bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Morphometric Evaluation of Pons Development in Pediatric Population According to Age and Gender by Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Authors: BAYAR KAPICI Olga , BAYAR Volkan , BAYKAN Ali
Published: August 2022

Aim: Pons is an important posterior fossa structure that contains vital centers. It is essential to know the average morphometric measurement values of the pons in the early diagnosis of developmental and acquired diseases of this structure.Method: Our study was conducted in a healthy pediatric population. There are four age groups: 0-2 years (infants), 3-6 years (young children), 7-11 years (children), and 12-17 years (adolescents), and 50 women and 50 men from each age group. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examinations, clinical examinations, and follow-ups of these cases were evaluated as normal. The MRI examination was obtained from the Philips Achieva MR device with a 1.5 Tesla magnetic field strength.Results: Pons area and pons craniocaudal (CC) length increased with age in both genders. On the other hand, the pons anterior-posterior (AP) diameter increased significantly until the 7-11 age group, and then this increased rate decreased and became a plateau. When the genders were compared, the pons area was significantly larger in males than females in all age groups except the 7-11 age group. Pons AP diameter was significantly greater in the 0-2 age group in the males than in females. Pons CC length was significantly greater in the male gender in all groups except the 3-6 age group.Conclusion: This study is essential in the morphological development of the pons and the differences in this structure between the genders. The data obtained in this study may help the differential diagnosis of posterior fossa pathologies in routine clinical practice.
The Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic, Financial Wellness, and Online Teaching on Schoolteachers’ Mental Health: A Cross-Sectional Study in Lebanon
Authors: Baroud Tarek , El Masri Jad , Shammaa Hadi , Saleh Mustafa , Chanbour Hani , Salemeh Pascale
Published: August 2022

Background: Teaching is a mentally and physically draining occupation, and due to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, the education system shifted to online platforms, which made it even harder. Lebanon is a developing country that is not well prepared for such a daunting outbreak. In addition to its tremendous economic crisis, it will be even harder for teachers to maintain mental stability. The aftermaths of this crisis could, perhaps, impact all the fundamental systems within the country including education
Aim: This study aims to assess stress, anxiety, and depression levels among Lebanese schoolteachers based on the COVID-19 outbreak, the Lebanese economic crisis, and online education.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out, enrolling 300 schoolteachers currently working in Lebanon. An online survey was used, assessing sociodemographic factors, teaching status, financial wellness, fear of COVID-19, and mental health. The IFDFW scale is used to assess financial distress, DASS-21 to assess psychological distress, and the COVID-19 fear scale to measure fear.
Results: Results showed that 23% of teachers had severe depression, 25% had severe anxiety, and 16% had severe stress. Depression was correlated to both fear of COVID-19 and financial wellness (p<0.0001 for both). Anxiety and stress were correlated with online teaching (p<0.05), fear of COVID-19 (p<0.001), and financial wellness (p<0.001).
Conclusion: Lebanese teachers showed severe levels of anxiety and stress as a  consequence of online teaching, associated as well with depression when correlated with fear of COVID-19 and financial wellness. It is urgent to take measures to keep the Lebanese educational system productive, and dynamic, and prevent the storm of the stressful environment from worsening.
Keywords: Anxiety, Depression, Stress, Online teaching, Pandemic, Economic crisis
Public Release of A-SLOTH: Ancient Stars and Local Observables by Tracing Halos
Authors: Hartwig Tilman , Magg Mattis , Chen Li-Hsin , Tarumi Yuta , Bromm Volker , Glover Simon C. O. , Ji Alexander P. , Klessen Ralf S. , Latif Muhammad A. , Volonteri Marta , Yoshida Naoki
Published: August 2022

The semianalytical model a-sloth (Ancient Stars and Local Observables by Tracing Halos) is the first public code that connects the formation of the first stars and galaxies to observables. After several successful projects with this model, we publish the source code (https://gitlab.com/thartwig/asloth) and describe the public version in this paper. The model is based on dark matter merger trees that can either be generated based on Extended Press–Schechter theory or be imported from dark matter simulations. On top of these merger trees, a-sloth applies analytical recipes for baryonic physics to model the formation of both metal-free and metal-poor stars and the transition between them with unprecedented precision and fidelity. a-sloth samples individual stars and includes radiative, chemical, and mechanical feedback. It is calibrated based on six observables, such as the optical depth to Thomson scattering, the stellar mass of the Milky Way and its satellite galaxies, the number of extremely metal-poor stars, and the cosmic star formation rate density at high redshift. a-sloth has versatile applications with moderate computational requirements. It can be used to constrain the properties of the first stars and high-z galaxies based on local observables, predicts properties of the oldest and most metal-poor stars in the Milky Way, can serve as a subgrid model for larger cosmological simulations, and predicts next-generation observables of the early universe, such as supernova rates or gravitational wave events.
Exploring the Link between the X-Ray Power Spectra and Energy Spectra of Active Galactic Nuclei
Authors: Yang 杨 Haonan 浩楠 , Jin 金 Chichuan 驰川 , Yuan Weimin
Published: August 2022

