bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Perception of speaker sex and vowel recognition at very short durations
Authors: Smith David R.
Published: September 2012

A man or woman saying the same vowel do so with very different voices. The auditory system solves the problem of extracting what the man or woman said despite substantial differences in the acoustic properties of the carrier voice. Much of this acoustic variation is due to differences in the underlying anatomical mechanisms for producing speech. If the auditory system knew the sex of the speaker then it could correct for speaker-sex related acoustic differences thus facilitating vowel recognition. We measured the minimal stimulus duration necessary to accurately discriminate whether a brief vowel segment was spoken by a man or woman, and to accurately recognize what vowel was spoken. Results show that reliable vowel recognition precedes reliable speaker sex discrimination. Furthermore, the pattern of performance across experiments where voice pitch and resonance information were systematically varied, is markedly different depending on whether the task is speaker-sex discrimination or vowel recognition. These findings suggest that knowledge of speaker sex has little impact upon vowel recognition at very short stimulus durations.
The influence of visual information on the perception of Japanese-accented speech
Authors: Kawase Saya , Hannah Beverly , Wang Yue
Published: September 2012

This study examines how visual information in nonnative speech affects native listener judgments of second language (L2) speech production. Native Canadian English listeners perceived three English phonemic contrasts (/b-v, θ-s, l-ɹ/) produced by native Japanese speakers as well as native Canadian English speakers as controls. Among the stimuli, /v, θ, l, ɹ/ are not existent in the Japanese consonant inventory. These stimuli were presented under audio-visual (AV), audio-only (AO), and visual-only (VO) conditions. The results showed that while overall perceptual judgments of the nonnative phonemes (/v, θ, l, ɹ/) were significantly less intelligible than the native phonemes (/b,s/), the English listeners perceived the Japanese productions of the phonemes /v, θ, b,s/ as significantly more intelligible when presented in the AV condition compared to the AO condition. However, the Japanese production of /ɹ/ was perceived as less intelligible in the AV compared to the AO condition. Further analysis revealed that a significant number of Japanese productions of /ɹ/ lacked lip-rounding, indicating that nonnative speakers’ incorrect articulatory configurations may decrease intelligibility. These results suggest that visual cues in L2 speech productions may be either facilitative or inhibitory in native perception of L2 accented-speech. [Research supported by SFU and SSHRC.]
Depth-based suppression of moving interference with vertical line arrays in the deep ocean
Authors: McCargar Reid K. , Zurk Lisa M.
Published: September 2012

Vertical line arrays (VLAs) deployed below the critical depth in deep ocean environments can exploit the reliable acoustic path (RAP), which exhibits low transmission loss (TL) at moderate ranges and increased TL for distant interference. However, nearby surface ship interference presents a major challenge for an array lacking horizontal aperture that doesn’t provide bearing discrimination. The motion of the interference degrades covariance estimation and limits observation intervals, thus limiting adaptive rejection capabilities. An image-method interpretation of the propagation physics reveals a depth-dependent modulation feature which enables separation of signals originating from near-surface and those from sub-surface passive acoustic sources. This discrimination can be achieved in the data through an integral transform. The feature is robust to environmental variability and allows for rejection of near-surface interference and depth classification. The transform-based filter is derived in closed form, and demonstrated with simulation results for a deep ocean environment with multiple moving surface interferers.
Frequency-difference beamforming with sparse arrays
Authors: H. Abadi Shima , Song Heechun , R. Dowling David
Published: September 2012

When an acoustic signal is transmitted to a remote receiving array with sufficient aperture and transducer density, the arrival direction(s) of the ray paths linking the source and the array may be determined by beamforming the transducer recordings. However, when the receiving array is sparse, i.e. there are many signal wavelengths between transducers, the utility of conventional beamforming is degraded because of spatial aliasing. Yet, when the signal has sufficient bandwidth, such aliasing may be mitigated or eliminated through use of an unconventional nonlinear beamforming technique that manufactures a desired frequency difference from the recorded signals. When averaged through the signal's frequency band, the output of frequency-difference beamforming is similar to that of conventional beamforming evaluated at the desired difference frequency. Results and comparisons from simple propagation simulations and FAF06 experimental measurements are shown for broadband signal pulses (11-19 kHz) that propagate 2.2 km underwater to a vertical 16-element receiving array having a 3.75-m-spacing between elements (almost 40 signal-center-frequency wavelengths). Here, conventional delay-and-sum beamforming results in the signal's frequency band are featureless, but received ray-path directions are successfully determined using frequency differences that are well below the broadcast signal's frequency band. [Sponsored by ONR.]
Noise mitigation at the Combat Arms Training Facility, Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Dayton, OH
Authors: Murphy William J. , Zechmann Edward L. , Kardous Chucri A. , Xiang Ning
Published: September 2012

