First In First Out (FIFO) And Priority Packet Scheduling Based On Type Of Service (TOS)

Mobile Ad Hoc Networks (MANETs) require prudent resource allocations especially in scheduling mechanisms that manage buffering of packets during waiting time. Various scheduling algorithms may be implemented to govern packet transmission and control packet loss hence managing the Quality of Service (QoS). Such mechanisms include first-in-first-out (FIFO), priority queuing (PQ), and weighted-fair queuing (WFQ). In this research paper, a comparison is made between FIFO and PQ mechanisms in a mixed traffic scenario (HTTP, FTP and VoIP applications). PQ is implemented on the basis of packet Type of Service (ToS), with VoIP data packets being given the upper hand. OPNET simulator is utilized in this paper. The study has been carried out on some issues like: Traffic dropped Traffic Received and packet end to end delay and the simulation results shows that WFQ technique has a better-quality than the other techniques. Keywords: MANETS, QoS, PQ, FIFO, Queuing, ToS, OPNE

Emerging Themes in African Oral Narratives: A Case Study of Abagusii Community of Western Kenya

The transience and preservation of the oral heritage in Africa has not been accorded due attention. Many critics are on record arguing that the oral heritage in Africa is faced with extinction. For a long time therefore, the focus has been on mere collection and documentation of oral forms for posterity. To the contrary, however, research by such contemporary scholars as Peter Wasamba, Isidore Okpewho, Ruth Finnegan, Abiola Irele, Wanjiku Kabira, Wole Soyinka, among others has proved that the oral tradition is as vibrant as ever, and a lot more complex than presupposed. These scholars have variously argued that the role of orality need not be seen in the past but rather as an art form that serves people across generations and societies. One area that has not been addressed exhaustively, therefore, and which is the loci of this study is the resilience and transience of not just oral narratives but other oral forms as well. It is no longer tenable to argue that oral literature is passed from generation to generation without much of a change. Nor is it plausible to argue that the greatest asset for oral artists is rote memory. As a matter of fact, modern orators have risen above the limitations of memory and performed oral items that are well within the oral tradition and, at the same time, responsive to contemporary realities. In this particular paper, therefore, we seek to address ourselves to both the resilience and transience of oral narratives in the face of shifting social dispensations. Much as we recognize the significance of collecting and preserving oral forms for posterity, there is need to show how various social forces have impacted on the nature and character of the oral forms. The following questions guide our study: i)                     What is the relevance of the oral narrative in a modernizing society? ii)                   What role does the performer or oral artist play in the resilience and transience of oral narratives? iii)                  What salient elements of the oral narrative enable it to be resilient and transient? Key words: traditional narratives, modern narratives, theme, motif, story line, plot, performance, philosophy, transience, variants, oral tradition

Burnout among surgeons before and during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: an international survey

Background: SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has had many significant impacts within the surgical realm, and surgeons have been obligated to reconsider almost every aspect of daily clinical practice. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study reported in compliance with the CHERRIES guidelines and conducted through an online platform from June 14th to July 15th, 2020. The primary outcome was the burden of burnout during the pandemic indicated by the validated Shirom-Melamed Burnout Measure. Results: Nine hundred fifty-four surgeons completed the survey. The median length of practice was 10 years; 78.2% included were male with a median age of 37 years old, 39.5% were consultants, 68.9% were general surgeons, and 55.7% were affiliated with an academic institution. Overall, there was a significant increase in the mean burnout score during the pandemic; longer years of practice and older age were significantly associated with less burnout. There were significant reductions in the median number of outpatient visits, operated cases, on-call hours, emergency visits, and research work, so, 48.2% of respondents felt that the training resources were insufficient. The majority (81.3%) of respondents reported that their hospitals were included in the management of COVID-19, 66.5% felt their roles had been minimized; 41% were asked to assist in non-surgical medical practices, and 37.6% of respondents were included in COVID-19 management. Conclusions: There was a significant burnout among trainees. Almost all aspects of clinical and research activities were affected with a significant reduction in the volume of research, outpatient clinic visits, surgical procedures, on-call hours, and emergency cases hindering the training. Trial registration: The study was registered on clicaltrials.gov "NCT04433286" on 16/06/2020

L2 English Pronunciation errors by Kenyan University Students: A Case of L1 Ekegusii and L1 Kimeru Speakers

