Evaluation of Remote Categorical Loudness Scaling

Purpose: The aims of this study were to (a) demonstrate the feasibility of administering categorical loudness scaling (CLS) tests in a remote setting, (b) assess the reliability of remote compared with laboratory CLS results, and (c) provide preliminary evidence of the validity of remote CLS testing. Method: CLS data from 21 adult participants collected in a home setting were compared to CLS data collected in a laboratory setting from previous studies. Five participants took part in studies in both settings. Precalibrated equipment was delivered to participants who performed headphone output level checks and measured ambient noise levels. After a practice run, CLS measurements were collected for two runs at 1 and 4 kHz. Results: Mean headphone output levels were within 1.5 dB of the target calibration level. Mean ambient noise levels were below the target level. Within-run variability was similar between the two settings, but across-run bias was smaller for data collected in the laboratory setting compared with the remote setting. Systematic differences in CLS functions were not observed for the five individuals who participated in both settings. Conclusions: This study demonstrated that precise stimulus levels can be delivered and background noise levels can be controlled in a home environment. Across-run bias for remote CLS was larger than for in-laboratory CLS, indicating that further work is needed to improve the reliability of CLS data collected in remote settings. Supplemental Material https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.17131856

Profitability analysis of small-scale fishing along Coastal Areas of Ondo State, Nigeria

This study evaluated the profitability analysis of small-scale fishing along coastal areas of Ondo State, Nigeria. Structured questionnaire was used to collect data from 400 small-scale fishermen which were selected via multi-stage sampling procedure. Data collected was analyzed using descriptive statistics and profitability indicators. Results revealed that mean age of respondents was 39 years, among the fixed assets for fishing, outboard engine has the largest percentage cost (88.32%) while among variable assets, fuel has the largest percentage cost (67.16%). Profitability indicators such as Benefit Cost Ratio (BCR) 1.29, Gross margin ₦1,261,476.60k/fisherman/year, Return on Investment (ROI) 0.29, Net Profit Margin (NPM) 0.23 and Gross Revenue Ratio (GRR) 0.77 were used to estimate the profitability of small-scale fishing. The findings further revealed that fishing boat (1.284), outboard engine (0.352), fishing nets (1.342) and fuel (0.193) were positively and statistically significant at p<0.05 level with fish output level while accessories (floats, sinks and hooks) (0.142) was positively and statistically significant at p<0.1 with fish output level. The R2 value was 72.1% showing that the independent variable was well explained by the exogenous variables. Problems encountered by small-scale fishermen include inadequate infrastructural facilities, poor road networking system and inadequate credit facilities. Based on the findings, it was recommended that small-scale fishermen should organize themselves into cooperatives in order to increase their credit accessibility. Likewise, government should embark on construction of good road network in order to ease transportation of fish harvested to the neighboring towns.

Compartment-specific tuning of hippocampal dendritic feature selectivity by intracellular Ca2+ release

Dendritic Ca2+ signaling is central to neural plasticity mechanisms allowing animals to adapt to the environment. Intracellular Ca2+ release (ICR) from endoplasmic reticulum has long been thought to shape these mechanisms. However, ICR has not been investigated in mammalian neurons in vivo. We combined electroporation of single CA1 pyramidal neurons, simultaneous imaging of dendritic and somatic activity during spatial navigation, optogenetic place field induction, and acute genetic augmentation of ICR cytosolic impact to reveal that ICR supports the establishment of dendritic feature selectivity and shapes integrative properties determining output-level receptive fields. This role for ICR was more prominent in apical than in basal dendrites. Thus, ICR cooperates with circuit-level architecture in vivo to promote the emergence of behaviorally-relevant plasticity in a compartment-specific manner.

