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By anatomising Laruen's performance piece — Body Time in DeLillo's The Body Artist, this essay rereads her piece not merely as a response to personal loss, but rather, evolving contemplation on an uncertain existence of which death is only an episode. Staging three socially invisible bodies and their respective daily routines, Lauren goes beyond the private realm of personal loss to address in a broader context the lure of mechanical repetition bred by a routine-dictated life and to spotlight the universality of irregularities. As manifested by its excruciating monthslong gestation period, the three bodies featured in the piece are inextricably interweaved to unveil different ways to approach routines and irregularities. Body Time thus foregrounds a grieving artist's trial and error process with routines and her ambitious artistic venture to approach an uncertain existence contingent on irregularities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purchasing behavior of the individual is a complex one and includes several aspects. Buying from physical stores and buying online are two options to make the purchase in all countries; one older, one newer. Obviously, online shopping is related to the advent of the Internet. There are differences between online buying behavior and buying behavior in physical stores. Buying from online stores means quite a few different details than buying from physical stores. There are also common points between the two types of buying behavior. There is sometimes also the middle way (i.e. to combine online purchases with those in physical stores), with several possible forms. One of these is searching for information online by shoppers, followed by buying from the physical store. Before the global coronavirus pandemic (Covid-19), with its peak in the period 2020-2022, most shoppers around the Globe did not shop online. The global Coronavirus pandemic has increased the number of those who have resorted to online shopping, out of necessity. After the global Coronavirus pandemic, the trend is to return to buying mainly from physical stores. It remains to be seen what the future will hold for us, in terms of the relationship between the two purchase options, which have both advantages and disadvantages. It is not very easy to predict what will be, related to the two buying behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the frequent climatic changes occurring worldwide, which are related to extreme meteorological parameters as well as human activities, it is obvious that these influence the flow regimes of rivers. River flow is the most important factor determining the hydrological regime of any river. This has a substantial influence on the water resources and the environment surrounding the river. Hydrotechnical structures are also dimensioned on the basis of the flow as the primary input parameter. The flow conditions have different properties and correlations with the material of the river bed. In this paper, possible dependencies and phenomena are investigated using real case studies on two rivers in Croatia - examples of river courses in alluvium and karst areas - with regard to homogeneity and isotropy analyses. For this purpose, rescaled adjusted partial sums and innovative polygon trend analysis methods will be applied on the form of a combination of methods at the same watercourses. It has been shown that the analysed time series of the flows do not exhibit homogeneity and isotropy. In addition, fluctuations and irregularities were detected in the same time series. This is key information for determining the reliability of the flow forecast. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purchasing behavior of the individual is a complex one and includes several aspects. Buying from physical stores and buying online are two options to make the purchase in all countries; one older, one newer. Obviously, online shopping is related to the advent of the Internet.There are differences between online buying behavior and buying behavior in physical stores. Buying from online stores means quite a few different details than buying from physical stores.There are also common points between the two types of buying behavior. There is sometimes also the middle way (i.e. to combine online purchases with those in physical stores), with several possible forms. One of these is searching for information online by shoppers, followed by buying from the physical store. Before the global coronavirus pandemic (Covid-19), with its peak in the period 2020-2022, most shoppers around the Globe did not shop online. The global Coronavirus pandemic has increased the number of those who have resorted to online shopping, out of necessity. After the global Coronavirus pandemic, the trend is to return to buying mainly from physical stores. It remains to be seen what the future will hold for us, in terms of the relationship between the two purchase options, which have both advantages and disadvantages. It is not very easy to predict what will be, related to the two buying behaviors.

