Shortest path routing algorithm for hierarchical interconnection network-on-chip

Interconnection networks play a significant role in efficient on-chip communication for multicore systems. This paper introduces a new interconnection topology called the Hierarchical Cross Connected Recursive network (HCCR) and a shortest path routing algorithm for the HCCR. Proposed topology offers a high degree of regularity, scalability, and symmetry with a reduced number of links and node degree. A unique address encoding scheme is proposed for hierarchical graphical representation of HCCR networks, and based on this scheme a shortest path routing algorithm is devised. The algorithm requires 5(k-1) time where k=logn4-2 and k>0, in worst case to determine the next node along the shortest path

Evaluating the Effects of Possible Religious Incitement to Discrimination on the Human Capabilities of Khawaja siras in Pakistan

Khawaja siras across Pakistan experience inordinate economic and social exclusion, violence, and persecution due in part to widely perpetuated assumptions regarding their non-conforming gender identities and post-colonial religious and cultural mores conventionally held by much of Pakistani society. They are considered a highly disadvantaged, marginalized, and vulnerable group with limited economic and social opportunity and mobility, and ambiguous civil, political, and legal equality. This thesis will seek to interrogate and identify causal linkages that may exist between the instrumentalization of Islamic narratives to incite multifaceted forms of discrimination against khawaja siras in Pakistan and impediments to the achievement of their human capabilities. The thesis relies on qualitative data accrued through semi-structured, in-depth interviews with four khawaja sira identifying participants in Lahore, Pakistan, conducted with the aim to understand how and why they experience difference, stigma, shame, and harm. The thesis will illustrate how these experiences define the lived realities of khawaja siras in Pakistan and will demonstrate how these experiences can function as qualitative indicators representative of khawaja siras’ human capabilities. This thesis is intended to build upon existing literature and data pertaining to the social and economic exclusion that khawaja siras in Pakistan experience

Point cloud segmentation using hierarchical tree for architectural models

Recent developments in the 3D scanning technologies have made the generation of highly accurate 3D point clouds relatively easy but the segmentation of these point clouds remains a challenging area. A number of techniques have set precedent of either planar or primitive based segmentation in literature. In this work, we present a novel and an effective primitive based point cloud segmentation algorithm. The primary focus, i.e. the main technical contribution of our method is a hierarchical tree which iteratively divides the point cloud into segments. This tree uses an exclusive energy function and a 3D convolutional neural network, HollowNets to classify the segments. We test the efficacy of our proposed approach using both real and synthetic data obtaining an accuracy greater than 90% for domes and minarets.Comment: 9 pages. 10 figures. Submitted in EuroGraphics 201

Towards the Use of Interactive Simulation for Effective e-Learning in University Classroom Environment

In this PhD thesis, the utilisation of interactive simulation in a higher education e-learning classroom environment was explored and its effectiveness was experimentally evaluated by engaging university students in a classroom setting. Two case studies were carried out for the experimental evaluation of the proposed novel interactive simulation e-learning tool. In the first case study, the use of interactive agent-based simulation was demonstrated in teaching complex adaptive system concepts in the area of ecology to university students and its effectiveness was measured in a classroom environment. In a lab intervention using a novel interactive agent-based simulation (built in NetLogo). For the purpose of teaching complex adaptive systems such as the concept of spatially-explicit predator prey interaction to undergraduate and postgraduate students in the University of Stirling. The effectiveness of using the interactive simulation was investigated by using the NetLogo software and compared with non-interactive simulation built using R programming language. The experimental evaluation was carried out using a total of 38 students. Results of this case study demonstrates that the students found interactive agent-based simulation to be more engaging, effective and user friendly as compare to the non-interactive simulation. In the second case study, a novel interactive simulation game was developed (in NetLogo) and its effectiveness in teaching and learning of complex concepts in the field of marine ecology was demonstrated. This case study makes a twofold contribution. Firstly, the presentation of a novel interactive simulation game, developed specifically for use in undergraduate and postgraduate courses in the area of marine ecology. This novel interactive simulation game is designed to help learners to explore a mathematical model of fishery population growth and understand the principles for sustainable fisheries. Secondly, the comparison of two different methods of using the interactive simulation game within the classroom was investigated: learning from active exploration of the interactive simulation game compared with learning from an expert demonstration of the interactive simulation game. The case study demonstrated the effectiveness of learning from passive viewing of an expert demonstration of the interactive simulation game over learning from active exploration of the interactive simulation game without expert guidance, for teaching complex concepts sustainable fishery management. A mixed methods study design was used, using both quantitative and qualitative methods to compare the learning effectiveness of the two approaches, and the students’ preferences. The investigation was carried out by running interventions with a mixture of undergraduate and postgraduate students from the University of Stirling in a classroom environment. A total of 74 participants were recruited from undergraduate and postgraduate level for both case studies. This thesis demonstrated through two case studies effectiveness of the proposed novel interactive simulation in university e-learning classroom environment

