Further trials with seed dressings for the control of leaf stripe Pyrenophora avenae in Northern Ireland oats

Significantly better control of leaf stripe of oats caused '9Y mercury tolerant Pyrenophora avenae was obtained by the use of a proprietary fungicide containing organomercury + carboxin than by the use of one containing only organomercury but there was not a significant difference between organomercury + carboxin and carboxin alone. Three other experimental materials gave results not significantly different from. those for organomercury but they were phytotoxic

Automated facial expression classification and affect interpretation using infrared measurement of facial skin temperature

Machines would require the ability to perceive and adapt to affects for achieving artificial sociability. Most autonomous systems use Automated Facial Expression Classification (AFEC) and Automated Affect Interpretation (AAI) to achieve sociability. Varying lighting conditions, occlusion, and control over physiognomy can influence the real life performance of vision-based AFEC systems. Physiological signals provide complementary information for AFEC and AAI. We employed transient facial thermal features for AFEC and AAI. Infrared thermal images with participants’ normal expression and intentional expressions of happiness, sadness, disgust, and fear were captured. Facial points that undergo significant thermal changes with a change in expression termed as Facial Thermal Feature Points (FTFPs) were identified. Discriminant analysis was invoked on principal components derived from the Thermal Intensity Values (TIVs) recorded at the FTFPs. The crossvalidation and person-independent classification respectively resulted in 66.28% and 56.0% success rates. Classification significance tests suggest that (1) like other physiological cues, facial skin temperature also provides useful information about affective states and their facial expression; (2) patterns of facial skin temperature variation can complement other cues for AFEC and AAI; and (3) infrared thermal imaging may help achieve artificial sociability in robots and autonomous systems

Developing "professional love" in early childhood settings

I reference a popularly-held assumption that attachment relationships in the home and particularly, in most instances, between a mother and her child - are fundamental to the healthydevelopment of young children. Thus, when a mother returns to work following the birth of her baby, the decision-making process about choice of childcare is likely to be difficult and complex. This chapter is based on the findings of a life historical study which examined the policies, practices and relationships which underpinned and influenced the decisions taken by six mothers to return to paid employment when their infants were under 12 months of age. The mothers’ need for their infants to develop close, secure, emotional attachments with other, key adults was an overwhelming concern. My focus is on the mothers’ perceptions of love. When mothers were able to distinguish the mutually-loving attachment between caregiver and their child as an intellectual encounter, complementary to their mother - child relationship, rather than seeking to undermine their own mother-child relationships, they were able effectively to give caregivers the permission they needed to love the children in their care. The study coined the term “professional love” and showed how the issue of love in day care is highly complex. In this chapter, I urge that a space is made for further debate so that “love” can be properly conceptualised, positively valued and appropriately taught with caregivers working in infant -toddler education and care