bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Characterization of a microelectromechanical microphone using the finite element method
Authors: Jennings Mads J. H. , Conklin Wade , Schultz Jordan
Published: November 2013

Recent development and advances within numerical techniques and computers now enable the modeling, design, and optimization of many transducers using virtual prototypes. Here, we present such a virtual prototype of a Knowles SiSonicTM MEMS microphone. The virtual prototype is implemented using the finite element method with COMSOL Multiphysics and includes description of the electric, mechanic, and acoustic properties of the transducer. The acoustic description includes thermal and viscous losses explicitly solving the linearized continuity, Navier-Stokes, and energy equations, that is, thermoacoustics. The mechanics of the diaphragm are also modeled including electrostatic attraction forces and acoustic loads. A sub-model approach is used to model and lump the acoustic properties of the small perforations in the microphone backplate. The model has no free fitting parameters and results in the prediction of the frequency response, in the audible and ultrasound range, as well as other relevant characteristics. The model results show good agreement with measured data.
Acoustical holography and proper orthogonal decomposition analyses of full-scale jet source properties
Authors: Wall Alan T. , Gee Kent L. , Neilsen Tracianne B. , James Michael M.
Published: November 2013

Efforts to characterize and reduce noise emissions from high-performance fighter aircraft are often focused on the modeling and control of large-scale turbulence structures within the jet exhaust. In past investigations, these structures have been represented as oscillatory functions whose amplitudes grow then decay with distance from the jet nozzle, or wave packets. Recently, acoustical holography methods have been used to reconstruct the radiated field of a full-scale jet, including field properties at the source. Proper orthogonal decomposition of the reconstructed source region, based on the multiple signal classification (MUSIC) algorithm, provides a physically intuitive set of partial sources. Taken together, this set is an equivalent source representation of the large-scale structures. Individually, each partial source exhibits similar qualitative behavior to that of wave packet source models.
Sound speed and frequency-dependent attenuation determination in highly attenuating lubrication fluids
Authors: Sturtevant Blake , Sinha Dipen N.
Published: November 2013

Acoustic characterization of lubricating drilling muds is essential for the design of acoustics-based sensors and imaging devices for downhole petroleum or geothermal well environments. This work reports on the measurement of sound speed and the determination of acoustic attenuation in drilling muds with densities ranging from 10 to 15 pounds/gallon. Measurements were made in a two transducer pitch-catch configuration as a function of distance up to 40 cm and as a function of frequency up to 1 MHz. Corrections for diffraction will be discussed. Experimentally determined data are compared with previously reported attenuation values at selected frequencies, specifically 180 kHz and 280 kHz, and found to be in good agreement. The dB/cm attenuation values for the muds studied in this work were found to be three and five orders of magnitude greater than those values for silicone oil and water, respectively, at the same frequencies
Inspection vs structural health monitoring: Manual ultrasonic thickness measurements compared to monitoring with permanently installed sensors
Authors: Cegla Frederic B. , Huthwaite Peter E. , Lowe Michael J.
Published: November 2013

Corrosion is a major issue in industry and inspection and monitoring for wall thickness loss are important to assess the structural integrity of pipework and process vessels. Manual ultrasonic thickness measurements are widely used; however, they are also notoriously unreliable because of operator errors. Therefore, automated inspection scans and monitoring at fixed locations with permanently installed sensors are becoming more attractive; they help to remove some of the error introduced by operators. However, this raises the question of what the underlying uncertainties of automated ultrasonic wall thickness measurements are. A key contributor to the uncertainty is the surface roughness condition and the authors have been researching this topic for some time. This talk will give an overview of the physics of scattering of ultrasonic waves from rough corroded surfaces. The different scales of roughness will be discussed, and a simulation technique based on the Distributed Point Source Method (DPSM) to model the scattering and its experimental validation will be presented. The need for statistical results makes both the speed and accuracy of the simulation very important. Finally, based on the simulations, results of the estimated ultrasonic measurement errors due to roughness are presented.
The effects of speech compression algorithms on the intelligibility of dysarthric speech
Authors: Utianski Rene L. , Sandoval Steven , Berisha Visar , Liss Julie
Published: November 2013

Reduced vowel space area has been demonstrated in dysarthria, as a result of a variety of neurodegenerative diseases and subsequent decreased motor control. The effects of this reduced vowel distinctiveness on intelligibility has been studied extensively in speakers who produce less acoustically contrastive vowels, resulting from dysarthria, or even speaking casually. Past results have demonstrated that when examining such speech, listeners better identify acoustically distinctive vowel tokens. Given this, and the notion of expanded vowel space facilitating vowel identification, speech compression algorithms will be utilized to heighten the distinction between tense and lax vowels. Both connected speech and forced-choice hVd context will be tested and the effects on vowel identification and confusion will be assessed. Given the importance of vowels to overall communication, the proposed method may offer improved intelligibility when speakers cannot improve their speech production. Results bear on the possible utility of exaggerated speech compression algorithms as an augmentative communication tool for individuals with motor speech disorders.
The functional impact of incidental orofacial muscle activity
Authors: Johnson Lauren R. , Potter Nancy L. , VanDam Mark
Published: November 2013

