ADAPTIVE PROFILE DRIVEN DATA CACHING AND PREFETCHING IN MOBILE ENVIRONMENT

This thesis describes a new method of calculating data priority by using adaptive mobile user and device profiles which change with user location, time of the day, available networks and data access history. The profiles are used for data prefetching, selection of most suitable wireless network and cache management on the mobile device in order to optimally utilize the device's storage capacity and available bandwidth. Some of the inherent characteristics of mobile devices due to user movements are – non-persistent connection, limited bandwidth and storage capacity, changes in mobile device's geographical location and connection (eg. connection can be from GPRS to WLAN to Bluetooth). New research is being carried out in making mobile devices work more efficiently by reducing and/or eliminating their limitations. The focus of this research is to propose, evaluate and test a new user profiling technique which specifically caters to the needs of the mobile device users who are required to access large amounts of data, possibly more than the device storage capability during the course of the day or week. This work involves the development of an intelligent user profiling system along with mobile device caching system which will first allocate weight (priority) to the different sets and subsets of the total given data based on user's location, user's appointment information, user's preferences, device capabilities and available networks. Then the profile will automatically change the data weights with user movements, history of cached data access and characteristics of available networks. The Adaptive User and Device Profiles were designed to handle broad range of the issues associated with: •Changing network types and conditions •Limited storage capacity and document type support of mobile devices •Changes in user data needs due to their movements at different times of the day Many research areas have been addressed through this research but the primary focus has remained on the following four core areas. The four core areas are : selecting the most suitable wireless network; allocating weights to different datasets & subsets by integrating user's movements; previously accessed data; time of the day with user appointment information and device capabilities

The Impact of Terrorism-induced Fear on Job Attitudes and Absenteeism Following a National Traumatic Event: Evidence from Pakistan

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the impact of terrorism-induced fear on employee job attitudes and absenteeism in the weeks following the Army Public School attack in Peshawar, Pakistan. The paper is based on questionnaire data collected from 204 faculty members of public sector universities in Peshawar using snowball sampling technique. We applied partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) to analyze the entire impact path and found substantial support for our hypotheses. The results suggest that fear of terrorism affects absenteeism directly, as well as indirectly via job attitudes. Further, perceived organizational support is found to attenuate the negative relationship between fear of terrorism and job attitudes. Very few studies have examined the impact of societal variables such as national traumatic events on jobrelated outcomes

Performance enhancement of multivariable model reference optimal adaptive motor speed controller using error-dependent hyperbolic gain functions

The main contribution of this paper is to formulate a robust-adaptive and stable state-space speed control strategy for DC motors. The linear-quadratic-integral (LQI) controller is utilized as the baseline controller for optimal speed-regulation, accurate reference-tracking and elimination of steady-state fluctuations in the motor’s response. To reject the influence of modelling errors, the LQI controller is augmented with a Lyapunov-based model reference adaptation system (MRAS) that adaptively modulates the controller gains while maintaining the asymptotic stability of the controller. To further enhance the system’s robustness against parametric uncertainties, the adaptation gains of MRAS online gain-adjustment law are dynamically adjusted, after every sampling interval, using smooth hyperbolic functions of motor’s speed-error. This modification significantly improves the system’s response-speed and damping against oscillations, while ensuring its stability under all operating conditions. It dynamically re-configures the control-input trajectory to enhance the system’s immunity against the detrimental effects of random faults occurring in practical motorized systems such as bounded impulsive-disturbances, modelling errors, and abrupt load–torque variations. The efficacy of the proposed control strategy is validated by conducting credible hardware-in-the-loop experiments on QNET 2.0 DC Motor Board. The experimental results successfully validate the superior tracking accuracy and disturbance-rejection capability of the proposed control strategy as compared to other controller variants benchmarked in this article

