Doctor of Philosophy

dissertationAs the nation's traffic system becomes more congested for various periods of the day, more research in the area of intelligent transportation systems is needed. Traditional solutions of adding more highways and widening the existing system are not feasible anymore due to rapidly increasing demand and lack of room for expansion. The national interest is therefore focused on congestion mitigation methods that promote efficient use of existing infrastructure. Some of the key aspects of congestion management techniques include Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) elements. These ITS elements can play a role in drivers' interaction, route choice, and traffic controls. Combined Traffic Assignment and Control (CTAC) framework-based models can capture the ITS elements- based control-driver interaction in traffic systems. The CTAC method has been the topic of scientific research for the last three decades. Several solution algorithms, model formulations, and implementation efforts have been well documented. Although proven in research, the use of the combined traffic assignment and control modeling framework is rare in practice. Typically, the engineering practice tends to keep Traffic Assignment and Control Optimization processes separate. By doing so, the control-driver interaction in the traffic system is ignored. Previous research found that CTAC models could capture the control-driver interaction and the combined modeling framework should be used in practice

Empirical Evidence of Co-Movement between the Canadian CDS, Stock Market And TSX 60 Volatility Index: A Wavelet Approach

Purpose- The prime objective of this study was to find the co-movement between the Canadian credit default swaps market, the Stock market and volatility index (TSX 60 Index) Design/ Methodology- To achieve this purpose, daily data containing 2870 observations starting from the 1st of January 2009 to the 30th of December 2019 were analyzed. This study employed the wavelet approach to present results in short-term, medium-term, long-term, and very long time. Findings- The findings of this study showed a negative correlation between the CDS market, stock market, and the TSX 60 index in the short-term as well as in the long-term term, while in medium-term and very long-term period correlation is strongly positive. The wavelet co-movement results in the short-term and long-term were negative, while this relationship in the medium-term and very long-term period was strongly positive. Practical Implications- This research provides simultaneous valuable information for investment decisions in the short, medium, and long term time horizons, as well as for the policymakers in the Canadian credit default swaps market, stock market, and the volatility index (TSX 60 Index)

Causality between Macroeconomic Indicators and Stock Market: An Econometric Analysis

We attempt to examine the causality between economic growth and stock market performance of Pakistan for the years 1992M01-2012M12. For this purpose, the test devised by Granger (1988) has been employed. The results reveal a bi-directional causality between economic growth and stock market performance of Pakistan proxied by Karachi Stock Exchange capitalization (KSECAP). Once this bidirectional causality is established, a system of simultaneous equations has been specified and estimated by 2SLS to find the impact of economic growth and selected macroeconomic indicators on the stock market of Pakistan. The estimated results lead to the conclusion that economic growth affects the stock market of Pakistan and vice versa. The implications of the study are of paramount importance, especially for the emerging economies. Hence, bearing in mind the role of macroeconomic indicators in the performance of stock market a better policy can be formulated to enhance the growth of capital markets that in turn will increase the economic growth of emerging economies such as Pakistan and vice versa

Metaheuristics for Traffic Control and Optimization: Current Challenges and Prospects

Intelligent traffic control at signalized intersections in urban areas is vital for mitigating congestion and ensuring sustainable traffic operations. Poor traffic management at road intersections may lead to numerous issues such as increased fuel consumption, high emissions, low travel speeds, excessive delays, and vehicular stops. The methods employed for traffic signal control play a crucial role in evaluating the quality of traffic operations. Existing literature is abundant, with studies focusing on applying regression and probability-based methods for traffic light control. However, these methods have several shortcomings and can not be relied on for heterogeneous traffic conditions in complex urban networks. With rapid advances in communication and information technologies in recent years, various metaheuristics-based techniques have emerged on the horizon of signal control optimization for real-time intelligent traffic management. This study critically reviews the latest advancements in swarm intelligence and evolutionary techniques applied to traffic control and optimization in urban networks. The surveyed literature is classified according to the nature of the metaheuristic used, considered optimization objectives, and signal control parameters. The pros and cons of each method are also highlighted. The study provides current challenges, prospects, and outlook for future research based on gaps identified through a comprehensive literature review

