Using Automatic Differentiation for Adjoint CFD Code Development

This paper addresses the concerns of CFD code developers who are facing the task of creating a discrete adjoint CFD code for design optimisation. It discusses how the development of such a code can be greatly eased through the selective use of Automatic Differentiation, and how the software development can be subjected to a sequence of checks to ensure the correctness of the final software

Pengaruh Usia dalam Memoderasi Pengaruh Tingkat Kesiapan Teknologi pada Niat Konsumen dalam Menggunakan Layanan SMS Banking di Kota Denpasar

SMS banking is one of the features of mobile banking services . Intention to use SMS Banking service is strongly influenced by the level of technological readiness and the role of age had a major impact on the level of technological readiness of the customers so that they can decide to use or not the SMS Banking service . The purpose of this study was to determine the role of age in moderating the influence of technology readiness level of the consumer 's intention to use SMS Banking service in Denpasar. Data collection techniques used in this study is through the distribution of questionnaires to customers who know the SMS Banking service but have not used it . The questionnaire measured with a Likert scale with 22 indicators . The sample size used in the study was 110 respondents were taken by purposive sampling technique . The analytical method used is multiple linear regression analysis . The results of the study showed that age proved to be able to moderate the influence of the four dimensions of technology readiness level ( optimism , innovativeness , discomfort , and insecurity ) on the intention to use SMS Banking service . Future studies are expected to be able to add another variable to the variation in respondents' answers

One-step preparation of nitrogen doped titanium oxide/Au/reduced graphene oxide composite thin films for photocatalytic applications

© The Royal Society of Chemistry 2015. Titanium dioxide (TiO2) and TiO2/Au/reduced graphene oxide (rGO) nanocomposite thin films were grown by ultraviolet matrix assisted pulsed laser evaporation (UV-MAPLE) in controlled O2 or N2 atmospheres. An UV KrF∗ excimer laser (λ = 248 nm, τFWHM ∼ 25 ns, ν = 10 Hz) was used for the irradiation of the MAPLE targets consisting of TiO2 nanoparticles (NPs) or mixtures of TiO2 NPs, Au NPs, and graphene oxide (GO) platelets in aqueous solutions. The effect of Au and GO addition as well as nitrogen doping on the photocatalytic activity of the TiO2 thin films was investigated. The evaluation of the photocatalytic activity was performed by photodegradation of the organic methylene blue model dye pollutant under UV-visible light, >simulated sun> irradiation conditions. Our results show that the photocatalytic properties of TiO2 were significantly improved by the addition of Au NPs and rGO platelets. Nitrogen inclusion into the rGO structure further contributes to the enhancement of the TiO2/Au/rGO nanocomposites photocatalytic activity.The authors thank the financial support of the Executive Unit for Financing Higher Education, Research, Development, and Innovation of the Romanian Ministry of Education and Scientific Research under the contract PN-IIPT-PCCA-2011-3.2-1235 and the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness under the contract ENE2014-56109-C3-3-R.Peer reviewedPeer Reviewe

Implementasi Ketersediaan Beras Dalam Rangka Ketahanan Pangan Di Kabupaten Batang

Availability of good rice is expected to maintain food security. However, riceavailability in Batang Regency decreases although the consumption of rice is always increases. When this occurs continuously, it is feared that there will be deficits that cause weak food security.Location of the research was in Badan Pelaksana Penyuluhan dan KetahananPangan Batang Regency. Selection of informants was done using a purposive sampling.To test the quality of the obtained data, technique of triangulation was employed. As the focus of study, implementation of the policy observed through results and process, based on the policy performance of observable indicators of effectiveness, efficiency, fairness, adequacy, responsiveness and accuracy. Based on theories of Edwards III, and Van Meter & Van Horn\u27s implementation model synthesis, acquired the factors that support and hinder the implementation of the policy, namely communications, disposition, bureaucratic structure and resources.Based on the results of this research, implementation of the policy on theavailability of rice on Batang has yet to pan out. There are still weakness in efficiency, fairness and effectiveness.The recommendations are (1) addition of equitable distribution and infrastructures; (2) equity of efforts increased production; (3) equitable socialization and counseling services; (4) monitoring during the production process; and (5) intensive socialization and counseling

Kadar Sisa Chlor Dan Kandungan Bakteri E.coli Perusahaan Air Minum Tirta Moedal Semarang Sebelum Dan Sesudah Pengolahan

