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As a last option, multidrug-resistant Gram-negative infections (caused by Enterobacteriaceae) are treated with the antibiotic colistin, also known as polymyxin E. Colistin-resistant superbugs predispose people to untreatable infections, possibly leading to a high mortality rate. This project aims to study the effect of Acacia nilotica aqueous extract and zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) on colistin-resistant Klebsiella pneumonia (CRKP).

This research seeks to propose an innovative mathematical approach for measuring students’ performance in engineering education. The numerical solutions to this mathematical model and a thorough analysis are included in this study. Four categories – average candidates, poor candidates, below average candidates, and good candidates – are used to build the mathematical model that was built. To solve the differential system based on the migration rate and average student rate moving to weak and above average, the Adams numerical scheme is applied to the numerical results of the designed nonlinear mathematical model. Moreover, an artificial neural network is also applied to get the stochastic results of ANNs-LMB, also known as the Levenberg-Marquardt training algorithm. The ANNs-LMB procedures have been implemented with three samples of data scales using the authentication, testing and training, which are chosen as 75%, 15% and 10%, respectively. According to the findings, when the rate of students leaving engineering studies increased, good students performed better, and when the rate of students below average moved, it was due to an increase in the rate of migration above average, the performance of the good students was only impacted in this way. This research material can be used in different designs and models to improve the students’ performance.

Abstract There are an increasing number of Narrow Band IoT devices being manufactured as the technology behind them develops quickly. The high co‐channel interference and signal attenuation seen in edge Narrow Band IoT devices make it challenging to guarantee the service quality of these devices. To maximise the data rate fairness of Narrow Band IoT devices, a multi‐dimensional indoor localisation model is devised, consisting of transmission power, data scheduling, and time slot scheduling, based on a network model that employs non‐orthogonal multiple access via a relay. Based on this network model, the optimisation goal of Narrow Band IoT device data rate ratio fairness is first established by the authors, while taking into account the Narrow Band IoT network: The multi‐dimensional indoor localisation optimisation model of equipment tends to minimize data rate, energy constraints and EH relay energy and data buffer constraints, data scheduling and time slot scheduling. As a result, each Narrow Band IoT device's data rate needs are met while the network's overall performance is optimised. We investigate the model's potential for convex optimisation and offer an algorithm for optimising the distribution of multiple resources using the KKT criterion. The current work primarily considers the NOMA Narrow Band IoT network under a single EH relay. However, the growth of Narrow Band IoT devices also leads to a rise in co‐channel interference, which impacts NOMA's performance enhancement. Through simulation, the proposed approach is successfully shown. These improvements have boosted the network's energy efficiency by 44.1%, data rate proportional fairness by 11.9%, and spectrum efficiency by 55.4%.

Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is one of the emerging staple crops in Pakistan, with Punjab producing over 95% of the country’s potatoes. Wilt is an emerging threat to the potato crop worldwide, including in Pakistan. We identified and characterized Fusarium species associated with potato wilt in Pakistan through morphological and molecular analyses. Samples were collected during the 2020–2022 potato seasons from five major potato-growing regions: Sahiwal, Chichawatni, Pakpattan, Kamalia, and Faisalabad. Morphological characterization, internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequencing, specific translation elongation factor 1-alpha (TEF) sequencing, and phylogenetic analysis were used to identify six different Fusarium species: F. oxysporum, F. equiseti, F. incarnatum, F. fujikuroi, F. annulatum and F. thapsinum. Pathogenicity tests in a greenhouse revealed that F. oxysporum and F. equiseti were responsible for Fusarium wilt in all sampled regions, with F. oxysporum being more prevalent in wilted samples. This is the first report of F. equiseti on wilted potatoes in Pakistan. In vitro biocontrol tests using Trichoderma harzianum showed 89% inhibition against F. equiseti and 65% inhibition against F. oxysporum. These findings on F. equiseti will aid in developing future control strategies, including biocontrol measures for Fusarium wilt in potatoes.

The research focuses on incorporating microgrids into engineering curricula for achieving voltage stability in today’s power systems. This helps to meet the increasing demand for engineers to integrate distributed power generation and renewable energy sources. Some limitations of the current literature include the absence of models outlining approaches to microgrid education and limited insight into teaching strategies for electrical power systems. The research used a quantitative methodology to survey 100 engineering students enrolled in a microgrid modeling class to achieve the study’s objectives. The data analysis involved machine learning models such as Random Forest, Gradient Boosting, K-Means, hierarchical clustering, and regression models. The major findings identified exam score as the most significant determiner of student performance (weight ≈ 0.40). Based on the clustering analysis, it was found that microgrid systems can be grouped into four operational states. It was also seen that linear regression models were highly accurate and better than other highly complex models, like Decision Tree, with a model accuracy of R2 ≈ 0.4. One of the study’s major strengths is the potential impact of the proposed framework for integrating microgrids into engineering education on the professional training of engineers. This framework, based on theoretical knowledge and practical experience as well as on developing advanced analytical skills, can significantly enhance the professional training of engineers to deal with the complexities of contemporary power systems, including microgrids and sustainable energy progress.

