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Background: Hypertension is a major public health challenge in the world. It is an important predictor of cardiovascular disease, cerebrovascular accidents and death. Objectives: To describe the socio-demographic characteristics, clinical characteristics and status of blood pressure control among hypertensive patients attending a medical clinic of a primary care hospital in Sri Lanka Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among hypertensive patients followed up at the medical clinic in Divisional Hospital Ganthuna, Kegalle, Sri Lanka. An interviewer administered questionnaire was used to collect data on socio demographic, disease related and treatment related characteristics. Weight, height and blood pressure were measured. Data was entered and analyzed using SPSS and findings were presented using descriptive statistics. Results: Among 173 hypertensive patients (rate of participation 92.5%) the majority were females (73.4%). Mean age of the participants was 64 years (SD = 10.8) and 61.8% of them were in the 58 to 77-year age group. More than three fourths of the hypertensive patients of this group (76.9%) had dyslipidaemia and 16.8% were diagnosed to have diabetes mellitus. Of all participants, 83.1% were on two or more antihypertensive drugs per day. Seventy eight percent of the participants had achieved the target blood pressure. Conclusion: Majority of the hypertensive patients had targeted blood pressure. The most frequently reported co-morbidity was dyslipidaemia followed by diabetes mellitus. Multi centric analytical studies with adequate numbers of patients are needed to explore the factors related to blood pressure control among hypertensive patients.

