Vacuum Correlations, Detector Efficiency Fluctuations and Classical Dynamic Violations of CH-Inequality

We study in this paper the possible influence of vacuum fluctuations on photo detection and its background noise in Bell tests. We analyze its consequences on the standard statistical analysis of data showing that it is not fulfilled anymore the conventional hypothesis of a Poisson like probability density distribution of single photodetection events. We assume that vacuum fluctuations are due to real and measurable fluctuating fields, as recently confirmed experimentally, and that their non null correlations outside the light cone contribute to photon coincidence rates making them time dependent. We introduce a generalized Bell like correlation function which contains a new term due to supposed vacuum induced photon counting events. We deduce then a generalization of CH-inequality which takes in account the effect of these vacuum electric fields on detector efficiency. We predict an apparatus temperature fluctuations during photon detection which we suggest could be observed by looking for colored noise thermal emission of the photodetectors, generalizing the standard white noise prediction of C.S.L. models on wave function collapse postulate. We discuss an experimental test of this prediction, based on the idea of inducing a thermal wave on the whole quantum detectors, aimed to observe time dependent deviations from standard stationary statistical predictions of Quantum Mechanics.

Seroprevalence and Associated Risk Factors of Hepatitis B and C among Inmates of Port Harcourt Maximum Security Custodial Centre

Hepatitis B (HBV) and Hepatitis C (HCV) are significant global public health burdens associated with liver cirrhosis, liver cancer and are responsible for over a million deaths yearly. Prisons and other confined facilities offer opportunities for the acquisition and transmission of infectious diseases such as hepatitis B and C during and after imprisonment. This study aimed to investigate the seroprevalence of Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C as well as their associated risk factors among inmates in the Port Harcourt Maximum Security Custodial Centre. A cross-sectional study was conducted among inmates incarcerated in the Port Harcourt Maximum Security Custodial Centre from July to December 2022, and 200 consenting subjects completed a structured questionnaire in addition to screening for the presence of HBsAg and anti-HCV antibodies. Data generated from this study was represented as frequency and percentages, and inferential statistics were carried out using chi-square with the aid of GraphPad Prism Software Version 9. Statistical significance was defined as a p-value of less than 0.05 at a 95% confidence interval. The seroprevalence of HBV was 4% while 3.5% was recorded for HCV with no cases of co-infections reported. HBV seroprevalence was significantly associated with blood oath and a history of surgery (p p < 0.05). The findings from the current study highlight a relatively lower prevalence of HBV and HCV amongst inmates in Port Harcourt in comparison to studies in Nigeria. These infections can be further controlled by multifaceted approaches by the prison personnel, administration, and Government by employing combative measures such as regular screening, easy access to therapy, awareness, and vaccination programs for HBV are crucial to prevent the transmission of these diseases.

Prevalence and Associated Risk Factors of COVID-19 in an Incarcerated Population Burdened with HIV Infections in Port Harcourt

Background: The burden of COVID-19 and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are some of the major and persistent global health challenges of the twenty-first century. HIV and COVID-19 are expected to overlap in high HIV-burden countries, posing several public health challenges as a result. Prisons are overcrowded, have limited space for social distancing and have inadequate ventilation systems, making it difficult to contain the spread of COVID-19 in addition to the high-risk behaviours of inmates which contribute to the spread of HIV within these facilities. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of COVID-19 among inmates in a prison facility with a relatively high HIV burden in Port Harcourt, Nigeria;investigating potential risk factors and co-infection with HIV. Methodology: The study employed a descriptive cross-sectional study design sampling 200 inmates from the Port Harcourt Maximum Security Custodial Centre from July to December 2022. A well-structured questionnaire was administered via interviews in addition to screening for HIV-1/2 antibodies as well as COVID-19 antigens using rapid diagnostic test kits. Descriptive statistics and chi-square were carried out on the GraphPad Prism 9 software with statistical significance defined as a p-value of less than 0.05 at a 95% confidence interval. Result: The prevalence of HIV from the current study was 6.5%, COVID-19 prevalence was reported to be 12.5% while HIV/COVID-19 co-infection was 1.5% The duration of incarceration, face mask use, frequent visitations and vaccination against COVID-19 were found to be significantly associated with the prevalence of COVID-19 in the studied population (p Conclusion: The current study reports a relatively high prevalence of HIV and COVID-19 among the inmates in the study area. It becomes expedient for the administrators of the correctional facility to properly screen new inmates for COVID-19, quarantine and manage cases, as well as provide them with personal protective equipment such as face masks. In-person visitation should be balanced with measures to prevent the spread of the infection, and mass vaccination campaigns should be promoted. Improving access to HIV screening and therapy for all prisoners should be prioritised to identify and manage the incidence of HIV early, reducing the risk of transmission, mitigating comorbidities and improving health outcomes.