The Combat Arms Training Facility (CATF) at Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton Ohio was evaluated for the effect of noise treatment to the interior of the firing range. Measurements were conducted in 2009 and 2010 before and after noise treatment. Reverberant energy in the range was reduced through the installation of cementatious shredded fiber board and basalt rock wool to the walls and ceiling of the range. No modifications were made to the windows and doors connecting the range interior to adjacent rooms. Prior to the application of noise treatment, the reverberation times (RT60) ranged from about 3.5 seconds at 100 Hz to about 1.3 seconds at 10 kHz. Following application of the noise treatments, the RT60 was reduced to about 1.6 seconds at 100 Hz to 0.5 seconds at 10 kHz. The critical distance for speech intelligibility increased from about 12 feet to about 22 feet in the speech frequencies 800 to 4000 Hz. The Articulation loss of consonants was improved from 22.5 for the untreated range to 7.2 for the treated range. The noise treatments reduced the reverberation time, increased the critical distance and improved speech intelligibility in the CATF firing range.
Streamlining sound power level measurements for determining the product noise rating for consumer products
Authors: Nobile Matthew A.
Published: September 2012

Under the assumption that consumer demand for quieter products will increase once noise level information is routinely available, a simplified product noise rating method has been proposed and described in several recent papers and forums (e.g., Inter-Noise 2011 and Inter-Noise 2012 papers by the author). This “PNR method” will provide useful noise information to the general public to help them make informed purchasing decisions. The essential elements of the new method are: (1) a product noise rating scale, (2) the Product Noise Rating (PNR), itself, (3) a range-of-levels indication, and (4) a visual icon for presenting the PNR value. But no matter how well-defined this new method is for providing noise levels to consumers, it is useless until the levels, themselves, have actually been measured for a wide range of products. Along this line, this paper will suggest the use of streamlined sound power level measurement procedures on typical consumer products that might help speed the acceptance and use of the new PNR method by manufacturers, product resellers, consumer testing organizations, and other stakeholders.
Acoustic design of transit stations
Authors: Oldfield Alan , Babic Frank
Published: September 2012

The acoustical environment in transit stations is being given increasing attention, particularly in national codes and client standards which now include requirements for intelligibility of voice alarm systems. This differs from the past where fewer loudspeakers with greater sound pressure output levels could be used to fulfill overall sound level criteria, with little consideration for alarm intelligibility. Room acoustics in stations is being considered using techniques previously reserved for performance venues. In addition, noise from tunnel ventilation systems for exhaust and emergency smoke extract is a growing concern that requires attention to meet strict criteria in often constrained spatial conditions and demanding environmental requirements. Incorporating acoustic treatment is often given a low priority over considerations for cost, physical security and maintenance, not to mention the architect’s aesthetic vision. This paper presents a review of the key challenges and best practices in acoustic design of transit stations.
Numerical investigation of the influence of thyroarytenoid and cricothyroid muscle contraction on the geometry and biomechanical properties of the vocal folds
Authors: Yin Jun , Zhang Zhaoyan
Published: September 2012

It is generally accepted that different voice types can be produced for different stiffness and geometry conditions of the vocal folds. However, it remains unclear how the stiffness and geometry of the vocal folds are regulated through laryngeal muscle activation during phonation. A better understanding of such muscular mechanisms of regulating vocal fold properties would provide important insights into the process of physiological control of phonation. In this study, the influence of the activation of the thyroarytenoid (TA) and cricothyroid (CT) muscles on vocal fold geometry and stress distribution within the vocal fold was investigated in a three-dimensional body-cover continuum model of the vocal folds. The results showed that different combinations of the TA and CT activation levels led to different body-cover stress distributions within the vocal fold. Contraction of the TA muscle also caused the vocal fold to bulge towards the glottal midline and created a medial compression force. The results also showed that, in some conditions, coordination of different laryngeal muscles is required to produce an optimal effect on vocal fold geometry or stiffness. [Work supported by NIH.]
Incorporating cepstral peak prominence as an acoustic method for assessing variation in voice quality
Authors: McDonald Katherine L. , Thomas Erik R.
Published: September 2012

Cepstral Peak Prominence (CPP) has been proposed as a means of assessing breathiness from recordings (Hillenbrand et al., J. Speech and Hearing Res. 37(1994):769-78). CPP involves computing the deviation of the cepstral peak in a smoothed cepstrum from a regression function for the smoothed cepstrum. It has not been tested extensively, though the few evaluative studies, involving comparisons against auditory judgments of voice quality, have yielded positive results. Previous evaluations have not assessed the use of CPP for comparisons of inter-group or intra-individual variation. A reliable way to gauge breathiness is useful not only for therapeutic purposes, but also for informing researchers about a speaker’s repertoire and identity construction. This study examines the efficacy of CPP for analyzing social variables at the individual and group levels, using African American and European American subjects producing read and spontaneous speech under controlled conditions. Results show intra-speaker consistency across speaking tasks, but no consistent inter-ethnic differences. These findings suggest that some aspects of phonation may be more important for individual identity than for group identity.
Improving vocal tract reconstruction and modeling through super-resolution volume reconstruction technique
Authors: Woo Jonghye , Zhou Xinhui , Stone Maureen , Prince Jerry L. , Espy-Wilson Carol Y.
Published: September 2012

