Maximum Visibility Research Articles

A population-level study reveals hidden patterns in resting site choice of free-ranging dogs

Abstract Rest is an essential biological activity for all animals. Urban animals encounter multiple anthropogenic disturbances while resting. Since free-ranging dogs (FRDs) have survived as a population in the Global South for centuries, they provide a unique opportunity to study adaptation to the human-dominated landscape. In a field-based study over 3 years, we documented resting behaviour and site selection in 66 dog groups (284 dogs) in India. Eleven physical parameters of the resting sites, along with biological activities such as mating and pup-rearing, season, and the time of day, affected their choice of resting sites. The frequency-rank distribution of the unique combinations of the 11 parameters followed a power-law distribution, suggesting underlying biological reasons for the observed preferences. Seven of these parameters were most consistently involved in site choice, explaining around 24% of the observations. FRDs prefer to rest near resources at the centre of their territory, where they have maximum visibility and minimal anthropogenic disturbance. They prefer concrete surfaces with low insect presence. Our results suggest that the FRDs choose resting sites that enable better resource and territory defence, foraging effectiveness, and insect avoidance. Urban planners can use these insights to reduce situations of conflict and build more inclusive urban areas.

Citation classics on distance and online learning: a bibliometric analysis

Purpose The purpose of this study is to identify seminal research works on distance and online learning that have had significant impact on the domain. Design/methodology/approach The authors used the SCOPUS database for this study as the data source, and a well-defined search strategy retrieved the items for analysis. First, the authors identified the h-index (n = 207) of the discipline to determine the threshold for listing the top works. The authors critically analysed these classic publications using several bibliometric parameters to present the analysis. To understand the primary focus of the classic research works, the authors also carried out a keyword cluster analysis using VOSviewer. Findings While the USA produced maximum classic research, authors from Canada have maximum research visibility in terms of citations (n = 474.06). Canada also received the highest value of RCI (1.30), followed by Taiwan and Australia. The majority of the classics are published in 67 scientific journals. Of these, Computers and Education published the highest number with a quarter of the total citations (n = 19,403). Although e-learning was the nucleus of the research theme, the authors observed that students, learning systems, online learning, blended learning, learning management systems and computer-aided instructions dominated their influence in the research cluster. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first of its kind work in the field of distance and online learning. Findings of this study would be useful to faculty, researchers and students in the discipline to focus on the seminal works and understand their implications better in the context of the growing significance of the discipline.

Choosing a promotion channel for a startup project in the modern media space

Relevance. The startup market is becoming increasingly saturated. Effective promotion channels allow you to stand out from the competition and attract the attention of the target audience. Startups often work with a limited budget. Optimizing the choice of promotion channels is critical to maximizing the return on investment. Modern media management covers many platforms (social networks, blogs, video hosting, etc.). Choosing the right channel helps to optimally use resources and ensure maximum visibility. Different channels are suitable for different target groups. An effective choice of promotion channel helps to more accurately reach the desired audience, taking into account its preferences and behavior. Consumers are increasingly paying attention to digital communication channels. Taking into account current trends and preferences allows you to improve interaction with the audience. The influence of social networks and bloggers is becoming an important mechanism for creating trust among consumers. This can significantly increase the recognition of a startup. All this emphasizes the importance of a strategic approach to choosing promotion channels for a successful launch and sustainable growth of a startup project in the modern media landscape.The purpose of the study is to choose a promotion channel for a startup project in the modern media space.Objectives: to substantiate the relevance of choosing a promotion channel for a startup in the modern media space; to study the demand and effectiveness of modern promotion channels; to use in practice the method of multicriteria selection of promotion channels for a startup project; to substantiate the results obtained.Methodology. The research methodology is based on the methods of comparison and comparison, deduction and induction, qualitative and quantitative analysis, as well as the Churchman-Ackoff multi-criteria assessment method.Results. The study substantiates the relevance of choosing a promotion channel for a startup in the modern media space; the demand and effectiveness of modern promotion channels are studied; the method of multi-criteria selection of channels for promoting a startup project was used in practice; the obtained results were substantiated.Conclusions. The effectiveness of the selected channels for promoting a startup project in the modern media space was proven as conclusions.

