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To link to full-text access for this article, visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jss.2010.07.049 Byline: Muhammad Irfan Ullah (a), Gunther Ruhe (a)(b), Vahid Garousi (b) Keywords: Software product lines; Software product evolution; Software product management; Decision support; Behavioral analysis; Open-source systems Abstract: Successful software systems continuously evolve to accommodate ever-changing needs of customers. Accommodating the feature requests of all the customers in a single product increases the risks and costs of software maintenance. A possible approach to mitigate these risks is to transition the evolving software system (ESS) from a single system to a portfolio of related product variants, each addressing a specific customers' segment. This evolution should be conducted such that the extent of modifications required in ESS's structure is reduced. The proposed method COPE+ uses preferences of customers on product features to generate multiple product portfolios each containing one product variant per segment of customers. Recommendations are given to the decision maker to update the product portfolios based on structural analysis of ESS. Product portfolios are compared with the ESS using statechart representations to identify the level of similarity in their behaviors. A proof of concept is presented by application to an open-source text editing system. Structural and behavioral analysis of candidate portfolios helped the decision maker to select one portfolio out of three candidates. Author Affiliation: (a) Department of Computer Science, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4, Canada (b) Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4, Canada Article History: Received 14 February 2010; Revised 25 May 2010; Accepted 21 July 2010

Pakistan is a neglected endemic focus for Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato , a zoonotic parasite species complex with the ability to infect wide spectrum of hosts. Wide gaps exist in literature for etiological agents of cystic echinococcosis (CE) in Pakistan due to a very low number of studies on identifying the exact genotypes involved in epidemiological manifestation of this disease. Focusing on transmission patterns and epidemiological dynamics, this study aimed at investigating infective genotypes among the cattle population of south Punjab, Pakistan, employing a mitochondrial marker nad5 (680 bp). Nucleotide sequences retrieved from 28 hydatid cyst isolates displayed considerable intraspecific variation revealing the existence of G3 and G1 strains of Echinococcus granulosus sensu stricto. The G3 genotype emerged as the predominant cause (78.57%) of hydatidosis in cattle. Apart from this, to understand phylogeographical relations, homologous nucleotide sequences of the partial nad5 gene from six major regions of the world were employed in the population genetics analysis to have an insight into genetic variability and demographics of G3 genotype in particular. Diversification of G3 and its haplotypes in Pakistan (n = 11) and other regions of the world (India, Iran, Turkey, Italy and France) was demonstrated. It was further demonstrated that the South Asian population (Pakistan and India) was highly differentiated from the other regions. It could, therefore, be speculated that G3 is diverging and expanding its population with South Asia as the main focal point. • First report on population structure and genotypic composition of Echinococcus granulosus s.s. from south Punjab, Pakistan. • G3 strain has efficient ecological transmission between hosts in South Asian clime. • G3 strain is diverging and expanding its population with South Asia emerging as the main focal point for strain dispersal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Biomonitoring of people exposed to hazardous materials provides opportunities for early identification of several diseases, particularly in those individuals who are constantly exposed to pesticides, such as pesticide operators and workers in pesticide manufacturing industry. However, data on this hot topic are limited in Pakistan. In this study, insecticide toxic effects and biochemical alterations (i.e., damage in DNA and enzyme activity) were studied in blood samples of occupationally exposed individuals from Punjab, Pakistan. Eight out of twenty-seven blood samples (29.6%) of the pesticide operators were found positive in five insecticides, with the maximum concentration found for chlorpyrifos-methyl (0.039 μg/mL). Eleven out of twenty-seven blood samples (40.7%) of the pesticide industry workers were found positive in eight insecticides, with the maximum concentration found for endosulfan (0.051 μg/mL). Comet tail length was 16.88 ± 4.57 μm in pesticide industry workers and 16.33 ± 3.78 μm in pesticide operators, which were significantly higher (P < 0.01) than that recorded in the control group (4.84 ± 2.21 μm). Values of serum cholinesterase (SChE) concentration were slightly lower (P > 0.05) in exposed individuals, whereas