Do learners with higher readiness feel less anxious when studying online at home?

In response to the COVID-19 outbreak in many parts of the world, online education has become a more viable option. Some studies have assessed undergraduate students’ readiness for online learning, while others examined students’ anxiety about online learning at home. The relationship between readiness and anxiety about online learning is, however, not well explored. This paper has two purposes: (1) to develop a new and valid instrument—the Home-based Online Learning Readiness Questionnaire (HOLRQ)—to measure students’ readiness to study online at home based on a theoretical framework of self-regulated learning. As a replacement for the previous readiness scale, this new instrument adds a section on learning strategies and updates and develops new items. (2) to investigate the relationship between readiness and anxiety in online learning. In order to explore those issues, 527 undergraduate students in China were surveyed in this study. The results indicated that HOLRQ was validated in the following six domains: motivation, self-efficacy, information technology skills, resource management, learning strategies and help-seeking. Chinese undergraduate students were more prepared in resource management, motivation, and help seeking, but less prepared in learning strategies, information technology skills, and self-efficacy. However, the regression analysis showed that readiness did not predict online learning anxiety. It means even highly prepared self-regulated learners may experience anxiety when learning online from home. The findings provide insights for instructors and administrators to determine how students really feel about learning from home with online education.

Epidemiological investigation on a cluster epidemic of COVID-19 in Taizhou, Zhejiang Province

Objective: To analyze the epidemiological characteristics of a family and workplace clustering of COVID-19, identify the source of infection and the transmission chain, and provide evidence for prevention and control of COVID-19 pandemic. Method: Field epidemiological method was used to conduct the investigation of confirmed cases and close contacts in this cluster. Data were analyzed with descriptive method. Real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR (RT-PCR) was used to detect the novel coronavirus nucleic acid in the collected respiratory tract samples.

From skirmishes to protracted battles: a bibliometric analysis about human beings and coronaviruses from 1991 to 2020 (preprint)

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic (COVID-19) has caused an unprecedented upsurge in the publication of scientific studies as the global community has collaborated to control the spread of the disease. Methods: We conducted a bibliometric analysis to evaluate the research trends and identify the core content based on publication output, the geographic distribution, collaborations and keywords. We searched for articles published from 1900 to June 30, 2020 based on the Science Citation Index Expanded (SCIE) and Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI) in the Web of Science. Results: Our analysis revealed the following: (1) The number of publications clearly increased after the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) outbreaks and sharply increased during the COVID-19 outbreak. Compared with SARS and MERS, COVID-19 generated a more dramatic and prolonged upsurge in publication. (2) Compared with SARS and MERS, COVID-19 had a more widespread and powerful effect on countries and territories, with a rapid onset. Countries and territories engaged in more international collaboration and communication to cope with the epidemics, and the COVID-19 pandemic led to marked increases in research advancements. (3) Based on the keywords, we found that multiple methods were used to address the COVID-19 pandemic that were based on biology, especially the immune response. Conclusions: Epidemics lead to an extreme acceleration and changes in research.

East Asian summer monsoon enhanced by COVID-19 (preprint)

Anthropogenic emissions decreased dramatically during the COVID-19 pandemic, but its possible effect on monsoon is unclear. Based on coupled models participating in the COVID Model Intercomparison Project (COVID-MIP), we show modeling evidence that the East Asian summer monsoon (EASM) is enhanced in terms of both precipitation and circulation, and the amplitude of the forced response reaches about 1/3 of the standard deviation for interannual variability. The response of EASM to COVID-19 is consistent with the response to the removal of all anthropogenic aerosols simulated by atmospheric component models, which confirms the dominant role of the fast response to reduced aerosols. The observational evidence, i.e., the anomalously strong EASM observed in 2020 and 2021, also supports the simulated enhancement of EASM. The essential mechanism for the enhanced EASM in response to COVID-19 is the enhanced zonal thermal contrast between Asian continent and the western North Pacific in the troposphere, particularly at the upper troposphere, due to the reduced aerosol concentration over Asian continent and the associated latent heating feedback. As the enhancement of EASM is a fast response to the reduction in aerosols, the effect of COVID-19 on EASM dampens soon after the rebound of emissions based on the models participating in COVID-MIP.

