The light weight solar dryer has been designed and fabricated to align with the atmospheric conditions of Kashmir valley. The experimental studies titled as “ Development of a light weight solar dryer and optimization of drying process for bottle gourd ” were conducted at the Sher-e –Kashmir University of Agricultural science and Technology , Shalimar, Srinagar J&K , in the northern part of India, during summer season of 2023. The solar dryer consists of drying chamber, drying tray, air inlet , exhaust fan for cross ventilation , temperature humidity controller module, solar panel, battery and solar charge controller. The dryer harnesses solar energy for the drying process and holds substantial promise for drying fruits, vegetables , herbs with medicinal properties and a variety of other products. The dryer has dimension of( length=36˝ , width=24˝, front height=30˝, back height 40˝ and a slope for attaining maximum sunlight intensity. This dryer has an average capacity of 4-5kg of the food product for drying. In this experiment tray is loaded with untreated and treated bottle gourd slices. In two separate trials drying completed in 20 and 32 hours for treated and untreated sample respectively .

Artificial Intelligence (AI) based network technologies considered best method to enhance the Quality of Service (QoS) of handoff algorithms due to its ability to handle huge data in fast processing. It helps to take effective handoff decision based on Received Signal Strength (RSS), traffic intensity, speed and diversity. In this paper the fuzzy logic prediction model has been developed for handoff decisions. On retrieving the network, the RSS was developed to form a time series data over a period of time. The data is then proceeded with the newly proposed fuzzy logic prediction model for estimation and prediction coefficients, while the predicted values of RSS are organized as fuzzy sets and in conjunction with other measured parameters of network. Moreover, the Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI), traffic load in the network, channel capacity, network load (NL), Bit Error Rate (BER), received signal power level has been estimated throughput the Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR), In addition, to user preferences such as the security and cost of the network. The overall performance of proposed fuzzy logic prediction model is capable to predict the handover decision ahead then the available RSS method and other handover necessity estimation techniques. This model also reduces the ping-pong effect associated with other techniques of handover.

Security has been one of the most critical concerns for wireless sensor network (WSN) systems in recent years. Application of WSN has faced criticism in several fields due to limited flexibility and security in the long term. This study aimed at reviewing the dynamic key management schemes for Heterogenous WSN systems to determine efficient management schemes. Applicability of notable schemes such as Basic scheme, and hybrid schemes under dynamic key management depends majorly on the central key controller presence

Bio metric technology is now used for employees time management attendance system because it has ability to recognize peoples unique physiological characteristics. Because of multiple benefits of Bio metric attendance system it has gained high popularity in the market. Bio metrics attendance system is extremely useful in helping business community feel secure by eliminating employees time theft, as it relies on ones personal characteristics that vary between individuals. Since bio metrics characteristics cannot be duplicate, it prevents punching on behalf of a co-worker working in the same company. The manual practice of attendance system is time consuming and needs full time personal monitoring whereas bio metric attendance saves employee time, decreases staffing overhead and provides accurate labor data to payroll system to effectively manage business operations and thereby increase productivity. Moreover the bio metric attendance system has brought transparency and enhanced the work culture in the system. We will explore various advantages and disadvantages of implementation of the bio metric attendance system to a big organization, or small entrepreneur or unit and the necessary measures for its efficient implementation.

Cognitive radio (CR) is a novel technology to resolve the issue of under-utilization of wireless spectrum. Quality of service (QoS) provisioning in CR networks to large number of traffic as per their need is not an easy task since no wireless spectrum is available on permanent basis for its operation. In this paper, few critical QoS parameters namely dynamic-availability-of-idle-channels (avail-idle-channel), expected-holding-time-of-idle-channel (HT-idle-channel) and user-mobility are chosen to analyze their impact over quality of service of the communicating cognitive users using rule-based fuzzy decision-making system. The results indicate the relationship of chosen parameters over the QoS of the communicating cognitive users.

Cognitive radio (CR) is a novel technology to resolve the issue of under-utilization of wireless spectrum. There exists number of challenges and issues in designing and implementation of the cognitive radio. Extending quality-of-service (QoS) enabled applications to CR network is even more difficult task due to non-availability of the dedicated allocation of idle spectrum. CR imposes peculiar and unique challenges to guarantee quality of service of diverse flows in contrast to other wireless networks. This paper identifies the issues and challenges of QoS provisioning in cognitive radio networks.