values of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) concentration were significantly higher (P < 0.01) in exposed individuals compared with control group. Exposure duration and total insecticide concentration in blood samples were positively associated with comet tail length, ALT activity, AST activity, and ALP activity, but negatively with SChE. DNA damage was higher in smokers vs. non-smokers. Also, a positive association was found between comet tail length and number of cigarettes per day. Overall, occupational exposure to insecticides can pose serious health risks to pesticide operators and workers in pesticide manufacturing industry, highlighting the necessity of personal protection in those groups for preventing exposure and resultant health disorders. Graphical abstract Unlabelled Image Highlights • Insecticide toxic effects were studied in blood samples of exposed individuals. • Thirty percent of operators' blood samples were positive in five insecticides. • Forty-one percent of industry workers' blood samples were positive in eight insecticides. • Insecticide concentration in blood samples was positively associated with comet length. • Hepatic enzymes concentrations were higher in exposed individuals than control group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract One third of food produced for human consumption is lost or wasted meanwhile one billion people on the earth are suffering from hunger and malnutrition, making food waste a major sustainability issue. Food appropriate for human consumption but ultimately ends up unconsumed or discarded is called food waste. Reducing food waste can bring down the food costs, benefit the environment, and improve food security and human health as food comprised of various nutrients which are vital for disease prevention. Food and nutrition waste estimation is essential to provide awareness among the general public regarding importance of food which is thrown away as waste and to develop policies on regional and global level to reduce food waste or redirect surplus food to needy people before it going to waste. The current study aimed to (i) determine the level of food waste and its composition by types (ii) calculate the nutritional losses from food wastes and (iii) examine the causes of food waste at household level in tehsil Kahror Pakka, Pakistan. To explore these objectives, food waste generated during 24 h was collected from fifty one households, sorted and weighed into different types such as fruit, vegetables, cooked food, processed food, meat including fish and poultry and dairy products. Maximum food waste was associated with cooked food (35.02 g) whereas, minimum waste was reported by dairy products (1.98 g) per capita per day. Nutritional value of food waste was estimated by comparing the values of each food item with food composition table for Pakistan. Total amount of household food waste represented an estimated value of energy (54.42 kcal), protein (2.61 g), lipids (2.21 g), carbohydrates (10.58 g), fiber (0.75 g), β-carotene (275.2 mcg), and vitamin A (96.83RE), calcium (Ca) (22.49 mg) and phosphorous (P) (37.11 mg) per capita per day. Energy losses were higher from cereals (79%) while moisture losses were higher from fruits (53%) and vegetables (69%). Approximately 2.6% of total kcal requirement (2100 kcal) of Pakistan food basket was wasted with food waste. In a survey, most respondents reported that cooked food is wasted as it looks bad (50%), misplanning of meal (40%) and cooked improperly (36%). Processed food is mostly wasted due to unawareness of respondents regarding labeling dates (50%). Highlights • Attempt to estimate the nutritional value of food waste and its causes in study area. • Cooked food waste was higher while dairy waste was lower at household level. • Energy and Phosphorous losses were higher from cereals waste. • About 21.4% of daily fruit and vegetable requirement was wasted with food waste. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most of the developing countries including Pakistan have poor sanitary conditions which cause numerous diseases in human. Therefore, the present work aimed at evaluating the physicochemical and microbial contamination of drinking water in urban areas of three tehsils (Vehari, Mailsi and Burewala) of district Vehari based on occurrence of water-borne diseases. Forty-one water samples (six from tehsil municipal administration (TMA) water supply and 35 from electric pump) were collected from various locations of district Vehari for physicochemical and microbial analysis. In all the sampling sites pH (7.2–7.7), Phosphate (PO 4 −3 ) (0.00–0.94 mg/L), Sulphate (SO 4 −2 ) (0.00–172.8 mg/L), Magnesium (Mg +2 ) (4.55–40.7 mg/L), Iron (Fe +2 ) (0.00–0.09 mg/L), Copper (Cu +2 ) (0.00–0.04 mg/L), Zinc (Zn +2 ) (0.00–0.15 mg/L) and Manganese (Mn +2 ) (0.00–0.01 mg/L) were found under WHO limits. Microbial contamination of Eschrichia coli and coliform were found in water samples of F-Block, D-Block and C-Block of tehsil Vehari. Results revealed that the values of certain parameters such