Regional Policy Spillovers and Complementarity in the Great Lockdown (preprint)

Nonpharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) are the primary measures to control pandemics. Should regional governments coordinate in implementing NPIs? If so, how? The answers depend on spatial spillovers and complementarity or substitutability of regional NPIs. This paper estimates the spillover effects of stay-at-home (SAH) orders on the COVID-19 infection growth across adjacent counties on the state borders in the United States. We find that the spillover effects critically depend on the local implementation of SAH orders. With local SAH orders, the spillover effects reduce the daily case growth rate by 5.1 percentage points in the first three weeks of treatment, with an accumulative case reduction of 66.6 percent; otherwise, the spillover effects slightly increase the growth rate though statistically insignificant. Such strong complementarity in reducing infections is in contrast to previous findings of substitutability in changing mobility. Our results suggest that NPIs are best implemented jointly, and there may be coordination failures among decentralized regional governments.

From Skirmishes to Protracted Battles: A Bibliometric Analysis About Human Beings and Coronaviruses From 1991 to 2020 (preprint)

Background: COVID-19 caused unprecedented literature upsurge, and the world has worked together to fight the epidemic.Methods: We conducted a bibliometric analysis to evaluate the research trends and reveal the core contents, based on publication outputs, geographical distribution, collaborations and hot keywords.Results: Our analysis revealed the following: (1) The publication outputs obviously increased after SARS and MERS outbreaks, while sharply on rise during COVID-19 outbreak. Compared with SARS and MERS, COVID-19 aroused more dramatic and prolonged upsurge. (2) Compared with SARS and MERS, COVID-19 caused more widespread and powerful influences on countries or territories at short notice. Countries or territories displayed more international collaborations and communications to cope with the epidemics, and COVID-19 remarkably boosted the research advancements. (3) Given the keywords, we identified that multiple optional methods were used to cope with the SARS-CoV-2 infection based on the features of biology and immune responses.Conclusions: Epidemics extremely accelerated the research boom and evolution.

Clinical and molecular characteristics of COVID-19 patients with persistent SARS-CoV-2 infection (preprint)

The clinical features, molecular characteristics, and immune responses of COVID-19 patients with persistent SARS-CoV-2 infection are not yet well described. In this study, we investigated the differences in clinical parameters, laboratory indexes, plasma cytokines, and peripheral blood mononuclear cell responses, which were assessed using single-cell RNA-sequencing in patients with non-critical COVID-19 with long durations (LDs) and short durations (SDs) of viral shedding. Our results revealed that clinical parameters and laboratory indexes, such as c-reactive protein (CRP) and D-dimer, were comparable between SDs and LDs. Most inflammatory cytokines/chemokines, such as IL-2, IL2R, TNFα/β, IL1β, and CCL5 were present at low levels in LDs. Our single-cell RNA-sequencing revealed a reconfiguration of the peripheral immune cell phenotype in LDs, including decreases in natural killer (NK) cells and CD14+ monocytes and an increase in regulatory T cells (Tregs). Furthermore, most cell subsets in LDs consistently exhibited reduced expression of ribosomal protein (RP) genes, indicating dysfunctions in cytokine/chemokine synthesis, folding, modification, and assembly. Accordingly, the negative correlation between the RP levels and viral shedding duration was validated in an independent cohort of bulk-RNA-sequencing data from 103 non-critical patients, which may help guide clinical management and resource allocation. Moreover, peripheral T and NK cells and memory B cells in LDs likely failed to activate, which contributed to the persistence of viral shedding.

