255 research outputs found
Effects of tuberculosis and HIV infection on whole-body protein metabolism during feeding, measured by the [15N]glycine method
No full textBackground: Tuberculosis (TB) and HIV infection are wasting diseases that frequently occur together and have severe consequences on nutritional status.Objective: The objective was to determine the effects of TB and HIV, separately and together, on protein metabolism.Design: Protein metabolism was determined in the fed state in 11 healthy control subjects, in 10 patients with HIV infection without TB or other active infection (HIV group), in 10 patients with active TB without HIV infection (TB group), and in 8 patients with HIV infection and active TB (HIVTB group) with the use of oral [15N]glycine and measurement of enrichment in urinary urea and ammonia.Results: Whole-body protein flux and degradation were lower in the HIV group than in the control group (mean flux: 3.53 ± 0.40 compared with 4.75 ± 0.97 g · kg lean body mass-1 · 12 h-1; P = 0.002). Protein flux, synthesis, and degradation were not significantly different between the control group and the TB and HIVTB groups. Net protein balance was strongly anabolic in the control, HIV, and TB groups but was neutral in the HIVTB group (P < 0.001 for comparison between groups).Conclusions: HIV infection was associated with a significant down-regulation of whole-body protein flux. TB alone was not associated with abnormal protein metabolism, but net anabolism in the fed state was impaired in the HIVTB group
怀旧与记忆 ：陈志锐的诗学记忆 = Nostalgia and memory : reading of Tan Chee Lay’s lyric poetics
No full textTan Chee Lay is one of Singapore’s widely known Singapore Chinese Literature author amongst the younger generations’ authors. He has written numerous works of different genres including poems, prose, novels and even picture books. Instead of focusing on Singapore’s rapid development, Tan Chee Lay chose to pay attention to the grassroots, with hope to portray a more diversified Singapore in his works. As such, “Nostalgia” is one of the main themes of his works.
Being one of the recent authors, research and resources about his works are limited. Hence, this paper aims to analyze the fictional works of Tan Chee Lay using theories such as “Nostalgia” and “Memories”. Identities, localism, diaspora and cultural identity will also be discussed. The cultural development of Singapore, especially during 1970s to 1990s, can be seen when those scattered pieces of memories in his works are pieced together. Through this, what seemed like personal memory can become a collective memory of one generation.
The emotions and feelings encompassed in his works derived mostly from the grassroot society that he once lived in. Though poor and undeveloped, that was a place that was full of meaning and humanity.
Other than analyzing solely on Tan Chee Lay’s fictional works, this paper will put the analysis in the context of Singapore Chinese Literature’s development over the years, so as to see the bridging between the writers of the earlier and younger generations. Critical analysis aside, this paper also explores the philosophical thoughts behind his lyrical works.Bachelor of Arts in Chines
Rationality, identity and choice: An ethical criticism of Dr Han Suyin’s autobiography / Florence Kuek Chee Wee
No full textWhen China was completely closed to the Western world between during the Cold War, namely, 1947 to 1991, China-born Eurasian author and physician Dr Han Suyin, who became British citizen and Swiss resident, was among the few who were allowed to visit China. Though controversial, her autobiographical accounts regarding 20th century China was quite notable. Her reconstructed modern Chinese history pointed to the birthing of a ―phoenix‖ namely, China, hinting on a new ethical order in East-West relations. Captured in her six-volume autobiography, namely The Crippled Tree series, the East-West conflicts also surfaced in the microcosm of Han Suyin‘s family history as well as her own identity search. Autobiographies are traditionally understood as means of self-redemption or self-validation of the respective autobiographers. In the case of Dr Han Suyin, it was an epistemological means to her self-knowledge and self-assertion. Having rejected her maiden name Rosalie, Han Suyin learned later that she was to embrace her dual-ethnicity after all. The adoption of the Chinese pseudonym ―Han Suyin‖ was one of her efforts to reconstruct her new identity. By revisiting the ethical issues in her family saga as well as the experience of the mixed-race individuals, Han Suyin went through the plethora of taboo, trauma, confusion, multiple ethical choices, plenty of dilemmas and a lifetime of soul-searching for a place where she could be home. The entire process of rejecting ―Rosalie,‖ accepting ―Rosalie‖ and thriving beyond ―Rosalie‖ was, nonetheless, the best reflection of her mode of survival in a series of debatable ethical choices. Moreover, her choices were in stark difference when compared with the choices made by her siblings and her Eurasian peers. This thesis chiefly employs Ethical Literary Criticism (ELC) in examining the various ethical dimensions in Han Suyin‘s autobiographical series
Local liquid crystal alignment on patterned micrograting structures photofabricated by two photon excitation direct laser writing
