bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Self before Self-Consciousness: Hegel's Developmental Account
Authors: Dahlstrom Daniel
Published: August 2013

This paper examines three puzzles that arise from Hegel's account of the constitution of the self and self-consciousness. The puzzles mirror questions of the respective relation of (a) the self to self-consciousness, (b) self-consciousness to recognition of and by others, and (c) the struggle for recognition to ethical life. The paper argues that Hegel's developmental account of the constitution of the self and self-consciousness provides promising prospects for resolving puzzles about the status of the self before self-consciousness and the status of self-consciousness in the family before the struggle for recognition. However, the paper questions the adequacy of Hegel's account of ethical life, in view of the puzzle that it presents and appears unable to resolve. The paper suggests that Hegel's developmental account is too restrictive, since its move from a quest for mastery to mutual recognition apparently fails to account sufficiently for asymmetrical acts of generosity and sacrifice.
Conquest and Form: Narrativity in Joshua 5–11 and Historical Discourse in Ancient Judah
Authors: Wilson Ian Douglas
Published: August 2013

One goal of this essay is to offer an exploratory, historiographical analysis of the conquest account in the book of Joshua, an analysis that focuses upon the sociocultural milieu of ancient Judah. I propose to show how this narrative of conquest might have contributed to discourse(s) among the literate Judean community that perpetuated the text, and I will offer a few thoughts on the potential relationship between the narrative and the supposed cultic reforms of the late seventh centuryb.c.e. A number of biblical scholars have argued that the late monarchic period gave rise to the conquest story as recounted in Joshua. In this essay, I would like to pay special attention to precisely how this narrative might have functioned within the milieu of the late monarchic period, thus refining our understanding of the narrative's contribution to the discourses of this era and our knowledge of its relationship to other narratives that were probably extant at the same time. In other words, what particular features of the narrative might have had special import in this period? Specifically, I will argue that the narrative reveals certain discursive statements about Yahweh's cultic supremacy and about important cultic sites in late monarchic Judah, and that this is evident in particular narratival features that are present in the text.
Eugenio Pacelli—Man and Pope
Authors: O'Shea Paul
Published: August 2013

At the time of his death in October 1958, Pope Pius XII was remembered as a great and good man who had worked tirelessly for peace throughout his -nineteen-year pontificate. World leaders paid him fulsome tributes, and -accounts of his life and the details of his funeral were posted on the front pages of many of the world's leading newspapers and seen by hundreds of thousands on newsreels and television. Within the Catholic Church, Pius was the last of the great monarchical popes, a man who had lived his entire life within the framework of Vatican diplomacy, as an ambassador for two popes, secretary of state for one pope, and a detail-observant manager for close to two decades as pope himself. He was praised also for his support of new movements in the life of the church, notably a modern approach to the study of Scripture and the beginnings of significant reforms to the liturgy. There was, too, some relief that the stultification of the last years of the pope's life and fears of a new anti-Modernist campaign were over. The outpouring of grief at his passing was genuine, but there was a palpable sense that something had changed; an era was closing.
Management of incus long process defects: incus interposition versus incudostapedial rebridging with bone cement
Authors: Celenk F , Baglam T , Baysal E , Durucu C , Karatas Z A , Mumbuc S , Kanlikama M
Published: August 2013

Objective:

This study aimed to compare the hearing results of incus interposition and bone cement ossiculoplasty in patients with incus long process defects.

Materials and methods:

Ninety-nine patients with incus long process defects were included. Incus interposition was performed in 49 patients (group 1) and bone cement ossiculoplasty was performed in 50 patients (group 2). Group 1 included 29 female and 20 male patients, with a mean age ± standard deviation of 29.43 ± 12.5 years (range, 8–58 years). Group 2 comprised 32 female and 18 male patients, with a mean age ± standard deviation of 29.1 ± 14.89 years (range, 8–67 years).

Results:

The mean hearing gain ± standard deviation was 15.2 ± 9.01 dB in group 1 and 19.36 ± 9.08 dB in group 2. Hearing gain was significantly greater in the bone cement group than in the incus interposition group (p = 0.0186). Successful hearing results (i.e. air–bone gap < 20 dB) were achieved by 63.2 per cent of group 1 patients and 78 per cent of group 2 patients.

Conclusion:

Incus interposition and bone cement ossiculoplasty are safe and reliable methods with which to manage incus long process defects. Bone cement ossiculoplasty gives a greater hearing gain in appropriate cases.
Two new species of Malmidea from north-eastern Brazil
Authors: CÁCERES Marcela Eugenia da Silva , dos SANTOS Viviane Monique , de GÓES Drielle Tavares , MOTA Danyelle Andrade , APTROOT André
Published: August 2013

