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We live in a world shaken by a pandemic and the subsequent (currently ongoing) lockdown. The COVID-19 virus is invisible yet has been the dominant topic since 2020. This increasing awareness (and respect) for the invisible may, we hope, transfer to how gifted programs perceive the new conception of transformational giftedness. In this chapter, we contrast the transactional, easily detectable approach with the transformational, not-as-easily-detectable conception. We debate how to best move toward transformational giftedness;do we aim to teach transactionally gifted people how to be transformationally gifted? Or do we continue to pursue ways to assess transformational giftedness? We ultimately propose a fluid approach which follows the adage of transformational giftedness for all. We then discuss the subsequent emphasis on collaboration that can emerge from this fluid approach and potential roadblocks that may arise. © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2022. All rights reserved.
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In accordance with global economic prosperity, the frequencies of food delivery and takeout orders have been increasing. The pandemic life, specifically arising from COVID-19, rapidly expanded the food delivery service. Thus, the massive generation of disposable plastic food containers has become significant environmental problems. Establishing a sustainable disposal platform for plastic packaging waste (PPW) of food delivery containers has intrigued particular interest. To comprise this grand challenge, a reliable thermal disposable platform has been suggested in this study. From the pyrolysis process, a heterogeneous plastic mixture of PPW was converted into syngas and value-added hydrocarbons (HCs). PPW collected from five different restaurants consisted of polypropylene (36.9 wt%), polyethylene (10.5 wt%), polyethylene terephthalate (18.1 wt%), polystyrene (13.5 wt%), polyvinyl chloride (4.2 wt%), and other composites (16.8 wt%). Due to these compositional complexities, pyrolysis of PPW led to formations of a variety of benzene derivatives and aliphatic HCs. Adapting multi-stage pyrolysis, the different chemicals were converted into industrial chemicals (benzene, toluene, styrene, etc.). To selectively convert HCs into syngas (H2 and CO), catalytic pyrolysis was adapted using supported Ni catalyst (5 wt% Ni/SiO2). Over Ni catalyst, H2 was produced as a main product due to C[sbnd]H bond scission of HCs. When CO2 was used as a co-reactant, HCs were further transformed to H2 and CO through the chemical reactions of CO2 with gas phase HCs. CO2-assisted catalytic pyrolysis also retarded catalyst deactivation inhibiting coke deposition on Ni catalyst. © 2022 Elsevier B.V.
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Given that instant messaging apps have been identified as a new conduit of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) misinformation, this study pursues two goals. The first is to examine the associations between exposure to COVID-19 misinformation through instant messaging apps on the one hand and knowledge and preventive behavioral intention, on the other. The second is to test whether news media and interpersonal communication moderate these relationships. By analyzing survey data from 1,209 adults from the general population of South Korea during the COVID-19 pandemic, we found that exposure to COVID-19 misinformation across instant messaging apps was negatively related to COVID-19 knowledge and COVID-19–preventive behavioral intention. However, the negative link between misinformation exposure and preventive behavioral intention differed depending on the level of news media exposure and interpersonal communication. Specifically, the negative association between COVID-19 misinformation exposure and preventive behavioral intention was weaker among individuals who were exposed to more COVID-19 news media and participated in more interpersonal communication about COVID-19. © 2023 (Woohyun Yoo, Sang-Hwa Oh, and Doo-Hun Choi). Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial No Derivatives (by-nc-nd). Available at http://ijoc.org.
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Purpose: This integrative review aims to identify changes in people with schizophrenia during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: An integrative literature review method of Whittemore and Knafl was applied to integrate the studies. The literature search was conducted in six electronic databases using English and Korean search terms. Three researchers independently reviewed the extracted papers and rated their quality based on predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria. A total of fifteen relevant studies were included. Results: The selected articles were all international papers, and most of them were quantitative studies. The changes observed in people with schizophrenia were summarized as follows: (1) changes in health outcomes: psychosocial (increased levels of depression, stress, anxiety, sleep disturbance, and psychotic-like experience) and physical (reduction in food intake, weight loss, changes in immune-related clinical values, etc.);(2) changes in treatment and health management: increased hospitalization, decreased ICU hospitalization, and a decrease in outpatient visits and prescription rate. Conclusion: This study confirmed the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on people with schizophrenia. It is necessary to develop mental health policies and appropriate nursing interventions to help people in preparing for possible future crises. ⓒ 2022.
