Performance of the LiF-TEA Ring Imaging Cherenkov Detector at CLEO

We describe the particle identification capability of the CLEO RICH system. This system consists of a 1 cm thick LiF radiator coupled to a photon detector that uses wire proportional chambers filled with a mixture of CH$_4$ and TEA. We discuss the yield of photoelectrons observed per ring and the angular resolution. We show the efficiencies achieved for particle identification and the associated fake rates from data collected with both CLEO III and CLEO-c detectors. Finally we show examples of the particle separation ability which is excellent for both CLEO III and CLEO-c data.Comment: Invited talk given at the fifth International Workshop on Ring Imaging Cherenkov Counters(RICH), Playa del Carmen, Mexico, 2004. (6 pages, 7 figures). To be published in the Nucl. Inst. and Methods

EXAMINING THE FAITH-BASED US FOREIGN POLICY OF G.W. BUSH IN EXECUTING MIDDLE EASTERN AFFAIRS

The eager towards maintaining all initiatives linked to globalization and international power has permitted nations to interrupt the use of religion in framing its foreign policy agenda. Such use, though some countries consider as a part of the nation’s defense strategy, has characterized the new millennium by a massive disorder threatening international political stability. This geopolitical situation forces researchers to go further in questioning the intercourse between the faith-based foreign policy constructing process and the soft, hard, and smart powers used by nations. The present paper highlights the presence of religion in skeletoning the US foreign policy under the George W. Bush presidency and its effect on the US- Middle Eastern political relationships. With the implication of Bush’s faith, the paper identifies how the president’s foreign policy has been ultimately characterized by an evangelical presidential style and addressed domestically or internationally by extensive use of religious rhetoric

Solidaritas Sosial Anggota Klub Motor Di Kabupaten Majalengka

Solidaritas pada masing-masing individu menjadi suatu ikatan tanggung jawab dalam organisasi. Hasil studi pendahuluan dengan teknik wawancara terhadap anggota Klub Motor (Venom, Matric dan MNC) menunjukkan bahwa tingkat solidaritas anggota klub motor masih kurang, seperti kerjasama internal anggota klub motor belum terjalin dengan baik, kurang pedulinya terhadap anggota klub motor lain dan sesama anggota belum ada komunikasi yang intensif. Oleh karena itu perlu dilakukan penelitian untuk mengetahui “Solidaritas Sosial Anggota Klub Motor di Kabupaten Majalengka”. Tujuan penelitian ini adalah untuk mengetahui motivasi individu menjadi anggota komunitas motor, mengetahui solidaritas sosial internal klub motor, mengetahui solidaritas sosial eksternal klub motor. Pendekatan yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah kualitatif dengan metode studi kasus. Pengumpulan data dilakukan dengan teknik wawancara mendalam yang bertujuan untuk memperoleh informasi secara akurat dari narasumber langsung. Penelitian ini dilakukan pada Klub Motor Venom, Matric, dan MNC di Kabupaten Majalengka. Hasil penelitian menunjukan bahwa motivasi seorang anggota klub motor pada umumnya adalah karena hobi, kesamaan visi dan misi, dan membangun kekeluargaan sesama anggota klub motor dan karena kesamaan merk motor. Solidaritas sosial yang dibangun oleh internal anggota klub motor sudah baik, seperti adanya rasa kepedulian terhadap sesama anggota, saling memberi dan kerelaan berkorban terhadap sesama anggota klub motor. Setiap anggota di klub motor mempunyai kesamaan visi yaitu kekeluargaan dan menyelesaikan konflik dengan cara musyawarah. Sesama anggota mempunyai kepedulian terhadap masalah atau kesulitan, saling memberi bantuan kepada yang membutuhkan. Solidaritas sosial eksternal klub motor dalam bidang kerjasama sudah terjalin dengan baik seperti membantu kepanitiaan acara klub motor lain. Pertentangan antar anggota klub motor masih sering terjadi, namun dapat diselesaikan dengan jalan damai melibatkan pengurus masing-masing klub motor. Klub motor (MNC, MATRIC dan VENOM) tidak pernah melakukan ancaman kepada anggota klub motor lain, ataupun tindak kekerasan dan dalam mencapai tujuan klub motor selalu mengedepankan aspek komunikasi dengan klub motor lain. Solidarity on each individual becomes a bond of responsibility within the organization. Results of a preliminary study by interview to members of Club Motor (Venom, Matric and MNC) showed that the level of solidarity with members of motorcycle club is still lacking, such as internal cooperation motorcycle club members have not been well established, less their concern for other motorcycle club members and fellow member yet intensive communication. Therefore it is necessary to investigate "Social Solidarity Motorcycle Club Members in Majalengka". The purpose of this study was to determine the individual motivation become a member of the motorcycle community, know the internal social solidarity motorcycle club, knowing the external social solidarity motorcycle club. The approach used in this study is a qualitative case study method. Data collected by in-depth interview technique that aims to obtain accurate information from sources directly. This research was conducted at the Motor Club Venom, Matric, and MNC in Majalengka. The results showed that the motivation of a member of the motorcycle club in general is as a hobby, a common vision and mission, and build kinship among members of motorcycle clubs and because of the similarity of motor brands. Social solidarity built by members of the club's internal motor has been good, as their sense of concern for fellow members, giving and selflessness toward other members of motorcycle clubs. Each member in the motorcycle club have a common vision that is familial and resolve conflicts by means of deliberation. Fellow member has a concern for the problems or difficulties, provide assistance to the needy. External social solidarity motorcycle clubs in the areas of cooperation already existed well as helping other committees motorcycle club event. Disagreement among members of motorcycle clubs are still common, but can be resolved by peaceful means involving the management of each motorcycle club. Motor clubs (MNC, matric and VENOM) never made threats to members of another motorcycle club, or violence and to achieve the goal motorcycle club always puts the aspect of communication with other motorcycle clubs

