jbas

journal-basic-applied-scien

Water as Blue Economy for Sustainable Growth in Pakistan
Pages
248-258Creative Commons License

Rashid Aftab, Sana Naseem, Yasir Ameen and Zubair Safdar

DOI: https://doi.org/10.6000/1927-5129.2017.13.42
Published: 12 May 2017

Abstract: Water as Blue economy is a viable and prudent use of oceans and other water resources for the economic development of a country. Pakistan’s blue economic growth is heavily dependent on; aquatic life, agriculture, biotechnology, energy, health and recreational sector. The paper focuses the relationship of blue economy, i.e. water resources of Pakistan with respect to the several sectors and to investigate water as an economic commodity and highlighting the limiting factors which directly or indirectly affecting the blue economic development of the country thus suggesting the possible solution to overcome the barriers. The secondary data from 1992-2015 has been taken for the analysis of generation of blue capital in Pakistan. The contributing factors impeding the blue economy are; over-exploitation of oceanic resources, deterioration of water quality, lack of awareness and research activities for utilization of marine resources efficiently, bungling of water consumption practice in agriculture, dearth of consistent water ruling system, dilapidation of coastal ecosystem due to human activities, absence of infrastructure and technological advancement for energy production from stored or waste water, and lack of asset for the exploration of useful drugs and by-products from water sediment and in offshore energy production sector. The effective management and governance of available resources, especially for; Irrigation practices, political stability, effective policy framework, tangible investments in water-energy and technological sectors, accessibility of blue resources to the poor and under privilege community and efficient presiding system for the diminution of the synchronization gap between all controlling, monitoring and evaluation are required for viable blue economic development in Pakistan.

Keywords: Blue economy, GDP, Growth, Water Resources, Sustainable.

Download Full Article

journal-basic-applied-scien

Feature Extraction Using Independent Component Analysis Method from Non-Invasive Recordings of Electroencephalography (EEG) Brain Signals
Pages
259-267Creative Commons License

Muhammad Azhar, Ishfaque Ahmed, Syed Tanveer Iqbal, Muhammad Jahangir, Rizwan-ur-Rehman, Nasir Ali Shah and Imran Siddiqui

DOI: https://doi.org/10.6000/1927-5129.2017.13.43
Published: 12 May 2017

Abstract: Electroencephalography (EEG) is a well known procedure in neuroscience, performed to extract brain signal activity associated with voluntary and involuntary tasks. Scientists and researchers working in neuroscience are involved in the research of brain computer interfacing (BCI) and in improving the existing BCI systems. In BCI, it is possible for a person to control the external devices remotely using brain signals without neurophysical intervention. In the proposed work the new algorithm is introduced to extract the feature from EEG based recorded brain signals. The features are extracted for a specific motoryaction that is raising the right hand. The proposed algorithm is also verified from EEGLAB routines also based on Independent Component Analysis (ICA) method written in MATLAB platform.

Keywords: BCI, Electroencephalography, ERP, ICA, Infomax, SOBI, FastICA.

Download Full Article

journal-basic-applied-scien

Clinical Prevalence of Peste Des Petits Ruminants (PPR) Disease in Small Ruminants at the Urban Areas of Hyderabad, Sindh
Pages
281-286Creative Commons License

Asad Ali Khaskheli, M. Ibrahim Khaskheli, Allahjurio Khaskheli, Gulbhar Khaskheli, Rani Abro and Ghulam Shabir Barham

