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In Pakistan, theileriosis is the main hemoparasitic disease in large and small ruminants. The present one-year study from Oct 2017 to Sep 2018 was designed to calculate the prevalence and risk factors associated with theileriosis in livestock of ten areas of Malakand Division. A total of 1437 blood samples (n = 240 sheep, n = 658 cow, n = 340 buffalo, n = 199 goat) were collected. The overall prevalence of theileriosis recorded was 3.20% (46/1437). The prevalence was higher in cows (5.62%) followed by goats (3.02%), buffaloes (0.59%) and least in sheep (0.42%). The locality of the herd also significantly affected the prevalence of theileriosis in livestock with a highest prevalence in the Asbanr area. There was significantly high association of season with theileriosis. Herd size of 10 animals. Animals having an infection history of 15 days. Gender and age were not significant risk factors for theileriosis. The current work reveals prevalence and relationship of species of animal, locality, season, age and sex of animal, herd size, infection history and tick infestation with the prevalence of the disease. Appropriate tick control measures, rearing resistant breeds and identification of carrier animals will be helpful in reducing the incidence of the disease in livestock.

Misuse of public power is generally known as corruption, and this issue becomes an international dilemma in the economic world. However, different levels of corruption exist in developing and devel...

The foreign and domestic investments have a significant contribution towards economic development for developing and developed economies especially for underdeveloped economies. The primary objecti...

Calibration-free laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (CF-LIBS) has been employed for elemental analysis of Granite Gneiss, rock sample, collected from Neelum Valley of Azad Jammu & Kashmir, Pakist...

Check dams are widespread and effective soil and water conservation structures throughout the world. This review paper presents an overview of the use of check dams for soil and water management and runoff control with examples from the literature based on field measurements from four continents. More than 150years of research has reported that check dams are civil engineering landmark structures used all over the world. Among all civil engineering structures, check dams are probably the most emblematic of torrent control works. They were used for centuries, and are located all around the world. Over the past several hundred years, people have increasingly realized the envisioned advantages of check dams such as land development, environmental improvement, agricultural production, enhancement of gully stabilities, and mitigation of intensive flood. The optimum size, location and type had great influences on the efficiency of check dams under watershed management. Moreover, in both the theoretical and practical realms, check dams have been proved to be a useful tool for controlling soil erosion and flooding at a catchment scale. This paper will be helpful for policy makers to extend check dam projects in the whole erosion-prone areas.

We propose a Discussion Logic-based Text Analytics (DiLTA) framework, which combines theories developed in social science and text mining fields. The framework extracts features that uncover discussion logic and uses these features in analyzing online discussions. A series of models are proposed including conversation disentanglement, coherence analysis, and visualization. Validation experiments showed that DiLTA achieved significantly superior performance over existing text analytics methods in reconstructing internal structure. A case study using DiLTA-enabled visualization on a healthcare forum illustrates the great potential of DiLTA in assisting comprehension of the internal linkage, structure, and logic of online group discussions.

In the past century, low Reynolds number airfoil design for both military and civil applications has continued to capture the interest of practitioners of applied aerodynamics. A new design methodology for airfoils has been developed, which controls the airfoil profile through 8 parameters. The airfoil aerodynamic characteristics were predicted through the XFOIL code, to optimize airfoil under mode-FRONTIER environment. The reliability verification result predicted that the XFOIL code can be used to determine the airfoil performance in the linear segment of the lift coefficient curve. Application of this methodology was demonstrated through two cases. For Case-I, airfoils design were based on E387 airfoil profile and synthetic aerodynamic performance at different angles of attack for Re = 2.0 × 10 5 were considered. While for Case-II, designed airfoils were based on PSU 94-097 airfoil with synthetic aerodynamic performance at different angles of attack for Re = 4.0 × 10 5 . Results of both cases showed enhanced aerodynamic properties for the designed airfoils.

Owing to its large area of supply, left main coronary artery disease (LMCAD) has the highest mortality rate among coronary artery lesions, resulting in debate about its optimal revascularization technique. ThisMEDLINE, TRIP, and Cochrane Central databases were queried from their inception until 25 April 2021, to determine MACCE (major adverse cardiac and cardiovascular events), all-cause mortality, repeat revascularization, myocardial infarction (MI) and stroke rates post-revascularization for different follow-ups. 7 RCTs and 50 observational studies having 56,701 patients were included. A random-effects model was used with effect sizes calculated as odds ratios (odds ratio, OR).In thePCI was safer than CABG for patients with stroke for most follow-ups, while CABG was associated with lower repeat revascularizations. However, further research is required to determine PCI's safety over CABG for reducing post-surgery MI.

