The academic gender gap take phenomenon: the application of TRA to the behavioral beliefs of female students toward accounting discipline in IIUM and TARC

The aim of this study is to examine the factors affecting Malaysian male and female students’ intention to enroll in accounting program. The study is based on the Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA) as a theoretical framework. Based on TRA model, the factors that may affect students’ behavioral intention to choose accounting program are categorized into three dimensions: attitudes toward choosing accounting program (ATT), subjective norm (SN) and amount of information on accounting (AIA). The questionnaire is employed to collect data from a sample of 400 male and female students in IIUM and TARC in Malaysia currently enrolling in accounting program. According to our results ATT and SN have significant influence on behavioral intention of both male and female students to enroll in accounting program. In case of AIA, the results support its significant impact on males but not females’ behavioral intention to enroll in accounting program. Several implications and recommendation are also discussed in the light of our findings

Deep learning-based pupil model predicts time and spectral dependent light responses

Although research has made significant findings in the neurophysiological process behind the pupillary light reflex, the temporal prediction of the pupil diameter triggered by polychromatic or chromatic stimulus spectra is still not possible. State of the art pupil models rested in estimating a static diameter at the equilibrium-state for spectra along the Planckian locus. Neither the temporal receptor-weighting nor the spectral-dependent adaptation behaviour of the afferent pupil control path is mapped in such functions. Here we propose a deep learning-driven concept of a pupil model, which reconstructs the pupil’s time course either from photometric and colourimetric or receptor-based stimulus quantities. By merging feed-forward neural networks with a biomechanical differential equation, we predict the temporal pupil light response with a mean absolute error below 0.1 mm from polychromatic (2007 ± 1 K, 4983 ± 3 K, 10,138 ± 22 K) and chromatic spectra (450 nm, 530 nm, 610 nm, 660 nm) at 100.01 ± 0.25 cd/m². This non-parametric and self-learning concept could open the door to a generalized description of the pupil behaviour

The Evaluation of Debris and Smear Layer Generated by Three Rotary Instruments Neo NiTi, 2Shape and Revo_S: An Ex-vivo Scanning Electron Microscopic Study

Introduction: This study compared the cleaning effectiveness of NeoNiTi, 2Shape and Revo_S rotary instruments. Materials and Methods: Fifty mandibular molar mesial roots were selected with an angle of curvature less than 20 degrees divided into three groups (n=15). Five samples were selected as negative control group. In all three systems, the final file was 25, 6%. The score of debris and smear layer in three thirds (coronal, middle and apical) of the root canal walls were evaluated using scanning electron microscopic (SEM) magnification. The data were analyzed using the Kruskal Wallis and Mann Whitney U tests for intergroup comparison (P≤0.05) and Freidman and Wilcoxon signed-rank test was employed for intragroup comparison (P≤0.05). Results: Residual debris of the 2Shape system in the apical region was significantly higher than the other two systems (P=0.039). Revo_S and 2Shape groups had significantly higher quantities of debris in the apical than the coronal region (P=0.029 and P=0.02, respectively). In the 2Shape group, the amount of mid-region debris was significantly higher (P=0.005) than the coronal. In inter-group comparison there was no significant difference in residual smear layer between the systems. In intra-group comparison in all three systems, the amount of smear layer in the coronal third was significantly higher than in the other two areas. (P=0.017, P<0.001 and P=0.032, respectively). Conclusion: 2Shape left the highest amount of debris in the apical region. The amount of debris in Revo_S and 2Shape groups in the apical region was significantly higher than in the coronal. The amount of smear layer in all three groups in the coronal area was higher than the middle and apical areas

PupilEXT: Flexible Open-Source Platform for High-Resolution Pupillometry in Vision Research

