Direction of Arrival with One Microphone, a few LEGOs, and Non-Negative Matrix Factorization

Conventional approaches to sound source localization require at least two microphones. It is known, however, that people with unilateral hearing loss can also localize sounds. Monaural localization is possible thanks to the scattering by the head, though it hinges on learning the spectra of the various sources. We take inspiration from this human ability to propose algorithms for accurate sound source localization using a single microphone embedded in an arbitrary scattering structure. The structure modifies the frequency response of the microphone in a direction-dependent way giving each direction a signature. While knowing those signatures is sufficient to localize sources of white noise, localizing speech is much more challenging: it is an ill-posed inverse problem which we regularize by prior knowledge in the form of learned non-negative dictionaries. We demonstrate a monaural speech localization algorithm based on non-negative matrix factorization that does not depend on sophisticated, designed scatterers. In fact, we show experimental results with ad hoc scatterers made of LEGO bricks. Even with these rudimentary structures we can accurately localize arbitrary speakers; that is, we do not need to learn the dictionary for the particular speaker to be localized. Finally, we discuss multi-source localization and the related limitations of our approach.Comment: This article has been accepted for publication in IEEE/ACM Transactions on Audio, Speech, and Language processing (TASLP

The Problem of Political Feminism in Islam

It seems that the modernity with which Arab societies were shaped was completely devoid of philosophy and methodology and tribalism and sexual racism remained a major component in shaping the psychology of the Arab self After the necessary distinction between Islam as a culture and fundamentalism as a political ideology I would like to talk in this paper about the complete marginalization of the role of women in politics Where do women sit in Islamic political history And if they have a place why are they marginalized This research paper aims to shed light on the political position of women in Isla

Mesoblastic nephroma: Pathological features

AbstractThis correspondence is an editorial comment on the previously published article entitled “Trois observations de néphrome mésoblastique avant l’âge de 6 mois” in AFJU Vol. 20, No. 3 Pages 161–164″. Since the authors of that article focused mainly on the clinical and radiological aspects of the tumor with only very brief reference to its pathological features, and since the variable behavior of mesoblastic nephroma is determined mainly by its histologic type, we found it worthwhile to elaborate more on the gross and microscopic features of that tumor

Editorial: Mesoblastic nephroma: Pathological features

This correspondence is an editorial comment on the previously published article entitled “Trois observations de néphrome mésoblastique avant l’âge de 6 mois” in AFJU Vol. 20, No. 3 Pages 161–164”. Since the authors of that article focused mainly on the clinical and radiological aspects of the tumor with only very brief reference to its pathological features, and since the variable behavior of mesoblastic nephroma is determined mainly by its histologic type, we found it worthwhile to elaborate more on the gross and microscopic features of that tumo

Educating for global citizenship in Egypt's private sector: A critical study of cosmopolitanism among the Egyptian student elite

In an age of globalisation, conflicting identities and cultures continue to remain a source of seemingly intractable conflict. Educative interventions are meanwhile increasing in trend among academics, politicians and multilateral aid organisations. Each regard education as a long-term solution to contemporary social and security issues. Supporting literature on the relationship between education and identity suggests that formal education has a powerful influence on students’ outlook on life, their loyalties and their identities. This premise suggests that when questioned about global issues, Egyptian students who attend international schools within their own country of origin should show more signs of cosmopolitanism and global mindedness than their nationally educated peers. Yet, contrary findings to that of prevailing discourse suggest that education’s ability to shape values and loyalties is likely overemphasised when placed in the context of foreign curricula and international education. At times, students of international schools involved in this study showed more signs of nationalism than their nationally educated counterparts, and presented as equally traditional, conservative and ‘anti-West’ as their compatriots. The thesis thus argues that when education is placed within an international framework, its ability to socialise is significantly weakened, as it is faced with considerable firewalls that are yet to be adequately acknowledged in the discussion of post-national citizenship education. Using a combination of interpretative and critical research methods, rich and original qualitative data was gathered on attitudes and lifestyles of elite Egyptians enrolled at a variety of Egypt’s private international schools. Twenty-two international school educated Egyptian students, and a control group of 21 nationally educated Egyptian students of the same socio-economic background were invited to participate in specially tailored one-to-one interviews to measure their degree of cosmopolitan attitudes. Supplementary participant observations of Egyptian families actively involved in Egypt’s international education community were also conducted to consider the complementarity of the students’ home lives with their school lives. Focus groups were held with students of international schools to determine their views and attitudes towards global issues and other communities. All findings from this research were assessed alongside large-scale values surveys including the World Values Surveys and the Arab Youth Surveys. With the large sample size of pre-existing opinion polls, and the unique isolation of curriculum type as an independent variable in this study, it was possible to assess the transformative impact that an international education plays in the expression of values and beliefs of Egyptian students. The findings of this thesis have multidisciplinary value. For political science readers, the study offers a critical and epistemological analysis of concepts of cosmopolitanism, Westernisation, globalisation and global citizenship. For readers of the Middle East, it is a study into Egyptian youth today and their conflicting identities and loyalties. The Egyptian experience of private international schools and foreign investment is representative of a regional trend, and valuable to those wishing to consider competing narratives for identity in twenty-first century Middle East societies. Finally, it is a study that has an added value to educationists as it explores the role education plays on identity, and more specifically the role of international schools on globalisation and international mindedness. The growing trend of research and analysis that focuses on increased global connectedness and a culturally converging world makes this thesis an important and timely contribution. In an effort to extend the debate beyond the prevailing macro-analyses of change through globalisation, this thesis stresses the importance of looking at global interconnectivity at the micro-level, and particularly how young people navigate and negotiate their identity within the context of increasingly transnational spaces. Through this endeavour, it has reached a critical evaluation of our current understanding of a ‘post-national’ future, through the attitudes and opinions of some of today’s internationally educated generation