This is the first comprehensive study of the >170-m-thick late Oligocene to Pliocene(?) Barzaman Formation from the northern side of the Oman Mountains. Our work closes a major gap in the understanding of a complex geological interval and region which was affected by regional doming, syndepositional thrusting, changing eustatic sea level and changing climate. The dynamic, and diverse setting is reflected by the formationʼs varied lithologies. Based on seven measured sections we subdivided the Barzaman Formation into five lithostratigraphic units which we correlated over a distance of 1.3 km. The lower three units are shallow marine, the remaining two units are terrestrial. The marine development was at first siliciclastic (near-shore; Unit 1), followed by coral limestone deposition with some associated siliciclastics (Unit 2) and then siliciclastic again (Unit 3). The limestones include a coral-bearing limestone debrite. Associated (or at least contemporary) with the debris flow, are coral limestone boulders which rolled downslope beyond the area of limestone deposition. The lower terrestrial unit (Unit 4) is marked by isolated lenticular claystone beds within weathered conglomerates. The claystone beds, which may be cellular, consist of palygorskite and commonly also of saponite. Their clay mineralogy, limited areal extend and association with conglomerates indicate their origin from evaporation of small ponds/pools between wadi gravel. Within the claystones and conglomerates, two slides were identified. These slides and the limestone debrite indicate slope instability which we attribute to syndepositional thrusting. Thrust deformation may explain the thickness variations of units 2–4. The uppermost Unit 5 is characterized by highly altered conglomerates whose primary features are largely obliterated by diagenesis such as (1) alteration and replacement of igneous ophiolite clasts, (2) local basal silica cementation and (3) mainly dolomite cement with some calcite cement. Based on the general geological setting (doming, falling eustatic sea level) and the involved near-surface diagenetic processes we interpret these conglomerates as terrestrial. Diagenesis of Unit 5 indicates an increasingly wet climate. Considering the foraminifer-constrained age of Unit 2, paleostress constraints and dated climatic change data, we conclude that the Barzaman Formation dates as late Oligocene to at least the mid-Miocene.

We investigated two coral patch reefs of probably Weichselian age (Wyns et al., 1992a) which have been uplifted above sea-level in the coastal setting of uplifted marine terraces adjacent to the Oman Mountains. Uplift is also manifested in raised beach conglomerates and a wave-cut notch. We document some of the main reef features in the apprehension that building/development will preclude the study of the reefs in the near future. The reefs formed above a hardground of bioclastic limestone (mudstone to wackestone), characterized by intense bioerosion and red algae . The red algae may occur so plentiful to form (very localized) bafflestones. The diagenetic history of the rocks includes a transition from a marine environment (first cement) to meteoric conditions (dissolution and second cement). The reefs are 1.5 m thick and display planar as well as gently ocean-dipping reef tops, suggesting exposure to the wave-cut activity and, thus, shallow and nearshore deposition. The reefs are dominated by one coral species, identified as Cyphastrea serailia . On the protected side of the reefs the corals developed wavy and columnar growth forms while on the ocean facing side irregularly shaped exoskeletons developed. Our GPS-based topographic survey revealed an elevation of the two reefs of 21.5 m ± 0.06 m above sea-level. Taking into account (1) the global Holocene sea-level rise of 120 m ± 20 m (Pirazzoli and Pluet, 1991), (2) formation of the reefs slightly below sea-level (∼1.5 m) as well as (3) their present position above sea-level, we quantify the total upward transfer of the reefs to be 143 m and the average uplift rate to be 6.8 or 4.6 mm/yr depending on the correct age (either ∼21,000 or ∼31,000 yr B.P.). As the causes of uplift we mainly consider isostatic rebound following the late Cretaceous formation of the Oman Mountains (Yuan et al., 2016). The terrace development went through the following stages: (1) The patch reefs formed in shallow water. (2) Initial, gentle uplift caused abrasion of the reef tops. (3) Uplift continued and beach conglomerate 1was deposited on top of the reefs. (4) Abrasion continued, creating an abrasion platform. Uplift and creation of borings in platform required time and an interval of relatively slow uplift and tectonically and climatically stable conditions. (5) Uplift took place, and a wave-cut notch formed below the reefs. (6) Notch formation, including the borings into the notch, required time and stable conditions and was followed by deposition of beach conglomerate 2. (7) Finally, emergence/exposure of the notch and conglomerate 2 above sea-level ensued due to pronounced uplift, possibly associated with faulting and earthquakes. Formation of the reefs and the abrasion platform can be correlated with MIS 3 (Marine Isotope Stage 3) and notch formation with MIS 1.

