Feature based dynamic intra-video indexing

A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment for the degree of Doctor of PhilosophyWith the advent of digital imagery and its wide spread application in all vistas of life, it has become an important component in the world of communication. Video content ranging from broadcast news, sports, personal videos, surveillance, movies and entertainment and similar domains is increasing exponentially in quantity and it is becoming a challenge to retrieve content of interest from the corpora. This has led to an increased interest amongst the researchers to investigate concepts of video structure analysis, feature extraction, content annotation, tagging, video indexing, querying and retrieval to fulfil the requirements. However, most of the previous work is confined within specific domain and constrained by the quality, processing and storage capabilities. This thesis presents a novel framework agglomerating the established approaches from feature extraction to browsing in one system of content based video retrieval. The proposed framework significantly fills the gap identified while satisfying the imposed constraints of processing, storage, quality and retrieval times. The output entails a framework, methodology and prototype application to allow the user to efficiently and effectively retrieved content of interest such as age, gender and activity by specifying the relevant query. Experiments have shown plausible results with an average precision and recall of 0.91 and 0.92 respectively for face detection using Haar wavelets based approach. Precision of age ranges from 0.82 to 0.91 and recall from 0.78 to 0.84. The recognition of gender gives better precision with males (0.89) compared to females while recall gives a higher value with females (0.92). Activity of the subject has been detected using Hough transform and classified using Hiddell Markov Model. A comprehensive dataset to support similar studies has also been developed as part of the research process. A Graphical User Interface (GUI) providing a friendly and intuitive interface has been integrated into the developed system to facilitate the retrieval process. The comparison results of the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) shows that the performance of the system closely resembles with that of the human annotator. The performance has been optimised for time and error rate

IMPACT OF FINANCIAL REPORTING QUALITY ON INVESTMENT EFFICIENCY AROUND THE GLOBE

In developed markets, the documented enhancement of investment efficiency due to financial reporting quality has yet to address the question of whether such a correlation persists in emerging, frontier, and diverse markets. This study investigates the association between financial reporting quality and investment efficiency across 21,741 publicly listed firms spanning 36 countries worldwide, encompassing developed, emerging, frontier, and other markets. Comprehensive accounting data spanning the years 2000 to 2022 is gathered for all listed firms in 40 industries across these 36 countries having 166,453 firms-year observations. Causal connections are examined through fixed-effect regression analysis, supplemented by additional tests and robustness checks utilizing alternative proxies. Concerns about endogeneity are mitigated through 2SLS analysis. The results reveal a positive impact of financial reporting quality on investment efficiency for firms in developed, emerging, frontier, and other markets. Our exploration of both over-investment and under-investment scenarios demonstrates a more pronounced link between financial reporting quality and investment efficiency in the underinvestment scenario. These findings contribute to the existing body of evidence, indicating that beyond its influence on investment efficiency in developed markets, the relationship between financial reporting quality and investment efficiency holds true globally. This encompasses emerging, frontier, and other markets, characterized by varying levels of reporting quality and financial framework

MORAL ANTECEDENTS OF ATTITUDE FOR THE PURCHASE OF COUNTERFEIT LUXURY PRODUCTS: MEDIATING EFFECT OF PRICE SENSITIVITY

In the recent past demand for counterfeiting has enhanced worldwide and has become serious problem for business and trade of every country. Increasing demand of counterfeit products needs in-depth investigation for stoppage of this crime. The effects of counterfeit purchases are not restricted to branded products but, they also enhance consumer safety risk, reduction in revenues and damage to image of branded products. The aim of this study is to investigate the mediating role of price sensitivity between moral influences and purchase intention of consumer for purchase of counterfeit luxury products. Population for this investigation comprised of non-deceptive purchasers of counterfeit products of district Dera Ismail Khan. For the said purpose one hundred questionnaires were circulated through simple random sampling and out of which 95 completed questionnaires were received and utilized for statistical analysis. The findings of the present study yielded mediation of price sensitivity between the relationship of moral influences and purchase intention. Key Words: Counterfeit Luxury Products, Purchase intention, Moral Influences &nbsp

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, PUBLIC POLICY&INTERNATIONAL TOURISM: EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE FROM PAKISTAN ECONOMY

Background:The tourism industry is considered to be a million-dollar industry with its ability to increase the cash flows and ability to sell things for higher prices than usual. Pakistan is a very lucrative country for travellers with an immense amount of diversity in culture as well as weather. There are a number of historic, adventurous, exotic, and peaceful spots in Pakistan to attract travellers and boost their tourism industry. Methods: This study aimed to examine the influence of international tourism receipts and expenditure on the gross domestic product of Pakistan& also recommend public policies. Time series data for twenty-four years was gathered in this study and regression analysis was applied to examine the hypothesized relationships. Results:Findings of this study have reflected the significant and positive impact of the hypothesized variables on the economy of Pakistan

Haemodynamics During Induction with Sevoflurane Versus Propofol Using Laryngeal Mask Airways in Forearm Orthopaedic Surgeries in Older Children

Background: To compare the hemodynamicchanges during induction of anesthesia withpropofol and sevoflurane in children undergoingforearm orthopedic surgeries.Methods: In this descriptive study 60 pediatricpatients, scheduled for forearm orthopedic surgicalprocedure under general anesthesia requiring LMAinsertion were included. The selected patients wereallocated into two groups; A (Propofol) and B(Sevoflurane) of 30 each. Group A was induced withIV Propofol 2mg/kg while Group B was induced bysevoflurane 6-8%. Anesthetic induction wassupposedly achieved after loss of eyelash reflex.Results: Compared with base line, both groupsshowed a statistically significant decline in meanarterial pressure after induction. Propofol group (A)showed a larger transient decrease in MAP comparedto sevoflurane group (B) (p<0.001). There was astatistical significant overall greater decline in MAPand heart rate after induction with propofol whencompared with sevoflurane.Conclusion: Sevoflurane provides slightly betterhemodynamic stability compared to propofol duringanesthetic induction

