bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Value Co-Creation and Co-Destruction in Online Education during the Covid19 Pandemic: Special reference to Sri Lankan State Sector Universities
Authors: Karunathilake R. L. P. , Galdolage B. S.
Published: August 2021

Covid-19 pandemic hit all aspects of individuals’ lives in the whole globe including Sri Lanka and made mega changes in every person’s day-to-day life. People had to limit travelling, thus services which used to provide at physical interfaces with direct face-to-face interactions had to search new options in delivering their services. Education sector, including higher education in Sri Lanka had to move from on-campus classroom-based teaching to new modes of delivering academic programs via remote basis. This new normal is challenging for both the academics and the students due to lack of experience and unequal distribution of facilities which inhibit equal value creation in education. Since this phenomenon is new, scholarly attention has not been received adequately. Therefore, this study aims to explore the value co-creation and co-destruction in online education in state sector universities in Sri Lanka. The primary data were collected via semi-structured interviews from fifty university undergraduates representing different universities and geographic locations in Sri Lanka. They were encouraged to freely talk about their experience in online education. The study found nine key factors and re-classified them into four main themes as ‘resources availability, commitment, interaction, and personal and domestic conditions’ which bring value co-creation to some respondents while the same would destroy the value for some other students in gaining education. The findings would be helpful to the government, policy makers, academics, and students to enhance the collaborative value creation in distance education.
The Impact of Corporate Brand Identity on Employee Satisfaction: Application of Coleman’s model in Sri Lankan Banking Sector
Authors: Perera H. K. M. N. , Yatigammana M. R. K. N.
Published: August 2021

Corporate brand identification emphasizes the process by which customers and employees may identify the organization as a corporate brand. Corporate brand identity management can be addressed as a key indicator for success therefore, it can be an issue if not well managed. The objective of this research is to gain a better understanding of the process of Corporate Brand Identity from employee perspective. It investigates how the different dimensions of the Corporate Brand Identity influences the satisfaction of employees. Further this study focusses on applying a corporate brand identity model into a sample consisted of 111 employees in the Sri Lankan banking sector. According to the results, it indicates a positive view of corporate brand identity amongst employee satisfaction as a model. Findings suggest corporate visual identity, brand personality, consistent communications, and human resource initiatives have a positive significant influence on employee satisfaction. Employee and client focus does not have a significant impact on employee satisfaction. Current work empirically expands previous research analyze the effects of the dimensions of corporate brand identity from an employee perspective. Results indicate that organizations should pay close attention to corporate brand identity. It gives an understanding about the importance of brand identity management to improve employee satisfaction. To explore generalization of results, conducting studies in other sectors and countries would be useful.
Impact of non–Coronavirus -2019 (Non–COVID-19) respiratory disease hospital Admissions: a single centre experience
Authors: Seelarathna R. M. M. , Rajeshkannan N. , Kumanan T.
Published: August 2021

Hospital admissions due to non-coronavirus disease 2019 (nonCOVID-19) respiratory diseases decreased in Teaching Hospital Jaffna following social distancing, other public health measures (face mask wearing) and due to lock down implemented by authorities in 2020.
Conservatively managed spontaneous chylous ascites in a non alcoholic cirrhotic patient – case report and literature review
Authors: Joseph Anne D. D. , Sujanitha Vathulan , Kumanan T.
Published: August 2021

Chylous ascites is characterised by the accumulation of lymphatic fluid in the peritoneal cavity. It is a rare presentation of liver cirrhosis; it can be the initial presentation or can occur in the course of the disease. Although in developing countries the main causes were tuberculosis and filariasis, this is the case of chylous ascites due to non alcoholic liver cirrhosis. In the present case the chylous ascites was an incidental finding, and it was well responded to initial conservative management. With the next six months of follow up it was noted that the patient was in remission. This case showed that if there is no great suspicion of malignancy the invasive diagnostic investigations are not needed and treating the underlying condition is the crucial step in the management.
Dengue haemorrhagic fever complicated with spontaneous psoas haematoma requiring blood products
Authors: Sivakajani B. , Ghetheeswaran S. , Sanchayan T.
Published: August 2021

Dengue is a mosquito borne febrile viral disease .Sri Lanka is an endemic area where the incidence was peak in 2017 and slightly decreased in 2020 (28.7%) because of preventive measures. Presentation can be asymptomatic or cause a spectrum of symptoms including undifferentiated viral fever, dengue fever, dengue haemorrhagic fever with or without shock and expanded dengue syndrome. We describe here a case of 48-years old man who presented to the emergency unit with three-day history of acute fever and prodromal features, subsequently diagnosed to have dengue haemorrhagic fever and it was complicated with psoas haemorrhage. Only limited cases were reported about spontaneous psoas muscle haemorrhage in dengue haemorrhagic fever in adult population.
Suppression of tumorigenicity 2 after exercise: a systematic review
Authors: Martins da Costa Ana , Teixeira Rafael , Vilela Eduardo M. , Tavares Ana , Torres Susana , Sampaio Francisco , Teixeira Madalena , Fontes-Carvalho Ricardo , Pedro Nunes José
Published: August 2021

