Data Sheet Research Articles

Parameters extraction of photovoltaic models using enhanced generalized normal distribution optimization with neighborhood search

AbstractThe photovoltaic system has been widely integrated into electrical power grids to produce clean and sustainable energy sources. Precisely modeling of systems is crucial to simulate and asset the performance of such power system. Modeling of system is a challenge because the characteristic curve of current and voltage is nonlinear and has unknown parameters due to insufficient data points in manufacture’s data sheet. This work proposes generalized normal distribution optimization based on neighborhood search strategies () to extract the parameter of single diode model (), double diode model (), and module model (). The root means square error () is used as a performance indicator. Two commercial models like RTC France solar cell and PWP201 are used to validate the ability of to precisely estimated the system’s parameters. The results show the superiority of over competitive optimization methods and can reduce the to 2.05296E-03 for PWP201 and to 9.8248E-04 for RTC France solar cell which prove that can be used as competitor method to identify the parameters of solar system. The statistical analysis shows the robustness of through statistical measurements and Wilcoxon rank test.’

Prevalence of Transitional Vertebra in Lumbar Disc Herniation in Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University

Background: Lumbosacral transitional vertebrae (LSTV) occur as a congenital anomaly in the segmentation of lumbosacral spine that occur during intrauterine life. LSTV includes lumbarization and sacralization of the lumbosacral region. A transitional vertebra(TV) may have varying formations, the common feature being an atypical lumbosacral articulation between transverse process of the most inferior lumbar vertebra and the sacrum. There has been a lot of discussion regarding the prevalence of LSTV in lumbar disc herniation(LDH). Most of the studies showed increased prevalence while other studies showed TV is an incidental finding and there is no increased prevalence in LDH. LDH is a quiet common ailment encountered in neurosurgical practice. Numerous causes have been attributed to it. LSTV might have great importance in patients who clinically seem to have LDH where it’s presence in plain X-ray might provide a supportive evidence for diagnosis and it can help to counsel the patient. We will be able to recommend a plain x-ray of lumbosacral spine first, having history and clinical findings suggestive of LDH and can save the cost of MRI investigation until decision for operation. Beside this LSTV is an important entity for spinal surgeons , radiologists and also for those who do interventional procedures in the spine. For this reason the prevalence of TV in LDH should be known. This study was not carried out in our country yet. So this study will enrich our demographic information and will also help the spinal surgeons to counsel the patients about their congenital spinal morphological variation and different facts related with this. Objectives: General objective of this study is to observe the prevalence of LSTV in patients with LDH. Specific objective of this study was to identify the diathroidal joint or fusion between transverse process of last lumbar vertebra and ala of sacrum, to count the vertebral number from C2 to S1 in whole spine screening film, to identify the transitional vertebra as sacralization or lumbarization or absence of TV, to predict the future possibility of development of LDH from plain X-ray of lumbosacral spine. Methods: This study was a cross sectional type of observational study and was conducted in Department of Neurosurgery, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU). The patients (N=45) who fulfilled the selection criteria was enrolled in this study. Patient’s data were recorded in a predetermined data sheet. Patients were informed in details about the study, its merits and demerits in easy and understandable language and then informed consent was taken. Also assurance was given that all the information and records would be kept confidential and the study result would help the neurosurgeons to counsel the patients with LSTV about future possibility of development of LDH from plain X-ray of lumbosacral spine. This study was not responsible for any additional harm to the patient and study had no potential risk to the patient and no experimental drugs were used in this study. Results: A total of 45 patients of LDH were studied to see the prevalence of lumbosacral TV in LDH. Based on history and clinical findings, 100% of patients presented with low back pain, 100% of patients presented with sciatica, and 62.2% presented with gait difficulty and 02.2% of patients presented with cauda equina syndrome. Mean age of patients having LDH herniation was 38.08 ± 10.15 years. LSTV was found in 31.11% of patients with LDH. In this study, LSTV was diagnosed by plain X ray of Lumbosacral spine (A/P view) and supplemented with MRI of L/S spine with screening of whole spine (in most cases). Diagnosis of transitional vertebra was done by researcher and was further confirmed by guide and faculty members of BSMMU. In relation to gender, prevalence of LSTV in male was 25.9% and in female was 38.9% which indicated higher prevalence of TV in female but this is not statistically significant (p value 0.356).Incidence of disc herniation in patients with TV was at the space above the transition in 85.7% of cases. The most likely explanation for this is that the motion segment cephalad to the LSTV has to bear additional stresses by virtue of it being juxtaposed to a relatively non-mobile segment Conclusion: This study reveals that the prevalence of LSTV in LDH is 31.11% which is near the upper limit of its prevalence(according to literature). Association of TV with LDH can not be obtained as a control group of patient without LDH was not considered. So further study should be carried out incorporating large number of patients with control group with long study period to generalize the findings to target population. Bang. J Neurosurgery 2023; 12(2): 76-85

3PL Fire and Safety Hazard Assessment and Mitigation

3PL facilities, handling high volumes of goods, face unique fire and safety risks. This abstract explores assessing and mitigating these hazards. Common fire hazards include flammable materials, electrical issues, and improper storage. Safety hazards encompass slips, falls, and misuse of machinery. Assessment techniques involve inspections, reviewing safety data sheets, and analyzing incidents. Mitigation strategies focus on fire safety plans, proper storage, electrical safety, and employee training. The abstract emphasizes preventative maintenance and a culture of safety for a safer 3PL environment.

Mental health stigma and internship nursing students’ attitudes toward seeking professional psychological help: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundSelf-stigma and negative attitudes toward mental illness have been identified as significant barriers that hinder individuals from seeking psychological assistance, leading to adverse consequences in their lives.AimThis study aimed to assess mental health stigma and internship nursing students’ attitudes toward seeking professional help.MethodsA cross-sectional design was conducted in the current study including a purposive sample of 228 participants of internship nursing students using a Socio-demographic data sheet, Self-Stigma of Seeking Help scale (SSOSH), and Attitude toward seeking professional psychological help scale (ATSPPH). The data acquisition period spanned from August to November 2022.ResultsThis study revealed significant insights into the attitudes of internship nursing students toward seeking professional psychological help. Gender emerged as a notable factor, with males exhibiting higher levels of self-stigma compared to females (mean = 2.872). Attitudes towards seeking professional help varied significantly based on age, gender, residence, and marital status. Specifically, participants aged 23 years, females, rural residents, and married individuals demonstrated the highest Mean scores reflecting attitudes that lean more positively towards seeking help. Furthermore, a significant negative correlation (r = -0.372, p < 0.01) was observed between self-stigma and attitudes toward seeking professional help.ConclusionThis study concluded that more than three-fifths of internship nursing students hadn’t stigma towards seeking professional psychological help while the vast majority had a positive attitude towards seeking professional psychological help. However, the majority of students reported that financial barriers, specifically the high cost of therapy, prevent them from seeking psychological help. This highlights the need for more affordable mental health services for this population.

A Short Survey for Understanding Hormonal Imbalance and Its Causes

Women's health is greatly affected by hormones. Women's hormonal imbalances can be brought on by a variety of as an assortment of variables, including stress, medical condition, use of drugs, tension, lifestyle changes, etc. increased use of pesticides, and many other chemical substances, environmental pollute affects the overall health of the people. The understanding of causes of hormonal variations is most important for female wellbeing. A specially designed data sheet was used for the collection and analysis for causes of hormonal imbalance in urban area Bangalore females. Our overview investigates contributing variables hormonal lopsided characteristics in females. However Hormonal imbalance affects several ways in women. Sometimes medication may lead to interference in hormone levels. The present study deals with some of the symptoms and signs correlated with hormone imbalance that if unrecognized may lead to shortening of life time. It is most be all for to take the advice of health practitioner to upgrade he lifestyle and dietary habits. Hormones play a vital role in the health of human females and hormonal imbalance can cause several pathological conditions. Improper diet, stressful or depressed lifestyles and use of drugs can cause hormonal imbalance. This study aimed for consider pointed to discover out the causes of hormonal imbalance in females aged between 15-50 years. A cross-sectional and random sampling method was used to collect data from young females of this age group in Bangalore, A specially designed questionnaire was used for data collection and a total of 240 females participated in the study. Keywords: HORMONAL IMBALANCE, STRESS, DIET, AGE, PCOS

Geothermal resource potentials estimation from the interpretation of aeromagnetic data over parts of Southwestern Nigeria

