Search

Negabent functions play a vital role in the field of cryptography and coding theory for designing secure cryptosystems. In this article, we investigate the various properties of 2q-nega-Hadamard transform (2q-NHT) of the functions from Z_q^n to Z_2q with q≥2 is a positive integer. We discuss the 2q-NHT of the derivative of these functions and develop a connection between 2q-walsh-Hadamard transform (2q-WHT) and 2q-NHT for the derivative of these functions. Also, we show that the dual g ̃ of g∈B_(n,q) is 2q-bent if N_g (ϑ)=ω^(g ̃(ϑ)) for all ϑ∈Z_q^n. The 2q-nega convolution transform theorem for the current setup is obtained. Further, we have obtained the 2q-NHT of composition of generalized vectorial function and generalized function.

In the construction field, compressive strength is one of the most critical parameters of concrete. However, a significant amount of physical effort and natural raw materials are required to produce concrete. In addition, the curing period of concrete for at least 28 days is a must for attaining the required compressive strength. Various types of industrial and agricultural wastes have been used in concrete to reduce cement consumption and problems due to its production. Therefore, considering such constraints, the application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been widely used in the current scenarios to predict the desired output parameters. In the present study, 12 input parameters have been considered along with 455 data points and nine Machine Learning (ML) models to forecast the compressive strength of Fly Ash (FA) based concrete. The output from the models has been compared to find the best-fit model in terms of numerous analyses such as visual descriptive statistics, errors, R2, Taylor’s diagram, Feature Importance (FI), and scatter plots. Based on the analysis of the current study, Decision Tree (DT) and Gradient Boost (GB) were found to be the best-fit model because of the least errors and higher R2 values as compared to other models.

Background: Lack of exercise and change in diet habits and urbanization had led to the rapid increase in the case of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Study was conducted to assess knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) about oral health in patients with CVDs. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted among 172 CVDs patients. Oral health indices (OHIs) such as OHI, decay-missing-filled, and periodontal disease index were recorded. KAP components were categorized into poor, moderate, and good. Results: Out of 172 patients, males were 102 and females were 70, age group 30–60 years had 46 and >60 years had 126 patients. Thirty-four were illiterate, 72 had up to primary and 46 had up to secondary and 20 had degree, 104 were married and 68 were unmarried. Resident was urban in 110 and rural in 62 and financial status was very good in 26, good in 50, and moderate in 96. Females had higher KAP score than males; however, the difference was nonsignificant (P > 0.05). As the age advanced, KAP score increased (P < 0.05), patients living in urban area had significantly higher KAP score than living in rural area, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). Patients with very good financial status had significantly higher KAP score than living in rural area (P < 0.05). As the education level increased, KAP score increased, the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Authors found that patients with CVDs had moderate knowledge and attitude, but the practice was poor. There is need to educate the people about the importance of oral hygiene and their subsequent effect on general body.

Introduction: In the endodontic surgery, the common applications are the procedures that apply regenerative methods. There are various methods that help in the regeneration after the endodontic root end cutting or apicectomy. The outcome of the apicectomy depends on the procedure and the material. Hence in the present study, we intend to conduct the systemic review and meta-analysis of the various assisted bone regeneration in apicectomy defects. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted by the online search of the data that included the studies for the regenerative procedure in the endodontic surgery in patients with various periapical pathologies. The data search engines were Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and PubMed. The risk of the bias was calculated. The study participants were divided into case and control groups. Case group had undergone the regenerative surgery for the persistent periapical lesions, while the control group had not undergone the regenerative surgery for the persistent periapical l. The clinical and the radiograph outcomes were compared between the control and the case groups. Meta-analysis was done and the subgroups were evaluated. Results: From a total of 1561 articles, only 11 were finalized for the study to conduct the meta-analysis. The bias was noted for majority of the studies most of which were clinical trials. It was observed that the regenerative methods used in the endodontic surgery have significantly improved the outcome. The application of the expanded polytetrafluoroethylene only has no significant effect; however, application of the autologous platelet concentrates or collagen membranes only had good outcomes. The combination of the materials showed a significant outcome than when applied alone. Conclusions: From this meta-analysis, it is evident that regenerative procedures are beneficial in the endodontic apicectomy procedures. The materials used in these procedures will augment the outcome. A better prognosis is expected if the combination of the materials is used.

