Showing papers by "Indian Agricultural Statistics Research Institute published in 2008"

Features of 5′-splice-site efficiency derived from disease-causing mutations and comparative genomics

Abstract: Many human diseases, including Fanconi anemia, hemophilia B, neurofibromatosis, and phenylketonuria, can be caused by 5'-splice-site (5'ss) mutations that are not predicted to disrupt splicing, according to position weight matrices. By using comparative genomics, we identify pairwise dependencies between 5'ss nucleotides as a conserved feature of the entire set of 5'ss. These dependencies are also conserved in human-mouse pairs of orthologous 5'ss. Many disease-associated 5'ss mutations disrupt these dependencies, as can some human SNPs that appear to alter splicing. The consistency of the evidence signifies the relevance of this approach and suggests that 5'ss SNPs play a role in complex diseases.

Development of a GIS Interface for Estimation of Runoff from Watersheds

Abstract: Development of accurate surface runoff estimation techniques from ungauged watersheds is relevant in Indian condition due to the non-availability of hydrologic gauging stations in majority of watersheds. Besides this, the high budgetary requirements for installation of gauging stations are another limiting factor in India, which leads to the use of surface runoff estimation techniques for ungauged watersheds. Natural Resources Conservation Services Curve Number (NRCS-CN) method is one of the most widely used methods for quick and accurate estimation of surface runoff from ungauged watershed. Also, the coupling of NRCS-CN techniques with the advanced Geographic Information System (GIS) capabilities automates the process of runoff prediction in timely and efficient manner. Keeping view of this, a GIS interface was developed using the in-built macro programming language, Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) of ArcGIS® tool to estimate the surface runoff by adopting NRCS-CN technique and its three modifications. The developed interface named as Interface for Surface Runoff Estimation using Curve Number techniques (ISRE-CN), was validated using the recorded data for the periods from 1993 to 2001 of a gauged watershed, Banha in the Upper Damodar Valley in Jharkhand, India. The observed runoff depths for different rainfall events in this study watershed was compared with the predicted values of NRCS-CN methods and its three modifications using statistical significance tests. It was revealed that using all the rainfall data for different AMC conditions, the modified CN I performed the best [R2 (coefficient of determination) = 0.92; E (model efficiency) = 0.89) followed by modified CN III method (R2 = 0.88; E = 0.87), while the modified CN II (R2 = 0.42; E = 0.36) failed to predict accurately the surface runoff from Banha watershed. Moreover, under AMC based estimations, the modified CN I method also performed best (R2 = 0.95; E = 0.95) for AMC II condition, while the modified CN II performed the worst in all the AMC conditions. However, the developed Interface in ArcGIS® needs to be tested in other watershed systems for wider applicability of the modified CN methods.

Impact of processing treatments and packaging material on some properties of stored dehydrated cauliflower

Abstract: Summary Investigations were carried out to see the impact of blanching time, pretreatment and storage and packaging on the physico-chemical properties of solar dehydrated cauliflower. The processing treatments selected for the study were blanching time of 3, 5, 7 and 9 min, potassium metabisulphite (KMS) pretreatment having 0.5%, 1.0% and 1.5% concentration level and storage in high-density polyethylene, laminated aluminium foil and polypropylene. The cauliflowers were further processed and dehydrated in solar dryer before packing it into different packaging materials. Packed dehydrated cauliflower was stored for 6 months at room temperature. The stored cauliflower samples were tested periodically for their moisture content, rehydration ratio, rehydration coefficient, ascorbic acid and browning. Ranking of blanching time, chemical concentration level and packaging materials were statistically analysed by using SAS package. The samples with 9 min blanching time, followed by dipping in 1.0% KMS solution, and packed in laminated aluminium foil showed better results in comparison with other treatments.

IPPS Sampling Plans Excluding Adjacent Units

Abstract: The concept of inclusion probability proportional to size sampling plans excluding adjacent units separated by at most a distance of m (≥ 1) units {IPPSEA plans} is introduced. IPPSEA plans ensure that the first-order inclusion probabilities of units are proportional to size measures of the units, while the second-order inclusion probabilities are zero for pairs of adjacent units separated by a distance of m units or less. IPPSEA plans have been obtained by making use of binary, proper, and unequireplicated block designs and linear programing approach. The performance of IPPSEA plans using Horvitz–Thompson estimator of population total has been compared with existing sampling plans such as simple random sampling without replacement (SRSWOR), balanced sampling plans excluding adjacent units {BSA (m) plans}, probability proportional to size with replacement, Hartley and Rao's plan (1962), Rao et al.'s strategy (1962), and Sampford's IPPS plan (1967) using a real life population. Unbiased estimation of Horvi...

