Improving Search via Named Entity Recognition in Morphologically Rich Languages – A Case Study in Urdu

University of Minnesota Ph.D. dissertation. February 2018. Major: Computer Science. Advisors: Vipin Kumar, Blake Howald. 1 computer file (PDF); xi, 236 pages.Search is not a solved problem even in the world of Google and Bing's state of the art engines. Google and similar search engines are keyword based. Keyword-based searching suffers from the vocabulary mismatch problem -- the terms in document and user's information request don't overlap. For example, cars and automobiles. This phenomenon is called synonymy. Similarly, the user's term may be polysemous -- a user is inquiring about a river's bank, but documents about financial institutions are matched. Vocabulary mismatch exacerbated when the search occurs in Morphological Rich Language (MRL). Concept search techniques like dimensionality reduction do not improve search in Morphological Rich Languages. Names frequently occur news text and determine the "what," "where," "when," and "who" in the news text. Named Entity Recognition attempts to recognize names automatically in text, but these techniques are far from mature in MRL, especially in Arabic Script languages. Urdu is one the focus MRL of this dissertation among Arabic, Farsi, Hindi, and Russian, but it does not have the enabling technologies for NER and search. A corpus, stop word generation algorithm, a light stemmer, a baseline, and NER algorithm is created so the NER-aware search can be accomplished for Urdu. This dissertation demonstrates that NER-aware search on Arabic, Russian, Urdu, and English shows significant improvement over baseline. Furthermore, this dissertation highlights the challenges for researching in low-resource MRL languages

Supply chain analysis and upgrading of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to meet Finnish gas market specifications

Liquefied natural gas (LNG) presents clean, cost-effective solution for transportation/ shipping of natural gas from remote reservoirs to consumer market. Until recently, the limits of natural gas properties, acceptable to LNG importers, had been lenient, as it was generally used for power production. However, new markets, as they use LNG to supplement their current supplies, demand an LNG with characteristics/ quality compatible to their existing pipeline grid and clientele specifications. This raises natural gas harmonization, interoperability and interchangeability issues in potential LNG importers, such as Finland which is wholly reliant on single natural gas source from Russia. Rising environmental concerns, stiffening emission regulations and energy security drive Finland to import LNG. This thesis is aimed at identifying the world LNG sources suitable for import to Finnish market based on specifications required by natural gas applications in Finland. The thesis also studies the LNG value chain in general and the LNG quality modification at import terminal/ regasification plant. Production, liquefaction, storage, transportation, and regasification are core components of LNG value chain besides numerous minor constituents including LNG liquid fuel engines. Finnish natural gas market is divided into broad segments of traffic, off-grid industry and existing gas grid users. Specification-data of all three designated sectors was collected from the manufacturers and industry. By considering three interchangeability parameters of natural gas: methane number, Wobbe index (lower), and lower heating value, this data was mapped on charts to determine the requirement of each sector and finally the common demand band (common window) of all the sectors. Similarly, the data of 27 available LNG sources and 3 European LNG re-export terminals was gathered and graphically analyzed. A preliminary simulation of 3 alternative processes, by means of Aspen HYSYS software, and their subsequent comparison resulted in selection of LPG Extraction as the most feasible LNG de-richment technique employed at a receiving terminal LNG re-vapourization plant. As per the current Finnish market requirement and grid conditions, out of 27 global LNG sources, the number of feasible sources remains 3; however, it could be increased to 7 by compromising land traffic sector methane number demand, and to 11 if the upper bounds for heating value are relaxed up to +3%. LNG from rest of the producers can be viable with additional processing at the targeted market in Finland

Factors Influencing Students' Learning at KASB Institute of Technology

The research article looks into the psychological and other characteristics that play a role in students’ learning ability. In all the observations we have found some students performing better than the others, this display of performance in their studies implies the presence of certain factors which are different from others or play a role in their better learning capabilities. These factors may be present in students, teachers, institutions and others. This article is an attempt to highlight those factors which may be required on part of the students, teachers, institutions and others that may or may not play a significant role in enhancing students’ learning capabilities, the sample of 103 is used to infer the significance of these factors. Through research we were able to answer as per students, punctuality of the teacher is somewhat important in enhancing learning. Clarity of speech was considered an insignificant feature. The most preferred quality of the teacher which is responsible for ranking a teacher as the best teacher is cooperativeness. Another finding was the relationship between CGPA obtained and consulting teacher outside class, which we concluded that there is a strong relationship between consulting teacher and obtaining good CGPA. Lastly we found that time spend in library has no significant association with understanding of topic when taught.Students’ Learning, Students and Teacher Characteristics

Comparison of Frequency of Hypothermia in Preterm and Low Birth Weight Infant Managed with Plastic Bag Versus Conventional Method