Copyright of Journal of Modern Turkish History Studies / Çagdas Türkiye Tarihi Arastirmalari Dergisi is the property of Journal of Modern Turkish History Studies and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Fire is one of the most uncontrollable phenomena and is highly likely to result in irreparable harm if it is not detected at its early stages. A lot of researches have been conducted to propose more efficient fire detection methods. In this paper, in order to facilitate fire detection and propose a more cost-efficient and also a highly accurate method, background color of images based on RGB and YCbCr color spaces is examined. In this regard, some suitable candidate regions for fire are chosen. Then, changes of boundary irregularities of these selected contours are measured by calculating the largest Lyapunov exponent. These irregularities of selected images can be considered as an important factor in early fire detection. If the measured irregularities are greater than 1000 fire videos, the selected candidate will be considered as an image of fire. Simulation results prove that the proposed algorithm can lead to more accurate detection of the fire region with acceptable false detection rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work investigates operational and compliance auditing applied to public management. A wide-ranging theoretical review was carried out to find the basis for the differences between audits in the private and public sectors, compliance, operational and comprehensive audits. With a qualitative approach, the TCU platform was used to collect data from the Systemic Inspection Reports, extracting from these the compliance and operational audit reports between 2012 and 2018, totaling 61 reports analyzed. It was possible to verify that the two thematic areas with the greatest frequency were the Social and Development areas, involving SECOM as the main technical unit of external control, with the Ministry of Health and the Environment as its clients, finding evidence of irregularities in public administration, showing that the only principle of public administration not infringed was impersonality, concluding that changes are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using two separate databases of in situ ionospheric observations, we present case studies and perform a statistical investigation of the link between energetic precipitating particles during the polar night and high-latitude F-region steepening density spectra. Our study covers approximately 3 years of data obtained near the peak of the 24th solar cycle from four Defense Meteorological Satellite Program satellites and from the European Space Agency's Swarm satellites. Focusing on the midnight sector of the auroral oval, we found that there is a near-perfect co-location between high-energy precipitating particles and occurrence of dissipating F-region plasma density spectra. This is because the precipitating energy flux strongly enhances the E-region Pedersen conductivity, allowing fast and efficient dissipation of kilometer-scale F-region irregularities. Spectra that are possibly non-dissipating are in turn co-located with the distribution of soft electron precipitation. Together, dissipating and non-dissipating density spectra constitute two distinct irregularity regimes. Surprisingly, we also found that efficient dissipation notwithstanding, high-energy precipitating particles cause a net increase in the F-region irregularity power, suggesting that growth and dissipation are interlinked and that some of the observed F-region irregularities may conceivably be generated in the E region. This work is expected to be beneficial for the classification of F-region in situ density spectra and suggests that such density spectra can be used to infer the presence of high-energy or low-energy precipitations based on spectral properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sporadic E (Es) layers are plasma irregularities significantly affecting radio communication and navigation systems. And, their dominant formation mechanism at mid‐latitudes, known as the wind shear theory, suggests that they serve as indicators of the atmosphere‐ionosphere coupling processes in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere region. On 15 January 2022, the Hunga Tonga‐Hunga Ha'api submarine volcanic eruption provided a unique opportunity to investigate the Es layer responses to lower atmospheric perturbations. Using the FORMOSAT‐7/COSMIC‐2 radio occultation and ground‐based ionosonde observations, this study reveals the spatial‐temporal behaviors of the Es layers after the Hunga volcanic eruption. The results show that significant Es layer perturbations occurred over the northwest of the epicenter ∼4 hr after the eruption and lasted for approximately ∼22 hr. We also calculated the geographical distribution of the vertical ion convergence (VIC) using neutral winds obtained from the Michelson Interferometer for Global High‐resolution Thermospheric Imaging on the Ionospheric Connection Explorer (ICON) satellite. A comparison of the geographical distribution of positive VIC and Es layer perturbations shows a good agreement, which indicates that the enhanced Es layers are caused by strong VIC associated with the atmospheric perturbations due to the eruption. This study presents observational evidence for coupling between the Es layer and lower atmospheric perturbations, which can be helpful for understanding the occasionality and variability of Es layer occurrence. Plain Language Summary: The sporadic E (Es) layer is like the cloud in the air, but it is composed of metal ions and appears at altitudes of 90–120 km. Its occurrence can cause uneven distribution of plasma density in the ionosphere and affects the performance of the Global Navigation Satellite System and HF communications. The occurrence, intensity, and disappearance of the Es layers can be significantly modulated by the atmospheric waves. The Hunga Tonga‐Hunga Ha'api submarine volcanic eruption provided an opportunity to investigate the global Es layer responses to upward propagating atmospheric waves. This study found that the Es layers were significantly enhanced over the northwest of the epicenter ∼4 hr after the eruption and revealed that the enhanced Es layers are mainly caused by strong vertical ion convergence (VIC) associated with the atmospheric perturbations due to the eruption. Key Points: The Hunga volcanic eruption induced significant sporadic E layer perturbations in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere (MLT) regionEnhanced Es layers mainly appeared over the northwest of the epicenter ∼4 hr after the eruptionThe geographical distributions of Es layer perturbations and calculated vertical ion convergence (VIC) show a close similarity [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human computer interaction (HCI) aims to enhance product effectiveness and efficiency by empowering users. This research examines corrosion resistance in alloys, a concern due to technological advancements. Metals and alloys are susceptible to degradation, leading to functionality loss, structural collapse, and environmental contamination. Improving corrosion resistance is crucial for product efficiency. In this paper, HCI identifies requirements that