The current understanding of anthropomorphic AI service robots (AISR) remains mostly fragmented in literature. Based on related research and CASA framework, this research aims to combine the ...fragmented insights of AISR literature by taking holistic view of anthropomorphic characteristics of AISR and its impact on customer engagement and intention to use subsequently. Results are based on two cross-cultural studies, the individualistic culture of Canada (n = 318) and the collectivist culture of India (n = 347). The outcomes reveal positive associations between anthropomorphic characteristics of AISR and customer engagement, which further affects intention to use. Empathy significantly moderates the relationship between anthropomorphic characteristics of AISR and customer engagement. The cross-cultural nature of this study lays the foundation for design and development of anthropomorphic AISR in different service context.
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•Characteristics of anthropomorphic AI Service Robots and its impact on customer engagement and intention to use.•Application of CASA theory in context of anthropomorphic AI Service Robots.•Two culturally different countries with high context (India) and low context (Canada).•Managerial insights for design, development and use of AI service robots.
Background: Rastriya Kishor Swasthya Karyakram (RKSK) is a holistic approach implemented for betterment of adolescent health. Barriers in the implementation can be identified by conducting the ...situational analysis of any program. The present study is a part of the multi-centric study conducted at Sabarkantha district for situational analysis of RKSK. To assess the implementation of various components under RKSK at various levels of health facilities, 2) to identify the barriers faced by services providers in RKSK implementation, and 3) to identify the perception of beneficiaries regarding RKSK. Materials and Methods: A Cross-sectional study using a mixed method approach was conducted to review the implementation of the RKSK program at Sabarkantha district. In-depth interview of health personnel involved in implementation of RKSK was conducted using pre-structured and pre-tested interview guide. Ongoing sessions of Adolescent Friendly Health Clinics (AFHCs) were examined, and exit interview of adolescents was conducted. Adolescents residing within limits of the defined facility were also interviewed. Frequency and percentages were used for descriptive analysis, and a thematic qualitative analysis approach was used for qualitative aspects. Results: RKSK was implemented successfully at Primary Health Centers. Infrastructure for AFHC was inadequate particularly at higher care facilities. Weekly Iron Folic Acid Supplementation (WIFS) was successfully implemented in the district. Overall sessions conducted at AFHC were found to be satisfactory. Adolescents interviewed in the community were satisfied with the services delivered to them under RKSK. Conclusion: For better implementation of RKSK, there is a need to focus on certain issues such as inadequate infrastructure of AFHCs, the lack of trained counselors, unavailability of sanitary pads, and inadequate participation of adolescents from the community in availing RKSK services.
•Study the role of surface roughness potential (SRP) on scattering rate of double layer graphene structure (DLGS) in presence of different dielectric environment, interlayer distance and ...temperature.•Temperature dependent screening effect is incorporated using the random phase approximation (RPA) model to calculate scattering rate.•Role of low and high temperature on scattering rate in presence of surface roughness potential (SRP) and coulomb impurity (CI) of DLGS system.•Comparative study of scattering rate due to coulomb impurity (CI) and surface roughness potential (SRP) on graphene layer versus interlayer distance d (nm) of DLGS system.•The role of height & width of surface roughness (Ripples) on scattering rate by varying interlayer distance d (nm) of DLGS system.
In this work we have reported the role of surface roughness potential (SRP) on scattering rate of double layer graphene structure (DLGS) in presence of different dielectric environment, interlayer distance and temperature. We have also compared it with the scattering contribution from charged impurity (CI). In our scattering rate calculation, temperature dependent screening effect is incorporated using the random phase approximation (RPA) model. The scattering due to SRP depends on height of ripples and therefore eventually, the impurity concentration and temperature. The temperature also plays an important role in screening of the SRP. The SRP has proved to be an important factor in the low Coulomb impurity regime, while in high impurity samples SRP can be neglected. We found that above room temperature, the scattering due to SRP decreases gradually. Dielectric constant and thickness of spacer material contribute decisively to total scattering rate of DLGS.
Abstract Porphyromonas gingivalis is a keystone pathogen and major colonizer in host tissue which plays a pivotal role in periodontitis among the other polymicrobial infections. Increasing facts ...demonstrate that curcumin has antibacterial activity and anti-biofilm effect against the periodontopathogens through diverse mechanisms that have a positive impact on periodontal health. The present study was aimed to elucidate the effect of curcumin on biofilm formation and virulence factor gene expression of P. gingivalis. By using gene expression studies, we exploited the mechanism of anti-biofilm effects of curcumin on P. gingivalis. The minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration of curcumin for both ATCC and clinical strains of P. gingivalis were found to be 62.5 and 125 μg ml-1 respectively. Curcumin prevented bacterial adhesion and biofilm formation in a dose-dependent manner. Further, curcumin attenuated the virulence of P. gingivalis by reducing the expression of genes coding for major virulence factors, including adhesions (fimA, hagA, and hagB) and proteinases (rgpA, rgpB, and kgp). The results indicated that curcumin has shown anti-biofilm as well as antibacterial activity against P. gingivalis. Further, curcumin because of its pleiotropic actions could be a simple and inexpensive therapeutic strategy in the treatment of periodontal disease.
