Classical W-gravities and the corresponding quantum theories are reviewed. W-gravities are higher-spin gauge theories in two dimensions whose gauge algebras are W-algebras. The geometrical structure of classical W-gravity is investigated, leading to surprising connections with self-dual and special geometry. The anomalies that arise in quantum W-gravity are discussed, with particular attention ...

objective(s) theophylline, a xanthenes derivative, is still widely used as an effective bronchodilator in the management of asthmatic patients. it is used both as a prophylactic drug and to prevent acute exacerbations of asthma. the aim of study was to formulate and evaluate effect of the microencapsulation of theophylline loaded nanoparticles on the reduction of burst release. materials and me...

We develop an approach to fabricate monodisperse water-in-water-in-water (w/w/w) double emulsion in microfluidic devices. A jet of aqueous solution containing two incompatible solutes, dextran and polyethylene glycol (PEG), is periodically perturbed into water-in-water (w/w) droplets. By extracting water out of the w/w droplet, the solute concentrations in the droplet phase increase; when the c...

For her love, support and sense of humor. iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This work could not have been completed without the help of many people. My advisor, Ellen Zegura, has been a constant source of motivation. Her ability to cut to the core of complex issues has never ceased to surprise and inspire me. Matt Sanders and Russ Clark have provided much appreciated friendship and stimulating discussion. M...

Introduction. The problems encountered in building a driver assistance system are numerous. The collection of information about real environment by sensors is erroneous and incomplete. When the sensors are mounted on a moving observer it is difficult to find out whether a detected motion was caused by ego-motion or by an independent object moving. The collected data can be analyzed by several a...