One year results of one minute Rainfall Rate Measurement at Covenant University, Southwest Nigeria

One year results of one minute rainfall rate measurement at Ota, Southwest, Nigeria (6° 42'N, 3° 14'E) from a wireless Davis Vantage Pro2 Weather Station is presented. The weather station was set at one minute integration time, and the rainfall rate data from the months of April 2012 to March 2013 have been analyzed. One minute rainfall rate at various percentages of time are needed for the modeling and prediction of rain attenuation at microwave frequencies for both terrestrial and earth space links. The measured one-minute rainfall rate events captured by the instrument for the past one year varies between 3 to 141 mm/h from 1% to 0.01% of time in an average year respectively. When the results were compared to the ITU_RP SG3 Digital Map from 1% to 0.01% (3.63 to 62.87 mm/h) the ITU-RP model underestimate rainfall rate at 0.01% exceedance by 55% and over estimate the rainfall rate at 1% exceedance by 3% respectively

Smith-Forbes, E., Howell, Dana M., Pitts, G., Willoughby, J., & Uhl, T. (Minimal Clinical Important Difference of the Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (Quickdash) for Post-Surgical Finger Phalanx Fractures

Purpose: STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective, multiple-group observational design. Objective: To determine the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) for the Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Should,er, and Hand (QuickDASH) outcome measure, for post-surgical palanx fracture diagnosis, using a triangulation of distribution-and-anchor-based approaches. Backgroudn: The MCID for the QuickDASH has been established using a pool of multiple conditions, and specifically for the shoulder, and other diagnoses in the elbow and wrist, but not for post-surgical finger fracture. Understanding specific threshold change values for post-surgical finger fracture can enhance the clinical decision-making process

Seasonal Variation of Surface Radio Refractivity and Water Vapour Density for 48 Stations in Nigeria

The monthly and seasonal variation of surface refractivity and water vapour density were studied using thirtynine years meteorological data for forty-eight stations in Nigeria. The factors which influence the transmission of radio signals operating within the troposphere are water vapour and refractivity. The results show that the surface refractivity and water vapour density generally have higher values during the rainy season than dry season at all station studied. Furthermore the results show that the value of surface refractivity and water vapour density varies from about 263 N-units and 3 g/m3 in arid region of Nigeria (North East) to about 393 N-units and 23 g/m3 in the coastal area of Nigeria (South West) respectively. For optimal performance of terrestrial radio link across Nigeria it is required to account for the variability of these parameters for optimal systems design

Review of Rain Attenuation Measurements On Earth - Space Links in Nigeria

Due to the prevailing impact of rain on microwave and millimetre wave propagation in tropical climates, fade margins derived from experimental campaigns would provide more practical estimates for planning. In this paper, the extent of work done on the experimental assessment of the attenuation induced by rain on practical earth-space links in Nigeria is presented. The cumulative rain rate distributions derived from the instantaneous precipitation indices for propagation modelling and the estimation of fade margin is presented for Ile-Ife, Akure, Ilorin, Ota, Osogbo and Ogbomoso. Results reveals the spatial variability of the point rainfall rate across these stations. Although the stations engaged with measurement on rain attenuation are limited in number, preliminary results from new stations are presented, while addition data from ongoing campaigns will provide a robust indices for modelling the digital DTH links and for evaluating the performance of pre-existing models over Nigeria

Intellectual property management and technological entrepreneurship

This paper investigates the distinctive technology protection strategies of entrepreneurial technology firms. In contrast with much popular opinion, it is reported that intellectual property features more prominently in the business of small entrepreneurial firms than it does in the business of large, established mature firms. The intellectual property portfolios of technology firms of all sizes and ages exhibit a rich array of instruments in addition to patents for protecting technology, including trade secrets, trademarks and copyright, together with licenses to externally sourced technology. The intellectual property profiles of technology firms appear to be influenced by their context, organizational profiles and corporate goals and by the character of their technology

Gas hydrate on the northern Cascadia margin: regional geophysics and structural framework

Integrated Ocean Drilling Program Expedition 311 is based on extensive site survey data and historic research at the northern Cascadia margin since 1985. This research includes various regional geophysical surveys using a broad spectrum of seismic techniques, coring and logging by the Ocean Drilling Program Leg 146, heat flow measurements, shallow piston coring, and bottom video observations across a cold-vent field, as well as novel controlled-source electromagnetic and seafloor compliance surveying techniques. The wealth of data available allowed construction of structural cross-sections of the margin, development of models for the formation of gas hydrate in an accretionary prism, and estimation of gas hydrate and free gas concentrations. Expedition 311 established for the first time a transect of drill sites across the northern Cascadia margin to study the evolution of gas hydrate formation over the entire gas hydrate stability field of the accretionary complex. This paper reviews the tectonic framework at the northern Cascadia margin and summarizes the scientific studies that led to the drilling objectives of Expedition 311 Cascadia gas hydrate

