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It is extremely costly to care for elderly people who have suffered a serious fall. Thus, doctors welcome a device or method to identify people prone to falling, to reduce elderly health costs and enable those identified as “fallers” to take precautions. Recently, a Sound Wave Assessment (SWA) device was developed to determine if tested human subjects were prone to falling. It is based on the concept that all humans exhibit postural sway while standing stationarily. The device employs two sonar transducers, which emit and receive ultrasonic pulse signals. The first transducer is positioned on a tripod, while the second is attached to the lower back of the human subject. Each transducer emits ultrasonic modulation pulses, which are detected by the other transducer. The distance between the two transducers is calculated from the time taken for the pulses to travel from the sender to the receiver. Hence, we can measure the small displacement fluctuations of the standing human subject, both approaching and receding from a static transducer, as a function of time.

This work presents fundamental research in the field of algebra and the theory of number. The subject of the work is equations of Markov's type (the type of the equations introduced by me earlier which generalizes the classic equation of Markov (x2+y2+z2=3xyz)) of parabolic type with two unknown quantities and their genealogical trees. The following questions appeared when I was working on the equations of Markov's type and constructing genealogical trees to them: are there any other trees besides one for a certain equation; how to find all the genealogical trees for the equation of Markov's type; how to find all the integer solutions with the help of the genealogical trees. This work is devoted to the analysis of these questions. The aim of the work: to create the method of finding all the integer solutions of the equations of Markov's type of parabolic type. The tasks of the work: 1. Carrying out some experimental works to find all the genealogical trees for a concrete equation. 2. Formulating a hypothesis that the curve has a specific part. 3. Research the parabolic type in order to apply the hypothesis to it. 4. To formulate and prove the theorems about the necessary and sufficient conditions of the existence of the genealogical trees of the integer solutions of equations of Markov's type of parabolic type with two unknown quantities. As the result of the work all the tasks have been solved. I worked the method of finding all the integer solutions: : to find all the integer solutions by means finding all genealogical trees of the equations of Markov's type of parabolic type with two unknown quantities you need : 1. To investigate if there any integer solutions‧ a special part of the parabola (if it is a parabola)‧ a special part of the parallel lines (if it is a pair of the parallel lines) 2. To build a genealogical tree from every solution (if they exist). 3. All the integer solutions will be on the constructed trees. I also worked out a computer program which is based on the usage of this method.

These days we hardly see fireflies, the Milky way, and rainbow. What’s the reason of that?\r We think the reason is related to air pollution but the concrete reason is unknown to us. Thus the purpose of this research is to see the relation between air pollution and rainbow with Aerosol. In this research we approached in some ways about why rainbow didn't appear in polluted atmosphere.

BCH (Bnip-2 and Cdc42GAP homology) domains are a novel class of protein-interacting domains. First identified in BNIP2 and in Cdc42GAP, a GTPaseactivating-protein (GAP), canonical BCH domains play important and varied roles in the control of cell morphology and apoptosis induction, amongst others. However, this domain is currently classified under lipid-interacting sec14 domains due to low sequence identity (~20%). Given this intriguing similarity, the relationship between BCH and sec14 domains is worth further study. As BCH/sec14 domains are closely associated with cell signaling and human disease, characterization of these domains and the elucidation of their functional diversity could better aid our understanding of their cellular functions and disease pathogenesis.

a. Purpose of the research: Find a potential way to reduce the global warming, and develop a process for the lignocellulosic ethanol production using rice straw, which is an agricultural waste. b. Procedures: One of the greatest challenges for society in the 21st century is to meet the growing energy demand for transportation, heating and industrial processes. This significantly contributes to “Greenhouse Effect.” Rice straw is one of the lignocellulosic biomasses which are renewable organic substance and alternative source of energy. For the first time, rice straw was pretreated using autoclaving or a hypochlorite-hydrogen peroxide (Ox-B) solution, which is broadly used in potable water treatment. The pretreated rice straw was hydrolyzed with two kinds of enzymes: Cellulase and Spezyme. Following hydrolysis, Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Pichia stipitis were inoculated for ethanol production. c. Data: With the 5% Ox-B sample (initial sugar concentration was 5%), the final ethanol concentration was about 1.1%, is 87.3 % of stoichiometric and fermentation efficiency yield. Currently, we’re developing a new mutant, which can use glucose and xylose simultaneously, by using soft X-Ray. In conclusion, for the first time, rice straw was pretreated by using autoclaving or hypochlorite-hydrogen peroxide (Ox-B), solution which is broadly used in potable water treatment. The Ox-B solution treatment was an essential step for efficient hemicelluloase hydrolysis. Using 5% rice straw sugar, 1.1% ethanol was obtained. d. Conclusion: Further optimization study of fermentation process and strain improvement researches are in progress. We hope to see future cultivators to move through the energy of ethanol produced by rice straw. This project has a great emphasis towards understanding the importance of bio-energy and its nature.