Ergonomic Evaluation of Foot Operated Rotary Power Generation

Abstract: Large number of farm machines and hand tools used on Indian farms require rotational power for operation. In India, human energy is extensively used as main source of power to operate farm equipment for low power requirement (<75 W) in different modes including rotational mode. An ergonomic evaluation of foot operated rotational power generation in different modes namely; pedal, stepper and bicycle at five mechanical output conditions was carried out. During experiments, physiological and postural parameters were evaluated. Up to 55.9W of mechanical power output in bicycle mode of operation was found to be the best. At 74.6W of mechanical power output, stepper mode of operation was better than other modes. At no load and 18.6W of mechanical output, the overall discomfort score was the lowest in bicycle mode. At 37.3, 55.9 and 74.6W mechanical outputs, overall discomfort score was lowest in stepper mode. The human efficiency was the highest in bicycle mode of operation at 18.6, 37.3 and 55.9W of mechanical output conditions but at 74.6W mechanical output condition, highest human efficiency was obtained in stepper mode.

A Bootstrap Study of Variance Estimation under Heteroscedasticity using Genetic Algorithm

Abstract: The conventional ordinary least squares (OLS) variance-covariance matrix estimator for a linear regression model under heteroscedastic errors is biased and inconsistent. Accordingly, several estimators have so far been proposed by various researchers. However, none of these perform well under the finite-sample situation. In this paper, the powerful optimization technique of Genetic algorithm (GA) is used to modify these estimators. Properties of these newly developed estimators are thoroughly studied by Monte Carlo method for various sample sizes. It is shown that GA-versions of the estimators are superior to corresponding non-GA versions as there are significant reductions in the Total relative bias as well as Total root mean square error.

Post harvest losses in marine fisheries

Abstract: In India, fish is the major source of protein for over one-third of the population especially for the rural poor in coastal areas. The per capita consumption of fish in India is 9.8 kg. against the recommended intake of 13 kg. The marine fish production has also been stagnating over recent years (CMFRI, 2004). As per FAO, the post harvest loss in world fisheries is 10%.Considering the nutritional significance coupled with stagnating catches in India, it is imperative that losses at all levels should be reduced. A pilot study to assess harvest andpost harvest losses in the marine sector was carried out by Central Institute of Fisheries Technology, Cochin in collaboration with Indian Agricultural Statistics Research Institute, New Delhi. This paper presents the results obtained vis-a-vis the post harvest sector in the study.

Possibilistic Linear Regression Analysis with Fuzzy Response Variable for Crop YIELD Estimation

Abstract: Reliable estimates of crop yields at small area level, say blocks, are of great importance for policy planning at micro-level. To this end, application of present methodology of Crop-cutting experiments is not practicable, as it would require total number of such experiments to increase many folds. Additional information about farmers' estimates of crop yields at block level, which are crisp values, may be used provided these can explain the actual crop yields, which are fuzzy. Accordingly, in this paper, theory of fuzzy sets and possibilistic regression analysis is discussed. Three methods, viz . Minimization, Maximization, and Conjunction are considered. The methodology is applied for modelling cotton crop yields at block levels of Sirsa district, Haryana. It is found that Conjunction method performed the best. Further, farmers' estimates are able to explain the actual crop yields with fitness level as high as 0.6.

Modelling and forecasting the marine fish production of India

Abstract: The newly emerging area of ''Wavelet analysis'' is thoroughly discussed along with its modification through different thresholding procedures. As an illustration, the methodology is applied to model and forecast country’s marine fish production data during 1971 to 2002 using S-PLUS Wavelet toolkit. Presence of autocorrelation for residuals is detected by Durbin- Watson test. Subsequently, Wavelet with data-dependent thresholding as well as other approaches, viz. , Box-Jenkins ARIMA and non-parametric regression techniques, are also applied to the data. Comparison, on the basis of mean square errors, shows superiority of Wavelet procedure over Box-Jenkins ARIMA and non-parametric regression method for data under consideration. Finally, forecast of country’s marine fish production for the year 2003 is obtained through Wavelet methodology.

Learning Patterns from Clusters Using Reduct

Abstract: Usual clustering algorithms just generate general description of the clusters like which entities are member of each cluster and lacks in generating cluster description in the form of pattern. Pattern is defined as a logical statement describing a cluster structure in terms of relevant attributes. In the proposed approach reduct from rough set theory is employed to generate pattern. Reduct is defined as the set of attributes which distinguishes the entities in a homogenous cluster, therefore these can be clear cut removed from the same. Remaining attributes are ranked for their contribution in the cluster. Cluster description is then formed by conjunction of most contributing attributes. Proposed approach is demonstrated using benchmarking mushroom dataset from UCI repository.

A stochastic logistic model with time delay

Abstract: Summary The stochastic version of the logistic model for population growth is generalized to take account of continuously distributed time delay with an exponentially decaying kernel. The theory of diffusion processes is used to analyse the probability density function of the population size. The explicit expression for the stationary distribution is worked out and the effect of time delay on various statistics is discussed.

A two-stage fuzzy least squares procedure for fitting

Abstract: In this paper, fitting of linearized von Bertalanffy growth model is revisited when response variabe is reported in intervals corresponding to various values of explanatory variable. Earlier, Tanka’s linear programming methodology was used to handle this problem. However, this approach has several limitations, which are highlighted. Accordingly, a more efficient two stage procedure based on fuzzy least squares, is employed. The methodology is thoroughly discussed and, for its application, relevant computer programs are developed in “Nonlinear programming solver LINGO, Version 8” software package. Finally, an illustration to pearl oyster age-length data is discussed.