Spitting on a Blood Document: An Analysis of Nigerian Journalists Perception and Implementation of the Freedom of Information Act

This work is on Nigerian journalists’ perception of the implementation of 2011 Freedom of Information Act in the South East Nigeria. The researchers adopted survey research method in which questionnaire and oral interview were used as the means of data collection. A sample size of 237 was drawn from a total population of 580 using Taro Yamane formula. The data generated through the administration of questionnaire were presented and analyzed using tables and simple percentages. The qualitative data generated through the oral interview were also presented .At the end ,the researchers discussed  the results gotten from the tables and oral interview in line with the research questions and it revealed  that, the Nigerian journalists do not have a detailed understanding of the content of the F0I Act. It also revealed that the Nigerian journalists do not see F0I Act as an important legal document that has the capacity to strengthen investigative journalism in Nigeria. This study also revealed that the Nigerian journalists do not see the Act as capable of granting them protection in their day to day activities. Finally, the study as well revealed that access to information in Nigeria has not increased as a result of the F0I Act. Based on this, it was  recommended among others things that sensitization workshops on F0I Act should be organized by the NUJ of different states from time to time to enable them (journalists) embrace the provisions of this Act for a proper implementation. This will go a long way for a better kick-off on the implementation of the Act

The C-Band All-Sky Survey: Instrument design, status, and first-look data

The C-Band All-Sky Survey (C-BASS) aims to produce sensitive, all-sky maps of diffuse Galactic emission at 5 GHz in total intensity and linear polarization. These maps will be used (with other surveys) to separate the several astrophysical components contributing to microwave emission, and in particular will allow an accurate map of synchrotron emission to be produced for the subtraction of foregrounds from measurements of the polarized Cosmic Microwave Background. We describe the design of the analog instrument, the optics of our 6.1 m dish at the Owens Valley Radio Observatory, the status of observations, and first-look data.Comment: 10 pages, 11 figures, published in Proceedings of SPIE MIllimeter, Submillimeter, and Far-Infrared Detectors and Instrumentation for Astronomy V (2010), Vol. 7741, 77411I-1 - 77411I-1

Detection of Sharp Symmetric Features in the Circumbinary Disk Around AK Sco

The Search for Planets Orbiting Two Stars (SPOTS) survey aims to study the formation and distribution of planets in binary systems by detecting and characterizing circumbinary planets and their formation environments through direct imaging. With the SPHERE Extreme Adaptive Optics instrument, a good contrast can be achieved even at small (<300 mas) separations from bright stars, which enables studies of planets and disks in a separation range that was previously inaccessible. Here, we report the discovery of resolved scattered light emission from the circumbinary disk around the well-studied young double star AK Sco, at projected separations in the ~13--40 AU range. The sharp morphology of the imaged feature is surprising, given the smooth appearance of the disk in its spectral energy distribution. We show that the observed morphology can be represented either as a highly eccentric ring around AK Sco, or as two separate spiral arms in the disk, wound in opposite directions. The relative merits of these interpretations are discussed, as well as whether these features may have been caused by one or several circumbinary planets interacting with the disk.Comment: 10 pages, 3 figures, accepted for publication in ApJ Letters. Minor (proof-level) corrections implemented in this versio

Prospective Prediction of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms Using Fear Potentiated Auditory Startle Responses

Background: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has been most consistently associated with exaggerated physiologic reactivity to startling sounds when such sounds occur in threatening contexts. There is conflicting evidence about whether startle hyperreactivity is a preexisting vulnerability factor for PTSD or an acquired result of posttrauma neural sensitization. Until now, there have been no prospective studies of physiologic reactivity to startling sounds in threatening contexts as predictors of PTSD symptoms. Methods: One hundred and thirty-eight police academy cadets without current psychopathology were exposed to repeated 106-dB startling sounds under increasing (low, medium, or high) threat of mild electric shock while their eye-blink electromyogram, skin conductance, heart rate, and subjective fear responses were recorded. Measures of response habituation were also calculated. Following 1 year of exposure to police-related trauma, these participants were assessed for PTSD symptom severity. Results: After accounting for other baseline variables that were predictive of PTSD symptom severity (age and general psychiatric distress), more severe PTSD symptoms were prospectively and independently predicted by the following startle measures: greater subjective fear under low threat, greater skin conductance under high threat, and slower skin conductance habituation. Conclusions: These results imply that hypersensitivity to contextual threat (indexed by greater fear under low threat), elevated sympathetic nervous system reactivity to explicit threat (indexed by larger responses under high threat), and failure to adapt to repeated aversive stimuli (evidenced by slower habituation) are all unique preexisting vulnerability factors for greater PTSD symptom severity following traumatic stress exposure. These measures may eventually prove useful for preventing PTSD

