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Recommender Systems Using Semantic Web Technologies
Recommender Systems (RS) have risen in popularity over the years, and their ability to ease decision-making for the user in various domains has made them ubiquitous. However, the sparsity of data continues to be one of the biggest shortcomings of the suggestions offered. Recommendation algorithms typically model user preferences in the form of a profile, which is then used to match user preferences to items of their interest. Consequently, the quality of recommendations is directly related to the level of detail contained in these profiles. Through the review of related literature, it is evident that the genre of a movie is a major factor influencing user decisions about movies. However, the degree of membership of a movie to a genre is typically unavailable. Sometimes, certain genres memberships to a movie might not be assigned at all. Such genre membership information, if available, would provide a better description of items and consequently lead to quality recommendations. To capture complete information on content pertaining to different genre in movies, we have used two approaches ?? one that utilizes the available binary genre information and augments it by inferring the genre degree using the information available in folksonomies and another that does not rely on previous movie categorization but captures genres that manifest automatically when forming keyword clusters. Folksonomies or tags are user-defined metadata for items and embed abundant information about various facets of user likes and their opinions on the quality and the type of object tagged. The degree of genre presence in a movie is inferred by examining the various tags conferred on them by various users. Leveraging on tags to guide the genre degree determination exploits crowd sourcing to enrich item content description. Fuzzy logic naturally models human logic, allowing for the nuanced representation of features of objects and thus is utilized to derive such gradual representation as well as for modelling user profiles. Fuzzy user and object representations are leveraged for the design of both content-based as well as collaborative recommender systems. Experimental evaluations establish the effectiveness of the proposed approaches as compared to other baselines. We call this the Fuzzy User-Based Recommendation Approach (FUBRA). Keywords related to a movie indirectly contain information related to the various narrative styles. User profiles are also constructed based on user preferences for such keyword clusters. We call this the Keyword Clustering-Based Recommendation Approach (KCBRA).These profiles are then utilized to perform both Content-Based (CB) filtering as well as Collaborative Filtering (CF). This approach scores over the direct keyword-matching, genre-based user profiling method and the traditional CF methods under sparse data scenarios as established by various experiments. -
Rehabilitation and Reintegration of Children in Conflict with Law: An Exploratory Study of Karnataka and Telangana
The current study analyses the effect that rehabilitation and reintegration of children in conflict with law has on the life of the children. It traces the history of deviant behavior of the child and the causes that lead to deviancy. For the purpose of this study, two institutions were selected from Karnataka and Telangana, because of geographical and social-economic similarities. A sample of 10 (5 from each state) children who had undergone rehabilitation and reintegration process were selected between the age of 12-18 years and interview was conducted. The interview shed light on the rehabilitation and reintegration process that exists in the two states and their institutions from the perspective of the participants and their struggles and challenges was also recorded. Thematic analysis by Braun was loosely followed. The analysis brought out major themes in the experience of the participants and their changes that they had undergone. The research concludes by listing out the characteristics of the respective institutions in the state of Karnataka and Telangana and their impact on the participant in the aspect of rehabilitation and reintegration. -
Relationship between Corporate Governance and Value Based Financial Performance Measures: Evidence from India
The concept of corporate governance is gaining momentum because of changing business environment and various other factors as well as. The EEC, GATT and WTO regulations have also contributed to raise the awareness and are compelling us to think in terms of adhering to the good governance practices. In recent years, value-added relationship between management and stakeholders is considered a requirement for corporate success. The performance measures of corporations have been transformed and value-based financial performance measures like Economic value added (EVA), Market value added (MVA) has been developed.Empirical studies in corporate governance focus on the link between corporate governance and firms performance. There are limited number of studies using performance measures such as EVA and MVA, etc. hence the current study is based on relationship between corporate governance and value based financial performance measures like EVA and MVA, the study focuses on Information technology sector in India. Independent Variables included in the study were CEO Duality, Size of the Board, Management Equity Ownership, Foreign Ownership, Number of Board Meetings, Leverage ratio andSize of the firm. LLC t-test and the IPS w-test were conducted to check the stationarity of series and results are analyzed by multiple panel regression models. Results indicate that EVA, MVA has significant relationship with Corporate Governance variables. SOTB has significant negative relationship with MVA, CEO Duality has positive relationship with the Market value added (MVA) of the firms, the study further indicates there is a significant relationship between Size of the firm and EVA and as the Firm size increases EVA is also increased for the firms. However foreign ownership is found to increase the performance in terms of MVA. Manager ownership is not found to be an important variable in increasing corporate performance with the context of value based management. The study concluded that corporate governance has significance influence on the financial performance of the Information technology firms in India. Keywords: Corporate Governance, EVA, MVA, Correlation, Panel Unit Root. -
Relationship between Emotional Intelligence andWork - Life Balance among Academicians in Pre University colleges
