Developments in land mobile satellite service in Europe

The evolution of land mobile radio has reached a stage to benefit from satellite communications. The provision of a service on a pan-European basis makes the use of satellites a viable proposition. The paper describes the European position on both system and space segment aspects of the land mobile satellite service. Also, some of the functions of the European institutions, such as the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI), the Conference of European Postal and Telecommunications Administrations (CEPT), and the Commission of European Communities (CEC), in establishing these services are identified

Nonperturbative renormalization group approach to frustrated magnets

This article is devoted to the study of the critical properties of classical XY and Heisenberg frustrated magnets in three dimensions. We first analyze the experimental and numerical situations. We show that the unusual behaviors encountered in these systems, typically nonuniversal scaling, are hardly compatible with the hypothesis of a second order phase transition. We then review the various perturbative and early nonperturbative approaches used to investigate these systems. We argue that none of them provides a completely satisfactory description of the three-dimensional critical behavior. We then recall the principles of the nonperturbative approach - the effective average action method - that we have used to investigate the physics of frustrated magnets. First, we recall the treatment of the unfrustrated - O(N) - case with this method. This allows to introduce its technical aspects. Then, we show how this method unables to clarify most of the problems encountered in the previous theoretical descriptions of frustrated magnets. Firstly, we get an explanation of the long-standing mismatch between different perturbative approaches which consists in a nonperturbative mechanism of annihilation of fixed points between two and three dimensions. Secondly, we get a coherent picture of the physics of frustrated magnets in qualitative and (semi-) quantitative agreement with the numerical and experimental results. The central feature that emerges from our approach is the existence of scaling behaviors without fixed or pseudo-fixed point and that relies on a slowing-down of the renormalization group flow in a whole region in the coupling constants space. This phenomenon allows to explain the occurence of generic weak first order behaviors and to understand the absence of universality in the critical behavior of frustrated magnets.Comment: 58 pages, 15 PS figure

Geostatistical assessment and mapping of soil spatial variability in Sirumugai, Western Ghats

This study examines the spatial variability of soil properties and classifies the soil in the Sirumugai Reserved Forest range, located in the Western Ghats, India. A systematic soil survey and profile studies were conducted, using landforms as the basis for investigation within the study area. Horizon-wise soil samples were analysed for key soil parameters, including pH, electrical conductivity (EC), soil organic carbon, phosphorus, and potassium. The results revealed significant variations in soil properties across different locations, primarily influenced by elevation. The coefficient of variation for phosphorus was 0.87, while for potassium, it was 0.48. The analysis also encompassed assessments of skewness and kurtosis. pH (0.15) and phosphorus (0.75) exhibited kurtosis values close to 1, indicating relatively normal and flatter distributions. Conversely, sodium (27.10), elevation (3.91), and calcium demonstrated high kurtosis. Most soil properties were found to be right-skewed, while bulk density (0.09) was left-skewed. Geostatistical analysis in the Sirumugai Reserved Forest revealed considerable spatial variability in soil properties, particularly in EC and organic carbon. Elevation emerged as a strong influencing factor   for soil properties, coupled with soil depth and nutrient leaching, which were prominent at higher altitudes. Ordinary kriging provided accurate spatial predictions, offering valuable insights for land management and conservation strategies tailored to the region

Southeast Asia and the Politics of Vulnerability

The economic and political crises that have recently engulfed the countries of Southeast Asia provide a stark reminder of just how difficult the challenge of sustained regional development remains. In retrospect, the hyperbole that surrounded the 'East Asian miracle' looks overblown, and testimony to the manner in which rhetoric can outstrip reality, especially in the minds of international investors. Certainly, some observers had questioned the depth and resilience of capitalist development in Southeast Asia, but in the years immediately prior to 1997 such analyses tended to be in the minority. Now, of course, it is painfully obvious that much of Southeast Asia's economic and political development was extremely fragile. When seen in historical context, this outcome should not have been surprising since the countries of modern Southeast Asia, both as independent nations and as colonies of various imperial powers, have been highly vulnerable to the actions of powerful external political and economic forces. This paper will examine the economic bases and the political consequences of this vulnerablity, both domestically and at a regional level. I argue that the recent crisis has served as an unwelcome reminder of just how constrained, dependent and vulnerable the Southeast Asia region's development prospects remain, a situation that is exacerbated by, and which contributes to, domestic political crises