Modelling and Simulation of the Spread of HBV Disease with Infectious Latent

This paper studies the global behavior of the spread of HBV using a SEIR model with a constant vaccination rate. The infectivity during the incubation period is considered as a second way of transmission. The basic reproduction number R0 is derived as a function of the two contact rates?β1?and β2?. There is a disease free equilibrium point (DFE) of our model. When R0 R0 > 1, there is a unique endemic equilibrium. We proved that the endemic equilibrium was globally asymptotically stable when R0 > 1 and that the disease persisted in the population. These results are original for our model with vaccination and two contact rates.

The Prevalence of Parasitic Human Intestinal Helminthes and the Efficacy of Anthelmintic Drug in Children in Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area, Enugu State, Nigeria

Introduction: A study on the current status of parasitic intestinal helminthes and the efficacy of anthelmintic drug was carried out among primary school pupils at Community Primary School Ogurugu, Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area, Enugu State. Objectives: The research was conducted in order to determine the prevalence of human intestinal helminthes among primary school pupils, and also to determine the prevalence in relation to age and sex, and to check the efficacy of anthelmintic drug (Levamisole) on the worms, in Ogurugu Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area, Enugu State, Nigeria. Methods: A total of 242 faecal samples were collected randomly from the school children and analyzed using standard parasitological procedures. Results: Data obtained showed an overall prevalence of 143 (59.1%) out of 242 samples and that the efficacy of anthelmintic drug Ergamisole? (Levamisole R12564;Unicure Pvt.ltd India) 50 mg in reducing the worm burden was 99 (82.5%) in 120 samples treated. Age related prevalence and efficacy of anthelmintic varied across the sample groups. There was no significant difference in sex related infections in the sample group (P > 0.5). The efficacy of the drug reduces with the increase in age. Also the efficacy of Levamisole drug in reducing the worm burden were hookworm 59 (89.5%), Ascaris 24 (85.7%), Trichuris 26 (78.6%) while Taenia and Strongyloides showed drug resistance. This indicates that a single dose of the medication is not enough for total elimination of these endo parasites. Conclusion: The study revealed that poor hygienic practices as well as unsanitary conditions were responsible for high prevalence recorded in the area, and advocated health education through primary health care and mass deworming of primary school children as control measures.

Bioguided isolation of antimicrobial polyphenols from Cuspidaria convoluta leaves and their synergistic effect with antibiotics

Objective:To identify and isolate phenolic compounds from Cuspidaria convoluta,and to evaluate their antibacterial activity and synergistic effect with antibiotics.Methods:The crude extract was prepared by maceration with methanol(5%).The dry extract was suspended in water and fractionated successively.The most active extract was selected by its antibacterial activity and its total phenol content was determined by spectrophotometry and by HPLC-MS/MS.Bioactive fractions of the most active extract were separated by column chromatography and evaluated by bioautography.Isolated compounds were identified.Minimum inhibitory concentration(MIC)of these compounds was determined by microdilution broth method,and synergism with antibiotics(ampicillin,gentamicin and oxacillin)was tested by checkerboard and time-kill assays.Results:Coumaric acid,catechin/epicatechin,and luteolin were purified and identified from the extract.There was an increase in the antibacterial activity of antibiotics when they were combined with these compounds.The combination of luteolin and ampicillin had the most potent antibacterial activities.The MICs of oxacillin for each of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains were reduced between 4 and 8-fold when these strains were coincubated with sub-MIC(≤?MIC)levels of these compounds,demonstrating that the combination had synergistic effect for all cases.Conclusions:Cuspidaria convoluta contains important pharmacologically active substances that can be used to improve antibiotic efficacy.