In coastal areas, coconuts are a common crop. Everyone from farmers to lawmakers and businesses would benefit from an accurate forecast of coconut production. Internet of Things (IoT) sensors are strategically positioned to continuously monitor the environment and gather production statistics to obtain accurate agricultural output predictions. To effectively estimate coconut prediction, this study presents an enhanced deep learning classifier called Bi-directional Long Short-Term Memory (BILSTM) with the integrated Lévy Flight and Seagull Optimization Algorithm (LFSOA). LASSO feature selection is applied to eliminate the superfluous characteristics in the yield estimation. To further enhance the coconut yield estimate, the optimal set of hyperparameters for BILSTM is tuned by the LFSOA, which helps to avoid the overfitting issue. For the results, the BILSTM is compared against different classifiers such as Recurrent Neural Network (RNN), Random Forest Classifier (RFC), and LSTM. Similarly, LFSOA-based hyperparameter tuning is contrasted with different optimization algorithms. The outputs show that LFSOA-based hyperparameter tuning in BILSTM achieved accuracy, precision, recall, and f1-score of 98.963%, 99.026%, 99.155%, and 95.758%, respectively, which are higher when compared to existing methods. Similarly, the BILSTM-LFSOA accomplished better results in statistical measures, including the Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) of 0.105, Mean Squared Error (MSE) of 0.011, Mean Absolute Error (MAE) of 0.094, and coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.954, respectively. From the overall analysis, the proposed BILSTM-LFSOA improves coconut yield prediction by achieving better results in all the performance measures when compared with existing models. The results of this study are important to many stakeholders, including but not limited to policymakers, farmers, banks, and insurance companies. As coconuts are an important crop in developing countries, accurate coconut yield forecasting will lead to greater financial and food security in these regions.

SMEs are asked to incorporate sustainable energy solutions into their organizations’ processes to be environmentally friendly and operate more effectively. In this regard, IoT-based technologies seem to have the potential to monitor and optimize energy use. However, more extensive research is required to assess the efficacy of such solutions in the context of SMEs. Despite the growing interest in the Internet of Things (IoT) for renewable energy, there is a lack of information on how well these solutions work for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). While much of the existing literature addresses the application of new technologies in SMEs, the social background underlying their transformation received relatively little attention in previous years. The present research adopts a quantitative approach, employing time series forecasting, specifically long short-term memory networks (LSTM). This paper uses IoT-based approaches to collect and preprocess an energy consumption dataset from various SMEs. The LSTM model is intended to forecast energy consumption in the future based on experience. In terms of analysis, the study adopts Python for data preprocessing, constructing, and assessing models. The main findings reveal a strong positive correlation (r = 0.85) between base energy consumption and overall energy usage, suggesting that optimizing base consumption is crucial for energy efficiency. In contrast, investment in RETs and staff training demonstrate weak correlations (r = 0.25 and r = 0.30, respectively) with energy consumption, indicating that these factors alone are insufficient for significant energy savings. The long short-term memory model used in the study accurately predicted future energy consumption trends with a mean absolute error of 5%. However, it struggled with high-frequency variations, showing up to 15% of mistakes. This research contributes to the literature in line with IoT-based sustainable energy solutions in SMEs, which has not been widely addressed. The findings highlight the critical role of integrating renewable energy technologies (RETs) and fostering a culture of energy efficiency, offering actionable insights for policymakers and business owners. With the application of Python in data analysis and model creation, this research shows a real-world approach to handling issues in sustainable energy management for SMEs.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the potential of AI technology in developing a decision support system that can improve the effectiveness of wireless sensor networks (WSNs) in e-commerce, specifically in enhancing the features of consumer electronics. This research project is focused on optimizing wireless sensor networks for e-commerce consumer electronics by incorporating AI-based decision support systems. The primary objective of this study is to enhance energy efficiency and performance in online shopping platforms. Various algorithms and methodologies are proposed and assessed, including Adaptive Clustering, the Path Selection Algorithm, Fuzzy Logic-Controlled Energy Management, the Genetic Algorithm for Resource Allocation, and Deep Sleep Scheduling. These techniques improve network efficiency and reduce power consumption in e-commerce applications. The study demonstrates that integrating AI in consumer electronics can result in a remarkable 40% increase in energy efficiency. Comparative analyses conducted through simulations and real-world assessments indicate that the proposed methodology outperforms traditional techniques by 35%. This research underscores the vital role of AI in enhancing network performance and energy efficiency in e-commerce. The results suggest that implementing AI-driven strategies in wireless sensor networks for consumer electronics can significantly improve online shopping experiences. AI-based decision support systems can optimize wireless sensor networks for consumer electronics, improving energy efficiency and network performance on online shopping platforms.

