Nonequilibrium magnetic properties of the mixed spin (1/2, 1) Ising nanowire with core-shell structure v

The nonequilibrium magnetic properties (phase transition temperatures, phase diagrams, hysteresis loop areas and correlations) are investigated in the kinetic mixed spin (1/2, 1) Ising nanowire system under the time varying magnetic field. The Glauber-type stochastic dynamics are employed to construct the set of mean field dynamic equations. The time variation of the core/shell magnetizations and the thermal behavior of the dynamic core/shell magnetizations are examined, extensively. The dynamic core/shell magnetizations, hysteresis loop areas and correlations are studied as a function of temperature in order to characterize the nature (continuous or discontinuous) of the phase transitions as well as to find the dynamic phase transition temperatures. The dynamic phase diagrams are presented in the magnetic field amplitude and temperature plane. The dynamic phase diagrams exhibit paramagnetic (p), ferrimagnetic (i), nonmagnetic (nm) phases, three mixed regions, (i + nm), (i + p) and (nm + p). The dynamic phase diagrams contain a dynamic tricritical point and reentrant phenomena, which strongly depend on interaction parameters

Strategies to Enhance Sustainability of Land Resources in Arid Regions

The ability to effectively maintain the functions of the ecosystem is closely related to the assessment of land resources within a conservation-utilization balance. Land degradation is one of the most significant environmental treats on arid region ecosystems in terms of the use of these resources. In this chapter, the aim was to attract the attention to land degradation processes in Turkey and analyze the current conditions in the context of policy-science interaction by performing the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) analysis and develop the effective strategies for sustainable use of land resources. Thus, anthropogenic effects on sustainability of land resources and its relation with drought and productivity, and insufficient legal regulations were analyzed for developing strategies to enhance sustainability of land resources. Results showed that Turkey is at the point of breaking for sustainability of its natural resources. Insufficient topographic and soil conditions, administrative problems and negatively changing climatic conditions made the condition adverse. Therefore, the significant strategies were defined for sustainable resource management under the integrated approach from ecological, economic, political and sociological perspectives. In this context, assessments have been made in order to prevent weaknesses and possible threats to the sustainable use of this resource

Topology of the correlation networks among major currencies using hierarchical structure methods

We studied the topology of correlation networks among 34 major currencies using the concept of a minimal spanning tree and hierarchical tree for the full years of 2007-2008 when major economic turbulence occurred. We used the USD (US Dollar) and the TL (Turkish Lira) as numeraires in which the USD was the major currency and the TL was the minor currency. We derived a hierarchical organization and constructed minimal spanning trees (MSTs) and hierarchical trees (HTs) for the full years of 2007, 2008 and for the 2007-2008 periods. We performed a technique to associate a value of reliability to the links of MSTs and HTs by using bootstrap replicas of data. We also used the average linkage cluster analysis for obtaining the hierarchical trees in the case of the TL as the numeraire. These trees are useful tools for understanding and detecting the global structure, taxonomy and hierarchy in financial data. We illustrated how the minimal spanning trees and their related hierarchical trees developed over a period of time. From these trees we identified different clusters of currencies according to their proximity and economic ties. The clustered structure of the currencies and the key currency in each cluster were obtained and we found that the clusters matched nicely with the geographical regions of corresponding countries in the world such as Asia or Europe. As expected the key currencies were generally those showing major economic activity.Comment: 10 Pages,7 figures,1 tabl

How Cervical Reconstruction Surgery Affects Global Spinal Alignment.

BACKGROUND:There have been no reports describing how cervical reconstruction surgery affects global spinal alignment (GSA). OBJECTIVE:To elucidate the effects of cervical reconstruction for GSA through a retrospective multicenter study. METHODS:Seventy-eight patients who underwent cervical reconstruction surgery for cervical kyphosis were divided into a Head-balanced group (n = 42) and a Trunk-balanced group (n = 36) according to the values of the C7 plumb line (PL). We also divided the patients into a cervical sagittal balanced group (CSB group, n = 18) and a cervical sagittal imbalanced group (CSI group, n = 60) based on the C2 PL-C7 PL distance. Various sagittal Cobb angles and the sagittal vertical axes were measured before and after surgery. RESULTS:Cervical alignment was improved to achieve occiput-trunk concordance (the distance between the center of gravity [COG] PL, which is considered the virtual gravity line of the entire body, and C7 PL < 30 mm) despite the location of COG PL and C7PL. A subsequent significant change in thoracolumbar alignment was observed in Head-balanced and CSI groups. However, no such significant change was observed in Trunk-balanced and CSB groups. We observed 1 case of transient and 1 case of residual neurological worsening. CONCLUSION:The primary goal of cervical reconstruction surgery is to achieve occiput-trunk concordance. Once it is achieved, subsequent thoracolumbar alignment changes occur as needed to harmonize GSA. Cervical reconstruction can restore both cervical deformity and GSA. However, surgeons must consider the risks and benefits in such challenging cases