No full textThis article may be downloaded for personal use only. Any other use requires prior permission of the author and AIP Publishing. This article appeared in Chee Heng Lee, Hiroyuki Yoshida, Yusuke Miura, Akihiko Fujii, and Masanori Ozaki, Appl. Phys. Lett. 93, 173509 (2008) and may be found at https://doi.org/10.1063/1.2952765.The authors demonstrate local alignment of nematic liquid crystal through the fabrication of local micrograting structures by curing an ultraviolet curable material via a two-photon excitation laser-lithography process. A local twisted-nematic region was prepared using one rubbed and one fabricated micrograting surface and the resulting cell was observed with a polarizing optical microscope. The polarization optical micrographs of the locally fabricated region suggest that liquid crystal molecules align parallel to the grating structure and that local alignment is achieved. We evaluate the anchoring energies of the fabricated microgratings by the torque balance method
Combinatorial complexity of signed discs
No full textLet and be two collections of topological discs of
arbitrary radii. The collection of discs is `topological' in the
sense that their boundaries are Jordan curves and each pair of Jordan
curves intersect at most twice. We prove that the region has combinatorial complexity at most where
, and . Moreover, this bound is
achievable. We also show bounds that are stated as functions of
and . These are less precise.Technical report LCSR-TR-19
Implementation of environmental life cycle assessment model in organic municipal solid waste management in Malaysia / Ng Chee Guan
No full textOrganic Municipal Solid Waste (OMSW) generation in Malaysia is overwhelming and
most of the waste generated ended up in the waste stream to be disposed in landfills.
However, there has been minimal research on the comprehensive evaluation of the
Malaysian OMSW management system from environmental perspective despite priority
being given to increase recycling rate and composting of OMSW by the Malaysian
government. The main aim of the thesis is to study the environmental benefits of
OMSW management. The objectives include: (1) to determine the characteristics and
elemental composition of OMSW generated in Malaysia; (2) to provide a
comprehensive Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) of medium scale co-composting of OMSW;
(3) to evaluate environmental impacts and benefits associated with alternative OMSW
management system; and (4) to quantify the total CO2 equivalent reduction potential
from OMSW recycling via composting as compared to landfilling (Business-as-Usual)
in Peninsular Malaysia. A comprehensive Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) of medium scale
co-composting of OMSW was carried out based on comprehensive field studies.
Substance Flow Analysis of C, N, P, K, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni and Pb were carried out by using
STAN 2.5 software. The inputs and outputs of OMSW composting process were also
recorded. The life cycle environmental impacts from alternative OMSW management
system were evaluated based on ISO 14000 series. The total CO2 equivalent reduction
potential from OMSW recycling via composting as compared to landfilling was
assessed through scenarios comparison in accordance to Malaysian municipal solid
waste management strategic plan. The LCI of medium-scale co-composting of OMSW
in tropical environment was presented. The C/N reduction during the process was in the
range of 10-23%. In general, the compost composition was considered to be within the
ranges previously reported in literature. Heavy metals were found to remain in the
finished compost where the release of heavy metal to atmosphere is insignificant. No
iv
major environmental problems were identified from the OMSE composting process,
except for the emissions of GHGs. LCA studies revealed that anaerobic digestion is the
most environmentally sound management for OMSW with net environmental gain
whereas disposal of OMSW at landfill are generally less environmental favourable. This
study also highlights the importance of decomposition emissions control during OMSW
composting, particularly CH4, N2O and NH3. OMSW diversion from disposal created
significant climate change benefits in term of net GHG emissions reduction. The current
study reveals that an additional of 21% GHG emissions reduction including the
recycling of OMSW via composting in all sectors, on top of 25.5% GHG emission
reduction from Malaysia waste by increasing the recycling rate to 22% as reported by
previous study. A knowledge-based goal-oriented OMSW management study is
necessary to analyse the state-of-art of OMSW management in Malaysia and direct it
towards fulfilling the main goals of waste management. The results provide information
of all significant inputs and outputs in the form of elementary flow to and from the
environment from OMSW management involved. Based on the experience of SFA in
the present study, the emissions quantified are likely to be in agreement with that from
previous studies. Hence, author agrees and advocates that SFA is able to be integrated
with LCI and eventually LCIA studies upon OMSW management sector in Malaysia
Price Discovery in Real Estate Auctions: The Story of Unsuccessful Attempts
No full textLittle is known of the effects of the auction mechanism in relation to post-auction market sales. This empirical study of unsuccessful auctions shows that approximately half of these properties were eventually sold via private negotiations, at higher prices relative to last bids. The probability of a subsequent post-auction transaction is significantly higher for apartments and terrace houses and when auction turnout is high; and lower in the absence of any bid and in some years. In addition, downward revisions to the opening bid improve the probability of subsequent sale. Prices of subsequent re-auctioned and privately negotiated sales decline with time to sale, consistent with the search process explanation.
