BPSK-OFDM versus QFSK-OFDM in combating the effects of narrowband interference and impulsive noise in power line communication

Abstract: This work serves to demonstrate the use of hybrid QFSK-OFDM and modified BPSK-OFDM in combating the effects of Narrowband Interference (NBI) and Impulsive noise (IN) as a mixture in Power Line Communication channel. Therefore, in this paper we demonstrate the superiority of modified BPSK-OFDM over QFSK-OFDM and over conventional BPSK-OFDM. The performance analysis of the system is carried out by Matlab simulations whereby the noise models used are the Middleton Class A for IN and NBI models as found in literature. The simulations show modified BPSK-OFDM to have better performance of 5 dB in terms of SNR as compared to QFSK-OFDM and 3 dB better than the conventional BPSK-OFDM

Performance comparison of Modified BPSK-OFDM and QFSK-OFDM in PLC Channel noise

The article describes and compares two OFDMbased communications schemes for reducing the effects of thecombination of Narrowband Interference (NBI) and ImpulsiveNoise (IN), which are noise types typical in Power Line Communication(PLC). The two schemes are Modified BPSK-OFDM(called MBPSK, for brevity) and QFSK-OFDM (called QFSK,for brevity), which are non-conventional OFDM schemes. Wegive a description of the two schemes, showing how they arederived and also show their similarities and eventually comparetheir performances. Performance simulation results, in termsof bit error rate, are given to compare the systems under theeffect of IN and NBI. The popular Middleton Class A modelis used for modelling IN. The results show that MBPSK schemeoutperforms the QFSK scheme in terms of minimum distance,and hence in terms of bit error probability when no preprocessingis performed. However, under clipping/nulling, both schemeseventually reach the bit error rate floor

Assessment of Trace Metal Contaminations in Vegetables Around Riparian Area of Ogbomoso

Different types of waste consisting of everyday items from different sources that are discarded by the public are commonly disposed at the bank of a river in which vegetables are planted. The vegetables planted are assumed to be polluted with some heavy metals as a result of municipal waste. These heavy metals accumulate in the body and enter through the food. The heavy metals sometimes are so much in the body that they pose a great hazard to human body. Four heavy metals Lead (Pb), Chromium, (Cr), Cadmium (Cd), and Zinc (Zn) were studied in comparison with FAO/WHO standard.The research was carried out in Ogbomoso at three different locations Arada, Ikose and Beulah. Vegetables sample were uprooted at the river bank of these locations at three varying distances (10m, 15m and 20m) away from the river. The vegetables samples were kept in a labeled brown envelopes and oven dried for 48 hours at 23oC to remove moisture. The dried samples were then taken to the Institute of Agricultural Research and Training at Ibadan for analysis.The results showed that the level of concentration of Pb, Cr, Cd and Zn found in the vegetable planted in riparian area of Ogbomoso are safe for human consumption because the metals found were in conformation with FAO/WHO standard. DOI: 10.7176/JBAH/9-18-05 Publication date:September 30th 201

Unravelling the photoprotective mechanisms of nature-inspired ultraviolet filters using ultrafast spectroscopy

There are several drawbacks with the current commercially available ultraviolet (UV) filters used in sunscreen formulations, namely deleterious human and ecotoxic effects. As a result of the drawbacks, a current research interest is in identifying and designing new UV filters. One approach that has been explored in recent years is to use nature as inspiration, which is the focus of this review. Both plants and microorganisms have adapted to synthesize their own photoprotective molecules to guard their DNA from potentially harmful UV radiation. The relaxation mechanism of a molecule after it has been photoexcited can be unravelled by several techniques, the ones of most interest for this review being ultrafast spectroscopy and computational methods. Within the literature, both techniques have been implemented on plant-, and microbial-inspired UV filters to better understand their photoprotective roles in nature. This review aims to explore these findings for both families of nature-inspired UV filters in the hope of guiding the future design of sunscreens

Correlates of genital Chlamydial trachomatis infection in a cohort of infertile women in Ibadan, Nigeria

Background: Genital Chlamydial trachomatis infection, though often asymptomatic, is an established indirect causative agent of female infertility via its activities on the tubal physiology. Many risk factors are postulated for its acquisition and the main thrust of this study was to establish the organisms’ correlates among infertile women attending gynaecologic clinic in Ibadan.Methods: A systematic sampling technique was used on each selected day to recruit women who met the inclusion criteria into the study using a sampling frame of 2. Interviewer-administered questionnaires were used to obtain attributes considered as risk factors for acquiring genital Chlamydia trachomatis infection from 150 consenting infertile women between January and November 2015. These attributes included sexual history, social status, alcohol intake and past history of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Blood samples and endocervical swabs were subsequently taken for detection of C. trachomatis infection using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Data analysis was done using SPSS version 20.0.Results: The mean age of the respondents was 34.1±5.6 years and 7.30% were positive for C. trachomatis. Chlamydia trachomatis infection was significantly associated with past history of gonorrhoea, history of multiple sexual partners, husband that has other sexual partners and lifetime sexual partners greater than one.Conclusions: The prevalence of asymptomatic C. trachomatis among infertile women indicated the pathogen as a potential aetiologic agent of female infertility and supported the asymptomatic nature of the infection. The risk factors found to be associated with the organisms’ infection lend out further support to the sexual transmissibility of C. trachomatis

A perspective on femtosecond pump–probe spectroscopy in the development of future sunscreens

Given the negative impacts of overexposure to ultraviolet radiation (UVR) on humans, sunscreens have become a widely used product. Certain ingredients within sunscreens are responsible for photoprotection and these are known, collectively herein, as ultraviolet (UV) filters. Generally speaking, organic UV filters work by absorbing the potentially harmful UVR and dissipating this energy as harmless heat. This process happens on picosecond time scales and so femtosecond pump–probe spectroscopy (FPPS) is an ideal technique for tracking this energy conversion in real time. Coupling FPPS with complementary techniques, including steady-state spectroscopy and computational methods, can provide a detailed mechanistic picture of how UV filters provide photoprotection. As such, FPPS is crucial in aiding the future design of UV filters. This Perspective sheds light on the advancements made over the past two years on both approved and nature-inspired UV filters. Moreover, we suggest where FPPS can be further utilized within sunscreen applications for future considerations

Corporate governance, risk management and financial performance of listed deposit money bank in Nigeria

This study examined corporate governance, risk control in deposit money banks and how operational problems within commercial banks and information on them in Nigeria has been hoarded to a great extent. The result shows a negative but a significant impact on bank's financial performance. However, a corporate‐governance system that is sound increases the profitability of loans as well as the stability of banks. Furthermore, the study finds that board size, board independence, directors’ shareholdings and board meetings are negative while the coefficient number of board committee is positive on Tobin Q. It, therefore, means that there exists between the corporate governance a significant relationship with financial performance. Shareholders, board meetings & members of the board does have negative relationship to performance. In contrast, the coefficient for the number of board sizes, board independence & board committees are positive on ROE‐Return on Equity. This shows that any increase in shareholding of directors, the directors of the board and board of directors would result in decreased ROE of deposit money banks (DMB) in the economy of Nigeria. This research then recommends proper corporate risk management practices should be encouraged with financial institutions carrying out frequent quality control checks to ensure compliance

ASSESSMENT OF SUBGRADE SOIL STABILIZED WITH CALCIUM CARBIDE WASTE, CEMENT KILN DUST AND STEEL SLAG

Poor subgrade soil conditions can result to inadequate pavement support and reduce pavement life and such soil may be improved through the addition of chemical or cementation additives. This paper present assessment of weak subgrade stabilized with Calcium carbide waste (CCW), Steel slag (SS) and Cement kiln dust (CKD) in terms of Plasticity Index (PI), Maximum dry density (MDD), California bearing ratio (CBR) and Unconfined Compressive Strength (UCS). Curing was done in accordance with relevant specification for stabilized soils at 0, 7, 28, and 90 days. The result indicate that beyond 6% CCW shows no change in PI, thus 6% CCW can be designated as fixation point which was used to activate the pozzolanic effect of SS while the optimum value for CKD was at 15%. MDD decreases with increase in percentages of 0 – 20% CKD from 1.88g/cm3 to 1.74g/cm3 while it increases with increase in SS. Maximum CBR was achieved at 8% CCW corresponding to 111,119, 167 and 235% and CKD (15%) are 86, 96, 133 and 176% for 0, 7, 28, and 90 days respectively. UCS for SS and CKD at their optimum value for 7, 28 and 90 days were 1296.38, 1654.28, 2198.95 kN/m2 and 1148.04, 1364.38, 1800.99 kN/m2 accordingly. The CBR and UCS results showed that the stabilized soil at 7 days curing can be used as a sub-base material for pavement construction

Emerging challenges in innate immunity: Staphylococcus aureus and healthcare-associated infection

Staphylococcus aureus, a prominent human pathogen, exhibits a remarkable ability to interact with host proteins involved in crucial physiological pathways, such as the complement system, coagulation cascade, and fibrinolysis cascade. This paper explores the ability of this notable bacteria to successfully manipulate and evade the host innate system, expatiating on the strategies that enhance its pathogenicity leading to implications on the healthcare system such as the propagation of diverse nosocomial infections. The investigation focuses on key S. aureus proteins, including Coagulase (Coa), von Willebrand factor-binding protein (vWbp), and Staphylokinase (SAK), which play pivotal roles in blood coagulation, fibrinolysis, and evasion of host antibacterial peptides. Notably, these proteins contribute to the formation of fibrin networks, protecting the bacterium from immune clearance and promoting lethal bloodstream infections in murine models. Additionally, the debate surrounding the role of SAK as a critical virulence factor is addressed, emphasizing its impact on biofilm formation, invasion of internal organs, and bacterial loads in sepsis studies. Furthermore, the interaction of S. aureus with matrix metalloproteinases and the secretion of superantigen-like proteins (SSL1 and SSL5) are explored as additional mechanisms employed by the bacterium to impede immune responses. In addressing emerging challenges in innate immunity, the paper discusses the escalating antibiotic resistance in S. aureus, with a specific focus on methicillin-resistant strains (MRSA) and its capacity to instigate healthcare-associated infections as an effect

N-Heteroacenes as an Organic Gain Medium for Room-Temperature Masers

The development of future quantum devices such as the maser, i.e., the microwave analog of the laser, could be well-served by the exploration of chemically tunable organic materials. Current iterations of room-temperature organic solid-state masers are composed of an inert host material that is doped with a spin-active molecule. In this work, we systematically modulated the structure of three nitrogen-substituted tetracene derivatives to augment their photoexcited spin dynamics and then evaluated their potential as novel maser gain media by optical, computational, and electronic paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. To facilitate these investigations, we adopted an organic glass former, 1,3,5-tri(1-naphthyl)benzene to act as a universal host. These chemical modifications impacted the rates of intersystem crossing, triplet spin polarization, triplet decay, and spin–lattice relaxation, leading to significant consequences on the conditions required to surpass the maser threshold