Perception of Vibrotactile Cues in Musical Performance

We suggest that studies on active touch psychophysics are needed to inform the design of haptic musical interfaces and better understand the relevance of haptic cues in musical performance. Following a review of the previous literature on vibrotactile perception in musical performance, two recent experiments are reported. The first experiment investigated how active finger-pressing forces affect vibration perception, finding significant effects of vibration type and force level on perceptual thresholds. Moreover, the measured thresholds were considerably lower than those reported in the literature, possibly due to the concurrent effect of large (unconstrained) finger contact areas, active pressing forces, and long-duration stimuli. The second experiment assessed the validity of these findings in a real musical context by studying the detection of vibrotactile cues at the keyboard of a grand and an upright piano. Sensitivity to key vibrations in fact not only was highest at the lower octaves and gradually decreased toward higher pitches; it was also significant for stimuli having spectral peaks of acceleration similar to those of the first experiment, i.e., below the standard sensitivity thresholds measured for sinusoidal vibrations under passive touch conditions

Wall Thickness Measurement of Pipes by Using Digital Radiography

One of the most important parameters in a pipeline to be monitored and measured is the wall thickness. Pipe wall thickness can vary after a certain period of time, as a result of accumulation of various chemical or physical effects. Pipe wall thickness can be monitored by the proper use of ultrasonic or radiographic inspection methods even while the plant is in operation. Only the radiographic method assures inspection without costly removal of insulation material during operation of the plant. The purpose of this study is to define the wall thickness of pipes by using digital radiography technique. The outer diameter of the studied pipes is ranging from 51 mm to 60.3 mm and wall thickness is ranging from 2.9 mm to 3.6 mm. Experiments were repeated by changing the "focal detector distance" and "pulse" parameters

Investigation of Gamma Ray and Neutron Attenuation Coefficients for Granites Produced in Turkey

In this study, shielding properties of granites which are produced in Turkey were studied for gamma ray and neutrons. Linear and mass attenuation coefficients for gamma ray were measured at 1.17 MeV, 1.33 MeV and 0.662 MeV by gamma spectrometry system containing NaI(Tl) detector. Pu-Be source was used in measuring linear neutron attenuation coefficients of the granite samples. Measurements were carried out by using narrow beam geometry by using gamma and neutron transmission technique. The gamma transmission results have been compared with winXCOM calculations and a good correspondence has been obtained

Investigation of Gamma Ray and Neutron Attenuation Coefficients for Granites Produced in Turkey

In this study, shielding properties of granites which are produced in Turkey were studied for gamma ray and neutrons. Linear and mass attenuation coefficients for gamma ray were measured at 1.17 MeV, 1.33 MeV and 0.662 MeV by gamma spectrometry system containing NaI(Tl) detector. Pu-Be source was used in measuring linear neutron attenuation coefficients of the granite samples. Measurements were carried out by using narrow beam geometry by using gamma and neutron transmission technique. The gamma transmission results have been compared with winXCOM calculations and a good correspondence has been obtained

Investigation of Shielding Performance of Concretes Produced with Iron Fillings Using Betatron X-Ray Radiography

One of the most widely used structural materials in radiation shielding is concrete. Addition of metal particulates to concrete to enhance its density can be used for gamma and X-ray shielding purposes. In this study radiation shielding performance of concrete containing different amounts of iron filling were evaluated using Betatron X-ray radiation source. For this purpose concretes were produced by adding iron filling in the ratios of 0%, 10%, 20%, 30% (in weight) to the cement. CIT/7.5 Betatron source which is a compact, circular electron accelerator, generating directional X-ray beam, was used in this study. Experiments were performed by using conventional radiography test. The results were compared with results for normal concrete. It was observed that the film density differences between the iron filling and normal concrete are in the range of about 10-60%