Active galactic nuclei (AGN) are generally considered the scaled-up counterparts of X-ray binaries (XRBs). It is known that the power spectral density (PSD) of the X-ray emission of XRBs shows significant evolution with spectral state. It is not clear whether AGN follow a similar evolutionary trend, however, though their X-ray emission and the PSD are both variable. In this work, we study a sample of nine AGN with multiple long observations with XMM-Newton, which exhibit significant X-ray spectral variation. We perform Bayesian PSD analysis to measure the PSD shape and variation. We find that a large change in the X-ray energy spectrum (mainly the change in flux state) is often accompanied by a large change in the PSD shape. The emergence of a high-frequency break in the PSD also depends on the spectral state. Among the four sources with significant high-frequency PSD breaks detected, three show the break only in the high-flux state, while the remaining one shows it only in the low-flux state. Moreover, the X-ray rms variability in different spectral states of an AGN is found to vary by as much as 1.0 dex. These results suggest that the different variability properties observed are likely caused by different physical processes dominating different spectral states. Our results also indicate that the intrinsic PSD variation can introduce a significant fraction of the dispersion as reported for the correlations between various X-ray variability properties and the black hole mass.
A White Dwarf–Main-sequence Binary Unveiled by Time-domain Observations from LAMOST and TESS
Authors: Zheng Ling-Lin , Gu Wei-Min , Sun Mouyuan , Zhang Zhi-Xiang , Yi Tuan , Wu Jianfeng , Wang Junfeng , Fu Jin-Bo , Qi Sen-Yu , Yang Fan , Wang Song , Wang Liang , Bai Zhong-Rui , Zhang Haotong , Li Chun-Qian , Shi Jian-Rong , Zong Weikai , Bai Yu , Liu Jifeng
Published: August 2022

We report a single-lined white dwarf–main-sequence binary system, LAMOST J172900.17+652952.8, which is discovered by the Large Sky Area Multi-Object Fibre Spectroscopic Telescope (LAMOST)’s medium-resolution time-domain surveys. The radial-velocity semi-amplitude and orbital period of the optical visible star are measured by using follow-up observations with the Palomar 200 inch telescope and light curves from the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS). Thus the mass function of the invisible candidate white dwarf is derived, f(M
2) = 0.120 ± 0.003 M
⊙. The mass of the visible star is measured based on a spectral energy distribution fitting, M
1 =

0.81

−
0.06

+
0.07

M

⊙

. Hence, the mass of its invisible companion is M
2 ≳ 0.63 M
⊙. The companion ought to be a compact object rather than a main-sequence star owing to the mass ratio q = M
2/M
1 ≳ 0.78 and the single-lined spectra. The compact object is likely to be a white dwarf if the inclination angle is not small, i ≳ 40°. By using the Galaxy Evolution Explorer (GALEX) near-UV flux, the effective temperature of the white dwarf candidate is constrained as

T

eff

WD

≲ 12,000–13,500 K. It is difficult to detect white dwarfs which are outshone by their bright companions via single-epoch optical spectroscopic surveys. Therefore, optical time-domain surveys can play an important role in unveiling invisible white dwarfs and other compact objects in binaries.
Thermal Instability in Radiation Hydrodynamics: Instability Mechanisms, Position-dependent S-curves, and Attenuation Curves
Authors: Proga Daniel , Waters Tim , Dyda Sergei , Zhu Zhaohuan
Published: August 2022

Local thermal instability can plausibly explain the formation of multiphase gas in many different astrophysical environments, but the theory of local TI is only well-understood in the optically thin limit of the equations of radiation hydrodynamics (RHD). Here, we lay groundwork for transitioning from this limit to a full RHD treatment assuming a gray opacity formalism. We consider a situation where the gas becomes thermally unstable due to the hardening of the radiation field when the main radiative processes are free–free cooling and Compton heating. We identify two ways in which this can happen: (i) when the Compton temperature increases with time, through a rise in either the intensity or energy of a hard X-ray component; and (ii) when attenuation reduces the flux of the thermal component such that the Compton temperature increases with depth through the slab. Both ways likely occur in the broad-line region of active galactic nuclei where columns of gas can be ionization-bounded. In such instances where attenuation is significant, thermal equilibrium solution curves become position-dependent and it no longer suffices to assess the stability of an irradiated column of gas at all depths using a single equilibrium curve. We demonstrate how to analyze a new equilibrium curve—the attenuation curve—for this purpose, and we show that, by Field’s instability criterion, a negative slope along this curve indicates that constant-density slabs are thermally unstable whenever the gas temperature increases with depth.
ALMA Detection of Parsec-scale Blobs at the Head of a Kiloparsec-scale Jet in the Nearby Seyfert Galaxy NGC 1068
Authors: Michiyama Tomonari , Inoue Yoshiyuki , Doi Akihiro , Khangulyan Dmitry
Published: August 2022

