A Multiscale Pyramid Transform for Graph Signals

Multiscale transforms designed to process analog and discrete-time signals and images cannot be directly applied to analyze high-dimensional data residing on the vertices of a weighted graph, as they do not capture the intrinsic geometric structure of the underlying graph data domain. In this paper, we adapt the Laplacian pyramid transform for signals on Euclidean domains so that it can be used to analyze high-dimensional data residing on the vertices of a weighted graph. Our approach is to study existing methods and develop new methods for the four fundamental operations of graph downsampling, graph reduction, and filtering and interpolation of signals on graphs. Equipped with appropriate notions of these operations, we leverage the basic multiscale constructs and intuitions from classical signal processing to generate a transform that yields both a multiresolution of graphs and an associated multiresolution of a graph signal on the underlying sequence of graphs.Comment: 16 pages, 13 figure

Conceptualization of Man's Behavioral and Physical Characteristics as Animal Metaphors in the Spoken Discourse of Khezel People

Cognitive theory of metaphor has changed our understanding of metaphor as a figurative device to a matter of thought. It holds that metaphors are cognitively as well as culturally motivated. Despite having similar images in some languages, the culture-specific aspect of animal metaphors inspired the researchers to explore this area of metaphoric system in a local Kurdish variety to investigate how animal metaphors are reflected in spoken discourse. To achieve this objective, the authors collected and analyzed animal expressions adopted for praise and degradation of physical and behavioral characteristics in Khezeli dialect in Ilam, Iran. To create a representative corpus, the authors scrutinized spoken language and oral poetry of the dialect. The collected data indicate that more wild than domestic and more degrading than praising animal expressions are used for man's physical and behavioral characteristics. It is also confirmed that aspects of appearance, size, physical characteristics as well as body parts of animals are transferred to humans. Further, users' attitudes toward animals reflected themselves in their metaphors. Users were also found to have three categories of positive, positive/negative, and negative connotations for animal names. Despite the existence of similarities in the underlying patterns of metaphoric use in different languages, the research came to the conclusion that the types of animals used, their connotations and interpretations may be worlds apart and taking the meaning of one for another may lead to misunderstanding

Recent analytical applications of magnetic nanoparticles

Analytical chemistry has experienced, as well as other areas of science, a big change due to the needs and opportunities provided by analytical nanoscience and nanotechnology. Now, nanotechnology is increasingly proving to be a powerful ally of analytical chemistry to achieve its objectives, and to simplify analytical processes. Moreover, the information needs arising from the growing nanotechnological activity are opening an exciting new field of action for analytical chemists. Magnetic nanoparticles have been used in various fields owing to their unique properties including large specific surface area and simple separation with magnetic fields. For Analytical applications, they have been used mainly for sample preparation techniques (magnetic solid phase extraction with different advanced functional groups (layered double hydroxide, β-cyclodextrin, carbon nanotube, graphen, polymer, octadecylsilane) and automation of it, microextraction techniques) enantioseparation and chemosensors. This review summarizes the basic principles and achievements of magnetic nanoparticles in sample preparation techniques, enantioseparation and chemosensors. Also, some selected articles recently published (2010-2016) have been reviewed and discussed

Nano Graphene Oxide as Solid Phase Extraction Adsorbent Coupled with Dispersive Liquid-Liquid Microextraction to Determine Ultra-Trace Quantities of Propranolol from Urine Samples

In this research, a new nano graphene oxide based solid phase extraction followed by Dispersive Liquid-Liquid Microextraction was applied as simple, rapid and sensitive determination of trace amounts of Propranolol(PRO) in urine samples with HPLC-UVD. Several factors influencing the extraction of PRO, such as pH, adsorbent amounts, extraction time, organic solvent type and the composition of solvent and desorption conditions were studied and optimized. Under optimum condition, the limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) of the proposed method were 2ng/mL?1 and 6.6ng/mL, respectively. Good linear behaviour over the investigated concentration ranges (2-2000ng/mL-1) and good correlation coefficient of 0.9901(r2) were obtained. The relative standard deviations (RSDs) based on three determinations at 2, 20, 200ng/mL-1 levels of PRO was less than 9.7%. The findings of the present study may provide clinical and diagnostic laboratories. &nbsp

Removal of copper, nickel and zinc by sodium dodecyl sulphate coated magnetite nanoparticles from water and wastewater samples

AbstractIn the present study, sodium dodecyl sulphate-coated Fe3O4 nanoparticles (SDS–Fe3O4 NPs) were applied to remove Cu(II), Ni(II) and Zn(II) ions from water and wastewater samples. The effects of pH of solution, SDS, Fe3O4 NPs and salt addition on removal efficiency of the metal ions were investigated and optimized. Salt addition has a negative effect on the removal efficiency of the metal ions, thus extraction follows the ion exchange mechanism. The results showed that the adsorption process onto the adsorbent is very fast under optimum conditions and nearly 1min of contact time was found to be sufficient for completion of the metal ions' adsorption. Adsorption equilibrium of the metal ions reveals that data were fitted well to the Langmuir isotherm. Also, the maximum monolayer capacity, qmax, obtained from the Langmuir isotherm was 24.3, 41.2 and 59.2mgg−1 for Cu(II), Ni(II) and Zn(II), respectively. Desorption experiments by elution of the adsorbent with methanol show that the SDS-Fe3O4 NPs could be reconditioned without significant loss of its initial properties even after three adsorption–desorption cycles. Finally, application of the SDS-Fe3O4 NPs as efficient adsorbent material for removal of the metal ions from Iran Khodro's wastewater samples was investigated and satisfactory results were obtained