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Purpose: The purpose of this study was to analyze the influence of risk for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD risk), social stigma, and social support on the quality of life of COVID-19 survivors. Methods: Data were collected from 180 survivors who were discharged from hospital for COVID-19 from September 1 to December 31, 2021. Structured questionnaires were used to assess variables. Collected data were analyzed using SPSS/WIN 27.0, with independent t-test, one way analysis of variance, Pearson's correlation, and hierarchial multiple regression. Results: Subjects' quality of life was correlated with PTSD risk (r=-.52, p<.001), social stigma (r=-.16, p=.029), and social support (r=.26, p=.001). The Factors influencing the quality of life were gender (β=.26, p=.001), occupation (β=-.24, p=.001), PTSD risk (β=-.48, p<.001), social support (β=.19, p=.004), and explanatory power were approximately 37% (F=14.03, p<.001). Conclusion: This study found that PTSD risk in COVID-19 survivors lowered their quality of life, and social support increased their quality of life. Therefore, it is necessary to develop various intervention programs to improve the quality of life of COVID-19 survivors by reducing PTSD risk and provide a social support system. © 2022 Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing.
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Mitochondria surrounding lipid droplets (Peri-Droplet Mitochondria;PDM) maintain a unique proteome which is not equilibrated with the rest of the mitochondrial population. We find that PDM remain stationary and elongated on lipid droplets, fuel lipid droplet expansion, and do not fuse with cytosolic mitochondria. Compared to cytosolic mitochondria, PDM have higher capacity to metabolize pyruvate but reduced capacity to oxidize fatty acids. We reveal for the first time the mechanism by which the elongated mitochondrial shape of PDM differentiate their fuel preference from that of cytosolic mitochondria. We find that mitochondrial elongation reduces fatty acid utilization by inhibiting CPT1 activity. On the other hand, we find that mitochondrial fragmentation, such as observed in NASH, increases mitochondrial lipid utilization and may act as a compensatory mechanism to reduce lipotoxicity. Indeed, inhibition of fission in a model of NASH exacerbated NASH phenotype. We developed a cell-based imaging for the quantification of mitochondria-lipid droplet association and identified a set of small molecules that detach mitochondria from lipid droplets (PDM-Detachers). New unpublished data demonstrate PDM detachers induce lipolysis and lipid droplet shrinkage. Using these tools we assessed the role of lipid droplets in SARS-CoV2 expansion. We find that proliferation of various coronaviruses can be strongly inhibited by PDM-detachers and enhanced by attaching mitochondria to lipid droplets. We demonstrate that PDM can be found in humans. We studied adipose tissue from pheochromocytoma patients, a model of white adipose browning characterized by enhanced capacity for energy expenditure. Remarkably, bioenergetic changes associated with browning were primarily localized to PDM. Similar changes were found in a mouse model of re-browning, where PDM increased in whitened brown adipose tissue upon reducing housing temperature. Copyright © 2022
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Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) possesses high replicative capacity and pathogenicity than the classical coronavirus. However, the factors that lead to enhanced replication and pathogenicity remain unclear. Among the non-structural proteins of SARS-CoV, non-structural proteins 9 (NSP9) is known to most likely be involved with viral RNA synthesis. In this study, we investigated the effect of NSP9 on the human upper respiratory system using tonsil-derived mesenchymal stem cells (TMSCs). In order to confirm the significant toxic effect, NSP9 were treated to TMSCs in various concentrations as follows;0.01 ,0.05 ,0.2, 0.4, and 0.8 ug/ml. Cell proliferation assay and LIVE/DEAD assay revealed that NSP9 was most toxic to TMSCs at a concentration of 0.2 ug/ml. In addition, NSP9 treated TMSCs showed a pattern of decreased metabolic efficiency in mitochondria. The phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) and phosphorylated Akt protein markers were compared to confirm that it affects cell proliferation by reducing the metabolic rate. These results showed that NSP9 inhibits PI3K/Akt signaling proteins related to cell proliferation in TMSCs and induces toxicity by decreasing the cellular metabolic rate. Taken together, the NSP9, possessing toxicity to TMSCs, can affect to upper respiratory system by inhibiting cell proliferation and metabolic rate.
