Information Loss in the Human Auditory System

From the eardrum to the auditory cortex, where acoustic stimuli are decoded, there are several stages of auditory processing and transmission where information may potentially get lost. In this paper, we aim at quantifying the information loss in the human auditory system by using information theoretic tools. To do so, we consider a speech communication model, where words are uttered and sent through a noisy channel, and then received and processed by a human listener. We define a notion of information loss that is related to the human word recognition rate. To assess the word recognition rate of humans, we conduct a closed-vocabulary intelligibility test. We derive upper and lower bounds on the information loss. Simulations reveal that the bounds are tight and we observe that the information loss in the human auditory system increases as the signal to noise ratio (SNR) decreases. Our framework also allows us to study whether humans are optimal in terms of speech perception in a noisy environment. Towards that end, we derive optimal classifiers and compare the human and machine performance in terms of information loss and word recognition rate. We observe a higher information loss and lower word recognition rate for humans compared to the optimal classifiers. In fact, depending on the SNR, the machine classifier may outperform humans by as much as 8 dB. This implies that for the speech-in-stationary-noise setup considered here, the human auditory system is sub-optimal for recognizing noisy words

3D printing of PEEK-based medical devices

open access articlePolyether-ether-ketone (PEEK) is an excellent thermoplastic alternative to metallic biomaterials which is used for loadbearing applications due to its high strength and stiffness, and biocompatibility with no cytotoxic effects. However, a potential clinical concern is that PEEK alone is not bioactive enough, and thus has limited fixation to bone. To overcome this problem, bioactive materials and/or porosity are incorporated into PEEK medical devices. The latest developments in these two strategies are presented. in this paper. Bioactive PEEK/hydroxyapatite (HA) prepared by integration of 3D printing and compression molding is presented in this paper. In addition, nozzle and build plate temperatures for 3D printing of porous PEEK were optimized using genetic algorithm (GA) to achieve the highest mechanical strength for load bearing applications such as spinal fusion cages

Response of Sunflower Yield and Phytohormonal Changes to Azotobacter,Azospirillum,Pseudomonas and Animal Manure in a Chemical Free Agroecosystem

There are new trends in agriculture to move toward the low input systems with the lower application of chemical fertilizers. To reach this goal, different methods, such as the application of biofertilizers, may be used. So this experiment was conducted in 2010 at a research farm in Arak, Iran, in factorial in the form of a randomized complete block design with three replications and four factors: animal manure (M), Pseudomonas putida (P), Azotobacter chroococcum (A)and Azospirillum lipoferum (Z). Results indicated that manure significantly affected grain yield (P≤0.01); the highest grain yield was achieved in the interaction of manure × Azotobacter × Pseudomonas (4.556 ton/ha). Grain yield was not significantly affected by the microorganisms. Moreover, the four factors of the experiment significantly affected auxin, gibberellin and cytokinin content of plant. Overall, this experiment indicated that desirable yield can be achieved by the application of manure and biofertilizers, in a sustainable agriculture

Akbari–Ganji Method for Solving Equations of Euler–Bernoulli Beam with Quintic Nonlinearity

open access articleIn many real word applications, beam has nonlinear transversely vibrations. Solving nonlinear beam systems is complicated because of the high dependency of the system variables and boundary conditions. It is important to have an accurate parametric analysis for understanding the nonlinear vibration characteristics. This paper presents an approximate solution of a nonlinear transversely vibrating beam with odd and even nonlinear terms using the Akbari–Ganji Method (AGM). This method is an effective approach to solve nonlinear differential equations. AGM is already used in the heat transfer science for solving differential equations, and in this research for the first time, it is applied to find the approximate solution of a nonlinear transversely vibrating beam. The advantage of creating new boundary conditions in this method in additional to predefined boundary conditions is checked for the proposed nonlinear case. To illustrate the applicability and accuracy of the AGM, the governing equation of transversely vibrating nonlinear beams is treated with different initial conditions. Since simply supported and clamped-clamped structures can be encountered in many engineering applications, these two boundary conditions are considered. The periodic response curves and the natural frequency are obtained by AGM and contrasted with the energy balance method (EBM) and the numerical solution. The results show that the present method has excellent agreements in contrast with numerical and EBM calculations. In most cases, AGM is applied straightforwardly to obtain the nonlinear frequency– amplitude relationship for dynamic behaviour of vibrating beams. The natural frequencies tested for various values of amplitude are clearly stated the AGM is an applicable method for the proposed nonlinear system. It is demonstrated that this technique saves computational time without compromising the accuracy of the solution. This approach can be easily extended to other nonlinear systems and is therefore widely applicable in engineering and other sciences

Early effect of radiation on the liver functional tests of patients with thoracic and abdominal tumors during radiotherapy

The liver is an organ at risk (OAR) in radiotherapy of thoracic and abdominal tumors such as gastric, distal esophagus, lower lung and breast, bile duct, pancreas and whole abdomen. In this study the alteration in liver functional tests (LFT) of these patients during radiotherapy was investigated. To that end, the level of serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), direct and total bilirubin were checked out at different times (before radiotherapy and every 2 weeks after the start of radiotherapy and followed up to 2 months after the end of treatment). The results showed that LFT level increased during radiotherapy while they gradually decreased after treatment. Our results showed that the LFT serum is a very sensitive and useful biomarker for evaluation of the radiotherapy effects.

