Search

Metaverse is a concept that envisions a future where the physical and digital worlds merge to form a shared space for people to experience and interact with each other. This research aims to study the underlying factors (functional, psychological and individual barriers) that build resistance toward metaverse among tourists. The study has used innovation resistance theory (IRT) to make the conceptual model. The study used a mixed-method approach to investigate the proposed model, with data collected from 26 tourists for qualitative analysis and 198 for quantitative analysis. The data were analysed using structural equation modelling for path analysis. For moderation, the study used process macro model no. 1. The study results showed that the use of metaverse experiences requires certain conditions that increase the cost of usage. Technology vulnerability, characterized by dependence on technology and anxiety about it, was identified as the main cause of innovation resistance also found that people who are not inclined to be innovative or inventive are less likely to embrace new technology and access to better resources, compatible devices, and user-friendly environments can help reduce the barriers that users face in adopting metaverse applications. Tourism, which is mainly related to pleasure and happiness, is strongly influenced by hedonic motivations.

Background: Globally Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) is considered to cause one of the major infection burdening public health. Presently HCV is categorized into seven genotypes and 67 subtypes, transmitted through various routes and vary in their pathogenesis. Aims and Objectives: Present work aimed to detect the prevalent HCV genotypes among individuals attending tertiary care hospital. Material and Methods: A hospital based cross sectional study was carried out. Patient blood samples received for screening of HCV antibodies were included in this study. Serum was subjected to Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) or Chemiluminescent Immunoassay (CLIA) and samples found to be positive for HCV antibodies were subjected to viral RNA extraction and genotyping. Results: Forty-two samples were found to be positive for HCV antibodies out of 19526 samples screened and were further subjected to genotyping. The genotypes identified were genotype-1, genotype-3, and genotype-4. Conclusion: Genotype-1 and genotype-3 predominate in this region. However, genotype-4 detection was novel to this region and has never been reported earlier. This study highlights the importance of screening HCV-positive patients for genotyping.

Elizabethkingia is ubiquitary aerobic bacillus abundantly found in the community as well as hospital environments. Elizabethkingia meningoseptica is an emerging nosocomial pathogen with an elemental ability to acclimate and survive in diversified environmental circumstances. Prompt diagnosis and an early therapeutic intervention are preponderant in the management of these infections. We report a case of meningitis with septicemia caused by E. meningoseptica in a 1-day-old outborn neonate. The child was stabilized with anticonvulsants and, based on laboratory findings, the neonate was started on ciprofloxacin in addition to symptomatic management. The child responded well to the treatment and was discharged on day 7 after treatment initiation. Perceptive treatment protocols backed with accurate laboratory evidence remain instrumental to avert unpropitious outcomes while combatting rare multidrug-resistant opportunistic infections.

