Increases in intracellular Ca2+ concentration accompany many physiological events, including maturation of dendritic cells, professional antigen-presenting cells characterized by their ability to migrate to secondary lymphoid organs where they initiate primary immune responses. The mechanism and molecules involved in the early steps of Ca2+ release in dendritic cells have not yet been defined. Here we show that the concomitant activation of ryanodine receptor-induced Ca2+ release together with the activation of Toll-like receptors by suboptimal concentrations of microbial stimuli provide synergistic signals, resulting in dendritic cell maturation and stimulation of T cell functions. Furthermore, our results show that the initial intracellular signaling cascade activated by ryanodine receptors is different from that induced by activation of Toll-like receptors. We propose that under physiological conditions, especially when low suboptimal amounts of Toll-like receptor ligands are present, ryanodine receptor-mediated events cooperate in bringing about dendritic cell maturation.


Reliable, technically not demanding, electrophysiological tests make it possible to diagnose the ulnar entrapment neuropathy at the elbow. Ulnar nerve was stimulated supramaximally at the wrist, below and above the elbow, and in the upper arm, and the sensory nerve action potential (SNAP) and compound muscle action potential (CMAP) were recorded. Sensory and motor nerve conduction velocities (SNCVs, MNCVs) were calculated in each segment. In 12 of 64 symptomatic extremities of 44 patients with a presumptive diagnosis of the ulnar neuropathy at the elbow MNCVs of all segments were within normal limit and only SNCV across the elbow was significantly slowed (p less than 0.001). In 25 extremities of the patients SNAP was not obtained. Evidence of denervation in the first dorsal interosseous and abductor digiti minimi muscles was detected in about 50% hands tested. This percentage was higher in the hands with absence of SNAP than those with presence of SNAPs. It would appear that measurement of SNCV across the elbow is a more sensitive parameter to detect abnormal conduction across the cubital tunnel in patients with the ulnar neuropathy.


Effects of chlorhydrate of Ketamine upon CSF pressure were studied in 10 patients with different intracranial pathology. In opposition to the results of other authors, in 5 patients there was no increase of pressure after the drug was applied. This difference is ascribed to the individual pathology of the patients studied, emphasizing that 4 of them were bearers of a diffuse vascular encephalopathy with intelectual damage, added to an acute vascular accident in 3 cases. For these reasons, it is presumed that a deficient auto-regulation of cerebral circulation, with diminished vasomotor reactivity, is reasponsible for the absence of hypertension after application of the drug. The study of the variations of cerebrospinal fluid pressure after chlorhydrate of Ketamine is applied may enable to measure the efficiency of the mechanisms of auto-regulation in any determined patient.


Summary Previous studies on the inhibitory action of pretreatment of rats with 3-methylcholanthrene (MC) and other polycyclic hydrocarbons on the hepatic dimethylnitrosamine demethylase were extended. Experiments to test the presence of an endogenous inhibitor or inactivator of the demethylase in the cytoplasm of liver pretreated with MC yielded negative results. Kinetic studies showed considerable decrease in the Vmax and no alteration in the Km of the demethylase following MC administration. This suggests that the decrease of activity is due to a reduction of the amount of enzyme in microsomal preparations from hydrocarbon-pretreated rats. Phenobarbital inhibits dimethylnitrosamine demethylation, although to a lesser extent than MC. Prolonged repeated treatment of sexually immature female rats with high doses of 17α-methyltestosterone evokes no change in demethylase activity. MC brings about the same inhibition in young adult males and females, and this inhibition is quantitatively similar to that observed in immature male rats. When the hydrocarbon is administered to rats along with actinomycin D or puromycin, the inhibitory effects on demethylation are additive. This appears to rule out the possibility that MC acts at the same target as these antibiotics. The totality of the available data suggests that MC (and other polycyclic hydrocarbons) possibly turns off the gene(s) coding for dimethylnitrosamine demethylase.


To investigate the attributes of seed germination of the plants for greening of river bank slope, low-temperature treatment, chemical treatment, plant hormones treatment, and stratification were conducted using the seeds of 6 herbs growing naturally around river banks, such as Setaria glauca and faberii, Imperata cylindrica var. koenigii, Miscanthus sinensis, Pennisetum alopecuroides, Lespedeza cuneata and the seeds of 3 shrubs, such as Lespedeza bicolor., Rosa multiflora, Spiraea prunifolia for. simpliciflora. The findings are as follows. In case of herbs, Setaria glauca and faberii. have stone seeds. In the treatment with , they were germinated through dormancy breaking, even though there were some differences depending on immersion time, and the germination rate of Setaria faberii was a bit higher than that of Setaria glauca. The germination rate of Imperata cylindrica var. koenigii was low in the treatment with , NAA, and the plant hormone, but the seed germination rate has improved and the germination rate of Miscanthus sinensis and Pennisetum alopecuroides showed the improved seed germination rate in low temperature treatment. In case of Lespedeza cuneata and bicolor, the leguminous plants, the treatment with was most effective for the improvement of seed germination and the decrease in germination time. Only Spiraea prunifolia for. simpliciflora, the rose among 3 woody plants showed the seed germination rate above 50% without any additional treatment. Thus, it was thought to be appropriate for greening. Rosa multiflora showed the attribute of germination in a dark condition at low temperature through stratification, despite its low germination rate. Based on the results as above, with respect to the greening using directly collected seeds, Miscanthus sinensis, Pennisetum alopecuroides, and Spiraea prunifolia for. simpliciflora are suitable for greening, because they do not need any additional treatment, and Lespedeza cuneata and bicolor are also suitable for greening because it is possible to improve the germination rate and reduce the germination time through the treatment on the seeds before sowing.


This paper investigates the effects of military and non-military public expenditures on gross private investment using cointegration and error-correction analysis. The latter type of public spending is disagreggated into expenditures of infrastructure, consumption and other general government expenditures. The empirical evidence from four emerging European countries namely, Greece, Ireland, Portugal and Spain suggests that in some cases public capital spending stimulates investment, while in others it depresses it. Also, the results tentatively indicate that defence spending exerts no influence on private investment, thus adding to the ongoing controversy of the economic effects of military spending.


The invention relates to a fuel injection valve, specially a fuel injection valve for fuel injection systems in internal combustion engines. The inventive device has a pump piston (7) which is driven by a piezo-electric or magnetostrictive actuator (2) to create translational pump movement. An injector nozzle (70) with at least one injection opening (7) is hydraulically connected to the pump piston by a fuel pressure line (60). The fuel injector nozzle (70) opens when the fuel pressure produced by the pump piston (7) in the fuel pressure line (60) exceeds a given threshold value. At least one non-return valve (61) opening in the direction of the injector nozzle (70) and closing in the opposite direction is arranged in the fuel pressure line (60).


