Evaluation of EEG-based Complementary Features for Assessment of Visual Discomfort based on Stable Depth Perception Time

The investigation aimed at the evaluation of EEG activity during stereoscopic perception of images with different levels of visual comfort. Different levels of disparity and the number of details in stereoscopic views in some cases make it difficult to find the focus point for comfortable depth perception quickly. During our investigation, we found a tendency for differences in single sensor-based EEG signal activity at specific frequencies. A dataset of EEG signal records from 19 control subjects was collected and used for further evaluation. To support the reproducible research this dataset of EEG activity with associated subjective scores was made publicly available. During the experimental investigation, we found differences in EEG signal activity at different levels of visual comfort. In addition, the dynamics of EEG signal activity correlated to the moment of depth perception indication registered by the control subjects. The results of our investigation show that the ratio of alpha estimated from a single EEG sensor placed over the frontal lobe can serve as a complementary feature for the automatic detection of visually uncomfortable stereoscopic views

Cylindrical Phase Shifters with Solid-state Plasma

The investigation results of n-InP cylindrical phase shifters with solid-state plasma are presented in this paper. Furthermore, dispersion characteristics of the main mode HE11 of phase shifters with different external dielectric layers are calculated. According to the results of the investigation, the use of TM-15 dielectric and without dielectric is more preferred for phase shifters, as far as they correspond to the phase shifters working range wider in the range of magnetic flux density (0–0.5) T

Parametric synthesis of meander slow-wave system with additional shields

The algorithm of parametric synthesis of meander slow-wave system with additional shields is presented in this paper. The influence of main constructive parameters of meander slow-wave system with additional shields on its electrical characteristics was evaluated in order to achieve the optimal results of the synthesis. Verification of the algorithm of parametric synthesis of meander slow-wave system with additional shields was carried out using four different models of meander slow-wave system with additional shields grounded in different positions. Sonnet® software package which is based on the method of moments has been used during the investigation

The CHEK2 del5395 is a founder mutation without direct effects for cancer risk in the latvian population

Our objective was to determine: 1) whether the checkpoint kinase 2 (CHEK2) del5395 (g.27417113-27422508 del, NC_000022.11) is a founder mutation in the Latvian population, 2) if there is an association between CHEK2 del5395 mutation and cancer risk, and 3) and whether the CHEK2 del5395 mutation impacts cancer predisposition in Chernobyl disaster liquidators (the civil and military personnel who were called upon to deal with consequences of the 1986 nuclear disaster) as well as geriatric populations. We recruited 438 breast cancer patients, 568 colorectal cancer patients, 399 ovarian cancer patients, 419 prostate cancer patients, 526 healthy blood donors, 480 Chernobyl disaster liquidators and 444 geriatric cancer-free participants. DNA samples were isolated from blood samples and subjected to multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The truncation of del5395 was estimated by fragment size of the multiplex PCR.All groups were compared to the healthy blood donors using Fisher’s exact test. All p values were two-sided and the odds ratios (OR) calculated by two-by-two table. In cancer groups, the del5395 mutation was most frequently observed in the ovarian cancer group (1.00%, OR = 1.32). In control groups, the del5395 mutation was most frequent (0.76%) in the healthy donors, which exceeded its frequency in the Chernobyl liquidators group and the geriatric group by 0.01 and 0.08%, respectively. For all groups, the OR appeared to be >1 only in ovarian cancer patients. However, OR rates showed no statistical significance in either cancer or control groups, with the p value fluctuating within the range of 0.39-1.00. The CHEK2 gene del5395 is a founder mutation in the Latvian population, which, however, does not have a direct impact on genetic predisposition toward colorectal, breast, ovarian and prostate cancer

Modelling microwave devices using artificial neural networks / Mikrobangų įtaisų modeliavimas, taikant dirbtinių neuronų tinklus

Artificial neural networks (ANN) have recently gained attention as fast and flexible equipment for modelling and designing microwave devices. The paper reviews the opportunities to use them for undertaking the tasks on the analysis and synthesis. The article focuses on what tasks might be solved using neural networks, what challenges might rise when using artificial neural networks for carrying out tasks on microwave devices and discusses problem-solving techniques for microwave devices with intermittent characteristics. Santrauka Nagrinėjamos dirbtinių neuronų tinklų taikymo galimybės mikrobangų įtaisams tirti. Apžvelgiami eksperimentiniai ir teoriniai darbai. Pateikiama apibendrinta informacija apie uždavinius, sprendžiamus taikant neuronų tinklus, problemas, kylančias dirbtinius neuronų tinklus taikant mikrobangų uždaviniams spręsti, ir problemų sprendimo būdus. Pateikiama bendra neuronų tinklų struktūra ir konkretūs neuronų tinklų naudojimo pavyzdžiai. Reikšminiai žodžiai: mikrobangų įtaisai, neuronų tinklai, lėtinimo sistemos, iteraciniai skaičiavimai

Telomere length in Chernobyl accident recovery workers in the late period after the disaster

The outcome of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant (CNPP) accident was that a huge number of people were exposed to ionizing radiation. Previous studies of CNPP clean-up workers from Latvia revealed a high occur-rence of age-associated degenerative diseases and cancer in young adults, as well as a high mortality as a result of cardiovascular disorders at age 45–54 years. DNA tandem repeats that cap chromosome ends, known as telomeres, are sensitive to oxidative damage and exposure to ionizing radiation. Telomeres are important in aging processes and carcinogenesis. The aim of this study was to investigate the long-term effect of protracted ionizing radiation exposure on telomere length in CNPP clean-up workers. Relative telomere length (RTL) was measured in peripheral blood leukocytes of 595 CNPP clean-up workers and 236 gender- and age-matched controls using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (q-PCR). Close attention was paid to participation year and tasks performed during the worker’s stay in Chernobyl, health status, and RTL differ-ences between subgroups. Telomere shortening was not found in CNPP clean-up workers; on the contrary, their RTL was slightly greater than in controls (P = 0.001). Longer telomeres were found in people who worked during 1986, in those undertaking ‘dirty ’ tasks (digging and deactivation), and in people with cancer. Shorter telomeres appeared frequently in those with cataract, osteoporosis, atherosclerosis, or coronary hear