Role of Public Libraries in the Creation of Social Capital: A Study of Northern Nigeria

ABSTRACT Public Libraries play a vital role in the creation and bridging Social Capital. They offer a space for education, socialization and debate, which are open to the members of the society. This paper presents an overview of public libraries in Nigeria and their role, the challenges associated with the activities and programs of Nigerian Public Libraries in the creation of Social Capital. A total of 59 Public Libraries working in 12 State of Library Boards of Northern Nigeria and Federal Capital Abuja has been considered for the pilot study. The analysis has been done by frequency distribution, percentage and cluster analysis. Based on the results of the study, a few suggestions and solutions to overcome the problems in the creation of Social Capital have been listed. This paper is a pilot study of the Doctoral programme by the first author

Enhanced matrix-based error correction coding techniques for embedded memories

Memories play a very important role in computing systems due to the continuous advancements in technology. They are used to store data that is used for proper system operations. Memory architectures that are more intricately designed are more prone to radiation-induced errors such as single bit upsets (SBU) and multiple bit upsets (MBU). Error correction codes (ECC) are used to recover the corrupted data that are stored in memories. H-matrix-based ECC is the commonly used ECC for memories. On the other side, the correction masking (CM) technique was added to ECC to mask the correctable error patterns. CM technique protects the error-free bits while correcting erroneous bits. In this paper, optimized H-matrices are presented. These matrices are used to design an ECC with the CM technique to correct 2-bit to 7-bit adjacent errors. The result shows there is a reduction in the power of 2, 3, and 4 adjacent bit errors by 19.009%, 4.615%, and 27.934% respectively

Lateral epicondylalgia exhibits adaptive muscle activation strategies based on wrist posture and levels of grip force: a case-control study

Objectives: To investigate forearm muscle activity in individuals with lateral epicondylalgia (LE) when gripping at different wrist postures, and investigate the association between muscle activity and clinical characteristics of LE. Methods: Eleven LE and 11 healthy participants performed isometric handgrips at 15% and 30% of maximum grip force (MVC). Gripping was performed in wrist extension, wrist flexion, and wrist neutral. Surface electromyography was collected from six forearm muscles. Standard clinical and tendon structural measures for LE were obtained. Results: LE group had reduced magnitude of extensor carpi radialis brevis (ECRB) with increased contribution of extensor carpi ulnaris (ECU) during 15% MVC. However, during 30% MVC the LE group had reduced flexor carpi radialis and flexor digitorum superficialis activity, which was coupled with increased contribution from extensor digitorum communis (EDC) and ECU. Although ECRB and ECU activity differed in wrist flexion compared to other wrist postures for controls, different wrist posture had no effect on forearm muscle activation in LE. Pain and disability, and tendon thickness had significant associations with EDC and ECRB activity respectively in LE. Conclusion: Individuals with LE use different neuromuscular strategies when gripping with different wrist postures which appears to be dependent on the level of grip force

Heat transfer coefficient and viscosity of alumina-water nanofluids

Paper presented at the 8th International Conference on Heat Transfer, Fluid Mechanics and Thermodynamics, Mauritius, 11-13 July, 2011.Boiling heat Transfer Coefficient of 0.1 vol.% wateralumina nanofluids and the effect of pH value of the solution was studied. It was observed that as the pH value changed from neutral (6.5) to acidic (5), the particle cluster size and solution heat transfer coefficient were affected. The cluster size of the nano-alumina fluid decreased with increasing sonicating time. The flow behavior of the nanofluid for 1 to 4 vol.% concentrations was studied and it was observed that these nanofluids behaved as Newtonian and their viscosity decreased with increasing sonicating time. The decrease in viscosity could be attributed to the fragmentation of the nano-particles and clusters as observed from their microstructure.mp201

Relationship between ultrasound detected tendon abnormalities, and sensory and clinical characteristics in people with chronic lateral epicondylalgia