Repetitive use of specific muscle groups is known to increase both strength and the ability to sustain muscle activity (i.e., endurance) of those muscle groups. Certain orofacial muscles are necessarily recruited in the course of playing a brass instrument, and thus regular performers may incidentally gain strength and endurance in the orofacial muscles used to perform. To test this possibility, 16 skilled trumpet players and 16 non-playing controls contributed strength and endurance (at 50% of maximum strength) measures for buccal, lingual, and labial muscle groups. Results indicate that trumpet players had greater cheek strength and lip endurance, but there were no differences between test and control groups for tongue strength or endurance. Findings suggest that incidental orofacial muscle activity may have a positive functional impact on orofacial muscle strength and/or endurance. This finding supports a clinically useful, objective measure for diagnosis and may be useful for functional rehabilitation for patients with orofacial disorders including those with Bell's palsy, complications associated with otitis media, acoustic neuromas, or other facial- or cranial nerve damage due to surgery, trauma, or disease.
Composing soundscapes from real-time acoustic data streams
Authors: Andre Michel , Andre M.
Published: November 2013

The growing scientific and societal concern about the effects of underwater sound on marine ecosystems has been recently recognized through the introduction of several international initiatives aiming at measuring the environmental impact of ocean noise on large spatial and temporal scales. From a regulatory perspective, the European Marine Strategy Framework Directive includes noise as one of 11 descriptors to determine Good Environmental Status of the oceans. The Directive specifically requires Member States to provide a measure of annually averaged noise. The LAB has developed a software package that measures sound levels and monitors acoustic sources in real-time; this software was used for the LIDO project and is now operating to provide industry with an environmentally responsible approach (CSA, www.oceansound.com). The system is currently operating worldwide from several wired and radio-linked observatories. Recently, through a zero-cost contract with the CTBTO (Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive nuclear-Test Ban Treaty Organization), years of data from hydroacoustic stations were analyzed to look for background noise trends and to detect cetacean presence. Here, we present the analysis of four CTBTO platforms, each covering 42 months of data, focusing especially on the estimation of background noise levels and the measurement of noise contributions from anthropogenic sources.
A disproportion in bowhead whale call counts around an acoustic array during the fall 2012 migration in the Chukchi Sea, Alaska: An investigation into the potential of acoustic masking
Authors: Wladichuk Jennifer L. , Delarue Julien , Martin Bruce , Mouy Xavier , Frouin-Mouy Heloise
Published: November 2013

A long-term passive acoustic study in the Chukchi Sea monitors the bowhead whale (Balaena mysticetus) migration between their summering and wintering grounds in the Beaufort and Bering Seas, respectively. A hexagonal array offshore from Point Lay, AK was located near the center of their migratory corridor in the falls of 2009 through 2011. In 2012 however, there was a large difference in the number of acoustic detections across the array, with call counts close to three times higher in its northwest section compared to its southeast. An increase in vessel traffic in the area resulted in higher ambient noise conditions for much of the summer. This paper investigates the possibility of acoustic masking of calls due to this increase in background noise levels.
Albumin based gel phantoms with controllable thermal sensitivity for quantifying ultrasound thermal energy
Authors: Asami Rei , Kawabata Kenichi
Published: November 2013

Medical ultrasound safety is mainly concerned with two factors, thermal and mechanical. A simple method to indicate temperature rise by ultrasound is essential to standardize diagnostic and therapeutic techniques. A thermocouple is used for direct measurement but the effect of viscous heating is inevitable. MR thermometry provides accurate measurements but requires expensive machinery. Bovine serum albumin (BSA) gels are known to change colors from transparent to opaque at 70 °C and used as simple temperature indicator. We propose a new temperature indicator that combines additives with BSA gels to modify the denaturation temperature. Polyacrylamide gels were prepared with 9% BSA and various concentrations of additives such as ovarian albumin and gelatin. Gels were then placed in degassed water at 37 °C and adjacent to a focused ultrasound transducer (f0 = 3.3 MHz). Ultrasound irradiation process was video-recorded for image processing. Gels prepared with ovarian albumin resulted in ranges of denaturation temperature of 40—60 °C. Ovarian albumin, hardly soluble protein, could have lowered the stability of BSA. Recorded timing of the denaturation fitted well with the computer based simulation result. The result suggests that additives can widen the application of BSA gels in quantifying ultrasound thermal energy. [This study was, in part, funded by Japanese Menistory of Economy, Trade and Inductor.]
Statistical structure of speech sound classes is congruent with cochlear nucleus response properties
Authors: Stilp Christian , Lewicki Michael
Published: November 2013