Emotional Intelligence has always been an encouraging topic for the researchers to dwell on. For a very long time, it was always assessed that Intelligence Quotient (IQ) was a key factor for the determination of success in life. Emotional Intelligence also involves acknowledging the emotions of another individual and how effectively it does coincide with traditional intelligence. The research work is dealt to look at employees and the effects of emotional intelligence and thus looking at the ways in which effective channels are used to channelize the emotions that people go through. Work life balance is a perception with various significances in the current world and implications in the professional and personal life. Work life balance is defined as the stability that the individual requires between period assigned for work and other personal aspects of life. Basis of the study is to develop modules or techniques for training programmes to enhance emotional intelligence and work life balance since there are very few literatures and limited studies conducted before. The study aims at relationship between emotional intelligence and work life balance among academicians in PU colleges. The research study also looks into how experience of the academicians relates to their emotional intelligence and work life balance. Descriptive research design was applied for the study. The essential data for the research was gathered through the standardized questionnaires. A sample of 200 academicians participated in the research. The emotional intelligence test result shows the academicians from different backgrounds and were high on regulation of emotion in the self, acknowledging the emotions of another individual thus providing and shaping the students with more knowledge and insights. From the statistical result from Pearson???s correlation reveals, there is increase in work life balance with the increase in emotional intelligence. The statistical result also accepts the hypothesis and found, there is a moderate positive correlation between emotional intelligence and work life balance. From the statistical result from ANOVA, results showed that there was no significant effect of total years of experience on work life balance. It has been also found from the ANOVA test that, there was an analysis conducted to compare the influence of total years of experience in the current organization on emotional intelligence and found there was a significant effect of total years of experience in the current organization on emotional intelligence. Outcome defines about the emotional intelligence and work life balance among academicians need more attention since they are catering, managing and shaping the students. -
RELEVANCE OF AN ALL WOMEN SOCIAL NETWORKING WEBSITE
Yahoo is looking forward to crack a deal with Cafe Mom , a social networking and community aimed at mothers .The website is very popular and doing extremely well. Many find that joining a social network for women can be a fantastic way to not only find support from other working females, but to also network with people that can become potential investors, employees, friends, vendors, and business partners. There is really no limit to the kinds of connections you can make within the social network for women. The statement of the problem is that women need an exclusive space for themselves wherein they can talk to each other and also increase their knowledge and wellbeing. The agenda is to know what applications and what ingredients will make it successful? Women are found more using face book then man and there is a need for the social networking website for women to share opinions exclusively related to them .Recent concerns over the privacy issues on some of the social networking websites is also one of the problem faced by users. The methodology adopted by researcher in order to collect data and analyze it will be through Questionnaire and Interview. Questionnaire will be targeted between age group of 18-40. The target sample will be women. After the research is being done it has been found that market is ready for an all women social networking websites. A little marketing will make it more successful than any women blog website. Therefore further work on it can be encouraged. -
REPRESENTATION OF ALTERNATIVE SEXUALITIES IN THE MAINSTREAM HINDI CINEMA
Alternative sexuality comprised of all those people who falls under the categories of Gays, Lesbians, Bisexuals and Transsexuals. This paper basically talks about how in many Hindi films, characters with alternative sexuality have been represented in a negative way. Mainstream Hindi cinema which is the most widely distributed cinema in the country has traditionally adopted an attitude of denial or mockery towards alternative sexuality. Representations of gays, lesbians and transsexuals have veered between the comic and the criminal. It can also be pointed out that there has been criminalization of sexual minorities in movies like Mahesh Bhatt??s ??Sadak?? and the overtly sensitive ??Tamanna??.Along with this, there are many examples of such movies where these people have been portrayed as deviant, victim or criminal which reflects the mentality of the society which is still in a deep-seated denial that there may be multiple forms of sexuality in a society. This study attempts to answer the question whether in majority of the Hindi movies, the characters of ??Alternative sexualities?? have been represented positively or negatively. While finding out the answer for this question, views and opinions of today??s youth from the age 18-30 is taken into account. The methodology that the researcher followed was based both on secondary and primary data. The researcher tried to collect data and information from various reliable sources like journals,websites,articles,movies etc.Along with this, the researcher also conducted a questionnaire kind of survey on a sample of cinema lovers on the age group 18 -30 years to find out their views regarding the representation of alternative sexualities in the Mainstream Hindi cinema. -
REPRESENTATION OF CLASS STRUGGLE AND CLASS CONFLICT IN FILMS: A MARXIST ANALYSIS
Films represent society and in a society there is a struggle between people and classes made by the people. In any type of film there is an underlying philosophy. Marxist philosophy or Marxism came out of classical German philosophy and it has a strong presence in countries like Russia and India. Marxism deals with various ideologies like capitalism, class struggle, class conflict and economy struggle. The study aims to analyze the portrayal of those ideologies through two Russian and two Indian films by applying qualitative (content analysis and in depth interview) methodology. -
