Cross-connections of the singular transformation semigroup

Cross-connection is a construction of regular semigroups using certain categories called normal categories which are abstractions of the partially ordered sets of principal left (right) ideals of a semigroup. We describe the cross-connections in the semigroup $Sing(X)$ of all non-invertible transformations on a set $X$. The categories involved are characterized as the powerset category $\mathscr{P}(X)$ and the category of partitions $\Pi(X)$. We describe these categories and show how a permutation on $X$ gives rise to a cross-connection. Further we prove that every cross-connection between them is induced by a permutation and construct the regular semigroups that arise from the cross-connections. We show that each of the cross-connection semigroups arising this way is isomorphic to $Sing(X)$. We also describe the right reductive subsemigroups of $Sing(X)$ with the category of principal left ideals isomorphic to $\mathscr{P}(X)$. This study sheds light into the more general theory of cross-connections and also provides an alternate way of studying the structure of $Sing(X)$

Analysis of the Self-heating Effect on Unfilled Poly(Methyl Methacrylate) Due to Cyclic Behavior

Poly(methyl methacrylate, (PMMA) has been implemented as part of the supporting structure in complete hip and knee replacements since the 1950s. Known as bone cement while in the body, PMMA is known to undergo compressive and tensile stresses that wear down the bio-compatible barrier and cause pieces to come loose inside the human body. These pieces are then attacked by the body’s own nervous system, leading to inflammation, and eventually necessitating replacement. It has been documented that under cyclic loading PMMA can reach temperatures that start to degrade its tensile capabilities. In this study the potential cause of self-heating was examined via ASTM D638 type I dog bone samples. These specimens underwent cyclic tension-tension tests run on an Instron 8801 tensile tester at varying frequencies for a total of 10,000 cycles each. Digital image correlation (DIC) was implemented to analyze displacement of the gage section as well as to calculate strain. At the same time thermography images were taken and then compared with DIC to ascertain whether localized strain would be an indicator for any localized thermal activity. The same was done for a second set of tests where a stress concentration, in the form of a 2.78 mm hole was introduced into the center of the dog bone sample. The introduction of the hole in the specimen highlighted the role that stress concentrators have in self heating. While there was little correlation for the non-holed specimens between concentrated areas of strain and localized thermal activity, the holed specimens correlated extremely well between where the strain had localized around the hole and the self-heating had similarly localized

Effect of sources and periods of organo-priming on the germination of Vitex doniana sweet seeds

There is paucity of quantified information on the simple, safe and natural methods of breaking the dormancy of Vitex doniana seeds. In this light, investigation was conducted on organo-priming which is the use of organic materials in priming in order to break the dormancy of V. doniana seeds, at the screen house of Federal College of Forestry Mechanization, Afaka, Kaduna State, Nigeria during 2018 dry season. The solutions of the leaves of nitrogen fixing trees are sources of organic materials used in organo-priming. Effect of sources (Prosopis africana, Jacaranda mimosifolia, Pentaclethra micropylla, Vitex doniana, Enterelobium cyclocarpum, Casuarina equisetifolia) and periods (0, 6, 12, 18 and 24 hrs) of organo-priming on the germination of V. doniana seeds was laid down in split-plot experimental design with five replicates. A significant germination percentage value of 64 % was recorded in seed organo-primed in J. mimosifolia and P. microphylla. The least mean germination time of 3.2 days was recorded in seeds soaked in E. cyclocarpum. A significant germination percentage value of 100% was recorded in seeds organo-primed in J. mimosifolia for 18 hours. Organo-priming significantly (P<0.05) enhanced the germination of V. doniana seeds. The research therefore recommends organo-priming of V. doniana seeds in solution of leaf litter of J. mimosifolia for 18 hours.Keywords: Soaked, Primed, Dormancy, Natural, Germinatio

Text Mining Agent Using Hybrid Neural Networks

With the development of internet services and Electronic Mail communication, number of  spam, advertise, or unwanted E-mails have been grown dramatically, tens of such annoying and time consuming E-mails arrives mail boxes every day and this issue becomes more critical with the availability of the internet services for children these days. The system proposed in this paper tries to solve this problem using intelligent software agent that checks each incoming and outgoing messages and blocks unwanted messages or replace the undesired words. The proposed system also offers creating dynamic number of agents according the users desire by creating dynamic number of rules that satisfies user’s requirements and objectives. keywords: Agent, Text mining, Intelligent Agent, Electronic Mai

Genetic variation of TLR4 influences immunoendocrine stress response: an observational study in cardiac surgical patients