Farm Size, Tenancy, and Productivity: An Overview

The present study intends to investigate the relationship between farm size and productivity. The objectives of the study are: to investigate the relationship between farm size and productivity, to suggest some policy implications. The study is based on secondary data. Data were collected from different published and unpublished documents. The main findings of the study are: the small farms have the higher productivity of land than the larger ones, there exists the inverse farm size productivity relationship, few studies showed that although there exists an inverse relationship between these two this inverse relationship got weakened or even disappeared in the regions adopting new technology, some cases there also exists the positive relationship between farm size and productivity, the output level of owner cultivator is likely to be higher than the share-cropper. Few researchers pointed out the higher productivity of sharecroppers than the owner cultivators. In view of the above findings, the following policy measures are suggested: emphasis should be given to farm-related research, the assistance of small farmers in order to form associations for enhancing production, absorbing credit, and adopting farm technologies.

Comparing the Safety and Effectiveness of Dedicated Radiofrequency Transseptal Wires to Electrified Metal Guidewires

Application of electrocautery to a metal guidewire can be used to perform transseptal puncture (TSP). Dedicated radiofrequency guidewires (RF) may represent a better alternative. This study compares safety and effectiveness of electrified guidewires to a dedicated RF wire. TSP was performed on porcine hearts using an electrified 0.014” or 0.032” guidewire under various power settings compared to TSP using a dedicated RF wire with 5W power. The primary endpoint was the number of attempts required to achieve TSP. Secondary endpoints included the rate of TSP failure, TSP consistency, effect of the distance between tip of the guidewire and the tip of the dilator, and effect of RF power output level. Qualitative secondary endpoints included tissue puncture defect appearance, thermal damage to the TSP guidewire or dilator, and tissue temperature using thermal imaging. The RF wire required 1.10 ± 0.47 attempts to cross the septum. The 0.014” electrified guidewire required 2.17 ± 2.36 attempts (2.0x higher than the RF wire; p<0.01), and the 0.032” electrified guidewire required 3.90 ± 2.93 attempts (3.5x higher than the RF wire; p<0.01). Electrified guidewires had a higher rate of TSP failure, larger defects, more tissue charring, higher temperatures, and greater tissue heating. Fewer RF applications were required to achieve TSP using a dedicated RF wire compared to an electrified guidewire. Smaller defects and lower tissue temperatures were also observed using the RF wire. Electrified guidewires required greater energy delivery and were associated with equipment damage and tissue charring.

Analisis Produktivitas Tenaga Kerja dengan Metode Marvin E. Mundel pada CV. Mulia Tata Sejahtera

CV. Mulia Tata Sejahtera is a company that produces metal and wood parts using machines such as lathe, milling, drilling and CNC. The company has a production target of 2450 pcs in the 1st period, while the realization of the output produced in the 1st period production process is 2427 pcs. This shows the low level of company productivity. Therefore, this study is aimed at identifying the causes of the low level of productivity by taking into account the resources used. In addition, to provide suggestions for improvements that can be made to increase production efficiency and company productivity. To determine the productivity of CV. Mulia Tata Sejahtera for one period throughout 2020, the measurement of productivity is carried out with Marvin E. Mundel. In this study, three measurement criteria were carried out, namely, labor productivity index, labor absenteeism and production output. The lowest labor productivity index was found in the 6th period with 94.19, while the highest was in the 5th period with 105.98. The lowest labor absentee productivity index was in the 12th period with 69.44, while the highest was in the 6th period with 166.67. The productivity index of the lowest production output level was in the 12th period with 90.97, while the highest was in the 11th period with 110.49. In measuring the company's productivity, the trend is increasing and decreasing or fluctuation.

Specific electromagnetic radiation in the wireless signal range increases wakefulness in mice

Electromagnetic radiation (EMR) in the environment has increased sharply in recent decades. The effect of environmental EMR on living organisms remains poorly characterized. Here, we report the impact of wireless-range EMR on the sleep architecture of mouse. Prolonged exposure to 2.4-GHz EMR modulated by 100-Hz square pulses at a nonthermal output level results in markedly increased time of wakefulness in mice. These mice display corresponding decreased time of nonrapid eye movement (NREM) and rapid eye movement (REM). In contrast, prolonged exposure to unmodulated 2.4-GHz EMR at the same time-averaged output level has little impact on mouse sleep. These observations identify alteration of sleep architecture in mice as a specific physiological response to prolonged wireless-range EMR exposure.