REPRESENTATION OF SOCIAL AND RELIGIOUS ISSUES IN THE FILMS DIRECTED BY PRIYANANDANAN
The medium of film has been one of the most effective communication tools to the masses since its emergence. Film represents various kinds of issues and incidents in the society and acts as a reflection of reality to the people. One of the main issues which have been portrayed in many of the films is on social and religious issues which had affected the society in very diverse ways. Films works as a channel to show the audience how these issues occur and how it can be resolved. This study aims to find how Priyanandanan has represented these kinds of issues through his films to his audience using qualitative research methodology. -
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REPRESENTATION OF THE LIFE OF ISLAMIC WOMEN IN FILMS CONTRADICTORY TO ACTUAL ISLAMIC BELIEFS- A CASE STUDY ON FIVE MALAYALAM MOVIES
Capital Punishment is a much debated topic in the country and around the world. Films are a major of information where one can propagate an idea to a wide range of audience. Being a topic of general concern, it is important to discuss the relevance of capital punishment on screen (in a movie) and carry forth the happening debate on-screen. The paper tries to do a comparative study between English and Indian movies dealing with the topic. -
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Responsible Service of Alcohol: An Evaluation of Policies and Practices of Five Star Hotels in Karnataka
Networking and socializing has been a human practice since ancient times and alcohol has been the social lubricant ??yesterday, today and also tomorrow. While we cannot trace its origin to a particular culture or civilization, its role and impact has been recorded in ancient texts and literature across cultures. A person can get drunk for a few rupees or spend a few lakhs for the same. It is consumed across social classes- by a daily wage worker to a business tycoon. The only thing differentiating the two being the price he has paid for the drink and the glass he is having it from. Even though the price and glass differs the effect it has on a person is more or less the same. This research and study is based on the belief that alcohol in itself is not the major cause of all the issues and troubles it is blamed for, but it is the nature and manner in which it is treated, consumed and served. This study is based on the latter aspect, ????the service of alcohol???. As mentioned in the previous paragraph, alcohol is a social lubricant and bars and restaurants have always been a popular place for socializing. The people who deal with the sale and service of alcoholic beverages along with the management and owners have a moral responsibility to ensure that alcohol is both served and consumed responsibly. This practice of Responsible Beverage Service or Responsible Service of Alcohol might look simple and easy on paper but to practice it, is a different story! It involves the support and approval of all the stakeholders. The owner and management on their part have to compromise on the earnings from the extra sale alcohol. The server has the additional responsibility of checking that his customers are not getting intoxicated and that he is following all the rules and regulations associated with alcohol service and above all the consumers too have to support and accept responsible service practices by the establishment. This study has looked into the practice of Responsible Beverage Service followed in the bars and restaurants in five star hotels, in the state of Karnataka. The initial study involved a review on early research and study on Responsible Beverage Service, Its impact on controlling alcohol abuse and intoxication, Responsible Beverage Service practices and various other dimensions and issues associated with Responsible Service of Alcohol. VII This research has focused on both the consumer as well as the server???s perspective on Responsible Beverage Service. The primary data for the study was collected from both consumers and hotels through a structured questionnaire, followed by data analysis using the appropriate tool. The findings give an insight and understanding into the acceptance of responsible beverage service in the state. What works and what needs to be improved? The practices which has the most impact in controlling alcohol abuse and answers to other questions associated with the study. -
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Rewriting Epic as a Discourse of the Marginalized: A Study of Mahasweta Devis Select Fiction
The present dissertation engages itself with an analytical study of five short stories by Mahasweta Devi, where she has rewritten episodes from the grand narrative The Mahabharata. Her stories The Five Women, Kunti and Nishadin, Souvali, Draupadi and Bhishmas thirst have been chosen for being studied in order to show how Devi counter narrates the grand epic by looking at the religious battle of Kurukshetra and the canonical epic characters from the subaltern perspective and thus creates a discourse of the marginalised. The critical framework of the study is based on a postcolonial and subaltern study of the texts as the principal characters and Devis themes are anti-canonical and anti- hegemonic. Through Devis feminist rewriting of the ancient text the subaltern sections of the society, who have been marginally represented in the canonical text, have been given a chance to speak. A readers understanding of the epic undergoes a change by going through the rewritten stories which is Devis main intention behind rewriting The Mahabharata. Through her writing she challenges the age old notions and long established truths in the epic for which it has been granted an epic stature. Thus she makes an attempt to lend a voice to the voiceless by this narrative technique and fulfils her social commitment as a journalist and activist writer. -
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Right to Education Sans Development: An Analysis of the Educational Status of Children Living in Slums
