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OBJECTIVE: To measure the global impact of COVID-19 pandemic on volumes of IV thrombolysis (IVT), IVT transfers, and stroke hospitalizations over 4 months at the height of the pandemic (March 1 to June 30, 2020) compared with 2 control 4-month periods. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional, observational, retrospective study across 6 continents, 70 countries, and 457 stroke centers. Diagnoses were identified by their ICD-10 codes or classifications in stroke databases. RESULTS: There were 91,373 stroke admissions in the 4 months immediately before compared to 80,894 admissions during the pandemic months, representing an 11.5% (95% confidence interval [CI] -11.7 to -11.3, p < 0.0001) decline. There were 13,334 IVT therapies in the 4 months preceding compared to 11,570 procedures during the pandemic, representing a 13.2% (95% CI -13.8 to -12.7, p < 0.0001) drop. Interfacility IVT transfers decreased from 1,337 to 1,178, or an 11.9% decrease (95% CI -13.7 to -10.3, p = 0.001). Recovery of stroke hospitalization volume (9.5%, 95% CI 9.2-9.8, p < 0.0001) was noted over the 2 later (May, June) vs the 2 earlier (March, April) pandemic months. There was a 1.48% stroke rate across 119,967 COVID-19 hospitalizations. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection was noted in 3.3% (1,722/52,026) of all stroke admissions. CONCLUSIONS: The COVID-19 pandemic was associated with a global decline in the volume of stroke hospitalizations, IVT, and interfacility IVT transfers. Primary stroke centers and centers with higher COVID-19 inpatient volumes experienced steeper declines. Recovery of stroke hospitalization was noted in the later pandemic months. © 2021 American Academy of Neurology.

In this article, the linear plus modified Yukawa potential (LIMYP) is used as the quark antiquark interaction potential for the approximate analytical bound state solution of the Klein Gordon equation in three-dimensional space. The energy eigenvalues and associated wavefunction are obtained by solving the Klein Gordon equation analytically using the Nikiforov Uvarov (NU) method. The mass spectra of heavy mesons such as charmonium $(c\bar{c})$, bottomonium $(b\bar{b})$, and $b\bar{c}$ for various quantum states are obtained using the energy spectra expression. In comparison to experimental data, graphical modification of acquired mass spectra of heavy mesons with the parameter employed in the energy equation and the current potential provides good results., 17 pages, 24 figures, 3 tables

We determined the rotational vibrational (RV) partition function from the energy eigenvalues obtained for the attractive radial potential plus class of Yukawa potential (ARPCYP) via asymptotic iteration method (AIM). From these eigenvalue spectrum and RV partition functions, we obtained various thermodynamical properties such as vibrational mean energy (U)and vibrational mean free energy (F).

In this study, we proposed and solved the extended Hulthen-Yukawa with inverse square and Coulombic term plus ring shape potential (EHYIC-RSP) via the Nikiforov-Uvarov (NU) method. Solution of the Schrodinger equation with the EHYIC-RSP obtained for both radial and angular part of the potential. We deduced few potentials such as modified inversely quadratic Hellmann potential with non central potential, Coulomb potential with non central potential, Yukawa potential with non central potential.

100 patients of lymphadenopathy with human immunodeficiency virus infection were studied by fine needle aspiration cytology of the affected smears. Smears collected were stained by different staining techniques like Papanicolaou taining, Haematoxylin and eosin (H& E) staining, giemsa staining and AFB as well as PAS staining. The maximum number of cases was reported in the age group of 21 to 30 years. Majority of the patients were males. The maximum number of cases had reactive lymphadenitis (52%), followed by tuberculosis (45%) non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (2%) and dermatopathic lymphadenitis (1%). FNAC is an important diagnostic tool in the evaluation of lymphadenopathy in HIV-positive patients.

Bamboo shaped multi-walled Carbon Nanotubes were synthesized by the thermo-catalytic decomposition of methane in a modified chemical vapour deposition reactor. The prepared carbon nanotubes were reinforced in the mero-hydrophobic carboxymethyl cellulose and silica matrix for the preparation of low density, highly flexible aerogel. The synthesized aerogel exhibited a large specific surface area and uniform pore structure as confirmed by the nitrogen adsorption-desorption analysis. The water contact angle of 148.8° for the aerogel demonstrated that the synthesized aerogels were superhydrophobic in nature. The performance of aerogels was tested for the adsorption of singer oil and motor oil. Investigations revealed that aerogel can adsorb more than 28 times its weight effectively. Moreover, the adsorbed oil can be recovered by mechanical squeezing owing to its flexible nature. In addition, the aerogel could maintain its oil adsorption capacity even after 5 regeneration cycles, demonstrating superior recyclability. The peculiar properties – outstanding flexibility and superhydrophobicity exhibited by the aerogels establish them as a proficient and recyclable oil adsorbents during the oil seepage.