We present Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array observations at ≈100 GHz with 0.″05 (3 pc) resolution of the kiloparsec-scale jet seen in the nearby Seyfert galaxy NGC 1068, and we report the presence of parsec-scale blobs at the head of the jet. The combination of the detected radio flux (≈0.8 mJy), spectral index (≈0.5), and blob size (≈10 pc) suggests a strong magnetic field of B ≈ 240 μG. Such a strong magnetic field most likely implies magnetic field amplification by streaming cosmic rays. The estimated cosmic-ray power of the jet may exceed the limit set by the star formation activity in this galaxy. This result suggests that even modest-power jets can increase the galactic cosmic-ray content while propagating through the galactic bulge.
Oreocharis phuongii (Gesneriaceae), a new species from central Vietnam
Authors: Duy Le Khuong , Nguyen Thanh Trung , Nguyen Phuong Thanh , Hoang Thao Thi , Wen Fang , Do Truong Van
Published: August 2022

Oreocharis phuongii, a new species of Gesneriaceae from central Vietnam, is described and illustrated here. The new species is most similar to O. longifolia by sharing peduncles up to 22 cm long, bracts 2, zygomorphic, yellow flowers with tubular corolla, stamens 4 with two pairs of coherent anthers and capsules up to 6 cm long. It mainly differs from the latter by the combination of some morphological characters of leaves (shape, base, apex and margin), size of calyx lobes, indumentum of corolla tube and inner surface of three lower corolla lobes. Detailed morphological description together with colour illustration, information on phenology, distribution, ecology, preliminarily conservation status of the new species and comparison with its similar species are also presented.
General decay for a system of viscoelastic wave equation with past history, distributed delay and Balakrishnan-Taylor damping terms
Authors: Choucha Abdelbaki , Boulaaras Salah , Ouchenane Djamel , Alkhalaf Salem , Jan Rashid
Published: August 2022

The subject of this research is a coupled system of nonlinear viscoelastic wave equations with distributed delay components, infinite memory and Balakrishnan-Taylor damping. Assume the kernels $ g_{i} :{\bf R}_{+}\rightarrow {\bf R}_{+} $ holds true the below

   \begin{document}$ g_{i}'(t)\leq-\zeta_{i}(t)G_{i}(g_{i}(t)), \quad \forall t\in {\bf R}_{+}, \quad {\rm{for}} \quad i = 1, 2, $\end{document}

in which $ \zeta_{i} $ and $ G_{i} $ are functions. We demonstrate the stability of the system under this highly generic assumptions on the behaviour of $ g_i $ at infinity and by dropping the boundedness assumptions in the historical data.
On the uniform approximation estimation of deep ReLU networks via frequency decomposition
Authors: Chen Liang , Liu Wenjun
Published: August 2022

A recent line of works established the approximation complexity estimation of deep ReLU networks for the bandlimited functions in the MSE (mean square error) sense. In this note, we significantly enhance this result, that is, we estimate the approximation complexity in the $ L_{\infty} $ sense. The key to the proof is to establish a frequency decomposition lemma which may be of independent interest.
Applying faster algorithm for obtaining convergence, stability, and data dependence results with application to functional-integral equations
Authors: Hammad Hasanen A. , Ur Rehman Habib , Zayed Mohra
Published: August 2022

The goal of this manuscript is to create a new faster iterative algorithm than the previous writing's sober algorithms. In the setting of Banach spaces, this algorithm is used to analyze convergence, stability, and data-dependence results. Basic numerical examples are also provided to highlight the behavior and effectiveness of our approach. Ultimately, the proposed approach is used to solve the functional Volterra-Fredholm integral problem as an application.
Truncation point estimation of truncated normal samples and its applications
Authors: Peng Shenglan , Wan Zikang
Published: August 2022

The moment estimates and maximum likelihood estimates of the truncation points in the truncated normal distribution are given, as well as the interval estimates for large samples. The estimation method of truncation point is applied to the assembly of DNA sequencing data, and moment estimation, maximum likelihood estimation and interval estimation of gap length are obtained. Monte Carlo simulations show that the experimental results are very close to the theoretical estimates. When the estimation method given in this paper is applied to a real DNA sequencing dataset, ideal estimation results are also obtained.
Commutators of Hardy-Cesàro operators on Morrey-Herz spaces with variable exponents
Authors: Dung Kieu Huu , Minh Do Lu Cong , Thuy Pham Thi Kim
Published: August 2022

The aim of this paper is to establish some sufficient conditions for the boundedness of commutators of Hardy-Cesàro operators with symbols in central BMO spaces with variable exponent on some function spaces such as the local central Morrey, Herz, and Morrey-Herz spaces with variable exponents.
A kinetic model considering the decline of antibody level and simulation about vaccination effect of COVID-19
Authors: Xu Chuanqing , Huang Xiaotong , Zhang Zonghao , Cui Jing'an
Published: August 2022

We build a model that consider the falling antibody levels and vaccination to assess the impact of falling antibody levels and vaccination on the spread of the COVID-19 outbreak, and simulate the influence of vaccination rates and failure rates on the number of daily new cases in England. We get that the lower the vaccine failure rate, the fewer new cases. Over time, vaccines with low failure rates are more effective in reducing the number of cases than vaccines with high failure rates and the higher the vaccine efficiency and vaccination rate, the lower the epidemic peak. The peak arrival time is related to a boundary value. When the failure rate is less than this boundary value, the peak time will advance with the decrease of failure rate; when the failure rate is greater than this boundary value, the peak time is delayed with the decrease of failure rate. On the basis of improving the effectiveness of vaccines, increasing the vaccination rate has practical significance for controlling the spread of the epidemic.
Hierarchical multiloop MPC scheme for robot manipulators with nonlinear disturbance observer
Authors: Li Xingjia , Gu Jinan , Huang Zedong , Ji Chen , Tang Shixi
Published: August 2022

