Disaster Preparedness Information Needs of Individuals Attending an Adult Literacy Center : An Exploratory Study

Being prepared with accurate, credible, and timely information during a disaster can help individuals make informed decisions about taking appropriate actions. Unfortunately, many people have difficulty understanding health and risk-related resources. This exploratory, mixed methods study assessed disaster information-seeking behaviors and comprehension of public health disaster preparedness resources by individuals at an adult literacy center. A convenience pilot sample of 20 adult learners (mean age: 53.1) was recruited. Health literacy was assessed using Newest Vital Sign (NVS) and modified Cloze (multiple choice) tests on biological terrorism and avian influenza information. In-person interviews were conducted to determine participants’ knowledge, perceptions, and information needs about disasters. Thematic analysis of interviews was conducted using NVivo7. Mean NVS was 3.11/6.00 implying limited health literacy. Mean Cloze scores revealed marginal disaster comprehension (avian flu: .46/1.00; biological terrorism: .48/1.00). Over half of participants with inadequate Cloze comprehension self-rated their understanding as “good.” Key themes emerging from interviews were: multiple perceptions about disasters, limited access to preparedness resources, need for visuals and plain language information, and importance of knowing where to go during a disaster. Study findings advocate for multimedia, plain language, and visual communication to influence adult learners’ literacy practices and self-efficacy in interpreting instructions and acting appropriately in preparing for and responding to disasters

Biofuels: Production and Properties as Substitute Fuels

Renewable sources include plants and animal fats, which are the main components of biofuels. Biofuels are free from sulfur, aromatics, metals, and crude oil residues. Since biofuels are more lubricating than petroleum diesel fuel, they are nonflammable and extend the life of diesel engines. As a result of this study, the main chemical and physical properties of biofuels were investigated, including their lubricity, viscosity, calorific value, and cetane number, which indicate the quality of renewable fuels, and compared with the other. We examined and compared the combustion characteristics of various types of biofuels as an alternative fuel, as well as their emissions characteristics. Biodiesel and biodiesel blends are compared to mineral diesel, as well as their performance in CI engines in this study’s review. With modified combustion equipment, biodiesel fuels can potentially reduce air pollution in diesel engines and are a very good substitute for fossil fuels. There is a need for more research and technological development in order for biofuels to become economically viable. Biofuel/biodiesel research should therefore be supported with policies that make their prices competitive with other conventional sources of energy. In the current state of affairs, biofuels are more effective when used alongside other sources of energy

Promising Bioalcohols for Low-Emission Vehicles

In recent decades, many kinds of research have been conducted on alternative fuels for compression ignition (CI) engines. Low/zero-carbon fuels, such as bioalcohols and hydrogen, are the most promising alternative fuels and are extensively studied because of their availability, ease of manufacturing, and environmental benefits. Using these promising fuels in CI engines is environmentally and economically beneficial. The most common alcohols are methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, propanol, butanol, n-butanol, tert-butanol, iso-butanol, and pentanol. The primary objective of this review paper is to examine the impact of bioalcohols and their blends with conventional diesel fuel in CI engines since these fuels possess characteristic properties that impact overall engine performance and exhaust emissions. This research also indicated that alcohols and blended fuels could be used as fuels in compression ignition engines. Chemical and physical properties of alcohols were examined, such as lubricity, viscosity, calorific value, and cetane number, and their combustion characteristics in compression ignition engines provide a comprehensive review of their potential biofuels as alternative fuels

Scientific Mapping of Chatbot Literature: A Bibliometric Analysis

The use of chatbots for customer service has gained momentum in recent years. Increasing evidence has shown that chatbots can transform the customer service landscape. Nevertheless, this topic currently lacks adequate bibliometric and visualization research. In order to review and summarise the research on chatbots, the study employs a bibliometric analysis approach to gain a comprehensive understanding of chatbots. The study uses bibliometric analysis of 798 documents sourced from the Scopus database from 2001 to 2022. The combination of biblioshiny (web interface application of Bibliometrix) and VOS viewer software was used to visualize the analysis. The study's findings reveal three prominent areas in the current research: antecedents of the adoption of chatbots, application of chatbots and behavioural & relational outcomes of the application of chatbots. The future directions and implications have been discussed in the study's conclusion

