Showing papers by "Applied Science Private University published in 2007"
TL;DR: It was found that the three-pseudocomponent model with n-order kinetics ( model II) is more accurate than the model with first-order Kinetics (model I) and this model is more realistic with respect to the chemical interpretation of the reaction order.
196 citations
TL;DR: This paper presents a cursive character recognizer, a crucial module in any cursive word recognition system based on a segmentation and recognition approach, which is achieved by using support vector machines (SVMs) and a neural gas.
90 citations
25 Apr 2007-Materials Science and Engineering A-structural Materials Properties Microstructure and Processing
TL;DR: In this paper, an orthorhombic mullite whisker with a diameter of 0.6-1.8μm (aspect ratio >30) was manufactured by firing compacts of coal fly ash and NH4Al(SO4)2·12H2O powders, with a small addition of NaH2PO4·2H 2O, at 1300-°C for 10h.
Abstract: Alumina-deficient (Al2O3/SiO2 = 1.12, molar ratio), orthorhombic mullite whiskers with a diameter of 0.6–1.8 μm (aspect ratio >30) have been manufactured by firing compacts of coal fly ash and NH4Al(SO4)2·12H2O powders, with a small addition of NaH2PO4·2H2O, at 1300 °C for 10 h. The manufacturing process, the morphology, and structure of the whiskers are described.
80 citations
TL;DR: A threat-related processing bias of visual information on a painful body location was demonstrated and it seems that interruption by pain is not absolute and that pain prioritizes the processing of other perceptual information that it spatially related to the pain.
75 citations
TL;DR: In this article, a supervised neural network approach was proposed for the determination of photometric redshifts, which was fine-tuned to match the characteristics of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS).
Abstract: We present a supervised neural network approach to the determination of photometric redshifts. The method was fine-tuned to match the characteristics of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey, and as base of "a priori" knowledge, it exploits the rich wealth of spectroscopic redshifts provided by this survey. In order to train, validate, and test the networks, we used two galaxy samples drawn from the SDSS spectroscopic data set, namely, the general galaxy sample (GG) and the luminous red galaxy subsample (LRG). The method consists of a two-step approach. In the first step, objects are classified as nearby (z < 0.25) and distant (0.25 < z < 0.50), with an accuracy estimated as 97.52%. In the second step, two different networks are separately trained on objects belonging to the two redshift ranges. Using a standard multilayer perceptron operated in a Bayesian framework, the optimal architectures were found to require one hidden layer of 24 (24) and 24 (25) neurons for the GG (LRG) sample. The final results on the GG data set give a robust σz 0.0208 over the redshift range and σz 0.0197 and 0.0238 for the nearby and distant samples, respectively. For the LRG subsample we find instead a robust σz 0.0164 over the whole range, and σz 0.0160 and 0.0183 for the nearby and distant samples, respectively. After training, the networks have been applied to all objects in the SDSS table GALAXY matching the same selection criteria adopted to build the base of knowledge, and photometric redshifts for circa 30 million galaxies having z < 0.5 were derived. A catalog containing redshifts for the LRG subsample was also produced.
58 citations
01 Nov 2007
TL;DR: A new component labeling algorithm which is based on scanning and labeling the objects in a single scan, which has the ability to test the four and eight connected branches of the object.
Abstract: This paper, presents a new component labeling algorithm which is based on scanning and labeling the objects in a single scan. The algorithm has the ability to test the four and eight connected branches of the object. This algorithm, which is fast and requires low memory allocation, can also process an image that contains large numbers of objects. The algorithm is used to scan the image from left to right and from top to bottom to find the unlabeled objects. A comparison analysis is performed with other component labeling algorithms. Our algorithm has shown an outstanding performance with respect to the processing time. A practical application with computer based mammography is also included.
56 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors focused on the numerical simulation of fluid flow in the 3D microstructure of asphalt concrete, and the calculation of permeability from the flow field using the non-destructive X-ray computed tomography (CT) technique.
55 citations
TL;DR: Significant cytotoxicity against MDA-MB-231, CaOV-3, MCF-7 and HeLa cancer cell-lines was demonstrated by cantleyanones B-D, 7-hydroxyforbesione, deoxygaudichaudione A and macranthol, with IC(50) values ranging from 0.22 to 17.17 microg/ml.
