A finite element formulation of the Boltzmann transport equation

Imperial Users onl

Combating Corruption in the Asia-Pacific Countries: What do We Know and What

Corruption is a serious problem in the Asia-Pacific, judging from the rankings and scores of the 32 Asia-Pacific countries included in the Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index of 2008. The governments in these countries have initiated various anti-corruption measures since the 1950s but, with few exceptions, have not been effective in curbing corruption. In 1968, the Swedish economist, Gunnar Myrdal, had attributed the lack of research on corruption in South Asian countries to the existing research taboo on corruption.Fortunately, this research taboo on corruption in the Asia-Pacific countries no longer exists and this is manifested in the tremendous increase in the number of country studies on corruption since the 1990s. Indeed, in contrast to the dearth of research on corruption in the 1960s, research on corruption in these countries has mushroomed into a growth industry during the past two decades.Given the vast literature on corruption in the Asia-Pacific countries, the purpose of this paper is twofold. First, it reviews the literature to identify the major strategies adopted by the Asia-Pacific countries to combat corruption. Second, the paper provides an evaluation of these anti-corruption strategies to identify their strengths and weaknesses and to enhance their effectiveness by suggesting how their weaknesses can be rectified

Pengiraan Persentil Taburan Panjang Larian bagi Carta Kawalan Purata Bergerak Berpemberat Eksponen Multivariat

Prabhu dan Runger (1997) telah mengemukakan cadangan dalam pemilihan parameter-parameter untuk skema carta kawalan purata bergerak berpemberat eksponen multivariat (MEWMA). Walau bagaimanapun, cadangan tersebut hanya berdasarkan prestasi panjang larian purata (average run length - ARL). Oleh itu, dalam makalah ini, kami akan mengira nilai-nilai persentil untuk taburan panjang larian bagi pelbagai skema carta kawalan MEWMA yang dikemukakan oleh Prabhu dan Runger (1997). Persentil-persentil yang dikira akan membekalkan maklumat tambahan seperti kekerapan isyarat luar kawalan palsu yang awal (early false out of control signals), panjang larian median (median run length - MRL) dan kepencongan taburan panjang larian untuk sesuatu skema tertentu. Maklumat-maklumat tambahan ini mungkin berguna dalam membekalkan jurutera kawalan mutu pengetahuan mendalam dan lengkap tentang sesuatu skema carta kawalan MEWMA yang dipilih berdasarkan cadangan Prabhu dan Runger (1997)

Variation of cultivated mungbean and wild vigna as revealed by random amplified polymorphic DNA markers

The genetic variation of nine varieties of cultivated mungbean (Vigna radiata) and three local populations of wild Vigna (V. trinervia) were evaluated in this study using RAPD markers. A total of 65 scorable DNA fragments ranging in size from 173-1,500 bp were obtained from the PCR amplification usingfive RAPD primers of which 95.38% were polymorphic. Cluster analysis revealed two major groups in which the first group consists of the nine varieties ofV. radiata, while the second group includes the three populations ofV. trinervia. This information is useful for plant breeders to make informed decisions in an effort to devise breeding or crossbreeding programmes for the development of the crop

Treatment patterns and clinical outcomes in elderly patients with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer from the registHER observational study.

Limited data exist regarding treatment patterns and outcomes in elderly patients with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer (MBC). registHER is an observational study of patients (N = 1,001) with HER2-positive MBC diagnosed within 6 months of enrollment and followed until death, disenrollment, or June 2009 (median follow-up 27 months). Outcomes were analyzed by age at MBC diagnosis: younger (<65 years), older (65-74 years), elderly (≥75 years). For progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) analyses of first-line trastuzumab versus nontrastuzumab, older and elderly patients were combined. Cox regression analyses were adjusted for baseline characteristics and treatments. Estrogen receptor/progesterone receptor status was similar across age groups. Underlying cardiovascular disease was most common in elderly patients. In patients receiving trastuzumab-based first-line treatment, elderly patients were less likely to receive chemotherapy. In trastuzumab-treated patients, incidence of left ventricular dysfunction (LVD) and congestive heart failure (CHF) (grades ≥ 3) were highest in elderly patients (LVD: elderly 4.8 %, younger 2.8 %, older 1.5 %; CHF: elderly 3.2 %, younger 1.9 %, older 1.5 %). Unadjusted median PFS (months) was significantly higher in patients treated with first-line trastuzumab than those who were not (<65 years: 11.0 vs. 3.4, respectively; ≥65 years: 11.7 vs. 4.8, respectively). In patients <65 years, unadjusted median OS (months) was significantly higher in trastuzumab-treated patients; in patients ≥65 years, median OS was similar (<65 years: 40.4 vs. 25.9; ≥65 years: 31.2 vs. 28.5). In multivariate analyses, first-line trastuzumab use was associated with significant improvement in PFS across age. For OS, significant improvement was observed for patients <65 years and nonsignificant improvement for patients ≥65 years. Elderly patients with HER2-positive MBC had higher rates of underlying cardiovascular disease than their younger counterparts and received less aggressive treatment, including less first-line trastuzumab. These real-world data suggest improved PFS across all age groups and similar trends for OS