ISSLS PRIZE IN BIOENGINEERING SCIENCE 2019: biomechanical changes in dynamic sagittal balance and lower limb compensatory strategies following realignment surgery in adult spinal deformity patients.

Study designA longitudinal cohort study.ObjectiveTo define a set of objective biomechanical metrics that are representative of adult spinal deformity (ASD) post-surgical outcomes and that may forecast post-surgical mechanical complications. Current outcomes for ASD surgical planning and post-surgical assessment are limited to static radiographic alignment and patient-reported questionnaires. Little is known about the compensatory biomechanical strategies for stabilizing sagittal balance during functional movements in ASD patients.MethodsWe collected in-clinic motion data from 15 ASD patients and 10 controls during an unassisted sit-to-stand (STS) functional maneuver. Joint motions were measured using noninvasive 3D depth mapping sensor technology. Mathematical methods were used to attain high-fidelity joint-position tracking for biomechanical modeling. This approach provided reliable measurements for biomechanical behaviors at the spine, hip, and knee. These included peak sagittal vertical axis (SVA) over the course of the STS, as well as forces and muscular moments at various joints. We compared changes in dynamic sagittal balance (DSB) metrics between pre- and post-surgery and then separately compared pre- and post-surgical data to controls.ResultsStandard radiographic and patient-reported outcomes significantly improved following realignment surgery. From the DSB biomechanical metrics, peak SVA and biomechanical loads and muscular forces on the lower lumbar spine significantly reduced following surgery (- 19 to - 30%, all p < 0.05). In addition, as SVA improved, hip moments decreased (- 28 to - 65%, all p < 0.05) and knee moments increased (+ 7 to + 28%, p < 0.05), indicating changes in lower limb compensatory strategies. After surgery, DSB data approached values from the controls, with some post-surgical metrics becoming statistically equivalent to controls.ConclusionsLongitudinal changes in DSB following successful multi-level spinal realignment indicate reduced forces on the lower lumbar spine along with altered lower limb dynamics matching that of controls. Inadequate improvement in DSB may indicate increased risk of post-surgical mechanical failure. These slides can be retrieved under Electronic Supplementary Material

Une nouvelle architecture de compensation du bruit pour la reconnaissance robuste de la parole

Colloque avec actes et comité de lecture. internationale.International audienceWe present a novel noise compensation architecture which makes no assumptions on how the noise sources alter the speech data and which do not rely on clean speech models. Rather, this new architecture makes the (realistic) assumption that speech databases recorded under different background noise conditions are available. Its main principle is to process individually each database and to construct a parametric representation which describes the variation of acoustic models w.r.t. noise models. This representation is then used during recognition to estimate the acoustic models in the new environment. We evaluate the performance of this new compensation scheme on a connected digits recognition task and show that it can perform significantly better than multi-conditions training, which is the most widely used technique in these kind of scenarios

Une nouvelle approche de modélisation du langage par des réseaux Bayésiens dynamiques

Colloque avec actes et comité de lecture. internationale.International audienceIn this paper we propose a new approach to language modeling based on dynamic Bayesian networks. The principle idea of our approach is to find the dependence relations between variables that represent different linguistic units (word, class, concept, ...) that constitutes a language model. In the context of this paper the linguistic units that we consider are syntactic classes and words. Our approach should not be considered as a model combination technique. Rather, it is an original and coherent methodology that processes words and classes in the same model. We attempt to identify and model the dependence of words and classes on their linguistic context. Our ultimate goal is to devise an automatic mechanism that extracts the best dependence relations between a word and its context, i.e., lexical and syntactic. Preliminary results are very encouraging, in particular the model in which a word depends not only on previous word but also on syntactic classes of two previous words. This model outperforms the bi-gram model