This experimental work explored the synergic effect of millet husk ash (MHA) and wheat straw ash (WSA) on the fresh and hardened properties of metakaolin-based self-compacting geopolymer concrete. An equal amount of MHA and WSA contents at 2.5%, 5%, 7.5% and 10% were utilized as a partial replacement of metakaolin in the mixes. The filling ability (slump flow, V-Funnel, and T50 flow) and passing ability (J-Ring and L -box) of fresh SCGC mixture were determined. The study further determined the density, compressive, split tensile and flexural strength and permeability of hardened SCGC mixes. The results showed that both MHA and WSA addition somewhat reduced in workability of fresh SCGC mixes. However, the hardened properties were significantly enhanced, a development that was more pronounced in the mix having 5% each of MHA and WSA with compressive strength, split tensile strength, and flexural strength of 53.80 MPa, 4.82 MPa, and 5.15 MPa, respectively. The water penetration depth and density of SCGC mixes lessen as the MHA and WSA contents were increased beyond 10%. Overall, the study recommends a combined use of 5% each of MHA and WSA for metakaolin-based geopolymer SCC production to ensure optimal performance.

Ions emitted from the laser generated tungsten plume were investigated with the help of ion collector (IC) and electrostatic ion energy analyzer (IEA) operating in time-of-flight configuration. Plume was generated by irradiating a plane W target with 6 ns pulsed Nd:YAG (λ = 1064 nm) laser. Laser fluence at the target was varied in the range of 3.0–19.4 J/cm 2 . IC measurements showed that the amplitude of tungsten ions pulse increases with the laser fluence. IEA spectra indicate that the number of available W n+ ions charge states increases from 1 to 6 when laser fluence at the target was varied in the range of 3.0–19.4 J/cm 2 . With the application of 0.23 T axial magnetic field at the target surface, the number of available W n+ ions charge states increases from 1 to 10 in the similar range of the laser fluence. In addition, molecular oxygen ions O 2 n+ were also observed when magnetic field is applied at higher values of the laser fluence. The ion charge state enhancement is presumably due to the magnetic trapping of electrons in front of the target surface, which intensifies electron impact ionization process.

Rocks and most type of soils emit Gamma Ray (GR) in varying amount. The emitting elements of primary gamma radiations include potassium 40, uranium, and thorium which are associated with rocks forming minerals in variable amount. GR log is used to predict the varying lithology in borehole by measuring the spontaneous emission of GR radiation from rocks. Role of GR logs in the identification of subsurface facies is the main focused research theme of this manuscript including with objective of brief introduction of GR log and its applications in the identification of facies in the field of Petroleum Geosciences by analyzing the examples of GR log(s) from wells, Lower Indus Basin, Pakistan.

Phishing websites become a critical cybersecurity threat affecting individuals and organizations. Phishing-website detection tools are designed to protect users against such sites. Nevertheless, detection tools face serious user trust and suboptimal performance issues which require trust calibration to align trust with the tool’s capabilities. We employ the theoretical framework of automation trust and reliance as a kernel theory to develop the trust calibration model for phishing-website detection tools. We test the model using a controlled lab experiment. The results of our analysis show that users’ trust in detection tools can be calibrated by trust calibrators. Moreover, users’ calibrated trust has significant consequences, including users’ tool reliance, use, and performance against phishing websites.