43 citations
TL;DR: It is found that ozone exhibits a marked seasonal cycle, whose maxima appears during the summer season, but the discrimination with respect to the area of origin indicated the presence of a second relative maxima, appearing early during the spring season.
41 citations
TL;DR: It was concluded that platelet lysis did not contribute to the reduction in platelet adhesion characteristic observed on the SMM-treated surfaces, and the work emphasizes that the platelet activation cannot be inferred to by assessing the quantity of fibrinogen as is commonly done in the literature.
Abstract: A polyetherurethane (PU) was modified using fluorinated surface-modifying macromolecules (SMMs). A double radiolabel method was used simultaneously to measure the number of adhered platelets (51Cr) and the quantity of adsorbed Fg (125I), in a cone-and-plate instrument. The objectives were to determine if adsorbed Fg levels correlated to platelet adhesion on the surfaces, and to assess if any reductions in platelet adhesion for the SMM-treated surfaces resulted from surface-induced platelet lysis, rather than changes directly related to lower platelet activation and attachment on the novel surfaces. Platelet lysis was determined from lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and unbound 51Cr released into plasma isolated from whole blood exposed to test materials. The corresponding Fg adsorption, evaluated under the same platelet adhesion conditions, did not account for the reduced platelet adhesion on the treated surfaces. LDH and 51Cr platelet release were very low and indicated no statistically significant differences between the materials. It was therefore concluded that platelet lysis did not contribute to the reduction in platelet adhesion characteristic observed on the SMM-treated surfaces. More importantly, the work emphasizes that the platelet activation cannot be inferred to by assessing the quantity of fibrinogen as is commonly done in the literature. The finding suggests a much more complex mechanism of action for the SMM surface modifiers. On-going work is investigating other Fg parameters such as protein binding affinity and protein conformational state in order to establish the mechanism by which the fluorinated surface modifiers may be reducing platelet adhesion via intermediary changes in initial protein adsorption. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res 2007
39 citations
TL;DR: It is found that a linearized laser model extrapolated from relaxation oscillation theory, combined with a thermal model, adequately describe the principal features of the response from <1 Hz to 10 MHz.
Abstract: The amplitude and envelope phase noise of a modelocked laser are shown to depend directly on the pump laser amplitude stability. We characterize the sensitivity of this process by a noise transfer function which represents the complex amplitude-to-amplitude modulation (AM-AM) and amplitude-to-phase modulation (AM-PM) conversion gain of the pump-induced amplitude and phase noise, respectively. We find that a linearized laser model extrapolated from relaxation oscillation theory, combined with a thermal model, adequately describe the principal features of the response from <1 Hz to 10 MHz.
TL;DR: The theoretical basis is introduced and the analysis of model results obtained during the ETEX-1 exercise are applied, supporting the heuristic approach called "median model", originally intro- duced in Galmarini et al. (2004a, b).
Abstract: In this paper we present an approach for the statistical analysis of multi-model ensemble results. The models considered here are operational long-range transport and dispersion models, also used for the real-time simulation of pollutant dispersion or the accidental release of radioactive nuclides. We first introduce the theoretical basis (with its roots sinking into the Bayes theorem) and then apply this approach to the analysis of model results obtained during the ETEX-1 exercise. We recover some interesting results, supporting the heuristic approach called "median model", originally introduced in Galmarini et al. (2004a, b). This approach also provides a way to systematically reduce (and quantify) model uncertainties, thus supporting the decision-making process and/or regulatory-purpose activities in a very effective manner.
TL;DR: In this paper, the performance of hexavalent chromium reduction by sulfide in the presence of goethite was studied through several batch experiments under specific experimental conditions including 20 μM, 560-1117 μM of sulfide, and 1061-3713 m2/L of Goethite at pH of 845 controlled by borate buffer.
