Measurement of the separation between atoms beyond diffraction limit

Precision measurement of small separations between two atoms or molecules has been of interest since the early days of science. Here, we discuss a scheme which yields spatial information on a system of two identical atoms placed in a standing wave laser field. The information is extracted from the collective resonance fluorescence spectrum, relying entirely on far-field imaging techniques. Both the interatomic separation and the positions of the two particles can be measured with fractional-wavelength precision over a wide range of distances from bout lambda/550 to lambda/2.Comment: v2: Revised version for publicatio

Modified masses and parallaxes of close binary system: HD39438

We present the detailed fundamental stellar parameters of the close visual binary system; HD39438 for the first time. We used Al-Wardat's method for analyzing binary and multiple stellar systems (BMSSs). The method implements Kurucz's plane parallel model atmospheres to construct synthetic spectral energy distributions for both components of the system. It then combines the results of the spectroscopic analysis with the photometric analysis and then compares them with the observed ones to construct the best synthetic spectral energy distributions for the combined system. The analysis gives the precise fundamental parameters of the individual components of the system. Based on the positions of the components of HD39438 on the H-R diagram, and evolutionary and isochrones tracks, we found that the system belongs to the main sequence stars with masses of 1.24 and 0.98 solar masses for the components A and B, respectively, and age of 1.995 Gyr for both components. The main result of HD39438 is new dynamical parallax, which is estimated to be 16.689+- 0.03 mas

Technology generation to dissemination:lessons learned from the tef improvement project

Indigenous crops also known as orphan crops are key contributors to food security, which is becoming increasingly vulnerable with the current trend of population growth and climate change. They have the major advantage that they fit well into the general socio-economic and ecological context of developing world agriculture. However, most indigenous crops did not benefit from the Green Revolution, which dramatically increased the yield of major crops such as wheat and rice. Here, we describe the Tef Improvement Project, which employs both conventional- and molecular-breeding techniques to improve tef\u2014an orphan crop important to the food security in the Horn of Africa, a region of the world with recurring devastating famines. We have established an efficient pipeline to bring improved tef lines from the laboratory to the farmers of Ethiopia. Of critical importance to the long-term success of this project is the cooperation among participants in Ethiopia and Switzerland, including donors, policy makers, research institutions, and farmers. Together, European and African scientists have developed a pipeline using breeding and genomic tools to improve the orphan crop tef and bring new cultivars to the farmers in Ethiopia. We highlight a new variety, Tesfa, developed in this pipeline and possessing a novel and desirable combination of traits. Tesfa\u2019s recent approval for release illustrates the success of the project and marks a milestone as it is the first variety (of many in the pipeline) to be released

Autoantibodies to Agrin in Myasthenia Gravis Patients

To determine if patients with myasthenia gravis (MG) have antibodies to agrin, a proteoglycan released by motor neurons and is critical for neuromuscular junction (NMJ) formation, we collected serum samples from 93 patients with MG with known status of antibodies to acetylcholine receptor (AChR), muscle specific kinase (MuSK) and lipoprotein-related 4 (LRP4) and samples from control subjects (healthy individuals and individuals with other diseases). Sera were assayed for antibodies to agrin. We found antibodies to agrin in 7 serum samples of MG patients. None of the 25 healthy controls and none of the 55 control neurological patients had agrin antibodies. Two of the four triple negative MG patients (i.e., no detectable AChR, MuSK or LRP4 antibodies, AChR-/MuSK-/LRP4-) had antibodies against agrin. In addition, agrin antibodies were detected in 5 out of 83 AChR+/MuSK-/LRP4- patients but were not found in the 6 patients with MuSK antibodies (AChR-/MuSK+/LRP4-). Sera from MG patients with agrin antibodies were able to recognize recombinant agrin in conditioned media and in transfected HEK293 cells. These sera also inhibited the agrin-induced MuSK phosphorylation and AChR clustering in muscle cells. Together, these observations indicate that agrin is another autoantigen in patients with MG and agrin autoantibodies may be pathogenic through inhibition of agrin/LRP4/MuSK signaling at the NMJ

Achieving simulation as REBIANA Village Case Study of Photovoltaics System-Based Residential Distribution Grid

The growing demand for photovoltaic (PV)-based buildings and increasing utilization of DC electronic loads, along with decreasing DC appliances prices, have resulted in attraction of DC networks for residential consumers. The main aim of this paper is to present an economic study of a PV system-based DC residential distribution network. This includes designing and simulation of the system that is based on DC residential distribution network. Electrical Transient Analyzer Program (ETAP) software can be used for designing and modelling of the PV system components for a single house and for the distribution grid. The process starts with the PV module, DC/DC converter, battery, and the load. It takes into account all the ratings of the specific components for the whole system. Subsequently, the system efficiency has been evaluated for a common DC home at 24V, 48V, and 110V DC, and compared to the 220V AC through the simulation. Power losses will be through the conversion and distribution. Based on the obtained results using American Wire Gauge AWG-6 for a single house, it is found that the efficiency of a 48V DC system is higher than that of 220V AC system. It is also found that the usage of 48V DC leads to better efficiency compared with that of other system. This states that the efficiency of the system will increase with increasing of the main bus voltage. At the rest of the paper, the installed capacity for a single house is evaluated at 10 KW per house and this is results in a 2 MWp total installed PV system for 200 houses. This installed capacity can produce 4344 GWh per year. The installed PV system could improve the Libyan grid by reducing losses. Moreover, the installed PV capacity saves around 592,956,000 LD yearly and prevents emission of 328.82 million kg, 5,408,890 million kg and, 4963617743 million kg from gas, heavy fuel, and light fuel respectively