Magnetic resonance imaging has been widely used in speech production for vocal tract reconstruction and modeling. In order to observe detailed structures in the vocal tract, three orthogonal image stacks (sagittal, coronal, and axial) are usually acquired. Due to many constraints, each stack typically has an in-plane resolution which is much better than the out-of-plane resolution. Usually vocal tract modeling is based on just one of these three stacks. As a result, additional useful information revealed by the other two datasets is excluded in the vocal tract model. This study is to improve the vocal tract reconstruction and modeling by integrating information from all of the three stacks. To do so, a super-resolution reconstruction method recently developed to generate an isotropic image volume is used to integrate the three orthogonal stacks. Based on the ATR MRI database of vowel production, vocal tract models from MR images in high resolution, low resolution (simulated through downsampling), and super-resolution were built respectively and compared. The improvement in vocal tract modeling due to the super-resolution technique will be demonstrated on five vowels in terms of visualization and acoustic responses. [This research was supported by NIH R01 CA133015.]
Co-registration of articulographic and real-time magnetic resonance imaging data for multimodal analysis of rapid speech
Authors: Kim Jangwon , Lammert Adam , Proctor Michael , Narayanan Shrikanth
Published: September 2012

We propose a method for co-registrating speech articulatory/acoustic data from two modalities that provide complementary advantages. Electromagnetic Articulography (EMA) provides high temporal resolution (100 samples/second in WAVE system) and flesh-point tracking, while real-time Magnetic Resonance Imaging, rtMRI, (23 frames/second) offers a complete midsagittal view of the vocal tract, including articulated structures and the articulatory environment. Co-registration was achieved through iterative alignment in the acoustic and articulatory domains. Acoustic signals were aligned temporally using Dynamic Time Warping, while articulatory signals were aligned variously by minimization of mean total error between articulatometry data and estimated corresponding flesh points and by using mutual information derived from articulatory parameters for each sentence. We demonstrate our method on a subset of the TIMIT corpus elicited from a male and a female speaker of American English, and illustrate the benefits of co-registered multi-modal data in the study of liquid and fricative consonant production in rapid speech. [Supported by NIH and NSF grants.]
Effects of preceding consonant features on /Ð/ assimilation
Authors: Schwaller Christina
Published: September 2012

Sociolinguists have occasionally mentioned regressive assimilation of the voiced interdental fricative /Ð/ to a preceding consonant as a feature of some dialects. However, little research has been published on the topic. This study examines effects of preceding consonant features on /Ð/ assimilation, using interviews with residents of Robeson County, NC. Tokens of phonemic /Ð/ were examined in spectrogram form to identify which ones were assimilated. Impressionistic judgment was used in conjunction with the spectrograms. Discontinuities within consonant clusters served as evidence of unassimilated tokens. For manner of articulation, features such as stop bursts and frication noise were identified. When necessary, measurements of F2 and F3 at adjacent vowel transitions and midpoints were compared to determine place of articulation. Place, manner, voicing, and nasality of preceding consonants were then recorded. A logistic regression indicated the significance of each variable. This showed that preceding consonants affect /Ð/ assimilation. Preceding alveolars are most likely to result in assimilation, which was shown to be significant. The difference in manner between fricatives and stops is also significant, as /Ð/ is more likely to assimilate to a fricative. Nasality is highly significant, with /Ð/ more likely to assimilate to a nasal than to an oral consonant.
Segmenting American English V+/l/ and V+/r/ sequences: Methodological implications
Authors: Riera María , Romero Joaquín
Published: September 2012

This paper presents some methodological implications for the segmentation of final V+/l/ and V+/r/ sequences in American English stressed monosyllables. Between the two segments in the sequences a transitional schwa-like element characterized by variable durational and spectral values as a function of the preceding vowel, the following consonant and speaking rate can be identified. Given the dynamic nature of this element, problems related to boundary placement often arise. A segmentation method based solely on spectrographic observation and auditory corroboration has proven in previous studies to be too subjective to be reliable. A more objective method based on first derivative curve extraction, which provides us with first derivative formant traces that show peaks of formant change given by velocity maxima and minima, is more suitable for our purposes. However, the decision as to whether to choose F1, F2 or F3 traces as reference points for boundary placement, together with the presence of too many peaks in some cases and of not enough peaks in other cases, poses problems to the segmentation procedure and makes it necessary for the subjective method of segmentation based on spectrographic observation and auditory corroboration to come into play. Both methods thus complement each other.
An experimental comparison of fundamental frequency tracking algorithms
Authors: Hu Hongbing , Zahorian Stephen
Published: September 2012