In a bid to explore unconventional electricity generation sources and reduce effects of fossil fuels, this study evaluates geothermal resource potentials over parts of Southwestern Nigeria, precisely depth to the bottom of magnetic source (DBMS), heat flow, geothermal gradient and their relationships. Regional-residual anomaly separation was conducted, and spectral analysis was applied on the residual anomaly component of 14 aeromagnetic data sheets. Depth to the bottom of magnetic source varies between 1.87 and 6.26 km, with average value of 3.50 km, heat flow varies between 23.18 and 77.38 mWm−2, with average value of 43.79 mWm−2, while geothermal gradient varies between 9.27 and 30.95 oC/km with average value of 17.52 oC/km. Northcentral region has the highest heat flow (77.4 mWm−2), followed by Northeast (68.3 mWm−2), Southwest has the least (&lt; 40.0 mWm−2) while Southeast has values in between the extremes. A comparison between the average heat flow and that of ‘thermally stable’ continental regions of the world (60 or 65) mW/m2 gives 72.98 or 67.37% respectively. The estimated heat is probably from mantle plumes, radioactive sources or heat generated from pressures within basements that are overlaid by thick thermally insulated sediments, hence hot magmatic fluid flows into fractured basement and cause hydrothermal alterations of surrounding rocks. Since most geodynamic operations depends on thermal structure of the earth’s crust, the result of this study has undoubtedly contributed significantly to the body of existing thermal knowledge and closed the information gap regarding crustal temperature distribution at depth in Southwest part of Nigeria and Nigeria in general.

Most procedures performed in the intensive care unit are invasive: tracheal intubation, tracheostomy, central catheterization, chest tubes and others. However, they are not without complications that can be life-threatening. The aim of this prospective epidemiological study is to assess the incidence of complications arising from invasive procedures performed in the ICU, and to analyze certain risk factors that expose patients to these complications. This was a prospective study of 453 invasive procedures performed in the various intensive care units of Casablanca University Hospital, over a period of 18 months, using 4 data sheets. In our series, central venous catheters accounted for 66% of invasive procedures. The average age of our patients was 40 years, and 67% were male. The main complications associated with the placement of central venous catheters are: Hematoma (16%); pneumothorax (3%), aberrant trajectory (4%) and thrombosis (3%). The incidence of hematoma is 20% when the procedure is performed on-call, and 38.3% when the operator has more than 2 years’ experience. The second most frequently performed invasive procedure is tracheostomy, with a percentage of 16%, which most frequently cited complications are as follows: bleeding (12%), pneumothorax (8%), and subcutaneous emphysema (9%). Statistical analysis showed that there was no correlation between the occurrence of complications and the risk factors studied. Other complications accounted for less than 10%. The outcome of intensive care patients has improved considerably, thanks to the protocols proposed by the various hospitals. Reducing complications is an important objective, in which the importance of learning the procedure and the experience of the operator should figure prominently.

Most procedures performed in the intensive care unit are invasive: tracheal intubation, tracheostomy, central catheterization, chest tubes and others. However, they are not without complications that can be life-threatening. The aim of this prospective epidemiological study is to assess the incidence of complications arising from invasive procedures performed in the ICU, and to analyze certain risk factors that expose patients to these complications. This was a prospective study of 453 invasive procedures performed in the various intensive care units of Casablanca University Hospital, over a period of 18 months, using 4 data sheets. In our series, central venous catheters accounted for 66% of invasive procedures. The average age of our patients was 40 years, and 67% were male. The main complications associated with the placement of central venous catheters are: Hematoma (16%); pneumothorax (3%), aberrant trajectory (4%) and thrombosis (3%). The incidence of hematoma is 20% when the procedure is performed on-call, and 38.3% when the operator has more than 2 years’ experience. The second most frequently performed invasive procedure is tracheostomy, with a percentage of 16%, which most frequently cited complications are as follows: bleeding (12%), pneumothorax (8%), and subcutaneous emphysema (9%). Statistical analysis showed that there was no correlation between the occurrence of complications and the risk factors studied. Other complications accounted for less than 10%. The outcome of intensive care patients has improved considerably, thanks to the protocols proposed by the various hospitals. Reducing complications is an important objective, in which the importance of learning the procedure and the experience of the operator should figure prominently.