Wound healing involves a sophisticated biological process that relies on ideal conditions to advance through various stages of repair. Modern wound dressings are designed to imitate the natural surroundings around cells and offer properties such as moisture regulation, strength, and antimicrobial defense to boost healing. A recent research project unveiled a new type of gelatin (Gel)/dextran (Dex) hydrogels, linked through Diels-Alder (D-A) reactions, loaded with silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) for cutting-edge wound treatment. Gel and Dex were chemically modified to form the hydrogels via the D-A reaction. The hydrogels were enriched with Ag-NPs at varying levels. Thorough analyses of the hydrogels using methods like NMR, FT-IR, and SEM were carried out to assess their structure and nanoparticle integration. Rheological tests displayed that the hydrogels had favorable mechanical attributes, particularly when Ag-NPs were included. The hydrogels demonstrated controlled swelling, responsiveness to pH changes, and were non-toxic. Testing against E. coli showcased the strong antibacterial activity of the nanocomposite hydrogels in a concentration-dependent manner. This investigation showcased the promise of these bioactive nanocomposite hydrogels in promoting speedy wound healing by maintaining a moist environment, offering an antimicrobial shield, and ensuring mechanical support at the wound site.

Abstract Retraction: [Aryan Marwaha, Rami Qays Malik, Shehab Mohamed Beram, Ali Rizwan, Hari Kishore Kakarla, Deepak Thakur, Tanya Gera, Mohammad Shabaz, Visualisation‐based binary classification of android malware using vgg16, IET Software 2023 (https://doi.org/10.1049/sfw2.12094)]. The above article from IET Software, published online on 23 January 2023 in Wiley Online Library (wileyonlinelibrary.com), has been retracted by agreement between the Editor‐in‐Chief, Hana Chockler, the Institution of Engineering and Technology (the IET) and John Wiley and Sons Ltd. This article was published as part of a Guest Edited special issue. Following an investigation, the IET and the journal have determined that the article was not reviewed in line with the journal’s peer review standards and there is evidence that the peer review process of the special issue underwent systematic manipulation. Accordingly, we cannot vouch for the integrity or reliability of the content. As such we have taken the decision to retract the article. The authors have been informed of the decision to retract.

Abstract In this study, we experimentally investigated the effects of chemically enhanced oil recovery methods containing hydrolyzed polyacrylamide (HPAM), surfactant–hydrolyzed polyacrylamide (SHPAM), surfactant nanofluids (SNF), that is, coupled with carbon dioxide (CO2) and water chase injection to measure enhanced oil recovery methods in a sandstone reservoir. To proceed with the experiments, we performed four flooding tests at the simulated reservoir temperature of 70 °C. The sand packs were saturated with oil to establish the irreducible water saturation (Swr). Then, the fluid flow in sand packs remained undistributed for about 5 days to obtain the 1.5 pore volume (PV). We observed that the pressure drop had small fluctuations when there was waterflooding (until 1.5 PV), and after injecting the chemical agents, the pressure drop had a sharp rise. It is indicated that the chemical solution has implemented higher pressure drops (significant energy efficiency) to displace the oil instead of water. The maximum oil recovery factor was about 53% and 59% when HPAM and SHPAM solution displaced oil after waterflooding, respectively; however, it is observed that water chase flooding recovered about 8% and 14% of remaining oil in place while CO2 has increased only 3% and 5%, respectively. SNF solution can provide more oil recovery factors. It is about 72% (SNF with 0.5 wt%) and 67% (SNF with 1 wt%). We observed that water chase flooding recovered about 20% of oil in place while CO2 increased by only 8%. It was concluded that the SNF solution with 0.5 wt% tends to adhere to the water–CO2 and causes to improve oil recovery factor after SNF injection. Therefore, SNF is the optimum enhanced oil recovery method among other chemical agents. On the other hand, with the decrease in CO2 flow rate and increase in silica nanoparticles slug size, pressure drop has started to decrease in higher pore volume injections, indicating that larger volumes of CO2 can be stored in sand packs. However, by increasing the CO2 flow rate and decreasing silica nanoparticles slug size, CO2 can escape easily from the sand pack.

