A Technique for Determining the Carrier Phase Differences between Independent GPS Receivers during Scintillation

A method for recovering the carrier phase differences between pairs of independent GPS receivers has been developed and demonstrated in truth-model simulations. This effort is in support of a project that intends to image the disturbed ionosphere with diffraction tomography techniques using GPS measurements from large arrays of receivers. Carrier phase differential GPS techniques, common in surveying and relative navigation, are employed to determine the phase relationships between the receivers in the imaging array. Strategies for estimating the absolute carrier phase disturbances at each receiver are discussed. Simulation results demonstrate that the system can rapidly detect the onset of scintillation, identify one non-scintillating reference signal, and recover the carrier phase differences accurate to 0.1 cycles.Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanic

Conflicts and delays in mega construction projects – Kuwait International Airport Cargo City

Mega construction projects, in general, require a lot of planning in terms of land acquisition, estimating material cost, human resources, financials, safety, and many more. It is a common scenario with delays occurring in such mega-projects attributing to increased project costs, delays in work completion. It leads to creating a negative impact on the prospects of the effective utilization of the project output in terms of space, facility, and resources to commence work at that location. This study intended to identify the factors that could potentially contribute to project delays and possible methods of resolving the conflicts that have aroused. A case study on Kuwait International Airport Cargo City was conducted quantitatively as well as qualitatively. It is learned that management conflicts have a significant impact on creating project delays, due to poor management, lack of effective communication, and ineffective utilization of resources

Belimumab : a technological advance for systemic lupus erythematosus patients? Report of a systematic review and meta-analysis

Objectives: To undertake a systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate clinical effectiveness of belimumab for patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and antinuclear and/or anti-double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) autoantibodies. Methods: We searched eight electronic databases and reference lists for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of belimumab against placebo or best supportive care. Quality assessment and random effects meta-analysis were undertaken. Design: A meta-analysis of RCTs. Participants: 2133 SLE patients. Primary and secondary outcome measures: SLE Responder Index (SRI) at week 52. Results: Three double-blind placebo-controlled RCTs (L02, BLISS-52 BLISS-76) investigated 2133 SLE patients. BLISS-52 and BLISS-76 trials recruited patients with antinuclear and/or anti-dsDNA autoantibodies and demonstrated belimumab effectiveness for the SRI at week 52. Ethnicity and geographical location of participants varied considerably between BLISS trials. Although tests for statistical heterogeneity were negative, BLISS-52 results were systematically more favourable for all measured outcomes. Meta-analysis of pooled 52-week SRI BLISS results showed benefit for belimumab (OR 1.63, 95% CI 1.27 to 2.09). By week 76, the primary SRI outcome in BLISS-76 was not statistically significant (OR 1.31, 95% CI 0.919 to 1.855)

Conflict management of construction projects – a case study Kuwait International Airport Cargo City

Exchanges within the construction teams have been often found to be argumentative, conflict and crisis ridden, and as a result individual worker in the industry are exposed to extreme hostility. These conflicts result from disagreements about ways of solving spot site-related problems, insufficient planning, ill-prepared contract documents,and the lack of coordination between the contracting parties. Members in a construction project tend to form a community with an intricate set of intertwined relationships. Continuing conflicts among members therefore manifest in further disagreements that can ruin a project, and result in thorny litigation, amplified cost, collapse in communication, and strained task conveyance. This study therefore seeks to discover the causes of such conflicts within the construction sector, and the ways by which these conflicts are resolved. Quantitative design has been used in combination with a cross-sectional questionnaire directed at conflict management of construction projects at the Kuwait international airport. A total of 188 questionnaires have been distributed, out of which 14 were lost, and 11 of them have not been answered. Responses of 163 participants were recorded and analyzed through the use of the Statistical Package for Social Scientists (SPSS). To fix the correspondence issue, the study involved follow-ups of the project status using the digital platform of BIM software in form of progress reports, site reporting, and meeting site project team. Results show that the conflict management strategy of construction project related strongly with employee’s situation, efficiency, law, development, and growth restrictions on investment income at Kuwait project construction sites. The conflict management strategy of construction project was found to have a positive effect on the performance of the workers in construction projects with Beta Coefficient = 0.904;indicating that for one-unit increase in conflict management strategy, the performance of construction projects in Kuwait International Airport Cargo City would increase by 0.904 unit. Finally, when participants were asked if there is a delay in project or not, 63.2% of the total sample answered [Yes] as the highest percent, while 16.6% of the total sample answered by [No] and 20.2% didn't know