Natural sounds possess considerable statistical structure. Lewicki (2002, Nature Neurosci. 5(4), 356–363) used independent components analysis (ICA) to reveal the statistical structure of environmental sounds, animal vocalizations, and human speech. Each sound class exhibited distinct statistical properties, but filters that optimally encoded speech closely resembled response properties in the mammalian auditory nerve. This and other analyses of statistical properties of speech examine only global structure without considering systematic variability in different speech sound classes, while acoustic/phonetic analyses of these classes are agnostic to their statistical structure. Here, statistical structure was investigated in principled subdivisions of speech: consonants organized by manner of articulation, and vowels organized by vocal tract configuration. Analyses reveal systematic differences for local statistical structure in speech: statistically optimal filters in ICA were highly diverse for different consonant classes but broadly similar for different vowel classes. While the global statistical structure of speech reflects auditory nerve response properties (Lewicki, 2002), local statistical structure of speech sound classes is well-aligned with cochlear nucleus response properties. Results support theories of efficient coding, in which sensory systems adapt and evolve in order to efficiently capture natural stimulus statistics.
Insulin-dependent transcriptional control in L6 rat myotubes is associated with modulation of histone acetylation and accumulation of the histone variant H2A.Z in the proximity of the transcriptional start site
Authors: Zerzaihi Ouafa , Chriett Sabrina , Vidal Hubert , Pirola Luciano
Published: November 2013

Besides its direct metabolic effects, insulin induces transcriptional alterations in its target tissues. However, whether such changes are accompanied by epigenetic changes on the chromatin template encompassing insulin responsive genes is unclear. Here, mRNA levels of insulin-responsive genes hexokinase 2 (Hk2), insulin receptor substrate (Irs2), and the PI3K subunit p85β (Pik3r2) were compared in control versus insulin-stimulated L6 myotubes. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) was performed with antibodies directed to histone H2A, histone variant H2A.Z, acetylated histone H3 on lysines 9/14, and acetylated H2A.Z. Insulin induced a more than 2-fold Hk2 mRNA increase, while Irs2 and Pik3r2 were downregulated. ChIP to H2A and H2A.Z showed higher H2A.Z accumulation around the transcriptional start site (TSS) of these insulin-modulated genes, while H2A.Z accumulation was lower distally to the TSS in the Hk2 promoter. H2A.Z levels and H3K9/14 acetylation correlated on several loci along the Hk2 gene, and H3K9/14 as well as H2A.Z acetylation was enhanced by insulin treatment. On the contrary, reduced H3K9/14 acetylation was observed in insulin-repressed Irs2 and Pik3r2, and recovery of acetylation by treatment with the histone deacetylase inhibitor trichostatin A reverted insulin-induced Irs2 downregulation. The chromatin regions encompassing selected insulin-responsive genes are thus featured by accumulation of H2A.Z around the TSS. H2A.Z accumulation facilitates insulin-dependent modulation of pharmacologically treatable H3K9/14 and H2A.Z acetylations. Indeed, inhibition of histone deacetylases by TSA treatment reverted insulin induced Irs2 gene downregulation. Dysregulated histone acetylation may thus be potentially targeted with histone deacetylase inhibitors.
Perianth colour affects germination behaviour in wind-pollinated Salsola rubescens in Arabian deserts
Authors: El-Keblawy Ali A. , Bhatt Arvind , Gairola Sanjay
Published: November 2013

Salsola rubescens Franch. is a wind-pollinated halophytic shrub that produces fruits with red and yellow winged perianths. Germinability of seeds from both fruit types was determined under various light, temperature, and salinity treatments. Red seeds, with and without winged perianths, were heavier than yellow seeds. Germination percentage and germination rate index (speed) were significantly affected by the perianth colour, presence of wings, and temperature and light of incubation and most of their interactions. Germination percentage was greater for yellow-winged seeds than for red-winged seeds. Wing removal significantly enhanced the germination percentage and germination speed in the two types. The presence of wings enhanced germination at lower temperatures, but wing absence enhanced germination at higher temperatures. Wing removal enhanced germination to a greater degree in yellow than in red seeds. There was no light requirement during germination of red-winged seeds, but yellow-winged seeds germinated significantly more in light than in darkness. Red-winged and dewinged seeds were more tolerant to salinity than yellow seeds. Removal of wings significantly increased salinity tolerance for seeds of both wing colours. It is concluded that the showy perianth colours have an ecological role in wind-pollinated plants in regulating dormancy and germination behaviour in the heterogeneous unpredictable hyperarid deserts.
Control of quantum transmission is trap free
Authors: Pechen Alexander N. , Tannor David J.
Published: November 2013

We consider manipulation of the transmission coefficient for a quantum particle moving in one dimension where the shape of the potential is taken as the control. We show that the control landscape, the transmission as a functional of the potential, has no traps, i.e., any maxima correspond to full transmission.
Estimating site productivity in irregular stand structures by indexing the basal area or volume increment of the dominant species
Authors: Berrill John-Pascal , O’Hara Kevin L.
Published: November 2013