The human pupil behavior has gained increased attention due to the discovery of the intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells and the afferent pupil control path’s role as a biomarker for cognitive processes. Diameter changes in the range of 10–2 mm are of interest, requiring reliable and characterized measurement equipment to accurately detect neurocognitive effects on the pupil. Mostly commercial solutions are used as measurement devices in pupillometry which is associated with high investments. Moreover, commercial systems rely on closed software, restricting conclusions about the used pupil-tracking algorithms. Here, we developed an open-source pupillometry platform consisting of hardware and software competitive with high-end commercial stereo eye-tracking systems. Our goal was to make a professional remote pupil measurement pipeline for laboratory conditions accessible for everyone. This work’s core outcome is an integrated cross-platform (macOS, Windows and Linux) pupillometry software called PupilEXT, featuring a user-friendly graphical interface covering the relevant requirements of professional pupil response research. We offer a selection of six state-of-the-art open-source pupil detection algorithms (Starburst, Swirski, ExCuSe, ElSe, PuRe and PuReST) to perform the pupil measurement. A developed 120-fps pupillometry demo system was able to achieve a calibration accuracy of 0.003 mm and an averaged temporal pupil measurement detection accuracy of 0.0059 mm in stereo mode. The PupilEXT software has extended features in pupil detection, measurement validation, image acquisition, data acquisition, offline pupil measurement, camera calibration, stereo vision, data visualization and system independence, all combined in a single open-source interface, available at https://github.com/openPupil/Open-PupilEXT

PupilEXT: Flexible Open-Source Platform for High-Resolution Pupillometry in Vision Research

The human pupil behavior has gained increased attention due to the discovery of the intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells and the afferent pupil control path’s role as a biomarker for cognitive processes. Diameter changes in the range of 10⁻² mm are of interest, requiring reliable and characterized measurement equipment to accurately detect neurocognitive effects on the pupil. Mostly commercial solutions are used as measurement devices in pupillometry which is associated with high investments. Moreover, commercial systems rely on closed software, restricting conclusions about the used pupil-tracking algorithms. Here, we developed an open-source pupillometry platform consisting of hardware and software competitive with high-end commercial stereo eye-tracking systems. Our goal was to make a professional remote pupil measurement pipeline for laboratory conditions accessible for everyone. This work’s core outcome is an integrated cross-platform (macOS, Windows and Linux) pupillometry software called PupilEXT, featuring a user-friendly graphical interface covering the relevant requirements of professional pupil response research. We offer a selection of six state-of-the-art open-source pupil detection algorithms (Starburst, Swirski, ExCuSe, ElSe, PuRe and PuReST) to perform the pupil measurement. A developed 120-fps pupillometry demo system was able to achieve a calibration accuracy of 0.003 mm and an averaged temporal pupil measurement detection accuracy of 0.0059 mm in stereo mode. The PupilEXT software has extended features in pupil detection, measurement validation, image acquisition, data acquisition, offline pupil measurement, camera calibration, stereo vision, data visualization and system independence, all combined in a single open-source interface, available at https://github.com/openPupil/Open-PupilEXT

Comparative Evaluation of Canal Transportation and Centering Ratio in Curved Canals: A Study of Cone-beam Computed Tomography and Micro-computed Tomography

Introduction: This study aimed to compare the accuracy and agreement between cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) and micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) in the assessment of canal transportation and centering ratio following root canal instrumentation with rotary files. Material and Methods: Twenty mesiobuccal canals of mandibular molars were prepared using the 2Shape sequential rotary system. CBCT and micro-CT scans were performed before and after instrumentation, and the magnitude of transportation and centering ratio were measured. The acceptable transportation was set at ≤0.15 mm. The accuracy and agreement between CBCT and micro-CT were calculated, and the intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) and kappa coefficient were determined to assess the agreement between the two modalities. Statistical analyses were performed using repeated measures ANOVA. Results: Transportation was detected by both modalities at all distances from the apex after instrumentation. The agreement between CBCT and micro-CT in assessing canal transportation was observed in 80%, 85%, 75%, and 75% of specimens at 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-mm from the apex, respectively. The ICC for transportation and centering ratio was much lower than 0.75, indicating poor agreement between the modalities. The kappa coefficient did not show acceptable agreement between the methods. Conclusions: CBCT and micro-CT demonstrated poor agreement in assessing canal transportation and centering ratio. Micro-CT remains the preferred modality for in vitro investigations, while CBCT should be limited to clinical settings

Blendungsvermeidung bei nächtlichen Fahrten durch adaptive Steuerung der Heckleuchten an Fahrzeugen

