216 research outputs found
Hydraulic simulations to evaluate and predict design and operation of the Chashma Right Bank Canal
Get PDFIrrigation systems / Irrigation canals / Flow control / Velocity / Canal regulation techniques / Hydraulics / Simulation models / Design / Operations / Crop-based irrigation / Distributary canals / Water delivery / Policy / Protective irrigation / Water allocation / Water requirements / Sedimentation / Water distribution / Equity / Water conveyance / Pakistan / Chashma Right Bank Canal
Performance Evaluation of Bus Rapid Transit System: A Comparative Analysis of Alternative Approaches for Energy Efficient Eco-Friendly Public Transport System
No full textThe development of the bus rapid transit system (BRTS) is tremendously growing in developing countries of the world. In large cities, the projection of transportation intends to enhance economic growth and changes the image of the city for both residents and outsiders. The purpose of this research was to study the application of alternative options for energy efficient BRTS in developing countries. The BRTS has some of its accessibility patterns that relate to the socio-economic strata. A decision-making efficiency analysis methodology has been applied to analyze the comparative analysis of both conventional fuel and hybrid bus systems for the Multan city of Pakistan. The section-wise application of a hybrid energy-based bus system has been analyzed in comparison to the conventional bus system. Out of 21 stations, the efficiency-wise hybrid bus system remained superior or equivalent to the standard value of 1 except one midpoint section. The finding of the analysis indicates that the hybrid mechanism of buses can not only replace a conventional fuel-based system, but will also help as an energy-efficient and eco-friendly economical solution. This study will help to revolutionize the bus rapid transit system in developing countries
High dynamic performance power quality conditioner for AC microgrids
Get PDFThis paper deals with power quality problems encountered in weak AC microgrids and solutions for mitigation. A power electronic converter can be used as an effective power quality conditioner to compensate non-idealities in currents drawn from the grid. A power quality conditioner consisting of three power converters connected to a common DC link is analysed. One of these converters acts as an active power filter for removing unwanted harmonics in grid currents feeding a non-linear load. The other two converters instead remove the harmonics from the voltage at the terminals of a sensitive load. The control of the shunt converter is designed to be fast enough for power quality servicing but also has a fast disturbance rejection capability. Simulation and experimental results validating the concept are provided along with obtained total harmonic distortion improvements
Influence of Bacterial Secondary Symbionts in Sitobion avenae on Its Survival Fitness against Entomopathogenic Fungi, Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium brunneum
Get PDFThe research was focused on the ability of wheat aphids Sitobion avenae, harboring bacterial secondary symbionts (BSS) Hamiltonella defensa or Regiella insecticola, to withstand exposure to fungal isolates of Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium brunneum. In comparison to aphids lacking bacterial secondary symbionts, BSS considerably increased the lifespan of wheat aphids exposed to B. bassiana strains (Bb1022, EABb04/01-Tip) and M. brunneum strains (ART 2825 and BIPESCO 5) and also reduced the aphids’ mortality. The wheat aphid clones lacking bacterial secondary symbionts were shown to be particularly vulnerable to M. brunneum strain BIPESCO 5. As opposed to wheat aphids carrying bacterial symbionts, fungal pathogens infected the wheat aphids lacking H. defensa and R. insecticola more quickly. When treated with fungal pathogens, bacterial endosymbionts had a favorable effect on the fecundity of their host aphids compared to the aphids lacking these symbionts, but there was no change in fungal sporulation on the deceased aphids. By defending their insect hosts against natural enemies, BSS increase the population of their host society and may have a significant impact on the development of their hosts
Factors Affecting Cotton Production in Pakistan:Empirical Evidence from Multan District
Get PDFThis paper attempts to examine the factors affecting cotton production in Multan region using primary source of data. A sample of 60 small farmers, 25 medium and 15 large farmers was randomly selected from two Tehsils namely Multan and Shujabad of district Multan. The Cobb-Douglas Production Function is employed to assess the effects of various inputs like cultivation, seed and sowing, irrigation, fertilizer, plant protection, inter-culturing / hoeing and labour cost on cotton yield. The results depicted that seed, fertilizer and irrigation were found scarce commodity for all category of farmers in district Multan. The Cobb-Douglas Production Function results revealed that the coefficients for cultivation (0.113) and seed (0.103) were found statistically significant at 1 percent level. The Cost-Benefit Ratio for the large farmers was found higher (1.41) than that of small (1.22) and medium (1.24) farmers. There is a dire need to ensure the availability of these scarce inputs by both public and private sectors as these inputs were major requirement of the cotton crop.Cotton; Cobb- Douglas Production Function; Cost Benefit Ratio; Marginal Value Product; Allocate Efficiency of Critical Inputs; Multan District; Pakistan
Comparative antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic effects of four selected ethnomedicinal plants in alloxan-induced diabetic female Wistar rats
No full textThis study investigated the antidiabetic potential of methanolic extracts of Cassia absus (seeds), Gymnema sylvestre (whole plant), Nigella sativa (seeds), and Piper nigrum (fruits) in alloxan-induced diabetic female Wistar rats. Extracts were prepared using 70% methanol and administered orally at 500 mg/kg/day for 42 days, while glibenclamide (10 mg/kg/day) served as a reference drug. All plant extracts significantly (p < 0.05) reduced fasting blood glucose, attenuated body weight loss, improved glycometabolic and inflammatory markers, and decreased pancreatic oxidative stress. Notably, N. sativa and P. nigrum extracts showed superior efficacy by modulating JNK/MAPK and Nrf2/Keap1 pathways and enhancing insulin secretion compared with other extracts and glibenclamide. Histopathological findings supported these results. Overall, N. sativa and P. nigrum demonstrated the strongest antidiabetic, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory effects, while C. absus showed the least efficacy
Mid-upper-arm circumference as a screening measure for identifying children with elevated body mass index: a study for Pakistan
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Mid-upper-arm circumference as a screening measure for identifying children with elevated body mass index: a study for Pakistan
Get PDFPurposeMid-upper-arm circumference (MUAC) is considered an alternative screening method for obesity. The aims of this investigation were to examine the ability of MUAC to correctly identify children with elevated body mass index (BMI) and to determine the best MUAC cutoff point for identification of children with high BMI.MethodsAnthropometric measurements (height, weight, and MUAC) from a cross-sectional sample of 7,921 Pakistani children aged 5–14 years were analyzed. Pearson correlation coefficients between MUAC and other anthropometric measurements were calculated. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was used to determine the optimal MUAC cutoff point for identifying children with high BMI.ResultsAmong 7,921 children, the mean (±standard deviation) age, BMI, and MUAC were 10.00 (±2.86 years), 16.16 (±2.66 kg/m2), and 17.73 (±2.59 cm), respectively. The MUAC had a strong positive correlation with BMI. The optimal MUAC cutoff points indicating elevated BMI in boys ranged from 16.76 to 22.73, while the corresponding values in girls ranged from 16.38 to 20.57.ConclusionMUAC may be used as a simple indicator of overweight/obesity in children, with reasonable accuracy in clinical settings
Long Working Hours and Short Sleep Associated with Obesity among Professional Drivers and Conductors
No full textAbstract: Background: The issues of long working hours and short sleep among professional drivers are increasing worldwide, making it necessary to study their health hazards. Obesity among professional drivers and conductors is becoming an equally challenge now a days. In the present study, we investigated the association between long working hours and short sleep with body mass index (BMI) among male drivers and conductors in the city of Multan, Pakistan.Methods: The cross-sectional sample of 345 participants (197 drivers and 148 conductors) was taken using a convenient sampling technique with the help of a self-administered questionnaire. From the participants, the data were collected about their daily work-ing hours, sleeping hours and working period. Anthropometric measurements (weight and height) of each participant were taken to calculate BMI. Along with descriptive statistics and percentages, Chi-square test was used to examine the association in the full sample and stratified by study participants (i.e. drivers and conductors).Results: The mean (± standard deviation: SD) of age, BMI, daily working and sleeping hours of all the participants were32.98 ± 11.17 years, 24.35 ± 4.65 Kg/m2, 9.32 ± 3.49 hours and 7.79 ± 1.69 hours, respectively. There were statistically significant association between the short sleep and long working hours with obesity (χ2 = 17.37, p-value < 0.01 and χ2 = 14.43, p-value 0.01, respectively).Conclusion: The present study concludes that both short sleep and long working hours are significantly associated with obesity among professional drivers and conductors.</jats:p
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