Prediction of Self-care Behaviors in COVID-19 Prevention Based on Persuasion Techniques

Background: Persuasion is a method used to correct and modify the attitude and behaviors of community members to protect collective benefits, especially during crises. Objectives: The present study aimed to predict COVID-19 preventive behaviors based on persuasion techniques in five countries. Methods: This descriptive, correlational study was conducted on the population aged more than 18 years in Iran, Australia, the United Kingdom, Sweden, and Canada. The sample size determined by Morgan’s table was 498 individuals who were selected via convenience sampling in the spring of 2020. Data were collected online using a Demographic Questionnaire, a Persuasion Scale (2020), and the Questionnaire of Healthy Preventive Behaviors for COVID-19 (2020). The inclusion criteria were the age of more than 18 years and basic literacy, and the exclusion criterion was incomplete questionnaires. Data analysis was performed in SPSS version 21 using Pearson’s correlation-coefficient and multiple regression analysis. Results: A positive significant correlation was observed between persuasion techniques and healthy preventive behaviors for COVID-19 (P < 0.001). Among the components of persuasion, fear, interest in the messenger, frequency of the message, and reliability of the messenger could most significantly predict healthy behaviors (P < 0.001). Conclusions: According to the results, the mass media and authorities could enhance the effectiveness of their agenda by identifying the influential factors in the success of persuasion techniques. These findings could be beneficial to social psychiatrists, authorities, and the mass media.

Tuberculosis Prevalence Correlation to COVID-19 Mortality in Malaria Free Countries

Background: Both malaria and latent tuberculosis ( LTB) are possible factors related to decreased COVID-19 mortality. The malaria endemicity variable is a possible confounder when conducting a study on the correlation of LTB prevalence to COVID-19 mortality. Studies regarding LTB prevalence" according to different studies" did not adjust malaria endemicity as a possible confounder. Many malaria-endemic countries are high TB prevalent. Malaria-free countries could be: high, moderate, or low in TB prevalence. The main aim of this study is to look for the influence of TB prevalence on COVID-19 mortality. TB prevalence reflects LTB prevalence in the absence of malaria endemicity as a possible confounding factor in TB studies. Material and methods: The total chosen countries were 69 non-malaria endemic countries. Countries were classified according to TB prevalence groups into low, moderate, and high prevalent groups. Covid-19 deaths/Million(M) inhabitants were taken as reported on September 2, 2020. "Kendall's-τ Correlation Coefficient", "Kruskal-Wallis test, and Mann-Whitney test were used in statistical analyses.Results: We found inverse relationships between TB prevalence and COVID-19 deaths/ (M) inhabitants and a highly positive significant correlation coefficient was reported (0.008) in Kendall's-τ correlation coefficient test. Kruskal-Wallis test showed a significant relationship within studied groups. Furthermore, the low TB prevalent group had significant reverse associations with both high and moderate TB prevalent groups in the Mann-Whitney test.Conclusion: In the absence of possible malaria confounding, TB prevalence in malaria-free countries is inversely related to COVID-19 mortality in a highly significant association.

The Relationship between the Fear, the Perceived Risk of COVID-19 and Compliance with Standard Precautions of Nurses

Aim: it was aimed to examine the correlation between the fear of COVID-19 and the perceived risk of COVID-19 and compliance with standard precautions of nurses working in pandemic clinics. Materials and Methods: The study conducted in a cross-sectional research design. The sample consists of 194 participants who worked in COVID-19 clinics between November 2020 - January 2021 in an Education and Research Hospital in Ankara, and met the inclusion criteria. Data collection form consisted of the Introductory Information Form (18 questions), the The Fear of COVID-19 Scale (7 items), the Perceived COVID-19 Risk Scale (8 items) and the Standard Precautions Scale (20 items). The data were collected by considering the pandemic conditions, using an online questionnaire. Mann Whitney U Test and Kruskal Wallis Variance Analysis were used to compare continuous data. Spearman Correlation Analysis was used to determine the correlation between the scales’ scores. Results: The mean age of the participants was 29.01 ± 6.73. Participants’ mean scores were on the The Fear of COVID-19 Scale, Perceived COVID-19 Risk Scale, and Standard Precautions Scale were 19.83 ± 6.36, 29.89 ± 5, and 14.05 ± 2.81, respectively. It was determined that there was a moderate and positive significant correlation between the The Fear of COVID-19 Scale mean scores of the participants and the Perceived COVID-19 Risk Scale (r = 0.619; p = 0.001). There was no statistically significant correlation between the mean scores of the Compliance with Standard Precautions Scale and the mean scores of the The Fear of COVID-19 Scale and Perceived COVID-19 Risk Scale (p>0.05). Conclusion: In line with the results obtained in the study, it was determined that the nurses’ fear of COVID-19 and the perceived risk of COVID-19 were above average. However, it was revealed that fear of COVID-19 and perceived risk were not related to Compliance with Standard Precautions.

