New insights on mucormycosis and its association with the COVID-19 pandemic

COVID-19 continues to cause significant fatality worldwide. Glucocorticoids prove to play essential roles in COVID-19 management; however, the extensive use of steroids together with the virus immune dysregulation may increase the danger of secondary infections with mucormycosis, an angioinvasive fungal infection. Unfortunately, a definite correlation between COVID-19 and elevated mucormycosis infection cases is now clear worldwide. In this review, we discuss the historical record and epidemiology of mucormycosis as well as pathogenesis and associated host immune response, risk factors, clinical presentation, diagnosis and treatment. Special emphasis is given to its association with the current COVID-19 pandemic, including latest updates on COVID-19-associated mucormycosis cases globally, with recommendations for efficacious management.

PENGARUH HASIL PLACEMENT TEST DAN KECERDASAN UMUM(IQ) TERHADAP HASIL BELAJAR MATEMATIKA PEMINATAN SISWA KELAS X IPA SMA NEGERI 1 TAJURHALANG

The PPDB activity of SMAN 1 Tajurhalang was continued with the majors process to determine the program to be followed by new students, whether it was a science program, social science program. This major is guided by the results of the placement test and the results of the general intelligence test or IQ test. Based on this, the writer as a specialization mathematics teacher conducted a research on the Effect of Placement Test Results and General Intelligence (IQ) on Mathematics Learning Outcomes for Students of Class X Science at SMAN 1 Tajurhalang. The purpose of this study was to determine how the influence of Placement results and IQ test results on learning outcomes of mathematics with specialization in class X IPA at SMA Negeri 1 Tajurhalang. The results of the classical assumption test show that the data from the placement test (X1), IQ test results (X2) and Specialization Mathematics Learning Outcomes (Y) are data that are normally distributed, there is no multicollinearity, heteroscedasticity, so that the linearity assumption is met. The value of R = 0.380, and R Square = 0.144, this shows a low or weak but definite correlation and an effect of 14.4%. The results of the t-test Sig. = 0.116 > 0.05. tcount = 1,581 < 2,266, and Sig = 0.000 < 0.05, and the value of tcount = 3.859 > 2.266. This shows that partially the placement test has no effect while the IQ test has an effect. The results of the F test obtained the value of Sig. = 0.000 < 0.05, the value of Fcount = 11.650 < 3.062 indicates that the Y regression coefficient on X1 and X2 is significant or significant. ABSTRAKKegiatan PPDB SMAN 1 Tajurhalang dilanjutkan dengan proses penjurusan untuk menentukan program yang akan diikuti oleh peserta didik baru apakah program IPA, IPS. Penjurusan ini berpedoman pada hasil placement test dan hasil test kecerdasan umum atau test IQ. Berdasarkan ini lah maka penulis sebagai guru matematika peminatan mengadakan penelitian tentang Pengaruh Hasil Placement Test dan Kecerdasan Umum (IQ) terhadap Hasil Belajar Matematika Peminatan Siswa Kelas X IPA di SMAN 1 Tajurhalang. Tujuan penelitian ini adalah untuk mengetahui bagaimana pengaruh hasil Placement dan hasil test IQ terhadap hasil belajar matematika peminatan kelas X IPA di SMA Negeri 1 Tajurhalang. Hasil uji asumsi klasik didapat bahwa data hasil placement test (X1), hasil test IQ (X2) dan Hasil Belajar Matematika Peminatan (Y) merupakan data yang berdistribusi normal, tidak terjadi multikolinieritas, heteroskedisitas, sehingga asumsi linieritas terpenuhi. Nilai R = 0,380, dan R Square = 0,144, hal ini menunjukan korelasi yang rendah atau lemah tapi pasti dan pengaruh sebesar 14,4%. Hasil uji t nilai Sig. = 0,116 > 0,05. thitung = 1,581 < 2,266, dan Sig = 0,000 < 0,05, dan nilai thitung = 3,859 > 2,266. Ini menunjukan bahwa secara parsial placement test tidak berpengaruh sedangkan test IQ berpengaruh. Hasil Uji F didapat nilai Sig. = 0,000 < 0,05, nilai Fhitung = 11,650 < 3,062 menunjukan bahwa koefesien regresi Y atas X1 dan X2 signifikan atau berarti.