The emergence of pandemics poses a persistent threat to both global health and economic stability. While zoonotic spillovers and local outbreaks may not be fully preventable, early detection of infections in individuals before they spread to communities can make a major difference in containing an infectious disease and stopping it from becoming an epidemic and then a pandemic.In this paper, we propose a novel Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based pandemic prediction framework called iPREDICT—a concept framework designed to leverage the power of AI and crowd-sensed data for accurate and timely pandemic prediction. The core idea of iPREDICT is to leverage the deluge of data that can be harnessed from connected and wearable biosensing devices. iPREDICT system then works by monitoring anomalies in the biomarkers at the individual level and correlating them with similar anomalies observed in other members of the community. Using AI-based anomaly detection in conjunction with analysis of the spatiotemporal growth of the correlated anomalies, iPREDICT thus can potentially detect and monitor the emergence of a local outbreak in near real-time to predict a potential pandemic.However, not every outbreak has the potential to become a pandemic. We illustrate how tools like graph neural networks can be leveraged to determine optimal thresholds as a function of a large number of demographical, social, and geographical factors that determine the spatiotemporal spread of an outbreak, thus quantifying the risk of it becoming an epidemic or pandemic.We also identify essential technological and social challenges that require attention to transform iPREDICT from an idea into a globally deployable solution for future pandemic prediction and management. To provide deeper insights into iPREDICT design challenges and trigger research towards possible solutions we present a COVID-19 based case study. The results signify the impact of variation in biosensing hardware, data sampling rate, and compression rate on the performance of AI models that underpin various components of the iPREDICT system.

Cough-based diagnosis for respiratory diseases (RDs) using artificial intelligence (AI) has attracted considerable attention, yet many existing studies overlook confounding variables in their predictive models. These variables can distort the relationship between cough recordings (input data) and RD status (output variable), leading to biased associations and unrealistic model performance. To address this gap, we propose the Bias-Free Network (RBF-Net), an end-to-end solution that effectively mitigates the impact of confounders in the training data distribution. RBF-Net ensures accurate and unbiased RD diagnosis features, emphasizing its relevance by incorporating a COVID-19 dataset in this study. This approach aims to enhance the reliability of AI-based RD diagnosis models by navigating the challenges posed by confounding variables. A hybrid of a Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN) and Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) networks is proposed for the feature encoder module of RBF-Net. An additional bias predictor is incorporated in the classification scheme to formulate a conditional Generative Adversarial Network (c-GAN) that helps in decorrelating the impact of confounding variables from RD prediction. The merit of RBF-Net is demonstrated by comparing classification performance with a State-of-The-Art (SoTA) Deep Learning (DL) model (CNN-LSTM) after training on different unbalanced COVID-19 data sets, created by using a large-scale proprietary cough data set. RBF-Net proved its robustness against extremely biased training scenarios by achieving test set accuracies of 84.1%, 84.6%, and 80.5% for the following confounding variables—gender, age, and smoking status, respectively. RBF-Net outperforms the CNN-LSTM model test set accuracies by 5.5%, 7.7%, and 8.2%, respectively.

Novel chemically cross-linked hydrogels derived from carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) and alginate (Alg) were prepared through the utilization of the norbornene (Nb)–methyl tetrazine (mTz) click reaction. The hydrogels were designed to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) from an NIR dye, indocyanine green (ICG), for combined photothermal and photodynamic therapy (PTT/PDT). The cross-linking reaction between Nb and mTz moieties occurred via an inverse electron-demand Diels–Alder chemistry under physiological conditions avoiding the need for a catalyst. The resulting hydrogels exhibited viscoelastic properties (G′ ~ 492–270 Pa) and high porosity. The hydrogels were found to be injectable with tunable mechanical characteristics. The ROS production from the ICG-encapsulated hydrogels was confirmed by DPBF assays, indicating a photodynamic effect (with NIR irradiation at 1–2 W for 5–15 min). The temperature of the ICG-loaded hydrogels also increased upon the NIR irradiation to eradicate tumor cells photothermally. In vitro cytocompatibility assessments revealed the non-toxic nature of CMC–Nb and Alg–mTz towards HEK-293 cells. Furthermore, the ICG-loaded hydrogels effectively inhibited the metabolic activity of Hela cells after NIR exposure.

