Global distributed evolution of L-systems fractals

Internet based parallel genetic programming (GP) creates fractal patterns like Koch’s snow flake. Pfeiffer, http://www.cs.ucl.ac.uk/staff/W.Langdon/pfeiffer.html, by analogy with seed/embryo development, uses Lindenmayer grammars and LOGO style turtle graphics written in Javascript and Perl. 298 novel pictures were produced. Images are placed in animated snow globes (computerised snowstorms) by www web browsers anywhere on the planet. We discuss artificial life (Alife) evolving autonomous agents and virtual creatures in higher dimensions from a free format representation in the context of neutral networks, gene duplication and the evolution of higher order genetic operators

Consumer assessment, in Ireland and the United Kingdom, of the impact of the method of suspension of carcasses from dairy-origin bulls and steers, on the sensory characteristics of the longissimus muscle

The objective was to compare the assessment of beef produced in Ireland from a 19-month bull or a 24-month steer dairy beef production system by consumers in Ireland (Cork) and the United Kingdom (Belfast and Reading). Carcass sides were suspended by the Achilles tendon or by the pelvic bone and 21-d aged longissimus muscle assessed using Meat Standards Australia protocols. Carcass weight and classification were similar for bulls and steers. Consumers in Belfast and Cork rated aroma liking, tenderness, juiciness, overall liking and the composite meat quality score (MQ4) similarly, but lower (P < 0.05) than consumers in Reading. Consumers in Belfast and Cork rated flavour liking similarly as did consumers in Cork and Reading, but consumers in Reading rated flavour liking higher (P < 0.05) than consumers in Belfast. Muscle from steers had higher scores for aroma liking, flavour liking, overall liking and MQ4 scores than bulls (P < 0.05). On average, pelvic suspension increased (P < 0.05) the scores for aroma liking and flavour liking compared with conventional suspension but increased (P < 0.05) tenderness, juiciness, overall liking and MQ4 scores only in bulls. Consumers in Reading rated striploin from the traditional Achilles tendon-suspended steers similarly to striploin from pelvic-suspended bulls (MQ4 score of 71.8 and 68.2, respectively). Beef from the latter system could replace the traditional steer beef in this market, thereby benefiting the beef producer and the environment

Targeted gene sanger sequencing should remain the first-tier genetic test for children suspected to have the five common X-linked inborn errors of immunity

DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT : The original contributions presented in the study are included in the article/Supplementary Material. Further inquiries can be directed to the corresponding author.To address inborn errors of immunity (IEI) which were underdiagnosed in resource-limited regions, our centre developed and offered free genetic testing for the most common IEI by Sanger sequencing (SS) since 2001. With the establishment of The Asian Primary Immunodeficiency (APID) Network in 2009, the awareness and definitive diagnosis of IEI were further improved with collaboration among centres caring for IEI patients from East and Southeast Asia. We also started to use whole exome sequencing (WES) for undiagnosed cases and further extended our collaboration with centres from South Asia and Africa. With the increased use of Next Generation Sequencing (NGS), we have shifted our diagnostic practice from SS to WES. However, SS was still one of the key diagnostic tools for IEI for the past two decades. Our centre has performed 2,024 IEI SS genetic tests, with in-house protocol designed specifically for 84 genes, in 1,376 patients with 744 identified to have disease-causing mutations (54.1%). The high diagnostic rate after just one round of targeted gene SS for each of the 5 common IEI (X-linked agammaglobulinemia (XLA) 77.4%, Wiskott–Aldrich syndrome (WAS) 69.2%, X-linked chronic granulomatous disease (XCGD) 59.5%, X-linked severe combined immunodeficiency (XSCID) 51.1%, and X-linked hyper-IgM syndrome (HIGM1) 58.1%) demonstrated targeted gene SS should remain the first-tier genetic test for the 5 common X-linked IEI.The Hong Kong Society for Relief of Disabled Children and Jeffrey Modell Foundation.http://www.frontiersin.org/Immunologyam2023Paediatrics and Child Healt

A Comparative Approach of Japanese Project Management in Construction, Manufacturing and IT Industries

An effective project management approach is key to obtaining successful projects. In this study, a review of the three main industries that practise project management is conducted. This paper focusses on the application of Japanese project management (JPM) methods, namely Project and Program Management (P2M)/Kaikaku Project Management (KPM) in construction, manufacturing and information technology (IT) industries. KPM evolves from P2M, and KPM’s 3K- kakusin (innovation), kaihatsu (development) and kaizen (improvement) are the essences applied when practicing JPM style. In conclusion, the nature of practice in these three industries is different, but the management methods and approaches are almost the same

Hybrid journal bearings with particular reference to hole-entry configurations

There is a spectrum of pressure-fed journal bearings ranging from the purely hydrostatic bearing characteristics, ie zero speed operation, to the purely hydrodynamic bearing characteristics which depend completely on speed. Between these two extremes, hybrid bearing characteristics rely on mixed modes of external pressurisation and speed-dependent pressurisation. Large high speed hydrodynamic bearings require the lubricant to be pumped under pressure for temperature control. It is therefore attractive to use this external source of pressure to enhance the start-up performance by reducing wear and improving stability. Hybrid bearings offer the possibility of improving on both the zero-speed characteristics of hydrostatic bearings and on the whole range of speed characteristics of hydrodynamic bearings. It is concluded that hole-entry bearings may be particularly effective when compared with other bearing configurations for good load support and low energy consumption, when used in any of the four modes of operation including: zero-speed hydrostatic mode; high-speed hydrodynamic mode; zero and high-speed hybrid mode; and jacking mode where areas are pressurised for start-up. A modification to the procedure for solving the Reynolds equation is introduced to cope with cavitated regions. The technique presented for solving the bearing pressures and cavitation boundaries is efficient and has relevance to any type of liquid film bearing

Sago Bark as Renewable Energy

Much research has been done on the determination of the heating value of biomass waste, but currently no research is being done on the heating value of sago bark. In Malaysia, sago bark is an abundant waste product from sago starch extraction. This study presents the moisture content and heating value determination of paddy straw, empty fruit bunch (EFB), sago bark, oil palm kernel shell (OPKS), and wood chips. The moisture content and heating value of the investigated biomass were determined according to the British Standard EN 1477-2:2009 and bomb calorimeter, accordingly. It was observed that paddy straw recorded the highest moisture content at 97.75% wt. This was followed by EFB 95.34% wt., sago bark 96.05% wt., OPKS 95.28% wt. and wood chips 11.61% wt. In the dry state, wood chips had the highest heating value, with a value recorded as approximately 22.41 MJ kg-1, followed by OPKS 21.40 MJ kg-1, sago bark 19.56 MJ kg-1, EFB 17.82 MJ kg-1 and paddy straw 15.33 MJ kg-1. Current experimental trials suggest that the heating value of sago bark makes it suitable for use for co-firing with coal power generatio