New classification techniques for electroencephalogram (EEG) signals and a real-time EEG control of a robot

This paper studies the state-of-the-art classification techniques for electroencephalogram (EEG) signals. Fuzzy Functions Support Vector Classifier, Improved Fuzzy Functions Support Vector Classifier and a novel technique that has been designed by utilizing Particle Swarm Optimization and Radial Basis Function Networks (PSO-RBFN) have been studied. The classification performances of the techniques are compared on standard EEG datasets that are publicly available and used by brain–computer interface (BCI) researchers. In addition to the standard EEG datasets, the proposed classifier is also tested on non-EEG datasets for thorough comparison. Within the scope of this study, several data clustering algorithms such as Fuzzy C-means, K-means and PSO clustering algorithms are studied and their clustering performances on the same datasets are compared. The results show that PSO-RBFN might reach the classification performance of state-of-the art classifiers and might be a better alternative technique in the classification of EEG signals for real-time application. This has been demonstrated by implementing the proposed classifier in a real-time BCI application for a mobile robot control.     

Pacemaker endocarditis due to Candida albicans: case report and review

We describe a case of pacemaker endocarditis due to Candida albicans in a patient who responded favorably to combined surgical and antifungal therapy. Only five cases of candidal pacemaker endocarditis have been reported previously. We review these five cases and discuss the clinical presentation and therapy for this disease in comparison with candidal prosthetic valve endocarditis.     

液力变矩叉车缓动功能研制

通过研究液力变矩叉车传动特性,研制出一套可实现液力变矩叉车缓动功能的控制装置。该装置通过检测操纵手柄位置,采用台达PLC控制步进电机驱动丝杠运动,从而实现对发动机转速的控制;通过触摸屏修改控制参数进行现场调试,实现液力变矩叉车在怠速作业时,通过操纵手柄就可以顺利稳定的平移、提升或倾斜作业,从而使得叉车操作更加方便,且降低了操作人员的劳动强度,具有很高的性价比。     

Capturing Preservice Chemistry Teachers’ Visual Representations of Redox Reactions through Storyboards

This study aimed to identify preservice chemistry teachers’ understanding of redox reactions at the submicroscopic level and how they make connections to macroscopic level. Twenty‐five preservice chemistry teachers first viewed a video of a redox reaction happening between a zinc wire and a copper(II) sulfate solution, then they reflected on their macroscopic observations, and generated storyboards (a sequence of drawings) representing this reaction at the submicroscopic level. Both the reflections and the storyboards were coded, and the categories reflecting the participants’ levels of understanding were determined. Results showed that the participants usually identified the macroscopic evidences, but they had conceptual difficulties in interpreting and representing evidences at the submicroscopic level. Few participants indicated a scientific or a moderate understanding of redox reactions, whereas the majority exhibited either weak or alternative understanding of redox reactions.     

Geometric mean vs. Arithmetic mean in extrusion residence time studies

Geometric mean residence time was compared with the arithmetic mean residence time for a residence time distribution study conducted on a twin‐screw extruder using a salt tracer and electrical conductivity measurements. Electrical conductivity of the cornmeal melt was measured at the die exit. All RTD curves obtained during the study were skewed to the right with very long tails that resulted in inflated arithmetic mean residence times. In order to alleviate the problem of long tails, different approaches were considered. Among these approaches, logarithmic transformation of the time scale to calculate the geometric mean residence time was shown to best represent the residence time distribution in terms of mean residence time and spread of the RTD. The log transformation of the time scale alleviates the problem of inappropriate shifting of the mean residence time due to long tails. The difference between the upper limits and lower limits for the log transformed data was found to be more appropriate to define the spreads of the distributions as the untransformed data resulted in quite variable spreads.     

Ni(II) removal from aqueous solutions using cone biomass of Thuja orientalis

The biomass of terrestrial-plant materials has high removal capacities for a number of heavy metal ions. The Ni(II) biosorption capacity of the cone biomass of Thuja orientalis was studied in the batch mode. The biosorption equilibrium level was determined as a function of contact time, pH, temperature, agitation speed at several initial metal ion and adsorbent concentrations. The removal of Ni(II) from aqueous solutions increased with adsorbent concentration, temperature and agitation speed of the solution were increased. The biosorption process was very fast; 90% of biosorption occurred within 3 min and equilibrium was reached at around 7 min. It is found that the biosorption of Ni(II) on the cone biomass was correlated well (R2 > 0.99) with the Langmuir equation as compared to Freundlich, BET Temkin and D-R isotherm equation under the concentration range studied. According to Langmuir isotherm, the monolayer saturation capacity (Q(o)) is 12.42 mg g(-1). The pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order and intraparticle diffusion kinetic models were applied to test the experimental data for initial Ni(II) and cone biomass concentrations. The pseudo-second-order kinetic model provided the best correlation of the used experimental data compared to the pseudo-first-order and intraparticle diffusion kinetic models. The activation energy of biosorption (E(a)) was determined as 36.85 kJ mol(-1) using the Arrhenius equation. This study indicated that the cone biomass of T. orientalis can be used as an effective and environmentally friendly adsorbent for the treatment of Ni(II) containing aqueous solutions.     