This paper addresses the robust enhancement problem in the control of robot manipulators. A new hierarchical multiloop model predictive control (MPC) scheme is proposed by combining an inverse dynamics-based feedback linearization and a nonlinear disturbance observer (NDO) based uncertainty compensation. By employing inverse dynamics-based feedback linearization, the multi-link robot manipulator was decoupled to reduce the computational burden compared with the traditional MPC method. Moreover, an NDO was introduced into the input torque signal to compensate and correct the errors from external disturbances and uncertainties, aiming to enhance the robustness of the proposed controller. The feasibility of the proposed hierarchical multiloop MPC scheme was verified and validated via simulation of a 3-DOF robot manipulator. Results demonstrate that the proposed controller provides comparative accuracy and robustness and extends the existing state-of-the-art algorithms for the trajectory tracking problem of robot manipulators with disturbances.
How to enhance students’ learning in a patient-centered longitudinal integrated clerkship: factors associated with students’ learning experiences
Authors: Kim Ju Whi , Ryu Hyunjin , Park Jun-Bean , Moon Sang Hui , Myung Sun Jung , Park Wan Beom , Yim Jae-Joon , Yoon Hyun Bae
Published: August 2022

Purpose: Longitudinal integrated clerkships (LICs) have been introduced in medical schools, as learning relationships with clinical faculty or peers are important components of medical education. The purpose of this study was to investigate the characteristics of student-faculty and student-student interactions in the LIC and to identify other factors related to whether students understood and acquired the program’s main outcomes.Methods: The study was conducted among the 149 third-year students who participated in the LIC in 2019. We divided the students into groups of eight. These groups were organized into corresponding discussion classes, during which students had discussions with clinical faculty members and peers and received feedback. Clinical faculty members and students were matched through an e-portfolio, where records were approved and feedback was given. A course evaluation questionnaire was completed and analysed.Results: A total of 144 valid questionnaires were returned. Logistic regression analysis showed that relevant feedback in discussion classes (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 5.071; p<0.001), frequency of e-portfolio feedback (AOR, 1.813; p=0.012), and motivation by e-portfolio feedback (AOR, 1.790; p=0.026) predicted a greater likelihood of understanding the continuity of the patient’s medical experience. Relevant feedback from faculty members in discussion classes (AOR, 3.455; p<0.001) and frequency of e-portfolio feedback (AOR, 2.232; p<0.001) also predicted a greater likelihood of understanding the concept of patient-centered care.Conclusion: Student-faculty interactions, including relevant feedback in discusstion classes, frequency of e-portfolio feedback, and motivation by e-portfolio feedback were found to be important factors in the LIC program.
Exploring factors influencing coping with uncertainties in medical practice: insights from residents’ experience
Authors: Kim Kangmoon
Published: August 2022

Purpose: Despite attempts to teach medical students and trainees about uncertainty in medical practice and how to tolerate it, studies on how to promote tolerance to uncertainty remain scarce. this study aims to investigate factors that could foster residents’ tolerance to uncertainty.Methods: The authors used data sources, including semi-structured individual in-depth interviews with 20 medical residents working in two tertiary university hospitals. Inductive analysis of interview records determined key themes, identified categories, and performed a theoretical-type analysis of the participants’ coping behaviors according to the attributes of uncertainty tolerance.Results: Two characteristics of residents which could lead to constructive coping with uncertainty were discovered: (1) communicative/collaborative behavior with their colleagues, superiors, and patients and (2) self-reflective/self-directed attitude in their medical practice. Both were used to classify four types of uncertainty coping behaviors: adaptive, self-contained, submissive, and isolated.Conclusion: Fostering communicative/collaborative behaviors and self-reflective/self-directed attitude throughout the training period may result in residents being more tolerant of uncertainties in medical practice.
Exploring medical students’ perception of non-face-to-face theory and face-to-face laboratory classes during COVID-19 pandemic: focusing on anatomy course
Authors: Park Hye Jin , Woo Ran Sook , Song Dae Yong , Yoo Hong Il
Published: August 2022

Purpose: This study investigated students’ perceptions of non-face-to-face theory classes and face-to-face laboratory classes conducted in anatomy courses at medical schools during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.Methods: This study utilized a questionnaire to assess self-reported academic achievement level, satisfaction with non-face-to-face theory classes, satisfaction with face-to-face laboratory classes, and self-directed learning level, and conducted difference verification and regression analysis for 51 students who took anatomy courses from the fall semester of 2020 to the spring semester of 2021.Results: The group with a high self-reported academic achievement level was more satisfied with the non-face-to-face theory classes than the group with a low self-reported academic achievement level. The group with a high self-reported academic achievement level had a higher self-directed learning level than the group with a low self-reported academic achievement level. In addition, it was found that the higher the self-directed learning level, the higher the satisfaction with non-face-to-face theory classes.Conclusion: These results suggest that to enhance satisfaction with non-face-to-face theory classes in an anatomy course, a favorable class environment that can increase the self-directed learning level is needed. In particular, careful concern is required when designing non-face-to-face classes for students with a low self-reported academic achievement.
Random Forest Algorithm Based on Linear Privacy Budget Allocation
Authors: Dong Yanling , Zhang Shufen , Xu Jingcheng , Wang Haoshi , Liu Jiqiang
Published: August 2022

