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In this paper, we explore the use of opinion dynamics models to examine changes in opinions of lifelong learning, and to identify groups of people for targeted intervention to improve their reception to lifelong learning. This method has a multitude of potential applications related to clustering and segmentation. Singapore's initiative for lifelong learning, SkillsFuture, serves as a case study for the application of the technique. We first found a positive correlation between how motivated people are to learn and a negative correlation between how much people know about SkillsFuture opportunities, with respect to their reception to SkillsFuture courses. Then, we used an opinion dynamics model to model the evolution of opinions to produce clusters of people whose opinions will converge. The clusters were then grouped into three groups: those with the largest increase, largest decrease and a middle group. Further examining the covariates of the people in each cluster (e.g., age, last drawn salary, etc.), we propose organizing sharing sessions for the group with the largest increase, intervention for the group with the largest decrease, and gathering more information about the motivations of the middle group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Active noise control (ANC), with counteracting sound in exact equal magnitude and opposite phase to the noise to be controlled, is often considered as a potential solution for solving complex noise problems. However, there are both myths and challenges in its implementations. In a crowded city like Singapore, many noise sources from construction site and subway track are located very close to the residential and commercial buildings. It was suggested by few researchers that by placing suitable control speakers at the construction site (working principle of ANC), the noise from the construction site could be prevented from propagating to the surrounding buildings. Similarly, for viaduct or subway track, by placing control speakers along the viaduct or track, the noise generated by the passing trains or vehicles could be reduced based on the principle of ANC technique. However, implementation of ANC technique on these noise issues is not easy as all of these noise control problems involve multiple noise sources with complex or transient frequency spectrum in large three-dimensional/open space. Therefore, the main intention of the present paper is to discuss the current state of the art of this topic as well as to examine the potential application and limitation of the ANC technique in mitigating unwanted noise, particularly in large three-dimensional/open space and with cooperation of passive noise barrier. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A general, and very basic introduction to QCD sum rules is presented, with emphasis on recent issues to be described at length in other papers in this issue. Collectively, these papers constitute the proceedings of the International Workshop on Determination of the Fundamental Parameters of QCD, Singapore, March 2013. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Breast cancer is a common and dreadful disease in women. One in five cancers in Singaporean women is due to breast cancer. Breast health is every woman's right and responsibility. In average, every $100 spent on breast mammogram screening, an additional $33 was spent on evaluating possible false-positive results. Thermography, with its non-radiation, non-contact and low-cost basis has been demonstrated to be a valuable and safe early risk marker of breast pathology, and an excellent case management tool available today in the ongoing monitoring and treatment of breast disease. The surface temperature and the vascularization pattern of the breast could indicate breast diseases and early detection saves lives. To establish the surface isotherm pattern of the breast and the normal range of cyclic variations of temperature distribution can assist in identifying the abnormal infrared images of diseased breasts. Before these thermograms can be analyzed objectively via computer algorithm, they must be digitized and segmented. The authors present a method to segment thermograms and extract useful region from the background. Thermography could detect the presence of tumors much earlier and of much smaller size than mammography. This paper thus aims to develop an intelligent diagnostic system based on thermography for the detection of tumors in breast. Methods: We have examined about 50 normal, healthy female volunteers in Nanyang Technological University and 130 patients in Singapore General Hospital. We did the examinations for some of them continuously for two months. From these examinations, we obtained about 1000 thermograms for contact and 800 thermograms for non-contact approaches. Standard ambient conditions were observed for all examinations. The thermograms obtained were analyzed. The first step in processing these thermograms is image segmentation. Its aim is to discern the useful region from the background. In general, autonomous segmentation is one of the most difficult tasks in image processing. This step in the process determines the eventual success or failure of the analysis. In this work, two different techniques have been presented to extract the objects from the background. Results: After analyzing these thermograms and with reference to some relevant well-documented papers, we were able to classify the thermograms. The step is very useful in identifying the normal or suspected (abnormal) thermograms. A series of thermograms was studied with the help of the in-house developed computer software. On the basis of the anatomic and vascular symmetry, the surface temperature distributions of both left and right breasts were compared. The surface isotherm pattern of breasts can indicate the local metabolism and vascularity of the underlying tissues, and the change in local blood or glandular activities can be reflected in the surface temperature of breast. We evaluated the temperature distribution pattern and the menstrual cyclic variation of temperature with time. All these results can be used to detect breast cancer. Conclusion: Automatic identification of object and surface boundary of breast thermal images is a difficult and challenging task. Both the traditional snake and gradient vector flow snake failed to detect the boundary of these images successfully. In this work, a new method is proposed in conjunction with image pre-processing, image transition, image derivative, filtering and gradient vector flow snake. This novel method can easily detect the boundary of the breast thermal image with good agreement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the consultation paper issued by the Bioethics Advisory Committee (BAC) on January 9, 2013 which invites the public to comment on the emerging neuroscience research. Topics include the neuroscience as one of the top research priorities in Singapore, the six areas of concern in neuroscience including neuroimaging, deep brain stimulation, and neural stem cells, and the panel discussions held by Tembusu College on March 4, 2013.

