Wind reduction patterns around isolated biomass for wind erosion control in a desertified area of Central Sudan

The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of sparse vegetation, feature common in arid zone, to reduce wind force (velocity) and hence protect the surface and regions downwind from drifting sand and their consequences. Respectively 4 (with heights h of 4, 3.2, 2 and 1.66 m), 2 (with h of 3 and 2.5 m) and 3 (with h of 1.04, 0.9 and 0.8 m ) well established single biomass configurations of Leptadenia pyrotechnica trees, Prosopis juliflora trees and Panicum turgidum grass, were selected in the field. Solar powered cup anemometer wind measurements with a data logger system were taken at heights of 0.25 and 0.5 h, at distances 0.5 and 1 h, at four sides of the tree in the prevailing wind direction and perpendicular to it, and additionally at 2, 4 and 6 h windward and leeward. The protection effectiveness of the biomass was calculated as a wind reduction ratio and in terms of objects protection, which was evaluated using the dimensionless protection index (É). The study showed that windward protection provided by Leptadenia and Prosopis at level 0.25h and distance 0.5 h was similar, w ith a wind reduction ratio R0.8, while Panicum showed comparably higher R-values. Even at the 0.5 h level, Panicum showed an R of 0.65 at 0.5 h distance. Leew ard, at 0.25 h level differences were small, R increasing from 0.6/0.7 to 0.8/1 with distance, Leptadenia protecting best. At higher level (0.5 h) at distances 0.5 and 1 h Prosopis gave better protection than the other two at distances 0.5, 1 and 2 h. The research is an exam ple of simple experimental work under difficult environmental conditions in Africa. It was part of studies in which additional attention was paid to quantification aspects under such conditions as well as to the problems it helped solve in the African societies concerned as agrometeorological service

Effect of Extensive Use of Granite Countertops on the γ-Radiation Dose to Occupants of the New Buildings of King Abdulaziz University

Exposure dose due to γ-radiation was measured in the new buildings of King Abdulaziz University using an advanced car-borne monitoring system to evaluate the effect of the extensive use of granites on the exposure dose rate to occupants. The measurements were conducted inside and outside the new buildings. For comparison, measurements inside the old buildings of limited granite use were conducted. The results indicated that the average exposure dose rate in the corridors of granite countertops was 0.115 μSv/h compared to 0.093 μSv/h in corridors of marble floors in the old buildings. About 4.2% increase in the annual effective dose due granite use was estimated. A maximum excess fatal cancer risk to an individual working in the new buildings due to exposure to excess γ-radiation from granite countertops was estimated by 1.4x10-6. The obtained results are discussed in detail and some conclusions are drawn

The Role of Impregnated Curtains in Adult Mosquito Control in Wad Medani Town

The purpose of this small study trail is to identify the role of impregnated curtains in controlling adult mosquitoes. The success of this study will solve all problems facing the insecticide house residual spraying mainly mosquito resistant to insecticides, high cost of insecticides and spraying operations and spraying refusals. The study was made in north-east of Wad Medani town in three houses facing permanent mosquito breeding ponds. Three rooms in three adjacent houses 50 meters from the breeding ponds were selected for the study. One room was treated with residual insecticide, the second room with impregnated curtains and the third room was left without intervention as control. The study period covered all the rainy season (15/ 7 – 15/ 10/ 2009) and the results showed that  high larvae count in the ponds, zero adult mosquito in room 1 and room 2 and high density of adult mosquitoes in room 3.The study recommended further study if this trial is recommended to be implemented in a large scale

Fabrication et caractérisation électrique de résistances à base de nanofils de silicium

International audienceCet article présente des travaux pratiques sur la réalisation et la caractérisation électrique de résistances fabriquées à partir de nanofils de silicium polycristallin synthétisés à partir d'outils lithographiques conventionnels de la technologie silicium. Les résistances sont fabriquées en salle blanche puis caractérisées électriquement par mesures I-V

Rational design of novel antibody decorated nanoparticles targeting breast cancer cells