In the era of big data with exponential growth in data volume, how to reduce data security issues such as data leakage caused by machine learning is a hot area of recent research. The existing privacy budget allocation strategies are usually only suitable for data applications in specific spaces and cannot meet users' personalized needs for privacy budget allocation. Therefore, a linear privacy budget allocation strategy is proposed. The strategy assigns each layer a linearly increasing privacy budget from the root of the decision tree to the bottom by adjusting the coefficient or constant term. Combining this strategy with the random forest algorithm, a random forest algorithm based on linear privacy budget allocation (DiffPRF_linear) is formed. Experimental results show that the proposed algorithm can realize uniform, arithmetic, and geometric privacy budget allocation policy effects and can also achieve better classification effects than the former, which not only meets the needs of users to protect private data personalized but also maintains high classification accuracy.
Critical Review on Recent Advancement in Nanotechnology for Biomedical Application
Authors: Alsadi Jamal , Hernandez Ronald M. , Hasham Sarah Haidar , Dixit Chandra Kumar , Dubey Alok , Unnisa Aziz
Published: August 2022

The new update in advancement in nanotechnology has engaged to develop a new nanomaterial with a different functional property. The morphology modification of nanoparticles has exhibited excellent physio-chemical properties such as high reactivity and absorption rate, photochemical and magnetic property, and larger surface area. Moreover, biomedical application of nanoparticles are yet a hard tool to use for therapeutic application owing to its limits such as Pitiable target specificity, bio-compatibility, low photostability, toxicity to organically, poor blood retention and cellular absorption. Therefore advancement in nanotechnology is required to overcome these defects. In this background, new nanomaterials are identified with suitable biological, chemical and physical properties, which suits the required demands of the application. In this mini-review, we have covered the recent focuses of nanomaterials for biomedical application.
TiO2 Nanoparticles Based Peroxidase Mimics for Colorimetric Sensing of Cholesterol and Hydrogen Peroxide
Authors: Rathinam R. , Singh Devesh Pratap , Dutta Arjun , Rudresha S. , Ali Shaikh Rajesh , Chatterjee Pratik
Published: August 2022

It's still a challenge to detect cholesterol more rapidly and easily. As a result, using a colorimetric sensor to detect cholesterol may result in the development of a ready-to-use. This research shows how a TiO2 nanoparticles may be utilized as a peroxidase mimic to detect H2O2 and free cholesterol. The TiO2 Nanoparticles was carefully studied in terms of structural, morphological, and functional characteristics. In the existence of cholesterol oxidase, and the proposed approach comprises detecting H2O2 produced during cholesterol oxidation. The TiO2 nanoparticles sensor has shown good cholesterol detection sensitivity with a LOD as low as 0.061 M and a linear response in the 0.1 mM to 50 mM range.
Green Synthesized Carbon Quantum Dots from Curcuma Longa for Ascorbic Acid Detection
Authors: Singh Anshul , Kulathuraan K. , Pakiyaraj K. , Gajendiran Vasu , Singh Devesh Pratap , Sengar Kalpana
Published: August 2022

In this study, we developed a carbon-dot-based sensor, which is particularly sensitive to ascorbic acid. It was possible to generate carbon dots (CDs) by utilising a renewable resource: Curcuma longa, which is abundantly available. The carbon dots produced from curcuma longa have particle diameters of 0.6 nm and are extremely brilliant in appearance. It has been proven that the fluorescence of carbon dots is inhibited in the presence of dopamine and ascorbic acid, with dopamine being more sensitive to the fluorescence than ascorbic acid. There were no significant differences between the minimal detection limits for dopamine and ascorbic acid, which were 33 μM, respectively. The Stern-Volmer plot was used to establish the quenching of ascorbic acid. It is one of the potential technique for sensing ascorbic acid.
Brief Review on Nanotechnology as an Effective Tool for Production of Biofuels
Authors: Yadav Anil Kumar , Purushotham Malleboina , Gour Nikita Indrapalsingh , Gurnule Gaurav Gulab , Choudhary Vikas C. , Yadav Karm Raj
Published: August 2022

Bio-fuel is world's best substitutes to petroleum fuels, particularly in developing countries, especially in present situation, in which fossil fuels are rapidly decreasing. By emitting greenhouse gases when fossil-based fuels are burned, they pose a serious danger to the environment and human health. Bio-fuel production on a large scale requires longer time and activity due to many constraints in currently available technology and supplementary increased costs. Furthermore, depending on the techniques and materials used, the procedures used to convert diverse feed stocks to the intended output are varied. Nanoparticles (NPs) are one of the most versatile materials in terms of time management, energy efficiency, and selectivity. It is the best way to address the issues of biomass usage. Lots of technology has implemented based on nanoparticles includes metal oxide and magnetic oxides, are engaged to progress bio-fuel production. NPs are useful biofuel additives because of their stability, higher surface area, reusability and catalytic activity. Furthermore, nanomaterials include carbon nanofibers, nanosheets and carbon nanotubes have been discovered to be a stable catalyst for enzyme immobilisation, resulting in improved bio-fuel production. The current research provides a thorough examination of the utilisation of different nanocomposites for bio-fuel production, as well as the significant hurdles and potential prospects.
An inadvertent usage of the deep stromal lenticule in anterior lamellar keratoplasty – An emancipator technique
Authors: Pannu Anju , Sati Alok , Mishra Sanjay K
Published: August 2022