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Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, the use of computers, Internet of things devices, and artificial intelligence applications has dramatically increased. For the operation of these devices, it is important to effectively control the thermal management systems. Cooling fans play an important role in air circulation and thermal management for many types of industrial machines. In the past, a disassembly process has been inevitable for monitoring the operational status of cooling fans, making it necessary to develop devices or methods to monitor the operational status of cooling fans more conveniently. In this study, we propose a fan-shaped triboelectric sensor (F-TES) that can detect the operational status of a cooling fan via output signals of a triboelectric nanogenerator. We investigated the effects of rotational speed, as well as the working areas of the tribo-materials. Furthermore, we demonstrated those behaviors by using a light-emitting diode and capacitor charging. We designed an F-TES based on a commercial cooling fan without any structural changes, so that it could be directly utilized for various cooling fans. We anticipate that the results of this study can serve as a cornerstone for the maintenance and management of various commercial cooling fans.
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CASE: 54-year-old female presented with 1 week of generalized weakness, headache, congestion, cough with dark- colored phlegm, and several days of decreased smell and taste. She was unvaccinated and had positive sick contacts. Patient tested positive for Covid and found to have severe thrombocytopenia with platelets of 5K/uL, very rare schistocytes on smear, and no other notable abnormalities. She received platelet transfusion and was treated for presumed immune thrombocytopenia with IVIG and dexamethasone. The patient had no petechiae, bleeding, or other symptoms concerning for secondary TMA, notably TTP. The platelet count was 93 K/uL by day 5 and she was discharged home. Later that day her ADAMTS13 test resulted at <2% and the ADAMTS13 antibody was elevated. The patient was asked to return to the hospital for monitoring of TTP symptoms. She reported improvement in her weakness. Her thrombocytopenia and oxygen saturation remained normal. Bilateral lower extremity ultrasound showed no lower extremity VTE. On the day of discharge, 10 days after her original thrombocytopenia identified, she had a platelet count of 373 K/uL and repeated ADAMTS13 of 14.8%. IMPACT/DISCUSSION: ADAMTS13 is known as von Willebrand factor (VWF) protease as it cleaves prothrombotic and highly adhesive to platelets ultra-large multimers of VWF into smaller multimers, thus modulating VWF activity and regulating the adhesive function. A severe deficiency of ADAMTS13 characterizes TTP, a rare but potentially fatal disorder associated with thrombosis due to accumulation of prothrombotic ultra-large VWF multimers. There are literature reports of TTP and TTP-like syndromes in Covid-19. It is speculated that in COVID-19, the excess of VWF released in response to endothelial activation likely exhausts the available reserves of ADAMTS13, which may then propagate formation of microthrombi in different organs. We report an extreme thrombocytopenia, marked decrease of ADAMTS 13 and elevated ADAMTS13 antibodies, which would be confirmative evidence of TTP should our patient have clinical features of it. Our patient did not have fever, neurologic abnormalities, renal dysfunction, or active hemolysis. She was followed in outpatient clinic after the discharge. The platelet count recovered and ADAMTS 13 trended up without need for plasmapheresis. Our case is a good example of a fortunate outcome without any complications despite threatening presenting criteria. CONCLUSION: Covid-19 associated endothelial stimulation and damage could mimic a life-threatening disorder without expected fatal complications. On the other hand, it can ultimately lead to the most severe form of thrombotic microangiopathy, TTP, for which the mortality rate is close to 90%. It is hard to know which outcome to expect in different circumstances. Therefore, it is crucial for physicians to promptly recognize clinical picture of TTP as treatment is lifesaving.
