Computer Simulation of Some Natural Sciences Problems in Virtual Lab

In general, there are two categories of problems existing in nature: deterministic and probabilistic. Former category of problems is tackled through well-known numerical methods, whereas the latter kind is explored through Monte Carlo simulation techniques. In both cases, the simulation is an integral part and requires the computational techniques using modern operating systems (OS) such as Linux, UNIX, Windows, and Mac OSX and prevalent application software. Main motive of this research work is to employ the latest version of Windows based OS and its compatible application software. Thus, MS Visual Studio.NET offers the most suitable Windows-based software system for current scholarly work. Recently, Singh and Siddiqui [Journal of Educational Technology Systems 37(4), 405-417 (2008-2009)] have simulated numerically the trajectory of a projectile in a frictionless environment. These authors also created random numbers using a simple random number generator for simulating the rolling of six dice. However, these authors used old MS Excel 2003 and 2007. Purpose of current research is to reproduce those results with latest MS Visual Studio.NET 2012/2013 framework using C# object oriented language and to modify the deterministic problem of projectile motion that includes effect of external variables, e.g., weather conditions, wind speed, barometric pressure or air density etc. To initiate the computations, we employed Euler’s method for velocity and acceleration along each axis in 2D-space. Both velocity and acceleration are then rearranged and integrated under the condition of constant gravity force, and subsequently these variables are modified depending on environmental conditions

Modelization and characterization of a CMOS camera as an optical real-time oscilloscope

Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) camera sensors are embedded in many consumer electronics products: Thanks to the Rolling Shutter (RS) readout mode, they can detect a time-varying light intensity, which is the key to realize Optical Camera Communication (OCC). To this aim, we introduce here a model describing the camera as a Real-Time Oscilloscope (RTO) detecting optical signals; by means of this approach, we can now characterize the Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) camera by means of parameters that correspond to common oscilloscope specifications, such as the frequency response, the noise, the Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR), the total harmonic distortion (THD), etc.; all of these are introduced and measured in terms of the camera parameters. This approach provides for the first time a set of quantitative tools that should be used to maximize the OCC transmission performance by allowing the optimal selection of the camera settings

Attention Capture by Direct Gaze is Robust to Context and Task Demands

The final publication is available at Springer via https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10919-011-0128-z.Eye-tracking was used to investigate whether gaze direction would influence the visual scanning of faces, when presented in the context of a full character, in different social settings, and with different task demands. Participants viewed individual computer agents against either a blank background or a bar scene setting, during both a free-viewing task and an attractiveness rating task for each character. Faces with a direct gaze were viewed longer than faces with an averted gaze regardless of body context, social settings, and task demands. Additionally, participants evaluated characters with a direct gaze as more attractive than characters with an averted gaze. These results, obtained with pictures of computer agents rather than real people, suggest that direct gaze is a powerful attention grabbing stimulus that is robust to background context or task demands.103305-1/Canadian Institutes of Health Research89822-1/Canadian Institutes of Health Research103305-1/PHS HHS/United States89822-1/PHS HHS/United State

Concurrent Hyperthyroidism and Papillary Thyroid Cancer

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Modelization and Characterization of a CMOS Camera as an Optical Real-Time Oscilloscope

Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) camera sensors are embedded in many consumer electronics products: thanks to the Rolling Shutter (RS) readout mode, they can detect a time-varying light intensity, which is the key to realize Optical Camera Communication (OCC). To this aim, we introduce here a model describing the camera as a Real-Time Oscilloscope (RTO) detecting optical signals; by means of this approach, we can now characterize the Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) camera by means of parameters that correspond to common oscilloscope specifications, such as the frequency response, the noise, the Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR), the total harmonic distortion (THD), etc.; all of these are introduced and measured in terms of the camera parameters. This approach provides for the first time a set of quantitative tools that should be used to maximize the OCC transmission performance by allowing the optimal selection of the camera settings

AntVideoRecord: Autonomous system to capture the locomotor activity of leafcutter ants

The leafcutter ants (LCA) are considered plague in a great part of the American continent, causing great damage in production fields. Knowing the locomotion and foraging rhythm in LCA on a continuous basis would imply a significant advance for ecological studies, fundamentally of animal behavior. However, studying the forage rhythm of LCA in the field involves a significant human effort. This also adds a risk of subjective results due to the operator fatigue. In this work a new development named ‘AntVideoRecord’ is proposed to address this issue. This device is a low-cost autonomous system that records videos of the LCA path in a fixed position. The device can be easily reproduced using the freely accessible source code provided. The evaluation of this novel device was successful because it has exceeded all the basic requirements in the field: record continuously for at least seven days, withstand high and low temperatures, capture acceptable videos during the day and night, and have a simple configuration protocol by mobile devices and laptops. It was possible to confirm the correct operation of the device, being able to record more than 1900 h in the field at different climate conditions and times of the day. 2022 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CCANII: FMV 15605

Antioxidative potential of a combined therapy of anti TNFα and Zn acetate in experimental colitis.