Assessing the impact of AI on the academic learning of agricultural students

Generative Pre-trained Transformers (GPTs) are transforming agricultural science education by enhancing students\u27 critical thinking, creativity and decision-making skills. However, concerns exist regarding over-reliance and diminished independent analytical thinking. This study investigated the impact of GPT usage among undergraduate and postgraduate students at Tamil Nadu Agricultural University. A structured questionnaire was employed to collect primary data from 164 students (122 GPT users and 42 non-users). The research adopts a descriptive design and utilizes statistical tools such as percentage analysis, Garrett ranking, Relative Importance Index (RII) and exploratory factor analysis to assess the influence of GPTs on cognitive skills. The findings indicate that the GPTs enhance efficiency, creativity and problem-solving, they additionally possess the risk of overreliance, reducing independent analytical thinking. Factor analysis revealed key dimensions, including decision-making enhancement, overreliance on AI and the impact on problem solving of agricultural science students. The study concludes that balanced AI integration is essential for maximizing GPT\u27s advantages while minimizing dependency. Agricultural institutions should promote critical engagement strategies to ensure responsible AI use and foster an optimal AI-human synergy in the academic learning process of agricultural students

What Drives Fitness Apps Usage? An Empirical Evaluation

Part 3: Creating Value through ApplicationsInternational audienceThe increased health problems associated with lack of physical activity is of great concern around the world. Mobile phone based fitness applications appear to be a cost effective promising solution for this problem. The aim of this study is to develop a research model that can broaden understanding of the factors that influence the user acceptance of mobile fitness apps. Drawing from Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) and Elaboration Likelihood Model (ELM), we conceptualize the antecedents and moderating factors of fitness app use. We validate our model using field survey. Implications for research and practice are discussed

A cultural adaptation and validation of a child eating behaviour measure in a low- And middle-income country

Objective: The Child Eating Behaviour Questionnaire (CEBQ), a widely used instrument that has been validated mostly in high-income countries, has limitations in its factorial validity when used among different cultures. This study examines whether the CEBQ instrument is culturally appropriate and valid to be used in a low- and middle-income country (LMIC) in a setting where child undernutrition remains prevalent.Design: The study employed a qualitative process to validate the content of items relative to the culture and setting, which was followed by a survey to test the psychometric properties of the instrument. Tests of factorial validity, convergent validity and reliability were performed.Setting: Three different socio-economic settings of Yogyakarta, Indonesia.Participants: The participants of this study were mothers of children aged 25-60 months. In-depth interviews were conducted with twenty-four mothers and the questionnaire validation process involved 238 mothers in the survey.Results: A Confirmatory Factor Analysis model with eight subscales provided the best fit (root-mean-square error of approximation = 0·048 (90 % CI 0·040, 0·057); Comparative Fit Index = 0·95 and Tucker Lewis Index = 0·95) after three new items and eight items from the original CEBQ were removed. Convergent validity with child's weight was found for two subscales, slowness in eating and satiety responsiveness. Reliability measured using Cronbach's alpha provided values between 0·62 and 0·78.Conclusion: The original eight-factor structure of the CEBQ showed adequate content validity and provided factorial, discriminant and convergent validity with mothers of preschool children living in a LMIC where child nutrition remains a significant public health issue

A origem das parcerias público-privada na governança global da educação

Durante a última década, a globalização da governança educacional por meio de parcerias público-privadas (PPP) tem gerado considerável debate quanto ao seu significado, propósito, status e resultados. Este debate é particularmente aquecido no setor da educação por causa da ampla aceitação da educação como atividade complexa, social e política que deve permanecer, em grande parte, se não totalmente, no setor público, servindo a interesses públicos. O artigo analisa a rápida expansão das parcerias público-privadas em educação (PPPE) articulada à introdução de regras de mercado no setor. Neste estudo nos concentramos sobre o papel de uma rede de desenvolvimento global, fundamental na globalização de um tipo particular de PPPE, indicando que a ideia de PPP encaixa-se em um projeto mais amplo de reconstituição da educação pública no âmbito do setor de serviços, a ser governada como parte da construção de uma sociedade de mercado.Over the past decade, the globalization and governing of education through Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) have generated considerable debate as to their meaning, purpose, status and outcomes. This debate is particularly heated in the education sector because of the widely-held view that education is a complex social and political activity that should remain largely, if not wholly, in the public sector serving public interests. The article analyses the rapid expansion of Education Public Private Partnerships (EPPPs) and the associated introduction of market rules into the education sector. We focus on the role of a key global development network in globalizing a particular kind of ePPPs, and show that the EPPP idea fi ts into a wider project of reconstituting public education as an education services industry to be governed as part of the construction of a market society