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Blockchains emerged in the past decade with applications across a myriad of domains, however this nascent field has so far been commonly associated with cryptocurrencies. The secure and decentralized nature of blockchains offers benefits across a wide range of industries, including healthcare which remains the largest focus of cyber crimes today. In this work, we demonstrate a Blockchain implementation as a proof of concept for the storage of electronic Protected Health Information (ePHI) related to the COVID-19 pandemic. We use two Amazon Managed Blockchain services, Hyperledger Fabric and Ethereum, to store medical data in Amazon Web Services (AWS). While the two frameworks provide a secure resource for medical data, depending on the chosen implementation, the cost can grow quickly based on the number of requests, which may make them prohibitive for applications such as COVID-19 vaccine passports. copy;2022 IEEE. © 2022 IEEE.
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Purpose - This study carried out an empirical study of the impact of sustainability - which has been gaining attention as challenges are arising in supply chains based on existing trade networks due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic - on SCM performance and financial performance of Korean SMEs. The study seeks to propose a measurement model to enhance the SCM performance and financial performance of Korean SMEs and to identify the relationship between sustainability, SCM performance and financial performance to suggest implications to SMEs, governments, and relevant organizations. Design/methodology - Our Analysis established hypotheses that economic sustainability, environmental sustainability, and other factors related to sustainability have a positive impact on SCM performance and financial performance as well as SCM performance has a positive impact on financial performance, making empirical validations by utilizing Structural Equation Modeling based on data collected through survey from Korean SMEs. Findings - According to an empirical study, although environmental sustainability and economic sustainability among factors of sustainability had a positive influence on SCM performance, social sustainability did not have a statistically significant influence. Furthermore, it was learned that only economic sustainability had a positive influence on financial performance while SCM performance has a positive influence on financial performance. Originality/value - This empirical study explored the relationship between SCM performance and financial performance of Korean SMEs with a high tendency to depend on specific supply chains when the international trade network is in confusion and/or the global supply chain has collapsed. If Korean SMEs allocate management resources to the factors deducted from this study, they would be able to build more efficient supply chains and improve financial performance to improve sustainability.
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PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of high-intensity interval training (HIIT), using real-time video application programs, on the body composition, blood lipids, cytokines, and quality of life (QOL) of over-weight men. METHODS: The participants of this study were overweight men, aged <45 years, who voluntarily applied to the online notices for this study. The men had a body mass index (BMI) >28. Twenty people participated in this experiment and were divided into two groups: A HIIT group (n=10) and a control group (n=10). Both groups were pre-examined to determine body composition, dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, and QOL indices and also underwent blood tests. The HIIT group underwent high-intensity interval training for 8 weeks (twice a week and 35 minutes per day) using real-time video programs. The main exercise program for HIIT was 20 seconds high-intensity (85–90% HRmax) exercise followed by 30 seconds exercise at a 60% HRmax. RESULTS: Comparison and analysis of the effects observed before and after the exercise revealed that the real-time online HIIT group showed reduced body fat (F=5.690, p=.028). Results of the blood tests showed that the high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL;F=24.584, p=.001) was increased, while the low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL;F=24.963, p=.001), triglycerides (TG;F=7.295, p=.015;), and total cholesterol (TC;F=14.934, p=.001) levels were decreased. No significant effects were observed on the insulin and c-reactive protein (CRP) levels. Finally, the QOL test results showed that the total score of the HIIT group had increased (F=190.815, p=.001). CONCLUSIONS: Online HIIT is a useful method that aids in reducing fat levels in obese men and improving their blood lipid profile and QOL during the COVID-19 pandemic. © 2022 Korean Society of Exercise Physiology.