Clash of the Titans : impact of convergence and divergence on digital media
No full textThesis (S.M.M.O.T.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sloan School of Management, Management of Technology Program, 2003.Includes bibliographical references (leaves 150-153).This electronic version was submitted by the student author. The certified thesis is available in the Institute Archives and Special Collections.In last decade, the world was bewildered by the dazzling array of choices and offerings of digital technology. While digital convergence has created new possibilities in digital media, it has also created great uncertainty, fragmentation and threats to traditional media. This blossoming of innovations, as I will examine in this thesis, originates not only from the conversion of analog media into the digital domain, but more from a convergence of industries which results in a clash of technologies and cultures. This thesis explores the phenomenon of digital convergence and divergence and examines their impact on digital media. The questions this thesis seeks to answer are: What exactly is digital convergence? Is digital technology a kind of unifying glue as some may claim, or is it turning out to be a catalyst for greater differentiation? What kinds of dynamics will emerge when traditional industries play in each other's familiar turfs? And what kinds of strategies should digital media producers adopt in response? Observations seem to point towards a trend of initial chaos, greater divergence and severe technological fragmentation in the market. However, in that light, the results of this study suggest that collaboration between industry players to establish common standards, as well as the production of content to fit the locality, context and the consumption experience will be the keys to success in the world of digital convergence.by William Chee-Leong Lee.S.M.M.O.T
Tunable single photonic defect-mode in cholesteric liquid crystals with laser-induced local modifications of helix
No full textThis article may be downloaded for personal use only. Any other use requires prior permission of the author and AIP Publishing. This article appeared in Hiroyuki Yoshida, Chee Heng Lee, Akihiko Fujii, and Masanori Ozaki, Appl. Appl. Phys. Lett. 89, 231913 (2006) and may be found at https://doi.org/10.1063/1.2400070.The authors demonstrate a tunable single photonic defect-mode in a single cholesteric liquid crystal material based on a structural defect introduced by local modification of the helix. An unpolymerized region of cholesteric liquid crystal acting as the defect was left between two polymerized regions via a two-photon excitation laser-lithography process. Upon polymerization, the cholesteric liquid crystal helix elongated and became thermally stable, and a single photonic defect mode was exhibited due to the contrast in the helix pitch at the defect. The defect mode showed tunability upon heating, and a 36nm redshift was seen over a temperature range of 30℃. The authors thank Merck KGaA for the PChLC materials. This work is partly supported by a Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan
Ethics of the self as an aesthetics of existence in Wharton's "The house of mirth" and "The age of innocence"
No full textMost Edith Wharton scholars have argued The House of Mirth1 (1905) and The Age of Innocence2 (1920) to be naturalist novels interwoven with and based upon socio-economic determinism. Feminist critics, such as Judith Fetterley and Cynthia Griffin Wolff, have depicted Lily Bart in The House of Mirth as a victim of patriarchal society; meanwhile, Marxist critics like Wai-Chee Dimock have been preoccupied with the omnipresent power of the marketplace in the novel. In the case of The Age of Innocence, the criticism has often focused on Wharton's usage of the tribal world of manners as the determining and inescapable force in an individual's life.3 This thesis will engage in reading The House of Mirth and The Age of Innocence as naturalist novels with an emphasis on the notion of human conduct and ethics
- …
