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Background: The COVID-19 pandemic required a rapid expansion of tele dermatology services. Objective(s): Analyse demographic shifts in a pediatric dermatology practice session with children of colour. Method(s): A retrospective chart review of pediatric dermatology patients seen in the four practice weeks preceding the New York COVID-19 lockdown and comparable tele dermatology visits during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. Demographic differences (e.g., race, age, gender and household income) were analysed. Result(s): A greater proportion of patients seen were White during lockdown (59.7%), compared to pre-lockdown (43.6%), with a reduction in Asian patients seen in lockdown (6.0%) compared to prelockdown (24.5%). A lower proportion of no-show patients (4.3%, 3/70 scheduled) were noted in lockdown compared to pre-lockdown (16%, 18/112). Preferred provider organizations and higher-income zip codes were more common for children seen during lockdown. Limitation(s): The sample addresses a limited New York pediatric dermatology practice during a short time-period. Conclusion(s): White patients and patients with preferred provider organizations were more likely to access telehealth, supporting disparity in tele dermatology services. These results demonstrate reduced healthcare access for lower-income and Asian children during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown.
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Since COVID-19 was declared a global pandemic, scholars and practitioners have put much effort into testing effective advertising strategies for COVID-19 vaccinations. Guided by humor theories, this study aimed to examine (1) the effect of humor on persuading COVID-19 vaccination and (2) the moderating role of trust in government for the unvaccinated population. Across two studies (college students and general adult populations), for lower trust in government individuals, through greater public service advertisement (PSA) processing depth and believability, there was a higher vaccination intention after the humor (non-humor) advertisement. For higher trust in government individuals, there was evidence that the vaccination intention was lowered after the humor (vs. non-humor) message through lowered PSA processing depth and believability. This study expands humor theory into testing COVID-19 vaccination messages while considering an individual psychological factor, trust in the government, that has emerged as an essential determinant to COVID-19 messaging. The contributions to COVID-19 vaccination advertising strategy and advertising to the unvaccinated population, in general, are discussed.
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Purpose: The purpose of this study was to analyze Korean sports consumers' intention to stay using online sports products and services through online sports distribution platforms or return to using sports facilities and services in person. Research design, data and methodology: This study set up two models measuring consumers' recognition, attitude, and purchase intention toward online sports products and services based on involvement theory. An online survey was conducted and a total of 2,263 consumers participated in this study. Male participants were 1,256(55.5%) and female participants were 1,007(44.5%). Descriptive statistics were performed, and a path analysis was utilized to analyze the proposed model using SPSS 26 and SAS. Results: The results revealed two proposed models used in this study supported that consumers' online sports product and service recognition leads to a positive attitude toward online sports products and services. Moreover, consumers' positive online sports product and service attitudes were shown to lead to positive intentions to purchase online sports products and services. Conclusions: The findings revealed the recognition of consumers' online sports products and services led to positive attitudes and behavioral intentions. Implications were provided by suggesting the sports industry stick to developing online sports products and services until the endemic of COVID-19 is declared © Copyright: The Author(s)
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Hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) recipients are at increased risk of morbidity and mortality from COVID-19. They may have lower SARS-CoV-2-directed antibody levels due to protein loss from the gastrointestinal (GI) tract as a result of preparative regimen-related toxicity and graft-vs.