emphasize taking an existing hexagonal closely packed (HCP) network, investigating the network for requirements in the form of vertices and edges, mapping different vertices and edges of the network graph with topological invariants, solving the network graph by invariants, and providing results for modeling and design of advanced networks and architectures. The HCI also ensures and investigates the optimization of results produced under the specifications. The study examines network graph results for irregularities, providing guidelines for engineers and manufacturers to create advanced alloy architectures with characteristics through mathematical and graphical methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2018, the Ethiopian government banned intercountry adoptions due to detected irregularities. This paper draws from the experiences of Spanish adoptive families, providing evidence of these irregularities and other abuses substantiated by adoptive families during their "search for origins" or reconnection with their children's birth families. We argue that these searches and contacts within the adoptive triad represent informal reparative initiatives among Spanish adoptive families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Sporadic E (Es) layers are plasma irregularities significantly affecting radio communication and navigation systems. And, their dominant formation mechanism at mid‐latitudes, known as the wind shear theory, suggests that they serve as indicators of the atmosphere‐ionosphere coupling processes in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere region. On 15 January 2022, the Hunga Tonga‐Hunga Ha'api submarine volcanic eruption provided a unique opportunity to investigate the Es layer responses to lower atmospheric perturbations. Using the FORMOSAT‐7/COSMIC‐2 radio occultation and ground‐based ionosonde observations, this study reveals the spatial‐temporal behaviors of the Es layers after the Hunga volcanic eruption. The results show that significant Es layer perturbations occurred over the northwest of the epicenter ∼4 hr after the eruption and lasted for approximately ∼22 hr. We also calculated the geographical distribution of the vertical ion convergence (VIC) using neutral winds obtained from the Michelson Interferometer for Global High‐resolution Thermospheric Imaging on the Ionospheric Connection Explorer (ICON) satellite. A comparison of the geographical distribution of positive VIC and Es layer perturbations shows a good agreement, which indicates that the enhanced Es layers are caused by strong VIC associated with the atmospheric perturbations due to the eruption. This study presents observational evidence for coupling between the Es layer and lower atmospheric perturbations, which can be helpful for understanding the occasionality and variability of Es layer occurrence.

Due to the frequent climatic changes occurring worldwide, which are related to extreme meteorological parameters as well as human activities, it is obvious that these influence the flow regimes of rivers. River flow is the most important factor determining the hydrological regime of any river. This has a substantial influence on the water resources and the environment surrounding the river. Hydrotechnical structures are also dimensioned on the basis of the flow as the primary input parameter. The flow conditions have different properties and correlations with the material of the river bed. In this paper, possible dependencies and phenomena are investigated using real case studies on two rivers in Croatia - examples of river courses in alluvium and karst areas - with regard to homogeneity and isotropy analyses. For this purpose, rescaled adjusted partial sums and innovative polygon trend analysis methods will be applied on the form of a combination of methods at the same watercourses. It has been shown that the analysed time series of the flows do not exhibit homogeneity and isotropy. In addition, fluctuations and irregularities were detected in the same time series. This is key information for determining the reliability of the flow forecast.

Surveying (geodesy) and cartographic documentation, their types, and their flow (circulation) are the basis for the uniformity of the work carried out in the pre-design, design, and execution of construction works, ultimately having a representation in the operational (exploitation) and maintenance of railway infrastructure. The type and circulation of surveying and cartographic documentation constitute an important element for the transport sector. The aim of the present scientific research work was to define the state of irregularity of the standard of uniform surveying-cartographic documentation, their type, and their circulation (Ig-1) in interaction with rail transport problems. A case study method was used corresponding to a factual description, which aimed to analyze and evaluate the existing standard. This is important from a theoretical and, above all, a practical point of view. The results show an extensive space of irregularities occurring, violating legal regulations and professional ethics. At the same time, good practice solutions have been implemented to optimize the negative impact when interacting with rail transport problems. The authors’ position on the irregularities was forwarded to an infrastructure manager. The irregularities that occur significantly contribute to the limitations of surveying and cartographic documentation harmonization, and these have an impact on fully functional rail transport.

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is a complex endocrine disorder affecting reproductive-aged women, characterized by clinical manifestations such as hyperandrogenism, menstrual irregularities, and polycystic ovaries. Despite its prevalence and impact on women's health, the pathogenesis of PCOS remains incompletely understood. This review provides a comprehensive critical appraisal of existing literature on PCOS pathogenesis, addressing knowledge gaps and highlighting its multifactorial nature. A systematic literature review identified relevant articles published up to the knowledge cutoff date in 2023, focusing on molecular, genetic, hormonal, and environmental factors contributing to PCOS pathogenesis. Electronic databases, including PubMed, MEDLINE, and Embase, were systematically searched using predefined terms. Eligible studies investigated molecular, genetic, hormonal, and environmental factors associated with PCOS pathogenesis. The critical appraisal revealed diverse studies enriching our understanding of PCOS. Molecular and genetic studies highlighted alterations in signaling pathways, hormonal dysregulation, and the role of insulin resistance. Environmental factors, including lifestyle and exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals, were implicated. Heterogeneity in study designs and methodologies underscored the need for standardized approaches to enhance comparability. This review synthesizes current evidence on PCOS critical appraisal and pathogenesis, emphasizing its multifaceted nature. Standardization of study designs and methodologies will facilitate future comparisons, enabling the development of targeted therapeutic interventions and personalized management strategies for women affected by PCOS.

