8,928 research outputs found
Special 301 : Its Requirements, Implementation, and Significance
This Article reviews the Special 301 provisions and their implementation to date. Special 301 is designed to use the credible threat of unilateral retaliation by the United States to persuade trading partners to reform currently deficient IP practices. The article praises the US\u27s use of Special 301 use thus far but warns against taking harsher action
Special 301 : Its Requirements, Implementation, and Significance
This Article reviews the Special 301 provisions and their implementation to date. Special 301 is designed to use the credible threat of unilateral retaliation by the United States to persuade trading partners to reform currently deficient IP practices. The article praises the US\u27s use of Special 301 use thus far but warns against taking harsher action
NOViSE: a virtual natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery simulator
Purpose: Natural Orifice Transluminal Endoscopic Surgery (NOTES) is a novel technique in minimally invasive surgery whereby a flexible endoscope is inserted via a natural orifice to gain access to the abdominal cavity, leaving no external scars. This innovative use of flexible endoscopy creates many new challenges and is associated with a steep learning curve for clinicians. Methods: We developed NOViSE - the first force-feedback enabled virtual reality simulator for NOTES training supporting a flexible endoscope. The haptic device is custom built and the behaviour of the virtual flexible endoscope is based on an established theoretical framework – the Cosserat Theory of Elastic Rods. Results: We present the application of NOViSE to the simulation of a hybrid trans-gastric cholecystectomy procedure. Preliminary results of face, content and construct validation have previously shown that NOViSE delivers the required level of realism for training of endoscopic manipulation skills specific to NOTES Conclusions: VR simulation of NOTES procedures can contribute to surgical training and improve the educational experience without putting patients at risk, raising ethical issues or requiring expensive animal or cadaver facilities. In the context of an experimental technique, NOViSE could potentially facilitate NOTES development and contribute to its wider use by keeping practitioners up to date with this novel surgical technique. NOViSE is a first prototype and the initial results indicate that it provides promising foundations for further development
Statistical approach to optimization of the transesterification reaction from sorrel (hibiscus sabdariffa) oil
In an effort to optimize the reaction conditions of biodiesel production from Sorrel seed oil, Response
Surface Methodology (RSM) was applied and the effects of reaction temperature, catalyst amount,
reaction time and methanol/oil molar ratio, and their reciprocal interactions were ascertained. A total
of 30 experimental runs were designed by Central Composite Rotatable Design (CCRD) and carried
out. A quadratic polynomial was obtained for predicting the Transesterification process and the
ANOVA test showed the model to be significant (p<0.05). The validity of the predicted model was
confirmed by carrying out three independent replicates experiments. The actual maximum biodiesel
yield obtained was 99.23% (w/w) at methanol/oil molar ratio 6.21, catalyst amount 1.03 (% wt.),
reaction temperature 51 oC, and reaction time 63 min. The fuel properties of Hibiscus sabdariffa
methylester (HSME) produced were found to be within the ASTM D6751 and DIN EN 14214 biodiesel
standards. The fatty acid profile of the HSME revealed that the dominant fatty acids were oleic
(58.34%), arachidic (1.55%), palmitic (18.28%) and linoleic (21.19%). Emission assessment revealed
70% reduction of CO at B80, 80% reduction of NO concentration at B40
Great Abilities of Shinella zoogloeoides Strain from a Landfarming Soil for Crude Oil Degradation and a Synergy Model for Alginate-Bead-Entrapped Consortium Efficiency
A simple variational method for calculating energy and quantum capacitance of an electron gas with screened interactions
We describe a variational procedure for calculating the energy of an electron
gas in which the long-range Coulomb interaction is truncated by the screening
effect of a nearby metallic gate. We use this procedure to compute the quantum
capacitance of the system as a function of electron density and spin
polarization. The accuracy of the method is verified against published
Monte-Carlo data. The results compare favorably with a recent experiment.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure
HCME: An Environment-Friendly I.C. Engine Fuel
The study revealed that Hura crepitans oil is a good candidate for Hura crepitans methyl ester (HCME)
production. Two steps (esterification and transesterification) production stages influenced the high yield of
HCME. Three possible experimental runs were performed in each step, the best of the three conditions
were 1.45 (% v/v) for H2SO4 conc., 5:1 for methanol/oil molar ratio, 40 min for reaction time which gave
1.06 % for FFA in the first step, in the second step, 92.70 %(w/w) of HCME was obtained at 0.55% KOH,
5:1 methanol/oil molar ratio, 60 oC temperature and 30 min reaction time. The produced HCME had fuel
properties which satisfied both ASTME D6751 and EN 1424 standards. The fatty acid profile of the HCME
revealed the dominant fatty acids were linoleic (64.50%), oleic (17.54%) and palmitic (12.70%). Exhaust
emissions from an internal combustion (I.C.) engine revealed that there is 60% decreased in CO, 58%
decreased in NOx, 60% decreased in HC, 39% decrease in smoke opacity and 42% decreased in BSFC
at B20, respectively. Flue gas temperature increased by 12% at B20, 45% increased in BTE at B50 when
compared to pure diesel (AGO). Hence, it can be concluded that
B20 (20% HCME + 80% AGO) will provides the best emission reduction at the lowest cost
Genetic variability and heterogeneity of venezuelan equine encephalitis virus vector Ochlerotatus taeniorhynchus (Diptera : Culicidae) populations of the Colombian Atlantic coast, based on microsatellite loci
In Colombia, the mosquito Ochlerotatus taeniorhynchus has been identified as an efficient vector of the epidemic-epi-zootic Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus. We evaluated the genetic variability and heterogeneity of this mosquito in Colombian populations using eight microsatellite DNA loci. Two hundred and ten mosquito specimens collected from seven populations of the Colombian Atlantic coast (San Bernardo del Viento, Coveñas, Carta-gena, Barranquilla, Ciénaga, Dibulla, and Riohacha) were analyzed. We found five polymorphic microsatellite loci, with 19 alleles giving 62.5% polymorphism; the mean number of alleles per locus was 3.8. The mean expected heterogeneity ranged from 0.568 to 0.660. Most of the polymorphic microsatellite loci were in Hardy-Wein-berg disequilibrium, due to both deficit and excess of heterozygotes. The Fst statistic gave a total value of 0.0369, reflecting low genetic differentiation among the populations and, as a consequence, a low degree of structuring among them, while gene flow was high (Nm = 6.52); these findings point to genetic homogeneity among these populations. There was no significant linkage disequilibrium between genotype pairs of the various populations. We concluded that this mosquito is distributed in local populations along the Colombian Atlantic coast; these findings will be useful for developing strategies for controlling this vector. © FUNPEC-RP
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