Estimating site productivity in irregular structures is complicated by variations in stand density, structure, composition in mixed stands, and suppression experienced by subordinate trees. Our objective was to develop an alternate to site index (SI) and demonstrate its application in models of individual-tree and stand growth. We analyzed coast redwood (Sequoia sempervirens (Lamb. ex D. Don) Endl.) tree and stand growth in a grid of 234 permanent sample plots covering a 110 ha study area in north coastal California. Partial harvesting created a mosaic of densities and openings throughout the 60-year-old redwood-dominated forest. Redwood SI was a poor predictor of volume increment (VI) per hectare among redwood in each plot over two decades after harvest. A new index of redwood basal area increment (BAI) productivity, calculated using inventory data for all stems in even-aged stands and the oldest cohort of multiaged stands, was a stronger predictor of VI. Diameter increment of individual redwood trees correlated strongly with stand density and the new BAI index. Forest managers should expect widely divergent responses following partial harvesting in crowded even-aged stands, with the greatest response coming from dominant redwoods with long crowns retained in areas with low residual stand density and high BAI index.
Simulation analysis of the impact of ignitions, rekindles, and false alarms on forest fire suppression
Authors: Pacheco Abílio P. , Claro João , Oliveira Tiago
Published: November 2013

Rekindles and false alarms are phenomena that have a significant presence in the Portuguese forest fire management system and an important impact on suppression resources in particular and fire management resources in general. In this paper, we propose a discrete-event simulation model of a forest fire suppression system designed to analyze the joint impact of ignitions, rekindles, and false alarms on the performance of the system. The model is applied to a case study of the district of Porto, Portugal, for the critical period of the forest fire season, between July and September 2010. We study the behavior of the system’s point of collapse, comparing the real base scenario with a benchmark scenario built with reference values for rekindles and false alarms, and also as a function of the number of fire incidents, considering historical variations. The results of the analysis are useful for operational decision-making and provide relevant information on the trade-off between prevention and suppression efforts.
Intrinsic shape analysis of X-ray diffraction using Stokes deconvolution
Authors: Ebeid M.R. , Kaid M.A. , Ali M.G.S.
Published: November 2013

A deconvolution algorithm is proposed for X-ray diffraction profile analysis. The stability of the algorithm and the influence of the regularization parameter in the deconvoluted results were investigated with respect to the full width at half maximum (FWHM) and the signal to noise ratio. Reliability of the deconvolution profile was estimated. A simple algorithm is proposed that allows obtaining knowledge of the behaviors of the intrinsic physical profile with different instrumental and measured ones. The experimental powder diffraction of prepared NiO nanoparticles has been analyzed by the proposed technique. The algorithm applied to determine the microstructure characteristics compared to those of Sherrer and Stoke’s methods. The method has the advantage that the grain-size or microstrain can be calculated directly without using normal approximation correction and the success of this technique is dependent on the value of the regularization parameter.
Bianchi type-III dark energy models with constant deceleration parameter in self-creation cosmology
Authors: Mahanta K.L. , Biswal A.K. , Sahoo P.K.
Published: November 2013

We have constructed dark energy cosmological models in an anisotropic Bianchi type-III space–time with a variable equation of state (EoS) parameter ω in Barber’s (Gen. Relativ. Gravitation, 14, 117, 1982) second self-creation theory of gravitation. The models are obtained using the special law of variation of Hubble’s parameter that yields a constant value of the deceleration parameter. In the two different models that we have obtained, the EoS parameter ω for dark energy is found to be time dependent. In one model the value of ω is in good agreement with the recent observations of type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) data, SNe Ia data with cosmic microwave background radiation anisotropy and galaxy clustering statistics. Further we have discussed the well-known astrophysical phenomena, namely, the Hubble parameter H(z), luminosity distance dL, proper distance d(z), distance modulus μ(z), and look-back time with red shift. The expression for jerk parameter and statefinder parameters are also derived.
Sentenced to Life: Penal Reform and the Most Severe Sanctions
Authors: Gottschalk Marie
Published: November 2013

The explosion since the 1970s in the number of prisoners in the United States serving life sentences is a dramatic change in US penal policy. The United States remains deeply attached to widespread use of life sentences despite mounting evidence that lengthy sentences have minimal impact on reducing the crime rate and enhancing public safety. The political and legal obstacles to seriously reconsidering the extensive use of life sentences in the United States are formidable. Moreover, some of the recent successes of penal reformers, including opponents of capital punishment and foes of the war on drugs, may have come at the cost of reinforcing the country's strong attachment to meting out life sentences and sentences of life without the possibility of parole (LWOP).
Middle Eastern Law
Authors: Mallat Chibli , Revkin Mara
Published: November 2013

This article maps Middle Eastern law in some of the thousand plateaus where it operates/operated: Mesopotamian law, Roman provincial law, Islamic law, and post-colonial law, with layers within each, such as Elephantine law in Egypt and Jewish and Christian law in Islam's classical age, as well as new worlds of law, such as Byzantine and Ethiopian law, in which scholarship about interaction with other layers of Middle Eastern law is either inexistent or just starting. The focus is directed as much as possible to the extant documentation in the legal record that most affects people's lives: court decisions. For the modern period, we survey, from the point of view of the legal practitioner, lawyer, or judge, the various bodies of case law and codes in the everyday practice of the Middle East lawyer. A legal family analogous to the common or civil law traditions, Middle Eastern law has emerged as a coherent and active discipline that is increasingly a subject of inquiry for historians, social scientists, and others outside of the legal profession. This article presents the field for more sustained attention from lawyers, judges, and law professors.
Motivated Cognition in Legal Judgments—An Analytic Review
Authors: Sood Avani Mehta
Published: November 2013