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Recently, the bio-healthcare market is enlarging worldwide due to various reasons such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Among them, biometric measurement and analysis technology are expected to bring about future technological innovation and socio-economic ripple effect. Existing systems require a large-capacity battery to drive signal processing, wireless transmission part, and an operating system in the process. However, due to the limitation of the battery capacity, it causes a spatio-temporal limitation on the use of the device. This limitation can act as a cause for the disconnection of data required for the user's health care monitoring, so it is one of the major obstacles of the health care device. In this study, we report the concept of a standalone healthcare monitoring module, which is based on both triboelectric effects and electromagnetic effects, by converting biomechanical energy into suitable electric energy. The proposed system can be operated independently without an external power source. In particular, the wireless foot pressure measurement monitoring system, which is rationally designed triboelectric sensor (TES), can recognize the user's walking habits through foot pressure measurement. By applying the triboelectric effects to the contact-separation behavior that occurs during walking, an effective foot pressure sensor was made, the performance of the sensor was verified through an electrical output signal according to the pressure, and its dynamic behavior is measured through a signal processing circuit using a capacitor. In addition, the biomechanical energy dissipated during walking is harvested as electrical energy by using the electromagnetic induction effect to be used as a power source for wireless transmission and signal processing. Therefore, the proposed system has a great potential to reduce the inconvenience of charging caused by limited battery capacity and to overcome the problem of data disconnection.
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Purpose - This study aims to analyze the characteristics of network construction by Norwegian Air and AirAsia X, which are recognized as leading airlines in the long-haul LCC market. Based on this analysis, this study intends to provide implications for networking strategies for Korean LCCs that seek to enter the long-haul market when the aviation market stabilizes again upon the end of the COVID-19 pandemic. Design/methodology - To conduct the network analysis on long-haul low-cost airlines, the Official Airline Guide (OAG) Schedule Analyzer was used to extract long-haul data of Norwegian Air and AirAsia X. To analyze the trend of the long-haul route network, we obtained the data from 3 separate years between 2011 and 2019. The network was analyzed using UCINET 6.0 in order to examine the network structure of long-haul low-cost airlines and the growth trend of each stage. Findings - Analyzing the network of long-haul routes by visualizing the network structure of low-cost carriers showed the following results. In its early years, Norwegian Air's long-haul route network, centering on regional airports in Spain and Sweden, connected European regions, the Middle East, and Africa. As time passed, however, the network expanded and became steadily strong as the airline connected airports in other European countries to North America and Asia. In addition, in 2011, AirAsia X showed links to parts of Europe, such as London and Paris, the Middle East and India, and Australia and Northeast Asia, centering on the Kuala Lumpur Airport. Although the routes in Europe were suspended, the network continued to expand while concentrating on routes of less than approximately 7,000 km. It was found that instead of giving up on ultra-long-haul routes such as Europe, the network was further expanded in Northeast Asia, such as the routes in Korea and Japan centering on China. Originality/value - Until the COVID-19 pandemic broke out, Norwegian Air actively expanded long-haul routes, resulting in the number of long-haul routes quintupling since 2011. The unfortunate circumstance, wherein the world aviation market was rendered stagnant due to the outbreak of COVID-19, hit Norwegian Air harder than any other low-cost carriers. However, in the case of AirAsia X, it was found that it did not suffer as much damage as Norwegian Air because it initially withdrew from unprofitable routes over 7,000 km and grew by gradually increasing profitable destinations over shorter distances. When the COVID-19 pandemic ends and the aviation market stabilizes, low-cost carriers around the world, including Korea, that enter the long-haul route market will need to employ strategies to analyze the marketability of potential routes and to launch the routes that yield the highest profits without being bound by distance. For stable growth, it is necessary to take a conservative stance;first, by reviewing the business feasibility of the operating a small number of highly profitable routes, and second, by gradually expanding these routes.