-host disease (GVHD). In fact, previous studies suggested that GI GVHD or diarrhea from other etiologies were associated with a reduction in the half-life of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). Hence, understanding the pharmacokinetic (PK) profile of mAbs targeting SARS-CoV-2 in this vulnerable population is critical for dose-selection and predicting the duration of protection against COVID-19. This analysis aims to use a population pharmacokinetics (popPK) approach to evaluate the PK of sotrovimab and the effect of covariates in HCT recipients. In a Phase I trial (COVIDMAB), all participants received 500 mg sotrovimab IV prophylactically within one week prior to starting transplant conditioning. Sotrovimab serum concentrations were determined weekly for up to 12 weeks in autologous (n=5) and allogeneic (n=15) HCT recipients (129 observations). Sotrovimb PK and the effect of covariates were analyzed using popPK modeling in NONMEM (version 7.4). GVHD and diarrhea severity data were collected weekly via survey and included as time-dependent covariates during the covariate screening process. The final PK model with covariates was validated using simulation-based validation and goodness of fit plots. PK data were compared to non-transplant patients from 1891 patients with COVID-19 in COMET-ICE, COMET-PEAK, BLAZE-4, and COMET-TAIL and 38 healthy individuals enrolled in GlaxoSmithKline Pharma Study 217653. A two-compartment model best described sotrovimab PK in HCT recipients. In comparison to non-transplant patients, sotrovimab clearance (CL) was 14.0% higher in HCT recipients. Weight was a significant covariate on sotrovimab CL and (Figure Presented) volume of distribution in the central compartment (V2). With every 10 kg increase in body weight, sotrovimab CL and V2 were estimated to increase by 9.5% and 5.5%, respectively. Diarrhea severity was also a significant covariate on sotrovimab CL. HCT recipients with grade 3 diarrhea showed an increase in CL by 1.5-fold compared to those without diarrhea. Based on popPK analyses, sotrovimab CL was higher in HCT recipients compared to non-transplant patients. Higher bodyweight as well as diarrhea resulted in increased sotrovimab CL. There were only 3 patients with GI GVHD, and larger studies are needed to determine whether diarrhea due to GI GVHD or conditioning toxicity was responsible for the observed increase in sotrovimab CL. Further validation of these findings in a larger number of HCT recipients is also warranted to help optimize mAb dosing for COVID-19 prophylaxis and determine whether presence of large-volume diarrhea may require intensified dosing strategiesCopyright © 2023 American Society for Transplantation and Cellular Therapy
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Background: The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has created significant challenges in the management of oncology patients, including patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). We suspect that the COVID-19 pandemic had a major impact on the number of CRC inpatients and outpatients, which might leave many CRC patients unable to get timely medical treatment. At the time, the most important task was to satisfy the imperious demand for rapid optimization of processes and the development of efficient and effective triage and treatment strategies, as well as emergency distant clinical reasoning. Methods: The number of outpatients and inpatients, as well as surgeries performed in Shanghai East Hospital from December 2019 to February 2020 were collected. Using December 2019 data as the baseline status before the pandemic, the changes during this period were analyzed which can reflect the impact of COVID-19 on the treatment of CRC patients. In addition, a triage system and management strategy for patients with CRC during COVID-19 were designed and implemented. To evaluate their effectiveness, we assessed COVID-19 infection rates among CRC patients in relation to total patients and healthcare staff. Result: Compared with the pre-COVID-19 period (December 2019), a drastic decline in the number of outpatient visits (2,789 to 120) and inpatient hospitalizations (207 to 50) for all the CRC patients, as well as in non-emergency colorectal surgeries (133 to 23), was observed in February 2020 at our hospital. Conclusion: A multidisciplinary triage strategy aligned with regional guidance and digital, artificial intelligence (AI)-technology solutions can help increase the efficacy in patient management, allow efficient access to care and reduce the incidence of COVID-19 among CRC patients. © 2022 The HealthBook Company Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
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An accurate, convenient, and rapid diagnostic platform, which can be applied in facility-limited or point-of-care (POC) settings, is essential to help prevent the spread of infectious diseases and enable the most effective treatment to be selected. In this study, we describe the development of a new isothermal molecular diagnostic system named multipurpose advanced split T7 promoter-based transcription amplification (MASTER) for the rapid and ultrasensitive detection of various pathogens containing single-stranded RNA and double-stranded DNA. MASTER produces a large number of RNA amplicons in the presence of target pathogens, which generate fluorescence or colorimetric signals based on light-up RNA aptamers or lateral flow assays. Implementing MASTER at 37 °C for<1 h achieved the detection of a single copy per reaction without cross-reactivity. Moreover, the testing of 40 clinical samples revealed that MASTER exhibited excellent accuracy with 100% sensitivity and specificity for SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis. Furthermore, a one-pot MASTER system capable of accelerating practical applications was demonstrated, indicating that the MASTER system is a promising platform for the effective surveillance of various pathogens. © 2023 Elsevier B.V.