Objective: To compare the frequency of hypothermia in preterm and low birth weight infant managed with plastic bag VS conventional method Study Design: Randomized Control Trial with Consecutive Non probability sampling. Place and Duration of Study: Neonatal unit of Sheikh Zayed Hospital. From October 2014 to November 2016 Methodology: A total of 200 (100 in each group) preterm Neonates gestational age <37 completed weeks, having birth weight <2.5kg of male and female babies were included, informed consent from parents/attendants were taken. Quantitative variables like gestational age, birth weight and temperature was presented by mean and standard deviation, qualitative variables like gender and presence of hypothermia was presented by frequency and percentage in both groups.  Results: In our study, mean gestational age of the mothers was recorded as 33.54+1.76 weeks in Group-A and 33.46+1.82 weeks in Group-B. 54%(n=54) in Group-A and 47%(n=47) were male while 46%(n=46) in Group-A and 53%(n=53) in Group-B were females, in a Group B by conventional method hypothermia was recorded as 69% (n=69) Group-A 45%(n=45). While remaining 31%(n=31) in GroupA and 55%(n=55) in Group-B had no findings of the morbidity, p value was calculated as 0.000 showing a significant result in favor of plastic bag method.  Conclusion: We concluded that by using plastic bags we reduced the frequency of hypothermia in preterm and low birth weight infant managed with plastic bag is significantly reduced when compared with conventional method. However, our data is primary in our population and needs some other studies for its validation

Capture a atenção através de itens de marca em comerciais televisados

The aim of this research is to determine whether using brand elements prominently in televised commercials influences viewers’ attention level towards the advertisement. It also negates the theory curiosity driven cognition which entails that brand elements should be displayed at the very end of an advertisements. This study has considered various products and have taken advertisements that vary in length and production creativity. Brand elements were also compared in order to determine their individual impact on viewers’ attention by this study. This is a validation and extension of The Network Model of Memory in the context of displaying brand element prominently in televised commercials to capture viewers’ attention. This study follows a quantitative research method technique and gathered data by using an adopted structured questionnaire. Sample were carefully selected by using simple random technique and groups of different sizes were formed for experimentation. Sample were exposed to advertisements that varied in length and production creativity. Wilcoxon and Logit regression techniques were used to measure and test the models. Data from all groups that were used in experimentations were compared and the obtained results derived through statistical techniques provided support for the alternate hypotheses thus empirically supports the prominent display of brand elements from the start of the advertisement in order to capture viewers’ attention. Results and findings have been discussed and are presented accordingly. This study provides an insight to the policy makers as to how to make advertising more effective and reduce marketing expenditures. Further areas of research in this field is also suggested.El objetivo de esta investigación es determinar si el uso de elementos de marca de manera prominente en los comerciales televisados influye en el nivel de atención de los espectadores hacia el anuncio. También niega la teoría, la curiosidad basada en la cognición que implica que los elementos de la marca deben mostrarse al final de una publicidad. Este estudio ha considerado varios productos y ha tomado anuncios que varían en longitud y creatividad de producción. Los elementos de marca también se compararon para determinar su impacto individual en la atención de los espectadores en este estudio. Esta es una validación y extensión del modelo de red de memoria en el contexto de mostrar un elemento de marca de manera prominente en los anuncios televisados para captar la atención de los espectadores. Este estudio sigue una técnica de método de investigación cuantitativa y recopila datos utilizando un cuestionario estructurado adoptado. La muestra se seleccionó cuidadosamente utilizando una técnica aleatoria simple y se formaron grupos de diferentes tamaños para la experimentación. La muestra fue expuesta a anuncios que variaban en longitud y creatividad de producción. Se utilizaron las técnicas de regresión de Wilcoxon y Logit para medir y probar los modelos. Los datos de todos los grupos que se utilizaron en las experimentaciones se compararon y los resultados obtenidos a través de técnicas estadísticas proporcionaron apoyo para las hipótesis alternativas, por lo que empíricamente apoya la exhibición prominente de elementos de marca desde el inicio del anuncio para captar la atención de los espectadores. Los resultados y los resultados se han discutido y se presentan en consecuencia. Este estudio proporciona una visión para los responsables de las políticas sobre cómo hacer que la publicidad sea más efectiva y reducir los gastos de marketing. También se sugieren otras áreas de investigación en este campo.O objetivo desta pesquisa é determinar se o uso de elementos de marca de forma proeminente em comerciais televisionados influencia o nível de atenção dos espectadores em relação ao anúncio. Também nega a cognição orientada pela curiosidade da teoria, que implica que os elementos da marca devem ser exibidos no final de uma publicidade. Este estudo considerou vários produtos e publicou anúncios que variam em tamanho e criatividade de produção. Os elementos da marca também foram comparados para determinar seu impacto individual na atenção dos espectadores por este estudo. Esta é uma validação e extensão do The Network Model of Memory no contexto da exibição proeminente de elementos da marca em comerciais televisionados para captar a atenção dos espectadores. Este estudo segue uma técnica de método de pesquisa quantitativa e coletou dados utilizando um questionário estruturado adotado. Amostras foram cuidadosamente selecionadas usando técnica aleatória simples e grupos de diferentes tamanhos foram formados para experimentação. Amostra foram expostos a propagandas que variavam em tamanho e criatividade de produção. As técnicas de regressão de Wilcoxon e Logit foram usadas para medir e testar os modelos. Os dados de todos os grupos que foram usados em experimentações foram comparados e os resultados obtidos através de técnicas estatísticas forneceram suporte para as hipóteses alternativas, apoiando assim empiricamente a exibição proeminente de elementos de marca desde o início do anúncio, a fim de captar a atenção dos espectadores. Os resultados e descobertas foram discutidos e apresentados de acordo. Este estudo fornece uma visão para os formuladores de políticas sobre como tornar a publicidade mais eficaz e reduzir os gastos com marketing. Outras áreas de pesquisa neste campo também são sugeridas

