The Diversified Online Shopper: Website Feature Preferences and Individual Characteristics

The current study examined the nature of diversified online shoppers with respect to existing differences in their level of website feature preferences, Internet experience (usage and shopping behaviors) and individual demographic characteristics. Using an online survey, 540 individuals residing within United States responded to questions concerning their demographics, extent of Internet usage, online visiting and purchasing behaviors and preference for website features. Individuals were categorized into different user groups- low, medium and high, depending on the extent of their self-reported diversified online shopping across the nine specific product categories. Since shopping referred to both browsing of online information and online purchasing, this categorization was done separately for both browsing and purchasing behaviors. The study found that an individual\u27s diversified online browsing behavior was different from one\u27s diversified online purchasing behavior. With regard to their diversified online browsing, significant group differences were found between the three browser groups in their preference for website features and Internet experience. The typical diversified online browser was more likely to be affluent and male. With regard to the individual\u27s online purchasing behavior, the low, medium and high diversified purchasers were found to differ significantly from one another in their website feature preferences as well as Internet experience. And the typical diversified online purchaser was more likely to be highly educated, affluent and male. Implications of these results as well as limitations of the current study were discusse

Implementing Linear Predictive Coding based on a statistical model for LTE fronthaul

This thesis studies the application of Linear Predictive coding (LPC) in the downlink of Long Term Evolution (LTE) fronthaul, which comprises of BBU and RRH. This can act as an additional module in the existing system. Today, the transmission of a single complex sample from the BBU to the RRH consumes 30 bits. The research of the thesis is to analyze the application of linear prediction theory in the LTE downlink transmission, which will work as a compression scheme and reduce this 30 bits to lower value, at the same time fulfill the Error Vector Magnitude (EVM) requirement stated in the LTE standards made by 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP). As 4G-LTE and the upcoming access technologies will deal with large number of data samples in the transmission, it is an advantage if those data samples can be compressed without destroying the information content. LPC or linear prediction coding has been proved to be a very effective method for speech compression in audio related applications. In this thesis, the same logic of compression is applied on digital data samples of the LTE and the results are analyzed. It is found that, if LPC is applied properly on the LTE, it is possible to compress data samples efficiently and transmit them from the BBU to the RRH with fewer bits. At the RRH those compressed data samples can be processed and the main information data can be reconstructed, with additional quantization error and noise. This is obvious because LPC is a lossy compression method. A statistical model is established to generate a table of linear prediction filter coefficients which will be present both at the BBU and the RRH, when compression and decompression of data samples are performed. Entropy is also calculated in order to analyze the achievable compression on an actual error vector after implementing certain compression coding such as Huffman coding. The specific coding technique is left as a scope of future research.Due to the growth of number of users and faster communication methods, mobile operators have to use the allocated resources more efficiently to meet the user demands. Like any other systems, mobile communication networks go through series of updates over time. In mobile communication system, these updates are known as “Releases”. The transition from 3rd Generation (3G) to 4th Generation (4G) took place with Release 8 in 2008. Many new techniques are introduced in 4G in order to use the available resources more efficiently for improving quality of services (QoSs). LTE (Long term evolution) or more commonly known as 4G communication system deals with much larger amount of data traffic than any other previous technologies. Hence it is of utmost importance that the operators make use of the allocated bandwidth more efficiently to serve the ever increasing number of users. It is possible for LTE to deal with this large amount of data due to the use of OFDM modulation technique which ensures better quality of communication. In OFDM, there exists multiple blocks of frequency bands stacked together as a whole, which are not related to one another. The LTE structure is different from any previous systems. In telecommunication systems, there exists a unit which handles all the data traffic to and from the transmitter and the receiver. This module is called the base station. In LTE, the base station is divided into two parts namely the Baseband Unit (BBU) and the Radio Unit (RU), where almost all the data processing takes place at the BBU, and the RU is used as both transmitter and receiver when data is exchanged to and from a mobile device. In recent years, a new type of architecture is proposed, which is called the C-RAN (Cloud Radio Access Network). In C-RAN, the BBU and the RU would be placed at two different locations. Multiple BBUs can be placed together at a single place called the BBU pool, whereas the RUs will be placed in separate places far from the BBU pool and connected via optical fibers. In this structure, RU is known as RRH (Remote Radio Head) as they are separated from the BBU. One main advantage of such a structure is that, only the RRH is placed near the user locality and the BBU can be put at the network operator’s vicinity. This also helps in reducing the operating and maintenance cost for the operator in many ways. Since the LTE imposes with massive amount of data traffic on the fronthaul (almost tenfold of the actual information data after applying error correcting coding, control signals etc.), it is very important to carry out compression of those data traffic before they are sent from the BBU to the RU. If good compression is carried out, then it becomes possible to accommodate more users, using the available resources. Although analog signals are used to transmit a message from the transmitter to the receiver over a medium, it is always important to convert those analog signal to digital signal to be transmitted from one block to the next block for processing, through the connecting link. The main purpose of this thesis work is to apply a compression technique which will minimize the number of bits needed to represent each of those data samples transmitted from the BBU to the RRH. The compression technique used in this thesis is to employ a module which will use certain number of previous data samples values to make a prediction of the next data sample. Then this predicted data sample is compared with the actual data sample and their difference is found. The difference between these two samples has a low magnitude, as a result it is possible to use lower number of bits in the digital domain to represent this value, and finally transmitted through the link to the RRH. At the RRH, the same prediction module is used to utilize these received samples of low magnitude, to make a prediction of the original data samples which are intended to be sent at the first place. In order to make the prediction module to function properly, it is very important to set up the filter values, which are known as the prediction coefficients. These coefficients play the role of successfully predicting data samples which are very similar to the original data samples. These coefficients are calculated by statistical method so that they can be used for any set of random data sample vector in the LTE. This thesis studies the performance of applying this prediction technique in LTE. In order to identify the efficiency of this applied compression technique, certain parameters are calculated using various simulations, and compared with the set of values as specified by the main researching bodies of the LTE. It is found that, the applied compression technique works fine in LTE as the simulation results support the validity of the scheme. It also proves that, it is possible to introduce this compression technique as an extension to the upcoming upgrades of the LTE, and this will facilitate accommodating more users with the available infrastructure resources

