Analysis of the Impact of Religious Activities on Traffic Flow along Mowe-Ibafo Axis of Lagos – Ibadan Expressway

The increase in the number of religious centres as well as that of worshippers in Nigeria is alarming and unprecedented and it has also come with attendant problems; part of which is the degradation of the environment and more importantly traffic congestion. This paper examines the impact of religious activities on traffic flow and the implication for environmental sustainability along Mowe-Ibafo axis of Lagos – Ibadan Expressway. Using perceptual view of respondents generated through primary data of structured questionnaires as well as traffic count along the route, findings emanating from the study show that religious activities along this route have had adverse effects on the area with severe negative effect on traffic flow pattern as well as sustainable development. Empirical result generated also shows that the volume of traffic is a major factor along the axis but type of vehicle is not a major determinant of traffic flow in the study area. The study observed non-existing abatement strategies for curbing and  coping with the problems and thus suggest solutions towards ameliorating traffic flow which include strict enforcement of traffic rules and regulations in the area which would involve law enforcement agents as well as collaboration with the religious organization along the axis in maintaining traffic flow and preventing congestion. Keywords: Religious Activities, Environment, Traffic Flow, Sustainable Development.

Linking Urban Regeneration to Sustainable Urban Development of Smart Cities

Urban regeneration involves the revitalisation of distressed urban areas, through actions such as rehabilitation of historic areas, improvement of living conditions in residential districts, redevelopment of public spaces, and modernisation of urban infrastructure (Alpopi & Manole, 2013). The label 'smart city' has an impact on urban strategies in both large and small towns. It helps to face the increasing problems of urban areas, local public government, companies, non-profit organisations, and the citizens themselves. They all embraced the idea of a smarter city, using more technologies, creating better life conditions and safeguarding the environment for a better quality of life (Dameri & Rosenthal-Sabroux, 2014). This research focuses on adopting an inductive methodology of sustainable urban development in smart cities through a specific framework to be applied on the urban regeneration of city centres in cities with historical background. This will be carried out through the analysis of the interrelationship between the key principles of both urban regeneration and smart cities with the aim to compile a comprehensive list ofprinciples. This inductive methodology will be validated through a comparative study of selected relevant examples. After that the development framework will be used to apply the compiled ideas and principles, and to verify its potential to formulate multiple scenarios of urban regeneration of city centres. After that, the scenarios of development will be tested on a case study of the city of Alexandria in Egypt, by using multiple research methods such as focused interviews, structured questionnaires, personal observation and assessment. This study aims to conclude with a set of guidelines for intervention in similar urbancontexts in general, as well as in the specific case of Alexandria with its particular conditions

A Variable Speed Synchronous Motor Approach for Smart Irrigation using Doubly Fed Induction Motor

Department of Electrical Engineering, College of Engineering, Jazan University, Jizan 45142, Saudi Arabia.Doubly Fed Induction Motor (DFIM) is a popular machine used in variable speed drives, and its ruggedness, reliability and simplicity of speed control make it a suitable candidate for use in smart irrigation systems. This paper studies and evaluates the performance of DFIM at different operating conditions and shows that it can be viewed as a variable speed synchronous motor. The research results reveal that DFIM can be used to control the flow rate of water in irrigation systems, by adjusting the speed of the motor to match the desired flow rate. A mathematical model has been developed to optimize the performance of the DFIM in smart irrigation systems, taking into account the specific conditions of the application. In addition, an experimental setup was built and tested to enhance the theoretical results, which showed good correlation between the theoretical and experimental results. The results of this research demonstrate the potential of using the DFIM in smart irrigation systems to improve the performance and efficiency of irrigation and to provide better control and lower costs

Dr.

Department of Electrical Engineering, College of Engineering, Jazan University, Jizan 45142, Saudi Arabia

Tin complexes of 4-(Benzylideneamino)benzenesulfonamide: synthesis, structure elucidation and their efficiency as PVC photostabilizers

Poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) suffers from photo-oxidation and photodegradation when exposed to harsh conditions. Application of PVC thus relies on the development of ever more efficient photostabilizers. The current research reports the synthesis of new complexes of tin and their assessment as poly(vinyl chloride) photostabilizers. The three new complexes were obtained in high yields from reaction of 4-(benzylideneamino)benzenesulfonamide and tin chlorides. Their structures were elucidated using different tools. The complexes were mixed with poly(vinyl chloride) at a very low concentration and thin films were made from the blends. The effectiveness of the tin complexes as photostabilizers has been established using a variety of methods. The new tin complexes led to a decrease in weight loss, formation of small residues, molecular weight depression, and surface alteration of poly(vinyl chloride) after irradiation. The additives act by absorption of ultraviolet light, removal the active chlorine produced through a dehydrochlorination process, decomposition of peroxides, and coordination with the polymeric chains. The triphenyltin complex showed the greatest stabilizing effect against PVC photodegradation as a result of its high aromaticity

Correction to: The influence of corruption and governance in the delivery of frontline health care services in the public sector: a scoping review of current and future prospects in low and middle-income countries of south and south-east Asia.

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via the original article

Case report: Neonatal autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome with a novel pathogenic homozygous FAS variant effectively treated with sirolimus

BackgroundAutoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome (ALPS) is a rare disease characterized by defective FAS signaling, which results in chronic, nonmalignant lymphoproliferation and autoimmunity accompanied by increased numbers of “double-negative” T-cells (DNTs) (T-cell receptor αβ+ CD4−CD8−) and an increased risk of developing malignancies later in life.Case presentationWe herein report a case of a newborn boy with a novel germline homozygous variant identified in the FAS gene, exon 9, c.775del, which was considered pathogenic. The consequence of this sequence change was the creation of a premature translational stop signal p.(lle259*), associated with a severe clinical phenotype of ALPS-FAS. The elder brother of the proband was also affected by ALPS and has been found to have the same FAS homozygous variant associated with a severe clinical phenotype of ALPS-FAS, whereas the unaffected parents are heterozygous carriers of this variant. This new variant has not previously been described in population databases (gnomAD and ExAC) or in patients with FAS-related conditions. Treatment with sirolimus effectively improved the patient clinical manifestations with obvious reduction in the percentage of DNTs.ConclusionWe described a new ALPS-FAS clinical phenotype-associated germline FAS homozygous pathogenic variant, exon 9, c.775del, that produces a premature translational stop signal p.(lle259*). Sirolimus significantly reduced DNTs and substantially relieved the patient's clinical symptoms

Investigation of the impact of chemical modifications on the photostability of polymethyl methacrylate

For practical application, it is crucial to ensure that polymeric materials are protected against degradation due to aging and ultraviolet (UV) irradiation. A range of advancements in developing novel photostabilizers has been made in the last few years. Another approach is the alteration of polymer structures to enhance their ability to resist photodegradation and photooxidation on exposure to UV light for extended periods in harsh conditions. Polymeric chain modifications have proved to be efficient in increasing the photostability of materials. The current work deals with the surface functionalization of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) by incorporating organotin moieties on the polymer backbone. PMMA reacts with ethylenediamine to attach amino groups to the polymer chains. The amino group reacts with 2-hydroxynaphthaldehyde to produce the corresponding Schiff base. Adding trisubstituted (methyl, butyl, and phenyl) tin chloride led to the addition of organometallic residence to the polymeric chains. Thin films of the modified PMMA were made and irradiated with ultraviolet light for long durations to test the effect of chain modification on the photostability of polymeric materials. The effect of the substituent on the tin atom on the photostability of PMMA has been analyzed. Various methods were used for assessment, including infrared spectroscopy, weight loss, surface morphology, and roughness factor. The modified polymers showed increased resistance to photodegradation and had lower roughness factor, weight reduction, surface damages, and small fragments generated compared to the blank PMMA. The polymer containing phenyl substituents showed the most apparent photostabilization effect and the least destructive changes in the PMMA surface on photoirradiation

Pendant modification of poly(methyl methacrylate) to enhance its stability against photoirradiation

Photostabilization of functional polymeric materials is important for protection against aging and ultraviolet (UV) irradiation. There is, therefore, the impetus to modify polymers to increase their resistance to photodegradation and photooxidation on extended exposure to UV light in harsh conditions. Various polymeric additives have been designed and synthesized in recent years, and their potential as photostabilizers has been explored. Reported here is the effect of pendant functionalization of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) through organometallic moiety incorporation into the polymer’s backbone. The reaction of PMMA with ethylenediamine leads to the formation of an amino residue that can react with salicylaldehyde to produce the corresponding Schiff base. Adding metal chlorides (zinc, copper, nickel, and cobalt) led to the formation of organometallic residues on the polymeric chains. Thin films of modified and unmodified PMMA were produced and irradiated with UV light to determine the effect of pendant modification on photostability. The photostabilization of PMMA was assessed using a range of methods, including infrared spectroscopy, weight loss, decomposition rate constant, and surface morphology. The modified PMMA incorporating organic Schiff base metal complexes showed less photodecomposition than the unmodified polymer or one containing the Schiff base only. Thus, the metals significantly reduced the photodegradation of polymeric materials. The polymer containing the Schiff base-cobalt unit showed the least damage in the PMMA surface due to photoirradiation, followed by those containing nickel, zinc, and copper, in that order