Measurement of fructose, glucose, maltose and sucrose in barley malt using attenuated total reflectance mid-infrared spectroscopy

The objective of the present study was to develop a simple, rapid and accurate method for the determination of glucose, fructose, maltose and sucrose in barley malt using attenuated total reflectance (ATR) mid-infrared (MIR) spectroscopy. A total of 100 malt samples were analysed using an ATR-MIR instrument and the concentration of individual sugars determined using HPLC. Partial least squares (PLS) regression models yielded a coefficient of determination in cross validation (R2) and standard error in cross validation (SECV) of 0.64 (1.38 mg mL−1), 0.84 (0.12 mg mL−1), 0.80 (8.3 mg mL−1), and 0.60 (0.91 mg mL−1) for glucose, fructose, maltose and sucrose, respectively. This study demonstrated the potential benefits of ATR-MIR spectroscopy for the rapid measurement of the concentration of individual sugars in malt samples sourced from different commercial barley varieties, harvest seasons and localities. © 2015, Springer Science+Business Media New York

An Improved Variational Adaptive Kalman Filter for Cooperative Localization

In this paper, an improved variational adaptive Kalman filter for cooperative localization with inaccurate prior information is proposed, in which the prior scale matrix of the one-step prediction error covariance matrix is adaptively estimated by using the expectation-maximization algorithm. A novel alternate iteration strategy is proposed to reduce the computational complexity of the proposed method. Convergence analysis and theoretical comparisons with the existing advanced adaptive Kalman filtering methods are also provided. Based on this, a new master-slave cooperative localization method is proposed. Lake experiment results of cooperative localization for autonomous underwater vehicles demonstrate the advantages of the proposed method over existing methods. Compared with the cutting-edge adaptive master-slave cooperative localization method, the proposed method has been improved by 22.52% in average localization error but no more than twice computational time is needed

An Outlier-Robust Kalman Filter With Adaptive Selection of Elliptically Contoured Distributions

In this paper, elliptically contoured (EC) distributions are used to model outlier-contaminated measurement noises. Exploiting a heuristic approach to introduce an unknown parameter, we present an analytical update form of the joint posterior probability density function of the state vector and auxiliary random variable, from which a novel robust EC distributions-based Kalman filtering framework is first derived. To illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed framework, the convergence, robustness, optimality and computational complexity analyses of the proposed method are then given. In addition, to cope with complex noise environments, the interaction multiple model is employed to achieve the adaptive selection of EC distributions such that well-behaved estimation performance can be obtained for different noise cases. Simulation results demonstrate the validity and superiority of the proposed algorithm

A Qualitative Study of Adults’ and Support Persons’ Experiences of Support After Autism Diagnosis

Adulthood autism diagnosis has become increasingly common, but little is known about post-diagnosis support experiences and needs. We interviewed 19 autistic adults and 4 support persons on experiences of formal and informal post-diagnosis support. Reflexive thematic analysis was used to identify themes. Participants reported difficulties accessing suitable formal support, especially regarding education and employment. Informal support was helpful but created challenges in the relationships between autistic adults and support persons. For autistic adults, support from autistic peers fostered belonging and self-acceptance. We also identified complex interactions between adults’ post-diagnosis identity development and support experiences as they resolved the dilemma between self-acceptance and a desire to change. Findings have important implications for services working with autistic adults and their families

Probing top-of-the-line corrosion using coupled multi-electrode array in conjunction with local electrochemical measurement

An experimental method has been developed for probing top-of-the-line corrosion (TLC) of pipeline steel based on the use of the wire beam electrode (WBE) in conjunction with local electrochemical measurements. Results show that the location of the droplet, the droplet retention time, the water condensation rate and the local TLC rate could be well determined through the macro-cell current mapping and local electrochemical measurements. The precipitation and the scaling tendency of the FeCO3 beneath the droplet were quantitatively estimated. The micro-cell corrosion was significantly influenced by the thickness of the condensed water film and the protectiveness of the FeCO3 layer. The discrepancy of the film formation inside and outside the droplets was the driving force of macro-cell corrosion. The in-situ measurement and visualization of the corrosion processes and kinetics using the modified WBE could be conveniently used to facilitate the understanding of the initiation and propagation of localized TLC