It is well known that chaotic dynamical systems have the sensitive dependence on initial conditions (SDIC). Unfortunately, numerical noises (such as truncation error and round-off error) always exist in practice. Thus, due to the SDIC, long-term accurate prediction of chaotic dynamical systems is practically impossible. In this paper, using the so-called "clean numerical simulation" (CNS) whose numerical noises might be much smaller even than micro-level physical uncertainty and thus are negligible, we gain accurate prediction of a chaotic dynamical system in a long enough interval of time. Then, based on these reliable simulations, the influence of numerical noises on statistic computations is investigated. It is found that the influence of numerical noises is negligible when statistic results are time-independent. Unfortunately, when the statistics of a chaotic dynamical system are time-dependent, numerical noises have a great influence even on statistic computations.


Abstract— Rats treated with monocrotaline (MCT) develop pulmonary hypertension. Their right ventricles (RVs) exhibit severe pressure overload-induced hypertrophy, whereas the left ventricles (LVs) are normally loaded. In contrast, enhanced neuroendocrine stimulation during the transition to heart failure affects both ventricles. We assessed gene expression levels of Ca2+-regulating proteins in RVs and LVs of control and MCT rats in transition to heart failure to identify biomechanical load-regulated genes. In MCT RVs, both mRNA and protein levels of the Ca2+-ATPase of the sarcoplasmic/endoplasmic reticulum (SERCA2a) were reduced by 36% (P =0.001) and 17% (P =0.016), respectively, compared with control RVs. Phospholamban and ryanodine receptor mRNA levels likewise were reduced (by 27% [P =0.05] and 21% [P =0.011], respectively) in MCT RVs, whereas sarcolemmal Na+-Ca2+ exchanger expression was not altered. MCT LVs exhibited no significant expression changes compared with control LVs. Isometrically contracting MCT intact RV trabeculae showed enhanced baseline force development. Although control RV preparations exhibited a positive force-frequency relationship, MCT RVs showed a negative force-frequency relationship and blunted postrest potentiation. Contractile function of MCT LV trabeculae was normal. Maximum Ca2+-activated tension was enhanced by 64% in permeabilized RV MCT preparations (P =0.013). &bgr;-Myosin heavy chain protein was upregulated in MCT RVs (P <0.001) but unaltered in MCT LVs. Degradation of troponin T was prominent in MCT RVs, a phenomenon not observed in the LV. Enhanced biomechanical load is necessary to induce the gene expression changes associated with the hypertrophic phenotype of the pressure-overloaded RV. Neuroendocrine factors, which equally affect both chambers, are not sufficient to alter the expression of Ca2+-cycling proteins.


This paper aims to present the results of a taxonomic study with the fossil Neuroptera from the Crato Member, Santana Formation, Lower Cretaceous from Araripe Basin, Ceara, Brazil. Based on these results, it is proposed the following new taxa: Nuddsia repatriata n. sp. (Osmylidae), Neurastenyx conani n. sp. (Palaeoleontidae), Diegopteryx raptorius n. gen. et n. sp. (Araripeneuridae, Cratopteryxinae n. subfam.), and Putzneura parcimoniosa n. gen. et n. sp. (Psychopsidae). The new taxa attests the success of the Neuroptera in equatorial areas of Gondawana during the end of Mesozoic, similar to that reached in Northern Hemisphere, which is valid mainly to the Psychopsidae from Brazil, that show big-size and conspicuous colour patterns, intense pubescence, and it is associated to other endemic forms. Key words: Neuroptera, Santana Formation, Araripe Basin, Lower Cretaceous, Brazil.


Automatic reconstruction of unknown 3-D objects has been of great importance in the areas of machine vision, object recognition, and automatic modeling. In this paper, a new planning approach of generating 3-D models automatically is proposed. The new algorithm incorporates the limit visual surfaces of unknown model which are obtained according to both of the known object boundary knowledge and the visual region of the vision system and selects the suitability of viewpoints as the next best view on scanning coverage. The limit visual surfaces are used to predict the maximal information of unknown model and then the visibility criterion of next viewpoint is determined. And the position which can obtain the maximal visual surface area is defined as the next best view position. The reconstruction result of real model with proposed method show the efficiency in practical implementation.


Educators and students must reclaim the role that education has historically played in developing critical literacies and civic capacities. Critical pedagogy can inspire and energize, and challenge the growing number of antidemocratic practices and policies. As Transformations has been making clear for twenty-five years, pedagogy is a moral and political practice that is always implicated in power relations because it offers particular versions and visions of civic life, community, and the future. Democracy should be a way of thinking about education, and education can rescue democracy.


Rivermen examines the mythic context and psychological dimensions of the river and its source through an investigation of the recurring motifs associated with the source in classical and English literature -the heroic quest, the river journey, and the naiad or muse. Frederic Colwell focuses on the writings of those redoubtable rivermen, the English Romantic poets. He explores poems by Wordsworth, Coleridge, Keats, and Shelley, showing that the image of the river is used in their work as a compelling archetype and a metaphor for the nature and process of the creative impulse. From the preface: "Unlike the rhythms of oceans, rivers have direction and a purposive flow. The river's will is always its own, not laid down by man, for whom the river passage demands a surrender to its will, its currents and eddies. To move with the flow is to course with time and change; to stand astride or view it from a height offers the prophetic stance by which we contemplate its entire passage, its past, present, and the brightening waters or rippling shoals ahead."


In this paper, we present and detail a multifunctional itemset mining algorithm called Zart, which is based on the Pascal algorithm. Zart shows a number of additional features and performs the following, usually independent, tasks: identify frequent closed itemsets and associate generators to their closures. This makes Zart a complete algorithm for computing classes of itemsets including generators and closed itemsets. These characteristics allow one to extract minimal non-redundant association rules, a useful and lossless representation of association rules. In addition, being based on the Pascal algorithm, Zart has a rather efficient behavior on weakly and strongly correlated data. Accordingly, Zart is at the heart of the Coron platform, which is a domain independent, multi-purposed data mining platform, incorporating a rich collection of data mining algorithms.