Purpose: The purpose of this research is to verify if the corporate governance mechanisms are associated with the control of irregularities in Brazilian companies, from 1999 to 2017. Design/methodology/approach: An empirical study was developed which considers variables of internal and external components of the corporate governance structure in Brazil, aiming to assess whether these characteristics affect the likelihood of irregularities, based on decisions of the administrative proceedings judged by the Brazilian Securities Commission. Research, Practical & Social implications: Findings include a lack of evidence regarding the influence of board independence and CEO dual roles on irregularities. The presence of the government or a state-owned company as a majority shareholder diminishes governance efficiency, while high share concentration and a good reputation of auditors contribute to irregularity prevention. Originality/value: The research contributes to the expansion of discussions regarding the need for efficient governance mechanisms to mitigate irregularities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of IUSTA is the property of Universidad Santo Tomas and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The paper presents the experimental results on the determination of melt parameters such as the energy of the boundary, contact angle, density and kinematic viscosity of low and medium alloy steels at different temperatures, as well as the dispersion of their dendritic structure in solidified castings. The analysis of the data obtained allowed revealing using mathematical models the influence of the chemical composition and temperature of melts on their properties and the dendritic structure of castings. It was established the variation of the melt parameters depending on the particular chemical elements of steels as C, Si, Mn, O, P, V, Cr. The established analytical dependences shown that increasing density and viscosity contributes to the dispersion of the dendritic structure and viscosity is of the major effect. The derived quantitative patterns allows to evaluate structure formation of cast structural low and medium alloy steels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Finance & Financial Law / Finanse i Prawo Finansowe is the property of Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Lodzkiego and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Using a large data set of ground‐based GNSS scintillation observations coupled with in situ particle detector data, we perform a statistical analysis of both the input energy flux from precipitating particles, and the observed occurrence of density irregularities in the northern hemisphere cusp. By examining trends in the two data sets relating to geomagnetic activity, we conclude that observations of irregularities in the cusp grows increasingly likely during storm‐time, whereas the precipitating particle energy flux does not. We thus find a weak or nonexistent statistical link between geomagnetic activity and precipitating particle energy flux in the cusp. This is a result of a previously documented tendency for the cusp energy flux to maximize during northward IMF, when density irregularities tend not to be widespread, as we demonstrate. At any rate, even though ionization and subsequent density gradients directly caused by soft electron precipitation in the cusp are not to be ignored for the trigger of irregularities, our results point to the need to scrutinize additional physical processes for the creation of irregularities causing scintillations in and around the cusp. While numerous phenomena known to cause density irregularities have been identified and described, there is a need for a systematic evaluation of the conditions under which the various destabilizing mechanisms become important and how they sculpt the observed ionospheric "irregularity landscape." As such, we call for a quantitative assessment of the role of particle precipitation in the cusp, given that other factors contribute to the production of irregularities in a major way. Plain Language Summary: The cusp ionosphere is a particularly turbulent part of the interaction between Earth and the solar wind. Here, magnetic field lines connect the ionosphere directly to the solar wind, and a range of plasma physical mechanisms can studied. "Soft" (low‐energy) electrons raining into Earth's atmosphere inside the cusp has been suggested several times in the past as an important contributor to the various energetic phenomena found in the cusp, but little evidence exists that can tell us how important they are. We present a large statistical study of the cusp's input energy (the soft electrons) and how it affects the cusp's turbulent output (widespread plasma irregularities). We find a discrepancy in that soft electrons largely exhibit opposite long‐term trends compared to the cusp plasma turbulence. Put simplistically, the energy budget provided by soft electrons might not be sufficient to explain the enormous energy that are at times pent up in the ionospheric cusp plasma turbulence. These results point to the fact that the community needs to address the role of particle precipitation (electrons, but also ions) in producing the observed ionosphere "irregularity landscape." Key Points: Cusp scintillation occurrence increases significantly with rising geomagnetic activityThe energy flux of soft electron precipitation in the cusp has a statistical tendency to decrease as geomagnetic activity increasesThe increase in cusp scintillation with geomagnetic activity must be caused by drivers other that soft electron precipitation [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The municipal external control exercised by the Courts of Accounts reveals the irregularities found in the accounts of municipal governments through the disclosure of audit reports. They have been empirically analyzed from the point of view of their classification in terms of severity, but few studies aim to identify the factors that influence such failures. Having verified this gap, the main objective of this study is to identify factors that may influence lapses in municipal public management pointed out by the audit of the Court of Accounts. This article contributes to further research on this topic and to improving management in municipalities. This is an exploratory analysis based on econometric models for panel data. The sample includes 179 municipalities in São Paulo, with data for 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, and 2019. The results suggest that the recommendations and determinations of the Court of Accounts and gaps in internal controls influence irregularities in small, medium, and large municipalities. The volume of legal and constitutional transfers received influences small and medium-sized municipalities, while the municipal gross domestic product (GDP) influences medium-sized municipalities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the mandate of Forensic Investigations Unit in the fight against fraud, corruption, financial misconduct, irregularities, and maladministration in the public sector of South Africa. Fraud, corruption, financial misconduct, irregularities and maladministration in public service have dire consequences to the lives of ordinary South Africans as these offences derail government efforts of improving the delivery of services such as construction of roads, access to clean water, electricity and housing. Thus, section 85(b) of the Public Finance Management Act, 1 of 1999 (PFMA) requires the Minister of Finance to craft regulations stipulating matter relating to the investigations of allegations of financial misconduct. The study employed a qualitative research approach including thoroughly revised several legislations such as Acts, regulations, policies and frameworks. Eight (8) participants from Forensic Investigations Units ranging from state departments/ institutions were interviewed using open-ended interview questions. The study followed purposive sampling as participant were selected purposively. The study found that it is the responsibility of Minister of Finance to craft regulations stipulating matter relating to the investigations of allegations of financial misconduct in the public sector. The study recommends the amended of Public Service Act of 1994 (PSA) interchangeable with Part three of Public Service Regulations of 2016 (PSR), PFMA and Treasury Regulations of 2001 to provide a Forensic Investigations Unit with clear mandate as these Acts and regulations remain silent on investigations performed by internal Forensic Investigations Units of the government departments/ institutions including State-Owned Entities (SOEs).