DOI: https://doi.org/10.6000/1927-5129.2017.13.46
Published: 31 May 2017

Abstract:Peste des Petits Ruminants is a highly contagious viral disease of small ruminants, caused by Peste des Petits Ruminants virus (PPRV), spreading worldwide in these days. Thus, current study was planned to check the prevalence percentage of PPR in small ruminants especially in goat and sheep surrounding the urban areas of Hyderabad district of Pakistan. A total of two hundred goat (n=200) were examined during study period. The highest prevalence percentage was observed for PPR (35%) followed by respiratory tract infection (17%), urine incontinence (10%), tympany (9.5%) and indigestion (6%). The prevalence percentage of fracture (1.5%) was lowest among all followed by retained placenta (2%), dystokia (2.5%), mastitis (3%) and abortion (3.5%). Whereas, wound (4.5%) and enterotoxaemia (5.5%) showed moderate prevalence. Similarly, a total two hundred sheep (n=200) were examined and prevalence of different disorders in sheep was found quietly different from the goat. The PPR appeared to be most prevalent problem (30%) in sheep too followed by indigestion (15.5%), respiratory tract infection (13.5%), tympany (12.5%) and wound (7.5%). Fracture appeared as least prevalent problem (1%) followed by dystokia (1.5%), retained placenta (3%), mastitis (3.5%) and abortion (5%). The moderate prevalence was of enterotoxaemia (7%); where, as prevalence of urine incontinence was recorded zero (0%). Overall Prevalence percentages of different disorders in both species indicate that PPR (32.5%) appeared as most prevalent disease followed by respiratory tract infections (15.25%), tympany (11%), indigestion (10.75%) and enterotoxaemia (6.25%). Furthermore; fracture appeared as least prevalent complaint (1.25%) followed by dystokia (2%), retained placenta (2.5%), mastitis (3.25%) and dystokia (4.25%). As for as urine incontinence (5%) and enterotxaemia (6.25%) are concerned, their prevalence was found moderate. No doubt PPR is one of the major emerging issue for small ruminant production therefore current study was planned to provide a proper baseline information so that infected heads could be identified on very early stage for their timely cure and prevention.

Keywords: Pneumonia, anamnesis, diagnosis, contagious disease, auscultation.

Download Full Article

journal-basic-applied-scien

The Role of Potassium in Plants under Drought Stress: Mini Review
Pages
268-271Creative Commons License

Muhammad Umair Hassan, Muhammad Aamer, Muhammad Umer Chattha, Muhammad Aman Ullah, Saira Sulaman, Muhammad Nawaz, Wang Zhiqiang, Ma Yanqin and Huang Guoqin

DOI: https://doi.org/10.6000/1927-5129.2017.13.44
Published: 12 May 2017

Abstract: Drought stress is a major catastrophe to plant productivity. Drought stress significantly reduces the crop yield and quality, and probably exceeds losses from all other stresses. Potassium (K+) is an essential nutrient and affects the growth and development, and it also contribute significantly towards plants survival under drought stress. In this mini review we discussed the physiological, biochemical, and molecular mechanisms underlying K induced alleviation of drought stress.

Keywords: Potassium, drought stress, stomata, water uptake, membrane stability, oxidative stress.

Download Full Article

journal-basic-applied-scien

Evaluation of Raised-Bed and Conventional Irrigation Systems for Yield and Water Productivity of Wheat Crop
Pages
143-149Creative Commons License

Ashifa Soomro, Muhammad Nauman, Shakeel Ahmed Soomro, Ahmed Ali Tagar, Shoukat Ali Soomro, Mahmooda Buriro, Allah Wadhayo Gandahi and Aneela Hameem Memon

DOI: https://doi.org/10.6000/1927-5129.2017.13.24
Published: 28 April 2017

Abstract: A study was conducted at Drainage and Reclamation Institute of Pakistan (DRIP), Tandojam in a clay loam soil. The treatments include raised-bed irrigation system (T1) and conventional irrigation system (T2). The experiment was laid down using randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. The total area under experiment for each treatment and replication was 1004.65 m2 and 334.88 m2 respectively. Groundwater quality of experimental sight was slightly saline. Results of the experiment showed that there was highly significant difference in volume of water applied, yield and water productivity of wheat crop under the raised-bed and conventional irrigation systems. Both water saving (50.73%) and water productivity (54.37%) of wheat crop was higher under raised-bed irrigation system. The raised-bed irrigation system obtained 24.65% higher yield compared to conventional irrigation system. All other parameters were also higher under the raised-bed irrigation system. Thus raised-bed irrigation system is recommended to achieve higher yield and water productivity of wheat crop and to save water particularly in a clay loam soil.

Keywords: Raised bed irrigation system, Conventional irrigation system, Water productivity, Water saving, Yield, Wheat crop.

Download Full Article