Lg Q of Northern, Eastern and Southeastern Alaska and Crustal Q Variations

The increase of statewide station coverage of Alaska since 2014 due to the presence of the EarthScope USArray (TA) stations provides an unprecedented opportunity to investigate crustal attenuation in Alaska using Lg-waves. This study determines Lg-wave attenuation and its spatial variations in Alaska using 187 local and regional crustal earthquakes that occurred between June 2014 and April 2018 in Alaska withML\u3e 4.0. An inversion is performed over ten distinct passbands 1.0 Hz, 1.3 Hz, 2.0 Hz, 3.0 Hz, 4.0 Hz, 6.0 Hz, 8.0 Hz, 10.0 Hz, 13.0 Hz, and 16.0 Hz for all waveforms with a signal-to-noise ratio greater than 2. The regression yielded the functionQ(f) = 217(±28)f0.84(±0.04)(1.0≤f≤10.0Hz) which represents Alaska’s frequency-dependent attenuation. Alaska displays lowQ0and high frequency-dependence (η) which is indicative of a tectonically active region; but not as low as California or most of the Western United States

Statistical Analysis of Rainfall Variability Effect on Wheat Production and Coping Strategies of Farmers: The Case of Agarfa District, Bale Zone, Ethiopia

This study aimed to assess the rainfall variability and its effect on wheat production in Agarfa district for the last sixteen years.  Data on rainfall and crop yield for the period 2001-2016 was obtained from Agarfa meteorological station and District Agricultural Offices, respectively. Both qualitative and quantitative research design were used. Purposive sampling method was employed to select 256 respondents’ from five kebeles for interview. The collected data was analyzed both qualitatively and quantitatively. Quantitative data was analyzed using mean, coefficient of variation, correlation and regression analysis to ascertain the relation, cause and effect relationship between rainfall characteristics and wheat yield. The trend analysis indicated that there was decreasing in rainfall by 4.5278 mm per year in the district over the last sixteen years. The productivity of winter wheat in the farm over the last sixteen years shows the trends of ups and downs which victimized by different climatic elements. The correlation coefficient indicated very strong positive relationship between productivity of wheat and annual rainfall. The regression model also depicts similar situation and corresponding p-value improved that the annual rainfall was the major determinants of wheat production in specified area. Hence, the investigator recommend that the district’s agricultural center and any concerned body should give prior attention to minimize the risks of rainfall variability by using different mechanisms like reforestation, making local meteorology station at nearby, and developing coping strategies of farmers. Keywords: Rainfall variability, wheat production, Agarfa district DOI: 10.7176/JBAH/11-4-02 Publication date: February 28th 202

AIDS patients have increased surfactant protein D but normal mannose binding lectin levels in lung fluid.

BACKGROUND: Surfactant protein D (SP-D) and Mannose Binding Lectin (MBL) are collectins that have opsonic and immunoregulatory functions, are found in lung fluid and interact with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). We compared collectin levels in lung fluid and serum from HIV infected and normal subjects to determine if alterations in lung collectin levels were associated with HIV infection and might result in increased susceptibility to other pulmonary infections. METHODS: Blood and bronchoalveolar lavage samples were collected from 19 HIV-infected individuals and 17 HIV-uninfected individuals, all with normal chest X ray at time of study. HIV viral loads and peripheral blood CD4+ T cell counts were measured in all subjects. SP-D was measured in lung fluid, and MBL in both lung fluid and serum. RESULTS: SP-D levels were not significantly different in lung fluid from HIV-uninfected (median 406.72 ng/ml) and HIV-infected individuals with high CD4 count (CD4 >200) (median 382.60 ng/ml) but were elevated in HIV-infected individuals with low CD4 count (median 577.79 ng/ml; Kruskall Wallis p < 0.05). MBL levels in serum were not significantly different between HIV-uninfected and HIV-infected individuals (median 1782.70 ng/ml vs 2639.73 ng/ml) and were not detectable in lung fluid. CONCLUSION: SP-D levels are increased in lung fluid from AIDS patients but not in patients with early HIV infection. MBL levels are not altered by HIV infection or AIDS. There is no evidence that altered pulmonary collectin levels result in susceptibility to infection in these patients