Outcomes of refractive surgery

Thesis (M.A.)--Boston UniversityProcedures to reshape the cornea to correct refractive errors have been a longstanding and fast-evolving area of interest for centuries. As recent advances in excimer laser technology allow keratorefractive treatments to deliver precise treatments with fewer associated risks and complications, the popularity of modern refractive procedures continues to grow at unprecedented rates. For this reason, it is imperative to continue correlating patient characteristics to outcomes so that refractive surgeons can more accurately foresee the results of the selected procedure. This study examined the outcomes of refractive surgeries at a full-scope ophthalmology clinic from January 2011 to November 2011. The main objectives of th is study were to determine the differences between the outcomes of LASIK vs. LASEK, Custom vs. Traditional treatment plans, myopic vs. hyperopic patients and MMC exposure vs. no MMC exposure (LASEK only). More importantly, the data was scrutinized to determine whether or not any of these treatments and/or patient characteristics correlated with poor visual outcomes or the need for an enhancement. Of the 590 myopic eyes treated with Custom LASIK, 90.85% (n=536 eyes) had UDVA of 20/20 or better, 96.10% (n=567 eyes) had UDVA of 20/25 or better and 99.32% (n=586 eyes) had UDVA of 20/40 or better. Of the 170 myopic eyes treated with Custom LASEK, 70.59% (n=120 eyes) had a UDVA of 20/20 or better, 82.94% (n=141 eyes) had a UDVA of 20/25 or better and 96.47% (n=164 eyes) had a UDVA of 20/40 or better. Of the 45 hyperopic eyes that were treated with Traditional LASIK, 44.44% (n=20 eyes) had postoperative UDVA of 20/20 or better, 62.22% (n=28 eyes) had postoperative UDVA of 20/25 or better and 82.22% (n=37 eyes) had postoperative UDVA of 20/40 or better. Of the 536 eyes receiving LASIK, 91.42% (n=490 eyes) had an UDVA of 20/20 or better, 96.46% (n=517 eyes) had an UDVA of 20/25 or better and 99.44% (n=533 eyes) had an UDVA of 20/40 or better. Of the 146 low or moderately myopic eyes receiving Custom LASEK, 74.65% (n=106 eyes) had an UDVA of 20/20 or better, 86.62% (n=123 eyes) had an UDVA of 20/25 or better and 96.48% (n=137 eyes) had an UDVA of 20/40 or better. Of the 54 highly myopic eyes treated with Custom LASIK, 85.19% (n=46 eyes) had an UDVA of 20/20 or better, 92.59% (n=50 eyes) had an UDVA of 20/25 or better, and 98.15% (n=53 eyes) had an UDVA of 20/40 or better. Of the 28 highly myopic eyes treated with Custom LASEK, 53.57% (n=15 eyes) had an UDVA of 20/20 or better, 64.29% (n=18 eyes) had an UDVA of 20/25 or better, and 96.43% (n=27 eyes) had an UDVA of 20/40 or better. An analysis of these data yields significantly greater percentages of myopic (low, moderate and high) eyes achieving 20/20 or better after treatment by Custom LASIK versus Custom LASEK. The data suggested no correlations between poor visual outcomes and/or the need for an enhancement treatment and intraoperative complications, magnitude of ametropia, pupil size, age, treatment type, and treatment plan. All of the LASEK patients who underwent an enhancement treatment were exposed to MMC during their original procedure. Hyperopic patients displayed significantly reduced visual outcomes than comparable myopic treatments. Future studies should investigate similar preoperative characteristics and attempt to correlate them to results to improve predictability and, thus, visual outcomes

Stereotypes of Saudi Women among Saudi College Students

This study investigated the nature of stereotypes regarding Saudi women in contemporary Saudi Arabia. Despite the extremely high levels of inequality between men and women that The Global Gender Gap has documented in Saudi Arabia (American Association of University Women, 2014), little is known about the actual perception of women within Saudi society. Several factors in Saudi Arabia’s history—including its pastoral herding economy, tendency toward frequent warfare, and polygamous family structure (Wagemakers et al., 2012)—link Saudi society with a tendency to encourage the formation of restrictive gender stereotypes that may be particularly harmful to women (Alesina et al., 2013; Nisbett & Cohen, 1996). Nevertheless, there is a dearth of research regarding gender stereotypes within Saudi Arabia and consequently there is limited data available about the specific stereotypes held by Saudi men and women about Saudi women. This study aimed to contribute new research to fill the gap in the literature regarding gender stereotypes about women within Saudi society. Using the social psychological framework provided by social role theory, social identity theory, and self-categorization theory, this study first attempted to identify some of the central stereotypes faced by Saudi women and then to elucidate ways in which gender impacts how men’s stereotypes of women differ from Saudi women’s self-stereotypes. This study employed a cross-sectional, between-groups, quantitative design to test two hypotheses using a dataset that was collected from 841 Saudi undergraduate participants via survey questionnaire, the Saudi Women Stereotypes Scale (SWSS), in October 2014. The SWSS was a new scale, and as such the study also served to test the reliability and validity of the scale itself. To test the existence of the proposed stereotypes, items on the SWSS were subjected to Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) with varimax rotation (Gorsuch, 1983) to determine the optimum number of variables (stereotype dimensions). Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA) was employed to test overall gender difference as well as similarities across stereotypes and differences across stereotypes. The study’s first hypothesis was supported, as that there are stereotype categories associated with Saudi women: virtuous, submissive, isolated, less competent, and source of shame. The second hypothesis was partly supported, revealing a multivariate effect of gender on stereotype endorsement such that men and women differed in their overall endorsement of female stereotypes. Men showed stronger endorsement of the stereotype that Saudi women are less competent, submissive, while women reported stronger support for the stereotype that Saudi women are, virtuous, and isolated. These findings provide some of the first evidence about the type and strength of stereotypes about Saudi women. It can be concluded that the type of stereotypes about Saudi women endorsed by participants in this study reflect the nature of social relations in Saudi society and appear to maintain a system that segregates women and gives men a higher status, yet also regards women as virtuous

Feasibility study on the implementation of a Unified Currency in the Gulf Cooperation Council

Abstract. The paper discusses the feasibility of a unified currency among the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and suggests policies to be used should it be implemented. Several other currency unions are examined as inspiration for policies and strategies to apply to the GCC’s prospective currency union.Keywords. Gulf Cooperation Council, Central bank, Currency board, Currency union, Monetary union.JEL. E52, E58