Economic Development, Public Policy &International Tourism: Empirical Evidence from Pakistan Economy

Background:The tourism industry is considered to be a million-dollar industry with its ability to increase the cash flows and ability to sell things for higher prices than usual. Pakistan is a very lucrative country for travellers with an immense amount of diversity in culture as well as weather. There are a number of historic, adventurous, exotic, and peaceful spots in Pakistan to attract travellers and boost their tourism industry. Methods: This study aimed to examine the influence of international tourism receipts and expenditure on the gross domestic product of Pakistan& also recommend public policies. Time series data for twenty-four years was gathered in this study and regression analysis was applied to examine the hypothesized relationships. Results:Findings of this study have reflected the significant and positive impact of the hypothesized variables on the economy of Pakistan

The Possible State? Renewal of Ijtihād and Its Role in Enforcing Sharia through the Intellectual Project of Jamāl Al-Dīn ʻaṭīya

Sharia has occupied the center of attention by Muslim and non-Muslim scholars alike. The term, Sharia, in itself, is controversial, sometimes is exaggerated and often misinterpreted. When it comes to the different ways in which Sharia is to be applied, we find many suggestions and methods emanating from within the Islamic parlance. But such approaches focus, for the most part, on the renewal of the Islamic sciences. There is paucity of literature that examines the integration of Sharia into the social and, more importantly, legal fabrics of the nation-state. In this thesis, I examine the different ways in which Sharia has been applied or proposed to be applied. I examine the integrative approach advocated by Jamāl al-Dīn ʻAṭīyah in institutionalizing collective ijtihād and the new classification of maqāṣid, and its role in the new juristic system

Derangement in Serum Inflammatory Biomarkers Among Patients with End Stage Renal Disease

Background: End stage renal disease is an important public health problem. Renal replacement therapy, dialysis and transplantation are used to provide relief from the symptoms of end stage renal disease whilst also preserving the life of the patients though they are not curative. Haemodialysis is the widely used method although it produces a negative impact on quality of life of the patients. Hypoalbumianemia has been reported to be frequently present in haemodialysis patients and correlates strongly with mortality and morbidity. Objective: To determine the frequency of deranged  inflammatory biomarkers in patients with end stage renal disease on hemodialysis, in Nishtar Hospital Multan. Material and methods: One hundred thirty-one cases with ESRD were selected from Hemodialysis Department, Nishtar Hospital Multan and  3ml of venous blood sample was taken before starting a session of hemodialysis and sent to central laboratory of Nishtar Hospital Multan. Serum Albumin was obtained by an automatic analyzer, and serum CRP by slide test, free of cost, to measure deranged inflammatory biomarkers. Data was analyzed by using SPSS version 20. Results: Of these 131 study cases, 85 (64.9%) were male patients while 46 (35.1%) were female patients. Mean age of our study cases was 42.37 ± 5.98 years. Of these 131 patients with ESRD on hemodialysis 33 (25.2%) were diabetic, 65 (49.6%) were hypertensives and 13 (9.9%) were obese. Mean duration on hemodialysis was 19.51 ± 7.59 months, 80 (61.1%) had to undergo hemodialysis twice a week and 51 (38.9%) had to undergo three times a week. Mean serum albumin level was noted to be 3.37 ± 0.59 g/dl. Mean serum C-reactive protein level was noted to be 20.73 ± 15.84 mg/l. Frequency of deranged inflammatory biomarkers in our study was noted to be in 109 (83.2%) of the study cases. Conclusion: Very high frequency of derangement in inflammatory biomarkers have been noted in our study. This derangement in these inflammatory biomarkers was significantly associated with female gender, increasing age, increased duration on hemodialysis and increased frequency of hemodialysis. The early diagnosis of these derangements followed by preventive measures can help decrease disease morbidity and mortality among targeted population. Keywords: Inflammatory biomarkers, deranged, end-stage renal disease, hemodialysis

Osteocalcin levels in gingival crevicular fluid periodontitis patient with and without type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Background: Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is a systemic disease with a high prevalence in Indonesia. Periodontitis is a complication of DM with frequent occurrences. Periodontitis with DM causes greater bone damage than non-DM periodontitis because its conditions can affect osteoblast and osteoclast activity. Osteocalcin (OC), mostly synthesized by osteoblasts, regulates the activity of bone formation and turnover so that it can be a marker of bone formation and turnover to see the severity of the disease. OC can be found in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF). This study aimed to determine osteocalcin levels in gingival crevicular fluid periodontitis patients with uncontrolled type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and non-Diabetes Mellitus.Method: Samples used in this study were gingival crevicular fluid taken from 20 samples of periodontitis patients with DM type 2 (DMT2P) and 20 samples of periodontitis non-DM patients. The OC levels were analyzed using ELISA Kit Osteocalcin then statistical tests were carried out.Result: The results showed that the OC level of the DMT2P group was 0.369 ± 0.140 while the periodontitis non-DM group was 0.664 ± 0.141.Conclusion: The OC levels of periodontitis patients with DM are lower than periodontitis patients non-DM