The vegetation of Singapore has undergone many extreme disturbances since the founding of the Republic. As a consequence, many exotic species have been introduced, and many have become naturalized over the course of time. In this paper, we have compiled a list of exotic species that have a wild population independent of further human introductions (naturalized) or have escaped from cultivation but do not yet form independent wild populations (casuals). We also provide a list of species having a biogeographic distribution that includes Singapore, but are locally only found and thriving in artificial habitats or highly disturbed environments ("weeds of uncertain origin"). We discuss a suite of naturalized species which have been observed to possess the potential to penetrate closed canopy forests, in addition to other species for which the label "invasive" has formerly been applied, and make recommendations for efforts to be undertaken to properly define and document local records of exotic species introductions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article examines the context and production of early Chinese cartoons in Singapore relative to Tong Meng Hui and its successor, the Kuomintang. Early Chinese cartoons were introduced in 1907 by members of the Singapore branch of the Tong Meng Hui. These were widely used by reformist papers in the country since they saw the potential of cartoons in getting their message to the public. Chinese cartoons were also used as one of the most powerful propaganda tools in the anti-Japanese campaign.

Information on a forum about Internet as a medium for discussing politics is presented. Alex Au, a web master, says that articles that discuss Singapore politics get twice as many readers than those that discuss gay issues on his web site Yawning Bread. Han Yong Mei, assistant news editor at the newspaper "My Paper," highlights the importance of participation and discussion in a community and the role of Internet in allowing people to freely express their views.

This paper proposes a novel algorithm to clean up a large collection of historical handwritten documents kept in the National Archives of Singapore. Due to the seepage of ink over long period of storage, the front page of each document has been severely marred by the reverse side writing. Earlier attempts have been made to match both sides of a page to identify the offending strokes originating from the back so as to eliminate them with the aid of a wavelet transform. Perfect matching, however, is difficult due to document skews, differing resolutions, inadvertently missing out reverse side and warped pages during image capture. A new approach is now proposed to do away with double side mapping by using a directional wavelet transform that is able to distinguish the foreground and reverse side strokes much better than the conventional wavelet transform. Experiments have shown that the method indeed enhances the readability of each document significantly after the directional wavelet operation without the need for mapping with its reverse side. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Current vital signs monitoring system used by hospitals are bulky and usually for measurement of one or two vital signs specifically. These devices are inconvenient for home use and too technical to layman. With a comprehensive vital sings monitor in the form ora garment, MEMSWear, the hassle of hanging cables and bulky equipment can be eliminated. MEMSWear will benefit the elderly by improving the overall standard of the healthcare system and reducing the costs of in-house monitoring and hospitalization. This paper presents the vision and methodology of the MEMSWear project. In addition, the development of a novel human fall detection system using MEMS technology is discussed. Finally, some preliminary results of the vital signs monitoring are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports that the cover story in a 2008 issue of "Pharma Focus Asia" featured associate professor Lim Chwee Teck from the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Division of Bioengineering at the National University of Singapore (NUS). Lim was the first to conduct mechanobiology research on human diseases at cellular and molecular levels. Aside from setting up the Nano Biomechanics Lab in 2002, he also published highly-cited papers in both engineering and biology related journals and won various research awards.

The article reports on the list "The World's Most Influential Scientific Minds 2014" by business information firm Thomson Reuters Corp. which includes 13 teachers from Singapore. These Singaporean teachers include Bertil Andersson, Zhang Hua, and Lee Jim Yang. It discusses the criteria for ranking scientists which involved a method that considers their latest and most cited papers.