Every year there are over 50,000 new cases of breast cancer in UK, which represents the most common UK cancer (CR-UK). Despite significant advances in anti-breast cancer treatments, there is still a need for improved therapeutics to overcome drug resistance. HER2 (Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2) is a transmembrane oncoprotein encoded by the HER2/neu gene and overexpressed in approximately 20 to 30% of invasive breast cancers. Tumours overexpressing HER2 are more aggressive and carry a poor prognosis; thus, the receptor is a priority therapeutic target. One targeting entity is Trastuzumab (Tz), a monoclonal antibody recognized as one of the most effective agents against HER2+ breast cancer and has also been attached to chemotherapeutics to form antibody-drug conjugate (ADC). These ADCs, such as Kadcyla®, require cell binding to HER2 and access to the cell interior by endocytosis to release the payload. HER2 is, however, commonly termed the "endocytosis deficient' member of the HER family of receptors, thus challenging attempts to design ADCs that need access to lysosomes for drug release and activity. Previous studies in the laboratory showed that HER2 endocytosis was significantly promoted with concomitant lysosomal delivery and degradation via Tz-mediated crosslinking, and this presented work lies under the hypothesis that nanoparticles (NPs) decorated with sufficient numbers of Tz could also cause HER2 cross-linking, endocytosis, and HER2 degradation. Later data showed that HER2 crosslinking induced a form of endocytosis termed macropinocytosis to drive cell entry. The work presented initially investigated macropinocytosis as a process in different cell types and ways to inhibit this process using inhibitors targeting the sodium proton exchanger (NHE1) as a regulator of intracellular pH and this endocytic process. EIPA (5-(N-Ethyl-N-isopropyl) amiloride) as a macropinocytosis inhibitor, surprisingly significantly increased the internalisation of HER2; a result not observed with other NHE1 inhibitors amiloride and the more selective NHE1 inhibitor cariporide. EIPA was also shown to increase the uptake of the fluid phase and macropinocytosis marker dextran but had no effect on endocytosis of transferrin via clathrin-coated vesicles. The results suggest that EIPA targets need further analysis as modulators of HER2 internalisation and targets for breast cancer therapy. Fluorescently labelled Tz- decorated Poly (lactic glycolic acid) NPs were then generated and found to be highly selective for HER2 expressing breast cancer cells over controls. Upon incubation with cells, the decorated NPs rapidly accumulated on the cell surface and also appeared as large intracellular structures suggestive of macropinosomes. Rhodamine and Doxorubicin encapsulated Tz-PLGA NPs were synthesised, showing their capacity to drive internalisation of the fluorophore and cytotoxic drug into vesicular structures, with the later formulation enhancing the cytotoxicity of the drug over its soluble counterpart

An Evaluation of Local Government and SURE-P Implementation Challenges on Rural Community Development: A Case of Selected Local Government in Niger State, Nigeria

Rural areas play an essential role in the national economy, the environment, and society, contribute to the preservation of cultural heritage and the sustainable income of peasants in the rural areas in Nigeria hence, diverse strategies for rural community development. However, rural community development efforts by local governments and policies hindered by challenges. SURE-P was an intervention by the government of Nigeria after the partial removal of the subsidy and resolved to invest the proceeds in pursuing rural development across Nigeria. Rural development is a multifaceted phenomenon that requires a policy with multi-side sword effects in curbing the challenges. The research objective was to examine the challenges of local government and SURE-P implementation on rural community development in the selected local government in Niger, Nigeria. The study employed primary data collection and qualitative analytical method analysis. The research founds that SURE-P implementation challenges hindered the local government’s efforts in meeting the rural community development objective. It is recommended that, need for thorough community’s needs identification, community participation, and adequate funding with a holistic process devoid of political interference as a viable mechanism for curbing rural development challenges

Visible and near-infrared photo-detector combining polysilicon TFT and PbS quantum dots

Integrated photodetector in the telecommunication range, around 1.4μm, is useful in new devices combining optics and electronics. It can be more useful if it can detect such wavelength with high detectivity and high speed. Such photodetector was developed in this work using very simple process. It uses usual polysilicon TFT where PbS quantum dots (PbS-QDs) have been embedded in the gate insulator. PbS-QDs are mixed with SU8 photoresist and the mixed solution is deposited by spin-coating on the partially fabricated polysilicon TFT. After drying, the deposition forms a layer that is used as gate insulator in place of the usual SiO2 layer. This TFT combine the high sensitivity of Quantum Dots (QDs) with the good charge transfer provided by the transistor’s structure. The absorption spectrum of the present 5.58 nm diameter PbS-QDs shows a peak at 1350nm in the telecommunication range of wavelength. The photo-TFTs present a responsivity value of 13 A/W at this wavelength. The responsivity is 1800 A/W at 760nm. The detectivity values at IR wavelength can reach a very high value 1.0×1013 Jones for N-type TFT. The answer time to an optical pulse is only some tens ms. The photo-transistor fabrication is compatible with all the present microelectronics technologies and with new flexible electronics technology. It can be directly implemented in any process without too much change. Particularly its process can be made in the last step after the fabrication of ICs. Please click Additional Files below to see the full abstract

An Assessment of the Implementation Impact of SURE-P Intervention on Maternal Mortality in the Selected Local Governments in Niger State, Nigeria