Introduction: Systemic inflammation (e.g. following surgery) involves Toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling and leads to an endocrine stress response. This study aims to investigate a possible influence of TLR2 and TLR4 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) on perioperative adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and cortisol regulation in serum of cardiac surgical patients. To investigate the link to systemic inflammation in this context, we additionally measured 10 different cytokines in the serum. Methods: 338 patients admitted for elective cardiac surgery were included in this prospective observational clinical cohort study. Genomic DNA of patients was screened for TLR2 and TLR4 SNPs. Serum concentrations of ACTH, cortisol, interferon (IFN)-, interleukin (IL)-1, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)- and granulocyte macro-phage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) were determined before surgery, immediately post surgery and on the first postoperative day. Results: 13 patients were identified as TLR2 SNP carrier, 51 as TLR4 SNP carrier and 274 pa-tients as non-carrier. Basal levels of ACTH, cortisol and cytokines did not differ between groups. In all three groups a significant, transient perioperative rise of cortisol could be ob-served. However, only in the non-carrier group this was accompanied by a significant ACTH rise, TLR4 SNP carriers had significant lower ACTH levels compared to non-carriers ((mean[95% confidence intervals]) non-carriers: 201.9[187.7 to 216.1]pg/ml; TLR4 SNP car-riers: 149.9[118.4 to 181.5]pg/ml; TLR2 SNP carriers: 176.4[110.5 to 242.3]pg/ml). Compared to non-carriers, TLR4 SNP carriers showed significant lower serum IL-8, IL-10 and GM-CSF peaks ((mean[95% confidence intervals]): IL-8: non-carriers: 42.6[36.7 to 48.5]pg/ml, TLR4 SNP carriers: 23.7[10.7 to 36.8]pg/ml; IL-10: non-carriers: 83.8[70.3 to 97.4]pg/ml, TLR4 SNP carriers: 54.2[24.1 to 84.2]pg/ml; GM-CSF: non-carriers: 33.0[27.8 to 38.3]pg/ml, TLR4 SNP carriers: 20.2[8.6 to 31.8]pg/ml). No significant changes over time or between the groups were found for the other cytokines. Conclusions: Regulation of the immunoendocrine stress response during systemic inflamma-tion is influenced by the presence of a TLR4 SNP. Cardiac surgical patients carrying this ge-notype showed decreased serum concentrations of ACTH, IL-8, IL-10 and GM-CSF. This finding might have impact on interpreting previous and designing future trials on diagnosing and modulating immunoendocrine dysregulation (e.g. adrenal insufficiency) during systemic inflammation and sepsis

Current optical technologies for wireless access

The objective of this paper is to describe recent activities and investigations on free-space optics (FSO) or optical wireless and the excellent results achieved within SatNEx an EU-framework 6th programme and IC 0802 a COST action. In a first part, the FSO technology is briefly discussed. In a second part, we mention some performance evaluation criterions for the FSO. In third part, we briefly discuss some optical signal propagation experiments through the atmosphere by mentioning network architectures for FSO and then discuss the recent investigations in airborne and satellite application experiments for FSO. In part four, we mention some recent investigation results on modelling the FSO channel under fog conditions and atmospheric turbulence. Additionally, some recent major performance improvement results obtained by employing hybrid systems and using some specific modulation and coding schemes are presented

Adoption of Good Agronomic Practices (GAP) Among Smallholder Rice Farmers in Nigeria Agricultural Transformation Agenda

This study assessed the adoption rate and identified factors influencing adoption of rice technologies among participants of Agricultural Transformation Agenda across the targeted implementation zones of Adani-Omor, Bida-Badeggi, Kano-Jigawa and Kebbi-Sokoto. Multi-stage sampling procedure was used in selecting eighty respondents for the study. The data were collected with the aid of structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and Tobit regression model were employed in the analysis of data. The study revealed that majority of farmers participating in Agricultural Transformation Agenda Project (ATASP-1) are youths and still in their active age as indicated by the average age of 42 years. About 62% have secondary and tertiary education. On the gender distribution of the people engaged in ATASP-1 project, it was revealed that about 92% were male while only 8% were female. Substantial numbers of technologies were disseminated on rice being promoted under ATASP-1 project and the adoption rate of these technologies was very high. More than three-quarter of the respondents have adopted technologies introduced to them. Adoption of rice technologies among participating farmers is largely depends on socioeconomic characteristics of farmers such as age, education and gender of the respondents. The study recommends that there should be continuous training of farmers on the importance of these technologies as well as techniques behind their utilization to ensure continuous usage of the adopted technologies. Women should be encouraged to participate more in the project and to take up farming as a business. Also, adequate attention should be given to farmers socioeconomic characteristics as these are the determinants of technology adoption. Keywords: Adoption, GAP, Rice Farmers, Agricultural Transformation Agenda DOI: 10.7176/JESD/10-15-02 Publication date: August 31st 201