Exercise is a pivotal physiological activity, associated with benefits. Whilst the importance of physical activity is consensual along different steps of the cardiovascular (CV) continuum, there has been interest in assessing the CV adaptations to vigorous exercise. Indeed, exercise can be associated with increases in cardiac biomarkers, though the scope of this observation remains elusive. Interleukin 1 receptor related protein, Suppression of tumorigenicity 2 (ST2) is a biomarker related to the pathophysiology of fibrosis, having shown promise in the study of heart failure. Knowledge of ST2 kinetics could improve understanding of the mechanistic pathways related to CV adaptations to exercise. To assess the current state-of-the-art concerning ST2 levels after exercise in healthy individuals. A systematic review was carried out on three databases (Pubmed, ISI Web of Science and Scopus), up to October 2020, using the queries “ST2” or “ST-2” + “exercise” or “running”. A total of six studies were included in the review, encompassing 349 subjects (73% male gender) in which ST2 was assessed. Most studies reported increases in ST2 levels after exercise. Three studies, encompassing a total of 219 individuals, described a cut-off level of 35 ng/dL for ST2. In these, 92.7% of subjects had ST2 levels above this cut-off after exercise (running in all studies). Most studies report increased levels of ST2 after exercise, with an important number of individuals exceeding the 35 ng/dL threshold. Given the small number of individuals represented and the lack of imaging data and long-term follow-up, further prospective larger studies should target this.
BCG vaccination impact on mortality and recovery rates in COVID-19: A meta-analysis
Authors: Singh Surjit , Khera Daisy , Chugh Ankita , Khasbage Sameer , Khera Pushpinder S. , Chugh Vinay Kumar
Published: August 2021

COVID-19 is a pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 virus which is a very worrisome public health emergency. In this study, we compared the mortality rate and recovery rate in countries with and without BCG vaccination policy. The data of mortality of COVID-19 was extracted from worldometer (https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/) on 26th July 2020. The data of countries where BCG vaccination is being done for all individuals is taken from BCG world atlas (http://www.bcgatlas.org/index.php), updated in 2017. BCG vaccination policy recommended countries are intervention group versus countries without BCG vaccination policies which are regarded as control group. Pooled analysis of countries with and without BCG vaccination policy revealed mortality rate of 1.31% (95%CI – 1.31% to 1.32%; I2 = 100%, p<0.01) and 3.25% (95%CI – 3.23% to 3.26%; I2 = 100%, p<0.01), respectively. The recovery rate in two country groups were found to be 72.60% (95%CI – 72.57% to 72.63%) and 55.94% (95%CI – 55.90% to 55.98%), respectively. 52 individuals need to be BCG vaccinated to prevent one death (NNT = 52). In BCG vaccination program countries, there is statistically and clinically significant less mortality (p-value <0.001) as compared to countries without BCG policy. Our findings corroborate the hypothesis that BCG vaccination may provide protection from COVID-19. High quality evidence from randomised controlled trials are required to establish causality between BCG vaccination and protection from severe COVID-19.
Correlation of drop weight impact data and thermodynamic information
Authors: Jones D E G , Lee P P , Feng K K
Published: August 2021

The menu driven PC version of the CHETAH code used for the energy release appraisal of energetic compounds has been implemented. Application of CHETAH for hazard analysis and for determination of thermodynamic information is discussed. The criteria used for
hazard rating are described and thermodynamic results determined from CHETAH are compared with those in the literature.
Existing drop weight impact data for a set of energetic compounds have been successfully correlated with thermodynamic data calculated from CHETAH. This analysis is shown to be dependant on the nature of the sensitive structural groups in the compounds. Subdivision of these compounds into
structurally related categories improves the correlations significantly, particularly if a single type of sensitive group is present.
This analysis indicates a need for collecting additional impact results in anticipation of future use of such correlations for predicting impact sensitivity. These correlations may replace measurements of impact sensitivity, which are notoriously imprecise and inaccurate.
Catalogue of backfill literature
Authors: Aston T R C , Annor A
Published: August 2021

Examination of the published backfill literature reveals that although a considerable amount of information exists, it is disseminated across a wide range of conference and journal publications. A catalogue has therefore been prepared which simplifies the
referencing and identification of backfill research and technology related literature. The material listed, primarily covers the period from the mid-1970's to date, but does not claim to contain every single item ever published. However, it does contain over 300 articles, all readily available in
the English language, which encompass backfill technology and research in both hardrock and potash mining applications. A small number of relevant references related to the use of backfilling in coal mining operations are also included.
Early experience with surgical strategies aimed at preserving the pulmonary valve and annulus during repair of tetralogy of Fallot
Authors: Dharmapuram Anil Kumar , Ramadoss Nagarajan , Goutami Vejendla , Verma Sudeep , Pande Shantanu , Devalaraja Sindhura
Published: August 2021

Background :

During repair of tetralogy of fallot (TOF) we modified surgical strategies to preserve the valve and annulus if the pulmonary valve leaflets are pliable and not significantly dysplastic.

Methods :

Initially, the repair was done from the main pulmonary artery (Group-1, 215 patients) and later through an additional incision in the infundibulum of the right ventricle (Group-2, 73 patients). Recently, we changed the approach to commissurotomy of the fused leaflets by releasing the supra valvar tethering and delamination of the cuspal apparatus till the base to improve the mobility of the cusps and do a controlled commissurotomy (Group-3, 14 patients). With delamination, we could extend the limit of the repair to a z-score of –3.5.