Convective heat transmission of $Ti{O_2} - EG$TiO2−EG nanoliquid under slip and convective regime in a microchannel is examined using a modified Buongiorno model. The fractal-based approach is employed to describe the aggregation of nanoparticles. The impact of molecular dynamics, particularly on dynamic viscosity and thermal conductivity due to the aggregation of nano-sized particles, is simulated with the help of two significant models: namely, the Krieger-Dougherty model and the Maxwell-Bruggeman model, respectively. The aspect of the interfacial layer enables us to get a realistic nanoliquid model. The solutions for the designed nondimensional mathematical model are obtained numerically. The variation in flow and thermal distribution for pertinent parameters are visualized graphically. The study reveals that the thermophysical characteristics sturdily depend on nanoparticle concentration and cluster formation. It is emphasized that the viscous dissipation and radiative heat transfer contribute towards magnifying the irreversibilities in a microchannel. The findings are useful in bioconvection and various heat transfer applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main interest of the existing work is the numerical and analytical exploration of heat transference on MHD Jeffery-Hamel flowing of a ternary hybrid nanofluid with an external magnetized force and electrical field (EMHD). The two walls of the system are also taken to be stretchable (shrinkable). Mixture base fluid (ethylene glycol-water 50%–50%) hybrid nanofluid containing MoS2, Al2O3, and TiO2 as the nanoparticles are contemplated. The modeled partial differential equations were converted to nonlinearly ordinary differential equations by applying the similarity transformations and resolved analytically by utilizing the Duan – Rach Approach (DRA). The present results in particular cases are compared to results obtained by the HAM (homotopy analysis methodology)-based Mathematica BVPh 2.0 code and by the Runge-Kutta Fehlberg 4th–5th order (RKF-45) for validation. The effect of varied factors on non-dimensional rapidity, temperature profiles, frictional force factor, and Nusselt quantity has been examined and explained via tabular and graphical outcomes. Certainly, new modeling and reliable analytic treatment via the DRA approach for the ternary hybrid nanofluid is a sizable accomplishment of the current analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThe boundary layer fluid flow past a wedge surface occurs in various industrial processes, including wire drawing, metal foaming, polymer extraction, fiber processing, and in determining the dynamic properties (shear stress, drag) of working fluids. Theoretically, the boundary layer three-dimensional flow of a magnetized hybrid nanoliquid over a wedge surface is studied with viscous dissipation and radiation effects. The flow is due to moving wedge surface and power-law free-stream velocities. The current study unifies three different classical flow problems, namely, the Blasius flow, the Hiemenz flow, and the Falkner-Skan flow. Single-phase description of hybrid nanofluid is considered, and the problem is kept realistic by considering the experimental thermophysical properties of the nanomaterial. The governing system consists of conservation of mass, momentum, and the energy equations for hybrid nanofluids. Prandtl’s boundary layer approximations are applied to study the viscous dominant fluid regimes. The entropy equation and the Bejan number are also derived. Numerical computations of self-similar equations are obtained to explore the rheological and the heat transport features against the physical parameters. The Nusselt number and the drag on the wedge surface are computed and analyzed. Of the three classical flow problems, the maximum thickness of the momentum layer occurs for the Blasius flow problem. A minimum drag force on the wedge surface occurs for lower Hartmann number values. Furthermore, an increase in the volume fraction of the hybrid nanoparticles leads to an enhanced heat transport. The use of carbon nanotubes which has exceptional characteristics are taken into consideration in this study. This study also demonstrates the comparison on three-different classical flow problems (Blasius flow, Hiemenz flow, and Falkner-Skan flow). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PURPOSE: Multidrug-resistant organisms causing community-acquired and hospital-acquired infections are increasing at a dangerous rate. Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae and Pseudomonas species are an important source of concern since these organisms are not only resistant to beta-lactam antibiotics but also show cross-resistance to other groups of antibiotics. In the present study, rapid detection of these carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae and Pseudomonas species by carbapenemase Nordmann–Poirel (Carba NP) test was evaluated by comparing with modified Hodge test (MHT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Imipenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae and Pseudomonas species isolated from various samples such as pus, blood, sputum, urine, and endotracheal aspirates were processed for carbapenemase detection by MHT and Carba NP test. Kappa analysis was done to evaluate the percentage agreement between the two tests. RESULTS: Seventy imipenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae and Pseudomonas isolates were analyzed in the present study for carbapenemase production. 63.41% ofEnterobacteriaceae and 34.48% of Pseudomonas species were carbapenemase producers considering both the methods. By MHT, 36 (51.42%) isolates and, by Carba NP test, 35 (50%) isolates were positive for carbapenemase production out of the 70 isolates. CONCLUSION: Carba NP test when compared to MHT is a simple, rapid, cost-effective biochemical test which can be used in all laboratories in the identification of life-threatening carbapenemase-producing Gram-negative bacteria.

The transient thermal performance of a fully wetted longitudinal permeable fin under natural convection, radiation, and internal heat generation has been studied in the present problem. Due to variation of fin thickness with respect to fin length, it is possible to obtain different fin profiles such as triangular, convex and rectangular profiles. Here, the diverse profiles of the fin have been considered for the examination and Darcy’s model was implemented to investigate the porous nature of the fin. The governed partial differential equation has been solved by applying finite difference method. The influence of dimensionless parameters on the transient thermal profile as well as the heat dissipation rate of the three types of fins, has been graphically illustrated and interpreted physically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, the impact of a heat source on the thin-film ferrofluid flow over an unstable stretching sheet in the presence of an external magnetic field has been examined. The governing partial differential equations are transformed into a system of ordinary differential equations by similarity transformation. The resultant system of ordinary differential equations is solved numerically through shooting technique involving Runge-Kutta-Fehlberg (RKF45) method. To improve the initial guess values, the Newton-Raphson method is used. The significance of magnetization parameter, Prandtl number and heat source parameter on the flow and heat transmission process have been graphically analysed. The decrease in film thickness is observed for growing values of heat source parameter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