I‌n l‌i‌q‌u‌e‌f‌a‌c‌t‌i‌o‌n o‌c‌c‌u‌r‌r‌e‌n‌c‌e, s‌h‌e‌a‌r s‌t‌r‌e‌n‌g‌t‌h o‌f l‌o‌o‌s‌e c‌o‌h‌e‌s‌i‌o‌n‌l‌e‌s‌s d‌e‌p‌o‌s‌i‌t‌s o‌f s‌a‌t‌u‌r‌a‌t‌e‌d s‌o‌i‌l i‌s c‌o‌n‌s‌i‌d‌e‌r‌a‌b‌l‌y r‌e‌d‌u‌c‌e‌d o‌r e‌v‌e‌n i‌s l‌o‌s‌t w‌h‌e‌n s‌u‌b‌j‌e‌c‌t‌e‌d t‌o d‌y‌n‌a‌m‌i‌c o‌r s‌e‌i‌s‌m‌i‌c l‌o‌a‌d‌s. T‌h‌e e‌a‌r‌t‌h‌q‌u‌a‌k‌e-i‌n‌d‌u‌c‌e‌d l‌i‌q‌u‌e‌f‌a‌c‌t‌i‌o‌n c‌a‌n c‌a‌u‌s‌e s‌i‌g‌n‌i‌f‌i‌c‌a‌n‌t d‌a‌m‌a‌g‌e t‌o e‌x‌i‌s‌t‌i‌n‌g f‌a‌c‌i‌l‌i‌t‌i‌e‌s a‌n‌d s‌t‌r‌u‌c‌t‌u‌r‌e‌s.I‌t i‌s, t‌h‌e‌r‌e‌f‌o‌r‌e, o‌f p‌r‌i‌m‌e i‌m‌p‌o‌r‌t‌a‌n‌c‌e t‌o d‌e‌e‌p‌l‌y u‌n‌d‌e‌r‌s‌t‌a‌n‌d t‌h‌e l‌i‌q‌u‌e‌f‌a‌c‌t‌i‌o‌n m‌e‌c‌h‌a‌n‌i‌s‌m a‌n‌d t‌h‌e r‌e‌l‌a‌t‌e‌d a‌n‌d a‌f‌f‌e‌c‌t‌i‌n‌g p‌a‌r‌a‌m‌e‌t‌e‌r‌s o‌n t‌h‌i‌s p‌h‌e‌n‌o‌m‌e‌n‌o‌n. I‌n t‌h‌e c‌u‌r‌r‌e‌n‌t s‌t‌u‌d‌y, u‌s‌i‌n‌g a s‌e‌m‌i- a‌u‌t‌o‌m‌a‌t‌e‌d s‌h‌a‌k‌i‌n‌g t‌a‌b‌l‌e, t‌h‌e e‌f‌f‌e‌c‌t o‌f t‌h‌e r‌e‌l‌a‌t‌i‌v‌e d‌e‌n‌s‌i‌t‌y a‌n‌d t‌h‌e p‌e‌r‌c‌e‌n‌t‌a‌g‌e o‌f n‌o‌n-p‌l‌a‌s‌t‌i‌c f‌i‌n‌e c‌o‌n‌t‌e‌n‌t o‌f s‌o‌i‌l m‌a‌t‌e‌r‌i‌a‌l o‌n t‌h‌e l‌i‌q‌u‌e‌f‌a‌c‌t‌i‌o‌n p‌o‌t‌e‌n‌t‌i‌a‌l a‌n‌d t‌h‌e s‌e‌t‌t‌l‌e‌m‌e‌n‌t o‌f s‌a‌t‌u‌r‌a‌t‌e‌d s‌a‌n‌d l‌a‌y‌e‌r‌s w‌e‌r‌e i‌n‌v‌e‌s‌t‌i‌g‌a‌t‌e‌d. A‌c‌c‌e‌l‌e‌r‌a‌t‌i‌o‌n o‌f t‌h‌e s‌h‌a‌k‌i‌n‌g t‌a‌b‌l‌e i‌n a‌l‌l t‌e‌s‌t‌s w‌a‌s a‌d‌o‌p‌t‌e‌d t‌o b‌e c‌o‌n‌s‌t‌a‌n‌t a‌n‌d e‌q‌u‌a‌l t‌o 0.3g h‌a‌v‌i‌n‌g a f‌r‌e‌q‌u‌e‌n‌c‌y o‌f a‌p‌p‌r‌o‌x‌i‌m‌a‌t‌e‌l‌y 4.7 H‌z. I‌n c‌o‌n‌t‌r‌a‌s‌t t‌o m‌a‌n‌y o‌t‌h‌e‌r r‌e‌s‌e‌a‌r‌c‌h‌e‌r‌s c‌o‌n‌d‌u‌c‌t‌e‌d i‌n r‌e‌c‌e‌n‌t y‌e‌a‌r‌s, l‌o‌o‌s‌e a‌n‌d v‌e‌r‌y l‌o‌o‌s‌e s‌a‌n‌d‌s a‌r‌e c‌o‌n‌s‌i‌d‌e‌r‌e‌d f‌o‌r e‌x‌p‌e‌r‌i‌m‌e‌n‌t‌a‌l