Phylogenetic diversity of cassava green mite, Mononychellus progresivus from different geographical sites in East Africa

Cassava green mite (CGM) of the Mononychellus genus is an invasive species in Africa, introduced from South America. Its phylogenetic diversity over geographical localities has never been assessed in East Africa, where mite density dynamics oscillate from few individuals to a peak of hundreds. The objective of this study was to determine CGM species comparative phylogenetic diversity from seven distinct geographical sites in East Africa. Six sites were sampled for CGM races, two samples from each country. DNA was extracted on internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) and cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI), and compared for phylogenetic variations of CGM from different locations of East African region. A comparative search from the NCBI Gene bank resulted into identical species nucleotides from Congo and Benin. Sequences from the two sites in Kenya were 99-100% similar to CGM nucleotide from the Congo-Benin accessions (X79902.1) on ITS2 gene region. On COI, a 98-99% site sequences similarity was observed on M. progresivus accession X79901.1. A closely related divergence of specimens collected from Tanzania and Uganda was determined. Both Uganda and Tanzania had 99% match to X79901.1 on COI region. Similarly, the Uganda and Tanzania samples had 99% match to emb/X79902.1 on the 18Sr RNA region. The CGM sequence from coastal Kenya had the highest phylogenetic divergence from the Congo-Benin sequences. A small biogeographic phylogenetic divergence (0-1%) was evident from the analyses among the six collection sites. The results confirm M. progresivus identity in East Africa it also indicates intra-species phylogenetic variations on the COI gene region of interest.L\u2019acarien vert du manioc (CGM) du genre Mononychellus est espece invasive Introduite de l\u2019Amerique du Sud en Afrique. Sa diversite phyllogenetique au sein et entre les localites n\u2019a jamais ete evaluee en Afrique de l\u2019Est, ou la densite d\u2019acarien varie de quelques individus a plusieurs centaines. L\u2019objectif de cette etude etait de determiner la diversite phyllogenetiques des especes CGM et de comparer sept sites geographiquement differents en Afrique de l\u2019Est. six sites ont ete echantillonnes pour des races de CGM, a raison de deux echantillons par pays. De l\u2019AND a ete extrait sur l\u2019espaceur interne transcrit 2 (ITS2) et sous-unite I de cytochrome oxidase (COI), ces echantillons ont ete compares pour les variations phyllogenetiques de CGM provenant de localites differentes de la region Est Africaine. Une etude comparee a la banque de gene de NCBI a revele des especes identiques en provenance de Congo et du Benin, de point de vue de leur nucleotides. Des sequences provenant des deux sites au Kenya ont exhibe 99-100% de similarite avec les nucleotides de CGM provenant des accessions Congo-Benin (X79902.1) sur la region genetique ITS2. Sur COI, une similarite de 98-99% a ete observee sur l\u2019accession M. progresivus X79901.1. Une divergence de sujets genetiquement proches a ete observe chez des specimens collectes en Tanzannie et en Ouganda. Ouganda et Tanzanie ont exhibe 99% de similitude a X79901.1 sur la region COI. De meme, les echantillons provenant de Ouganda et de Tanzannie presentaient 99% de similitude avec emb/X79902.1 sur la region 18Sr RNA. La sequence de CGM provenant de cote kenyane avait la divergence phyllogenique la plus elevee d\u2019avec les sequences Congo-Benin. Une legere divergence phyllogenetique geographiaque (0-1%) a ete note des analyses dans les sites de collection. Les resultats conferment l\u2019identite de M. progresivus identity en Afrique de l\u2019Est. l\u2019etude a aussi revele des variations phyllogenetiques sur la region de gene d\u2019interet COI

NASA Numerical and Experimental Evaluation of UTRC Low Emissions Injector

Computational and experimental analyses of a PICS-Pilot-In-Can-Swirler technology injector, developed by United Technologies Research Center (UTRC) are presented. NASA has defined technology targets for near term (called "N+1", circa 2015), midterm ("N+2", circa 2020) and far term ("N+3", circa 2030) that specify realistic emissions and fuel efficiency goals for commercial aircraft. This injector has potential for application in an engine to meet the Pratt & Whitney N+3 supersonic cycle goals, or the subsonic N+2 engine cycle goals. Experimental methods were employed to investigate supersonic cruise points as well as select points of the subsonic cycle engine; cruise, approach, and idle with a slightly elevated inlet pressure. Experiments at NASA employed gas analysis and a suite of laser-based measurement techniques to characterize the combustor flow downstream from the PICS dump plane. Optical diagnostics employed for this work included Planar Laser-Induced Fluorescence of fuel for injector spray pattern and Spontaneous Raman Spectroscopy for relative species concentration of fuel and CO2. The work reported here used unheated (liquid) Jet-A fuel for all fuel circuits and cycle conditions. The initial tests performed by UTRC used vaporized Jet-A to simulate the expected supersonic cruise condition, which anticipated using fuel as a heat sink. Using the National Combustion Code a PICS-based combustor was modeled with liquid fuel at the supersonic cruise condition. All CFD models used a cubic non-linear k-epsilon turbulence wall functions model, and a semi-detailed Jet-A kinetic mechanism based on a surrogate fuel mixture. Two initial spray droplet size distribution and spray cone conditions were used: 1) an initial condition (Lefebvre) with an assumed Rosin-Rammler distribution, and 7 degree Solid Spray Cone; and 2) the Boundary Layer Stripping (BLS) primary atomization model giving the spray size distribution and directional properties. Contour and line plots are shown in comparison with experimental data (where this data is available) for flow velocities, fuel, and temperature distribution. The CFD results are consistent with experimental observations for fuel distribution and vaporization. Analysis of gas sample results, using a previously-developed NASA NOx correlation, indicates that for sea-level takeoff, the PICS configuration is predicted to deliver an EINOx value of about 3 for the targeted supersonic aircraft. Emissions results at supersonic cruise conditions show potential for meeting the NASA goals with liquid fuel

AUTOMATED TUMORS EXTRACTION AND VISUALIZATION IN NASAL AND PARANASAL SINUSES ABSTRACT

This research is concerned with biomedical image analysis and visualization and enabling the 3D (Three-Dimensional) representation of biomedical image data sets. These data sets are input as a sequence of 2D (Two-Dimensional) CT images of some patients suffering from tumor or extra bone in nasal and paranasal sinuses. The developed system can isolate and produce 3D model for the tumor or extra bone. The segmentation is simply done by limiting lower and upper density in 2D. The developed system could be used to detect the tumor or extra bone, isolate it, forming a 3D model, calculating the improvements will happen in air volume in nasal and paranasal after removing that tumor or the extra bone to show the benefits of the operation for the patient. This work used CT/MRI (Computerized Topography and Magnetic Resonance Imaging) of patients with juvenile angiofibroma and CT/MRI of patients with bilateral simple nasal polyp. They were diagnosed at ENT (Ear, Nose and Throat) out patient clinic of El-Menoufyia University Hospital, Shebin El-Kom, Egypt.. Experimental work proved that the tumor surrounding could be extracted completely. A large prospective randomized study has been done before considering this system. With these advances in hand, there are several important applications possible to be delivered soon that will have a significant impact on the practice of medicine and on biological research