as electrical conductivity (0.34–2.23 mS/cm), total dissolved solids (123–1430.4 mg/L), Sodium (Na + ) (55.5–327.5 mg/L), Calcium (Ca +2 ) (7.1–115 mg/L), Potassium (K + ) (3.9–17.75 mg/L), Chloride (Cl − ) (0.00–479.25 mg/L), and Nitrate (NO 3 − ) (0.59–12.14 mg/L) exceed WHO limits in Sharqi Colony, Lalazar, Health Colony, TMA Sharqi Colony, Y-Block, 9-11 WB, College Town and 13-WB areas of district Vehari. Moreover, the survey of the sampled area was also conducted to assess public perception regarding water quality, its treatment, sanitation practices and possible reasons for the occurrence of water borne diseases. The survey results showed that 48.6% of the respondents disagreed that drinking water of their area is good. Cross tab analysis exhibited that respondents from different gender (65.3%), marital status (65.3%) and family type (65.3%) did not treat drinking water before use. Peoples who were not satisfied with their drinking water quality reported more disease development (45.8%) compared to those who were satisfied (11.1%) with their drinking water quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The conducted research focused on the impact of tree age and fruit size on postharvest respiration as well as changes in physico-chemical quality of ‘Kinnow' mandarin fruit, stored in ambient conditions (20 ± 2 °C). Fruit from three different tree age groups (6, 18 and 35-years) and fruit size (large, medium and small) groups were analyzed for respiration and fruit quality during seven days ambient storage. Fruit from tree age group of 35-years surpassed the fruits from tree age group of 6-years in carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) production, while fruit size had non significant influenced CO 2 production following ambient storage. Ethylene production was predominantly more in fruit from tree age group of 35-years, while fruit of small size irrespective of tree age group had significantly higher ethylene production. In general, CO 2 production indicated a non-climacteric pattern, while ethylene production followed climacteric pattern, with two peaks. As regards fruit quality, fruit of tree age group of 35-years, had more TSS (10.6°Brix) titratable acidity (TA) (0.81%), sugars {reducing (1.9%), non reducing (5.3%) and total sugars (7.5%)} as compared to tree age group of 6 and 18-years. Final fruit quality data after seven days of ambient storage showed more decrease in TA (0.1%) and reducing sugars (0.26%) and increase in ascorbic acid (AA) (3.38 mg 100 mL −1 ) and non reducing sugars (0.61%) in fruit of trees age group of 35-years. Fruit from 18-years old trees had higher mass loss (8.39%), irrespective of fruit size and the interactive response of tree age and fruit size revealed that more mass loss (11.71%) was observed in small sized fruit from 18-year-old trees. Ethylene production was positively correlated with mass loss ( r = +0.734) in fruit from 18-year-old trees and negatively ( r = −0.692) in fruit from 6-year-old trees. Irrespective of tree age and fruit size ethylene and CO 2 correlated positively with TSS, titratable acidity and total sugars and negatively with rind thickness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pakistan has long been considered neglected endemic region for Echinococcus granulosus. Limited surveillance studies have failed to epidemiologically draw complete picture on geographical presence and etiological agents of cystic echinococcosis. Amidst such lacunae, current study explored main transmission routes of this disease through molecular characterization of hydatid cyst isolates obtained from sheep (n = 35), goats (n = 26), cattle (n = 30) and buffalo (n = 30) from the four provinces of Pakistan. Two strains of E. granulosus sensu stricto , G1/G3, and their haplotypes were observed to be cycling in sympatry in the domestic ungulate populations. G3 genotype had higher prevalence (66.94%) in the hosts compared to G1 genotype (33.06%) which was not surprising, considering the large buffalo population in Pakistan. Haplotypic analysis revealed presence of 9 different haplotypes configured in a double clustered network with two centrally positioned haplotypes referred to as G3 (PKH1) and G1 (PKH6). Population demographics and genetic variability indices suggested expanding parasitic population in multiple host spectrum. Elucidating local transmission patterns of E. granulosus sensu stricto, buffalo-dog cycle emerged as one of the dominant causes of G3 dispersal in contrary to other global studies. Adaptability of G3 to environmental conditions of Pakistan and high affinity for buffaloes emphasize on heterogeneous nature of this strain in contrast to G1. However, more studies involving larger datasets and mitochondrial sequences could confirm this hypothetically formulated inference. • Pakistan is a neglected endemic region for Echinococcus granulosus • G3, buffalo strain, emerged as dominant cause of infections in Pakistan • Control methods must be implemented targeting buffalo strain in particular [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]