The Pittsburgh Sloan Digital Sky Survey MgII Quasar Absorption-Line Survey Catalog

We present a catalog of intervening MgII quasar absorption-line systems in the redshift interval 0.36 <= z <= 2.28. The catalog was built from Sloan Digital Sky Survey Data Release Four (SDSS DR4) quasar spectra. Currently, the catalog contains > 17,000 measured MgII doublets. We also present data on the ~44,600 quasar spectra which were searched to construct the catalog, including redshift and magnitude information, continuum-normalized spectra, and corresponding arrays of redshift-dependent minimum rest equivalent widths detectable at our confidence threshold. The catalog is available on the web. A careful second search of 500 random spectra indicated that, for every 100 spectra searched, approximately one significant MgII system was accidentally rejected. Current plans to expand the catalog beyond DR4 quasars are discussed. Many MgII absorbers are known to be associated with galaxies. Therefore, the combination of large size and well understood statistics makes this catalog ideal for precision studies of the low-ionization and neutral gas regions associated with galaxies at low to moderate redshift. An analysis of the statistics of MgII absorbers using this catalog will be presented in a subsequent paper.Comment: AJ, in pres

Carbon monoxide adsorption on platinum-osmium and platinum-ruthenium-osmium mixed nanoparticles

Density functional calculations (DFT) on carbon monoxide (CO) adsorbed on platinum, platinum-osmium, and platinum-ruthenium-osmium nanoclusters are used to elucidate changes on the adsorbate internal bond and the carbon-metal bond, as platinum is alloyed with osmium and ruthenium atoms. The relative strengths of the adsorbate internal bond and the carbon-metal bond upon alloying, which are related to the DFT calculated C–O and C–Pt stretching frequencies, respectively, cannot be explained by the traditional 5σ-donation/2π*-back-donation theoretical model. Using a modified π-attraction σ-repulsion mechanism, we ascribe the strength of the CO adsorbate internal bond to changes in the polarization of the adsorbate-substrate hybrid orbitals towards carbon. The strength of the carbon-metal bond is quantitatively related to the CO contribution to the adsorbate-substrate hybrid orbitals and the sp and d populations of adsorbing platinum atom. This work complements prior work on corresponding slabs using periodic DFT. Similarities and differences between cluster and periodic DFT calculations are discussed

Synthesis of molybdenum oxide nanoparticles by nanosecond laser ablation

Phothermal therapy (PTT) is one of the most promising techniques to treat cancer. Finding the ideal PTT agent nanomaterial has remained a challenge and has brought the interest of several researchers. In this work, we report the synthesis of molybdenum oxide (MoOx) nanoparticles (NPs), which exhibit absorption in the biological optical window ~840 nm, by using the laser ablation of solids in liquids (LASL) technique with nanosecond (ns) pulses. A Nd:YAG laser was used to synthesize the NPs in deionized (DI) water, free of surfactants or additives, which were optically characterized by absorption spectroscopy and TEM-EDX microscopy. Semi spherical NPs with a suitable average size and shape for potential use as PTT agents were obtained by laser ablation and ablation + fragmentation. The calculated band gap is 3.1 eV, which corresponds to MoO3. Micro-Raman spectroscopy studies determined that these NPs are composed of amorphous molybdenum oxide hydrates (MoO3 · xH2O)

Absence of peripheral blood mononuclear cells priming in hemodialysis patients

As a consequence of the proinflammatory environment occurring in dialytic patients, cytokine overproduction has been implicated in hemodialysis co-morbidity. However, there are discrepancies among the various studies that have analyzed TNF-alpha synthesis and the presence of peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) priming in this clinical setting. We measured bioactive cytokine by the L929 cell bioassay, and evaluated PBMC TNF-alpha production by 32 hemodialysis patients (HP) and 51 controls. No difference in TNF-alpha secretion was observed between controls and HP (859 ± 141 vs 697 ± 130 U/10(6) cells). Lipopolysaccharide (5 µg/ml) did not induce any further TNF-alpha release, showing no PBMC priming. Paraformaldehyde-fixed HP PBMC were not cytotoxic to L929 cells, suggesting the absence of membrane-anchored TNF-alpha. Cycloheximide inhibited PBMC cytotoxicity in HP and controls, indicating lack of a PBMC TNF-alpha pool, and dependence on de novo cytokine synthesis. Actinomycin D reduced TNF-alpha production in HP, but had no effect on controls. Therefore, our data imply that TNF-alpha production is an intrinsic activity of normal PBMC and is not altered in HP. Moreover, TNF-alpha is a product of de novo synthesis by PBMC and is not constitutively expressed on HP cell membranes. The effect of actinomycin D suggests a putative tighter control of TNF-alpha mRNA turnover in HP. This increased dependence on TNF-alpha RNA transcription in HP may reflect an adaptive response to hemodialysis stimuli.Universidade de São Paulo Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Departamento de ImunologiaInstituto Butantan Laboratório de ImunogenéticaUniversidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Escola Paulista de Medicina Departamento de MedicinaUNIFESP, EPM, Depto. de MedicinaSciEL

