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Since the pandemic, most work environments have changed to home-based settings, which mainly serve for living purposes other than working purposes. There is no lack of studies in the impact of indoor environmental quality (IEQ) factors on occupant productivity in regular work environments;however, limited studies are conducted in home-based work environments, not to mention in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, an online survey was developed to explore the impact of IEQ factors on productivity between office- and home-based work environments among occupants with different genders and ages. A comprehensive list of key indicators was first developed. Then a survey was developed, distributed, and received 204 complete responses. The descriptive analysis and t-test are performed to evaluate the impact difference of all the IEQ factors on productivity of different occupants. The findings indicate that the visual factors' impact on productivity decreases for both genders, the impact of all factors on productivity for younger occupants increases when work from home (WFH), and the impact of acoustic quality is the highest among all five IEQ factors. Because of WFH as the future of work, this study can provide insights for future built environment design.
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Rapid and comprehensive lockdowns to contain the coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic reduced anthropogenic emissions and, thereby, decreased the aerosol optical depth (AOD) in Xiangyang, Hubei Province. However, their complicated interactions make quantifying the contribution of decreased aerosols to crop growth challenging. Here, we explored the indirect effects of decreased aerosol concentrations on the gross primary productivity (GPP) and water use efficiency (WUE) of winter wheat by quantifying the contributions of key environmental factors. Our results showed high temporal and spatial associations between aerosols (represented by AOD), GPP, and WUE before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic. AOD decreased by 23.8% +/- 10.1%, whereas GPP and WUE increased by 16.5% +/- 5.8% and 17.0% +/- 15.3%, respectively. The GeoDetector model revealed that photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) had a major impact on GPP and WUE, followed by precipitation, surface soil moisture, subsurface soil moisture, and surface temperature. Moreover, causality analysis showed a causal relationship between AOD and the dominant factors (PAR and precipitation) during the lockdown, thereby indicating a positive effect of decreased aerosols on GPP and WUE changes of winter wheat. Our findings assist in understanding the mechanisms causing GPP and WUE changes, given the environmental factors that changed significantly during the pandemic. (c) 2022 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE)
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During the COVID-19 pandemic, remote synchronous teaching became the mainstream form of online instruction. However, reducing transactional distance – the psychological and communicational distance between instructors and students is one of the main challenges. Drawing from the Theory of Transactional Distance (TTD), this study describes the design and implementation of a remote synchronous class with high structure, high dialogue, and high autonomy for a second-year Chinese course at the post-secondary level. High structure is reflected in the organization of teaching content as well as the content delivery methods. High dialogue denotes a high degree of learner-content, learner-instructor, and learner-learner interaction within the course. Additionally, learner autonomy is increased through the presence of reflection tasks. Findings from surveys show students' high level of satisfaction with this design. However, due to the nature of language courses and the alienation caused by distance learning, most students still prefer face-to-face or hybrid courses. We hope this case study can shed light on how to integrate the strengths of synchronous and asynchronous teaching in future course design. © 2022 The Authors. Compilation © 2022 Journal of Technology and Chinese Language Teaching.
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Objective To analyze the data collected by 12320 health hotline and network public opinion since the outbreak of Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Guangzhou, and to provide development strategies for health administration departments. Methods The telephone work orders of 12320 health hotline public consulting in Guangzhou, quantity of confirmed cases of COVID-19 daily disclosed by Guangzhou Municipal Health Commission and data of network public opinion (Search Indexes out of Baidu Indexes) from January 21 to May 31,2020 were collected and analyzed. Results A total of 60 421 times public call consultations of 12320 health hotline in Guangzhou from January 21 to May 31, 2020 were counted, there were 40 607 consultations related to COVID-19,accounting for 67. 2% of total consultations. Top three of consultations of COVID-19 were 17 271 times (42. 5%) for the policy category, 12 328 times ( 30. 4%) for supervision category, and 5 489 times (13. 5%) for cognition category. The quantity of COVID-19 related consultations and data of network public opinion showed a synchronous rising trend with the increase of confirmed cases in Guangzhou. When confirmed cases of COVID-19 imported from overseas were found, whereas the data of network public opinion did not increase, the consultations of 12320 health hotline reached a peak, which still maintained a high level of fluctuations after the national epidemic prevention and control entered the normalization stage. Public consultation hot topics drew varied at different periods of epidemic of COVID-19. Conclusion The 12320 health hotline in Guangzhou objectively and truly reflect the demands of the public for COVID-19 related information, and plays an important role in public opinion monitoring and risk communication. © 2022, Editorial Department of Medical Pest Control. All rights reserved.