Purpose - The purpose of this experimental study is to investigate the impact of teaching Oriental Music using Blended Learning (BL) approach for the students of senior secondary level in Sri Lanka specifically focusing on their achievement on required competencies of Oriental Music at Ordinary Level. The study analyzes the academic performance of students with detailed comparison of BL environment and traditional learning environment. Authors propose the application of BL approach to teach Oriental Music and study its impact on improvement of students’ competency. The study conducted with the application of a mixed instructional design model of objectivist and constructivist approaches for the design of the blended learning course in a student centred learning environment. Methodology - The study was directed by using true experimental study design with pretest and posttest control groups. BL was applied to the experimental group and the traditional instruction method was applied to control group. 9 schools from Colombo district were randomly selected for the experimental and control groups covering all the three existing school types of Sri Lanka. The study group consisted of 360 students of Grade 10 and Grade 11 who has been studying Oriental Music as a subject for General Certificate of Education Ordinary Level. To analyze the data Descriptive statistics, Paired samples t test, Independent samples t test were utilized. Findings - The findings of the experiment indicated that students who has studied Oriental Music under BL strategy showed a significant improvement in their music academic performances after the intervention. The mean post-test of the experimental group was 71.75 which is significantly higher than the mean control group which was 52.07. The mean difference was 19.68 1.91. Hence, there is a statistically significant increase in the performance of students who studied Oriental Music under blended learning. Thus, it is clearly evident that the blended instruction was effective. Significance - This study indicated a positive platform to mould and cater the entire teaching learning process by introducing BL strategy to Sri Lankan secondary education system and fulfilled an existing research gap by utilizing BL to teach highly traditional abstract art. Results of the study contributes to the curriculum designing field with novel ideas to adapt blended instructions to teach secondary level students effectively.

The current study reports a regenerative approach for producing blue hydrogen (COx-free) and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) from natural gas (methane). The multi-metallic nickel-based copper and zinc promoted catalyst with an optimal composition (60%Ni-5%Cu-5%Zn/Al2O3) was synthesized in the laboratory and used for the pyrolysis of methane in a fluidized bed reactor under bubbling conditions. Fluidized bed reactor hydrodynamics and CNT extraction were well-thought-out while designing the catalyst. The separation of the CNTs and partial regeneration of the spent catalyst was performed using the ultrasonication technique. The regeneration ability of the catalyst was examined by performing multiple reaction-regeneration cycles. The regenerated catalyst regained its full activity, and >90% methane conversion was achieved with high-quality CNTs (o.d 60–80 nm, length 5 μm). State-of-the-art characterization tools like 3D-Raman mapping, high-resolution electron microscopy, EDX mapping were utilized to analyze CNTs. 3D-Raman map consists of 29,200 spectra ensured the uniformity and purity of grown CNTs.

In this article, approximate analytical bound state solutions of the Schrodinger equation in two-dimensional space for screened cosine Kratzer potential (SCKP) under the influence of the magnetic field and Aharanov–Bohm flux field have been investigated. We obtained energy eigenvalues and wave functions for SCKP with external fields (magnetic field and Aharanov–Bohm flux field) via parametric Nikiforov–Uvarov (pNU) method using the approximation method suggested by Greene–Aldrich for handling centrifugal barriers. We deduced energy eigenvalues for screened Kratzer potential (SKP) and Hellmann potential (HP) from the obtained energy spectrum of SCKP with an external field. We extended our results in D dimensions for Hellmann potential in the absence of external fields. Thermodynamic properties such as partition function Z ( B → , Φ A B , β ) , mean energy U ( B → , Φ A B , β ) , mean free energy F ( B → , Φ A B , β ) , entropy S ( B → , Φ A B , β ) , specific heat capacity C s ( B → , Φ A B , β ) , magnetization at finite temperature ( B → , Φ A B , β ) and magnetic susceptibility χ m ( B → , Φ A B , β ) at finite temperature are presented. The obtained numerical resultsfor SKP and Hellmann potential are in very good agreementwith numerical results available in the literature with and without external fields respectively.