Accidental trauma involving the eye may necessitate surgical removal of the eye ball. Immediate management should consider future prosthetic rehabilitation. Insertion of eye ball implant after enucleation or evisceration preserves socket anatomy, maintains sulcus and fornix which ensures proper retention of ocular prosthesis in future. Placement of intraorbital ball implant also reduces the weight as well as enhances motility of the prosthesis, thus imparting life-like appearance. Custom-made acrylic prosthesis has been shown to deliver superior functional and esthetic result. Exact positioning of the iris disc on a custom-made scleral blank is critical from esthetic point of view. This clinical report describes prosthetic rehabilitation of an anophthalmic socket where intraorbital ball implant was inserted during evisceration. Custom-made acrylic ocular prosthesis with a prefabricated iris button was used. Here, digital photography and a specially fabricated spectacle gridded with mm scale were used for positioning iris button on the ocular prosthesis. These two methods of centration of iris button may be used to reduce chairside time and increase patient cooperation with a positive clinical outcome.

The main objective of this study was to develop a set of measures, evaluate their importance and effect in cold supply chain performance. This investigation reviewed previous research works on all the stages of the farm product supply chain. Based on farm product supply chain, 4 measures with 31 metrics were identified and developed to measure the cold supply chain performance. A survey was organized to establish the importance and the effect of identified measures. The 5 point Likert scale questionnaire was distributed among SC academics and practitioners. The observed finding infers that the measurement instrument was substantiating for evaluating cold supply chain performance in farm industry. The new developed metrics will help firms improve the visibility of supply among partners and in better decision making. The investigation was enfolded up through the plan of direction intended for future study.

This study aims to investigate how overall food supply chain performance (FSCP) often depends on the performance of partners in a sustainable and energy-efficient supply chain. Initially, the study classifies the FSCP and further examines the partner relationships in sustainability-oriented food supply chain (FSC). To do so, the study proposes and formally tests a five-stage performance measurement model. The present research mainly focuses on the Indian food industry. Results highlight significant direct and indirect positive performance relationships between the different FSC stages. The structural equation modeling analysis highlights that producer’s performance positively impacts supplier’s performance, processor’s performance, and distributor’s performance. Moreover, supplier’s performance positively impacts processor’s performance, distributor’s performance, and retailer’s performance, and also processor’s performance positively impacts both distributor’s performance and retailer’s performance. Lastly, distributor’s performance positively impacts retailer’s performance. The study suggests that regular performance improvement at each FSC stage would improve the performance of the next stage players. Most importantly, the direct impact of each partner’s performance is comparatively high on its immediate next partner’s performance. Furthermore, this study will assist practitioners to understand various FSCP measurement issues and make significant improvements in their sustainable and energy-efficient supply chain practices.

Excessive occlusal wear can result in pulpal injury, occlusal disharmony, impaired function and aesthetic deformity. Loss of anterior guidance can result from severe wear of anterior teeth, which protects the posterior teeth during excursive movement. The collapse of posterior teeth also results in the loss of normal occlusal plane and the reduction of the vertical dimension. This clinical report describes the use of the Hobo twin-stage procedure for rehabilitation of a patient with severe tooth wear, resulting in reduced vertical dimension of occlusion.

Although overall pollinator populations have declined over the last couple of decades, the honey bee (Apis mellifera) malady, colony collapse disorder (CCD), has caused major concern in the agricultural community. Among honey bee pathogens, RNA viruses are emerging as a serious threat and are suspected as major contributors to CCD. Recent detection of these viral species in bumble bees suggests a possible wider environmental spread of these viruses with potential broader impact. It is therefore vital to study the ecology and epidemiology of these viruses in the hymenopteran pollinator community as a whole. We studied the viral distribution in honey bees, in their pollen loads, and in other non-Apis hymenopteran pollinators collected from flowering plants in Pennsylvania, New York, and Illinois in the United States. Viruses in the samples were detected using reverse transcriptase-PCR and confirmed by sequencing. For the first time, we report the molecular detection of picorna-like RNA viruses (deformed wing virus, sacbrood virus and black queen cell virus) in pollen pellets collected directly from forager bees. Pollen pellets from several uninfected forager bees were detected with virus, indicating that pollen itself may harbor viruses. The viruses in the pollen and honey stored in the hive were demonstrated to be infective, with the queen becoming infected and laying infected eggs after these virus-contaminated foods were given to virus-free colonies. These viruses were detected in eleven other non-Apis hymenopteran species, ranging from many solitary bees to bumble bees and wasps. This finding further expands the viral host range and implies a possible deeper impact on the health of our ecosystem. Phylogenetic analyses support that these viruses are disseminating freely among the pollinators via the flower pollen itself. Notably, in cases where honey bee apiaries affected by CCD harbored honey bees with Israeli Acute Paralysis virus (IAPV), nearby non-Apis hymenopteran pollinators also had IAPV, while those near apiaries without IAPV did not. In containment greenhouse experiments, IAPV moved from infected honey bees to bumble bees and from infected bumble bees to honey bees within a week, demonstrating that the viruses could be transmitted from one species to another. This study adds to our present understanding of virus epidemiology and may help explain bee disease patterns and pollinator population decline in general.