What social network structure enables a process of institutional emergence? This article combines a longitudinal network analysis of investments and cross-sectional interviews of stakeholders in the context of a regional development program to answer this question. Piloted by a Sovereign Development Fund (SDF), the program attracted US$ 50bn of investments between 2006 and 2015 in a region previously ignored by investors. We show that the SDF's dual identity as 'Government Representative' and 'International Finance Agent' provided the SDF an opportunity to spur a new institutional logic and engender a new pattern of interactions between actors. The network of co-investments that resulted was a unique shape. The SDF was not a broker, nor was it at the center of a star network. Instead, the SDF controlled several 'child companies' that were each at the center of their own star network. The SDF therefore dances with several stars: It trains them, gets access to different fields through them, and lets them "shine" as they adapt to their given context. We conclude that influence, multivocality and experimentation are three essential steps to institutional emergence.


In 2012, the Electronics Systems Engineering Technology program at Texas A&M University went through a major curriculum revision. This revision was primarily to create a strong emphasis in intelligent product and system development that spanned many industry sectors including automotive, healthcare, oil and gas, communications, and quality of life. During the revision process, the faculty surveyed industry and, based on need, added both required and technical elective courses to the curriculum. One of these courses was a technical elective in the area of communication electronics. This course was recommended because many students are hired by companies that manage their own communications infrastructure, that consult and maintain communication systems for customers, and that manufacture and provide communication equipment. The course was developed in the Summer of 2013 and has been delivered twice, once in Fall 2013 and again in Spring 2014. The communication electronics course is offered as an elective and covers both basic communication concepts as well the implementation of these concepts in hardware and software. One of the unique aspects of the course is the teaching format. In 2013, the College began an initiative to double its enrollment over a period of about ten years. As part of this initiative, departments have been asked to find novel teaching approaches that allow for increased capacity without sacrificing quality of instruction. From this standpoint, a hands-on laboratory is one of the primary distinguishing components of engineering technology education and is also one of the major limiting factors to throughput. This course was the perfect opportunity to investigate methods for offering a laboratory component without the requirement for a multiple, two to three hour, facility intensive laboratory sections. To this end, the course was designed to have two traditional lectures each week as well as one interactive lecture where students investigated concepts using simulation and instructor-led demonstrations. In addition, the students were also required to perform hands-on homework assignments that included filter design, communication circuit analysis, and the implementation of a simple communications receiver. This paper will present an outline of the course including a discussion of topics and hands-on experiences. The interactive portion of the course will be specifically discussed and details will be given about the format and resources needed. Finally, results will be discussed including instructor comments and impressions from the students on the effectiveness of the new course format.


The concept of careers has an extensive history in the sociology of health and illness. Among other things, the notion of a career has been used to describe the changing identities of patients diagnosed with mental illness, to identify distinct stages in the progression of various illnesses, and to recognize the cooperative efforts of hospitalized patients. However, the career concept may be reanalyzed as part of an analytical metaphor that makes salient both the agency of people with illnesses and the social structures in which they are enmeshed. This metaphor, ILLNESS IS WORK, can valorize and aid understanding of the identity work and actions of patients with chronic illnesses, particularly illnesses with a low degree of social recognition and medical prestige such as myalgic encephalopathy and chronic fatigue syndrome.


Issues and problems of sustainable development continue to characterize and shape global discourse. Sustainable development finds mention in virtually every conceivable discipline and endeavour: medicine, literature, politics, community development, globalisation and deep ecology, among others. Just as the growing literature on sustainable development reflects interdisciplinarity, the embrace of sustainable development processes and practices across cultures reflects desirability. The recent interdisciplinary literature on sustainable development not only suggests its desirability but also reflects the desideratum for the development of a distinctive area of scholarship History and Philosophy of Sustainable Development, a discipline that neither comes up, simpliciter, a science, a social science, nor an art. It is the critical concern of this paper to discursively outline what may be considered the imperative contents of History and Philosophy of Sustainable Development with particular reference to the question of sustainable development in developing and less developed countries. Through the method of content analysis, the paper critically reflects on selected secondary sources on sustainable development. Against the background of its finding of a growing concern for sustainable development in the 21st century global society, the paper recommends measures for entrenching the teaching and learning of History and Philosophy of Sustainable Development as a veritable tool for sustainable wellbeing.


Abstract Tensile stresses in concrete occur under the action of reinforcement rust pressure. When they exceed concrete tensile strength or concrete extension strain exceeds limit value, concrete cracks. Physical and numerical models of such cracks are proposed for analysis of formation and development based on the main assumption that in the place of the rusting bar there is an artificial cut of circular shape, the contour of which is subjected to a pressure, imitating pressure of rust. Limit pressure values and character of formation and development of cracks through concrete cover to reinforcement are compared with data of experimental investigations performed by S. Williamson. The analysis has indicated that proposed models of formation and development of longitudinal concrete cracks are based on correct assumptions and can be applied for assessing the state of cracked reinforced concrete structures.


In this study, control performance of a smart base isolation system consisting of a friction pendulum system (FPS) and a magnetorheological (MR) damper has been investigated. A fuzzy logic controller (FLC) is used to modulate the MR damper so as to minimize structural acceleration while maintaining acceptable base displacement levels. To this end, a multi-objective optimization scheme is used to optimize parameters of membership functions and find appropriate fuzzy rules. To demonstrate effectiveness of the proposed multi-objective genetic algorithm for FLC, a numerical study of a smart base isolation system is conducted using several historical earthquakes. It is shown that the proposed method can find optimal fuzzy rules and that the optimized FLC outperforms not only a passive control strategy but also a human-designed FLC and a conventional semi-active control algorithm. Keywords—Fuzzy logic controller, genetic algorithm, MR damper, smart base isolation system


The damping of spin waves transmitted through a two-port magnonic device implemented on a yttrium iron garnet thin film is shown to be proportional to the temperature gradient imposed on the device. The sign of the damping depends on the relative orientation of the magnetic field, the wave vector, and the temperature gradient. The observations are accounted for qualitatively and quantitatively by using an extension of the variational principle that leads to the Landau-Lifshitz equation. All parameters of the model can be obtained by independent measurements.


SUMMARY: PCA stroke was under-represented in or excluded from the clinical trials examining thrombolysis based on the PWI-DWI mismatch concept. We present 6 patients with PCA stroke treated with thrombolysis in an extended time window by using MR imaging criteria. Symptoms included aphasia, sensorimotor hemiparesis, hemineglect, and homonymous hemianopia. Initial MR imaging demonstrated circumscribed ischemic lesions in the thalamus or hippocampus; MR angiography showed PCA occlusion with corresponding hypoperfusion. Follow-up MR imaging showed partial/complete recanalization in 4 patients with minor infarction growth, while in 1 patient, PCA occlusion persisted, resulting in a large PCA infarction. Three patients improved within 2 hours; at discharge, homonymous hemianopia had resolved in 3 patients. At 3-month follow-up, 4 patients had an mRS score of 0 or 1. These results support the approach to treat patients with PCA stroke with thrombolysis based on the mismatch concept. Because rehabilitation options for hemianopia are limited, thrombolysis may enhance the chance of a favorable outcome.