s‌t‌u‌d‌i‌e‌s. F‌u‌r‌t‌h‌e‌r, s‌h‌a‌k‌i‌n‌g t‌a‌b‌l‌e s‌t‌u‌d‌i‌e‌s c‌o‌n‌d‌u‌c‌t‌e‌d h‌e‌r‌e o‌n t‌h‌e‌s‌e m‌a‌t‌e‌r‌i‌a‌l‌s a‌r‌e c‌o‌n‌s‌i‌d‌e‌r‌e‌d a‌s r‌e‌l‌a‌t‌i‌v‌e‌l‌y l‌a‌r‌g‌e s‌c‌a‌l‌e t‌e‌s‌t‌s w‌h‌i‌c‌h n‌o‌t‌a‌b‌l‌y d‌i‌f‌f‌e‌r f‌r‌o‌m t‌h‌o‌s‌e c‌o‌n‌d‌u‌c‌t‌e‌d m‌o‌s‌t‌l‌y b‌y c‌o‌m‌m‌o‌n t‌r‌i‌a‌x‌i‌a‌l t‌e‌s‌t‌s i‌n t‌h‌e p‌a‌s‌t. T‌h‌e r‌e‌s‌u‌l‌t‌s o‌b‌t‌a‌i‌n‌e‌d s‌h‌o‌w‌e‌d t‌h‌a‌t t‌h‌e h‌i‌g‌h‌e‌r t‌h‌e r‌e‌l‌a‌t‌i‌v‌e d‌e‌n‌s‌i‌t‌y, t‌h‌e l‌e‌s‌s‌e‌r i‌s t‌h‌e p‌o‌r‌e w‌a‌t‌e‌r p‌r‌e‌s‌s‌u‌r‌e e‌v‌e‌n i‌f t‌h‌e s‌h‌a‌k‌i‌n‌g l‌e‌v‌e‌l i‌s h‌i‌g‌h a‌n‌d t‌h‌a‌t t‌h‌e p‌r‌o‌b‌a‌b‌i‌l‌i‌t‌y o‌f l‌i‌q‌u‌e‌f‌a‌c‌t‌i‌o‌n i‌s r‌e‌d‌u‌c‌e‌d t‌o t‌h‌e l‌o‌w‌e‌s‌t l‌e‌v‌e‌l. I‌n a‌d‌d‌i‌t‌i‌o‌n, t‌h‌e s‌u‌r‌f‌a‌c‌e s‌e‌t‌t‌l‌e‌m‌e‌n‌t o‌f s‌o‌i‌l l‌a‌y‌e‌r i‌s s‌i‌g‌n‌i‌f‌i‌c‌a‌n‌t‌l‌y r‌e‌d‌u‌c‌e‌d. I‌t w‌a‌s a‌l‌s‌o o‌b‌s‌e‌r‌v‌e‌d t‌h‌a‌t, d‌e‌s‌p‌i‌t‌e t‌h‌e e‌x‌i‌s‌t‌i‌n‌g c‌h‌a‌l‌l‌e‌n‌g‌e‌s a‌n‌d e‌v‌e‌n o‌p‌p‌o‌s‌i‌n‌g p‌o‌i‌n‌t o‌f v‌i‌e‌w‌s a‌m‌o‌n‌g r‌e‌s‌e‌a‌r‌c‌h‌e‌r‌s, a‌n i‌n‌c‌r‌e‌a‌s‌e i‌n t‌h‌e p‌e‌r‌c‌e‌n‌t o‌f n‌o‌n-p‌l‌a‌s‌t‌i‌c f‌i‌n‌e c‌o‌n‌t‌e‌n‌t i‌n t‌h‌e s‌o‌i‌l m‌a‌t‌e‌r‌i‌a‌l w‌o‌u‌l‌d l‌e‌a‌d t‌o a r‌e‌d‌u‌c‌t‌i‌o‌n i‌n s‌e‌t‌t‌l‌e‌m‌e‌n‌t o‌f s‌o‌i‌l l‌a‌y‌e‌r a‌n‌d i‌r‌o‌n‌i‌c‌a‌l‌l‌y, t‌o a‌n i‌n‌c‌r‌e‌a‌s‌e i‌n p‌o‌r‌e w‌a‌t‌e‌r p‌r‌e‌s‌s‌u‌r‌e. O‌t‌h‌e‌r o‌b‌s‌e‌r‌v‌a‌t‌i‌o‌n‌s o‌n t‌h‌e e‌x‌p‌e‌r‌i‌m‌e‌n‌t‌s c‌o‌n‌d‌u‌c‌t‌e‌d i‌n t‌h‌i‌s r‌e‌s‌e‌a‌r‌c‌h v‌e‌r‌i‌f‌i‌e‌d t‌h‌a‌t t‌h‌e t‌i‌m‌e d‌u‌r‌i‌n‌g w‌h‌i‌c‌h s‌o‌i‌l r‌e‌m‌a‌i‌n‌s i‌n l‌i‌q‌u‌e‌f‌i‌e‌d s‌t‌a‌t‌e i‌s r‌e‌d‌u‌c‌e‌d i‌f a‌n‌d/o‌r p‌e‌r‌c‌e‌n‌t‌a‌g‌e o‌f f‌i‌n‌e c‌o‌n‌t‌e‌n‌t o‌f s‌o‌i‌l m‌a‌t‌e‌r‌i‌a‌l i‌s h‌i‌g‌h.

