Semi-supervised Multi-sensor Classification via Consensus-based Multi-View Maximum Entropy Discrimination

In this paper, we consider multi-sensor classification when there is a large number of unlabeled samples. The problem is formulated under the multi-view learning framework and a Consensus-based Multi-View Maximum Entropy Discrimination (CMV-MED) algorithm is proposed. By iteratively maximizing the stochastic agreement between multiple classifiers on the unlabeled dataset, the algorithm simultaneously learns multiple high accuracy classifiers. We demonstrate that our proposed method can yield improved performance over previous multi-view learning approaches by comparing performance on three real multi-sensor data sets.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures, Accepted in 40th IEEE International Conference on Acoustics, Speech and Signal Processing (ICASSP 15

A Survey of Alcohol-Based Hand Sanitizers in Nairobi: Packaging, Labelling and Regulatory Compliance

Alcohol based hand sanitizers are currently recommended for routine use in curbing the spread of the COVID-19 global pandemic. The present survey examined hand sanitizers marketed in Nairobi County with regards to product appearance, packaging, labelling and declared composition. Seventy-six samples were collected from five sites within the Nairobi metropolis - Central Business District, Kibera, Kilimani/Karen, Ngong and Thika. A wide range of non-conformities were observed for the criteria applied. Many samples had incomplete or missing label information, ingredient lists, cautionary warnings, Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) standardization marks and permit numbers. Glycerin, fragrances and carbomers were the most common added ingredients. Poor formulation indicators such as haziness and phase separation were encountered in some products. The median price of the products was KES 250 (USD 2.36) per 100 ml although there was considerable variation in pricing of samples. None of the samples evaluated fully met all the standards for the parameters evaluated. Strict adherence to regulatory standards by producers of hand sanitizers is required to ensure that only compliant products are available on the market. Keywords: Hand sanitizer, alcohol, labelling, coronavirus, product qualit

Effective Approaches in Reducing Reading Discrepancy Scores between Students in General Education and Special Education

This research study examined curricular and instructional approaches that help students who receive special education services meet common Illinois state standards as measured by annual state standardized testing. Despite having supportive accommodations and modifications, Illinois students who receive special education services have lagged behind their general education peers in meeting academic standards as measured by annual Illinois state testing. Participants included personnel from schools that were identified as being high performing while also having the smallest discrepancy between students in general education and special education. These schools were investigated to determine what approaches they use to have this reduced achievement gap. Teachers and administrators from these schools were interviewed to gain insights regarding effective instructional and curricular methods. The results suggest that schools closing the achievement gap implemented instructional approaches including co-taught and inclusion classrooms, differentiation, and time for professional planning and collaboration. Additionally, these schools offered purchased, researched-based reading curricula that were implemented with high fidelity. Teachers in both special education and general education had the same materials to reference and offer students. Implications for practice and future research directions are reported

Publicidad y Salud Comunitaria: Bebidas alcohólicas en el Prime Time = Advertising and Community Health: Alcohol in Prime Time

