Can cosmological observations uniquely determine the nature of dark energy ?

The observational effect of all minimally coupled scalar field models of dark energy can be determined by the behavior of the following two parameters : (1) equation of state parameter $w$, which relates dark energy pressure to its energy density, and (2) effective speed of sound $c_{e}^{2}$, which relates dark energy pressure fluctuation to its density fluctuation. In this paper we show that these two parameters do not uniquely determine the form of a scalar field dark energy Lagrangian even after taking into account the perturbation in the scalar field. We present this result by showing that two different forms of scalar field Lagrangian can lead to the same values for these paired parameters. It is well known that from the background evolution the Lagrangian of the scalar field dark energy cannot be uniquely determined. The two models of dark energy presented in this paper are indistinguishable from the evolution of background as well as from the evolution of perturbations from a FRW metric.Comment: 9 pages, 2 figures, few references adde

NISS WebSwap: A Web Service for Data Swapping

Data swapping is a statistical disclosure limitation practice that alters records in the data to be released by switching values of attributes across pairs of records in a fraction of the original data. Web Services are an exciting new form of distributed computing that allow users to invoke remote applications nearly transparently. National Institute of Statistical Sciences (NISS) has recently started hosting NISS Web Services as a service and example to the statistical sciences community. In this paper we describe and provide usage information for NISS WebSwap the initial NISS Web Service, which swaps one or more attributes (fields) between user-specified records in a microdata file, uploading the original data file from the user's computer and downloading the file containing the swapped records.

Safety in Deep Excavation, Numerical Simulation of Room Corner Test for Polycarbonate

Excavation work is recognized as one of the most hazardous activity in the construction industry . The fatality rate in this activity is larger than this rate for general construction meanwhile the fatality rate in construction is three time more than this rate in overall industry. Current statistics on the fatal accidents which caused by excavation projects necessitates preliminary studies and precautionary actions to resolve the problem. Therefore, the investigation and revision of safety management strategies have been brought up in order to ensure the health of the project before beginning any excavation work. This study will present the important safety factors which should consider in excavation site and find out common hazards during the excavation activities. This report extends a risk assessment for excavation and providing means to offset the impacts of them on site

Frisbee Golf Score Keeper

The project is a mobile application that will allow users to track scores while they play Frisbee Golf. The app is built for those like me who enjoy playing Frisbee/Disc Golf and would like to track their scores. In the mobile world, there are two prevailing operating systems, iOS and Android. Both have their strengths and weakness, however, the problems that arise for developers is that both ecosystems require that applications on their format be in different coding languages. A solution to that is Flutter, which allows developers to build an app entirely in DART, then automatically optimizes the app so that it can work and be published in both ecosystems. Flutter itself is a new UI software development kit made by Google. While this app is currently been tested in the Android environments, since it is built-in Flutter, there is a future pathway to iOS development already built-in. This app uses Google Firebase, a cloud-based solution that allows hosting and many other features for mobile apps and websites, for authentication services and data storage. This Frisbee Golf app supports multiple pages including the play page and scores page. The play and score pages allow users to record and review their scores at their leisure

Electron microscopy in disease diagnosis - Winter school on recent advances in diagnosis and management of diseases in mariculture, 7th to 27th November 2002, Course Manual

Understanding the pathogen and the pathogenesis at cellular levels are imperative in the studies of disease causing organisms. With its very high resolving and magnifying powers. Electron Microscopy has opened up new vistas in studying the ultra structure and has become an indispensable tool in understanding many of the diseases and their etiological agents. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) can reveal the ultra structural details at cellular levels, whereas Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) can A show the morphology of minute structures/organisms in three-dimensional state. Combining the TEM and SEM, it has become possible to study and classify the viruses and virus like organisms

Developing the First Phase of Warehouse Storage Design in High-Mix, Low-Volume or Service-Centric Organizations

Conventional warehouse design techniques are tailored for mass production environments. Applying them to a warehouse in a high production mix, low production volume or service- centric operation does not yield expected space and part handling efficiencies. The first phase of design in a warehouse needs to address two key issues viz. the elimination of obsolete parts and storage management of required parts. This thesis develops methodologies to address each of these issues by creating a standardized obsolete part elimination guideline and a comprehensive Class Based Storage (CBS) policy respectively. The standard guideline uses a combination of survey data collection and swim lane mapping technique to create a part excessing Standard Operating Procedure (SOP). The storage policy uses a multi-variable CBS and a standardized bin selection method, both of which are incorporated in a Plan For Each Part (PFEP) database. The application of these two methodologies ensures the right part at the right place in a warehouse. Each methodology is implemented in a suitable warehouse in Tennessee

An investigation into the analytical, cytotoxicity and immunotoxicity of mycotoxins found in commercially available pelleted pet foods in Durban, South Africa.

Doctoral Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.Introduction: Dry pelleted dog food in the South African market is available via supermarket, pet stores (standard brands - SB) and veterinary channels (premium brands-PB). Similarly, cat food were viewed in two market segments. Methodology: Representative feeds from both categories were analysed for four main mycotoxins viz. aflatoxins (AF), fumonisin (FB), ochratoxin A (OTA), and zearalenone (ZEA) using standard well-described extraction, characterisation and quantitation processes. Results: All foods showed contamination with fungi (mainly Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus fumigatus and Aspergillus parasiticus) and mycotoxins (the most prevalent being aflatoxins and fumonisins), irrespective of the brand. This study determined the immunotoxicity of extracts from pelleted dog and cat feed for mycotoxins. Isolated dog peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were treated with feed extracts to determine mitochondrial function, oxidative stress, and markers of cell death using luminometry and flow cytometry. Glutathione was significantly depleted by SB extracts. Markers of apoptosis and necrosis were elevated by both SB and PB feeds when compared to controls, with SB extracts being significantly higher than PB. ATP levels decreased with increased mitochondrial depolarization in cells that were exposed to both feed extracts with SB showing the greatest differences when compared to the control. Cat peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated and treated with various feed extracts to determine oxidative stress (TBARS and GSH assay), mitochondrial integrity and cell death (Luminometry and Flow cytometry). Both PB and SB extracts showed significantly decreased ATP levels and increased mitochondrial depolarization except for the PB acid fraction. Lipid peroxidation was significantly increased in both PB and SB extracts with a concomitant decrease in GSH levels. Phosphatidylserine externalization and necrosis levels were increased in both PB and SB extracts when compared to the control. Executioner caspases-3/7 was also elevated following extract exposure except for the PB acid fraction. Conclusion: There were high levels of fungal contamination and mycotoxins in both categories of feed, regardless of the notion that higher priced PB’s were of a higher quality