Two new species, Malmidea pallidoatlantica and Malmidea sulphureosorediata, are described from NE Brazil. The first is close to M. atlantica but differs by the hyaline or pale hypothecium. The second species is a bright golden yellow sorediate crust which is assigned to the genus Malmidea because it contains the same anthraquinone pigment as M. atlantica and M. pallidoatlantica. The three species together could be referred to as the Malmidea atlantica group. Both new species were found in Mata Atlântica fragments. Malmidea sulphureosorediata was found in the Serra da Jibóia, a mountain range with a maximum elevation of 800 m, in a transitional area between the Atlantic forest and Caatinga vegetation in Bahia State. Malmidea pallidoatlantica was found in Mata do Crasto, one of the most important Atlantic forest remnants in Sergipe. It is a well-preserved Mata Atlântica relict of c. 700 hectares, at sea level.
New species and new records in the familyGraphidaceae(Ascomycota:Ostropales) from Vietnam
Authors: JOSHI Santosh , JAYALAL Udeni , OH Soon-Ok , KOH Young Jin , NGUYEN Thi Thuy , DZUNG Nguyen Anh , HUR Jae-Seoun
Published: August 2013

Acanthothecis salazinicaandDiorygma archeriare described from Vietnam. The former is characterized by having a leprose thallus, creamish to whitish, entire, epruinose labia, a slit-like disc, a hyaline to brown, entire proper exciple, warty periphysoids, 8-spored asci, and 28–30-loculate, hyaline, I− ascospores, 70–120×7–14 µm in size. The latter has a greenish grey thallus, a poorly developed, hyaline to pale or brownish proper exciple, 1-spored asci, hyaline, muriform ascospores, and produces protocetraric acid.Acanthothecis corcovadensis,Diorygma erythrellum,D. junghuhnii,D. macgregorii,Platygramme platyloma,Pliariona montagneiandThecaria quassiicolaare recorded for the first time from the country.
Ameroconium cladoniaegen. et sp. nov. andPhoma psoromatissp. nov., new anamorphic lichenicolous fungi from the Holarctic
Authors: ZHURBENKO Mikhail P. , BRAUN Uwe
Published: August 2013

The new lichenicolous genusAmeroconium(dematiaceous hyphomycetes), with its type speciesA. cladoniaeand the new lichenicolous speciesPhoma psoromatis(pycnidial coelomycetes), are described, discussed and illustrated.Phoma lobariaeis recorded for the first time from the Arctic, Russia and Asia onLobaria linita.
Capronia paranectrioides (Herpotrichiellaceae, Ascomycota), a new lichenicolous fungus from Bolivia
Authors: ETAYO Javier , FLAKUS Adam , KUKWA Martin
Published: August 2013

The new lichenicolous Capronia paranectrioides Etayo, Flakus & Kukwa, inhabiting thalli of Erioderma leylandii, is described from Bolivia. The species is characterized by pale brown, submuriform and bicaudate ascospores, subglobose to barrel-shaped perithecia and I+ red, K/I+ pale blue hymenial gelatine. It is the first known Capronia species producing ascospores with long apical appendages.
Activity concentrations of radionuclides in lichens following the Fukushima nuclear accident
Authors: OHMURA Yoshihito , HOSAKA Kentaro , KASUYA Taiga , ABE Junichi P. , KAKISHIMA Makoto
Published: August 2013

The activity concentration of 131I, 134Cs and 137Cs radionuclides in lichens was traced one and a half months after the Fukushima nuclear accident. The samples were collected in Tsukuba City, which is located c. 170 km south of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant (NPP). The activity concentrations differed depending on species and habitat. For example, the maximum activity concentration of 137Cs was 22596 Bq kg–1 dry weight in Physcia orientalis (collected from the trunk of Zelkova serrata on 30 June 2011), and 1928 Bq kg–1 in Hyperphyscia crocata (from the trunk of Quercus myrsinaefolia collected on 8 March 2012). The activity concentration of 137Cs in Dirinaria applanata and Phaeophyscia spinellosa growing on vertical habitats decreased by c. 50% within a year, indicating radionuclides might have been washed off by rain. The radionuclides were apparently derived from the Fukushima NPP accident because: 1) one specimen collected at the same place one year before the accident did not contain radionuclides, 2) high activity concentrations of radionuclides were detected after the accident, 3) 131I, which has a short half-life of 8 days, was detected one and a half months after the accident, and 4) the ratio of 134Cs/137Cs in lichens was 0·90–0·98 on 26 April 2011, which is consistent with the values reported for radiocesium from the Fukushima NPP accident.
Pain in chronic fatigue syndrome: response to rehabilitative treatments in the PACE trial
Authors: Bourke J. H. , Johnson A. L. , Sharpe M. , Chalder T. , White P. D.
Published: August 2013

Background

Pain is a common symptom of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). We investigated the effects of the treatments used in the PACE trial [cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), graded exercise therapy (GET), adaptive pacing therapy (APT) and specialist medical care (SMC)] on pain in CFS.

Method

We compared pain outcomes including individual painful symptoms, taken from the CDC criteria for CFS and co-morbid fibromyalgia. We modelled outcomes adjusting for baseline variables with multiple linear regression.

Results

Significantly less frequent muscle pain was reported by patients following treatment with CBT compared to SMC (mean difference = 0.38 unit change in frequency, p = 0.02), GET versus SMC (0.42, p = 0.01) and GET versus APT (0.37, p = 0.01). Significantly less joint pain was reported following CBT versus APT (0.35, p = 0.02) and GET versus APT (0.36, p = 0.02). Co-morbid fibromyalgia was less frequent following GET versus SMC (0.03, p = 0.03). The effect sizes of these differences varied between 0.25 and 0.31 for muscle pain and 0.24 and 0.26 for joint pain. Treatment effects on pain were independent of ‘change in fatigue’.