Abstract Personalized hydration level monitoring play vital role in sports, health, wellbeing and safety of a person while performing particular set of activities. Clinical staff must be mindful of numerous physiological symptoms that identify the optimum hydration specific to the person, event and environment. Hence, it becomes extremely critical to monitor the hydration levels in a human body to avoid potential complications and fatalities. Hydration tracking solutions available in the literature are either inefficient and invasive or require clinical trials. An efficient hydration monitoring system is very required, which can regularly track the hydration level, non-invasively. To this aim, this paper proposes a machine learning (ML) and deep learning (DL) enabled hydration tracking system, which can accurately estimate the hydration level in human skin using galvanic skin response (GSR) of human body. For this study, data is collected, in three different hydration states, namely hydrated, mild dehydration (8 hours of dehydration) and extreme mild dehydration (16 hours of dehydration), and three different body postures, such as sitting, standing and walking. Eight different ML algorithms and four different DL algorithms are trained on the collected GSR data. Their accuracies are compared and a hybrid (ML+DL) model is proposed to increase the estimation accuracy. It can be reported that hybrid Bi-LSTM algorithm can achieve an accuracy of 97.83%.

Diminishing viability of manual fault diagnosis in the increasingly complex emerging cellular network has motivated research towards artificial intelligence (AI)-based fault diagnosis using the minimization of drive test (MDT) reports. However, existing AI solutions in the literature remain limited to either diagnosis of faults in a single base station only or the diagnosis of a single fault in a multiple BS scenario. Moreover, lack of robustness to MDT reports spatial sparsity renders these solutions unsuitable for practical deployment. To address this problem, in this paper we present a novel framework named Hybrid Deep Learning-based Root Cause Analysis (HYDRA) that uses a hybrid of convolutional neural networks, extreme gradient boosting, and the MDT data enrichment techniques to diagnose multiple faults in a multiple base station network. Performance evaluation under realistic and extreme settings shows that HYDRA yields an accuracy of 93% and compared to the state-of-the-art fault diagnosis solutions, HYDRA is far more robust to MDT report sparsity.

The detection of cells with sub-optimal performance and the identification of the root-cause of such performance is a crucial and challenging task in Network Performance Management (NPM). The contemporary NPM approaches, being reactive, silo-based, and highly expert-reliant, are not viable options for such tasks anymore, particularly in the emerging complex heterogeneous mobile networks. The state-of-the-art research in the field of data-driven Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a ray of hope for developing innovative solutions for such NPM tasks. However, the scarcity of holistic and detailed real network data limits the potential of this approach. In this study, we present a comprehensive AI-driven framework for the auto-diagnosis of cells with sub-optimal performance in a real network. We have explored and shared insight about an untapped comprehensive Call Detail Record (CDR) dataset from a real network operator. The outcome is anonymous and annotated data made public to encourage further research in this domain. We employ a $K-means$ clustering method that exploits CDR data and domain experts’ input for the identification of particular types of cell performances. Next, a support vector machine-based classifier is developed for real-time applications which classifies the network nodes based on their performance with an accuracy of 97.69%. Subsequently, we introduce an algorithm that uses the classification results for the root-cause analysis of sub-optimal performance by leveraging network topography and area knowledge. The method succeeds in reaching the outcomes of an expert-led root-cause analysis and beyond. At the same time, the algorithmic approach limits the manual root-cause analysis to 30 possible scenarios per hour as opposed to analysis of 759 cells, thus it reduces the workload of an expert significantly. In the broad picture, the proposed AI framework lays the foundation towards zero-touch mobile network and service management starting with automated NPM and root-cause analysis.

Cough acoustics contain multitudes of vital information about pathomorphological alterations in the respiratory system. Reliable and accurate detection of cough events by investigating the underlying cough latent features and disease diagnosis can play an indispensable role in revitalizing the healthcare practices. The recent application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and advances of ubiquitous computing for respiratory disease prediction has created an auspicious trend and myriad of future possibilities in the medical domain. In particular, there is an expeditiously emerging trend of Machine learning (ML) and Deep Learning (DL)-based diagnostic algorithms exploiting cough signatures. The enormous body of literature on cough-based AI algorithms demonstrate that these models can play a significant role for detecting the onset of a specific respiratory disease. However, it is pertinent to collect the information from all relevant studies in an exhaustive manner for the medical experts and AI scientists to analyze the decisive role of AI/ML. This survey offers a comprehensive overview of the cough data-driven ML/DL detection and preliminary diagnosis frameworks, along with a detailed list of significant features. We investigate the mechanism that causes cough and the latent cough features of the respiratory modalities. We also analyze the customized cough monitoring application, and their AI- powered recognition algorithms. Challenges and prospective future research directions to develop practical, robust, and ubiquitous solutions are also discussed in detail.