“Yet another Algorithm for Pitch Tracking -YAAPT” was published in a 2010 JASA paper (Zahorian and Hu). Although demonstrated to provide high accuracy and noise robustness for fundamental frequency tracking for both studio quality speech and telephone speech, especially as compared to other well-known algorithms (YIN, Praat, RAPT), YAAPT has not been widely used, possibly due to the difficulty of using it and uncertainty about its effectiveness for difficult conditions. Therefore, more work has been done to improve the algorithm and especially to improve its functionality and ease of use as MATLAB functions. In the present paper, the current version of YAAPT is presented, along with clear documentation for using it, both stand alone and as a function to be called by another program. Experimentally, YAAPT is compared with YIN, Praat, RAPT, and a cepstrum method for studio bandwidth speech and telephone speech for a variety of noise conditions. Experiments are conducted with multiple databases, including American English, British English, and Mandarin Chinese. For most conditions evaluated, YAAPT gives better performance than the other fundamental frequency trackers.
Measurement and modeling of Scholte waves in shallow water
Authors: Potty Gopu R. , Miller James H. , Isakson Marcia
Published: September 2012

Shear speeds in semi-consolidated and consolidated shallow water sediments can significantly impact compressional wave attenuation and arrival times of acoustic normal modes. In addition shear properties of sediments are directly related to the strength of the sediments in geotechnical applications. All of these factors emphasize the importance of estimating shear speeds in shallow water sediments. One of the most promising approaches to estimate shear speed is to invert the shear speed profile using the dispersion of interface waves (Scholte waves). The propagation speed and attenuation of the Scholte wave are closely related to shear-wave speed and attenuation over a depth of 1–2 wavelengths into the seabed. Data from the tests conducted in Narragansett Bay and off Block Island in water depths ranging from 10 m to 25 m will be presented. Modeling of interface waves will be carried out using Finite Element Method (FEM) and a wave number integration model (OASES). Sediment properties will be inferred based on the modeling and data-model comparison. [Work supported by Office of Naval Research.]
A true-depth passive fathometer
Authors: Quijano Jorge E. , Dosso Stan E. , Dettmer Jan
Published: September 2012

This paper applies a sequential trans-dimensional (trans-D) Monte Carlo algorithm for geoacoustic inversion to bottom-loss data estimated from wind-driven ambient noise at a drifting vertical array. The approach explored in this work provides range-dependent estimates of geoacoustic parameters and true-depth layering structure of the seabed, together with corresponding uncertainties. The Bayesian inversion is applied to incoherent estimates of seabed bottom loss, computed as the array drifts along a range-dependent track. The method adopts a layered representation of the seabed, where each layer is determined by sound speed, density, attenuation, and thickness. The number of layers is also included as an unknown parameter, which allows data-driven parametrization rather than an arbitrary choice of the parametrization for the seabed model. The trans-D Bayesian inversion method samples the joint posterior probability density of all model parameters to provide parameter estimates and uncertainties. A particle filter is used to update the estimated geoacoustic parameters from one array position to the next. The sequential inversion approach is demonstrated using data from the Boundary 2003 experiment, and compared to images of the seabed layering structure obtained by an active seismic system.
Coronary artery stenting in a patient with chronic immune thrombocytopenic purpura: a clinical conundrum
Authors: Chan Wah Hak Charleen Min Li , Tan Yew Oo , Chan Charles
Published: September 2012

A patient with long-standing immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) would logically contradict antiplatelet use due to increased bleeding risk during coronary stenting. Coronary stenting using an endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) capture stents (GenousTM) was used to successfully revascularise our patient using a transradial approach. The only complication was extensive superficial ecchymosis on the patient's forearm from antiplatelet use, which resolved spontaneously. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case report of EPC capture stents in a chronic ITP patient.
Indirect carotid-cavernous fistula following minor head trauma treated with incomplete radiographic endovascular occlusion
Authors: Stetler William R , Chaudhary Neeraj , Wilson Thomas J , Pandey Aditya S
Published: September 2012

We report the unusual case of a patient with an indirect carotid-cavernous fistula treated with only partial angiographic embolisation of the fistula; however, by 8 weeks postembolisation, she was found to have both symptomatic and angiographic cure. This case highlights the potential for treating indirect carotid-cavernous fistulas with partial embolisation as a means of achieving angiographic and symptomatic cure by altering flow dynamics to attain spontaneous thrombosis.
Recurrent febrile respiratory distress in infant: which diagnosis?
Authors: Lahlou Zineb , Salimi Soundousse , Slaoui Bouchra , Dehbi Fatima
Published: September 2012

Congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation (CCAM) of the lung is a rare congenital anomaly. CCAM diagnosis can be made by prenatal ultrasound or in postnatal cases with regard to respiratory distress or recurrent respiratory infections. We present, for diagnostic purposes, a case of a patient, aged 4 months who had suffered since birth from recurrent bronchopulmonary infections. He was hospitalised several times for febrile respiratory distress. Chest x-rays previously performed were interpreted as normal. A final radiograph indicated the diagnosis and it was confirmed by CT. Surgical resection was performed with a positive result. CCAM responds to the prenatal diagnosis and requires frequent ultrasound checks during pregnancy and allowing for optimal management. The radiological assessment leads to the diagnosis and addresses the treatment which is based on a surgical cure.
Trapdoor ischaemia: coronary ostial occlusion by an aortic dissection: Figure 1
Authors: Ali Omair M , White Bryan
Published: September 2012