Conclusions

CBT and GET were more effective in reducing the frequency of both muscle and joint pain than APT and SMC. When compared to SMC, GET also reduced the frequency of co-morbid fibromyalgia; the size of this effect on pain was small.
Bagging and boosting variants for handling classifications problems: a survey
Authors: Kotsiantis Sotiris B.
Published: August 2013

Bagging and boosting are two of the most well-known ensemble learning methods due to their theoretical performance guarantees and strong experimental results. Since bagging and boosting are an effective and open framework, several researchers have proposed their variants, some of which have turned out to have lower classification error than the original versions. This paper tried to summarize these variants and categorize them into groups. We hope that the references cited cover the major theoretical issues, and provide access to the main branches of the literature dealing with such methods, guiding the researcher in interesting research directions.
STUDY QUALITY IN SLA
Authors: Plonsky Luke
Published: August 2013

This study assesses research and reporting practices in quantitative second language (L2) research. A sample of 606 primary studies, published from 1990 to 2010 inLanguage LearningandStudies in Second Language Acquisition, was collected and coded for designs, statistical analyses, reporting practices, and outcomes (i.e., effect sizes). The results point to several systematic strengths as well as many flaws, such as a lack of control in experimental designs, incomplete and inconsistent reporting practices, and low statistical power. I discuss these trends, strengths, and weaknesses in comparison with methodological reviews of L2 research (e.g., Plonsky & Gass, 2011) as well as reviews from other fields (e.g., education, Skidmore & Thompson, 2010). On the basis of the findings, I also make a number of suggestions for methodological reforms in applied linguistics.
The Discourses on Post-National Governance and the Democratic Deicit Absent an EU Government
Authors: Pinelli Cesare
Published: August 2013

The enduring joint decision trap in the absence of European government – Postnational constitutionalism – The dismissal of politics – Accountability of government before parliament at the core of representative democracy – Internalising the benefits and of externalising the disadvantages of staying together in the Union possible as long as political accountability is not ensured in the EU system – Breathing political life into the EU through constitutional practice without formal Treaty amendment – A time-frame for approval of treaty amendments – EP and the election of Commission president
Case – Case-Law – Law: Ruiz Zambrano as an Illustration of How the Court of Justice of the European Union Constructs Its Legal Arguments
Authors: Šadl Urška
Published: August 2013

Reasoning of the Court of Justice of the European Union – Constr uction of arguments in the case-law of the Court – Citation technique – The use of formulas to transform case-law into ‘law’ – ‘Formulaic style’ – European citizenship as a fundamental status – Ruiz Zambrano – Reasoning from consequences – The use of social propositions
Procedural Rationality: Giving Teeth to the Proportionality Analysis
Authors: Popelier Patricia , Van De Heyning Catherine
Published: August 2013

Human rights protection – Proportionality – Deference – Procedural rationality – Process-review – Interplay national courts and Strasbourg court
Granted Constitutions. The Theory of octroi and Constitutional Experiments in Europe in the Aftermath of the French Revolution
Authors: Lacchè Luigi
Published: August 2013

The Charte and the octroi: the origins of the ‘model’ – Theory of the octroi: the tale of the king-patriarch – Absorbing the Revolution into the Monarchy – Different words to say ‘constitution’: Charte constitutionnelle, Landständische Verfassung, Statuto – The granted constitution as context of legitimacy: the monarchy comes before and is within the constitution – Interpreting the granted constitution – The fate of the monarchic constitution
Evaluating the Wording Effect and Psychometric Properties of the Kid-KINDL
Authors: Lin Chung-Ying , Luh Wei-Ming , Cheng Chung-Ping , Yang Ai-Lun , Ma Hui-Ing
Published: August 2013

Quality of life (QoL) instruments for children provide an important health index for school healthcare professionals to understand students’ overall health status. We investigated the psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the widely used Kid-KINDL and reported on the wording effect of its positively and negatively worded items. A convenience sample of 8- to 12-year-old students (n = 443) completed the Kid-KINDL; 89 of them completed it again 7–14 days later. The internal consistency was satisfactory in the total score (α = .87) and two subscales (α = .704 [emotional] and .853 [self-esteem]), but unsatisfactory for the other subscales (α = .578 [physical], .533 [friend], .520 [family], and .560 [school]). Test-retest reliability was acceptable in all the subscales and the total score (ICC > .6). A multitrait-multimethod design using several confirmatory factor analysis models confirmed the construct validity of the Kid-KINDL when the wording effect was taken into account (GFI = .912–.934, TLI = .889–.930, CFI = 0.910–.947, IFI = 0.912–0.948, RMSEA = 0.045–0.057, SRMR = .045–.056). We conclude that the Kid-KINDL is a reliable and valid tool for teachers to use to evaluate students’ QoL if the total score is used.
Optimal tracking over noisy channels in the presence of data dropouts
Authors: Guan Zhi‐Hong , Jiang Xiao‐Wei , Zhan Xi‐Sheng , Zhang Ding‐Xue , Yuan Fu‐Shun
Published: August 2013