Prevalence of co-morbid depression in out-patients with type 2 diabetes in Bangladesh

Background Little is known about the prevalence of depression in people with diabetes in Bangladesh. This study examined the prevalence and factors associated with depression in out-patients with Type 2 diabetes in Bangladesh. Methods In this cross-sectional study a random sample of 483 diabetes out-patients from three diabetes clinics in Bangladesh was invited to participate. Of them 417 patients took part. Depressive symptoms were measured using previously developed and culturally standardized Bengali and Sylheti versions of the World HealthOrganization-5 Well Being Index (WHO-5) and the Patient Health Questionairre-9 (PHQ-9) with predefined cut-off scores. Data was collected using two different modes; e.g. standard assisted collection and audio questionnaire methods. Associations between depression and patient characteristics were explored using regression analysis. Results The prevalence depressive symptoms was 34% (PHQ-9 score ≥ 5) and 36% (WHO-5 score < 52) with audio questionnaire delivery method. The prevalence rates were similar regardless of the type (PHQ-9 vs. WHO-5) and language (Sylheti vs. Bengali) of the questionnaires, and methods of delivery (standard assisted vs. audio methods). The significant predictors of depressive symptoms using either the PHQ-9 or WHO-5 questionnaires were; age, income, gender, treatment intensity, and co-morbid cardiovascular disease. Further, depression was strongly associated with poor glycaemic control and number of co-morbid conditions. Conclusions This study demonstrated that depression prevalence is common in out-patients with type 2 diabetes in Bangladesh. In a setting where recognition, screening and treatment levels remain low, health care providers need to focus their efforts on diagnosing, referring and effectively treating this important disease in order to improve service delivery

Energy engineering approach for rural areas cattle farmers in Bangladesh to reduce covid-19 impact on food safety

© 2020 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This paper reports on the optimization of thin-film coating-assisted, self-sustainable, off-grid hybrid power generation systems for cattle farming in rural areas of Bangladesh. Bangladesh is a lower middle-income country with declining rates of poverty among its 160 million people due to persistent economic growth in conjunction with balanced agricultural improvements. Most of the rural households adopt a mixed farming system by cultivating crops and simultaneously rearing livestock. Among the animals raised, cattle are considered as the most valuable asset for the small-/medium-scale farmers in terms of their meat and milk production. Currently, along with the major health issue, the COVID-19 pandemic is hindering the world’s economic growth and has thrust millions into unemployment; Bangladesh is also in this loop. However, natural disasters such as COVID-19 pandemic and floods, largely constrain rural smallholder cattle farmers from climbing out of their poverty. In particular, small-and medium-scale cattle farmers face many issues that obstruct them from taking advantage of market opportunities and imposing a greater burden on their families and incomes. An appropriate measure can give a way to make those cattle farmers’ businesses both profitable and sustainable. Optimization of thin-film coating-assisted, self-sustainable, off-grid hybrid power generation system for cattle farming is a new and forward-looking approach for sustainable development of the livestock sector. In this study, we design and optimize a thin-film coating-assisted hybrid (photovoltaic battery generator) power system by using the Hybrid Optimization of Multiple Energy Resources (HOMER, Version 3.14.0) simulation tool. An analysis of the results has suggested that the off-grid hybrid system is more feasible for small-and medium-scale cattle farming systems with long-term sustainability to overcome the significant challenges faced by smallholder cattle farmers in Bangladesh

