Enhanced Deep Residual Networks for Single Image Super-Resolution

Recent research on super-resolution has progressed with the development of deep convolutional neural networks (DCNN). In particular, residual learning techniques exhibit improved performance. In this paper, we develop an enhanced deep super-resolution network (EDSR) with performance exceeding those of current state-of-the-art SR methods. The significant performance improvement of our model is due to optimization by removing unnecessary modules in conventional residual networks. The performance is further improved by expanding the model size while we stabilize the training procedure. We also propose a new multi-scale deep super-resolution system (MDSR) and training method, which can reconstruct high-resolution images of different upscaling factors in a single model. The proposed methods show superior performance over the state-of-the-art methods on benchmark datasets and prove its excellence by winning the NTIRE2017 Super-Resolution Challenge.Comment: To appear in CVPR 2017 workshop. Best paper award of the NTIRE2017 workshop, and the winners of the NTIRE2017 Challenge on Single Image Super-Resolutio

Electrochemical Studies of C60-Fullerene Microcrystals Attached to a Solid State Electrode

Electrochemistry behaviours of C₆₀ attached with physical method: solvent casting and mechanically attachment, to various solid-state electrode surfaces (gold, glassy carbon and platinum) were studied in aqueous and non-aqueous solution containing a variety of doping cations such as Group I alkali-metal cations and quatemaI)'-ammonium R4N+. Electroreduction and reoxidation of microcrystalline C₆₀ in 0.1 M TBAPF₆/ACN showed one to four pairs, characteristic solid state current-potential curve, with only first and second pairs appeared to be stable and reversible. In contact with 0.1 M TBAPF₆/ACN, the large peak separation and small maximum at reverse scan observed with cyclic voltammetric experiments, as well as the current-time transients obtained in chronoamperometric experiments produce evidence of nucleation and growth (N&G) processes at the electrolytesolid- electrode interface. C60 cast onto glassy carbon or gold electrodes showed very different results of cyclic voltammetry (CV), chronocoulometry (CC), and chronoamperometry (CA) in aqueous and non-aqueous solutions. With the presence of alkali-metal cations in aqueous electroyte, MnC₆₀ (M = LI⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, R⁺, Cs⁺, n = 1 to 6) was formed at the end of potential scan, and the loss of faradaic activity when oxidizing MnC60 at reverse of potential scan indicated the formation of non-electroactive and irreversible species. In aqueous solution, CV results showed a parallel shift in reduction peak position as the sizes of cation increased. A glassy carbon electrode modified by C60 coat was used to mediate the oxidation of cysteine in contact with an aqueous electrolyte containing potassium cation. Under conditions of cyclic voltammetry, the potential of cysteine is lowered by approximate 100 m V and current is enhanced significantly relative to the situation prevailing when a bare glassy carbon electrode is used. Mediation also occurs when the potential range covered include that of Cw/C60n- redox couples

Criteria of an Effective Training Programme: A Case Study

Well-established criteria of training programme development are crucial to ensure the effectiveness, and most importantly, to reveal the real value of training programme. This study was conducted among the lecturers in Universiti Putra Malaysia to examine the criteria of an effective training programme by identifying the programme development elements, and the approach to programme planning preferred by the professionals. Also, it attempted to compare the perceptions according to the teaching experience, experience in planning training programme, and the frequency of their involvement in training in the last 12 months. By using stratified sampling, 364 lecturers were surveyed, utilizing a structured questionnaire with a response rate of 89.6 percent. The data were analyzed quantitatively by using SPSS programme and was presented in table format. The results of the statistical analyses indicated the components of designing, implementation, and evaluation were perceived to be significantly associated to training effectiveness. By comparison, implementation component was the most important component. The findings further revealed that the sub-components of target audience identification, obtaining credible facilitators/instructors, and formulation of recommendations for changes and future actions were very significant in a successful training. The professionals showed more favour to Classical Viewpoint on planning practice. It was also indicated by the findings, instead of teaching experience and frequency of involvement in training, the professionals' perception on the importance of those criteria varied by their experience in planning training programme. The study therefore recommends that programme developers should take into consideration the training stakeholders' point of views when developing training programme. Further research could be pursued in examining the impact of the input evaluation and/or formative evaluation as to provide insights for improvement of programme development practice

Female development in the autobiographical novel of Fang E’zhen

Fang E’zhen, a Chinese Malaysian female writer, was greatly admired in the literary arenas of both Malsysia and Taiwan in the 1970s and 1980s. the renowned poet Yu Kwang-chung once praised her as “the most endearing little girl of Muse.” Yu’s recognition has virtually shaped the public image of Fang E’zhen. However, has the “little girl” ever grown up or at least has the notion of growing up? Hua Tianya, a novel by Fang, which exhibits a distinct voice of auto diegetic narration, no doubt is an ideal text to clarify this question. It depicts the living conditions of women in particular circumstances through an apparel “feminine” language and style, and to an extent reveals the life experiences of Chinese Malaysian female in the 1960s and 1970s. based on this autobiographical novel, this paper aims to discuss the above questions from the aspects of female subjectivity and cultural identity