This study investigates the optimal tracking performance of multiple‐input multiple‐output linear time‐invariant systems over a noisy channel in the feedback path. The communication channel is also subject to data dropouts, which was modelled as a binary stochastic process. The problem under consideration amounts to determining the minimal error in tracking a Brownian motion random process, which emulates a step reference signal in the deterministic setting. With the unity feedback and two‐parameter control structure, a lower bound and an exact expression of optimal tracking performance are obtained respectively. It is shown how the noise may degenerate the tracking performance and how the data dropouts effect may intertwine with unstable poles and non‐minimum phase zeros, including the location and direction, which are intrinsic characteristics of the plant. Finally, computer simulations are provided to illustrate the analytical results obtained.
Stabilisation of commensurate fractional‐order polytopic non‐linear differential inclusion subject to input non‐linearity and unknown disturbances
Authors: Abooee Ali , Haeri Mohammad
Published: August 2013

In this study, a fractional‐order adaptive‐sliding mode control (SMC) scheme is proposed to stabilise commensurate fractional‐order polytopic non‐linear differential inclusion systems containing sector and dead‐zone nonlinearities in the control inputs and unknown bounded disturbances. The suggested control method is composed of fractional‐order sliding surfaces, adaptive‐SMC inputs and adaptation laws for unknown bounds of disturbances. The Lyapunov stability theorem is used to prove the stability of the closed‐loop system. A practical system and two numerical examples are simulated to show the effectiveness and performance of the proposed control technique.
Adaptive filtering for jump Markov systems with unknown noise covariance
Authors: Li Wenling , Jia Yingmin
Published: August 2013

The paper proposed an adaptive filter for jump Markov systems with unknown measurement noise covariance. The filter is derived by treating covariance as a random matrix and an inverse‐Wishart distribution is adopted as the conjugate prior. The variational Bayesian approximation method is employed to derive mode‐conditioned estimates and mode‐likelihood functions in the framework of interacting multiple model. A numerical example is provided to illustrate the performance of the proposed filter.
Finite‐time cooperative‐tracking control for networked Euler–Lagrange systems
Authors: Chen Gang , Yue Yuanlong , Song Yongduan
Published: August 2013

This study investigates the finite‐time cooperative‐tracking problem for a class of networked Euler–Lagrange systems with a leader–follower structure, where the leader has an active dynamics and only a subset of the followers have access to the leader system. A novel framework for the design of finite‐time cooperative‐tracking controller is proposed by using sliding‐mode control theory and graph theory. First, a finite‐time sliding‐mode tracking protocol is proposed for the networked Lagrange systems in the presence of bounded model uncertainties and external disturbances. Under the condition that the bounds of the model uncertainties and external disturbances are unknown, adaptive finite‐time cooperative‐tracking protocol is then presented. The finite convergence time is also estimated. Finally, we analyse the tracking performance of the networked uncertain Lagrange systems under the action of a continuous control protocol, which guarantees that the tracking errors converge to an arbitrarily small bound around zero in finite time. Simulation examples are presented to show the effectiveness of the obtained theoretical results.
Output‐feedback sliding‐mode control of multivariable systems with uncertain time‐varying state delays and unmatched non‐linearities
Authors: Coutinho Camila Lobo , Oliveira Tiago Roux , Cunha José Paulo V. S.
Published: August 2013

An output‐feedback sliding‐mode controller is proposed for multivariable uncertain systems with unknown time‐varying state delays and unmatched non‐linear terms. The non‐linearities are allowed to depend not only on the system output, but also on its unmeasurable state, and can be polynomial. This scheme is based on model‐reference unit vector control under a mild Hurwitz condition for the high‐frequency gain matrix. To achieve global stability properties, the amplitude of the control signal is given by a norm observer for the unmeasured state. For the first time, the design of norm observers is applied to a class of time‐delay systems. This approach guarantees finite‐time convergence of the output‐tracking error to zero. Simulation results illustrate the application of the developed control scheme.
Mitigation of distorted and unbalanced stator voltage of stand‐alone doubly fed induction generators using repetitive control technique
Authors: Wei Feng , Zhang Xinan , Vilathgamuwa Don Mahinda , Choi San Shing , Wang Shuai
Published: August 2013

Unbalanced or non‐linear loads result in distorted stator currents and electromagnetic torque pulsations in stand‐alone doubly fed induction generators (DFIGs). This study proposes the use of a proportional‐integral repetitive control (PIRC) scheme so as to mitigate the levels of harmonic and unbalance at the stator terminals of the DFIG. The PIRC is structurally simpler and requires much less computation than existing methods. Analysis of the PIRC operation and the methodology to determine the control parameters is included. Simulation study as well as laboratory test measurements demonstrate clearly the effectiveness of the proposed PIRC control scheme.
Design and implementation of an observer‐based state feedback controller for a pseudo direct drive
Authors: Bouheraoua Mohammed , Wang Jiabin , Atallah Kais
Published: August 2013

