Background: Undergoing ultrasound scanning (USS) during the first trimester of pregnancy is highly imperative for expecting mothers, as it supports the early detection of any malformations, identifying the fetal numbe...Background: Undergoing ultrasound scanning (USS) during the first trimester of pregnancy is highly imperative for expecting mothers, as it supports the early detection of any malformations, identifying the fetal number, fetal growth, fetal sex, and calculation of delivery. Previous studies have shown that undergoing such prenatal screening procedures could reduce the antenatal anxiety levels of expectant mothers. The present study aimed to explore the impact of first-trimester ultrasound scanning towards the antenatal anxiety and identify the predictors of antenatal anxiety among expectant mothers in the first trimester. Methods: A repeated measure design study was conducted in Maternity Clinics of University Hospital KDU, Ninewells Care Hospital and Navy General Hospital over 4 months with one hundred and fifteen (n = 115) expectant mothers. Participants completed a general information sheet first and State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) (Spielberger et al., 1970) was administered before and after undergoing the USS. Results: Mean age of the participants was 28.84 ± 3.68. The Wilcoxon Signed Rank test showed that there is a significant reduction of participants’ antenatal anxiety levels following the USS z = −5.658, p Conclusions: Findings suggest that undergoing the first trimester USS significantly reduces the antenatal state anxiety and partner’s support is an important factor in reducing the antenatal anxiety experienced by expectant mothers in the first trimester. Future studies can focus on how USS can contribute to alleviating antenatal anxiety in second and third trimesters.展开更多
We examine possible funding sources for constructing Climate Change Haven Communities on a global basis. Areas of the planet that have the potential to house persons migrating to “safe havens” in their own or other ...We examine possible funding sources for constructing Climate Change Haven Communities on a global basis. Areas of the planet that have the potential to house persons migrating to “safe havens” in their own or other countries will require the rapid construction of communities capable of supporting them, their families, businesses and farms. However, different political-economic conditions are found across the areas which can serve as locations for these Climate Change Haven Communities. We develop funding and construction strategies for the United States (free-market capitalism), France and Spain (European Union supported economies), and Taiwan region (state-directed economy). The proposals for the Taiwan region should also be applicable to the rest of China.展开更多
This study examines the “V + Dào” construction as a state change event through the lens of the Event Integration Hypothesis. It focuses on how these constructions represent state changes, exploring distinctions...This study examines the “V + Dào” construction as a state change event through the lens of the Event Integration Hypothesis. It focuses on how these constructions represent state changes, exploring distinctions between “change” and “stasis”. Using a corpus-based approach, the analysis covers the semantic and syntactic features of “V + Dào” constructions and their event integration patterns. The findings highlight the distribution of agency, animacy, and support relations in state change events, emphasizing the complex interaction of internal and external event integrations and their correlation with the conceptual primitives of change and transition. This study offers insights into the lexicalization and grammaticalization processes of the “V + Dào” construction, and potentially the broader verb-complement constructions in Mandarin.展开更多
This study examined gender differences in modal choice among residents of coastal communities of Yenagoa metropolis in Bayelsa State, Nigeria. The Four-Step model of transportation planning and modal choice provided t...This study examined gender differences in modal choice among residents of coastal communities of Yenagoa metropolis in Bayelsa State, Nigeria. The Four-Step model of transportation planning and modal choice provided the theoretical basis for this study. A survey research design involving a stratified sampling technique was adopted. The descriptives on transport modes, amount and time spent revealed that 10 (76.9%) males and 3 (23.1%) females preferred bicycle as means of transportation, 7 (58.3%) males and 5 (41.7%) females preferred motorcycle, while a significant proportion 90 (53.9%) males and 77 (46.1%) females preferred tricycle, 80 (63.0%) males and 47 (37.0%) females preferred cars/taxis, and 12 (46.2%) males and 14 (53.8%) females preferred mass transit bus. However, 14 (46.7%) males and 16 (53.3%) females in marshy terrain and coastal locations preferred canoes and boats. The result of the logistic regression model revealed that gender modal preference is more likely to be influenced by mode of transportation with a beta weight of 1.140, safety considerations 1.139, ownership of transport 1.135 and distance to place of work 1.073. Hence, this study recommends that a combination of these factors should be incorporated into transport planning to achieve effective transport planning and sustainable development in the Yenagoa metropolis.展开更多