Although wheat has never been considered an oil crop, oil from wheat germs and bran is valuable because it contains important bioactive compounds. Most of studies in this area were conducted with traditional commercial wheat varieties. At the same time, the interest of breeders, producers and consumers is going back to ancient and underutilized wheats species. In this respect, we set the purpose to evaluate tetraploid wheat species (Triticum. dicoccoides var. pseudojordanicum, Triticum dicoccum, Triticum timofeevii, Triticum persicum var rubiginosum, Triticum durum var. falcatamelanopus, Triticum polonicum var. pseudocompactum and Triticum aethiopicum var. densimenelikii) for fatty acid composition. Grain was harvested in 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019. Fatty acid methyl esters were prepared by the modified Peisker method. Fatty acid composition was analyzed by gas chromatography. Six major fatty acids were found in grain of tetraploid wheat species, with linoleic acid being the most abundant. The ratio of unsaturated acids to saturated ones in grain of wild emmer T. dicoccoides var. pseudojordanicum was slightly lower than in the domestic emmer varieties. T. timofeevii, emmer varieties Holikovska and Romanivska and radium wheat variety Spadschina had the most beneficial unsaturated/saturated ratios. As conclusion there was no evidence of deterioration in the grain quality in terms of unsaturated fatty acid levels, and we observed no patterns in variability of fatty acid contents across the species under investigation. Fatty acid composition was analyzed by gas chromatography. Six major fatty acids were found in grain of tetraploid wheat species, with linoleic acid being the most abundant. The ratio of unsaturated acids to saturated ones in grain of wild emmer T. dicoccoides var. pseudojordanicum was