A STUDY OF INDOOR RADON LEVELS IN RURAL DWELLINGS OF EZINE (CANAKKALE, TURKEY) USING SOLID-STATE NUCLEAR TRACK DETECTORS

Indoor radon activity level and radon effective dose (ED) rate have been carried out in the rural dwellings of Ezine (Canakkale) during the summer season using Radosys-2000, a complete set suitable to radon concentration measurements with CR-39 plastic alpha track detectors. The range of radon concentration varied between 9 and 300 Bq m(-3), with an average of 67.9 (39.9 SD) Bq m(-3). Assuming an indoor occupancy factor of 0.8 and 0.4 for the equilibrium factor of radon indoors, it has been found that the Rn-222 ED rate in the dwellings studied ranges from 0.4 to 5.2 mSv y(-1), with an average value of 1.7 (1.0) mSv y(-1). There is a possibility that low radon concentrations exist indoors during the summer season in the study area because of relatively high ventilation rates in the dwellings. A winter survey will be needed for future estimation of the annual ED

Protective effect of curcumin on carbapenem-resistant Escherichia coli-induced lung injury in rats

Curcumin has remarkable anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effects of curcumin on a rat model of carbapenemresistant Escherichia coli-induced acute lung injury (ALI). Thirty-two rats were randomly allocated to 4 groups to induce an ALI: negative control group (rats not infected with E coli with no antibiotic treatment), positive control group (rats infected with E coli with no antibiotic treatment), imipenem group (rats infected with E coli that received intraperitoneal injection of imipenem), and the imipenem+curcumin group (rats infected with E coli that received intraperitoneal injection of imipenem and were fed on curcumin).The rats were killed, and lung tissues samples were harvested for biochemical analyses and histopathologic examination. Total antioxidant status (TAS), total oxidant status (TOS), tumor necrosis factor a (TNF?), and interleukin-6 (IL6) were measured. TOS increased in the positive control group (P < 0.001) and decreased in the imipenem and imipenem+curcumin groups (P < 0.001 and P < 0.001, respectively). TAS decreased in the positive control group (P = 0.005). Imipenem treatment did not increase TAS, but the imipenem+curcumin group increased TAS (P=0.014). TNF? and IL6 increased in the positive control group compared with the negative control group (P < 0.001 and P=0.010, respectively). Imipenem decreased TNF? (P < 0.001), but did not decrease IL6 (P=0.418). Imipenem+curcumin decreased TNF? (P < 0.001); this decrease was more pronounced compared with the imipenem group (P = 0.008). IL6 decreased in the curcumin group compared with the positive control group (P = 0.011). Curcumin combined with imipenem can be an alternative therapeutic agent to overcome the resistance of E coli strains. © 2016 Miyamoto et al.; licensee The International College of Surgeons

Kinetic and Thermodynamic Behavior of Selenium on Modified Bentonite and Activated Carbon using Radiotracer Technique

This study was aimed to determine kinetic and thermodynamic behaviors of selenium on modified bentonite and activated carbon. Thermodynamic parameters such as enthalpy ΔH, free energy change ΔG and entropy change ΔS of selenium adsorption suggested that the adsorption of Se(IV) on activated carbon and organic-inorganic modified bentonite was exothermic and endothermic process, respectively. The experimental data fitted very well the pseudo-second-order kinetic model for both adsorbents

Natural and anthropogenic radionuclides in rocks and beach sands from Ezine region (Canakkale), Western Anatolia, Turkey

This paper represents the first reports on the natural and anthropogenic radionuclides in Kestanbol granitic pluton and surrounding rocks, and coastal region of the Ezine town. To assess the radiological hazard of the natural radioactivity, the radium equivalent activity, the absorbed dose rate and the external hazard index were calculated, and in situ gamma dose rates were measured. The high-activity concentrations were measured in the pluton and sands, which was originated mainly from the pluton, due to the presence of zircon, allanite, monazite, thorite, uranothorite and apatite. The average activity concentrations of U-238, Th-232 and K-40 are 174.78, 204.69 and 1171.95 Bq kg(-1) for pluton, and 290.36, 532.04 and 1160.75 Bq kg(-1) for sands, respectively. Cs-137 in Ezine region ranged from 0-6.57 Bq kg(-1). The average absorbed dose rate for the granitic and sand samples were calculated to be 251.6 and 527.92 nGy h(-1), respectively. The maximum contribution to the total absorbed gamma dose rate in air was due to the Th-232 (52.3 % for pl uton and 67.1 % for sands). The Raeq activities of the pluton and sands are higher than the recommended maximum value of 370 Bq kg(-1) criterion limit of Raeq activity for building materials. (C) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved