A Fire Stronger than God: Myth-making and the Novella Form in Denis Johnson\u27s Train Dreams

Using concepts of cognitive evolutionary theory, the author explores how narrative storytelling manifests itself in Denis Johnson\u27s novella Train Dreams. The novella form is also discussed, focusing on its manipulation of linear time, its naturalization of supernatural elements, and its deconstruction of dichotomous relationships. Utilizing the novella\u27s distinct structural and thematic elements, Johnson\u27s text shows the myth of American expansionism and industrial progress and that of Kootenai holism in collision, resulting in a narrative renegotiation that seeks to affirm coexistence and complexity

THERMOCHEMICAL PARAMETERS OF ERGOTHIONEINE: A DFT STUDY USING M06, WB97XD AND TPSSTPSS METHODS

Antioxidant properties of ergothioneine (ESH) have been investigated via hydrogen atomtransfer (HAT), single electron transfer-proton transfer (SET-PT) and sequential proton losselectron transfer (SPLET) mechanisms. Three new DFT methods including M06, WB97XD andTPSSTPSS at the 6-311++G(2df,2p) basis set were used to compute the thermochemicalparameters of ESH in the gas phase. Based on these methods, bond dissociation enthalpy (BDE),ionization energy (IE), proton dissociation enthalpy (PDE), proton affinity (PA) and electrontransfer enthalpy (ETE) were calculated. The results were also compared with the valuesobtained by B3LYP method. The calculated results show that ergothioneine plays a role as apotential antioxidant via HAT mechanism

Nonlinear Modeling and Dynamic Simulation Using Bifurcation and Stability Analyses of Regenerative Chatter of Ball-End Milling Process

A dynamic model for a ball-end milling process that includes the consideration of cutting force nonlinearities and regenerative chatter effects is presented. The nonlinear cutting force is approximated using a Fourier series and then expanded into a Taylor series up to the third order. A series of nonlinear analyses was performed to investigate the nonlinear dynamic behavior of a ball-end milling system, and the differences between the nonlinear analysis approach and its linear counterpart were examined. A bifurcation analysis of points near the critical equilibrium points was performed using the method of multiple scales (MMS) and the method of harmonic balance (MHB) to analyse the local chatter behaviors of the system. The bifurcation analysis was conducted at two subcritical Hopf bifurcation points. It was also found that a ball-end milling system with nonlinear cutting forces near its critical equilibrium points is conditionally stable. The analysis and simulation results were compared with experimental data reported in the literature, and the physical significance of the results is discussed

Первое сообщение об Auerbachia chakravartyi (Myxosporea: Bilvavulida) из желчного пузыря Megalaspis cordyla во Вьетнаме

В 2017 г. в Тонкинском заливе было исследовано 20 экз. Megalaspis cordyla. Морфологическими и молекулярно-биологическими методами было установлено наличие в желчном пузыре 7 из 20 рыб (35 %) спор Auerbachia chakravartyi Narasimhamurti, Kalavati, Anuradha, Padma, 1990. Это первая находка представителей рода Auerbachia в морских рыбах Вьетнама

Model predictive direct power control of three-level T-type inverter-fed doubly-fed induction generator for wind energy system

The paper proposes a simplified direct power control strategy of a doubly-fed induction generator fed by a three-level T-type inverter based on finite control set model predictive control. A mathematical model based on grid voltage orientation was employed to determine the predictive values of the stator flux, rotor current, and capacitor voltages for all feasible rotor-side inverter output voltages. The active and reactive powers were calculated by using the grid voltage and the rotor current. A cost function was applied to track the active and reactive powers, maintain the balance of capacitor voltages, and reduce the common-mode voltage. The best switching control input was chosen by minimizing the cost function and implemented to the inverter. Different operating conditions of wind turbine systems were studied with Matlab/Simulink environment. The simulation results validate the improved performance of the proposed method compared with the classical control in terms of transient response and steady-state conditions

