Prevalence of Incidental Radiopacities in Panoramic Radiographs

Routine panoramic radiographs often reveal hidden lesions other than those related to the patient's chief complaint [1]. The study aims to determine the prevalence of incidental radiopacities in panoramic views. There are several conditions where calcifications can occur in soft tissue, including major and minor salivary glands, lymph nodes, and blood vessels, such as sialolith, phlebolith, exostosis, dystrophic calcifications, etc. [2]. Interpretation of panoramic radiograph should consider the possibilities of soft tissue calcification super-imposed in bone. Three hundred and sixty (360) panoramic radiographs are included in the study. The prevalence and distribution of radiopacities were documented along with the probable diagnosis. In addition, statistical analysis was done by SPSS software to evaluate the age and gender-related distribution of radiopacities in panoramic radiographs.

Genomic Diversity of Listeria monocytogenes Isolates From Slovakia (2010 to 2020)

Over the past 11 years, the Slovak National Reference Laboratory has collected a panel of 988 Listeria monocytogenes isolates in Slovakia, which were isolated from various food sectors (61%), food-processing environments (13.7%), animals with listeriosis symptoms (21.2%), and human cases (4.1%). We serotyped these isolates by agglutination method, which revealed the highest prevalence (61.1%) of serotype 1/2a and the lowest (4.7%) of serotype 1/2c, although these represented the majority of isolates from the meat sector. The distribution of CCs analyzed on 176 isolates demonstrated that CC11-ST451 (15.3%) was the most prevalent CC, particularly in food (14.8%) and animal isolates (17.5%). CC11-ST451, followed by CC7, CC14, and CC37, were the most prevalent CCs in the milk sector, and CC9 and CC8 in the meat sector. CC11-ST451 is probably widely distributed in Slovakia, mainly in the milk and dairy product sectors, posing a possible threat to public health. Potential persistence indication of CC9 was observed in one meat facility between 2014 and 2018, highlighting its general meat-related distribution and potential for persistence worldwide.

Searching in 2-Dimensional mass space for final states with 2 invisible particles

A method to search for particles of unknown masses in final states with two invisible particles is presented. Searching for final states with missing energy is a challenging task usually performed in the tail of a missing energy related distribution. The search method proposed is based on a 2-Dimensional mass reconstruction of the final state with two invisible particles. Thus, a bump hunting is possible, allowing a stronger signal versus background discrimination. Parameters of the new theory can be extracted from the mass distributions, a valuable step towards understanding its true nature. The proof of principle is based on the existing SM top pairs in their dilepton final state. The method is applicable in many interesting searches at the LHC, including dark matter candidates or heavy top partners.

PROCEDURE AND EFFECTIVENESS OF AID DISTRIBUTION TO LOCAL COMMUNITIES DURING MOVEMENT CONTROL ORDER (MCO) AMIDST COVID -19 PANDEMIC

The implementation of the Movement Control Order (MCO) in Malaysia which began on 18 March 2020 after the COVID-19 pandemic has profound implications especially to the local community in Sabah. The implementation of MCO is a new experience among the people in the country. Various efforts were made to alleviate the burden of the people as a result of the pandemic and the implementation of the PKP, including various assistance to the local community. The question is, to what extent is the procedure and effectiveness of aid distribution to the community during the period of the movement control order? Therefore, this study examines the related issue at few selected villages in the districts of Kunak and Lahad Datu, Sabah. The approach used in the study is exploratory and evaluative. This study uses a quantitative method through the distribution of questionnaires and observation in the study area. The study sample was a total of 105 people who were randomly selected. The result showed that there were three aid distribution arrangement procedures used: distribution arrangement through bank accounts (financial related), distribution arrangement through door-to-door delivery, and distribution arrangement through receipt at nearby aid centres. The majority of respondents stated that the aid distribution arrangement procedure of aid distribution which through door-to-door delivery, is 100 people or the equivalent of 75.2%. In addition, the results of the study also found that the majority of respondents, namely 70 respondents (66.7%) stated that the aid distribution arrangement procedure is ‘effective’, 27.6% thought as ‘very effective’ and the rest stated as ‘less effective’, that is about 5.7%. Therefore, the results of the study are important for documentation and literature reference related to pandemic and community issues as well as beneficial to the authorities to improve the effectiveness of aid distribution procedures to local communities in the future.

Neutrino trapping in extremely compact Tolman VII spacetimes

Extremely compact objects trap gravitational waves or neutrinos, assumed to move along null geodesics in the trapping regions. The trapping of neutrinos was extensively studied for spherically symmetric extremely compact objects constructed under the simplest approximation of the uniform energy density distribution, with radius located under the photosphere of the external spacetime; in addition, uniform emissivity distribution of neutrinos was assumed in these studies. Here we extend the studies of the neutrino trapping for the case of the extremely compact Tolman VII objects representing the simplest generalization of the internal Schwarzschild solution with uniform distribution of the energy density, and the correspondingly related distribution of the neutrino emissivity that is thus again proportional to the energy density; radius of such extremely compact objects can overcome the photosphere of the external Schwarzschild spacetime. In dependence on the parameters of the Tolman VII spacetimes, we determine the “local” and “global” coefficients of efficiency of the trapping and demonstrate that the role of the trapping is significantly stronger than in the internal Schwarzschild spacetimes. Our results indicate possible influence of the neutrino trapping in cooling of neutron stars.

Freight-related greenhouse gas emissions in the supply of spectacle and contact lenses

Background: Climate change is a global challenge requiring mitigation from all economic sectors. Although the consequences of climate change are well documented, there are limited studies regarding greenhouse gas emissions generated by the optometric industry.Aim: This study explored the greenhouse gas emissions created from the freight-related distribution of spectacle and contact lenses to South Africa (SA) in 2019.Setting: Spectacle and contact lens distributors in SA and an optometric courier service in KwaZulu-Natal.Methods: Data from a survey completed by lens suppliers and a courier service provider in SA were used in a standardised emissions calculations tool.Results: The results indicate significant greenhouse gas emissions generated from the distribution of lenses in SA, which is of concern for climate change alleviation goals.Conclusion: It is recommended that practitioners in the optometric industry, and other healthcare service providers, calculate their emissions data, modify practices to support climate change mitigation and be cognisant of the effect of their practices on the environment.

The Age-Related Cryptosporidium Species Distribution in Asymptomatic Cattle from North-Western Spain

An age-related distribution of Cryptosporidium species has been reported in cattle, with C. parvum being predominant in suckling calves, C. bovis and C. ryanae being predominant in post-weaned calves and C. andersoni being predominant in adults. However, variants to this pattern have recently been reported. Thus, fecal samples (n = 594) from asymptomatic cattle were collected in north-western Spain. Animals were classified as <1 month (G1), 1–2 months (G2), 2–12 months (G3), 12–24 months (G4) and >2 years (G5). Cryptosporidium detection and species identification were performed by SSU rRNA PCR. Individual Cryptosporidium prevalence was 16.7%; it significantly decreased with age. Cryptosporidium parvum was predominant in G1 and C. bovis was predominant in the rest of the age classes; C. bovis and C. ryanae were especially prevalent in G2 and G3. Cryptosporidium occultus was not found in suckling calves. Finally, C. andersoni and C. xiaoi were occasionally detected in G5. The presence of C. parvum in all age classes implies significant animal and public health concerns. The predominance of C. bovis in cattle older than 1 month supports the idea that the age-related pattern of Cryptosporidium species described in cattle is not fully consistent, and thus further studies are still needed to identify those factors determining the species distribution.