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Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, courses in higher education have increasingly been delivered via asynchronous online modalities. Although such modalities may allow instructors and students greater flexibility in how they engage with their courses, they increase the self-regulatory challenges learners experience. Students may feel less capable of regulating their learning in web-based modalities, which may increase procrastination and lower academic performance. Alternatively, students who procrastinate in their asynchronous courses may become convinced that they lack the self-regulatory skills needed to succeed. Little research has examined these relationships. The purpose of this mixed methods study was to examine these self-regulatory processes, the challenges students experience in asynchronous classes, and possible effects on academic performance. Undergraduate students (N = 1,216) attending a public U.S. university responded to closed–and open-ended survey items in Fall 2020. A cross-lagged panel model revealed the interdependency of self-efficacy for self-regulation and academic procrastination, and their relationship with course performance. Findings suggest that students' beliefs in their self-regulatory capabilities and their procrastination behaviors are related to each other and jointly contribute to course performance. Students described time management difficulties as the most challenging aspect of asynchronous online learning. Integration of quantitative and qualitative data revealed several unique challenges experienced by students who had relatively higher or lower self-efficacy and procrastination. Overall, this study suggests implications for the timely support of college students' self-regulation in asynchronous online learning courses during and after COVID-19. © 2023 Society for Research into Higher Education.
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In order to improve the cure rate of critically ill patients in Wuhan epidemic area and reduce the fatality rate, the state have dispatched medical staffs from the whole country to support Wuhan and treat critically ill patients in dedicated facilities. A medical team from the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, consisting of 133 medical staffs major in critical care medicine, respiralogy, infection, cardiology, and general surgery, entirely took over the critical care unit of the East Hospital of the Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, and formed a multidisciplinary collaboration team with local medical staffs to treat patients together. Up to March 13th in 2020, the author's medical team has admitted a total of 109 patients, of which 48 had been discharged up on recovery. Critically ill patients with Corona Virus Disease 2019 mainly have elder age, comorbidities, complicated conditions, and difficult diagnosis and treatment. The author and the author's team combined with clinical practice, share experience and strategies of general surgery related issues in the treatment of critically ill patients, providing reference for collegues in general surgery.Copyright © 2020 by the Chinese Medical Association.
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In modern society, interest in health is increasing, and more consumers are taking care of their health due to COVID-19. As a result, immunity enhancement and antioxidant foods help to promote health, and the intake rate is increasing. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate quality characteristics and antioxidant activity by adding 0%, 3%, 6%, 9% and 12% pistachios to rice cake, a traditional Korean food. The moisture content and pH decreased as the amount of pistachio added and the chromaticity L and a values tended to decrease, but the b values increased. It was confirmed that the polyphenol, ABTS a DPPH significantly increased as the amount of pistachio added increased. As a result of confirming the functionality and overall preference, it is suggested that the 9% content is the best, and this experiment is expected to improve the quality of rice cake and improve the nutritional balance, so that it can become an antioxidant functional food. As far as we know, it is the first study to prove that pistachios and rice cakes are combined, suggesting that rice cakes with added pistachios, a physiologically active substance, are healthful foods © 2022, Emirates Journal of Food and Agriculture.All Rights Reserved.