Language modeling using dynamic Bayesian networks

Colloque avec actes et comité de lecture. internationale.International audienceIn this paper we propose a new approach to language modeling based on dynamic Bayesian networks. The principle idea of our approach is to find the dependence relations between variables that represent different linguistic units (word, class, concept, ...) that constitutes a language model. In the context of this paper the linguistic units that we consider are syntactic classes and words. Our approach should not be considered as a model combination technique. Rather, it is an original and coherent methodology that processes words and classes in the same model. We attempt to identify and model the dependence of words and classes on their linguistic context. Our ultimate goal is to devise an automatic mechanism that extracts the best dependence relations between a word and its context, i.e., lexical and syntactic. Preliminary results are very encouraging, in particular the model in which a word depends not only on previous word but also on syntactic classes of two previous words. This model outperforms the bi-gram model

Is There a Patient Profile That Characterizes a Patient With Adult Spinal Deformity as a Candidate for Minimally Invasive Surgery?

Study designRetrospective review.ObjectivesThe goal of this study was to evaluate the baseline characteristics of patients chosen to undergo traditional open versus minimally invasive surgery (MIS) for adult spinal deformity (ASD).MethodsA multicenter review of 2 databases including ASD patients treated with surgery. Inclusion criteria were age >45 years, Cobb angle minimum of 20°, and minimum 2-year follow-up. Preoperative radiographic parameters and disability outcome measures were reviewed.ResultsA total of 350 patients were identified: 173 OPEN patients and 177 MIS. OPEN patients were significantly younger than MIS patients (61.5 years vs 63.74 years, P = .013). The OPEN group had significantly more females (87% vs 76%, P = .006), but both groups had similar body mass index. Preoperative lumbar Cobb was significantly higher for the OPEN group (34.2°) than for the MIS group (26.0°, P < .001). The mean preoperative Oswestry Disability Index was significantly higher in the MIS group (44.8 in OPEN patients and 49.8 in MIS patients, P < .011). The preoperative Numerical Rating Scale value for back pain was 7.2 in the OPEN group and 6.8 in the MIS group preoperatively, P = .100.ConclusionsPatients chosen for MIS for ASD are slightly older and have smaller coronal deformities than those chosen for open techniques, but they did not have a substantially lesser degree of sagittal malalignment. MIS surgery was most frequently utilized for patients with an sagittal vertical axis under 6 cm and a baseline pelvic incidence and lumbar lordosis mismatch under 30°

Common polymorphisms of growth hormone: Growth hormone receptor axis in Turkish children with short stature

Objective: A single-nucleotide polymorphism of the growth hormone 1 gene, GH1IVS4+90A>T (rs2665802), associated with short stature and a polymorphism of the growth hormone receptor gene, exon 3 deleted variant, associated with increased responsiveness to growth hormone have been reported previously. We aimed to investigate the frequency of both polymorphisms and their correlation to height in Turkish short children. Also, we aimed to evaluate the effect of exon 3 deleted variant on response to 1-year growth hormone therapy. Materials and Methods: Children with idiopathic isolated growth hormone deficiency (n = 39) and with idiopathic short stature (n = 10) and 50 control subjects were evaluated for anthropo-metric parameters, annual growth velocity, and annual height gain. Growth hormone receptor gene polymorphisms were analyzed via multiplex polymerase chain reaction; growth hormone 1 gene polymorphism was analyzed via polymerase chain reaction and single-strand confor-mation polymorphism techniques. Results: The frequency of genotypes carrying the “A” allele was not significantly higher in the idiopathic isolated growth hormone deficiency group than in the idiopathic short stature and control groups (P = .03 for each). The exon 3 deleted variant genotype was significantly lower in the idiopathic short stature group compared to the control group (P = .01). There was no effect of exon 3 deleted variant, on response to the first-year growth hormone therapy. Conclusion: In Turkish population, no correlation was found between the “A” allele of GH1IVS4+90A>T polymorphism and idiopathic isolated growth hormone deficiency and short stature, and a significant negative correlation was found between exon 3 deleted variant and idiopathic short stature and short stature. Exon 3 deleted variant has no effect on response to growth hormone treatment.Istanbul Universit