How and when do legal decision makers' preferred outcomes inadvertently drive their judgments? This psychological phenomenon, known as motivated cognition or motivated reasoning, has become an important topic of investigation among scholars conducting experimental research at the intersection of law and psychology. This article presents an overview of that literature, discusses some of its legal applications and implications, highlights areas that require further investigation, and considers some potential ways to curtail the covert operation of motivated cognition in the legal arena.
Statistics and Related Topics in Single-Molecule Biophysics
Authors: Qian Hong , Kou S.C.
Published: November 2013

Since the universal acceptance of atoms and molecules as the fundamental constituents of matter in the early-twentieth century, molecular physics, chemistry, and molecular biology have all experienced major theoretical breakthroughs. Although researchers had to wait until the 1970s to see individual biological macromolecules one at a time in action, the field of single-molecule biophysics has witnessed extensive growth in both experiments and theory since then. A distinct feature of single-molecule biophysics is that the motions and interactions of molecules as well as the transformation of molecular species are necessarily described in the language of stochastic processes, whether one investigates equilibrium or far-from-equilibrium living behavior. For laboratory measurements following a biological process, analysis of experimental data obtained by sampling individual participating molecules over time naturally calls for the inference of stochastic processes. The theoretical and experimental developments of single-molecule biophysics thus present interesting questions and unique opportunities for applied statisticians and probabilists. In this article, we review some important statistical developments in connection to single-molecule biophysics, emphasizing the application of stochastic-process theory and the statistical questions arising from modeling and analyzing experimental data.
Bayesian Computation Via Markov Chain Monte Carlo
Authors: Craiu Radu V. , Rosenthal Jeffrey S.
Published: November 2013

Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) algorithms are an indispensable tool for performing Bayesian inference. This review discusses widely used sampling algorithms and illustrates their implementation on a probit regression model for lupus data. The examples considered highlight the importance of tuning the simulation parameters and underscore the important contributions of modern developments such as adaptive MCMC. We then use the theory underlying MCMC to explain the validity of the algorithms considered and to assess the variance of the resulting Monte Carlo estimators.
Tracer: Taming Anomalous Events with CRFID Tags for Trajectory Management
Authors: Li Rui , Han Jinsong , Wang Zhi , Zhao Jizhong , Gong Yihong , Zhang Xiaobin
Published: November 2013

Mitigating anomalies are crucial for trajectory management in logistics and supply chain systems. Among variant devices for trace detection, computational radio frequency identification (CRFID) tags are promising to draw precise trajectory from the data reported by their accelerometers. However, full coverage of the processing flow using RFID readers is usually cost inefficient, sometimes impractical. In this paper, we propose to employ CRFID tags as tagging devices and develop a working system, Tracer, for precise trajectory detection. Instead of covering the entire processing area, Tracer only deploys RFID readers in essential regions to detect the mishandling, loss, and other abnormal states of items. We design a tree-indexed Markov chain framework, which leverages statistical methods to enable fine-grained and dynamic trajectory management. Results from a preliminarily deployment on a real baggage handling system and trace-driven simulations demonstrate that Tracer is effective to detect the anomalous events with low cost and high accuracy.
The Effect of Vacuum Annealing of Magnetite and Zero-Valent Iron Nanoparticles on the Removal of Aqueous Uranium
Authors: Crane R. A. , Scott T. B.
Published: November 2013

As-formed and vacuum annealed zero-valent iron nanoparticles (nano-Fe0) and magnetite nanoparticles (nano-Fe3O4) were tested for the removal of uranium from carbonate-rich mine water. Nanoparticles were introduced to batch systems containing the mine water under oxygen conditions representative of near-surface waters, with a uranyl solution studied as a simple comparator system. Despite the vacuum annealed nano-Fe0having a 64.6% lower surface area than the standard nano-Fe0, similar U removal (>98%) was recorded during the initial stages of reaction with the mine water. In contrast, ≤15% U removal was recorded for the mine water treated with both as-formed and vacuum annealed nano-Fe3O4. Over extended reaction periods (>1 week), appreciable U rerelease was recorded for the mine water solutions treated using nano-Fe0, whilst the vacuum annealed material maintained U at <50 μg L−1until 4 weeks reaction. XPS analysis of reacted nanoparticulate solids confirmed the partial chemical reduction ofUVItoUIVin both nano-Fe0water treatment systems, but with a greater amount ofUIVdetected on the vacuum annealed particles. Results suggest that vacuum annealing can enhance the aqueous reactivity of nano-Fe0and, for waters of complex chemistry, can improve the longevity of aqueous U removal.
A Neuro-Fuzzy Approach in the Classification of Students’ Academic Performance
Authors: Do Quang Hung , Chen Jeng-Fung
Published: November 2013

