Effect of Super Resolution on High Dimensional Features for Unsupervised Face Recognition in the Wild

Majority of the face recognition algorithms use query faces captured from uncontrolled, in the wild, environment. Often caused by the cameras limited capabilities, it is common for these captured facial images to be blurred or low resolution. Super resolution algorithms are therefore crucial in improving the resolution of such images especially when the image size is small requiring enlargement. This paper aims to demonstrate the effect of one of the state-of-the-art algorithms in the field of image super resolution. To demonstrate the functionality of the algorithm, various before and after 3D face alignment cases are provided using the images from the Labeled Faces in the Wild (lfw). Resulting images are subject to testing on a closed set face recognition protocol using unsupervised algorithms with high dimension extracted features. The inclusion of super resolution algorithm resulted in significant improved recognition rate over recently reported results obtained from unsupervised algorithms

Knowledge Management Practice at a Bulgarian Bank: A Case Study

This paper reports on knowledge management (KM) practices in the customer service and lending departments of one of Bulgaria's top retail banks and investigates how KM processes can be further improved. The Bank's KM activities have been studied using observations, interviews and informal discussions for data collection. Findings were compared and contrasted with existing literature in similar contexts. Although rudiments of knowledge sharing are evident from the KM activities in different departments of the bank, the limitations such as resistance to change of the implemented KM systems are impeding the effectiveness of the knowledge management process. More training and incentives are needed to increase knowledge creation and sharing. Moreover, a clearly articulated KM strategy along with success criteria and commitment and support from senior management is needed. There is a severe lack of knowledge management studies in Bulgarian context in general and Bulgarian banking sector in particular. The authors' findings will potentially help in improving knowledge sharing practice as well as provide a valuable insight into knowledge management related issues in the Bulgarian context. The findings from this research can be useful to companies from Eastern Europe and other regions in improving their knowledge sharing practice

National Finance Commission Awards in Pakistan : A Historical Perspective

This study explores the evolution of fiscal resource distribution in Pakistan. Pakistan is a federation comprising four provinces, federallyadministered areas, and the Islamabad Capital Territory. Being a central type of government, most of the revenues are collected by the centre and then redistributed vertically between the federal and the provincial governments, and horizontally among the provinces. Provinces then also redistribute revenues among lower tiers of the government, through a revenue-sharing formula. A thorough look at the history indicates that this process has been complex and has a far-reaching impact. A less systematic approach has been adopted to decentralise the financial matters. Over time, the divisible pool has expanded due to heavy reliance on indirect taxes as well as improvement in the collection. Population is the sole distribution criteria, adopted in all NFC awards from the divisible pool. This has raised friction among the provinces, necessitating inclusion of other potential variables evolved from international best practices. In addition to that, absence of technical experts and permanency of the NFC is another impediment. The NFC is supposed to provide the framework for amicable distribution of resources between the federal and the provincial governments for the joint goal of development and prosperity.NFC, Pakistan, fiscal federalism, Rule and Discretion, political economy, Population, Subventions, Doing the Business of Government

National Finance Commission Awards in Pakistan: A Historical Perspective

This study explores the evolution of fiscal resource distribution in Pakistan. Pakistan is a federation comprising four provinces, federally-administered areas, and the Islamabad Capital Territory. Being a central type of government, most of the revenues are collected by the centre and then redistributed vertically between the federal and the provincial governments, and horizontally among the provinces. Provinces then also redistribute revenues among lower tiers of the government, through a revenue-sharing formula. A thorough look at the history indicates that this process has been complex and has a far-reaching impact. A less systematic approach has been adopted to decentralise the financial matters. Over time, the divisible pool has expanded due to heavy reliance on indirect taxes as well as improvement in the collection. Population is the sole distribution criteria, adopted in all NFC awards from the divisible pool. This has raised friction among the provinces, necessitating inclusion of other potential variables evolved from international best practices. In addition to that, absence of technical experts and permanency of the NFC is another impediment. The NFC is supposed to provide the framework for amicable distribution of resources between the federal and the provincial governments for the joint goal of development and prosperity.NFC, Pakistan, Fiscal Federalism, Rule and Discretion, Political Economy, Population, Subventions, Doing the Business of Government

Tdeveloping A Two-Phase Post-Stratified Inverse Sampling To Reduce The Nonresponse Bias. Case Study: Students’ Satisfaction Survey In Qatar University

This research aims to develop a Two-phase Post-stratified Inverse Sampling (TPIS) to avoid or reduce the bias of nonresponse for students’ satisfaction survey of Qatar university. In the first phase, the students are partitioned into two groups of response and non-response. The second phase method of data collection is an intensified method to get information from nonresponse. An unbiased estimator of the mean of overall satisfaction and its variance estimator are developed. The efficiency of the estimator is assessed using a simulation study. Moreover, the efficiency of (TPIS) is assessed. The cased study results showed that the mean estimate of overall satisfaction was higher for the nonresponse groups than the response groups but the different was not statistically significant at level of =0.05 but significant at level of =0.10. However, the overall satisfactions were significantly different at =0.05 for 13 majors out of 51 (25%). This results indicate that the non-response bias is exists. In addition, simulation study results show that the TPIS is more efficient than a SRS with equal effective sample size for TPIS. Based on the results some recommendation and suggestion are provided

Managerial Gaps in e-Banking Quality Drivers: An Empirical Assessment

Providing quality service to the customer is a main issue for e-banking. The extant literature on e-services has preferentially examined quality factors as perceived by customers. On the other hand, quality depends on the managerial perceptions about quality drivers and the decisions that would follow from these perceptions. According to SERVQUAL - the most known service quality model - any gaps between management’s and customers’ perceptions would affect the experienced quality and then the customer satisfaction. The aim of this paper is to explore how bank managers perceive quality drivers for e-banking through a preliminary empirical survey