Neue technologische Möglichkeiten, die durch die Einführung von LEDs in Fahrzeugheckleuchten entstehen, haben das Design von Heckleuchten revolutioniert und ermöglichen deutlich kleinere Heckleuchten als früher. Die gesetzlichen Anforderungen berücksichtigen diese Möglichkeiten bislang nur bedingt. Insbesondere zur Einführung der LEDs beklagten viele Autofahrer1 gegenüber dem ADAC, dass sie sich durch die Heckleuchten mit LED-Technologie des vorausfahrenden Verkehrs geblendet fühlen, obwohl diese normgerecht ausgelegt sind. Studien mit Probanden zeigen, dass gerade im nächtlichen Straßenverkehr für das Bremslicht geringere Lichtstärken erforderlich sein können als in den ECE-Richtlinien aktuell vorgesehen ist. Dabei gibt es Unterschiede zwischen statischen und dynamischen Untersuchungen. Bei Letzteren kann sich der Schwellwert der optimal empfundenen Lichtstärke erhöhen. In dieser Arbeit werden vier Studien zur Helligkeits- und Blendbewertung von Heckleuchten analysiert und miteinander verglichen

A Comparative Analysis of Clinical Characteristics and Laboratory Findings of COVID-19 between Intensive Care Unit and Non-Intensive Care Unit Pediatric Patients: A Multicenter, Retrospective, Observational Study from Iranian Network for Research in Viral

Introduction: To date, little is known about the clinical features of pediatric COVID-19 patients admitted to intensive care units (ICUs). Objective: Herein, we aimed to describe the differences in demographic characteristics, laboratory findings, clinical presentations, and outcomes of Iranian pediatric COVID-19 patients admitted to ICU versus those in non-ICU settings. Methods: This multicenter investigation involved 15 general and pediatrics hospitals and included cases with confirmed severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection based on positive real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) admitted to these centers between March and May 2020, during the initial peak of the COVID-19 pandemic in Iran. Results: Overall, 166 patients were included, 61 (36.7%) of whom required ICU admission. The highest number of admitted cases to ICU were in the age group of 1–5 years old. Malignancy and heart diseases were the most frequent underlying conditions. Dyspnea was the major symptom for ICU-admitted patients. There were significant decreases in PH, HCO3 and base excess, as well as increases in creatinine, creatine phosphokinase (CPK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and potassium levels between ICU-admitted and non-ICU patients. Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), shock, and acute cardiac injury were the most common features among ICU-admitted patients. The mortality rate in the ICU-admitted patients was substantially higher than non-ICU cases (45.9% vs. 1.9%, respectively; p<0.001). Conclusions: Underlying diseases were the major risk factors for the increased ICU admissions and mortality rates in pediatric COVID-19 patients. There were few paraclinical parameters that could differentiate between pediatrics in terms of prognosis and serious outcomes of COVID-19. Healthcare providers should consider children as a high-risk group, especially those with underlying medical conditions

Machbarkeitsabschätzung eines kombinierbaren Modells der haptischen Wahrnehmung

Ziel dieser Arbeit ist die Überprüfung der Möglichkeit, die haptische Wahrnehmung des Menschen, mittels eines kombinierten Modells, simulieren zu können. Die Motivation dieser Arbeit entsteht dadurch, dass für die Entwicklung haptischer Systeme die haptische Wahrnehmung des Menschen ein wichtiges Entwurfs- und Optimierungskriterium ist. Der Stand der Technik sieht dazu Probandentests vor, die sowohl zeit- als auch kostenintensiv sind. Ein Modell der haptischen Wahrnehmung könnte somit die Möglichkeit eröffnen, die Entwicklungszeiten von haptischen Systemen zu verkürzen und damit gleichzeitig Entwicklungskosten einzusparen. Die Arbeit konzentriert sich auf die taktile Wahrnehmung und teilt diese in eine objektive und in eine subjektive Sinnesphysiologie ein. Um eine Machbarkeitsabschätzung eines kombinierten Modells durchführen zu können, werden die Teilprozesse innerhalb der objektiven und der subjektiven Wahrnehmung definiert und anschließend untersucht. Die Untersuchungen der objektiven und subjektiven Sinnesphysiologie umfassen dabei folgende Themengebiete: Haut, Mechanorezeptoren, Adaption, Rezeptive Felder, Verteilung von Mechanorezeptoren auf der Handfläche, Temperaturabhängigkeit von Mechanorezeptoren, Membranpotential, Transduktion, Transformation, Signalvearbeitung im Nervensystem, Psychophysik, Signalentdeckungstheorie. Nach erfolgter Untersuchung aller Themengebiete wird vorgeschlagen, die Haut mittels eines kombinierten Modells bestehend aus Finite-Elemente- und Netzwerkmethode zu modellieren. Im Teilprozess der Mechanorezeptoren werden mathematische Modelle wie das Hodgin-Huxley Modell und das Integrated-and-Fire Modell vorgeschlagen, um den Transduktions- /Transformationsprozess korrekt zu simulieren. Für die Modellierung der subjektiven Sinnesphysiologie wird die Signalentdeckungstheorie empfohlen. Der Ausgang im Abschnitt der subjektiven Sinnesphysiologie ist gleichzusetzen mit der Wahrnehmung des Menschen durch einen bestimmten Reiz und wird mittels der psychometrischen Funktion definiert. Die Arbiet kommt zu dem Schluss, dass für die Entwicklung eines kombinierten Modells der haptischen Wahrnehmung sind zunächst intensive Untersuchungen im Abschnitt der subjektiven Sinnesphysiologie erforderlich sind. Offene Fragen und notwendige Untersuchungen, die benötigt werden, um ein Modell der objektiven und subjektiven Sinnesphysiologie entwickeln zu können, werden in dieser Arbeit abschließend ausführlich diskutiert

