Topological Strings on XN,MX_{N,M}: Conifold Singularities and Degeneration of Mirror Curves

In this paper we study certain degenerations of the mirror curves, associated with Calabi-Yau threefolds $X_{N,M}$, and the effect of these degenerations on the topological string partition function of $X_{N,M}$. We show that when the mirror curve degenerates and become the union of the lower genus curves the corresponding partition function factorizes into pieces corresponding to the components of the degenerate mirror curve. Moreoever we show that using degeneration of a generalised mirror curve it is possible to obtain the partition function corresponding to $X_{N,M-1}$ from $X_{N,M}$

Hybrid conditional planning for service robotics

Planning is an indispensable ability for intelligent service robots operating in unstructured environments. Given service robots commonly have incomplete knowledge about and partial observability of handle such uncertainty. Moreover, the plans they compute should be feasible for real-world execution. Conditional planning is concerned with reaching goals from an initial state, in the presence of incomplete knowledge and partial observability; by utilizing sensing actions. Since all contingencies are considered in advance, a conditional plan is essentially a tree of actions where the root represents the initial state, leaves represent goal states, and each branch of the tree from the root to a leaf represents a possible execution of (deterministic) actuation actions and (non-deterministic) sensing actions to reach a goal state. Hybrid conditional planning extends conditional planning further by integrating lowlevel feasibility checks into executability conditions of actuation actions in conditional plans. We introduce a parallel offline algorithm called HCPlan, for computing hybrid conditional plans in robotics applications. HCPlan relies on modeling actuation actions and sensing actions in the causality-based action description language C+, and computation of the branches of a conditional plan in parallel using a SAT solver. In particular, thanks to external atoms, continuous feasibility checks (such as collision and reachability checks) are embedded into causal laws representing actuation actions and sensing actions; and thus each branch of a hybrid conditional plan describes a feasible execution of actions to reach their goals. Utilizing causal laws that describe iv non-deterministic effects of actions, sensing actions can be explicitly formalized; and thus each branch of a conditional plan can be computed without necessitating an ordering of sensing actions in advance. Furthermore, we introduce two different extensions of our hybrid conditional planner HCPlan: HCPlan-Anytime and HCPlan-Reactive. HCPlan-Anytime computes a partial hybrid conditional plan within a given time, by generating the branches with respect to their probability of execution. HCPlan-Reactive computes a hybrid conditional plan with a receding horizon. These extensions trade-off completeness of hybrid conditional plans for improved computation time, and provide useful important variations towards real-time use of the hybrid conditional planning. We develop comprehensive benchmarks for service robotics domain and evaluate our approach over these benchmarks with extensive experiments in terms of computational efficiency and plan quality. We compare HCPlan with other related conditional planners and approaches. We further demonstrate the usefulness of our approach in service robotics applications through dynamic simulations and physical implementations

Les Emprunts à l’arabe en Persan

Abstract We study in this paper a list of Persian words of Arabic origin. We will treat these loans as part of declarative phonology. This approach is a part of a grammar of unification or a grammar-based on constraints (only one level of representation). We can not pretend to explain the function of these loans from Arabic to Persian in its entirety. The value of some parameters in each of these languages, the specific constraints and the constraints of the phonological specific system allows us to explain a number of phenomena but not all.We study in this paper a list of Persian loan words from Arabic Language. We treat these loans in a declarative phonological view. This approach is a part of a grammar of unification or a grammar-based on constraints (only one level of representation). We can not pretend to explain the function of these loans from Arabic to Persian in its entirety. The value of some parameters in each of these languages, the specific constraints and the constraints of the phonological specific system allows us to explain a number of phenomena but not all

When Shall Coronavirus Disease-19 Stop? Review of Literature

In December 2019, a new coronavirus, now labeled as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, induced an episode of acute atypical respiratory illness started in Wuhan, Province of Hubei, China. The illness triggered by this virus was called coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19). The infection is spread within humans and has triggered a global pandemic. The amount of death tolls continues to increase and a growing number of countries have been driven to create social barriers and lock-ups. The shortage of tailored counseling remains an issue. Epidemiological researches have shown that elderly patients are more vulnerable to serious diseases, while children tend to have milder symptoms. Here, we checked the latest understanding of this disease and found a possible explanation of the potential sequel and the expectations for the future

THE INTERCONNECTIONS OF GREEN MOTIVES AND CORPORATE SOCIAL PERFORMANCE: THE MEDIATING ROLE OF GREEN PRACTICES

This research aims to explore the impact of green motives (GM) on Corporate Social Performance (CSP) through green practices (GP) in the hotel industry. Data was collected from the 250 executives and other members of senior management who were involved in the management decision making directly or indirectly. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) technique was applied through Smart-PLS version 3.2.8. Subsequently, results proved that green motives have a positive association with green practices and CSP. Green practices mediated the relationship between green motive and CSP.  This research isolates itself from the previous ones in this area by integrating the literature of green motives and corporate social performance that how green practices intercede this relationship in the context of the hotel industry. In the hotel industry, owners/managers should focus on green motives and must consider them to keep their stakeholders interested and motivated. This study guides management in practice that how to satisfy their customers timely through the green process and build a strong foundation for CSP. This is quantitative research based on cross-sectional data and has been conducted in Pakistan

Bone Age practices in infants and older children among practicing radiologists in Pakistan: Developing world perspective

Objective To investigate which bone age assessment techniques are utilized by radiologists in Pakistan to determine skeletal age in three defined age groups: less than one year, one to three years and three to 18 years. We also assessed the perceived confidence in skeletal age assessments made by respondents using their chosen bone age assessment technique, within each defined age group. Materials and methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 147 practicing radiologists in Pakistan. A pre-validated survey form was adopted from a similar study conducted amongst members of the Society for Pediatric Radiology. The survey collected demographic information, choice of bone age assessment technique in each age group and confidence of bone age assessments in each age group. Results The hand-wrist method of Greulich and Pyle was used by 87.5% of respondents when assessing bone age in infants (less than one year), followed by Gilsanz-Ratib hand bone age method (7.3%). In children aged one to three years, Greulich and Pyle method was chosen by 85.7% of respondents, followed by Gilsanz-Ratib hand bone age method (6.1%) and the Hoerr, Pyle, Francis\u27 Radiographic Atlas of Skeletal Development of the Foot and Ankle (3.1%). In children, older than three years, the Greulich and Pyle technique was used by 83.7% of respondents. This was followed by Gilsanz-Ratib hand bone age method (5.8%) and the Hoerr, Pyle, Francis\u27 Radiographic Atlas of Skeletal Development of the Foot and Ankle (3.8%). 26.4% were very confident in bone age assessments conducted among infants. In children aged one to three years, 38.1% were very confident . In children, greater than three years, 48.6% were very confident in their chosen technique. Conclusion Greulich and Pyle is the dominant method for bone age assessments in all age groups, however, confidence in its application among infants and young children is low. It is recommended that clear recommendations be developed for bone age assessments in this age group alongside incorporation of indigenous standards of bone age assessments based on a representative sample of healthy native children

Figurations of displacement in and beyond Pakistan: empirical findings and reflections on protracted displacement and translocal connections of Afghans

Pakistan currently hosts up to three million Afghans, a number that is likely to increase due to the Taliban's recent return to power in Afghanistan. This working paper is based on empirical research on the experience of Afghan displacement in Pakistan from 2019 until early 2021 as part of the European Union funded TRAFIG project. Findings show that Afghans' protracted displacement is classed. Many low-skilled, low-income and largely non-educated Afghans experience barriers to upward social mobility, particularly leading the Afghan youth to consider migrating to Europe. First-generation Afghan refugees who migrated mainly in the 1980s and 1990s prefer to stay in Pakistan; only few would return if the conditions allowed it. While aiming to incentivise return, Pakistani government policies hamper the opportunity for Afghans to move around within and beyond Pakistan and remain connected to their translocal and transnational networks. Many Afghan refugees have family members who live in other parts of Pakistan or in other countries, but the potential of these networks to lift those in Pakistan out of protracted displacement is limited. We also found that social cohesion between Afghan refugees and the Pakistani host society has been decreasing. Local networks are highly significant in day-to-day life, but intergroup relations do not yield any emancipatory potential for Afghans. Afghans' presence in Pakistan needs to be reconsidered by all actors, namely the country of origin, host and donor countries. The current approach of 'administering Afghans' keeps them in protracted displacement without the opportunity to integrate legally or sustainably. It needs to be replaced with a new narrative and operational approach - one that acknowledges Afghans' contributions to Pakistan's economy, society and culture, and that secures their right to remain in Pakistan. Such an approach is particularly important today given the looming prospect of more Afghans entering Pakistan to escape from living under a government headed by the Taliban