Bacillus cereus: Epidemiology, Virulence Factors, and Host-Pathogen Interactions

Bacillus cereus is an important human pathogen, and new findings have expanded our understanding of how this bacterium causes disease. B. cereus Hemolysin BL (HBL) and nonhemolytic enterotoxin (NHE) induce membrane pore formation, leading to activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome, systemic inflammation, and death. Lipopolysaccharide-induced tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α factor (LITAF) and cell death-inducing P53 target 1 (CDIP1) are bona fide mammalian surface receptors of HBL. These newly identified toxin receptors and the NLRP3 inflammasome represent unique targets for potential future therapies against severe B. cereus infections. The toxin-producing bacterium Bacillus cereus is an important and neglected human pathogen and a common cause of food poisoning. Several toxins have been implicated in disease, including the pore-forming toxins hemolysin BL (HBL) and nonhemolytic enterotoxin (NHE). Recent work revealed that HBL binds to the mammalian surface receptors LITAF and CDIP1 and that both HBL and NHE induce potassium efflux and activate the NLRP3 inflammasome, leading to pyroptosis. These mammalian receptors, in part, contribute to inflammation and pathology. Other putative virulence factors of B. cereus include cytotoxin K, cereulide, metalloproteases, sphingomyelinase, and phospholipases. In this review, we highlight the latest progress in our understanding of B. cereus biology, epidemiology, and pathogenesis, and discuss potential new directions for research in this field.S.M.M. is supported by the Australian National University and the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia under Project Grants (APP1141504, APP1146864, APP1162103 and APP1163358) and the R.D. Wright Career Development Fellowship (APP1162025). D.E.T. and S.M.M. are supported by Therapeutic Innovation Australia. D.E.T and A.M. are supported by The Gretel and Gordon Bootes Medical Research Foundation. A.M. is supported by a John Curtin School of Medical Research International PhD scholarshi

EFFECTS OF SUBSTITUENTS ON CH BOND DISSOCIATION ENTHALPIES OF ENT-KAURANE DITERPENOIDS: A DFT STUDY

C-H bond dissociation enthalpies (BDEs) of seven ent-kaurane diterpenoids extracted from Croton tonkinensis Gagnep. have been investigated by using density functional theory (DFT) method. The calculations were performed at the M05-2X/6-31+G(d) level of theory. Additionally, insight into the effects of different substituents including –NH2, –OH, –NO2, –SH, –CN, –Cl, –CONH2, –CH-(CH3)2, –NHCOCH3, –OCOCH3 and –C2H5 on BDE have also been provided. The results showed that the BDE value of ent-16(S)-18-acetoxy-7b-hydroxykaur-15-one compound is lowest, being 83.5 kcal/mol. Among substituents binding at C16 position of this molecule, –NH2 has the most remarkable influence on the BDE (C-H) value. Indeed, the BDE of C16-H significantly decreases from 83.5 to 68.4 kcal/mol when replacing –CH3 group by –NH2 one at the C16 position. The obtained results may provide more information for organic synthesis of ent-kaurane based – novel antioxidant compounds

Community perceptions of social, economic and environmental impacts of flooding in central districts of Hanoi, Vietnam

The impacts of flooding on road infrastructure in Hanoi are highly disruptive, despite recent progress by the Vietnamese authorities in improving the city’s drainage systems. The GCRF–OSIRIS Project aims to optimise investment strategies to minimise the impacts of flood disasters, making disaster risk reduction more effective, by introducing operational research methods. In support of this objective, the project carried out an impact assessment in four of the city’s central districts. The assessment considered locally perceived social, economic and environmental impacts on residents, local entrepreneurs, and on visiting street vendors and transport service providers. Impacts of flooding were found to be highly gender-differentiated. When roads are flooded, women—both resident and visiting—face greater conflicts between the need to maintain their incomes and the responsibilities of caring for vulnerable family members, resulting in increased stress and increasing risks to their health. The assessment suggests that such disproportionate impacts on women could be mitigated through public education and pre-emptive planning measures

EFFECT OF POLYCAPROLACTONE ON CHARACTERISTICS AND MORPHOLOGY OF ALGINATE/CHITOSAN/LOVASTATINE COMPOSITE FILMS

In this work, alginate (AG)/chitosan (CS)/lovastatine (LS) AG/CS/PCL/LS composite films using polycaprolactone (PCL)  are prepared by solution method with the ratio of AG/CS and LS content fixed at 4/1 and 10 wt.% (in comparison with the total weight of CS and AG), respectively.  The PCL content is used at 3, 5 and 10 wt.% (in compared with total weight of AG, CS and LS). The role of PCL as a compatibilizer in AG)/CS)/LS composites is considered by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Differential Scanning Calorimetric (DSC) methods. Based on the change in FTIR spectra, morphology and thermal parameters of AG/CS/PCL/LS composites, it can be seen that PCL has effectiveness of compatibility for AG, CS, and LS as well as plasticity for the composites. Besides, the influence of PCL content on the swelling degree of the composites is also investigated.