Internationalization of higher education institutions: implementation of DMAIC cycle

In recent decades, the topic of internationalization has emerged as one of the defining issues of higher education globally. Different approaches are emerged for the internationalization process according to universities structures and strategic plans, however, universities are still facing the problems in identification of basic steps through which transformation of higher education to internationalization is possible. This study proposed a framework for higher education in Pakistan. In order to energize the whole process towards internationalization, three-step framework utilized for the internationalization of higher education in Pakistan. Study identifies the basic dimensions for the improvements of the services and structure, which leads to internationalization of higher education in Pakistan. Study proposed the use of define, measure, analysis, improve and control cycle for continuous improvements in higher education’s institutions in Pakistan.     

Energy Efficient Vital Signs Monitoring System (VSMS) Using Wireless Sensor Networks

Intensive care unit (ICU) also known as critical care unit is the most sensitive section of any hospital and the specialized team of doctors and nurses along with the best equipment is usually deployed at this unit. A patient receives extra ordinary facilitation at ICU and continuous monitoring is done. As the patient is recovered, he is shifted to the ward or room for further assistance. During shifting of patient, the rehabilitation is in process and the continuous monitoring is required. As the patient is moving, so the monitoring process is difficult and in this time the emergency situation may result in the death of the patient as well in extreme cases. In this situation the need of precise and continuous monitoring system is arrived, which has been fulfilled by this work. Patient’s temperature, heart beats and blood pressure is continuously monitored in this wok using wireless sensor network (WSN). The WSN kit monitors several parameters and transfer it the panel monitors at the observation (or control) room and in case of any emergency, necessary actions would be easy to take. This paper proposed an energy efficient vital sign monitoring system using WSN. The power of WSN nodes which is the very important issue in WSN is minimize using the genetic algorithm.     

Oil modified and waterborne polyurethane resin

Air-dried water-dispersed polyurethane resins were produced from poly(propylene-ethylene) copolymer triol, monoglyceride, toluene diisocyanate, and tartaric acid. Monoglyceride and poly(propylene-ethylene) copolymer triol were employed at different ratios, with the monoglyceride ranging between 50–70% of the total polyol used, and the isocyanate/hydroxyl ratio was kept at 1.82. Some surfaces showed heavy wrinkling when the monoglyceride was below 54.5% and above 60%, yet clear and unwrinkled surfaces occurred when the monoglyceride fell between 54.5–60%. The hardness values increased as the percentage of monoglyceride increased. Hardness, impact, adhesion, bending, and abrasion tests were applied and the samples passed each test. All exhibited very good flexibility and toughness. Polimer Bilimive Teknolojisi Anabilim Dali, Orta Dogu Teknik üniversitesi, Ankara, 06531, Turkey, email: ggunduz@metu.edu.tr. Kimya Mühendisligi B?lümü. Kimya B?lümü.     

Optimal Sparse Autoencoder Based Sleep Stage Classification Using Biomedical Signals

The recently developed machine learning (ML) models have the ability to obtain high detection rate using biomedical signals. Therefore, this article develops an Optimal Sparse Autoencoder based Sleep Stage Classification Model on Electroencephalography (EEG) Biomedical Signals, named OSAE-SSCEEG technique. The major intention of the OSAE-SSCEEG technique is to find the sleep stage disorders using the EEG biomedical signals. The OSAE-SSCEEG technique primarily undergoes preprocessing using min-max data normalization approach. Moreover, the classification of sleep stages takes place using the Sparse Autoencoder with Smoothed Regularization (SAE-SR) with softmax (SM) approach. Finally, the parameter optimization of the SAE-SR technique is carried out by the use of Coyote Optimization Algorithm (COA) and it leads to boosted classification efficiency. In order to ensure the enhanced performance of the OSAE-SSCEEG technique, a wide ranging simulation analysis is performed and the obtained results demonstrate the betterment of the OSAE-SSCEEG technique over the recent methods.     

A peer-to-peer communication based content distribution protocol for incentive-aware delay tolerant networks

Wireless Networks - In the absence of Internet connectivity, a content-centric opportunistic network can be established by mobile human-held devices. However, to save battery, buffer, and bandwidth...     

On the accuracy of a covariance matching method for continuous-time errors-in-variables identification

An analysis of a covariance matching method for continuous-time errors-in-variables system identification from discrete-time data is made. In the covariance matching method, the noise-free input signal is not explicitly modeled and only assumed to be a stationary process. The asymptotic normalized covariance matrix, valid for a large number of data and a small sampling interval, is derived. This involves the evaluation of a covariance matrix of estimated covariance elements and estimated derivatives of such elements, and large parts of the paper are devoted to this task. The latter covariance matrix consists of two parts, where the first part contains integrals that are approximations of Riemann sums, and the second part depends on the measurement noise variances.     

Variational iteration method and homotopy perturbation method for fourth-order fractional integro-differential equations

In this article, linear and nonlinear boundary value problems for fourth-order fractional integro-differential equations are solved by variational iteration method and homotopy perturbation method. The fractional derivatives are described in the Caputo sense. The solutions of both problems are derived by infinite convergent series which are easily computable and then graphical representation shows that both methods are most effective and convenient one to solve linear and nonlinear boundary value problems for fourth-order fractional integro-differential equations.     

Sol–Gel Processing and Characterization of Phase-Pure Lead Zirconate Titanate Nano-Powders

The present research describes a modified sol–gel technique used to obtain nano-crystalline lead zirconate titanate (PZT) powders by using triethanolamine (TEA) as a polymerizing agent. The metal ions chemically interacted with TEA in the precursor sol and gel under refluxing conditions. Drying and aging treatments led to development of a precursor–polymeric gel network. A single-phase perovskite structure was formed at 470°C. The PZT gel and powders were characterized by using X-ray diffraction, simultaneous thermal analysis, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic techniques. The nano-crystalline morphology was examined by using a transmission electron microscope (TEM). The average particle size determined from TEM was less than 15 nm.     

Multifunctional van der Waals Broken‐Gap Heterojunction

The finite energy band‐offset that appears between band structures of employed materials in a broken‐gap heterojunction exhibits several interesting phenomena. Here, by employing a black phosphorus (BP)/rhenium disulfide (ReS₂) heterojunction, the tunability of the BP work function (Φ _BP) with variation in flake thickness is exploited in order to demonstrate that a BP‐based broken‐gap heterojunction can manifest diverse current‐transport characteristics such as gate tunable rectifying p–n junction diodes, Esaki diodes, backward‐rectifying diodes, and nonrectifying devices as a consequence of diverse band‐bending at the heterojunction. Diversity in band‐bending near heterojunction is attributed to change in the Fermi level difference (Δ) between BP and ReS₂ sides as a consequence of Φ _BP modulation. No change in the current transport characteristics in several devices with fixed Δ also provides further evidence that current‐transport is substantially impacted by band‐bending at the heterojunction. Optoelectronic experiments on the Esaki diode and the p–n junction diode provide experimental evidence of band‐bending diversity. Additionally, the p⁺–n–p junction comprising BP (38 nm)/ReS₂/BP(5.8 nm) demonstrates multifunctionality of binary and ternary inverters as well as exhibiting the behavior of a bipolar junction transistor with common‐emitter current gain up to 50.