A pseudo direct drive (PDD) permanent magnet (PM) machine, realised by a mechanical and magnetic integration of a PM machine and a magnetic gear can achieve torque densities in excess of 60 kNm/m3. Since the torque in the PDD machine is transmitted to the load through a relatively low‐stiff magnetic gear, undesirable speed/position oscillations become significant. This study addresses the pertinent issues associated with PDD operation and control. A full‐state feedback (SFBK) control strategy has been employed and the feedback gains are optimally tuned by genetic algorithm against a defined performance index and under torque, current and voltage limits. To realise this control strategy at low cost, a reduced order observer has been designed and implemented to reconstruct the system states required for the SFBK control. It has been shown that the proposed control strategy and tuning method are effective in suppressing torsional oscillation, and for improving PDD servo operation and control performance. Experimental results have demonstrated the effectiveness of the proposed control technique.
Joint resource allocation and relay selection via genetic algorithm in multi‐user decode‐and‐forward cooperative systems
Authors: Fang Wen‐Hsien , Chen Chien‐Fu , Lang Hung‐Sheng
Published: August 2013

This study presents a joint consideration of the relay subset selection, bandwidth allocation and power distribution in multi‐user decode‐and‐forward cooperative networks. The upper bound for the optimisation problem considered is first determined by ignoring some constraints. Thereafter, a genetic algorithm (GA) is addressed to resolve the mixed‐integer non‐linear programming problem involved. To accommodate this joint consideration, each chromosome in the proposed GA is divided into an integer string for relay selection, and two real number strings for bandwidth allocation and power distribution. In addition, new crossover and mutation operations are employed for this new type of chromosomes. To alleviate the complexity overhead, a low‐complexity two‐stage implementation is also addressed. Conducted simulations show that both of the proposed GA and the two‐stage implementation can attain close performance as the upper bound and outperform some representative previous works. The two‐stage implementation is in particular appealing by exhibiting negligible performance degradation with reduced computations.
Parallel switch‐based chopper circuit for DC capacitor voltage balancing in diode‐clamped multilevel inverter
Authors: Ajami Ali , Shokri Hossein , Mokhberdoran Ataollah
Published: August 2013

In recent years, the multilevel inverters have become a practical solution for high‐voltage application and power quality issues. In all multilevel topologies with several DC links, the voltage balancing of DC capacitors is known as a key problem. In this study, a novel topology of chopper circuit for DC capacitor voltage balancing in diode‐clamped multilevel inverters (DCMLIs) is proposed. Presented topology has less number of switches with respect to other proposed topologies in literatures. Suggested topology is modular and has high reliability. Based on the presented control system for chopper switches, only one switch is turned on at each interval. Therefore the conduction and switching losses of the chopper circuit are reduced. Referring to the simulation results, fast dynamic response of suggested chopper and reduction in voltage stress on switches can be seen clearly. Computer‐aided simulations are performed through MATLAB Simulink software. A prototype chopper circuit has been implemented and tested. The experimental results are also presented to verify the performance of the proposed chopper circuit and its control system for DC capacitors voltage balancing in DCMLIs.
Compressive sensing‐based ground moving target indication for dual‐channel synthetic aperture radar
Authors: Weiwei Wang , Guisheng Liao , ShengQi Zhu , Jie Zhang
Published: August 2013

Multi‐channel synthetic aperture radar (SAR) system has excellent performance of main‐lobe clutter suppression. However, the resulting enormous amount of sampling raw data increases storage and transmission load. To alleviate such payloads, the authors propose a SAR/ground moving target indication (GMTI) method using compressive sensing (CS) with a very limited number of echo samples, based on the fact that the moving targets are usually sparse although clutter scattering centres are non‐sparse in most cases. In the proposed method, dual channel SAR data are sampled sparsely in the azimuth direction and jointly processed. Firstly, a transform matrix is constructed to separate the energy support areas of moving targets from that of all scattering centres. Then, the authors can roughly obtain the energy support areas of all scattering centres via CS. Finally, based on the acquired energy support areas above, GMTI is achieved by solving a weighted l1 optimisation problem. Simulated and real data experiments demonstrate that the proposed method performs well with reduced sampled raw data, even if clutter scattering centres have a low‐sparse level.
Adaptive noise variance identification for probability hypothesis density‐based multi‐target filter by variational Bayesian approximations
Authors: Wu Xinhui , Huang Gao Ming , Gao Jun
Published: August 2013

A new extended probability hypothesis density (PHD) filter is proposed for joint estimation of the time‐varying number of targets and their states without the measurement noise variance. The extended PHD filter can adaptively learn the unknown noise parameters at each scan time by using the received measurements. With the decomposition of the posterior intensity separated into Gaussian and Inverse‐Gamma components, the closed‐form solutions to the extended PHD filter are derived by using the variational Bayesian approximations, which have been proved as a simple, analytically tractable method to approximate the posterior intensity of multi‐target states and time‐varying noise variances. Simulation results show that the proposed filter can accommodate the unknown measurement variances effectively, and improve the estimation accuracy of both the number of targets and their states.
Airborne ultrasonic image generation with biomimetic sonar head
Authors: Aiordachioaie Dorel , Frangu Laurentiu , Epure Silviu
Published: August 2013