The constitutive and induced resistance were studied in two varieties (Khanyari and Kawdari) of kale, Brassica oleracea var. acephala in response to cabbage butterfly, Pieris brassicae infestation and exogenous application of jasmonic acid (JA) and salicylic acid (SA). Phenols, condensed tannins, flavonoids and proteins were measured at six days after JA (1 mM) and SA (1 mM) application and/or insect infestation. Plant damage and larval weights were also recorded. Khanyari variety showed highest amounts of phenols (208.23 mu g/g FW), condensed tannin (347.76 mu g/g FW), flavonoids (175.61 mu g/g FW) and proteins (0.71 mg/g FW) in plants pre-treated with JA and infested with insects. The PAL activity was high in response to JA application followed by insect infestation. Insects reared on Khanyari and Kawdari plants pre-treated with JA prior showed significantly reduced larval weights (97.88 and 102.46 mg, respectively). Damage was low in plants pre-treated with JA in Khanyari at 3, 6 and 9 days after treatment (10.52%, 8.52%, and 5.30%, respectively). Thus, JA can play an important role in plant defense in kale against P. brassicae.

Various channels have high traffic density during peak hours the problems are further exacerbated by the traffic overloading in downtown areas at peak hours. The reliable and efficient communication demands unnoticed handoff to the user without deteriorating the signal strength. Current cellular system exhibits a varying traffic conditions depending upon the corresponding variations in population which is low in rural areas and high in downtown areas. The traffic density becomes even higher at peak hours and low at night hours. The acceptable service quality demands optimum use of frequency spectrum for obtaining maximum traffic throughput. The efficient allocation of channels on need basis can be one of the solutions for efficient traffic management during peak hours. In Flexible Channel Allocation scheme (FlCA), the available channels are divided in fixed and flexible set channels. Fixed set channels are normally assigned to all the cells and the number of channels is decided by the approximate calculated load of particular cell that typically suffices the traffic load of cell. The flexible channels are assigned to those cells whose channels are inadequate under increased traffic load conditions. These channels are assigned in accordance with demand of increased traffic loads. Fuzzy logic approach being flexible is explored for assigning these flexible channels for enhanced QoS.

The current studies were carried out in temperate conditions of Kashmir valley during 2013-2015. The patches of fruit crop selected were located in different types of landscape categories. Highest species richness of 46 was observed in landscapes of Budgam, belonging to 5 orders, 31 families and 20 genera of class Insecta. Of all these insects, genus Lasioglossum was most abundant flower visitor followed by comparatively less abundant genera Xylocopa spp. Andrena spp. Megachile spp. Syrphus spp. and Musca spp. The minimum value of Simpson diversity index, Shannon diversity indices and Simpson’s dominance were 5.415, -6.056 and 0.8115, respectively in district Srinager. The species richness of pollinators varies from minimum of 32 (Srinager) to maximum of 46 (Budgam). The equitability of species varies from minimum of 0.718 in Srinager to maximum of 0.931 on in Pulwama. The Pielou’s evenness, Nakamaru’s richness, Menhinick’s and Margalef’s varies across the different landscapes. Species richness showed a corresponding and parallel increase with various indices estimated. The unequal distribution of abundance between species on three fruit crops allow the use of dominance index of Berger-parker to express the proportion of individuals accounted for by the most abundant species (Lasioglossum marginatum) in each site of investigation and it varies from minimum of 0.087 in Pulwama to maximum of 0.121 in Srinager. The family Halictidae were most abundant. The dissimilarity coefficient of species richness varies from 11.00 to 19.83. The order Hymenoptera was most abundant with rank (K) one and K-dominance of 0.602 followed by Diptera with rank value 2 and K-dominance value -1.259 and so on.

The declines in honeybee populations in Indian have highlighted the importance of native bee conservation, and the need for research on the ecological requirements of native bees in various landscapes. In this study, we investigated the value of hedgerows as foraging habitat for native bees in mosaics of small scale agriculture and natural vegetation in the landscapes of Kashmir division. In the spring of 2013-14 we surveyed bees and flowers in four habitats: hedgerows, agricultural fields, grasslands, and native woodland. We investigated that how hedgerows varied compare to other available habitats in bee abundance and species richness; species composition in hedgerows compare to species composition in agricultural fields and woodland. We found that hedgerows were attractive foraging habitat for native bees, especially in early spring and summer. Cumulative species richness was highest in hedgerows, although cumulative species richness did not significantly differ among fields, hedgerows, and woodland. While bee faunas overlapped among habitats, bee assemblages in hedgerows were more similar to those in fields than to those woodlands. The flowering shrubs were important in attracting bees that were otherwise uncommon in the landscape, including some species that are potentially valuable pollinators of stone fruit crops such as peach, plum and

Cognitive radio (CR) is a promising solution to improve the spectrum utilization by enabling unlicensed users to exploit the spectrum in an opportunistic manner. Spectrum handoff is a different type of handoff in CR necessitated by the reappearance of primary user (PU) in the licensed band presently occupied by the secondary users (SUs). Spectrum handoff procedures aim to help the SUs to vacate the occupied licensed spectrum and find suitable target channel to resume the unfinished transmission. The purpose of spectrum mobility management in cognitive radio networks is to make sure that the transitions are made smoothly and rapidly such that the applications running on a cognitive user perceive minimum performance degradation during a spectrum handoff. In this paper, we will survey the literature on spectrum handoff in cognitive radio networks.