Antimicrobial resistance among migrants in Europe: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: Rates of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) are rising globally and there is concern that increased migration is contributing to the burden of antibiotic resistance in Europe. However, the effect of migration on the burden of AMR in Europe has not yet been comprehensively examined. Therefore, we did a systematic review and meta-analysis to identify and synthesise data for AMR carriage or infection in migrants to Europe to examine differences in patterns of AMR across migrant groups and in different settings. METHODS: For this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched MEDLINE, Embase, PubMed, and Scopus with no language restrictions from Jan 1, 2000, to Jan 18, 2017, for primary data from observational studies reporting antibacterial resistance in common bacterial pathogens among migrants to 21 European Union-15 and European Economic Area countries. To be eligible for inclusion, studies had to report data on carriage or infection with laboratory-confirmed antibiotic-resistant organisms in migrant populations. We extracted data from eligible studies and assessed quality using piloted, standardised forms. We did not examine drug resistance in tuberculosis and excluded articles solely reporting on this parameter. We also excluded articles in which migrant status was determined by ethnicity, country of birth of participants' parents, or was not defined, and articles in which data were not disaggregated by migrant status. Outcomes were carriage of or infection with antibiotic-resistant organisms. We used random-effects models to calculate the pooled prevalence of each outcome. The study protocol is registered with PROSPERO, number CRD42016043681. FINDINGS: We identified 2274 articles, of which 23 observational studies reporting on antibiotic resistance in 2319 migrants were included. The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or AMR infection in migrants was 25·4% (95% CI 19·1-31·8; I2 =98%), including meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (7·8%, 4·8-10·7; I2 =92%) and antibiotic-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (27·2%, 17·6-36·8; I2 =94%). The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or infection was higher in refugees and asylum seekers (33·0%, 18·3-47·6; I2 =98%) than in other migrant groups (6·6%, 1·8-11·3; I2 =92%). The pooled prevalence of antibiotic-resistant organisms was slightly higher in high-migrant community settings (33·1%, 11·1-55·1; I2 =96%) than in migrants in hospitals (24·3%, 16·1-32·6; I2 =98%). We did not find evidence of high rates of transmission of AMR from migrant to host populations. INTERPRETATION: Migrants are exposed to conditions favouring the emergence of drug resistance during transit and in host countries in Europe. Increased antibiotic resistance among refugees and asylum seekers and in high-migrant community settings (such as refugee camps and detention facilities) highlights the need for improved living conditions, access to health care, and initiatives to facilitate detection of and appropriate high-quality treatment for antibiotic-resistant infections during transit and in host countries. Protocols for the prevention and control of infection and for antibiotic surveillance need to be integrated in all aspects of health care, which should be accessible for all migrant groups, and should target determinants of AMR before, during, and after migration. FUNDING: UK National Institute for Health Research Imperial Biomedical Research Centre, Imperial College Healthcare Charity, the Wellcome Trust, and UK National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit in Healthcare-associated Infections and Antimictobial Resistance at Imperial College London

Surgical site infection after gastrointestinal surgery in high-income, middle-income, and low-income countries: a prospective, international, multicentre cohort study