Advertising Styles’ Impact on Attention in Pakistan

The topic was selected after giving consideration to the modern environment and the use of media by advertisers for attention purposes of their products. It was also observed that the number of channels especially in the electronic media have also geometrically increased over the last two decades. It is now becoming difficult for advertisers to get the attention of their products in the minds of their viewers. The methodology used in the research was focus group and ads of different products were shown to them which included humorous and serious appeals. As the literature review revealed that these two types of appeals have significant difference when measuring attention between humorous and serious advertisements. At the end of the research it was established that there is a significant difference between the attention of humorous and serious appeals. Initially the idea was taken form a research conducted in Sweden. Same parameters were analyzed in Pakistan. We concluded that the reaction of two different societies have almost the same response for humorous and serious advertising appeals.Humorous Appeals, Serious Appeals, Attention

Functional connectivity alterations in epilepsy from resting-state functional MRI

The study of functional brain connectivity alterations induced by neurological disorders and their analysis from resting state functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (rfMRI) is generally considered to be a challenging task. The main challenge lies in determining and interpreting the large-scale connectivity of brain regions when studying neurological disorders such as epilepsy. We tackle this challenging task by studying the cortical region connectivity using a novel approach for clustering the rfMRI time series signals and by identifying discriminant functional connections using a novel difference statistic measure. The proposed approach is then used in conjunction with the difference statistic to conduct automatic classification experiments for epileptic and healthy subjects using the rfMRI data. Our results show that the proposed difference statistic measure has the potential to extract promising discriminant neuroimaging markers. The extracted neuroimaging markers yield 93.08% classification accuracy on unseen data as compared to 80.20% accuracy on the same dataset by a recent state-of-the-art algorithm. The results demonstrate that for epilepsy the proposed approach confirms known functional connectivity alterations between cortical regions, reveals some new connectivity alterations, suggests potential neuroimaging markers, and predicts epilepsy with high accuracy from rfMRI scans.Scopu

Fiscal Policy and Macroeconomic Stability in South Asian Countries

The objective of this study is to examine relationship between fiscal policy and macroeconomic stability in South Asian countries. The study also aimed to find the channels through which fiscal policy leads to macroeconomic stability i.e. automatic stabilizers, discretionary fiscal policy and cyclical fiscal policy. For attaining these objectives the study used data from 1990 to 2014. The study used Pooled OLS and Instrumental Variable Least Square methodology. Results indicate that automatic stabilizers and discretionary fiscal policy have destabilizing impact on economy which leads to decrease in economic growth of developing economies. Cyclical policy plays an important role in stabilizing the economy and growth of a country. The study concluded that automatic stabilizers and discretionary policy are weak in developing economies. Government should use cyclical policy for macroeconomic stability in developing countries

The Role of Resonant Leadership, Workplace Friendship and Serving Culture in predicting Organizational Commitment: the Mediating Role of Compassion at Work

Purpose – This study aims to empirically demonstrate the positive effects of resonant leadership, workplace friendship and serving culture on organizational commitment through a mediating role of compassion at work. Design/methodology/approach – The data are collected from 442 front line employees (FLEs) working in Pakistani healthcare organizations by employing a cross-sectional survey. The collected data are analysed through the structural equation modelling (SEM) technique, using SmartPLS 3.0. Findings – All the proposed relationships are statistically supported. We found that resonant leadership, serving culture and workplace friendship predict normative commitment among healthcare frontliners through a mediating role of compassion at work. The results demonstrate an excellent model fit, where all the direct as well as indirect hypotheses are supported by the data. Originality/value – The analysis of the positive effects of resonant leadership, workplace friendship and serving culture as a unified framework to predict organizational commitment via the mediating role of compassion in a healthcare setting is unique to this study

Fiscal Policy and Macroeconomic Stability in South Asian Countries

The objective of this study is to examine relationship between fiscal policy and macroeconomic stability in South Asian countries. The study also aimed to find the channels through which fiscal policy leads to macroeconomic stability i.e. automatic stabilizers, discretionary fiscal policy and cyclical fiscal policy. For attaining these objectives the study used data from 1990 to 2014. The study used Pooled OLS and Instrumental Variable Least Square methodology. Results indicate that automatic stabilizers and discretionary fiscal policy have destabilizing impact on economy which leads to decrease in economic growth of developing economies. Cyclical policy plays an important role in stabilizing the economy and growth of a country. The study concluded that automatic stabilizers and discretionary policy are weak in developing economies. Government should use cyclical policy for macroeconomic stability in developing countries