ZONING DESIGN FOR HAND­WRITTEN NUMERAL RECOGNITION

Microsoft, Motorola, Siemens, Hitachi, IAPR, NICI, IUF In the field of Optical Character Recognition (OCR), zoning is used to extract topological information from patterns. In this paper zoning is considered as the result of an optimisation problem and a new technique is presented for automatic zoning. More precisely, local analysis of feature distribution based on Shannon's entropy estimation is performed to determine "core" zones of patterns. An iterative region­growing procedure is applied on the "core" zones to determine the final zoning

A PERTURBATION­BASED APPROACH FOR MULTI­CLASSIFIER SYSTEM DESIGN

Microsoft, Motorola, Siemens, Hitachi, IAPR, NICI, IUF This paper presents a perturbation­based approach useful to select the best combination method for a multi­classifier system. The basic idea is to simulate small variations in the performance of the set of classifiers and to evaluate to what extent they influence the performance of the combined classifier. In the experimental phase, the Behavioural Knowledge Space and the Dempster­Shafer combination methods have been considered. The experimental results, carried out in the field of hand­written numeral recognition, demonstrate the effectiveness of the new approach

Narrative-based computational modelling of the Gp130/JAK/STAT signalling pathway.

BACKGROUND: Appropriately formulated quantitative computational models can support researchers in understanding the dynamic behaviour of biological pathways and support hypothesis formulation and selection by "in silico" experimentation. An obstacle to widespread adoption of this approach is the requirement to formulate a biological pathway as machine executable computer code. We have recently proposed a novel, biologically intuitive, narrative-style modelling language for biologists to formulate the pathway which is then automatically translated into an executable format and is, thus, usable for analysis via existing simulation techniques. RESULTS: Here we use a high-level narrative language in designing a computational model of the gp130/JAK/STAT signalling pathway and show that the model reproduces the dynamic behaviour of the pathway derived by biological observation. We then "experiment" on the model by simulation and sensitivity analysis to define those parameters which dominate the dynamic behaviour of the pathway. The model predicts that nuclear compartmentalisation and phosphorylation status of STAT are key determinants of the pathway and that alternative mechanisms of signal attenuation exert their influence on different timescales. CONCLUSION: The described narrative model of the gp130/JAK/STAT pathway represents an interesting case study showing how, by using this approach, researchers can model biological systems without explicitly dealing with formal notations and mathematical expressions (typically used for biochemical modelling), nevertheless being able to obtain simulation and analysis results. We present the model and the sensitivity analysis results we have obtained, that allow us to identify the parameters which are most sensitive to perturbations. The results, which are shown to be in agreement with existing mathematical models of the gp130/JAK/STAT pathway, serve us as a form of validation of the model and of the approach itself

Women and the Scottish Clerks' Association: from contempt to collegiality

First paragraph: This paper will trace the evolution of the attitudes expressed by the Scottish Clerks' Association (SCA) towards women in clerical work in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. For women trying to establish careers in office work it was necessary to be accepted as colleagues by men in organisations like the SCA. But, as Sylvia Walby noted, explanations of the increasing presence of women in clerical work in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century have emphasised the role of employers as the main actors in the feminisation of clerical work, while the resistance (or acceptance) by male clerks has been given less attention. The evolution of the SCA's attitudes illustrates such resistance and then the growth of a kind of acceptance of women clerks in the early twentieth century; but this acceptance was within the context of male clerks' attempts to restructure their occupational group in order to preserve the better jobs for themselves

Modeling L- and X-band backscattering of wheat and tests over fields of Pampas

A discrete scattering model and a detailed set of ground measurements are used to simulate the backscattering coefficients of wheat fields during the whole growth cycle. Simulations are carried out at L- and X-band, and at HH, VV, and HV polarizations. Wheat fields are located in Pampas (Argentina), and are characterized by low values of plant density. Simulations show that the backscattering coefficient is driven by variations of soil moisture at L-band, particularly for HH polarization, with low vegetation effects. Conversely, the attenuation of vegetation is dominant in producing variations of backscattering coefficients at X-band, particularly for VV polarization. Simulations are compared against experimental data collected over the same Pampas region, using airborne SARAT SAR at L-band and COSMO-SKYMED at X-band. Assuming a surface height standard deviation in a 0.4–0.7 cm range, the simulations generally agree with experimental data, with an RMSE lower than about 2 dB at L-band and X-band, except a limited number of cases. Discrepancies observed in specific conditions are discussed. Overall, the results indicate that a joint use of L- and X-band has a good potential to monitor both soil moisture and vegetation growth

Ongoing Medical Management to Maximize Health and Well-being for Persons Living With Dementia

Background and Objectives: Persons living with dementia have complex care needs including memory loss that should be taken into account by providers and family caregivers involved with their care. The prevalence of comorbid conditions in people with dementia is high and, thus, how primary care, community providers and family caregivers provide best practice care, person-centered care is important. Research Design and Methods: Care providers should understand the ongoing medical management needs of persons living with dementia in order to maximize their quality of life, proactively plan for their anticipated needs, and be as well prepared as possible for health crises that may occur. Results: This article provides eight practice recommendations intended to promote understanding and support of the role of nonphysician care providers in educating family caregivers about ongoing medical management to improve the wellbeing of persons living with dementia. Discussion and Implications: Key among these are recommendations to use nonpharmacological interventions to manage behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia as the first line of treatment and recommendations on how to best support the use and discontinuation of pharmacological interventions as necessary