Background: Surgical site infection (SSI) is one of the most common infections associated with health care, but its importance as a global health priority is not fully understood. We quantified the burden of SSI after gastrointestinal surgery in countries in all parts of the world. Methods: This international, prospective, multicentre cohort study included consecutive patients undergoing elective or emergency gastrointestinal resection within 2-week time periods at any health-care facility in any country. Countries with participating centres were stratified into high-income, middle-income, and low-income groups according to the UN's Human Development Index (HDI). Data variables from the GlobalSurg 1 study and other studies that have been found to affect the likelihood of SSI were entered into risk adjustment models. The primary outcome measure was the 30-day SSI incidence (defined by US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria for superficial and deep incisional SSI). Relationships with explanatory variables were examined using Bayesian multilevel logistic regression models. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT02662231. Findings: Between Jan 4, 2016, and July 31, 2016, 13 265 records were submitted for analysis. 12 539 patients from 343 hospitals in 66 countries were included. 7339 (58·5%) patient were from high-HDI countries (193 hospitals in 30 countries), 3918 (31·2%) patients were from middle-HDI countries (82 hospitals in 18 countries), and 1282 (10·2%) patients were from low-HDI countries (68 hospitals in 18 countries). In total, 1538 (12·3%) patients had SSI within 30 days of surgery. The incidence of SSI varied between countries with high (691 [9·4%] of 7339 patients), middle (549 [14·0%] of 3918 patients), and low (298 [23·2%] of 1282) HDI (p < 0·001). The highest SSI incidence in each HDI group was after dirty surgery (102 [17·8%] of 574 patients in high-HDI countries; 74 [31·4%] of 236 patients in middle-HDI countries; 72 [39·8%] of 181 patients in low-HDI countries). Following risk factor adjustment, patients in low-HDI countries were at greatest risk of SSI (adjusted odds ratio 1·60, 95% credible interval 1·05–2·37; p=0·030). 132 (21·6%) of 610 patients with an SSI and a microbiology culture result had an infection that was resistant to the prophylactic antibiotic used. Resistant infections were detected in 49 (16·6%) of 295 patients in high-HDI countries, in 37 (19·8%) of 187 patients in middle-HDI countries, and in 46 (35·9%) of 128 patients in low-HDI countries (p < 0·001). Interpretation: Countries with a low HDI carry a disproportionately greater burden of SSI than countries with a middle or high HDI and might have higher rates of antibiotic resistance. In view of WHO recommendations on SSI prevention that highlight the absence of high-quality interventional research, urgent, pragmatic, randomised trials based in LMICs are needed to assess measures aiming to reduce this preventable complication

Study on Electronic Commerce Behaviors in Russian Market : Case: Tokmaani Oy

Electronic Commerce is doing business online; it provides numerous benefits to a company eager to initiate the Electronic business. Company can locate customers or suppliers worldwide, at a reasonable cost and fast, company can facilitate innovation and enable unique business models, have direct interaction with the customers globally which helps in improved customer service and relationship, can conduct business operations virtually without interruptions as web sites can be open 24 hours a day every day of the year, improved supply chain management by reducing delays, inventories and cost. The main objective of this study was to examine the role of E-commerce in Russian market. As case company `Tokmaani Oy` intends to start its business venture in Russia in near future, and moving to the new market requires many strategic skills to distinguish, this study provides a look to the current market position, competitors and market behaviour. The environment for e-business and key obstacles for doing business in Russia were examined and analysed with empirical data collected during the study. To understand the basic needs of this business medium the study is supported by electronic commerce theories, as well the tangible market analysis were conducted by collecting the information mostly from secondary sources. According to the data collected during the study the Russian online retail market in 2011 worth $10.5 billion in which physical goods were$ 7.8 billion. In year 2010 approximately 07 million people have purchased something online in one month. About 50% Russians with monthly earning 10,000 rubles spend something to buy online, while the group with highest income reaches almost 64%. Inhabitants of 10 big regions have almost 60% of the whole Russian internet users and most number of online customers in Russia. Indicators have forecasted that by 2020 the Russian electronic commerce market could reach $50 billion, and in longer term$100 billion, but fewer than two conditions, increase in the number of internet users and the solution of structural and infrastructural problems, in particular logistics. In the categories of online sales of physical goods most in demand were books, electronics and smart phones, leisure and food industry products, cosmetics and beauty products, etc. E-commerce is increasing with a speed of almost 25% annually which makes Russia even more sparkling for international companies to start their business ventures. The time is right for the Finland’s very prevalent company `Tokmaani Oy` to initiate the Webstore like they have in Finland (Toknet.fi), in few years it will show on records the best strategic move

