The growing demand and increasing fresh-water scarcity urgently require effective and sustainable management of water for irrigation to assure future requirements of food and fiber production. The sustainable management uses advanced technologies to improve water use efficiency. The computer-based irrigation models are globally accepted as most consistent management tools for efficiently using irrigation water on field. An irrigation scheduling computer model (Mehran) is developed basically as an irrigation research and management tool. The Mehran Model is an integrated decision support system (DSS), which is designed using Visual Basic-6.0 platform to compute Reference Evapotranspiration (ET o ) by FAO-56 Penman-Monteith method. Crop Evapotranspiration (ET c ) and irrigation schedules are computed by the model using daily soil-water balance and dual crop coefficients approaches. The model distinguishes soil texture classes and different irrigation methods, and also considers 66 regional and international crop types. The model computes soil-water profiles variation with respect to the time and existing root depth of the crop. The model interface provides multiple choices to user for designing irrigation schedules by (a) Real-time daily water balance, (b) Planning on demand system, (c) Planning rotational system, and (d) Synchronizing on demand and rotational (warabandi) systems. The model has been field tested and validated on planning and management of various irrigation schedules for cotton and wheat crops in Lower Indus Basin of Pakistan. The field experiments at management allowed depletion (MAD) level of 55, 65 and 75% were carried out for cotton crop, and at MAD level of 45, 55 and 65% for wheat crop. The daily actual crop evapotranspiration (ET ca ) was observed through gypsum block readings and a drainage lysimeter. The observed seasonal cotton crop actual Evapotranspirations (ET ca ) in the experiments were 486, 413, and 397 mm and those computed by the model iwere 504, 421, and 404 mm. Similarly the observed seasonal wheat crop ET c was 363, 359, and 332 mm, and those computed were 383, 369, and 355 mm. The crop water use efficiency (WUE) determined in terms of seed-cotton yield per unit of land and per unit of seasonal ET c were computed to be 6.0, 6.5, and 5.8 kg (ha mm) −1 . The corresponding water use efficiencies (WUEs) for the wheat crops were obtained 14.1, 15.0 and 13.4 kg (ha mm) −1 . The highest crop WUE was achieved with MAD at 65% for cotton crop and at 55% for wheat crop’s experiments. The model averagely overestimated seasonal ET c of cotton crop merely by 2.41% and 4.31% for wheat crop. Weekly root depth and daily soil-moisture measurements were carried out, which assisted in carefully monitoring effective root zone depth during experiments. When practicing either scientific or traditional irrigation scheduling in the country, a seasonal water amount of 370 mm is suggested for wheat crop, and 450 – 500 mm for cotton crop to achieve optimum yield and WUE. Statistical analysis (R 2 = 93%, T–test = 2.6, and F–test = 1481) showed good correlation between the computed and actual seasonal ET c of the crops. The sensitivity analysis on weather input parameters revealed that the model is most sensitive to temperature variations on output of crop transpiration, soil evaporation and irrigation water allocation. The Mehran Model is found to be quite versatile, flexible, user– friendly, and can be successfully used as a decision support system for irrigation scheduling and management for general crops, specifically for cotton and wheat crops in the Lower Indus Basin of Pakistan.
مختار تلہری بریلی کی اردو شاعری کا تجزیاتی جائزہ ڈاکٹر رحمت عزیز خان چترالی مختار تلہری ثقلینی کی پیدائش یکم فروری 1960 عیسوی کو ہوئی جبکہ شاعری کا آغاز 1981 میں ہوا ۔اب تک آپ کے 8 شعری مجموعے منظرِ عام پر آچکے ہیں نیز نواں اشاعت کے مرحلے میں ہے ۔ بہت سے اداروں اور تنظیموں سے انعام و اکرام بےشمار اعزازی اسناد نیز متعدد ایوارڈز حاصل کر چکے ہیں جن میں علامہ اقبال ایوارڈ ، داغ دہلوی ایوارڈ ، فخرِ ادب شامل ہیں ۔ مختار تلہری کی شاعری میں خوف، طاقت، ایمان اور معاشرتی مسائل کے موضوعات شامل کئے گئے ہیں، آپ کے اشعار میں زندگی کے جذباتی اور روحانی جہتوں کو تلاش کیا جاسکتا ہے۔ مختار تلہری کی اکثر شاعری خوف اور طاقت کے دوہری موضوع کی عکاسی کرتی ہے، جو دل میں خوف اور کسی کے اعمال میں طاقت کے درمیان فرق کو پیش کرتی ہے۔ اشعار مذہبی تعلیمات کو فراموش کرنے اور امن کی تلاش کے اثرات کو بھی چھوتی ہیں۔ مختار تلہری کی شاعری کی ساخت اور تھیم کا فنی و فکری جائزہ لیا جائے تو پتہ چلتا ہے کہ ان کی شاعری ایک متوازن ساخت کی پیروی کرتی ہے، بغیر کسی رکاوٹ کے مختلف موضوعات کو خوبصورتی سے اشعار کا جامہ پہنایا گیا ہے۔ شاعر نے ایک انوکھا جوکسٹاپوزیشن استعمال کیا ہے، جو ظاہری شکل اور حقیقت کے درمیان تفاوت کو ظاہر کرتا ہے، جس کی علامت خرگوش کی طرح ملبوس شیر ہے۔ شاعر نے گہرے معنی و مفاہیم کو بیان کرنے کے لیے خوبصورت استعاروں، متضاد تصویروں اور علامتوں کو استعمال کیا ہے۔ ’’دل میں خوف کا اثر پیروں کی آنکھوں میں ہے‘‘ والی سطر ان کے استعارے کے ماہرانہ استعمال کو ظاہر کرتی ہے۔ اشعار کا تکنیکی جائزہ لینے سے یہ بات واضح ہوتی ہے کہ مختار تلہری...