Self-Reported Taste and Smell Disorders in Patients with COVID-19: Distinct Features in China (preprint)

Background: Last December 2019, a cluster of viral pneumonia cases identified as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), was reported in Wuhan, China. We aimed to explore the frequencies of nasal symptoms in patients with COVID-19, including loss of smell and taste, as well as their presentation as the first symptom of the disease and their association with the severity of COVID-19.Methods: In this retrospective study, 1,206 laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 patients were included and followed-up by telephone call one month after discharged from Tongji Hospital, Wuhan. Demographic data, laboratory values, comorbidities, symptoms, and numerical rating scale scores (0-10) of nasal symptoms were extracted from the hospital medical records, and confirmed or reevaluated by the telephone follow-up. Results: From COVID-19 patients (N = 1,172) completing follow-up, 199 (17%) subjects had severe COVID-19 and 342 (29.2%) reported nasal symptoms. The most common nasal symptom was loss of taste (20.6%, median score = 6), while 11.4% had loss of smell (median score = 5). The incidence of nasal symptom including loss of smell and loss of taste as the first onset symptom was <1% in COVID-19 patients. Loss of smell or taste scores showed no correlation with the scores of other nasal symptoms. Loss of taste scores, but not loss of smell scores, were significantly increased in severe vs. non-severe COVID-19 patients. Interleukin (IL)-6 and lactose dehydrogenase (LDH) serum levels positively correlated with loss of taste scores. About 80% of COVID-19 patients recovered from smell and taste dysfunction in 2 weeks.Conclusions: In the Wuhan COVID-19 cohort, only 1 out of 10 hospital admitted patients had loss of smell while 1 out 5 reported loss of taste which was associated to severity of COVID-19. Most patients recovered smell and taste dysfunctions in 2 weeks.

Self-reported taste and smell disorders in patients with COVID-19: distinct features in China (preprint)

ObjectivesWe aimed to explore the frequencies of nasal symptoms in patients with COVID-19, including loss of smell and taste, as well as their presentation as the first symptom of the disease and their association with the severity of COVID-19. MethodsIn this retrospective study, 1,206 laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 patients were included and followed-up by telephone call one month after discharged from Tongji Hospital, Wuhan. Demographic data, laboratory values, comorbidities, symptoms, and numerical rating scale scores (0-10) of nasal symptoms were extracted from the hospital medical records, and confirmed or reevaluated by the telephone follow-up. ResultsFrom COVID-19 patients (N = 1,172) completing follow-up, 199 (17%) subjects had severe COVID-19 and 342 (29.2%) reported nasal symptoms. The most common nasal symptom was loss of taste (20.6%, median score = 6), while 11.4% had loss of smell (median score = 5). The incidence of nasal symptom including loss of smell and loss of taste as the first onset symptom was <1% in COVID-19 patients. Loss of smell or taste scores showed no correlation with the scores of other nasal symptoms. Loss of taste scores, but not loss of smell scores, were significantly increased in severe vs. non-severe COVID-19 patients. Interleukin (IL)-6 and lactose dehydrogenase (LDH) serum levels positively correlated with loss of taste scores. About 80% of COVID-19 patients recovered from smell and taste dysfunction in 2 weeks. ConclusionIn the Wuhan COVID-19 cohort, only 1 out of 10 hospital admitted patients had loss of smell while 1 out 5 reported loss of taste which was associated to severity of COVID-19. Most patients recovered smell and taste dysfunctions in 2 weeks.

Strategic Hospital Runs (preprint)

Hospital runs are of primary concern in a pandemic and are especially devastating when nonsevere patients crowd out severe ones. We study a rushing game among patients for a given infection pattern and find that hospital crowding out can result from strategic behaviors. Even if immediate treatment is unnecessary, nonsevere patients may nonetheless seek treatment to obtain future priority of treatment in case their condition deteriorates. With SIR (susceptible-infectious-removed) dynamics, runs start long before the capacity is insufficient for severe patients because expecting a run later can trigger earlier runs. The strategic behaviors can even make hospital runs self-fulfilling and make hospital crowding out nonmonotonic in the capacity. However, rushing is not the only problem. Inefficient waiting may also happen as individuals ignore the social cost of future overload. While many health systems prevent hospital crowding out by excluding nonsevere patients, this policy is generally inefficient. We discuss alternative policies.