Equilibrium and pre-equilibrium calculations of neutron production in medium–heavy targets irradiated by protons up to 100 MeV

In this study, by using equilibrium and pre-equilibrium reaction mechanisms, the (p,xn) cross-sections of the spallation neutron target nuclei ^50,52,53,54Cr and ^63,65Cu were investigated for incident proton energies up to 100 MeV. The excitation functions for pre-equilibrium reaction mechanisms were calculated by using a hybrid model, a geometry dependent hybrid model, the full exciton model and the cascade exciton model. Equilibrium effects were calculated according to the Weisskopf–Ewing model. The calculation results were also compared with the measurements in literature.     

Chemical composition of white (Morus alba), red (Morus rubra) and black (Morus nigra) mulberry fruits

In this study, the chemical composition of white (Morus alba L.), red (Morus rubra L.) and black (Morus nigra L.) mulberry fruits grown in the East Anatolia Region of Turkey was investigated. The highest total phenolic and flavonoid contents were observed in black mulberry (1422 mg gallic acid equivalents/100 g fresh matter and 276 mg quercetin equivalents/100 g fresh matter). M. alba had the highest total fat content (1.10%), followed by M. nigra (0.95%) and M. rubra (0.85%), respectively. The major fatty acids in mulberry fruits were linoleic acid (54.2%), palmitic acid (19.8%) and oleic acid (8.41%), respectively. The total soluble solids content of mulberry species varied between 15.9% (M. rubra L.) and 20.4% (M. alba L.), acidity between 0.25% (M. alba L.) and 1.40% (M. nigra L.), pH between 3.52 (M. nigra L.) and 5.60 (M. alba L.), ascorbic acid 19.4 mg/100 g (M. rubra L.) and 22.4 mg/100 g (M. alba L.), respectively. Mineral compositions of the mulberry species were 0.83% N, 235 mg/100 g P, 1141 mg/100 g K, 139 mg/100 g Ca, 109 mg/100 g Mg, 60 mg/100 g Na, 4.3 mg/100 g Fe, 0.4 mg/100 g Cu, 4.0 mg/100 g Mn and 3.1 mg/100 g Zn, respectively.     

Fracture analysis of laser beam welded superalloys Inconel 718 and 625 using the FITNET procedure

This paper presents results of the analysis for residual strength prediction of two laser beam welded superalloys (Inconel 625 and 718) using the fitness-for-service (FFS) procedure FITNET. The analysis is based on Option 3 of the Fracture Module of the procedure arising from the European Community funded project FITNET (www.eurofitnet.org). Analysis option 3 requires full stress–strain curves of the materials as input data. Since the strength mismatch ratio (M) between the weld and the base metals for both alloys was less than 10%, a homogeneous solution route has been used for welded tension loaded specimens containing through thickness central cracks. The FITNET predictions of the attained maximum load levels of the specimens were verified with the generated experimental results. The analysis methodology, as well as comparison between predictions and experimental results are provided. Accurate yet conservative estimation of the maximum load carrying capacities have been achieved depending on the input data; as the input data becomes more detailed, the degree of conservatism decreases.     

Current Views of the Structure of the Mammalian Mitochondrial Ribosome

Mammalian mitochondria synthesize polypeptides crucial for energy generation using ribosomes with a number of unique features. These ribosomes are very protein rich and have very truncated ribosomal RNAs. The bulk of the mammalian mitochondrial ribosome is composed of proteins, only about half of which are homologs of ribosomal proteins found in other translational systems. A number of distinctive features are found in these ribosomes. Among these is a gate-like structure that allows entrance of the primarily leaderless mRNAs that characterize this system. The exit tunnel of the large subunit is also quite unusual and includes a site in which the nascent peptide is visible to solvent prior to the normal exit site. Further, this region of the mitochondrial ribosome is dominated by ribosomal proteins rather than rRNA and is involved in the interaction of the ribosome with the inner membrane where all of the translation products are ultimately located. The proteins of the mitochondrial ribosome appear to play a number of important roles in the cell in addition to their function in protein biosynthesis, including roles in apoptosis and in cell cycle control.