Play-Based Learning: Benefits and Challenges of its Implementation

This study explores how Eritrean pre-school educators viewed and conceptualized play-based learning (PBL), the benefits, and challenges of its implementation. A semi-structured interview was conducted with nine teachers, six principals, and two pre-primary education curriculum developers. Interviews were thematically analyzed. The study found discrepancies between participants’ views and their implementation. Our findings indicate that most of the participants viewed PBL as incorporating both free-play and guided play. However, the result of this study revealed that free play cannot effectively be used as an instrument to teach lessons that have specific academic objectives such as numeracy and literacy skills. Besides, the researchers sought to investigate the actual practices of PBL and the study found that majority of educators were placed at the Child Adult Involvement Continuum extremes, free-play, and direct instruction. Furthermore, the result revealed that various challenges were teachers face as they try to implement PBL, but the most common barrier discussed by interviewees was the lack of awareness of parents and principals towards PBL. Finally, the study concluded that the reason teachers lie at the two extremes of the Child Adults Involvement Continuum could be due to their views towards PBL, and its benefits and the challenges they face in implementing it

Students’ Perception of Factors Influencing Teaching and Learning of Mathematics in Senior Secondary Schools in Maiduguri Metropolis, Borno State, Nigeria

This study examined students’ perception of factors influencing teaching and learning of mathematics in senior secondary schools in Maiduguri Metropolis of Borno State, Nigeria. The objectives of the study were to determine the extent to which students perceived: qualification, method of teaching, instructional materials and attitude of both teachers and students influence the teaching and learning of mathematics in senior secondary schools. The study used a sample of 1500 males and 1100 females students from six selected senior secondary schools in Maiduguri Metropolis, Borno State, Nigeria. The instrument used for data collection was a self-developed questionnaire measuring students' perception of factors influencing teaching and learning of mathematics. It had a reliability index of 0.81. To analyze the data collected, the research questions were answered using descriptive statistics such as simple frequency, mean and standard  deviation. The results indicated that qualification of mathematics teachers, teaching method, and instructional materials were highly perceived by students as important determinants of their success in learning. Also, students’ attitude towards mathematics teaching and learning was an important factor in the performance of students.  Based on the results of this study, it was recommended that: There is need to improve the quality of mathematics teachers.  Government of Borno State should embark on serious in-service training of mathematics teachers to equip them with skills for teaching mathematics in secondary schools. Also there is need for mathematics teachers to try and understand the perceptions of their students and try to adopt instructional strategies that whatever student perceived as easy would really turn out to be easy and whatever is difficult may be properly addressed to motivate and encourage students to see the need in learning mathematics and improve their performance. Keywords: Students' perception, Teachers' qualification, Teaching method, Mathematics                teaching, Mathematics learnin

Alveolar T-helper 17 responses to streptococcus pneumoniae are preserved in ART-untreated and treated HIV-infected Malawian adults

Objective: We explored if HIV infection is associated with impaired T-Helper 17 responses against Streptococcus pneumoniae in the lung. Methods: We recruited 30 HIV-uninfected healthy controls, 23 asymptomatic HIV-infected adults not on ART, and 40 asymptomatic HIV-infected adults on ART (Median time 3.5yrs), in whom we collected bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. We measured alveolar CD4+ T cell immune responses following stimulation with pneumococcal cell culture supernatant using flow cytometry-based intracellular cytokine staining. Results: We found that the proportion of alveolar CD4+ T cells producing IL-17A following stimulation with pneumococcal cell culture supernatant (CCS) was similar between HIV-uninfected controls and ART-naïve HIV-infected adults (0.10% vs. 0.14%; p = 0.9273). In contrast, the proportion and relative absolute counts of CD4+ T cells producing IL-17A in response to pneumococcal CCS were higher in ART-treated HIV-infected adults compared HIV-uninfected controls (0.22% vs. 0.10%, p = 0.0166; 5420 vs. 1902 cells/100 ml BAL fluid; p = 0.0519). The increase in relative absolute numbers of IL-17A-producing alveolar CD4+ T cells in ART-treated individuals was not correlated with the peripheral blood CD4+ T cell count (r=–0.1876, p = 0.1785). Conclusion: Alveolar Th17 responses against S. pneumoniae are preserved in HIV-infected adults. This suggests that there are other alternative mechanisms that are altered in HIV-infected individuals that render them more susceptible to pneumococcal pneumonia