Modeling of Tsunami Generation and Propagation by a Spreading Curvilinear Seismic Faulting in Linearized Shallow-Water Wave Theory

The processes of tsunami evolution during its generation in search for possible amplification mechanisms resulting from unilateral spreading of the sea floor uplift is investigated. We study the nature of the tsunami build up and propagation during and after realistic curvilinear source models represented by a slowly uplift faulting and a spreading slip-fault model. The models are used to study the tsunami amplitude amplification as a function of the spreading velocity and rise time. Tsunami waveforms within the frame of the linearized shallow water theory for constant water depth are analyzed analytically by transform methods (Laplace in time and Fourier in space) for the movable source models. We analyzed the normalized peak amplitude as a function of the propagated uplift length, width and the average depth of the ocean along the propagation path.

Salvia ceratophylla L. from South of Jordan: new insights on chemical composition and biological activities

In Jordan,Salvia ceratophylla L.is traditionally used in the treatment of cancer,microbial infections,and urinary disorders.This study aimed:(1)to chemically characterize S.ceratophylla essential oil(EO)from South Jordan,by gas chromatography(GC)and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry(GC-MS);and(2)to evaluate in vitro the cytotoxic,anti-inflammatory,and antiprotozoal activities of the EO,it’s predominant components,and the hexane(A),ethyl acetate(B),methanol(C)and crude-methanol extracts(D).The analysis revealed that the EO has 71 compounds,with linalool(54.8%)as main constitu-ent.Only the hexane extract(A)showed some cytotoxic activity against SK-MEL,KB,BT-549,SK-OV-3,LLC-PK1 and VERO cells lines with IC50 between 60 and>100μg/mL.The EO inhibited NO production(IC5090μg/mL)and NF-κB activity(IC5038μg/mL).The extracts A,B,and D inhibited NO production and NF-κB activity with IC50 between 32 and 150μg/mL.Linalool considerably inhibited NO production(IC5018μg/mL).The extracts tested did not exhibit antileish-manial activity.Regarding antitrypanosomal activity,the EO exhibited significant results with IC502.65μg/mL.In conclu-sion,Jordan S.ceratophylla EO represents a rich source of linalool and bears a promising therapeutic potential for further antitrypanosomal drug development.

Gamma Radiation Shielding Properties of Steel and Iron Slags

Using steel slag and two types of (soft and hard) iron slags, ten samples were prepared. Different gamma radiation interaction parameters were computed theoretically and measured experimentally at different energies: 60 keV, 136 keV, 662 keV, 1173 keV and 1332 keV in low and medium energy range using narrow transmission geometry. It has been observed that shielding effectiveness of a sample is inversely proportional to Half Value Layer (HVL). The obtained results were compared with Pure Flyash and it was observed that slag is better aggregate than flyash in shielding radiation as well as in construction applications. The results have been presented in the form of tables and graphs with more useful conclusions.

A Thermal Analogue of the Zel’Dovich Effect

We analyze in this work anisotropic heat conduction induced by a harmonically oscillating laser source incident on rotating conductors, exploiting an analogy with an effect discovered long ago, called the Zel’dovich effect. We re-covered the main results of a recently published paper that predicts the translational Doppler frequency shift of a thermal wave induced on a sample moving with uniform rectilinear motion. We extend then this framework to take into account the frequency shift of a thermal field propagating on a rotating platform. We show that it coincides with the rotational frequency shift which has been recently observed on surface acoustic waves and hydrodynamic surface waves, called rotational superradiance. Finally, we use an analogy with the Tolman effect to deduce a simple estimate of the average temperature gradient induced by rotation, showing the existence of a new cooling effect associated with heat torque transfer.