Introduction The discovery of titania (TiO2) nanotubes suggests vast improvements over extant titania properties. Titania nanotubes are aligned in highly-ordered arrays with a large geometric surface area, making them the ideal material for many applications. However, the mechanism responsible for the growth rates of highly-ordered nanotubes with optimal adhesive properties is not fully explained or understood. Purpose of Research The aims of this project were threefold: to explore the effects of different anodizing parameters on the fabrication of titania nanotubes; to study the photocatalytic activity of the nanotubes; and to deposit gold nanoparticles into the nanotubes. Methodology Nanotube Fabrication: Titanium foil was subjected to potentiostatic anodization with the use of various fluorinebased electrolytes, anodization voltage and duration to compare the effects of different parameters. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to characterize the nanotube diameter and length of the anodized samples. Photo-electrochemica1 Water-splitting: A PEC cell was assembled using the nanotubes as the photoanode and the samples were anodically polarized in a 1M KOH electrolyte. A potentiostat was employed to control the applied bias and to measure the photocurrent response under light irradiation. Overall photoconversion efficiency (ηc) of the samples was then calculated. Catalyst Support: A gold precursor solution was prepared with HAuC14‧3H2O. Using a novel depositionprecipitation (DP) protocol, gold nanoparticles were deposited on the nanotubes. SEM was used to scan for traces of gold and their locations. Energy-Dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy was used to confirm the identity of the gold nanoparticles. Data and Discussion Nanotube Fabrication: Preliminary studies found the glycerol/water and glycerol/formamide combinations to be the most promising. In glycerol/water-based electrolytes, higher water content corresponded to a decrease in nanotube length while higher anodization voltage resulted in a significant increase in tube diameter and length. In glycerol/formamide-based electrolytes, higher water content corresponded to a decrease in nanotube diameter while higher fluorine concentration resulted in an increase in inter-tubular spacing. The effects of various fabrication parameters were better understood, contributing to greater control over array dimensions. Photo-electrochemical Water-splitting: A higher anodizaion voltage resulted in a significant improvement in photoconversion efficiency. However, this trend was reversed in chlorine-doped samples, where a longer anodization duration corresponded with better photoconversion efficiency. Doping was found to enhance the photoresponse of the samples, with 6.32 % photoconversion efficiency obtained, suggesting new strategies for light harvesting and a step closer towards commercially-viable solar energy. Catalyst Support: Gold nanoparticles (5-10 nm) were successfully deposited onto the titania nanotube samples. Based on current literature, this was the first successful attempt at depositing gold nanoparticles into titania nanotubes. An EDX spectrum confirmed the identity of the gold nanoparticles. Compared to current catalytic converters, the gold/titania nanotube structure offered a larger catalytic surface area for reactants and the ability to function at low temperatures. Conclusion: By understanding the effects of various parameters on titania nanotube fabrication, the anodization process can be optimized to enable more precise control over array dimensions. High photocatalytic efficiency has also been achieved. In addition, doping is found to improve the photoresponse of titania nanotubes. Gold nanoparticles have been deposited, to our knowledge for the first time, onto the surface and inner walls of titania nanotubes.

Table tennis the fastest ball sport in the world has become so fast that rallies have become\r very short. My investigation this year is a further study into slowing the game down. Last\r year I studied the effects the newly introduced 2mm larger ball had on the game. I\r concluded an average increase in rally length from 2.93 to 3.47 balls per rally passing the\r net. Although a 16% increase sounds large, it was an average of less than 1 ball per rally\r difference. I came up with another way to slow the game down my aim was to find out if\r increasing a table tennis net height will decrease spin, speed and increase control i.e. rally\r length and to find out what percentage extent each height level has on these factors. I\r wanted to be able to present a finding as to the optimum net height for the percentage\r increase in rally length that is desired.

The zebrafish (Danio rerio) is a popular model organism used for elucidating complex\r developmental pathways and processes. Although the Zebrafish Genome Project is\r nearing completion, the function of most genes remains to be discovered. In zebrafish,\r where an efficient gene targeting method is still absent, costly Morpholinos (MOs) have\r been widely used to ‘knockdown’ specific genes.

Deficiencies in clearance of apoptotic cells predispose to the development of autoimmune disease. This is evident in mice lacking the receptor tyrosine kinases Tyro3, Axl, and Mer that mediate uptake of apoptotic cells. Deficient mice exhibit an increased abundance of apoptotic cells in tissues and manifest diverse autoimmune conditions. To test these mice for the presence of autoantibodies to apoptotic cells, we generated spontaneous splenic B cell hybridomas and used microscopy to screen for clones reactive with apoptotic Jurkat cells. From hybridomas secreting IgG antibodies reactive with apoptotic cells, we selected one that recreated the major serum specificity for apoptotic cells. The antibody, LHC7.15, bound to an antigen that is differentially distributed between the nucleus and the cytoplasm in live and apoptotic cells. In late apoptotic cells, the antigen coalesces into aggregates that form blebs at the cell surface. Immunopurification of the antigen, followed by mass spectrometry, identifed a protein of 69kD whose partial sequence matched hnRNP P2. This multi-functional protein binds DNA, RNA, and several known RNP autoantigens. Our observations suggest that an RNP complex, formed and translocated to the cell surface in apoptosis, participates in the induction of linked sets of anti-RNP autoantibodies. Our results also implicate hnRNP P2 as a potential novel antigen involved in initiating and sustaining systemic autoimmune diseases.

To compare the habitat and physical\r differences of two burrowing scorpions, Opistophthalmus pugnax and\r the Opistophthalmus glabrifrons to be found in the Gauteng area\r (South Africa). Although these scorpions’ habitat overlaps, they don’t\r co-occur at the same site.