Incidence of orbital, conjunctival and lacrimal gland malignant tumors in USA from Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results, 1973-2009

AIM: To determine the types and incidence of tumors affecting the orbit, conjunctiva and lacrimal glands and to study the trend line of these tumors in the United States from 1973 to 2009. METHODS: We used the publicly available Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database registries to determine the incidence rates. Age was adjusted to the 2000 US Standard Population. Patients were stratified according to age group, gender, race and histological grouping of tumor lesions. Three age groups were defined: 0-19, 20-49 and ≥50y. Annual percentage changes were calculated to examine trends. RESULTS: The overall age adjusted incidence rate was 3.39 (95%CI: 3.27-3.52) per million person-years. The tumors were more prevalent in age group ≥50 counting 9.51 (95%CI: 9.11-9.92) per million person-years. Most of the soft tissue sarcomas occurred in the young age with incidence rate of 0.35 (95%CI: 0.28-0.42) per million person-years. Lymphomas were the dominant subtype in the adult population with incidence rate of 5.74 (95%CI: 5.43-6.06) per million person-years. Incidence rates were higher in males than females with an overall rate ratio of 1.31 (95%CI: 1.21-1.41) mainly caused by the increase in carcinoma subtypes. White race had a higher tumor incidence with a rate ratio of 1.47(95%CI: 1.25-1.73) driven by the higher incidence of most histological subtypes. Orbital tumors showed a higher incidence rate followed by conjunctival and lacrimal gland tumors with incidence rates of 1.59, 1.37 and 0.43 per million person-years respectively. The trend line of overall incidence of tumors showed a significant increase (APC=3.11, 95%CI: 2.61-3.61) mainly due to increase of lymphomas. This increase was higher than the increase of lymphomas at other sites. CONCLUSION: Orbital, conjunctival and lacrimal gland malignant tumors differ among children and adults. Over the years there has been a noticeable increase in incidence rates of orbital and lacrimal gland tumors mainly caused by an increase in lymphomas and an apparent increase due to advances in diagnostic techniques. ICD-O-3 topographical coding should be improved to consider the different orbital bones and ocular structures

Input significance analysis: feature selection through synaptic weights manipulation for EFuNNs classifier

This work is interested in ISA methods that can manipulate synaptic weights namelyConnection Weights (CW) and Garson’s Algorithm (GA) and the classifier selected isEvolving Fuzzy Neural Networks (EFuNNs). Firstly, it test FS method on a dataset selectedfrom the UCI Machine Learning Repository and executed in an online environment, recordthe results and compared with the results that used original and ranked data from the previouswork. This is to identify whether FS can contribute to improved results and which of the ISAmethods mentioned above that work well with FS, i.e. give the best results. Secondly, to attestthe FS results by using a differently selected dataset taken from the same source and in thesame environment. The results are promising when FS is applied, some efficiency andaccuracy are noticeable compared to the original and ranked data.Keywords: feature selection; feature ranking; input significance analysis; evolvingconnectionist systems; evolving fuzzy neural network; connection weights; Garson’salgorithm

The proximate and chemical composition of improved chickpea cultivars grown under the pure stand and banana intercrop systems in South Western Uganda agro ecological zone

South Western Uganda Agro ecological Zone is a major banana producing region faced with malnutrition, partly due to high intake of banana, which is low in protein, essential amino acids and most micronutrients compared to other foodstuffs with high protein and micronutrients. Five improved chickpea cultivars (ICCV 00108, 1CCV 00305, 1CCV 92318, 1CCV 96329, 1CCV 97105), introduced as an alternative protein source were grown as monocrop and intercrop with bananas and the effect of the cropping method on their nutritive value investigated. Their proximate and chemical compositions were determined, using standard methods. Moisture content ranged between 11.11 and 12.14 %, crude protein content ranged between 18.00 to 19.04 %, crude fat content varied from 3.29 to 4.69 %, ash content ranged between 3.38 and 12.14 %; whereas crude fibre ranged between 4.43 and 11.20 %. The Fe content varied from 15.98 to 31.19 mg/100g, Zn ranged between 248.42 and 292.18 mg/100g, Cu varied between 12.91 and 25.95 mg/100g, whereas Mn varied from 84.82 to 112.1 mg/100g. The K content ranged from 855.00 to 1060 mg/100g, Na ranged from 269.17 to 590.00 mg/100g, Mg varied from 85.84 to 95.84 mg/100g, Ca ranged between 464.17 and 507.50 mg/100g whereas P varied between 366.67 and 418.34 mg/100g. The cropping method did not affect the proximate composition of the chickpea but the crude fibre and ash contents varied significantly (P<0.05) among the cultivars. All the mineral contents except P, varied significantly (P<0.05) among cultivars. The cropping method significantly (P<0.05) affected all mineral contents except Ca, Cu and P. Cultivar ICCV 97105 was more nutrient-dense, compared to other cultivars. The results indicate differences in the seed ash and crude fibre contents of the cultivars studied. The findings of this study establish the five analysed chickpea cultivars as a potential source of protein and appreciable amounts of both trace elements (Fe, Zn, Cu, Mn) and macro-elements such as K, P, Mg and Ca.Keywords: Proximate, Chemical composition, Malnutrition, Protein, Chickpea cultivars, cropping metho

Characterizations of InN Thin Films Grown on Si (110) Substrate by Reactive Sputtering

