Classification of rocks radionuclide data using machine learning techniques

The aim of this study is to assess the performance of linear discriminate analysis, support vector machines (SVMs) with linear and radial basis, classification and regression trees and random forest (RF) in the classification of radionuclide data obtained from three different types of rocks. Radionuclide data were obtained for metamorphic, sedimentary and igneous rocks using gamma spectroscopic method. A P-type high-purity germanium detector was used for the radiometric study. For analysis purpose, we have determined activity concentrations of ²³²Th, ²²⁶Ra and ⁴⁰K radionuclides, published elsewhere (Rafique et al. in Russ Geol Geophys 55:1073–1082, 2014), in different rock samples and built the classification model after pre-processing the data using three times tenfold cross-validation. Using this model, we have classified the new samples into known categories of sedimentary, igneous and metamorphic. The statistics depicts that RF and SVM with radial kernel outperform as compared to other classification methods in terms of error rate, area under the curve and with respect to other performance measures.     

Hot plasma waves in Schwarzschild magnetosphere

In this paper we examine the wave properties of a hot plasma living in a Schwarzschild magnetosphere. The 3+1 GRMHD perturbation equations are formulated for this scenario. These equations are Fourier analyzed and then solved numerically to obtain the dispersion relations for a non-rotating, rotating non-magnetized and rotating magnetized plasma. The wave vector is evaluated, which is used to calculate the refractive index. These quantities are shown in graphs which are helpful to discuss the dispersive properties of the medium near the event horizon.     

Photo-induced degradation of emamectin benzoate: effect of iron amendments and solvent system

Photodegradation is the major dissipation pathway for emamectin benzoate (EB) in water. Therefore, the photolysis of EB was studied in distilled water (DW) and methanol under different irradiation conditions such as natural sunlight, UV tube, and artificially stimulated light (mercury lamp 125 W). The results of the study showed that EB degrades rapidly in DW than in methanol as evidenced by a photodegradation efficiency of about 75 % achieved in DW, after 24 h of irradiation with UV light, while in methanol, it was only 59.3 %. The addition of iron to EB solution in DW further enhanced its photodegradation. The rate of photodegradation of EB was recorded to be increased from 5.5 × 10^?2 to 1.0 × 10^?1 k/h after amendment with iron. The order for the rate of photodegradation of EB was DW + Fe > DW > methanol, with their respective t _1/2 values of 6.5, 12.6, and 18.7 h. Fe amendment was also found to enhance the degradation efficiency of EB even in the absence of any light (dark).     

Diurnal and nocturnal variations of trace metals in urban atmospheric particulate matter from Islamabad, Pakistan

Concentrations of Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Pb and Zn are measured in the atmospheric particulates from urban Islamabad, Pakistan during diurnal and nocturnal periods. On an average, the total suspended particulates and concentrations of Ca, Fe and Mg levels are considerably higher during day time and Cu concentrations are higher during night time. Significantly diverse correlations of elements are observed both during diurnal and nocturnal particulates. Multivariate principal component analysis reveals major anthropogenic contributions due to automobile emissions, combustion processes and industrial emissions. Enrichment factors show dominant anthropogenic contributions of Cd and Pb, followed by Co, Cu, Zn, Cr and Ca in diurnal and nocturnal atmospheric particulates. Comparison of metal concentrations observed in this study with those of previous studies from Islamabad and other urban areas around the world shows higher concentrations than those in some European cities but, in general, are lower than in large metropolitan cities.     

Effect of Fe2+ amendment on photodegradation kinetics of imidacloprid in moist soil

The present study deals with the effect of Fe²⁺ on degradation kinetics of imidacloprid in moist soil under UV system. The moist soil samples were spiked with imidacloprid and irradiated in specially designed UV-photoreactor. The analysis of imidacloprid was carried out by using HPLC–DAD system. UV irradiation caused about ten fold increase in photodegradation rate of the pesticide. Amendment of soil with Fe²⁺ at concentrations of 30 mg/kg led to a further increase in the rate of photodegradation, i.e., a 98 % degradation of imidacloprid was observed in the presence of iron after 32 days of irradiation. Moreover, the half-life of imidacloprid in Fe²⁺ -amended soil was observed to be reduced to 7 days that in the absence of Fe²⁺ was recorded to be 21 days. Iron was also observed to affect the half-life of imidacloprid in dark. When compared with unsterilized Fe²⁺-amended batch treatments, the t _1/2 in sterilized Fe²⁺-amended batch treatments increased from 58 to 96 days. Imidacloprid-urea was detected by HPLC as the only stable photodegradation byproduct of imidacloprid in the soil.     