The Middle Eocene sedimentary succession in Abat Basin contains a thick mixed siliciclastic and carbonate sequence belonging to the upper member of the Musawa Formation. Over 300 m thick deltaic sediments of the Bartonian to Priabonian upper member of the Musawa Formation show two main facies successions over ten km distance, grading from a proximal delta-plain to a distal delta-front succession. Four major lithofacies associations based on their depositional significance are identified in the basin, namely the conglomerate, sandstone, mudstone, and carbonate. Each of these lithofacies associations is further divided into several individual lithofacies based on their depositional characteristics. The lithofacies association assemblage represents fluvially-dominated deltaic sediments that accumulated as a local siliciclastic feature in a carbonate dominated tropical environment. The conglomerate and sandstone lithofacies associations were deposited by channels and shoreface processes, whereas coastal processes in delta-plain setting deposited mudstone lithofacies association (including coal). The carbonate lithofacies association was deposited in an open marine shelf conditions during transgressive events associated with highstands of sea level and delta-lobe switching. The occurrence of thick siliciclastic sediments is interpreted as the result of activation of the North Ja'alan Fault resulting in a transtensional basin during the Middle to Late Eocene.

The purpose of present work is to identify toxic and dietetic elements present in the various types of commercial bakery breads available in the Pakistan with the name simple bakery bread (SBB), milky bakery bread (MBB) and brown bakery bread(BBB), using Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS). A micro-plasma on the target surface was generated using a Q-switched Nd: YAG laser and the emitted radiations were collected by set of four spectrometers for simultaneous identification and quantification of the species present in the bread samples. The average plasma temperature for all types of bakery breads (SBB, MBB, BBB) was estimated using Boltzmann plot method and it was found in the range of 9000 K to–11000 K whereas, the number density was calculated from the well separated stark broadened Hα line in the range from 1.0 × 10 17 c m - 3 to 1.6 × 10 17 c m - 3 . It was found that all the bread samples mainly consist of calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, iron, titanium, barium and zinc whereas, silicon is only observed in the SB sample. The concentration of all the perceived elements was estimated using calibration free (CF-LIBS) technique. Moreover, the compositions of detected elements in bakery breads were also compared with the controlled values available in literature. By the comparison it was noticed that silicon, titanium and barium was only observed in the Pakistani breads. Current study also demonstrated that LIBS is a quick and powerful analytical technique can be used for the quality control in the Bakery Products.

Optical emission signal enhancement from palladium (Pd) plasma by magnetic field-assisted laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (MF-LIBS) is reported. Plasma from Pd target was produced by second harmonic generation (532 nm, 5 ns) of Nd:YAG laser using fluence values in the range of 12.6–38.1 J/cm2. In the designed experiment, the magnetic field was parallel to the axis of plasma expansion direction with a maximum strength of 0.12 T at the target surface. Optical signals of the emission from the plasma were recorded in the spectral range of 200−700 nm with a LIBS2000+ spectrometer. A significant enhancement was noticed particularly at low fluence values for both atomic and singly ionized Pd lines. For the minimum fluence 12.6 J/cm2, an intensity enhancement of 3–4 fold was observed for Pd-I and Pd-II lines and dropped exponentially for the increased fluence values. At low fluence values, the trace elements viz., Ca and Mg were detected only in the presence of magnetic field. The optical signal enhancement effect of magnetic field was different for Pd, Ca, Mg, and H; suggesting that the field enhanced effect is strictly element dependent for plasma at the same conditions. The field influenced the plasma parameters; the electron number density (ne), and temperature (T) which were increased considerably compared to without field. Expectedly, these attributes come from the plasma confinement by the external magnetic field and have been explained in the framework of magneto hydrodynamic (MHD) model.

Due to overconsumption, there is no significant urgency than the climate emergency for the publicity of green products that may conceivably led to reducing environmental impact. Considering the limited studies as a means of comparing green behaviour and its determinant in developing nations, this study focused on environmental awareness, attitude and perceived behavioural control (PBC) by applying the measurement of impacts on green behaviour. It further examined the role of green culture as a contributor. A total of 280 responses from Kuala-Lumpur, Malaysia and 267 responses from Abuja, Nigeria were obtained via questionnaire distribution among citizens (age 18–32). SmartPLS3.0 and SPSS v22.0 were applied for statistical analyses. To request responses that we could not have anticipated, we utilized an open-ended format, accompanied by closed-ended format so we could compare the responses of the two sets samples. In both sets, we found 13% and 8% purchases organic food and energy-saving products in Malaysia while 24% and 8% purchases the same categories of products in Nigeria. We also found 40% of consumers in Malaysia purchased green products because of environmental benefit while 54% of consumers in Nigeria purchased green products because of health benefits. The path analyses result shows that attitude and green culture had a higher influenced on green behaviour in both nations. However, the propensity of green behaviour does not depend on economic development, for the reason that Nigeria had a higher mean value than Malaysia. PBC was found to be a contributor to Nigerian citizens with the least important for Malaysian citizens. Awareness interaction between green behaviour and green culture was insignificant for both country citizens. The study suggested that environmental education is important among citizens. Policy implications for these findings are further considered in the study.