An 18-Gb/s/pin Single-Ended PAM-4 Transmitter for Memory Interfaces with Adaptive Impedance Matching and Output Level Compensation

This paper presents a method for preventing output level distortion while matching the channel impedance in the single-ended PAM-4 transmitter for memory interfaces. ZQ codes for all four output signal levels were obtained through ZQ calibration and saved in the ZQ code table. The ZQ code generator then adaptively selected the appropriate codes depending on the data pattern and delivered them to the output driver; this can improve the level separation mismatch ratio (RLM) while matching the channel impedance. To validate the effectiveness of our approach, a prototype chip with an active area of 0.035 mm2 was fabricated in a 65 nm CMOS process. It achieved the energy efficiency of 3.09 pJ/bit/pin at 18 Gb/s/pin, and its RLM was 0.971 while matching the channel impedance.

Optimization of Nonlinear Lamb Wave Detection System Parameters in CFRP Laminates

Carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) laminates, as unique multifunctional materials, are widely applied in various aircraft, such as airliners, fighter planes, and space shuttles. To ensure aircraft safety during the production and application of CFRP laminates, it is necessary to improve the accuracy of nonlinear Lamb wave nondestructive testing to assess the damage in CFRP laminates caused by impact, high temperature, friction, corrosion, etc. In this study, the accuracy of nonlinear ultrasonic nondestructive testing was found to highly depend on the cycle number, output level and gain of the nonlinear ultrasonic detection system. Based on a single-factor experiment that considered the cycle number, output level, and gain of the amplifier as independent variables, a regression analysis was carried out on the fundamental wave amplitude value (A1) and second harmonic amplitude value (A2). Two response surface surrogate models were established to improve the accuracy of nonlinear Lamb wave nondestructive testing and to optimize the detection system parameters. The response surface models were verified via an analysis of variance (ANOVA), significance tests and an error statistical analysis. The results revealed the significant influence of these three factors on A1 and A2. Optimization of the response surface was achieved at eight cycles, an output level of 42 and a gain of 32 dB. Moreover, the nonlinear ultrasonic detection system achieved good operational stability, high accuracy and reliability under the above optimal parameter conditions. This approach provides scientific guidance for the accurate assessment of CFRP laminate damage.

Evaluating the performance of primary schools in India: evidence from West Bengal

PurposeIn the context of India, this article proposes an integrated multicriteria decision-making (MCDM) regression-based methodology to evaluate input-level performance of the schools and investigate the impact of this performance along with contextual factors, i.e. medium of instruction and location of the school, on the school's output level performance, i.e. student pass rate.Design/methodology/approachFirst, Shannon entropy-based approach is applied for the weight assignment to different parameters. Then, integrated VlseKriterijumska Optimizacija I Kompromisno Resenje (VIKOR) technique for order preference by similarity to an ideal solution (TOPSIS)-based methodology is devised to measure the input-level performance of a school. Finally, multiple linear regression (MLR) analysis is incorporated to study the effect of input-level performance and above-mentioned contextual factors on the school's output-level performance.FindingsProposed methodology is applied to assess the input-level performance of 82,930 primary and secondary schools of West Bengal, India. All the factors have a significant impact on boys' pass rate, whereas only input-level performance and location of the school have a significant influence on the girls' pass rate.Practical implicationsThe entropy-based approach highlights the importance of scientific weight assignment. Integrated MCDM demonstrates the significance of aggregation due to the variation in scores related to input-level performance across the methods. Regression analysis facilitates the exploration of determinants influencing the output-level performance of the schools.Originality/valueThis work depicts a holistic picture of the performance measurement system of the schools. It encompasses scientific weight assignment to the evaluation criteria, integrated input-level performance assessment of the schools and investigation into the effect of this performance, as well as other contextual factors on the output level performance.