Correlation between male and female genital tuberculosis: a prospective analytical study

Background: Genital tuberculosis is an unusual extrapulmonary manifestation of tuberculosis, often seen in middle-aged men with renal or pulmonary disease. The most common male genital sites of tuberculous infection are the epididymis and prostate. It is also an important cause of female infertility in the world, especially in developing countries. Majority of infertility cases are due to involvement of the fallopian tubes. Hardly any study has been done to establish correlation between male and female genital TB. We have evaluated the same in severe oligospermic/ azoospermic males and established a definite correlation. Objective was to establish a definite correlation between female and male genital tuberculosis in patients with male factor infertility.Methods: 100 severe oligozoospermic/azoospermic males presenting with infertility between April 2011 and January 2016 were enrolled and worked up for genital tuberculosis. Their female partners were worked up for female genital TB and correlation established.Results: Out of 100 patients with severe oligospermia or azoospermia who tested positive for TB quantiferon gold test. 18% female partners tested positive for TB quantiferon gold test.Conclusions: Tubercular work up of both partners is desired in couples with male factor infertility especially in long standing infertility to achieve optimum pregnancy outcome with ART.

Tactile sensor for measuring hardness and viscosity by using a bimorph piezoelectric array

In this paper, an active tactile sensor system for measurement of Young’s modulus and viscosity is developed. For the active sensing, the sensor unit with the 8 bimorph piezoelectric array is bonded to the speaker that is driven by a square wave. The transient response from the sensor signal of each bimorph piezo cell is processed to reduce the noise. From the output, the first peak and the ratio of first peak to time of first peak are extracted as the indexes for the measurement of Young’s modulus and viscosity, respectively. It is confirmed that the first peak has a clear correlation with the Young’s modulus, and that the ratio of first peak to time of first peak has a definite correlation with the viscosity. Further, the initial contact force affects the sensitivities of Young’s modulus and viscosity.

Utilization of Remittance in Bangladesh by Migrant Families: A Micro-level Inquiry in Five Selected Upazilas

Remittance has become a significant contributor to the Bangladesh economy. As migrant workers from Bangladesh gradually increased over the years, the amount of annual remittance to the country rose significantly. According to the World Bank, Bangladesh now stands as one of the largest recipients of remittances. The country received almost $15 billion as of June 2019 in the 2018-2019 financial year. There is a definite correlation between macro-economic policies and the flow of remittance. But both flows of remittances and their uses in Bangladesh have not been guided by any notable policy framework. Hence to maximize the flow of remittance and reap benefits from it at the domestic front, it is imperative to have a concerted policy effort. However, limited empirical works had been done about the actual productive purposes of remittance at the domestic level. This paper tries to understand the level of productive uses of remittances at the domestic level and also to find out barriers to productive uses of it. Keywords: Remittance, remittance flow, uses of remittance, barriers of productive uses, economic development, Bangladesh

Correlating fracture toughness and fracture surface roughness via correlation length scale

Fracture toughness of a material depends on its microstructure and the imposed loading conditions. Intuitively, the resultant fracture surfaces must contain the information about the interlacing of these intrinsic (microstructure) and extrinsic (imposed loading) characteristics. Mandelbrot’s revelation that fracture surfaces are fractals, excited both the scientific and engineering communities, spurring a series of works focused at correlating the fracture toughness and the fracture surface roughness. Unfortunately, these studies remained inconclusive and later on it was shown that the fractal dimension of the fracture surface roughness is in fact universal. Here, we show that by going beyond the universality, a definite correlation between the fracture toughness and indices of the fracture surface roughness is obtained. To this end, fracture experiments on an aluminum alloy were carried over a wide range of loading rates (10-2 – 106 ), and the resulting fracture surface were reconstructed using stereography. The correlation lengths, extracted from the reconstructed surfaces, were found to be linearly correlated with the measured fracture toughness. The correlation unraveled in our work, along with the proposed mechanistic interpretation, revives the hope of correlating fracture toughness and fracture surface roughness, allowing quantitative failure analysis and a potential reconstructive approaches to designing fracture resistant materials.