Macroeconomic Dynamics and Profitability of Insurance Firms Listed at Nairobi Securities Exchange, Kenya

Kenya’s insurance industry has been growing steadily since 2013, with premium revenue and capital investment increasing. However, Return on Assets has declined over the past four years and reached an all-time low in 2022 compared to the previous five years which was partly attributed to the reforms introduced to cater the impact of Corona virus pandemic on and the need to close infrastructure gaps. As a result, as gross domestic product grows, firm deposits and loans rise along with interest income and loan losses. This study focused on understanding how macroeconomic dynamics affect the profitability of insurance companies listed on NSE in Kenya. It particularly looked into how changes in exchange rates, interest rates, and the overall price rise in the economy (inflation) influence these companies' profits. The study was guided by the theoretical frameworks of purchasing power parity, deflation, the balance of payment, the classical theory of interest, and the balance scorecard model. The study adopted an explanatory research design and targeted the six insurance firms listed on the NSE. The secondary data collection for this study involved the utilization of secondary data sheets. Data was obtained from the official audited financial statements of the insurance firms for the fiscal years 2016 through 2022. Data analysis involved both descriptive and inferential analysis. Inferential analysis incorporated both correlation analysis and panel regression analysis. The study found that key macroeconomic dynamics had significant impact on the profits of insurance companies listed on the NSE, explaining 57.71% of the changes in profits (R-squared = 0.5771). It discovered that while changes in the exchange rate do not significantly affect profits (β = 0.0761, p = 0.5358), higher interest rates lead to higher profits (β = 2.1647, p = 0.0233), and inflation negatively impacts profits (β = -0.3447, p = 0.0011). The study's validity is supported by strong statistical evidence (F-statistic = 21.0100, p-value = 0.0000). It suggests that insurance companies in Kenya should focus on managing risks related to economic changes to improve their financial performance. This research adds to the understanding of how macroeconomic dynamics affect the profitability of insurance firms in the context of the NSE. Keywords: Exchange rates, insurance profitability, interest rates, inflation impact, Nairobi Securities Exchange

Analysis of Resin-Based Dental Materials' Composition Depending on Their Clinical Applications.

The objective of this study was to detail the monomer composition of resin-based dental materials sold in the market in 2023 and to evaluate the proportion of bisphenol A (BPA)-derivatives in relation to their applications. A search on manufacturers' websites was performed to reference resin-based dental materials currently on the European market (including the European Union (EU) and United Kingdom (UK). Their monomer composition was determined using material-safety data sheets and was completed by a search on the PubMed database. Among the 543 material compositions exploitable, 382 (70.3%) contained BPA derivatives. Among them, 56.2% contained BisGMA and 28% BisEMA, the most frequently reported. A total of 59 monomers, of which six were BPA derivatives, were found. In total, 309 materials (56.9%) contained UDMA and 292 (53.8%) TEGDMA. Less than one third of materials identified contained no BPA derivatives. These proportions vary a lot depending on their applications, with materials dedicated to the dental care of young populations containing the highest proportions of BPA-derivative monomers. The long-term effects on human health of the different monomers identified including BPA-derivative monomers is a source of concern. For children and pregnant or lactating women arises the question of whether to take a precautionary principle and avoid the use of resin-based dental materials likely to release BPA by opting for alternative materials.

An Artificial Intelligence–Supported Medicinal Chemistry Project: An Example for Incorporating Artificial Intelligence Within the Pharmacy Curriculum

ObjectiveThis study aims to integrate and use AI to teach core concepts in a medicinal chemistry course and to increase the familiarity of pharmacy students with AI in pharmacy practice and drug development. Artificial intelligence (AI) is a multidisciplinary science that aims to build software tools that mimic human intelligence. AI is revolutionizing pharmaceutical research and patient care. Hence, it is important to include AI in pharmacy education to prepare a competent workforce of pharmacists with skills in this area. MethodsAI principles were introduced in a required medicinal chemistry course for first-year pharmacy students. An AI software, KNIME, was used to examine structure-activity relationships for 5 drugs. Students completed a data sheet that required comprehension of molecular structures and drug-protein interactions. These data were then used to make predictions for molecules with novel substituents using AI. The familiarity of students with AI was surveyed before and after this activity. ResultsThere was an increase in the number of students indicating familiarity with use of AI in pharmacy (before vs after: 25.3% vs 74.5%). The introduction of AI stimulated interest in the course content (> 60% of students indicated increased interest in medicinal chemistry) without compromising the learning outcomes. Almost 70% of students agreed that more AI should be taught in the PharmD curriculum. ConclusionThis is a successful and transferable example of integrating AI in pharmacy education without changing the main learning objectives of a course. This approach is likely to stimulate student interest in AI applications in pharmacy.

