Named data networking for efficient IoT-based disaster management in a smart campus

Disasters are uncertain occasions that can impose a drastic impact on human life and building infrastructures. Information and Communication Technology (ICT) plays a vital role in coping with such situations by enabling and integrating multiple technological resources to develop Disaster Management Systems (DMSs). In this context, a majority of the existing DMSs use networking architectures based upon the Internet Protocol (IP) focusing on location-dependent communications. However, IP-based communications face the limitations of inefficient bandwidth utilization, high processing, data security, and excessive memory intake. To address these issues, Named Data Networking (NDN) has emerged as a promising communication paradigm, which is based on the Information-Centric Networking (ICN) architecture. An NDN is among the self-organizing communication networks that reduces the complexity of networking systems in addition to provide content security. Given this, many NDN-based DMSs have been proposed. The problem with the existing NDN-based DMS is that they use a PULL-based mechanism that ultimately results in higher delay and more energy consumption. In order to cater for time-critical scenarios, emergence-driven network engineering communication and computation models are required. In this paper, a novel DMS is proposed, i.e., Named Data Networking Disaster Management (NDN-DM), where a producer forwards a fire alert message to neighbouring consumers. This makes the nodes converge according to the disaster situation in a more efficient and secure way. Furthermore, we consider a fire scenario in a university campus and mobile nodes in the campus collaborate with each other to manage the fire situation. The proposed framework has been mathematically modeled and formally proved using timed automata-based transition systems and a real-time model checker, respectively. Additionally, the evaluation of the proposed NDM-DM has been performed using NS2. The results prove that the proposed scheme has reduced the end-to-end delay up from 2% to 10% and minimized up to 20% energy consumption, as energy improved from 3% to 20% compared with a state-of-the-art NDN-based DMS

Assessing Generic Competence Development among Higher Education Students

Present study intended to assess the generic competences of higher education students. Self-perceived level of generic competences of the students in the beginning and the end of an academic session was recorded to explore the role of higher education in imparting them the generic competences. All the students entering the University of Sargodha (Pakistan) during 2012, constituted the population of the study. Cluster sampling technique was used to carry out the panel survey. The same cohort of the students was surveyed twice over a period of one academic year. This study adopted a version of the Reflex Project instrument, consisting of 19 competences, to collect data from students of both genders in public-sector universities in Pakistan. Data were collected from 932 students (cluster sampling) studying at 10 (randomly) selected departments. There were 408 male and 525 female students in the study. The students rated themselves on a seven-point scale whose reliability was 0.82. The results indicated that higher education played its role in imparting and promoting the existing set of generic competences from the beginning to the end of the academic session; but the increase in the competence level was noted only to a modest level. Gender differences were found among the students in a few of the generic competences.

Microfinance and Growth of MSMEs: The Moderating Role of Entrepreneurial Thrust

The main objective of the study is to investigate the role of entrepreneurial thrust in the relationship between growth in microfinance and growth of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). A panel of 15 countries from 2004 to 2013 is investigated in the analysis. Microfinance index is developed by using PCA and impact of microfinance index is examined on growth of MSMEs along with other dimensions of microfinance. The study documented that in isolation microfinance may not increase growth of MSMEs but if a borrower possess entrepreneurial thrust then growth in MSMEs is evident. Entrepreneurial thrust plays a role of catalyst in the relationship. Furthermore role of entrepreneurial thrust in growth of MSMEs is found to be more important than role of growth in microfinance itself. It is also established that in the presence of entrepreneurial thrust if even small loans are given to the borrowers then it leads to increase in business activities. It is concluded that microfinance may be a better tool to alleviate poverty but for creating new enterprises entrepreneurial thrust is found to be a prerequisite. In absence of entrepreneurial thrust microfinance may not be workable. Keywords: Microfinance, Entrepreneurial Thrust, MSMEs Growth

Measuring Push, Pull And Personal Factors Affecting Turnover Intention: A Case Of University Teachers In Pakistan

