Ciliary Mechanosensation in MDCK cells

Cilia are microscopic structures that extend from the surface of mammalian cells. Cilia can be categorized into two groups, primary cilia (non-motile) and motile cilia. Cilia are composed of tubulin subunits (microtubules) and covered by a plasma membrane. The physiological role of motile cilia has been very well documented, but the function of primary cilia remains largely unknown. It has been shown that primary cilia allow cells to sense and respond to mechanical stimuli. The ability for a cell to respond to mechanical stimuli is crucial for maintaining processes such as homeostasis. It has also been shown that defects in cilia can be matched up with different diseased states. Primary cilia have shown to regulate the release of intercellular calcium in response to fluid flow. There is a correlation between the disruption of primary cilium function and the formation polycystic kidney disease. To understand and measure the mechanical properties of primary cilia optical tweezers will be used. Calcium imaging technique will also be used to show the Ca+2 status of the cell. The goal of this work involved the use of the cell line MDCK (Madin-Darby canine kidney) to uncover the mechanical properties of primary cilia.https://engagedscholarship.csuohio.edu/u_poster_2015/1029/thumbnail.jp

Safety Performance Conditions in the Engineering Projects [ Owner & Contractors Points View]

The aim of this paper is to study the safety performance in construction projects in Gaza Strip. The objectives of this paper have been achieved through studying 53 questiounaires distributed to practitioner contractors and owners .The research results indicate that the safety conditions in local constructions industry is not enough; meanwhile, there is no regulations and rules that control the safety conditions in the local construction industry. The results show that there is lack ofknowledge in safety performance conditions that affect most of local projects. The results show that both of owners and contractors are not satisfied with level of applying safety conditions in the construction projects.The results of this paper recommended both of private and public firms to bear the responsibility of establishment of regulations and rules to organize the construction safety conditions in local construction projects

The Organizational Culture of Gaza Strip Construction Companies

Organizational culture gives identity to an organization. Nowadays with the increasing of the internationalization of the construction industry, the organizational culture become more importance than any other times. The aim of this research is to investigate the organizational cultural profile of the Gaza Strip construction organizations, this aim was achieved by investigating the importance of the organizational culture, identifying the current organizational cultural type of the Gaza Strip construction organizations, and identifying the desired organizational cultural type of the Gaza Strip construction organizations. The study used a questionnaire that was administered by contracting companies classified at the Palestinian Contractors Union. Out of 134 questionnaires were distributed, only 74 questionnaires were received. The results of the organizational culture profile present that the dominant current and the desired organizational culture was clan culture type for all Gaza Strip construction organizations. Also results showed that the organizational culture affected by changing the organizations size. The results showed that the very small organizations had hierarchy type as the dominant current culture and preferred to be clan type as the dominant desired culture, it showed also that the small organizations had a market type as the dominant current and desired organizational culture, it presented also that the clan culture type was the dominant current and desired organizational culture medium organizations, it showed that the large organizations had clan type as the dominant current culture and preferred to be market type as the dominant desired culture

Risk Factors Affecting the Performance of Repair and Rehabilitation Construction Projects in Gaza Strip

Construction repair projects in Gaza Strip have complexity in its nature because it suffers from many problems and complex issues during project execution. This research attempts to shed more light on the different kinds of risk factors and its impact on construction repair and rehabilitation projects in Gaza Strip. The current research primarily employed the method of questionnaire surveys to collect the required data. Following a thorough literature review and structured interviews with professionals who have work experience in the field of construction repair projects in Gaza Strip. Comprehensive list of risk parameters was identified and categorized into ten groups with total fifty- nine of risk parameters. Then, Fifty- two questionnaires were distributed to companies working in the field of construction repair projects in Gaza Strip. A statistical analysis was conducted to calculate mean, standard deviation (SD) and standard error (SE) for each of the risk factors' parameters. The results were accepted when the value of the standard error is less than 0.2. A comment on the results that have been reached is shown in order to illustrate the extent of the impact of those risks on construction repair projects in Gaza Strip. Based on the analysis and corresponding probability - impact matrix, a total of twenty - three risk parameters were identified to be the most significant risk factors

Importance of Organizational Culture for Gaza Strip Construction Companies

Despite of different definitions of organizational culture, shared meanings, assumptions, beliefs and understandings held by a team are considered as the basic component of the organizational culture definition. Organizational culture gives identity to an organization. Nowadays with the increasing of the internationalization of the construction industry, the organizational culture become more importance than any other times. The aim of this research is to investigate the importance of the organizational culture for Gaza Strip construction companies. The study used a questionnaire that was administered by contracting companies classified at the Palestinian Contractors Union. Out of 134 questionnaires were distributed, only 74 questionnaires were received. The research found out that the existence of the organizational cultural in the organization is very important for its survival and continuity, where the organizational cultural help in achieving the organization goals, the organizational cultural help the organization to take right actions and decisions, the organizational cultural help in creating policies and assignments to increase profitability, growth, and respond to market demands, the organizational cultural help the individuals and teams to do the assigned work efficiently, and the organizational cultural play basic role in sharing of information rapidly inside the organization