Abstract: Hexavalent chromium reduction by sulfide in the presence of goethite was studied through several batch experiments Under our specific experimental conditions including 20 μM of hexavalent chromium, 560-1117 μM of sulfide and 1061-3713 m2/L of goethite at pH of 845 controlled by 01 M borate buffer, the obtained hexavalent chromium disappearance rate was -d[Cr(VI)]/dt = k[surface area of goethite][Cr(VI)][S(-II)]T15 and the determined overall rate constant (k) was 319 ± 42 (min)-1(m2/L)-1(mol/L)-15 Among the potential major reducing agents in our comprehensive heterogeneous system such as aqueous phase sulfide, surface-associated sulfide, dissolved ferrous iron, ferrous iron on the goethite surface, as well as fresh ferrous sulfide in the solution, it was considered that the surface ferrous irons which could be produced following sulfide adsorption, played a leading role for Cr(VI) reduction as primary electron donors In addition, no proof of the preliminary dissolution of ferrous iron from goethite to aqueous phase was observed in the experiments Elemental sulfur was detected as the final stabilized product of sulfide and it took in charge for the promoted Cr(VI) disappearance for the successive addition of Cr(VI) at later stage
TL;DR: Simulation results show that the proposed MIMO channel tracking algorithm can provide results in a symbol error rate performance that is 1 dB better than that of the differential receiver.
Abstract: In this paper, the problem of channel tracking is considered for multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) communication systems where the MIMO channel is time-varying. We consider a class of MIMO systems where orthogonal space-time block codes are used as the underlying space-time coding schemes. For such systems, a two-step MIMO channel tracking algorithm is proposed. As the first step, Kalman filtering is used to obtain an initial channel estimate for the current block based on the channel estimates obtained for previous blocks. Then, in the second step, the so-obtained initial channel estimate is refined using a decision-directed iterative method. We show that, due to specific properties of orthogonal space-time block codes, both the Kalman filter and the decision-directed algorithm can be significantly simplified. Simulation results show that the proposed tracking method can provide results in a symbol error rate performance that is 1 dB better than that of the differential receiver.
22 Apr 2007
TL;DR: This paper investigates different channel estimation methods for pilot based OFDM transmission systems using a regular grid of pilot data and the Wiener estimation approach is investigated both for interpolation in time and frequency direction.
Abstract: This paper investigates different channel estimation methods for pilot based OFDM transmission systems. Based on a regular grid of pilot data the channel estimation is separated for time and frequency direction. For time direction linear and spline interpolation are used. In frequency direction also linear and spline interpolation are compared. In addition an estimation based on a DFT method is taken into account. Also the Wiener estimation approach is investigated both for interpolation in time and frequency direction. The methods are compared with respect to performance and implementation complexity. For simulation a DRM (digital radio mondiale) system is used.
09 Sep 2007
TL;DR: A suite of Globus Toolkit 4 based web services is developed to implement an interoperable service oriented architecture integrating matchmaking and resource broking, workflow management, data and metadata advertisement and instruments integration.
Abstract: The effective and efficient computing resource allocation, leveraging on a flexible, but straightforward to deploy, configure and use matchmaking tool, is a key component in the grand challenge of realistic, high resolution and computing time affordable environmental simulations and forecasts. With the aim of building a computing environmental science virtual laboratory, we developed a suite of Globus Toolkit 4 based web services to implement an interoperable service oriented architecture integrating matchmaking and resource broking, workflow management, data and metadata advertisement and instruments integration.
TL;DR: A more general approach of the design of spectral parameters leads to a new electroencephalographic spectral parameter that separates consciousness from unconsciousness significantly better than the Bispectral Index.
