Short-term wind power forecasting through stacked and bi directional LSTM techniques.

Background: Computational intelligence (CI) based prediction models increase the efficient and effective utilization of resources for wind prediction. However, the traditional recurrent neural networks (RNN) are difficult to train on data having long-term temporal dependencies, thus susceptible to an inherent problem of vanishing gradient. This work proposed a method based on an advanced version of RNN known as long short-term memory (LSTM) architecture, which updates recurrent weights to overcome the vanishing gradient problem. This, in turn, improves training performance. Methods: The RNN model is developed based on stack LSTM and bidirectional LSTM. The parameters like mean absolute error (MAE), standard deviation error (SDE), and root mean squared error (RMSE) are utilized as performance measures for comparison with recent state-of-the-art techniques. Results: Results showed that the proposed technique outperformed the existing techniques in terms of RMSE and MAE against all the used wind farm datasets. Whereas, a reduction in SDE is observed for larger wind farm datasets. The proposed RNN approach performed better than the existing models despite fewer parameters. In addition, the approach requires minimum processing power to achieve compatible results.

An efficient and compromise-resilient image encryption scheme for resource-constrained environments.

The secret keys produced by current image cryptosystems, which rely on chaotic sequences, exhibit a direct correlation with the size of the image. As the image dimensions expand, the generation of extensive chaotic sequences in the encryption and decryption procedures becomes more computationally intensive. Secondly, a common problem in existing image encryption schemes is the compromise between privacy and efficiency. Some existing lightweight schemes reveal patterns in encrypted images, while others impose heavy computational burdens during encryption/decryption due to the need for large chaotic sequences. In this study, we introduce a lightweight image encryption scheme that involves partitioning the image into uniformly sized tiles and generating a chaotic sequence accordingly. This approach diminishes the necessity to create extensive chaotic sequences equal to the tile size, which is significantly smaller than the original image. As a result, it alleviates the processing burden associated with generating sequences equivalent to the original image size. The results confirm that our proposed scheme is lightweight and secure compared to the latest state-of-the-art image encryption schemes. Additionally, sensitivity analysis demonstrates that the proposed image encryption technique, with a UACI value of 33.48 and NPRC value of 99.96, affirms its resistance to differential attacks.

Touch or click friendly: Towards adaptive user interfaces for complex applications.

This study evaluated the usability of a direct manipulation device (touchscreen) vs. indirect manipulation devices (mouse and touchpad) on the selected Microsoft (MS) Word tasks as per ISO-9241-11 standard. MS Word was taken as an example of a complex application. The tasks were evaluated in terms of touch-friendly or click-friendly using efficiency, effectiveness, and satisfaction parameters to propose a customized task menu. The experiment was conducted with fifty-four participants, divided into three MS Word usage-based expertise groups. Each participant performed fifty-six tasks using a mouse, a touchpad, and a touchscreen. To assess task-level usability, individual one-way ANOVAs were performed for each task to gauge both efficiency and effectiveness. It's worth noting that the touchscreen significantly outperformed other input methods in just one specific task regarding effectiveness. Consequently, an ANCOVA was employed, with task completion time as the independent variable and the number of errors as a covariate, to further investigate effectiveness. A total of 19 (34%) of the total tasks were found to be significantly efficient with a mouse, while 21 (37.5%) were significantly efficient with a touchscreen. Based on the results, a customized menu is recommended for MS Word-like applications that combine actions in touch-friendly tasks and mouse-friendly tasks separately.

Redesign and validation of a computer programming course using Inductive Teaching Method.