The objective of this study was to explore the implementation of the SURE-P intervention on primary healthcare among the selected local government areas of Niger State, Nigeria. In these local governments, the primary health centers are not enough, and the existing ones are dilapidated with the absence of facilities needed to operate effectively. To access medical services, some communities must travel long distances, resulting in high mortality rates. This study examined the perceptions of Desk Officers regarding implementing the SURE-P intervention in primary healthcare among the selected local government. A descriptive design within the qualitative tradition was used in the Study. Thirteen SURE-P desk officers from the state and selected local governments were purposively selected as participants for this study. Semi-structured interviews were used to collect data, and a thematic framework was used for interpretation. The results revealed that the primary healthcare SURE-P initiative had improved access to medical facilities across the selected local governments, resulting in a slide reduction in maternal motility. Furthermore, there was a lack of adequate assessment of needs, insufficient funding, relatively low inclusion, and political pressure in the implementation process. Based on findings, it is recommended that the SURE-P intervention be sustained, adequately financed, that the community members' priority needs should be addressed, that the community members should be more inclusive, and track the implementation of the SURE-P intervention

Detection of Surface Cracks in Metals using Microwave and Millimeter-Wave Nondestructive Testing Techniques-A Review

Integrity Assessment of Metallic Structures Requires Inspection Tools Capable of Detecting and Evaluating Cracks Reliably. to This End, Many Microwave and Millimeter-Wave Nondestructive Testing and Evaluation (NDT&E) Methods Have Been Developed and Applied Successfully in the Past. Detection of Fatigue Cracks with Widths Less Than 5 Μ M using Noncontact Microwave-Based Inspection Methods Was Demonstrated in the 1970s. Since their Introduction, These Methods Have Evolved Considerably Toward Enhancing the Detection Sensitivity and Resolution. Undertaking Key Application Challenges Has Attracted Considerable Attention in the Past Three Decades and Led to the Development of the Near-Field Techniques for Crack Detection. to Address a Need that Cannot Be Fulfilled by Other NDT&E Modalities, Innovative Noncontact Microwave and Millimeter-Wave NDT&E Methods Were Devised Recently to Detect Cracks of Arbitrary Orientations under Thick Dielectric Structures. While the Reported Methods Share the Same Underlying Physical Principles, They Vary Considerably in Terms of the Devised Probes/sensors and the Application Procedure. Consequently, their Sensitivity and Resolution as Well as their Limitations Vary. This Article Reviews the Various Crack Detection Methods Developed To-Date and Compares Them in Terms of Common Performance Metrics. This Comprehensive Review is Augmented with Experimental Comparisons and Benchmarking Aimed to Benefit NDT&E Practitioners and Researchers Alike

Interpreter Training in Spain: Past and Present

Este artículo aborda la formación en interpretación en las universidades españolas desde que se inició en 1979. Se analizan los problemas asociados con el contenido en Interpretación de la Licenciatura en Traducción e Interpretación, vigente hasta hace poco, tales como la inclusión en el plan de estudios de asignaturas obligatorias que pretendían formar en las técnicas de interpretación utilizadas en Interpretación de Conferencia sin contar con la garantía de que los estudiantes cumplieran otros prerrequisitos necesarios para iniciar la formación en este género de interpretación. En la actualidad se está implantando la nueva titulación de Grado, y las universidades disfrutan de más libertad en la confección de sus planes de estudios. El panorama ahora es muy variado. Numerosas universidades han reducido sus créditos obligatorios en interpretación, al tiempo que han aumentado los créditos optativos. Aún así, sigue habiendo bastantes universidades que incluyen créditos obligatorios en interpretación simultánea. Parece que los títulos de Máster no acaban de consolidarse y otros géneros de interpretación (aparte de la interpretación de conferencia) han entrado en el plan de estudios.This paper deals with interpreter training in Spanish universities since its onset in 1979. Problems associated with the interpreting component in the recently phased out Licenciatura (4 year undergraduate course) in Translation and Interpreting are analysed. Such problems included the presence of compulsory subjects in the main conference interpreting techniques, without other prerequisites for beginning this training being guaranteed. At the current time a new degree is being introduced in the framework of the EHEA (Grado, also a 4 year undergraduate course) which affords much more freedom to the universities in the design of their syllabus. The results are very varied. Many universities have reduced their compulsory credits in interpreting and now offer more optional credits. Despite this trend, there are still a significant number of universities with compulsory credits in simultaneous interpreting. Master’s Degrees seem to be having difficulties in becoming consolidated and new genres of interpretation (other than conference interpreting) are being included in degree programmes