Recently, Boettcher and Percus [1] proposed a new optimization method, called Extremal Optimization (EO), inspired by a simplified model of natural selection developed to show the emergence of Self-Organized Criticality (SOC) in ecosystems [2]. Although having been successfully applied to hard problems in combinatorial optimization, a drawback of the EO is that for each new optimization problem...

Topographical information is fundamental to many geo-spatial related information and applications on Earth. Remote sensing satellites have the advantage in such fields because they are capable of global observation and repeatedly. Several satellite-based digital elevation datasets were provided to examine global terrains with medium resolutions e.g. the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM), ...

BACKGROUND Recent reports suggest that when laparoscopy is used to repair paraesophageal hernias recurrence rates reach 20% to 40%. Tension-free hernia closure with synthetic mesh reduces recurrence but occasionally results in esophageal injury. We hypothesized that reinforcement of the hiatal closure with small intestine submucosa (SIS) mesh, in some unusually large hernias, might reduce recur...

Mathematical models of stress-strain state (SSS) for modeling tests polymer composite samples obtained by fused deposition (FDM) in approximations isotropic and orthotropic media are formulated. An algorithm solving the inverse SSS problem to determine effective mechanical properties approximation products printed FDM method has been developed. Numerical have developed solve problems with diffe...

In this paper we present the Edinburgh Geo-annotator, a web-based annotation tool for the manual geo-resolution of location mentions in text using a gazetteer. The annotation tool has an interlinked text and map interface which lets annotators pick correct candidates within the gazetteer more easily. The geo-annotator can be used to correct the output of a geoparser or to create gold standard g...

Purpose: Heat cure methyl methacrylate has been the denture base material of choice for fabrication conventional complete dentures and transitional removable partial dentures. One factors that cause fracture is considered to be low resistance impact, flexural or fatigue. However, repaired with auto-polymerizing acrylic resin alone often experience a re-fracture at site. This study aimed evaluat...

Patient aged 64 with parastomal hernia on a terminal colostomy and Bricker ileal conduit following pelvic exenteration in the context of locally advanced low rectal adenocarcinoma.

The in vitro antibacterial activity of ginger (Zingiber officinale) essential oil (GEO) was tested against five Gram-negative and Gram-positive fish pathgenic bacteria isolated from farmed olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) in Korea. According to the results of disk diffusion, minimum inhibitory and minimum bactericidal concentration (MIC and MBC) tests, GEO was active against most of the ...

purpose: mesh technique is the standard for inguinal hernia repair because of less recurrence,   but it is inferior or equal to sutured technique in case of other post-operative complications   such as chronic pain. this clinical trial set out to compare these two techniques.   materials and methods: a total number of 322 cases of unilateral inguinal hernia in participants   older than 18 years...