The Albian Kharfot Formation is preserved in the eastern margin of the Jeza-Qamar Basin which straddles across the Oman–Yemen border. This study addresses the sedimentological attributes of the formation and deduces its depositional setting, cyclicity and relative sea level changes in local (within the basin) and regional (Arabian) contexts. The interaction among siliciclastic influxes, in-situ carbonate production and tectono-climatic controls on the stacking nature of the various lithofacies that build-up the formation is discussed. In the study area, the formation lies unconformably over Barremian–Aptian Qishn Formation and conformably under late Albian–?Turonian Dhalqut Formation. The Kharfot Formation thickens from ~ 140 m in the eastern side of the study area to ~ 300 m at the Oman–Yemen border. It consists of eight lithofacies: Orbitolina-rich marls, peloidal bioclastic packstone, bioclastic mudstone to wackestone, argillaceous, bioclastic floatstone to rudstone, bioclastic rudstone, sandy, peloidal, bioclastic mudstone to packstone, peloidal, bioclastic grainstone and dolostone. The vertical arrangement of these lithofacies defines recurring meter- to decameter-scale, shallowing-upward units deposited on a westward-deepening inner- to outer-ramp setting. Tectonic rejuvenation of the siliciclastic source area was accompanied by warm, humid climatic conditions as suggested by high kaolinitic marls of the Kharfot Fm. and coeval quartz-rich sandstone units (Harshiyat Fm.). The shallowing-upward rhythmic sedimentation of the formation has close resemblance with cycles of the Nahr Umr Formation in northern Oman and partially comparable with the global sea level changes. The Kharfot basin was an intrashelf depression that was part of the much larger Arabian epeiric platform. The latter is defined by a rimmed margin in northern Oman where Al-Hassanat Formation represents platform margin deposits and Nahr Umr Formation representing back-rim intrashelf depression which received fine-grained siliciclastic influx from the land (westward). In southern Oman where Kharfot Formation accumulated, the platform was unrimmed ramp type basin with high fine clastic influx along with elevated carbonate production.

We present laser-induced breakdown spectroscopic studies of variety of marbles extracted from Quetta region of Boluchistan, Pakistan using a Nd:YAG laser (532 nm) in conjunction with LIBS 2000 detection system. The emission spectra of Onyx (white spot) and Quetta Green Marble samples have been recorded as a function of laser irradiance. The elemental composition and their relative abundance in each sample are fond to be quite different. In Onyx (white spot), calcium dominates while in the Quetta Green marble magnesium is the dominant element. In addition the effect of the laser irradiance on the emission intensity, width and shift of the transition lines have been studied.

The past few years have witnessed increased interest in the potential use of wireless sensor networks (WSNs) in applications such as disaster management, combat field reconnaissance, border protection and security surveillance. Sensors in these applications are expected to be remotely deployed in large numbers and to operate autonomously in unattended environments. To support scalability, nodes are often grouped into disjoint and mostly non-overlapping clusters. In this paper, we present a taxonomy and general classification of published clustering schemes. We survey different clustering algorithms for WSNs; highlighting their objectives, features, complexity, etc. We also compare of these clustering algorithms based on metrics such as convergence rate, cluster stability, cluster overlapping, location-awareness and support for node mobility.

