Indoor particulate matter in developing countries: a case study in Pakistan and potential intervention strategies

Around three billion people, largely in low and middle income countries, rely on biomass fuels for their household energy needs. The combustion of these fuels generates a range of hazardous indoor air pollutants and is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in developing countries. Worldwide, it is responsible for four million deaths. A reduction in indoor smoke can have a significant impact on lives and can help achieve many of the Millennium Developments Goals. This letter presents details of a seasonal variation in particulate matter (PM) concentrations in kitchens using biomass fuels as a result of relocating the cooking space. During the summer, kitchens were moved outdoors and as a result the 24 h average PM10, PM2.5 and PM1 fell by 35%, 22% and 24% respectively. However, background concentrations of PM10 within the village increased by 62%. In locations where natural gas was the dominant fuel, the PM concentrations within the kitchen as well as outdoors were considerably lower than those in locations using biomass. These results highlights the importance of ventilation and fuel type for PM levels and suggest that an improved design of cooking spaces would result in enhanced indoor air quality. © 2013 IOP Publishing Ltd

PERANAN IKLIM KOMUNIKASI DALAM MOTIVASI KERJA DEWAN GURU (ASATIDZ & ASATIDZAH) DI PONDOK PESANTREN

Ahmad Nasir : NIM : 14104110003 Peranan Iklim Komunikasi Dalam Motivasi Kerja Dewan Guru (Asatidz & Asatidzah) di Pondok Pesantren (Studi Kasus di Pondok Pesantren At- Tarbiyyah Dusun Cisapi Desa Natanegara Kecamatan Panawangan Kabupaten Ciamis). Penelitian ini adalah sebuah kajian tentang iklim komunikasi kelompok dan organisasi terhadap motivasi kerja dewan guru (asatidz & asatidzah) di pondok pesantren. Adapun tujuan penelitian ini adalah untuk mengetahui: 1) Upaya Pimpinan Pondok Pesantren At-Tarbiyyah dalam memotivasi kinerja para Asatidz. 2) Mengetahui peranan iklim komunikasi dalam motivasi kerja asatidz di Pondok Pesantren At–Tarbiyyah. Untuk menggali penelitian ini, peneliti menggunakan Metode Penelitian Kualitatif dengan Pendekatan Studi Kasus Deskritif. Teknik Pengumpulan Data dengan menggunakan teknik wawancara, observasi dan studi dokumentasi. Analisis data dengan prosedur sebagai berikut : 1) Melakukan pemilahan dan penyusunan klasifikasi data, 2) Melakukan penyuntingan data dan pemberian kode, 3) Melakukan konfirmasi data yang memerlukan verifikasi data dan pendalaman data, dan 4) Melakukan analisis data sesuai dengan konstruksi pembahasan hasil penelitian. Berdasarkan hasil penelitian, pembahasan dan interpretasi yang telah diuraikan pada bab-bab sebelumnya, dengan mengacu pada beberapa teori dan hasil penelitian sebelumnya, dapat ditarik kesimpulan sebagai berikut : a) Upaya yang dilakukan Pimpinan Pondok Pesantren At-Tarbiyyah dalam memotivasi kinerja para Asatidz adalah sebagai berikut : 1) Memotivasi para Asatidz dengan membangun kepuasan, 2) Motivasi Asatidz melalui apresiasi, 3) Motivasi Asatidz Melalui Inspirasi, 4) Motivasi Asatidz Melalui Kompensasi, 5) Mendegarkan ide-ide baru Asatidz, 6) Memelihara hubungan sosial yang baik, 7) Membantu merencanakan karier Asatidz, 8) Mendorong Asatidz untuk terus belajar dan berkembang, 9) Memberi insentif atau bonus yang adil. b) Peran Iklim Komunikasi Organisasi dalam memotivasi Kinerja Asatidz, sebagaimana hasil penelitian bahwa : 1) Pimpinan, Pengasuh, Ketua Yayasan, Asatidz di Pondok Pesantren At-Tarbiyyah mayoritas mengakui bahwa iklim komunikasi organisasi dan motivasi kerja pimpinan dalam mewujudkan misi lembaga (Pondok Peantren) sangat ditentukan dengan adanya iklim komunikasi yang kondusif. 2) Mayoritas informan mengakui bahwa iklim komunikasi di lingkungan kerja merupakan salah satu faktor yang cukup berpengaruh terhadap kinerja atau motivasi kerja. Iklim komunikasi yang kondusif dan menyenangkan akan berimplikasi positif terhadap meningkatnya motivasi kerja dalam mendukung terwujudnya tekad lembaga (Pondok Pesantren) dengan berpedoman pada aturanaturan juklak juknis yang dimiliki oleh Pondok Pesantren At-Tarbiyyah