Evaluate The Vital Role Of Bioactive Phenolic Content Of Grape Extract In Miscellaneous Positive Health Effects On The Human Body

This study is for a better understanding of how phenolic compounds of grapes keep the body healthy by preventing disease. Plant-based beverages, such as fruit juice, soymilk, tea, coffee, and coconut drinks, often contain high amounts of polyphenols and total phenolic content, which can play a vital role in promoting human health. Here are some of the essential functions and benefits associated with ingredients, such as antioxidant capacity, anti-inflammatory effects, cardiovascular health, diabetes management, digestive health, brain health, weight management, etc. We used the Folin-Ciocalteu method which is an analytical technique to determine the total phenolic content by using a spectrophotometer in different samples. In that case, our result obtained was 8.632 mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE) per gram of fresh grape juice and 4.154 mg GAE/g of commercial grape juice. This means that for every gram of the sample being analyzed, there are approximately 8.632 mg GAE/g of phenolic compounds are present. The value is expressed in gallic acid equivalents because gallic acid is used as a standard reference compound to quantify phenolic content. The total phenolic content of 8.632 mg GAE/g in grape juice suggested that it can play a vital role in promoting good health

Cloud Computing et conséquences commerciales de l'utilisation d'un ERP

International audienceA Cloud Computing system is intended to improve and automate the controlling single point operations. By using a single point of control, this goal is accomplished through the elimination of duplicate entry and the contribution of data integrity, detailed drilldown, simple training, manageable support, minimal IT maintenance, easy upgrades and reduced costs. Overall, the advantages of cloud computing usage fulfill the original intentions of business as it allows process manufacturers to manage their business as simply and efficiently as possible. Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software is designed to improve and auto-mate business processes operations. However, there are many unnecessary administrative, procedural costs and delays often associated with this practice. Examples include duplicate data entry, data corruption, increased training, complicated supplier relations, greater IT support and software incompatibilities. Purpose of this system is Single Point of Control, Duplicate Entry Elimination, Data Integrity, Detail Drill Down, Basic Training, Manage Support, Security, Minimal IT Maintenance, Easy Upgrades, and Reduce Costs etc.Un système Cloud Computing est destiné à améliorer et à automatiser les opérations de contrôle à point unique. En utilisant un point de contrôle unique, cet objectif est atteint grâce à la suppression de la duplication et à la contribution de l’intégrité des données, à une analyse détaillée, à une formation simple, à une assistance gérable, à une maintenance informatique minimale, à des mises à niveau faciles et à des coûts réduits. Globalement, les avantages de l'utilisation du cloud computing répondent aux intentions initiales des entreprises, car ils permettent aux fabricants de processus de gérer leurs activités de la manière la plus simple et la plus efficace possible. Le logiciel de planification des ressources d'entreprise (ERP) est conçu pour améliorer et automatiser les opérations des processus métier. Cependant, de nombreux coûts et procédures administratifs et de procédure inutiles sont souvent associés à cette pratique. Les exemples incluent la saisie de données en double, la corruption de données, le renforcement de la formation, les relations compliquées avec les fournisseurs, un support informatique accru et les incompatibilités logicielles. Ce système a pour objet un point de contrôle unique, l’élimination des entrées en double, l’intégrité des données, l’exploration détaillée, la formation de base, la gestion de l’assistance, la sécurité, une maintenance informatique minimale, des mises à niveau faciles et une réduction des coûts, etc