Exploring the Healthcare Experience of Eritrean Refugees Living in Midwestern U.S.

Often coming from refugee camps, Eritrean refugees arrive with pre-existing conditions, and limited understanding of their overall health and when they come to the U.S, they are faced with many barriers that prevent them from having quality health experience. Using semi-structured, one-on-one interviews, this study aimed to arrive at a comprehensive understanding of Eritrean refugees’ healthcare experiences, and how those experiences impact the ways in which they perceive and use the services that are available to them. This research is intended to help providers gain insights into the needs of this group as expressed by healthcare-seekers themselves

Unsupervised gene regulatory network inference on microarray data

Obtaining gene regulatory networks (GRNs) from expression data is a challenging and crucial task. Many computational methods and algorithms have been developed to infer gene networks for gene expression data, which are usually obtained from microarray experiments. A gene network is a method to depict the relation among clusters of genes. To infer gene networks, the unsupervised method is used in this study. The two types of data used are time-series data and steady-state data. The data is analyzed using various tools containing different algorithms and concepts. GRNs from time-series data tools are obtained using the Time-delayed Algorithm for the Reconstruction of Accurate Cellular Networks (TD-ARACNe), the Bayesian Network Inference with Java Objects (BANJO), and causality. For steady-state data tools such as ARACNe, Gene Network Inference with Ensemble of trees (GENIE3), Context Likelihood or Relatedness Network (CLR), and Maximum Relevance Minimum Redundancy (MRNET) are used. The performance of time-series data as well as steady-state data based tool algorithms is compared by calculating their accuracy. The accuracy is calculated by comparing gene interactions between predicted and true networks. From the experimental studies it was found that the TD-ARACNe gives the highest accuracy on time-series gene expression data while for steady-state data, the ARACNe tool gives the highest accuracy. Overall, these analyses suggest that the suitability of the tools depends on the types of gene expression data available

Is the current business model the most valuable approach for Scoop N Dough?