A Scientometric Analysis of Highly Cited Works on Herbal Drugs, Medicines and Vaccines

The present study aims to analyse the research output performance on Herbal Drugs, Medicines and Vaccines. A total of 973 research articles published in Web of Science database were analysed to find out the performance of Herbal Medicines, Drugs and Vaccines developers from all over the world in terms of growth of Publications and Citations impact during the period 1989-2021. Global publication shares, prolific author in the field, high productive Institutions, Journals, are studied in this article. The top most cited countries are: USA with 64799 Citations for 288 (29.6%) Publications followed by People R China with 29264 Citations for 185 (19%) Publications, UK with 22700 Citations for 112 Publications, Germany with 11522 Citations for 65 publications. India recorded 11859 Citations for 61 publications. The most productive institutions were: University Exeter (29), Harvard University National University of Singapore, Chinese Academy of Science and so on. The most Cited Institutions are: Harvard University with 9428 Citations for 22 Publications followed by Beth Israel Deaconess Med Ctr with 6476 Citations for 10 Publications, University of Exeter with 5411 Citations for 29 Publications. The most cited Paper is “Eisenberg DM, Davis RB, Ettner SL, Appel S, Wilkey S, et al., Trends in alternative medicine use in the United States, 1990-1997 - Results of a follow-up national survey, JAMA-JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION. 1998 NOV 11; 280 (18): 1569-1575” with 4562 Citations. The most Cited journals were: JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY topped the list with 17235 Citations for 101 Publications followed by JAMA-JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION with 7614 Citations for 8 Publications, PHYTOTHERAPY RESEARCH with 4761 Citations for 21 Publications. It noted that researcher has given the preference to highly impact Journals for their publications

Effectiveness and Acceptability of a Mobile Phone Text Messaging Intervention to Improve Blood Pressure Control (TEXT4BP) among Patients with Hypertension in Nepal: A Feasibility Randomised Controlled Trial

Background: Uncontrolled blood pressure (BP) is the leading cause of preventable deaths in low- and middle-income countries. mHealth interventions, such as mobile phone text messaging, are a promising tool to improve BP control, but research on feasibility and effectiveness in resource-limited settings remains limited. Objective: This feasibility study assessed the effectiveness and acceptability of a mobile phone text messaging intervention (TEXT4BP) to improve BP control and treatment adherence among patients with hypertension in Nepal. Methods: The TEXT4BP study was a two-arm, parallel-group, unblinded, randomised controlled pilot trial that included 200 participants (1:1) (mean age: 50.5 years, 44.5% women) with hypertension at a tertiary referral hospital in Kathmandu, Nepal. Patients in the intervention arm (n = 100) received text messages three times per week for three months. The control arm (n = 100) received standard care. The COM-B model informed contextual co-designed text messages. Primary outcomes were change in BP and medication adherence at three months. Secondary outcomes included BP control, medication adherence self-efficacy and knowledge of hypertension. A nested qualitative study assessed the acceptability of the intervention. Results: At three months, the intervention group had greater reductions in systolic and diastolic BP vs usual care [-7.09/-5.86 (p ≤ 0.003) vs -0.77/-1.35 (p ≥ 0.28) mmHg] [adjusted difference: systolic β = -6.50 (95% CI, -12.6; -0.33) and diastolic BP β = -4.60 (95% CI, -8.16; -1.04)], coupled with a greater proportion achieving target BP (70% vs 48%, p = 0.006). The intervention arm showed an improvement in compliance to antihypertensive therapy (p < 0.001), medication adherence (p < 0.001), medication adherence self-efficacy (p = 0.023) and knowledge on hypertension and its treatment (p = 0.013). Participants expressed a high rate of acceptability and desire to continue the TEXT4BP intervention. Conclusion: The TEXT4BP study provides promising evidence that text messaging intervention is feasible, acceptable, and effective to improve BP control in low-resource settings