Abstract: Background: In the past, several electroencephalographic parameters have been presented and discussed with regard to their reliability in discerning consciousness from unconsciousness Some of them, such as the median frequency and spectral edge frequency, are based on classic spectral analysis, and it has been demonstrated that they are of limited capacity in differing consciousness and unconsciousness Methods: A generalized approach based on the Fourier transform is presented to improve the performance of electroencephalographic parameters with respect to the separation of consciousness from unconsciousness Electroencephalographic data from two similar clinical studies (for parameter development and evaluation) in adult patients undergoing general anesthesia with sevoflurane or propofol are used The study period was from induction of anesthesia until patients followed command after surgery and includes a reduction of the hypnotic agent after tracheal intubation until patients followed command Prediction probability was calculated to assess the ability of the parameters to separate consciousness from unconsciousness Results: On the basis of the training set of 40 patients, a new spectral parameter called weighted spectral median frequency was designed, achieving a prediction probability of 082 on the basis of the "classic" electroencephalographic frequency range up to 30 Hz Next, in the evaluation data set, the prediction probability was 079, which is higher than the prediction probability of median frequency (058) or spectral edge frequency (059) and the Bispectral Index (068) as calculated from the same data set Conclusions: A more general approach of the design of spectral parameters leads to a new electroencephalographic spectral parameter that separates consciousness from unconsciousness significantly better than the Bispectral Index
TL;DR: It is concluded that activity in limbic structures such as MCC play a key role in the temporal dynamics of recruitment of expectation towards pain, accompanied by an increase in activity of the midcingulate cortex (MCC), as modelled from evoked EEG potential maps.
Abstract: Expectation of pain is an important adaptive process enabling individuals to avoid bodily harm. It reflects the linking of past experience and environmental cues with imminent threat. In the present study, we examined changes in perceived pain contingent upon variation of the interval between an auditory cue and a subsequent painful laser stimulus. The duration of the cue-to-stimulus delay was systematically varied between 2, 4 and 6 s. Pain intensity and evoked brain responses measured by EEG and MEG recordings were analysed. Pain ratings from 15 subjects increased with longer cue-to-pain delays, accompanied by an increase in activity of the midcingulate cortex (MCC), as modelled from evoked EEG potential maps. On the other hand, MEG-based source activity in secondary somatosensory (SII) cortex remained unaffected by manipulation of the cue-to-stimulus interval. We conclude that activity in limbic structures such as MCC play a key role in the temporal dynamics of recruitment of expectation towards pain. Although this reaction is adaptive if the individual is able to avoid the stimulus, it is maladaptive if such opportunity is not present.
TL;DR: In this article, the magnetic susceptibility properties of bimetallic complexes of the type [(diphos)Pd(μ-L)2M′Cl2] where M′ = Co, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pd, Pt or SnCl2.
Abstract: Palladium(II) and platinum(II) complexes containing mixed ligands N-(2-pyridyl)acetamide (AH) or N-(2-pyrimidyl)acetamide (BH) and the diphosphines Ph2P(CH2)
n
PPh2, (n = 1, 2 or 3) have been prepared. The prepared complexes [Pd(A)2(diphos)] or [Pd(B)2(diphos)] have been used effectively to prepare bimetallic complexes of the type [(diphos)Pd(μ-L)2M′Cl2] where M′ = Co, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pd, Pt or SnCl2; L = A or B. The prepared complexes were characterized by elemental analysis magnetic susceptibility, i.r. and UV–Vis spectral data. 31P–{1H}-n.m.r. data have been applied to characterize the produced linkage isomers.
TL;DR: It is suggested that short term use of rhGH has beneficial effects on mental state in individuals who were previous abusers of AAS and appeared to have a beneficial effect on cardiovascular risk markers associated with adverse mental health.
Abstract: This study examined whether six days recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) affected psychological profile in an abstinent androgenic-anabolic steroid (AAS) abusing group, compared with an abstinent AAS control group. Male subjects (n = 48) were assigned in a random fashion into one of two groups: (1): (n =24) control group (C); (2): (n =24) rhGH group (GH). A hospital anxiety scale (HADS) questionnaire was completed by all subjects. Physiological responses investigated included anthropometry. Biochemical markers examined included; serum glucose, sodium, urea, lipid profile, high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), homocysteine (HCY), tetra-iodothyronine (T4), thyroid stimulating (TSH), luteinising (LH) and follicle stimulating (FSH) hormones, testosterone (T), prolactin (PRL), cortisol and insulin like growth factor-1 (IGF-I). HADS questionnaire significantly decreased in both anxiety (A) and depression (D) symptoms within GH (P < 0.017) and compared with C (P < 0.05). Body mass index (BMI) and fat-free mass index (FFMI) significantly increased (both P < 0.017) while body fat significantly decreased within GH (P < 0.017). IGF-I significantly increased within GH (P < 0.017) and significantly increased compared with C (P < 0.05). Serum sodium significantly increased (P < 0.017) and serum HCY, hsCRP, TSH and T4, significantly decreased within GH (all P < 0.017). PRL significantly increased and T4 significantly decreased compared with C (both P < 0.05). The findings of this study suggest that short term use of rhGH has beneficial effects on mental state in individuals who were previous abusers of AAS and appeared to have a beneficial effect on cardiovascular risk markers associated with adverse mental health.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors consider the U(1) gauge theory on a discretized 2d non-commutative torus, in which general classical solutions are known, and calculate the index of the overlap Dirac operator satisfying the Ginsparg-Wilson relation.
