The Mod-2 Cohomology Ring of the Third Conway Group is Cohen-Macaulay

By explicit machine computation we obtain the mod-2 cohomology ring of the third Conway group Co_3. It is Cohen-Macaulay, has dimension 4, and is detected on the maximal elementary abelian 2-subgroups.Comment: 12 pages; writing style now more concis

Representations and KK-theory of Discrete Groups

Let $\Gamma$ be a discrete group of finite virtual cohomological dimension with certain finiteness conditions of the type satisfied by arithmetic groups. We define a representation ring for $\Gamma$, determined on its elements of finite order, which is of finite type. Then we determine the contribution of this ring to the topological $K$-theory $K^*(B\Gamma)$, obtaining an exact formula for the difference in terms of the cohomology of the centralizers of elements of finite order in $\Gamma$.Comment: 4 page

Infinite loop spaces and nilpotent K-theory

Using a construction derived from the descending central series of the free groups, we produce filtrations by infinite loop spaces of the classical infinite loop spaces $BSU$, $BU$, $BSO$, $BO$, $BSp$, $BGL_{\infty}(R)^{+}$ and $Q_0(\mathbb{S}^{0})$. We show that these infinite loop spaces are the zero spaces of non-unital $E_\infty$-ring spectra. We introduce the notion of $q$-nilpotent K-theory of a CW-complex $X$ for any $q\ge 2$, which extends the notion of commutative K-theory defined by Adem-G\'omez, and show that it is represented by $\mathbb Z\times B(q,U)$, were $B(q,U)$ is the $q$-th term of the aforementioned filtration of $BU$. For the proof we introduce an alternative way of associating an infinite loop space to a commutative $\mathbb{I}$-monoid and give criteria when it can be identified with the plus construction on the associated limit space. Furthermore, we introduce the notion of a commutative $\mathbb{I}$-rig and show that they give rise to non-unital $E_\infty$-ring spectra.Comment: To appear in Algebraic and geometric topolog

Democratic Social Movement Framing Dynamics: Framing of the Oromo Protest Movement by the International News Media, Oromo Activists, International Human Rights Groups, and the Ethiopian Government Officials

Although there is a plethora of literature on social movements in the fields of sociology and political science, fewer studies exist on the subject in the field of media studies, especially in Africa. While scholarship on the role of social media is emerging in recent years, the literature on the news media coverage of social movements vis-à-vis international human rights organizations that also have a role in shaping the discourse is absent. The aim of this project was, therefore, to understand the framing dynamics in the discourse around social movements by the international news media, local activists, international human rights organizations, and government officials. It analyzed the 2015-2016 Oromo protest movement against injustices by the Ethiopian government to examine: (1) the major themes highlighted by these actors, and 2) the framing dynamics between the actors’ frames. Qualitative framing analysis was used to examine texts of international news media outlets, Facebook messages of prominent Oromo activists, reports and statements of Human Right Watch and Amnesty International, and the Ethiopian government officials’ response to the protests. The findings reveal that three major themes—cause of the protest, government response to the protest, and call for action—dominated the texts of the news media, activists, and human rights groups. These themes were framed as various political and economic grievances, violence, and third-party intervention for justice, respectively. The themes and frames of the news media and human rights organizations largely supported the themes and frames highlighted by protest activists. Similar themes were highlighted in the texts of the government officials but were used to counter-frame the frames of other actors (ex: portraying the protesters as violent). The findings have significant implications. They may guide democratic social movement activists in the social media age who want to design similar protests against authoritarian governments in an international arena. The findings bolster existing studies on the use of collective action framing and the relationship between news media and activists. Additionally, the results suggest that international human rights organization are also “signifying agents” engaged in creating meanings and shaping discourse about social movements

Low-rank solutions to the stochastic Helmholtz equation

In this paper, we consider low-rank approximations for the solutions to the stochastic Helmholtz equation with random coefficients. A Stochastic Galerkin finite element method is used for the discretization of the Helmholtz problem. Existence theory for the low-rank approximation is established when the system matrix is indefinite. The low-rank algorithm does not require the construction of a large system matrix which results in an advantage in terms of CPU time and storage. Numerical results show that, when the operations in a low-rank method are performed efficiently, it is possible to obtain an advantage in terms of storage and CPU time compared to computations in full rank. We also propose a general approach to implement a preconditioner using the low-rank format efficiently