This work presents the results of airborne ultrasonic image generation based on biomimetic sonar heads. Ultrasonic images refer to the representation of the environment with the help of ultrasonic waves and based on sonar principle. The generation of ultrasonic images is based on the classical methodology of the sonar, having target detection and classification purposes as main applications. An element of the image (which could be assimilated as pixel) has the intensity proportional to signals reflected by the surface of objects in the explored environment. Sonar heads with biomimetic functional behaviour (i.e. having one emitter and two receivers) were built. The key motivation in deploying such sonar heads is efficiency, that is, simplicity combined with acceptable performances based on ultrasonic image processing. Simplicity is related to modularity and portable structure, in the sense of computer's portability. Biomimetism has a double meaning, by the structure of the sonar head and by the nature of the exploring algorithms (which use observations on bat behaviour). This work considers airborne ultrasonic images at distances less than one metre and with fixed working frequency (40 kHz). The preliminary results show the feasibility of the approach and consolidate a research direction focused on navigation based on airborne ultrasonic image processing.
Improved trilinear decomposition‐based method for angle estimation in multiple‐input multiple‐output radar
Authors: Li Jianfeng , Zhou Ming
Published: August 2013

The joint direction of departure and direction of arrival estimation in bistatic multiple‐input multiple‐output radar is considered and an algorithm for the joint estimation is proposed. Through unitary transformation, the transmit direction matrix is transformed to be real‐valued, and through data expansion based on the structure of the Vandermonde‐like matrix, the receive array is twice as long as that of the conventional method. Then the trilinear decomposition can be used to obtain the estimations of the expanded receive direction matrix and real‐valued transmit direction matrix, which contain the angle information. Finally the angles can be jointly estimated by using normalisation and least squares. The proposed algorithm requires no spectral peak searching and can achieve automatically paired estimations of angles, and it has better angle estimation performance and can detect more targets than the conventional trilinear decomposition‐based method. Simulation results verify the performance of the proposed algorithm.
Detection of high‐speed and accelerated target based on the linear frequency modulation radar
Authors: suo Pang cun , Tao Shan , Tao Ran , Nan Zhang
Published: August 2013

The high‐speed movement of a target may cause range migration and Doppler frequency migration of the radar echo, which has a serious impact on the detection performance of the radar. To resolve the problem of detecting a high‐speed target in linear frequency modulation radar, this study analyses the effect on the integration gain caused by range migration and Doppler frequency migration, and proposes a corresponding compensation method according to the different input signal‐to‐noise ratios (SNRs) of the echo signal. To compensate for range migration in high SNRs, two‐dimensional median filtering and constant false alarm rate technology are combined to estimate the speed. For low SNRs, based on coarse valuations, the authors use the discrete Fourier transformation (DFT) to realise the fractional delay cell to improve speed accuracy. Furthermore, to compensate for Doppler frequency migration, an instantaneous cross‐correlation method is proposed for high SNRs, which is combined with the fractional Fourier transform method to estimate the acceleration for low SNRs. The input SNR threshold for the different algorithms is then analysed using simulation data, and the theoretical reference value is shown. Finally, the study verifies the effectiveness of the proposed methods through simulation and measured data.
Channel balancing algorithm in multichannel wide‐area surveillance systems
Authors: Yan He , Wang Robert Yu , Gao Canguan , Liu Ya Bo , Zheng Mingjie , Deng Yunkai
Published: August 2013

Channel balancing is one of the crucial steps to obtain a satisfactory result in multichannel moving target detection. Therefore many algorithms have been proposed to realise channel balancing in multichannel synthetic aperture radar (SAR)‐ground moving target indication (GMTI) systems, such as an adaptive two‐dimensional calibration algorithm, linear fitting algorithm and eigen‐decomposition algorithm. However, all of these aforementioned algorithms have some small defects in certain conditions, when used in the real data of multichannel wide area surveillance (WAS)–GMTI systems. The small defects can increase the false alarm probability, which is undesirable in moving target detection. In this study, after the detailed analysis about the interference phase in the wide‐area surveillance mode, a novel channel balancing algorithm is proposed to perform channel balancing in multichannel WAS–GMTI systems. The new algorithm mainly concentrates on the balancing of systematic azimuthal phase errors. The effectiveness of the proposed algorithm is demonstrated when compared with other typical channel balancing algorithms in Monte Carlo simulations and real data processing.
Development and performance evaluation of generalised Doppler compensated adaptive pulse compression algorithm
Authors: Baghel Vikas , Panda Ganapati
Published: August 2013

The adaptive pulse compression (APC) algorithm is superior to conventional normalised matched filter (NMF) and least square mismatched filter techniques. However, its performance degrades for non‐stationary targets in noisy condition as the algorithm has not taken into consideration the Doppler shift effect. On the other hand, the recently reported Doppler compensated APC (DC‐APC) technique performs well only for non‐stationary objects. Thus, there is a need to develop an algorithm that would work efficiently both for stationary and non‐stationary conditions. Keeping this in view, a generalised APC (G‐APC) algorithm is developed in which the effect of target Doppler is incorporated in the received signal model. The efficacy of the proposed algorithm has been evaluated through five different cases. The results of the simulation study demonstrate comparable and superior performance of the proposed G‐APC over several pulse compression models based on NMF, APC and DC‐APC in all cases.
Methodology for online biometric analysis of soil test–crop response datasets
Authors: Dyson C. B. , Conyers M. K.
Published: August 2013

