Application of Social Network Analysis Methods to Quantitatively Assess Exercise Coordination

This article appeared in Homeland Security Affairs (December 2011), v.7, article 17From the article's abstract: "Previous failures in effective, large-scale disaster response (e.g., Hurricane Katrina) are often traced to failures in effective coordination. As evidenced in after-action reports, however, assessments of coordination performance are still largely anecdotal in nature. Network analysis is a possible means to develop quantitative metrics for coordination assessment. In this paper, two techniques are proposed for characterizing coordination performance. First, Borgatti's technique for quantifying network fragmentation was used to measure the extent to which various response agencies play a role in establishing efficient communications. Second, Girvan and Newman's technique for community sub-group identification was used to identify potential breakdowns in information transfer. Both techniques were successfully implemented in a case-study analysis of the Top Officials 4 exercise. The techniques can provide additional insights into coordination performance, identifying exercise artificialities and allowing meta-analysis of coordination performance (e.g., over time, across regions, for different event scales)."Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited

Genomic and transcriptomic analyses of Microbotryum lychnidis-dioicae provide insights into the biology of a fascinating fungal phytopathogen.

This study made use of the Silene latifolia/Microbotryum lychnidis-dioicae phytopathogen system as the focal system to establish the first reference genome for Microbotryum violaceum sensu lato. In silico analysis was performed on the genome assembly to identify various characteristics of the genome. Using RNA-Sequencing technologies on the Illumina platform, we collected transcriptomic data for both in vitro and in planta life stages of the fungus, providing the most comprehensive look at the gene expression and regulation of this fungus. Due to a lack of identifiable domains on the predicted genes, gene set enrichment analysis was done in context, by including gene sets like “secreted proteins”, “small secreted proteins” and “unique proteins”, to aid discovery of the features in the different datasets. To further research into Microbotryum species in general, we developed, for the first time, a robust and repeatable Agrobacterium-mediated transformation system. Using genomic and transcriptomic data, we were able to select native promoters that drive transcription in specific conditions, making it a highly versatile and controllable system

Solving Higher Education in Burma, the Global South, and Beyond

By introducing readers to a migrant student from Burma, the author unpacks the longstanding and increasingly complicated barriers to higher education, which many students face across the Global South. Readers are then introduced to one institution seeking to dismantle those barriers through innovation and expansive access, Parami University

Anonymous and Adaptively Secure Revocable IBE with Constant Size Public Parameters

In Identity-Based Encryption (IBE) systems, key revocation is non-trivial. This is because a user's identity is itself a public key. Moreover, the private key corresponding to the identity needs to be obtained from a trusted key authority through an authenticated and secrecy protected channel. So far, there exist only a very small number of revocable IBE (RIBE) schemes that support non-interactive key revocation, in the sense that the user is not required to interact with the key authority or some kind of trusted hardware to renew her private key without changing her public key (or identity). These schemes are either proven to be only selectively secure or have public parameters which grow linearly in a given security parameter. In this paper, we present two constructions of non-interactive RIBE that satisfy all the following three attractive properties: (i) proven to be adaptively secure under the Symmetric External Diffie-Hellman (SXDH) and the Decisional Linear (DLIN) assumptions; (ii) have constant-size public parameters; and (iii) preserve the anonymity of ciphertexts---a property that has not yet been achieved in all the current schemes

