TECHXPO 2020 - If you have a question regarding any of the projects listed below, you can contact the student(s) by sending an email to [email protected]. Any communication received via the Techxpo email address will be forwarded onto the respective student(s) who will then respond directly to the sender. When commenting, please reference the project title in its entirety to ensure the comment is forwarded to the appropriate student(s). Any viewer who comments on/responds to at least 5 projects by April 30, 2020, will receive a Techxpo t-shirt.

If you have a question regarding any of the projects listed below, you can contact the student(s) by sending an email to [email protected]. Any communication received via the Techxpo email address will be forwarded onto the respective student(s) who will then respond directly to the sender. When commenting, please reference the project title in its entirety to ensure the comment is forwarded to the appropriate student(s). Any viewer who comments on/responds to at least 5 projects by April 30, 2020, will receive a Techxpo t-shirt

The dimension of a variety

We invent the notion of a {\it dimension of a variety} $V$ as the cardinality of all its proper {\it derived} subvarieties (of the same type). The dimensions of varieties of lattices, varieties of regular bands and other general algebraic structures are determined.Comment: The results of the paper were presented at the workshop AAA71 and CYA21 at B\c{e}dlewo, Poland on February 11, 2006. the paper is submitted to Discussiones Mathematicae Algebra and Stochastc Methods, special issu

A linelist for the hydrogen sulphide molecule

The main aim of this study is to calculate a high temperature line list for H_2^32S. The results will form an important addition to the databases used for space applications, as well as laboratory investigations and pollution studies. The Dvr3d program suite is used to calculate the bound ro-vibrational energy levels, and dipole moment transition intensities. The most accurate available potential energy surface is empirically determined. This surface is used in our calculations after refining it by fitting to the up-to-date experimental data. For accurate line intensities, an accurate dipole moment surface (DMS) is needed. Constructing an accurate DMS for H_2S is well known to be difficult. A systematic ab initio study for the DMS has been performed. Different methods were tested in conjunctions with different basis sets taking into account the relativistic corrections and core-valence effects. The resulting (ATY2013) line list should be valid from 0 to 9000 cm^−1 and for temperature up to 2000 K. ATY2013 with cut off intensity of order 10^−31 cm^−1/(molecule×cm^−2) contains ∼36×10^6 transitions at 2000 K. In addition, the pure rotational transition frequencies of H_2S in natural abundance in its ground and first excited vibrational states have been recorded at room temperature at 0.005 cm^−1 resolution in the region 45 to 360 cm^−1 with a globar continuum source at SOLEIL synchrotron. 2400 rotational transitions are assigned to ground vibrational state of the four isotopologues H_2^32S, H_2^33S, H_2^34S and H_2^36S where 65% of them are new. 91 rotational transitions of H_2^36S were identified for the first time, as well as 406 rotational lines of H_2^32S and H_2^34S in their first excited bending vibrational state were recorded and analysed for the first time

Investigation of effect of hyperinsulinaemia on adipose tissue microvasculature.

