Numerical modeling study of a neutron depth profiling (NDP) system for the Missouri S&T reactor

”For decades, Neutron Depth Profiling has been used for the non-destructive analysis and quantification of boron in electronic materials and lithium in lithium ion batteries. NDP is one of the few non-destructive analytical techniques capable of measuring the depth profiles of light elements to depths of several microns with nanometer spatial resolution. The technique, however, is applicable only to a handful of light elements with large neutron absorption cross sections. This work discusses the possibility of coupling Particle Induced X-ray Emission spectroscopy with Neutron Depth Profiling to yield additional information about the depth profiles of other elements within a material. The technical feasibility of developing such a system at the Missouri University of Science and Technology Reactor (MSTR) beam port is discussed. This work uses a combination of experimental neutron flux measurements with Monte Carlo radiation transport calculations to simulate a proposed NDP-PIXE apparatus at MSTR. In addition, the possibility of implementing an Artificial Neural Network to perform automated data analysis of NDP is presented. It was found that the performance of the Artificial Neural Network is at least as accurate as traditional processing approaches using stopping tables but with the added advantage that the Artificial Neural Network method requires fewer geometric approximations and accounts for all charged particle transport physics implicitly”--Abstract, page iii

The endogenous mex-3 3 UTR is required for germline repression and contributes to optimal fecundity in C. elegans

RNA regulation is essential to successful reproduction. Messenger RNAs delivered from parent to progeny govern early embryonic development. RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) are the key effectors of this process, regulating the translation and stability of parental transcripts to control cell fate specification events prior to zygotic gene activation. The KH-domain RBP MEX-3 is conserved from nematode to human. It was first discovered in Caenorhabditis elegans, where it is essential for anterior cell fate and embryo viability. Here, we show that loss of the endogenous mex-3 3 UTR disrupts its germline expression pattern. An allelic series of 3 UTR deletion variants identify repressing regions of the UTR and demonstrate that repression is not precisely coupled to reproductive success. We also show that several RBPs regulate mex-3 mRNA through its 3 UTR to define its unique germline spatiotemporal expression pattern. Additionally, we find that both poly(A) tail length control and the translation initiation factor IFE-3 contribute to its expression pattern. Together, our results establish the importance of the mex-3 3 UTR to reproductive health and its expression in the germline. Our results suggest that additional mechanisms control MEX-3 function when 3 UTR regulation is compromised

PENGARUH RUMBLE STRIPS (PITA PENGGADUH ) TERHADAP KECEPATAN KENDARAAN DI JALAN RAYA

Transportasi merupakan sarana yang sangat penting dalam kehidupan sehari hari, oleh karena itu perlu adanya infrastruktur yang mendukung dan memadai, terutama jalan raya, karena sebagian besar proses transportasi terjadi di jalan. Kebutuhan akan jalan yang aman dan nyaman telah menjadi sesuatu yang sangat penting, terutama untuk berkendara. Ketidaknyamanan berkendara seperti adanya pengendara yang mengendarai kendaraannya dengan kecepatan tinggi yang bisa menyebabkan terjadinya masalah-masalah seperti kecelakaan lalu lintas. Maka dari itu diciptakan beberapa alat pengaman di jalan, salah satunya rumble strips (pita penggaduh). Harapannya dapat mengurangi kecepatan kendaraan dan dapat membantu meningkatkan kenyamanan di jalan tersebut. Oleh karena ini perlu diadakan penelitian untuk mengamati seberapa besar pengaruh pemasangan rumble strips terhadap kecepatan kendaraan di jalan raya. Dalam penelitian ini dilakukan pengamatan di dua lokasi yaitu di ruas jalan Teuku Umar dan ruas jalan Raya Bandar Buat pada saat jam sibuk (peak hour) dan jam tidak sibuk (off peak hour). Dari penelitian ini didapatkan hasil bahwa terjadi penurunan rata rata kecepatan kendaraan saat setelah melewati rumble strips baik itu kendaraan roda dua maupun kendaraan roda empat. Dengan hasil ini dapat dinyatakan bahwa pemasangan alat pengaman jenis ini cukup berpengaruh terhadap kecepatan kendaraan di jalan raya. Di akhir penelitian ini dilakukan uji T-Test dengan tingkat kepercayaan 95% (α 0.05) untuk menyelidiki signifikasi perubahan data dan didapatkan hasil bahwa adanya pengurangan kecepatan kendaraan setelah melewati rumble strips

