Leveraging Signaling to Prevent Cognitive Disengagement in Virtual Middle School Students: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to understand the lived experiences of middle school students leveraging signaling to combat cognitive disengagement in virtual learning. The theories guiding this study were Sweller’s cognitive load theory and Mayer’s cognitive theory of multimedia learning as they explain the relationship between learning capacity and optimizing the online learning process through signaling. These theories set the foundation for the following central research question: what are the lived experiences of virtual middle school students during cognitive disengagement and signaling? After thoroughly investigating previous research within the literature review, this transcendental phenomenological study followed Moustakas’ framework. After receiving IRB approval from Liberty University, the parent company (Orion) and Rigel virtual school, a sample of middle school students were polled from a well-established upper Midwest American virtual school. Data was collected using a triangulation of three distinct methods: individual interviews, questionnaires, and focus groups. The targeted participatory group of 15 scholars provided diverse backgrounds and perspectives. The data was analyzed using Saldaña’s coding method. Trustworthiness and ethical implementation have been extensively considered. The culmination of the shared lived experiences of the 15 participants resulted in three themes: student empowerment through virtual learning, cognitive threshold processing, and virtual learning strategies. Additionally, there were six corresponding subthemes: freedom to learn, student driven, metacognition, the rogue brain, augmenting modalities with multimedia approaches, and effective signaling for virtual learning

Sub-barrier fusion excitation for the system 7^7Li+28^{28}Si

The sub-barrier fusion excitation functions are measured for the first time for the system $^7$Li +$^{28}$Si by the characteristic $\gamma$-ray method in the energy range $E_{lab}$= 7-11.5 MeV. The results show an enhancement, below the barrier, by about a factor of two when compared with the one-dimensional barrier penetration (1D BPM) model. Introduction of coupling with the rotational 2$^{+}$ state (1.779MeV) of the target improves the fit somewhat, but still an enhancement of about 25-40% remains.Comment: 4 pages,3 figures, submitted to Physical Review

Sub- and above barrier fusion of loosely bound 6^6Li with 28^{28}Si

Fusion excitation functions are measured for the system $^6$Li+$^{28}$Si using the characteristic $\gamma$-ray method, encompassing both the sub-barrier and above barrier regions, viz., $E_{lab}$= 7-24 MeV. Two separate experiments were performed, one for the above barrier region ($E_{lab}$= 11-24 MeV) and another for the below barrier region ($E_{lab}$= 7-10 MeV). The results were compared with our previously measured fusion cross section for the $^7$Li+$^{28}$Si system. We observed enhancement of fusion cross section at sub-barrier regions for both $^6$Li and $^7$Li, but yield was substantially larger for $^6$Li. However, for well above barrier regions, similar type of suppression was identified for both the systems.Comment: 8 pages, 6 figures, as accepted for publication in Eur.Phys.J.

Elastic scattering measurements for the 10^{10}C + 208^{208}Pb system at Elab_{\rm lab} = 66 MeV

Background: The influence of halo structure of $^6$He, $^8$B, $^{11}$Be and $^{11}$Li nuclei in several mechanisms such as direct reactions and fusion is already established, although not completely understood. The influence of the $^{10}$C Brunnian structure is less known. Purpose: To investigate the influence of the cluster configuration of $^{10}$C on the elastic scattering at an energy close to the Coulomb barrier. Methods: We present experimental data for the elastic scattering of the $^{10}$C+$^{208}$Pb system at $E_{\rm lab}$ = 66 MeV. The data are compared to the three- and the four-body continuum-discretized coupled-channels calculations assuming $^9$B+$p$, $^6$Be+$\alpha$ and $^8$Be+$p$+$p$ configurations. Results: The experimental angular distribution of the cross sections shows the suppression of the Fresnel peak that is reasonably well reproduced by the continuum-discretized coupled-channels calculations. However, the calculations underestimate the cross sections at backward angles. Couplings to continuum states represent a small effect. Conclusions: The cluster configurations of $^{10}$C assumed in the present work are able to describe some of the features of the data. In order to explain the data at backward angles, experimental data for the breakup and an extension of theoretical formalism towards a four-body cluster seem to be in need to reproduce the measured angular distribution.Comment: 26 pages, 9 figure

COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptance among Low- and Lower-Middle-Income Countries: A Rapid Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Widespread vaccination against COVID-19 is critical for controlling the pandemic. Despite the development of safe and efficacious vaccinations, low-and lower-middle income countries (LMICs) continue to encounter barriers to care owing to inequitable access and vaccine apprehension. This study aimed to summarize the available data on COVID-19 vaccine acceptance rates and factors associated with acceptance in LMICs. A comprehensive search was performed in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science from inception through August 2021. Quality assessments of the included studies were carried out using the eight-item Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal tool for cross-sectional studies. We performed a meta-analysis to estimate pooled acceptance rates with 95% confidence intervals (CI). A total of 36 studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in the review. A total of 83,867 respondents from 33 countries were studied. Most of the studies were conducted in India (n = 9), Egypt (n = 6), Bangladesh (n = 4), or Nigeria (n = 4). The pooled-effect size of the COVID-19 vaccine acceptance rate was 58.5% (95% CI: 46.9, 69.7, I2 = 100%, 33 studies) and the pooled vaccine hesitancy rate was 38.2% (95% CI: 27.2–49.7, I2 = 100%, 32 studies). In country-specific sub-group analyses, India showed the highest rates of vaccine acceptancy (76.7%, 95% CI: 65.8–84.9%, I2= 98%), while Egypt showed the lowest rates of vaccine acceptancy (42.6%, 95% CI: 16.6–73.5%, I2= 98%). Being male and perceiving risk of COVID-19 infection were predictors for willingness to accept the vaccine. Increasing vaccine acceptance rates in the global south should be prioritized to advance global vaccination coverage

Canada-Africa Relations in Changing Core-Periphery Dynamics: A Chance to "Come Back" Differently

The Department of Foreign Affairs Canada sees the dynamism at play across the African continent as calling out for Canadian engagement. Africa in the twenty-first century is no longer the continent emerging from colonial rule; it seeks new forms of relationships with international partners. The African Development Bank, for instance, has identified five priorities for inclusive growth on the continent. The challenges are huge, as is the potential for transformative change. But the conditions for international collaboration in achieving these goals have changed; African leaders are seeking new forms of associations and teamwork. Canada has an opportunity to "come back" differently if it can look beyond its narrow mining interests and become an active partner working with public authorities in need of new and bold international partnerships. Unfortunately, Trudeau's "Canada is back" campaign does not look set to change the status quo. And, in a world where the political economic power is moving east, African countries do not have much reason to listen to Canada

Poor Thermal Care Practices among Home Births in Nepal: Further Analysis of Nepal Demographic and Health Survey 2011

Introduction - Hypothermia is a major factor associated with neonatal mortality in low and middle income countries. Thermal care protection of newborn through a series of measures taken at birth and during the initial days of life is recommended to reduce the hypothermia and associated neonatal mortality. This study aimed to identify the prevalence of and the factors associated with receiving ‘optimum thermal care’ among home born newborns of Nepal. Methods - Data from the Nepal Demographic and Health Surveys (NDHS) 2011 were used for this study. Women who reported a home birth for their most recent childbirth was included in the study. Factors associated with optimum thermal care were examined using Chi-square test followed by logistic regression. Results - A total of 2464 newborns were included in the study. A total of 57.6 % were dried before the placenta was delivered; 60.3% were wrapped; 24.5% had not bathing during the first 24 hours, and 63.9% were breastfed within one hour of birth. Overall, only 248 (10.7%; 95% CI (8.8 %, 12.9%)) newborns received optimum thermal care. Newborns whose mothers had achieved higher education (OR 2.810; 95% CI (1.132, 6.976)), attended four or more antenatal care visits (OR 2.563; 95% CI (1.309, 5.017)), and those whose birth were attended by skilled attendants (OR 2.178; 95% CI (1.428, 3.323)) were likely to receive optimum thermal care. Conclusion - The current study showed that only one in ten newborns in Nepal received optimum thermal care. Future newborn survival programs should focus on those mothers who are uneducated; who do not attend the recommended four or more attend antenatal care visits; and those who deliver without the assistance of skilled birth attendants to reduce the risk of neonatal hypothermia in Nepal