slightly lower than in the domestic emmer varieties. T. timofeevii, emmer varieties Holikovska and Romanivska and durum wheat variety Spadschina had the most beneficial unsaturated/saturated ratios. There was no evidence of deterioration in the grain quality in terms of unsaturated fatty acid levels. We observed no patterns in variability of fatty acid contents across the species under investigation.

D‌u‌r‌i‌n‌g p‌r‌e‌v‌i‌o‌u‌s e‌a‌r‌t‌h‌q‌u‌a‌k‌e‌s, a l‌a‌r‌g‌e n‌u‌m‌b‌e‌r o‌f u‌s‌e‌d p‌i‌l‌e‌s h‌a‌v‌e b‌e‌e‌n d‌a‌m‌a‌g‌e‌d, w‌h‌i‌c‌h u‌n‌f‌o‌r‌t‌u‌n‌a‌t‌e‌l‌y h‌a‌v‌e b‌e‌e‌n r‌e‌c‌o‌r‌d‌e‌d i‌n a s‌m‌a‌l‌l s‌a‌m‌p‌l‌e o‌f u‌s‌a‌b‌l‌e i‌n‌f‌o‌r‌m‌a‌t‌i‌o‌n. T‌h‌e‌r‌e‌f‌o‌r‌e, i‌t w‌o‌u‌l‌d b‌e v‌e‌r‌y u‌s‌e‌f‌u‌l t‌o o‌b‌t‌a‌i‌n c‌l‌o‌s‌e-t‌o-r‌e‌a‌l‌i‌s‌t‌i‌c i‌n‌f‌o‌r‌m‌a‌t‌i‌o‌n o‌n d‌e‌s‌i‌g‌n‌i‌n‌g a‌n‌d d‌e‌t‌e‌r‌m‌i‌n‌i‌n‌g t‌h‌e b‌e‌h‌a‌v‌i‌o‌r o‌f t‌h‌e p‌i‌l‌e‌s. T‌h‌e p‌u‌r‌p‌o‌s‌e o‌f t‌h‌i‌s p‌a‌p‌e‌r i‌s t‌h‌e m‌o‌d‌e‌l‌i‌n‌g o‌f s‌o‌i‌l a‌n‌d p‌i‌l‌e u‌s‌i‌n‌g W‌i‌n‌k‌l‌e‌r's m‌e‌t‌h‌o‌d a‌n‌d i‌t‌s p‌r‌o‌b‌a‌b‌i‌l‌i‌s‌t‌i‌c a‌n‌a‌l‌y‌s‌i‌s u‌n‌d‌e‌r t‌h‌e d‌y‌n‌a‌m‌i‌c l‌o‌a‌d o‌f t‌h‌e e‌a‌r‌t‌h‌q‌u‌a‌k‌e b‌y a‌p‌p‌l‌y‌i‌n‌g u‌n‌c‌e‌r‌t‌a‌i‌n‌t‌y o‌f i‌n‌p‌u‌t p‌a‌r‌a‌m‌e‌t‌e‌r‌s o‌f s‌o‌i‌l a‌n‌d c‌o‌n‌c‌r‌e‌t‌e. F‌o‌r t‌h‌i‌s p‌u‌r‌p‌o‌s‌e, b‌y p‌r‌o‌g‌r‌a‌m‌m‌i‌n‌g i‌n t‌h‌e M‌A‌T‌L‌A‌B, d‌y‌n‌a‌m‌i‌c a‌n‌a‌l‌y‌s‌i‌s i‌n t‌h‌e t‌i‌m‌e d‌o‌m‌a‌i‌n i‌s c‌o‌m‌b‌i‌n‌e‌d w‌i‌t‌h t‌h‌e N‌e‌w M‌a‌r‌k m‌e‌t‌h‌o‌d a‌n‌d t‌h‌e M‌o‌n‌t‌e C‌a‌r‌l‌o S‌i‌m‌u‌l‌a‌t‌i‌o‌n (M‌C‌S) a‌s a t‌o‌o‌l f‌o‌r p‌r‌o‌b‌a‌b‌i‌l‌i‌s‌t‌i‌c a‌n‌a‌l‌y‌s‌i‌s t‌o d‌e‌t‌e‌r‌m‌i‌n‌e t‌h‌e p‌r‌o‌b‌a‌b‌i‌l‌i‌t‌y d‌i‌s‌t‌r‌i‌b‌u‌t‌i‌o‌n o‌f t‌h‌e d‌i‌s‌p‌l‌a‌c‌e‌m‌e‌n‌t v‌e‌l‌o‌c‌i‌t‌y, a‌n‌d a‌c‌c‌e‌l‌e‌r‌a‌t‌i‌o‌n o‌f e‌a‌c‌h p‌o‌i‌n‌t o‌f t‌h‌e p‌i‌l‌e. I‌n t‌h‌i‌s w‌a‌y, t‌h‌e p‌l‌i‌e i‌s m‌o‌d‌e‌l‌e‌d a‌s b‌e‌a‌m e‌l‌e‌m‌e‌n‌t‌s, s‌t‌i‌f‌f‌n‌e‌s‌s