Semantic content of motorcycle riders’ eye fixations during lane-splitting

A naturalistic field observation study is presented, exploring the experienced riders’ eye fixations on specific traffic objects and their relative s     

Cochlear implants in children: an analysis of use over a three-year period

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine whether children continue to wear their cochlear implant systems 1 and 3 years after implantation. STUDY DESIGN: The design was a prospective study based on the analysis of forced-choice questionnaires on implant use completed independently by parents and teachers. SETTING: The study was performed at a dedicated pediatric cochlear implant program in a tertiary referral center in the United Kingdom. PATIENTS: All 85 consecutively implanted children who had reached the 1-year interval after implantation and 37 children who had reached the 3-year assessment interval after implantation participated. The patients represented all socioeconomic status groups, the entire range of educational settings, and often lived at a considerable distance from the implant center. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Parents and local teachers were asked to describe implant use in the following categories: 1) all of the time; 2) most of the time; 3) some of the time; and 4) none of the time. RESULTS: One year after implantation, parents and teachers, respectively, rated 79 (93%) and 82 (96%) children as full-time users (category 1). Parents rated six children (7%) as users most of the time (category 2), and teachers rated three children (4%) as users most of the time. No child was rated as an occasional or nonuser (category 3 or 4). At 3 years after implantation, 33 (89%) and 34 (95%) children were rated as full-time users (category 1) by parents and teachers, respectively. Parents judged four children (11%) and teachers rated two children (5%) to be users most of the time (category 2). Again, no child was rated in category 3 or 4 as an occasional or nonuser. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of implanted children use their implant systems all of the time over a 3-year period after implantation when selected appropriately and given appropriate follow-up.     

Sub-optimal solutions to track detection problem using graph theoretic concepts

This paper demonstrates how the problem of tracking targets, which appear as either straight or curved lines in two-dimensional display images (or data images) can be formulated in terms of a directed weighted graph model and how dynamic programming techniques can be efficiently applied to reach an optimal or sub-optimal solution. In general, track detection algorithms providing optimal solutions have good detective ability, but most of them suffer from the inability to detect discontinuous lines or to resolve efficiently pairs of crossing lines. A sub-optimal solution is provided that efficiently overcomes these weaknesses. We focus on modeling the track detection problem in terms of a graph, formulating fast sequential/parallel sub-optimal track detection algorithms and testing them on simulated data in order to show their detective ability. Moreover, we specify the conditions under which sub-optimal algorithms can perform at least as well as their corresponding optimal algorithms. This is significant for the track detection problem where fast, accurate and real-time detection is considered a necessity.     

Simulation of water and nitrogen dynamics in soils during wastewater applications by using a finite-element model

A mathematical model was developed to simulate water movement, mass transport, and nitrogen transformations in soils during wastewater applications. The model is one-dimensional and based on the Galerkin finite-element method. The submodel of mass transport of nitrogen incorporates the convection-dispersion processes of ammonium and nitrate nitrogen, nitrification, denitrification, ammonium exchange and uptake of ammonium and nitrate ions. The accuracy and validity of the proposed model was examined by comparison with an explicit-implicit finite-difference model results. The model was used for simulation of water and nitrogen dynamics during wastewater application in homogeneous and multi-layered soils under different N concentration, rate, duration and scheduling of application.     

The generalized Kuhn model of linear viscoelasticity

We propose a generalization of the Kuhn model of linear viscoelasticity. This generalization, which has four material parameters, is able to provide a near frequency independent response over a wide range of frequencies. It is useful for highly dissipative materials such as asphalt concrete. It is derived by generalizing Lubliner and Panoskaltsis’s modified Kuhn model, but we also show that it is closely related to fractional derivative models. We show that the model admits a rheological approximation, that is, an approximation by classical springs and dashpots. The model and rheological representation are compared to experimental data.     

Gas phase synthesis of MTBE on fluoride-modified zeolites

The gas phase synthesis of MTBE was studied using three series of zeolites modified by ion-exchange with ammonium fluoride, the parent materials being HY, H-mordenite, and HZSM-5. Modification of zeolites by fluoride-exchange was found to enhance the MTBE synthesis activity for all three types of zeolites without impairing their excellent selectivity to MTBE. The mechanism of activity enhancement by fluoride-modification appears to be related to the formation of extra-lattice Al rather than the presence of fluoride-ions.     

The ChaLearn gesture dataset (CGD 2011)

This paper describes the data used in the ChaLearn gesture challenges that took place in 2011/2012, whose results were discussed at the CVPR 2012 and ICPR 2012 conferences. The task can be described as: user-dependent, small vocabulary, fixed camera, one-shot-learning. The data include 54,000 hand and arm gestures recorded with an RGB-D \(\hbox {Kinect}^\mathrm{TM}\) camera. The data are organized into batches of 100 gestures pertaining to a small gesture vocabulary of 8–12 gestures, recorded by the same user. Short continuous sequences of 1–5 randomly selected gestures are recorded. We provide man-made annotations (temporal segmentation into individual gestures, alignment of RGB and depth images, and body part location) and a library of function to preprocess and automatically annotate data. We also provide a subset of batches in which the user’s horizontal position is randomly shifted or scaled. We report on the results of the challenge and distribute sample code to facilitate developing new solutions. The data, datacollection software and the gesture vocabularies are downloadable from http://gesture.chalearn.org. We set up a forum for researchers working on these data http://groups.google.com/group/gesturechallenge.     

Use of rosemary extract in preventing oxidation during deep-fat frying of potato chips

The effect of using a rosemary extract on the stability of oil used for frying potato chips has been evaluated. Sliced potatoes were fried intermittently in soybean oil containing a natural extract from rosemary. The conditions used for frying were 185°C for 90 s. Two separate experiments, with and without replenishment of oil, were carried out. Oil samples were taken each day, not only from the frying pans but also by extraction with hexane from the chips. Changes in the induction period of the oil samples (Rancimat method) were determined. The induction period decreased as frying progressed. The reduction in the induction period was higher in the oil free of rosemary extract, and the chips were much darker in color. The oil containing the extract showed greater antioxidant activity, and reduced darkening and rancidity of the oil. Potato chips fried in the oil with added rosemary extract were more acceptable than chips fried in oil containing no extract until the last frying. The free radical scavenging activity of rosemary extract in comparison to other natural antioxidants was also determined by the reduction of O₂ ^.- in a hypoxanthine/xanthine oxidase system.     

An empirical investigation of Technology Readiness among medical staff based in Greek hospitals

Technology readiness (TR) represents an individual’s mental readiness to accept new technologies. Although the TR scale has been used in many studies, its application in the healthcare context is limited. This paper focuses on identifying the TR profiles of medical staff and to model preference TR variations with respect to computer use, computer knowledge and computer feature demands. The study reports results from a nationwide study conducted in Greece, during a three-year period, which sampled responses from 604 physicians and nurses working in 14 Greek hospitals. Exploratory Structural Equation Modelling analysis is used in order to confirm the structure of the Technology Readiness Index. The results confirm the five groups of the TR taxonomy. Statistical differences were found between classes in information and communication technology (ICT) knowledge, ICT feature demands, hours of use per week as well as ICT use performance, but not in the general use of ICT. The results facilitate comprehension of the factors, which influence the use of ICT by medical staff and, in addition, they convey important policy and managerial implications. In conclusion, medical staff should be treated according to its TR taxonomy classes in order to expedite the acceptance and use of an ICT system.