Multi-GCN: Graph Convolutional Networks for Multi-View Networks, with Applications to Global Poverty

With the rapid expansion of mobile phone networks in developing countries, large-scale graph machine learning has gained sudden relevance in the study of global poverty. Recent applications range from humanitarian response and poverty estimation to urban planning and epidemic containment. Yet the vast majority of computational tools and algorithms used in these applications do not account for the multi-view nature of social networks: people are related in myriad ways, but most graph learning models treat relations as binary. In this paper, we develop a graph-based convolutional network for learning on multi-view networks. We show that this method outperforms state-of-the-art semi-supervised learning algorithms on three different prediction tasks using mobile phone datasets from three different developing countries. We also show that, while designed specifically for use in poverty research, the algorithm also outperforms existing benchmarks on a broader set of learning tasks on multi-view networks, including node labelling in citation networks

An artificial intelligence and NLP based Islamic FinTech model combining Zakat and Qardh-Al-Hasan for countering the adverse impact of COVID 19 on SMEs and individuals

Pursose: The ongoing Corona virus (COVID 19) pandemic has already impacted almost everyone across the globe. The focus has now shifted from spread of the disease to the economic consequences it will bring to the society. The shortage of production will result into the shortage of supply and consequently will end as loss of jobs and employment for millions of people around the world. Two of the most important section of our society i.e., daily wage laborers and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) will have to bear the major burnt of this crisis. The proposed integrated Artificial Intelligence and NLP based Islamic FinTech Model combining Zakat (Islamic tax) and Qardh-Al-Hasan (benevolent loan) can help the economy to minimize the adverse impact of COVID 19 on individuals and SMEs. Design/Methodology/Approach: The present study explores the possibility of Zakat and Qardh-Al-Hasan as a financing method to fight the adverse impact of Corona virus on poor individuls and SMEs. It provides the solution by proposing an Artificial Intelligence and NLP based Islamic FinTech Model combining Zakat and Qardh-Al-Hasan. Findings: The findings of the study reveals that Islamic finance has immense potential to fight any kind of situation/pandemic. Zakat and Qardh-Al-Hasan, if combined together can prove to be a deadly combination to fight the adverse effect of COVID 19. Practical Implications: To be used as an effective way to support individuals and SMEs in the period during and after the pandemic of COVID 19. Originality/value: There is no study combining Zakat and Qardh Al-Hasan to fight the adverse effect of poor individuals and SMEs. The study will contribute massively to the existing literature and will help the government and civil societies in fighting the economic impact of COVID 19 on individuals and SMEs.peer-reviewe

Detecting Dissimilarities in EM Constitutive Parameters using Differential Imaging Operator on Reconstructed Wavefield

Electromagnetic field will scatter when incident on boundaries separating media with different constitutive parameters. This paper demonstrates the use of a differential operator on recorded scattered waves to reveal the shape of the boundary. The method is noninvasive and is composed of three phases. First, the area of interest is illuminated and the resulting scattered electromagnetic fields are recorded. In the 2nd phase, the captured data is numerically reverse simulated in time to reconstruct the field distribution in the region of interest. Finally, the differential imaging operator is applied on the reconstructed wave field, creating an image delineating the boundary where scattered fields originated. This technique does not require the knowledge of location of the boundaries nor the nature of the discontinuity in the constitutive parameters. The proposed imaging system is scalable, whereby modification of the source signal, recorder sampling, and numerical model allows imaging objects of smaller dimensions and creation of sharper and more accurate images

Stress effects on work efficiency: study by professionals at the Cambridge school library of Karachi Sindh, Pakistan.

Librarians, like other professionals, face stress from a diversity of sources around the world. A population of 70 Cambridge school library professionals was studied to see if there was a significant relation between work efficiency and occupational stress. This research study is investigated on the relation of school library professionals working in Karachi\u27s Cambridge schools on Stress at work and work efficiency. The main purpose of this research was to identify the level of occupational stress among school librarians, as well as gender and marital status disparities in occupational stress and work efficiency among school librarians, as well as the consequences of occupational stress on efficiency from work. For this investigation, a survey research strategy was carried out. Census/enumerative techniques was adapted. The sample size of the study was 70, response rate was 60 (87%) and the remaining 10 (13%) did not respond. A questionnaire was used to collect primary data and consisted of close ended queries to measure the information. Cronbach’s Alpha used to check the reliability of the questionnaire. All five hypothesis tested t value and simple linear regression collected data were analyzed by SPSS ver. 22 software. According to the bases of the findings, working in school libraries generates a lot of occupational overload. There was no significant mean difference in the perception of work stress of male and female library professionals (p\u3e0.05), however there was a significant mean difference in the perception of work efficiency of male and female library professionals (p\u3e0.05). \u3e0.05). On seven work efficiency characteristics, men outperformed women: interpersonal relationships with colleagues, ability to handle multiple jobs, communication skills, punctuality and regularity at work, technical skills, problem solving, and quality of library work. When it came to the relationship between occupational stress and performance and performance at work (r=0.0624, p\u3e0.01), the outcome showed a significant relationship (r=0.0624, p\u3e0.01). In addition, roll ambiguity, overload, conflict and career stagnation were some of the factors that negatively impacted the professional performance of school library professionals. The results demonstrated a small but statistically significant negative association between occupational stress and work efficiency, implying that a rise in occupational stress has a detrimental impact on the gender and marital status of school library professionals\u27 work efficiency. Four hypothesis are rejected based on t value analysis, but the fifth is supported based on t value and simple linear regression. This study found that the factors that contributing to work stress is significant with school library professional’s performance and it also concluded that the employees at Cambridge schooling system were experiencing occupational stress