The Extent of Including Geometric Thinking Levels in the Individualized Education Program from the Teachers' Perspective

ملخص: : هدفت هذه الدراسة الوصفية إلى الكشف عن مدى تضمين مستويات التفكير الهندسي في البرنامج التربوي الفردي من وجهة نظر معلمات برنامج صعوبات التعلم. وقد تكونت عينة الدراسة من 216 معلمة من مختلف المحافظات في سلطنة عُمان. حيث طُبق عليهنّ مقياس مستويات التفكير الهندسي الذي طُوّر وفق نموذج فان هيل. وقد تألف المقياس من 45 فقرة وزعت على خمسة مستويات (التصوري، والتحليلي، والاستدلالي غير الشكلي، والاستدلالي الشكلي، والتجريدي). وقد أشارت النتائج إلى أنّ مدى تضمين مستويات التفكير الهندسي في البرنامج التربوي الفردي جاء بمستوى متوسط على جميع مستويات المقياس. كما أشارت النتائج إلى وجود فروق ذات دلالة إحصائية في مستويات التفكير الهندسي الاستدلالي غير الشكلي، والاستدلالي الشكلي، والتجريدي وفق متغير المؤهل العلمي لصالح حملة البكالوريوس. كما أظهرت النتائج وجود فروق على جميع مستويات التفكير الهندسي وفق متغير الخبرة التدريسية لصالح فئة 10 سنوات فأقل. وقد أوصت الدراسة بتضمين موضوعات خاصة بالهندسة والتفكير الهندسي في البرنامج التربوي الفردي.Abstract: This descriptive study aimed at identifying the extent of including geometric thinking levels in the Individualized Education Program (IEP) from the teachers’ perspective of learning disabilities program. The sample of the study consisted of 216 female teachers from various governorates of the Sultanate of Oman. They responded on the scale of geometric thinking levels, which was developed according to Van Hiele Model. This scale consisted of 45 items distributed on 5 levels (visualization, analysis, informal deduction, formal deduction, and rigor). The results indicated that the extent of inclusion geometric thinking levels in IEP was on average. The results showed that there were statistically significant differences in informal deduction, formal deduction, and rigor according to qualification in favor of the bachelor's degree. Moreover, the results also showed that there were differences at all levels of geometric thinking according to teaching experience in favor of 10 years or less. The study recommended that topics related to geometry and geometric thinking be included in IEP

Wetlands for wastewater treatment and subsequent recycling of treated effluent : a review

Due to water scarcity challenges around the world, it is essential to think about non-conventional water resources to address the increased demand in clean freshwater. Environmental and public health problems may result from insufficient provision of sanitation and wastewater disposal facilities. Because of this, wastewater treatment and recycling methods will be vital to provide sufficient freshwater in the coming decades, since water resources are limited and more than 70% of water are consumed for irrigation purposes. Therefore, the application of treated wastewater for agricultural irrigation has much potential, especially when incorporating the reuse of nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorous, which are essential for plant production. Among the current treatment technologies applied in urban wastewater reuse for irrigation, wetlands were concluded to be the one of the most suitable ones in terms of pollutant removal and have advantages due to both low maintenance costs and required energy. Wetland behavior and efficiency concerning wastewater treatment is mainly linked to macrophyte composition, substrate, hydrology, surface loading rate, influent feeding mode, microorganism availability, and temperature. Constructed wetlands are very effective in removing organics and suspended solids, whereas the removal of nitrogen is relatively low, but could be improved by using a combination of various types of constructed wetlands meeting the irrigation reuse standards. The removal of phosphorus is usually low, unless special media with high sorption capacity are used. Pathogen removal from wetland effluent to meet irrigation reuse standards is a challenge unless supplementary lagoons or hybrid wetland systems are used

This House believes that considering the continuous quarantine and precautionary measures should be of a priority over lifting the restrictions to avoid the negative economic and social consequences

N

May Measurement Month 2018: a pragmatic global screening campaign to raise awareness of blood pressure by the International Society of Hypertension

Aims Raised blood pressure (BP) is the biggest contributor to mortality and disease burden worldwide and fewer than half of those with hypertension are aware of it. May Measurement Month (MMM) is a global campaign set up in 2017, to raise awareness of high BP and as a pragmatic solution to a lack of formal screening worldwide. The 2018 campaign was expanded, aiming to include more participants and countries. Methods and results Eighty-nine countries participated in MMM 2018. Volunteers (≥18 years) were recruited through opportunistic sampling at a variety of screening sites. Each participant had three BP measurements and completed a questionnaire on demographic, lifestyle, and environmental factors. Hypertension was defined as a systolic BP ≥140 mmHg or diastolic BP ≥90 mmHg, or taking antihypertensive medication. In total, 74.9% of screenees provided three BP readings. Multiple imputation using chained equations was used to impute missing readings. 1 504 963 individuals (mean age 45.3 years; 52.4% female) were screened. After multiple imputation, 502 079 (33.4%) individuals had hypertension, of whom 59.5% were aware of their diagnosis and 55.3% were taking antihypertensive medication. Of those on medication, 60.0% were controlled and of all hypertensives, 33.2% were controlled. We detected 224 285 individuals with untreated hypertension and 111 214 individuals with inadequately treated (systolic BP ≥ 140 mmHg or diastolic BP ≥ 90 mmHg) hypertension. Conclusion May Measurement Month expanded significantly compared with 2017, including more participants in more countries. The campaign identified over 335 000 adults with untreated or inadequately treated hypertension. In the absence of systematic screening programmes, MMM was effective at raising awareness at least among these individuals at risk