Aspects of the ecology and reproductive biology of three cichlid fish species of Southern Lake Malombe (Malawi)

The three major species Lethrinops ''pinkhead'', Otopharynx argyrosoma "red" and Copadichromis. cf virginalis which used to dominate the catches (by weight) of Lake Malombe in the past decade were investigated. In order to make rational recommendations regarding size and boundary of the existing sanctuary area (lightly fished), distribution and abundance, population structure and reproductive biology of the three species were related to habitat types of the southern part of the lake (south western side and south eastern side). Analysis of catch composition showed that species richness was higher in the south eastern side than in the south western side of the lake. Rare species such as Labeo mesops and Opsaridium microiepis were observed in the south eastern side and there was visual absence of such species in the south western side of the lake. The overall fish abundance was significantly greater in the south eastern side than in the south western side of the lake. In the south eastern side, the catch per unit effort (CPUE) was twice that of the south western side (P0.05). The length-frequency distribution analysis revealed that the three species had the same growth rate regardless of habitat type. However, females grew faster than males. An investigation of reproductive biology showed that the three species have low fecundity and they are asynchronous spawners, with a breeding peak during August and September period. Furthermore, the length-fecundity relationships for L. ''pinkhead'', and 0. argyrosoma "red" indicated that fecundity was more closely related to length in the south eastern side than in the south western side. Based on the above characteristics of L. ''pinkhead'', 0. argyrosoma "red" and C. cf virginalis, and the substrate types, it was strongly suggested that the existing sanctuary (lightly fished) in the south eastern side of the lake could immediately be enlarged to conserve the fish stocks, favourable substratum and aquatic animals that may be of tourists concern

Effect of integrated management on purple blotch (Alternaria porri (Ellis) Cif.) progression and bulb yield of onion at Arba Minch in Southern Ethiopia

A field experiment was conducted at Arba Minch area, southern Ethiopia during the 2018 and 2019 cropping seasons to determine the integrated effects of varieties and fungicide spray frequencies on onion purple blotch (PB) epidemics, bulb yields, and economic returns. Fifteen treatment combinations consisting of three onion varieties and five fungicide spray frequencies were arranged in a factorial experiment in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Integrating varieties with fungicide spray frequencies significantly reduced onion PB epidemics and increased bulb yields and economic returns. Due to four times spray of ridomil gold (RG) at 14-day interval, PB severities as low as 35.7, 42.2, and 58.9% were recorded on Nasik-Red, Bombay-Red, and Adama-Red varieties, respectively. The lowest area under the disease progress curve of 625.3, 706.7, and 1131.1%-days was also recorded on Nasik-Red, Bombay-Red, and Adama-Red varieties, respectively, due to four sprays of RG at a 14-day interval. Three times spray of RG at 10-day interval gave the highest bulb yields of 33.4, 38.9, and 23.7 t ha-1 on Nasik-Red, Bombay-Red, and Adama-Red varieties, respectively. The results showed the existence of variability in onion genetic resistance that was complemented by fungicide spray frequencies against PB epidemics to increase bulb yields. The use of Bombay-Red variety along with three and four-time spray frequency of RG was found to be the most effective option in reducing PB epidemics and increasing onion bulb yields. However, the use of Bombay-Red variety along with three-time spray frequency of RG could be recommended, because of its highest economic returns, to farmers in the study areas and elsewhere with similar agro-ecologies to manage PB and sustain onion production and productivity in the country

Influência da programação semafórica no comportamento dos pedestres : estudo de caso na cidade do Rio de Janeiro