Influence of Campus Outdoor Spaces on Students Behavior: Enhancing Social Interaction and Learning at An-Najah University

This study examines how the physical features of university campus outdoor spaces affect student behavior, aiming to promote social interaction and improve learning outcomes. Two central questions guide the research: how student movements relate to open space features, and how campus layout influences student circulation and interaction. By employing a mixed-method approach, including field observations and space syntax analysis, five areas at An-Najah University Campus are studied. The findings highlight the importance of these insights in urban design and planning, especially for teaching staff, students, and visitors. Results indicate that spatial layout and physical features significantly affect space usage, with students favoring areas with seating, shade, and social opportunities, adapting to informal setups when formal options are limited. Visibility is key, with students favoring spaces offering maximum visibility for seating. This understanding informs architects and planners in creating engaging campus environments for social interaction and learning.

Using a baited imaging sonar (BISON) to quantify the density, size, and detection range of fishes in a shallow, nearshore habitat

AbstractMethods that supplement optical instruments with bait, such as baited remote underwater video (BRUV), are used worldwide to detect and quantify marine life. Optical instruments only detect targets within visible range, such that BRUVs may underestimate fishes in light‐limited habitats, especially fishes that respond to the bait at ranges beyond visibility. Alternatively, light‐independent instruments (e.g., imaging sonars) can detect and quantify fishes regardless of visibility. This study presents the first application of a baited imaging sonar (BISON), deployed to survey fishes around a small, shallow artificial habitat in a turbid embayment in southern Florida. To establish the influence of bait on fish detection, BISON trials were alternately conducted alongside deployments of an unbaited control, with a high‐definition camera integrated to ascertain visibility and inform species composition. For fishes of two size classes, larger (> 30 cm) and smaller (10–30 cm), maximum density (MaxD) and range of detection were quantified. Although the densities of larger and smaller fishes quantified by the BISON and unbaited control did not differ, over 55% of larger fishes were detected at ranges beyond maximum visibility, with asymptotes in fish density on the BISON identified at 15–20 min and 5–10 min for larger and smaller fishes, respectively. Overall, this study demonstrates the potential of BISONs as both a complementary and alternative method to BRUVs for quantifying fishes, especially in habitats of limited visibility. Future applications of BISONs in other habitats will further demonstrate its value as a tool to detect and enumerate aquatic assemblages.

Consumers’ Perception of Social Media Influencers: A Study of Skincare Brands in Nigeria

In the highly competitive consumer market, brand owners are working tirelessly towards retaining their ‘loyal’ customers, and ensuring that the consumers of other brands make a switch to their products; all these are geared towards remaining relevant in the business world. Hence, social media has become a viable medium to pass these messages as a result of the increasing impact of modern technology and “know-how.” The engagement of well-known personalities for social media brand influencing has become a viable tool employed by brand owners to give maximum visibility to their products. They are influential because online users, in most cases, adopt their personalities as role models while many others idolize them. Hence, their promotion of brands and products on social media is usually widely accepted by these groups of consumers. In recent times, there have been reports and cases of influenced skincare brands and products that have fallen short of efficacy and quality as purported by the influencers of the brands in question. Consumers have expressed dissatisfaction, frustration, and waste of money regarding the purchase and usage of some skincare brands that were purchased as a result of the content created around the products by their social media influencers. Therefore, this study seeks to examine consumers’ perception of the engagement of social media influencers of skin-care products using Focus Group Discussion and a survey of female respondents who are known to use skincare products. Results show that the use of influencers does not necessarily inform their purchase or usage of certain skin care products. This is because, first, skin care products are sensitive and could damage customers’ skin, which makes them purchase through referrals rather than depending on influencers’ reports about the product. Second, the social media platform is commonly known as a medium that online users can easily manipulate for deception. The study suggests that Influencers should adopt credible means of creating awareness for their brand.

