The reproduction number (R0) is vital in epidemiology to estimate the number of infected people and trace close contacts. R0 values vary depending on social activity and type of gathering events that induce infection transmissibility and its pathophysiology dependence. In this study, we estimated the probable outbreak size of COVID-19 clusters mathematically using a simple model that can predict the number of COVID-19 cases as a function of time. We proposed a mathematical model to estimate the R0 of COVID-19 in an outbreak occurring in both local and international clusters in light of published data. Different types of clusters (religious, wedding, and industrial activity) were selected based on reported events in different countries between February and April 2020. The highest R0 values were found in wedding party events (5), followed by religious gathering events (2.5), while the lowest value was found in the industrial cluster (2). In return, this will enable us to assess the trend of coronavirus spread by comparing the model results and observed patterns. This study provides predictive COVID-19 transmission patterns in different cluster types based on different R0 values. This model offers a contact-tracing task with the predicted number of cases, to decision-makers; this would help them in epidemiological investigations by knowing when to stop.

Several factors can affect students’ intention to start a new technology-based venture (technopreneurial intentions). Understanding these factors is important when developing technical educational programs. This study investigates the effect of innate innovativeness and academic self-efficacy on technopreneurial self-efficacy and the forming of technopreneurial intentions. It does this by developing a conceptual model that relates technopreneurial intentions, technopreneurial self-efficacy, academic self-efficacy, and innate innovativeness. The data was collected from 378 undergraduate engineering students enrolled in a Jordanian university with a self-administered questionnaire survey. The results of the structural equation modeling (SEM) using AMOS showed that technopreneurial self-efficacy had a positive and significant impact on technopreneurial intentions. Academic self-efficacy had both a direct and indirect positive effect on technopreneurial intention. The indirect effect occurred through increased technopreneurial self-efficacy. Innate innovativeness had a direct effect on technopreneurial intentions, but it did not have a significant indirect effect through technopreneurship self-efficacy as was initially hypothesized. The findings suggest that those who show interest in starting a new technology-based venture have a strong belief in their abilities to perform the technological and entrepreneurial tasks needed, are confident about their ability to acquire the academic technical skills required, and have the inner motivation to seek what is technologically new and different.

The present study developed a new system of electrochemical water splitting using a boron doped diamond (BDD) electrode in the electrochemical reactor. The new method assessed the electrical current, acidity (pH), electrical conductivity, absorbance, dissipation, and splitting energies in addition to the water splitting efficiency of the overall process. Employing CuO NPs and ZnO NPs as catalysts induced a significant impact in reducing the dissipated energy and in increasing the efficiency of splitting water. Specifically, CuO NPs showed a significant enhancement in reducing the dissipated energy and in keeping the electrical current of the reaction stable. Meanwhile, the system catalyzed with ZnO NPs induced a similar impact as that for CuO NPs at a lower rate only. The energy dissipation rates in the system were found to be 48% and 65% by using CuO and ZnO NPs, respectively. However, the dissipation rate for the normalized system without catalysis (water buffer at pH = 6.5) is known to be 100%. The energy efficiency of the system was found to be 25% without catalysis, while it was found to be 82% for the system catalyzed with ZnO NPs compared to that for CuO NPs (normalized to 100%). The energy dissipated in the case of the non-catalyzed system was found to be the highest. Overall, water splitting catalyzed with CuO NPs exhibits the best performance under the applied experimental conditions by using the BDD/Niobium (Nb) electrodes.