Bulk-preventing actions for SU(N) gauge theories

We introduce a one-parameter family of SU(N) gauge actions which, when used in combination with an HMC update algorithm, prevent the gauge system from entering an artificial bulk-"phase". We briefly discuss the mechanism behind the bulk-prevention and present test results for different SU(N) gauge groups.Peer reviewe

Bulk-preventing actions for SU(N) gauge theories

We introduce a one-parameter family of SU(N) gauge actions which, when used in combination with an HMC update algorithm, prevent the gauge system from entering an artificial bulk-"phase". We briefly discuss the mechanism behind the bulk-prevention and present test results for different SU(N) gauge groups.Peer reviewe

Africa rising, a narrative for life expectancy gains? Evidence from a health production function

Background: The narrative of Africa Rising has increasingly been called into scrutiny, not just as a debate for economic growth and development, but also as a possible link to the surge in life expectancy on the continent. Theoretically, an increase in economic development tends to result in an increase in public health spending and subsequent better health outcomes. Objective: This paper examines the contribution of economic development and other social determinants to the health status of the African continent and to provide evidence on whether the increase in life expectancy of the past two decades can be largely attributed to the Africa Rising narrative. Methods: We estimated an empirical health production function, with life expectancy gains as the output of the health care system, and various socio-economic, environmental and lifestyle factors as contributory factors. We fitted a generalized least squares model, using panel data from 52 African countries for the period 1995–2014. Findings: The estimation shows that while increases in health care spending contributed to life expectancy gains, urbanization rates and improved water access were the major drivers of life expectancy gains with substantially larger impacts in the past two decades. Conclusions: Overall, the results provide an evidence base for iterating the need to prioritize increasing funding and examine more critically how to improve the efficiency of health spending. It also illustrates potential gains that can be achieved from an inclusive health policy agenda with a broader range of social and economic development issues.publishersversionpublishe

Literature Review: Cranberry as Prophylaxis for Dapagliflozin-Induced Urinary Tract Infections

Urinary tract infections [UTIs] are a common occurrence among type 2 diabetic patients using sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 [SGLT2] inhibitors to manage their diabetes. Dapagliflozin is among the most widely prescribed SGLT2i’s, and it achieves the desired effect by inhibiting the reabsorption of glucose in the kidney's proximal tubule, thereby increasing the excretion of glucose via the urinary tract. However, this mechanism of action of SGLT2i's leads to glucosuria, which increases the risk of UTIs. Since cranberries contain many beneficial medicinal compounds, including proanthocyanidins, this literature review study sought to establish the potential of using cranberries as a prophylaxis for dapagliflozin-induced UTI.  

Nonperturbative Decoupling of Massive Fermions

Funding Information: The support of the Academy of Finland Grants No. 308791, No. 310130, and No. 320123 is acknowledged. Partially funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) through Grant No. 200021_175761. The authors wish to acknowledge CSC—IT Center for Science, Finland, for generous computational resources. Publisher Copyright: © 2022 authors. Published by the American Physical Society.SU(2) gauge theory with Nf=24 massless fermions is noninteracting at long distances, i.e., it has an infrared fixed point at vanishing coupling. With massive fermions, the fermions are expected to decouple at energy scales below the fermion mass, and the infrared behavior is that of confining SU(2) pure gauge theory. We demonstrate this behavior nonperturbatively with lattice Monte Carlo simulations by measuring the gradient flow running coupling.Peer reviewe

Estimation of Pollutants’ Emission Rates and Associated Impact on Local Air Quality: A Case Study of Cottage Industry in Ibadan Metropolis

Major urban cities in the developing countries are faced with the peculiar problem of poor air quality, which has resulted into millions of untimely death as well as other adverse environmental impacts including climate change. To combat this negative trend, regular documentation of the emission rates and concentrations of the various air pollutants has been identified as a suitable means of designing a sound mitigation approach. Here, we estimated the emission rates of criteria air pollutants (CAPs) and greenhouse gases (GHGs) generated from an industrial setting; as well as the associated environmental impact on local air quality, using emission inventory methodology and air dispersion model. In the study area, the energy consumption pattern was reported and the emission rates of associated gaseous pollutants were observed to range from 0.22 to 85500 kg/day. Similarly, the concentrations of major pollutants were observed to be within the thresholds stipulated by the World Health Organization

Nonperturbative Decoupling of Massive Fermions.

SU(2) gauge theory with N_{f}=24 massless fermions is noninteracting at long distances, i.e., it has an infrared fixed point at vanishing coupling. With massive fermions, the fermions are expected to decouple at energy scales below the fermion mass, and the infrared behavior is that of confining SU(2) pure gauge theory. We demonstrate this behavior nonperturbatively with lattice Monte Carlo simulations by measuring the gradient flow running coupling

Autonomous biomimitic robot based multi-agent system for disaster management and rescue

This paper discusses the scope and feasibility of autonomous biomimitic robot based multi-agent systems for disaster management and rescue. Search and rescue operations in disastrous situations like earthquake, landslide, fire hazards, mineshaft breakdown etc. are still handled manually. Manual operations in these cases often fail due to complicated nature of the catastrophe. Especially in the case of human entrapment in areas inaccessible to either human or traditional rescue equipment. As such rescue operation suffers from improper strategy and even leads to unintentional further destruction due to lack of proper information along the rescue site. It is clear, proper information in and around the disaster can help successful handling of the catastrophe. Thus information like location of the survivor, state of the obstructions around him/her, state of injury, level of oxygen and hazardous gases are of crucial importance. To gather such widespread information from such difficult terrain, autonomous robots equipped with multiple sensors and capable to move inside difficult to access areas is a good choice. Autonomous biomimitic robot like Snake robot is meant to mimic motion of a natural snake, which does not possess any limb. Natural snakes can undergo wide range of motion and are able to move over rough terrains without the danger of entanglement. Slender structure of the snake body helps a snake to go inside narrow holes. Thus a snake robot able to mimic these features of a natural snake will be of extreme use in handling search and rescue operations. Snake robots equipped with multiple sensors and controlled under multiagent collaborative protocol are expected to bring about acceptable solution to disaster management and rescue. The other such biomimitic robots that can be considered in the autonomous robot team are flapping wing flyers and robot Monkeys. A team consisting of such robots will help in collecting information, distributing food and medicine in disastrous location

Economic analysis of Neem (Azadirachta indica) production in Yobe state, Nigeria

This work determined the economics of Azadirachta indica (neem) production in Yobe State, Nigeria. Specifically, it studied the socioeconomic characteristic of the farming respondents and the profitability of neem production in the State. Multistage sampling technique was used to select Afunori, Nangere and Damaturu plantation areas as well as the sampled neem farmers respectively. Yero Yemeni`s model was used in the determination of the number of neem farmers involved in the study. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire and the variables on which data was collected included neem production inputs and output, marketing costs and revenues. Data was also collected on socioeconomic variables. Both descriptive statistics and economic tools were used in analyzing the data including percentages, frequency distribution tables and Gross Margin (GM) analyses. Socioeconomic data revealed that aged, male gender, individuals with no formal education as well those with small land holding constituted 50%, 95.45%, 54.55% and 90.91% respectively. Financial results revealed respective GM and net profit values of N3, 831.82 and N 3, 274.06 per hectare per year. Thus, it was concluded that neem production in the State was not economically viable and was attributed principally to ignorance of its economic potentials and lack of functional markets. Other production constraints uncovered included land tenure problem, poor extension services, lack of improved planting stocks and poor supportive services. Key words: Economic analysis, Azadirachta indica, productio