Results :

There was no hospital mortality; two patients died at home after discharge. A mean follow-up of 42.01 months ± 19.25 is available for 198 patients (92%) for group 1, 16.03 ± 7.45 for group 2, and 4.07 ± 2.09 for group 3. The re-intervention-free survival is 94.4% in group 1. The z value improved from -3 (-3–-2) to -1.2 (-3 – 0), P = 0.001 in Group 1, from -2.8 (-3–-2.4) to -1 (-1.1–-0.7), P = 0.001 in Group 2 and from –3 (-4–-3) to -1, P = 0.001 in Group 3. In all the groups, there was trivial or mild pulmonary regurgitation.

Conclusions :

During repair of TOF, adequate valve/annulus sparing is possible if the repair is done from both the main pulmonary artery and infundibular incisions using the delamination technique.
Peak left atrial longitudinal strain
Authors: Krishna Mani Ram , Sennaiyan Usha Nandhini
Published: August 2021

The multi-inflammatory syndrome in children is a poorly understood febrile illness potentially linked to an immune response to COVID-19 infection. The disease is characterized by fever and elevated acute-phase reactants. A number of children with clinical and laboratory evidence of cardiovascular involvement have normal echocardiograms by conventional assessment. The peak left atrial longitudinal strain obtained by atrial deformation analysis could potentially be diagnostic of this condition in children who do not have abnormalities identified on conventional assessment.
Hemodynamic rounds
Authors: Sivakumar Kothandam , Mohakud Ashish Ranjan
Published: August 2021

Segmental pulmonary arterial hypertension occurs when the right and left pulmonary arteries are nonconfluent and receive blood supply from different sources. High blood pressure confined to limited lung segments may accelerate progression of pulmonary vascular resistance. Calculation of segmental vascular resistance and assessment of operability in such situations are done after integrating catheter hemodynamics, magnetic resonance imaging techniques, or perfusion scintigraphy. When an isolated pulmonary artery perfused by a restrictive ipsilateral arterial duct is associated with a large nonrestrictive contralateral arterial duct connected to the other pulmonary artery, leading to unilateral pulmonary arterial hypertension and features of high vascular resistance, it offers unique challenges to decision-making.
Prevalence of thyroid disorders in type 2 diabetic patients – A 1-year cross-sectional study
Authors: Mudhol Rikita Ramesh , Turamari Shivakumar Veeranna , Mudhol Rekha Ramesh , Srinivas B.
Published: August 2021

BACKGROUND:

Diabetes is one of the commonest health problem and has become a major health challenge worldwide. There is evidence from the literature suggesting that the intricate bond between Thyroid disorder and diabetes mellitus deceivingly contributes to micro and macro-vascular complications.

OBJECTIVE:

This study is being undertaken to determine an association between prevalence of thyroid disorders in Type 2 diabetic patients.

MATERIAL AND METHODS:

A hospital based prospective cross sectional study was carried out in the department of Medicine, at a tertiary care hospital in Belgaum. The study included 100 Type 2 diabetic patients who were interviewed for demographic details, duration of diabetes and history of other comorbid conditions. The patients were subjected to clinical examination and were investigated for fasting blood sugars, post prandial blood sugars, glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1C), free triiodothyronine (T3), free thyroxine (T4) and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH). Data was analysed using SPSS statistical software version 20.0.

RESULTS:

The prevalence of thyroid disorder in type 2 diabetic patients was 35%. Of them 16% had subclinical hypothyroidism. The males outnumbered the females in the study and 22% of the males had thyroid disorder (P = 0.8390). Subjects in the age group of 61 to 70 years, prevalence was higher as compared to other groups (P = 0.0569). There was an increased risk of thyroid dysfunction in long standing type 2 diabetics (P = 0.0240). The prevalence was higher in patients with poor glycemic control, though the findings were not statistically significant (P = 0.1021).

CONCLUSION:

Thyroid Dysfunction is widely prevalent in patients with type 2 diabetes in our study. Hence it is prudent to screen routinely for Thyroid dysfunction in type 2 Diabetic patients, which will help in improving the quality of life and reduce the mortality rate.
Discouraging the use of tobacco among men globally
Authors: Shrivastava Saurabh RamBihariLal , Shrivastava Prateek Saurabh
Published: August 2021

Reduction in the incidence of tobacco use and the attributed health consequences has been acknowledged as one of the important international public health priorities. The available global estimates suggest that in the last two decades, the use of tobacco has declined, and this has been mainly because of the decrease in the number of females using the same. However, for the very first time in 2019, a major shift in the tobacco epidemic has been highlighted owing to the reduction in the number of males using tobacco or its products. This reported decline is a clear marker of the fact that sustained political commitment and implementation of the evidence-based targeted strategies can deliver encouraging outcomes. In conclusion, the reported trend of decline in tobacco use among men is an important milestone in our battle against the global tobacco epidemic. However, the national policymakers should not reduce the intensity of the efforts and should strive hard to meet the set global targets.
Pseudoepitheliomatous Keratotic and Micaceous Balanitis
Authors: Salloum Antoine , Bachour Julien , Bazzi Nagham , Megarbane Hala A
Published: August 2021