For last two decades, the demand for wireless spectrum has been increasing rapidly with tremendous developments in the telecom industry. There also has been huge growth in flow of multimedia traffic over the last decade. Thus, the demand for additional bandwidth is increasing exponentially despite the fact that the electromagnetic spectrum is a finite resource. On the other hand, spectrum occupancy is found to be quiet low in most of the allocated bands. Thus, the under-utilization of the precious spectrum is unaffordable if persistent growth of new and existing wireless services are to be sustained. Cognitive radio (CR) is a future technology initiated by many research organizations and academic institutions to increase the spectrum utilization of underutilized spectrum channels to ameliorate scarcity problem of valuable electromagnetic spectrum. There exists number of issues and challenges in designing and implementation of the cognitive radio. These issues need to be rigorously resolved before a cognitive radio is realised.

Cognitive radio is a future technology coined for increasing the utilization of otherwise under-utilized spectrum channels. Providing quality of service (QoS) to diverse flows as per their requirements is a very difficult job as there is no dedicated allocation of wireless channels in cognitive radio (CR) network. The paper selects few critical QoS parameters such as signal-strength, bandwidth and user-mobility that assess the influence on quality of communication between users using rule-based fuzzy inference system. The analytical results show the influence of those QoS parameters on the quality of communicating channels and open new issues in designing protocol structure for CR.

Background and Aims: Intravenous Regional Anesthesia (IVRA) provides analgesia of distal part of limb by intravenous injection of local anesthesia in to the vein of the same limb, while the circulation to the limb is occluded by application of tourniquet. However, IVRAis limited by local anesthesia toxicity, tourniquet pain and absence of postoperative analgesia. Various additives to local anesthetics such as ketamine, clonidine, opiods, NSAIDs are used to address these issues. The aim of our study was to evaluate the effectiveness of Dexmedetomidine to low dose Lidocaine solution for IVRA.Patients and Methods: A prospective, randomized double blind study was conducted on 60 patients divided in to two groups of thirty each; Group I patients received 40 ml of Lidocaine 0.25% while Group II patients received 40 ml of 0.25% of lidocaine mixed with I mcg/kg of dexmedetomidine. The motor and sensory block onset and recovery times were assessed. Tourniquet pain and sedation score were assessed intraoperatively and postoperatively.Results: Sensory and motor block onset times were shorter and recovery times were prolonged in Dexmedetomidine group. The quality of anesthesia was better in the Dexmedetomidine group and the fentanyl dose required was also lower in the dexmedetomidine group. There was a significant difference in the postoperative analgesia time which was demonstrated by less use of intramuscular diclofenac in dexmedetomidine group.Conclusions: A safe intravenous dose of lidocaine can be used for IVRA for superficial hand surgery, and the addition of I mcg /kg dexmedetomidine shortened the onset times for both sensory and motor blockade and improved the quality of anesthesia, with prolonged postoperative analgesia time. By adding dexmedetomidine we were able to reduce the dose of lidocaine to 0.25% concentration without compromising analgesia. JMS 2016; 19(1):21-25

Eosinophilic granuloma is an uncommon granulomatous disease which can affect the temporal bone. Also known as Langerhans cell histiocytosis, the lesion is characterized by uncontrolled proliferation of Langerhans cells. Although initially silent, the disease may erode the mastoid cortex, destroy the tegmen, and extend into the cranial vault, as well as erode the semicircular canals or cochlea. These lesions almost always become infected and can be confused with chronic otomastoiditis. Equally important, temporal bone involvement may represent only one manifestation of a multifocal disease. This report describes a case of 40-year-old male with eosinophilic granuloma involving the right temporal bone extending into midbrain region causing focal compression and displacement of part of the temporal lobe.

Most studies on the sexual behaviour of tephritid fruit flies are conducted in laboratory or field cage settings. Here, we present field data on the mating behaviour of the melon fly, Bactrocera cucurbitae (Coquillett). A number of Tephritidae are lekking species, forming aggregations in which males fight to defend a small territory where they court females and mate. Our results confirm that males of the melon flies congregated and engaged in wing vibration in the late afternoon on non-host plants, such as Ficus carica, Cydonia oblonga and Prunus persica which bordered cucurbit fields. The nature and outcome of male-male aggressive encounters are described, and a high degree of female mate selectivity is documented.