AIM: To evaluate whether combination therapy with anti-tumour necrosis factor α (TNFα) antibody and Zn acetate is beneficial in dextran sodium sulphate (DSS) colitis. METHODS: Colitis was induced in CD1-Swiss mice with 5% DSS for 7 d. The experimental mice were then randomised into the following subgroups: standard diet + DSS treated (induced colitis group); standard diet + DSS + subcutaneous 25 μg anti-TNFα treated group; Zn acetate treated group + DSS + subcutaneous 25 μg anti-TNFα; standard diet + DSS + subcutaneous 6.25 μg anti-TNFα treated group and Zn acetate treated group + DSS + subcutaneous 6.25 μg anti-TNFα. Each group of mice was matched with a similar group of sham control animals. Macroscopic and histological features were scored blindly. Homogenates of the colonic mucosa were assessed for myeloperoxidase activity as a biochemical marker of inflammation and DNA adducts (8OH-dG) as a measure of oxidative damage. RESULTS: DSS produced submucosal erosions, ulcers, inflammatory cell infiltration and cryptic abscesses which were reduced in both groups of mice receiving either anti-TNFα alone or combined with zinc. The effect was more pronounced in the latter group (vs Zn diet, P < 0.02). Myeloperoxidase activity (vs controls, P < 0.02) and DNA adducts, greatly elevated in the DSS fed colitis group (vs controls, P < 0.05), were significantly reduced in the treated groups, with a more remarkable effect in the group receiving combined therapy (vs standard diet, P < 0.04). CONCLUSION: DSS induces colonic inflammation which is modulated by the administration of anti-TNFα. Combining anti-TNFα with Zn acetate offers marginal benefit in colitis severity

Impact of guidelines implementation on empiric antibiotic treatment for pediatric uncomplicated osteomyelitis and septic arthritis over a ten-year period: Results of the ELECTRIC study (ostEomyeLitis and sEptiC arThritis tReatment in children)

Background: Due to the growing evidence of the efficacy of intravenous (IV) cefazolin with an early switch to oral cefalexin in uncomplicated pediatric osteomyelitis (OM) and septic arthritis (SA) in children, we changed our guidelines for empiric antibiotic therapy in these conditions. This study aims at evaluating the impact of the guidelines' implementation in reducing broad-spectrum antibiotic prescriptions, duration of IV antibiotic treatment and hospital stay, treatment failure and recurrence. Materials and methods: This is a retrospective, observational, quasi-experimental study. The four years pre-intervention were compared to the six years, ten months post-intervention (January 2012, through December 2015; January 2016, through October 31st, 2022). All patients aged 3 months to 18 years with OM or SA were evaluated for inclusion. Each population was divided into three groups: pre-intervention, post-intervention not following the guidelines, and post-intervention following the guidelines. Differences in antibiotic prescriptions such as Days of Therapy (DOT), activity spectrum and Length of Therapy (LOT), length of hospital stay (LOS), broad-spectrum antibiotics duration (bsDOT), treatment failure and relapse at six months were analyzed as outcomes. Results: Of 87 included patients, 48 were diagnosed with OM (8 pre-intervention, 9 post-intervention not following the guidelines and 31 post-intervention following the guidelines) and 39 with SA (9 pre-intervention, 12 post-intervention not following the guidelines and 18 post-intervention following the guidelines). In OM patients, IV DOT, DOT/LOT ratio, and bsDOT were significantly lower in the guidelines group, with also the lowest proportion of patients discharged on IV treatment. Notably, significantly fewer cases required surgery in the post-intervention groups. Considering SA, LOS, IV DOT, DOT/LOT ratio, and bsDOT were significantly lower in the guidelines group. The treatment failure rate was comparable among all groups for both OM and SA. There were no relapse cases. The overall adherence was between 72 and 100%. Conclusions: The implementation of guidelines was effective in decreasing the extensive use of broad-spectrum antibiotics and combination therapy for both OM and SA. Our results show the applicability, safety, and efficacy of a narrow-spectrum IV empirical antibiotic regimen with cefazolin, followed by oral monotherapy with first/second-generation cephalosporins, which was non-inferior to broad-spectrum regimens

Detection of a fluorescent-labeled avidin-nucleic acid nanoassembly by confocal laser endomicroscopy in the microvasculature of chronically inflamed intestinal mucosa

Inflammatory bowel diseases are chronic gastrointestinal pathologies causing great discomfort in both children and adults. The pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel diseases is not yet fully understood and their diagnosis and treatment are often challenging. Nanoparticle-based strategies have been tested in local drug delivery to the inflamed colon. Here, we have investigated the use of the novel avidin-nucleic acid nanoassembly (ANANAS) platform as a potential diagnostic carrier in an experimental model of inflammatory bowel diseases. Fluorescent- labeled ANANAS nanoparticles were administered to mice with chemically induced chronic inflammation of the large intestine. Localization of mucosal nanoparticles was assessed in vivo by dual-band confocal laser endomicroscopy. This technique enables characterization of the mucosal microvasculature and crypt architecture at subcellular resolution. Intravascular nanoparticle distribution was observed in the inflamed mucosa but not in healthy controls, demonstrating the utility of the combination of ANANAS and confocal laser endomicroscopy for highlighting intestinal inflammatory conditions. The specific localization of ANANAS in inflamed tissues supports the potential of this platform as a targeted carrier for bioactive moieties in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease