2,463 research outputs found
Reasoning about Action: An Argumentation - Theoretic Approach
We present a uniform non-monotonic solution to the problems of reasoning
about action on the basis of an argumentation-theoretic approach. Our theory is
provably correct relative to a sensible minimisation policy introduced on top
of a temporal propositional logic. Sophisticated problem domains can be
formalised in our framework. As much attention of researchers in the field has
been paid to the traditional and basic problems in reasoning about actions such
as the frame, the qualification and the ramification problems, approaches to
these problems within our formalisation lie at heart of the expositions
presented in this paper
Algebraic, geometric, and stochastic aspects of genetic operators
Genetic algorithms for function optimization employ genetic operators patterned after those observed in search strategies employed in natural adaptation. Two of these operators, crossover and inversion, are interpreted in terms of their algebraic and geometric properties. Stochastic models of the operators are developed which are employed in Monte Carlo simulations of their behavior
A review on the impact of work-life balance in reducing turnover intention through work from home intervention in Malaysia real estate market
This study aimed to identify on how work from home can serve as a work-life balance intervention that reduced the turnover intention in Malaysia real estate market. Spillover Theory, Border Theory and Maslow’s hierarchy of needs are applied as the fundamental concepts of this study, while work-life balance intervention is carried out based on the concept of Lewin’s change model. Mixed method approach is applied in this study in order to understand the contradictions between both qualitative and quantitative findings. Meanwhile, data collected is analyzed by qualitative and quantitative analysis to reflect the effectiveness of work from home intervention on improving work-life balance and reducing turnover intention. Result obtained is contradicted to most of the studies’ findings, where work from home will assist the workers to achieve work-life balance and reduce turnover intention. This might due to such intervention is not widely accepted yet in Malaysia and the lack of managerial support
Effect of fermented fruits on the growth performance, shedding of Enterobacteriaceae and Lactobacilli in post-weaning pigs
The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of fermented fruits (FF) on the growth performance, Enterobacteriaceae and Lactobacillus counts in faeces of the post-weaning piglets. A total of twenty-four 4 weeks old LandracexLarge WhitexDuroc with initial body weight of 6 kg were used in this study. The piglets were housed individually in metabolic cage and randomly assigned to four groups with six piglets per group. The piglets were fed on basal diet without antibiotic (AF), basal diets with antibiotic (Ab), basal diet with 10% (w/w) fermented fruit (10% FF) and basal diet with 20% (w/w) fermented fruit (20% FF). Faecal samples were taken directly from the rectum of each piglet and cultured for Enterobacteriaceae and Lactobacillus counts. In the growth performance, the piglets of Ab and 10%FF had significantly higher (p0.05) were observed between AF, Ab and 10%FF. Studies showed that the use of fermented fruits (FF) could significantly (p<0.05) reduce Enterobacteriaceae population in piglets' faeces compared to the use of normal feed (AF) and antibiotic (Ab). However, the Lactobacillus population in the faeces was increased in those piglets fed with diets added with FF
Large enhancement of the thermopower in NaCoO at high Na doping
Research on the oxide perovskites has uncovered electronic properties that
are strikingly enhanced compared with those in conventional metals. Examples
are the high critical temperatures of the cuprate superconductors and the
colossal magnetoresistance in the manganites. The conducting layered cobaltate
displays several interesting electronic phases as is varied
including water-induced superconductivity and an insulating state that is
destroyed by field. Initial measurements showed that, in the as-grown
composition, displays moderately large thermopower and
conductivity . However, the prospects for thermoelectric cooling
applications faded when the figure of merit was found to be small at this
composition (0.60.7). Here we report that, in the poorly-explored
high-doping region 0.75, undergoes an even steeper enhancement. At the
critical doping 0.85, (at 80 K) reaches values 40 times
larger than in the as-grown crystals. We discuss prospects for low-temperature
thermoelectric applications.Comment: 6 pages, 7 figure
Utilisation of earthworm meal in partial replacement of soybean and fish meals in diets of broilers
To study the effect of worm meal (WM) as partial replacement of soybean and fish meals in the diets, a total of 245 day-old broiler chicks were randomly assigned to five different treatment groups (0%, 5%, 10%, 15% and 20% WM) in partial replacement of soybean and fish meals for a period of 6 weeks. The final body weight, growth rate and feed efficiency of the 10% and 15% WM groups broiler were better (P0.05) in Enterobacteriaceae count or fecal pH. These results suggest that WM could be used to replace soybean and fish meals between 10 to 15% in broiler diets
Fermi surface and quasiparticle dynamics of Na(x)CoO2 {x=0.7} investigated by Angle-Resolved Photoemission Spectroscopy
We present an angle-resolved photoemission study of Na0.7CoO2, the host
cobaltate of the NaxCoO2.yH2O series. Our results show a large hexagonal-like
hole-type Fermi surface, an extremely narrow strongly renormalized
quasiparticle band and a small Fermi velocity. Along the Gamma to M high
symmetry line, the quasiparticle band crosses the Fermi level from M toward
Gamma consistent with a negative sign of effective single-particle hopping (t
): t is estimated to be about 8 meV which is on the order of exchange coupling
J in this system. This suggests that t ~ J ~ 10 meV is an important energy
scale in the system. Quasiparticles are well defined only in the T-linear
resistivity regime. Small single particle hopping and unconventional
quasiparticle dynamics may have implications for understanding the unusual
behavior of this new class of compounds.Comment: Revised text, Added Figs, Submitted to PR
NMR studies of Successive Phase Transitions in Na0.5CoO2 and K0.5CoO2
59Co- and 23Na-NMR measurements have been carried out on polycrystalline and
c-axis aligned samples of Na0.5CoO2, which exhibits successive transitions at
temperatures T = 87 K (= Tc1) and T = 53 K (= Tc2). 59Co-NMR has also been
carried out on c-axis aligned crystallites of K0.5CoO2 with similar successive
transitions at Tc1 ~ 60 K and Tc2 ~ 20 K. For Na0.5CoO2, two sets of three NMR
lines of 23Na nuclei explained by considering the quadrupolar frequencies nuQ
~1.32 and 1.40 MHz have been observed above Tc1, as is expected from the
crystalline structure. Rather complicated but characteristic variation of the
23Na-NMR spectra has been observed with varying T through the transition
temperatures, and the internal fields at two crystallographically distinct Na
sites are discussed on the basis of the magnetic structures reported
previously. The internal fields at two distinct Co sites observed below Tc1 and
the 591/T1-T curves of Na0.5CoO2 and K0.5CoO2 are also discussed in a
comparative way.Comment: 7 pages, 10 figures, submitted to J. Phys. Soc. Jpn, correction is
made in right colum of p6 (35th line) as K0.5CoO2-->Na0.5CoO
Transport and Magnetic Studies on the Spin State Transition of Pr1-xCaxCoO3 up to High Pressure
Transport and magnetic measurements and structural and NMR studies have been
carried out on (Pr1-yR'y)1-xAxCoO3 {R'=(rare earth elements and Y); A=(Ca, Ba
and Sr)} at ambient pressure or under high pressure. The system exhibits a
phase transition from a nearly metallic to an insulating state with decreasing
temperature T, where the low spin (LS) state of Co3+ is suddenly stabilized.
For y=0, we have constructed a T-x phase diagram at various values of the
external pressure p. It shows that the (T, x) region of the low temperature
phase, which is confined to a very narrow region around x=0.5 at ambient
pressure, expands as p increases, suggesting that the transition is not due to
an order-disorder type one. For the occurrence of the transition, both the Pr
and Ca atoms seem to be necessary. The intimate relationship between the local
structure around the Co ions and the electronic (or spin) state of Co3+ ions is
discussed: For the smaller unit cell volume or the smaller volume of the CoO6
octahedra and for the larger tilting angle of the octahedra, the temperature of
the transition becomes higher. The role of the carriers introduced by the
doping of the A atoms, is also discussed. By analyzing the data of 59Co-NMR
spectra and magnetic susceptibilities of Pr1-xCaxCoO3 the energy separations
among the different spin states of Co3+ and Co4+ are roughly estimated.Comment: 15 pages, 15 figures, 2 tables, submitted to J. Phys. Soc. Jp
Interpreting ambiguous ‘trace’ results in Schistosoma mansoni CCA Tests: Estimating sensitivity and specificity of ambiguous results with no gold standard
Background The development of new diagnostics is an important tool in the fight against disease. Latent Class Analysis (LCA) is used to estimate the sensitivity and specificity of tests in the absence of a gold standard. The main field diagnostic for Schistosoma mansoni infection, Kato-Katz (KK), is not very sensitive at low infection intensities. A point-of-care circulating cathodic antigen (CCA) test has been shown to be more sensitive than KK. However, CCA can return an ambiguous ‘trace’ result between ‘positive’ and ‘negative’, and much debate has focused on interpretation of traces results. Methodology/Principle findings We show how LCA can be extended to include ambiguous trace results and analyse S. mansoni studies from both Côte d’Ivoire (CdI) and Uganda. We compare the diagnostic performance of KK and CCA and the observed results by each test to the estimated infection prevalence in the population. Prevalence by KK was higher in CdI (13.4%) than in Uganda (6.1%), but prevalence by CCA was similar between countries, both when trace was assumed to be negative (CCAtn: 11.7% in CdI and 9.7% in Uganda) and positive (CCAtp: 20.1% in CdI and 22.5% in Uganda). The estimated sensitivity of CCA was more consistent between countries than the estimated sensitivity of KK, and estimated infection prevalence did not significantly differ between CdI (20.5%) and Uganda (19.1%). The prevalence by CCA with trace as positive did not differ significantly from estimates of infection prevalence in either country, whereas both KK and CCA with trace as negative significantly underestimated infection prevalence in both countries. Conclusions Incorporation of ambiguous results into an LCA enables the effect of different treatment thresholds to be directly assessed and is applicable in many fields. Our results showed that CCA with trace as positive most accurately estimated infection prevalence
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