Efficiency Assessment of an Inverter based on Solar PV Energy in Baghdad

The yearly energy yield of a Solar Photovoltaic (SPV) system is a rendition pointer utilized by the erector to determine the output energy generated by it. From the energy speculation, the payback period and the return on investment can be contemplated. The system energy yield formula consists of many parameters, the most important of which is the SPV inverter efficiency. The European and peak (maximum) efficiency factors from the inverter data sheet are typically utilized, but this utilization is unsound because the SPV does not always work at the peak of its effectiveness due to varying irradiance. The inverter's weighted efficiency is considered more sound as it deems the inverter output power peculiarities. The European weighted efficiency is the most widely accepted inverter efficiency determination. Since it is derived and documented on a rimmed European irradiance profile, it may not be appropriate for inverters constructed in different climatic conditions, especially in the equatorial and subtropical environmental regions. This work aims to formulate a fangled weighted efficiency equation for the inverter's work in the Iraqi environment (especially in Baghdad city as a case study) documented on the IEC 61683: 1999 Standard and Irradiance-Duration curve. The sophisticated formula is endorsed on experimental data from the field using an SMA-SB-4000-TL inverter. It was found that the speculated energy yield using the derived efficiency formula for the Baghdad environment closely matches the energy yield of an original 4.0 KW SPV inverter system with only 1% difference between the determined and acquired values. This means that the employment of the Baghdad weighted efficiency in place of the European or peak weighted efficiency will result in a sounder speculation of the system energy yield, return on investment, and payback duration of the SPV system project.

The effect of abdominal heat therapy on constipation

Background: Constipation is one of the most common complications of the digestive system and has a significant impact on people's health and quality of life. One of the proposed non-drug interventions is the use of heat therapy. This study aimed to determine the effect of abdominal heat therapy on constipation. Aims: To identify if the use of heat therapy reduces constipation in elderly people admitted to the general internal medicine department. Methods: This study employs a triple-blind clinical trial design. A total of 92 elderly patients admitted to the internal medicine department of Sinai Hospital in Arak City in 2023 were randomly assigned to either a control or intervention group. Patients in the intervention group received local heat therapy using a standard hot water bottle with a temperature of 50°C applied to the abdomen. The control group received a hot water bottle at a temperature of 25°C. Data collection tools included the Bristol Stool Form Scale and a demographic data sheet. Analysis was conducted using SPSS 16. Results: The results showed that stool consistency was similar between the interventional and control groups before applying the hot water bag to the abdomen. A significant difference was observed on the first day (P=0.001) and the second day (P=0.005). There was a significant difference in stool consistency before the intervention, on day 1 and day 2 (P&lt;0.001), but most people in the control group had no defecation. Conclusions: Local heat therapy improves bowel function and reduces constipation during defecation in the elderly, and its use is suggested at the same time as complementary studies.

Notes from the past show how local variability can stymie urchins and the rise of the reds in the Gulf of Maine

AbstractThe impacts of global change—from shifts in climate to overfishing to land use change—can depend heavily on local abiotic context. Building an understanding of how to downscale global change scenarios to local impacts is often difficult, however, and requires historical data across large gradients of variability. Such data are often not available—particularly in peer reviewed or gray literature. However, these data can sometimes be gleaned from casual records of natural history—field notebooks, data sheet marginalia, course notes, and more. Here, we provide an example of one such approach for the Gulf of Maine, as we seek to understand how environmental context can influence local outcomes of region‐wide shifts in subtidal community structure. We explore a decade of hand‐drawn algal cover maps around Appledore Island made by Dr. Art Borror while teaching at the Shoals Marine Lab. Appledore's steep wave exposure gradient—from exposed to the open ocean to fully protected—provides a living laboratory to test interactions between global change and local conditions. We then recreate Borror's methods two and a half decades later. We show that overfishing‐driven urchin outbreaks in the 1980s were slowed or stopped by wave exposure and benthic topography. Similarly, local variation appears to have curtailed current invasions by filamentous red algae. Last, some formerly dominant kelps have disappeared over the past 40 years—an observation verified by subtidal surveys. Global change is altering life in the seas around us. While underutilized, solid natural history observations stand as a key resource for us to begin to understand how global change will translate to the heterogeneous mosaic of life in a future Gulf of Maine and other ecosystems around the world.