Anterior lamellar keratoplasty (ALK), of late, has gained popularity because of its prolonged graft survivability as a result of reduced endothelial cell loss. A 56-year-old female with bilateral granular corneal dystrophy was taken up for ALK in the left eye. Because of unforeseen errors during the procedure, the surgeon was obliged to customize a novel technique by using a deep stromal lenticule after removal of Descemet’s membrane. Post-op visual recovery was equivalent to conventional ALK with complete epithelization of the graft. This new or adapted technique has an added advantage for surgeons to prevent forfeiture of the valuable donor tissue. In the developing world, manual dissection is still the primary technique of lamellar keratoplasty and many precious corneas get wasted because of intra-operative unintended errors of dissection and trephination. Therefore, this novel technique holds its importance in saving the precious corneal tissue, especially in developing countries, and opens a new area for exploration.
Visual outcomes of toxic optic neuropathy secondary to Ethambutol: A retrospective observational study from India, an endemic country
Authors: Ambika Selvakumar , Lakshmi K Padma , Gopal Madhumita , Noronha Olma V
Published: August 2022

Purpose:

Ethambutol (EMB) is one of the first-line drugs used for treating tuberculosis. Vision loss due to optic nerve toxicity is a well-known potential side effect of the drug. Our aim was to evaluate the clinical features and visual outcomes of patients with EMB optic neuropathy (EON).

Methods:

A retrospective, observational, single-center study of all patients who were diagnosed to have EON during January 2017–December 2019 was done. All these patients were screened in the Department of Neuro-ophthalmology at a referral tertiary eye care institution in India. Clinical features, visual outcomes, and neuroimaging findings of these patients were analyzed.

Results:

Two hundred and fifty-six eyes of 128 patients were included. Of these, 73 were male and 55 were female. Mean age was 50.55 ± 15 years. Mean visual acuity at presentation was 1.12 ± 0.45 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR). One hundred and forty three eyes had normal optic disk on presentation, 111 had disk pallor, and two eyes had disk edema. The most common field defect was central/paracentral scotoma (26.2%) followed by temporal defects (24.6%). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) brain and orbit showed optic nerve signals in 19.6% and chiasmal signals in 5.2%. At the final follow-up, a ≥2-line vision improvement was noted in 161 eyes (62.9%), which was statistically significant.

Conclusion:

Multiple prognostic factors were analyzed to predict the visual recovery of EON. We observed that patients presenting with visual acuity worse than 6/60 had poor visual outcome and long duration of follow-up showed better visual recovery, proving the possibility of a gradual recovery pattern of EON. Interestingly, we found in our study that the chances of favorable visual outcome were directly proportionate to early diagnosis and cessation of EMB.
Cadaver dissection for oculoplastic procedures: A beginner’s guide
Authors: Singh Manpreet , Sharma Manjula , Nair Akshay G , Mehta Aditi , Kaur Manpreet , Gupta Richa , Gupta Tulika , Sahni Daisy
Published: August 2022

The purpose of this article is to form a basic guide for beginning the cadaver dissection training programs focused on oculoplastic surgical procedures. Ours was a collaborative study between the departments of Ophthalmology and Anatomy in a tertiary care teaching institute. We formed a step-wise approach to begin the cadaver dissection focused on the oculoplastic surgical procedures. The basics of cadaver procurement, processing, and preparation for dissections were described. The operative requirements of trainees, surgical handling of cadavers, and basic oculoplastic surgical steps were discussed. The types of embalming (cadaver preservation process) and steps have been described in detail. We have emphasized the preoperative discussion about the proposed dissections using standard teachings and skull models for easier understanding. Additional helping tools like soft embalming and injectable substances for better intra-dissection understanding (intra-arterial, intravenous and orbital injections) have been described. Post-dissection cadaver handing and soft-tissue disposal protocols have also been described. Overall, the cadaver dissections provide holistic surgical learning for the residents, specialty trainees, and practitioners. This article may act as a basic step-wise guide for starting the cadaver-based oculoplastics lab dissection in various institutes and workshops.
Оценки Соломяка для оператора Бирмана-Швингера
Authors: Sukochev Fedor Anatol'evich , Zanin Dmitriy Vladimirovich
Published: August 2022

