Localization of transversal cracks in sandwich beams and evaluation of their severity

An algorithm to assess transversal cracks in composite structures based on natural frequency changes due to damage is proposed. The damage assessment is performed in two steps; first the crack location is found, and afterwards an evaluation of its severity is performed. The technique is based on a mathematical relation that provides the exact solution for the frequency changes of bending vibration modes, considering two terms. The first term is related to the strain energy stored in the beam, while the second term considers the increase of flexibility due to damage. Thus, it is possible to separate the problems of localization and severity assessment, which makes the localization process independent of the beams cross-section shape and boundary conditions. In fact, the process consists of comparing vectors representing the measured frequency shifts with patterns constructed using the mode shape curvatures of the undamaged beam. Once the damage is localized, the evaluation of its severity is made taking into account the global rigidity reduction. The damage identification algorithm was validated by experiments performed on numerous sandwich panel specimens

Gerakan Aktif tanpa Kekerasan: sebuah Transformasi Perjuangan Masyarakat (Kasus Masyarakat Moro-Moro Register 45 Mesuji Lampung)

Forest conflict Register 45 Mesuji Lampung sticking out the end of the year is a agrarian chronic conflict and widespread impact. A conflict that has lasted more than fifteen years has spawned a variety of violence, evictions and abandonment of the constitutional rights of citizens. Moro-Moro communities are experiencing citizens entity waiver of constitutional rights, which in turn have a significant impact on their social life and consciousness. This paper uses ethnographic approach that aims to provide an overview of the successful struggle of managing conflict with social intelligence. This paper attempts to use Pierre Bourdieu\u27s ideas about habitus to analyze the process of transformation of the Moro-Moro communities who struggle to change the stigma of a peace maker trouble maker eventually gave birth to the support from various circles of society

VULNERABLE HOUSEHOLDS IN FLOOD-PRONE COMMUNITIES IN IBADAN: MEASURES TO IMPROVE THEIR STATUS WITHIN THE INCLUSIVE IBADAN CITY FRAMEWORK

The study assesses the impact of the last major flood disaster in Ibadan on the vulnerable groups (the poor, elderly, children and physically challenged). It investigates how vulnerable HHs have responded to post-disaster events. The study finds that HHs from 56% of the affected buildings suffered temporary displacement and 207 (7.4%) of the affected buildings were abandoned with Ibadan South-West LGA recording the highest cases of abandonment (23%).There exists a positive correlation between income and period of displacement (r=0.26) and a significant difference in the period of displacement across income groups. The study reveals disparities in access to relief/recovery items among the flood-affected populations. Urban dwellers had better access to relief packages than rural dwellers

Impact of the judiciary on the Nigerian social and economic development

There is universal agreement that judiciary has and is playing a role in realm of social and economic development as an independent arbiter particularly in the enforcement of rights. Consequently, creating accountable and impartial court systems that will be responsive to public needs is not enough but must also be efficient and accurate to ensure government is responsive to its constitutional obligations, secure property rights, reduce uncertainty, and promote social and economic development. Incidentally, in this new democracy, Nigeria has extends the areas of economic and social development to creative applications of the law. This is because economic and social development depends on an effective legislation and judicial system. Against this background, this article attempts to discuss linkage and impact of judicial experience in economic development.Keywords: Judiciary, Democracy, Arbiter, Right, Socio-economic, Rule of La

Pengaruh Satisfaction, Trust dan Confidence Benefit terhadap Customer Commitment pada Produk Taplus BNI (Studi Kasus pada PT. Bank Negara Indonesia (Persero) Tbk Kantor Cabang Utama Musi Palembang )

There has been considerable concern about how ongoing consolidation in financial systems around the world will affect competition. Indeed, much of the recent public debate seems to assume that perfect competition in banking is ideal. Such a thing will force each bank to understand how to make their customers satisfied. This research was aimed to examine how trust and confidence benefit on customer commitment affect the customer\u27s satisfaction. To understand this isntance, questionnaires were distributed to the target respondents. Samples were taken using convenience sampling. Total respondents of 100 were obtained. Using both descriptive and statistical analysis, results were obtained. Regression analysis was implemented. Based on partial analysis, results showed that trust and confidence benefit have significant influence to the customer commitment, while satisfaction do not provide a significant influence to the customer commitment . Finally on the basis of the finding, recomendations that is to improve and to maintain the performance of independent variables (trust and confidence benefits) and especially on the confidence benefit variable have been made

A FRAMEWORK FOR A CLOUD-BASED ELECTRONIC HEALTH RECORDS SYSTEM FOR NIGERIA

  In most countries of the developed world, one of the integral components of Health Information System (HIS) is Electronic Health Records (EHR). With advances in Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and the rise in the adoption of cloud computing approaches in the health sector of these countries by a substantial number of health institutions, cloud servers are now remote repository of EHRs. However, in Nigeria and many other developing countries, health information of patients is still predominantly paper-based medical records. This manual method is not scalable in terms of storage, prone to error, insecure, susceptible to damage and degradation over time, highly unavailable, time consuming in accessing and with no visible audit trail and version history to mention but a few. In this paper, a framework for a cloud-based electronic health records system that is capable of storage, retrieval and updating of patients’ medical records for Nigeria is proposed. The framework provides for various medical stakeholders in a health institution and patients to access the EHR system via a web portal by using a variety of devices in the contextual scenario whereby the health institution is migrating from paper-based patient record documentation to an EHR system