We explore spherically symmetric static solutions in a subclass of unitary scalar-tensor theories of gravity, called the `Fab Four' models. The weak field large distance solutions may be phenomenologically viable, but only if the Gauss-Bonnet term is negligible. Only in this limit will the Vainshtein mechanism work consistently. Further, classical constraints and unitarity bounds constrain the models quite tightly. Nevertheless, in the limits where the range of individual terms at large scales is respectively Kinetic Braiding, Horndeski, and Gauss-Bonnet, the horizon scale effects may occur while the theory satisfies Solar system constraints and, marginally, unitarity bounds. On the other hand, to bring the cutoff down to below a millimeter constrains all the couplings scales such that `Fab Fours' can't be heard outside of the Solar system.


The cosmology of Charles Peirce has traditionally been amongst the least celebrated aspects of his thought. It is typically considered far too anthropomorphic to be a serious contribution to our understanding of the evolution of reality. While this anthropomorphism may or may not disqualify the cosmology from serious scientific consideration, it is possible that the cosmology does offer philosophical insights about the very human experience that inspired it. In this paper I offer a "reclaiming" of the Peircean cosmology. My intent is to look to the Peircean cosmology not for insights about the growth of the cosmos as such, but for insights about the growing self. Specifically, the paper attempts to apply Peirce's thoughts about abduction and the growth of cosmic ideas to the growth of the self. Taking cue from Peirce's three-fold distinction between models of evolutionary growth in "Evolutionary Love," I contrast authentic growth of the self with two models of degenerate growth.


This paper proposes the new emerging technologies for the elderly assistive system. By combining Internet, embedded systems, and wireless sensor networks, the system can offer a great potential to assist the elderly people to live safely in their homes. The low cost tiny fall detection is also proposed in this paper. The final contribution of this work is to demonstrate our wireless sensor networks technology that applied in the elderly assistive living. This leads to give the promise of improving the healthcare in the developing countries.


Abstract. In this study, the fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (AHP) is used to study the relationship between drinking water quality based on content of inorganic components and landform classes in the south of Firozabad, west of Fars province, Iran. For determination of drinking water quality based on content of inorganic components, parameters of calcium (Ca), chlorine (Cl), magnesium (Mg), thorium (TH), sodium (Na), electrical conductivity (EC), sulfate (SO4), and total dissolved solids (TDS) were used. It was found that 8.29 % of the study area has low water quality; 64.01 %, moderate; 23.33 %, high; and 4.38 %, very high. Areas with suitable drinking water quality based on content of inorganic components are located in parts of the south-eastern and south-western parts of the study area. The relationship between landform class and drinking water quality based on content of inorganic components shows that drinking water quality based on content of inorganic components is high in the stream, valleys, upland drainages, and local ridge classes, and low in the plain small and midslope classes. In fact we can predict water quality using extraction of landform classes from a digital elevation model (DEM) by the Topographic Position Index (TPI) method, so that streams, valleys, upland drainages, and local ridge classes have more water quality than the other classes. In the study we determined that without measurement of water sample characteristics, we can determine water quality by landform classes.


The methods of synthesis of acrolein and its α-alkyl-substituted derivatives are examined: (a) catalytic oxidation of propene, isobutene, propane, isobutane, propyl and tert-butyl alcohols, tert-butyl alkanoates, propionaldehyde, isobutyraldehyde, and allyl alcohol and its ethers: (b) condensation of formaldehyde with aliphatic aldehydes by the Mannich reactions and also in the vapour phase over heterogeneous catalysts. Both general methods (the Mannich reaction, ipso-substitution of a α-halogen in the acrylic system, and interaction of 1-brom-2-ethoxycyclopropyllithium with electrophiles) and various special methods are used in the synthesis of the α, β-unsaturated aldehydes with functional-group-substitutents. The bibliography includes 323 references.


Abstract Drawing on New Institutional Economics (NIE) theory, the article argues that EU energy policy towards Russia damages security of supply because it neglects the specific aims and propensities of Russia and Gazprom. EU Commission initiatives are based on the promotion of interdependence through market opening, favouring a policy of competition over security of supply. The reason for this focus is found in the EU's embedded inclination towards liberal markets. Russia, by contrast, has chosen suboptimal state control of natural resources over the frontier capitalism of the 1990s. Sustainability of the current rent based system and geopolitical considerations are essential to Russia and Gazprom. In this situation a pragmatic approach that aims at security of supply and security of demand seems to be more successful. In this approach, liberalisation of the market can only be a long-term goal.


Abstract Background: Type 2 diabetes (T2DM), which is the major type of diabetes, accounts for more than 90% of all case of diabetes, and its pathogenesis remains inconclusive. Recent studies have revealed a significant role of gut microbiota in the onset and development of T2DM. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has accumulated rich clinical experience in the treatment of T2DM for thousands of years and a large amount of studies have shown that TCM has the capacity of lowering blood glucose and modulating gut microbiota. The aim of this systematic review is to evaluate all randomized controlled trials on TCM for gut microbiota to assess the effectiveness and safety of TCM in T2DM patients. Methods: Seven electronic databases (Web of Science, PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Database, and VIP Information-Chinese Scientific Journal Database) will be searched from inception to present in the English and Chinese languages. Eligible randomized controlled trials evaluating the effect of TCM in T2DM patients, compared with western medicine, placebo or no intervention will be included in the study. The primary outcomes are the glucose metabolism and gut microbiota as well as its metabolites. The second outcomes are changes in weight, and changes in inflammatory markers. Two authors will independently select studies, extract data, and assess the quality of the studies by scanning the titles, abstracts, and full texts. The meta-analysis will be conducted using Review Manager version 5.3. The results will be presented as risk ratios for dichotomous data and adverse events, and as mean differences for continuous data. Result: The study will provide a summary of current evidence for the treatment of T2DM from the perspective of gut microbiota by using TCM based on the outcome measures. Conclusion: The systematic review will evaluate the efficacy of TCM in treating T2DM from the perspective of gut microbiota, providing current evidence and laying a foundation for further work in the field. PROSPERO registration number: CRD42020188043.