Animal Models in Exosomes Research: What the Future Holds

Exosomes have been implicated in a wide range of pathological and nonpathological processes. Research on tumor-derived exosomes uncovered their role on major processes associated with disease progression. Uncontrolled cellular proliferation resulting in tumor growth, metastatic dissemination and modulation of the immune response, are only a few of the central pathological processes in which tumor-derived exosomes have been implicated. These in vivo studies rely on the administration of purified labeled exosomes from cell culture supernatants into circulation of animals or injections of genetically engineered cells that produce labeled exosomes. However, it is not clear that current available techniques actually translate the in vivo implications of exosomes in several biological processes. The variations seen when using different exosomes cell sources, the total amount of exosomes injected in mice and their route of administration as well as the fact that most studies are performed in immunodeficient animals, shows the difficulty to achieve conclusions which are biologically significant. Genetically engineered mouse models (GEMM) could be a promising approach to address the current technical limitations allowing tracing tumor-derived exosomes in a living organism. These models could enhance greatly our knowledge about exosomes in different fields of research, namely cancer

Effects of machining system parameters and dynamics on quality of high-speed milling

This dissertation outlines research on studying the effects of machining parameters such that cutting speed, feed rate, axial depth of cut, radial depth of cut and helix angle on system dynamic stability and the surface quality of high-speed milling. With the use of structural tool modal parameters, the material cutting force coefficients and the axial depth of cut, the system can avoid the chatter phenomenon of the tool at high cutting speeds. The surface roughness finish in the milling process is determined by the machining parameters and tool structure dynamics. To perform high-speed milling, the chance of tool vibration (chatter phenomenon) which affects the cutting tool, must be minimized or eliminated. In this research, the linear and nonlinear mathematical force models including the effect of the helix angle are presented for an end-milling process. The linear force model includes cutting-edge coefficients. The cutting force coefficients are determined for an end-milling process using two methods, the average force method and the optimization technique method. The second method is developed to identify the cutting force coefficients in the milling process by forming the objective functions using the optimization technique to minimize the error between the experimental and the analytical forces. Moreover, this method produced a good force model that approximates the experimental force results, which compared with the average force method. The stability lobe diagrams are created using the analytical method to determine whether the cut is stable or unstable. In addition, simulations are performed to predict stability of the milling process. By comparing simulated and experimental results, the dynamics and stability of the milling operation can be easily identified before performing any cutting operation. The slot milling experiments show that while the system in the chatter region close to the stability limits and the axial depth of cut increased, the system changes from stable chatter to chaotic chatter. Furthermore, the nature of bifurcation in milling is investigated by performing experiments and simulations. The linear and nonlinear mathematical force models are used for simulating end-milling process. Simulated bifurcation diagrams are generated using both models and compared to experimental results. In addition, the effect of the feed rate on the location of the bifurcation point (start and end of bifurcation) is studied. By comparing simulated and experimental results, the simulation using a nonlinear force model is found more accurate in predicting the dynamics and stability of the milling operation. The applications of Taguchi and response surface methodologies (RSM) are used to minimize the surface roughness in the end milling process. Taguchi’s method for optimum selection of the milling process parameters is applied based on the signal to noise ratio and ANOVA analysis of the surface finish. A second-order model contains quadratic terms that have been created between the cutting parameters and surface roughness using response surface methodology (RSM). Surface roughness of the machined surfaces are measured and used to identify the optimum levels of the milling parameters. Based on Taguchi, ANOVA, and RSM analyses, the end milling process can be optimized to improve surface finish quality and machining productivity

Chest injuries in Tikur Anbessa Hospital, Addis Ababa: A three year experience

A review of 72 patients with chest injuries admitted to Tikur Anbessa Hospital in  Ethiopia between February 1996 and February 1999 was undertaken. All but one  patient were treated with chest drainage. Approximately 85% of the patients were succesfully treated with chest drains leaving no residual defects. This simple, effective and affordable equipment should be made available in all hospitals. Chest drainage is a life-saving procedure for patients with chest injuries which all doctors should be  confident with.Kev words: chest injury, chest drain, associated injuries