Ultra-wideband MIMO radio channel characterisation for body-centric wireless communication

No abstract available

Ultrafast micromachining of Cu and Si at ultra-high repetition rates with pulse bursts

We report a novel ultrafast burst mode fiber laser system, which can deliver pulses at ultra-high repetition rates in order to systematically investigate micromachining efficiency on copper and silicon samples. © 2015 IEEE

Perceptions on the accessibility of Islamic banking in the UK—Challenges, opportunities and divergence in opinion

This study examines the views of UK-based Muslims, Islamic Scholars and Islamic banking employees on the current state of the latter industry, both in practical terms and as regards engagement with the nation’s large, but often marginalised Islamic community. The British Government has recently championed the Islamic banking sector and committed to supporting it as a means of addressing financial services needs and consolidating London’s position as the global centre for Islamic investment. The analysis adds to the substantive literature in two principal ways: (i) by contextualising the evidence via the notions of empowerment, engagement and social justice that underpin both the state’s attempts to foster growth and the central tenets of Islam; and (ii) by placing comparison of the opinions of key groups at the heart of the investigation. The findings reveal that while progress has been made, UK-based Muslims see several substantive impediments to access, including the complex terminology of Islamic banking products, the lack of internet banking facilities and branch networks as well as a generalised lack of interest in marketing on the part of the institutions. Whilst some coincidence of perception is evident, the views of bankers are shown to be out of line with those of the other parties in a number of key areas. For example, bankers appear to see less potential in the role of the internet as a medium for spreading awareness than do either potential customers or religious scholars. The paper therefore concludes with a call for multi-party Ijtihad and Qiyas (deductive analogy) that will encourage industrial outreach and, in so doing, support long-term growth

The global burden of cancer attributable to risk factors, 2010–19: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

BACKGROUND: Understanding the magnitude of cancer burden attributable to potentially modifiable risk factors is crucial for development of effective prevention and mitigation strategies. We analysed results from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2019 to inform cancer control planning efforts globally. METHODS: The GBD 2019 comparative risk assessment framework was used to estimate cancer burden attributable to behavioural, environmental and occupational, and metabolic risk factors. A total of 82 risk–outcome pairs were included on the basis of the World Cancer Research Fund criteria. Estimated cancer deaths and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) in 2019 and change in these measures between 2010 and 2019 are presented. FINDINGS: Globally, in 2019, the risk factors included in this analysis accounted for 4·45 million (95% uncertainty interval 4·01–4·94) deaths and 105 million (95·0–116) DALYs for both sexes combined, representing 44·4% (41·3–48·4) of all cancer deaths and 42·0% (39·1–45·6) of all DALYs. There were 2·88 million (2·60–3·18) risk-attributable cancer deaths in males (50·6% [47·8–54·1] of all male cancer deaths) and 1·58 million (1·36–1·84) risk-attributable cancer deaths in females (36·3% [32·5–41·3] of all female cancer deaths). The leading risk factors at the most detailed level globally for risk-attributable cancer deaths and DALYs in 2019 for both sexes combined were smoking, followed by alcohol use and high BMI. Risk-attributable cancer burden varied by world region and Socio-demographic Index (SDI), with smoking, unsafe sex, and alcohol use being the three leading risk factors for risk-attributable cancer DALYs in low SDI locations in 2019, whereas DALYs in high SDI locations mirrored the top three global risk factor rankings. From 2010 to 2019, global risk-attributable cancer deaths increased by 20·4% (12·6–28·4) and DALYs by 16·8% (8·8–25·0), with the greatest percentage increase in metabolic risks (34·7% [27·9–42·8] and 33·3% [25·8–42·0]). INTERPRETATION: The leading risk factors contributing to global cancer burden in 2019 were behavioural, whereas metabolic risk factors saw the largest increases between 2010 and 2019. Reducing exposure to these modifiable risk factors would decrease cancer mortality and DALY rates worldwide, and policies should be tailored appropriately to local cancer risk factor burden

MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEMS AS AN INTEGRAL PART FOR SMOOTH RUNNING AND IMPROVING UNIVERSITY MANAGEMENT

This paper investigates the use of modern Information Technology enabled systems and methods for better university management. The responsibilities of management include management of organizational resources. In the past, focus was on financial, personnel and material resources. Since the diffusion of computers, local area networks and Internet connections in universities and the increase of instructional software and online resources is a challenge for the university system. Appropriate tools to store, access, distribute and to use those resources in universities are still in their infancy. Now a need for the inclusion of information resources and the facilities to manage them are an essential part in any organization especially in the Public Sector. In order to understand why universities as learning institutions are struggling with knowledge exchange, existing models for knowledge management will be described and adopted to the University context. The paper introduces a development process of a special information system for managing several simultaneous internal processes which are the integral part of a university. The need of MIS arises from the rapid growth in the number of students, staff, and the complexities in universities with the passage of time. There are a number of processes which are going on simultaneously inside the university, which would be easily looked after and managed once the system is fully functional. These systems are providing specific statutory returns and administrative type functions. In a technology oriented, information-intense world, one of the largest challenges facing higher education is the organization, communication, and presentation of information in a coherent and usable fashion. The university automation would enhance the working environment and would decrease the burden of the administrative staff, which would eventually increase the performance.   Keywords: Administrative, Automation, Communication, Information, ManagementFor full paper: [email protected]

Childhood asthma at Kenyatta National Hospital, Nairobi.