Agricultural -News Visibility in Indian Newspapers: A Comparative Study

The coverage of agricultural news is of great significance in the Indian economic and social scenario. The present study explores the print visibility of agricultural news in three newspapers in India. Therefore, research was accomplished through a random selection of three national- newspapers, Hindi(one) and English (two), namely Dainik Jagran, The Hindu, and The Hindustan Times. The agricultural news in the three newspapers was collected from December 2020 to November 2021 and categorized into political news, advisories, policy, techno-innovation, entrepreneurship, and environmental. The articles were extracted from E- Papers and print PDFs for practical purposes based on keyword selection. The findings revealed that the agricultural news covered by the newspapers was feeble and under 5 % of the total news content. The total number of agricultural articles found from December 2020 to November 2021 was 6191. However, Dainik Jagran led in print visibility with a yearly average of 4.71 per cent, followed by The Hindustan Times at 4.30 percent and The Hindu at 3.23 percent. The print visibility ranged from 8.0 percent to a maximum, and the minimum was 1.8 percent. It was also found that Agri-political news had maximum visibility in two of the three newspapers (68.3 percent in the Hindu and 33 percent in Dainik Jagran).

ASSESSMENT OF THE ATTRACTIVENESS OF GEOTOURISTIC AREAS OF THE UKRAINIAN CARPATHIANS’ BESKID MOUNTAINS

For the purpose of organizing geotourism trips, geological and geomorphological objects of the Beskydy of the Ukrainian Carpathians were studied. Seven geotourism areas were identified, such as: Urytskyi, Yamelnytskyi, Syniovydnenskyi, Skole, Kliucha-Kamiankyi, Bubnyskyi and Rozgirche. Each of them characterizes morphological features of geomorphological objects, composition and structure of rocks, describes certain historical and cultural events related to them. To determine the tourist attractiveness of geological and geomorphological sites, an assessment methodology was developed based on the following indicators: the number of geological sites, their maximum heights, accessibility, picturesqueness (scenic beauty), visibility (sites as a vantage point of the area), scientific, educational, historical and cultural value, tourist infrastructure, popularity and tourist attendance. The analysis revealed that the most attractive tourist area within the study area is the Urytskyi tourist district, which, due to its picturesque cliffs with high historical and cultural value, has a significant number of tourists. In second place is the Bubnyskyi geotourism area, which has the largest number of the highest and most picturesque rocks. In third place is the Skole geotourism district, which has seven geo-attractions and is best equipped with tourist infrastructure facilities. The Kliucha-Kamianka area has an above-average attractiveness, with the largest number of different types of objects within its boundaries. It is the most popular and most visited by tourists. The tourist attractiveness of the Syniovydnianskyi geotourism area is somewhat less than the previous one, but there are outcrops among the geoattractions that have a high scientific and educational value. The Yamelnytskyi district has little attractiveness, it is little known, and the tourist infrastructure is poorly developed, but there are many rocks of different morphological types. Compared to other districts, the geotourism attractiveness of the Rozhirche district is low. The assessment of the attractiveness of the selected tourist areas showed that the highest scores were given to areas where geological and geomorphological objects are morphologically more diverse, with significant morphometric indicators, high landscape value, geological representation of the Carpathian structure, and various sedimentary and anthropogenic signs on the rock surface. Keywords: geological and geomorphological objects; geo-tourism; geo-attraction; tourist attractiveness; Ukrainian Carpathians’ Beskid Mountains.

Drone swarm strategy for the detection and tracking of occluded targets in complex environments

Drone swarms can achieve tasks via collaboration that are impossible for single drones alone. Synthetic aperture (SA) sensing is a signal processing technique that takes measurements from limited size sensors and computationally combines the data to mimic sensor apertures of much greater widths. Here we use SA sensing and propose an adaptive real-time particle swarm optimization (PSO) strategy for autonomous drone swarms to detect and track occluded targets in densely forested areas. Simulation results show that our approach achieved a maximum target visibility of 72% within 14 seconds. In comparison, blind sampling strategies resulted in only 51% visibility after 75 seconds and 19% visibility in 3 seconds for sequential brute force sampling and parallel sampling respectively. Our approach provides fast and reliable detection of occluded targets, and demonstrates the feasibility and efficiency of using swarm drones for search and rescue in areas that are not easily accessed by humans, such as forests and disaster sites.

Analysis of Spatio-Temporal Characteristics of Visibility in the Yellow and Bohai Seas Based on Observational Data

In the Yellow and Bohai Seas, the detailed characteristics of visibility are analyzed based on automatic hourly observation data of marine visibility between 2019 and 2021. The results show that the annual average visibility in the Yellow and Bohai Seas is 13.346 km. The average visibility at high latitudes is higher than that at low latitudes in the Yellow and Bohai Seas. The low visibility area is mainly distributed in the southwest of the Yellow Sea. There are obvious seasonal differences in visibility in the Yellow and Bohai Seas. Visibility is high from September to November, with maximum values in October. Visibility is lowest in July when the maximum visibility is low and the minimum visibility is high. The visibility in spring is overall relatively low, and the areas of low visibility appear in the southwest of the Yellow Sea. The visibility in autumn is overall relatively high, and the areas of high visibility occur in the northern part of the Bohai and Yellow Seas. The visibility has significant intraday variation. The visibility around sunset is significantly higher than that around sunrise. The hourly visibility is low between 4:00 and 9:00, with the lowest visibility most likely around 7:00. The hourly visibility is high between 16:00 and 21:00, with the highest visibility most likely around 18:00. Low visibility occurs frequently between November and April, most of all in March. Low visibility most often occurs between 4:00 and 7:00. Low visibility may occur at any time between November and April, and also in mornings between May and August. It occurs less often at other times.

Online Reputation Management Strategies in Hospitality Industry: A Cross-Sectional Study

In an era of digital advancement, hospitality business and its positive growth undoubtedly depends on the effective online reputation management skills and strategies implemented by these industries beyond the borders. Since people are connected and exposed to diverse knowledge as part of globalization and technological boom, any industry can survive only with proper communication with customers, which also plays major role in building trust as well as in creating a confident picture of the industry. The quantitative and qualitative analysis conducted over several hotels, resorts and various other hospitality industries reveal the significance of constant engagement with the customers in bringing success to these establishments. The data collected ensure that proactive communication, timely responses, proper feedbacks both to positive and negative reviews, constant customer engagement and transparency are the prerequisite functions in shaping online reputation management system. On the other hand, it is only through these strategies one can ensure maximum visibility to the customers as well as confirm positive growth of hospitality industry. This cross-sectional study examines various hospitality establishments, analyzing their online reputation strategies to provide valuable insights on how to further and develop the same, there by expanding the scope of innovativeness in adopting diverse ORM strategies and skills.

Concealing and Revealing the Face of Charles the Martyr King

On the afternoon of 30 January 1649, King Charles I of England (r. 1625–1649) was publicly executed on a scaffold that had been erected the previous day in front of his Banqueting House in Westminster.1 The most popularly reproduced seventeenth-century print of this event depicts a densely packed crowd surrounding the central scaffold, upon which a masked executioner holds aloft the decapitated head of the king (Fig. 1). The executioner and his four attendants face the crowd from behind the still-kneeling body of Charles, positioned like actors on a stage and standing in a way that allows for maximum visibility of their bodies and poses. In this print, the death of Charles is rendered as though it were a carefully staged and highly visible affair. The large crowd of spectators, who not only occupy the base of the scaffold but have populated all viewable galleries and rooftops, seems to heighten this impression of a theatrical spectacle unfolding in the engraving. It makes the death of Charles I discernible to the viewer, while certain details, like the king’s face, are crudely rendered and made difficult to see. The central action of displaying the king’s head is frustrated by the depiction of his face, which is reduced to a series of black dots and lines. The inventive, highly staged nature of this print brings to the fore a common theme found in representations of the executed Stuart monarch in the decade following his death: portraying while simultaneously concealing the likeness of the dead king.

Anastomotic perfusion assessment with indocyanine green in robot-assisted low-anterior resection, a multicenter study of interobserver variation

BackgroundSecuring sufficient blood perfusion to the anastomotic area after low-anterior resection is a crucial factor in preventing anastomotic leakage (AL). Intra-operative indocyanine green fluorescent imaging (ICG-FI) has been suggested as a tool to assess perfusion. However, knowledge of inter-observer variation among surgeons in the interpretation of ICG-FI is sparse. Our primary objective was to evaluate inter-observer variation among surgeons in the interpretation of bowel blood-perfusion assessed visually by ICG-FI. Our secondary objective was to compare the results both from the visual assessment of ICG and from computer-based quantitative analyses of ICG-FI between patients with and without the development of AL.MethodA multicenter study, including patients undergoing robot-assisted low anterior resection with stapled anastomosis. ICG-FI was evaluated visually by the surgeon intra-operatively. Postoperatively, recorded videos were anonymized and exchanged between centers for inter-observer evaluation. Time to visibility (TTV), time to maximum visibility (TMV), and time to wash-out (TWO) were visually assessed. In addition, the ICG-FI video-recordings were analyzed using validated pixel analysis software to quantify blood perfusion.ResultsFifty-five patients were included, and five developed clinical AL. Bland–Altman plots (BA plots) demonstrated wide inter-observer variation for visually assessed fluorescence on all parameters (TTV, TMV, and TWO). Comparing leak-group with no-leak group, we found no significant differences for TTV: Hazard Ratio; HR = 0.82 (CI 0.32; 2.08), TMV: HR = 0.62 (CI 0.24; 1.59), or TWO: HR = 1.11 (CI 0.40; 3.11). In the quantitative pixel analysis, a lower slope of the fluorescence time-curve was found in patients with a subsequent leak: median 0.08 (0.07;0.10) compared with non-leak patients: median 0.13 (0.10;0.17) (p = 0.04).ConclusionThe surgeon’s visual assessment of the ICG-FI demonstrated wide inter-observer variation, there were no differences between patients with and without AL. However, quantitative pixel analysis showed a significant difference between groups.Trial RegistrationClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04766060.

Fringe visibility in X-ray interferometer using dual triangular phase gratings

In recent years, the X-ray interferometer using dual phase gratings has been extensively studied. The large periodic fringes produced by the X-ray interferometer using dual phase gratings can be directly detected by ordinary detectors. At the same time, the X-ray interferometer using dual phase gratings can reduce the radiation dose of the sample without using absorption gratings. Meanwhile, a high fringe visibility is always preferred to achieve a high signal-to-noise ratio for X-ray grating interferometry. However, recent studies have reported that experimental fringe visibility in X-ray interferometer using dual rectangular phase gratings is relatively low. Therefore, it is necessary to further increase the fringe visibility in X-ray interferometry using dual phase gratings. This work focuses on the analysis of fringe visibility in X-ray interferometer using dual triangular phase gratings. Based on the fringe intensity distribution formula of X-ray dual phase grating interferometer, the fringe visibility of the dual triangular phase grating interferometer is investigated as a function of the grating spacing under monochromatic and polychromatic illumination, respectively. For comparison, the fringe visibility of the dual rectangular phase grating interferometer is also studied under the same condition. The results show that the maximum fringe visibility of the dual triangular phase grating interferometer increases with the phase shift increasing regardless of monochromatic or polychromatic illumination. Under monochromatic illumination, the maximum fringe visibility of dual 5π/2 triangular phase gratings is about 21% higher than that of dual rectangular phase gratings. Under polychromatic illumination, the fringe visibility of dual 5π/2 triangular phase gratings is at least 23% higher than that of dual rectangular phase gratings. Under polychromatic illumination, the greater the deviation of X-ray average energy from the grating design energy, the greater the decrease of maximum fringe visibility of the dual phase grating interferometer is. In addition, with the increase of the focal size of X-ray source, the maximum fringe visibility of the dual phase grating interferometer decreases, under polychromatic illumination. We hope that those results can be used as guidelines for designing and optimizing X-ray interferometer using dual triangular phase gratings.

Evaluation of Comfort Levels of Patient and Ergonomics of the Dental Surgeon during Manual Scaling under Both Proprioceptive Derivative Concept and Conventional Approach: A Cross-sectional Study

Introduction: The important components that contribute to successful dental care are maximum accessibility, visibility, comfort, and control over clinical processes. Dental practitioners are more prone to developing musculoskeletal disorders due to awkward working postures. To minimise all these risk factors, a new concept called Proprioceptive Derivative (PD) has come into existence. Aim: The main aim of this study was to evaluate the comfort levels of the patient and ergonomics of the dental professional in the PD approach and conventional approach. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in which manual scaling was performed by 20 dentists on 120 patients using the PD concept and conventional concept. A 13-item questionnaire was distributed among the patients and clinicians to record their perceptions of comfort levels, clinicians’ treatment satisfaction levels, and the time needed to complete the procedure after mastering the PD concept. In indepedent sample t-test was use to compare the responses among the two groups. p≤0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The comfort levels of the clinician (q1) during treatment in the conventional approach, with a mean value of 2.96±0.69, were significantly lower than in the PD approach, with a mean value of 3.46±0.85 (p<0.001). However, from the perspective of the patients, the mean comfort levels using the conventional strategy were 2.61±1.03, while using the PD approach, it was 2.85±1.11, which was not statistically significant (p>0.05). Conclusion: The clinicians had more ergonomic benefits and improved time factors under the PD concept. By following the work postures according to the PD concept, clinicians can avoid musculoskeletal discomfort, which is beneficial to all clinicians and can increase the longevity of their clinical practice.

Essential Role of Destructive Interference in the Gravitationally Induced Entanglement

The gravitationally induced entanglement is a type of quantum entanglement that can be generated between two mesoscopic particles using their Newtonian gravitational interaction. It has attracted a great deal of attention as a new platform for studying quantum aspects of gravity. The present paper analyzes the gravitationally induced entanglement as a pure interference effect and shows that the entanglement is induced solely by a sign change associated with the destructive quantum interference. It is also shown that when the entanglement is non-maximal, the preparation for destructive interference for one of the particles can recover a maximum visibility interference pattern for the other particle. Therefore, the non-maximally entangled state can be extremely effective for experimental testing since it can help in reducing requirements (on masses of the particles and their interaction duration, separation distances and sources) and preserve the information about entanglement at the same time. As a result, the improvement in the signal-to-noise ratio is demonstrated and a parameter that determines minimal requirements for experimental testing is defined.

General overview of the first 50 years of Economic Notes, 1972–2021

AbstractWe review the five different phases lived by Economic Notes during its first 50 years. First, its foundation and early phase—until 1983—received great support from Monte dei Paschi and also benefited from a windfall since Robert A. Mundell attracted to Siena an international network of top economists, policy makers and executives, facilitating high‐quality submissions to the Journal. When Mundell's meetings stopped (in 1978), Economic Notes had already secured a good reputation and had become a champion of a pluralist approach, accepting papers from different disciplines and views. In the second phase—from 1984 to the mid‐1990s—the Journal, led by a qualified Editorial Board lived continuity but also some new directions emerged. Economic Notes became better connected to the local Faculty of Economics. Also, the drive towards pluralism of the early years was refocused to safeguard access by different economic schools rather than different disciplines. In those years, Monte dei Paschi too transformed from a mostly regional bank into a national and international player, thus demanding less visibility support from the Journal. Those events blurred the initial mission and started distancing the Bank from the Journal. The third phase—from mid‐1990s to early 2000s—saw the maximum productivity and visibility of Economic Notes. Monte financed Conferences with great resonance also owing to an exceptional Advisory Board. In the fourth phase—from 2004, when the Conferences became rare, to 2012—the performance worsened. Communication between the Bank and the Journal grew more difficult, complicating any planning for the future. The fifth phase— from 2012 to 2019—aimed to relaunch the Journal without a significant support from the Bank, which had entered a period of difficulties of its own. The planned way out of this situation was to develop a series of Special Issues through dedicated Calls for Papers. As we show, that strategy delivered some results and, in effect, Economic Notes’ performance rebounded. Nevertheless, Monte was progressively disengaging from the Journal, which, eventually, was sold to Wiley, the publishing partner. The sixth and last phase of the Journal—from 2019 to 2021—under the new ownership by Wiley marked a gradual transformation. In the end, it seems that the publishing venture initiated in 1972 is still making progress and providing a pluralist forum for discussion. The journey of Economic Notes is still on!