We present an interesting case of an elderly man with acute myocardial infarction due to retrograde dissection of the aortic root occluding the coronary ostia.
A RELAXATION RESULT FOR AN INHOMOGENEOUS FUNCTIONAL PRESERVING POINT-LIKE AND CURVE-LIKE SINGULARITIES IN IMAGE PROCESSING
Authors: AUBERT GILLES , GRAZIANI DANIELE
Published: September 2012

In this paper we address a relaxation theorem for a new integral functional of the calculus of variations defined on the space of functions in [Formula: see text] whose gradient is an Lp-vector field with distributional divergence given by a Radon measure. The result holds for integrand of type f(x, Δu) without any coerciveness condition, with respect to the second variable, and C1-continuity assumptions with respect to the spatial variable x.
EFFECT OF W-DOPING ON MORPHOLOGY, STRUCTURAL AND OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF ZnO NANOSTRUCTURES SYNTHESIZED VIA THERMAL EVAPORATION
Authors: ESHGHI HOSEIN , ARJMAND YASER
Published: September 2012

Undoped and W -doped ZnO nanostructures were prepared by heating Zn and WO 3 powders in the presence of oxygen gas without any catalyst, using the thermal evaporation method at 950°C. Samples were characterized by FESEM images, also EDS, XRD and PL spectra. FESEM images showed the formation of nanowires in the undoped sample and porous nanostructures as flat-surface granules with various sizes in the doped samples. XRD spectra of the samples confirmed the formation of wurtzite hexagonal structure with (002) as the preferred orientation, while its intensity has reduced as the doping concentration has increased. Meanwhile, the room temperature PL spectra have indicated this variation is in conjunction with the reduction in the intensity of UV emission and appearance of a violet emission at 420 nm (2.95 eV).
BOUND STATES IN CONTINUUM GENERATED BY POINT INTERACTION AND SUPERSYMMETRIC QUANTUM MECHANICS
Authors: KOČINAC S. Lj. S. , MILANOVIĆ V.
Published: September 2012

Four-parameter family of point interactions represent all possible self-adjoint extensions of kinetic energy operator. We demonstrate a method for generating a bound state in the continuum of point interactions which relies on supersymmetric quantum mechanics (SUSYQM). Both zero and nonzero transparency cases are considered.
FUNCTIONAL INTEGRALS AND PHASE STRUCTURES IN SINE-GORDON–THIRRING MODEL
Authors: YAN JUN
Published: September 2012

The phase structures of one-dimensional quantum sine-Gordon–Thirring model with N-impurities coupling are studied in this paper. The effective actions at finite temperature are derived by means of the perturbation and non-perturbation functional integrals method. The stability of coexistence phase is analyzed respectively in the weak and strong coupling case. It is shown that the coexistence phase is not stable when fermions have an attractive potential g < 0, and the stable coexistence phase can form when fermions have an exclude potential g > 0.
STUDY OF THERMODYNAMICAL PROPERTIES OF POLYVINYL ACETATE IN TETRAHYDROFURAN
Authors: TABHANE PRIYANKA V. , CHIMANKAR OMPRAKASH P. , TABHANE VILAS A.
Published: September 2012

The propagation of ultrasonic waves and the measurement of their velocity in solutions form an important tool for the evaluation of various acoustical and thermodynamical parameters which give an insight into the nature of miscibility and molecular interactions in polymer solutions. In the present study, the ultrasonic velocity, density, viscosity measurements have been made in 0.1 M solution using pulse echo overlap technique at 293 K at the different concentrations of polyvinyl acetate in tetrahydrofuran. Thermo-acoustical parameters viz., adiabatic compressibility, molar sound velocity, molar compressibility, expansion coefficient, acoustic impedance, van der Waals' constant and internal pressure have been computed from the experimental data. The nature of polymer/solvent interaction and the effect of concentration on the molecular interaction are studied. The nonlinear variations of polyvinyl acetate in tetrahydrofuran have been studied. The variation of ultrasonic velocity and other thermo-acoustical parameters shows nonlinear increase or decrease with molar concentration which suggest semi-compatibility of the polymer in the given solvent.
NANOSCALE DEFORMATION ANALYSIS OF TWIN BOUNDARY DISLOCATIONS IN NANOCRYSTALLINE ALUMINUM
Authors: ZHAO CHUNWANG , LIU QUANLONG , REN JUNGANG
Published: September 2012

The nanoscale deformation field of twin boundary dislocations in nanocrystalline aluminum was experimentally investigated using a combination of high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and geometric phase analysis. The entire strain field of the twin boundary dislocations was mapped and then compared with those of the Peierls–Nabarro and elastic theory dislocation models. The comparison results demonstrated that the Peierls–Nabarro dislocation model best describes the strain field of the twin boundary dislocations in nanocrystalline aluminum.
THE SUBPOWER MEMBERSHIP PROBLEM FOR MAL'CEV ALGEBRAS
Authors: MAYR PETER
Published: September 2012

