, impeller, diffuser and volute. The diffuser has an important role in the isentropic efficiency of the compressor. Over the past few decades, researchers have been trying to increase the total-to-total compressor stage efficiency by altering the diffuser’s geometries. Many different methods have been adopted for this purpose, like pinching the diffuser walls, tilting the diffuser walls etc. Pinching increases the outer width of the diffuser while tilting provides an increased radial length. In the present study, both these methods have been used simultaneously. The primary benefit of doing so is to make the turbocharger compressor stage more compact in design, which is the current requirement of the automotive market. In order to investigate the effect of pinching and tilting of diffuser walls, a Computational Fluid Dynamics based solver has been used to predict the flow phenomena within the compressor, especially in the vaneless diffuser. Design of Experiments, using Taguchi’s method, has been incorporated in this study to statistically define the scope of the numerical work, and to obtain the optimal configuration of pinching and tilting that leads to maximum total-to-total compressor stage efficiency. The results depict that the compressor stage efficiency increases up to a tilt angle of 6.25º, after which it starts to decrease. Furthermore, the stage efficiency increases with increase of diffuser outlet width i.e., pinching the diffuser passage, however, this increasing trend has been observed up to an outlet width ratio of 1.23, after which the stage efficiency starts to decrease. Hence, the optimal diffuser model, based on the combined tilting and pinching results obtained, which leads to the maximum total-to-total compressor stage efficiency, has been identified and analysed

The homeobox gene CDX2 in colorectal carcinoma: a genetic analysis

Accumulation of mutations in tumour suppressor genes and oncogenes has been proposed to underlie the initiation and progression of sporadic colorectal cancer (CRC). Evidence is accumulating to suggest that the caudal homeobox gene CDX2 is implicated in the pathogenesis of CRC. The CDX2 transcription factor is expressed in intestinal epithelium and is markedly down-regulated in colon tumours. Furthermore, Cdx2 heterozygous null mice develop multiple intestinal tumours. In this present study, we have investigated CDX2 as a potential candidate gene for sporadic CRC by a thorough search of all exons and exon/intron boundaries for DNA polymorphisms and rare variants in a panel of CRC tumours. 6 polymorphisms were identified and the haplotypes determined. In addition two rare variants were found, one of which was only identified in DNA from a CRC case. Loss of heterozygosity was observed in 3 out of 28 informative CRC cases. A possible association between particular haplotypes and tumour progression was also suggested by the data. In addition a preliminary analysis of the relative expression of CDX2 alleles in tumour/normal tissue suggested some variation in the levels, however further analysis is required before any conclusions can be drawn. While CDX2 mutations predisposing to sporadic CRC have not been identified, this study has established that loss of CDX2 contributes towards the progression of some sporadic CRC tumours. © 2001 Cancer Research Campaign http://www.bjcancer.co

Digitally-enabled crop disorder management process based on farmer empowerment for improved outcomes : a case study from Sri Lanka

We have developed a system facilitated by a mobile artefact to effectively identify crop disorder incidents and manage them using recommended control measures. This work overcomes the limitations of the existing attempts by using digital technology to empower farmers to identify crop disorders rather than replace them with automated techniques. Our approach empowers farmers by providing the information in context for them to identify crop disorders. The developed solution can identify most of the crop disorders instantaneously, irrespective of the crop or other factors that make crop disorder identification complicated. For the rest, it provides a mechanism to carry out a manual identification with the help of subject experts. The solution was deployed among paddy farmers in Sri Lanka to understand how well this could assist them in identifying and managing crop disorders. The system was able to identify 70.8% of the crop disorder incidents reported by the farmers and provided them with the relevant control measures. Farmers’ perceptions of various usability aspects of the solution revealed that the application of agrochemicals and expenses associated with agrochemicals were significantly reduced. It was also observed that the yield quality and quantity and overall revenue have increased compared to the previous seasons

Locomotor hyperactivity in 14-3-3Zeta KO mice is associated with dopamine transporter dysfunction

