Explore the vast range of titles available.

It is not clear if children with high fever are at increased risk for serious bacterial infection (SBI). Our aim was to systematically review if children suffering from high fever are at high risk for SBI. Our data sources were Embase, Medline, and Pubmed; from their inception until the last week of March 2017. The study selection were of cohort and case control studies comparing the incidence of SBI in children with hyperpyrexia with children with fever of 41 °C or less, and children with a temperature higher than 40 °C, with children with fever of 40 °C or less. Two reviewers independently pooled studies for detailed review using a structured data-collection form. We calculated the odds ratio and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for SBI, assuming a random-effects model. A sub-group analysis was conducted. In our results, 11 studies met the inclusion criteria. Two studies showed that children with hyperpyrexia are at higher risk for SBI (OR 1.96 95% CI 1.3–1.97). An increased risk for SBI in children with high fever (OR 3.21 95% CI 1.67; 6.22). SBI in infants with temperature over 40 °C was higher compared to infants with lower degree of fever (OR 6.3 95% CI 4.44; 8.95). On older children, the risk for SBI was only slightly higher in children with fever above 40 °C. The limitation of the study is the small amount of studies and that the heterogeneity of the studies was very high.Conclusion: Young infants with temperature higher than 400 °C are at increased risk for SBI. Risk of SBI in older children with temperature > 400C is minimal.What is known:• An association between high fever and increased risk for SBI was reported in young infants.• Based on only two studies from the 1970s and 1980s, hyperpyrexia is associated with increased risk for SBI.What is new:• Infants under the age of 3 months with fever > 40 °C were found to have increased risk for SBI.• Risk of SBI in older children with temperature > 40 °C is minimal.

Pragmatic learning strategies have been recently addressed in descriptive studies; however, research into their instruction is scarce. This study compared the effects of explicit separate and explicit integrated pragmatic learning strategies-based instruction on Iranian EFL learners’ production of the speech acts of apology and request. Participants included 60 convenience-sampled intermediate EFL learners, randomly divided into an explicit separate instruction group (ESG; N = 30) and an explicit integrated instruction group (EIG; N = 30). ESG and EIG were both comprised of two 15-member subgroups, differing in the order of instruction of implicit and explicit strategies (N = 20) adopted from Tajeddin and Bagherkazemi’s (2021) Pragmatic Learning Strategy Inventory. Strategy-based instruction was offered as a separate course to ESG, and an L2 speech act course component was integrated into the while-task phase for EIG. A 16-item written discourse completion test, comprised of eight apology and eight request items, was used to measure the participants’ pre-treatment and post-treatment speech act production ability. Two separate analyses of covariance (ANCOVAs) on apology and request scores showed explicit integrated pragmatic learning strategies-based instruction to be more effective than separate instruction. The findings indicate the greater effect of the integrated approach, which could be attributed to its embedded gap noticing and metapragmatic reflection opportunities. They have implications for speech act instruction aimed at enhancing learners’ interlanguage pragmatic development autonomy.

Coupling oxidation type semiconductors is a feasible strategy to improve the photocatalytic activity of reduction type g-C3N4 photocatalysts. In this work, Bi2O3 was used as an oxidation type semiconductor to construct direct Z-scheme Bi2O3/g-C3N4 photocatalysts by a one-step calcination method. The obtained Bi2O3/g-C3N4 composites exhibited excellent photocatalytic activity and stability toward methylene blue degradation under visible light irradiation. The composite with 1% weight content of Bi2O3 to g-C3N4 exhibited the highest photocatalytic activity with an apparent rate constant of 0.063 min−1, which was 3.0 and 3.7 times higher than that of pure Bi2O3 and g-C3N4, respectively. The enhanced photocatalytic activity of the Bi2O3/g-C3N4 composite was mainly attributed to the improved charge separation efficiency and stronger redox ability. This work gave a new insight in developing g-C3N4-based Z-scheme heterojunction photocatalysts with enhanced photocatalytic activity.