India, as a developing country, has been facing many challenges. Of them, providing free and compulsory education to all its children is one such challenge. Despite many efforts by the law makers and executives, education to all the children remains a distant dream. Poverty and accessibility are cited as two important reasons for the short fall. Comparing to their counterparts, the situation of children living in slums is more vulnerable to exploitation. Taking into account this scenario, the present study attempts to understand the various problems faced by the children living in slums in pursuing their education. The researcher is hopeful of getting some valuable insights into the issue to support suitable remedial measures to improve the educational status of children living in slums. Bangalore alone holds around 570 slums and above 5 lakhs of people living in them. The constitution already gives the right for free education, up to 10th standard which can be utilized by them, which in turn can help in free and compulsory education for everyone. If the people are educated they can improve their standard of living and so be able to create an atmosphere altogether better than the slums. The study tries to look upon the role of social and economic situation of children in their education. It also seeks to understand the reasons for the attrition rate and will strive to find out if there is any discrimination the candidate faces while pursuing education. It also focusing the the relevance of the present Right to Education Act, (2010) on the light of data collected. It also tries to find out some solution to improve educational participation of children living in the slums of Bangalore. Education is the gateway to success in life. The importance of education is not realised by all. Education has been thought to bring about a qualitative difference in the life of individuals and groups. Significance is to bring about a social change through information about the provisions of education and the right of every individual to education, it is expected that the demand for education will grow. This consciousness can be brought about through the process of education itself. It is one of the most important responsibilities of the governments and people involved in human affairs to find means and ways to make it available to all on an equitable basis. With an analysis of various articles, books, journals and research findings, the paradigm of the study becomes clear. Review done in the initial stage of the study, equips the researcher in a better way to understand the various concepts, key variables, methods and the history of the topic being studied. Review of literature is a collective body of works done by scholars and published in the form of books or in the form of articles in journals or published as monograph etc. Every research starts with a Review of Literature. These materials are gathered by the researcher from many sources such as journals, books, documents etc. The Researcher feels that it is essential to understand the problems faced by slum dwellers in getting access to education in the selected slums of Bangalore. Researcher also felt it important to compare the slums as they are distinct in terms of their social and economic conditions. For the present study, the researcher has selected two slums in Bangalore urban purposefully which is Bommanahalli and Kannahalli. Each slum is distinct in terms of its character and population. From each slum, 50 households were identified randomly from households with children below the age of 15, either school going or dropouts. The researcher has used the descriptive design for the study. Descriptive research is used to obtain information concerning the current status of the phenomena to describe "what exists" with respect to variables or conditions relating to the educational status of children living in slums. The methods involved range from the survey which describes the status quo, the correlation study which investigates the relationship between variables, to developmental studies which seek to determine changes over time. Researcher has used both primary and secondary data. Primary data which is provided by the researcher is an original one. Researcher has collected these data from the slums selected. For the collection of primary data, the researcher has used Focus Group Discussions, Interview schedule and Interview Guide as tools. From the study researcher has understood that these people are socially and financially backward. Their income is not enough to satiate their daily needs, which makes it further difficult for supporting education. Their backwardness and illiteracy does not give them a proper job. This results in other members of the family including housewives also to work for supporting themselves. Most of the families in order to reduce their expenses have limited themselves to nuclear family structure and also the number of children is a maximum of two. In some families the parents are not taking any initiative in educating their girl child. Most of them consider it is a waste of money. They prefer only the career for their male child. The dropout rates are very high in these two slums. In each year, 20% dropouts are registered. Financial instability or the poverty is the main cause of dropout. Most of the children are going out for work so they are not getting proper time to study. Some of them are facing discrimination from their friends and teachers .High levels of discriminations reported in private schools. Some of them are lacking support from their parents. There is no good school in their locality and the distance of the school is also a main cause for high dropout rate. The parents cannot afford the travelling cost of their children. Less attention by the teachers towards the children is also a reason. People did not know about the RTE Act and its provisions or privileges. Most of them did not get admission on the basis of RTE. Some schools have not properly implemented the RTE Act. The researcher has brought out the following suggestions for the study or the problem. These suggestions are collected from the population selected for the study. The Government should be able to implement the Right to education act. It should be effective in each and every school, rather than being only in papers. Every effort to open more and more schools for the backward section in the society should be taken into prior consideration by the Government in the centre and also within the states. More concentration on educating the slum children should also be initiated and the Government should be able to open schools in the surrounding areas of slum. Right to education act, should not only be an act in papers and something which is kept within protected walls. All efforts for publicity of the Act should be taken in by the government. It should be publicized in such a manner that all the doubts concerning the act be cleared. More and more advertisement or campaign regarding the right to education act and its facilities should be initiated. The privileges of the backward sections be made cleared to them, so that these sections of society are aware of their privileges and are able to use it. All effort should be taken by the Government to provide some more privileges to the backward sections and they should implement that in a proper way. -