Pseudoepitheliomatous keratotic and micaceous balanitis (PKMB), an uncommon glans penis skin disorder, affects mainly elderly men and can progress to verrucous carcinoma or invasive squamous cell carcinoma. A 22-year-old male presented with a 5-year history of a slightly pruritic thick scaly plaque on the glans penis that appeared 2 months after undergoing circumcision. Physical examination revealed a well-defined hyperkeratotic plaque with thin mica-like scales. Histological examination of previous biopsies showed acanthosis with elongation of the rete ridges, prominent granular cell layer, and marked orthokeratotic hyperkeratosis. The diagnosis of plaque-stage PKMB was made. The patient had monthly sessions of topical liquid nitrogen and after 20 weeks, the plaque shrank significantly.
Comparative Evaluation of Potassium Hydroxide Mount, Fungal Culture, and Histopathology of Nail Clipping with Periodic Acid–Schiff Stain in the Diagnosis of Onychomycosis
Authors: Gautam Manjyot , Shah Nidhi , Bhattar Prachi , Nadkarni Nitin , Patil Sharmila
Published: August 2021

Context:

Onychomycosis (OM) is a commonly encountered problem in clinical practice, which needs to be differentiated from other causes of dystrophic nails as its treatment is long-term and may have potential side effects. Routinely used laboratory tests like direct microscopy with potassium hydroxide (KOH) and fungal culture (FC) show inconsistent sensitivity. Hence, newer methods of diagnosis are required.

Aim:

This study aims to compare the efficacy of KOH mount, fungal culture, and histopathology of nail clippings with periodic acid–Schiff stain for the diagnosis of onychomycosis.

Settings and Design:

This was a cross-sectional study conducted in the Dermatology Outpatient Department of a tertiary care center in Navi Mumbai from September 2013 to September 2014.

Subjects and Methods:

A total of 102 patients with clinically suspected OM were included in the study and evaluated for the following three methods: KOH mount, FC, and HP/PAS stain. To determine the efficacy and performance characteristics of each test, FC was chosen as the gold standard for statistical analysis.

Statistical Analysis Used:

Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) were calculated for each test. Association among the study group was assessed with the help of Chi-square test.

Results:

Of the 102 patients, direct microscopy with KOH mount was positive in 47, FC in 30, and HP/PAS in 71 patients. Ninety-one out of the 102 patients had at least one of the three diagnostic tests positive. Using this as the denominator, KOH mount, culture, and HP/PAS had sensitivities of 51.64%, 32.96%, and 78.02%, respectively. Diagnostic sensitivity increased to 89.38% when both KOH and HP/PAS were combined. For calculation of specificity of KOH and HP/PAS, we used FC as the gold standard because it gives precise identification of the pathogen. Specificity for KOH and HP/PAS was 59.7% and 34.7%, respectively. It increased to 73.7% if both KOH and HP/PAS were positive.

Conclusion:

Using PAS on nail scraping can yield higher diagnostic sensitivity with no loss of specificity and hence can be considered as the method of choice for the diagnosis of OM. Accuracy of diagnosis can be increased by combining the two tests (KOH and HP/PAS) instead of one test (HP/PAS).
Primary Cutaneous Primitive Neuroectodermal Tumor/Ewing Sarcoma
Authors: Sharma Shobhna , Goel Deepa , Gupta Paritosh
Published: August 2021

Primitive neuroectodermal tumors (PNET)/Ewing sarcomas (ES) are a group of malignant tumors composed of small round cells of neuroectodermal origin, that affect soft tissue and bone, primarily in children and young adults. About 10%–20% of all cases are extraskeletal, out of which primary cutaneous and superficial cases are rare. We report a case of primary cutaneous PNET/ES in a 57-year-old diabetic man without osseous or other extraskeletal involvement. Differential diagnosis of this rare entity includes other cutaneous malignant round cell tumors such as lymphoma, melanoma, malignant glomus tumor, Merkel cell carcinoma, and malignant cutaneous adnexal neoplasms. The correct diagnosis is important for managing these chemosensitive tumors, which can be achieved with the help of special stains and immunohistochemistry. This case report aims to increase the awareness about rarer clinical presentation of this rare entity with emphasis on histomorphological differential diagnosis.
Minimally invasive techniques as a first line approach in the management of emphysematous pyelonephritis - A single centre experience
Authors: Gite VA , Shaw V , Agrawal M , Sankapal P , Maheshwari M
Published: August 2021

Context:

Emphysematous pyelonephritis (EPN) is a dangerous necrotizing infection of the kidney involving the diabetics with a high case fatality rate. Recent medical literature has shown shifting of treatment strategy from conventional radical approach to minimally invasive approach.

Aims:

The aim of our study was to assess the role of minimally invasive stepwise decompression techniques in the management of EPN and preservation of the renal unit.

Settings and Design:

This was a retrospective observational study conducted from June 2017 to April 2020 at a tertiary care centre.

Material and Methods:

We reviewed the hospital online records of 18 patients diagnosed with EPN for patient demographics, clinical profiles, co-morbidities, laboratory and, radiological investigations, surgical interventions performed and the outcomes. The severity of EPN was graded as per the Huang classification. Patients underwent surgical interventions as per the treatment protocol and response was assessed.

