Polarbear is a ground-based experiment located in the Atacama desert of northern Chile. The experiment is designed to measure the Cosmic Microwave Background B-mode polarization at several arcminute resolution. The CMB B-mode polarization on degree angular scales is a unique signature of primordial gravitational waves from cosmic in ation and B-mode signal on sub-degree scales is induced by the gravitational lensing from large-scale structure. Science observations began in early 2012 with an array of 1,274 polarization sensitive antenna-couple Transition Edge Sensor (TES) bolometers at 150 GHz. We published the first CMB-only measurement of the B-mode polarization on sub-degree scales induced by gravitational lensing in December 2013 followed by the first measurement of the B-mode power spectrum on those scales in March 2014. In this proceedings, we review the physics of CMB B-modes and then describe the Polarbear experiment, observations, and recent results.

We present our recent observations of SDSS J102102.25+174439.9, a new eclipsing white dwarf - main sequence WDMS binary with an orbital period of 0.14 days. This system belongs to the post common- envelope binary group as shown by the spectrum from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey. We obtained our data using the ULTRASPEC instrument installed on the 2.4-m telescope at the Thai National Observatory (TNO). Our multi-band observations reveal an unusual and persistent drop in brightness after the primary eclipse. These dips, which appear to show variations in amplitude, also have a complex shape that changes within days. Dips in WDMS systems have been observed on only one other occasion, in the light curve of QS Vir prior to the eclipse of the white dwarf. The dips in SDSS J1021+1744 are unique because they are present at dierent wavelengths and they occur approximately at similar phases. Hosting a DA white dwarf and an M4 companion star, this system is known to be the only WDMS to show these kind of dips in its light curve. It is possible that these dips are caused by ejected materials from an active companion star, such as in QS Vir. The light curve in the g0 lter exhibits deep and narrow features, implying that the material which passes in front of the white dwarf in SDSS J1021 must be dense and small in size. Furthermore, we try to constrain the stellar and orbital parameters of SDSS J1021+1744 using the Binary Maker 3 software. We use g' and r' data for our light curve analysis to have a better approximation for the red dwarf star.

The magnitude of wear should be at a minimum for numerous automobile and aeronautical components. In the current work, composites were prepared by varying the cenosphere content using the conventional stir casting method. A uniform distribution of particles was ensured with the help of scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Three major parameters were chosen from various factors that affect the wear. A wear test was conducted with a pin-on-disc apparatus; the controlling parameters were volume percentages of reinforcement of 5, 10, 15, and 20%, applied loads of 9.8, 29.42, and 49.03 N, and sliding speeds of 1.26, 2.51, and 3.77 m/s. The design of the experiments (DOE) was performed by varying the different influencing parameters using the full factorial method. An analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to analyze the effects of the parameters on the wear rate. Using regression analysis, a response curve was obtained based on the experimental results. The parameters in the resulting curve were optimized using the Genetic Algorithm (GA). The GA results were compared with those of an alternate efficient algorithm called Neural Networks (NNs).

In the tanker industry, there are a lot of uncertain conditions that tanker companies have to deal with.For example, the global financial crisis and economic recession, the increase of bunker fuel prices and global climate change. Such conditions have forced tanker companies to change tankers speed from full speed to slow speed, extra slow speed and super slow speed. Due to such conditions, the objective of this paper is to present a methodology for determining vessel speeds of tankers that minimize the cost of the vessels under such conditions. The four levels of vessel speed in the tanker industry will be investigated and will incorporate a number of uncertain conditions. This will be done by developing a scientific model using a rule-based Bayesian reasoning method. The proposed model has produced 96 rules that can be used as guidance in the decision making process. Such results help tanker companies to determine the appropriate vessel speed to be used in a dynamic operational environmental.

Many observations have found evidence of the presence of a large number of heavily obscured Active Galactic Nuclei (AGNs). However, the nature of this population is only poorly understood because heavy obscuration by dust prevents one from finding them at optical wavelengths. Mid-infrared AGN searches can overcome this obstacle by penetrating through dust and by detecting direct emission from the dust torus. Thus, we can identify most of the AGN population, including type-2 and buried AGNs. Using the AKARI mid-infrared all-sky survey, we performed an AGN search in the nearby universe. Utilizing the 2MASS photometry, we selected mid-infrared-excess sources and carried out near-infrared spectroscopic observations in the AKARI Phase 3. During these follow-up observations, we have found three galaxies that show strong near-infrared red continuum from hot dust with a temperature of about 500 K, but do not show any AGN features in other wavelengths. The most suitable explanation of near-infrared continuum is the presence of central AGNs. Therefore, we conclude that they are AGNs obscured by dust. We performed X-ray observations of the two galaxies with SUZAKU. No detections in the 0.4-10 keV suggest that the column density may be much higher than NH=1023.5cm−2 . Comparing the masses of the host galaxies with those of the SDSS AGNs, we find that the host galaxies of the dusty AGNs discovered with AKARI are less massive populations than those of optically selected AGNs.

