982 research outputs found
The application of user log for online business environment using content-based Image retrieval system
Over the past few years, inter-query learning has gained much attention in the research and development of content-based image retrieval (CBIR) systems. This is largely due to the capability of inter-query approach to enable learning from the retrieval patterns of previous query sessions. However, much of the research works in this field have been focusing on analyzing image retrieval patterns stored in the database. This is not suitable for a dynamic environment such as the World Wide Web (WWW) where images are constantly added or removed. A better alternative is to use an image's visual features to capture the knowledge gained from the previous query sessions. Based on the previous work (Chung et al., 2006), the aim of this paper is to propose a framework of inter-query learning for the WWW-CBIR systems. Such framework can be extremely useful for those online companies whose core business involves providing multimedia content-based services and products to their customers
organic crystals: superconducting versus antiferromagnetic instabilities in an anisotropic triangular lattice Hubbard model
A Hubbard model at half-filling on an anisotropic triangular lattice has been
proposed as the minimal model to describe conducting layers of
organic materials. The model interpolates between the
square lattice and decoupled chains. The materials
present many similarities with cuprates, such as the presence of unconventional
metallic properties and the close proximity of superconducting and
antiferromagnetic phases. As in the cuprates, spin fluctuations are expected to
play a crucial role in the onset of superconductivity. We perform a
weak-coupling renormalization-group analysis to show that a superconducting
instability occurs. Frustration in the antiferromagnetic couplings, which
arises from the underlying geometrical arrangement of the lattice, breaks the
perfect nesting of the square lattice at half-filling. The spin-wave
instability is suppressed and a superconducting instability predominates. For
the isotropic triangular lattice, there are again signs of long-range magnetic
order, in agreement with studies at strong-coupling.Comment: 4 pages, 5 eps figs, to appear in Can. J. Phys. (proceedings of the
Highly Frustrated Magnetism (HFM-2000) conference, Waterloo, Canada, June
2000
Somatosensory profiling of patients undergoing alcohol withdrawal: Do neuropathic pain and sensory loss represent a problem?
Chronic heavy alcohol use is known to cause neurological complications such as peripheral neuropathy. Concerning the pathophysiology, few sural nerve and skin biopsy studies showed that small fibers might be selectively vulnerable to degeneration in alcohol-related peripheral neuropathy. Pain has rarely been properly evaluated in this pathology. The present study aims at assessing pain intensity, potential neuropathic characteristics as well as the functionality of both small and large nerve sensitive fibers.
In this observational study, 27 consecutive adult patients, hospitalized for alcohol withdrawal and 13 healthy controls were recruited. All the participants underwent a quantitative sensory testing (QST) according to the standardized protocol of the German Research Network Neuropathic Pain, a neurological examination and filled standardized questionnaires assessing alcohol consumption and dependence as well as pain characteristics and psychological comorbidities.
Nearly half of the patients (13/27) reported pain. Yet, pain intensity was weak, leading to a low interference with daily life, and its characteristics did not support a neuropathic component. A functional impairment of small nerve fibers was frequently described, with thermal hypoesthesia observed in 52% of patients. Patients with a higher alcohol consumption over the last 2 years showed a greater impairment of small fiber function.
Patients report pain but it is however unlikely to be caused by peripheral neuropathy given the non-length-dependent distribution and the absence of neuropathic pain features. Chronic pain in AUD deserves to be better evaluated and managed as it represents an opportunity to improve long-term clinical outcomes, potentially participating to relapse prevention
Violation of the Wiedemann-Franz Law in a Large-N Solution of the t-J Model
We show that the Wiedemann-Franz law, which holds for Landau Fermi liquids,
breaks down in a large-n treatment of the t-J model. The calculated ratio of
the in-plane thermal and electrical conductivities agrees quantitatively with
experiments on the normal state of the electron-doped Pr_{2-x}Ce_xCuO_4 (x =
0.15) cuprate superconductor. The violation of the Wiedemann-Franz law in the
uniform phase contrasts with other properties of the phase that are Fermi
liquid like.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures. Typos corrected, one added reference, revised
discussion of experiment on 214 cuprate material (x = 0.06
Wavefunction statistics in open chaotic billiards
We study the statistical properties of wavefunctions in a chaotic billiard
that is opened up to the outside world. Upon increasing the openings, the
billiard wavefunctions cross over from real to complex. Each wavefunction is
characterized by a phase rigidity, which is itself a fluctuating quantity. We
calculate the probability distribution of the phase rigidity and discuss how
phase rigidity fluctuations cause long-range correlations of intensity and
current density. We also find that phase rigidities for wavefunctions with
different incoming wave boundary conditions are statistically correlated.Comment: 4 pages, RevTeX; 1 figur
Dynamic instabilities induced by asymmetric influence: Prisoners' dilemma game on small-world networks
A two-dimensional small-world type network, subject to spatial prisoners'
dilemma dynamics and containing an influential node defined as a special node
with a finite density of directed random links to the other nodes in the
network, is numerically investigated. It is shown that the degree of
cooperation does not remain at a steady state level but displays a punctuated
equilibrium type behavior manifested by the existence of sudden breakdowns of
cooperation. The breakdown of cooperation is linked to an imitation of a
successful selfish strategy of the influential node. It is also found that
while the breakdown of cooperation occurs suddenly, the recovery of it requires
longer time. This recovery time may, depending on the degree of steady state
cooperation, either increase or decrease with an increasing number of long
range connections.Comment: 5 pages, 6 figure
Análise teórico-experimental de ligações parafusadas com enrijecedores de alma em perfis de aço formados a frio
The effects of the bacterial interaction with visible-light responsive titania photocatalyst on the bactericidal performance
Bactericidal activity of traditional titanium dioxide (TiO2) photocatalyst is effective only upon irradiation by ultraviolet light, which restricts the potential applications of TiO2 for use in our living environments. Recently carbon-containing TiO2 was found to be photoactive at visible-light illumination that affords the potential to overcome this problem; although, the bactericidal activity of these photocatalysts is relatively lower than conventional disinfectants. Evidenced from scanning electron microscopy and confocal Raman spectral mapping analysis, we found the interaction with bacteria was significantly enhanced in these anatase/rutile mixed-phase carbon-containing TiO2. Bacteria-killing experiments indicate that a significantly higher proportion of all tested pathogens including Staphylococcus aureus, Shigella flexneri and Acinetobacter baumannii, were eliminated by the new nanoparticle with higher bacterial interaction property. These findings suggest the created materials with high bacterial interaction ability might be a useful strategy to improve the antimicrobial activity of visible-light-activated TiO2
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