Shape Operator Metric for Surface Normal Approximation

This work deals with the problem of practical mesh generation for surface normal approximation. Part of its contribution is in presenting previous work in a unified framework. A new algorithm for surface normal approximation is then introduced which improves upon existing ones in a number of aspects. In particular, it produces better approximations of surfaces both in practice and in the theoretical limit regime. Additionally, it resolves in a simple way some of the problems that previous methods for surface approximation suffered from.Engineering and Applied Science

Swine production simulation model: LIFE SIM

Supported by the CGIAR Systemwide Livestock ProgrammeNon-ruminant animals are essential in many resource-poor production systems, particularly in Asia. The feeding strategies are as varied as the different agro ecosystems, thus increasing the challenge faced by researchers and extension agents in the search for appropriate solutions to feeding limitations. Systems analysis provides a unique opportunity to translate existing knowledge into process-based models that can be used to assess year-round feeding strategies at the farm level. Although livestock models have been developed to address similar situations for ruminant animals, swine are seldom included. The present work describes a swine model that analyzes the bioeconomic response to feeding strategies in different production systems. This swine model has been incorporated into the software Livestock Feeding Strategies Simulation Model (LIFE-SIM) complementing the existing models for ruminant species: Dairy, Beef, Goat, and Buffalo (León-Velarde et al., 2006) The model simulates a confined group of animals (at least two females or males) with a weight ranging from 15 to 120 kg, under either an ad libitum or controlled feeding regime with a feed value characterized in terms of dry matter (%), metabolizable energy (ME/kg), crude fiber (%), lysine (%), methionine + cystine (%), threonine (%), and tryptophan (%). The model can store a number of different rations and their prices allowing a comparison during a defined fattening period. Weight gain and the bioeconomic performance of each ration can then be estimated and analyzed

Development of bronchiectasis during long-term rituximab treatment for rheumatoid arthritis

Here the cases of three female patients who received long-term rituximab treatment for seropositive, erosive and deforming rheumatoid arthritis was reported. After rituximab treatment, they presented with recurrent sinusitis and pneumonia, followed by the subsequent development of bronchiectasis. A temporal relationship between rituximab treatment and the onset of respiratory complications was exposed as a possible pathogenic mechanism

IN VIVO MEASUREMENT OF STIFFNESS AND VISCOSITY OF SURAL TRICEPS

The purpose of this study is the evaluation of the stiffness and viscosity of a particular muscle-tendon complex (MTC), the Surae Triceps (ST). The knowledge of these properties is essential for assessing and monitoring the physical condition of an athlete or sportman. A measurement procedure based on the free vibration technique, assuming that a part of the body behaves as a one degree of freedom system, has been developed to obtain the aforementioned properties. The apparent properties of MTC are obtained adjusting the experimental record of a force to a theoretical record assuming a one degree of freedom system. Assuming a Hill model for the behaviour of the muscle, the knowledge of these apparent properties leads, by a fitting procedure, to obtain the separate values of these properties for the soleus and the Achilles tendon

Cmapanalysis: an extensible concept map analysis tool

Concept maps are used extensively as an assessment tool, and the literature is abundant with studies on the use of concept maps for assessment and on the assessment of concept maps. The assessment of concept maps can be an arduous process, in particular when assessing a large number of maps. CmapAnalysis is a software tool that facilitates performing various analysis measures on a collection of concept maps. A set of measures that consider size, quality and structure properties of the maps are included. The program is designed to be extensible, allowing users to add their own measures. The program is not intended to replace the individual evaluation of concept maps by teachers and instructors, as it does not capable of “understanding” the content of the maps. It is aimed at researchers who are looking for more general trends and measures across a large number of maps, and who can extend it with their own measures. The output of CmapAnalysis is an Excel spreadsheet that can be further analyzed

Lexical processing of ambiguous words: dominance or associative strength?

Four experiments examined the role of meaning frequency (dominance) and associative strength (measured by associative norms) in the processing of ambiguous words in isolation. Participants made lexical decisions to targets words that were associates of the more frequent (dominant) or less frequent (subordinate) meaning of a homograph prime. The first two experiments investigated the role of associative strength at long SOAs (Stimulus Onset Asynchrony) (750 ms.), showing that meaning is facilitated by the targets’ associative strength and not by their dominance. The last two experiments traced the role associativestrength at short SOAs (250 ms), showing that the manipulation of the associative strength has no effect in the semantic priming. The conclusions are: on the one hand, semantic priming for homographs is due to associative strength manipulations at long SOAs. On the other hand, the manipulation of the associative strength has no effect when automatic processes (short SOAs) are engaged for homographs.A través de cuatro experimentos, se examinó el papel de la frecuencia del significado (dominancia) y de la fuerza asociativa (medida mediante normas asociativas) en el procesamiento de palabras ambiguas aisladas. Los participantes tomaron decisiones léxicas acerca de palabras meta que eran las asociadas del significado más frecuente (dominante) o menos frecuente (subordinado) de un homógrafo primo. Los primeros dos experimentos investigaron el papel de la fuerza asociativa en las SOAs (asincronía del comienzo del estímulo) largas (750 ms), demostrando que el significado se ve facilitado por la fuerza asociativa de la meta y no por su dominancia. Los segundos experimentos trazaron el papel de la fuerza asociativa en las SOAs cortas (250 ms), demostrando que la manipulación de la fuerza asociativa no influye en la ceba semántica. Se concluye que: (a) la ceba semántica para homográficos se debe a las manipulaciones de la fuerza asociativa en las SOAs largas y (b) la manipulación de la fuerza asociativa no tiene ningún efecto cuando los procesos automáticos (SOAs cortas) están ocupados para los homógrafos

Origen de la Universidad de El Salvador

Hasta el año de 1840 sólo había dos Universidades en la América Central, la Pontificia de San Carlos en Guatemala, y la de León en Nicaragua, fundadas por el régimen colonial, pero a principios del siguiente, se determinó la creación de la Nacional salvadoreña, de la manera que sigu