Characterization of the Structure of Saudi Crude Asphaltenes by X-ray Diffraction

Structural characterization studies have been carried out on four commercial Saudi Arabian crude oils. The aromaticity and crystallite parameters of the asphaltenes were studied by X-ray diffraction methods and compared to the average structural parameters calculated from nuclear magnetic resonance spectra

Hierarchical N-Body problem on graphics processor unit

Galactic simulation is an important cosmological computation, and represents a classical N-body problem suitable for implementation on vector processors. Barnes-Hut algorithm is a hierarchical N-Body method used to simulate such galactic evolution systems. Stream processing architectures expose data locality and concurrency available in multimedia applications. On the other hand, there are numerous compute-intensive scientific or engineering applications that can potentially benefit from such computational and communication models. These applications are traditionally implemented on vector processors. Stream architecture based graphics processor units (GPUs) present a novel computational alternative for efficiently implementing such high-performance applications. Rendering on a stream architecture sustains high performance, while user-programmable modules allow implementing complex algorithms efficiently. GPUs have evolved over the years, from being fixed-function pipelines to user programmable processors. In this thesis, we focus on the implementation of Barnes-Hut algorithm on typical current-generation programmable GPUs. We exploit computation and communication requirements present in Barnes-Hut algorithm to expose their suitability for user-programmable GPUs. Our implementation of the Barnes-Hut algorithm is formulated as a fragment shader targeting the selected GPU. We discuss implementation details, design issues, results, and challenges encountered in programming the fragment shader

CRITICAL ROLE OF CX40 CARBOXYLIC TAIL IN REDUCED ELECTRICAL COUPLING BETWEEN MICROVASCULAR ENDOTHELIAL CELLS IN SEPSIS

Electrical coupling between endothelial cells of the inner surface of arterioles is required for the arteriolar conducted response that coordinates microvascular function along the vascular tree. Gap junction proteins, connexins (Cx), form inter-endothelial channels, which facilitate exchangeofmetabolitesandelectricalsignalsbetweencells. Ourlabhasreportedthat,among the connexins found in endothelial cells, Cx40 is the target protein responsible for lipopolysaccharide (LPS) - and hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R)-induced reduction in electrical coupling between mouse microvascular endothelial cells (MMEC) was assessed. LPS is an initiating factor in sepsis and its effect could be aggravated by H/R present in septic tissue. Using electrophysiology the role of the Cx40 cytoplasmic carboxylic tail in LPS-, H/R-, and LPS+H/R- induced reduction in coupling between MMEC was assessed. LPS, H/R or LPS+H/R reduced coupling in WT cells and in Cx40 knock-out (KO) cells infected with adenovirus carrying Cx40 cDNA (AdV-Cx40). Reduction in coupling was larger after LPS+H/R than after LPS or H/R alone. No change in coupling was seen in Cx40KO cells and in Cx40KO cells infected with AdV-Cx40A237-358 (Cx40 without its cytoplasmic carboxylic tail) or with AdV-Cx4(\u3eA345-358 (Cx40 withoutitstailtip). ItisconcludedthattheCx40tailtipiscrucialinCx40functionduring inflammatory conditions, including compromised arteriolar conducted response during sepsis

Plagiarism penalties

Research in all areas of sciences and humanities has led to the creation of a highly competitive environment which necessitates reporting of ideas, and discoveries at rapid pace. The emergence of new technologies of communication has significantly enhanced the capabilities of individuals to record and transcribe data at high speed. Even though, one can accumulate information in a fraction of time, but quite often the creative skills and ability to write one‘s own original thoughts do not match the required level of output. Writing ideas in one’s own words is not always easy and at times it becomes quite challenging particularly for those with limited command over the language. These situations often tempt a writer to look around easily available resources

Financial viability of small farm forestry based on no-cost sharing arrangement in Sal (Shorea robusta) forest of Bangladesh

The Sal (Shorea robusta) forests provide a substantial part of the forest cover of the country and contribute to the economy by providing timber, firewood, fodder, non wood forest products and by protecting the environment. Due to over exploitation the forest is being degraded. The Forest Department of Bangladesh had initiated a program through the participation of the present encroachers to stop this overexploitation. The centerpiece of this attempt was a no-cost sharing arrangement. A number of 63 settlers who were landless and encroachers before joining the program were settled in the forest. The settlers were provided 1.21 ha/299.51 acres degraded forestland with full input support. The current study examined the financial viability of the farms, including homesteads, based on this arrangement. The BCA approach was employed to determine the net incremental benefit. It was found that a no-cost sharing arrangement option was financially feasible. Sensitivity analysis showed that the NPV is sensitive to the cost items of the program. The NPV, IRR and BCR, BIR and AI of the program showed the feasibility of the program. The discount rate used in the analysis was the real discount rate (5.67%). The sensitivity of NPV to the discount rate was also examined and found the program was more feasible at a 10% nominal discount rate. The sensitivity analysis also showed that a decrease or an increase in cost and benefit respectively could substantially change feasibility indicators. The no-cost sharing arrangement could be replicated to manage forest resources at the initial level to create a multiplier effect for sustainable use of resources. Integration of technologies such as bee keeping or Seri-culture to the program could increase the scope of labor utilization and output of the degraded land.small-scale forestry, Sal forest, Dhaka, no-cost sharing arrangement

Challenges for Dementia Care and Research in Pakistan

Dementia is a syndrome characterized by a decline in cognition and memory severe enough to interfere with daily life activities and is one of the major causes of disability and dependency in elderly worldwide with Alzheimer’s disease being the most common cause of dementia (1). 703 million individuals (9% of the world’s population) are more than 65 years of age and this number will double by the end of 2050 reaching 1.5 billion (16% of the world’s population) (2). Ageing has been the fastest in Eastern and South Eastern countries (3). Despite being a global health priority, with significant social and economic consequences, not much progress has been made regarding the diagnosis and management of patients with dementia especially in low and middle income countries (LMICs) like Pakistan (WHO, 2020) (4). Pakistan is a developing, heavily populated Southeast Asian country with an estimated population of 207 million, out of which 12.5 million (7% population) is above 60 years and this number is expected to reach 40 million by 2050 (5). Despite having a high ratio of elderly population, limited resources are available for their health care (6). Dementia care needs to be addressed at all levels given the rapid increase in elderly population (7). In Pakistan there are barriers to care of patients with dementia (PwD), including but not limited to lack of awareness, research, and education

Focusing on Writing to Learn Approach to increase engagement and performance in Digital Design Lab

In an effort to help students in the discipline build on their writing skills throughout the undergraduate curriculum, Georgia Southern University initiated a quality enhancement plan (QEP) with a focus on writing across the Electrical Engineering curriculum. As part of this plan, the Digital Design Lab course, offered at the sophomore level in the curriculum, implemented several strategies to help students build on their previous writing skills, and in the process improved their technical vocabulary, the ability to communicate using it, increased students’ engagement, collaboration, and performance in the course. In this work, the effect of deliberately engaging students in their writing skills as a process to learn the content material and communicate it effectively is presented. Several strategies were used like faculty instruction, using rubrics as a guide for assessment, peer reviewing and engaging a student writing fellow to assist students in this process. The effectiveness of these strategies was verified using multiple statistical assessment methods and the students’ performance before and after the intervention was compared with emphasis on the writing-to-learn process. Qualitative data is also presented to assess the benefit of the intervention for students learning the course content