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After COVID-19, some initiatives such as Healthy China, and Smart Living have been widely mentioned. This study explored the factors influencing user satisfaction in sports and healthcare integration services to help system builders and interaction designers better seek opportunities and directions for systems construction. Based on grounded theory method, conducted semi-structured interviews with people who have home exercise needs, and then summarised the influencing factors after coding the raw information level by level. It applied the user experience honeycomb to classify potential variables, used principal component analysis (PCA) to extract representative evaluation indicators as observed variables, and followed the construction of a theoretical model of the satisfaction factors. The structural equation model (SEM) was validated and analyzed to prove its scientific validity and reasonableness. Research showed that the core factors affecting the user experience of sports and healthcare integration system include usefulness, interactivity, usability, credibility, and findability, all of which have a positive and significant impact on user satisfaction. According to the results of empirical analysis, A multidimensional design strategy for sports and healthcare integration system is proposed to provide a reference for improving user satisfaction. © 2023 - IOS Press. All rights reserved.
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Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) featuring composition and bandstructure diversity, are an emerging class of photoresponsive disinfectants. In this study, we demonstrated the superiority of core–shell arranged photoactive MOFs (prussian blue (PB) and zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF-8)) for pathogen inactivation in terms of biocidal efficiency and broad-spectrum sensitivity. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) production was significantly promoted after the integration of PB due to the photosensitization effect and initiation of in situ Fenton reaction. Favorably, another inactivation channel was also opened owing to the unique photothermal effect of PB. Attributed to the facilitated ROS intracellular penetration by heat, the composite outperforms not only individual component but anatase TiO2 in pathogen elimination. Specifically, the Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) inactivation efficiency of the composite (6.6 log) is 2, 1.8 and 5.1 times higher than that of PB (3.3 log), ZIF-8 (3.7 log) and TiO2 (1.3 log) over 45 min of simulated sunlight illumination. Significantly, the infectivity of Bacillus anthracis and murine coronavirus in droplets on composite-coated filter surface could be greatly reduced (approximately 3 log reduction in colony number/coronavirus titer) within few minutes of solar exposure, indicative of the great potential of MOF composites toward life-threatening microbial infection prevention. © 2022 Elsevier B.V.
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To support building operations in reaching ultra-low energy targets, this paper proposes a data-informed building energy management (DiBEM) framework to improve energy efficiency systematically and continuously at the operation stage. Specifically, it has two key features including data-informed energy-saving potential identification and data-driven model-based energy savings evaluation. The paper demonstrates the proposed DiBEM with a detailed case study of an office and living laboratory building located in Cambridge, Massachusetts called HouseZero. It focuses on revealing the performance of the energy-efficient interventions from two-years' building performance monitoring data, as well as evaluating energy savings from the interventions based on the data-driven approach. With Year 1 as baseline, several interventions are proposed for Year 2 including improvements to controls and operation settings, encouragement of occupants' behavior for energy savings, and hardware retrofitting. These were deployed to heating/cooling, domestic hot water, lighting, plug and other loads, and photovoltaic (PV) systems. To quantify the impacts of different interventions on energy end uses, several data-driven models are developed. These models utilize linear regression, condition model, and machine learning techniques. Consequently, the heating/cooling energy consumption that was already ultra-low in Year 1 (12.8 kWh/m2) is further reduced to 9.7 kWh/m2 in Year 2, while the indoor thermal environment is well maintained. The domestic hot water energy is reduced from 2.3 kWh/m2 to 1.2 kWh/m2. The lighting energy is only increased from 0.3 kWh/m2 in pandemic operations without occupancy in Year 1 to 0.8 kWh/m2 in partial normal operations in Year 2, while the indoor illuminance level meets occupants' requirements. Combined with other relatively constant loads and the reduction of plug and other loads due to COVID building operation restrictions, the total energy use intensity is thereby reduced from 54.1 kWh/m2 to 42.8 kWh/m2, where 5.4 kWh/m2 of energy reduction for Year 2 is estimated to be contributed by the energy-efficient interventions. PV generation is 36.1 kWh/m2, with an increase of 1.4 kWh/m2 from a new inverter. In summary, this paper demonstrates the use of DiBEM through a detailed case study and long-term monitoring data as evidence to achieve ultra-low energy operations. © 2022 Elsevier B.V.
