Multiuser Switched Diversity Scheduling Schemes

Multiuser switched-diversity scheduling schemes were recently proposed in order to overcome the heavy feedback requirements of conventional opportunistic scheduling schemes by applying a threshold-based, distributed, and ordered scheduling mechanism. The main idea behind these schemes is that slight reduction in the prospected multiuser diversity gains is an acceptable trade-off for great savings in terms of required channel-state-information feedback messages. In this work, we characterize the achievable rate region of multiuser switched diversity systems and compare it with the rate region of full feedback multiuser diversity systems. We propose also a novel proportional fair multiuser switched-based scheduling scheme and we demonstrate that it can be optimized using a practical and distributed method to obtain the feedback thresholds. We finally demonstrate by numerical examples that switched-diversity scheduling schemes operate within 0.3 bits/sec/Hz from the ultimate network capacity of full feedback systems in Rayleigh fading conditions.Comment: Accepted at IEEE Transactions on Communications, to appear 2012, funded by NPRP grant 08-577-2-241 from QNR

Development of a methodology to fill gaps in MODIS LST data for Antarctica

Dissertation submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in Geospatial TechnologiesLand Surface Temperature (LST) is an essential parameter for analyzing many environmental questions. Lack of high spatio-temporal resolution of LST data in Antarctica limits the understanding of climatological, ecological processes. The MODIS LST product is a promising source that provides daily LST data at 1 km spatial resolution, but MODIS LST data have gaps due to cloud cover. This research developed a method to fill those gaps with user-defined options to balance processing time and accuracy of MODIS LST data. The presented method combined temporal and spatial interpolation, using the nearest MODIS Aqua/Terra scene for temporal interpolation, Generalized Additive Model (GAM) using 3-dimensional spatial trend surface, elevation, and aspect as covariates. The moving window size controls the number of filled pixels and the prediction accuracy in the temporal interpolation. A large moving window filled more pixels with less accuracy but improved the overall accuracy of the method. The developed method's performance validated and compared to Local Weighted Regression (LWR) using 14 images and Thin Plate Spline (TPS) interpolation by filling different sizes of artificial gaps 3%, 10%, and 25% of valid pixels. The developed method performed better with a low percentage of cloud cover by RMSE ranged between 0.72 to 1.70 but tended to have a higher RMSE with a high percentage of cloud cover

Hardware-Oriented Cache Management for Large-Scale Chip Multiprocessors

One of the key requirements to obtaining high performance from chip multiprocessors (CMPs) is to effectively manage the limited on-chip cache resources shared among co-scheduled threads/processes. This thesis proposes new hardware-oriented solutions for distributed CMP caches. Computer architects are faced with growing challenges when designing cache systems for CMPs. These challenges result from non-uniform access latencies, interference misses, the bandwidth wall problem, and diverse workload characteristics. Our exploration of the CMP cache management problem suggests a CMP caching framework (CC-FR) that defines three main approaches to solve the problem: (1) data placement, (2) data retention, and (3) data relocation. We effectively implement CC-FR's components by proposing and evaluating multiple cache management mechanisms.Pressure and Distance Aware Placement (PDA) decouples the physical locations of cache blocks from their addresses for the sake of reducing misses caused by destructive interferences. Flexible Set Balancing (FSB), on the other hand, reduces interference misses via extending the life time of cache lines through retaining some fraction of the working set at underutilized local sets to satisfy far-flung reuses. PDA implements CC-FR's data placement and relocation components and FSB applies CC-FR's retention approach.To alleviate non-uniform access latencies and adapt to phase changes in programs, Adaptive Controlled Migration (ACM) dynamically and periodically promotes cache blocks towards L2 banks close to requesting cores. ACM lies under CC-FR's data relocation category. Dynamic Cache Clustering (DCC), on the other hand, addresses diverse workload characteristics and growing non-uniform access latencies challenges via constructing a cache cluster for each core and expands/contracts all clusters synergistically to match each core's cache demand. DCC implements CC-FR's data placement and relocation approaches. Lastly, Dynamic Pressure and Distance Aware Placement (DPDA) combines PDA and ACM to cooperatively mitigate interference misses and non-uniform access latencies. Dynamic Cache Clustering and Balancing (DCCB), on the other hand, combines DCC and FSB to employ all CC-FR's categories and achieve higher system performance. Simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed mechanisms and show that they compare favorably with related cache designs