イネノヨウシンケイシャカクドヲタカメルリョウテキケイシツイデンシザノカンブツセイサントシジツシュウリョウニオヨボスエイキョウトキノウカイセキ

博士（農学）東京農工大

The heterogeneous partial oxidation of light alkanes

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Chemical Engineering, 2004.Includes bibliographical references.(cont.) With this approach, an upper bound on the yield for OCM was computed. Results showed that even with optimal surface chemistry, strict limits existed on the attainable yield. Surface energetics necessary for superior OCM performance were identified and the origins of these requirements elucidated. The resulting upper bound on OCM yield under conventional, packed-bed, continuous-feed operation was found to be 28%. The catalytic properties of LiCl/sulfated ZrO₂-based catalysts were explored for ODHE. LiCl was shown to strongly interact with the acid sites on sulfated ZrO₂ (SZ), influencing its catalytic behavior. Two approaches were taken to modify the nature/strength of the LiCl-support interaction. Firstly, LiCl/Nd₂O₃-impregnated MoO/ZrO₂ and WOx/ZrO₂ were examined. Unlike SZ, these supports allowed for the tailoring of MoO[sub]x and WO[sub]x surface densities, which in turn drastically altered their ODHE performance. The poor stability of these supports, however, rendered them inferior to SZ. Secondly, the effects of dopant incorporation on the catalytic behavior of LiCI/MO,/SZ were studied. Si-doped ZrO₂-based catalysts synthesized via the sol-gel method were found to exhibit superior activity, selectivity and stability for ODHE. Sulfate decomposition experiments related the ODHE activity of these materials to the influence of the Si dopant on the sulfate binding strength. The sol-gel synthesis conditions were optimized with respect to sol pH, water:alkoxide ratio and silicon precursor, achieving improved catalyst homogeneity and enhanced ODHE performance ...Within the petrochemical industry, a sizeable economic incentive exists for the upgrading of low-value, light alkanes. For instance, the dehydrogenation of ethane to ethene is of considerable interest due to ethene's use as a polymeric and chemical precursor. Partial oxidation provides an attractive alternative to standard pyrolysis methods for alkane-to-alkene conversion. Unlike pyrolysis, partial oxidative routes are largely unaffected by coke formation and have the added benefit of exothermicity. With the inclusion of oxygen as a reactant, however, numerous additional reaction pathways result. Among these, the presence of parallel and consecutive reaction channels to CO[sub]x products is of major concern. For this reason, previous efforts to create selective partial oxidation catalysts with high activity have typically fallen below economic feasibility requirements. This thesis focuses on the following alkane-to-alkene transformation reactions: Oxidative Coupling of Methane (OCM): 2CH₄ + O₂ C₂H₄ + 2 H₂O Oxidative Dehydrogenation of Ethane (ODHE): C₂H₆ + 1/2 O₂ C₂H₄ + H₂O Oxidative Dehydrogenation of Propane (ODHP): C₃H₈ + 1/2 O₂ C₃H₆ + H₂O. Regarding OCM, an approach was presented for determining an upper bound on the yield of a catalytic process, which allowed for variations in the catalytic chemistry. Scaling and thermodynamic arguments were used to set parameters of an elementary step surface mechanism at values resulting in optimal yields, subjected only to physical constraints. Remaining unknowns were treated as independent variables and varied over a broad range. The result was a set of thermodynamically consistent mechanisms with optimal kinetics that could be incorporated into reactor-transport models.by Yee San Su.Ph.D

Effect of characteristics of (Sm,Ce)O2 powder on the fabrication and performance of anode-supported solid oxide fuel cells

Effect of characteristics of Sm0.2Ce0.8O1.9 (SDC) powder as a function of calcination temperature on the fabrication of dense and flat anode-supported SDC thin electrolyte cells has been studied. The results show that the calcination temperature has a significant effect on the particle size, degree of agglomeration, and sintering profiles of the SDC powder. The characteristics of SDC powders have a significant effect on the structure integrity and flatness of the SDC electrolyte film/anode substrate bilayer cells. The SDC electrolyte layer delaminates from the anode substrate for the SDC powder calcined at 600 °C and the bilayer cell concaves towards the SDC electrolyte layer for the SDC powder calcined at 800 °C. When the calcinations temperature increased to 1000 °C, strongly bonded SDC electrolyte film/anode substrate bilayer structures were achieved. An open-circuit voltage (OCV) of 0.82–0.84 V and maximum power density of ~1 W cm−2 were obtained at 600 °C using hydrogen as fuel and stationary air as the oxidant. The results indicate that the matching of the onset sintering temperature and maximum sintering rate temperature is most critical for the development of a dense and flat Ni/SDC supported SDC thin electrolyte cells for intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cells

Cytotoxicity and apoptotic activities of alpha-, gamma- and delta-tocotrienol isomers on human cancer cells