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Purpose – This study is aimed at small business start-ups in Korea and China, and examines the effect of "self-efficacy,” an individual factor that affects the start-up performance of small business owners on "start-up intention” and "start-up performance”. In addition, we will also consider the mediating effect of start-up intention and the moderating effect of digital transformation. At present, due to the proliferation of digital technologies and the prolongation of COVID-19, it is difficult for small business start-ups to operate with their existing business models. Therefore, we have focused on "digital transformation” as one of the capabilities they need. We also wanted to know whether digital transformation has a positive moderating effect between start-up intention and start-up performance in small businesses of Korea and China. Design/Methodology/Approach – In existing research, various factors explaining the start-up performance in small business were reviewed. In this study, the self-efficacy of small business start-ups was set as the in-dependent variable and the start-up performance as the dependent variable. In addition, the mediating effect of the start-up intention was examined. As mentioned above, we also tried to look at the moderating effect of digital transformation. After establishing a research model based on the existing research, a survey was con-ducted for small business start-ups in Korea and China for empirical test, and the results were analyzed. Findings – In the case of small business start-ups in both Koreas and China, most of the relationships among self-efficacy, start-up intention, and start-up performance showed the same results. On the other hand, in the case of the moderating effect of digital transformation, positive moderating effect was found in Korea. How-ever, there was no moderating effect in China. Research Implications – In both samples from Korea and China, self-efficacy had a positive effect on start-up performance through start-up intention. It is inferred that the difference in the moderating effect is due to various factors such as culture, institutions, and policies between Korea and China. Finally, academic, eco-nomic, and policy implications were suggested. © 2022 International Academy of Global Business and Trade. All rights reserved.
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Background. There is a continued need for therapeutics for the treatment of COVID-19, including intramuscular (IM) agents, which will enable broader use across a variety of healthcare delivery settings. Methods. COMET-PEAK (NCT04779879) is a 3-part study evaluating the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics (Part A), and viral pharmacodynamics (PD) of sotrovimab as treatment in adults >= 18 years with early mild/moderate COVID-19. In Parts B and C, the safety, tolerability and viral PD of sotrovimab administered as a 500 mg intravenous (IV) infusion or as a 500 mg or 250 mg IM injection, respectively, was evaluated. The primary objective for Parts B and C was to compare the virologic response of sotrovimab IM to IV, with an endpoint of mean area under the curve (AUC) of SARS-CoV-2 viral load as measured by qRT-PCR from Day 1 to Day 8 (AUCD1-8) in nasopharyngeal swabs and predefined 90% confidence interval (CI) limits of 0.5-2.0 indicating equivalence. Results. A total of 167 and 157 participants were enrolled in Part B and C, respectively, from February-July 2021. The median age of participants was 47 and 42 years in Part B and C, respectively, and ~50% had >= 1 risk factor for progression to severe disease. The viral load at baseline and through Day 29 of follow-up for each arm is shown in Table 1 and Figure 1. The primary objective was met for both study parts: the ratio of the least square geometric mean viral load AUC(D1-8) of sotrovimab IM vs IV was 1.04 (90% CI, 0.98, 1.09) and 1.02 (90% CI, 0.94, 1.11), for Part B and C, respectively. Through Day 29 of follow-up, the most common adverse event was injection site reactions (ISRs) in the IM arms. A total of 10 (12%) participants in the 500 mg IM group and 4 (5%) participants in the 250 mg IM group experienced an ISR, all Grade 1. Serious adverse events were uncommon, and related to COVID-19 progression, including one death in the 250 mg IM arm (Table 2). ISRs aside, there were few treatment-related AEs (2/84 IV, 1/82 IM) in Part B, none serious. Conclusion. IM administration of sotrovimab 500 mg and 250 mg each demonstrated equivalence to 500 mg sotrovimab IV in viral load assessments. Overall, there were no treatment-related serious AEs and sotrovimab was well tolerated. An 500 mg IM formulation will allow for expanded treatment potential with sotrovimab.