Indium nitride (InN) thin films were deposited onto Si (110) by reactive sputtering and pure In target at ambient temperature. The effects of the Ar–N2 sputtering gas mixture on the structural properties of the films were investigated by using scanning electron microscope, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy, and X-ray diffraction techniques. The optical properties of InN layers were examined by micro-Raman and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) reflectance spectroscopy at room temperature. Structural analysis specified nanocrystalline structure with crystal size of 15.87 nm, 16.65 nm, and 41.64nm for InN films grown at N2/Ar ratio of 100/0, 75/25, and 50/50, respectively. The Raman spectra indicates well defined peaks at 578, 583, and 583 cm−1, which correspond to the A1(LO) phonon of the hexagonal InN films grown at gas ratios of 100 : 0, 75 : 25 and 50 : 50 N2 : Ar, respectively. Results of FTIR spectroscopy show the clearly visible TO [E1(TO)] phonon mode of the InN at 479 cm−1 just for film that were deposited at 50 : 50 N2 : Ar. The X-ray diffraction results indicate that the layers consist of InN nanocrystals. The highest intensity of InN (101) peak and the best nanocrystalline InN films can be seen under the deposition condition with N2/Ar gas mixture of 50 : 50

Modernization Theory and House Garden Transformation; Erbil City as Case Study

Recently, the concept of modernity and its influences on global warming comes to be a common topic in architectural debates. The disappearance of gardens in the contemporary house layouts generated a need for new approaches to create a sustainable network of green areas within residential neighborhoods. The objectives of this paper intend to emphasize on the holistic phenomenon of house garden transformations. The rationale behind selecting cases inside Erbil city, Iraq return to its historical background which passed through rapid transformations due to the political, economic, and cultural changes. This paper aims to identify reason behind disappearance of house gardens in new developments. Moreover, it describes the physical elements of local traditions in different periods. The analytical methodology used in this paper relies on four different periods of the city evolution. It discusses the building garden visual elements in terms of architectural physical factors. The study emphases on two types of analyses, the morphology analyses for each period individually, and comparative analyses between different periods. The findings of this paper will indicate the crucial factors that affecting the disappearance of house garden as well as the general positive effects of vegetation in urban contexts

Input significance analysis: feature ranking through synaptic weights manipulation for ANNS-based classifiers

Due to the ANNs architecture, the ISA methods that can manipulate synaptic weights selectedare Connection Weights (CW) and Garson’s Algorithm (GA). The ANNs-based classifiers thatcan provide such manipulation are Multi-Layer Perceptron (MLP) and Evolving Fuzzy NeuralNetworks (EFuNNs). The goals for this work are firstly to identify which of the twoclassifiers works best with the filtered/ranked data, secondly is to test the FR method by usinga selected dataset taken from the UCI Machine Learning Repository and in an onlineenvironment and lastly to attest the FR results by using another selected dataset taken fromthe same source and in the same environment. There are three groups of experimentsconducted to accomplish these goals. The results are promising when FR is applied, someefficiency and accuracy are noticeable compared to the original data.Keywords: artificial neural networks, input significance analysis; feature selection; featureranking; connection weights; Garson’s algorithm; multi-layer perceptron; evolving fuzzyneural networks

Preliminary distribution of Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Trichoptera (EPT) in Kerian River Basin, Perak, Malaysia

A preliminary study on three aquatic insect orders, Ephemeroptera (mayfly), Plecoptera (stonefly) and Trichoptera (caddisJly) (EPT) was carried out in Kerian River Basin (KRB), at the border of Kedah-Perak states, in Peninsular Malaysia. Ephemeroptera comprising six families of 10 genera and 460 individuals was the most dominant order. Although both Plecoptera and Trichoptera was represented l7y similar number of families, stoneflies were found to be more abundant in the river basin. In order of abundance, stonefly Tetropina, mayJlies Caenis, and centroptilum, and caddisJly Macrostemum were the most common geneva. The diversity of the EPTfauna ranged 1.41 - 2.65 with significantly different distribution (ANOVA, F/534o = 1.68) at P= 0.05 and fairly unevenly distributed (Evennes Index Ranged 0.15-0.95). The EPT Richness i~dices were in low ranges in all river and the FBI scores categorised the water quality of river in this river basin as moderately polluted to excellent

Dual Band Printed Bow-Tie Antenna For WLAN/WIMAX Application

In this paper a dual band printed bow-tie antenna for WLAN and WiMAX application has been presented. A planar bow tie antenna consists of defected ground and symmetrical shape split ring resonator (SRR) is presented to apply to the dual band application. A triangular microstrip patch with the defected ground is used as initial bow tie antenna which worked on WiMAX Band. Further initial design (primary antenna) added with SRR to operate over 2.4-2.8 GHz for Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, ZigBee, WLAN Applications and 3.4-4.2 GHz which includes Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) and C-band down link frequency band for satellite communications. The proposed antenna has been made on 1.6 mm thick FR-4 substrate with a size of 50x28 mm2. The proposed antenna has very wide bandwidth with the value of VSWR less than 2

Learning style tendencies based on fleming’s VARK learning style among TVET students

This study aims to identify learning style tendencies based on the Fleming’s VARK learning style of TVET students. This study uses a questionnaire approach to assess TVET students' learning styles based on Fleming’s visual, auditory, writing or reading and kinesthetic learning styles. The study population is technical students of FPTV, UTHM and the selected sample consists of 53 students from various fields namely General Machining (BBA), Welding and Metal Fabrication (BBD), Electrical & Electronics (BBE) and Creative Multimedia (BBF) who took the subject BBD10803 Information Technology in Education at Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia. The results of this study indicate that the most preferred Fleming’s VARK learning style is a visual learning style