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Background : Continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) is an important modality in critical care that utilizes a closed blood circuit with a hollow fiber membrane hemofilter (Figure 1A). CRRT circuit failure is a costly complication with an unclear mechanism, prominently observed during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Aims : In this retrospective case series, we study the basis of circuit failure, particularly in the setting of COVID-19, via histopathologic examination of hemofilters after use in CRRT circuits. Methods : Study patients were identified from critically ill patients, admitted to Weill Cornell Medical Center between April and June 2020, who had acute kidney injury requiring CRRT. Circuit failure was defined as the inability of the circuit to provide the prescribed continuous blood flow rate to the patient, necessitating a hemofilter change in advance of its 72-hour lifespan. Hemofilters from failed and functional circuits were formalin-fixed, sectioned and evaluated with histopathologic stains and immunohistochemistry (IHC). Chart review was completed in accordance with IRB-approved protocols. Results : Circuit failure occurred in 4 out of 6 study patients. Two patients with severe COVID-19 experienced circuit failure despite anticoagulation with argatroban or regional citrate (Table 1). All hemofilters displayed the accumulation of dense, platelet-rich aggregates at the arterial ends (Figure 1B-C), with a greater volume found in failed hemofilters. The hollow fiber membranes in hemofilters used for patients with severe COVID-19 displayed fibrinogen localized along the blood-facing lumens by IHC (Figure 1D). While hemofilters used for patients with COVID-19 exhibited such luminal fibrinogen staining regardless of circuit function, for patients without COVID-19 this was seen only in failed hemofilters. Conclusions : Fibrinogen adsorption on biocompatible hemofilter surfaces exposed to patient blood appears to be an initial event preceding CRRT circuit failure. With COVID-19, this adsorption occurs despite intensified anticoagulation. Further mechanistic study of hemofilter failure may facilitate direct therapeutic strategies to prevent this complication.
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This study examined how social media use is associated with risk perception and social distancing as preventive behavior, which in turn can elicit negative emotions. The study is based on data collected from a nationwide online panel survey conducted during the COVID-19 outbreak in South Korea. Results show that social media use directly and indirectly impacts people’s negative emotions through risk perception and social distancing. The analysis also shows that risk perception and social distancing directly influence negative emotions, which plays a mediating role in the relationship between social media use and negative emotions. The findings of the study provide important implications for effective risk and health communication and health policy during an infectious disease outbreak. © AMIC/WKWSCI-NTU 2021.
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Purpose : Face masks have been associated with significant discomfort for health care workers. Face mask ear protectors (EP) may reduce discomfort by allowing ear loop masks to be worn without tension. In Ophthalmology, given the close proximity required for the exam, appropriate mask usage and fit is essential. There is evidence of higher COVID-19 disease burden in ophthalmology compared to other specialties. This study aims to assess how a simple, attachment may decrease discomfort and increase compliance in an academic institution's Ophthalmology department. Methods : EPs were distributed to the Ophthalmology department. A validated questionnaire was administered before and 2 weeks after EP usage, which surveyed demographics, likelihood of wearing a mask during select activities, and degree of mask usage (measured as number of times mask was removed/hour) during these activities. Descriptive statistics were performed with Fischer's t test to assess for a change in face mask utilization pre- and post-EP distribution. Results : Although changes in mask usage post-EP were not statistically significant, post-EP responses demonstrated increased likelihood of mask usage across all activities. The greatest change was seen during outdoor activities with a 14.3% increase in those responding as very likely to wear a mask after using the EP. There was a 7.3% increase in responders who were likely to wear a mask in the workplace. EP decreased noncompliance while visiting friends. Nearly no subjects reported mask removal of >15 times/hr post-EP. 91.9% reported improved comfort, 91.9% improved fit, and 81.6% increased mask usage. Conclusions : Our results suggest that simple 3D-printed EPs may improve fit, comfort, and overall mask compliance. This has potential implications not only for healthcare workers, but for the larger population as well. The statistical significance of this study may be limited due to the small subset of healthcare workers who were already high mask utilizers pre-EP, and thus may not truly appreciate the effect of EPs on the general population. The results of this study should drive broader public health efforts to further investigate whether mask attachments can improve overall mask compliance through better comfort and fit.