Pronunciation is a factor of two processes: the production and perception of human individual sounds (segments), referred to as phonetics and the combination of these segments in a speech, and referred to as phonology. Ekegusii and Kimeru are Bantu languages spoken in western and central parts of Kenya respectively. University students from the two language groups studying English and Literature in their year one to year four in the university setting formed the population for the study because the intonation and phonetic inventory for both languages are similar to the extent that a non-native speaker of the two languages may not draw a distinction between them. Some prosodic features of these languages such as vowel insertion to break consonant clusters are different from English and when speakers of these languages insert vowels in some English words with consonant clusters, this results in error, sometimes impeding their intelligibility. A study was needed to examine pronunciation errors among the Ekegusii L1 and Kimeru L1 university students so as to document the gravity of the problem. The study was a qualitative description of students’ pronunciation errors in English language committed while the students were participating in university activities. The objectives of the study were to examine the most common mispronounced English phonemes produced by the students and to explore the possible sources of the errors. The study adopted a descriptive study design guided by Corder’s (1974) error analysis model. A purposive sample of 50 students selected on the basis of first encountered first recorded was used for data generation. The data was in the form of notes from listening to the students’ natural talk and audio recordings of their conversations. The study involved describing, analyzing, and interpreting common pronunciation errors. Based on the results of data analysis it was revealed that students made a multiple of pronunciation errors attributable to mainly interlingual and intralingual sources. From the findings, the researchers recommend that the best way to learn the pronunciation of a second language is by listening to good role model speakers of English language and by practising it regularly

L2 English Pronunciation Errors by Kenyan University Students: A Case of L1 Ekegusii and L1 Kimeru Speakers

Pronunciation is a factor of two processes: the production and perception of human individual sounds (segments), referred to as phonetics and the combination of these segments in a speech, and referred to as phonology. Ekegusii and Kimeru are Bantu languages spoken in western and central parts of Kenya respectively. University students from the two language groups studying English and Literature in their year one to year four in the university setting formed the population for the study because the intonation and phonetic inventory for both languages are similar to the extent that a non-native speaker of the two languages may not draw a distinction between them. Some prosodic features of these languages such as vowel insertion to break consonant clusters are different from English and when speakers of these languages insert vowels in some English words with consonant clusters, this results in error, sometimes impeding their intelligibility. A study was needed to examine pronunciation errors among the Ekegusii L1 and Kimeru L1 university students so as to document the gravity of the problem. The study was a qualitative description of students' pronunciation errors in English language committed while the students were participating in university activities. The objectives of the study were to examine the most common mispronounced English phonemes produced by the students and to explore the possible sources of the errors. The study adopted a descriptive study design guided by Corder's (1974) error analysis model. A purposive sample of 50 students selected on the basis of first encountered first recorded was used for data generation. The data was in the form of notes from listening to the students' natural talk and audio recordings of their conversations. The study involved describing, analyzing, and interpreting common pronunciation errors. Based on the results of data analysis it was revealed that students made a multiple of pronunciation errors attributable to mainly interlingual and intralingual sources. From the findings, the researchers recommend that the best way to learn the pronunciation of a second language is by listening to good role model speakers of English language and by practising it regularly

Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Cardiovascular Testing in Asia: The IAEA INCAPS-COVID Study

Background: The coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic significantly affected management of cardiovascular disease around the world. The effect of the pandemic on volume of cardiovascular diagnostic procedures is not known. Objectives: This study sought to evaluate the effects of the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic on cardiovascular diagnostic procedures and safety practices in Asia. Methods: The International Atomic Energy Agency conducted a worldwide survey to assess changes in cardiovascular procedure volume and safety practices caused by COVID-19. Testing volumes were reported for March 2020 and April 2020 and were compared to those from March 2019. Data from 180 centers across 33 Asian countries were grouped into 4 subregions for comparison. Results: Procedure volumes decreased by 47% from March 2019 to March 2020, showing recovery from March 2020 to April 2020 in Eastern Asia, particularly in China. The majority of centers cancelled outpatient activities and increased time per study. Practice changes included implementing physical distancing and restricting visitors. Although COVID testing was not commonly performed, it was conducted in one-third of facilities in Eastern Asia. The most severe reductions in procedure volumes were observed in lower-income countries, where volumes decreased 81% from March 2019 to April 2020. Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic in Asia caused significant reductions in cardiovascular diagnostic procedures, particularly in low-income countries. Further studies on effects of COVID-19 on cardiovascular outcomes and changes in care delivery are warranted