Abstract Quantization noise, the difference between a continuous physical signal and its discrete integer approximation, is an unavoidable consequence of data sampling. The problem is particularly acute for oceanographic data because these signals are usually red while the quantization noise is white, and this spectral mismatch limits our ability to detect short-term (high-frequency) fluctuations. A method of preemphasis and deconvolution is presented that reduces quantization noise and increases the resolution of short-term fluctuations by a factor of several hundred without any reduction in the full-scale range of the measurements. Examples are presented of a 12-bit thermometer with a range of −5° to 35°C and a resolution of 60 µ°C, and a 14-bit pressure gauge with a range of 600 db and a resolution of 1 × 10−4 db. The preemphasis consists of summing a signal and its scaled time derivative before sampling. The enhanced version of the signal is recovered by convolving the preemphasized signal with a disc...


BACKGROUND
The effect of balloon pulmonary angioplasty (BPA) on improvement in functional and hemodynamic parameters in chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) is known, but the quality of life (QoL) of patients treated with BPA has never been studied before.Methods and Results:Twenty-five patients with inoperable or persistent CTEPH were enrolled in the study and filled out the 36-item Short Form (SF-36v2) questionnaire twice: prior to commencement of BPA treatment and after ≥3 BPA sessions. In addition WHO functional class, distance on the 6-min walk test (6MWT) and hemodynamic parameters such as right atrial pressure (RAP), mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP), cardiac index (CI) and pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) were assessed. QoL improved significantly in all domains, except for physical pain. Improvement in RAP (10.5±3.4 vs. 6.2±2.2 mmHg; P<0.05), mPAP (51.7±10.6 vs. 35.0±9.1 mmHg; P<0.05), CI (2.2±0.5 vs. 2.5±0.4 L/min·m2; P=0.04), PVR (10.4±3.9 vs. 5.5±2.2 Wood units; P<0.05), functional class (96% vs. 20% in WHO class III and IV, P<0.05) and improvement in 6MWT distance (323±135 vs. 410±109 m; P<0.05) was observed. The only significant correlation was between the mental component summary score of QoL after completion of treatment and percentage improvement in the 6MWT (-0.404, P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS
Alongside improvement in functional and hemodynamic parameters, BPA also provides significant improvement in QoL.


Two coupled nonlinear first-order systems whose dynamic behavior reflects the neural states exhibited by a spatially localized population of excitatory and inhibitory nerve cells are described. The dynamics of each constituent neural subpopulation represents a fundamental neural information processing element (PE) of a complex neural system. Phase plane analysis is used in this paper to show how such antagonistic positive acting (excitatory) and negative acting (inhibitory) PEs can generate diverse steady-state and temporal phenomena when the nonlinear system parameters of the PEs are altered. By modifying a selected set of parameters, it is possible to program the positive and negative PEs to exhibit various dynamic attributes such as multiple stable states, transient response behavior and limit-cycle oscillations. These dynamic attributes may be used to perform a variety of useful computational tasks in signal processing and vision systems such as short-term memory (STM), temporal filtering (TF) and pulse frequency modulation (PFM). Computer simulations are presented throughout this paper in order to illustrate these dynamic attributes.


RFIC integration has seen dramatic progress since the early 1990s. For example, Si-based single-chip products for GSM, WLAN, Bluetooth, and DECT applications have become commercially available. However, RF power amplifiers (PAs) and switches tend to remain off-chip in the context of single-chip CMOS/BiCMOS transceiver ICs for handset applications. More recently, several WLAN/Bluetooth vendors have successfully integrated less demanding PAs onto the transceivers. This paper will focus on singlechip RF-system-on-a-chip (i.e., "RF-SoC") implementations that include a high-power PA. An analysis of all tradeoffs inherent to integrating higher power PAs is provided. The analysis includes the development cost, time-to-market, power efficiency, yield, reliability, and performance issues. Recent design trends on highly integrated CMOS WiFi transceivers in the literature will be briefly reviewed with emphasis on the RF-SoC product design tradeoffs impacted by the choice between integrated versus external PAs.


Abstract Surface-enhanced circular dichroism (SECD) of chiral molecules adsorbed on plasmonic nanostructures can substantially enhance chiroptical molecular signals by several orders, which is otherwise very weak to be directly measured. Several mechanisms were proposed to explain this extreme enhancement, but the exact mechanism is still controversial. We investigate strong higher-order multipole contribution to SECD near plasmonic nanostructures using the superposition T-matrix method and discuss how 3-dimensional full-field simulations implementing a homogeneous chiral medium have succeeded in the reconstruction of the extreme enhancement. We also discuss how theoretical studies modeling chiral molecules based on dipole approximation have failed to reconstruct the extreme enhancement and show that SECD enhancement of such chiral dipoles is directly governed by optical chirality enhancement. In addition, strong multipolar transitions in subwavelength chiral plasmonic nanoparticles are discussed based on the T-matrix. This work reviews theoretical frameworks describing chiral molecules, demonstrates significant contribution of a multipolar transition on the extreme SECD enhancement near plasmonic nanostructures, and emphasizes the importance of a multipolar transition in chiral nearfield interaction.


The serpent, its veneration and related symbolism, constitute one of the enigmas and mysteries of Yezidism. Many present-day Yezidi myths concerning the serpent are most probably of a secondary nature, which when attempting to explain this ancient symbol, actually place it in a much more recent mythological setting. The first part of this paper tries to reconstruct the myth and the symbolism of the (black) snake in light of its ancient cultural heritage and Gnostic doctrine. However, since this approach would entail far more in-depth and substantial research, the author has, within the context of the present paper, only pinpointed a few elements, which could be of Gnostic, or even older, origin.The second part of the article focuses on the brass image of a serpent and a branch of a wish-tree, which were discovered in Yerevan by the author. It describes theses artefacts (a sacred serpent, which resembles a dragon more than a snake, and a bamboo stick), as well as the cult, which has formed around these objects. Despite several interviews with the owner of the relics and other Yezidi dignitaries, the origin of the objects could not be fully ascertained.


Geophysical field data obtained by vertical electrical sounding (VES) are often plagued by intrusion of noise. This
often makes the analysis and classification of such data tedious and error prone. More so, The apparent resistivity
values of the underground water in a given location is a critical parameter to classify water as either salt water (ρa
 10 Ω-m). So, resistivity data were acquired in 12 locations withing the Niger- Delta
region .The salt water regions, having a sharp descent from resistivity plot, were sufficiently delineated together
with the fresh water regions ( having a gentle slope on the resistivity plot).