Abstract: The index, which is given in terms of the number of zero modes of the Dirac operator with definite chirality, plays a central role in various topological aspects of gauge theories. We investigate its properties in non-commutative geometry. As a simple example, we consider the U(1) gauge theory on a discretized 2d non-commutative torus, in which general classical solutions are known. For such backgrounds we calculate the index of the overlap Dirac operator satisfying the Ginsparg-Wilson relation. When the action is small, the topological charge defined by a naive discretization takes approximately integer values, and it agrees with the index as suggested by the index theorem. Under the same condition, the value of the index turns out to be a multiple of N, the size of the 2d lattice. By interpolating the classical solutions, we construct explicit configurations, for which the index is of order 1, but the action becomes of order N. Our results suggest that the probability of obtaining a non-zero index vanishes in the continuum limit, unlike the corresponding results in the commutative space.
TL;DR: In this article, a high-resolution transmission electron microscope was used to construct a single-nanocapsule junction sandwiching between two gold electrodes, and the electric conductivity was measured simultaneously with the lattice imaging of structural dynamics.
Abstract: Carbon nanocapsules were manipulated inside a high-resolution transmission electron microscope and assembled into single-nanocapsule junctions sandwiching between two gold electrodes. The electric conductivity was measured simultaneously with the lattice imaging of structural dynamics. It was found that the differential conductance of the junction at bias voltages from $0\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\text{to}\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}0.20\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{V}$ corresponded to half of quantized conductances, i.e., $0.5{G}_{0}$ where ${G}_{0}=2{e}^{2}∕h$ is the conductance quantum, $e$ is the electron charge, and $h$ is Planck's constant. At bias voltages larger than $0.20\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{V}$, the interface structure between the capsule and the electrode changed and the differential conductance increased to $1{G}_{0}$. The study showed that carbon nanocapsule junctions are quantized conductors.
TL;DR: Palladium(II) and platinum (II) complexes containing the mixed ligands tertiary diphosphines Ph2P(CH2) have been prepared and characterized by elemental analysis, magnetic susceptibility, molar conductance and i.m.r. data have been applied to characterize the produced linkage isomers.
Abstract: Palladium(II) and platinum(II) complexes containing the mixed ligands tertiary diphosphines Ph2P(CH2)
n
PPh2, (n = 1–4) and benz-1,3-imidazoline-2-thione, benz-1,3-oxazoline-2-thione or benz-1,3-thiazoline-2-thione have been prepared and characterized by elemental analysis, magnetic susceptibility, molar conductance and i.r. spectral data. 31P–{1H}-n.m.r. data have been applied to characterize the produced linkage isomers.
TL;DR: In this paper, structural and optical properties of multi-layer cadmium selenide thin films of various thicknesses were studied and the size of the crystallites in the polycrystalline films determined from XRD measurements and the optical energy band gap, calculated from optical measurements depend on the thickness and the composition of the films.
Abstract: Structural and optical properties of multi-layer cadmium selenide thin films of various thicknesses were studied CdSe thin fims were prepared by physical vapor deposition method with alternate layers of cadmium and selenium on unheated glass substrate The structural investigation performed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy showed that most of the films were polycrystalline in nature The stoichiometry of the films determined from EDX results revealed that most of the films did not have equal atomic contents of cadmium and selenium Refractive indices and absorption coefficient of the film were calculated from the optical transmission spectra It is found that the size of the crystallites in the polycrystalline films determined from XRD measurements and the optical energy band gap, Eg, calculated from optical measurements depend on the thickness and the composition of the films
TL;DR: Local sampling in general was a response to MRSA outbreaks, which in turn appeared to be associated with medical care environments and the significance of clusters identified by kernel estimation was independently supported by information on the locations and client groups of nursing homes, and by preliminary molecular typing of isolates.