Democracy and Authoritarianism: Understanding Three Decades of Bangladesh Politics

Bangladesh is at a crossroads in its march towards democratic order. Though it started its political journey with a parliamentary system after independence, it failed to sustain it; slowly but steadily the parliamentary government degenerated into an authoritarian system. Bangladesh has completed about forty-five years of independence and it has also completed about eighteen years of direct and indirect military rule dominated by the military. Actually, Bangladesh politics is a combination of democracy and authoritarianism. From the very beginning of its independence, the hopes and aspirations for parliamentary democracy of the majority Bangladeshi people were turned into authoritarian form of government. This study primarily focuses on the concept of democracy and authoritarianism. It scrutinizes the existence of democracy and authoritarianism in Bangladesh politics from the early period of its independence of the first three decades from December 16, 1971 to December 16, 2001.The main aim of this paper is to find out the existence of democracy and authoritarianism in different regimes in Bangladesh from 1972 to 1975 the era of populist authoritarianism, 1975 to 1981 and 1981 to 1991 the era of military dominated rule and from 1991 to 2001 the era of parliamentary democracy. Keywords:Democracy, Authoritarianism, Parliamentary Democracy, BAKSAL, Military Interference, Constitutional Amendment, Caretaker Government, Power Politics, Politics of Exclusio

Observation et analyse du trafic IPTV et multidiffusion

International audienceIP TV is the short form of Internet protocol television. It’s the technology that allows us to get television services via internet protocol over the computer networks instead of traditional cable TV medium. The multi-casting technology is used in IPTV to send one packet that is being originated from one station to multiple stations at a time, is referred as broadcasting of internet version [16]. This paper describes the functionality of IPTV protocol and Multi-casting with a short background of its. We also have studied on various compression techniques of audio and video file and format. Our main intention was to observed how various protocols works with IPTV services like Protocol independent module (PIM), Internet group messages protocol (IGMP), and Cisco group management protocol (CGMP) when packets are interchanged with in router, switch, video server and clients. To observe these, a lab work on IPTV has been conducted and the findings have been discussed

Development of an active fixture for ultrasonically assisted micro electro-discharge machining

Micromachining technologies have enjoyed a recent resurgence due to massive demands in many engineering, production and manufacturing sectors. Micro Electric Discharge Machining (μ-EDM) is one of the most popular techniques available to produce microscopic features and components for various industries. This technique can ensure better machining performance in terms of reduced Heat Affected Zones and surface finishing. It also comes with inherent disadvantages such as high machining time, low material removal rate (MRR) and unstable machining. To overcome these factors vigorous flushing of dielectric fluid is performed. The flushing is achieved through imparting ultrasonic vibration on either of the tool, dielectric fluid or workpiece. The vibration aids in carrying away the debris accumulated in the spark-gap region. In this paper, a novel design of an ultrasonic vibration fixture has been proposed. This fixture will facilitate vibration of the workpiece that is required to improve machining performance. Further enhancement of the design leads to better machining performance. System Identification helps to determine the nature of the system and model the input-output response. The oscillation of the system can be easily characterized and validated using System Identification. Machining results are compared to gain some more insight about the nature of ultrasonic vibration assisted μ-EDM

The disappearing hand: vestibular stimulation does not improve hand localisation.

Bodily self-consciousness depends on the coherent integration of sensory information. In addition to visual and somatosensory information processing, vestibular contributions have been proposed and investigated. Vestibular information seems especially important for self-location, but remains difficult to study. This randomised controlled experiment used the MIRAGE multisensory illusion box to induce a conflict between the visually- and proprioceptively-encoded position of one hand. Over time, the perceived location of the hand slowly shifts, due to the fact that proprioceptive input is progressively weighted more heavily than the visual input. We hypothesised that left cold caloric vestibular stimulation (CVS) augments this shift in hand localisation. The results from 24 healthy participants do not support our hypothesis: CVS had no effect on the estimations with which the perceived position of the hand shifted from the visually- to the proprioceptively-encoded position. Participants were more likely to report that their hand was 'no longer there' after CVS. Taken together, neither the physical nor the subjective data provide evidence for vestibular enhanced self-location

Modular ultrasonic vibration device for micro electrodischarge machining

Micromachining technologies have been in the forefront due to massive demands in many engineering, production and manufacturing sectors. Micro Electric Discharge Machining (μ-EDM) is one of the most commonly used tool based micromachining techniques available to produce microscopic features and components for various industries. However, one of the drawback for μ-EDM is the slow speed of the process. In order to improve the machining performance by reducing the machining time researchers have tried to implement ultrasonic assisted (UA) μ-EDM operation. However, there is no product available in the market that is dedicated for μ-EDM machine to produce ultrasonic vibration. This disclosure attempts to propose a design of such a vibrator that can be used for μ-EDM operation