On developing an optimal Jarratt-like class for solving nonlinear equations

It is attempted to derive an optimal class of methods without memory from Ozban’s method [A. Y. Ozban, Some New Variants of Newton’s Method, Appl. Math. Lett. 17 (2004) 677-682]. To this end, we try to introduce a weight function in the second step of the method and to find some suitable conditions, so that the modified method is optimal in the sense of Kung and Traub’s conjecture. Also, convergence analysis along with numerical implementations are included to verify both theoretical and practical aspects of the proposed optimal class of methods without memory. © 2020 Forum-Editrice Universitaria Udinese SRL. All rights reserved

The effect of using electronic games in developing the intuitive English language skills for basic first grade female pupils

الملخص: هدفت هذه الدراسة إلى قياس أثر استخدام الألعاب الإلكترونية في تطوير المهارات البديهية في اللغة الإنجليزية لطالبات الصف الأول الأساسي في عمان. تم اختيار مدرستين أهليتين تستخدمان الألعاب الإلكترونية في التدريس. وقد تكونت عينة الدراسة من (40) طالبة من الصف الأول الأساسي، للمجموعات التجريبية والضابطة. تم إعداد اثنين من الأدوات: الأول هو اختبار لقياس المهارات البديهية في اللغة الإنجليزية، في حين كان الثاني عبارة عن برنامج إلكتروني لقياس أثر استخدام الألعاب الإلكترونية في تطوير المهارات البديهية في اللغة الإنجليزية لطالبات الصف الأول الأساسي. استخدم المنهج شبه التجريبي للإجابة على السؤال الرئيسي التالي: ما أثر استخدام الألعاب الإلكترونية في تطوير المهارات البديهية في اللغة الإنجليزية لطالبات الصف الأول الأساسي، مقارنة بالأسلوب المتبع عادة في مدارس عمان؟ وقد أظهرت النتائج وجود فروق ذات دلالة إحصائية في المهارات البديهية في اللغة الإنجليزية بين التلاميذ التجريبية والمجموعة الضابطة، لصالح برنامج الألعاب الإلكترونية. الكلمات الدلالية: الألعاب الالكترونية، المهارات البديهية، مهارات تعليم اللغة الانجليزيةAbstract: This study aimed at measuring the effect of using electronic games in developing the intuitive English language skills for basic first grade female students in Amman. Two private schools which use electronic games in teaching were selected. The sample consisted of (40) basic first grade female pupils, for experimental and control groups. Two instruments were prepared: the first was a test to measure the intuitive English language skills, while the second was an electronic software to measure the effect of using electronic games in the development of the intuitive English language skills for basic first grade female pupils. The quasi – experimental methodology was used to answer the following main question: What is the effect of using electronic games in developing the intuitive English skills for basic first grade female pupils, compared with the ordinary style in Amman?. The findings showed that there were significant differences in the intuitive English language skills between the experimental and control groups’ pupils, in favor of electronic games software. Keywords: Electronic games, Intuitive skills, English language skills

Predicting one-year left ventricular mass index regression following transcatheter aortic valve replacement in patients with severe aortic stenosis: A new era is coming

Aortic stenosis (AS) is the most common valvular heart disease in the western world, particularly worrisome with an ever-aging population wherein postoperative outcome for aortic valve replacement is strongly related to the timing of surgery in the natural course of disease. Yet, guidelines for therapy planning overlook insightful, quantified measures from medical imaging to educate clinical decisions. Herein, we leverage statistical shape analysis (SSA) techniques combined with customized machine learning methods to extract latent information from segmented left ventricle (LV) shapes. This enabled us to predict left ventricular mass index (LVMI) regression a year after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). LVMI regression is an expected phenomena in patients undergone aortic valve replacement reported to be tightly correlated with survival one and five year after the intervention. In brief, LV geometries were extracted from medical images of a cohort of AS patients using deep learning tools, and then analyzed to create a set of statistical shape models (SSMs). Then, the supervised shape features were extracted to feed a support vector regression (SVR) model to predict the LVMI regression. The average accuracy of the predictions was validated against clinical measurements calculating root mean square error and R2 score which yielded the satisfactory values of 0.28 and 0.67, respectively, on test data. Our work reveals the promising capability of advanced mathematical and bioinformatics approaches such as SSA and machine learning to improve medical output prediction and treatment planning

Development and application of negative stiffness devices for seismic response control of highway bridge structures

December 2013School of EngineeringIn this dissertation, the negative stiffness devices are described along with their hysteretic behavior as obtained from a series of cyclic tests which were utilized to calibrate the parameters of a numerical model. In addition, results from numerical simulations and seismic testing of a quarter-scale bridge model are presented wherein the bridge was configured with various isolation system components (isolation bearings, negative stiffness devices, and viscous dampers). In addition, the bridge was designed to mimic either a single-span bridge supported on abutments or an interior span of a multi-span bridge. The results of the investigation clearly demonstrate the effectiveness of the negative stiffness devices in limiting the seismic response of the bridge for multiple bridge configurations. Furthermore, motivated by the need for a more compact device, the development phase of the project led to a new concept for creating negative stiffness wherein translational motion of the bridge is transformed to rotational motion. The conceptual development of the device is presented along with analytical models and numerical simulation results that demonstrate its ability to provide superior seismic protection.A new control device has been developed and implemented for seismic response control of highway bridges. The device produces negative stiffness in a completely passive manner via a mechanical mechanism. Numerical simulations and experimental shaking table tests have demonstrated the effectiveness of the device in limiting the seismic demands on bridge structures. The main feature of the negative stiffness device is a pre-compressed spring, which can push the structure away from its center position and thus induce negative stiffness. When implemented in parallel with a structure having positive stiffness, the combined system appears to have substantially reduced stiffness while remaining stable. Thus, there is an "apparent weakening" of the structure that results in a "virtual yielding point," reduced forces and increased displacements. The increase in displacement response can be limited by incorporating a damping device in parallel with the negative stiffness device or by adding friction to the device assembly.DEn

Localizing sensory processing sensitivity and its subdomains within its relevant trait space: a data-driven approach

AbstractSensitivity arising from enhanced processing of external and internal stimuli or sensory processing sensitivity (SPS) is known to be present in a sizable portion of the population. Yet a clear localization of SPS and its subdomains with respect to other relevant traits is currently lacking. Here, we used a data-driven approach including hierarchical clustering, t-distributed stochastic neighbor embedding (t-SNE) and graph learning to portrait SPS as measured by Highly Sensitive Person Scale (HSPS) in relation to the Big-Five Inventory (neuroticism, extraversion, openness, agreeableness, and conscientiousness) as well as to shyness, alexithymia, autism quotient, anxiety, and depression (11 total traits) using data from more than 800 participants. Analysis revealed SPS subdomains to be divided between two trait clusters with questions related to aesthetic sensitivity (AES) falling within a cluster of mainly positive traits and neighbored by openness while questions addressing ease of excitation (EOE) and low sensory threshold (LST) to be mostly contained within a cluster of negative traits and neighbored by neuroticism. A similar spread across clusters was seen for questions addressing autism consistent with it being a spectrum disorder, in contrast, alexithymia subdomains were closely fit within the negative cluster. Together, our results support the view of SPS as a distinct yet non-unitary trait and provide insights for further refinements of the current SPS concept and scales.</jats:p

Development of a rotation-based negative stiffness device for seismic protection of structures

Researchers worldwide have developed various semi-active control devices for seismic protection of structures. Most of these devices are electromechanical in nature and thus require a power source for their operation. In this paper, a newly developed rotation-based mechanical adaptive passive device is presented. These unique devices are able to mechanically change stiffness, either by adding positive or negative stiffness, by using different types of rotational elements. The devices are compact due to their use of rotational elements, facilitating their implementation in structures. The conceptual development of these devices is presented herein along with analytical models and numerical simulation results that demonstrate their potential for providing seismic protection. In addition, an extension of the stiffness modulation concept is introduced wherein damping is modulated. </jats:p