Negative Correlation between Fetuin-A and Indices of Vascular Disease in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Patients with and without Lupus Nephritis

Introduction: Fetuin-A, a systemic calcification inhibitor, has been negatively related to vascular calcification (VC) and cardiovascular mortality. In this study we investigated the association between fetuin-A levels and atherosclerotic vascular complications in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients with and without lupus nephritis (LN). Methods: We recruited 20 SLE patients without LN, 20 SLE patients with LN and 20 healthy controls. We determined serum creatinine, lipid profile, high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), calcium, phosphate and fetuin-A levels, and calculated the calcification risk index (CRI) and SLE disease activity index (SLEDAI) for all subjects. Vascular disease burden was assessed by quantification of carotid artery intima-media-thickness (IMT) and the ankle-brachial index (ABI). Results: Fetuin-A levels were significantly lower in LN patients (0.47 ± 0.1 g/L) compared to SLE patients without LN (0.54 ± 0.1 g/L) and both were significantly lower than controls (0.78 ± 0.2 g/L). CRI was significantly higher in LN patients (89.1 ± 12.1 mg/L) compared to SLE patients without LN (67.2 ± 9.3 mg/L) and both were significantly higher than controls (34.2 ± 6.2 mg/L). Peripheral arterial disease (ABI < 0.9) was significantly more common in LN patients (55%) compared to SLE patients without LN (30%) as well as controls (0%). Fetuin-A levels showed significant negative correlations with serum creatinine, hsCRP, CRI, IMT and ABI in SLE patients with and without LN. Conclusion: Fetuin-A levels were decreased in SLE patients with and without LN and negatively correlated with vascular complications. This suggests a potentially important role for fetuin-A deficiency as marker of vascular disease in SLE patients with and without LN. Keywords: Atherosclerosis; Fetuin-A; Lupus nephritis; SLE; Vascular Calcification

Larvicidal activity of essential oil from citrus sinensis and Citrus paradisi against Anopheles gambiae

Malaria is a major health challenge in the developing world causing millions of death annually. Synthetic pesticides used in the vectors control are not environmentally safe and are expensive. We screened the essential oils of Citrus sinensis and Citrus paradisi peels at concentrations ranging between 40 and 400 ppm against late 3rd instar of Anopheles gambiae larvae. The effects of ethanol and methanol on the larvicidal activity of these oils were examined. The effects of combined oils formulations on larvicidal activity were also determined. The larvicidal concentration (LC50) of the orange and grape oil was 73ppm and 76 ppm, respectively in methanol, and 121 ppm and 82 ppm in ethanol solution. The LC50 of the combined oil formulations ranged between 54 and 99ppm. The different oil combinations showed synergism except when combined at equal proportion in ethanol. Conclusively, orange and grape oils could be used as biopesticides against A. gambiae larvae.Keywords: Anopheles gambiae; Citrus paradisi; Citrus sinensis; essential oils; Mosquito larvaeBiokemistri 28(1): 16–2

Antibiotic Susceptibility and Detection of Resistance Genes of E. coli among Healthy Pregnant Women in Designated Hospitals around Osogbo, Osun State, Nigeria

Treatment of E. coli is now a challenge globally, due to continuous increase in resistance towards commonly prescribed antibiotics, thus posing a threat to treatment. Hence, the aim of the study is to determine antibiotics sensitivity and resistance genes of E.coli from apparently healthy pregnant women in Osogbo, Osun State, Nigeria using standard methods. A cross-sectional study design was used to collect 150 mid-stream urine (MSU) samples from apparently healthy pregnant women. Standard inoculating loop technique was used by culturing 0.001 ml of MSU on Cysteine Lactose Electrolyte Deficient (CLED) agar, Blood agar and MacConkey agar and incubated at 37 °C for 24 h. A standard agar disc diffusion method was used to determine antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of the isolates. The molecular detection of resistance genes was done using PCR techniques.&nbsp; The ages of women enrolled in this study ranged from 22 to 42 years (mean ± standard deviation = 31 ± 4.7 years). Eight isolates were positive for E. coli. &nbsp;Escherichia coli showed high percentage of resistance to ampicillin and low resistance to ciprofloxacin and penicillin. All the E. coli isolates were sensitive to levofloxacin, and most were resistant to Meropenem. Multiple drug resistance was observed in all the isolates. Resistance genes in VIM 390bp, bla ctx-M 585bp and TEM 517bp were detected in some of the representative E. coli isolates profiled. This study identified the presence of Multi-drug resistance genes in E. coli associated UTI among pregnant women in Osogbo