ObjectiveTo investigate the relationship between tendon structural changes determined by static ultrasound images (US) and sensory changes using quantitative sensory testing (QST), and clinical measures in lateral epicondylalgia.Materials and methodsBoth elbows of 66 adult participants with a clinical diagnosis of lateral epicondylalgia were investigated. Using a standardised ultrasound image rating scale, common extensor hypoechogenicity, heterogenicity, neovascularity, and bony abnormalities at the enthesis were scored, and tendon thickness (longitudinal and transverse plane) was measured by a trained assessor. Sensory measures of pressure, heat and cold pain thresholds and vibration detection threshold were recorded. Pain and function were assessed using the patient-rated tennis elbow (PRTEE), pain-free grip strength, pain visual analog scale (PVAS) and quality of life (EuroQoL EQ -5D). Univariate and multivariate linear regression analyses were used to explore the association between tendon structural, sensory and clinical variables which were adjusted for age, gender and duration of symptoms.ResultsA negative correlation was identified between the presence of neovascularity and cold pain threshold (P = 0.015). Multiple regression analyses revealed that a combination of female gender (P = 0.044) and transverse tendon thickness (P = 0.010) were significantly associated with vibration detection threshold in affected elbows, while gender (P = 0.012) and total ultrasound scale score (P = 0.024) were significantly associated with heat pain threshold and vibration detection threshold in unaffected elbows. Heat pain threshold and gender were significantly associated with pain and disability (PRTEE; P ConclusionGenerally, structural and sensory measures were weakly correlated. However, neovascularity and transverse tendon thickness may be related to sensory system changes in LE

Machine Learning Identifies Clinical and Genetic Factors Associated With Anthracycline Cardiotoxicity in Pediatric Cancer Survivors

BackgroundDespite known clinical risk factors, predicting anthracycline cardiotoxicity remains challenging.ObjectivesThis study sought to develop a clinical and genetic risk prediction model for anthracycline cardiotoxicity in childhood cancer survivors.MethodsWe performed exome sequencing in 289 childhood cancer survivors at least 3 years from anthracycline exposure. In a nested case-control design, 183 case patients with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction despite low-dose doxorubicin (≤250 mg/m2), and 106 control patients with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction despite doxorubicin >250 mg/m2 were selected as extreme phenotypes. Rare/low-frequency variants were collapsed to identify genes differentially enriched for variants between case patients and control patients. The expression levels of 5 top-ranked genes were evaluated in human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes, and variant enrichment was confirmed in a replication cohort. Using random forest, a risk prediction model that included genetic and clinical predictors was developed.ResultsThirty-one genes were differentially enriched for variants between case patients and control patients (p -15). A risk prediction model for cardiotoxicity that included clinical and genetic factors had a higher prediction accuracy and lower misclassification rate compared to the clinical-only model. In vitro inhibition of gene-associated pathways (PI3KR2, ZNF827) provided protection from cardiotoxicity in cardiomyocytes.ConclusionsOur study identified variants in cardiac injury pathway genes that protect against cardiotoxicity and informed the development of a prediction model for delayed anthracycline cardiotoxicity, and it also provided new targets in autophagy genes for the development of cardio-protective drugs. (Preventing Cardiac Sequelae in Pediatric Cancer Survivors [PCS2]; NCT01805778)

Exome Sequencing Identifies Rare Variants in Multiple Genes in Atrioventricular Septal Defect

Purpose The genetic etiology of atrioventricular septal defect (AVSD) is unknown in 40% cases. Conventional sequencing and arrays have identified the etiology in only a minority of non-syndromic individuals with AVSD. Methods: Whole exome sequencing was performed in 81 unrelated probands with AVSD to identify potentially causal variants in a comprehensive set of 112 genes with strong biological relevance to AVSD. Results: A significant enrichment of rare and rare/damaging variants was identified in the gene set, compared with controls (odds ratio 1.52, 95% confidence interval 1.35–1.71, p = 4.8 x 10-11). The enrichment was specific to AVSD probands compared with a non-AVSD cohort with tetralogy of Fallot (odds ratio 2.25, 95% confidence interval 1.84-2.76, p = 2.2 x 10-16). Six genes (NIPBL, CHD7, CEP152, BMPR1a, ZFPM2 and MDM4) were enriched for rare variants in AVSD compared to controls, including three syndrome-associated genes (NIPBL, CHD7, CEP152). The findings were confirmed in a replication cohort of 81 AVSD probands. Conclusion: Mutations in genes with strong biological relevance to AVSD, including syndrome-associated genes, can contribute to AVSD even in those with isolated heart disease. The identification of a gene set associated with AVSD will facilitate targeted genetic screening in this cohort