Evaluation of Nanoclay Additives for Improving Resistance to Moisture Damage in Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA)

Transportation has an enormous impact on the U.S. economy and on the lives of all Americans. Many modes of transportation rely on pavement, but pavement conditions deteriorate over time because of the combined effects of traffic and climate. Exposure to moisture often causes premature failure of asphalt pavements as it reduces the stiffness of the asphalt and enables stripping of the asphalt from the aggregate. This research evaluates the effectiveness of clay nanomaterials (i.e., nanoclays) in improving the resistance of hot mix asphalt (HMA) to moisture damage and compares the enhancement results to anti-stripping additives commonly used in pavement construction. Two types of surface-modified nanoclay, lime-treated aggregate, and two amine-based liquid antistripping agents (HP Plus and LOF 6500) were evaluated for improving HMA’s moisture resistance. All additives tested for reducing moisture damage resulted in dry and wet tensile strength of the modified mixes higher than the minimum specified by Caltrans 2018 Standard Specifications (100 psi for dry tensile strength and 70 psi for wet tensile strength). The Tensile Strength Ratio (TSR) of all HMA modified mixes was higher than 0.80, which is the minimum specified by the Superpave mix design method (Asphalt Mix Design Methods MS-2, Asphalt Institute) and exceeded the TSR of the control mix. The TSR for HMA mixes modified using nanoclays were comparable to those for HMA mixes modified using liquid antistripping and lime slurry treated aggregate. Liquid antistripping agents tested herein were the least costly additive at an approximately $2.0/ton added cost. This research can be used to better understand pavement deterioration to enable the most efficient and cost-effective construction and preservation of our nation\u27s critical transportation infrastructure

Correlation Between Insulin, Leptin and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine disorder among women of fertile age. Insulin can stimulate ovarian androgen production in normal women and in women with PCOS. Leptin levels were reduced among women with PCOS treated with insulin sensitizers. Aim: This study aims to investigate the serum levels of insulin and leptin in and their relationship with the endocrine and metabolic peculiarities of PCOS. Subjects and Methods: The study was carried out on 125 women during the reproductive age group, had primary infertility and diagnosed as having PCOS according to Rotterdam criteria. Patients were recruited from Tanta University Hospital, during the period May 2011 to December 2012. Cases were classified into two groups: Patient’s group comprised 75 women having PCOS and control group entailing 50 normal fertile healthy women. All women were subjected to: History taking, clinical examination, assessment of body mass index (BMI), ultrasonographic examination and hormonal assay to estimation serum leptin, insulin, follicle stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, progesterone and free testosterone value. Statistical analysis was performed by Statistical Product and Service Solutions (IBM, USA) version 10.0. Student t‑test was used to compare numerical variables while correlation was performed to determine the relationship between the variables. The value of P < 0.05 was taken as significant. Results: We found a significant positive correlation between leptin, BMI, age and a trivial upbeat correlation between leptin and insulin. The most interesting result is the significant positive correlation between insulin and leptin. Conclusion: There is a link between elevated serum leptin and insulin levels to obesity in PCOS suggesting that most probably they are responsible for the complicated picture of PCOS in obese patients.Keywords: Hyperinsulinemia, insulin, leptin, obesity, polycystic ovary syndrom

On the Performance of Quickest Detection Spectrum Sensing: The Case of Cumulative Sum

Quickest change detection (QCD) is a fundamental problem in many applications. Given a sequence of measurements that exhibits two different distributions around a certain flipping point, the goal is to detect the change in distribution around the flipping point as quickly as possible. The QCD problem appears in many practical applications, e.g., quality control, power system line outage detection, spectrum reuse, and resource allocation and scheduling. In this paper, we focus on spectrum sensing as our application since it is a critical process for proper functionality of cognitive radio networks. Relying on the cumulative sum (CUSUM), we derive the probability of detection and the probability of false alarm of CUSUM based spectrum sensing. We show the correctness of our derivations using numerical simulations.Comment: This paper is accepted for publication in IEEE Communication Letters Jan 202

The use of beta-carotene as environmentally safe inhibitor for Cu-Al-Ni alloyscorrosion in sulfide polluted chloride solutions

The stability of Cu-Al-Ni alloys used in the manufacture of NaCl in Egypt was investigated in sulfide polluted chloride solutions. Three different alloys, namely, Cu-10Al-5Ni, Cu-10Al-10Ni and Cu-10Al-45Niwereinvestigatedinchloride containingsulfide-ions using different electrochemical techniques including polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The presence of sulfide ions in the chloride solution accelerates thecorrosion of Cu-Al-Ni alloys,whereas the increase of the nickel content in the alloy improves its corrosion resistance.?-carotene as eco-friendly corrosion inhibitor was used to protect the Cu-10Al-Ni alloys from corrosion in presence of sulfide ions. The corrosion inhibition efficiency reached >95% at 50 ppm of ?-carotene. The alloy surface was investigated by the scanning electron microscope and the surface constituents were analyzed by EDAX. Keywords: Corrosion; chloride, Cu-Ni alloys; EIS; sulfide pollution