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The carbon market is a vital tool to achieve carbon neutrality. This paper uses daily closing price data of Shenzhen carbon trading market, energy, commodity and financial markets from 18 October 2018 to 19 August 2021, examining the transmission of risk/information from the perspective of market volatility spillover and tail risk transmission based on quantile spillover. The stock market crash and COVID-19 have increased the volatility of the system substantially. Next, the increase in trading frequency is accompanied by an increase in total volatility connectivity, and the carbon market transforms into a recipient of systemic shocks. Finally, the results of tail risk transmission reveal that the net effect of carbon reception increases significantly. These findings have implications for policymakers to improve the carbon market and provide important insights for investors to trade in turbulent periods.
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This paper investigates how oil price (OP) influences the prospects of green bonds by utilising the quantile-onquantile (QQ) method and researching the interactions between OP and green bond index (GBI) from 2011:M1 to 2021:M11. We find that impacts from OP on the GBI are positive in the short run. The positive effects indicate that high OP can promote the development of the green bond market, indicating that green bonds can be considered an asset to avoid OP shocks. However, in the medium and long term, there is a negative impact due to the oversupply of the oil market and the increase in green energy industry profits. These results are identical to the supply and demand-based correlation model of green bonds and oil price, which underlines a specific effect of OP on GBI. The GBI effect on OP is consistently positive across all quantiles. It indicates that green bonds cannot be considered efficient measures to alleviate the oil crisis due to the instability of the Middle East COVID-19 and the small scale of green bonds. The issuers of green bonds can make decisions based on OP. Understanding the relationship between OP and GBI is also beneficial for investors.
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Many college students had to switch to remote learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. Analyzing their workload and productivity after this major change is helpful to improve remote learning and teaching under these circumstances;however, there is limited quantitative evidence. Therefore, this study aims to quantitatively explore the impact of remote learning on college students' workload and productivity in the US during the pandemic. Within this issue, this research also asseses the impact of assistantships (i.e., students get paid for research, teaching, or other work) on students' workload and productivity, which has not been examined in remote learning during the pandemic. An online survey was developed and distributed, with 48 valid responses received. Descriptive analysis showed that total workload and overall productivity in remote learning were decreased, and students with assistantships had a higher total workload and higher productivity than those of students without assistantships. T-test indicated that the overall productivity in remote learning was reduced, with the most significant decrease in lecture attendance. Specifically, no significant difference in total workload between face-to-face and remote learning was detected, while significant differences in total workload and overall productivity between students with and without assistantships were identified. Further exploration of participants' comments suggested the folloiwng major reasons for decreased productivity, including inadequate learning location, distraction, lack of self-motivation, and technology and connectivity issues. This study can help students and instructors better arrange study contents to improve remote learning productivity and further reduce the negative impact of the pandemic on education activities.