Multi-resolution cell orientation congruence descriptors for epithelium segmentation in endometrial histology images

It has been recently shown that recurrent miscarriage can be caused by abnormally high ratio of number of uterine natural killer (UNK) cells to the number of stromal cells in human female uterus lining. Due to high workload, the counting of UNK and stromal cells needs to be automated using computer algorithms. However, stromal cells are very similar in appearance to epithelial cells which must be excluded in the counting process. To exclude the epithelial cells from the counting process it is necessary to identify epithelial regions. There are two types of epithelial layers that can be encountered in the endometrium: luminal epithelium and glandular epithelium. To the best of our knowledge, there is no existing method that addresses the segmentation of both types of epithelium simultaneously in endometrial histology images. In this paper, we propose a multi-resolution Cell Orientation Congruence (COCo) descriptor which exploits the fact that neighbouring epithelial cells exhibit similarity in terms of their orientations. Our experimental results show that the proposed descriptors yield accurate results in simultaneously segmenting both luminal and glandular epithelium

Our experience with van nes rotationplasty for locally advanced lower extremity tumours

Abstract OBJECTIVE: To present an early experience with the time-tested technique of Van Ness Rotationplasty to save distal lmbs. METHODS: Van Nes Rotationplasty for locally advanced lower extremity tumours. A reterorespective audit was conducted at Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, and comprised cases of bone and soft tissue sarcoma who underwent Van Ness Rotationplasty over seven years from January 2005 to December 2011. Demographic data, family history, past history, co-morbids, date since diagnosis, duration of symptoms, type of tumour, metastasis, pre-op and post-op functional status, recurrence and survival were collected. RESULTS: Of the 351 cases of bone and soft tissue sarcoma, 9 (2.6%) underwent Van Ness Rotationplasty and were included in the study. The mean duration of symptoms was 7±3SD months (range: 8-41 months). All except 1(11.1%) were osteogenic sarcomas. All except 1(11.1%) involved distal femur. Overall, 7(77.8%) had localised Enneking stage IIB disease. Two (22.2%) patients expired due to metastatic disease, but none had local recurrence. Complete excision of tumour was achieved in all (100%) patients. Longest follow-up was of 34 months while the shortest was of 6 months. No local recurrences were noted. Functional recovery was good. Two (22.2%) patients had simultaneous sciatic nerve repair as part of the primary procedure. Both of them had good motor function at the time of final follow-up. Mean Musculoskeletal Tumour Societyscore was 23.88±2SD. CONCLUSIONS: Van Nes Rotationplasty was found to be a successful alternative to amputation in cases of locally advancedtumours of distal femur or proximal tibia

Radiation Imaging Operators Applied to the Detection of Velocity and Density Contrast Boundaries

A procedure for imaging interfaces formed by simultaneous density and velocity contrasts in acoustic media is described. The procedure is based on the properties of radiation imaging operators - a class of linear differential operators parametrically dependent on the acoustic properties of the media. An example of this procedure is demonstrated through the use of numerical simulation. Results, in the form of interface images, are shown, assuming the bulk acoustic characteristics (velocity and density) on both sides of the interface are known

Remote Detection of Acoustic Boundaries Using Radiation Imaging Operators

In this paper, we present an acoustic imaging operator. This operator is based upon combining the material boundary conditions at an acoustic boundary and the radiation boundary conditions associated with one way wave propagation. Numerical examples, using the second-order imaging operator, are presented in order to demonstrate the applicability of this method to the detection of two-dimensional boundaries

IMPACT OF USER IT AND INTERNET SKILLS ON ONLINE BANKING,INPUT TO INNOVATIVE BANKING STRATEGIES

-Abstract- Online-banking is now widely being introduced by banks. This Strategic move is supported by aim to reduce branch/resources costs and offer more convenience to the consumers. Alongside users are becoming more frequent in IT /internet dayby- day. This provides good match to the success of Online-banking. Employee\u2019s skills and user\u2019s skills were also considered by scholars to see the effect on adoption of online banking. Author has found that these user skills were not standardized. Author tried to fill this gap by using Eurostat classification of skills in terms of user\u2019s Computer and internet skills [Appendix. 1]. The objective of this study is threefold, thus understanding the user perception about fear of online theft/misuse, Complexity and effect on individual\u2019s efficiency by using online banking. A questionnaire has been sent to users and results thus verified 02 of 03 hypothesis. Despite higher level of skills and experience, users have concerns with the security and complexity of the method. The results are analyzed in a simple graphical fashion in order to provide quick understanding to the reader. Concluding, despite certain limitations, this study gives value to the literature and opens new research horizons for online banking strategies. It provides a common criterion for understanding user skills and their perceptions about the application/usability of online banking using EU classification. Consequently counter actions can be taken by the banks to satisfy users concerns and improve the structure of online banking