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

Evaluation of usage areas of Lamium purpureum L. var. purpureum in urban landscape of Bartin vicinity (Turkey)

Urban parks, public buildings, school gardens, residences and open green spaces that we frequently encounter within urban landscape play an important role in the formation of urban identity. Urban identity created by utilizing environmental quality components provides users with a more habitable environment. Plant diversity in open green spaces affecting urban identity positively and providing users with a more habitable environment varies also in terms of identity and position of a city. This study conducted in Bartin in the Western Black Sea region consisted of three main phases intended for (i) examining Lamium purpureum L. var. purpureum in terms of users' choices, (ii) evaluation of plant compositions created within urban landscape, and (iii) results of soil analysis of selected areas. A questionnaire study was applied to 150 users about areas of usage of open green spaces and usage forms of Lamium purpureum L: var. purpureum found within the city, and appreciation of users was examined within this scope. In this regard, Lamium purpureum L. var. purpureum planting compositions within urban landscape were examined, they were taken into evaluation within 8 different groups (road sides, rock gardens, open green spaces, curves, refuges, emphasis points, retaining walls and slopped (sand dune) lands) according to their characteristics, and the results of soil samples taken from each group were included. Consequently, recommendations intended for contribution of Lamium purpureum L. var. purpureum plant to urban landscape and the usability in sustainable urban green spaces were developed

A comparative study of public green spaces in the changing urban texture in terms of preferences for ornamental plants and visual quality: The case of Bartin (Turkey)

The purpose of the present study is to identify the distribution of plant species in the urban public green spaces (UPGS's) of the urbanized area of Bartin, Turkey, and relate the make up of the vegetation to how residents perceive the open spaces both visually and in terms of green space sustainability. The study was conducted in 41 sampled areas in 18 green spaces. These UPGS's were in both old and new urban areas, and were distributed throughout the urbanized area of Bartin. The survey found there were 193 plant species from 59 families in the 41 sampled areas. Based on this survey the present comparative study of UPGS's in both older areas and newer development in Bartin (a) presents the plant species as well as their distribution by family and origin, (b) makes correlations between the socio-demographics of survey participants and their definitions of urban UPGS's, (c) evaluates the sustainability of the UPGS's (on the basis of their aesthetic, ecological, and functional properties), and (d) assesses the visual quality of the UPGSs. A questionnaire was given to 350 participants, and the findings were assessed via a correlation analysis. The findings suggested, with a reliability level of 95%, a statistically significant correlation between the socio-demographics of the participants and their preferences in the changing urban texture (p<0.05). It was determined that whereas users find UPGSs in older urban areas to be more beautiful, traditional and attractive than new parks and gardens in recently developed development (r=0,133∗) while it was also determined that the plant texture is richer and has sufficient greenery (r=,176∗ ∗) in older urban areas. The Bartin public found the gardens of religious buildings in older areas to be more ecological with a score of 3.05 whereas the gardens of public buildings in modern developments were found to be more functional with a score of 3.7 and that park areas with old urban texture characteristics and cemetery areas with new urban texture characteristics were found to be more ecological both with scores of 3.5. When the semantic differential method results are evaluated, it was determined that all expert groups found cemetery areas with both new and old urban texture characteristics to be accessible with a ratio of 32 % and traditional with a ratio of 29 %. UPGSs are an essential component of urban green space planning. Therefore, the present paper provides significant data for further studies on planning, designing and managing UPGSs. More specifically, the sustainability of the vegetation in the UPGSs included in the study is essential for urban ecology and urban planning. The paper concludes with recommendations for development of urban biodiversity, quality of human life, and sustainability of the urban landscape in public open spaces in a city, which is growing at a remarkable rate. © by PSP

Comparison of numerical analyses of a composite wing component subjected to 4-point bending

In this paper, a comparison between six finite element models of a representative wing structural component performed in the context of Optimised Design for Inspection (ODIN) project of the European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) is presented. Six partners from six different countries involved in the project received the drawing of the structure, the material properties, the loading and boundary conditions. Each partner, based on their background and experience in numerical analyses, developed a finite element model with different levels of details and accuracy and performed a blind prediction of the structural behaviour of the wing component. The numerical results are presented and compared with the experimental test data conducted at Cardiff University

Comparison of numerical analyses of a composite wing component subjected to 4-point bending

In this paper, a comparison between six finite element models of a representative wing structural component performed in the context of Optimised Design for Inspection (ODIN) project of the European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) is presented. Six partners from six different countries involved in the project received the drawing of the structure, the material properties, the loading and boundary conditions. Each partner, based on their background and experience in numerical analyses, developed a finite element model with different levels of details and accuracy and performed a blind prediction of the structural behaviour of the wing component. The numerical results are presented and compared with the experimental test data conducted at Cardiff University