Correlation Between Age, Gender, Socio Demographic Status And Edentulism Among Danta Bhagya Patients In Bangalore- Part I

Background: While edentulism has been on the decline in developed countries, it still remains a hurdle for developing countries like India owing to various factors like lack of awareness and negligence towards the dental treatment options available. Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the correlation between age, gender and socio demographic status of the patient on the dentulous status of the patients. Materials and methods: 520 patients who reported under the DantaBhagya scheme were selected as a part of the study. Details such as age, gender, socio demographic status and status of the dentition were recorded. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS version 2.0 software. Result: More male patients(61%) were found to be edentulous compared to females(39%). A higher percentage of participants belonged to the rural sector(89.2%) and edentulism was found to be more prevalent in the geriatric population of age above 60 years(62.1%) followed by age group of 40-60years(36.2%). Conclusion: There is a definite correlation between age, sex and socio-demographic status of the patient and edentulism. Keywords: Edentulism, socio demographic status, complete denture

Structure of Atomic Nuclei and Periodical Law of Mendeleev

In the work, the nuclei structure was modeled by a system of shells consisting of combinations of spherical and annular vortices. Having connected the spin and the magnetic moments of the nuclei with the dynamics of the outer shell of the nucleus, we determined its type and carried out a semiempirical calculation of the parameters of its structure for stable and unstable nuclear isotopes in the sequence of the order number Z from 1 to 37. Comparison of the obtained nuclear sizes with the radii of the electron shells of atoms made it possible to reveal a definite correlation. On the basis of it, it was concluded that the periodic law of Mendeleyev can determine the patterns in the change in the structure of the atomic nucleus.

Vision loss with pembrolizumab treatment: A report of two cases

BackgroundVision loss and other ocular toxicities are rare, but detrimental, side effects of immune checkpoint inhibitors. Herein, we report two patients who developed vision loss while on pembrolizumab treatment.Cases presentationCase 1 – A 58-year-old man was started on pembrolizumab for advanced melanoma. He was tolerating the treatment well. After receiving 14 cycles of pembrolizumab, he developed acute bilateral vision loss and occipital headaches. An emergent ophthalmologic evaluation revealed bilateral shallow choroidal effusion with bilateral focal exudative retinal detachment. After excluding other possible etiologies, inflammatory process secondary to pembrolizumab was suspected. Pembrolizumab was stopped, and the patient was started on a course of systemic and topical steroids. His vision improved within days and he recovered completely within two months. Calculated Naranjo Nomogram score was 7 indicating a “probable” correlation; Case 2 – A 57-year-old man with stage IIIC melanoma was started on adjuvant pembrolizumab. After a few weeks of treatments, he reported minor bilateral vision changes that progressively worsened over a period of six months. An ophthalmologic evaluation revealed bilateral posterior uveitis with right optic disc edema. Pembrolizumab-related inflammatory changes were suspected, and he was started on systemic and topical steroids. His symptoms improved within a few weeks and steroids were tapered. He was re-challenged with pembrolizumab and his symptoms quickly re-occurred. Pembrolizumab was stopped indefinitely and the patient again treated with systemic and topical steroids. His symptoms resolved and his vision returned to baseline within two months. The Naranjo Nomogram score was 9 indicating a “definite” correlation.ConclusionsVision loss is a serious complication that may occur at any point during treatment with PD-1 inhibitors. Vision loss is very distressing to the patients and their families. It is prudent for practitioners to recognize early vision abnormalities in patients receiving PD-1 antagonists to prevent permanent vision loss.