The concept of basic implication algebra (BI-algebra) has been proposed to describe general non-classical implicative logics (such as associative or non-associative fuzzy logic, commutative or non-commutative fuzzy logic, quantum logic). However, this algebra structure does not have enough characteristics to describe residual implications in depth, so we propose a new concept of strong BI-algebra, which is exactly the algebraic abstraction of fuzzy implication with pseudo-exchange principle (PEP). Furthermore, in order to describe the characteristics of the algebraic structure corresponding to the non-commutative fuzzy logics, we extend strong BI-algebra to the non-commutative case, and propose the concept of pseudo-strong BI (SBI)-algebra, which is the common extension of quantum B-algebras, pseudo-BCK/BCI-algebras and other algebraic structures. We establish the filter theory and quotient structure of pseudo-SBI- algebras. Moreover, based on prequantales, semi-uninorms, t-norms and their residual implications, we introduce the concept of residual pseudo-SBI-algebra, which is a common extension of (non-commutative) residual lattices, non-associative residual lattices, and also a special kind of residual partially-ordered groupoids. Finally, we investigate the filters and quotient algebraic structures of residuated pseudo-SBI-algebras, and obtain a unity frame of filter theory for various algebraic systems.

A centralised data envelopment analysis (DEA) approach optimises the resource usage for all the different units in an organization rather than for each unit separately (conventional DEA). This is particularly relevant for the Spanish airports controlled centrally by the Spanish airport authority rather than by individual airport managers. In this study, a non-oriented Slack-based inefficiency (SBI) DEA model is used in order to reallocate two transferrable inputs (namely, labour costs and operating costs) between the different airports. Firstly, we apply a conventional (i.e. non-centralised) non-oriented SBI model to identify the inefficient airports. Then, we apply the corresponding centralised DEA model to the inefficient units to maximise the potential improvements (slacks) obtained by reducing the total consumption of the inputs (allowing resource reallocation) and increasing total outputs. The results show how it is feasible to increase the total amount of passengers and cargo as well as the number of aircraft movements without increasing the total amount of inputs, just by reallocating them in an efficient way. Several progressively more relaxed scenarios have been considered, leading to larger total potential efficiency improvements. The model identifies airports that suffer from over-capacity and provide individual targets in each input and output to become more efficient. Sensitivity analysis to outliers or mavericks (i.e. airports with a strong specialisation) has been carried out. The size efficiency of individual airports as well as the overall company has also been studied. The potential efficiency gains and the optimal number of airports in a radical system restructuring have been computed and the optimal size operating point has been determined and compared with the actual inputs and outputs of the existing airports.

Short birth interval (SBI), defined as < 33 months between two consecutive live births, remains a pressing public health concern in Nigeria, with potential adverse consequences for both mothers and children. Understanding the factors associated with SBI is crucial for developing effective interventions to improve maternal and child health outcomes. This study investigates the sociodemographic and regional disparities influencing SBI among women of reproductive age in Nigeria, utilizing data from the 2018 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS). This study analysed data from 25,280 women of reproductive age who had given birth within five years preceding the NDHS survey. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted to assess the relationship between SBI and associated factors. Prevalence rates were analysed and presented using map and chart to highlight regional disparities. The overall prevalence of SBI in Nigeria was 51.6%. Older age was associated with a higher likelihood of optimal birth interval (AOR = 3.23, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.32–4.50, p  < 0.001). Women in the South East (55.3%) and North West (52.2%) regions had the highest prevalence of SBI, while the South West had the lowest (38.4%). South East had lower odds of optimal BI (AOR = 0.67, 95% CI: 0.59–0.75, p  < 0.001) compared to the North Central region. Higher education (AOR = 0.85, 95% CI: 0.74–0.99, p  = 0.03) was associated with reduced odds of SBI, but wealth index did not show significant associations in the adjusted analysis. This study highlights significant regional disparities in short birth interval SBI in Nigeria. Interventions addressing regional and educational disparities, particularly in underserved regions, are essential for promoting optimal birth intervals and improving maternal and child health outcomes.