Abstract:How can artists respond to the pressures generated by an age of photography and of ubiquitous imagery accredited almost no material value, an age in which craft has nearly vanished? I argue that Gerhard Richter and Norman Ackroyd each in his own way generate a particular freedom with respect to history (including the history of art) by negotiating an artworld in which abstraction and representation have no stable mutual hierarchy, in which the sublime and the picturesque may coexist. Leonardo long before discovered elements of both in his experience of landscape. Different as they might appear (painting versus aquatint; luxury versus affordable), Richter's and Ackroyd's works each establish a kind of art object that is not only postaura but also disdains the claims of uniqueness and of the immediately, thoroughly autograph: authentic, not self-expressive works of art that involve handwork even as they invoke mechanisms of replication. They renew the sublime via varieties of blankness adjusted for a world of dauntingly vast information resources.


PURPOSE
This study was aimed to investigate the impact of job stress on low back symptoms among Clinical nurses (CNs) in university hospital.

METHODS
A total of 322 CNs employed in a hospital in Seoul were interviewed by a well-trained interviewer using the structured questionnaire. Data collected for this study includes demographics, social and work characteristics, low back symptoms, and job stress. To test the impact of job stress on low back symptoms, we used multiple logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS
The prevalence of low back symptoms was 25.8% in this study. Low back symptoms differed significantly by factors, such as physical work burden, past history of injury and work duration. Also low back symptoms differed significantly by organizational system among independent variables of job stress. In a multiple logistic regression analysis, the odds ratio of organizational system to low back symptoms was 2.07 after an adjustment.

CONCLUSION
This study showed that organizational system among job stress was a significant variable in explaining low back symptoms. We suggest the improvement of organizational system category as a preventive strategy for low back pain in CNs working in hospital.


[1] We use measurements from the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) on the AQUA satellite to observe the 3-dimensional structure of a gravity wave event over the Antarctic peninsula, and determine the horizontal and vertical wavelengths, propagation direction, and temperature amplitude, and from these we estimate wave momentum flux. Using theoretical knowledge of the weighting functions and radiative transfer for AIRS radiance measurements at temperature sensitive channels in the infrared, we derive a method of estimating wave temperature amplitude directly from the radiance measurements. Comparison of the radiance-based temperature amplitudes to the temperature amplitude in AIRS retrieved temperature fields shows close agreement. Because the radiances have 3-times better horizontal resolution than the retrievals, our analysis suggests we can routinely observe important geophysical properties of waves with horizontal wavelengths as short as 80 km using AIRS radiances. We further analyze a nearly identical wave event appearing in the European Centre for Medium Range Forecasts (ECMWF) temperature and wind fields from both assimilation and forecast data. Analysis of the ECMWF data and nearby radiosonde wind profiles allows the interpretation as a mountain wave event forced by flow over the topography of the Antarctic peninsula.


We describe here the design and performance of a current sensing noise thermometer using a low Tc DC SQUID as the front end amplifier. The DC SQUID is used to measure the thermal noise current in a resistor and the temperature is then obtained from the Nyquist formula. The thermometer is fast, absolute and precise and is usable over a wide temperature range below 4.2 K, in principle down to well below 1 mK. The excellent energy sensitivity of the DC SQUID, operated at fixed temperature, enables the use of a relatively large noise resistor, in the mΩ range. This requires relatively short averaging times when measuring the spectrum of noise fluctuations. We have shown that it is possible to determine absolute temperature with a precision of 1% in a measuring time of 10 seconds with an amplifier noise temperature, TN, of the order of 30 µK, and to an accuracy better than 0.3%. The percentage precision is independent of temperature for temperatures much greater than TN. Our method of heat sinking the noise resistor ensures proper cooling of the electrons. We incorporate a fixed point device for checking the gain calibration. We have cooled the thermometer successfully to below 1 mK, achieving a minimum electron temperature of 300 µK. We present the results of a preliminary comparison with a 3He melting curve thermometer (MCT) above 4.5 mK, and with a platinum NMR thermometer down to the lowest temperatures.


This study's aim was to determine the patterns of osteoarthritis (OA) in both unicompartmental medial and lateral OA of the knee. Forty patients with medial and 20 with lateral unicompartmental knee osteoarthritis were studied to determine the location of full‐thickness cartilage lesions. Intraoperatively, the distance between margins of the lesion and reference lines were measured. The femoral measurements were transposed onto lateral radiographs to determine the relationship between the lesion site and knee flexion angles. Both tibial and femoral lesions were significantly (p < 0.01) more posterior in lateral OA than medial OA. In medial OA, the lesion center was, on average, at 11° (SD 3°) of flexion, whereas in lateral OA, it was at 40° (SD 3°). The smallest medial femoral lesions were near full extension and, as they enlarged, they extended posteriorly. The smallest lateral femoral lesions extended from 20° to 60° flexion. As these lesions enlarged, they extended both anteriorly and posteriorly. There was a well‐defined relationship between the site of the lesions and their size, suggesting that they develop and progress in a predictable manner. The relationship was different for medial and lateral OA, suggesting that different mechanical factors are important in initiating the different types of OA. The lesions in medial OA occur in extension, perhaps initiated by events occurring at heel strike. The lesions in lateral OA begin at flexion angles above those occurring during the single leg stance phase of the gait cycle, so activities other than gait are likely to induce lateral OA. © 2009 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 27:1339–1346, 2009


GAR transformylase, which is responsible for the incorporation of formate carbon into what becomes position 8 of the purine ring, has been completely separated from 5-amino-4-imidazolecarboxamide ribotide transformylase (3). The latter enzyme is responsible for the incorporation of formate carbon into position 2 of the purine ring. The requirement for folic acid compounds has been demonstrated in both reactions of purine biosynthesis involving formate incorporation (4-7).


Current designs of powered prosthetic limbs are limited by the nearly exclusive use of DC motor technology. Soft actuators promise new design freedom to create prosthetic limbs which more closely mimic intact neuromuscular systems and improve the capabilities of prosthetic users. This work evaluates the performance of a hydraulically amplified self-healing electrostatic (HASEL) soft actuator for use in a prosthetic hand. We compare a linearly-contracting HASEL actuator, termed a Peano-HASEL, to an existing actuator (DC motor) when driving a prosthetic finger like those utilized in multi-functional prosthetic hands. A kinematic model of the prosthetic finger is developed and validated, and is used to customize a prosthetic finger that is tuned to complement the force-strain characteristics of the Peano-HASEL actuators. An analytical model is used to inform the design of an improved Peano-HASEL actuator with the goal of increasing the fingertip pinch force of the prosthetic finger. When compared to a weight-matched DC motor actuator, the Peano-HASEL and custom finger is 10.6 times faster, has 11.1 times higher bandwidth, and consumes 8.7 times less electrical energy to grasp. It reaches 91% of the maximum range of motion of the original finger. However, the DC motor actuator produces 10 times the fingertip force at a relevant grip position. In this body of work, we present ways to further increase the force output of the Peano-HASEL driven prosthetic finger system, and discuss the significance of the unique properties of Peano-HASELs when applied to the field of upper-limb prosthetic design. This approach toward clinically-relevant actuator performance paired with a substantially different form-factor compared to DC motors presents new opportunities to advance the field of prosthetic limb design.


OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the results of the national paediatric liver transplantation programme in the University Medical Centre (UMC) Groningen in the Netherlands during the past two decades. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. METHOD: We analysed data from paediatric patients who underwent liver transplantation at UMC Groningen in the period 1995-2016. We compared outcomes from children who had undergone a liver transplantation in the period 1995-2005 (cohort A; n = 126) and in the period 2006-2016 (cohort B; n = 169). We performed a subanalysis in cohort B between liver transplantations with deceased donor livers (n = 132) and living donor liver transplantations (LDLT; n = 37). RESULTS: In cohort A, almost all livers came from deceased donors (99%), whereas in cohort B, 37 LDLTs (22%) were performed. The median age of recipients was significantly higher in cohort A (4.4 vs. 2.5 years; p = 0.015). Postoperative complications were comparable for both cohorts. Re-transplantations within a year after transplantation were more often performed in cohort A than in cohort B (25% vs. 12%; p = 0.004). Following LDLT, there was 2 times (5.4%) an indication for re-transplantation. In cohort B the 5-year survival rate was better than in cohort A (83 vs. 71%; p = 0.014). In cohort B, 5-year survival was higher after LDLT than after transplantation with a deceased donor liver (95 vs. 81%; p = 0.025). CONCLUSION: Outcomes after paediatric liver transplantation in the Netherlands have further improved during the past two decades. With an actuarial 5-year survival of 83% in the most recent cohort, and as high as 95% following LDLT, we can say that the UMC Groningen has a successful national paediatric liver transplant programme.


Previous work has reported on `Instant Knowledge', a context-aware social networking based recommendation system for enterprise. This paper outlines a hierarchical privacy architecture, to provide anonymity, unlink ability, unobservability and pseudonymity to IK users. Users are grouped according to `proportional distance reservation', which indicates how likely users are willing to share private information. The protection of private information is stronger when queries are made by `distant' users, and weaker for fellow group members.


In this paper is proved a formula for the number of simplicial neighbourly d-polytopes with d + 3 vertices, when d is odd.


This study aims to highlight whether the implementation of Malaysian Code of Corporate Governance in 2000 and the revise version in 2007 gives an impact to companies listed in the Malaysian Bourse.Using a standard and reliable variables with acceptable testing methods provide justifiable methodology of testing several aspect of companies specific characteristics. From test result, it is found that MCCG2000 produces more impact compares to MCCG2007 and non-financial companies benefited more compares to finance related companies.


Software defined radio (SDR) is a rapidly evolving technology that is receiving enormous recognition and generating widespread interest in the telecommunication industry. In this paper, we present the architecture of an all-digital transmitter with radio frequency output targeting FPGA devices due to their reconfigurability and programmability. The all-digital transmitter directly synthesizes RF signal in the digital domain using low pass delta sigma modulation (LPDSM). This eliminates the need for most of the analog and RF components. The all digital transmitter consists of one cascaded integrator comb (CIC) filter, one LPDSM modulator and digital upconverter (DUC). The binary output waveform from the RF-DeltaSigma modulator is centered at 800 MHz with bit rate of 1.6 Gbps. The proposed architecture has been simulated and proved to have a satisfactory performance. Finally, a VHDL code is written for the LPDSM to demonstrate its implementation and verifying the simulation results.


We report on the effect of chromatic dispersion on coherence length and noise of Fourier Domain Mode Locked (FDML) lasers. An FDML laser with a sweep range of 100 nm around 1550 nm has been investigated. Cavity configurations with and without dispersion compensation have been analyzed using different widths of the intra-cavity optical band-pass filter. The measurements are compared to non-FDML wavelength swept laser sources. Based on these observations, a simple model is developed providing a connection between timing, photon cavity lifetime and characteristic time constant of the filter. In an optimized configuration, an instantaneous laser linewidth of 20 pm is observed, corresponding to a 10x narrowing compared to the intra-cavity optical bandpass filter. A relative intensity noise of -133 dBc/Hz or 0.2% at 100 MHz detection bandwidth during sweep operation is observed. For optimum operation, the filter drive frequency has to be set within 2 ppm or 120 mHz at 51 kHz.


Source Location Privacy (SLP) is an important property for monitoring assets in privacy-critical sensor network and Internet of Things applications. Many SLP-aware routing techniques exist, with most striking a tradeoff between SLP and other key metrics such as energy (due to battery power). Typically, the number of messages sent has been used as a proxy for the energy consumed. Existing work (for SLP against a local attacker) does not consider the impact of sleeping via duty cycling to reduce the energy cost of an SLP-aware routing protocol. Therefore, two main challenges exist: (i) how to achieve a low duty cycle without loss of control messages that configure the SLP protocol and (ii) how to achieve high SLP without requiring a long time spent awake. In this article, we present a novel formalisation of a duty cycling protocol as a transformation process. Using derived transformation rules, we present the first duty cycling protocol for an SLP-aware routing protocol for a local eavesdropping attacker. Simulation results on grids demonstrate a duty cycle of 10%, while only increasing the capture ratio of the source by 3 percentage points, and testbed experiments on FlockLab demonstrate an 80% reduction in the average current draw.


In this study, a system for allowing combination of textmining and crowdsourcing of annotation approaches for detection of DDIs from drug package inserts is presented. An annotation study was designed to evaluate expert versus non-expert curation performance, and the impact of NLP pre-annotation on precision and recall on both groups. The design and development of the system and annotation study, consisted of three stages. First, our existing NLP pipeline for DDI extraction was improved, and it was used to preannotate 208 drug product labels with drug mentions and DDIs. Secondly, a DDI machine readable representation scheme was created using the Annotation Ontolgy. This model allowed us to load the NLP preannotated drug label sections into our plugin for human curation created using the Annotation tool DOMEO. Finally, the annotation study was performed along with usability questionnaires for collecting qualitative feedback. To our knowledge, this is the first study in comparing experts and non-experts for pharmacokinetic DDI annotation. Results showed lower performance on non-experts compared with expert annotation without the use of NLP,and an improvement of non-expert annotation performance using the NER module of the NLP assistance. Simplification of the workflow for NLP assisted annotation is necessary for scaling ourapproach.