Classifying the student academic performance with high accuracy facilitates admission decisions and enhances educational services at educational institutions. The purpose of this paper is to present a neuro-fuzzy approach for classifying students into different groups. The neuro-fuzzy classifier used previous exam results and other related factors as input variables and labeled students based on their expected academic performance. The results showed that the proposed approach achieved a high accuracy. The results were also compared with those obtained from other well-known classification approaches, including support vector machine, Naive Bayes, neural network, and decision tree approaches. The comparative analysis indicated that the neuro-fuzzy approach performed better than the others. It is expected that this work may be used to support student admission procedures and to strengthen the services of educational institutions.
The Assessment of Critical Thinking Critically Assessed in Higher Education: A Validation Study of the CCTT and the HCTA
Authors: Verburgh An , François Sigrid , Elen Jan , Janssen Rianne
Published: November 2013

Although critical thinking (CT) is generally acknowledged as an important aim of higher education, no validated instrument to assess CT in Dutch is available. Moreover, most instruments are validated on a broad sample with people of diverse educational backgrounds. This possibly hampers the reliability of assessing effects of instructional interventions within educational programmes, where diversity is less. This study investigates the psychometric quality of a translation of the Cornell Critical Thinking Test (CCTT) and the Halpern Critical Thinking Assessment (HCTA) in a sample of Dutch speaking freshmen majoring in educational sciences. Results show a higher content validity and preference by students for the HCTA. The CCTT, however, takes less time to administer and score, which makes it easier to use the CCTT on a larger scale. Neither of the two tests shows a high overall reliability. The strength of the correlations between the constructed-response items and the forced-choice items of the HCTA with the CCTT calls for further research on the precise relation between CT skills and dispositions and the ability of the HCTA to assess both independently.
State-Feedback Sampled-Data Control Design for Nonlinear Systems via Passive Theory
Authors: Yang Chengming , Zhou Qi , Karimi H. R. , Wang Huanqing
Published: November 2013

This paper investigates the problem of passive controller design for a class of nonlinear systems under variable sampling. The Takagi-Sugeno (T-S) fuzzy modeling method is utilized to represent the nonlinear systems. Attention is focused on the design of passive controller for the T-S fuzzy systems via sampled-data control approach. Under the concept of very-strict passivity, a novel time-dependent Lyapunov functional is constructed to develop passive analysis criteria and passive controller synthesis conditions. A new sampled-data controller is designed to guarantee that the resulting closed-loop system is very-strictly passive. These conditions are formulated in the form of linear matrix inequalities (LMIs), which can be solved by convex optimization approach. Finally, an application example is given to demonstrate the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed results.
Importance of the Ultrasonography in Diagnosis of Ileal Duplication Cyst
Authors: Gebesce Arzu , Korkmaz Mevlit , Keles Esengul , Korkmaz Feride , Mahmutyazıcıoglu Kamran , Yazgan Hamza
Published: November 2013

Gastrointestinal duplication cysts are rare congenital anomalies that can be seen in anywhere of the gastrointestinal system from the mouth to the anus. These are prenatally diagnosed through antenatal ultrasonography. However, attention must be paid since these formations might be confused with ovarian or mesenteric cysts. Our patient, who had been diagnosed with ovarian cyst on the ultrasonography performed in another center and with mesenteric cyst based on the abdominal MRI carried out at fifth month of life, presented to our clinic with the only complaint of constipation at 9th month of life. The diagnosis was set through double wall appearance of duplication cyst on the abdominal ultrasonography. The patient’s cyst was resected.
Efficient Region-of-Interest Scalable Video Coding with Adaptive Bit-Rate Control
Authors: Grois Dan , Hadar Ofer
Published: November 2013

This work relates to the regions-of-interest (ROI) coding that is a desirable feature in future applications based on the scalable video coding, which is an extension of the H.264/MPEG-4 AVC standard. Due to the dramatic technological progress, there is a plurality of heterogeneous devices, which can be used for viewing a variety of video content. Devices such as smartphones and tablets are mostly resource-limited devices, which make it difficult to display high-quality content. Usually, the displayed video content contains one or more ROI(s), which should be adaptively selected from the preencoded scalable video bitstream. Thus, an efficient scalable ROI video coding scheme is proposed in this work, thereby enabling the extraction of the desired regions-of-interest and the adaptive setting of the desirable ROI location, size, and resolution. In addition, an adaptive bit-rate control is provided for the region-of-interest scalable video coding. The performance of the presented techniques is demonstrated and compared with the joint scalable video model reference software (JSVM 9.19), thereby showing significant bit-rate savings as a tradeoff for the relatively low PSNR degradation.
Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cell Response to CpG ODN Correlates with CXCL16 Expression and Is Inhibited by ox-LDL
Authors: Gursel Mayda , Klinman Dennis M. , Gursel Ihsan
Published: November 2013