Comprehensive data on grain yield responsiveness to applications of the major nutrients nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, sulfur in Australian cropping experiments have been assembled in the Better Fertiliser Decisions for Cropping (BFDC) National Database for scrutiny by the BFDC Interrogator. The database contains the results of individual field experiments on nutrient response that need to be collectively integrated into a model that predicts probable grain yield response from soil tests. The potential degree of grain yield responsiveness (relative yield, RY%) is related to nutrient concentration in the soil (soil test value, STV) across a range of experimental sites and conditions for each nutrient. The RY% is defined as RY = Y0/Ymax *100, where Y0 is the yield without applied nutrient, and Ymax is the yield which could be attained through adequate application of the nutrient, given sufficiency of all other nutrients. The raw data for RY and STV are transformed so that a linear regression model can be applied. The BFDC Interrogator uses the arcsine-log calibration curve (ALCC) algorithm to estimate a critical soil test value (CSTV) for a given nutrient. The CSTV is defined as the value that would, on average for the broad agronomic circumstances of the incoming crop, lead to a specified percentage of Ymax (e.g. RY = 90%) without any application of that nutrient. This paper describes the ALCC algorithm, which has been developed to ensure that such estimated CSTVs, with safeguards, are reliable and to as high a precision as is realistic.
Making Better Fertiliser Decisions for Cropping Systems in Australia: an overview
Authors: Speirs Simon D. , Reuter Doug J. , Peverill Ken I. , Brennan Ross F.
Published: August 2013

Australian grain production depends on applied fertiliser, particularly nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P), and to a lesser extent potassium (K) and sulfur (S). Despite this dependence, soil testing is used sparingly as a tool to underpin fertiliser decisions. Some grain producers typically conduct soil tests at least once every 3 years on a selection of individual fields, but it is broadly understood that many grain producers use soil testing rarely or not at all. The choice by many grain producers not to support fertiliser decisions by soil testing relates to several factors. One key factor has been a perception that soil test interpretation criteria, previously published separately before collation by K. I. Peverill, L. A. Sparrow, and D. J. Reuter, may be biased or unreliable. The current paper provides an overview of research findings, presented in this special edition of Crop & Pasture Science, describing a national approach to the collation of all available and statistically valid N, P, K, and S response trials for cereal, oilseed, and pulse crops in Australia. It provides an overview of the process adopted to make this single national dataset available to both the grains and fertiliser industries. The process to build adoption has formed an integral component of the approach, as calibration data derived from the national database are being used to underpin soil test interpretation as part of fertiliser recommendations made through Fertcare to grain producers in Australia.
Soil sulfur—crop response calibration relationships and criteria for field crops grown in Australia
Authors: Anderson Geoffrey C. , Peverill Ken I. , Brennan Ross F.
Published: August 2013

Accurate definition of the sulfur (S) soil test–crop grain yield increase (response) relationship is required before soil S test measurements can be used to if there are likely to be responses to S fertilisers. An analysis was done using the Better Fertiliser Decision for Crops (BFDC) National Database using a web application (BFDC Interrogator) to develop calibration relationships between soil S tests (KCl-40 and MCP) using a selection of sampling depths and grain relative yields (RY). Critical soil test values (CSTV) and critical soil test ranges (CSTR) were defined at RY 90%. The ability of the KCl-40 extractable S soil test to predict grain yield response to applied S fertiliser was examined for wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) grown in Western Australia (WA), New South Wales (NSW), and Victoria and canola (Brassica napus L.) grown in WA and NSW. A smaller dataset using MCPi-extractable S was also assessed.
The WA-grown wheat KCl-40 S CSTV, using sampling depth to 30 cm for soil types Chromosols (Coloured), Chromosols (Sesqui-Nodular), Kandosols (Grey and Yellow), Tenosols (Brown and Yellow), and Tenosols (Grey, Sesqui-Nodular), was 2.8 mg kg–1 with an associated CSTR 2.4–3.2 mg kg–1 and a correlation coefficient (r) 0.87. Similarly, KCl-40 S CSTV was defined using sampling depth to 10 cm for these selected soil types and for wheat grown on Vertosols in NSW. The accuracy of the KCl-40 S CSTV for canola grown in WA was improved using a sampling to a depth of 30 cm instead of 10 cm for all soil types. The canola KCl-40 S CSTV using sampling depth to 30 cm for these soil types was 7.2 mg kg–1 with an associated CSTR 6.8–7.5 and an r value 0.70. A similar KCl-40 S CSTV of 7.0 mg kg–1 was defined using a sampling depth of 10 cm, but the CSTR was higher (6.4–7.7 mg kg–1) and the r value lower (0.43). A lower KCl-40 S CSTV of 3.9 mg kg–1 or 31.0 kg ha–1 using a sampling depth of 60 cm was defined for canola grown in NSW using a limited number of S-rate calibration treatment series. Both MCPi (r = 0.32) and KCl-40 (r <0.20) soil S test–NSW canola response relationships using a 0–10 cm sampling depth were weak.
The wheat KCl-40 S CSTR of 2.4–3.2 mg kg–1 can be used widely on soil types where soil sulfate is not leached during the growing season. However, both the WA canola CSTR of 6.4–7.2 mg kg–1 using a sampling depth of 30 cm and NSW canola CSTR of 25–39 kg ha–1 or 3.1–4.9 mg kg–1 using a sampling depth of 60 cm can be considered in regions outside of WA and NSW.
Applying Mindful Evidence-Based Practice at the Bedside Using Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infection as a Model
Authors: Kiyoshi-Teo Hiroko , Krein Sarah L. , Saint Sanjay
Published: August 2013

