Early time-locked gamma response and gender specificity

Cataloged from PDF version of article.The aim was to investigate whether gender is a causative factor in the gamma status according to which some individuals respond with time-locked, early gamma response, G+, while the others do not show this response, G-. The sample consisted of 42 volunteer participants (between 19 and 37 years of age with at least 9 years of education). There were 22 females and 20 males. Data were collected under the oddball paradigm. Auditory stimulation (10 ms r/f time, 50 ms duration, 65 dB SPL) consisted of target (2000 Hz; p = .20) stimuli that occurred randomly within a series of standard stimuli (1000 Hz; p = .80). Gamma responses were studied in the amplitude frequency characteristics, in the digitally filtered event-related potentials (f-ERPs) and in the distributions which were obtained using the recently developed time-frequency component analysis (TFCA) technique. Participants were classified into G+ and G- groups with a criterion of full agreement between the results of an automated gamma detection technique and expert opinion. The 2 × 2 × 2 ANOVA on f-ERPs and 2 × 2 × 2 multivariate ANOVA on TFCA distributions showed the main effect of gamma status and gender as significant, and the interaction between gamma status and gender as nonsignificant. Accordingly, individual difference in gamma status is a reliable phenomenon, but this does not depend on gender. There are conflicting findings in the literature concerning the effect of gender on ERP components (N100, P300). The present study showed that if the gamma status is not included in research designs, it may produce a confounding effect on ERP parameters. © 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Effects of laser ablated silver nanoparticles on Lemna minor

Cataloged from PDF version of article.The present study investigates and models the effect of laser ablated silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) on the development of the aquatic macrophyte Lemna minor. Toxic effects of five different AgNP concentrations (8, 16, 32, 96 and 128μgL-1) on L. minor were recorded over seven days under simulated natural conditions. Biosorption of AgNPs by L. minor was modeled using four sorption isotherms, and the sorption behavior was found to agree most closely with the Langmuir-Freundlich model (R2=0.997). While toxic effects of AgNPs could be observed in all models and concentrations, the greatest increase in toxicity was in the 8-32μgL-1 range. Dry weight- and frond number-based inhibition experiments suggest that growth inhibition does not necessarily scale with AgNP concentration, and that slight fluctuations in inhibition rates exist over certain concentration ranges. Very close fits (R2=0.999) were obtained for all removal models, suggesting that the fluctuations are not caused by experimental variation. In addition, L. minor was found to be a successful bioremediation agent for AgNPs, and displayed higher removal rates for increasing AgNP doses. FT-IR spectroscopy suggests that carbonyl groups are involved in AgNP remediation. © 2014 Elsevier Ltd

Towards a general stability analysis of process network systems

This paper considers process systems whose dynamics are described by conservation laws for extensive variables and second law of thermodynamics and which can also been considered as interconnected (network) systems. In representing the dynamics and the analysis of network systems Tellegen's theorem and the passivity theory are used. Different from the usual application of these two methods on large scale systems, in this work, we only consider a single unit (node). For a single process unit, we apply the Tellegen's theorem and using a suitable storage function, derive the expression for the rate of change of the storage function. This expression is obtained for the cases of single phase and binary phases.</p

Morphological evaluation of the mandibular lingula using cone-beam computed tomography

Background: Lingula is a tongue-like flap of bone that overlaps the mandibular foramen antero-medially and location is clinically significant in oral and maxillofacial surgeries. The aim of this study was to assess the shape and precise location of lingula using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). Materials and methods: In this study, 3-dimensional images provided by CBCT of 63 patients (28 females, 35 males, age range 25–70 years) were retrospectively evaluated. All CBCT images were performed due to implant planning. From both sides of 63 mandibles were classified in the following shapes: triangular, truncated, nodular and assimilated. The location was determined by 5 distances from the lingula: the anterior and the posterior borders of the mandibular ramus, man­dibular notch and lover border of mandible. Height of the lingula was measured from the lingular tip to the mandibular foramen. Results: Nodular shape of lingula was the most commonly found (32.5%). The mean distance of lingula from anterior and posterior borders of mandibular ramus was 18.5 ± 2.3 and 16.9 ± 3.5 mm, respectively. The lingula was located at 18.1 ± 3.6 mm from the mandibular notch and 38.3 mm from the lover border of mandible. The mean height of lingula was 7.8 ± 2.4 mm. Conclusions: The present study provides the morphological variation and localization of the lingula. The lingula is an important clinical landmark for mandibular osteotomy, and for determining the distance to mandibular foramen entrance

Epitaxial growth in dislocation-free strained alloy films: Morphological and compositional instabilities

The mechanisms of stability or instability in the strained alloy film growth are of intense current interest to both theorists and experimentalists. We consider dislocation-free, coherent, growing alloy films which could exhibit a morphological instability without nucleation. We investigate such strained films by developing a nonequilibrium, continuum model and by performing a linear stability analysis. The couplings of film-substrate misfit strain, compositional stress, deposition rate, and growth temperature determine the stability of film morphology as well as the surface spinodal decomposition. We consider some realistic factors of epitaxial growth, in particular the composition dependence of elastic moduli and the coupling between top surface and underlying bulk of the film. The interplay of these factors leads to new stability results. In addition to the stability diagrams both above and below the coherent spinodal temperature, we also calculate the kinetic critical thickness for the onset of instability as well as its scaling behavior with respect to misfit strain and deposition rate. We apply our results to some real growth systems and discuss the implications related to some recent experimental observations.Comment: 26 pages, 13 eps figure

A Capability Maturity Model for Developing and Improving Advanced Data Analytics Capabilities

Background: Advanced data analytics (ADA) is increasingly used in organizations to enhance decision-making, improve operational efficiency, and gain a competitive advantage. Yet, there is limited guidance available on the capabilities an organization should develop and improve on to effectively leverage ADA. To address this gap this study develops a capability maturity model answering the research question: “What are the key components of a capability maturity model that can effectively guide organizations in assessing and enhancing their advanced data analytics capabilities?”Methods: A capability maturity model for advanced data analytics (ADA-CMM) was developed through a Delphi study using the design science research paradigm. To evaluate ADA-CMM for its utility interviews with practitioners were conducted on the use of ADA-CMM for assessing the maturity of a large company. To evaluate ADA-CMM effectiveness a nomological model was developed and tested using PLS-SEM based on a multi-company surveyResults: A comprehensive ADA capability maturity model prescribing necessary capabilities was presented. The model is deemed useful and effective and offers a method to assess ADA capabilities. The findings provide evidence supporting that ADA-CMM encompasses essential capabilities for creating value from ADA initiatives and can effectively measure an organization’s ADA capability maturity.Conclusion: This paper emphasizes the growing importance of ADA in enhancing business operations and competitiveness. Despite technological advancements, many organizations struggle to translate analytics efforts into tangible benefits. To address this, the paper proposes a Capability Maturity Model, ADA-CMM, to guide organizations in developing and improving ADA capabilities. This study contributes to literature by providing a well-structured and thoroughly evaluated capability maturity model for ADA, and to practice for navigating the challenges of ADA adoption and use