Structurally distinct classes of synthetic CpG oligonucleotides (ODN) differentially activate human immune cells. K-type ODN trigger plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) to differentiate and produce TNFα. In contrast, D-type ODN stimulate large amounts of IFNαsecretion from pDCs. The cell-surface receptor CXCL16 was previously shown to influence the nature and specificity of CpG ODN-induced immune activation. Here, we evaluated the expression and function of CXCL16 on pDC from healthy volunteers. We report that increased CXCL16 expression correlated with enhanced in vitro response exclusively to D-type CpG ODN. Conversely, enzymatic digestion of the receptor resulted in a decrease in IFNαproduction. Moreover, ox-LDL presence significantly inhibited D-ODN mediated IFNαproduction by pDCs. Coculture of enriched pDCs with the CXCR6 expressing Jurkat T cells decreased the activation threshold of these cells responding to D-ODN, suggesting that CXCL16/CXCR6 interaction may play an important role in modifying the response of pDCs to environmental danger signals.
Application of Computational Lower Extremity Model to Investigate Different Muscle Activities and Joint Force Patterns in Knee Osteoarthritis Patients during Walking
Authors: Nha Kyung Wook , Dorj Ariunzaya , Feng Jun , Shin Jun Ho , Kim Jong In , Kwon Jae Ho , Kim Kyungsoo , Kim Yoon Hyuk
Published: November 2013

Many experimental and computational studies have reported that osteoarthritis in the knee joint affects knee biomechanics, including joint kinematics, joint contact forces, and muscle activities, due to functional restriction and disability. In this study, differences in muscle activities and joint force patterns between knee osteoarthritis (OA) patients and normal subjects during walking were investigated using the inverse dynamic analysis with a lower extremity musculoskeletal model. Extensor/flexor muscle activations and torque ratios and the joint contact forces were compared between the OA and normal groups. The OA patients had higher extensor muscle forces and lateral component of the knee joint force than normal subjects as well as force and torque ratios of extensor and flexor muscles, while the other parameters had little differences. The results explained that OA patients increased the level of antagonistic cocontraction and the adduction moment on the knee joint. The presented findings and technologies provide insight into biomechanical changes in OA patients and can also be used to evaluate the postoperative functional outcomes of the OA treatments.
Anticoagulation for Prosthetic Valves
Authors: Kaneko Tsuyoshi , Aranki Sary F.
Published: November 2013

Implantation of prosthetic valve requires consideration for anticoagulation. The current guideline recommends warfarin on all mechanical valves. Dabigatran is the new generation anticoagulation medication which is taken orally and does not require frequent monitoring. This drug is approved for treatment for atrial fibrillation and venous thromboembolism, but the latest large trial showed that this drug increases adverse events when used for mechanical valve anticoagulation. On-X valve is the new generation mechanical valve which is considered to require less anticoagulation due to its flow dynamics. The latest study showed that lower anticoagulation level lowers the incidence of bleeding, while the risk of thromboembolism and thrombosis remained the same. Anticoagulation poses dilemma in cases such as pregnancy and major bleeding event. During pregnancy, warfarin can be continued throughout pregnancy and switched to heparin derivative during 6–12 weeks and >36 weeks of gestation. Warfarin can be safely started after 1-2 weeks of discontinuation following major bleeding episode.
Aortic Dissection Occurring 18 Months after Successful Endovascular Repair in an Anatomically Difficult Case of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm
Authors: Yamamoto Satoshi , Hoshina Katsuyuki , Takazawa Yutaka , Okamoto Hiroyuki , Shigematsu Kunihiro , Miyata Tetsuro , Watanabe Toshiaki
Published: November 2013

We report an autopsy case of aneurysm dissection that occurred 18 months after the implantation of a Zenith stent graft. A 94-year-old woman, who had undergone an endovascular repair with postoperative reintervention, died of shock due to retroperitoneal hematoma. An autopsy indicated that the stent graft remained firmly fixed to the native aorta, whereas the dissection occurred near the proximal edge of the stent graft but not at the point of attachment between the suprarenal stent hook and the aorta. The luminal surface of the stent graft was almost completely covered with a transparent film with an endothelial cell lining, which might reflect the tissue regeneration observed on histological examination. This was a rare case of acute aortic dissection that occurred 18 months after EVAR, in which the autopsy indicated interesting microscopic findings and the mechanisms underlying the aortic dissection. We believe that aggressive reintervention at the proximal site in elderly women might cause the dissection of the native aorta.
Unusual Clinical Presentation of Ethylene Glycol Poisoning: Unilateral Facial Nerve Paralysis
Authors: Eroglu Eray , Kocyigit Ismail , Bahcebasi Sami , Unal Aydin , Sipahioglu Murat Hayri , Kocyigit Merva , Tokgoz Bulent , Oymak Oktay
Published: November 2013

Ethylene glycol (EG) may be consumed accidentally or intentionally, usually in the form of antifreeze products or as an ethanol substitute. EG is metabolized to toxic metabolites. These metabolites cause metabolic acidosis with increased anion gap, renal failure, oxaluria, damage to the central nervous system and cranial nerves, and cardiovascular instability. Early initiation of treatment can reduce the mortality and morbidity but different clinical presentations can cause delayed diagnosis and poor prognosis. Herein, we report a case with the atypical presentation of facial paralysis, hematuria, and kidney failure due to EG poisoning which progressed to end stage renal failure and permanent right peripheral facial nerve palsy.
Sleep Duration and Breast Cancer Phenotype
Authors: Khawaja Ali , Rao Santosh , Li Li , Thompson Cheryl L.
Published: November 2013