Hydroethanolic Allium sativum extract accelerates excision wound healing: evidence for roles of mast-cell infiltration and intracytoplasmic carbohydrate ratio

The present study was designed to evaluate the in vivo effect of Allium sativum (garlic) hydroalcoholic extract on wound healing in rats. For this purpose, 72 mature Wistar rats were divided into four groups (n=18/each) to receive no treatment, placebo, Cicalfate(r), or 2% Allium sativum (AS) extract, administered topically to the wound area, for 21 days. Following the experimental period, tissue samples were dissected out and underwent to histopathological analyses. Fibroblasts, fibrocytes, mast cells, intra-cytoplasmic carbohydrate ratio, neovascularization, collagen deposition, and re-epithelialization were analyzed in all groups. Animals in the treated groups showed significant enhancement in fibroblast, fibrocyte, and mast-cell distribution. Significantly higher neovascularization was observed on day 3 after wound induction in AS-treated animals versus those in the placebo, Cicalfate, and untreated groups (

Political Institutions and Government Spending Behavior: Theory and Evidence from Iran

This study examines how quality of political institutions affects the distribution of government budget in Iran. We first introduce a mechanism through which this can shift government expenditure from patronage to more constructive public spending. Using impulse response functions (IRF) and variance decomposition analysis (VDC) on the basis of Vector Autoregressive (VAR) model, our results imply that a positive shock towards more democratic institutions leads to negative and statistically significant response of military spending and positive and statistically significant response of education expenditures. Our results are robust to different political institutional quality indicators, ordering of variables in the VAR and different specifications of government spending categories

Suplementacija kreatinom mijenja hormonalnu reakciju organizma na vježbe s opterećenjem

The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of short-term creatine supplementation on hormonal responses to resistance exercise. 27 trained men were randomly divided into a creatine supplementation group [the CR group (n=15), taking 4×5 g creatine monohydrate/day] or a placebo supplementation group [the PL group (n=12), taking 4×7.5 g maltodextrin/day]. A double-blind research design was employed for a 7-day supplementation period. After this period, the participants performed exercise testing. Blood tests occurred on day 1 prior to supplementation loading (1Pre) and after this period [on the exercise testing day: pre-exercise (Pre), immediately post-exercise (IP), and 15 (15P) and 30 (30P) minutes post-exercise] for the measurement of the serum growth hormone and testosterone concentrations. Significant differences in the number of repetitions and volume were seen with CR (7.2±1.3 repetitions, 1560±386 kg) compared to PL (5.6±2 repetitions, 1089±341 kg) at set 5 of the exercise protocol (p=.01). Serum growth hormone and testosterone were significantly higher at 15P in CR (6.1±1.8 ng/ml, 70.1±19 pmol/L) compared to PL (4.1±1.7 ng/ml, 44.8±16 pmol/L) [(p=.02), (p=.01)]. The enhanced exercise performance resulted in a significantly greater increase in both the growth hormone and testosterone concentrations, indicating an augmented anabolic hormone response to creatine supplementation.Cilj ovog istraživanja bio je utvrditi utjecaj kratkotrajne suplementacije kreatinom na hormonsku reakciju organizma kod vježbi s opterećenjem. 27 treniranih muškaraca nasumično su podijeljeni u grupu koja je uzimala kreatin [CR skupina (n=15), 4×5 g kreatin monohidrata po danu] ili u placebo skupinu [PL grupa (n=12), 4×7.5 g maltodextrina po danu]. Dvostruka anonimna metoda istraživanja bila je korištena pri realizaciji sedmodnevnog suplementacijskog perioda. Nakon perioda suplementacije, provedena su finalna testiranja. Testiranje krvnih uzoraka provedeno je prvog dana eksperimenta neposredno prije suplementacije (1Pre) i nakon eksperimentalnog perioda [na dan finalnih testiranja: prije izvođenja vježbi s opterećenjem (Pre), neposredno nakon izvođenja vježbi s opterećenjem (IP), te 15 (15P) i 30 (30P) minuta nakon izvođenja vježbi s opterećenjem] za mjerenje koncentracije seruma hormona rasta i testosterona. Statistički značajne razlike u broju ponavljanja i veličini ukupnog opterećenja utvrđene su kod CR skupine (7.2±1.3 ponavljanja, 1560±386 kg) u usporedbi s PL skupinom (5.6±2 ponavljanja, 1089±341 kg) kod 5. serije provedenog protokola vježbanja (p=.01). Serumi hormona rasta i testosterona bili su statistički značajno veći u 15P kod CR skupine (6.1±1.8 ng/ml, 70.1±19 pmol/L) u usporedbi s PL skupinom (4.1±1.7 ng/ml, 44.8±16 pmol/L) [(p=.02), (p=.01)]. Bolji rezultati u finalnom testiranju kod CR skupine rezultirali su statistički značajno većom koncentracijom hormona rasta i testosterona u odnosu na PL skupinu, što pokazuje povećanu reakciju anaboličkih hormona na suplementaciju kreatinom

Identification of Tourism Scenarios in Turkey Based on Futures Study Approach

This study aims to identify the plausible scenarios of tourism in Antalya, Turkey. For this purpose, the drivers and key factors of the research were first identified by reviewing the literature and interviewing Turkish tourism experts. Then these factors were screened using binomial nonparametric test and eight factors were eliminated from the 19 key factors. Two key factors of government policy in the tourism field and value of country currency were selected using cross impact analysis technique in order to write plausible scenarios. Based on these two uncertainties, four scenarios of luxury tourism, cheap tourism, tourism deterioration and unplanned tourism were identified