PENERAPAN CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT (CRM) PADA PERPUSTAKAAN UNIVERSITAS ANDALAS

Penelitian ini dilakukan di Perpustakaan Universitas Andalas (UNAND) dan tujuan dari penelitian ini yaitu untuk mengetahui penerapan Costumer Relationship Management (CRM) pada Perpustakaan UNAND. Penelitian ini menggunakan pendekatan kualitatif dengan metode deskriptif. Informan pada penelitian ini merupakan petugas atau staf Perpustakaan UNAND yang berjumlah 4 (empat) orang. Pengumpulan data dilakukan dengan cara wawancara, observasi serta studi literatur. Berdasarkan hasil penelitian yang didapatkan menunjukkan bahwa penerapan Costumer Relationship Management (CRM) pada Perpustakaan UNAND dapat diketahui melalui upaya pustakawan untuk mendapatkan pengguna baru (Acquire), menjalin hubungan yang baik dengan pengguna yang telah ada (Enhance), serta upaya pustakawan dalam mempertahankan pengguna (Retain) sehingga mampu memberikan keterkaitan kebutuhan antara pemustaka dan perpustakaan. Upaya yang dilakukan dalam mendapatkan pengguna baru yaitu dengan melakukan kegiatan promosi, literasi informasi serta sosialisasi terhadap pengguna. Menjalin hubungan yang baik dengan pengguna dengan cara memberikan pelayanan prima, membuka diri secara personal kepada pemustaka, memberikan bimbingan pemustaka, menerima kritik dan saran serta memberikan informasi terbaru kepada para pengguna. Dalam upaya mempertahankan pengguna yang telah ada pustakawan berupaya menlengkapi fasilitas perpustakaan, memberikan penghargaan kepada pemustaka aktif dan loyal serta mengandalkan layanan digital agar dapat memenuhi kebutuhan pemustaka. Hasil penelitian ini diharapkan memberikan manfaat dan rekomendasi bagi perpustakaan UNAND, penulis serta penulis lain

Analisis hukum Islam terhadap kebijakan pemerintah desa tentang sewa arena sabung ayam di Desa Sidowungu Kecamatan Menganti Kabupaten Gresik

Penelitian ini merupakan hasil penelitian lapangan (field research) di Desa Sidowungu Kecamatan Menganti Kabupaten Gresik. Metode pengumpulan data yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah wawancara dan dokumentasi. Selanjutnya data yang terkumpul di analisis menggunakan metode analisa deskriptif kualitatif dengan pola pikir induktif, yaitu dengan cara meneliti fakta dilapangan yaitu praktik sewa arena sabung ayam di Desa Sidowungu Kecamatan Menganti Kabupaten Gresik yang diuji dengan menggunakan teori Ija>rah dan ‘Urf dari hukum Islam . Hasil penelitian menyimpulkan: pertama, praktik sewa yang dilakukan oleh masyarakat Desa Sidowungu Kecamatan Menganti Kabupaten Gresik dilakukan antara pengelola arena dengan penyewa arena dengan cara penyewa harus membeli nomer antrian seharga Rp. 10.000,-. Praktik tersebut diperbolehkan dalam hukum Islam karena uji coba ayam tersebut ada batasan untuk melindungi ayam tersebut dari luka parah dan tidak sampai mendzolimi ayam tersebut. Kedua, analisis hukum Islam terhadap kebijakan pemerintah desa tentang sewa arena sabung ayam berkesimpulan bahwa kebijakan tersebut legal karena dalam kebijakan tersebut dicantumkan larangan digunakan untuk judi. Dari kesimpulan diatas penulis memberikan saran kepada pemerintah desa agar membangun arena yang lebih banyak lagi karena dengan dua arena yang ada sekarang itu belum cukup menampung banyaknya pengunjung yang ingin mencoba ayam jagonya. Arena sabung ayam ini juga dapat dijadikan ikon daripada Desa Sidowungu yang memiliki kearifan lokal dan terkenal dengan sebutan kampung ayam