Demonstrating backflow in classical two beams’ interference

The well-known interference pattern of bright and dark fringes was first observed for light beams back in 1801 by Thomas Young. The maximum visibility fringes occur when the irradiance of the two beams is equal, and as the ratio of the beam intensities deviates from unity, fringe visibility decreases. An interesting outcome that might not be entirely intuitive, however, is that the wavefront of such unequal amplitude beams’ superposition will exhibit a wavy behavior. In this work, we experimentally observe the backflow phenomenon within this wavy wavefront. Backflow appears in both optics (retro- propagating light) and in quantum mechanics (QM), where a local phase gradient is not present within the spectrum of the system. It has become an interesting subject for applications as it is closely related to superoscillations whose features are used in super resolution imaging and in a particle’s path manipulations. The first successful attempt to observe backflow was made only recently in an assembly of optical fields, by synthesizing their wavefront in a complex manner. Yet, backflow is perceived as hard to detect. Here, by utilizing interference in its most basic form, we reveal that backflow in optical fields is robust and surprisingly common, more than it was previously thought to be.

Growth Analysis of Red Algae Eucheuma spinosum using Basket Method in Tesabela Village, Kupang Regency

The purpose of this study was to determine the growth of red algae Eucheuma spinosum using basket method in Batubao marine waters, Tesabela Village, West Kupang District. This research has been conducted for three months, from September to November 2020. The method used in this research were observation and experiments in the field. The results showed that the red algae Eucheuma spinosum cultivated for six weeks had a slow growth rate. The absolute weight measurement results at the end of the study were only 199 g, although it was slow but the growth continued, the observations showed that the cultivated red algae was not predated by herbivore fish or turtles, because of the use of baskets. The slow growth is due to environmental factors, especially poor of brightness. The condition of the waters during the study tended to be cloudy with a maximum visibility of 1.5 meters with a water temperature that was high enough to reach 30 oC.

Preventing spread of aerosolized infectious particles during medical procedures: A lab-based analysis of an inexpensive plastic enclosure.

Severe viral respiratory diseases, such as SARS-CoV-2, are transmitted through aerosol particles produced by coughing, talking, and breathing. Medical procedures including tracheal intubation, extubation, dental work, and any procedure involving close contact with a patient's airways can increase exposure to infectious aerosol particles. This presents a significant risk for viral exposure of nearby healthcare workers during and following patient care. Previous studies have examined the effectiveness of plastic enclosures for trapping aerosol particles and protecting health-care workers. However, many of these enclosures are expensive or are burdensome for healthcare workers to work with. In this study, a low-cost plastic enclosure was designed to reduce aerosol spread and viral transmission during medical procedures, while also alleviating issues found in the design and use of other medical enclosures to contain aerosols. This enclosure is fabricated from clear polycarbonate for maximum visibility. A large single-side cutout provides health care providers with ease of access to the patient with a separate cutout for equipment access. A survey of medical providers in a local hospital network demonstrated their approval of the enclosure's ease of use and design. The enclosure with appropriate plastic covers reduced total escaped particle number concentrations (diameter > 0.01 μm) by over 93% at 8 cm away from all openings. Concentration decay experiments indicated that the enclosure without active suction should be left on the patient for 15-20 minutes following a tracheal manipulation to allow sufficient time for >90% of aerosol particles to settle upon interior surfaces. This decreases to 5 minutes when 30 LPM suction is applied. This enclosure is an inexpensive, easily implemented additional layer of protection that can be used to help contain infectious or otherwise potentially hazardous aerosol particles while providing access into the enclosure.