This study aims to identify the significance of driver’s socioeconomic demographics (SEDs) in the decision to speed and crash involvement. A questionnaire was designed consisting of a driver’s SEDs, speeding propensity, and crash experience. This questionnaire was conducted with the students and employees of the University of Nizwa and other drivers at the selected locations. A total of 604 usable samples were obtained. Simple frequency distribution and discriminant multivariate analysis were conducted on the driver’s responses. Survey results revealed that about 47.7% of the drivers have experienced a crash. The driver’s gender nationality, profession, age, type of vehicle drive, driving experience, and past crash experience are significant attributes of the driver’s speeding behavior. Ordered probit analysis for speeding behavior and simple probit regression analysis for crash involvement was conducted. The male drivers and those who are under the age of 30 years and have driving experience of more than 3 years have more likelihood to exceed the speed limits than other drivers. Similarly, the driver’s gender, age (≤ 30 years), and those who are employees have a significant correlation with the propensity of crash involvement. Male and young drivers have more likelihood to be involved in a crash.
Among viral hepatitis, HCV is the second leading cause of hepatitis with approximately 3% carriers worldwide and 8-10 % carriers among Pakistani population. In the absence of any approved vaccine against HCV, the pegylated- interferon-alpha in combination with Ribavirin is the only standard regimen. The goal of this treatment is viral eradication to achieve sustained viral response (SVR) which means to decrease the viral titer to undetectable levels after treatment completion. However, the success rate is not hundred percent for this treatment (40- 50% for HCV genotype 1/ 4 and 75-80% for HCV genotype 2/3). Beside this fact, this treatment has several side effects that require either treatment modification or withdrawal. The present study was designed to find out the association of viral and host factors with the response of interferon treatment in chronic HCV patients of Pakistan. Two hundred CHC treatment-naïve patients from June 2011 to June 2013 were enrolled and treated with combination therapy of interferon plus ribavirin. Treatment response was analyzed by quantifying viral titer at specific interval of times during the treatment course and 6 months after treatment completion. Response rate was as followed; 81.1% patients attained Sustained virologic Response (SVR), 11.7% patients did not respond and in 7.2% patients’ virus was relapsed. It was observed that HCV genotype 3a is the most prevalent genotype followed by 1a while prevalence of mixed genotype is the least in Pakistan. Moreover, the success rate of treatment is higher in patients infected with HCV genotype 3a as compared to HCV genotype 1a. Quantification of viral load at 3rd month of treatment is valuable determinant of SVR and also helpful in tailoring the individualize treatment. As the SVR rate (93.3%) is higher in patients who achieved early viral response (EVR) as compared to those who failed to attain EVR (6.7%). It was observed that the success rate in female patients is more than male patients while rate of non-response is more in male patients than female. While no association of SVR with body mass index and age of patient was analyzed. Human genetic variations of IL28B SNPs (rs12979860, rs12980275, rs8099917, rs1181222) was identified and find out that the patients with CC genotype of SNP rs12979860 of IL28B are more likely to cure than patients with CT/TT genotype of SNP rs12979860. While the rate of NVR and relapse is higher in patients having GG genotype of SNP rs8099917. The results of multivariate logistic regression showed significant association of following factors with SVR; female gender (OR; 5.99, 95% C.I; 1.26-28.51, p= 0.024), HCV genotype 3a (OR; 9.33, 95% C.I; 1.94-44.95, p=0.005), 12 week response EVR (OR; 14.83, 95% C.I; 2.87-76.7, p=0.001) and CC genotype of SNP rs12979860 (OR; 6.39, 95% C.I; 1.18-34.7, p=0.032).