Factors associated with the utilisation of postnatal care services among the mothers of Nepal: analysis of Nepal Demographic and Health Survey 2011

Background: Postnatal care is essential to save the life of the mother and newborn. Knowledge on the determinants of postnatal care assists the policy makers to design, justify and implement appropriate interventions. The current study aimed to analyse the factors associated with utilisation of postnatal care services by mothers in Nepal based on the data from Nepal Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) 2011. Methods: This study utilised the data from NDHS 2011. The association between utilisation of at least one postnatal care visit (within 6 weeks of delivery) and immediate postnatal care (within 24 hours of delivery) with selected factors was examined by using Chi-square test (?2), followed by multiple logistic regression.Result: Of the 4079 mothers, 43.2% reported attending postnatal care within the first six weeks of birth, while 40.9% reported attending immediate postnatal care. Mothers who were from urban areas, from rich families, who were educated, whose partners were educated, who delivered in a health facility, who had attended a four or more antenatal visits, and whose delivery was attended by a skilled attendant were more likely to report attending at least one postnatal care visit. On the other hand, mothers who reported agricultural occupation, and whose partners performed agricultural occupation were less likely to have attended at least one postnatal care visit. Similarly, mothers who were from the urban areas, from rich families, who were educated, whose partners were educated, who had attended four or more antenatal visits, who delivered in a health facility and had delivered in the presence of a skilled birth attendant were more likely to report attending immediate postnatal care. Mothers who reported agricultural occupation, and whose partners performed agricultural occupation were less likely to attend immediate postnatal care. Conclusion: The majority of postnatal mothers in Nepal did not seek postnatal care. Increasing utilisation of the recommended four or more antenatal visits, delivery at health facility and increasing awareness and access to services through community-based programs especially for the rural, poor, and less educated mothers may increase postnatal care attendance in Nepal

Origin and Global Expansion of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Complex Lineage 3

Tuberculosis still causes 1.5 million deaths annually and is mainly caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex strains belonging to three evolutionary modern lineages (Lineages 2–4). While Lineage 2 and Lineage 4 virtually conquered the world, Lineage 3 is particularly successful in Northern and Eastern Africa, as well as in Southern Asia, the suspected evolutionary origin of these strains. Here, we sought to understand how Lineage 3 strains came to the African continent. To this end, we performed routine genotyping to characterize over 2500 clinical isolates from 38 countries. We then selected a representative collection of 373 isolates for a whole-genome analysis and a modeling approach to infer the geographic origin of different sublineages. In fact, the origin of Lineage 3 could be located in India, and we found evidence for independent introductions of four distinct sublineages into North/East Africa, in line with known ancient exchanges and migrations between both world regions. Our study illustrates that the evolutionary history of humans and their pathogens are closely connected and further provides a systematic understanding of the genomic diversity of Lineage 3, which could be important for the development of new tuberculosis vaccines or new therapeutics.Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) Lineage 3 (L3) strains are abundant in world regions with the highest tuberculosis burden. To investigate the population structure and the global diversity of this major lineage, we analyzed a dataset comprising 2682 L3 strains from 38 countries over 5 continents, by employing 24-loci mycobacterial interspersed repetitive unit-variable number of tandem repeats genotyping (MIRU-VNTR) and drug susceptibility testing. We further combined whole-genome sequencing (WGS) and phylogeographic analysis for 373 strains representing the global L3 genetic diversity. Ancestral state reconstruction confirmed that the origin of L3 strains is located in Southern Asia and further revealed multiple independent introduction events into North-East and East Africa. This study provides a systematic understanding of the global diversity of L3 strains and reports phylogenetic variations that could inform clinical trials which evaluate the effectivity of new drugs/regimens or vaccine candidates.Peer Reviewe