Given tuples a1, …, ak and b in An for some algebraic structure A, the subpower membership problem asks whether b is in the subalgebra of An that is generated by a1, …, ak. For A a finite group, there is a folklore algorithm which decides this problem in time polynomial in n and k. We show that the subpower membership problem for any finite Mal'cev algebra is in NP and give a polynomial time algorithm for any finite Mal'cev algebra with finite signature and prime power size that has a nilpotent reduct. In particular, this yields a polynomial algorithm for finite rings, vector spaces, algebras over fields, Lie rings and for nilpotent loops of prime power order.
BIASED MANIFOLD LEARNING FOR VIEW INVARIANT BODY POSE ESTIMATION
Authors: HUR DONGCHEOL , SUK HEUNG-IL , WALLRAVEN CHRISTIAN , LEE SEONG-WHAN
Published: September 2012

In human body pose estimation, manifold learning has been considered as a useful method with regard to reducing the dimension of 2D images and 3D body configuration data. Most commonly, body pose is estimated from silhouettes derived from images or image sequences. A major problem in applying manifold estimation to pose estimation is its vulnerability to silhouette variation caused by changes of factors such as viewpoint, person, and distance.

In this paper, we propose a novel approach that combines three separate manifolds for viewpoint, pose, and 3D body configuration focusing on the problem of viewpoint-induced silhouette variation. The biased manifold learning is used to learn these manifolds with appropriately weighted distances. The proposed method requires four mapping functions that are learned by a generalized regression neural network for robustness. Despite the use of only three manifolds, experimental results show that the proposed method can reliably estimate 3D body poses from 2D images with all learned viewpoints.
Enculturating Cells: The Anthropology, Substance, and Science of Stem Cells
Authors: Bharadwaj Aditya
Published: September 2012

The ongoing enculturation of stem cells with culturally specific meaning in different global locales is receiving critical anthropological attention. As an anthropological subject and cultural object, stem cells continually rearrange practices that range from scientific discourse to political governance. As a unique and dynamic area of research, stem cell science straddles political, economic, and technological as well as ethical and religious dimensions around the globe. The article examines how cross-cultural differentials in research, development, and clinical application have produced hitherto unseen ethical and moral complexities. The examples range from highly restrictive regimes of control and governance of stem cell research in certain locales to global clinical contexts offering experimental stem cell therapies. The article examines these complex sites of political contestation, ethical variation, knowledge production, and economic calculation under four main conceptual sections: intersections and boundaries, substance and science, local and global, and panics and ethics.
Human Evolution and the Chimpanzee Referential Doctrine
Authors: Sayers Ken , Raghanti Mary Ann , Lovejoy C. Owen
Published: September 2012

Chimpanzees are our closest living genomic relatives, but they lack the bipedal locomotion, markedly enlarged brains, and advanced communication skills of humans. This has led many to view them as “primitive” and to presume that their behavior and anatomy are also primitive. If true, they could serve as models of our last common ancestor (LCA), i.e., a territorially aggressive knuckle walker, reliant on vertical climbing and below-branch suspension to access the high canopy as a ripe-fruit frugivore. Ardipithecus now provides abundant information that the LCA differed substantially from chimpanzees (as well as bonobos and gorillas), both anatomically and behaviorally, and exhibited many characters that are more similar to those of modern humans than to any living ape. This major extension of the hominoid fossil record contravenes strict referential modeling based on the extant chimpanzee and greatly improves our ability to reconstruct the LCA more accurately, but only when viewed within the broader context of evolutionary ecology.
The Archaeology of Emotion and Affect
Authors: Tarlow Sarah
Published: September 2012

The literature on the archaeology of emotion and affect is mostly quite recent and is not extensive. This review considers the main lines of approach taken so far and explores how different understandings of what constitutes an emotion underlie the work of archaeologists in this area. A distinction is made between past emotion as a subject of study and examination of the emotional subjectivity of the archaeologist as a method. The potential contribution of archaeology to emotion studies in the future includes bringing a sense of contextual historicity to the discussion and developing our knowledge of how material things and places are involved in shaping and expressing emotion. Inspired by some historians of emotion, a focus on shared emotional meanings, values, and codes seems a more productive direction than the exploration of idiosyncratic personal emotional experience.
Value of Perfusion CT, Transcranial Doppler Sonography, and Neurological Examination to Detect Delayed Vasospasm after Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
Authors: Kunze Ekkehard , Pham Mirko , Raslan Furat , Stetter Christian , Lee Jin-Yul , Solymosi Laszlo , Ernestus Ralf-Ingo , Vince Giles Hamilton , Westermaier Thomas
Published: September 2012