Glaucoma is prominent in a variety of nations, with the United States and Europe being two of the most famous. Glaucoma now affects around 78 million people throughout the world (2020). By the year 2040, it is expected that there will be 111.8 million cases of glaucoma worldwide. In countries that are still building enough healthcare infrastructure to cope with glaucoma, the ailment is misdiagnosed nine times out of ten. To aid in the early diagnosis of glaucoma, the creation of a detection system is necessary. In this work, the researchers propose using a technology known as deep learning to identify and predict glaucoma before symptoms appear. The glaucoma dataset is used in this deep learning algorithm that has been proposed for analyzing glaucoma images. To get the required results when using deep learning principles for the job of segmenting the optic cup, pretrained transfer learning models are integrated with the U-Net architecture. For feature extraction, the DenseNet-201 deep convolution neural network (DCNN) is used. The DCNN approach is used to determine whether a person has glaucoma. The fundamental goal of this line of research is to recognize glaucoma in retinal fundus images, which will aid in assessing whether a patient has the condition. Because glaucoma can affect the model in both positive and negative ways, the model’s outcome might be either positive or negative. Accuracy, precision, recall, specificity, the F-measure, and the F-score are some of the metrics used in the model evaluation process. An extra comparison study is performed as part of the process of establishing whether the suggested model is accurate. The findings are compared to convolution neural network classification methods based on deep learning. When used for training, the suggested model has an accuracy of 98.82 percent and an accuracy of 96.90 percent when used for testing. All assessments show that the new paradigm that has been proposed is more successful than the one that is currently in use.

Industrial automation uses robotics and software to operate equipment and procedures across industries. Many applications integrate IoT, machine learning, and other technologies to provide smart features that improve the user experience. The use of such technology offers businesses and people tremendous assistance in successfully achieving commercial and noncommercial requirements. Organizations are expected to automate industrial processes owing to the significant risk management and inefficiency of conventional processes. Hence, we developed an elaborative stepwise stacked artificial neural network (ESSANN) algorithm to greatly improve automation industries in controlling and monitoring the industrial environment. Initially, an industrial dataset provided by KLEEMANN Greece was used. The collected data were then preprocessed. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to extract features, and feature selection was based on least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO). Subsequently, the ESSANN approach is proposed to improve automation industries. The performance of the proposed algorithm was also examined and compared with that of existing algorithms. The key factors compared with existing technologies are delay, network bandwidth, scalability, computation time, packet loss, operational cost, accuracy, precision, recall, and mean absolute error (MAE). Compared to traditional algorithms for industrial automation, our proposed techniques achieved high results, such as a delay of approximately 52%, network bandwidth accomplished at 97%, scalability attained at 96%, computation time acquired at 59 s, packet loss achieved at a minimum level of approximately 53%, an operational cost of approximately 59%, accuracy of 98%, precision of 98.95%, recall of 95.02%, and MAE of 80%. By analyzing the results, it can be seen that the proposed system was effectively implemented.

Introduction of modern technologies and methods and quality analysis for the gemstone industry are the main strategic initiatives of the Small and Medium Development Authority (SMEDA) of Pakistan. In this regard, four natural gemstones Quartz, Pyrope-Almandine Garnet, Black tourmaline, and Amethyst brought from Hunza valley Pakistan were analyzed by state-of-the-art spectroscopic techniques including EDX, UV-VIS, and FTIR spectroscopy. EDX revealed the traces of Fe, Mg, and Ca in Pyrope-Almandine garnet, Mg and Fe in Black tourmaline, Au and Ca in Amethyst. UV-VIS data revealed the values of Urbach energies 520, 210, 460, and 430 meV, and the values of direct bandgap energies 5.14, 6.12, 5.54, 5.74 eV, respectively. The higher structural disorder due to the presence of Fe and other impurities in stones except Quartz was attributed to the higher values of Urbach energies and decrease in band gaps: FTIR data Fe-O and Si-O stretching vibration in Pyrope-Almandine garnet, Si-O bending vibrations and O-H stretching vibration in Quartz, Si-O-Si bending and stretching vibrations and C=O stretching vibrations in Black tourmaline, Ca-O stretching vibrations and Si-OH weak-vibrations in Amethyst. Photoluminescence results also showed useful information in investigating the properties of gemstones.

The potential of quantifying the variations in IR active bands was explored while using the chemometric analysis of FTIR spectra for selecting orthopedic biomaterial of industrial scale i.e., ultra-high molecular weight PE (UHMWPE). The nano composites UHMWPE with multi-walled carbon nano-tubes (MWCNTs) and Mg-silicate were prepared and irradiated with 25 kGy and 50 kGy of gamma dose. Principal component analysis (PCA) revealed that first three principal components (PCs) are responsible for explaining the >99% of variance in FTIR data of UHMWPE on addition of fillers and/or irradiation. The factor loadings plots revealed that PC-1 was responsible for explaining the variance in polyethylene characteristics bands and the IR active region induced by fillers i.e., 440 cm−1, 456 cm−1, from 900–1200 cm−1, 1210 cm−1, 1596 cm−1, PC-2 was responsible for explaining the variance in spectra due to radiation-induced oxidation and cross linking, while the PC-3 is responsible for explaining the variance induced because of IR active bands of MWCNTs. Hierarchy cluster analysis (HCA) was employed to classify the samples into four clusters with respect to similarity in their IR active bands which is further confirmed by PCA. According to multi attribute analysis with PCA and HCA, 65 kGy irradiated sample is optimum choice from the existing alternatives in the group of irradiated pristine UHMWPE, UHMWPE/Mg-silicate irradiated with 25 kGy of gamma dose was the optimum choice for UHWMPE/Mg-silicate nano composites, and UHMWPE/γMWCNTs composites containing 1.0% dof γ MWCNTs for UHMWPE/MWCNTs nanocomposites, respectively. The results show the effectiveness of quantifying the variance for decision as far as optimization of biomaterials in orthopedic industrial applications is concerned.

This paper presents a first-time review of the open literature focused on the significance of big data generated within nano-sensors and nano-communication networks intended for the future healthcare and biomedical applications. It is aimed toward the development of modern smart healthcare systems enabled with P4, i.e., predictive, preventive, personalized, and participatory capabilities to perform diagnostics, monitoring, and treatment. The analytical capabilities that can be produced from the substantial amount of data gathered in such networks will aid in exploiting the practical intelligence and learning capabilities that could be further integrated with conventional medical and health data leading to more efficient decision making. We have also proposed a big data analytics framework for gathering intelligence, form the healthcare big data, required by futuristic smart healthcare to address relevant problems and exploit possible opportunities in the future applications. Finally, the open challenges, the future directions for researchers in the evolving healthcare domain, are presented.

This article attempts to introduce a simple and robust way for the classification of soft magnetic material by using multivariate statistics. The six magnetic properties including coercive magnetic field, relative magnetic permeability, electrical resistivity magnetic inductions, i.e., remanence and saturation along with Curie temperature are used for the classification of 16 soft magnetic materials. Descriptive statistics have been used for defining the prioritization order of the mentioned magnetic characteristics with coercive magnetic field and Curie temperature as the most and least important characteristics for classification of soft magnetic material. Moreover, it has also justified the usage of cluster analysis and principal component analysis for classifying the enlisted materials. After descriptive statistics, cluster analysis is used for classification of materials into four groups, i.e., excellent, good, fair and poor while defining the prioritization order of materials on a relative scale. Principal component analysis reveals that the relative permeability is responsible for defining 99.69% of total variance and is also negatively correlated with the coercive magnetic field. Therefore, these two characteristics are considered the responsible factors for categorically placing the enlisted materials into four clusters. Furthermore, principal component analysis also helps in figuring out the fact that a combined influential consequence of relative permeability, coercive magnetic field, electrical resistivity and critical temperature are responsible for defining prioritization ordering of materials within the clusters. The material’s suitability index is identified while making use of adjacency and decision matrices obtained from material assessment graph and relative importance of magnetic properties, respectively. Afterward this material suitability index is used to rank the enlisted materials based on selected attributes. According to the suitability index, the best choice among enlisted soft magnetic materials is Supermalloy, Magnifer 7904 which is present in group 1 labeled as excellent by multivariate analysis. Therefore, the results of graph theory are in accordance with cluster analysis and principal component analysis, thus confirming the potential of this intelligent approach for the selection application specific magnetic materials.