Dopamine (DA) neurotransmission requires a complex series of enzymatic reactions that are tightly linked to catecholamine exocytosis and receptor interactions on pre- and postsynaptic neurons. Regulation of dopaminergic signalling is primarily achieved through reuptake of extracellular DA by the DA transporter (DAT) on presynaptic neurons. Aberrant regulation of DA signalling, and in particular hyperactivation, has been proposed as a key insult in the presentation of schizophrenia and related neuropsychiatric disorders. We recently identified 14-3-3ζ as an essential component of neurodevelopment and a central risk factor in the schizophrenia protein interaction network. Our analysis of 14-3-3ζ-deficient mice now shows that baseline hyperactivity of knockout (KO) mice is rescued by the antipsychotic drug clozapine. 14-3-3ζ KO mice displayed enhanced locomotor hyperactivity induced by the DA releaser amphetamine. Consistent with 14-3-3ζ having a role in DA signalling, we found increased levels of DA in the striatum of 14-3-3ζ KO mice. Although 14-3-3ζ is proposed to modulate activity of the rate-limiting DA biosynthesis enzyme, tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), we were unable to identify any differences in total TH levels, TH localization or TH activation in 14-3-3ζ KO mice. Rather, our analysis identified significantly reduced levels of DAT in the absence of notable differences in RNA or protein levels of DA receptors D1–D5. Providing insight into the mechanisms by which 14-3-3ζ controls DAT stability, we found a physical association between 14-3-3ζ and DAT by co-immunoprecipitation. Taken together, our results identify a novel role for 14-3-3ζ in DA neurotransmission and provide support to the hyperdopaminergic basis of pathologies associated with schizophrenia and related disorders.H Ramshaw, X Xu, EJ Jaehne, P McCarthy, Z Greenberg, E Saleh, B McClure, J Woodcock, S Kabbara, S Wiszniak, Ting-Yi Wang, C Parish, M van den Buuse, BT Baune, A Lopez and Q Schwar