A low CO2 emission process for methanol production using syngas generated by combined H2O and CO2 reforming with CH4 (bi-reforming) is proposed in this work. A detailed process model was developed ...using Aspen Plus. The operating conditions of the bi-reforming and methanol synthesis were derived from a detailed sensitivity analysis using plug flow reactor models with Langmuir–Hinshelwood–Hougen–Watson (LHHW) kinetics. A molar feed ratio of CH4:CO2:H2O of 1:1:2, instead of conventional 3:1:2 in the bi-reforming was found to be optimum and resulted in ∼99% conversion of CH4, 44% conversion of CO2, and a H2/CO ratio of 1.78 at 910 °C and 7 bar. A higher methane conversion eliminated the need for cryogenic separation of CH4. The optimum feed ratio of 1:1:2 resulted in an ∼33% higher consumption of CO2 per mole of CH4 required than the conventional process. An acid gas removal process using MDEA was used for CO2 separation, and a network of heat exchangers was configured for heat recovery. The proposed process resulted in ∼0.37 tonne of CO2 per tonne of methanol, which is ∼2–4 times lower than several published data and commercial methanol processes.
Glioblastoma (GB) is among the most devastative brain tumors, which usually comprises sub-regions like enhancing tumor (ET), non-enhancing tumor (NET), edema (ED), and necrosis (NEC) as described on ...MRI. Semi-automated algorithms to extract these tumor subpart volumes and boundaries have been demonstrated using dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) perfusion imaging. We aim to characterize these sub-regions derived from DCE perfusion MRI using routine 3D post-contrast-T1 (T1GD) and FLAIR images with the aid of Radiomics analysis. We also explored the possibility of separating edema from tumor sub-regions by extracting the most influential radiomics features.
A total of 89 patients with histopathological confirmed IDH wild type GB were considered, who underwent the MR imaging with DCE perfusion-MRI. Perfusion and kinetic indices were computed and further used to segment tumor sub-regions. Radiomics features were extracted from FLAIR and T1GD images with PyRadiomics tool. Statistical analysis of the features was carried out using two approaches as well as machine learning (ML) models were constructed separately, i) within different tumor sub-regions and ii) ED as one category and the remaining sub-regions combined as another category. ML based predictive feature maps was also constructed.
Seven features found to be statistically significant to differentiate tumor sub-regions in FLAIR and T1GD images, with p-value < 0.05 and AUC values in the range of 0.72 to 0.93. However, the edema features stood out in the analysis. In the second approach, the ML model was able to categorize the ED from the rest of the tumor sub-regions in FLAIR and T1GD images with AUC of 0.95 and 0.89 respectively.
Radiomics-based specific feature values and maps help to characterize different tumor sub-regions. However, the GLDM_DependenceNonUniformity feature appears to be most specific for separating edema from the remaining tumor sub-regions using conventional FLAIR images. This may be of value in the segmentation of edema from tumors using conventional MRI in the future.
Coronary artery ectasia (CAE) is defined as abnormal dilation of a coronary artery ≥1.5 times the normal segment. We aimed to determine the prevalence and clinical predictors of CAE. This was a ...prospective analysis performed on 6465 patients undergoing coronary angiography. Patients were divided based on the presence or absence of CAE and compared for angiographic characteristics and clinical risk factors. The prevalence of CAE was 7%, CAE associated with coronary artery stenosis was 5.4%, and isolated CAE was 1.6%. The mean age of presentation in CAE patients was 60 years, with male predominance (83.8%) and stable angina was the most common presentation. The left anterior descending artery (LAD) (51.7%) was the most commonly involved vessel, with diffuse ectasia more commonly seen in right coronary artery and discrete ectasia in LAD. Type 4 CAE was the most common type (92.4%). Hypertension, diabetes, smoking, dyslipidemia, and obesity were found in 62.4%, 35.3%, 45.3%, 54.9%, and 23.3%, respectively in CAE patients, with significant association with smoking (Odds Ratio = 3.06). The prevalence of CAE was 7% and was frequently associated with atherosclerotic coronary disease. Smoking was a significant predisposing factor for CAE.
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