The selection of suitable composite material for high-strength industrial applications, from the list of available alternatives, is a tedious task as it requires an optimized structural performance-based solution. This study aimed to optimize the concentration of fillers, i.e., vinyl tri-ethoxy silane and absorbed gamma-dose, to enhance the properties of an industrial scale polymer, i.e., ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE). The UHMWPE hybrids, in addition to silane, were treated with (30, 65, and 100 kGy) gamma dose and then tested for ten application-specific structural and performance attributes. The relative importance of attributes based on an 11-point fuzzy conversation was used for establishing the material assessment graph and corresponding adjacency matrix. Afterwards, the normalized values of attributes were used to establish the decision matrix for each alternative. The normalization was performed after the identification of high obligatory valued (HOV) and low obligatory valued (LOV) attributes. After this, suitability index values (SIVs) were calculated for ranking the hybrids that revealed hybrids 65 kGy irradiated the hybrid as the best choice and ranked as first among the existing alternatives. The major responsible factors were higher oxidation strength, a dense cross-linking network, and elongation at break. The values of the aforementioned factors for 65 kGy irradiated hybrids were 0.24, 91, and 360 MPa, respectively, as opposed to 0.54, 75, and 324 MPa for 100 kGy irradiated hybrids, thus placing the latter in second place regarding higher values of Yield Strength and Young Modulus. Finally, it is believed that the reported results and proposed model in this study will improve preoperative planning as far as considering these hybrids for high-strength industrial applications including total joint arthroplasty, textile-machinery pickers, dump trucks lining ships, and harbors bumpers and sliding, etc.

(1) Background: This study investigated the miscibility of carbon-based fillers within industrial scale polymers for the preparation of superior quality polymer composites. It focuses on finding the light distribution in gamma irradiated ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE). (2) Methods: The Kubleka–Munk model (KMM) was used to extract the optical properties, i.e., absorption coefficients (μa) and scattering coefficients (μs). Samples amounting to 30 kGy and 100 kGy of irradiated (in the open air) UHMWPE from 630 nm to 800 nm were used for this purpose. Moreover, theoretical validation of experimental results was performed while using extracted optical properties as inputs for the Monte Carlo model of light transport (MCML) code. (3) Conclusions: The investigations revealed that there was a significant decrease in absorption and scattering coefficient (μa & μs) values with irradiation, and 30 kGy irradiated samples suffered more compared to 100 kGy irradiated samples. Furthermore, the simulation of light transport for 800 nm showed an increase in penetration depth for UHMWPE after gamma irradiation. The decrease in dimensionless transport albedo μs(μa+μs) from 0.95 to 0.93 was considered responsible for this increase in photon absorption per unit area with irradiation. The report results are of particular importance when considering the light radiation (from 600 nm to 899 nm) for polyethylene modification and/or stabilization via enhancing the polyethylene chain mobility.

The educational productivity theory directed that students' variables affect their performance. Therefore, this descriptive correlational study was designed to examine students' interpersonal skills and its association with their achievement. There were 3,200 high school students participated in this study, selected from 80 high schools of Punjab through multistage random sampling technique. The Interpersonal Skills Scale (ISS) was adapted from DiPerna and Elliott's Academic Competence Evaluation Scales-Student form (ACES-Student). ISS demonstrated a good internal consistency (coefficient alphas=0.819 and composite reliability=0.845). The results exhibited that students have a competent level of interpersonal skills. Moreover, a statistically significant difference was found in female and male students' perceptions about interpersonal skills, while female have more interpersonal skills than male. Furthermore, ANOVA results concluded that administrative division (location) influences students' perception of interpersonal skills. It is concluded from the correlational analysis that students' interpersonal skills are indirectly associated with their achievement because a negative weak relationship was found in students' interpersonal skills and their achievement as r=0.031, p=0.081. It is suggested that teachers may promote interpersonal skills by integrating cooperative and collaborative learning strategies into their classrooms.

This study presents the role of in-service teacher training sessions in motivating and developing professional skills among teachers in Pakistani context. The study had two main objectives. The first was to analyze the role of teacher training sessions in enhancing teachers' motivation for training programs and for staying in teaching profession, and the second was to analyze their role in improving teachers' professional skills, building self-efficacy and confidence. The study applied a survey research design for data collection. A structured questionnaire was designed to collect the data from 450 teachers of both private and public schools in Punjab, Pakistan. The data collected through the questionnaire was analyzed by using statistics analysis. The results of the study show that training sessions are not very effective in motivating in-service teachers and developing professional skills in them as they are supposed to be. The chief factors for the teachers' participation in these training sessions are the social and financial benefits of these sessions. The study shows that these in-service training sessions lack some necessary components of effective teacher trainings. Therefore, the study recommends that training programs should leave the traditional approaches and upgrade themselves according to the present-day needs of the teachers. Training sessions should be more than just formal sessions and should train the teachers for real learning outcomes. The findings of the study might be useful for teacher training providers and future researchers. [Note: The publication month (April) shown on the PDF is incorrect. The correct month of publication is August.]