Lion metaphors in Chinese and English

This study intends to explore the cultural similarities and differences between the lion metaphors in Mandarin Chinese and British English. Most previous studies on animal metaphors focussed on the expressions with human beings as the target domain by collecting data either from questionnaires or dictionaries based on the Conceptual Metaphor Theory. This study, however, focusses on the expressions with non-humans as the target domains and is based on data collected from authoritative corpora. Three hundred and ninety-seven metaphorical expressions in Mandarin Chinese were identified from the Modern Chinese Corpus compiled by the Centre for Chinese Linguistics of Peking University (CCL Corpus) and 241 metaphorical expressions in British English were identified from the British National Corpus (BNC). After analysing the expressions from the perspective of the source domain and the target domain, the results show that first, the metaphorical expressions in Mandarin Chinese are mainly projected from the lion’s appearance to non-humans, but those in British English are mainly projected from the lion’s characteristics to non-humans. Second, the expressions are mainly mapped onto seven target domains in each language; four are the same. In addition, the dominant evaluation of the seven target domains in each language is mostly neutral. Third, ten conceptual metaphors were generalised from Mandarin Chinese and one from British English. All of these indicate the occurrence of cultural similarities as well as differences in the lion metaphors in the two languages

Information Feedback and Learning in Construction Bidding

Information feedback condition in recurrent construction bidding is an important design variable about optimal procurement design. Contractors tend to optimize their bids in recurrent bidding with positive review of historic bids. Our experiment examines the effects of partial and no information feedback conditions on student (inexperienced) bidders’ bidding trends, and the extent to which their bidding trends agree with the behavioural patterns proposed by learning direction theory. The results show that the variations in bids over time for both information feedback conditions are statistically significant. Although the bidders with partial bidding feedback information are more likely to vary their bids as indicated by learning direction theory, their bids are less competitive than those with no bidding feedback information. Construction clients would need to consider the information feedback conditions in their procurement of construction services with the goal to achieve efficiency in construction bidding

Effect of corticosteroid therapy on influenza-related mortality: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: Most studies have reported that corticosteroid therapy adversely influences influenza-related outcomes. Methods: Electronic databases were searched from inception to March 2013 for experimental and observational studies investigating systemic corticosteroid therapy for presumed influenza-associated complications. Meta-analysis of Observational Studies in Epidemiology guidelines were adopted. Pooled odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using random-effects models, and heterogeneity was assessed using the I2 statistic. Quality of evidence was assessed using the Grading Assessment, Development, and Evaluation system. Results: We identified 16 eligible studies (3039 individuals), all of which were observational; 10 (1497 individuals) were included in the meta-analysis of mortality, of which 9 studied patients with 2009 pandemic influenza A virus subtype H1N1. Risk of bias was greatest in the comparability domain of the Newcastle–Ottawa scale, consistent with potential confounding by indication, and data specific to mortality were of low quality. Meta-analysis found an increased odds of mortality (OR, 2.12; 95% CI, 1.36–3.29) associated with corticosteroid therapy. Subgroup analysis of adjusted estimates from 4 studies with very low statistical heterogeneity found a similar association (OR, 2.58; 95% CI, 1.39–4.79). Conclusions: No completed clinical trials were identified. Evidence from observational studies, with important limitations, suggests that corticosteroid therapy for presumed influenza-associated complications is associated with increased mortality

Study On The Job Satisfaction And Burnout Among Medical Social Workers In Government Hospitals In Malaysia [HF5549.5.J63 L732 2007 f rb].

Kajian ini menilai tahap kepuasan dan kelesuan kerja semua pekerja sosial perubatan di hospital-hospital kerajaan Malaysia. This study surveyed the job satisfaction and burnout levels of all medical social workers in Malaysian government hospitals

Determining Factors For The Usage Of Web-Based Marketing Applications: An Analysis Of Smes In Penang, Malaysia

Tujuan kajian ini adalah untuk mengenal-pasti faktor penentu terhadap penggunaan pemasaran melalui web di kalangan firma-firma saiz kecil dan sederhana di Pulau Pinang, Malaysia. The purpose of this study is to investigate the determining factors for the usage of Web-Based Marketing applications by Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Penang, Malaysia

Leadership Styles and Motivational Goals of Secondary School Principal in Pulau Pinang

This study investigated the relationship between leadership style of principals of secondary schools and their motivational needs, and possible relationships among selected demographic variables (age, gender, birth order, and years of principalship experience) to leadership style. The dependent variable, leadership style was investigated along the consideration and initiating structure dimension (as measured by the Leader Behavior Description Questionnaire). The independent variables were motivational goals (nAch, nAff, and nPow) as defined by McClelland’s trichotomy of needs theory of motivation. Questionnaires were distributed to the principals of 34 secondary schools in Penang. The data were analysed by using the Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient, one-way ANOVA, t-Test and Stepwise Multiple Regression techniques.The results of the study indicated that both dimensions of leadership style of the principals correlated significantly with their nAch. There is significant relationship between leadership style along initiating structure and the nPow. However, no significant relationship was found between leadership style and the nAff. The four demographic variables found no significant differences at the .05 level of significance. The nAch and nPow emerged as the main predictors of leadership style along consideration and initiating structure dimensions respectively. Another significant finding showed that the principals were high in both initiating structure and consideration leadership dimensions. The nPow emerged as inversely related to the principal’s age. Implications of the findings and recommendations for practice and further research are presented