Objective: To investigate the effects of different needle-retaining duration on cerebral hemodynamics in cerebral paralysis (CP) children.Methods: A total of 20 cases of CP children were subjected into this study.Changes of systolic peak value (Vs), blood flow velocity at the end-diastolic phase (Ved), mean velocity (Vm), pulsation index (PI) and resistance index (RI) of the cerebral hemodynamics before and after performing JIN's Three-Needling Therapy with the needles retained for 30 min (group A) and 5 min (group B) were observed by using transcranial Doppler ultrasonography (TCD).Results: After acupuncture, the blood flow in the middle cerebral artery (MCA), anterior cerebral artery (ACA) and posterior cerebral artery (PCA) was accelerated, and the resistance of blood vessels decreased.The effect of needle-retaining-30 min was better than that of needle-retaining-5 min.Conclusion: In treating cerebral paralysis by using JIN's Three-Needling Therapy, sufficient stimulation provided by needle remaining is an important factor for achieving satisfactory therapeutic effects.


Systems based on thin-walled galvanized profiles and effective heaters are widely used as wall fencing at present stage of development of enclosing structural systems. Wall fencing based on one-element assembly is most widespread. At the same time new solutions in the form of panels assembled from prefabricated elements are appeared. The latter in addition to technological advantages in comparison with the one-element assembly wall fencing have increased bearing capacity and rigidity. This article presents a constructive solution of a self-supporting wall panel based on cassette profiles and deck profiled sheets, combined into a single spatial structural system. The purpose of the work was to scientifically justify and experimentally confirm the operability of a new structural solution of the panel based on the cassette profile. The object of the study is a wall fence (panel) based on such profiles. Research methods: numerical and analytical methods, experimental studies of the full-scale model, graphical analysis. The article consists of two parts. The first part is devoted to the description, analysis and justification of the design of the wall panel and to the study of the deformed state of the cassette profile and the assessment of the resistance and stiffness of the wall panel based on the calculation method. The second part reflects the results of experimental studies of the panel and its components, and implements a design procedure based on tests.


The production of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) by the electrolysis of molten NaCl was investigated by examining the effect of electrolysis duration, current density and voltage. It was found that as the electrolysis was run for longer periods the cathode eroded, changing the current density and consequently preventing nanotube production. The electrolysis was also inhibited by the anode effect and the formation of a sodium layer on the top of the electrolyte. The cell was modified to avoid these difficulties and then optimised under voltage control. Minimum and optimum voltages and current densities were found for CNT production. However, it was discovered that the percentage of nanotube produce still fell as the electrolysis progressed despite minimising the variation in the current density. The nanomaterial produced was studied by TEM. In particular, it was observed that half of the nanotubes were coated with amorphous carbon, suggesting a two-stage growth process. No link, though, was established between the growth conditions and the morphology of the nanotubes. Raman spectroscopy showed that the quality of the nanotubes was comparable to those produced by the CVD route. Titration was used to establish the uptake of sodium into the cathodes, providing evidence for the intercalation growth mechanism.  2003 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.


There are some theories explained the students' grammar mastery which can provide a good impact to their speaking competence. When student's grammar mastery is good, it ' s automatically speaking is also good, but there is some theories explained that the grammar mastery do not give a positive impact to their speaking competence. This research aimed to reveal whether there is a significant correlation between student's grammar mastery and their speaking competence. The study was conducted in Diponegoro University which used descriptive quantitative research design. The researcher used Pearson Product Moment to discovered r values of coeficient correlation. The result was discovered that most of students were fair in terms of English grammar mastery and speaking competence. In the end of the result of the calculation of r value indicated that student's English grammar mastery had low correlation in their speaking competence.
Keywords: Grammar mastery, speaking competence, correlation


The lingering electricity energy crisis in Nigeria which is beyond the control of most households necessitates making decision and choice on alternative energy pathways for households' sustenance and welfare. This study assessed households' energy situation with respect to choice of cooking fuel and cooking energy poverty status in Nigeria. Further investigation was sought to isolate the main factors influencing households' choice of individual fuels as main cooking fuels using data from Nigeria's Malaria Indicator Survey of 2015 with the application of descriptive and multivariate probit analyses. Findings revealed that wood and kerosene fuels remain the major fuels utilized by most households in Nigeria for cooking purposes. Meanwhile, level of education, household size, wealth status and regional factors are significant predictors driving choices of fuels among households, though the impact of these factors differs across the highlighted choices. Based on these findings, mass enlightenment campaign on the safe use of clean energy is recommended while the need for economic diversification by rural households to aid their wealth status is also emphasized. Also, there is need to gear up corporate social responsibilities by the available private establishments in ensuring rural accessibility, availability and affordability of modern and cleaner fuel (such as LPG).


Many accounting documents and journals disintegrate every year due to the acidic quality of paper used in them. Using the laboratory of the Office of Preservation of the Library of Congress, certain accounting journals were analyzed for their acidic or alkaline paper. Journals printed on acidic paper, such as the Accounting Historians Journal and the Accounting Review can be expected to disintegrate quickly. Journals printed on alkaline paper, such as the Journal of Accounting, Auditing & Finance and Taxation for Accountants should last for centuries. Historians wishing to preserve material appearing in acidic journals should photocopy on alkaline paper or use microfilm.


Abstract. Rate of change of TEC (ROT) and its index (ROTI) are considered a good proxy to characterize the occurrence of ionospheric plasma irregularities like those observed after sunset at low latitudes. SBASs (satellite-based augmentation systems) are civil aviation systems that provide wide-area or regional improvement to single-frequency satellite navigation using GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) constellations. Plasma irregularities in the path of the GNSS signal after sunset cause severe phase fluctuations and loss of locks of the signals in GNSS receiver at low-latitude regions. ROTI is used in this paper to characterize plasma density ionospheric irregularities in central–western Africa under nominal and disturbed conditions and identified some days of irregularity inhibition. A specific low-latitude algorithm is used to emulate potential possible SBAS message using real GNSS data in the western African low-latitude region. The performance of a possible SBAS operation in the region under different ionospheric conditions is analysed. These conditions include effects of geomagnetic disturbed periods when SBAS performance appears to be enhanced due to ionospheric irregularity inhibition. The results of this paper could contribute to a feasibility assessment of a European Geostationary Navigation Overlay System-based SBAS in the sub-Saharan African region.