Nonlinear Models of Convergence

A sufficient issue in studies of economic development is whether economies (countries, regions of a country, etc.) converge to one another in terms of per capita income. In this paper, nonlinear asymptotically subsiding trends of income gap in a pair of economies model the convergence process. A few specific forms of such trends are proposed: log-exponential trend, exponential trend, and fractional trend. A pair of economies is deemed converging if time series of their income gap is stationary about any of these trends. To test for stationarity, standard unit root tests are applied with non-standard test statistics that are estimated for each kind of the trends

6-Chloro-2-methyl-4-phenyl-3-[1-phenyl-5-(2-thien­yl)-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazol-3-yl]quinoline

In the title mol­ecule, C29H22ClN3S, the quinoline ring system, thio­phene ring and phenyl ring substituents are inclined at angles of 71.70 (7), 59.26 (9) and 81.61 (9)°, respectively, to the 4,5-dihydro­pyrazole ring. In the 4-phenyl­quinoline ring system, the phenyl ring makes a dihedral angle of 62.49 (7)° with mean plane of quinoline ring system. In the crystal structure, mol­ecules are linked via weak inter­molecular C—H⋯N hydrogen bonds, forming an extended one-dimensional chain along the b axis and are further consolidated by C—H⋯π and π–π stacking inter­actions [centroid–centroid distances = 3.7022 (10) Å]

Dimethyl 4-(4-ethoxy­phen­yl)-2,6-dimethyl-1,4-dihydro­pyridine-3,5-dicarboxyl­ate

In the title mol­ecule, C19H23NO5, the dihedral angle formed by the benzene ring and the planar part of the dihydro­pyridine ring is 83.52 (5)°. The dihydro­pyridine ring adopts a flattened boat conformation. In the crystal, mol­ecules are linked by N—H⋯O hydrogen bonds, generating chains running parallel to [100]. The crystal structure is consolidated by C—H⋯O contacts

Finite element investigation of the effect of spina bifida on loading of the vertebral isthmus

Background: Spondylolysis (SL) of the lower lumbar spine is frequently associated with spina bifida occulta (SBO). There has not been any study that has demonstrated biomechanical or genetic predispositions to explain the coexistence of these two pathologies. In axial rotation, the intact vertebral arch allows torsional load to be shared between the facet joints. In SBO, the load cannot be shared across the arch, theoretically increasing the mechanical demand of the vertebral isthmus during combined axial loading and rotation when compared to the normal state. Purpose: To test the hypothesis that fatigue failure limits will be exceeded in the case of a bifid arch, but not in the intact case, when the segment is subjected to complex loading corresponding to normal sporting activities. Study Design: Descriptive Laboratory Study. Methods: Finite element models of natural and SBO (L4-S1) including ligaments were loaded axially to 1kN and were combined with axial rotation of 3°. Bilateral stresses, alternating stresses and shear fatigue failure on intact and SBO L5 isthmus were assessed and compared. Results: Under 1kN axial load, the von Mises stresses observed in SBO and in the intact cases were very similar (differences <5MPa) having a maximum at the ventral end of the isthmus that decreases monotonically to the dorsal end. However, under 1kN axial load and rotation, the maximum von Mises stresses observed in the ipsilateral L5 isthmus in the SBO case (31MPa) was much higher than the intact case (24.2MPa) indicating a lack of load sharing across the vertebral arch in SBO. When assessing the equivalent alternating shear stress amplitude, this was found to be 22.6 MPa for the SBO case and 13.6 MPa for the intact case. From this it is estimated that shear fatigue failure will occur in less than 70,000 cycles, under repetitive axial load & rotation conditions in the SBO case, while for the intact case, fatigue failure will occur only over 10 million cycles. Conclusion: SBO predisposes spondylolysis by generating increased stresses across the inferior isthmus of the inferior articular process, specifically in combined axial rotation and anteroposterior shear. Clinical Relevance: Athletes with SBO who participate in sports that require repetitive lumbar rotation, hyperextension and/or axial loading are at a higher risk of developing spondylolysis compared to athletes with an intact spine