Relationship between Social Support, Adherence to Pharmacological Treatment, and Quality of Life among Hemodialysis Patients

Social support and level of adherence to medications influences the quality of life among hemodialysis patients. The study aimed to investigate the relationship between social support, adherence to pharmacological treatment, and quality of life among hemodialysis patients. A correlational descriptive study was conducted on a convenience sample of 102 hemodialysis patients. Four tools were used to collect the required data: Demographic Data Sheet, Kidney Disease and Quality of Life, Perceived Social Support Scale, and Adherence to Pharmacological Treatment. Results of the study revealed that social support has a positive effect on adherence to pharmacological medications, and quality of life.

STUDY OF THE FACTORS AFFECTING DIFFICULT ENDOTRACHEAL INTUBATION WHO PRESENTED TO EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT IN RAMKRISHNA CARE HOSPITAL, RAIPUR, CHHATTISGARH

Background: A thorough but brief airway assessment is important and challenging for patients requiring advanced airway assessment. The study aimed to provide knowledge about the factors leading to difficult endotracheal intubation, reduce the number of attempts which will lead to more successful intubation and improve the overall quality of the procedure. Material Methods: A total of 293 patients were selected based on consecutive sampling methods. After ethical committee clearance data was collected using a data collection form. Age, gender, obesity,pre-existing medical conditions, and facial malformations were recorded for each participant. Airway assessment tests such as mouth opening, thyromental distance, hyomental distance, short neck, and Mallampati classes were conducted by investigators. Inclusion criteria were based on 1. The patient who is alive 2. The patient who needs advanced airway management The exclusion criteria were 1. The patient presented in the emergency department with ventilator support 2. Patient who didnt give consent 3. Patients below 14 years of age(pediatric age group) Data was initially entered into an Excel data sheet and then exported to SPSS Statistics version 22 for analysis. Results:From July 2022 to Aug 2023, a total of 293 patients were included in the study. Of these, 170 were male and 123 were female. Under 65 years of age 40 (43.5%) had difficult intubation whereas above 65 years 52(56.5%) had difficult intubation. 134 patients were obese resulting in difficult intubation. Female patients, those suffering from systemic diseases and facial malformation or fracture were found to be more difficult to intubate. We recognized that Mallampati classes ≥3, mouth opening &lt; 4cm, short thyromental distance, and hyomental distance, were also associated with difficult intubation. Multiple logistic regression analysis of the related factors determined that the odds ratio was highest for mouth opening &lt;4 cm (OR = 3.613) and Thyromental distance &lt;6cm (OR = 3.157) Conclusion: Factors affecting difficult intubation were constructed from the patients demographic characteristics and clinical examination. This may help in discriminating against difficult intubation.This will also help in the overall success rate of first attempts of endotracheal intubation in the emergency department.

Seroprevalence of cytomegalovirus (CMV) among pregnant women at a tertiary facility in southern Nigeria

Background: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) also called human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) or human herpesvirus-5 (HHV-5) is an encapsulated double-stranded deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) virus. It is an opportunistic virus which often remains latent and only become symptomatic in immune-suppressed individuals such as pregnant women, HIV/AIDS patients and other immune weakening disease conditions. It is also estimated to have an 86% global sero-prevalence among reproductive women. Objectives: To determine the sero-prevalence of CMV infection, investigate the relationship between risk factors and CMV infection and to determine the relationship between obstetric characteristics and CMV infections among pregnant women. Method: A cross-sectional study among a cross-section of pregnant women receiving ante-natal care in the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital from August 2022 to December 2022. A structured pro forma data sheet was used as interviewer-administered questionnaire by medical personnel to collect data from the study participants. 5ml of blood was collected from each participant and assessed for the presence of anti-CMV IgG using commercial Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). The data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25. Descriptive statistics (mean, median, frequency percentage and standard deviation), Chi-square test and Fischer’s exact test were used appropriately. Results: Out of 101 respondents, only 24 (24%) were positive for CMV IgG, while 77 (76%) were negative. About 50% of the women were in their 3rd decade of life, while (3) were in the 4th decade of life. All the respondents were married and were Christians. Three quarters of the women [75(74.3%)] had tertiary education, 20 (19.8%) had secondary education, while 6 (5.9%) were Postgraduate students. Based on income, women with income &lt; #50,000 (53.5%) were the most common. The relationship between demographic factors such as age, religion, income, educational level, employment status, marital status and CMV results were statistically insignificant. The relationship between obstetric characteristics and CMV results were not statistically significant, while risk factors for CMV and presence of CMV infection were not statistically significant as well. Conclusion: The 24% sero-prevalence for CMV at University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital was quite low; however it can be reduced to the barest minimum, by encouraging intensive awareness campaigns about the virus and providing free serum testing to all categories of the population, since CMV affects all ages.