Multiple Congenital Anomalies in a Preterm Neonate with G6PD Deficiency from Consanguineous Parents

Introduction: Congenital anomalies can be defined as structural or functional disorders, including metabolic disorders. The prevalence of congenital anomalies is not high. Case Presentation: We would like to present a 34-week- preterm neonate with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency who was born with several fetal anomalies from consanguineous parents. Mother had a twin-birth pregnancy which one of twins died because of lung hemorrhage and the second twin was born with multiple anomalies four fingers in both hands, short legs attached to the pelvic bone, and absence of tibia, fibula, and ankle bones. Hemimelia, which was mostly known as the congenital deformity and a type of phocomelia, is extremely rare. To detect most of these types of anomalies, magnetic resonance imaging, radiography, ultrasound, and computed tomography scan can be used. Conclusion: Congenital anomalies are the cause of many infants' deaths. To detect most of these types of anomalies, MRI, radiography, ultrasound, and computed tomography (CT) scan can be used

Presenting a Model of the Impact of Green Resource Management on Organizational Sustainability with Regard to the Mediating Role of Service Culture and Motivation in the Employees of Sports Organizations in Fars Province, Iran

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of green human resource management on organizational sustainability with respect to the mediating role of motivation and service culture of employees of sports organizations in Fars Province, Iran. Methods: This was an applied research in terms of purpose and a descriptive-survey of correlation type in terms of data collection method. The statistical population of the study included the employees of sports organizations in Fars Province (n = 4047). A statistical sample of 395 people was selected using Cochran's method by stratified sampling method. To conduct the research, the standard questionnaires of organizational resources management of Sakhavalkar and Tadani, organizational sustainability of Karkolian et al., Hackman and Oldham motivation, and Danaifar service culture were used. The face and content validity of the questionnaire designed for this study was confirmed by the professors of this field and the reliability was confirmed using Cronbach's alpha for the questionnaires of green resource management, organizational sustainability, motivation, and service culture with values of 0.86, 0.78, 0.85, and 0.96, respectively. Statistical analysis of data was performed using structural equation modeling (SEM). Findings: Green human resource standards with a path coefficient of 0.364 had an effect on sustainability. Moreover, the variable of service culture with a path coefficient of 0.408 had a mediating role in the relationship between green human resources and sustainability, and the variable of motivation did not play a significant role. Conclusion: According to the results, it can be said that the application of green human resource management in the sports sector can be implemented and serious attention should be paid to its various aspects such as service culture and employee motivation to strengthen sports organizations through sustainable development

Nanoclay Performance on Resistance of Clay under Freezing Cycles

This study aims to investigate effect of nanoclay on resistance of the exposed clay soils in freezing in vitro conditions. The clay sample was selected from the considered land. Then they were mixed on water in 1.5, 3, 4.5 and 6 percents as well as without nanoclay. There were prepared cylinders with 3.81 cm diameter and 7.62 cm height, which they have been placed in conditions without freezing, one cycle, two cycles and three cycles of freezing. Then they were tested under uniaxial experiment. Then they were analyzed by SPSS software. The results show that adding nanoclay with 1.5, 3, 4.5 and 6 percents will reduce soil strength during freezing cycles. It can be occurred because adding nanoclay will result to increase special surface of the samples; consequently, increasing electrical load increases water absorption, which it can be partly cause of non-effective increasing nanoclay in soil resistance. There is also a significant difference between pressure strength of soils with lower humidity and those with higher humidity. It confirms that increasing humidity decreases strength level, which increasing water absorption of samples by nanoclay is reason of decreasing strength. There is an inverse significant relationship between increasing nano and soil water absorption, which its reason may be that adding nanoclay because of increasing samples special surface and consequently, increasing electricity load will increase water absorption and samples\u2019 plasticity. It can be expected that samples\u2019 permeability will decline by increasing their plasticity. There is also a significant relationship between increasing nano and soil liquid and doughiness limit that its reason can be increasing rate of water absorption in samples due to presence of nanoclay