Morphology Awareness in Vocabulary Construction

Vocabulary is a fundamental aspect of language learning, and acquiring a rich vocabulary is essential for achieving fluency in the target language (TL). Morphology, the study of word formation, plays a critical role in building vocabulary. Morphology provides learners with an understanding of how words are constructed and how their forms change based on their use in sentences. Possessing sufficient knowledge and awareness of morphology can enhance learners’ ability to comprehend and produce words accurately in the TL. This research article provides a comprehensive theoretical explanation of the benefits of using morphology as an approach to constructing vocabulary. The article discusses the different ways new words are coined in various languages and how morphological processes can be used to create new words. Additionally, the article explores how morphological analysis can help learners understand the meaning of unfamiliar words based on their word parts. Moreover, the article emphasizes the importance of morphology awareness for TL learners and provides practical applications for incorporating morphology into vocabulary instruction. The article proposes that learners can benefit from explicitly teaching morphological rules, using morphological analysis to derive meaning from words, and encouraging learners to use morphological clues to guess the meaning of unfamiliar words. In conclusion, possessing morphology awareness is crucial for TL learners to acquire a robust vocabulary. By understanding the principles of word formation and variation, learners can enhance their vocabulary acquisition and usage. This research article provides a theoretical foundation for incorporating morphology into vocabulary instruction and offers practical strategies for enhancing learners’ morphology awareness

Symbolic Analysis of Waiting for Godot: A Critical Comparison Between the Bible and Quran Symbols in Waiting for Godot

Waiting for Godot (1952) is a conventional and remarkable play that is written by Irish author Samuel Beckett. The play Waiting for Godot is part of theater of absurd and it is written during modernism. This research is divided into three different sections and conclusion. Firstly the introduction for this research is given and the twentieth century drama, theater of the absurd, and the summary of the play. Also in an independent section we show other people’s work on the play Waiting for Godot. Later on we clarified the Biblical and Quranic symbols in Waiting for Godot and shows the comparison of the symbols in the holy books Quran and Bible in Waiting for Godot. Eventually, conclusion will be drawn as the final outcome of the study.

Urban-rural inequities in knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding tuberculosis in two districts of Pakistan's Punjab province

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Objective</p> <p>The aim of this study was to explore inequities in knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding tuberculosis (TB) among the urban and rural populations.</p> <p>Design</p> <p>A cross-sectional study was conducted in two districts of Pakistan's Punjab province. The 1080 subjects aged 20 years and above, including 432 urban and 648 rural respondents, were randomly selected using multistage cluster sampling and interviewed after taking verbal informed consent. Logistic regression was used to calculate the crude odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) for the urban area. The differences in knowledge, attitudes, practices and information sources between the urban and rural respondents were highlighted using Pearson chi-square test and Fisher's exact test.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The study revealed poor knowledge regarding TB. The deficit was greater in the rural areas in all aspects. The knowledge regarding symptoms (OR 2.03, 95% CI 1.59-2.61), transmission (OR 1.93, 95% CI 1.44-2.59), prevention (OR 2.24, 95% CI 1.70-2.96), duration of standard treatment (OR 1.88, 95% 1.41-2.49) and DOTS (OR 1.84, 95% CI 1.43-2.38) was significantly higher in the urban areas (all P < 0.001). Although a majority of the subjects (urban 83.8%, rural 81.2%) were aware of the correct treatment for TB, less than half (urban 48.1%, rural 49.2%) were aware of the availability of the diagnostic facility and treatment free of cost. The practice of seeking treatment at a health facility (P = 0.030; OR 2.01, 95% CI 1.06-3.82), as soon as they realized that they had TB symptoms (P < 0.001; OR 1.72, 95% CI 1.26-2.35), was significantly higher in the urban areas. People in the urban areas were more likely to feel ashamed and embarrassed being a TB patient (P < 0.001; OR 2.03, 95% CI 1.50-2.76); however, they seem to be supportive in case their family member suffered from TB (P = 0.005; OR 1.53, 95% CI 1.13-2.06). Nearly half of the respondents, irrespective of the area of residence, believed that the community rejects the TB patient (urban 49.8%, rural 46.4%). Television (urban 80.1%, rural 68.1%) and health workers (urban 30.6%, rural 41.4%) were the main sources for people to acquire the TB related information.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Respondents' knowledge regarding TB was deficient in all aspects, particularly in the rural areas. Intended health seeking behavior was better in the urban areas. Television and health workers were the main sources for TB related information in both the urban as well as the rural areas. Therefore, the area of residence should be considered in tailoring communication strategies and designing future interventions for TB prevention and control.</p