Evaluation of bunch quality components in Dura x Dura progenies of Zambia and Camaroon sources of oil palm germplasm

Aim: The present study was conducted to evaluate oil palm dura progenies developed from Zambia and Cameroon germplasm sources for bunch components for the selecting of high oil yielding mother palms. Methodology: Total 77 dura genotypes were evaluated by considering 15 different bunch components. Bunch analysis data were collected from tenth year onwards after planting. The genetic diversity, Principal component analysis, correlation and path analysis of the genotypes were estimated. Results: Study revealed that oil-to bunch ratio depends on fruit-to-bunch ratio and mesocarp-fruit ratio. The ANOVA value showed a significant variability among the genotypes for most of the bunch traits and the identified genotype P35 (24.53 %) was highest oil yielder. Positive significant correlation (p≤ 0.01) of mesocarp-to-fruit ratio and oil-to-dry mesocarp with oil-to-bunch ratio were noted in this study. Based on path analysis, the information obtained from this study is the oil-to-wet mesocarp ratio (0.697) showed the highest significant positive direct effect on oil-to-bunch ratio followed by mesocarp-to-fruit ratio (0.570). Interpretation: This study may support for the future selection of mother palms to utilize in oil palm improvement programmes. Introgression into existing breeding materials and breeding for seed production utilising selected palms.

THI and health estimates of Jersey crossbred calves reared in different housing system in the lower Gangetic plains of West Bengal

Housing and socialization have always played a pivotal role on overall health and welfare of the young calves. Therefore, the study was undertaken to compare the performance of the calves when kept indoors in enclosures (Treatment, T) versus semi covered houses with provision of open space (Control, C), respectively. Calves in semi covered houses (C) was found to display profound results on faecal score (P<0.01) and body weight (P<0.05). Besides, the housing temperature in the treatment sheds was significantly higher (P<0.01) during the mornings in monsoon season although humidity was reportedly higher at all seasons; monsoon (P<0.01), post monsoon (P<0.05) and winters (P<0.01), respectively. The greatest THI were recorded in the month of July (76.72) in Control group (C) and August (79.67) in Treatment group. Besides with the highest THI (74.50±0.81, P<0.01) with elevated rectal temperatures (101.22±0.15 °F, P<0.05) was recorded in the treatment (T) calves. However, a positive significant correlation of rectal temperature with THI (r=0.434; P<0.01) and respiratory rate (r=0.339; P<0.01) wasobserved in the experimental calves. The calves in C group had fewer incidences of respiratory illness and problems of diarrhoea when compared to the T calves. Therefore, maintaining fewer calves in semi covered houses with provision of open space was found to be beneficial on health, growth and housing environment of the calves.

Some Genetic Parameters and Path Coefficient of Three-Way Crosses in Maize

Correlation and path coefficient analysis were worked out for ten morphological traits in 30 three-way crosses of maize. Phenotypic and genotypic correlation analysis indicated that ear length; row numbers per ear, grain numbers per row, leaf area and leaves numbers had a positive significant correlation with grain yield per plant. Further partitioning of correlation coefficients into direct and indirect effects showed that traits days to silking, row numbers per row and leaves numbers had a positive direct effect on grain yield per plant. The traits ear length, grain numbers per row and leaf area had a maximum total effect on grain yield. Furthermore, PCA analysis has gave interested results and it supported the results of correlation and path analysis. The correlation and path analysis obviously indicated that direct selection based on these attributes may be useful in raising grain yield in maize.

A NOVEL SOLAR SIMULATOR BASED ON COMBINED NATURAL-WHITE AND INFRARED LIGHT EMITTING DIODES

Despite the continuous trend of an LED solar simulator development, there was little to be found in the application of a phosphor-converted natural white LED (pc-nWLED) for construction. This article reported the design and construction of an LED solar simulator which combined a pc-nWLED with infrared LEDs. The objectives of this study are to determine the performance of a novel solar simulator including non-uniformity (SNE), temporal stability (TIE), and spectrum mismatch (SM). This is followed by an experimental study of the correlation between the LED’s temperature and SNE. A spectroradiometer, pyranometer, and a custom-made non-uniformity measurement system were applied to test the performance characteristics of this solar simulator. The results indicated that the proposed solar simulator could achieve the AAA class. The results showed 0.90-1.08 of SM, 0.83% TIE, and 1.34% of SNE. The SNE indicated the positive significant correlation with the LED’s temperature, with an approximate of +0.043% per °C. A good cooling system for the LED module was necessary to maintain constant light uniformity. The blue-chip phosphor converted white LED combination with color mixed of 730 nm, 850 nm, and 940 nm could emit a light spectrum that was very close to the reference spectrum of about 99.6%.