It has been a concern of space scientists and engineers for many decades to have a well-defined proxy to characterize the fluctuations experienced by radio-based signals propagating through the ionosphere. Scintillation indices were deduced using the signal intensity to show the level of fluctuations in phase and amplitude of radio signal passing through the ionosphere. Subsequently, more than two decades now, the rate of change of Total Electron Content (TEC) index (ROTI) was as well used to characterize the level of fluctuations associated to ionospheric irregularities on radio signals. This paper examines the level of relationship between the rate of change of TEC index (ROTI) and the ionospheric amplitude scintillation (S4) within the belt of equatorial ionization anomaly of West African sector. The study was carried out using the Scintillation Network Decision Aid (SCINDA) Global Positioning System (GPS) data obtained from ground-based stations located at Dakar (Senegal) and Cape Verde. The comparative analysis of ROTI and S4 was done with normalized ROTI. The results obtained have shown that the magnitude of normalized ROTI and S4 corresponds very well, higher in Cape Verde compared to Dakar. It was observed that the correlation coefficient could be ∼0.6 when all the satellites are used. However, the relationship increases with individual satellite in which the coefficient of correlation could be up to ∼0.97 and R2 ∼ 0.94. It can be concluded that the relationship between the S4 and ROTI depends on the location and the level of ionospheric disturbance condition as observed in this work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We develop a climatological model for the Arctic ionosphere based on more than one solar cycle of data (2010–2021) of the rate of change of the total electron content index (ROTI) maps from the International GNSS Service (IGS). The IGS ROTI maps are daily averaged in magnetic latitude and local time coordinates. To develop a climatological model, the ROTI maps are decomposed into base functions and coefficients using the empirical orthogonal function (EOF) method. The EOF method converges very quickly, and the first four EOFs reflect the majority (96%) of the total data variability. Furthermore, different EOF components can reflect different drivers of ionospheric irregularities. The first EOF reflects the averaged ROTI activity and the impact of the solar radiation and geomagnetic activity; the second EOF reflects the impact of the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) Bz and electric field; the third and fourth EOFs reflect the dawn‐dusk asymmetry around the auroral oval and polar cap, and they can be related to the IMF By. To build an empirical model, we fit the EOF coefficients using helio‐geophysical indices from four different categories (solar activity; geomagnetic indices; IMF; the solar wind coupling function). The final EOF model is dependent on seven selected indices (F10.7P, Kp, Dst, Bt, By, Bz, and EKL). The statistical data‐model comparisons show satisfactory results with a good correlation coefficient. However, the model cannot capture the significant expansion of the dayside ROTI activity during strong geomagnetic storms. Future effort is needed to provide corrections to the model during severe storms. Plain Language Summary: The ionosphere is often highly structured and contains significant irregularities of plasma density, which can impact the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) services that rely on trans‐ionospheric radio waves. Due to the practical use of GNSS services, there is a high demand for modeling and forecasting of ionospheric irregularities. In this study, we develop a climatological model for the Arctic ionosphere based on a long‐term data set from the International GNSS Service (IGS). The final model is dependent on a few helio‐geophysical indices that represent the main drivers/sources of ionospheric irregularities. The statistical data‐model comparisons show that the model is able to reproduce all the climatological features of ionospheric irregularities. This model can be useful in forecasting the space weather impact for GNSS users using real‐time data as input. Key Points: An empirical model of rate of change of the total electron content index (ROTI) maps in the Arctic is developed based on 12 years of ROTI data using the empirical orthogonal function methodThe statistical data‐model comparisons show satisfactory resultsThe model fails to capture the significant expansion of the dayside ROTI activity during severe geomagnetic storms [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When compared to composite structures for high rise construction, RC structures have increased seismic weights. The structural design influences how multi-storey buildings react to earthquakes. In the case of vertical constructions, composite structures provide a distinctive option of ergonomic member and material design. In the majority of developing nations, reinforced concrete structures are the preferred construction technique. A combined structural property of concrete and steel is achieved by using composite structures. In the current work, ETABS is used to model and analyse the comparison of RC and composite structures with CFT columns for different kinds of irregularities, such as vertical geometric irregularity, mass irregularity, and stiffness irregularity, in accordance with IS codes. When RC constructions are compared to composite structures, it has been found that storey displacements and drifts are considerably fewer in RC structures. The base shear for the composite structure is lower than that of the RC structure due to the composite structure's lighter weight. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Surra Man Ra'a is the property of Republic of Iraq Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research (MOHESR) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The oblique radio wave incidence on a turbulent equatorial conductive collision plasma layer is considered. The "Compensation Effect" has been discovered by us. A complex refractive index of the equatorial terrestrial ionosphere has been derived for the first time. Second-order statistical moments of the spatial power spectrum (SPS) of scattered radio waves are obtained for the first time using the WKB method, taking into account the asymmetry of the problem: the inclined incidence of the wave on a plasma boundary and the asymmetry of the magneto-ionic parameters. It was established for the first time that a certain direction exists along which the inclined incidence radio wave on a plasma layer and the anisotropy parameters of a magnetoplasma compensate each other. This result will have great practical application in communication. In this case, the SPS of scattered radio waves neither widens nor is its maximum displaced. The behavior of this spectrum versus distance propagated by radio waves in the conductive equatorial ionosphere is analyzed numerically for different penetration angles and anisotropy factors of asymmetric anisotropy electron density irregularities. It was shown that the anisotropy factor of elongated plasmonic structures has a substantial influence on the "Compensation Effect" of scattered ordinary and extraordinary waves penetrating in the conductive collision ionospheric plasma the slab. Numerical calculations are carried out for the anisotropic Gaussian correlation function applying IRI experimental data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surveying (geodesy) and cartographic documentation, their types, and their flow (circulation) are the basis for the uniformity of the work carried out in the pre-design, design, and execution of construction works, ultimately having a representation in the operational (exploitation) and maintenance of railway infrastructure. The type and circulation of surveying and cartographic documentation constitute an important element for the transport sector. The aim of the present scientific research work was to define the state of irregularity of the standard of uniform surveying-cartographic documentation, their type, and their circulation (Ig-1) in interaction with rail transport problems. A case study method was used corresponding to a factual description, which aimed to analyze and evaluate the existing standard. This is important from a theoretical and, above all, a practical point of view. The results show an extensive space of irregularities occurring, violating legal regulations and professional ethics. At the same time, good practice solutions have been implemented to optimize the negative impact when interacting with rail transport problems. The authors' position on the irregularities was forwarded to an infrastructure manager. The irregularities that occur significantly contribute to the limitations of surveying and cartographic documentation harmonization, and these have an impact on fully functional rail transport. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Identify the attitudes regarding key irregularities in university activities of universities referring to muda, mura, and muri from the perspective of two groups of stakeholders - academic teachers and administration/service personnel. Study design/methodology/approach: A pilot quantitative study using a questionnaire containing 48 statements regarding six categories of irregularities assessed according to the 5-point Likert scale. We asked two research questions: Q1. Is the questionnaire used in the study reliable for assessing attitudes regarding irregularities that occur in connection with work at the university? Q2. Which categories of irregularities most often accompany work at the university, and how is their nuisance assessed? Findings: The reliability of the research tool was statistically confirmed. Respondents represent an attitude close to indifference regarding the perception of most categories of irregularities. The most often indicated by both groups of respondents is "Unused creativity of employees.” Respondents consider all types a "nuisance" to a greater than moderate degree. Originality/value: We propose an original tool to assess irregularities in higher education institutions and apply it in the Polish and possibly international environment. These studies constitute an initial stage of the planned in-depth original research aimed at using the classification of irregularities/losses in surveys of the opinions of all higher education stakeholders (e.g., students, employers), indicating the critical causes of problems and directions of improvement activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article is an editorial that discusses the vertical coupling in the atmosphere-ionosphere-magnetosphere system. The Earth's ionosphere, which is a plasma layer in the upper atmosphere, plays a role in various phenomena and also affects technological systems. The ionosphere is influenced by the solar wind and the Earth's magnetosphere, as well as the neutral atmosphere below it. The article presents various studies that explore the interactions and dynamics within this system, including the impact of solar wind on atmospheric gravity waves, the generation of auroral spirals, and the effects of geomagnetic activity on the ionosphere. The authors emphasize the need for further research to understand the complex interactions and variability within the atmosphere-ionosphere-magnetosphere system. [Extracted from the article]

The study of issues related to the study of the state of the soil on the surface of the most constant technological track is relevant, since the movement of the running wheels along narrow tracks determines the traction and coupling properties of machine-tractor units, their vibrations, the stability of movement and the controllability of movement. The рurpose of this study was to increase the efficiency of the process of profiling microroughnesses of the soil surface located in areas that form a track along which the running wheels of machine-tractor units will move, by substantiating a new scheme of an automated profilograph and developing methods for its use. For this study, modern methods of experimental research based on IT technologies were used. In particular, an automated complex has been developed for measuring and evaluating the microprofile of soil surface irregularities on the very track of the tramline. The results of the experimental studies in this matter showed that the standard deviation of the soil surface irregularities reaches ±0.84 cm. This gives reason to consider the harmonic components of these functions as damped, having normalized correlation functions. The graphs constructed using PC showed that most of the dispersions of soil surface irregularities on the ruts themselves are concentrated in the range of 0…0.3 sm-1. It was established that the generator of the formation of irregularities in the longitudinal profile of traces of a permanent technological track is the parameters of the treads of the wheels of the machines moving along it. The obtained results of the study can be used in the selection of protectors of pneumatic tires of the running wheels of machine-tractor units moving on two tracks