Post-marketing surveillance entails monitoring, assessing, and detecting adverse events once drugs are approved and released into the market. User-generated content channels such as social media and search query logs are increasingly being leveraged as complementary data sources to traditional databases for post-marketing drug surveillance. However, the existing body of knowledge has leveraged diverse sets of channels, adverse event types, and modeling methods, resulting in varying results and diverging conclusions regarding the viability and efficacy of various online user-generated channels and accompanying modeling methods. The objective of this study is to examine the efficacy and impact of different online user-generated content channels, event characteristics, and event modeling strategies on early detection of adverse drug events. We incorporate a large test bed encompassing millions of tweets, forums postings, and search query logs pertaining to 143 adverse events. We also propose a novel heuristic-based event modeling method capable of improving precision, recall, and timeliness of alerts. Preliminary results shed light on the interplay between user-generated channels and event types, as well as the potential for more robust event modeling methods that go beyond basic mention models. Several current and future research directions are also discussed. The preliminary results reported have important implications for various stakeholder groups, including regulatory agencies, post-marketing monitoring teams, healthcare hedge fund managers, and third-party consumer advocacy groups.

This report presents the design, implementation, and testing of a 900 MHz band mobile phone jammer. This jammer works at GSM 900 and thus attains capability to jam all the major GSM cellular operators in Pakistan (Mobilink, Ufone, Telenor, Warid and Zong). This project went through two phases. First, studying the GSM system to find the best jamming technique and establishing the system design and selecting suitable components. Second, buying all the needed components, drawing the overall schematics, fabricating the PCB layout, assembling the devices, performing some measurements and finally testing the Mobile Jammer. The designed jammer was successful in giving a jammed signal as output on the oscilloscope.

The Kohat Plateau consists of a heavily deformed and structurally elevated thrust sheet. Pop-ups, broad synclines and narrow fault- and evaporite-cored anticlines record high-level translation of a large thrust mass along Eocene evaporites. A lower detachment level is also inferred, located at the base of the Mesozoic-Palaeozoic section. This lower detachment is common to both the Kohat and the adjacent Potwar Plateaux whereas the upper level is restricted to the Kohat. Beneath the Kohat, a blind imbricate stack of pre-Tertiary rocks is developed. Above their roof thrust, the foreland basin-fill of Kohat records greater internal deformation compared to that of the adjacent Potwar Plateau. In contrast, the Potwar thrust belt displays a greater amount of overthrusting on its basal surface, this displacement emerging in the Salt Range. Total shortening across the two plateaux is comparable, but is accommodated in an areally smaller thrust belt with a higher structural relief in the Kohat as compared to the Potwar structural province. The resultant geographical offset of the thrust front is denoted by the Hukni-Kalabagh lateral ramp. The differences in the thrust kinematics are tentatively suggested to be caused by the mechanical response of the orogenic wedge to different imposed geometries of the wedge laterally within the basin. The Kohat Plateau appears to have a lower basal dip than does the western Potwar, and thus shows greater internal deformation.

Purpose The major risk factor for developing OSCC in countries like Pakistan is the excessive chewing habit of paan (betel quid), chhaliya (betel nut), tobacco, niswar (type of dipping tobacco, made from fresh tobacco leaves, calcium oxide, and wood ash), gutka (the preparation of crushed betel nut, tobacco, catechu, lime, saffron, spices, menthol, and sweet or savory flavors), and manpuri (the powder of betel nut, tobacco and slaked lime). It has been reported that exon 4–9 were the hot spots of the mutation in TP53. This study aims to find out the loss of TP53 functions due to mutation/polymorphism caused by genomic alteration and interaction with tobacco and its related ingredients in Pakistan. Materials and methods A total of 260 OSCC patient’s tissue and blood specimens were collected with informed consent from local hospitals of Karachi and compared with blood samples of 260 age and sex matched controls. Mutations in exons 2–11 of TP53 were examined by polymerase chain reaction and single stranded conformational polymorphisms (PCR-SSCP). The samples showing mobility shift were purified and directly sequenced. Results The novel “AGT” to “ACT” missence mutation was identified at position 719 in exon 7 ofTP53. This change substitutes the amino acid serine with threonine at position 240 of p53 protein suggesting that the threonine allele of p53 gene is associated with mutation in conserved region. This mutation was observed in the tumors of the OSCC patients. The blood samples of the patients and the controls have not shown the nucleotide change in this region. Conclusions This novel missence mutations in DNA binding domain indicated that the DNA structure may be damaged by the use of exogeneous DNA-damaging agents including tobacco related carcinogens present in gutka, niswar and manpuri, which may result in the loss of cellular processes and p53 protein function.