On Modelling the Human Pupil Light Response and Developing a Deep Learning-Driven Spectral Optimisation Framework to Simulate the Metameric Limits of the Melanopic Stimulus Space

The human pupil diameter is of interest in lighting-related research due to its role in regulating the retinal irradiance and its impact on the visual acuity. In the field of cognitive psychology, transient pupil diameter changes could be used to assess physiological body states, such as the cognitive workload, sleepiness or arousal. Technical concepts are also being explored in medical diagnostics, aiming to leverage temporal pupil size changes as a non-invasive biomarker, e.g., in pain monitoring to regulate the administration of anaesthetics or the early detection of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s. Until the turn of the millennium, it was widely assumed that the pupillary light reflex is controlled by the same type of photoreceptors responsible for visual processing. However, recent studies revealed that the afferent pupil control pathway is affected by an interaction of intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs) and photoreceptors in the outer retina (cones and rods). Thus, the spectral dependence of the pupil cannot be described by the luminous efficiency function V(λ) alone. Although the last two decades of neurophysiological research revealed new insights into how the pupil control works, empirical pupil models remained largely unchanged. Hence, they are time-invariant and can only predict the pupil diameter as a function of a V(λ)-weighted quantity. In fact, after more than 100 years of pupil light response research, still no unified model exists that could predict the temporal pupil diameter as a function of distinct light spectra. Therefore, one main objective of this work is to develop an approach to model the time- and spectral-dependent behaviour of the afferent pupil control pathway, allowing temporal pupil diameter predictions as a function of photometric quantities in the future. In this work, an end-to-end measurement setup consisting of a temperature-controlled 15-channel LED luminaire for generating light spectra and a pupillometry system for empirically collecting human pupil size data was developed for investigating the pupil’s light response. In addition, a novel spectral optimisation method is presented, useful to control multi-channel LED luminaires and to engineer arbitrary polychromatic spectra from photometric quantities whose optimised spectra could be used in pupil examinations. In terms of computation time, the presented metameric optimisation method is by a factor of ∼32 (113.8 ± SD 74 optimised spectra per second) faster than the genetic algorithm (3.6 ± SD 0.8 optimised spectra per second), a method that is recommended in the literature. A total of 490 000 metameric spectra were optimised for 561 chromaticity coordinates in the CIEu’v’- 1976 colour space along the Planckian locus (2700 K to 7443 K, Duv 0 to ±0.048 in Duv steps of ±0. 003) with the developed spectral optimisation method to determine the extent to which the melanopic illuminance of a light spectrum could be varied while leaving the photopic illuminance (Ev = 250 lx) and chromaticity (∆u′, ∆v′ ≤ 0.001) unchanged. Metameric spectra could be applied, for example, to affect the pupil size or the human’s circadian system in interior lighting systems without altering the visual appearance of the illuminated environment concerning chromaticity and (il)luminance. The larger the melanopic contrast between two metameric spectra, the more a non-visual responses could be varied. Previous works in the literature tended to leverage a lower number of metameric spectra for a limited chromaticity range to analyse the capabilities of metamerism, e.g., a recent study analysed six metameric spectra for three target chromaticity coordinates. Therefore, the built database of optimised metameric spectra and the scale of analysis conducted in this work can be considered the most comprehensive in the science of spectral optimisation. Based on the optimised spectra, it was found that the maximum reachable melanopic Michelson contrast ranges between 0.16 and 0.18 if metameric spectra are considered that feature a colour fidelity index of Rf ≥ 85 and Rf,h1 ≥ 85. For example, with a melanopic Michelson