a‌n‌d d‌a‌m‌p‌i‌n‌g o‌f t‌h‌e s‌o‌i‌l, b‌y l‌i‌n‌e‌a‌r s‌p‌r‌i‌n‌g‌s a‌n‌d d‌a‌m‌p‌e‌r‌s a‌r‌e m‌o‌d‌e‌l‌e‌d r‌e‌s‌p‌e‌c‌t‌i‌v‌e‌l‌y, a‌n‌d o‌p‌t‌i‌o‌n‌a‌l e‌a‌r‌t‌h‌q‌u‌a‌k‌e f‌o‌r‌c‌e i‌s c‌o‌n‌s‌i‌d‌e‌r‌e‌d o‌n t‌h‌e b‌e‌d‌r‌o‌c‌k. T‌h‌e M‌C‌S i‌s a c‌o‌m‌p‌u‌t‌a‌t‌i‌o‌n‌a‌l a‌l‌g‌o‌r‌i‌t‌h‌m t‌h‌a‌t i‌n‌v‌o‌l‌v‌e‌s b‌u‌i‌l‌d‌i‌n‌g m‌o‌d‌e‌l‌s o‌f p‌o‌s‌s‌i‌b‌l‌e r‌e‌s‌u‌l‌t‌s b‌y s‌u‌b‌s‌t‌i‌t‌u‌t‌i‌n‌g a r‌a‌n‌g‌e o‌f v‌a‌l‌u‌e‌s f‌o‌r a‌n‌y v‌a‌r‌i‌a‌b‌l‌e w‌i‌t‌h i‌n‌h‌e‌r‌e‌n‌t u‌n‌c‌e‌r‌t‌a‌i‌n‌t‌y. T‌o v‌e‌r‌i‌f‌y, t‌h‌e r‌e‌s‌u‌l‌t‌s o‌f t‌h‌e d‌i‌s‌p‌l‌a‌c‌e‌m‌e‌n‌t o‌f t‌h‌e p‌i‌l‌e a‌n‌d t‌h‌e s‌p‌a‌t‌i‌a‌l r‌e‌s‌p‌o‌n‌s‌e o‌f t‌h‌e s‌i‌t‌e a‌r‌e c‌o‌m‌p‌a‌r‌e‌d b‌y t‌h‌e o‌u‌t‌p‌u‌t o‌f P‌L‌A‌X‌I‌S a‌n‌d D‌e‌e‌p‌s‌o‌i‌l d‌e‌t‌e‌r‌m‌i‌n‌i‌s‌t‌i‌c‌a‌l‌l‌y. U‌s‌i‌n‌g p‌r‌o‌b‌a‌b‌i‌l‌i‌s‌t‌i‌c a‌n‌a‌l‌y‌s‌i‌s, i‌t i‌s p‌o‌s‌s‌i‌b‌l‌e t‌o d‌e‌t‌e‌r‌m‌i‌n‌e t‌h‌e p‌r‌o‌b‌a‌b‌i‌l‌i‌t‌y o‌f o‌u‌t‌p‌u‌t‌s o‌f t‌h‌e m‌o‌d‌e‌l. A‌l‌s‌o, i‌n t‌h‌i‌s p‌a‌p‌e‌r, t‌h‌e e‌f‌f‌e‌c‌t o‌f t‌h‌e p‌i‌l‌e l‌e‌n‌g‌t‌h o‌n i‌t‌s p‌r‌o‌b‌a‌b‌i‌l‌i‌s‌t‌i‌c d‌i‌s‌p‌l‌a‌c‌e‌m‌e‌n‌t i‌n t‌h‌e d‌y‌n‌a‌m‌i‌c a‌n‌a‌l‌y‌s‌i‌s i‌s a‌s‌s‌e‌s‌s‌e‌d a‌n‌d t‌h‌e m‌a‌x‌i‌m‌u‌m d‌i‌s‌p‌l‌a‌c‌e‌m‌e‌n‌t p‌r‌o‌b‌a‌b‌i‌l‌i‌t‌y d‌e‌n‌s‌i‌t‌y f‌u‌n‌c‌t‌i‌o‌n‌s o‌f t‌h‌e‌m a‌r‌e c‌o‌m‌p‌a‌r‌e‌d. T‌h‌e r‌e‌s‌u‌l‌t‌s i‌n‌d‌i‌c‌a‌t‌e t‌h‌a‌t w‌i‌t‌h i‌n‌c‌r‌e‌a‌s‌i‌n‌g t‌h‌e l‌e‌n‌g‌t‌h o‌f t‌h‌e p‌i‌l‌e‌s, t‌h‌e a‌v‌e‌r‌a‌g‌e d‌i‌s‌p‌l‌a‌c‌e‌m‌e‌n‌t o‌f t‌h‌e p‌i‌l‌e h‌e‌a‌d i‌n‌c‌r‌e‌a‌s‌e. F‌u‌r‌t‌h‌e‌r‌m‌o‌r‌e, w‌i‌t‌h i‌n‌c‌r‌e‌a‌s‌i‌n‌g t‌h‌e l‌e‌n‌g‌t‌h o‌f t‌h‌e p‌i‌l‌e‌s t‌h‌e s‌t‌a‌n‌d‌a‌r‌d d‌e‌v‌i‌a‌t‌i‌o‌n o‌f d‌i‌s‌p‌l‌a‌c‌e‌m‌e‌n‌t o‌f t‌h‌e p‌i‌l‌e h‌e‌a‌d a‌l‌s‌o i‌n‌c‌r‌e‌a‌s‌e‌s. T‌h‌i‌s m‌e‌a‌n‌s w‌i‌t‌h i‌n‌c‌r‌e‌a‌s‌i‌n‌g t‌h‌e l‌e‌n‌g‌t‌h o‌f t‌h‌e p‌i‌l‌e‌s t‌h‌e u‌n‌c‌e‌r‌t‌a‌i‌n‌t‌i‌e‌s o‌f p‌i‌l‌e d‌i‌s‌p‌l‌a‌c‌e‌m‌e‌n‌t i‌n‌c‌r‌e‌a‌s‌e.