Рассматриваются оценки Цвикеля для оператора $(1-\Delta_{\mathbb{T}^d})^{-d/4}M_f(1-\Delta_{\mathbb{T}^d})^{-d/4}$ на торе $\mathbb{T}^d$ для идеала $\mathcal{L}_{1,\infty}$ в случае, когда $f$ принадлежит пространству Орлича $L\log L(\mathbb{T}^d)$. Эти оценки получены М. З. Соломяком в 1995 г. для четных размерностей; мы распространяем их на случай нечетных размерностей. Показывается, что этот результат не продолжается на случай лапласианов на $\mathbb{R}^d$ не только для пространств Орлича на $\mathbb{R}^d$, но также для любых симметричных функциональных пространств на $\mathbb{R}^d$. Несмотря на это мы получаем новый положительный результат для симметризованных в стиле Соломяка оценок для лапласианов на $\mathbb{R}^d$, когда $d$ - произвольное натуральное число и функция $f$ берется из $L\log L(\mathbb{R}^d)$. Этот последний результат показывает конформную инвариантность оценок Соломяка.
Библиография: 44 названия.
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation of infants at birth: predictable or unpredictable?
Authors: Zarkesh Mohammad Reza , Moradi Raheleh , Orooji Azam
Published: August 2022

Background: Anticipating the need for at-birth cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in neonates is very important and complex. Timely identification and rapid CPR for neonates in the delivery room significantly reduce mortality and other neurological disabilities. The aim of this study was to create a prediction system for identifying the need for at-birth CPR in neonates based on Machine Learning (ML) algorithms.Methods: In this study, 3,882 neonatal medical records were retrospectively reviewed. A total of 60 risk factors was extracted, and five ML algorithms of J48, Naïve Bayesian, multilayer perceptron, support vector machine (SVM), and random forest were compared to predict the need for at-birth CPR in neonates. Two types of resuscitation were considered: basic and advanced CPR. Using five feature selection algorithms, features were ranked based on importance, and important risk factors were identified using the ML algorithms.Results: To predict the need for at-birth CPR in neonates, SVM using all risk factors reached 88.43% accuracy and F-measure of 88.4%, while J48 using only the four first important features reached 90.89% accuracy and F-measure of 90.9%. The most important risk factors were gestational age, delivery type, presentation, and mother’s addiction.Conclusions: The proposed system can be useful in predicting the need for CPR in neonates in the delivery room.
Risk factors associated with development of coinfection in critically Ill patients with COVID-19
Authors: Orsini Erica M. , Sacha Gretchen L. , Han Xiaozhen , Wang Xiaofeng , Duggal Abhijit , Rajendram Prabalini
Published: August 2022

Background: At outset of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the significance of bacterial and fungal coinfections in individuals with COVID-19 was unknown. Initial reports indicated that the prevalence of coinfection in the general population was low, but there was uncertainty regarding the risk of coinfection in critically ill patients.Methods: Nine hundred critically ill adult patients with COVID-19 infection were enrolled in this observational case-control study. Patients with a coinfection (case) and patients without a coinfection (control) were compared using univariate and multivariable analyses. A subgroup analysis was performed on patients with coinfection, dividing them into early (infection within 7 days) and late (infection after 7 days) infection groups.Results: Two hundred and thirty-three patients (25.9%) had a bacterial or fungal coinfection. Vasopressor use (P<0.001) and severity of illness (higher Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation III score, P=0.009) were risk factors for the development of a coinfection. Patients with coinfection had higher mortality and length of stay. Vasopressor and corticosteroid use and central line and foley catheter placement were risk factors for late infection (>7 days). There were high rates of drug-resistant infections.Conclusions: Critically ill patients with COVID-19 are at risk for both community-acquired and hospital-acquired infections throughout their hospitalization for COVID-19. It is important to consider the development of a coinfection in clinically worsening critically ill patients with COVID-19 and consider the likelihood of drug-resistance when choosing an empiric regimen.
The fourth wave: vaccination status and intensive care unit mortality at a large hospital system in New York City
Authors: Tandon Pranai , Leibner Evan , Hackett Anna , Maguire Katherine , Leonardi Kayla , Levin Matthew A. , Kohli-Seth Roopa
Published: August 2022

Background: We aim to describe the demographics and outcomes of patients with severe disease with the Omicron variant. The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus continues to mutate, and the availability of vaccines and boosters continue to rise, it is important to understand the health care burden of new variants. We analyze patients admitted to intensive care units (ICUs) in a large Academic Health System during New York City’s fourth surge beginning on November 27, 2021.Methods: All patients admitted to an ICU were included in the primary analysis. Key demographics and outcomes were retrospectively compared between patients stratified by vaccination status. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression was used to identify risk factors for in-hospital mortality.Results: In-hospital mortality for all admitted patients during the fourth wave was significantly lower than in previous waves. However, among patients requiring intensive care, in-hospital mortality was high across all levels of vaccination status. In a multivariate model older age was associated with increased in-hospital mortality, vaccination status of overdue for booster was associated with decreased in hospital mortality, and vaccination status of up-to-date with vaccination showed a trend to reduced mortality.Conclusions: In-hospital mortality of patients with severe respiratory failure from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) remains high despite decreasing overall mortality. Vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 was protective against mortality. Vaccination remains the best and safest way to protect against serious illness and death from COVID-19. It remains unclear that any other treatment will have success in changing the natural history of the disease.
Safety, Tolerability, and Parasite Clearance Kinetics in Controlled Human Malaria Infection after Direct Venous Inoculation of Plasmodium falciparum Sporozoites: A Model for Evaluating New Blood-Stage Antimalarial Drugs
Authors: Chughlay M. Farouk , Chalon Stephan , El Gaaloul Myriam , Gobeau Nathalie , Möhrle Jörg J. , Berghmans Pieter-Jan , Van Leuven Katrin , Marx Michael W. , Rosanas-Urgell Anna , Flynn Julia , Escoffier Emilie , Izquierdo-Juncàs Daniel , Jansen Bastiaan , Mitov Venelin , Kümmel Anne , Van Geertruyden Jean-Pierre , Barnes Karen I.
Published: August 2022