Background: Tocotrienols, especially the gamma isomer was discovered to possess cytotoxic effects associated with the induction of apoptosis in numerous cancers. Individual tocotrienol isomers are believed to induce dissimilar apoptotic mechanisms in different cancer types. This study was aimed to compare the cytotoxic potency of alpha-, gamma- and delta-tocotrienols, and to explore their resultant apoptotic mechanisms in human lung adenocarcinoma A549 and glioblastoma U87MG cells which are scarcely researched. Methods: The cytotoxic effects of alpha-, gamma- and delta-tocotrienols in both A549 and U87MG cancer cells were first determined at the cell viability and morphological aspects. DNA damage types were then identified by comet assay and flow cytometric study was carried out to support the incidence of apoptosis. The involvements of caspase-8, Bid, Bax and mitochondrial membrane permeability (MMP) in the execution of apoptosis were further expounded. Results: All tocotrienols inhibited the growth of A549 and U87MG cancer cells in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. These treated cancer cells demonstrated some hallmarks of apoptotic morphologies, apoptosis was further confirmed by cell accumulation at the pre-G1 stage. All tocotrienols induced only double strand DNA breaks (DSBs) and no single strand DNA breaks (SSBs) in both treated cancer cells. Activation of caspase-8 leading to increased levels of Bid and Bax as well as cytochrome c release attributed by the disruption of mitochondrial membrane permeability in both A549 and U87MG cells were evident. Conclusions: This study has shown that delta-tocotrienol, in all experimental approaches, possessed a higher efficacy (shorter induction period) and effectiveness (higher induction rate) in the execution of apoptosis in both A549 and U87MG cancer cells as compared to alpha- and gamma-tocotrienols. Tocotrienols in particular the delta isomer can be an alternative chemotherapeutic agent for treating lung and brain cancers

Pluralistic Islamic cities and the significance of Marrakesh declaration

If Quran offers the timeless guidance and Sunnah (the way of Prophet Muhammad) is the truthful way, the study on how to improve the planning methods according to Islamic Principles would be of immense help to a nation. Without a doubt Exemplary Islamic City is the goal we are aiming for. But how are we going to deal with pluralism in our planning methods while balancing between modern and Islamic notions? Traditionally in Islam, Muslims are obliged to respect and protect the people regardless of their faith and background. For the very reason that it promotes peace and tolerance, many other groups joined for Islamic path even in the hardest of times according to the history. A peaceful nation state is where everyone can be included in managing the affairs of their own society, in accordance with their rights and duties, to be outlined by a reasonable constitution that seeks harmonious living, the rule of law. Does Islam recognized those values? Yes it does, and even more so, the very first functioning constitution was developed in early days of Islam which later known as The Medina Charter (Shahifat al-Medina). The Medina Charter, prepared as the basis of the Medina city-state established by Prophet Muhammad, was the first written constitution in Islam and arguably the first instance of constitutional law in society. It was an agreement that was reached without war, fighting, violence, or compulsion; it was an agreement that all of its parties arrived at voluntarily due to their commitment to the shared principles contained therein, within the sphere of positive cooperation, the context of their conditions, and the various elements of the Medinan society. It was a step towards the realization of social peace based upon their mutual recognition of rights and responsibilities and of accepting the demands of their diversity, their various religious affiliations, benefits, and lifestyles. Medina was a multi-ethnic and multi-religious society that was not founded as the result of a conquest. There, the Prophet composed a document governing the relations between the Muslims and other religious communities that would come to be known as “the Constitution of Medina.” This document was, for all intents and purposes, a just constitution that established a type of contractual citizenship. It affirmed that those who were under its authority were one, cohesive, unified polity with all of its citizens enjoying equal rights and having the same duties. This document affirmed the unity of the society in terms of religious pluralism and freedom of religion, but, despite its obvious importance, it has not garnered much study. Revival of Medina Charter and to make thorough study to be applicable to our constitution is rather very important factor nowadays. That is why a major conference was hosted in Marrakesh in the Kingdom of Morocco early this year of 2016. A large number of personals from more than 100 predominantly Muslim countries participated in this conference. It called upon other scholars of the world to initiate more on this concern. The Objective of this study is to revive Medina Charter for the modern day Islamic City planning which would enable the states to develop better and more appropriate planning methods for pluralistic Islamic societies and highlight the importance of Marrakesh Declaration. A qualitative method will be implemented in this study with content analysis method

Order Quantity for Fuzzy Order and Total Demand Quantity in Inventory Models with Backorder

Abstract In this paper we consider the inventory problem with backorder such that both order and total demand quantities are triangular fuzzy numbersQ = (q 1 , q 0 , q 2 ), andR = (r 1 , r 0 , r 2 ) respectively, where Let s denote the maximum inventory quantity. Under conditions s ≤ q 1 < q 0 < q 2 < r 1 < r 0 < r 2 , we find the membership function µ G(Q,R) (z) of the total fuzzy cost function G(Q,R) and their centroid, then obtain the order quantity q * in the fuzzy sense and the estimate of the total demand quantity r *