About the importance of food products, probably not much needs to be said. Regardless of the country, people's life is not possible without the consumption of food products. Like any other products, food products must have labels. The role of labels is basically the same as for any product: the label must inform the buyer or consumer about several aspects. An incomplete or incorrect label of a food product can lead to dangers for buyers or consumers. The interest in labeling food products all over the world is a big one, due to the importance of food products. And it is normal to be like that. In order to protect the consumer, all countries must have an appropriate legislative and institutional framework. Modern countries have these two tools necessary to defend the interests of their citizens, who are both buyers and consumers. The legislation of each country regulates which details must appear on the labels of food products. This reality has been reached in time, as a result of advances in consumer protection, especially consumer information. Practice shows that there are many problems caused by food labeling, and problems occur in all countries, regardless of their degree of development. The problem of irregularities encountered by consumers in the labelling of food products remains one of continued interest, at a global level.

Abstract We develop a climatological model for the Arctic ionosphere based on more than one solar cycle of data (2010–2021) of the rate of change of the total electron content index (ROTI) maps from the International GNSS Service (IGS). The IGS ROTI maps are daily averaged in magnetic latitude and local time coordinates. To develop a climatological model, the ROTI maps are decomposed into base functions and coefficients using the empirical orthogonal function (EOF) method. The EOF method converges very quickly, and the first four EOFs reflect the majority (96%) of the total data variability. Furthermore, different EOF components can reflect different drivers of ionospheric irregularities. The first EOF reflects the averaged ROTI activity and the impact of the solar radiation and geomagnetic activity; the second EOF reflects the impact of the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) Bz and electric field; the third and fourth EOFs reflect the dawn‐dusk asymmetry around the auroral oval and polar cap, and they can be related to the IMF By. To build an empirical model, we fit the EOF coefficients using helio‐geophysical indices from four different categories (solar activity; geomagnetic indices; IMF; the solar wind coupling function). The final EOF model is dependent on seven selected indices (F10.7P, Kp, Dst, Bt, By, Bz, and EKL). The statistical data‐model comparisons show satisfactory results with a good correlation coefficient. However, the model cannot capture the significant expansion of the dayside ROTI activity during strong geomagnetic storms. Future effort is needed to provide corrections to the model during severe storms.

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College students' social and eating jet lags and chronotypes may be related to irregular eating habits. Therefore, we examined the relationship between social and eating jet lags, chronotypes, variability in first and last mealtimes, and non-eating duration, as well as the effects of snacking between dinner and bedtime on social and eating jet lags, chronotypes, and mealtime variation. A total of 1900 Japanese male college students were recruited in this study. Mean wake-up time, bedtime, sleeping time, first and last mealtimes, snacks between meals, non-eating duration, the midpoint of non-eating duration, social and eating jet lags, and chronotype were calculated. Standard deviations in first and last mealtimes, the midpoint of non-eating duration, and the coefficient of variation in non-eating duration were used to evaluate mealtime variations. Mealtime variations were significantly associated with social and eating jet lags, chronotype, the midpoint of non-eating duration, and the difference in first and last mealtime between school holidays and class days. Chronotype and the midpoint of non-eating duration were significantly delayed with increased snacking after dinner. Mealtime variations were significantly lower in those who avoided snacking than in those who did not. Thus, social and eating jet lags and chronotypes are associated with sleep habits and mealtime irregularities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the South African government sector, public procurement is a strategic mechanism through which the government could be able to achieve the mandatory socioeconomic objectives. To this extent, the government procures goods and services from the private sector which can be estimated around eight hundred billion rand annually. Although there are numerous policy frameworks and systems to ensure that the management of the public procurement processes are fair, equitable, transparent, and cost-effective; the public procurement management practice, particularly in the delivery of construction goods and services, remains vulnerable to mismanagement and irregularities. To this extent, the nature of the irregularities and the stages at which they occur in the public procurement system remains unclear. To address this gap of knowledge, a content analysis method and the associated techniques of in-Vivo coding and word frequency analysis were used for the analysis of the secondary data. The study revealed that poor and or non-performance were the most frequent irregularities in the procurement of public construction services. The principal theoretical implication of this study is that rigorous proficiency measures should be applied to scrutinize and evaluate the potential of the contractors in terms of capacity to deliver in accordance with the contractual agreements prior to the awarding of contracts.