Tujuan penelitian ini adalah untuk menganalisa kadar sisa chlor dan kandungan bakteri E.coli yang ada dalam air hasil PDAM tirta moedal Semarang sebelum dan sesudah proses pengolahan Penelitian ini merupakan penelitian observasional, bila berdasarkan pendekatan waktunya merupakan penelitian cross sectional. Penelitian ini dilaksanakan selama 8 hari dengan besar sampel sebanyak 32 sampel, baik sampel air sebelum dan sampel air sesudah pengolahan di PDAM Tirta Moedal Semarang.Hasil penelitian kandungan bakteri E.coli sebelum pengolahan adalah 922,56 dan sesudah pengolahan adalah 7,28/ 100 ml sampel air, sedangkan kadar sisa chlor sebelum adalah 0,00 dan sesudah pengolahan adalah 0,13. Hasil uji statistik yang digunakan adalah Uji t sampel berpasangan yaitu suatu uji statistik untuk mengetahui perbedaan antara kandungan bakteri E.coli dan kadar sisa chlor sebelum dan sesudah pengolahan serta Uji korelasi Pearson untuk mengetahui hubungan antara kandungan bakteri E.coli dan kadar sisa chlor sesudah pengolahan. Dari hasil uji statistik diperoleh p = 0,000 dengan ά = 0,05, pada kandungan bakteri E.coli dan kadar sisa chlor terdapat perbedaan yang bermakna antara kandungan bakteri E.coli dan kadar sisa chlor sebelum dan sesudah pengolahan. Ada hubungan antara kadar sisa chlor dan kandungan bakteri E.coli sesudah pengolahan. Namun demikian, kualitas air hasil PDAM tirta moedal Semarang belum memenuhi persyaratan kualitas sesuai dengan standar kualitas air minum.Dari hasil penelitian disarankan bahwa pengelola PDAM tirta moedal Semarang agar menambah pembubuhan koagulan dan filtrasi serta mengawasi jaringan perpipaan karena kandungan bakteri E.coli masih tinggi, kepada masyarakat yang memanfaatkan air hasil olahan PDAM tirta moedal Semarang agar memasaknya terlebih dahulu. Mengingat air hasil PDAM tirta moedal Semarang sangat tergantung pada kualitas air bakunya, maka perlu dilakukan pemeriksaan secara berkala

Probing the neurochemical basis of synaesthesia using psychophysics

The neurochemical mechanisms that contribute to synaesthesia are poorly understood, but multiple models implicate serotonin and GABA in the development of this condition. Here we used psychophysical tasks to test the predictions that synaesthetes would display behavioral performance consistent with reduced GABA and elevated serotonin in primary visual cortex. Controls and synaesthetes completed the orientation-specific surround suppression (OSSS) and tilt-after effect (TAE) tasks, previously shown to relate to GABA and serotonin levels, respectively. Controls and synaesthetes did not differ in the performance parameter previously associated with GABA or in the magnitude of the TAE. However, synaesthetes did display lower contrast difference thresholds in the OSSS task than controls when no surround (NS) was present. These results are inconsistent with the hypothesized roles of GABA and serotonin in this condition, but provide preliminary evidence that synaesthetes exhibit enhanced contrast discrimination

Is natural orifice specimen extraction surgery really safe in radical surgery for colorectal cancer?

Scop: Chirurgia rectală robotică este în prezent o procedură nouă pentru cancerele rectale. Extracția eșantionului cu orificiu natural transanal (NOSE) este o tehnică nouă de îndepărtare a specimenului din cavitatea abdominală prin anus, în loc de o incizie suplimentară după o intervenție chirurgicală colorectală laparoscopică sau robotică. Siguranța NOSE rămâne controversată. Acest studiu și-a propus să investigheze siguranța precoce a NOSE transanal în tratamentul cancerului de colon sigmoid și rectal superior din următoarele aspecte: caracteristici clinice și patologice, indicatori inflamatori și imunitari și complicații postoperatorii. Prezentare de caz: O femeie de 61 de ani, diagnosticată anterior cu cancer rectal, cu antecedente de 6 luni de hematochezie și alternanta diaree-constipatie. Diagnosticul de cancer rectal a fost pus pe baza biopsiei colonoscopice care a confirmat un nodul circumferenţial neregulat de adenocarcinom bine diferenţiat la 10 cm de marginea anală. Rezecția anterioară joasă asistata robotic, urmata de extracția specimenului transanal a fost efectuată după obținerea consimțământului informat. Procedura a fost efectuată cu succes și pacienta a avut o evolutie postoperatorie fără complicații. Diagnosticul patologic postoperator a evidențiat un adenocarcinom moderat diferențiat de 4x4x0,6 cm3 și margine circumferențiala libera. Concluzii: Rezectia de rect robotica plus extractia transanala a specimenului pentru cancerul rectal poate fi efectuata în siguranță și poate fi o abordare eficientă în contrast cu abordarea deschisă sau laparoscopică.Background: Robotic rectal surgery is currently a novel procedure for rectal cancers. Transanal natural orifice specimen extraction (NOSE) is a novel technique to remove the specimen from the abdominal cavity through the anus instead of an additional incision following laparoscopic or robotic colorectal surgery. The safety of NOSE remains controversial. This study aimed to investigate the early safety of transanal NOSE in the treatment of sigmoid colon and upper rectal cancer from the follow aspects: clinical and pathological characteristics, inflammatory and immune indicators and postoperative complications. Case presentation: A 61-year-old women, previously diagnosed with rectal cancer with came 6 months history of hematochezia and altered bowel habit. A diagnosis of rectal cancer was made in view of colonoscopic biopsy which confirmed an irregular circumferential lump of well differentiated adenocarcinoma at 10 cm from the anal verge. Robotic low anterior resection (LAR) plus transanal natural orifice specimen extraction (NOSE) was performed after obtaining informed consent. The procedure was performed successfully and the patient convalesced nicely without any complications. The postoperative pathological diagnosis revealed a 4x4x0.6 cm3 moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma and circumferential clearance. Conclusions: Robotic LAR plus transanal NOSE for rectal cancer can be performed safely and may be an effective approach in contrast to open or laparoscopic approach