Negative parental responses to coming out and family functioning in a sample of lesbian and gay young adults

Parental responses to youths' coming out (CO) are crucial to the subsequent adjustment of children and family. The present study investigated the negative parental reaction to the disclosure of same-sex attraction and the differences between maternal and paternal responses, as reported by their homosexual daughters and sons. Participants' perceptions of their parents' reactions (evaluated through the Perceived Parental Reactions Scale, PPRS), age at coming out, gender, parental political orientation, and religiosity involvement, the family functioning (assessed through the Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scales, FACES IV), were assessed in 164 Italian gay and lesbian young adults. Pearson correlation coefficients were calculated to assess the relation between family functioning and parental reaction to CO. The paired sample t-test was used to compare mothers and fathers' scores on the PPRS. Hierarchical multiple regression was conducted to analyze the relevance of each variable. No differences were found between mothers and fathers in their reaction to the disclosure. The analysis showed that a negative reaction to coming out was predicted by parents' right-wing political conservatism, strong religious beliefs, and higher scores in the scales Rigid and Enmeshed. Findings confirm that a negative parental reaction is the result of poor family resources to face a stressful situation and a strong belief in traditional values. These results have important implications in both clinical and social fields

High Quality, Low Cost Egg Incubator for BIC Church in Choma, Zambia

The Egg Incubator team is partnering with the Brethren in Christ Church located in Choma, Zambia to design a high-quality, low-cost chicken egg incubator to supply the pastors and church members with a means of food and income. The design will need to take into account the accessibility and cost of the tools and materials. The current prototype features separate heating and humidity systems, a control system to maintain a set temperature and humidity, and tilting egg racks. The heating system consists of two stovetop coils to produce heat and a fan to transfer it to the air. The humidifier utilizes an atomizer in a pan of water to create a mist that mixes with the hot air to create humidity. The control system uses a proportional integral derivative controller (PID) to keep the temperature at 37 ± 1 °C and the humidity at 60–70%. The egg racks are tilted by a motor that runs every 6 hours to prevent the embryos from sticking to the shell. With a fully functioning prototype, the team has begun to incubate 60 real fertilized eggs. During the 21-day incubation process, a final prototype iteration is being designed and will be built on-site in Zambia in May 2022. Funding for this work provided by The Collaboratory for Strategic Partnerships and Applied Research.https://mosaic.messiah.edu/engr2022/1004/thumbnail.jp

Fine Motor Control Underlies the Association Between Response Inhibition and Drawing Skill in Early Development

Previous research shows that the development of response inhibition and drawing skill are linked. The current research investigated whether this association reflects a more fundamental link between response inhibition and motor control. In Experiment 1, 3- and 4-year-olds (n = 100) were tested on measures of inhibition, fine motor control, and drawing skill. Data revealed an association between inhibition and fine motor control, which was responsible for most of the association observed with drawing skill. Experiment 2 (n = 100) provided evidence that, unlike fine motor control, gross motor control and inhibition were not associated (after controlling for IQ). Alternative explanations for the link between inhibition and fine motor control are outlined, including a consideration of how these cognitive processes may interact during development

Mechanisms of escape phenomenon of spinal cord and brainstem in human rabies

BACKGROUND: Rabies virus preferentially involves brainstem, thalamus and spinal cord in human furious and paralytic rabies beginning in the early stage of illness. Nevertheless, rabies patient remains alert until the pre-terminal phase. Weakness of extremities develops only when furious rabies patient becomes comatose; whereas peripheral nerve dysfunction is responsible for weakness in paralytic rabies. METHODS: Evidence of apoptosis and mitochondrial outer membrane permeabilization in brain and spinal cord of 10 rabies patients was examined and these findings were correlated with the presence of rabies virus antigen. RESULTS: Although apoptosis was evident in most of the regions, cytochrome c leakage was relatively absent in spinal cord of nearly all patients despite the abundant presence of rabies virus antigen. Such finding was also noted in brainstem of 5 patients. CONCLUSION: Cell death in human rabies may be delayed in spinal cord and the reticular activating system, such as brainstem, thus explaining absence of weakness due to spinal cord dysfunction and preservation of consciousness