Cognitive behavioural therapy for adults with dissociative seizures (CODES): a pragmatic, multicentre, randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Dissociative seizures are paroxysmal events resembling epilepsy or syncope with characteristic features that allow them to be distinguished from other medical conditions. We aimed to compare the effectiveness of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) plus standardised medical care with standardised medical care alone for the reduction of dissociative seizure frequency. METHODS: In this pragmatic, parallel-arm, multicentre randomised controlled trial, we initially recruited participants at 27 neurology or epilepsy services in England, Scotland, and Wales. Adults (≥18 years) who had dissociative seizures in the previous 8 weeks and no epileptic seizures in the previous 12 months were subsequently randomly assigned (1:1) from 17 liaison or neuropsychiatry services following psychiatric assessment, to receive standardised medical care or CBT plus standardised medical care, using a web-based system. Randomisation was stratified by neuropsychiatry or liaison psychiatry recruitment site. The trial manager, chief investigator, all treating clinicians, and patients were aware of treatment allocation, but outcome data collectors and trial statisticians were unaware of treatment allocation. Patients were followed up 6 months and 12 months after randomisation. The primary outcome was monthly dissociative seizure frequency (ie, frequency in the previous 4 weeks) assessed at 12 months. Secondary outcomes assessed at 12 months were: seizure severity (intensity) and bothersomeness; longest period of seizure freedom in the previous 6 months; complete seizure freedom in the previous 3 months; a greater than 50% reduction in seizure frequency relative to baseline; changes in dissociative seizures (rated by others); health-related quality of life; psychosocial functioning; psychiatric symptoms, psychological distress, and somatic symptom burden; and clinical impression of improvement and satisfaction. p values and statistical significance for outcomes were reported without correction for multiple comparisons as per our protocol. Primary and secondary outcomes were assessed in the intention-to-treat population with multiple imputation for missing observations. This trial is registered with the International Standard Randomised Controlled Trial registry, ISRCTN05681227, and ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02325544. FINDINGS: Between Jan 16, 2015, and May 31, 2017, we randomly assigned 368 patients to receive CBT plus standardised medical care (n=186) or standardised medical care alone (n=182); of whom 313 had primary outcome data at 12 months (156 [84%] of 186 patients in the CBT plus standardised medical care group and 157 [86%] of 182 patients in the standardised medical care group). At 12 months, no significant difference in monthly dissociative seizure frequency was identified between the groups (median 4 seizures [IQR 0-20] in the CBT plus standardised medical care group vs 7 seizures [1-35] in the standardised medical care group; estimated incidence rate ratio [IRR] 0·78 [95% CI 0·56-1·09]; p=0·144). Dissociative seizures were rated as less bothersome in the CBT plus standardised medical care group than the standardised medical care group (estimated mean difference -0·53 [95% CI -0·97 to -0·08]; p=0·020). The CBT plus standardised medical care group had a longer period of dissociative seizure freedom in the previous 6 months (estimated IRR 1·64 [95% CI 1·22 to 2·20]; p=0·001), reported better health-related quality of life on the EuroQoL-5 Dimensions-5 Level Health Today visual analogue scale (estimated mean difference 6·16 [95% CI 1·48 to 10·84]; p=0·010), less impairment in psychosocial functioning on the Work and Social Adjustment Scale (estimated mean difference -4·12 [95% CI -6·35 to -1·89]; p<0·001), less overall psychological distress than the standardised medical care group on the Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation-10 scale (estimated mean difference -1·65 [95% CI -2·96 to -0·35]; p=0·013), and fewer somatic symptoms on the modified Patient Health Questionnaire-15 scale (estimated mean difference -1·67 [95% CI -2·90 to -0·44]; p=0·008). Clinical improvement at 12 months was greater in the CBT plus standardised medical care group than the standardised medical care alone group as reported by patients (estimated mean difference 0·66 [95% CI 0·26 to 1·04]; p=0·001) and by clinicians (estimated mean difference 0·47 [95% CI 0·21 to 0·73]; p<0·001), and the CBT plus standardised medical care group had greater satisfaction with treatment than did the standardised medical care group (estimated mean difference 0·90 [95% CI 0·48 to 1·31]; p<0·001). No significant differences in patient-reported seizure severity (estimated mean difference -0·11 [95% CI -0·50 to 0·29]; p=0·593) or seizure freedom in the last 3 months of the study (estimated odds ratio [OR] 1·77 [95% CI 0·93 to 3·37]; p=0·083) were identified between the groups. Furthermore, no significant differences were identified in the proportion of patients who had a more than 50% reduction in dissociative seizure frequency compared with baseline (OR 1·27 [95% CI 0·80 to 2·02]; p=0·313). Additionally, the 12-item Short Form survey-version 2 scores (estimated mean difference for the Physical Component Summary score 1·78 [95% CI -0·37 to 3·92]; p=0·105; estimated mean difference for the Mental Component Summary score 2·22 [95% CI -0·30 to 4·75]; p=0·084), the Generalised Anxiety Disorder-7 scale score (estimated mean difference -1·09 [95% CI -2·27 to 0·09]; p=0·069), and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 scale depression score (estimated mean difference -1·10 [95% CI -2·41 to 0·21]; p=0·099) did not differ significantly between groups. Changes in dissociative seizures (rated by others) could not be assessed due to insufficient data. During the 12-month period, the number of adverse events was similar between the groups: 57 (31%) of 186 participants in the CBT plus standardised medical care group reported 97 adverse events and 53 (29%) of 182 participants in the standardised medical care group reported 79 adverse events. INTERPRETATION: CBT plus standardised medical care had no statistically significant advantage compared with standardised medical care alone for the reduction of monthly seizures. However, improvements were observed in a number of clinically relevant secondary outcomes following CBT plus standardised medical care when compared with standardised medical care alone. Thus, adults with dissociative seizures might benefit from the addition of dissociative seizure-specific CBT to specialist care from neurologists and psychiatrists. Future work is needed to identify patients who would benefit most from a dissociative seizure-specific CBT approach. FUNDING: National Institute for Health Research, Health Technology Assessment programme