Task Scheduling in Fog Node within the Tactical Cloud

Fog computing architecture competent to support the mission-oriented network-centric warfare provides the framework for a tactical cloud in this work. The tactical cloud becomes situation-aware of the war from the information relayed by fog nodes (FNs) on the battlefield. This work aims to sustain the network of FNs by maintaining the operational efficiency of the FNs on the battlefield at the tactical edge. The proposed solution monitors and predicts the likely overloading of an FN using the long short-term memory model through a buddy FN at the fog server (FS). This paper also proposes randomised task scheduling (RTS) algorithm to avert the likely overloading of an FN by pre-empting tasks from the FN and scheduling them to another FN. The experimental results demonstrate that RTS with linear complexity has a schedulability measure 8% - 26% higher than that of other base scheduling algorithms. The results show that the LSTM model has low mean absolute error compared to other time-series forecasting models

Long hold times in a two-junction electron trap

The hold time $\tau$ of a single-electron trap is shown to increase significantly due to suppression of environmentally assisted tunneling events. Using two rf-tight radiation shields instead of a single one, we demonstrate increase of $\tau$ by a factor exceeding $10^3$, up to about 10 hours, for a trap with only two superconductor (S) -- normal-metal (N) tunnel junctions and an on-chip resistor $R$ (R-SNS structure). In the normal state, the improved shielding made it possible to observe $\tau\sim$ 100 s, which is in reasonable agreement with the quantum-leakage-limited level expected for the two-electron cotunneling process.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure

Two-junction superconductor-normal metal single-electron trap in a combined on-chip RC environment

Dissipative properties of the electromagnetic environment as well as on-chip RC filtering are shown to suppress random state switchings in the two-junction superconductor(S) - normal metal(N) electron trap. In our experiments, a local high-ohmic resistor increased the hold time of the trap by up to two orders of magnitude. A strong effect of on-chip noise filtering was observed for different on-chip geometries. The obtained results are promising for realization of the current standard on the basis of the S-N hybrid turnstile.Comment: 4 pages 3 figures LT2

Provision of Classroom Environment for Students with Hearing Impairment: Case Study of a Special School in Karachi City

This quantitative case study was conducted at a special school in Karachi city to find out the provision of classroom environment for students with hearing impairment. The data collected through a checklist was analyzed through descriptive statistics and One-Sample Test. The study concluded that the teachers consider the special needs of their students while organizing classroom environment for their students with hearing impairment. Most of them were using multi-sensory resources and learning equipment but there was a lack of provision of instructional area in classroom for different activities that is why majority of the teachers always teach whole class at a time and never provide group activities either in form of small groups or in pair of students. Although mostly the classes have rows of desk for students with hearing impairment but sometimes the teachers could manage to allow students to work alone. Keywords: Classroom environment, students with hearing impairment, special school. DOI: 10.7176/PPAR/9-5-04 Publication date:May 31st 201

Photon assisted tunneling as an origin of the Dynes density of states

We show that the effect of a high-temperature environment in current transport through a normal metal-insulator-superconductor tunnel junction can be described by an effective density of states (DOS) in the superconductor. In the limit of a resistive low-ohmic environment, this DOS reduces into the well-known Dynes form. Our theoretical result is supported by experiments in engineered environments. We apply our findings to improve the performance of a single-electron turnstile, a potential candidate for a metrological current source.Comment: 4+3 pages, 4 figures; updated to the published version, includes EPAPS supplementary materia

Role of Education in Economic Development of Pakistan

Education is considered to play a key role in the economic development of any country because, it is the mechanism through which knowledge, skills and experience regarding different fields can be acquired and ultimately creating the comparative advantage for the country. Hence, the researcher of the study decided to investigate the role of education through the research scholarship in terms of human capital, labor productivity, family, national trade and social equality in order to find out their contribution in the economic development of Pakistan. Hence, the researcher while delving into the matter amazingly found that human capital through the accumulation of new knowledge, ideas and technological know-how, labor productivity enhancement through the effective and efficient human resource, trade openness policy through tariff reforms in order to increase export, the key role of family, as the individuals make decisions at that level, creating social equality through re-distributive policies, all can play their contributory role in the economic development of Pakistan. Keywords: Economic Development, Pakistan, Education DOI: 10.7176/JESD/10-10-18 Publication date:May 31st 201

