8333 research outputs found
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Optimising Cloud Infrastructure to Support Large-Scale Machine Learning Workloads
No full textThis research discusses the deployment of cloud-based infrastructure with optimal configuration to handle large-scale machine learning (ML) workloads efficiently and scalable economically using Amazon Web Services (AWS). The main focus is leveraging the use of AWS services like EC2, S3 and SageMaker in making the deployment, training and inference of machine learning models easier. It focuses on the important issues encountered in the cloud environment during handling ml workloads, like resource allocation, data storage and model deployment. It assesses Amazon EC2 for scalable compute resources, Amazon S3 for data storage, and Amazon SageMaker for automation of model training, hyperparameter tuning, and deployment. Amazon Web Services (AWS) is an integral part of many businesses and an incalculable host in creating a cloud environment where any business can improve different services. This paper presents a novel cloud infrastructure solution to palette various applications of AWS like mobile pricing, air quality prediction, cardiac anomaly detection and industrial defect classification of an optimized AWS architecture suitable for real-time inference. Performance benchmarks highlight the ability of the proposed infrastructure to efficiently accommodate big ML models over a wide range of working conditions with optimized cost-resource utilization. Cloud-Based Solutions for Scalability and Efficiency in Machine Learning Systems: AI and Data Analytics Machine learning systems are growing rapidly, but if the scale of their implementation is not properly managed, their effectiveness will be reduced. Hybrid cloud environment and edge computing are also opportunities for future work to further gain on performance and cost
Exploring the Influence of Social Media Usage on Academic Procrastination Undergraduate Students
No full textAim: The objective of the current study is to provide a correlation between social media usage on academic procrastination in full-time undergraduate students in Ireland. Also looks at if there was a difference between male and female participants, finally it investigated if mature students scored lower in social media usage scores and procrastination scores in comparison to younger students.
Method: A survey was administered to participators (N=85) through social media and flyers, which contained questions in relation to social media usage and academic procrastination. Social media usage is examined through the Social Networking Time Use Scale (SONTUS) and Academic Procrastination is examined through the Academic Procrastination Scale (APS).
Results: Results indicated that a relationship between social media usage and academic procrastination exists, also indicated that higher levels of social media use were associated with higher academic procrastination levels in younger students compared to mature students. However, no significant difference in terms of gender.
Conclusion: Findings from this study provided a deeper understanding on the relationship between social media usage and academic procrastination in undergraduate students. Importantly, results showed a significant difference in relation to age, but gender showed no significant difference
The Power of Language: Study of How Language Influences Moral Decisions
No full textAims: Previous findings suggest that language influences moral decisions, with native language providing stronger utilitarian decisions, while foreign language provides stronger deontological ones. The current study sought to provide a greater understanding of the Foreign Language Effect and investigate how moral decisions are affected by this phenomenon. This study also examined the difference between gender and types of environments in the prevalence of making utilitarian decisions.
Method: The Moral Dilemmas Questionnaire was administered to two groups of participants (total n=160) through a random allocation link that assigned participants to either Serbian/Croatian/Bosnian or English language groups. Both groups received the same questionnaire but in two different languages. Independent sample t-test and one-way between groups ANOVA were administrated using SPSS version 28.0.1.1.
Results: The results showed no significant effect between language, gender, environment, and moral judgements. However, age was found to be a significant factor, with middle-aged adults making stronger deontological moral decisions.
Conclusion: Findings suggest that language on its own might not be the greatest predictor of making different moral decisions in different languages. Other factors such as age, culture, heuristics, personality differences, family history, etc., might influence the prior findings. Further research using different research methods, such as longitudinal studies and qualitative analysis, might have a better understanding of the Foreign Language Effect
Young People With and Without Intellectual Disability Accessing Mental Health Services: Evaluating Psychosocial Functioning Outcomes Using Electronic Health Records
No full textBackground: There is growing recognition that many young people (<18 years) with intellectual disability (ID) may benefit from psychosocial support provided by mental health services, yet intervention outcomes have not been robustly evaluated.
Method: Data from 1986 episodes of care for young people with ID and 3968 matched episodes for those without ID were extracted from electronic health records of the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (2001–2023). Psychosocial functioning was assessed using the Children's Global Assessment Scale (CGAS).