contrast of 0.16, the melanopic illuminances could be varied from 135 lx to 185 lx without altering the photopic illuminance (Ev = 250 lx) or chromaticity coordinate (∆u′, ∆v′ ≤ 0.001) of the metameric light spectra. For each used chromaticity target, the upper and lower limits of the melanopic illuminance were identified while keeping the photopic illuminance steady (Ev = 250 lx). Then, the metameric limits of the melanopic stimulus space were mapped into a colour space, capable of indicating the maximum achievable melanopic contrast at steady photopic illuminance (Ev = 250 lx) for each chromaticity coordinate (∆u′, ∆v′ ≤ 0.001). Such a map might be useful for upcoming spectral optimisation tasks to specifically identify chromaticity locations where the highest melanopic contrasts via metameric spectra could be reached without affecting the visual appearance concerning chromaticity and (il)luminance. In terms of the pupil modelling topic, a literature review was conducted, revealing that eight relevant time-invariant pupil formulas have been proposed from 1926 to 2012, which can predict the equilibrium- state pupil size using a V(λ)-based photometric quantity. Therefore, a benchmarking was performed as a first step to determine the prediction accuracy of three selected luminance-based pupil models (Crawford model, De Groot & Gebhard model, Watson & Yellott model). It was found that for white light spectra with correlated colour temperatures (CCTs) between 2000 K and 10 000 K (L ≈ 100 cd/m2), the pupil models’ prediction errors are within a pre-defined tolerance range of ±0.5 mm when considering the equilibrium-state pupil size. Therefore, with longer light exposures (60 to 300 seconds), it could be possible to empirically describe (approximation) the spectral-dependent sustained pupil size using the luminance. The results indicate that when using the tested white light stimuli with a steady luminance of ∼100 cd/m2, the pupil models’ lack of time dependence might be a more significant source of error than the missing consideration of ipRGCs since the prediction of the short-term pupil light response (one second after light exposure) yields a deviation of 0.71 mm ± SD 0.15 mm (Watson & Yellott model). If chromatic spectra (peak wavelengths: 450nm, 530nm, 610nm, 660nm) at a steady luminance of ∼100 cd/m2 are used to trigger the pupil light response, however, the prediction error of the tested V(λ)-based pupil models could reach about 1.21 mm for the equilibrium-state pupil size. As an alternative to the existing empirical V(λ)-based pupil models, a novel modelling approach using feed-forward neural networks was developed, allowing to predict the temporal pupil size in response to chromatic (L ≈ 100 cd/m2, peak wavelengths: 450 nm, 530 nm, 610 nm, 660 nm) and polychromatic spectra (L ≈ 100 cd/m2, CCTs: 2007 K, 4983 K, 10 138 K) with a mean absolute error below 0.1 mm. The method allows the reconstruction of the pupil’s temporal behaviour as a function of distinct lighting metrics for the first time. However, the prediction space of the introduced modelling approach is currently limited to the measured data, which were collected using a steady luminance of ∼100 cd/m. Further, for validating the modelling approach, the training dataset was used, as the methodological development of a pupil modelling approach was the focus of this work. As a next crucial step, the model’s prediction accuracy needs to be validated more extensively using pupil size data that are not applied during the training of the neural networks. Thus, the proposed deep learning-based modelling approach is, in its current state, not capable nor intended to replace existing V(λ)-based pupil models due to the missing validation and limited prediction space. However, due to the integrated neural networks, it is hypothesised that the prediction space could be further generalised as the amount of pupil size data increases in the future. More data must be obtained empirically to face this topic. Compared to the methodological approach of previously published luminance-based pupil formulas, the proposed deep learning-based pupil modelling method could account for adaptive receptor weighting, reconstruct the entire temporal pupil light response, and perhaps pave the way for a unified model of the afferent pupil control pathway in the future