Choose your Own Adventure: Pathways to Adulthood Autism Diagnosis in Australia

Pathways to diagnosis in adulthood are poorly understood. Even less is known about undiagnosed adults who believe they may be autistic. This mixed-methods online survey examined adults’ journeys from initial concern to receiving the diagnosis. Quantitative findings showed the diagnostic process to be highly heterogeneous. Qualitative analysis identified desires for explanation and support as motives for seeking diagnosis. Cost and fear of not being taken seriously were major barriers, echoed by qualitative responses that described the process as confusing, expensive and time-consuming. While most participants were satisfied with the diagnosis, their emotional reactions were complex. Findings support the need for thoroughly implementing national guidelines, and for improved knowledge and communication in mainstream clinicians encountering clients with possible autism characteristics

PepMapper: a collaborative web tool for mapping epitopes from affinity-selected peptides

Epitope mapping from affinity-selected peptides has become popular in epitope prediction, and correspondingly many Web-based tools have been developed in recent years. However, the performance of these tools varies in different circumstances. To address this problem, we employed an ensemble approach to incorporate two popular Web tools, MimoPro and Pep-3D-Search, together for taking advantages offered by both methods so as to give users more choices, support and convenience for their specific purposes of epitope-peptide mapping. The combined operation of Union finds as many associated peptides as possible from both methods, which increases sensitivity in finding potential epitopic regions on a given antigen surface. The combined operation of Intersection achieves to some extent the mutual verification by the two methods and hence increases the likelihood of locating the genuine epitopic region on a given antigen in relation to the interacting peptides. The Consistency between Intersection and Union is an indirect sufficient condition to assess the likelihood of successful peptide-epitope mapping. On average from 27 tests, the combined operations of PepMapper outperformed either MimoPro or Pep-3D-Search alone. Therefore, PepMapper is another multipurpose mapping tool for epitope prediction from affinity-selected peptides. The Web server can be freely accessed at: http://informatics.nenu.edu.cn/PepMapper

An Outlier-Robust Kalman Filter With Adaptive Selection of Elliptically Contoured Distributions

In this paper, elliptically contoured (EC) distributions are used to model outlier-contaminated measurement noises. Exploiting a heuristic approach to introduce an unknown parameter, we present an analytical update form of the joint posterior probability density function of the state vector and auxiliary random variable, from which a novel robust EC distributions-based Kalman filtering framework is first derived. To illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed framework, the convergence, robustness, optimality and computational complexity analyses of the proposed method are then given. In addition, to cope with complex noise environments, the interaction multiple model is employed to achieve the adaptive selection of EC distributions such that well-behaved estimation performance can be obtained for different noise cases. Simulation results demonstrate the validity and superiority of the proposed algorithm

Diagnosis of autism in adulthood: A scoping review

More adults are undergoing autism assessment due to recent changes in awareness, diagnostic criteria and professional practices. This scoping review aimed to summarise research on autism diagnosis in adulthood and identify any gaps for future study. The authors searched for studies involving first-time assessment and diagnosis of autism in adults, which identified 82 studies from 13 countries using various methodologies. Six themes of (1) prevalence, (2) diagnostic pathways and processes, (3) gender, (4) psychosocial characteristics, (5) co-occurring conditions and (6) experiences of diagnosis were identified across the studies. Findings suggest that receiving an autism diagnosis has a significant emotional impact on adults, but accessibility and processes are inconsistent, and formal support services are lacking. More research is needed on autism diagnosis in adults with intellectual disability, consequences of the timing of diagnosis, and support after diagnosis. Lay abstract: More adults are getting assessed for possible autism. Here, we give an overview on what is already known about autism diagnosis in adulthood and find areas that need more research. We divided results from the studies we found into six topics of (1) rates of autism in different groups; (2) the process of getting an autism diagnosis in adulthood; (3) gender; (4) personality traits, abilities and behaviours of diagnosed adults; (5) mental and physical health conditions that occur together with autism; and (6) how adults think and feel about being assessed and diagnosed. We found that adults often have strong emotions after being diagnosed, the process of getting a diagnosis can be unclear and different for everyone, and not many support services are available for adults. More research on diagnosing adults with intellectual disability, differences between early and late-diagnosed adults, and support after diagnosis would be useful

Experiences of Support Following Autism Diagnosis in Adulthood

This study aimed to explore experiences of support after adulthood autism diagnosis. In this mixed-methods survey study of 137 adults, we found that most common formal supports received were counselling and mental health. Common unmet support needs were sensory sensitivities and accessing other services. Cost, lack of information, and fear of not being taken seriously were common barriers. Informal support was mainly helpful for self-understanding and emotions toward diagnosis. Qualitative findings included difficulties accessing formal support, need for practical quality-of-life supports and support from autistic peers and online communities. Based on these findings, future development of supportive interventions should address unmet needs, improve access, and explore the integration of autistic peer support and online support into formal services