Background: Obesity in Qatar is amongst the highest globally and constitutes a serious health risk. Obese individuals are at greater risk of vascular disease compared to the lean, especially in the insulin resistant state. The impact of obesity on endothelial vasomotor function is also adipose tissue depot-dependent, with the visceral environment being more pathogenic. It is, however, unclear how severe the impact of vascular dysfunction is in a relatively young and obese population. Further, it is becoming apparent that obesity-associated vascular dysfunction is heterogeneous. Recent research has focussed on different groups of obese subjects in order to elucidate the mediators of the differential cardiometabolic risk. In pathological obese (PO) subjects, sub-cutaneous adipocyte dysfunction and inflammation have been reported along with adipocyte hypertrophy. This led to the following hypotheses: 1. The enlarged adipocytes are more susceptible to hypoxia due to decreased capillary density of the depot and changes in vascular tone. Hypoxia leads to cell necrosis and the formation of immunological foci. 2. The more hypoxic and inflamed fat depot secretes less adiponectin, which then may determine the increased systemic insulin resistance and dyslipidaemia seen in the PO. Specifically differences between metabolically healthy but obese (MHO) and pathologically obese (PO) in relation to capillary density and vascular function was determined. To facilitate the overall objectives, in this study: 1. A cohort of MHO and PO subjects were identified. 2. Vascular differences in the adipose tissue of PO versus MHO by functional studies (myography) and histological assessment of vascular density were carried out, and, 3. Mechanisms that underlie these differences were investigated. Methods: Patients were recruited from the local hospital and blood and adipose tissue (Omental, OM; Subcutaneous, SC) samples collected. Fasting plasma glucose and insulin were assayed to determine insulin resistance status. Vascular function was assessed by wire myography. Cumulative concentration-response curves were generated for various vasoconstrictors (e.g. noradrenaline, potassium chloride), and vasodilators (e.g. acetylcholine, Sodium nitroprusside (SNP), and prostaglandin E2). Relaxation to acetylcholine was recorded in the absence or presence of Nω-Nitro-L¬arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), indomethacin, diclofenac, BaCl2, apamin+charybdotoxin, and arginine. mRNA expression of hypertension associated genes in stromal vascular fractions (SVFs) of both depots was assessed by real time RT-PCR. Paraffin-embedded tissues were used for histological studies. Results: OM arterioles were less sensitive to noradrenaline-mediated vasoconstriction compared with SC (log EC50 -5.9±0.2 vs. -6.5±0.1, p<0.05). Vasorelaxation to acetylcholine was attenuated in OM vessels compared with SC vessels (p<0.01). In contrast, relaxation to SNP was greater in OM compared with SC vessels (p<0.01). Acetylcholine curves for insulin-sensitive patients were less attenuated compared with insulin-resistant patients. L-NAME, apamin, charybdotoxin, and BaCl2 caused right-ward shifts of the acetylcholine curves, while indomethacin, diclofenac and arginine produced the reverse. In the whole group, COX2 mRNA, but not eNOS and COX1, were up regulated in OM compared with SC SVFs. However, when analyzed separately, in the OM compared to SC SVFs, of the MHO several genes were unregulated (AGT, ARG2, CLIC5, EPHX2, ITPR1 and PRKG1), while in the PO only two were significantly different between the depots (CLIC5 and PDE3B). Conclusions: Hyperinsulinaemia in adipose tissue microvessels was associated with і) vasocontractile insensitivity to noradrenaline and іі) to changes in NO-mediated vasodilation, at least partially mediated through components of the COX2 pathway

Libya and Britain: a study of the history of British-Libyan relations 1969-1979

This thesis examines relations between Libya and the United Kingdom after 1969 when a new government came to power in Tripoli which seemed to pose a direct threat to a number of key British interests. The thesis is grounded on a careful reading of secondary literature which has been integrated into newly available official documents available in the National Archive. The main claim to originality is in the light these documents throw on our understanding of that relationship. The thesis uses a case study approach which examines specific themes in UK-Libya relations which include arguments over arms sales, the oil economy and the role of oil companies, and relations over the Irish question and the problematic Libyan supply of weapons and support to the IRA in the 1970s. It inevitably touches on relations between both governments and the United States, but that is not a main focus of the study. These areas have been chosen for study because they represent the most significant areas of bargaining and conflict between Libya and the UK in the time period, according to both the secondary literature and press debate at the time and the newly available documentation. The author has been aware of the limitations of using the National Archives, especially where material has newly arrived for view. These include the scope of official ‘weeding’ before documents are made available to conserve space and to avoid repetition, but also to exclude sensitive material relating to intelligence and cognate aspects of relations with other governments. These limitations qualify, but do not undermine, the conclusions drawn

Development of a Novel Antibacterial and Remineralising Dental Composite for Paediatric Dentistry