Consumer focus is increasingly becoming a concern for companies nowadays. However, due to the exponential evolution of technology and the recent COVID pandemic we are experiencing, companies are facing more and more barriers to position themselves in the market. The main goal of this project was to plan a strategy, consisting of a set of practices that can ensure, create, maintain or even enhance the relationship that Scoop N Dough has with the customer. The project's structure includes a literature review to determine the main objectives of this study, so that it is then possible to define the methodology to be used. In this sense, 3 methodological approaches were chosen: 1 interview with Scoop N Dough's founders that allowed the project author to understand what the biggest challenge the company is currently facing; 1 focus group with 5 buyers; and a benchmarking of Scoop N Dough's main competitors. The results of the focus group confirmed and refined the implementations thought and outlined by the author. Thus it was structured into three different proposals: invest in the company's organizational culture, organize events to promote sustainable consumption and finally build a customer loyalty program. The suggestions that were presented meet the company's needs at this moment. Finally, the conclusions and the implications that these suggestions in the future will have for the success and management of the company will have.O foco no consumidor é cada vez mais hoje em dia uma das preocupações das empresas. No entanto, devido à evolução exponencial da tecnologia e à recente pandemia COVID que vivenciámos, as empresas enfrentam cada vez mais barreiras para se posicionarem no mercado. O principal objetivo deste projeto incidiu no planeamento de uma estratégia, que comporta por um conjunto de práticas que possam criar, manter ou mesmo elevar a relação que a Scoop N Dough tem com o cliente. A estrutura do projeto passa pela realização da revisão da literatura que possibilitou a determinação dos principais objetivos deste estudo para que depois possa ser possível a definição da metodologia a abordar. Nesse sentido, foram escolhidas 3 abordagens metodológicas: 1 entrevista com os fundadores da Scoop N Dough que possibilitaram o autor do projeto a perceber qual o maior desafio que a empresa está neste momento a enfrentar; 1 grupo focal com 5 compradores; e um benchmarking dos principais concorrentes da Scoop N Dough. Ao resultados do grupo focal confirmaram e refinar as implementações pensadas e delineadas pelo autor. Sendo assim foi estruturado em três propostas diferentes: investir na cultura organizacional da empresa, organizar eventos para divulgar a marca e promover o consumo sustentável e por fim construir um programa de fidelização para os clientes. As sugestões que foram apresentadas, vão de encontro às necessidades da empresa neste momento. Por fim, as conclusões e as implicações que estas sugestões no futuro terão para o sucesso e gestão da empresa terão

Rate alterable traumatic brain injury device for rodent models

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is a physical impact to the head resulting in functional deficits in memory and motor systems. TBI is a prevalent problem occurring in 1.7 million people annually in the United States (Faul et al. 2010). TBIs can differ greatly in terms of the biomechanics of the impact such as magnitude, direction and rate. Indeed, it is likely that the wide range of TBI outcomes may be due to the physical characteristics of the trauma. Studies to date on impact have used injury devices with limited alterable parameters. Therefore, the existing impact studies have considered the effect of magnitude of the primary impact and have not addressed issues such as rate of pressure increase that may be important in understanding the differences in pathology associated with these impacts. In this study a novel modular computer controlled device capable of inducing controlled TBI is designed. To achieve maximum control and sensitivity, a closed loop voice coil control device is utilized, to more accurately and precisely generate the temporal force function delivered by the FPI device. This device enables generation of pressure profiles very similar to the ones generated from conventional FPI devices; in addition, different aspects of the pressure profiles such as the rate can be changed. This unique feature of this device is utilized to study the pathophysiological effects of increasing rates of pressure rise time on the rodent brain. A series of behavioral studies are conducted including neurological severity tests immediately after the injury followed by rotarod, ladder rung walk, metric and spatial information, and Morris water maze tasks between 1 to 15 days post injury. Also, the perforant path-evoked granule cell field excitability is tested. Histological characterization is performed at 4h, 24 h and 15 days post injury. The results show that a faster rate injury results in a reduced acute cell loss and improved immediate neurological outcome, but enhanced granule cell field excitability 1- week post injury. Results from immediate and chronic behavioral analysis after the injury; suggests better functional outcome in the fast injuries compared to slower injuries. However, fast injuries show a greater progressive cell loss and similar deficits in spatial information recognition as the slower rate injuries

Crooked Language: Moroccan Heritage Identity and Belonging on YouTube

With the advent of user-generated social media, people are able to assert their ideas, opinions and positionality through online multi-way communication and participation. One such website is YouTube, a video platform where language production and identity negotiation are common. This thesis looks at a series of videos published on YouTube, entitled the Moroccan Tag to examine the ways five second-generation French-Moroccan YouTubers assert their national identities online. Using methods of guerrilla ethnography, I glean discourse from video content and comments to outline three key scaler processes through which identity performance manifests: through semiotic ideologies surrounding authenticity, language and imagined community. Together, my observations add to continuing conversations on diasporic identity, translanguaging and digital discourse