There is an inclination of customers to show a high level of territorial behaviours and rejection, causing intruders and observers to experience different emotions and expectations in the commercial service environment, particularly the casual dining environment, with minimal behavioural norms and standards. There have been several studies that deal specifically with territorial behaviours in restaurants, cafes and similar ‘third place’ spaces measuring emotions of observing customers, but not measuring their expectations. It leads to the question of whether observing customers expect employee intervention in the territorial rejection of intruders in a dining environment. This research examined the influence of observed rejection, the perceived similarity of the rejected intruder and perceived crowding on desired employee intervention in a dining environment using the experimental vignette method (EVM), drawing from the other-customer-perception (OCP) framework, social projection and deontic justice theory. Forty diners provided responses to three 7-point-scale questions for a randomly assigned one vignette from a total of eight vignettes using an online survey link. Data obtained were subjected to full factorial MANOVA. The results of this study did not support a direct or interaction effect of independent factors on observing customers’ expectations of employee responses. This suggests that observing customers do not expect employee intervention for the territorial rejections of others. Therefore, other factors possibly prevent forming such expectations in territorial rejection situations.

Toxins produced from bacteria constitute promising antitumor agents in treating different cancer types. Exotoxin A from Pseudomonas aeruginosa is the highly toxic virulence component that bind to specific cell receptors. This study aimed to purify Exotoxin A from clinically isolated Pseudomonas aeruginosa. A total of 150 bacterial isolates were taken from clinical samples (burn and wounds) and were screened on selective media and identified as P. aeruginosa using biochemical analysis and molecular test by PCR amplification technique utilizing specific primer 16srRNA. Exotoxin A produced from P. aeruginosa were screened and purified by two steps that include gel filtration and ion-exchange chromatography. In this study, 68 isolates were characterized as P. aeruginosa, furthermore, real-time PCR proved that these isolates revealed 100% specificity, sensitivity and had positive amplified bands with a size of 249bp. The concentration of Exotoxin A extracted from P. aeruginosa using Trypticase soy broth was 18 Mg/ml. The percent of Purification and recovery for Exotoxin A was 21.4 %, 40% respectively. Clinical Isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa have the potential to produce Exotoxin A that is responsible for pathogenicity.

BackgroundUnderstanding the impact of COVID 19 on patients' quality of life (QOL) following discharge or recovery is essential for planning necessary interventions in advance. As such, this systematic review aimed to provide an overview of the QOL, and the factors associated with it in COVID-19 patients following discharge or recovery.MethodsThe Databases of PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Science Direct were searched. The review included studies that (1) assessed the QOL of COVID 19 patients following discharge or recovery, (2) were written in English, (3) used a validated instrument to assess the quality of life and (4) used an observational or cohort study design. The PRISMA guidelines were followed. Following the initial search, 2866 articles were identified as being related. A total of 1089 articles were identified as duplicates. 1694 studies were excluded during the title and abstract screening stage, and 83 studies were screened at the full-text screening stage. Finally, 21 studies were included in this systematic review.ResultsThis systematic review included 4408 patients who tested positive for COVID 19. Of them 50.2% (n = 2212) were males. Regardless of the time since discharge or recovery, COVID 19 patients' QOL has been significantly impacted. Female sex, older age, co-morbidities, Intensive Care Unit (ICU) admission, prolonged ICU stay, and being mechanically ventilated were the most frequently reported factors associated with the low level of QOL.ConclusionThe QOL of the post COVID19 patients was significantly impacted, regardless of the time elapses since discharge or recovery. Thus, when implementing programs to improve the QOL of post COVID19 patients, the most affected domains of QOL and associated factors should be considered.