Between January 1986 and July 1988, 356 children with bronchial asthma below 14 years of age were evaluated at the Kenyatta National Hospital. 21.3% experienced initial asthmatic attacks before the age of six months and 55.1% before 2 years. Only 8% of the study patients were below the age of 2 years at recruitment. The male:female ratio was 1:1. Physical exercise led to precipitation or worsening of attacks in 43.4% while 71.6% of the patients experienced attacks in the evening or at night. 18.5% and 42.9% had personal history of atopic dermatitis and allergic rhinitis respectively. The study shows that a substantial number of patients experience initial asthmatic attacks before the age of 6 months contrary to what has been previously believed

Ultra-wideband MIMO radio channel characterisation for body-centric wireless communication

No abstract available

Correlates of self-worth and body size dissatisfaction among obese Latino youth

The current study examined self-worth and body size dissatisfaction, and their association with maternal acculturation among obese Latino youth enrolled in a community-based obesity intervention program. Upon entry to the program, a sample of 113 participants reported global self-worth comparable to general population norms, but lower athletic competence and perception of physical appearance. Interestingly, body size dissatisfaction was more prevalent among younger respondents. Youth body size dissatisfaction was associated with less acculturated mothers and higher maternal dissatisfaction with their child's body size. By contrast, although global self-worth was significantly related to body dissatisfaction, it was not influenced by mothers’ acculturation or dissatisfaction with their own or their child’s body size. Obesity intervention programs targeted to Latino youth need to address self-worth concerns among the youth as well as addressing maternal dissatisfaction with their children’s body size

DYNAMICS OF THE ELECTORAL SYMPATHIES OF THE KIROVOGRAD REGION POPULATION IN THE CONTEXT OF POLITICAL AND GEOGRAPHIC PROCESSES IN UKRAINE

Маслова, Н.М. ДИНАМІКА ЕЛЕКТОРАЛЬНИХ СИМПАТІЙ НАСЕЛЕННЯ КІРОВОГРАДСЬКОЇ ОБЛАСТІ В КОНТЕКСТІ ПОЛІТИКОГЕОГРАФІЧНИХ ПРОЦЕСІВ В УКРАЇНІ / Н. М. Маслова, В. М. Мирза-Сіденко // Науковий вісник Херсонського держ. ун-ту. Серія : Географічні науки. – Херсон, 2018. - Вип. 9. – С. 62-68.Аналізуються динаміка та територіальні відмінності в електоральних симпатіях населення Кіровоградської області під час виборів у контексті політико-географічних процесів в Україні. Визначено роль області в електоральному просторі України як електорально рубіжної та політично амбівалентної території. Анализируются динамика и территориальные различия в электоральных симпатиях населения Кировоградской области во время выборов в контексте политико-географических процессов в Украине. Определена роль области в электоральном пространстве Украины как электорально рубежной и политически амбивалентной территории. During the period of Ukraine's independence, there have been significant transformations of electoral sympathies of the population of the Kirovograd region. Since 1994, the place of the region in the electoral field of Ukraine was determined by its electoral marginality and political ambivalence, which testified to the split of the electoral space of the region. By 2002, the population of the region in electoral choices was solidarity with the inhabitants of the east and south of the country and preferred left-wing forces. In 2002, the level of support for left-wing forces declined, but there was still no structuring of political sympathies in the region, and the votes of voters were scattered among different political forces. In 2004, the political orientations of the population of the region for the first time became more close to the sympathies of the inhabitants of the north and west. For decades, the region entered the "orange belt", although it was on its periphery, bordered by regions with opposing electoral sympathies. In the west, north, south and center of the region, the electorate favored the forces of the "orange camp", in the east and southeast - much of the support of the Party of Regions. Over time, the region lost its political ambivalence and finally entered the ranges of support for "pro-Ukrainian" political forces. In 2014, the oblast's inhabitants were unanimous in their electoral choices and the region lost the status of the electorate frontier. The line of electoral frontier has shifted to the territory of the Dnipropetrovsk region. It is likely that the next election campaign will show quite different results that will require further analysis