Promising Bioalcohols for Low-Emission Vehicles

In recent decades, many kinds of research have been conducted on alternative fuels for compression ignition (CI) engines. Low/zero-carbon fuels, such as bioalcohols and hydrogen, are the most promising alternative fuels and are extensively studied because of their availability, ease of manufacturing, and environmental benefits. Using these promising fuels in CI engines is environmentally and economically beneficial. The most common alcohols are methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, propanol, butanol, n-butanol, tert-butanol, iso-butanol, and pentanol. The primary objective of this review paper is to examine the impact of bioalcohols and their blends with conventional diesel fuel in CI engines since these fuels possess characteristic properties that impact overall engine performance and exhaust emissions. This research also indicated that alcohols and blended fuels could be used as fuels in compression ignition engines. Chemical and physical properties of alcohols were examined, such as lubricity, viscosity, calorific value, and cetane number, and their combustion characteristics in compression ignition engines provide a comprehensive review of their potential biofuels as alternative fuels

Synthesis and catalytic properties of CeO2 and Co/CeO2 nanofibers for diesel soot combustion

CeO2 nanofibres have been prepared by means of the co-precipitation and ripening method. The morphology of the CeO2 and the synthesis duration were influenced by changes in the mole ratio of the NaOH/citric acid. Three kinds of precipitates were obtained by increasing the NaOH/citric acid ratio: stuck-in-bundle, fibre and flake morphologies. The cobalt was impregnated on the prepared CeO2 (0.8) nanofibres and the physico-chemical properties, soot combustion activities and deactivation were investigated. The Co/CeO2 (0.8) nanofibres were evaluated for soot combustion in O2 and NO/O2. The morphology of the fibrous structure of CeO2 (0.8) and Co/CeO2 (0.8) was observed through FE SEM images. The presence of cobalt in Co3O4 form was confirmed by means of XRD and TPR analyses. The Co/CeO2 (0.8) fibre catalysts showed improvements in soot combustion at low temperatures of around 400 ◦C with 10% O2 and a decrease in the peak soot combustion temperature at about 40 ◦C was observed with the addition of 500 ppm NO. The XPS results of the Co 2p spectra of the Co/CeO2 (0.8) catalysts confirmed the presence of Co in the Co3+, Co2+ oxidation states. The thermal stability and the resistance to SO2 poisoning of the 10% Co/CeO2 (0.8) fibre catalyst were examined by ageing it in air and 1030 ppm SO2 at 800 ◦C for 12

Adhatoda vasica and Tinospora cordifolia extracts ameliorate clinical and molecular markers in mild COVID-19 patients: a randomized open-label three-armed study

Abstract Background SARS-CoV-2 infections caused mild-to-moderate illness. However, a sizable portion of infected people experience a rapid progression of hyper-inflammatory and hypoxic respiratory illness that necessitates an effective and safer remedy to combat COVID-19. Methods A total of 150 COVID-19-positive patients with no to mild symptoms, between the age groups 19–65 years were enrolled in this randomized, open-labeled three-armed clinical trial. Among them, 136 patients completed the study with RT-PCR negative reports. The patients received herbal drugs orally (Group A (Adhatoda vasica; AV; 500 mg; n = 50); Group B (Tinospora cordifolia; TC; 500 mg; n = 43), and Group C (AV + TC; 250 mg each; n = 43)) for 14 days. Clinical symptoms, vital parameters, and viral clearance were taken as primary outcomes, and biochemical, hematological parameters, cytokines, and biomarkers were evaluated at three time points as secondary outcomes. Results We found that the mean viral clearance time was 13.92 days (95% confidence interval [CI] 12.85–14.99) in Group A, 13.44 days (95% confidence interval [CI] 12.14–14.74) in Group B, and 11.86 days (95% confidence interval [CI] 10.62–13.11) days in Group C. Over a period of 14 days, the mean temperature in Groups A, and B significantly decreased linearly. In Group A, during the trial period, eosinophils, and PT/INR increased significantly, while monocytes, SGOT, globulin, serum ferritin, and HIF-1α, a marker of hypoxia reduced significantly. On the other hand, in Group B hsCRP decreased at mid-treatment. Eosinophil levels increased in Group C during the treatment, while MCP-3 levels were significantly reduced. Conclusions All the patients of the three-armed interventions recovered from COVID-19 and none of them reported any adverse effects from the drugs. Group C patients (AV + TC) resulted in a quicker viral clearance as compared to the other two groups. We provide the first clinical report of AV herbal extract acting as a modifier of HIF-1α in COVID-19 patients along with a reduction in levels of ferritin, VEGF, and PT/INR as the markers of hypoxia, inflammation, and thrombosis highlighting the potential use in progression stages, whereas the TC group showed immunomodulatory effects. Trial registration Clinical Trials Database -India (ICMR-NIMS), CTRI/2020/09/028043. Registered 24th September 2020, https://www.ctri.nic.in/Clinicaltrials/pdf_generate.php?trialid=47443&EncHid=&modid=&compid=%27,%2747443det%27 Graphical Abstrac