A state approach to the management of concurrent design task design of symmetrical woble plate compressor

This paper discusses how state space control concepts may be applied to the modelling and control of coupled, concurrent design tasks subjected to unexpected, dynamic disturbances. The Homogeneous State Space (HSS) model determines the natural response shape of the design process and predicts the number of iterations before all the design tasks are completed, while the Non-Homogeneous State-Space (NHSS) model precisely monitors and controls the stability and the convergence rate of each design task. The amount of additional work or resources required by each task at every stage of iteration can be determined; this facilitates workload distribution and resource allocation in design task planning and scheduling. A case study of the design of a new symmetrical wobble plate compressor is discussed to validate the proposed models in monitoring and controlling the stability of design tasks under the influence of unexpected disturbance

PERTUMBUHAN DAN PEMERATAAN EKONOMI, PERSPEKTIF EKONOMI SYARIAH

Negara berkembang diperhadapkan dengan kondisi ketidakmerataan dan ketidakadilan pembangunan. Ekonomi yang dikembangkan tidak hanya membutuhkan cara yang tepat, efisien dan berkeadilan, tapi juga harus ada resep untuk mengubah ketidakmerataan menjadi merata. Harus diakui bahwa pertumbuhan ekonomi juga banyak memberikan konstribusi dalam menciptakan keajaiban-keajaiban ekonomi. Kekuatan pertumbuhan ekonomi untuk mentransformasi masyarakat dari kemiskinan menuju kemakmuran menjadi suatu alasan. Olehnya itu dibutuhkan suatu instrumen cerdas guna mengatasi masalah ketidakmerataan dan ketidakadilan yang dihadapi. Ekonomi syariah hadir sebagai instrumen solusi. Bukan alternatif, sebagaimana diwacanakan. Pertumbuhan ekonomi menurut Islam adalah pertumbuhan yang optimal, baik dari segi kesejahteraan materi maupun rohani. Islam tidak memperkenankan konsumsi modal dan pertumbuhan yang melampaui batas yang memaksakan pengorbanan yang tidak alamiah bagi manusia. Jadi menurut Islam tingkat pertumbuhan yang rendah yang diiringi dengan distribusi pendapatan yang merata akan lebih baik daripada tingkat pertumbuhan yang tinggi tapi tidak dibarengi dengan distribusi yang merata. Keyword : Pertumbuhan, Pemerataan, Ekonomi Syaria

Approximating the relationship among the degree of the reaction forces and the nodes on footprint during a stance phase

AbstractThis study examined the foot biomechanics that are utilized when foot is in contact with the ground during a stance phase. The purpose of the study was to investigate the normalized ground reaction forces that impacted certain sections and points on the footprint, and to identify patterns in the degrees to which these forces occurred. Foot was modeled in such a manner that a vertex represented a bone and an edge represented a joint, and a graph that depicted the foot was created. Twelve nodes were marked on the footprint and these were linked together to create a gait path. By fusing the graph and the gait path and by manipulating the mathematical models, a profile for an ideal bipedal walking locomotion was developed. A male subject performed bipedal walking through a force plate system in order to obtain the profile that reflected actual bipedal walking. The actual and the proposed profiles were compared and there were significant similarities between the two profiles, with both exhibiting an double-bump pattern. It is therefore viable that the approximation techniques proposed in this work may provide an alternative means over the application of a force plate system to generate a profile for bipedal walking. However, the accuracy and reliability of the results yielded from this technique need further investigation

Viral etiology, seasonality and severity of hospitalized patients with severe acute respiratory infections in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, 2007-2014.

INTRODUCTION: Little is known about the role of viral respiratory pathogens in the etiology, seasonality or severity of severe acute respiratory infections (SARI) in the Eastern Mediterranean Region. METHODS: Sentinel surveillance for SARI was conducted from December 2007 through February 2014 at 20 hospitals in Egypt, Jordan, Oman, Qatar and Yemen. Nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal swabs were collected from hospitalized patients meeting SARI case definitions and were analyzed for infection with influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), adenovirus (AdV), human metapneumovirus (hMPV) and human parainfluenza virus types 1-3 (hPIV1-3). We analyzed surveillance data to calculate positivity rates for viral respiratory pathogens, describe the seasonality of those pathogens and determine which pathogens were responsible for more severe outcomes requiring ventilation and/or intensive care and/or resulting in death. RESULTS: At least one viral respiratory pathogen was detected in 8,753/28,508 (30.7%) samples tested for at least one pathogen and 3,497/9,315 (37.5%) of samples tested for all pathogens-influenza in 3,345/28,438 (11.8%), RSV in 3,942/24,503 (16.1%), AdV in 923/9,402 (9.8%), hMPV in 617/9,384 (6.6%), hPIV1 in 159/9,402 (1.7%), hPIV2 in 85/9,402 (0.9%) and hPIV3 in 365/9,402 (3.9%). Multiple pathogens were identified in 501/9,316 (5.4%) participants tested for all pathogens. Monthly variation, indicating seasonal differences in levels of infection, was observed for all pathogens. Participants with hMPV infections and participants less than five years of age were significantly less likely than participants not infected with hMPV and those older than five years of age, respectively, to experience a severe outcome, while participants with a pre-existing chronic disease were at increased risk of a severe outcome, compared to those with no reported pre-existing chronic disease. CONCLUSIONS: Viral respiratory pathogens are common among SARI patients in the Eastern Mediterranean Region. Ongoing surveillance is important to monitor changes in the etiology, seasonality and severity of pathogens of interest

Maintenance of active chromatin states by HMGN2 is required for stem cell identity in a pluripotent stem cell model

Background: Members of the HMGN protein family modulate chromatin structure and influence epigenetic modifications. HMGN1 and HMGN2 are highly expressed during early development and in the neural stem/progenitor cells of the developing and adult brain. Here, we investigate whether HMGN proteins contribute to the chromatin plasticity and epigenetic regulation that is essential for maintaining pluripotency in stem cells. Results: We show that loss of Hmgn1 or Hmgn2 in pluripotent embryonal carcinoma cells leads to increased levels of spontaneous neuronal differentiation. This is accompanied by the loss of pluripotency markers Nanog and Ssea1, and increased expression of the pro-neural transcription factors Neurog1 and Ascl1. Neural stem cells derived from these Hmgn-knockout lines also show increased spontaneous neuronal differentiation and Neurog1 expression. The loss of HMGN2 leads to a global reduction in H3K9 acetylation, and disrupts the profile of H3K4me3, H3K9ac, H3K27ac and H3K122ac at the Nanog and Oct4 loci. At endodermal/mesodermal genes, Hmgn2-knockout cells show a switch from a bivalent to a repressive chromatin configuration. However, at neuronal lineage genes whose expression is increased, no epigenetic changes are observed and their bivalent states are retained following the loss of HMGN2. Conclusions: We conclude that HMGN1 and HMGN2 maintain the identity of pluripotent embryonal carcinoma cells by optimising the pluripotency transcription factor network and protecting the cells from precocious differentiation. Our evidence suggests that HMGN2 regulates active and bivalent genes by promoting an epigenetic landscape of active histone modifications at promoters and enhancers

Abrasive wear failure analysis of tungsten carbide hard facing on carbon steel blade

This study investigate the abrasive wear failure of tungsten carbide hardfacing on continuous digester (CD) blade (carbon steel) in an environment of sulphuric acid and ilmenite ore mixture. Comparison being made on the hardness, thickness and microstructural of the hardfacing between unworn and 3 months old worn blade on few locations around the blade. The cross sections of the blade revealed non-uniform coverage of the hardfacing on the blade for both worn and unworn blade. The edge of the blade has the least amount of hardfacing thickness which with time acts as the point of failure during the wear process. The hardness obtained from both the unworn and worn samples are around 25% lower from the hardfacing electrode manufacturer’s hardness specification. Microstructural micrograph analysis of the hardfacing revealed non uniform size carbide with non-uniform distributed of carbide in the hardfacing layer

Trends of stroke incidence and 28-day all-cause mortality after a stroke in Malaysia: A linkage of national data sources

Background: Data on nationwide trends for stroke metrics are crucial to understand the extent of the disease burden to a country’s health system. Yet, this information remains scarce in low- and middle-income countries. Objectives: This study investigated trends of stroke incidence and 28-day all-cause mortality after a stroke from 2008 to 2016 in Malaysia, through linkage across national data sources. Methods: Hospital admissions with a principal diagnosis of stroke or transient ischemic attack were included. Cases with first stroke were identified through linkage of hospital admission registers where age and sex-standardized trends of stroke incidence and its subtypes were calculated. By linking hospital registers to the National Death Register, the 28-day all-cause mortality rates after a stroke were estimated. Mann-Kendall’s test was used for trend evaluation. Results: From 243,765 records, the trend of stroke incidence showed an increase of 4.9% in men and a drop of 3.8% among women. Incidences were higher in men, at 99.1 per 100,000 population in 2008 and 103.9 per 100,000 in 2016 than women (80.3 per 100,000 in 2008 and 77.2 per 100,000 in 2016). There was a substantial increase in stroke incidence among those below 65 years old, with the largest increase of 53.3% in men aged between 35–39 years and 50.4% in women of similar age group. The trend for 28-day all-cause mortality showed a decline for men at –13.1% and women, –10.6%. Women had higher mortality from stroke (22.0% in 2008 and 19.7% in 2016) than men (19.4% in 2008 to 17.2% in 2016). Conclusion: This first empirical study on stroke trends in Malaysia revealed a worrying increase in stroke incidence among the younger population. Despite a declining trend, mortality rates remained moderately high especially in women. Comprehensive strategies to strengthen the prevention and management of stroke care are warranted

Acute, Recurrent, and Chronic Laryngopharyngeal Reflux: The IFOS Classification.

peer reviewed[en] OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical patterns and disease evolution of laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) patients. METHODS: Patients with LPR diagnosed by hypopharyngeal-esophageal impedance-pH monitoring were prospectively followed in three medical centers. Symptoms and findings were assessed with reflux symptom score (RSS) and reflux sign assessment (RSA). Patients were treated with 3-to 9-month diet and combination of proton pump inhibitors, alginate or magaldrate. Patients were followed for 3 years to determine the clinical evolution of symptoms over time. LPR that did not recur was defined as acute. Recurrent LPR consisted of reflux with one or several recurrences yearly despite successful treatment. Chronic LPR was reflux with a chronic course of symptoms. Predictive indicators of clinical evolution were investigated. RESULTS: One hundred forty patients and 82 healthy individuals completed the evaluations. Among patients, 41 (29.3%), 57 (40.7%), and 42 (30.0%) had acute, recurrent, or chronic LPR respectively. Baseline quality of life-RSS (QoL-RSS) and RSS total scores were significantly higher in chronic LPR patients. The post-treatment decrease of QoL-RSS and RSS of acute LPR patients were significantly faster as compared to recurrent and chronic patients. QoL-RSS >5 reported adequate sensitivity (94.2) and specificity (75.3). QoL-RSS thresholds defined acute (QoL-RSS = 6-25), recurrent (QoL-RSS = 26-38), and chronic (QoL-RSS > 38) LPR. CONCLUSION: Baseline QoL-RSS may predict the clinical course of LPR patients: acute, recurrent, or chronic. A novel classification system that groups patients according to the longevity, severity, and therapeutic response of symptoms was proposed: the International Federation of Otorhinolaryngological Societies Classification of LPR. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III Laryngoscope, 2022