Calculation and Tabulation of Efficiencies for Tungsten Foil Positron Moderators

Monte Carlo radiation transport simulations were used to calculate the positron stopping profiles in tungsten positron moderator foils. Stopping profiles were numerically integrated with efficiency kernels derived from Green\u27s function solutions of the 3D diffusion equation to determine the moderation efficiency in both the backscattering and transmission geometries. Stopping profiles and efficiencies were calculated for positron energies from 10 keV to 10 MeV and incident angles from 0° to 75°. The resulting efficiencies agreed with other calculated and measured values in the literature, especially when similar values of the positron diffusion length and surface emission branching ratio were used. Large discrepancies with some of the values reported in the literature are mainly attributed to differences in foil manufacture and surface condition - factors which are known to greatly influence the diffusion length - as well as work function and branching ratios. This work provides tabulated efficiencies for tungsten foil moderators that can be interpolated and integrated with a positron flux having arbitrary energy and angular distributions

Systemically Delivered Magnetic Hyperthermia for Cancer Treatment

Despite advances in treatment, cancer remains among the leading causes of death in the world. Progress in the treatment of metastatic cancers was seen with chemotherapy and radiotherapy, however, the major drawbacks of conventional cancer therapies are limited efficacy and severe side effects. Magnetic fluid hyperthermia (MFH) is a new cancer treatment approach being investigated in preclinical research. It has the ability to localize heat specifically in the tumor upon exposing magnetic nanoparticles, such as iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs), to alternating magnetic field - with limited toxicity in normal tissue. IONPs have been intensively explored in the application of magnetic hyperthermia due to their unique magnetic properties. The intratumorally injected IONPs can generate the required heat (41- 45 °C) to induce apoptosis. Intratumoral injection provides the required amount of IONPs to generate enough heat to kill cancer cells with low systemic toxicity. However, the intratumoral injection is invasive and limited to localized and relatively accessible solid tumors. In contrast, systemic injection is minimally invasive and can deliver nanoparticles to poorly defined, non-localized cancer tumors of various shapes and sizes, including small metastatic tumor growth. To overcome the current limitations of intravenous administration of IONPs and their heating ability, we have developed magnetic nanoclusters that can be delivered systemically and produce higher heating efficiency in comparison with conventional IONPs. Magnetic nanoclusters have shown an efficient cytotoxic effect in tumor cell lines and resulted in suppressing tumor growth in mouse models of ovarian and prostate cancer. They are safe and biocompatible without noticeable side effects in mice