FAN1-MLH1 interaction affects repair of DNA interstrand cross-links and slipped-CAG/CTG repeats

FAN1, a DNA structure-specific nuclease, interacts with MLH1, but the repair pathways in which this complex acts are unknown. FAN1 processes DNA interstrand crosslinks (ICLs) and FAN1 variants are modifiers of the neurodegenerative Huntington's disease (HD), presumably by regulating HD-causing CAG repeat expansions. Here, we identify specific amino acid residues in two adjacent FAN1 motifs that are critical for MLH1 binding. Disruption of the FAN1-MLH1 interaction confers cellular hypersensitivity to ICL damage and defective repair of CAG/CTG slip-outs, intermediates of repeat expansion mutations. FAN1-S126 phosphorylation, which hinders FAN1-MLH1 association, is cell cycle-regulated by cyclin-dependent kinase activity and attenuated upon ICL induction. Our data highlight the FAN1-MLH1 complex as a phosphorylation-regulated determinant of ICL response and repeat stability, opening novel paths to modify cancer and neurodegeneration

Synthetic matrix enhances transplanted satellite cell engraftment in dystrophic and aged skeletal muscle with comorbid trauma

Muscle satellite cells (MuSCs) play a central role in muscle regeneration, but their quantity and function decline with comorbidity of trauma, aging, and muscle diseases. Although transplantation of MuSCs in traumatically injured muscle in the comorbid context of aging or pathology is a strategy to boost muscle regeneration, an effective cell delivery strategy in these contexts has not been developed. We engineered a synthetic hydrogel-based matrix with optimal mechanical, cell-adhesive, and protease-degradable properties that promotes MuSC survival, proliferation, and differentiation. Furthermore, we establish a biomaterial-mediated cell delivery strategy for treating muscle trauma, where intramuscular injections may not be applicable. Delivery of MuSCs in the engineered matrix significantly improved in vivo cell survival, proliferation, and engraftment in nonirradiated and immunocompetent muscles of aged and dystrophic mice compared to collagen gels and cell-only controls. This platform may be suitable for treating craniofacial and limb muscle trauma, as well as postoperative wounds of elderly and dystrophic patients.Research reported in this publication was supported by the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases of the NIH under award numbers R21AR072287 (to Y.C.J.) and R01AR062368 (to A.J.G.). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the NIH. This work was also funded by the Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience Seed Grant Program (to A.J.G. and Y.C.J.)

Synthetic matrix enhances transplanted satellite cell engraftment in dystrophic and aged skeletal muscle with comorbid trauma

Muscle satellite cells (MuSCs) play a central role in muscle regeneration, but their quantity and function decline with comorbidity of trauma, aging, and muscle diseases. Although transplantation of MuSCs in traumatically injured muscle in the comorbid context of aging or pathology is a strategy to boost muscle regeneration, an effective cell delivery strategy in these contexts has not been developed. We engineered a synthetic hydrogel-based matrix with optimal mechanical, cell-adhesive, and protease-degradable properties that promotes MuSC survival, proliferation, and differentiation. Furthermore, we establish a biomaterial-mediated cell delivery strategy for treating muscle trauma, where intramuscular injections may not be applicable. Delivery of MuSCs in the engineered matrix significantly improved in vivo cell survival, proliferation, and engraftment in nonirradiated and immunocompetent muscles of aged and dystrophic mice compared to collagen gels and cell-only controls. This platform may be suitable for treating craniofacial and limb muscle trauma, as well as postoperative wounds of elderly and dystrophic patients.Research reported in this publication was supported by the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases of the NIH under award numbers R21AR072287 (to Y.C.J.) and R01AR062368 (to A.J.G.). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the NIH. This work was also funded by the Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience Seed Grant Program (to A.J.G. and Y.C.J.)