COVID-19 detection via lateral flow antigen assays (LFA) are rapid and economically acquiescent to infrastructure facile healthcare settings. Early, prompt identification of cases to facilitate patient isolation and supportive management is the essence of rapid diagnostic tests. Given the backdrop of post COVID-19 pandemic-molecular testing still remains a costly affair. Additionally, molecular assays are incapable of distinguishing remnant RNA from replication competent viruses. In this scenario, we explore the diagnostic consonance of SARS-CoV-2 LFAs with RT-PCR cycle threshold, in a likelihood that it could be used as a surrogate marker for infection transmissibility. Rapid COVID-19 LFA results were compared with Real-time PCR for detection of SARS-CoV-2 in nasopharyngeal swabs. Two hundred rapid antigen positive nasopharyngeal swabs obtained from COVID-19 suspects/contacts/preoperative/ screening patients were subjected to RT-PCR to study the correlation with cycle threshold (CT) values obtained for all the antigen positive cases. 200 Rapid COVID-19 LFA positive samples were analyzed in the present study. Amidst the LFA positive samples included in the study 187 (93.5%) were found to have concordant results when subjected to the gold standard Real-time PCR. Discordant results were documented in 13 (6.5%) COVID-19 LFA positive samples which were found to be negative by RT-PCR. The average Cycle threshold values were found to be 23.75 for E gene, 25.36 for N gene and 24.07 for RdRp gene. The average PCR Cycle threshold of LFA positive cases remained significantly undeterred (p<0.5) throughout the time period of the study stipulating the undaunted viral load across the different waves of the pandemic. Maximum association of LFA positivity with symptom-manifestation was seen during the 1st wave of COVID-19 (September-December 2020 in India). The association of symptoms with LFA test positivity reduced to a significant extent during the 3rd wave of the pandemic in January 2022 (p<0.5) indicating the reduced clinical severity but not infectivity of the SARS-CoV-2 infection during the 3rd wave of the pandemic. Lateral flow assay based diagnostic tests are technically & economically convenient modalities with significant interest concordance in comparison with RT-PCR. Definitive advantage in terms of achieving quick patient triage and thereby patient management can be achieved with the use of these tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The temperature distribution in a conductive-radiative rectangular profiled annular fin with internal heat generation is scrutinized in the present investigation. The nonlinear variation of thermal conductivity and heat transfer coefficient governed by the power law is considered. The analytical approximation for the non-dimensional temperature profile is obtained using the differential transform method (DTM)-Pade approximant. The nondimensionalization of the governing energy equation using dimensionless terms yields a nonlinear ordinary differential equation (ODE) with corresponding boundary conditions. The resulting ODE is analytically solved with the assistance of the DTM-Pade approximant procedure. Furthermore, the impact of thermal parameters on the temperature field and thermal stress is elaborated with graphs. The important results of the report divulge that temperature distribution greatly enhances with an augmentation of the heat generation parameter, but it gradually reduces with an increment in the magnitude of the thermogeometric and radiative-conductive parameter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present research examines the steady, one-dimensional thermal distribution and heat transfer of a wavy fin. This heat transfer analysis considers convective effects as well as temperature-dependent thermal conductivity. Furthermore, a novel implementation of a neural network with backpropagated Levenberg–Marquardt algorithm (NN-BLMA)-based machine learning intelligent strategies is provided to interpret the heat transfer analysis of a convective wavy fin. The non-linear ordinary differential equation (ODE) of the study problem is converted into its non-dimensional form using the similarity transformation technique. The dimensionless equation obtained is then numerically explored via the Runge–Kutta–Fehlberg scheme. A data set for varying the pertinent parameters is generated, and an artificial neural network model is designed to estimate the heat transfer behavior of the wavy fin. The effectiveness of the proposed NN-BLMA is subsequently endorsed by analyses using a regression model, mean square error, and histograms. The findings of comprehensive computational parametric studies illustrate that the presented technique, NN-BLMA is an effective convergent stochastic numerical solver employed for the heat transfer model of the convective wavy fin. The wavy fin's temperature dispersion optimizes as the thermal conductivity parameter rises. Heat transfer rate is higher in wavy fin compared to rectangular fin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]