We introduce a mindful evidence-based practice model to operationalize mindfulness to improve bedside infection prevention practices. Using catheter-associated urinary tract infection prevention as an example, we illustrate how clinicians can be more mindful about appropriate catheter indications and timely catheter removal.
Impact of Antibiotic Use during Hospitalization on the Development of Gastrointestinal Colonization with Escherichia coli with Reduced Fluoroquinolone Susceptibility
Authors: Han Jennifer H. , Bilker Warren B. , Nachamkin Irving , Tolomeo Pam , Mao Xiangqun , Fishman Neil O. , Lautenbach Ebbing
Published: August 2013

Objective.

Infections due to fluoroquinolone-resistant Escherichia coli (FQREC) are associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Fluoroquinolone resistance likely arises at the level of gastrointestinal colonization. The objective of this study was to identify risk factors for the development of FQREC gastrointestinal tract colonization in hospitalized patients, including the impact of antibiotics prescribed during hospitalization.

Design.

A prospective cohort study was conducted from 2002 to 2004 within a university health system.

Methods.

Hospitalized patients initially colonized with fluoroquinolone-susceptible E. coli were followed up with serial fecal sampling for new FQREC colonization or until hospital discharge or death. A Cox proportional hazards regression model was developed to identify risk factors for new FQREC colonization, with antibiotic exposure modeled as time-varying covariates.

Results.

Of 395 subjects, 73 (18.5%) became newly colonized with FQREC. Length of stay before sampling (hazard ratio [HR], 1.02 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.1–1.03]; P = .003) and malignancy (HR, 0.37 [95% CI, 0.21–0.67]; P = .001) were significantly associated with the development of FQREC colonization. In addition, receipt of a first-generation cephalosporin (HR, 1.19 [95% CI, 1.10–1.29]; P<.001) or cefepime (HR, 1.05 [95% CI, 1.00–1.10]; P = .048) during hospitalization increased the risk of new FQREC colonization.

Conclusions.

The acquisition of FQREC in the hospital setting is complex, and antimicrobial stewardship programs should take into account patterns of antibiotic use in implementing strategies to reduce the development of new FQREC colonization. Future studies are needed to identify risk factors for infection in hospitalized patients newly colonized with FQREC.
Bed Occupancy Rates and Hospital-Acquired Clostridium difficile Infection: A Cohort Study
Authors: Ahyow Lauren C. , Lambert Paul C. , Jenkins David R. , Neal Keith R. , Tobin Martin
Published: August 2013

Background.

An emergent strain (ribotype 027) of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) has been implicated in epidemics worldwide. Organizational factors such as bed occupancy have been associated with an increased incidence of CDI; however, the data are sparse, and the association has not been widely demonstrated. We investigated the association of bed occupancy and CDI within a large hospital organization in the United Kingdom.

Objective.

To establish whether bed occupancy rates are a significant risk factor for CDI in the general ward setting.

Methods.

A retrospective cohort study was carried out on data from 2006 to 2008. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression modeling was used to examine the strength and significance of the associations. Variables included patient characteristics, antibiotic policy exposure, case mix, and bed occupancy rates.

Results.

A total of 1,589 cases of hospital-acquired CDI were diagnosed (1.7% of admissions), with an overall infection rate of 2.16 per 1,000 patient-days. Median bed occupancy was 93.3% (interquartile range, 83.3%–100%) Univariate and multivariate analyses showed positive and statistically significant associations. In the adjusted model, patients on wards with occupancy rates of 80%–89.9% had rates of CDI that were 56% higher (hazard ratio, 1.56 [95% confidence interval, 1.18–2.04]; P<.001) compared with baseline (0%–69.9% occupancy). CDI rates were 55% higher for patients on wards with maximal bed occupancy (100%).

Conclusions.

There is strong evidence of an association between high bed occupancy and CDI. Without effective interventions at high levels of bed occupancy, the economic benefits sought from reducing bed numbers may be negated by the increased risk of CDI.
A duality principle for selection games
Authors: Levine Lionel , Sheffield Scott , Stange Katherine
Published: August 2013

A dinner table seats

k
k

guests and holds

n
n

discrete morsels of food. Guests select morsels in turn until all are consumed. Each guest has a ranking of the morsels according to how much he would enjoy eating them; these rankings are commonly known.

A gallant knight always prefers one food division over another if it provides strictly more enjoyable collections of food to one or more other players (without giving a less enjoyable collection to any other player), even if it makes his own collection less enjoyable. A boorish lout always selects the morsel that gives him the most enjoyment on the current turn regardless of future consumption by himself and others.

We show that the way the food is divided when all guests are gallant knights is the same as when all guests are boorish louts, but turn order is reversed. This implies and generalizes a classical result of Kohler and Chandrasekaran (1971) about two players strategically maximizing their own enjoyments. We also treat the case where the table contains a mixture of boorish louts and gallant knights.

Our main result can also be formulated in terms of games in which selections are made by groups. In this formulation, the surprising fact is that a group can always find a selection that is simultaneously optimal for each member of the group.