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Parental acceptance of Nitrous Oxide sedation in children aged 6 to 12 years old
No full textBackground: Nitrous oxide (N₂O) is a sedative gas used to relieve anxiety and tension in anxious patients. N₂O enables patients to remain conscious and responsive to verbal commands throughout the treatment, placing them in a state of relaxation and allowing them to receive treatment without undue anxiety or stress. In general, parental preferences play a significant role in guiding treatment plans in Paediatric Dentistry. Mutual agreement and acceptance of treatment options are most effective when parents are actively involved in treatment planning, which aims to reduce parents’ anxiety and increase their awareness of treatment modalities available for their child. This research aimed to investigate parental acceptance of the use of nitrous oxide sedation for dental treatment in children aged 6 to 12 years old. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using a self-administered questionnaire, containing both closed and open-ended questions. A sample size of 168 participants was included in the study. The study population consisted of biological parents, legal guardians, foster parents, and caregivers of paediatric patients at Tygerberg and Mitchell’s Plain Oral Health Centres. The self-administered questionnaire was completed by the parents in the respective Paediatric Dentistry Departments. The completed questionnaires were captured and formatted in RedCap. For quantitative data, simple and adjusted logistic regressions were used to determine relationships between parental acceptance and various demographic variables. STATA 18 was used as the statistical analysis software, and statistical significance was determined at p<0.05. Thematic analysis was applied to specifically open-ended questions, whereby identified verbal codes were collated into themes, supported by representative participant quotes
Methane emissions from indigenous nitrogen-efficient bovidae are overestimated
No full textLivestock are vital for global food security, but are a significant source of methane, a greenhouse gas. Breeding for highly efficient nitrogen utilization and lower emissions is therefore a key goal for sustainable agriculture. Here we compared these traits across wild, indigenous, crossbred, and improved bovines via an extensive meta-analysis, supplemented with measurements of 150 yaks. Our results revealed that indigenous bovine produce less methane and have lower urinary nitrogen loss than improved breeds, indicating superior feed conversion and nitrogen efficiency. Notably, crossbreeds also produce significantly less methane, revealing a hybrid advantage for sustainable breeding. Furthermore, our direct measurements showed that methane emissions from yaks were 39% lower than predicted by Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Tier2 models, a pattern of overestimation also evident in other indigenous bovines. These findings reveal that well-adapted indigenous breeds are crucial genetic resources, highlighting the need for breed-specific data to guide global mitigation efforts. (Figure presented.
Inactivation of cyclotella meneghiniana to prepare biochar by in-liquid pulsed discharge plasma
No full textThe large-scale outbreaks of harmful algal blooms continue to impact river and lake ecosystems. Converting harmful algal blooms into algal biochar presents a novel approach. This work investigates the inactivation of Cyclotella meneghiniana (the dominant species in diatom blooms) to prepare biochar by in-liquid pulsed discharge plasma (LPDP). Under the conditions of a peak voltage of 30 kV and an electrode spacing of 7 mm, a 100 % inactivation ratio can be achieved within 20 min plasma treatment. The multiple physical and chemical effects generated by in-liquid pulsed discharge cause the cell structure destruction, chlorophyll-a content reduction, enzyme activity decrease, and malondialdehyde oxidative degradation leading to algal inactivation and biochar production. The obtained algal biochar has the advantages of a rich carbon content and a stable structure. This work provides a new technological option for resource utilization of algal blooms
Nuclear level density and γ -ray strength function of Ni 67 and the impact on the i process
No full textProton-γ coincidences from (d,p) reactions between a Ni66 beam and a deuterated polyethylene target have been analyzed with the inverse-Oslo method to find the nuclear level density (NLD) and γ-ray strength function (γSF) of Ni67. The Ni66(n,γ) capture cross section has been calculated using the Hauser-Feshbach model in TALYS using the measured NLD and γSF as constraints. The results confirm that the Ni66(n,γ) reaction acts as a bottleneck when relying on one-zone nucleosynthesis calculations. However, the impact of this reaction is strongly dampened in multizone models of low-metallicity AGB stars experiencing i-process nucleosynthesis
Immunization coverage, equity, and access for children with disabilities: a scoping review of challenges, strategies, and lessons learned to reduce the number of zero-dose children
No full textBackground: Children with disabilities, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), face heightened risks of vaccine-preventable diseases due to a range of systemic and social barriers. Although immunization is a fundamental human right and a proven public health intervention, this vulnerable group is often overlooked in policy and practice. Understanding the factors compromising vaccine equity for these children is critical to reducing zero-dose prevalence and improving health outcomes. Methods: This scoping review examined peer-reviewed, gray literature from 2010 to 2024. Searches were conducted in PubMed, Google Scholar, and relevant organizational reports (WHO, UNICEF). Studies addressing children with disabilities and focusing on immunization barriers, interventions, or lessons learned were selected. English-language publications were screened in title/abstract and full-text stages. Key data extracted included population, barriers, and immunization outcomes. Since this review focused on articles in English, this is a key limitation. Results were synthesized thematically to identify recurring patterns and to guide improved interventions and policies. Results: Twelve articles met the inclusion criteria. Key barriers identified were inadequate healthcare infrastructure, insufficient provider training, limited follow-up services in rural regions, societal stigma, and pervasive misconceptions around both disability and vaccines. Factors such as maternal education, logistical support for caregivers, and using low-sensory, inclusive vaccination settings were consistently linked with better outcomes. Effective strategies included mobile vaccination units, tailored interventions (e.g., distraction or sedation techniques), school-based immunization programs, and robust community engagement to address stigma. Lessons learned underscored the importance of flexible, individualized care plans and empowering families through transparent communication. Conclusions: Children with disabilities continue to experience significant gaps in immunization coverage, driven by intersecting barriers at the individual, health system, and societal levels. Scaling tailored interventions, inclusive policies, strengthened infrastructure, and ongoing research can help ensure these children receive equitable access to life-saving vaccinations
Assessing the perceived awareness and knowledge of type 2 diabetes mellitus clients’ attitude towards telerehabilitation in Limpopo province of South Africa
No full textThe concept of telerehabilitation is central to the present century, where artificial intelligence (ai) is prevalent. Telerehabilitation in africa is fast becoming a key instrument in the primary healthcare (phc) sector. Telerehabilitation can provide access to rehabilitation services for people who may live in an area where there are challenges such as mobility or transport issues, making attending rehabilitation sessions difficult or impossible. Telerehabilitation refers to the use of information technology (it) to aid, assess and provide information to physically or cognitively impaired individuals (schwamm et al. 2009). Telerehabilitation can provide patients with easy access to rehabilitation services (cottrell et al. 2017). Telerehabilitation offers and promotes services through information and communication technologies (ict) to patients in their homes and other environments (brennan, mawson & brownsell 2009). Telerehabilitation empowers and enables individuals to take control of the management of their medical needs and interventions by enabling personalised care, choice and personal control (brennan et al. 2009)
Mathematical modeling of influence of multiplicative white noise on dynamical soliton solutions in the KdV equation
No full textThis study investigates the impact of multiplicative white noise on soliton solutions of the Korteweg–de Vries (KdV) equation, a classical model for nonlinear wave propagation. While the deterministic KdV framework effectively captures soliton dynamics in idealized settings, real-world systems often experience stochastic fluctuations that can significantly affect wave behavior. By introducing space–time-dependent multiplicative noise, we formulate a stochastic KdV (SKdV) equation and derive analytical expressions for both single and multi-soliton solutions using a novel wave transformation in conjunction with the Hirota bilinear method. Numerical simulations across varying noise intensities reveal that stochastic perturbations lead to soliton deformation, amplitude modulation, phase shifts, and disrupted coherence. These effects become more pronounced with stronger noise, altering soliton interactions and long-term stability. The findings emphasize the importance of incorporating stochastic effects into non-linear wave models, with implications for applications in fluid dynamics, plasma physics, and optical communications
The hobby-eberly telescope dark energy experiment survey (HETDEX) active galactic nuclei catalog: the fourth data release
No full textWe present the active galactic nuclei (AGN) catalog from the fourth data release (HDR4) of the Hobby-Eberly Telescope Dark Energy Experiment Survey (HETDEX). HETDEX is an untargeted spectroscopic survey. HDR4 contains 345,874 Integral Field Unit observations from 2017 January to 2023 August covering an effective area of 62.9 deg2. With no imaging preselection, our spectroscopic confirmed AGN sample includes low-luminosity AGN, narrow-line AGN, and/or red AGN down to g ∼ 25. This catalog has 15,940 AGN across the redshifts of z = 0.1 ∼ 4.6, giving a raw AGN number density of 253.4 deg−2. Among them, 10,499 (66%) have redshifts either confirmed by line pairs or matched to the Sloan Digital Sky Survey Quasar Catalog. For the remaining 5441 AGN, 2083 are single broad-line AGN candidates, while the remaining 3358 are single intermediate broad-line (full width at half-maximum, FWHM ∼1200 km s−1) AGN candidates. A total of 4060 (39%) of the 10,499 redshift-confirmed AGN have emission-line regions 3σ more extended than the image quality, which could be strong outflows blowing into the outskirts of the host galaxies or ionized intergalactic medium
Detecting the turnover of the power spectrum with SKAO and other surveys
No full textThis thesis explores the potential of next-generation experiments, specifically the Square Kilometre Array and the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument, to detect and constrain the power spectrum turnover, a key feature of the universe’s large-scale structure holding the key for probing ultra-large scales. Employing intensity mapping and galaxy surveys, we utilize Fisher forecasts and Markov Chain Monte Carlo simulations to model and analyze this subtle cosmological signature. Our findings reveal that SKA-MID Band 1 demonstrates the highest detection significance and Figure of Merit, establishing it as the most promising instrument for this endeavor. However, foregrounds introduce a bias on the detected value of the turnover position. While DESI surveys excel at probing small-scale structures, they effectively complement intensity mapping urveys, crucial for a holistic understanding of the universe’s matter distribution. We address significant challenges such as foreground contamination and analyze the effects of the telescope beam, which can obscure the turnover signal for intensity mapping observations. Our study emphasizes the importance of advanced foreground cleaning techniques and beam-induced bias correction for accurate cosmological analysis. This work confirms the feasibility of detecting the power spectrum turnover with observational tools and provides a critical comparative evaluation of current methodologies across various surveys. The insights discussed lay a robust foundation for future research dedicated to refining our understanding of cosmic evolution and its governing parameters as well as addressing the Hubble tension
Investigation of structural, morphological and temperature dependent electrical properties of CdO nanowires
No full textCadmium oxide (CdO) nanowires in the diameter range of 55-68 nm have been prepared using electrodeposition method. The calcinations of the nanowires have been done at medium temperatures of 450 °C. X-ray diffraction method is employed in order to analyze structural parameters whereas FTIR spectroscopy is used to further confirm the structure of the nanowires. The morphology of the prepared nanowires is analyzed with the FESEM images. The purity and elemental analysis of the synthesized CdO nanowires grown over a silicon substrate have been done using EDX spectra. The electrical properties are studied using a two-probe method with applied voltage ranging from −10 to 10 V and with a variation in temperature from 20 to 200 °C, the current is found to be varying from 6.93 to 21.29 nA. The increase in current with temperature indicates that the present samples can be utilized in various applications such as sensing, supercapacitor and other semiconducting applications