Definite and indefinite forms of Maxwell's equations for moving media

Electrodynamics of moving media - relativistic transformation of Maxwell equation

Current assays for HIV-1 diagnostics and antiretroviral therapy monitoring: challenges and possibilities

In 2011, there were over 34 million people living with HIV infections, placing a heavy burden on public health sectors. HIV infection is a lifelong threat that cannot be prevented by vaccination or cured by antiretroviral drugs. The infected patients rely on daily antiretroviral therapy to suppress HIV viral replication. Hence, it is important to diagnose HIV infections as early as possible and to monitor the efficacy of antiretroviral therapy every 3–6 months. Different immunoassays detecting HIV antigens and antibodies have been modified to offer better sensitivity and more rapid diagnosis. Several clinical and virological parameters, including CD4+ cell counts, viral load and drug resistance mutations, are also used for treatment monitoring. Many molecular assay optimizations are now being utilized to improve patient care. This review will focus on the most updated HIV diagnostic assays, as well as discussing the upcoming possibilities of other advanced technologies.postprin

Verification of a localization criterion for several disordered media

We analytically compute a localization criterion in double scattering approximation for a set of dielectric spheres or perfectly conducting disks uniformly distributed in a spatial volume which can be either spherical or layered. For every disordered medium, we numerically investigate a localization criterion, and examine the influence of the system parameters on the wavelength localization domains.Comment: 30 pages, LateX, amstex, revtex styles, 20 figure

Performance Evaluation of the Verigene Gram-Positive and Gram-Negative Blood Culture Test for Direct Identification of Bacteria and Their Resistance Determinants from Positive Blood Cultures in Hong Kong

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Determination of the High Prevalence of Dual/Mixed- or X4-Tropism Among HIV Type 1 CRF01_AE in Hong Kong by Genotyping and Phenotyping Methods

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Construction and Evaluation of Chloroplast Expression Vectors in Higher Plants

Plastid transformation has a number of advantages in comparison with nuclear transformation. Currently, only tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) is routinely used in plastid transformation. Here we constructed a series of chloroplast expression vectors specific for spinach (pCEV1), tomato (pCEV2 and pCEV3), and N. benthamiana (pCEV4). Selection marker aminoglycoside 3′-adenyltransferase (aadA) conferring spectinomycin resistance was used in pCEV1, pCEV2, and pCEV4, while selection marker neomycin phosphotransferase II (nptII) was used in pCEV3. The expression cassette in these vectors was integrated in the intergenic spacer between trnI and trnA of plastid genome via homologous recombination. Several transgenes, including a reporter gene encoding GFP:GUS fusion protein and genes from tomato (lycopene b-cyclase, z-carotene desaturase) and bamboo mosaic virus satellite RNA (encoding coat protein CP20), were independently cloned into some of these vectors. Transient GUS expression was detected in spinach leaves bombarded by pCEV1/GFP-GUS. Functional expression of selection markers aadA and nptII was demonstrated for spinach, tomato, and N. benthamiana. Seedling assay from T0 self-pollinated plant of transplastomic N. benthamiana confirmed maternal inheritance of transgenes, and genomic PCR analysis confirmed integration of transgenic expression cassette into the plastid genome of N. benthamiana. Moreover, auxiliary vectors pECaad and pECnpt are also reported

Voices of Four Taiwanese College Students' Experiences with the Test of English for International Communication (TOEIC) Preparation (PREP) Computer Assisted Language Learning (CALL)

The primary purpose of this study was to identify Taiwanese college students’ experiences regarding the use of TOEIC PREPARATION (TOEIC PREP) software. In this qualitative study design, the researcher explored the college students’ feelings and attitudes as they prepared for the TOEIC test through the TOEIC PREP software provided by the school’s online platform. The research question guiding the study was: “What are the experiences of four college Taiwanese students about the TOEIC PREP software?” The four participating students were selected from 50 college juniors who used the TOEIC PREP software for two semesters in order to prepare for the TOIEC test. All of the students majored in Applied Foreign Languages and were enrolled in a required TOIEC preparation course at the university in Taiwan. In the middle and again at the end of students’ test preparation process, the researcher conducted and audio-recorded an approximately 30-minute interview with each of the four participants via Skype. Four themes emerged from the study: (a) students’ motivations derived from their English learning backgrounds, (b) online learning and flexible scheduling, (c) language test preparation through online learning, and (d) improving performance on the TOEIC test. The themes conceptualized from the research questions were mentioned and inter-related by each of the four participating students. The results of this study were as follows: 1.) In the school-required TOEIC test preparation course, the four participating students tended to indicate that the TOEIC PREP software did help them through the TOEIC test, but not all of them agreed that the online learning could replace the traditional face-to-face-class. 2.) Students having similar English learning backgrounds and learning English in a non-grammar-based classroom setting might have more interest in continuing their language learning. 3.) Free software, like TOEIC PREP, provided by the school could be a big motive for students in their TOEIC test preparation. 4.) As daily computer users, students are unlikely to need to spend extra time learning how to use the online learning software. 5.) Besides using the TOEIC PREP software for test preparation, students also were striving to improve their reading and listening competence from the process of practice. 6.) The TOEIC PREP software absolutely could help the students prepare for the test because of its flexibility of practice and immediate feedback