Power generation analysis of terrestrial ultraviolet-assisted solid oxide electrolyzer cell

This paper presents a novel system design that considerably improves the entrapment of terrestrial ultraviolet (UV) irradiance in a customized honeycomb structure to produce hydrogen at a standard rate of 7.57 slpm for places with a UV index &gt; 11. Thermolysis of high salinity water is done by employing a solid oxide electrolyzer cell (SOEC), which comprises three customized, novel active optical subsystems to filter, track, and concentrate terrestrial UV solar irradiance by Fresnel lenses. The output of systems is fed to a desalinator, a photovoltaic system to produce electrical energy, and a steam generator with modified surface morphology to generate the required superheated steam for the SOEC. A simulation in COMSOL Multiphysics ver. 5.6 has shown that a customized honeycomb structure, when incorporated on the copper–nickel surface of a steam generator, improves its absorptance coefficient up to 93.43% (48.98%—flat case). This results in generating the required superheated steam of 650 °C with a designed active optical system comprising nine Fresnel lenses (7 m2) that offer the concentration of 36 suns on the honeycomb structure of the steam generator as input. The required 1.27 kW of electrical power is obtained by concentrating the photovoltaic system using In0.33Ga0.67N/Si/InN solar cells. This production of hydrogen is sustainable and cost effective, as the estimated cost over 5 years by the proposed system is 0.51 USD/kg, compared to the commercially available system, which costs 3.18 USD/kg

Powering of IOTs through single jersey wearable tribo-electric nano generator

A simple, lightweight, and easy to develop Single Jersey Wearable Tribo-Electric Nano Generators (SJ-WTENG) were constructed using Cotton and Acrylic fabrics (Triboelectric series materials). Fabrics were also coated with Maghemite (γ-Fe2O3) nanoparticles (13 nm) to increase the electrical conductance of the samples. Compression and Vertical contact-separation modes were adopted for studying the performance of the developed samples. Along with a Single WTENG sample, the outputs of two samples connected in series were also measured. To study the effect of developed Maghemite (γ-Fe2O3) nanoparticle coating, non-coated fabrics WTENGs were also constructed and tested. The maximum voltage reached with the Maghemite (γ-Fe2O3) nanoparticle-coated SJ-WTENG samples was a time-varying signal of 7.68 volts peak to peak volts with an approximate frequency of 50.5 Hertz. A shotky diode-based full bridge rectifier was used to get the DC voltage. The rectified DC signal was observed to be 5 volts which was enough to light up an LED with a threshold voltage of 1.7 volts DC as well as charge 3.7 volts, 3.6Ah Li-ion battery pack. Results confirmed that the application of Maghemite (γ-Fe2O3) nanoparticles was useful in augmenting the output of the proposed SJ-WTENG design. The proposed system can be used to power the battery powered IOT (Internet of Things) devices, widely used in medical and body sensor network applications

National hepatitis registry in Pakistan: a dire need for hepatitis surveillance and control

Abstract Hepatitis is a major public health issue in Pakistan, with an estimated 11.55% prevalence of HCV infection in the adult population. The country ranks second globally in terms of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections, with approximately one in every 20 Pakistanis already infected. The mortality rates due to HBV and HCV stand at 563,000 and 366,000 annually, respectively. However, the absence of a national registry or database system and the lack of coordination among provinces pose significant obstacles in combating this disease effectively. To address this issue, the establishment of a centralized national database registry is crucial, allowing comprehensive analysis, tracking of hepatitis prevalence, and identification of high-risk areas for targeted interventions. By fostering collaboration among provinces, the government, and non-governmental organizations, the registry would facilitate joint decision-making, minimize duplication of efforts, and address inconsistencies in diagnosis and treatment. Collaborating with student-run organizations and leveraging enhanced laboratory capacities post-COVID era can strengthen the hepatitis control program. The centralized approach and unified efforts are necessary to achieve the goal of a hepatitis-free Pakistan, where a healthier future can be realized