Statistical Analysis Used:

Descriptive statistics was applied.

Results:

Diabetes mellitus was present in 15 (83.3%) patients along with urinary tract obstruction in 8 (44.4%) patients. Flank pain (77.7%) was the most common presenting clinical feature while Escherichia coli (55.5%) were the most common causative organism. Most patients (50%) had Type- II EPN, all of which were managed successfully by minimally invasive procedures. In total seventeen patients (94.4%) responded well while one patient (5.5%) underwent nephrectomy with no mortality.

Conclusions:

Renal salvage in EPN requires multidisciplinary approach including the initial medical management followed by properly selected stepwise decompressive surgical techniques. Conservative management and decompression techniques have shown to improve patient's outcome, reducing the traditional morbidity associated with nephrectomy.
Magnetic resonance enterography and bowel ultrasonography in Saudi Arabian patients with Crohn's disease
Authors: Ahmad Rani , Abduljabbar Ahmed , Wazzan Mohammad , Thabit Rawan , Mosli Mahmoud , Saadah Omar I.
Published: August 2021

Background:

Crohn's disease (CD) is a complex autoimmune disease that results in chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. CD activity is determined through clinical, laboratory, endoscopic, and radiological evaluations. Studies that examine the data of radiological modalities of evaluation are lacking, particularly in Saudi Arabia. This study compares magnetic resonance enterography (MRE) and ultrasonography (US) findings among patients diagnosed with CD, to uncover a possible correlation between these techniques.

Methods:

All patients were assessed for disease activity using MRE and US.

Results:

A total of 376 patients with CD were recruited. The mean age was 14.9 ± 4.3 years (range, 8–27 years), and males constituted 64% (n = 239) of the cohort. Overall, a strong positive correlation was found between US and MRE evaluations of disease activity (r = 0.83, P < 0.001). US activity correlated positively with MRE findings of enlarged lymph nodes (P < 0.001), bowel wall enhancement (P < 0.001), distal jejunal thickness (P < 0.001), and distal ileal thickness (P < 0.001). The mean difference in wall thickness was significant based on gender (P < 0.001), age in proximal jejunal thickness (P < 0.001), and distal ileal thickness (P = 0.011).

Conclusions:

MRE and US correlate significantly as imaging techniques for the assessment of CD activity.
Automated grating contrast-sensitivity
Authors: Mahayana Indra Tri , Sakti Dhimas Hari , Gani Tatang Talka
Published: August 2021

PURPOSE:

Residual visual loss is an important predictor of optic neuritis relapse and progression. This study aimed to investigate the hidden residual visual loss in patients with optic neuritis using automated contrast-sensitivity (CS) function testing.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

This cross-sectional study investigated 29 recovered optic neuritis patients (age: 27.69 ± 13.32 years, range: 13–51). Twenty age-matched controls with normal visual acuity (VA, in LogMAR) were recruited, for comparison with patients' VA and CS function after stable recovery from optic neuritis (6 months of follow-up). CS tests used a novel software that displays a single set of Gabor patches (2 cycles per degree at 10° ×10° of visual angle) with contrasts grating from 100% to 0.1%.

RESULTS:

There were 13 adolescent patients (63.6%: retrobulbar neuritis [RN]; 36.4%: papillitis), 14 adult patients (50%: RN; 42.9%: papillitis), and only 2 older patients (all with neuroretinitis). There was improvement of VA in the patient group at first diagnosis and follow-up (VA initial vs. final: 1.438 ± 1.134 vs. 0.235 ± 0.272, P < 0.001). This VA improvement was similar to control group (P = 0.052). In CS, there were significant differences in patient versus control groups (69.069% ± 70.235% vs. 27.215% ± 25.27%, P = 0.025). Linear regression showed that initial VA and CS function could not predict final VA (P = 0.183 and P = 0.138, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS:

Patients with optic neuritis showed decreased CS compared to control group which indicated the residual visual loss. Automated CS testing is useful in detecting residual visual loss in patients who recovered from optic neuritis.
Pinning of interfaces in a random medium with zero mean
Authors: Dondl Patrick W. , Jesenko Martin , Scheutzow Michael
Published: August 2021

We consider two related models for the propagation of a curvature sensitive interface in a time independent random medium. In both cases we suppose that the medium contains obstacles that act on the propagation of the interface with an inhibitory or an acceleratory force. We show that the interface remains bounded for all times even when a small constant external driving force is applied. This phenomenon has already been known when only inhibitory obstacles are present. In this work we extend this result to the case of – for example – a random medium of random zero mean forcing.