Contamination of grain in West Siberia by Alternaria fungi and their mycotoxins

The ubiquitous occurrence of Alternaria fungi belonging to sections Alternaria and Infectoriae was confirmed using real-time PCR in wheat, barley and oat grain grown in West Siberia in 2018‒2019. The DNA amount of Alternaria section Alternaria fungi varied from 53×10-4 to 21731×10-4 pg/ng and on average exceeded the DNA amount of Alternaria section Infectoriae fungi by 4.5‒14.6 times, depending on the crop and harvest year.The average DNA amount of Alternaria fungi belonging to both sections in the oat grain was lower than in wheat and barley grain. The grain samples from Altay region were the most infected with Alternaria fungi. The alternariol (AOH), alternariol monomethyl ether (AME), tentoxin (TEN), and tenuazonic acid (TeA) mycotoxins produced by Alternaria fungi were detected by HPLC-MS/MS in 23 %, 6 %, 85 %, and 83 % of analyzed grain samples, respectively. The majority (61 %) of the samples contained two Alternaria mycotoxins in the grain (mainly TEN and TeA), 19 % of the samples three mycotoxins, and only one sample all four together. In the most of samples the content of Alternaria mycotoxins did not exceed 100 μg/kg, and only TeA content was higher (from 113 to 14963 μg/kg) than others. The significant differences in grain crops by the Alternaria mycotoxins content were revealed: more amounts of AOH, AME, and less amount of TEN were found in oat grain then in barley grain. A high positive significant correlation between the DNA amount of Alternaria section Alternaria fungi and TeA was established that indicates the role of these fungi as the main producers of TeA in the grain.

The Effect of Cereal-legume Intercropping Systems on the Cereal Grain Yield under Semi-arid Conditions

Background: The aim of this study is to ascertain the response of dual exploitation of intercrops systems their ability to produce forage and grain. Thus the efficiency of the cereal-legume intercropping on the qualitative and quantitative improvement yield of cereals. Methods: The experiment was conducted at the Setif University Experimental Farm during the years of 2019-20. The experiment was laid out in completely randomize block (CRB) design with three replications. Three cereals namely triticale, oats and barley in association with forage pea and other mixtures with (Vesce commune) were studied. The measure focused on accumulation of dry matter accumulation (DMA), plant height, flag leaf length (FLL), grain yield (GY) and thousand kernels weight (TKW). Result: The results indicate that capacity of intercropping system systems to produce more dry matter than their mono cropping systems, as well as the intercropping systems significantly improved the qualitative and quantitative yield of cereals in all the tested intercropping systems. A positive significant correlation between SH and FLL r = 0.78 in the peas/oats intercrop. Thus use like this positive significant correlation between DMP GY r = 0.94, while the tritical / pea and barley / pea intercropping are characterized by the best DMP, GY and TKW among different tested cropping systems.

Podocalyxin as an early marker predicting diabetic nephropathy and its correlation with stages of diabetic nephropathy in type two diabetic patients

Background Nephropathy, a major complication of diabetes, is the leading cause of end-stage renal disease. Early identification of nephropathy in diabetes patients is crucial because it creates opportunity for preventing the incidence of DN and/or even slows down the process of end-stage renal disease attributed to diabetes. Human podocytes (Pods) have been demonstrated to be functionally and structurally injured in the natural history of diabetic nephropathy. Aim of the Work To evaluate the possible association between the urinary podocalyxin levels and severity and grade of diabetic nephropathy and to use urinary podocalyxin as a non-invasive marker for early stage of diabetic nephropathy in type 2 DM. Patients and Methods We collected 60 known clinically and biochemically type 2 diabetic patients.20 diabetic patients with no evidence of diabetic nephropathy, 20 patients diagnosed as diabetic nephropathy in microalbuminuria stages and 20 patients diagnosed as diabetic nephropathy in macroalbuminuria stages from Ain Shams University hospitals between April and December 2018 and 20 apparently healthy volunteers will included as a control group. Results Urinary PCX was significantly higher in patients group compared to control group. Urinary PCX was significantly higher in microalbuminuric group than in normoalbuminuric group and higher in macroalbuminuric group than in microalbuminuric group. There was a positive significant correlation between FBS, 2HrPP, HBA1C and urinary PCX. There was a positive significant correlation between s.create and urinary PCX. There was a positive significant correlation between ACR and urinary PCX. Conclusion Urinary podocalyxin seems to be beneficial as an early marker for early stages of diabetic nephropathy in type 2 DM patients.