Results: ID frequently co-occurred with other neurodevelopmental conditions and behavioural difficulties (prevalence > 50%). CGAS scores at service entry positively predicted CGAS scores at discharge; however, this association weakened in the presence of ID and co-occurring pervasive developmental disorders or hyperkinetic disorders. ID was associated with lower CGAS scores at discharge than those without ID. Within the ID group, young people with severe/profound ID and comorbidities demonstrated greater rates of improvement than those with severe/profound ID only. 20% of young people with ID showed clinically significant improvement at discharge (reliable change index ≥ 1.96). Despite this improvement, 80% of the same group continued to experience substantial impairment (CGAS < 61).
Conclusions: Most young people with ID remained substantially impaired at discharge, highlighting the complexity of their needs and the importance of sustained, targeted support. Further research should examine specific intervention types and treatment trajectories in this population
Blending Tradition with Experience: The Impact of Hybrid Marketing on Consumer Perceptions in the Caffeinated Beverage Sector: A Generational Study of Emotional Engagement, Authenticity, and Brand Loyalty Among Millennials and Generation Z in Europe
No full textIn today's rapidly evolving digital culture, traditional marketing strategies have increasingly struggled to establish meaningful resonance with younger demographics. This study explores hybrid methods-mixing traditional ads with experiential ads and tests their impact on how Millennial and Gen Z caffeine-based drink fans in Europe think, feel, and stay loyal. Guided by Pine and Gilmores (1998) notion of the Experience Economy and Zarantonello and Schmitts (2010) Brand Experience Scale, the Theory of Planned Behaviour (Ajzen, 1991) and the Brand Relationship Theory (Fournier, 1998), Beverland and Farrelly’s (2010) authenticity framework, and Kumar and Reinartz’s (2016) hybrid marketing model, the work asks whether a blended approach can fill the gaps left by straightforward promotion and at the same time tap into the sensory power of live interaction. Anchored in interpretivism, the work follows an inductive, qualitative methodology. Ten enthusiastic consumers of caffeinated-based products were selected for semi-structured interviews and split evenly between Millennial and Gen Z cohorts. The recording sessions focused on mindset, emotional triggers, and the meaning of authenticity within the two age groups.
The research aimed to analyse if traditional advertising still makes people recognise a brand and establishes trustworthiness but also analyse if the same approach is finding difficulties reaching younger consumers because it feels superficial and unilateral. The findings were supported by case study analyses of iconic hybrid campaigns, including Coca-Cola’s “Share a Coke” and Red Bull "Gives you wings". Campaigns that have broad reach with these immersive moments stand out as the strongest.
Findings indicate that while traditional advertising maintains brand recognition and conveys trustworthiness, it often appears superficial to younger audiences. Hybrid campaigns, by contrast, create stronger emotional connections, with immersive moments emerging as the most effective in driving brand loyalty. This research contributes to understanding how hybrid marketing can bridge generational engagement gaps in the beverage sector
Impact of Exchange Rate Fluctuations on International Business
No full textThis study investigates the impact of exchange rate fluctuations on multinational companies, with a focus on firms operating in emerging markets across the manufacturing, energy, and technology sectors. Employing a mixed-methods approach—comprising quantitative surveys of 108 financial professionals and qualitative interviews with 10 senior executives—the research reveals that currency volatility significantly affects profitability, pricing strategies, and long-term competitiveness. Key findings highlight the widespread use of financial hedging instruments such as swaps, forwards, and options, although accessibility remains limited in many emerging regions. Operational strategies like local sourcing and multi-currency pricing are also crucial in mitigating risk. The study contributes to theory by applying financial concepts such as PPP and IRP in real-world contexts and offers a refined conceptual framework linking exchange rate fluctuations to strategic outcomes. It also identifies sector-specific insights and empirical gaps. The research concludes with practical recommendations for firms, policymakers, and future scholars to strengthen resilience against exchange rate instability
The impact of Work Environment on Work-Life Balance in the IT Sector in India
No full textThe research has been conducted to understand the professional landscape of the Indian IT industry and it has observed that most of the IT professionals in this nation have to compromise their personal lives due to inadequate work-life balance (WLB). They also faced stressful situations quite often which ultimately leads to employee burnout. The main purpose of this research is to identify the impact of the work environment on WLB in the IT sector of India. By analysing this, it has been possible to develop insights among business leaders to undertake essential actions for making the existing situation far better. The mixed method approach such as primary survey and thematic method were taken into focus to gather essential data related to the research context.
The findings highlighted that most of the respondents (more than 80%) strongly agreed that there is a potential work-life imbalance in Indian IT industry. Organisations have developed appropriate policies; however, issues in their implementation can be noticed. It has been found that overworking and sacrificing personal time has become a part of IT industry culture. Attending work calls beyond scheduled working hours or poor flexibility in work scheduling have been noticed. It caused mental exhaustion and poor employee engagement in the IT industry. Based on the descriptive statistics, it has been observed that “work environment characteristics" have the most influential impact on WLB. It is essential to maintain an adequate workplace environment to keep the employees motivated for the long-term. Use of the correlation, regression and ANOVA tests seemed to be effective here to gather in-depth insights. The thematic analysis has been further conducted to identify common patterns of poor work-life balance.
Based on the overall context, it can be concluded that WLB in the IT sector of India needs to be improved a lot for better employee retention. The summary of mixed-method research has been presented. Moreover, recommendations have been provided to make changes in incentive structure and ensure managerial accountability to maximise work-life balance of employees in the Indian IT sector
The Impact of Influencer Authenticity on Consumer Trust and Purchase Intentions in Social Media Marketing
No full textIn this study, the study team employed a quantitative study that involved surveying 150 social media users of Gen Y and Gen Z using a structured questionnaire. The authenticity of influencers significantly influences the consumer trust and purchase tendency as the study employed descriptive statistics, analysis of variance, and visual interpretations performed in R. Based on findings that matter most, attributes that shape the perception of others on authenticity are permission to share what one has learned, sincerity on the failures, and interaction with the followers. Clear disclosure of product reviews, in particular, the sponsorship, was also demonstrated to hold critical importance in cultivating confidence. ANOVA did not show any significant differences in the perceived authenticity among the platforms, but the platform preferences showed that Instagram and YouTube were most preferred. Marketers can be heartened by the useful implications of the study: as authenticity-based techniques make influencing more credible, they can help generate consumer trust and increase the likelihood of a purchase
Exploring Customer Trust and Satisfaction in AI Chatbot Interactions on Amazon Marketplace Case in Ireland
No full textBackground: This research examined customer trust and satisfaction in AI chatbot interactions within Amazon Marketplace Ireland, aiming to extend understanding of both functional and emotional dimensions of user experience. Specially, the research explored how attribute such as competence, empathy, fairness, and transparency shape trust and satisfaction, and whether trust serves as a mediator between chatbot attribute and overall customer satisfaction.
Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted with Amazon Marketplace Ireland users (final analytic sample n=42, after excluding non-users of chatbot system). Multi-item scales measured constructs of trust and satisfaction, while single-item measures captured privacy concerns and fairness perceptions. Descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and regressions based in mediation model were employed to test hypotheses.
Results: Findings revealed that fairness perceptions significantly predicted customer trust, while empathy and transparency played a weaker but notable role. Trust was positively associated with satisfaction and partially mediated the relationship between chatbot attributes and satisfaction. However, the relatively small sample size limited statistical power, especially in categories such as complaint and returns.
Conclusion: The study highlights that customer trust is fragile yet essential in chatbot interactions, with competence and fairness emerging as key drivers in the Irish Amazon Marketplace context. These insights contribute to the growing literature on AI customer service by showing how platforms dynamics shape trust and satisfaction, offering implications for both theory and practice in relational marketing
The relationship between demographic factors and familiarity and attitudes towards mental illness
No full textThis study investigates the relationship between demographic factors (gender, age, socio-economic status, education level) and familiarity and attitudes towards mental illness and borderline personality disorder in Ireland. Findings indicated that gender and familiarity were significant predictors, with females displaying more negative attitudes compared to males. Higher familiarity was unexpectedly linked to more negative attitudes. SES and education level were not statistically significant predictors, though individuals with higher SES showed more negative attitudes towards general mental illness, while those with lower SES held more negative views on borderline personality disorder. Age was also nonsignificant, though older adults showed a trend towards more negative attitudes. Limitations include a small sample size (N=92) and an over-representation of younger participants and individuals with low familiarity. These findings highlight the need for targeted stigma-reduction interventions and further research on females and individuals with high familiarity towards mental illness