CITRIC: A low-bandwidth wireless camera network platform

In this paper, we propose and demonstrate a novel wireless camera network system, called CITRIC. The core component of this system is a new hardware platform that integrates a camera, a frequency-scalable (up to 624 MHz) CPU, 16 MB FLASH, and 64 MB RAM onto a single device. The device then connects with a standard sensor network mote to form a camera mote. The design enables in-network processing of images to reduce communication requirements, which has traditionally been high in existing camera networks with centralized processing. We also propose a back-end client/server architecture to provide a user interface to the system and support further centralized processing for higher-level applications. Our camera mote enables a wider variety of distributed pattern recognition applications than traditional platforms because it provides more computing power and tighter integration of physical components while still consuming relatively little power. Furthermore, the mote easily integrates with existing low-bandwidth sensor networks because it can communicate over the IEEE 802.15.4 protocol with other sensor network platforms. We demonstrate our system on three applications: image compression, target tracking, and camera localization

Toll-like receptor-4 299Gly allele is associated with Guillain-Barre syndrome in Bangladesh

Objective: TLR4 plays an important role in the pathogenesis of Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS). The relationships between TLR4 polymorphisms and susceptibility to GBS are poorly understood. We investigated the frequency and assessed the association of two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the extracellular domain of TLR4 (Asp299Gly and Thr399Ile) with disease susceptibility and the clinical features of GBS in a Bangladeshi cohort. Methods: A total of 290 subjects were included in this study: 141 patients with GBS and 149 unrelated healthy controls. The TLR4 polymorphisms Asp299Gly and Thr399Ile were genotyped using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) assay. Results: The minor 299Gly allele was significantly associated with GBS susceptibility (P = 0.0137, OR = 1.97, 95% CI = 1.17–3.31), and was present at a significantly higher frequency in patients with the acute motor axonal neuropathy (AMAN) subtype of GBS (P = 0.0120, OR = 2.37, 95% CI = 1.26–4.47) than acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (AIDP) subtype (P = 0.961, OR = 1.15, 95% CI = 0.38–3.48); when compared to healthy controls. The genotype frequency of the Asp299Gly polymorphism was not significantly different between patients with GBS and healthy controls. The Asp299-Thr399 haplotype was associated with a significantly lower risk of developing GBS (P = 0.0451, OR = 0.63, 95% CI = 0.40– 0.99). No association was observed between the Thr399Ile polymorphism and GBS disease susceptibility. Interpretation: The TLR4 minor 299Gly allele was associated with increased susceptibility to GBS and the axonal GBS subtype in the Bangladeshi population. However, no associations were observed between the genotypes of the Asp299Gly and Thr399Ile SNPs and antecedent C. jejuni infection or disease severity in Bangladeshi patients with GBS

The moderating role of transformational leadership on HR practices in M&A integration

Scant research exists examining the effect of HRM practices on employee behavior in M&A integration and the role that leaders play within this. This paper develops a conceptual framework that focuses on the moderating role of transformational leadership on the achievement of human integration and organizational identification in M&A integration. We argue that communication, employee involvement, teamwork, and training and development have a positive effect on employee behavior and their identification with the newly formed organization. Moreover, we argue that transformational leadership behaviors will moderate the implementation of HRM practices in M&As, leading to positive employee behavior and employee identification in the new organization. We suggest that further research is necessary to test propositions of the present study in order to achieve finer-grained understanding of the role of transformational leadership on the achievement of human integration and organizational identification in M&A integration

Automated Reconstruction of Neuronal Morphology Based on Local Geometrical and Global Structural Models

Digital reconstruction of neurons from microscope images is an important and challenging problem in neuroscience. In this paper, we propose a model-based method to tackle this problem. We first formulate a model structure, then develop an algorithm for computing it by carefully taking into account morphological characteristics of neurons, as well as the image properties under typical imaging protocols. The method has been tested on the data sets used in the DIADEM competition and produced promising results for four out of the five data sets

Equity Ownership Strategy in Greenfield Investments : Influences of Host Country Infrastructure and MNE Resources in Emerging Markets