Resumen: Los consejos publicitarios del alcohol en la televisión forman parte de la publicidad que llega a un amplio espectro de la población, creando modas y estableciendo cánones sociales, por lo que hay que vigilarlos y estudiarlos profundamente. Objetivo: El propósito de este estudio fue analizar la prevalencia de los anuncios de bebida alcohólica en el Prime Time y recoger las cualidades de los anuncios que fomentan el consumo del alcohol. Método: Se trata de un estudio cuanti-cualitativo de diseño descriptivo y longitudinal, que recoge datos sobre los consejos publicitarios durante dos semanas en las cadenas de televisión de Antena 3 y Tele 5. Resultados: los contenidos que anuncian bebidas alcohólicas en Tele 5 representan el 11,07 %; y en Antena 3, el 10,22% de la publicidad total recogida. Estos anuncios relacionan el consumo de alcohol con virilidad, éxito amistoso, social y sentimental, felicidad y mejor situación social entre otros. Conclusiones: El acceso a la publicidad del alcohol es muy amplio, pues las series que se televisan a esas horas están dirigidas a adolescentes y a un amplio público. La proyección de los anuncios publicitarios anima indiscriminadamente al consumo. Palabras clave: publicidad, alcohol, salud comunitaria, medios de comunicación Abstract:  Counselling advertising of alcohol on TV are part of the advertising that reaches a broad spectrum of the population, creating fashion and establishing social standards, so you have to watch and study it deeply. Aim: The purpose of this study was to analyze the prevalence of alcohol ads in the Prime Time and pick up the qualities of the ads that promote alcohol consumption. Method: A quantitative and qualitative study and longitudinal descriptive design, which collects advertising boards for two weeks on the TV channels of Antena 3 and Tele 5. Results: The content that advertises alcoholic beverages in Tele 5 represent 11.07%, and Antena 3, 10.22% of total advertising collection. These ads link alcohol with virility, friendly, social and sentimental success, happiness and better position social between others. Conclusions: Access to alcohol advertising is very broad, as the series to be televised at that time are aimed at adolescents and a wider public. The projection of advertising encourages consumption indiscriminately. Keywords: advertising, Alcohol, community health, mass medi

Shear Viscosity in a Perturbative Quark-Gluon-Plasma

Among the key features of hot and dense QCD matter produced in ultra-relativistic heavy-ion collisions at RHIC is its very low shear viscosity, indicative of the properties of a near-ideal fluid, and a large opacity demonstrated by jet energy loss measurements. In this work, we utilize a microscopic transport model based on the Boltzmann equation with quark and gluon degrees of freedom and cross sections calculated from perturbative Quantum Chromodynamics to simulate an ideal Quark-Gluon-Plasma in full thermal and chemical equilibrium. We then use the Kubo formalism to calculate the shear viscosity to entropy density ratio of the medium as a function of temperature and system composition. One of our key results is that the shear viscosity over entropy-density ratio $\eta/s$ becomes invariant to the chemical composition of the system when plotted as a function of energy-density instead of temperature.Comment: 11 pages, 8 figures: version #2 contains some revisions and added references to clarify relationship to previously published wor

Approach to sustainable rural water supply and sanitation in Africa: Ganji Gebi, NW Nigeria case study

The Ganjin Gebi community water supply and school sanitation system has an overall output goal of providing adequate new potable water supply to Ganjin Gebi community and water supply and sanitation facilities in the Primary school with a sustainable community management approach. The strategy includes engaging the community in a mobilisation process, establishing a Water Consumers’ Association (WCA), working out the best technical concept (level of technology), and support the establishment of community management system for the sustainability of the project

Single cell mechanics: stress stiffening and kinematic hardening

Cell mechanical properties are fundamental to the organism but remain poorly understood. We report a comprehensive phenomenological framework for the nonlinear rheology of single fibroblast cells: a superposition of elastic stiffening and viscoplastic kinematic hardening. Our results show, that in spite of cell complexity its mechanical properties can be cast into simple, well-defined rules, which provide mechanical cell strength and robustness via control of crosslink slippage.Comment: 4 pages, 6 figure

Memory of the Unjamming Transition during Cyclic Tiltings of a Granular Pile

Discrete numerical simulations are performed to study the evolution of the micro-structure and the response of a granular packing during successive loading-unloading cycles, consisting of quasi-static rotations in the gravity field between opposite inclination angles. We show that internal variables, e.g., stress and fabric of the pile, exhibit hysteresis during these cycles due to the exploration of different metastable configurations. Interestingly, the hysteretic behaviour of the pile strongly depends on the maximal inclination of the cycles, giving evidence of the irreversible modifications of the pile state occurring close to the unjamming transition. More specifically, we show that for cycles with maximal inclination larger than the repose angle, the weak contact network carries the memory of the unjamming transition. These results demonstrate the relevance of a two-phases description -strong and weak contact networks- for a granular system, as soon as it has approached the unjamming transition.Comment: 13 pages, 15 figures, soumis \`{a} Phys. Rev.