Background. If detected in time, delayed cerebral vasospasm after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) may be treated by balloon angioplasty or chemical vasospasmolysis in order to enhance cerebral blood flow (CBF) and protect the brain from ischemic damage. This study was conceived to compare the diagnostic accuracy of detailed neurological examination, Transcranial Doppler Sonography (TCD), and Perfusion-CT (PCT) to detect angiographic vasospasm.Methods. The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of delayed ischemic neurological deterioration (DIND), pathological findings on PCT-maps, and accelerations of the mean flow velocity (MVF) were calculated.Results. The accuracy of DIND to predict angiographic vasospasm was 0.88. An acceleration of MFV in TCD (>140 cm/s) had an accuracy of 0.64, positive PCT-findings of 0.69 with a higher sensitivity, and negative predictive value than TCD.Interpretation. Neurological assessment at close intervals is the most sensitive and specific parameter for cerebral vasospasm. PCT has a higher accuracy, sensitivity and negative predictive value than TCD. If detailed neurological evaluation is possible, it should be the leading parameter in the management and treatment decisions. If patients are not amenable to detailed neurological examination, PCT at regular intervals is a helpful tool to diagnose secondary vasospasm after aneurysmal SAH.
Nuclear and Mitochondrial DNA Repair in Selected Eukaryotic Aging Model Systems
Authors: Gredilla Ricardo , Garm Christian , Stevnsner Tinna
Published: September 2012

Knowledge about the different mechanisms underlying the aging process has increased exponentially in the last decades. The fact that the basic mechanisms involved in the aging process are believed to be universal allows the use of different model systems, from the simplest eukaryotic cells such as fungi to the most complex organisms such as mice or human. As our knowledge on the aging mechanisms in those model systems increases, our understanding of human aging and the potential interventions that we could approach rise significantly. Among the different mechanisms that have been implicated in the aging process, DNA repair is one of the processes which have been suggested to play an important role. Here, we review the latest investigations supporting the role of these mechanisms in the aging process, stressing how beneficial the use of different model systems is. We discuss how human genetic studies as well as several investigations on mammalian models and simpler eukaryotic organisms have contributed to a better understanding of the involvement of DNA repair mechanisms in aging.
Ion Transport through Diffusion Layer Controlled by Charge Mosaic Membrane
Authors: Yamauchi Akira
Published: September 2012

The kinetic transport behaviors in near interface of the membranes were studied using commercial anion and cation exchange membrane and charge mosaic membrane. Current-voltage curve gave the limiting current density that indicates the ceiling of conventional flux. From chronopotentiometry above the limiting current density, the transition time was estimated. The thickness of boundary layer was derived with conjunction with the conventional limiting current density and the transition time from steady state flux. On the other hand, the charge mosaic membrane was introduced in order to examine the ion transport on the membrane surface in detail. The concentration profile was discussed by the kinetic transport number with regard to the water dissociation (splitting) on the membrane surface.
Right Ventricular Outflow Tract Obstruction in Monochorionic Twins with Selective Intrauterine Growth Restriction
Authors: de Haseth S. B. , Haak M. C. , Roest A. A. W. , Rijlaarsdam M. E. B. , Oepkes D. , Lopriore E.
Published: September 2012

Monochorionic twin pregnancies are at increased risk of perinatal mortality and morbidity due to twin-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS), selective intrauterine growth restriction (sIUGR), and higher incidence of congenital heart malformations. The incidence of right ventricular outflow tract obstruction (RVOTO) in recipients with TTTS is known to be higher than in the general population. There is limited data on the risk of RVOTO in monochorionic twins with sIUGR. We report a case of RVOTO in the larger twin in a monochorionic twin pregnancy with sIUGR, treated successfully with balloon dilatation after birth.
Weight Gain, Metabolic Syndrome, and Breast Cancer Recurrence: Are Dietary Recommendations Supported by the Data?
Authors: Champ Colin E. , Volek Jeff S. , Siglin Joshua , Jin Lianjin , Simone Nicole L.
Published: September 2012

Metabolic syndrome, which can include weight gain and central obesity, elevated serum insulin and glucose, and insulin resistance, has been strongly associated with breast cancer recurrence and worse outcomes after treatment. Epidemiologic and prospective data do not show conclusive evidence as to which dietary factors may be responsible for these results. Current strategies employ low-fat diets which emphasize supplementing calories with increased intake of fruit, grain, and vegetable carbohydrate sources. Although results thus far have been inconclusive, recent randomized trials employing markedly different dietary strategies in noncancer patients may hold the key to reducing multiple risk factors in metabolic syndrome simultaneously which may prove to increase the long-term outcome of breast cancer patients and decrease recurrences. Since weight gain after breast cancer treatment confers a poor prognosis and may increase recurrence rates, large-scale randomized trials are needed to evaluate appropriate dietary interventions for our breast cancer patients.
Mapping Heat Health Risks in Urban Areas
Authors: Loughnan Margaret , Nicholls Neville , Tapper Nigel J.
Published: September 2012

Periods of extreme heat pose a risk to the health of individuals, especially the elderly, the very young, and the chronically ill. Risk factors include housing characteristics, and socioeconomic factors, or environmental risk factors such as urban heat islands. This study developed an index of population vulnerability in an urban setting using known environmental, demographic, and health-related risk factors for heat stress. The spatial variations in risk factors were correlated with spatial variation in heat-related health outcomes in urban Melbourne. The index was weighted using measured health outcomes during heatwave periods. The index was then mapped to produce a spatial representation of risk. The key risk factors were identified as areas with aged care facilities, higher proportions of older people living alone, living in suburban rather than inner city areas, and areas with larger proportions of people who spoke a language other than English at home. The maps of spatial vulnerability provide information to target heat-related health risks by aiding policy advisors, urban planners, healthcare professionals, and ancillary services to develop heatwave preparedness plans at a local scale.
Simultaneous Photocatalytic Reduction of Cr(VI) and Oxidation of Benzoic Acid in Aqueous N-F-Codoped TiO2Suspensions: Optimization and Modeling Using the Response Surface Methodology
Authors: Antonopoulou Maria , Giannakas Aris , Konstantinou Ioannis
Published: September 2012