Areca nut chewing and dependency syndrome: Is the dependence comparable to smoking? a cross sectional study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Areca nut is the seed of fruit oriental palm known as <it>Areca catechu</it>. Many adverse effects of nut chewing have been well documented in the medical literature. As these nuts are mixed with some other substances like tobacco and flavouring agents, it has been hypothesized that it might also cause some dependency symptoms among its users. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate dependency syndrome among areca nut users with and without tobacco additives and compare it with dependency associated with cigarette smoking among the male Pakistani population.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>This was an observational cross sectional study carried out on healthy individuals, who were users of any one of the three products (areca nut only, areca nut with tobacco additives, cigarette smokers). Participants were selected by convenience sampling of people coming to hospital to seek a free oral check up. Information was collected about the socio-demographic profile, pattern of use and symptoms of dependency using the DSM-IV criteria for substance dependence. We carried out multiple logistic regressions to investigate association between socio-demographic profile, pattern of substance use and dependency syndrome.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We carried out final analysis on 851 individuals, of which 36.8% (n = 314) were areca nut users, 28.4% (n = 242) were the chewers of areca with tobacco additives and 34.7% (n = 295) were regular cigarette smokers. Multivariate analyses showed that individuals using areca nut with tobacco additives were significantly more likely to have dependency syndrome (OR = 2.17, 95% CI 1.39-3.40) while cigarette smokers were eight times more likely to have dependency syndrome as compared to areca nut only users.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Areca nut use with and without tobacco additives was significantly associated with dependency syndrome. In comparison to exclusive areca nut users, the smokers were eight times more likely to develop dependence while areca nut users with tobacco additives were also significantly more likely to suffer from the dependence.</p

Videoconference-based creativity workshops for mental health staff during the COVID-19 pandemic

Background COVID-19 presented significant challenges to psychiatric staff, while social distancing and remote working necessitated digital communications. NHS England prioritised staff wellbeing. Arts-based creativity interventions appear to improve psychological wellbeing, so this study evaluated online Creativity Workshops as a staff support response for COVID-19-related stress. Methods Participants were staff from a South London NHS psychiatric hospital. Group Creativity Workshops were facilitated via Microsoft Teams. Acceptability data on pre- and post-workshop mood and attitudes were self-reported by participants. Feasibility data were gathered from adherence to number of workshop components delivered. Results Eight workshops were delivered in May-September 2020 (N = 55) with high adherence to components. Participants reported significantly increased positive mood and attitudes towards themselves and others; and decreased stress and anxiety. Conclusions Online Creativity Workshops appear feasible and acceptable in reducing stress in psychiatric staff. Integrating a programme of Creativity Workshops within healthcare staff support may benefit staff wellbeing

Patterns of cancer cell sphere formation in primary cultures of human oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma and neck nodes

YesRecently a sub-population of cells with stem cell characteristics, reported to be associated with initiation, growth, spread and recurrence, has been identified in several solid tumors including oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma (OTSCC). The aim of our pilot study was to isolate CD44+ cancer stem cells from primary cultures of OTSCC and neck node Level I (node-I) biopsies, grow cell spheres and observe their characteristics in primary cultures. Parallel cultures of hyperplastic lesions of tongue (non-cancer) were set up as a control. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect CD44/CD24 expression and magnetic activated cell sorting to isolate CD44+ cell populations followed by primary cell culturing. Both OTSCC and node-I biopsies produced floating spheres in suspension, however those grown in hyperplastic and node-I primary cultures did not exhibit self-renewal properties. Lymph node metastatic OTSCC, express higher CD44/CD24 levels, produce cancer cell spheres in larger number and rapidly (24 hours) compared to node negative OTSCC (1 week) and non-cancer specimens (3 weeks). In addition, metastatic OTSCC have the capacity for proliferation for up to three generations in primary culture. This in vitro system will be used to study cancer stem cell behavior, therapeutic drug screening and optimization of radiation dose for elimination of resistant cancer cells.SKMCH&RC, Yorkshire Cancer Researc