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Background. Sotrovimab is a human monoclonal antibody targeting a conserved region of the SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) protein. COMET-PEAK was a 3-part, phase 2 study that evaluated intravenous (500 mg) and intramuscular (500 mg and 250 mg) administration of sotrovimab in outpatients (n=353) with mild-to-moderate COVID-19. We assessed amino acid substitutions in the SARS-CoV-2 S protein and circulating variants of concern/interest (VOC/VOI) in COMET-PEAK participants (enrolled Feb-July 2021). Methods. Mid-turbinate (Part A) or nasopharyngeal (Part B/C) samples were obtained from all participants at Baseline and Post-Baseline visits. Next generation sequencing of the SARS-CoV-2 S gene was conducted using Illumina MiSeq with a >=5% allelic frequency cut-off for samples with a viral load above 3.0 log10 copies/mL. Baseline, post-baseline and treatment-emergent (TE) substitutions were assessed, and prevalence of VOC/VOI was evaluated. Phenotypic analyses of epitope substitutions were conducted using a pseudotyped virus assay. Results. In total, 282/353 participants had sequencing results for >=1 visit (253 baseline, 248 post-baseline), and 219 had paired baseline and post-baseline sequences;among these, 149 (68%) had TE substitutions in the S protein (26 [12%] in the epitope). E340K was the predominant TE substitution in the epitope (15 [7%]). Across all arms 92/245 (38%) experienced virologic rebound, 8 of whom (Part A: 2;Part B: 2;Part C: 4) had TE substitutions in the epitope;none had evidence of clinical progression to severe disease. Prevalence of VOC/VOI or single amino acid substitutions of concern was 94% (266/282);the most frequent were Alpha (Part A: 8/16 [50%];Part B: 75/128 [59%]) and Delta (Part C: 99/122 [81%]). Of 7 participants with evidence of clinical progression, none had S protein substitutions in the epitope and all hadVOC/VOI (3Alpha, 3 Delta, 1 Gamma). Sotrovimab effectively neutralized most epitope substitutions tested in vitro;P337L and E340A/K/V conferred significantly reduced susceptibility. Conclusion. There was no evidence that sotrovimab epitope substitutions were associated with clinical progression or virologic rebound. These data are consistent with those from the COMET-ICE study.
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Learning environments that support a sense of belonging have been shown to help students fully and meaningfully participate in their learning. Less is known, however, about the social organization of online learning environments that support a sense of belonging, particularly in postsecondary contexts. With an explicit attention to issues of equity, this mixed-methods study examined what makes undergraduate students in the United States of America (N = 4,544) feel included in online learning environments during a global pandemic. Survey responses collected in the fall of 2020 were analyzed through a sociocultural learning theory framework. Rating scale and open-ended responses revealed that students' sense of belonging and inclusion varied by student race and gender and by instructional modality (synchronous vs. asynchronous). Opportunities for discussion, interaction with peers, and feeling that one's racial or ethnic group was represented in the curriculum were among the environmental affordances that supported a sense of belonging.
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Visible-infrared cross-modality person re-identification (VI-ReID) is currently a prevalent but challenging research topic in computer vision, since it can remedy the poor performance of existing single-modality ReID models under insufficient illumination, thus enabling the 24/7 surveillance systems. Although extensive research efforts have been dedicated to VI-ReID, a systematic and comprehensive literature review is still missing. Considering that, in this paper, a comprehensive review of VI-ReID approaches is provided. First, we clarify the importance, definition and challenges of VI-ReID. Secondly and most importantly, we elaborately analyze the motivations and the methodologies of existing VI-ReID methods. Accordingly, we will provide a comprehensive taxonomy, including 4 categories with 8 sub-items, for those state-of-the-art (SOTA) VI-ReID models. After that, we elaborate on some widely used datasets and evaluation metrics. Next, comprehensive comparisons of SOTA methods are made on the benchmark datasets. Based on the results, we point out the limitations of current methods. At last, we outline the challenges in this field and future research trends.