Emerging evidence suggests that short sleep is associated with an increased risk of cancer; however, little has been done to study the role of sleep on tumor characteristics. In this study, we evaluated the relationship between sleep duration and tumor phenotype in 972 breast cancer patients. Sleep duration was inversely associated with tumor grade (univariateP=0.032), particularly in postmenopausal women (univariateP=0.018). This association did not reach statistical significance after adjustments for age, race, body mass index, hormone replacement therapy use, alcohol consumption, smoking, and physical activity in the entire study sample (P=0.052), but it remained statistically significant (P=0.049) among post-menopausal patients. We did not observe a statistically significant association between sleep duration and stage at diagnosis, ER, or HER2 receptor status. These results present a modest association between short duration of sleep and higher grade breast cancer in post-menopausal women. Further work needs to be done to validate these findings.
Spontaneous Symptomatic Pseudoarthrosis at the L2-L3 Intervertebral Space with Diffuse Idiopathic Skeletal Hyperostosis: A Case Report
Authors: Hasegawa Keiji , Takahashi Hiroshi , Iida Yasuaki , Yokoyama Yuichirou , Fukutake Katsunori , Takamatsu Ryo , Nakamura Kazumasa , Suzuki Daisuke , Shishikura Wataru , Tsuge Shintaro , Sekiguchi Masayuki , Wada Akihito
Published: November 2013

Pseudoarthrosis at the intervertebral space in patients with ankylosing spondylitis has occasionally been reported, but symptomatic pseudoarthrosis at the intervertebral disc level is rare in patients with diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH). Here, we report a case of symptomatic pseudoarthrosis at the L2-L3 intervertebral space that was diagnosed based on clinical history. We first performed L1–L5 fixation, but back-out of the pedicle screw occurred in the early postoperative phase and may have been caused by a short fixation range and concomitant Parkinson’s disease. However, the prognosis of the case was favorable after a second surgery. This case indicates that a fixation range of at least 3 above and 3 below is necessary for bone fracture of a thoracolumbar vertebra and pseudoarthrosis in patients with DISH.
Molecular Profiling of Acute and Chronic Rejections of Renal Allografts
Authors: Petra Hřibová , Eva Honsová , Irena Brabcová , Petra Hrubá , Ondřej Viklický
Published: November 2013

Both antibody mediated (AMR) and T-cell mediated (TCMR) rejections either acute or chronic represent the main reason for late graft dysfunction. In this study we aimed to evaluate differences in the intrarenal expression patterns of immune system related genes in acute and chronic rejections. Graft biopsies were performed and evaluated according to Banff classification. Using the TaqMan Low Density Array, the intrarenal expressions of 376 genes relating to immune response (B-cell activation, T-cell activation, chemokines, growth factors, immune regulators, and apoptosis) were analyzed in the four rejection categories: chronic AMR, chronic TCMR, acute AMR, and acute TCMR. The set of genes significantly upregulated in acute TCMR as compared to acute AMR was identified, while no difference in gene expressions between chronic rejections groups was found. In comparison with functioning grafts, grafts that failed within the next 24 months after the chronic rejection morphological confirmation presented at biopsy already established severe graft injury (low eGFR, higher proteinuria), longer followup, higher expression of CDC20, CXCL6, DIABLO, GABRP, KIAA0101, ME2, MMP7, NFATC4, and TGFB3 mRNA, and lower expression of CCL19 and TRADD mRNA. In conclusion, both Banff 2007 chronic rejection categories did not differ in intrarenal expression of 376 selected genes associated with immune response.
MR Image Based Approach for Metal Artifact Reduction in X‐Ray CT
Authors: Anderla Andras , Culibrk Dubravko , Delso Gaspar , Mirkovic Milan
Published: November 2013

For decades, computed tomography (CT) images have been widely used to discover valuable anatomical information. Metallic implants such as dental fillings cause severe streaking artifacts which significantly degrade the quality of CT images. In this paper, we propose a new method for metal‐artifact reduction using complementary magnetic resonance (MR) images. The method exploits the possibilities which arise from the use of emergent trimodality systems. The proposed algorithm corrects reconstructed CT images. The projected data which is affected by dental fillings is detected and the missing projections are replaced with data obtained from a corresponding MR image. A simulation study was conducted in order to compare the reconstructed images with images reconstructed through linear interpolation, which is a common metal‐artifact reduction technique. The results show that the proposed method is successful in reducing severe metal artifacts without introducing significant amount of secondary artifacts.
Adaptive Neural Network Control with Backstepping for Surface Ships with Input Dead-Zone
Authors: Xia Guoqing , Shao Xingchao , Zhao Ang , Wu Huiyong
Published: November 2013

This paper addresses the problem of adaptive neural network controller with backstepping technique for fully actuated surface vessels with input dead-zone. The combination of approximation-based adaptive technique and neural network system is used for approximating the nonlinear function of the ship plant. Through backstepping and Lyapunov theory synthesis, an indirect adaptive network controller is derived for dynamic positioning ships without dead-zone property. In order to improve the control effect, a dead-zone compensator is derived using fuzzy logic technique to handle the dead-zone nonlinearity. The main advantage of the proposed controller is that it can be designed without explicit knowledge about the ship motion model, and dead-zone nonlinearity is well compensated. A set of simulations is carried out to verify the performance of the proposed controller.