The most common pedestrian deviance in Brazilian traffic is traffic signal disrespect. Such behavior can lead to trampling, which is one of the main causes of violent deaths in Brazil. At the same time, the mobility of both pedestrians and vehicles is greatly affected, even when the trampling is not consummated; when it causes unplanned changes in vehicle trajectory, sudden braking and accidents with other vehicles. The purpose of this dissertation is the specific study of the influence of semaphoric programming on the traffic signal disrespect by pedestrians, which, along with several psychosocial factors, influence this behavior. As a data source and case study, the center of the city of Rio de Janeiro was adopted, notably the traffic lights located at the intersections of Presidente Vargas and Rio Branco avenues and between Rio Branco and Almirante Barroso avenues, from which were collected pedestrian and semaphores data. With the application of the Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) method, using the input-oriented CCR model, it is evident the need to adapt the traffic signal programming for the case studied, with quantitative data on the necessary alteration of the semaphore periods . This methodology can be replicated to other similar cases in Rio de Janeiro.O desvio de conduta dos pedestres mais comum no trânsito brasileiro é o desrespeito semafórico. Tal tipo de comportamento pode acarretar atropelamentos, o que se constitui em uma das principais causas das mortes violentas no Brasil. Paralelamente, a mobilidade, tanto de pedestres quanto de veículos é deveras afetada, mesmo quando o atropelamento não é consumado; quando gera mudanças não previstas de trajetória do veículo, frenagens bruscas e acidentes com outros veículos. A proposta desta dissertação é o estudo específico da influência da programação semafórica no desrespeito semafórico por pedestres que, conjuntamente a diversos fatores psicossociais, influenciam em tal comportamento. Como fonte de dados e estudo de caso, foi adotado o centro da cidade do Rio de Janeiro, notadamente os semáforos situados nas interseções das avenidas Presidente Vargas e Rio Branco e entre as avenidas Rio Branco e Almirante Barroso, das quais foram retirados dados pedonais e semafóricos. Com a aplicação do método de Análise de Envoltória de Dados (DEA), utilizando-se do modelo CCR orientado a input, fica evidente a necessidade de adequação da programação semafórica para o caso estudado, inclusive com dados quantitativos sobre a necessária alteração dos períodos semafóricos. Esta metodologia pode ser replicada a outros casos semelhantes no Rio de Janeiro e em outras cidades brasileiras, o que demonstra a relevância do presente estudo e de sua continuidade

Implementación de medidas de control para disminuir los indicadores de accidentabilidad en una empresa productora y distribuidora de productos de limpieza Lima, 2021

Actualmente las empresas presentan limitaciones y deficiencias en su sistema de gestión de seguridad y salud ocupacional, detectándose incumplimientos en los requisitos establecidos mediante la Ley N° 29783. el objetivo principal de este trabajo de este informe es diseñar e implementar un Sistema de gestión de seguridad y salud ocupacional, permitiendo reducir accidentes y evitar pérdidas económicas por accidentes que origina perdida de horas de trabajo o sanciones impuestas por la SUNAFIL. Para ello se debe adoptar una educación, formación e información adecuadas. Esta actividad plantea el principal desafío para la empresa, en la prevención de lesiones laborales del diseño técnico, según al programa planificado, teniendo como actividades principales tales como capacitaciones, adquisición de equipos de protección personal, instalaciones de señalizaciones y equipos de respuesta ante emergencias, medidas de control, entre otrosCurrently, companies have limitations and deficiencies in their occupational health and safety management system, detecting non-compliance with the requirements established by Law No. 29783. The main objective of this work in this report is to design and implement a Safety Management System and occupational health, allowing to reduce accidents and avoid economic losses due to accidents that cause loss of work hours or sanctions imposed by SUNAFIL. For this, adequate education, training and information must be adopted. This activity poses the main challenge for the company, in the prevention of occupational injuries of the technical design, according to the planned program, having as main activities such as training, acquisition of equipment personal protection, signaling facilities and emergency response teams, control measures, among others