Effect of Replacement of Sand by Waste Fine Crumb Rubber on Concrete Beam Subject to Impact Load: Experiment and Simulation

In this study, the effect of partial replacement of sand by waste fine crumb rubber on the performance of hybrid structure concrete beam (double layer beam with rubberized top and normal bottom) under impact loading were investigated experimentally and numerically. Rubberized concrete materials were prepared by partial substitution (2.5%, 5% and 7.5%replacements by volume) of sand by waste fine crumb rubber of particle size 0.4–0.8 mm. Two types of specimens (size 100 mm ×100 mm × 500mm) namely, plain concrete and hybrid concrete were loaded to failure in a drop-weight impact machine by subjecting to 30 N weights from a height of 400mm, and similar specimens were used for the static load test. The dynamic beam behavior was analyzed numerically using the finite-element method (FEM) based LUSAS V.14 software. In general, the results reveal that the impact bending load in the hybrid beam increases with increase in the percentage of sand replacement by fine crumb rubber, while the static peak bending load always decreases. Keywords: Hybrid; Impact behavior; Finite element analysis (FEA); Mechanical testing

Investigations of the Effect of High Percentage of Waste Fine Crumb Rubber on Rubberized Concrete Beam Subject to Impact Load

In this study, rubberized concrete samples were prepared by substitution (10%, 20% and 30% replacements by volume) of sand by waste fine crumb rubber, and tested under impact three-point bending load, as well as static load. Three types of specimens (size 1000 mm ×100 mm × 500mm) namely, plain concrete and rubberized concrete were loaded to failure in a drop-weight impact machine by subjecting to 30 N weight from a height of 400mm, and another three similar specimens  were used for  the static load test. In both the tests, the load-displacement of each specimen was investigated. The dynamic beam behaviour was analyzed numerically using the finite-element method (FEM) based LUSAS V.14 software. In general, the results reveal that the impact bending load in the hybrid beam increases with increase in the percentage of sand replacement by fine crumb rubber, while the static peak bending load always decreases. Keywords: Impact behavior; Finite element analysis (FEA); Mechanical testing

Implicated But Not Charged: Improving Due Process for Unindicted Co-Conspirators

This Comment posits that the practice of publicly naming unindicted co-conspirators before trial violates due process and that unless preventative measures are adopted to halt this practice, such due process violations will continue. This conclusion is buttressed by the text that follows, which surveys the relevant case law on the rights of unindicted co-conspirators, highlights the types of harm that a sample of unindicted co-conspirators have suffered as a result of being publicly named, and proposes procedures and rules that, if adopted, would conform with due process and help prevent these harms. In this Comment, I will expand on the work started by Professor Robbins and explore several instances in which unindicted coconspirators are publicly named—not just when they are named in an indictment. After giving a diagnosis of the problem, I suggest prophylactic measures that can prevent due process violations and minimize harms to unindicted co-conspirators. Part II provides background on the phenomenon of the unindicted co-conspirator designation, the utility of this tactic to prosecutors, and the due process implications that result from the naming of unindicted co-conspirators. Part III is divided into two major sections. Part III.A explores the ineffective and inconsistent patchwork of guidelines created by the courts in an effort to balance the due process rights of unindicted coconspirators against the legitimate interests of the government in prosecuting alleged criminals. Although some of those safeguards and remedies can work, this Comment exposes the ones that do not, as well as the gaps that remain. Part III.B highlights the significance of ineffective safeguards by exploring the collateral detriments that can accompany the public branding of “unindicted co-conspirator.” This will be accomplished by looking at the impact this designation had on the Council on American-Islamic Relations (“CAIR”), a national civil rights group that was among 246 designated unindicted co-conspirators whose names were mistakenly made public by prosecutors in pre-trial filings in a major terrorism case. Part IV proposes procedural changes that strike a better balance between the needs of prosecutors to effectively try cases and the due process rights of unindicted co-conspirators. This Comment specifically proposes: (1) that the loaded and injurious term of “unindicted coconspirator” be universally abandoned and replaced with a more benign classification, such as “joint venturer,” “special witness,” or “material actor,” (2) that the Justice Department adopt better procedures for protecting the rights of unindicted co-conspirators by updating the U.S. Attorneys’ Manual to explicitly prohibit the public naming of unindicted co-conspirators in an indictment, and (3) that the relevant rules of procedure be changed to require that all pre-trial documents that name unindicted co-conspirators be filed under seal