The aim of this study was to develop new high strength dental composites with antimicrobial release, using primarily high molecular weight monomers for reduced shrinkage but additional inclusion of components that might promote dentine adhesion and remineralisation. Urethane dimethacrylate : poly(propylene glycol) dimethacryate (3:1) was mixed with 5 wt% adhesive monomer (2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate or methacrylate phosphate). This was combined with glass particles mixed with chlorhexidine diacetate (CHX, 5 or 10 wt%) and mono and tri calcium phosphate (CaP 10 or 40 wt%) in a powder to liquid ratio of 4:1 Light activated monomer conversion was assessed by FITR. Biaxial flexural strength of set discs (10 mm diameter, 1 mm thick, n=8) was determined after 24 hours in distilled water and compared with a commercial control (Gradia). CHX release (24 hours, 2 weeks, and 4 weeks) was assessed using UV spectrometry. The monomer conversion of experimental formulations was 71% and 81% with 5 and 10 wt% CHX respectively and not affected by other variables. Gradia conversion was 50%. New material strengths ranged between 130 and 180 MPa being lower with higher CHX and CaP. Varying adhesive monomer type had negligible effect. Gradia strength was 70 MPa. Over 4 weeks, CHX release was 2.9 - 7.1 wt% and mass increase 1.2 - 3.9 wt%. In conclusion, experimental composites containing antibacterial, remineralising and adhesion promoting components have been produced with flexural strengths comparable with commercial materials and higher monomer conversion

Accurate Pulmonary Nodule Detection in Computed Tomography Images Using Deep Convolutional Neural Networks

Early detection of pulmonary cancer is the most promising way to enhance a patient's chance for survival. Accurate pulmonary nodule detection in computed tomography (CT) images is a crucial step in diagnosing pulmonary cancer. In this paper, inspired by the successful use of deep convolutional neural networks (DCNNs) in natural image recognition, we propose a novel pulmonary nodule detection approach based on DCNNs. We first introduce a deconvolutional structure to Faster Region-based Convolutional Neural Network (Faster R-CNN) for candidate detection on axial slices. Then, a three-dimensional DCNN is presented for the subsequent false positive reduction. Experimental results of the LUng Nodule Analysis 2016 (LUNA16) Challenge demonstrate the superior detection performance of the proposed approach on nodule detection(average FROC-score of 0.891, ranking the 1st place over all submitted results).Comment: MICCAI 2017 accepte

Uno sguardo interno al progetto. Note e riflessioni a metà strada. Voci dai partner

Le voci dei partner del progetto

Conclusioni

Conclusioni sul numero 1/2020

Penile Torsion: an Overlooked Anomaly with Distal Hypospadias

Purpose: To identify the incidence of penile torsion among patients with hypospadias, while using a simple and objective ethod to measure the degree of rotation. Materials &amp; Methods: From December 2007 to March 2009, all boys presenting to our department for hypospadias repair (100 boys) were examined for associating penile torsion. The angle of penile rotation was measured on an end-on digital photograph of the penis, using MillenMed DICOM viewer program for image analysis. Two techniques were used to correct penile torsion. In group A (9 patients), we used the technique of degloving and repositioning the penile skin. In group B (10 patients), we applied the technique of dorsal dartos flap rotation. Results: Penile torsion was present in 19 out of 58 patients with anterior hypospadias (32.8%), while none of 42 patients with posterior hypospadias had associating penile torsion. Follow-up showed satisfactory correction of penile torsion in 3 out of 9 patients in group A; and in 8 out of 10 patients in group B. Conclusion: Penile torsion is a common association with anterior hypospadias (32.8%), and its correction can be simply performed during the hypospadias repair adding to a better cosmetic outcome. Dorsal dartos flap rotation seems to be more effective for correction of penile torsion than simply degloving and repositioning the penile skin.Index Word: penis; hypospadias; abnormalities