In the article action of the anisotropic irregularities in an ionosphere on a satellite channel is investi- gated. Relations between the exponent, characterising depth of fadings in a communication channel, with sta- tistical performances of the aniisotropic irregularities in an ionosphere are spotted.

There are presented the results of analysis of some irregularities in the series of displacement coordinates on the Earth’s surface for the geographic North Pole in order to relate them temporally to some global jerks in the geomagnetic field. The calculations were made using the International Earth Rotation and Reference Systems Service (IERS) data on the average daily motions of the North Pole from 1962 to 2021 and the information on global jerks in the geomagnetic field measured by the magnetic observatories throughout the world. The identification and analysis of the irregularities in the pole displacement along the Earth’s surface were performed by the Fourier Method and wavelet methods for time series analysis, methods of fixed threshold determination and minimax analysis of the non-Gaussian noise, phase and pseudo-phase space methods, and stroboscopic methods of construction of Poincare maps.The analysis of local Fourier spectra and wavelet-spectra reveals irregularities in the displacement of the North Pole in the time intervals from 1967.04.09 to 1967.11.30, from 1974.03.29 to 1974.09.12, and from 2005.11.03 to 2006.03.07. It is supposed that energy reconstructions which caused short-term pole deviations from the trajectory and starting to follow its previous trajectory at the return points are related to the specific features of oscillatory interactions in the process of the translational-rotational motion of the Earth’s in the Solar System. The time of marking specific points on graphs of the displacement of the pole along the surface of the Earth in 1967 and 1974 is ahead of global geomagnetic jerk occurrence times.

We hypothesized that social jetlag would be associated with prolonged sleep duration on weekends and irregularities in wake-up time and/or bedtime on weekdays. In total, 1,200 Japanese male college students were included in this study. Participants completed an eight-day sleep diary in which they recorded their wake-up time, bedtime, and sleep duration every day for a week. Mean wake-up time, bedtime, and sleep duration, standard deviations in wake-up time and bedtime, the coefficient of variation in sleep duration, social jetlag, and chronotype were calculated over seven nights. Multiple regression was used to explore the factors influencing social jetlag. Stepwise selection analysis was performed to analyze the parameters identified on multiple regression analysis. The mean chronotype of the included participants was 5.3 ± 1.5; their mean social jetlag value was 1.1 ± 1.0. The mean wake-up time, bedtime, and sleep duration values were 8.5 ± 1.1, 25.0 ± 1.1, and 7.5 ± 1.1 h, respectively. Multiple regression analysis showed five indicators exerting a statistically significant influence on social jetlag. The standard deviation in wake-up time was adopted as the first factor in the stepwise selection analysis. These results show that social jetlag is associated with not only prolonged sleep duration on weekends but also irregularities in wake-up time during the week. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sand erosion and dust deposition may induce surface irregularities of the blades of a wind turbine deployed in the Sahara, causing performance deterioration. In the current work a multi-objective optimization algorithm is developed to upgrade the aerodynamic blade profile of wind turbines operating in a Saharan environment. As a case study, the rotor of the Nordtank 300 kW horizontal axis wind turbine operating in Hurghada, Egypt is customized for lower sensitivity to surface roughness. The goal is to achieve a high lift-to-drag ratio while simultaneously maintain high resistance to dust deposition and sand erosion. The optimization algorithm is developed in MATLAB using C-language and coupled via ANSYS-ICEM to ANSYS-FLUENT computational fluid dynamics software for a particle-laden flow simulation until the optimization objectives are iteratively met. The optimization process yields a blade with lower sensitivity to surface roughness issues not only offsetting the 10.58% loss in Annual Energy Production (AEP) using the original profile, but actually boosting the AEP by 10.87% for the optimized blade. It is believed that this research may draw attention to the need for site-specific blade design to avoid environmental surface degradation as a result of dust deposition and sand erosion that may be unavoidable in the Saharan environment of countries in the MENA region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Meteorological phenomena are consequences of climate change that can be observed during the historical series to identify trends or changes in time series as water and energy transfer on the Earth’s surface and lower atmosphere. The objective of this article was to analyze the rainfall irregularities in the Midwest region and how this aff ects the springs of the Federal District, resulting in a considerable decrease in the state’s reservoirs, being seen as a determining factor, the La Niña phenomenon, responsible for rainfall irregularities in the Midwest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]