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BACKGROUND AND AIM: Colorectal cancer (CRC) screening reduces CRC mortality by early detection and CRC incidence by polypectomy. Kaiser Permanente Northern California (KPNC) initiated organized CRC screening in 2006 using annual mailed fecal immunochemi-cal test (FIT) screening and opportunistic colonoscopy, with high screening rates. Public health guidance related to the COVID-19 pandemic led to elective colonoscopies and mailed FIT outreach being paused in March 2020. This study evaluated the impact of the pandemic on CRC screening at KPNC. METHODS: For January-December 2019 and January-October 2020, we evaluated: the KPNC screening-eligible population aged 50-75;those up to date with screening due to colonoscopy;eligible for a FIT;mailed a FIT kit;completed a FIT;completed a follow-up colonoscopy after a positive FIT;completed a colonoscopy unrelated to a positive FIT;and up to date with screening by end of follow-up (i.e., 2019 and end of October 2020, respectively). RESULTS: There were 913,873 and 941,763 eligible members in 2019 and 2020;151,252 (16.6%) and 150,407 (16.0%) were up to date with screening due to prior colonoscopy, leaving 762,621 and 791,356 eligible for FIT, respectively. Compared to 2019, when FIT kits were mailed to 627,260 of 762,621 (82.3%) FIT-eligible members, FIT kits were mailed to 521,239 of 791,356 (65.9%) eligible members by the end of October 2020, with mailings ongoing. Declines in FIT mailings occurred in March-May 2020 but rebounded quickly thereafter (Fig 1a). FIT kits were returned by 504,152 of 762,621 (66.1%) members in 2019, and 365,972 of 791,356 (46.2%) members through October 2020, with lower returns in March-June 2020 (Fig 1b). In 2019, 11,119 of 15,402 (72.2%) FIT-positive patients received a follow-up colonoscopy by year end, and through October 2020, 6,856 of 10,922 (62.8%) received a follow-up colonoscopy after a positive FIT (Fig 1c). Another 14,420 of 762,621 (1.9%) and 9,902 of 791,356 (1.3%) members completed a colonoscopy during 2019 and 2020, respectively (Fig 2). By the end of 2019, 665,541 of 913,873 (72.8%) were up to date with screening, and through October 2020, 522,215 of 941,763 (55.5%) were up to date with screening (Fig 2). CONCLUSION: The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in temporary delays in the mailing and return of FITs;and a reduction in colonoscopies performed, due, in part, to patient reluctance to respond to FIT outreach or complete follow-up colonoscopy during the pandemic. Also, fewer individuals were up to date with screening, although outreach continues through December 2020. The organized mailed FIT program allowed for the rapid resumption of outreach;however, follow-up is needed to assess the impact of screening delays on CRC outcomes and to identify ways to improve adherence with FIT screening, including colonoscopy follow-up after a positive FIT.(Figure presented) (Figure presented) (Figure presented) (Figure presented)
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The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is accelerating in the world. Although the epidemic has been basically controlled across China at the present stage, the domestic epidemic prevention and control situation is still complex and grim. Field epidemiology played an important role in the prevention and control of infectious diseases during this epidemic and the past epidemics. In order to improve the teaching content of field epidemiology in undergraduate medical education, and to explore the practice of training in epidemiology with the present situation, this paper explored the teaching practice of field epidemiology investigation based on COVID-19. This study will help to enhance both the ability of students from theory to practice, and the adaption of high-level talents in field epidemic under the new situation. © 2021, Publication Centre of Anhui Medical University. All rights reserved.
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Objective To determine the differences in the epidemiological characteristics of asymptomatic patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients. Methods The relevant data of asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 transmission literature in PubMed, Web of Science, CNKI, VIP medicine and Wanfang medical database were extracted as of August 1, 2020. Epidemiological information was screened and extracted according to pre-established inclusion and exclusion criteria. Age, gender, virus shedding duration and virual load of asymptomatic carriers were summarized and analyzed. Results A total of 38 articles met the criteria, 17 of which were asymptomatic case reports related to the virus shedding duration. Compared with symptomatic infected persons, asymptomatic individuals were younger [Weighted Mean Difference (WMD), WMD=-5.27, 95% CI: -9.78--0.76, P < 0.001] and the viral load was lower (WMD=2.36, 95% CI: 0.65-4.07, P=0.007). The virus shedding duration of asymptomatic individuals (median=11 days) was shorter than symptomatic patients (median=16 days). Conclusion Asymptomatic individuals with SARS-CoV-2 were younger, had a lower viral load and a shorter virus shedding duration than COVID-19 patients. © 2021, Publication Centre of Anhui Medical University. All rights reserved.
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This paper studies the feasibility of detecting the pneumonia due to the COVID-19 with microwave medical imaging. One challenge while formulating such a problem is to identify the disease in lungs whose dielectric permittivity is dynamically fluctuating with the respiration. In this paper, we utilize this feature by assuming that the permittivity of the disease has minor variation at microwave frequencies during the respiration, and thus the dielectric variance of the pixels at the diseased site over a number of consecutive images significantly differs from those of the other tissues in the thorax. Based on this assumption, we propose two approaches that make use of the a priori information (API) on the position of the heart and the symmetry of the thorax, respectively, to identify a diseased lung. Finally, these two approaches are numerically validated on a thorax phantom, and their performance is compared.