The primary host response to Staphylococcus aureus infection occurs via complement. Complement is an elegant evolutionarily conserved system, playing essential roles in early defences by working in concert with immune cells to survey, label and destroy microbial intruders and coordinate inflammation. Currently the exact mechanisms employed by S. aureus to manipulate and evade complement is not clear and is hindered by the lack of accurate molecular tools that can report on complement deposition on the bacterial surface. Current gold-standard detection methods employ labelled complement-specific antibodies and flow cytometry to determine complement deposited on bacteria. These methods are restricted by virtue of the expression of the S. aureus immunoglobulin binding proteins, Protein A and Sbi. In this study we describe the use of a novel antibody-independent C3 probe derived from the staphylococcal Sbi protein, specifically Sbi-IV domain. Here we show that biotin-labelled Sbi-IV interacts specifically with deposited C3 products on the staphylococcal surface and thus can be used to measure complement fixation on wild-type cells expressing a full repertoire of immune evasion proteins. Lastly, our data indicates that genetically diverse S. aureus strains restrict complement to different degrees suggesting that complement evasion is a variable virulence trait among S. aureus isolates.

The term forest canopy density (FCD) refers to one of the important criteria used to evaluate forest’s ecological health. It plays a significant role in assessing the health of the forest and serves as a key landmark for potential management actions. The canopy coverage or crown cover is referred to the percentage of the forest floor that is covered by the vertical projection of tree crowns and necessary for monitoring the condition of the forest. The present study aims to estimate the forest canopy density (FCD) through Geospatial Techniques for Sathyamangalam Forest for the period between 2016 and 2022 with SENTINEL 2A satellite data. The weighted overlay analysis method was implemented with biophysical parameters, namely, Normalize Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Advanced Vegetation Index (AVI), Shadow Index (SI), and Soil Bareness Index (SBI) to analyze the state of the forest and its activity. The results observed significantly that the forest canopy with 158.60 km 2 in 2016 which is increased to 190.37 km 2 in 2018 (1.14%) then suddenly decreased to 134.85 km 2 in 2020 (2.47%). The forest canopy has recovered some of its original area with 168.83 km 2 through better environmental conditions during 2021–2022 (1.52%). Therefore, Geospatial Technology plays a significant role in estimating recent changes in regional forest.

The software defined networking paradigm decouples the network’s control logic (the control plane) from the underlying routers and switches (the data plane), promoting centralization of network control. The controller placement problem is threefold in nature: the number of controllers to be placed in a network, the locations of these controllers and the assignment function of controllers to switches, with all of them important for the design of an efficient control plane. Most of the existing literature focuses on the placement problem assuming the medium between the controllers and the switches is wired. In this paper, we present a novel strategy to address the controller placement problem, which protects the latency, link failure probability and transparency in the case of a wireless SouthBound interface. We model the problem of determining the placement of wireless controllers in software defined networking. For this purpose, we present a heuristic solution, based on the simulated annealing genetic algorithm, which provides a fast and efficient solution.

In the past twenty years, the basic investigation of innovative Non-Linear Optical (NLO) crystals has received significant attention, which has built the crucial heritage for the use of NLO materials. Fundamental research is essential given the scarcity of materials for NLO compounds, especially in the deep ultraviolet (DUV) and middle- and far-infrared (MFIR) regions. In the present work, we synthesized high-quality MFIR SbI3·3S8 NLO crystals having a length in the range of 1–5 mm through rapid facile liquid phase ultrasonic reaction followed by the assistance of instantaneous natural evaporation phenomenon of the solvent at room temperature. X-ray diffraction (XRD) results ratify the hexagonal R3m structure of SbI3·3S8 crystal, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) demonstrates that the elemental composition of SbI3·3S8 crystal is similar to that of its theoretical composition. The direct and indirect forbidden energy gaps of SbI3·3S8 were measured from the optical transmittance spectra and they were shown to be 2.893 eV and 1.986 eV, respectively. The green sparkling signal has been observed from the crystal during the second harmonic generation (SHG) experiment. Therefore, as inorganic adducts are often explored as NLO crystals, this work on the MFIR SbI3·3S8 NLO crystal can bring about additional investigations on this hot topic in the near future.