This paper presents an advanced control strategy for DC-DC buck converters utilizing Non-Minimal State Space (NMSS) representation combined with Proportional-Integral-Plus (PIP) control, optimized through Linear Quadr...This paper presents an advanced control strategy for DC-DC buck converters utilizing Non-Minimal State Space (NMSS) representation combined with Proportional-Integral-Plus (PIP) control, optimized through Linear Quadratic Regulator (LQR) design. The proposed approach leverages NMSS to eliminate the need for state observers, enhancing robustness against model mismatch and improving overall system performance. The PIP controller extends traditional PI control by incorporating additional dynamic feedback. Experimental results demonstrate that the NMSS-PIP-LQR controlled buck converter achieves excellent dynamic performance. The design procedure is fully documented, and microcontroller implementation issues are discussed.展开更多
文摘Background: Undergoing ultrasound scanning (USS) during the first trimester of pregnancy is highly imperative for expecting mothers, as it supports the early detection of any malformations, identifying the fetal number, fetal growth, fetal sex, and calculation of delivery. Previous studies have shown that undergoing such prenatal screening procedures could reduce the antenatal anxiety levels of expectant mothers. The present study aimed to explore the impact of first-trimester ultrasound scanning towards the antenatal anxiety and identify the predictors of antenatal anxiety among expectant mothers in the first trimester. Methods: A repeated measure design study was conducted in Maternity Clinics of University Hospital KDU, Ninewells Care Hospital and Navy General Hospital over 4 months with one hundred and fifteen (n = 115) expectant mothers. Participants completed a general information sheet first and State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) (Spielberger et al., 1970) was administered before and after undergoing the USS. Results: Mean age of the participants was 28.84 ± 3.68. The Wilcoxon Signed Rank test showed that there is a significant reduction of participants’ antenatal anxiety levels following the USS z = −5.658, p Conclusions: Findings suggest that undergoing the first trimester USS significantly reduces the antenatal state anxiety and partner’s support is an important factor in reducing the antenatal anxiety experienced by expectant mothers in the first trimester. Future studies can focus on how USS can contribute to alleviating antenatal anxiety in second and third trimesters.
文摘We examine possible funding sources for constructing Climate Change Haven Communities on a global basis. Areas of the planet that have the potential to house persons migrating to “safe havens” in their own or other countries will require the rapid construction of communities capable of supporting them, their families, businesses and farms. However, different political-economic conditions are found across the areas which can serve as locations for these Climate Change Haven Communities. We develop funding and construction strategies for the United States (free-market capitalism), France and Spain (European Union supported economies), and Taiwan region (state-directed economy). The proposals for the Taiwan region should also be applicable to the rest of China.
文摘This study examines the “V + Dào” construction as a state change event through the lens of the Event Integration Hypothesis. It focuses on how these constructions represent state changes, exploring distinctions between “change” and “stasis”. Using a corpus-based approach, the analysis covers the semantic and syntactic features of “V + Dào” constructions and their event integration patterns. The findings highlight the distribution of agency, animacy, and support relations in state change events, emphasizing the complex interaction of internal and external event integrations and their correlation with the conceptual primitives of change and transition. This study offers insights into the lexicalization and grammaticalization processes of the “V + Dào” construction, and potentially the broader verb-complement constructions in Mandarin.
文摘This study examined gender differences in modal choice among residents of coastal communities of Yenagoa metropolis in Bayelsa State, Nigeria. The Four-Step model of transportation planning and modal choice provided the theoretical basis for this study. A survey research design involving a stratified sampling technique was adopted. The descriptives on transport modes, amount and time spent revealed that 10 (76.9%) males and 3 (23.1%) females preferred bicycle as means of transportation, 7 (58.3%) males and 5 (41.7%) females preferred motorcycle, while a significant proportion 90 (53.9%) males and 77 (46.1%) females preferred tricycle, 80 (63.0%) males and 47 (37.0%) females preferred cars/taxis, and 12 (46.2%) males and 14 (53.8%) females preferred mass transit bus. However, 14 (46.7%) males and 16 (53.3%) females in marshy terrain and coastal locations preferred canoes and boats. The result of the logistic regression model revealed that gender modal preference is more likely to be influenced by mode of transportation with a beta weight of 1.140, safety considerations 1.139, ownership of transport 1.135 and distance to place of work 1.073. Hence, this study recommends that a combination of these factors should be incorporated into transport planning to achieve effective transport planning and sustainable development in the Yenagoa metropolis.
文摘This paper presents an advanced control strategy for DC-DC buck converters utilizing Non-Minimal State Space (NMSS) representation combined with Proportional-Integral-Plus (PIP) control, optimized through Linear Quadratic Regulator (LQR) design. The proposed approach leverages NMSS to eliminate the need for state observers, enhancing robustness against model mismatch and improving overall system performance. The PIP controller extends traditional PI control by incorporating additional dynamic feedback. Experimental results demonstrate that the NMSS-PIP-LQR controlled buck converter achieves excellent dynamic performance. The design procedure is fully documented, and microcontroller implementation issues are discussed.
