Preface: Trends in natural and machine intelligence

AbstractTrends in natural and machine intelligence are increasingly reflecting a convergence in these two well-established fields of study. The Third International Neural Network Society Winter Conference (INNS-WC 2012) was held in Bangkok, Thailand, on October 3-5, 2012. INNS-WC2012, with an aim to bring together scientists, practitioners, and students worldwide, to discuss the past, present, and future challenges and trends in the area of natural and machine intelligence. This event has been a bi-annual conference of the International Neural Network Society (INNS) to provide a forum for international researchers to exchange latest ideas and advances on neural networks and related discipline

Improving the Apparel Virtual Size Fitting Prediction under Psychographic Characteristics and 3D Body Measurements Using Artificial Neural Network

3D virtual simulation prototyping software combined with computer-aided manufacturing systems are widely used and are becoming essential in the fashion industry in the earlier stages of the product development process for apparel design. These technologies streamline the garment product fitting procedures, as well as improve the supply chain environmentally, socially, and economically by eliminating large volumes of redundant samples. Issues of non-standardized selection on garment sizing, ease allowance, and size of 3D avatar for creating 3D garments have been addressed by many researchers. Understanding the relationship between body dimensions, ease allowance, and apparel sizes before adopting virtual garment simulation is fundamental for satisfying high customer demands in the apparel industry. However, designers find difficulties providing the appropriate garment fit for customers without fully understanding the motivation and emotions of customers’ fitting preferences in a virtual world. The main purpose of this study is to investigate apparel sizes for virtual fitting, particularly looking at garment ease with consideration of body dimensions and the psychographic characteristics of subjects. In order to develop a virtual garment fitting prediction model, an artificial neural network (ANN) was applied. We recruited 50 subjects between the ages of 18 and 35 years old to conduct 3D body scans and a questionnaire survey for physical and psychological segmentation, as well as fitting preferences evaluation through co-design operations on virtual garment simulation using a commercial software called Optitex. The results from the study demonstrate that ANN is effective in modeling the non-linear relationship between pattern measurements, psychological characteristics, and body measurements. This new approach and the proposed method of virtual garment fitting model prediction on garment sizes using an Artificial Neural Network (ANN) is significant in prediction accuracy. The project also achieves the concept of mass customization and customer orientation and generates new size-fitting data that can bring a new level of end-user satisfaction

Streptococcal Serine-Rich Repeat Proteins in Colonization and Disease

Glycosylation of proteins, previously thought to be absent in prokaryotes, is increasingly recognized as important for both bacterial colonization and pathogenesis. For mucosal pathobionts, glycoproteins that function as cell wall-associated adhesins facilitate interactions with mucosal surfaces, permitting persistent adherence, invasion of deeper tissues and transition to disease. This is exemplified by Streptococcus pneumoniae and Streptococcus agalactiae, which can switch from being relatively harmless members of the mucosal tract microbiota to bona fide pathogens that cause life-threatening diseases. As part of their armamentarium of virulence factors, streptococci encode a family of large, glycosylated serine-rich repeat proteins (SRRPs) that facilitate binding to various tissue types and extracellular matrix proteins. This minireview focuses on the roles of S. pneumoniae and S. agalactiae SRRPs in persistent colonization and the transition to disease. The potential of utilizing SRRPs as vaccine targets will also be discussed

An interpenetrating network composite for a regenerative spinal disc application

Severe degeneration of the intervertebral disc has an immensely debilitating effect on quality of life that has become a serious health and economic burden throughout the world. The disc plays an integral role in biomechanical movement and support within the spine. The emergence of tissue engineering endeavours to restore the structural characteristics and functionality of the native tissue. Hydrogels have been widely investigated as a candidate for regeneration of the gelatinous nucleus pulposus due to its architectural resemblance and fluid retention characteristics. However, hydrogels are often limited due to small compressive stiffness and tear resistance, leading to extrusion complications. Reinforcement of the hydrogel network using polymeric scaffolds may address these issues of inadequate mechanical properties and implant instability. This study investigates the potential of a carrageenan gel-infused polycaprolactone scaffold for nucleus pulposus tissue engineering. Mechanical properties were characterised using viscoelastic and poroelastic frameworks via microindentation. The incorporation of polymeric reinforcement within the gels increased material stiffness to that comparable to the native nucleus pulposus, however permeability was significantly greater than native values. A preliminary cell evaluation culturing NIH 3T3s over 21 days suggested the incorporation of polymeric networks also enhanced cellular proliferation compared to gels alone