It has been observed that professional and qualified teacher’s retention become a challenge for Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in Pakistan as the turnover rate has been significantly increased in recent years. The main objective of this paper is to access personal, push and pull factors and to find out that which factors contribute more to turnover intention. Primary data were collected from 100 teachers of 5 HEIs using questionnaire methods. The results indicate that all factors (personal, pull and push) have contributed in the employees’ turnover intentions. However, some facets of personal factor have significantly contributed in turnover intentions.Turnover, Higher Education Institution, Job Quit, Personal Factors, Push Factors, Pull Factors

Chance-type flexion-distraction fracture of lumbar spine

A case of a twenty years old male who had been hit by a van at the lower back, presented two weeks later with complete paraplegia and double incontinence is presented. Radiological imaging revealed shearing of spine with fracture line slicing through the second lumbar (L2) vertebra going across all the three vertebral columns with complete retrolisthesis of upper fragment. He was managed conservatively with immobilization and rehabilitation

An Empirical Analysis of the Linder

This paper presents empirical evidence in support of the Linder theory of international trade for three of the South Asian countries, Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan. This finding implies that these countries trade more intensively with countries of other regions, which may have similar per capita income levels, as predicted by Linder in his hypothesis. The contribution of this research is threefold: first, there is new information on the Linder hypothesis by focusing on South Asian countries; second, this is one of very few analyses to capture both time-series and cross-section elements of the trade relationship by employing a panel data set; third, the empirical methodology used in this analysis corrects a major shortcoming in the existing literature by using a censored dependent variable in estimation.

The Essence of Young Elderly Active Lifestyle: A Phenomenological Approach

Objectives. A quality housing environment reflects a sense of convenience among its residence through physical characteristics such as housing conditions and availability of certain facilities. A housing environment that promotes active lifestyle has become a vital research objective. Methods. We employed a phenomenological research to explore the meaning and essence of having an active lifestyle from the standpoint of 12 young elderly aged 60-75 years residing in two neighbourhoods in Malaysia. The phenomenological data presented description of how these young elderly maintain an active lifestyle. The account provided information about their lived experience of being both physically and socially active and why they valued maintaining an active lifestyle. Results. Findings suggest that gender has no influence on maintaining an active lifestyle; rather the neighbourhood environmental factors fostered their physical and social activity. Young elderly have learned to maintain an active lifestyle by being aware of the importance of being active at an older age. Discussion. The evidence suggests that active lifestyle has positive effects on young elderly health and well-being. The essence of the experience is staying occupied and that staying occupied has the potential to be both physically and socially active. Keywords: Active lifestyle, neighbourhood environmental factors, phenomenology, young elderly

Association of hypoadiponectemia with smokeless/dipping tobacco use in young men

Background: Low levels of adiponectin, an adipocytokine with anti-diabetic, antiatherogenic and cardioprotective properties, is associated with increased risk of coronary disease in young men. Previous studies have demonstrated that smokeless tobacco is linked with a reduction of plasma adiponectin levels. However, the influence of smokeless tobacco (dipping tobacco) on plasma adiponectin levels still remains unknown. This study was conducted to assess the plasma adiponectin levels in young men who were using dipping tobacco. Methods: This was a community based study, which consisted of 186 young lean healthy males aged 20 to 35 years. Among these, 96 men were dipping tobacco users (BMI = 23.07 ± 2.68) and 90 were non-dipping tobacco users (BMI = 23.67 ± 1.46). Serum adiponectin levels were assessed by Enzyme Linked ImmunoSorbent Assay (ELISA). Results: A statistically significant difference in the mean adiponectin level between tobacco dipper and non-dipper groups was observed (p = 0.0001). A significant difference between the two groups was also observed in baseline parameters including triglyceride and random blood sugar levels (p < 0.05). However, no significant difference was observed between the two groups in other clinical parameters. Conclusions: Findings of this study suggest that dipping tobacco use was significantly associated with low level of adiponetin in community dwelling young males. This emphasizes the importance of developing community intervention to reduce the use of dipping tobacco, which will reduce the tobacco associated disease burden in the community and will improve public health