5,710 research outputs found
Set Intersection and Consistency in Constraint Networks
In this paper, we show that there is a close relation between consistency in
a constraint network and set intersection. A proof schema is provided as a
generic way to obtain consistency properties from properties on set
intersection. This approach not only simplifies the understanding of and
unifies many existing consistency results, but also directs the study of
consistency to that of set intersection properties in many situations, as
demonstrated by the results on the convexity and tightness of constraints in
this paper. Specifically, we identify a new class of tree convex constraints
where local consistency ensures global consistency. This generalizes row convex
constraints. Various consistency results are also obtained on constraint
networks where only some, in contrast to all in the existing work,constraints
are tight
Post-Buckling in the Distortional Mode and Buckling Mode Interaction of Cold-Formed Thin-Walled Sections with Edge Stiffeners
Socio-demographic characteristics and nutritional status of individuals by stages of change for dietary fat reduction.
Changes in lifestyle and food habits have been implicated in the increasing rate of nutrition related chronic diseases in Malaysia. A cross-sectional study was conducted to identify socio-demographic characteristic and nutritional status of individuals by their readiness to reduce dietary fat intake. A total of 202 non-academic staff aged 18-56 years at Universiti Putra Malaysia participated in the study. Information on demographic, socio-economic and stages of change related to dietary fat reduction were collected using a pre-tested interview-administered questionnaire. Subjects were measured for weight, height and waist circumference. Fasting blood through venipuncture was obtained for triglycerides, LDL-, HDL- and total cholesterol. Energy and dietary fat intake were estimated based on two days 24 h diet recall. Chi-square test and Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) were used for data analysis. Of the respondents, about 12% reported reduced fat intake, 20% were not committed to change and more than half (68%) were in preparation stage. There was no significant association between stages of change and socio-demographic factors. Body mass index was highest in preparation group (Mean±SE = 24.93±0.35 kg/m2) [F = 5.686; p<0.01]. Men in action/maintenance group (Mean±SE = 76.22±4.17 cm) had significantly lower adjusted mean waist circumference than those in preparation group (Mean±SE = 89.77±1.85 cm) [F = 5.324, p<0.01]. No significant difference across stages was observed in waist circumference for women, lipid profile, caloric and fat intake. It is important to identify characteristics of individuals by their readiness to change dietary behaviors so that effective nutrition strategies can be developed and implemented to meet their dietary needs and goals
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Effect of Stimulus Orientation on Visual Function in Children with Refractive Amblyopia.
Purpose: We investigated and characterized the patterns of meridional anisotropies in newly diagnosed refractive amblyopes using pattern onset–offset visual evoked potentials (POVEPs) and psychophysical grating acuity (GA).
Methods: Twenty-five refractive amblyopes were recruited and compared with non-amblyopic controls from our previous study. Monocular POVEPs were recorded in response to sinewave 4 cycles per degree (cpd) grating stimuli oriented along each individual participants' principal astigmatic meridians, which were approximately horizontal (meridian 1) and vertical (meridian 2). Binocular POVEPs in response to the same stimuli, but oriented at 45°, 90°, 135°, and 180°, were recorded. Psychophysical GAs were assessed along the same meridians using a two-alternative non-forced-choice technique. The C3 amplitudes and peak latencies of the POVEPs and GAs were compared across meridians for both groups (refractive amblyopes and controls) using linear mixed models (monocular) and ANOVA (binocular), and post hoc analysis was conducted to determine if meridional anisotropies in this cohort of amblyopes were related to low (≤1.50 diopters [D]), moderate (1.75–2.75 D) and high (≥3.00 D) astigmatism.
Results: In the newly diagnosed refractive amblyopes, there were no significant meridional anisotropies across all outcome measures, but the post hoc analysis demonstrated that C3 amplitude was significantly higher in those with low (P = 0.02) and moderate (P = 0.004) astigmatism compared to those with high astigmatism. Refractive amblyopes had poorer GA and C3 amplitudes compared to controls by approximately two lines on the logMAR chart (monocular: P = 0.013; binocular: P = 0.014) and approximately 6 µV (monocular: P = 0.009; binocular: P = 0.027), respectively.
Conclusions: Deleterious effects of high astigmatism was evident in newly diagnosed refractive amblyopes, but the neural deficits do not seem to be orientation-specific for the stimulus parameters investigated
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Electrophysiological and Psychophysical Studies of Meridional Anisotropies in Children With and Without Astigmatism.
Purpose: We investigated the pattern of meridional anisotropies, if any, for pattern onset-offset visual evoked potential (POVEPs) responses and psychophysical grating acuity (GA) in children with normal letter visual acuity (20/20 or better).
Methods: A total of 29 children (aged 3-9 years), nine of whom were astigmatic (AS), were recruited. Orientation-specific monocular POVEPs were recorded in response to sinewave grating stimuli oriented along the subjects' principal AS meridians. Horizontal and vertical gratings were designated Meridians 1 and 2, respectively, for nonastigmatic patients (Non-AS). Binocular POVEPs in response to the same stimuli, but oriented at 45°, 90°, 135°, and 180°, were recorded. Psychophysical GAs were assessed monocularly and binocularly along the same meridians using the same stimuli by a 2-alternative-forced-choice staircase technique. The C3 amplitudes and peak latencies of the POVEP and GAs were compared across meridians using linear mixed models (monocular) and ANOVA (binocular).
Results: There were significant meridional anisotropies in monocular C3 amplitudes regardless of astigmatism status (P = 0.001): Meridian 2 (mean ± SE Non-AS, 30.13 ± 2.07 μV; AS, 26.53 ± 2.98 μV) was significantly higher than Meridian 1 (Non-AS, 26.14 ± 1.87 μV; AS, 21.68 ± 2.73 μV; P = 0.019), but no meridional anisotropies were found for GA or C3 latency. Binocular C3 amplitude in response to horizontally oriented stimuli (180°, 29.71 ± 3.06 μV) was significantly lower than the oblique (45°, 36.62 ± 3 .05 μV; P = 0.03 and 135°, 35.95 ± 2.92 μV; P = 0.04) and vertical (90°, 37.82 ± 3.65 μV; P = 0.02) meridians, and binocular C3 latency was significantly shorter in response to vertical than oblique gratings (P ≤ 0.001).
Conclusions: Meridional anisotropy was observed in children with normal vision. The findings suggest that horizontal gratings result in a small, but significantly lower POVEP amplitude than for vertical and oblique gratings
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ESTABLISHING A LOCAL BANK AND COMPARING EFFICACIES OF THIRD PARTY VIRUS-SPECIFIC CYTOTOXIC T CELLS (VST) AND CYTOKINE INDUCED KILLER CELLS (VSCIK)
Making light work of heavy metal contamination::The potential for coupling bioremediation with bioenergy production
Characterization of Mn-Doped Vanadium Phosphorus Oxide (VPO) Catalyst: Effect of Ball Milling
The effect of ball milling on the structure and surface reactivity of the Mn-doped vanadium phosphorus
oxide (V–P–O) catalyst is discussed. Mn-doped VOHPO4·½H2O precursor was prepared via organic method.
The precursor was ball milled in isopropyl alcohol using agate balls for 60 min at 800 rpm. XRD, BET
surface area measurements, SEM, O2-TPD, H2-TPR and TPD of NH3 were used to characterize properties of
the final catalysts. The results revealed that mechanical treatment of Mn-doped V–P–O catalyst increased
surface area as well as reduced particle size of the material. Furthermore, process also increased exposure of
(001) crystallographic plane of VOHPO4·½H2O precursor. The secondary structure of the milled material is
also lost. The total amount of oxygen desorbed (from O2-TPD) and removed (by H2-TPR) from milled material
is higher compared to the unmilled one. The surface acidity of the catalyst was also increased after milling
process, as evidenced by lower desorption temperature and higher total amount of the ammonia desorbed
Preparation and crystallization of the Grb7 SH2 domain in complex with the G7-18NATE nonphosphorylated cyclic inhibitor peptide
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