Vacuum Dependent Bell Local Hidden Variable Models and Generalized C.H.S.H. Inequalities

We extend a previous model of the author which generalizes Bell local hidden variable models to the case of entangled photon pairs assuming that the standard Bell correlation functions depend on a hidden vacuum index. We deduce a generalization of Bell theorem assuming that classical observables are not dichotomic and that photon pair emission and detection is not a stationary stochastic process. We derive a photon imperfect polarization correlation functions due to rotational invariance breaking induced by hidden vacuum spin currents. We implement formally this approach deducing a generalization of C.H.S.H. inequalities which asymptotically converges to the standard one and which might be competitive with standard quantum mechanics predictions. We suggest to test this inequalities conceiving new E.P.R.-Bell like tests with time dependent detector efficiency and photon flux. Finally, we suggest to apply these generalized inequalities to the correlation functions of entangled classical spinning waves realized recently with metamaterials.

Standard NER Tagging Scheme for Big Data Healthcare Analytics built on Unified Medical Corpora

The motivation for this research comes from the gap found in discovering the common ground for medical context learning through analytics for different purposes of diagnosing,recommending,prescribing,or treating patients for uniform phenotype features from patients’profile.The authors of this paper while searching for possible solutions for medical context learning found that unified corpora tagged with medical nomenclature was missing to train the analytics for medical context learning.Therefore,here we demonstrated a mechanism to come up with uniform NER(Named Entity Recognition)tagged medical corpora that is fed with 14407 endocrine patients’data set in Comma Separated Values(CSV)format diagnosed with diabetes mellitus and comorbidity diseases.The other corpus is of ICD-10-CM coding scheme in text format taken from www.icd10data.com.ICD-10-CM corpus is to be tagged for understanding the medical context with uniformity for which we are conducting different experiments using common natural language programming(NLP)techniques and frameworks like TensorFlow,Keras,Long Short-Term Memory(LSTM),and Bi-LSTM.In our preliminary experiments,albeit label sets in form of(instance,label)pair were tagged with Sequential()model formed on TensorFlow.Keras and Bi-LSTM NLP algorithms.The maximum accuracy achieved for model validation was 0.8846.

Characterizations of Null Holomorphic Sectional Curvature of GCR-Lightlike Submanifolds of Indefinite Nearly Khler Manifolds

We obtain the expressions for sectional curvature, holomorphic sectional curvature and holomorphic bisectional curvature of a GCR-lightlike submanifold of an indefinite nearly Kahler manifold and obtain characterization theorems for holo- morphic sectional and holomorphic bisectional curvature. We also establish a condi- tion for a GCR-lightlike submanifold of an indefinite complex space form to be a null holomorphically fiat.

Symmetry Analysis for MHD Viscous Flow and Heat Transfer over a Stretching Sheet

This work deals with the boundary layer flow and heat transfer of an electrically conducting viscous fluid over a stretching sheet. Lie-group method is applied for determining the symmetry reductions for the governing equations by reducing the number of independent variables in the given system of partial differential equations by one, leading to a system of non-linear ordinary differential equation. The resulting system is then solved numerically using shooting method coupled with Runge-Kutta scheme. Effects of various values of physical parameters on the horizontal and vertical velocities, temperature profiles, wall heat transfer and the wall shear stress (skin friction), have been studied and the results are plotted. Furthermore, a comparison between the present results with existing numerical and homotopy methods has been reported and we found that they are in a good agreement.

Efficiency of Different Vaccination Strategies for Childhood Diseases: A Simulation Study

Vaccination strategies are designed and applied to control or eradicate an infection from the population. This paper studies three different vaccination strategies used worldwide for many infectious diseases including childhood diseases. These strategies are the conventional constant vaccination strategy, the periodic step (pulse) vaccination strategy and finally the mixed vaccination strategy of both the constant and the periodic one. Simulation of the different vaccination programs is conducted using three parameter sets of measles, chickenpox and rubella. The Poincaré section is playing as a filter of our simulation results to show a wide range of possible behavior of our model. Critical vaccination level is been estimated from the results to prevent severe epidemics.