A nuclear, biological, chemical (NBC) canister was indigenously developed using active carbon impregnated with ammoniacal salts of copper (II), chromium (VI) and silver (I), and high efficiency particulate aerosol filter media. The NBC canister was evaluated against carbon tetra chloride (CCl4) vapours, which were used as a simulant for persistent chemical warfare agents under dynamic conditions for testing breakthrough times of canisters of gas masks in the National Approval Test of Respirators. The effects of CCl4 concentration, test flow rate, temperature, and relative humidity (RH) on the breakthrough time of the NBC canister against CCl4 vapour were also studied. The impregnated carbon that filled the NBC canister was characterized for surface area and pore volume by N2 adsorption-desorption isotherm at liquid nitrogen temperature. The study clearly indicated that the NBC canister provides adequate protection against CCl4 vapours. The breakthrough time decreased with the increase of the CCl4 concentration and flow rate. The variation in temperature and RH did not significantly affect the breakthrough behaviour of the NBC canister at high vapour concentration of CCl4, whereas the breakthrough time of the NBC canister was reduced by an increase of RH at low CCl4 vapour concentration.

During a 3-year period (2001-2004) 18 animals were surgically treated because of abdominal wall defects (hernia). Out of 18 animals 8 were bovines, 5 caprines and 5 canines. In each case the defect was bridged with carbon fibres. Carbon fibres were placed either in simple interrupted pattern or as mattress overlapping pattern. All the cases were successfully treated and no complication was observed up to six months postoperatively.

To find out the possible inefficiencies of artificial inseminators at rectovaginal insemination in cows, inseminators' skill were evaluated by controlling the semen thawing procedure adopted and by using the technique of dye deposition in the genital tract of slaughtered cows. This was followed by refreshment training for the inseminators. Thirty seven artificial insemination technicians regularly working in the government, cooperative and NGO (Non Government Organization) artificial insemination programmes at different places of Bangladesh were included in the study. Individual technicians were asked to thaw a semen straw and deposit dye in the genital tract of slaughtered cows following the procedures they would have adopted in their actual practices of insemination. The time and water temperature adopted by technicians were recorded and genital tract after sham artificial insemination was dissected to determine the site of dye deposition. Then, the inseminators took part in a three days intensive training program. The training program was ended up with the same tests for thawing frozen semen straw and dye deposition in the genital tract of slaughtered cows. At pre training evaluation, only inseminators adopted co..ect thawing time and temperature, respectively. At post training evaluation, all inseminators thawed semen straws for proper time and temperature. At pretraining evaluation, inseminators deposited dye at the body of uterus, in the vagina or in cervix, and into the horn of uterus, respectively. In cases dye did not pass into the genital tract, instead back flowed through the space between the barrel of insemination gun and sheath. At post training evaluation, all inseminators successfully deposited dye in the body of uterus. Frequent evaluation of inseminators' skill and subsequent training would help improvement of the artificial insemination technicians' skill.

The Cosmic Evolution Survey (COSMOS) is a Hubble Space Telescope (HST) treasury project. The COSMOS aims to perform a 2 square degree imaging survey of an equatorial field in I(F814W) band, using the Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS). Such a wide field survey, combined with ground-based photometric and spectroscopic data, is essential to understand the interplay between large scale structure, evolution and formation of galaxies and dark matter. In 2004, we have obtained high-quality, broad band images of the COSMOS field (B, V, r', i', and z') using Suprime-Cam on the Subaru Telescope, and we have started our new optical multi-band program, COSMOS-21 in 2005. Here, we present a brief summary of the current status of the COSMOS project together with contributions from the Subaru Telescope. Our future Subaru program, COSMOS-21, is also discussed briefly.

The objective of this study was to examine the effect of EGF on meiotic maturation and pronuclear (PN) formation of porcine oocytes. Prepubertal gilt cumulus-oocyte-complexes (COCs) aspirated from 2~6mm follicles of abbatoir ovaries were matured in TCM199 containing 0.1mg/ml cysteine, 0.5㎍/ml FSH and LH, and EGF (0, 5, 10, 20, 40 ng/ml) for 22 hr at 39℃ in a humidified atmosphere of 5% CO2 in air. They were then cultured for an additional 22hr without hormones. In Experiment 1, to examine the nuclear maturation at 44hr of culture, the expanded cumulus cells were removed by vortexing for 1 min in 3 mg/ml hyaluronidase. The oocytes were fixed in acetic acid: methanol (1:3, v/v) at least for 48 hr and stained with 1% orcein solution for 5 min. Nuclear status was classified as germinal vesicle (GV), germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD), prophase-metaphase I (PI-MI), and PII-MII under microscope. In Experiment 2, to investigate PN formation, oocytes were fertilized with Percoll-treated freshly ejaculated sperm (1 x10 5 cells/ml) in mTBM with 0.3% BSA and 2mM caffeine for 5hr, and cultured in NCSU-23 medium with 0.4% BSA. At 6hr of culture, the embryos were fixed in 3.7% formaldehyde for 48hr and stained with 10ug/ml propidium iodide for 30 min. PN status was classified as no or one PN (unfertilized), 2 PN (normal fertilized) and ≥3 PN (polyspermy). Differences between groups were analyzed using one-way ANOVA after arc-sine transformation of the proportional data. The rate of oocytes that had reached to PII-MII were significantly (P<0.05) higher in all groups added EGF than that of non-treated group (67%), but it did not differ among the all added groups (86%, 85%, 79% and 81%, in 5, 10, 20 and 40 ng/ml EGF, respectively). No differences on the incidence of 2PN were observed in all treated groups (25%, 30%, 33%, 29% and 29%, in 0, 5, 10, 20 and 40 ng/ml EGF, respectively), however, in non-treated group, polyspermy tended to be increased (66% vs 58%, 54%, 52% and 55%, 0 vs. 5, 10, 20, 40 ng/ml EGF, respectively). These results suggest that EGF can be effectively used as an additive for enhancing oocyte maturation and reducing the incidence of polyspermy in pig.