WHAT ARE THE EFFECTS OF DIFFERENT MODES OF EXERCISE TRAINING FOR INTERMITTENT CLAUDICATION? - A COCHRANE REVIEW SUMMARY WITH COMMENTARY

The aim of this commentary is to discuss from a rehabilitation perspective the published Cochrane Review “Modes of exercise training for intermittent claudication”(1) by Jansen SCP et al¹, under the direct supervision of Cochrane Vascular. This Cochrane Corner is produced in agreement with the Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine by Cochrane Rehabilitation.Key words: Cochrane Review Summary, exercise training, intermittent claudication, systematic review, walking     

Simulation of Depth of Wear of Eco-Friendly Concrete Using Machine Learning Based Computational Approaches

To avoid time-consuming, costly, and laborious experimental tests that require skilled personnel, an effort has been made to formulate the depth of wear of fly-ash concrete using a comparative study of machine learning techniques, namely random forest regression (RFR) and gene expression programming (GEP). A widespread database comprising 216 experimental records was constructed from available research. The database includes depth of wear as a response parameter and nine different explanatory variables, i.e., cement content, fly ash, water content, fine and coarse aggregate, plasticizer, air-entraining agent, age of concrete, and time of testing. The performance of the models was judged via statistical metrics. The GEP model gives better performance with R² and ρ equals 0.9667 and 0.0501 respectively and meet with the external validation criterion suggested in the previous literature. The k-fold cross-validation also verifies the accurateness of the model by evaluating R², RSE, MAE, and RMSE. The sensitivity analysis of GEP equation indicated that the time of testing is the influential parameter. The results of this research can help the designers, practitioners, and researchers to quickly estimate the depth of wear of fly-ash concrete thus shortening its ecological susceptibilities that push to sustainable and faster construction from the viewpoint of environmentally friendly waste management.     

First principles study of electronic and optical properties and photocatalytic performance of GaN–SiS van der Waals heterostructure

The vertical stacking of two-dimensional materials via van der Waals (vdW) interaction is a promising technique for tailoring the physical properties and fabricating potential devices to be applied in the emerging fields of materials science and nanotechnology. The structural, electronic and optical properties and photocatalytic performance of a GaN–SiS vdW heterostructure were explored using first principles calculations. The most stable stacking configuration found energetically stable, possesses a direct staggered band gap, which is crucial for separating photogenerated charged carriers in different constituents and is efficacious for solar cells. Further, the charge transfer occurred from the SiS to GaN layer, indicating that SiS exhibits p-type doping in the GaN–SiS heterobilayer. Interestingly, a systematic red-shift was observed in the optical absorption spectra of the understudy heterobilayer system. Moreover, the conduction band edge and valence band edge of the monolayers and corresponding heterostructure were located above and below the standard redox potentials for photocatalytic water splitting, making these systems promising for water dissociation for hydrogen fuel production. The results provide a route to design the GaN–SiS vdW heterostructure for the practical realization of next-generation light detection and energy harvesting devices.

The two dimensional GaN–SiS van der Waals heterostructure is a promising candidate for optoelectronic and photocatalytic water splitting.     

Review of policies,data, and interventions to improve maternal nutrition in Afghanistan

Malnutrition contributes to direct and indirect causes of maternal mortality, which is particularly high in Afghanistan. Women's nutritional status before, during, and after pregnancy affects their own well‐being and mortality risk and their children's health outcomes. Though maternal nutrition interventions have documented positive impact on select child health outcomes, there are limited data regarding the effects of maternal nutrition interventions on maternal health outcomes globally. This scoping review maps policies, data, and interventions aiming to address poor maternal nutrition outcomes in Afghanistan. We used broad search categories and approaches including database and website searches, hand searches of reference lists from relevant articles, policy and programme document requests, and key informant interviews. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were developed by type of source document, such as studies with measures related to maternal nutrition, relevant policies and strategies, and programmatic research or evaluation by a third party with explicit interventions targeting maternal nutrition. We abstracted documents systematically, summarized content, and synthesized data. We included 20 policies and strategies, 29 data reports, and nine intervention evaluations. The availability of maternal nutrition intervention data and the inclusion of nutrition indicators, such as minimum dietary diversity, have increased substantially since 2013, yet few nutrition evaluations and population surveys include maternal outcomes as primary or even secondary outcomes. There is little evidence on the effectiveness of interventions that target maternal nutrition in Afghanistan. Policies and strategies more recently have shifted towards multisectoral efforts and specifically target nutrition needs of adolescent girls and women of reproductive age. This scoping review presents evidence from more than 10 years of efforts to improve the maternal nutrition status of Afghan women. We recommend a combination of investments in measuring maternal nutrition indicators and improving maternal nutrition knowledge and behaviours.     

Evaluation of a culturally adapted cognitive behavior therapy-based,third-wave therapy manual

BACKGROUND Recommendations for psychotherapy have evolved over the years, with cognitive behavioral therapy(CBT) taking precedence since its inception within clinical guidelines in the United Kingdom and United States. The use of CBT for severe mental illness is now more common globally.AIM To investigate the feasibility and acceptability of a culturally adapted, CBT-based, third-wave therapy manual using the Comprehend, Cope, and Connect approach with individuals from a diverse population prese...     

Concrete by Preplaced Aggregate Method Using Silica Fume and Polypropylene Fibres

Preplaced aggregate concrete (PAC) is prepared in two steps, with the coarse aggregate being initially laid down in the formwork, after which a specialised grout is injected into it. To enhance the properties of concrete and to reduce the emission of CO₂ produced during the production of cement, supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) are used to partially substitute ordinary Portland cement (OPC). In this study, 100 mm × 200 mm (diameter x height) PAC cylinders were cast with 10 per cent of cement being substituted with silica fume; along with that, 1.5% dosage of Macro polypropylene fibres were also introduced into the coarse aggregate matrix. Compressive strength test, splitting tensile strength test, mass loss at 250 °C, and compressive strength at 250 °C were performed on the samples. PAC samples with 10% of cement replaced with Silica Fume (SPAC) were used as control samples. The primary objective of this study was to observe the effect of the addition of Polypropylene fibres to PAC having Silica fume as SCM (FRPAC). The aforementioned tests showed that FRPAC had a lower compressive strength than that of the control mix (SPAC). FRPAC had greater tensile strength than that of NPAC and SPAC. Mass loss at 250 °C was greater in SPAC compared to FRPAC. The compressive strength loss at 250 °C was significantly greater in FRPAC compared to SPAC. FRPAC exhibited a greater strain for the applied stress, and their stress-strain curve showed that FRPAC was more ductile than SPAC.