The first model we study is discrete with a random forcing on each lattice site. In this case we construct a supersolution employing a local path optimization procedure. In the second, continuous, model we consider a random heterogenous medium consisting of localized small obstacles of random sign. To construct a stationary supersolution here, we need to pass through sufficiently many blocking obstacles while avoiding any obstacles of the other sign. This is done by employing a custom percolation argument.
Sharp interface limit of a Stokes/Cahn–Hilliard system. Part I: Convergence result
Authors: Abels Helmut , Marquardt Andreas
Published: August 2021

We consider the sharp interface limit of a coupled Stokes/Cahn–Hilliard system in a two-dimensional, bounded and smooth domain, i.e., we consider the limiting behavior of solutions when a parameter

\epsilon>0

corresponding to the thickness of the diffuse interface tends to zero. We show that for sufficiently short times the solutions to the Stokes/Cahn–Hilliard system converge to solutions of a sharp interface model, where the evolution of the interface is governed by a Mullins–Sekerka system with an additional convection term coupled to a two–phase stationary Stokes system with the Young–Laplace law for the jump of an extra contribution to the stress tensor, representing capillary stresses. We prove the convergence result by estimating the difference between the exact and an approximate solutions. To this end we make use of modifications of spectral estimates shown by X. Chen for the linearized Cahn–Hilliard operator. The treatment of the coupling terms requires careful estimates, the use of the refinements of the latter spectral estimate and a suitable structure of the approximate solutions, which will be constructed in the second part of this contribution.
On the entropy of parabolic Allen–Cahn equation
Authors: Sun Ao
Published: August 2021

We define a local (mean curvature flow) entropy for Radon measures in

\mathbb{R}^n

or in a compact manifold. Moreover, we prove a monotonicity formula of the entropy of the measures associated with the parabolic Allen–Cahn equations. If the ambient manifold is a compact manifold with non-negative sectional curvature and parallel Ricci curvature, this is a consequence of a new monotonicity formula for the parabolic Allen–Cahn equation. As an application, we show that when the entropy of the initial data is small enough (less than twice of the energy of the one-dimensional standing wave), the limit measure of the parabolic Allen–Cahn equation has unit density for all future time.
Infra -α- Compact and Infra -α- Connected Spaces
Authors: Latif Raja Mohammad
Published: August 2021

In 2016 Hakeem A. Othman and Md. Hanif Page introduced a new notion of set in general topology called an infra -α- open set and investigated its fundamental properties and studied the relationship between infra -α- open set and other topological sets. The objective of this paper is to introduce the new concepts called infra -α- compact space, countably infra -α- compact space, infra -α- Lindelof space, almost infra -α- compact space, mildly infra -α- compact space and infra -α- connected space in general topology and investigate several properties and characterizations of these new concepts in topological spaces.
A Social Entrepreneurship Approach for the Development of an Active-Ageing Smartphone Application
Authors: Papageorgiou George , Ralli Athanasia , Xergia Sofia A.
Published: August 2021

Trends in the world population are shown to favor the increase market of elderly people aged 65 and over. This creates a new and promising market with many peculiarities and a variety of needs to be satisfied in terms of improving quality of life. The proposed solution to this problem which is investigated in this paper comes from technology. Especially, smart phone technology can lead to the creation of innovative products and services facilitating the elderly in their daily lives. The purpose of this study is to explore how a smart phone application (Active Ageing), could upgrade the quality of life of the elderly people and how to motivate them by making them feel safe and comfortable to go out for a walk. Further, the proposed app development takes a stakeholder’s approach where the society, the state, local actors and private investors, are involved. In this way opportunities can be seized and be a deterministic factor in this new market with many economic, social and environmental benefits. At the same time, the study examines the conceptual framework of an innovative business model which will contribute to the sustainable development of the application in the Greek society by taking a social entrepreneurship approach. Going through a critical literature review in relation to Active Ageing, the benefits and risks of walking, social entrepreneurship, market research methods and smart cities, an appropriate survey instrument was developed for evaluating the potential of the envisioned Active Aging app. Elements in the survey examined key issues that concern the elderly. Specifically, market needs have been identified regarding the necessary information to create confidence, safety, enjoyment and high quality of life in a framework of sustainable mobility.
Teachers’ Utilization of Computer-Based Technology in Science Instruction
Authors: Paje Yesha M. , Rogayan Danilo V. , Dantic Marshall James P.
Published: August 2021

With the onset of Education 4.0 and the VUCAD2 world, the use of technology in instruction has been fully maximized. This study aimed to determine the teachers’ utilization of computer-based technology in science instruction. The study used descriptive survey research using the Computer-Based Technology Inventory Survey Questionnaire (CBTI-SQ). A total of 41 science teachers in two state-owned secondary schools in Zambales, Philippines served as respondents in the study. Based on the findings, the computer-based technology (CBT) in science instruction is a trend in the 21st-century learning. Teachers utilized CBT in instruction to improve their teaching that significantly uplifts students’ learning interests and concept understanding. However, teachers encounter difficulties due to low ICT literacy, unstable internet connection, power interruption, and sometimes they find it too expensive to use the CBT. The study recommends ICT training-workshop and encourages teachers to utilize appropriate CBT instruction based on the context of the students. The findings have important implications to policy development and curriculum enhancement.
Cross-Device Profiled Side-Channel Attack with Unsupervised Domain Adaptation
Authors: Cao Pei , Zhang Chi , Lu Xiangjun , Gu Dawu
Published: August 2021