Effect of Brainstorming Strategy on Balqa Applied University’s Students’ Achievement in the Course “E 101” and Its Relation to Some Variables

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of Brain Storming Strategy in Balqa Applied University’s students’ achievement in the course “E 101”. The study applied the quasi- experimental approach. The population of this study consists of 1300 male and female students in the first semester of the academic year 2013-2014. The sample  of the study  which  was chosen randomly , consisted of  68 male and female students and it was divided into two groups;   as   experimental group (34 studied using brain storming strategy)  and the  control group that learns traditionally. An achievement exam was used to measure the students’ achievement with reliability (0.80).     The results of the study showed there were  statistically significant differences between the means of the  (α ≤ 0.05) in the  Balqa Applied University’s students’ achievement  in the course “ E101”    due to the two groups at method of teaching in favor of brainstorming strategy  and to the  gender in favor of females. Results also revealed that there were   no statistically significant differences between the means of the two groups due to the interaction between the   method of teaching and gender variables. The researcher came up with some recommendations. Keywords: brainstorming strategy, Balqa Applied University, achievement

Rainfed farming prospects in the low rainfall zone of northern Iraq based on meteorological and soil moisture measurements

 More than 50% of the rainfed region in northernIraqfalls within the low rainfall zone receiving between 300 and 400 mm of mean seasonal rainfall. Several natural runoff plots with access tubes were used to measure soil moisture distribution in depth and time. Measurements during two consecutive rainfall seasons were used to forecast the rainfed farming prospects in the low rainfall zone. The first season is considered wet because it received 568 mm of mean seasonal rainfall; the second rainfall season is considered dry because it received 256 of mean seasonal rainfall. The prospects of tillage systems, fertilization and soil moisture conservation for a successful rainfed farming (wheat and barley crops) venture in the low rainfall zone were explored and  a rainfed farming guide for this zone was suggested. Â

Multiple weak gauge boson production in high energy hadronic collisions

The electroweak standard model, as well-known, has been remarkably successful in describing a broad spectrum of high energy physics and has also given a satisfactory and consistent theoretical description of all the experimental data which has been obtained so far. The aim of the present work is to investigate some of the most important processes associated with the standard model which involve the charged intermediate bosons W(^±), the neutral intermediate boson Z, the pair production of weak gauge bosons and the Higgs boson. First of all we start with the study of the effect of the strong interaction on the direct production of weak gauge boson production at hadron colliders. We calculate the first order perturbative QCD corrections O(a(_s)) to the lowest order cross sections for photon and Z pair production at hadron colliders. The calculation contains divergences, represented in dimensional regularisation by poles of order O(1/ϵ) and O(1/ϵ(^2)), where ϵ = 4-n(_2). The order O(1/ϵ(^2)) terms are eliminated when real and virtual corrections are combined, and the remaining 0(1/ϵ) corrections will be absorbed into the quark momentum distribution functions. We then study the production rate of weak gauge boson pairs for proton- proton and proton-antiproton colliders using single and double parton scattering mechanisms. We extrapolate to the next generation of hadron colliders with centre-of-mass energy E(_cm)= 10-200 TeV. We find comparable values for the single and double scattering cross sections at very high energies. To expand our investigation, we study also the production rate of multiple gauge bosons at hadron supercolliders using the double parton scattering mechanism. These kinds of processes are important and represent a potential significant background for Higgs boson production. Finally, and for completeness, we study Higgs boson phenomenology, which now forms a substantial part of the physics program at the next generation of high-energy colliders. The calculation covers the production rate of single and double Higgs production at hadron colliders via gluon-gluon fusion, their branching ratios and decay widths

Skill mix development in general practice: a mixed method study of practice nurses and general practitioners