Color space distortions in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Color vision impairment was examined in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2) without retinopathy. We assessed the type and degree of distortions of individual color spaces. DM2 patients (n = 32), and age-matched controls (n = 20)were tested using the Farnsworth D-15 and the Lanthony D-15d tests. In addition, subsets of caps from both tests were employed in a triadic procedure (Bimler & Kirkland, 2004). Matrices of inter-cap subjective dissimilarities were estimated from each subject’s “odd-one-out” choices, and processed using non-metric multidimensional scaling. Two-dimensional color spaces, individual and group (DM2 patients; controls), were reconstructed, with the axes interpreted as the R0G and B0Y perceptual opponent systems. Compared to controls, patient results were not significant for the D-15 and D-15d. In contrast, in the triadic procedure the residual distances were significantly different compared to controls: right eye, P 0.021, and left eye, P 0.022. Color space configurations for the DM2 patients were compressed along the B0Y and R0G dimensions. The present findings agree with earlier studies demonstrating diffuse losses in early stages of DM2. The proposed method of testing uses color spaces to represent discrimination and provides more differentiated quantitative diagnosis, which may be interpreted as the perceptual color system affected. In addition, it enables the detection of very mild color vision impairment that is not captured by the D-15d test. Along with fundoscopy, individual color spaces may serve for monitoring early functional changes and thereby to support a treatment strategy

Поняття громадського контролю за діяльністю суддів і система суб’єктів його здійснення

The author of the article substantiates the modern tendency of the formation, development and spread of an increasing number of levers and protectors from state’s abuse of power, change of the state’s essence and its purpose in the society. The public and various elements of its control and supervisory activity play a significant role in this. Theoretical aspects of the issue of public control in general or in the context of a certain sphere of state power functioning, in particular are studied. Considering this, the author offers own definition of the category of public control over judges (courts) in Ukraine. The system and the legal status of various public control subjects are briefly characterized, their classification is performed and the place of control over judges among other subjects is determined. It has been established that public control over judges (courts) in Ukraine is the system of statutory measures and procedures implemented by civil society subjects in relation to judges, candidates for judges positions, members of judicial administration and self-government agencies (candidates for these positions), courts as institutions in order to to ensure the conditions for the selection of professional and honest judges, the effective, impartial administration of justice and the objective informing the public about the current state of affairs in the judicial sphere. Summarizing the analysis of the system of public control subjects, their administrative powers and capabilities, the author has noted that their absolute majority, except the Public Integrity Council, is not endowed with real (or at least close to such) levers of influence on the processes in the judicial sector. Accordingly, the purpose of their functioning is reduced to a greater extent to the accumulation, analysis and dissemination of socially important information about courts and judges, to the formation of public resonance on the facts of their not fair practice, other cases of law or professional ethics’ violation.Обоснована современная тенденция становления, развития и распространения всё большего количества рычагов и предохранителей от злоупотребления государством властными полномочиями, изменение сущности государства и его назначения в обществе, значительную роль в чём играют общественность и различные элементы её контрольно-надзорной деятельности. Изучены теоретические аспекты вопроса общественного контроля вообще или в разрезе отдельной сферы функционирования государственной власти в частности, с учётом чего предложено авторское определение категории общественного контроля за судьями (судами) в Украине. Кратко охарактеризованы система и правовой статус различных субъектов общественного контроля, разработана их классификация, определено место среди других субъектов контроля за судьями.Обґрунтовано сучасну тенденцію становлення, розвитку та поширення дедалі більшої кількості важелів і запобіжників від зловживання державою владними повноваженнями, зміни сутності держави та її призначення в суспільстві, значну роль у чому відіграють громадськість та різні елементи її контрольно-наглядової діяльності. Вивчено теоретичні аспекти питання громадського контролю взагалі та в стосовно окремої сфери функціонування державної влади зокрема, з урахуванням чого запропоновано авторське визначення категорії громадського контролю за суддями (судами) в Україні. Стисло охарактеризовано систему та правовий статус різноманітних суб’єктів громадського контролю, розроблено їх класифікацію, визначено їх місце серед інших суб’єктів контролю за суддями

Analisa Perbandingan Quality Of Service (QoS) pada Jaringan Backbone Non-MPLS dengan Jaringan Backbone MPLS Menggunakan Routing Protocol OSPF di PT. Telekomunikasi Indonesia, Tbk. Witel Ridar Riau

The development of telecommunications technology based on Internet Protocol (IP) is now growing with the competitiveness of the telecommunications company to improve the quality of service to consumers. It can be obtained by increasing the quality backbone network using Multi Protocol Label Switching (MPLS). MPLS is a new technology to forward the packet to the backbone network without changing the existing network structure. The main idea is to construct a replacement MPLS paths using label switching and distribute traffic into it. This paper compare the Qualty of Service (QoS) on Non-MPLS backbone network to MPLS backbone network with OSPF routing protocol on the PT. Telecommunication Indonesia, Tbk. Witel Ridar Riau. The Software simulation using Graphical Network Simulator (GNS3) is analyze by observing QoS are delay, packet loss, throughput, and jitter with Wireshark. In this research, there are two scenarios that will be analyzed. The first scenarios analyze the customer site make deliveries to one another customer site and the second scenarios analyze two customer sites make deliveries to the customer site simultaneously. The results show that the highest delay in the first scenario is better MPLS backbone network at 0.029999 s and 0.0124 s in the second scenario than Non-MPLS backbone network. It Followed by the highest value of packet loss on the network backbone MPLS and non-MPLS are equal 0% and in the second scenario, MPLS is better 0% than non-MPLS. The Throughput has same trend with the highest value in the first scenario MPLS backbone network is better 0.0085 Mbps and 0011 Mbps in the second scenario than Non-MPLS backbone network. Meanwhile the highest jitter values in the first scenario MPLS backbone network is better too at 0.3595995 s and 1.544403 s on the second scenario than the non-MPLS