Fast Sensing of Double-Dot Charge Arrangement and Spin State with a Radio-Frequency Sensor Quantum Dot

Single-shot measurement of the charge arrangement and spin state of a double quantum dot are reported with measurement times down to 100 ns. Sensing uses radio-frequency reflectometry of a proximal quantum dot in the Coulomb blockade regime. The sensor quantum dot is up to 30 times more sensitive than a comparable quantum point-contact sensor and yields three times greater signal to noise in rf single-shot measurements. Numerical modeling is qualitatively consistent with experiment and shows that the improved sensitivity of the sensor quantum dot results from reduced lifetime broadening and screening.PhysicsOther Research Uni

Effect of mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists on proteinuria and progression of chronic kidney disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: Hypertension and proteinuria are critically involved in the progression of chronic kidney disease. Despite treatment with renin angiotensin system inhibition, kidney function declines in many patients. Aldosterone excess is a risk factor for progression of kidney disease. Hyperkalaemia is a concern with the use of mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists. We aimed to determine whether the renal protective benefits of mineralocorticoid antagonists outweigh the risk of hyperkalaemia associated with this treatment in patients with chronic kidney disease. Methods: We conducted a meta-analysis investigating renoprotective effects and risk of hyperkalaemia in trials of mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists in chronic kidney disease. Trials were identified from MEDLINE (1966–2014), EMBASE (1947–2014) and the Cochrane Clinical Trials Database. Unpublished summary data were obtained from investigators. We included randomised controlled trials, and the first period of randomised cross over trials lasting ≥4 weeks in adults. Results: Nineteen trials (21 study groups, 1 646 patients) were included. In random effects meta-analysis, addition of mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists to renin angiotensin system inhibition resulted in a reduction from baseline in systolic blood pressure (−5.7 [−9.0, −2.3] mmHg), diastolic blood pressure (−1.7 [−3.4, −0.1] mmHg) and glomerular filtration rate (−3.2 [−5.4, −1.0] mL/min/1.73 m2). Mineralocorticoid receptor antagonism reduced weighted mean protein/albumin excretion by 38.7 % but with a threefold higher relative risk of withdrawing from the trial due to hyperkalaemia (3.21, [1.19, 8.71]). Death, cardiovascular events and hard renal end points were not reported in sufficient numbers to analyse. Conclusions: Mineralocorticoid receptor antagonism reduces blood pressure and urinary protein/albumin excretion with a quantifiable risk of hyperkalaemia above predefined study upper limit

Secondary prevention of cervical cancer by screen-and-treat approach among HIV negative women in Faith Alive Hospital, Jos Nigeria

Background: Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among women in Nigeria and the leading cause of cancer-related death in sub-Saharan Africa.  In low-income settings, visual inspections with acetic acid (VIA) and Lugol’s iodine (VILI); and subsequent treatment of cervical precancerous lesions with thermal ablation remains the practical approach for secondary prevention. Objectives were to determine prevalence of pre-cancerous cervical lesions, prevalence of suspected cervical cancer, and associated risk factors. Methods: A retrospective study on sexually active HIV negative women aged 16-55 years screened for cervical cancer using VIA/VILI within 16 months period in Faith Alive Hospital Jos.  Data were analyzed using IBM-SPSS 26. Socio-demographic characteristics and screening results were presented in frequency tables; and logistic regression was performed to determine risk factors for cervical pre-cancerous lesions. Results: 1,073 HIV negative women were screened for cervical cancer using VIA/VILI. 82 (7.6%) tested positive, 30 (2.8%) had suspected cancer with modal age distribution of 36-45 years. Higher positivity yield (58.6%) was found in ages between 36 and ≥55 years while the less positivity yield (41.4%) was found ages ≤35 years. Parity ≥3 had 1.8 fold risk association with precancerous lesion. Conclusions: Our study revealed high prevalence of cervical pre-cancerous lesions among HIV negative women, modal age distribution for suspected cancer and parity ≥3 being significant risk factor. Thus, “screen-and-treat” approach to cervical cancer prevention by VIA/VILI and thermal ablation in resource constraint settings should be undertaken until widespread HPV testing to triage clients is possible