Sensors capabilities as a creativity tool for engineering product design

Smart and connected physical products enable numerous novel value creations based on embedded sensor data. However, during the product design process, it appears that these value-creation opportunities are not sufficiently explored. To address this gap, a general and accessible ideation tool is proposed to structure a systematic exploration. The tool has been developed from the data sheets of a large number of various embedded sensors. A non-exhaustive list of 14 main sensor capabilities was thus structured to form the core of the tool. During the creative phases of product design, these capabilities are combined with a convenient set of inputs to support the generation of value-creation concepts. A focus group to evaluate the tool was carried out with a medium-sized manufacturer of connected shared city bikes. Expert product designers generated concepts with and without the tool. The results of the experiment suggest that the tool enables the generation of concepts that are more novel and of better quality in comparison to traditional ideation approaches. In addition, participants reported a high level of appreciation for the tool. They also noted a high level of creative exploration and collaboration facilitated by the tool.

Design and Implementation of an Optimized PID Controller for Two-Limb Robot Arm Control

With developing technology, robot arms are used in more areas, and this is directly proportional to the work done for its development. Studies on robot arms are generally focused on control. The controllability of robot arms generally provides speed and precision.&#x0D; Within the scope of this study, the control optimization of a two-arm robot arm with an optimized proportional integral differential controller (PID) was carried out using a microcontroller. The kinematic operations required to control a two-arm robot arm have been developed by the MATLAB Support Package for Arduino Hardware. The transfer function required for the control system was used for a direct current (DC) brushed motor, using the values given in the motor data sheet. Feedback is provided for the control system thanks to the Hall effect encoder.&#x0D; The gripper end of the two-limbed robot arm follows the specified square-shaped reference. In this study, where PID controller was used, controller parameters were obtained with particle swarm, artificial bee colony and chaos game metaheuristic optimization algorithms for square orbit and these parameters were used on the produced robot arm.&#x0D; Many methods have been used in the literature to determine PID parameters. In this study, the chaos game metaheuristic optimization algorithm, which has become popular in recent years, was used to determine the parameters of the PID controller.

Relationship between Social Support, Adherence to Pharmacological Treatment, and Quality of Life among Hemodialysis Patients

Social support and level of adherence to medications influences the quality of life among hemodialysis patients. The study aimed to investigate the relationship between social support, adherence to pharmacological treatment, and quality of life among hemodialysis patients. A correlational descriptive study was conducted on a convenience sample of 102 hemodialysis patients. Four tools were used to collect the required data: Demographic Data Sheet, Kidney Disease and Quality of Life, Perceived Social Support Scale, and Adherence to Pharmacological Treatment. Results of the study revealed that social support has a positive effect on adherence to pharmacological medications, and quality of life.

Effect of Postural Training in Improving Hand Eye Coordination in Autism Children - An Interventional Study

Autism is one of the major developmental delays that affect the children at an early age. It presents as a series of motor and sensory impairments that constantly needs adjustment in posture. Evaluation of motor skills and enhancing it quite often results in postural adjustment. The primary objective of this current study is to investigate the effect of postural training exercises prior to administration of motor activities in improving the hand eye coordination to perform upper limb tasks. The study was a randomised control trial that included children of both sexes with a diagnosis of autism between the age group of 5 and 10. All the participants of the study underwent the pre-test assessment of Gross motor skill and fine motor skill and were entered in the data sheet as pre-test score. The children’s Gross motor skill and Fine Motor Skill were assessed through Box and Block test and 25 grooved peg board test respectively. The test was performed for the dominant hand of the participant. The participants in control group underwent the motor and fine motor activities for a period of 30 minutes each session on alternate days for 8 weeks. The participants in experimental group received postural stability exercises along with these activities. At the end of 8 weeks the results of the study showed significant improvement in the experimental group. The study concluded that postural stability exercises prior to the activities improved the motor and fine motor skill of the autism children. Keywords: Autism, Postural Exercises in autism children, Hand eye coordination, Postural instability.