Abstract: The identification of disease clusters in space or space-time is of vital importance for public health policy and action In the case of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), it is particularly important to distinguish between community and health care-associated infections, and to identify reservoirs of infection 832 cases of MRSA in the West Midlands (UK) were tested for clustering and evidence of community transmission, after being geo-located to the centroids of UK unit postcodes (postal areas roughly equivalent to Zip+4 zip code areas) An age-stratified analysis was also carried out at the coarser spatial resolution of UK Census Output Areas Stochastic simulation and kernel density estimation were combined to identify significant local clusters of MRSA (p<0025), which were supported by SaTScan spatial and spatio-temporal scan In order to investigate local sampling effort, a spatial 'random labelling' approach was used, with MRSA as cases and MSSA (methicillin-sensitive S aureus) as controls Heavy sampling in general was a response to MRSA outbreaks, which in turn appeared to be associated with medical care environments The significance of clusters identified by kernel estimation was independently supported by information on the locations and client groups of nursing homes, and by preliminary molecular typing of isolates In the absence of occupational/lifestyle data on patients, the assumption was made that an individual's location and consequent risk is adequately represented by their residential postcode The problems of this assumption are discussed, with recommendations for future data collection
TL;DR: In this article, high-efficiency excitonic emission with deep-UV light at room temperature for a (001)-oriented diamond p-i-n junction diode consisting of the borondoped p-type, non-doped intrinsic, and phosphorus doped n-type layers was realized.
TL;DR: Zinc and/or iron ions containing hydroxyapatite microparticles, which had twice as high specific surface area and higher pore volumes compared with the pure HA, were fabricated by a spray drying method.
Abstract: Zinc and/or iron ions containing hydroxyapatite (HA) microparticles, which had twice as high specific surface area and higher pore volumes compared with the pure HA, were fabricated by a spray drying method; the zinc and/or iron ions were incorporated into the constitutional nanocrystals with below 20 nm in size in preparing. The small amount of carbonate ions was substituted in the phosphate group. The particle sizes were distributed in the range of 1 to 20 microm in diameter and its averaged size was approximately 6 microm. The microparticles with a spherical shape showed a single phase of HA and, after treated at higher temperature than 800 degrees C, had the high crystallite HA and the other phase of metal oxide such as ZnO or Fe2O3. The microparticles with higher specific surface area will be applicable for the drug delivery carriers of proteins.
TL;DR: The investigation established that each hospital applied TQM at a relatively high level and showed that the correlation between the extent of the overall application and the values of the chosen performance indicators were direct and positive.
Abstract: [This abstract is based on the author's abstract.]The application of total quality management (TQM) is investigated in five hospitals in Amman, Jordan. The study was conducted using a five-point Likert scale survey, and reliability of the data was estab..
22 Apr 2007
TL;DR: The interference channel model and the iterative interference cancellation algorithm are introduced and applied to the DTH digital broadcast case and it is shown, that the algorithm works well over large ranges of the considered scenarios of frequency offset and signal power levels.
Abstract: The problem of adjacent satellite interference (ACI) within the direct-to-home (DTH) satellite broadcast reception scenario is considered. The use of small DTH front-end reception systems results inevitably in a higher interference level from adjacent satellites using the same frequency band. The growth in satellite communication and the trend to small dishes increases the ACI problem. The general problem of interference limited DTH reception has been studied in recent work. This paper extends the work of (J. Grotz et al., 2005) by considering additionally an MMSE based method based on the proposal by Beidas and Gamal (2002). The interference channel model and the iterative interference cancellation algorithm are introduced and applied to the DTH digital broadcast case. Simulations of the interesting scenarios are conducted and discussed. It is shown, that the algorithm works well over large ranges of the considered scenarios of frequency offset and signal power levels.