Investigation of Functional Hemispheric Asymmetry of Language in Tinnitus Sufferers.

The authors tested functional hemispheric asymmetry through word dichotic listening and lateralized lexical decision tasks in tinnitus patients and controls stimulated by a continuous tinnitus-like noise to test the influence of a tinnitus-like external stimulation. A classic right-ear advantage was shown in the auditory task for all but right-ear tinnitus patients, who performed as equally badly when the stimuli were presented to the right and left ears. Concerning the visual task, all participants demonstrated the expected right visual field advantage for word stimuli. Moreover, those who submitted to external stimulation demonstrated normal asymmetric patterns. These data suggest a specific effect of tinnitus on central processing and provide evidence for a functional reorganization induced by this auditory phantom perception. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A practical implementation of stochastic programming: an application to the evaluation of option contracts in supply chains

Stochastic programming is a powerful analytical method in order to solve sequential decision-making problems under uncertainty. We describe an approach to build such stochastic linear programming models. We show that algebraic modeling languages make it possible for non-specialist users to formulate complex problems and have solved them by powerful commercial solvers. We illustrate our point in the case of option contracts in supply chain management and propose a numerical analysis of performance. We propose easy-to-implement discretization procedures of the stochastic process in order to limit the size of the event tree in a multi-period environment.     

Synthesis,structural and optical properties of CdS nanoparticles with enhanced photocatalytic activities by photodegradation of organic dye molecules

CdS nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized using co-precipitation method. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were used to confirm the structures and morphologies of CdS NPs. X-ray diffraction data confirmed the crystal structure of the CdS NPs. Raman spectrum exhibited the Raman modes of LO and 2LO of CdS at 290 and 595 cm^?1 respectively. The evaluated band gap was 3.15 eV, this value was shifted compared with the bulk value and this could be a significance of a size quantization effect in the sample. The CdS nanoparticles showed higher photocatalytic activity for the discoloration of methyl orange (MO) under UV light irradiation for 90 min. The highest photocatalytic activity was obtained with the sample containing 0.3 wt % CdS nanoparticles, in which more than 98 % of the MO was discolored within 90 min.     

Resistance change in memory structures integrating CuTCNQ nanowires grown on dedicated HfO2 switching layer

The present paper deals with the bipolar resistive switching of memory elements based on metal-organic complex CuTCNQ (copper-7,7’,8,8’-tetracyanoquinodimethane) nanowires grown on a dedicated HfO₂ oxide switching layer. Switching characteristics are explored either at millimeter scale on pad-size devices or at nanoscale by using conductive atomic force microscopy. Whatever the investigation scales, the basic memory characteristics appear to be controlled by copper ionic transport within a switching layer. This latter corresponds to either HfO₂ layer in pad-size devices or nanogap formed at nanoscale between the atomic force microscopy conductive tip and CuTCNQ surface. Depending upon the observation scale, the switching layer (either HfO₂ oxide or nanogap) acts as a matrix in which copper conductive bridges are formed and dissolved thanks to redox processes controlled in alternating applied bias voltages.     

Bandlet image estimation with model selection

To estimate geometrically regular images in the white noise model and obtain an adaptive near asymptotic minimaxity result, we consider a model selection based bandlet estimator. This bandlet estimator combines the best basis selection behavior of the model selection and the approximation properties of the bandlet dictionary. We derive its near asymptotic minimaxity for geometrically regular images as an example of model selection with general dictionary of orthogonal bases. This paper is thus also a self-contained tutorial on model selection with orthogonal bases dictionary.