Deep learning (DL)-based techniques have recently proven to be very successful when applied to profiled side-channel attacks (SCA). In a real-world profiled SCA scenario, attackers gain knowledge about the target device by getting access to a similar device prior to the attack. However, most state-of-the-art literature performs only proof-of-concept attacks, where the traces intended for profiling and attacking are acquired consecutively on the same fully-controlled device. This paper reminds that even a small discrepancy between the profiling and attack traces (regarded as domain discrepancy) can cause a successful single-device attack to completely fail. To address the issue of domain discrepancy, we propose a Cross-Device Profiled Attack (CDPA), which introduces an additional fine-tuning phase after establishing a pretrained model. The fine-tuning phase is designed to adjust the pre-trained network, such that it can learn a hidden representation that is not only discriminative but also domain-invariant. In order to obtain domain-invariance, we adopt a maximum mean discrepancy (MMD) loss as a constraint term of the classic cross-entropy loss function. We show that the MMD loss can be easily calculated and embedded in a standard convolutional neural network. We evaluate our strategy on both publicly available datasets and multiple devices (eight Atmel XMEGA 8-bit microcontrollers and three SAKURA-G evaluation boards). The results demonstrate that CDPA can improve the performance of the classic DL-based SCA by orders of magnitude, which significantly eliminates the impact of domain discrepancy caused by different devices.
LifeLine for FPGA Protection: Obfuscated Cryptography for Real-World Security
Authors: Stolz Florian , Albartus Nils , Speith Julian , Klix Simon , Nasenberg Clemens , Gula Aiden , Fyrbiak Marc , Paar Christof , Güneysu Tim , Tessier Russell
Published: August 2021

Over the last decade attacks have repetitively demonstrated that bitstream protection for SRAM-based FPGAs is a persistent problem without a satisfying solution in practice. Hence, real-world hardware designs are prone to intellectual property infringement and malicious manipulation as they are not adequately protected against reverse-engineering.In this work, we first review state-of-the-art solutions from industry and academia and demonstrate their ineffectiveness with respect to reverse-engineering and design manipulation. We then describe the design and implementation of novel hardware obfuscation primitives based on the intrinsic structure of FPGAs. Based on our primitives, we design and implement LifeLine, a hardware design protection mechanism for FPGAs using hardware/software co-obfuscated cryptography. We show that LifeLine offers effective protection for a real-world adversary model, requires minimal integration effort for hardware designers, and retrofits to already deployed (and so far vulnerable) systems.
FIVER – Robust Verification of Countermeasures against Fault Injections
Authors: Richter-Brockmann Jan , Rezaei Shahmirzadi Aein , Sasdrich Pascal , Moradi Amir , Güneysu Tim
Published: August 2021

Fault Injection Analysis is seen as a powerful attack against implementations of cryptographic algorithms. Over the last two decades, researchers proposed a plethora of countermeasures to secure such implementations. However, the design process and implementation are still error-prone, complex, and manual tasks which require long-standing experience in hardware design and physical security. Moreover, the validation of the claimed security is often only done by empirical testing in a very late stage of the design process. To prevent such empirical testing strategies, approaches based on formal verification are applied instead providing the designer early feedback.In this work, we present a fault verification framework to validate the security of countermeasures against fault-injection attacks designed for ICs. The verification framework works on netlist-level, parses the given digital circuit into a model based on Binary Decision Diagrams, and performs symbolic fault injections. This verification approach constitutes a novel strategy to evaluate protected hardware designs against fault injections offering new opportunities as performing full analyses under a given fault models.Eventually, we apply the proposed verification framework to real-world implementations of well-established countermeasures against fault-injection attacks. Here, we consider protected designs of the lightweight ciphers CRAFT and LED-64 as well as AES. Due to several optimization strategies, our tool is able to perform more than 90 million fault injections in a single-round CRAFT design and evaluate the security in under 50 min while the symbolic simulation approach considers all 2128 primary inputs.
A Side-Channel Attack on a Masked IND-CCA Secure Saber KEM Implementation
Authors: Ngo Kalle , Dubrova Elena , Guo Qian , Johansson Thomas
Published: August 2021

In this paper, we present a side-channel attack on a first-order masked implementation of IND-CCA secure Saber KEM. We show how to recover both the session key and the long-term secret key from 24 traces using a deep neural network created at the profiling stage. The proposed message recovery approach learns a higher-order model directly, without explicitly extracting random masks at each execution. This eliminates the need for a fully controllable profiling device which is required in previous attacks on masked implementations of LWE/LWR-based PKEs/KEMs. We also present a new secret key recovery approach based on maps from error-correcting codes that can compensate for some errors in the recovered message. In addition, we discovered a previously unknown leakage point in the primitive for masked logical shifting on arithmetic shares.
Validation of Multispectral Imaging (MSI) technology for food and feed analysis
Authors:   LGC Ltd.
Published: August 2021

The current testing environment for food and feed samples is complex and uses a wide variety of analytical technologies that range from chemical to PCR-based. Whilst these approaches can be deemed fit for purpose in terms of their final analytical result, they tend to be highly specialised and require considerable frontend processing to ensure that the target analyte can be reliably detected and quantified. These combined sample processing and analytical requirements typically impact on testing times and have associated cost implications that must be factored into routine testing and monitoring applications. MSI uses multiple discrete and informative wavelengths covering regions such as the UV and near infra-red spectrum to quickly determine surface colour, texture and possible chemical composition. Compared to traditional molecular biology approaches utilising DNA extraction followed by PCR-based analyses, MSI can simplify and reduce the time/costs associated with sample analysis. It is rapid and non-destructive.
Análisis de resistencia a la fractura de la cerámica de recubrimiento en la cresta marginal de coronas bilaminares de zirconia Y-TZP con infraestructura convencional y modificada: estudio in vitro
Authors: Arcos Bronenberg Diego Alfonso , Marques Vinicius Rizzo , Cruz Emerson Flamarion da
Published: August 2021