Inductive Teaching Method (ITM) promotes effective learning in technological education (Felder & Silverman, 1988). Students prefer ITM more as it makes the subject easily understandable (Goltermann, 2011). The ITM motivates the students to actively participate in class activities and therefore could be considered a better approach to teach computer programming. There has been little research on implementing ITM in computer science courses despite its potential to improve effective learning. In this research, an existing computer programming lab course is taught using a traditional Deductive Teaching Method (DTM). The course is redesigned and taught by adopting the ITM instead. Furthermore, a comprehensive plan has been devised to deliver the course content in computer labs. The course was evaluated in an experiment consisting of 81 undergraduate students. The students in the Experimental Group (EG) (N = 45) were taught using the redesigned ITM course, whereas the students in the Control Group (CG) (N = 36) were taught using the DTM course. The performance of both groups was compared in terms of the marks obtained by them. A pre-test conducted to compare pre-course mathematical and analytical abilities showed that CG was better in analytical reasoning with no significant differences in mathematical abilities. Three post-tests were used to evaluate the groups theoretical and practical competence in programming and showed EG improved performance with large, medium, and small effect sizes as compared to CG. The results of this research could help computer programming educators to implement inductive strategies that could improve the learning of the computer programming.

Fighting adult illiteracy with the help of the environmental print material.

Adult illiteracy is a major problem worldwide especially in developing countries. Adult Basic Education (ABE) programs working in this context are not very effective due to lack of motivation for the people who are not literate. The reason is inadequate learning content and content delivery methods. This situation calls for developing novel learning content and a learner-directed content delivery approach. This paper presents an exploratory study investigating the use of the Environmental Print Material (EPM) as learning content for the non-literate population of Pakistan. The EPM content is presented to the adult non-literate population in two ethnographic studies. The most frequently recognized content is selected and utilized as learning content in a Computer Assisted Learning (CAL) application. An empirical study is conducted upon two groups with 107 participants to compare the EPM-based learning content with Traditional Learning Content (TLC). As many as 54 participants participated in the experimental group (presented with EPM-based learning content), whereas 53 participants took part in the control group (presented with TLC content). The results reveal that the experimental group performed significantly better compared to the control group in recognition, pronunciation, and recall of the presented content. The meta-analysis of the results shows a large effect size of (1.05) with confidence interval in the range (0.798-1.315). The results claim that the EPM has potential to be considered as learning content in the ABE programs.

Myths about diabetes mellitus among non-diabetic individuals attending primary health care centers of karachi subrubs.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the myths and misconception about diabetes mellitus among non-diabetics attending primary health care centers of Gadap town, Karachi. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of the Study: Primary Health Care Centers, Gadap Town, Karachi, during the month of July 2005. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Data was collected from four primary health care centers, located at Gadap Town, Karachi, and about 198 non-diabetic patients, above 18 years of age, and resident of Gadap Town, coming consecutively during the month of July 2005, were interviewed after taking the informed consent by using a semi-structured pre-tested questionnaire regarding prevailing myths about diabetes mellitus. The data collected was entered and analyzed by using a statistical package SPSS 11.0. Myths are defined as stories shared by a group, as part of the cultural identity. RESULTS: There were 198 participants in the study. Mean age of study participants was 40 years with standard deviation of 13, while approximately two thirds, 62.6%, were females. About 39% had history of type II diabetes mellitus in family. Overall myths related to diabetes mellitus were common among the individuals, males reported myths pre-dominantly contagiousness of diabetes (p= < 0.03), diabetics becoming more ill (p=<0.009) and belief in spiritual treatment for permanent cure of diabetes (p=< 0.006). People having 5-16 years of education were less misconceived as compared to illiterates. The variables that showed significant difference were over-eating, causing diabetes (p= < 0.006), diabetics falling ill more than others (p=< 0.04), eating less starch (p= < 0.0006) and alternative treatment like spiritual treatment (p=< 0.00001). Family history of diabetes was also found significantly associated with reporting myths. CONCLUSION: Frequency of reporting myths was significantly high in this study with preponderance of males, family history of diabetes mellitus and educational status. Education serves as protective factor, hence efforts should be made to promote education and health awareness regarding the disease, with more emphasis on addressing myths regarding diabetes mellitus.