Keystroke dynamics in the pre-touchscreen era

Biometric authentication seeks to measure an individual’s unique physiological attributes for the purpose of identity verification. Conventionally, this task has been realized via analyses of fingerprints or signature iris patterns. However, whilst such methods effectively offer a superior security protocol compared with password-based approaches for example, their substantial infrastructure costs, and intrusive nature, make them undesirable and indeed impractical for many scenarios. An alternative approach seeks to develop similarly robust screening protocols through analysis of typing patterns, formally known as keystroke dynamics. Here, keystroke analysis methodologies can utilize multiple variables, and a range of mathematical techniques, in order to extract individuals’ typing signatures. Such variables may include measurement of the period between key presses, and/or releases, or even key-strike pressures. Statistical methods, neural networks, and fuzzy logic have often formed the basis for quantitative analysis on the data gathered, typically from conventional computer keyboards. Extension to more recent technologies such as numerical keypads and touch-screen devices is in its infancy, but obviously important as such devices grow in popularity. Here, we review the state of knowledge pertaining to authentication via conventional keyboards with a view toward indicating how this platform of knowledge can be exploited and extended into the newly emergent type-based technological contexts

The impact of remote workers on unemployment during the COVID pandemic

a. COVID-19 and telework b. STATA program was used c. Information was condensed to fit one-pag

Competitive learning in rate coded and spiking neural networks models with applications to vision and audition

Competitive learning is a common and successful approach used to train unsupervised rate-based neural network models. We apply such a technique in this thesis and produce a rate-coded neural network model of pitch processing which provides insights into the training protocols necessary to develop robust pitch representations. However, the extension of reliable unsupervised competitive learning approaches from rate-coded to spiking neural networks has proven challenging, especially when biological plausibility and detail are desired. Transitioning to spiking neural network models is made more difficult by the comparatively high computational cost and complexity of these network models compared to rate-based models. We describe a transition from rate-based to spiking neural network models and address these outstanding issues. First, we focus on increasing simulation efficiency. We develop a state of the art graphical processing unit (GPU) based spiking neural network simulator which adopts optimisations from central processing unit (CPU) and cluster-based simulators. In benchmarks, we show that our novel simulator is capable of simulation speeds up to an order of magnitude greater than contemporary simulators. This greater simulation speed is intended to enable a higher throughput of spiking neural network simulations and thereby accelerate research. In order to ensure that present and future simulators can be efficiently and effectively compared, we also compile a repository of benchmarks which allow validation of simulator performance and simulated neural network dynamics. Having developed efficient simulation techniques, we propose a novel excitatory plasticity rule which, when used to train spiking neural networks in conjunction with an existing inhibitory plasticity rule, produces reliable competitive learning. These rules are both unsupervised, use local only information, and depend upon spike-timing in order to compute synaptic weight updates. This learning rule framework is used to produce a model of V1 simple cell receptive field development and shows qualitatively similar behaviour to traditional sparse coding models. During the development of these models we come across a number of challenges, especially in the interactions of inhibitory and excitatory neurons. We pose solutions to these challenges and thereafter suggest some future research questions and avenues for exploration

The wisdom of polygamy in Islam: The law and customary practice in Afghanistan / Nasir Ahmad Yousefi

This paper aims to review the wisdom of polygamy in Islam, how the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) put it into practice by his divinely guided lifestyle and its practice in Afghanistan. Ninety nine percent of Afghanistan‘s populations are Muslims and yet women in polygamous marriages are subjected to ill-treatment - a treatment which is often sanctioned by customs and/or the decisions of the so-called Jirga (elders council). This paper explains that the polygamy related customs and the Jerga‘s decisions in Afghanistan are contrary not only to Islamic Law but also Afghanistan domestic laws and international human rights law

PERILAKU MENYIMPANG SISWA SMA (Studi Eksplorasi Peta dan Faktor-Faktor Penyebab Perilaku Menyimpang di SMA Negeri Jumapolo)