Las coronas bilaminares de zirconia representan una alternativa de alta estética para la odontología restauradora. Sin embargo, el eslabón débil de este tipo de restauraciones es el despostillamiento y la delaminación de la cerámica de recubrimiento. Siguiendo la hipótesis de que al dar un mayor soporte a la cerámica esta va a tener un mejor comportamiento frente a estas situaciones, se realizó un estudio in vitro de cargas axiales de fuerza hasta el fracaso sobre 20 coronas bilaminares elaboradas con dos tipos de infraestructura: 10 convencionales (0.8 mm de espesor uniforme) y 10 modificadas (1 mm de espesor y 2.5 mm de altura en lingual y proximal) cementadas sobre dados de resina. El valor promedio de las coronas con infraestructura convencional fue de 611.3 N (D.S. 191.2 N) y de las coronas con infraestructura modificada fue de 727.5 N (D.S. 173.7 N). Se realizaron pruebas paramétricas de los datos obtenidos y T-Student como prueba de comparación entre dos grupos demostrando que, las coronas bilaminares de zirconia con infraestructura modificada tienen un 15% más de resistencia a la fractura, por lo tanto, la hipótesis nula fue aceptada.
Manejo do atendimento odontológico durante a pandemia de Covid-19: o cirurgião-dentista frente à uma nova realidade
Authors: Martins Raquel Arantes , Nunes Ana Paula de Almeida , Lourenço Daniele da Costa , Capelupi Rebeca Vidal , Agra Luciana Vidal , Picinini Leonardo Santos , Oliveira Rodrigo Guerra de
Published: August 2021

Através de uma revisão de literatura, a finalidade deste trabalho é analisar a pandemia de Covid-19, o estado atual em torno do vírus, esclarecer aos profissionais da área odontológica e discutir sobre os riscos e os cuidados que devem possuir durante a prática clínica. A maioria dos pacientes infectados apresentaram sintomas clínicos como febre, tosse seca, falta de ar e fadiga. A transmissão ocorre através de atividades respiratórias humanas, via contato direto com gotículas que podem ser inaladas ou atingirem as mucosas da boca, nariz ou olhos das pessoas que estão próximas. As práticas de atendimento odontológico invariavelmente sujeitam-se ao risco de infecção devido à natureza de seus procedimentos, os quais envolvem comunicação face a face com os pacientes, exposição frequente a saliva, sangue e outros fluidos corporais. É necessário prezar pela proteção, dos pacientes e toda sua equipe odontológica, buscando um ambiente seguro e que seguir as diretrizes orientadas.
Instalação de implante imediato em alvéolo fresco associado a enxerto com substituto ósseo
Authors: Prado Sabrina Oliveira , Souza Lucas Monteiro de Vasconcelos Alves de
Published: August 2021

A perda dentária é causadora de perda do volume óssea do rebordo dos maxilares e pode inviabilizar a instalação de implantes dentários e provocar defeitos estéticos importantes em regiões anteriores. Para evitar estes defeitos indesejáveis, a odontologia desenvolveu diversas técnicas com objetivo de preservar a arquitetura periodontal óssea e gengival. Dentre estas técnicas está a instalação de implantes imediatos em alvéolos frescos associado a preenchimento do gap vestibular com substitutos ósseos. Para alcançar as altas taxas de sucesso que a literatura expõe é necessário que se respeite os princípios biológicos e técnicos do procedimento, espacialmente em regiões anteriores superiores que exigem maior sensibilidade operacional. O objetivo deste trabalho é o relato de caso de instalação de implante imediato em região estética associado a substituto ósseo e discutir os principais aspectos técnicos desta cirurgia.
Dynamic navigation and technical improvements in zygomatic surgery
Authors: Duarte Fernando Manuel Pinto , Ramos Patrícia Carina da Silva Assunção , Silva João Paulo Neves da , Pinheiro Luís Miguel de Lemos , Silva Simão Pedro Pereira da
Published: August 2021

The rehabilitation of the severely atrophied edentulous maxilla poses a great challenge to surgeons and prosthodontics that work on this particular area. The classic approach implies bone augmentation techniques by means of bone grafting, bone distraction techniques, tilted and short implants. All of these require major surgery, sometimes associated with morbidity at donor and receptor sites and functional rehabilitation of the patient must occur in two surgical stages. Since the development of the zygomatic implants by Per-Ingvar Branemark, there’s an alternative to bone grafting techniques, using the body of the zygomatic bone as major point of anchorage to an intraoral osteointegrated implant. This procedure allows the patient to regain orofacial function in only one surgical stage, with high predictability, less morbidity, time spend and costs. In this scientific article the authors present a set of technical improvements in the zygomatic implant (S.I.N. - Implant System, São Paulo, Brazil) in combination with a new dynamic navigation system called StealthStation™ (Medtronic, Dublin, Irland) used for the first time in this type of surgery.