Adaptive state estimation of groundwater contaminant boundary input flux in a 2-dimensional aquifer

In many circumstances involving heat and mass transfer issues, it is considered impractical to measure the input flux and the resulting state distribution in the domain. Therefore, the need to develop techniques to provide solutions for such problems and estimate the inverse mass flux becomes imperative. Adaptive state estimator (ASE) is increasingly becoming a popular inverse estimation technique which resolves inverse problems by incorporating the semi-Markovian concept into a Bayesian estimation technique, thereby developing an inverse input and state estimator consisting of a bank of parallel adaptively weighted Kalman filters. The ASE is particularly designed for a system that encompasses independent unknowns and /or random switching of input and measurement biases. The present study describes the scheme to estimate the groundwater input contaminant flux and its transient distribution in a conjectural two-dimensional aquifer by means of ASE, which in particular is because of its unique ability to efficiently handle the process noise giving an estimation of keeping the relative error range within 10% in 2-dimensional problems. Numerical simulation results show that the proposed estimator presents decent estimation performance for both smoothly and abruptly varying input flux scenarios. Results also show that ASE enjoys a better estimation performance than its competitor, Recursive Least Square Estimator (RLSE) due to its larger error tolerance in greater process noise regimes. ASE’s inherent deficiency of being slower than the RLSE, resulting from the complexity of algorithm, was also noticed. The chosen input scenarios are tested to calculate the effect of input area and both estimators show improved results with an increase in input flux area especially as sensors are moved closer to the assumed input location.     

Ambient indoor/outdoor gamma radiation dose rates in the city and at high altitudes of Muzaffarabad (Azad Kashmir)

Preliminary results of ambient indoor/outdoor gamma dose rates measured for Muzaffarabad city, the state capital of Azad Kashmir, are presented. Measurements of indoor/outdoor environmental exposures were carried out using a portable Ludlum Model 19 Micrometer. Effect of altitude on measured values of gamma dose rates has also been investigated. Besides measuring the gamma dose rates for indoor and open environment, measurements have also been taken within two coal mines. Effects of lithology on gamma dose rates have also been investigated. For outdoor measurements, minimum and maximum gamma dose rates were found as 533 ± 4.33 and 1,143 ± 2.96 μGy y^?1, while for indoor environment minimum and maximum gamma dose rate value were found as 533 ± 4.33 and 979 ± 3.2 μGy y^?1. Average values of indoor and outdoor gamma dose rates were found as 761 ± 3.62 and 710 ± 3.75 μGy y^?1. Gamma dose rates have also been calculated with altitude variations. Measured values of gamma dose rates show a weak positive correlation with altitude. For measurements made in coal mines, maximum gamma doses rate value was found as 3,490 ± 1.69 μGy y^?1, situated at a height of 1,098 m, located at Sangri Mera. Results obtained from the current study show that annual effective doses from gamma radiation exposure does not pose health threat to the population of district Muzaffarabad.     

Evaluation of advanced rice germplasm under water stress environment

Thirteen genotypes of rice comprising of approved varieties and elite candidate lines were studied at three different water regimes by supplying 12, 8 and 4 numbers of irrigations at different intervals/ stages. The experiment was conducted at NIAB Farm Faisalabad, Pakistan on a clay loam soil applying normal doses of N and P fertilizers during 2002–2003 keeping varieties in the main plot while treatments in sub plot. The data for twelve morphological characters i.e. days to flower, days to mature, plant height, panicle length, number of productive tillers, number of primary and secondary branches, 1000 grain weight, sterile grains per spike, number of total grains per spike, fertility percentage, grain yield were recorded and subjected to analysis of variance and means were compared following DMR test. Effect of water stress on different morphological attributes in all treatments showed significant differences. Plant height, branches per plant, number of grains and grain yield reduced at less number of irrigations while sterility percentage was increased at less moisture conditions. Maximum grain yield (5349 Kg/ha) was achieved at T1 where 12 number of irrigations were applied at T2 (8 irrigations) and T3 (4 irrigations). The yield reduction was observed from 30.32% to 42.53%, respectively as compared to T1 (12 irrigations). Rice variety DM 64198 produced the highest seed yield (4766 Kg/ha) followed by DM-3-89 (4770 Kg/ha).This might be due to different genetic make up of the breeding lines and their behavior and interaction in water stress environment. Furthermore, high irrigation level made possible the appropriate water availability possible at proper time for performing different types of physiochemical processes of development that hindered at less number of irrigation or water stress environment. It may be concluded that for achieving maximum economic yield, at least 12 irrigations were essential otherwise the production will be reduced to a considerable extent.     

Metabolic and physiological regulation of Chlorella sp. (Trebouxiophyceae,Chlorophyta) under nitrogen deprivation

Journal of Oceanology and Limnology - A freshwater green microalgae Chlorella sp., UMACC344 was shown to produce high lipid content and has the potential to be used as feedstock for biofuel...     

Exploring Placer Gold Deposits through Integrated Geophysical and Geochemical Techniques at the Confluence of the Indus and Kabul Rivers, NW Pakistan

Analysis of the anomalous magnetic mineral intensities and geochemistry for placer gold deposits are presented for those of the Attock area at the confluence of the Indus and Kabul rivers in northwestern Pakistan. Two grids covering an area of 10x18 m2 and 8x10 m2 were analyzed using a G-858 Cesium Vapor Magnetometer. The anomalous zones obtained were plotted on contour maps, 2D and 3D magnetic intensity maps. Based on the magnetic anomalies, grid-1 of the study area was sampled at three different anomalous zones for geochemical analysis. These zones contain gold concentrations, ranging from 2.11 ppm to 6.109 ppm with an average of 4.01 ppm. Increase in gold concentration in the subsurface within the anomalous zones indicates that magnetometer survey followed by a geochemical analysis can potentially narrow down the gold-bearing anomalous zones.