The South Korean agri-food e-market: A comparative B2B e-commerce case study

This paper is a comparative case study for two B2B agri-food e-commerce examples and is based on the exchange process analysis. Data were collected by interviews with operators and experts. The results for this study show that the B2B e-commerce exchange process can efficiently replace the traditional process. The reduction of costs in the searching and valuation processes is a successful factor for the replacement. Also, authentication process is important key to success. However, efficient delivery is not a necessary condition.</jats:p

Alternatives to colonoscopy for population-wide colorectal cancer screening

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Ru-Catalyzed, cis-Selective Living Ring-Opening Metathesis Polymerization of Various Monomers, Including a Dendronized Macromonomer, and Implications to Enhanced Shear Stability

An unsaturated polymer’s cis/trans-olefin content has a significant influence on its properties. For polymers obtained by ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP), the cis/trans-olefin content can be tuned by using specific catalysts. However, cis-selective ROMP has suffered from narrow monomer scope and lack of control over the polymerization (giving polymers with broad molecular weight distributions and prohibiting the synthesis of block copolymers). Herein, we report the versatile cis-selective controlled living ROMP of various endo-tricyclo[4.2.2.0^(2,5)]deca-3,9-diene and various norbornene derivatives using a fast-initiating dithiolate-chelated Ru catalyst. Polymers with cis-olefin content as high as 99% could be obtained with high molecular weight (up to M_n of 105.1 kDa) and narrow dispersity (<1.4). The living nature of the polymerization was also exploited to prepare block copolymers with high cis-olefin content for the first time. Furthermore, owing to the successful control over the stereochemistry and narrow dispersity, we could compare cis- and trans-rich polynorbornene and found the former to have enhanced resistance to shear degradation

Predictors of Family Stress in Taking Care of Patients with Schizophrenia

Introduction: Taking care of schizophrenia patients is challenging and causes stress for the family involved. The study was conducted to identify the predictors of family stress present when taking care of a patient with schizophrenia. The ABCX Stress Theory of Hill was used as the theoretical framework. Methods: This study used a correlational design. The sample was 137 families who were caring for patients with schizophrenia at the Menur Mental Hospital, Surabaya, Indonesia. The sample was obtained by way of purposive sampling. The data was collected by a questionnaire and analysed by multiple regression to determine the relationship of the family’s structure, family knowledge, the burden of care, stigma, social support, the patient's illness duration, the patient’s frequency of relapse and the patient's severity level with family stress. Results: The results showed that the family’s stress was predicted by the family’s structure (p=0.029), stigma (p=0.000), the burden of care (p=0.000), and the patient’s frequency of relapse (p=0.005). The burden of care was the strongest predictor of family stress (Beta= 0.619). Conclusion: The patient's frequency of relapse and stigma were other kinds of family stressor. The stressors stimulated a negative perception, called the care burden. Limited adequacy of the family structure-function will inhibit the family in using other resources, creating family stress. Nurses may develop an assessment format that consists of the family stress predictors in order to create a nursing care plan specific to reframing the techniques of family stress management

Residents’ perceptions towards tourism : a social representations’ perspective and the Hong Kong experience

Almost 80% of tourists in Hong Kong are from Mainland China, and they have brought substantial negative impacts on the local community. Residents have staged several protests where they urged tourists to return to China. However, for the long-term sustainability of tourism, tourists must be welcomed, and tourism must be supported by residents. Investigating the community’s perceptions and concerns towards the impacts brought about by tourism and its development in Hong Kong is appropriate. The research objectives are to examine residents’ perceptions of tourism impacts and the manner in which these perceptions influence their support or opposition for tourism development in Hong Kong. Various factors such as sub-ethnic identity, community attachment, proximity to tourism areas, overall life satisfaction, demographic variables, knowledge of tourism and trust in government are investigated to identify their role and importance in shaping residents’ perceptions towards tourism. This research also seeks to identify the perceptions of different interviewee groups based on their composition and characteristics. Furthermore, social representations theory is used to examine why and how residents develop such perceptions and how three sources of information (i.e. direct experience with tourists or tourism impacts, social interaction and media influence) affect the formation of residents’ representations about tourism. Adopting a qualitative approach, ten in-depth and two focus groups interviews were conducted. Participants who identified their sub-ethnic identity as Hongkongers perceived tourism more negatively than Chinese in HK. Economic dependency on tourism also resulted in higher overall life satisfaction which was associated with a higher degree of trust in government and further lead to more positive perceptions of tourism impacts and support for tourism. Age and educational level were negatively associated with positive perceptions of tourism impacts. This research has provided both theoretical and practical implications for academia and the hospitality and travel industry as well as for government to formulate appropriate destination marketing strategies, develop a tourism master plan and implement measures to address and mitigate the negative impacts associated from tourism development so as to achieve a mutually beneficial ‘win-win’ situation for host residents and tourists. This is pivotal to the success and sustainable development of tourism in HK