Plasmodium falciparum sporozoite (PfSPZ) direct venous inoculation (DVI) using cryopreserved, infectious PfSPZ (PfSPZ Challenge [Sanaria, Rockville, Maryland]) is an established controlled human malaria infection model. However, to evaluate new chemical entities with potential blood-stage activity, more detailed data are needed on safety, tolerability, and parasite clearance kinetics for DVI of PfSPZ Challenge with established schizonticidal antimalarial drugs. This open-label, phase Ib study enrolled 16 malaria-naïve healthy adults in two cohorts (eight per cohort). Following DVI of 3,200 PfSPZ (NF54 strain), parasitemia was assessed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) from day 7. The approved antimalarial artemether-lumefantrine was administered at a qPCR-defined target parasitemia of ≥ 5,000 parasites/mL of blood. The intervention was generally well tolerated, with two grade 3 adverse events of neutropenia, and no serious adverse events. All 16 participants developed parasitemia after a mean of 9.7 days (95% CI 9.1–10.4) and a mean parasitemia level of 511 parasites/mL (95% CI 369–709). The median time to reach ≥ 5,000 parasites/mL was 11.5 days (95% CI 10.4–12.4; Kaplan–Meier), at that point the geometric mean (GM) parasitemia was 15,530 parasites/mL (95% CI 10,268–23,488). Artemether-lumefantrine was initiated at a GM of 12.1 days (95% CI 11.5–12.7), and a GM parasitemia of 6,101 parasites/mL (1,587–23,450). Mean parasite clearance time was 1.3 days (95% CI 0.9–2.1) and the mean log10 parasite reduction ratio over 48 hours was 3.6 (95% CI 3.4–3.7). This study supports the safety, tolerability, and feasibility of PfSPZ Challenge by DVI for evaluating the blood-stage activity of candidate antimalarial drugs.
A Pilot Implementation of a Remote IoT Sensors for Aquaponics System Datasets Acquisition
Authors: Udanor C.N. , Ossai N.I. , Ogbuokiri B.O. , Nweke O.E. , Ugwoke P.O. , Ome U.K.
Published: August 2022

No Abstract.
Drug Abuse Among Nigerian Youth and Its Consequences – A Review of Literature
Authors: Adetiloye Adepeju Akinlawon , Abel Osunwoye Adedapo
Published: August 2022

The available evidences suggest that it is true that drugs are used for beneficial therapeutic purposes, effective substance for good health, but they are also being abused by people especially youths. They use it illegally and unlawfully, thus it becomes harmful to the body. Studies have described a growing impact of drug abuse among Nigerian youths to the extent of being considered a moral decadent. The Nigerian youths are deliberately using drugs illegally, unlawfully and intentionally. while many are ignorantly or knowingly depending on one drug or the other for their daily activities. The objective of this review is to highlight the dangers and consequences of drug abuse particularly among the Nigerian youths. The review, which consists of literature search of journals and chapters in books, provides an insight into common drugs and substances that are abused, causes of drug abuse, social effect, prevention or control measures and laboratory investigations. Hence, for its public health significance, there is an urgent call for increased vigilance and improved knowledge/research-driven approaches to the diagnosis and management of drugs and substance of abuse.
The development of mathematics support: teaching and learning practices, scholarship and communities
Authors: Lawson Duncan , Grove Michael , Croft Tony
Published: August 2022

Mathematics support for students is an innovation in the teaching and learning of mathematics which now plays a vital role in their learning experience and which is provided by most universities in the United Kingdom, and increasingly in other parts of the world. This paper describes and reviews research into the development of this provision over the last 30 years or so, providing a rationale for its establishment in terms of student under-preparedness for the mathematical demands of university study, widening participation in higher education and the increasing importance of mathematical and statistical skills to a very wide range of disciplines. The most common model used to provide mathematics support is a 'drop-in' centre which offers one-to-one support to students who attend to see an
Meeting the challenges of teaching mathematics in higher education today
Authors: Grenier-Boley Nicolas , Sabra Hussein
Published: August 2022

Editorial to the first issue of ÉpiDEMES.Among the research in Mathematics Education devoted to higher education, two types of initiativescan be distinguished: those promoting the development of research results and those promotingreflections on mathematics teaching. In both cases, mathematics educators and Mathematicsresearchers have played – sometimes jointly – a leading role. The creation of the journalÉpiDEMES (Epijournal de Didactique et Epistémologie des Mathématiques pour l'EnseignementSupérieur in French) is positioned in the continuity of these efforts.