A Form of Information Entropy

In this paper, by axiomatic way, a form of information entropy will be presented on crisp and fuzzy setting. Information entropy is the unavailability of information about a crisp or fuzzy event. It will use measure of information defined without any probability or fuzzy measure: for this reason it is called general information.

Determination of Full Energy Peak Efficiency of NaI(Tl) Detector Depending on Efficiency Transfer Principle for Conversion Form Experimental Values

In this work we calibrated the NaI(Tl) scintillation detectors (5.08 × 5.08 cm2 and 7.62 × 7.62 cm2) and the Full Energy Peak Efficiency (FEPE) for these detectors have been calculated for point sources placed at different positions on the detector axis using the analytical approach of the effective solid angle ratio. This approach is based on the direct mathematical method reported by Selim and Abbas [1,2] and has been used successfully before to calibrate the cylindrical, parallelepiped, and 4π NaI(Tl) detectors by using point, plane and volumetric sources. In addition, the present method is free of some major inconveniences of the conventional methods.

Role of the circulatory interleukin-6 in the pathogenesis of gliomas:A systematic review

BACKGROUND Glioma is the most common primary tumor in the brain originating from glial cells.In spite of extensive research,the overall survival rate is not enhanced.A number of published articles observed differentially circulating levels of cytokines in glioma.Interleukin-6(IL-6)protein coded by IL-6 gene is regulated by the immune system and it has been found to have a significant role in progression and apoptosis resistance of glioma.AIM To review the role of circulatory IL-6 in the development and progression of glioma and its utility as a biomarker.METHODS Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis(PRISMA)guidelines were applied to filter the relevant studies based on inclusion and exclusion criteria.We used a combination of keywords and the Reference Citation Analysis(RCA)tool to search the potential studies and performed data extraction from selected studies.RESULTS The published results were inconsistent;however,most studies showed a significantly higher IL-6 level in glioma cases as compared to controls.Comparative IL-6 level among the different grades of glioma showed a higher level with low-grade gliomas and lower level with high-grade gliomas.CONCLUSION IL-6 level significantly differed between cases and controls,and among different cancer stages,which shows its potential as a diagnostic and prognostic marker.

A Realistic Interpretation of Quantum Wavefunctions as Temperature Dependent Vacuum Polarization Waves

We discuss in this paper a novel interpretation of Born rule as an approximated thermodynamic law which emerges from the interaction of a quantum system with a non-stationary thermal bath associated to vacuum fluctuations induced by external environment radiation. In particular we assume that vacuum polarization is a real non relativistic phenomena caused by hidden vacuum charge oscillations which diffuses heat energy in a dispersive and dissipative dielectric medium with a temperature dependent speed of propagation. We propose a model which couples vacuum wavefunctions to vacuum charge fluctuations and we deduce a temperature dependent running fine structure constant function proportional, at first approximation, to the squared of the effective electron charge and compatible with known experimental data. We interpret the vacuum symmetry breaking energy fluctuations induced in scattering experiments of particle physics and in laser assisted nuclear reactions as thermal quasi-monochromatic beams produced by the decay of hidden non equilibrium massive photons propagating with a variable light speed. We suggest, exploiting an old analogy between plasmons and pseudo Goldstone bosons, to interpret heat diffusion of this non relativistic polarized vacuum as a real De Broglie electromagnetic scalar wave associated to the radiation emitted by the hidden massive photons with acceleration proportional to vacuum Unruh like temperature. We predict a temperature dependent deviation from Coulomb law and a generalized dispersive law of these hidden unstable photons that could be revealed as not stationary coloured noise in experiments on anomalous heat diffusions associated to the decay of unstable accelerated pairs produced in nuclear physics experiments. We discuss then how our proposal of a temperature dependent non relativistic vacuum polarization might be applied to deduce a dynamic generalization of Born rule based on a realistic interpretation of quantum wavefunctions as averaged electromagnetic waves of hidden massive photons. Finally we suggest to test our time asymmetric model looking for very fast oscillating polarization thermal waves emitted during the not instantaneous wavefunction collapse and revealed as not stationary bulk heating effects in experiments on accelerated conductors and nanoconductors.