Introduction. Clostridioides difficile associated diarrhea (CDAD) is a major public health issue. The appendix may function as a reservoir for the intestinal microbiome, which may repopulate the intestine following enteric infections including CDAD. Patients/Methods. This retrospective cohort study includes a total of 12,039 patients undergoing appendectomy, hemicolectomy, and cholecystectomy at a single center between 1992 and 2011 who were diagnosed with early and late-onset CDAD and were followed for a minimum of two years. Results. Cumulative CDAD rates were 2.3% after appendectomy, 6.4% after left and 6.8% after right hemicolectomy, and 4% after cholecystectomy with a median onset of 76 (range 1–6011) days after the procedure. Median time to CDAD onset was 76 days after appendectomy, 23 days after left, 54 days after right hemicolectomy, and 122 days after cholecystectomy (p1 year) was significantly more common following appendectomy (37%) and cholecystectomy (39%) than after left (17%) and right (21%) hemicolectomy. Significant differences in age, gender, complication rate, and length of hospitalization between the four groups need to be considered when interpreting the results. Conclusion. The incidence of CDAD after various abdominal surgeries ranged between 2% and 7% in this study. Whereas, hemicolectomy patients had predominantly early onset CDAD, and appendectomy and cholecystectomy may increase the risk for late-onset CDAD. Appendectomy per se does not seem to increase the risk for late-onset CDAD.

The distribution network reconfiguration problem (DNRP) refers to the challenge of searching for a given power distribution network configuration with better operating conditions, such as minimized energy losses and improved voltage levels. To accomplish that, this paper revisits the branch exchange heuristics and presents a method in which it is coupled with other techniques such as evolutionary metaheuristics and cluster analysis. The methodology is applied to four benchmark networks, the 33-, 70-, 84-, and 136-bus networks, and the results are compared with those available in the literature, using the criteria of the number of power flow executions. The methodology minimized the four systems starting from the initial configuration of the network. The main contributions of this work are the use of clustering techniques to reduce the search space of the DNRP; the consideration of voltage regulation banks and voltage-dependent loads in the feeder, requiring the addition of a constraint to the mono-objective model to guarantee the transferred load will be supplied at the best voltage magnitude level, and the application of the methodology in real distribution networks to solve a set of 81 real DNRPs from CEMIG-D (the distribution branch of the Energy Company of Minas Gerais). Four out of those are presented as case studies to demonstrate the applicability of the approach, which efficiently found configurations with lower power and energy losses with few PF runs.

The thermodynamical conditions and the neutron density produced in a laser-induced implosion of a deuterium-tritium (DT) filled capsule at the National Ignition Facility (NIF) are the closest laboratory analog of stellar conditions. We plan to investigate neutron-induced reactions on 40Ar, namely the 40Ar(n, 2n)39Ar(t1/2 =268 y), the 40Ar(n, γ)41Ar(110 min) and the potential rapid two-neutron capture reaction 40Ar(2n, γ)42Ar(33 y) in an Ar-loaded DT capsule. The chemical inertness of noble gas Ar enables reliable collection of the reaction products.

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Abstract The American Barn Owl (Tyto furcata) lives in urban, periurban and wild environments and feeds mainly on small rodents, meaning it has great importance in the biological control of pests. The aim of this work was to describe the reproductive, parental and eating habits of a pair of American barn owls naturally living outside a residence in the urban area of the municipality of Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil. A wood box was installed on an outside wall of the home, monitored by a video camera. A spreadsheet was created to keep track of the observations recorded. The female laid four eggs, and after an incubation period of 30-32 days all the eggs hatched, but only two chicks survived after cannibalism among the chicks. Initially, the male provided the food to the chicks and the female remained in the nest caring for the brood. After approximately a month, the female also began to leave the nest and return with prey, which was offered to the chicks, with the male also continuing this behavior. The chicks left the nest in September, 2017. The data obtained show the existence of cooperation and division of tasks between male and female owls during the reproductive period.