The simultaneous photocatalytic reduction of Cr(VI) and oxidation of benzoic acid (BA) in aqueous suspensions using N-F-codoped TiO2and simulated solar irradiation were investigated in the present study. Chemometric optimization tools such as response surface methodology (RSM) and experimental design were used to model and optimize selected operational parameters of the simultaneous photocatalytic reduction of Cr(VI) and oxidation of BA. RSM was developed by considering a central composite design with three input variables, that are, N-F-codoped TiO2mass, ratio of Cr/BA, and pH. The removal of Cr(VI) and BA in binary systems, containing both Cr(VI) and BA, showed a synergistic photocatalytic decontamination as BA significantly facilitated Cr(VI) reduction, whereas Cr(VI) accelerated also BA degradation. Due to the anionic-type adsorption onto TiO2and its acid-catalyzed photocatalytic reduction, the removal of Cr(VI) decreased with increasing pH, while the degradation of BA followed also the same trend. Under the optimum conditions (N-F-TiO2) = 600 mg L−1, ratio of Cr(VI)/BA = 5, pH = 4, the removal for both Cr and BA followed a pseudo first-order kinetic model. It was found that the selected variables have significant effect both on Cr(VI) removal and BA degradation efficiency. The results revealed the feasibility and the effectiveness of using N-F-codoped TiO2as photocatalyst for simultaneous decontamination of Cr(VI) and organic pollutants such as BA due to the appropriate oxidation and reduction ability of the photogenerated h+VB-e−CBpairs.
Towards a Community-Based Integrated Institutional Framework for Ecotourism Management: The Case of the Masebe Nature Reserve, Limpopo Province of South Africa
Authors: Boonzaaier C. C.
Published: September 2012

Since it was first adopted in the 1980s, the Community-based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM) approach has played a significant role in environmental management. This paper argues that for the CBNRM approach to be relevant, functional, and sustainable, it has to be based on existing local institutional (authority) structures, which may have to be adapted, and it may even require new institutions to be created to comply with the requirements of sustainable nature conservation. The main aim of this paper is to propose a CBNRM model based on existing local community (authority) structures and to investigate its usefulness in an African setting. The Langa Ndebele chiefdom in the Limpopo Province of South Africa serves as a case study because it displays all the features necessary to explore the possible application of the proposed CBNRM model. Data was gathered by means of field research which involved detailed interviews and discussions with functionaries of the relevant institutions at grassroots level. Specific recommendations relating to the use of the model are made.
In Vitro Chloroquine Resistance in Plasmodium falciparum Isolates from Tertiary Care Hospital
Authors: Shujatullah Fatima , Khan Haris M. , Khatoon Abida , Khan Parvez A. , Ashfaq Mohammad
Published: September 2012

Chloroquine (CQ) has been the mainstay of treatment of malaria for decades. This cost-effective and safe drug has become ineffective for treatment
of falciparum malaria in many parts of the world due to development of resistance by the parasite. In addition CQ is not gametocytocidal for P. falciparum and thus cannot block transmission. The extent of problem of chloroquine resistance in
P. falciparum is increasing every year. The study was done in period of 2 years. A total of 5653 specimens were examined for malarial infection by employing different diagnostic modalities. Four hundred and thirty-five were found to be positive for P. falciparum by using different diagnostic techniques. All positive specimens were cultured on RPMI 1640 medium; only 108 were found to be culture positive. Sensitivity of isolates to chloroquine was done using Mark III WHO sensitivity plates.
The prevalence of malaria infection was found 9.54% in 2010. There were schizont formation at 8 pmol/liter or more of chloroquine concentration in 26 isolates. The emergence of chloroquine (CQ) resistance pattern
in Aligarh isolates increases. Antimalarial agents should be used with caution; monotherapies should be avoided.
Simple Model-Free Controller for the Stabilization of Planetary Inverted Pendulum
Authors: Mai Huanhuan , Huang Ying-Jeh , Liao Xiaofeng , Wu Ping-Chou
Published: September 2012

A simple model-free controller is presented for solving the nonlinear dynamic control problems. As an example of the problem, a planetary gear-type inverted pendulum (PIP) is discussed. To control the inherently unstable system which requires real-time control responses, the design of a smart and simple controller is made necessary. The model-free controller proposed includes a swing-up controller part and a stabilization controller part; neither controller has any information about the PIP. Since the input/output scaling parameters of the fuzzy controller are highly sensitive, we use genetic algorithm (GA) to obtain the optimal control parameters. The experimental results show the effectiveness and robustness of the present controller.