The role of the frozen section examination in the diagnosis of the thyroid nodules

Universitatea de Medicină și Farmacie Victor Babeș Timișoara, România, Al XIII-lea Congres al Asociației Chirurgilor „Nicolae Anestiadi” și al III-lea Congres al Societății de Endoscopie, Chirurgie miniminvazivă și Ultrasonografie ”V.M.Guțu” din Republica MoldovaIntroducere: Diagnosticul diferențial preoperator sau intraoperator între leziunile tiroidiene benigne și maligne este de o importanță majoră pentru decizia chirurgicală intraoperatorie. Acest studiu analizează corelația dintre rezultatul examenului extemporaneu și rezultatul examinării histopatologice la parafină în cazul nodulilor tiroidieni. Material si metode: Acesta a fost un studiu retrospectiv asupra a 330 de cazuri cu patologie tiroidiană, operate în cadrul Clinicii 2 de Chirurgie a Spitalului Clinic Județean de Urgență Timișoara din 2011 până în 2014, la care s-au efectuat atât examen extemporaneu intraoperator (EXT) cât și examen histopatologic la parafină în cadrul Departamentului de Anatomo-patologie al aceluiași spital. Rezultate: Din cele 330 de cazuri studiate, examenul EXT a stabilit diagnosticul în 244 (73,9%) cazuri și la 86 (26.1%) cazuri diagnosticul a fost incert, cu o sensibilitate de 93,33%, specificitate de 95,81%, în timp ce precizia a ajuns la 95,66%. Două sute douazeci și nouă (84,8%) au fost tumori benigne, iar 15 (27,3%) au fost tumori maligne. La examenul histopatologic, din 86 cazuri incerte 51 (59,3%) au fost benigne, 30 (34,8%) maligne și 5 (5,8%) au ramas neclare. Concluzii: Rezultatele noastre cu metoda EXT sunt echivalente cu cele disponibile în literatura de specialitate cu specificitate, sensibilitate si precizie foarte bune. În cazul în care investigațiile preoperatorii evidențiază noduli unilaterali, EXT a fost util pentru decizia intraoperatorie între lobectomie și tiroidectomie totală, evitând lobectomia inutilă sau reintervenția.Introduction: Preoperative or intraoperative differential diagnosis between benign and malignant thyroid lesions is of utmost importance for the surgical intraoperative decision. This study analyses the correlation between the frozen-section result and the result of the histopathologic paraffin examination in cases of thyroid nodules. Material and methods: This was a retrospective study upon 330 cases with thyroid pathology, operated on in the 2nd Surgical Clinic of the Clinical County Emergency Hospital of Timisoara from 2011 to 2014, that had both intraoperative frozen-section (FS) and postoperative paraffin histologic examination performed by the Pathology Department of the same hospital. Results: Of 330 cases studied, FS examination set the diagnosis in 244 (73.9%) cases and no diagnosis (uncertain) in 86 (26.1%), with a sensitivity of 93.33%, specificity of 95.81%, while accuracy reached 95.66%. Two hundred twenty-nine (84.8%) were benign tumors and 15(27.3%) were malignant tumors. At the histopathologic examination, from 86 uncertain cases 51 (59.3%) were benign, 30(34.8%) malignant and 5 (5.8%) remained unclear. Conclusions: Our results with FS method are equivalent to those available in the literature with very good specificity, sensitivity and accuracy. In cases in which the preoperative investigations show unilateral nodules, FS was still useful for the intraoperative decision between lobectomy and total thyroidectomy, avoiding inutile lobectomy or reoperation