Sosialisasi Pembuatan Pasta Tulang Ikan di Dusun Kandang Kaoq Desa Tanjung

Bencana gempa bumi yang terjadi di Kabupaten Lombok Utara pada tahun 2019 lalu menimbulkan banyak kerugian. Tidak hanya kerugian dalam bentuk rusaknya bangunan tempat tinggal, namun juga rusaknya perekonomian masyarakat. Kerusakan pada tatanan perekonomian masyarakat, dalam hal ini hilangnya pekerjaan dan pendapatan harus segera diatasi. Salah satu upaya yang dapat dilakkan adalah membangun kembali perekonomian masyarakat dengan memanfaatkan potensi lokal. Salah satu desa yang ada di Kabupaten Lombok Utara adalah Desa Tanjung yang memiliki potensi lokal berupa potensi laut dan mata pencaharian masyarakat yang berada disekitarnya adalah nelayan. Kebanyakan masyarakat mengambil daging ikan untuk dijadikan olahan dan tulangnya dibuang. Sebagai upaya pengoptimalan potensi laut tersebut, maka dibutuhkan inovasi baru untuk memanfaatkan tulang ikan. Penelitian ini menggunakan penelitian kualitatif secara deskriptif dengan pendekatan fenomenologis untuk memperoleh data dari pengalaman informan. Perolehan data menggunakan observasi, wawancara, dan studi pustaka. Penentuan informan menggunakan snowball sampling  dan  purposive  sampling.  Hasil  yang  diperoleh  adalah  pemanfaatan tulang ikan dapat dijadikan sebagai pasta untuk pengolahan berbagai macam makanan guna meningkatkan perekonomian masyarakat pasca bencana gempa sehingga perekonomian masyarakat Desa Tanjung dapat diperbaiki kembali.  Kata kunci— olahan tulang ikan, pasta tulang ikan, ekonomi pasca gempa bumi Abstract The earthquake that occurred in North Lombok Regency in 2019 caused many losses. Not only losses in the form of damage to residential buildings, but also damage to the community's economy. Damage to the economic structure of the community, in this case the loss of jobs and income must be overcome immediately. One effort that can be done is to rebuild the community's economy by utilizing local potential. One of the villages in North Lombok Regency is Tanjung Village which has local potential in the form of sea potential and the livelihoods of the people around it are fishermen. Most people take fish meat to be processed and their bones discarded. As an effort to optimize the marine potential, new innovations are needed to utilize fish bones. This study uses descriptive qualitative research with a phenomenological approach to obtain data from the experience of informants. Data acquisition uses observation, interview, and literature study. Determination of informants using snowball sampling and purposive sampling. The results obtained are the use of fish bones can be used as a paste for the processing of various kinds of food in order to improve the economy of the community after the earthquake so that the economy of the Tanjung Village community can be restored. Keywords— processed fish bones, fish bone paste, post-earthquake econom

Comparative genomics of the major parasitic worms

Parasitic nematodes (roundworms) and platyhelminths (flatworms) cause debilitating chronic infections of humans and animals, decimate crop production and are a major impediment to socioeconomic development. Here we report a broad comparative study of 81 genomes of parasitic and non-parasitic worms. We have identified gene family births and hundreds of expanded gene families at key nodes in the phylogeny that are relevant to parasitism. Examples include gene families that modulate host immune responses, enable parasite migration though host tissues or allow the parasite to feed. We reveal extensive lineage-specific differences in core metabolism and protein families historically targeted for drug development. From an in silico screen, we have identified and prioritized new potential drug targets and compounds for testing. This comparative genomics resource provides a much-needed boost for the research community to understand and combat parasitic worms

Survival implications vs. complications: unraveling the impact of vitamin D adjunctive use in critically ill patients with COVID-19—A multicenter cohort study

BackgroundDespite insufficient evidence, vitamin D has been used as adjunctive therapy in critically ill patients with COVID-19. This study evaluates the effectiveness and safety of vitamin D as an adjunctive therapy in critically ill COVID-19 patients.MethodsA multicenter retrospective cohort study that included all adult COVID-19 patients admitted to the intensive care units (ICUs) between March 2020 and July 2021. Patients were categorized into two groups based on their vitamin D use throughout their ICU stay (control vs. vitamin D). The primary endpoint was in-hospital mortality. Secondary outcomes were the length of stay (LOS), mechanical ventilation (MV) duration, and ICU-acquired complications. Propensity score (PS) matching (1:1) was used based on the predefined criteria. Multivariable logistic, Cox proportional hazards, and negative binomial regression analyses were employed as appropriate.ResultsA total of 1,435 patients were included in the study. Vitamin D was initiated in 177 patients (12.3%), whereas 1,258 patients did not receive it. A total of 288 patients were matched (1:1) using PS. The in-hospital mortality showed no difference between patients who received vitamin D and the control group (HR 1.22, 95% CI 0.87–1.71; p = 0.26). However, MV duration and ICU LOS were longer in the vitamin D group (beta coefficient 0.24 (95% CI 0.00–0.47), p = 0.05 and beta coefficient 0.16 (95% CI −0.01 to 0.33), p = 0.07, respectively). As an exploratory outcome, patients who received vitamin D were more likely to develop major bleeding than those who did not [OR 3.48 (95% CI 1.10, 10.94), p = 0.03].ConclusionThe use of vitamin D as adjunctive therapy in COVID-19 critically ill patients was not associated with survival benefits but was linked with longer MV duration, ICU LOS, and higher odds of major bleeding