General practice has undergone considerable change in the last two decades. New roles for nurses working in general practice have extended to include tasks that were previously delivered by general practitioners, in particular chronic disease management, and the development of new, advanced roles such as independent nurse prescribing. There have been few research studies investigating the impact of these changes, especially after the introduction of the new General Medical Services contract in April 2004. The overall aim of the work presented in this thesis was to examine the emerging roles of practice nurses, the forces influencing that development, and the effects of these changes on doctor-nurse skill mix in general practice within NHS Scotland. The work employed a mixed methods approach, with three inter-linked studies. The first study was a quantitative, desk-based analysis of workload and clinical activities of doctors and nurses working in 37 practices across Scotland for the year 2002. The second study was a postal questionnaire to all practice nurses working within NHS Greater Glasgow (n=329), conducted in autumn 2005 and achieving a 61% response rate. The third study was a qualitative study, consisting of eighteen interviews with a doctor and nurse inform each of nine general practices. The interviews were conducted between January and July 2006 and practices were selected according to the number of partners and the deprivation status of the practice population. Analysis of workload data showed that practice nurses and general practitioners dealt with 27.5% and 72.5% of total face-to-face encounters, respectively. Many of the encounters with nurses involved chronic disease management, with 20% of such encounters appearing similar in content to the work of GPs. The postal survey found that one third of practice nurses were aged over 50, and will be approaching retirement within 10 years. The majority worked in small teams of nurses, although 31% worked alone. This may have contributed to the finding that 52% (n=103) reported feeling isolated in their workplace. Many had attended CPD training on chronic conditions, but identified minor illness treatment as an area for future training. The qualitative study showed that the Quality and Outcomes Framework of the 2004 contract had been a key driver of changes in general practice service delivery. This has led to an increasing shift in routine care from doctors to nurses. As new roles for practice nurses have evolved, GPs have been able to focus on treating complex morbidities that need medical diagnosis and intervention. The incentivised targets of the new contract have made chronic disease management a predominant activity for practice nurses, with treatment room and non-incentivised activities featuring less and increasingly being provided by new, lower grade nurses or nurse replacements such as Health Care Support Workers (HCSW). There was no consensus between interview participants in terms of the most appropriate use of doctor-nurse skill mix in general practice. Nor did they agree on the merit of advanced roles for practice nurses. However, respondents did emphasise that nurses who wanted to have an independent/advanced role in the practice would need to combine three competencies (independent nurse prescribing, triaging, and minor illness treatment). Most practice nurses interviewed were concerned with obtaining a fair financial return to match their increasing responsibilities, especially after the introduction of the nGMS contract. GPs, however, tended to believe that nurses were appropriately remunerated for the level of responsibility they had within the practice. The continuing role of the GP as the employer of practice nurses was problematic for some nurses and many felt there would be advantages to being employed on Agenda for Change terms and conditions. However, the majority of nurses interviewed preferred being employed by a GP rather than the Health Board. There was little support amongst either nurses or GPs for the notion of nurse partners within practices. Overall, these studies provide lessons which will be of value in planning the future training and development of practice nurses. It suggests that practice nurses should obtain proper training and support in order to meet their individual needs and to carry out new responsibilities and roles. In addition, the impending shortage of practice nurses due to retirement, lack of retention and potential recruitment difficulties needs to be addressed urgently at the level of primary care policy and manpower planning

Comparison of Some Suggested Estimators Based on Differencing Technique in the Partial Linear Model Using Simulation

في هذا البحث تم تقديم طرائق مبنية على اساس تقنية الفروق وهي مقدر انحدار الحرف الجاكنايف المعدل المعمم على اساس الفروق (DMJGR) ومقدر انحدار الحرف الجاكنايف المعمم على اساس الفروق (DJGR)  في تقدير معلمات الجزء الخطي من النموذج الخطي الجزئي. أما بالنسبة للجزء غير الخطي الممثل بالدالة اللامعلمية، فقد تم تقديره باستخدام مقدر Nadaraya Watson . تمت مقارنة النموذج الخطي الجزئي باستخدام هذه الطرائق المقترحة مع مقدرات أخرى تعتمد على تقنية الفروق من خلال معيار مقارنة MSE في دراسة محاكاة.In this paper new methods were presented based on technique of differences which is the difference- based modified jackknifed generalized ridge regression estimator(DMJGR) and difference-based generalized  jackknifed ridge regression estimator(DGJR), in estimating the parameters of linear part of the partially linear model. As for the nonlinear part represented by the nonparametric function, it was estimated using Nadaraya Watson smoother. The partially linear model was compared using these proposed methods with other estimators based on differencing technique through the MSE comparison criterion in simulation study