This chapter addresses equity ownership strategy in greenfield investments by multinational enterprises (MNEs) in the emerging markets (EMs). It is one of the few studies to hypothesize and analyze influences of host EM physical infrastructure in relation to investment decisions of MNEs. We use resource dependence theory (RDT) as a theoretical basis and test the moderating effects of firm resources like size and host country investment experience. Moreover, the current study assumes a more nuanced approach to studying equity ownership by analyzing wholly owned subsidiaries versus joint ventures (JVs) and including majority versus minority JVs in the analysis as well. The empirical results based on greenfield investments undertaken by Nordic (Danish, Finnish, Norwegian, and Swedish) MNEs in EMs during 1990–2015 reveals the importance of host country physical infrastructure for high equity ownership strategy. Moreover, host country investment experience moderates the effect of physical infrastructure on equity ownership strategy. Finally, the analysis of a sub-sample of greenfield JVs reveals that determinants of equity ownership strategy differ somewhat between greenfield JV or greenfield wholly owned subsidiaries (WOS).© The Author(s) 2019.fi=vertaisarvioitu|en=peerReviewed

Changing perspectives on the internationalization of R&D and innovation by multinational enterprises: a review of the literature

Internationalization of R&D and innovation by Multinational Enterprises (MNEs) has undergone a gradual and comprehensive change in perspective over the past 50 years. From sporadic works in the late 1950s and in the 1960s, it became a systematically analysed topic in the 1970s, starting with pioneering reports and “foundation texts”. Our review unfolds the theoretical and empirical evolution of the literature from dyadic interpretations of centralization versus decentralization of R&D by MNEs to more comprehensive frameworks, wherein established MNEs from Advanced Economies still play a pivotal role, but new players and places also emerge in the global generation and diffusion of knowledge. Hence views of R&D internationalization increasingly rely on concepts, ideas and methods from IB and other related disciplines such as industrial organization, international economics and economic geography. Two main findings are highlighted. First, scholarly research pays an increasing attention to the network-like characteristics of international R&D activities. Second, different streams of literature have emphasized the role of location- specific factors in R&D internationalization. The increasing emphasis on these aspects has created new research opportunities in some key areas, including inter alia: cross-border knowledge sourcing strategies, changes in the geography of R&D and innovation, and the international fragmentation of production and R&D activities

Effect of pre-inoculation of rice with bacteria for induction of bacterial leaf blight resistance

The effects of Xanthomonas otyzae pv. olyzae, Erwinia sp. and Phylloplane bacteria were assessed and compared with rice leaf clipping and without leaf clipping practices for induction of bacterial leaf blight (BLB) resistance and yield in two rice cultivars, Binasail and Binadhan-4. The rice seedlings or plants pre inoculated with bacterial inocula at seedling, early tillering and maximum tillering stages along with or without leaf clipping plants were finally inoculated with X. otyzae pv. oryzae at maximum tillering or at flag leaf stages of crop growth. The results revealed that all the tested bacterial inocula and rice leaf clipping practice significantly induced BLB resistance and reduced the severity of the disease in both the rice cultivars. The highest grain yield was obtained in plants where leaf clipping was done at early or maximum tillering stages of plant growth. The plants pre-inoculated with BLB pathogen Xoo, Erwinia sp. and Phylloplane bacteria reduced grain yields of rice which need further study using more bacterial inocula and rice cultivars

Nursery rearing of Thai sarpunti, Barbonymus gonionotus larvae using three different supplementary feeds

Nursery rearing of silver barb, Puntius gonionotus (Bleeker, 1850) larvae was carried out with three different feeding treatments T1, T2 and T3 having three replications each in nine rectangular glass aquaria (45x25x24 cm) for a period of 28 days in laboratory condition. Live planktonic feed (5000 cells/L), plankton and rice bran having 14.14% protein, and plankton and Saudi-Bangla nursery feed having 30.20% protein were tested as T1, T2 and T3, respectively. Three days old larvae of B. gonionotus (average length 5.0±0.15 mm and weight 7.0±0.05 mg) were stocked at a stocking density of 4.1 larvae/L of water in each aquarium. The highest length at harvest (28.06±0.38 mm and weight 135.00±3.05 mg) and also highest SGR (18.79±0.80) were found in T3 followed by T2 and T1. The survival rate in all the treatments was high (92-90%) and treatment to treatment variation was not significant (P<0.05). The result implies that the application of supplemental feeds over control in nursery rearing of B. gonionotus larvae had positive role. The non-significant growth variation between T2 and T3 indicate suitability of the use of low protein content supplemental feed in the farmers nursery pond during the nursery rearing of B. gonionotus larvae