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui peta perilaku menyimpang, faktor-faktor penyebab perilaku menyimpang, dan upaya-upaya untuk mengatasi perilaku menyimpang pada siswa SMA Negeri Jumapolo Kabupaten Karanganyar Tahun 2011. Jumlah siswa SMA Negeri Jumapolo adalah 851 siswa. Data penelitian ini dikumpulkan melalui informan atau narasumber, tempat dan peristiwa, serta arsip atau dokumen. Teknik pengumpulan data dengan menggunakan metode wawancara, dokumentasi dan observasi. Prosedur dalam penelitian ini terdapat lima tahap yaitu pra lapangan, penelitian lapangan, observasi, analisis data, dan analisis dokumentasi. Hasil penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa peta atau gambaran bentuk-bentuk perilaku menyimpang siswa SMA Negeri Jumapolo Tahun 2011 yang sering dilakukan berupa pelanggaran terhadap peraturan dan tata tertib sekolah, meliputi membawa HP ke sekolah (66,9%), memalsukan surat ijin (50,1%), terlambat masuk sekolah (45,5%), tidak memakai seragam dan tidak rapi dengan ketentuan (42,4%), tidak membawa buku saku (39,6%), tidak masuk tanpa keterangan (35,2%), membolos sekolah (34,1%), tidak mengumpulkan tugas mata pelajaran (24,7%), tidak mengikuti kegiatan ekstrakurikuler yang diwajibkan prosentase (21,26%), dan merokok dilingkungan sekolah (9,4%). Faktor-faktor yang menyebabkan perilaku menyimpang siswa SMA Negeri Jumapolo antara lain: kurang memiliki kontrol diri, pengaruh media cetak dan elektronik, keluarga, teman sebaya, masyarakat, ketidaksesuaian siswa dalam menghayati nilai-nilai yang berlaku disekolah, kebutuhan siswa, dan keinginan siswa dalam melakukan sesuatu. Upaya-upaya pihak sekolah dalam mengatasi perilaku menyimpang atau melanggar aturan-aturan dan tata tertib sekolah bervariasi, sesuai dengan bentuk pelanggaran yang dilakukan oleh siswa. Sanksi yang paling ringan adalah dari pihak sekolah mengingatkan kepada siswa untuk tidak mengulangi pelanggaran tersebut, kemudian sanksi yang paling berat adalah siswa dikeluarkan dari sekolah. Setiap siswa yang melakukan pelanggaran selain mendapat sanksi dari pihak sekolah, juga mendapatkan angka kredit poin pelanggaran, dan apabila kredit poin-point pelanggaran tersebut mencapai 100 point, maka pihak sekolah mengeluarkan siswa tersebut

Sequence Components Based Detection and Classification of Faults in an Islanded Distribution System with 100% Inverter Based Resources

Traditional distribution systems, which are single-sourced and radial, are mostly protectedby fuses, reclosers, and overcurrent relays. Due to the penetration of distributed energy resources, the topology changes to multi-sourced. Fuses and reclosers fail to coordinate for bidirectional fault currents flowing in such a system, jeopardizing the selectivity of protection. When these resources are Inverter Based Resources (IBRs), even detection and classification of faults becomes an issue due to lack of negative and zero sequence currents and severely restricted positive sequence fault currents contributed by IBRs. This issue is most prominent in an islanded distribution system fed completely by IBRs. Recognizing that even in such an island where sequence currents are not generated by IBRs, sequence voltages will always be created by the physics of the fault and hence will be available at the IBR terminals, this thesis proposes to use these sequence voltages for detection and classification of faults locally at the IBR terminal. It also explores the possibility of using machine learning to approximately locate the faulted section based on the signatures provided by the local sequence voltages at the inverter terminal. IEEE 13-bus distribution feeder is modeled as an island in the time domain, fed by one grid forming and three grid following inverters to analyze the properties of such an unbalanced island in normal and faulted conditions. Based on the simulation results, insights are developed, and methodologies are formed and tested

Routine Testing of Liver Function Before and After Elective Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy: Is It Necessary?

This study suggests that mild to moderate elevation in preoperative liver function tests may not be associated with deleterious effects, and in the absence of clinical indications, routine preoperative or postoperative liver function testing may not be necessary