ABSTRACT
Objective. Using continuous glucose monitoring (CGM), we examined patterns in glycemia during school hours for children with type 1 diabetes, exploring diferences between school and nonschool time. Methods. We conducted a retrospective analysis of CGM metrics in children 7-12 years (n = 217, diabetes duration 3.5 +/- 2.5 years, hemoglobin A1c 7.5 +/- 0.8%). Metrics were obtained for weekday school hours (8 AM to 3 PM) during four weeks in fall 2019. Two comparison settings included weekend (fall 2019) and weekday (spring 2020) data when children had transitioned to virtual school due to COVID-19. We used multilevel mixed models to examine factors associated with time in range (TIR) and compare glycemia between in-school, weekends, and virtual school. Results. Tough CGM metrics were clinically similar across settings, TIR was statistically higher, and time above range (TAR), mean glucose, and standard deviation (SD) were lower, for weekends and virtual school (p < 0.001). Hour and setting exhibited a signifcant interaction for several metrics (p < 0.001). TIR in-school improved from a mean of 40.9% at the start of the school day to 58.0% later in school, with a corresponding decrease in TAR. TIR decreased on weekends (60.8 to 50.7%) and virtual school (62.2 to 47.8%) during the same interval. Mean glucose exhibited a similar pattern, though there was little change in SD. Younger age (p = 0.006), lower hemoglobin A1c (p < 0.001), and insulin pump use (p = 0.02) were associated with higher TIR in-school. Conclusion. Although TIR was higher for weekends and virtual school, glycemic metrics improve while in-school, possibly related to benefcial school day routines.
ABSTRACT
To achieve carbon emission reduction target (CERT) by 2030 and carbon-neutrality in 2050, it is important to actively reduce the emission gap in the private building sector. However, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the Russian-Ukraine war are threatening the green remodeling policy (GRP) worldwide. Therefore, this study analyzed energy consumption savings, GHG emission reduction, and net present value when applying green remodeling to a private building to predict whether or not the current GRP could achieve 2030 CERT and 2050 carbon-neutrality. The main findings are as follows. First, yearly electricity and gas consumption of 84.97 m2 type households can be reduced by 6.19% and 15.58% through green remodeling. Second, based on the energy saving, yearly GHG emission can be reduced about 0.34tCO2eq. Third, the economic feasibility of green remodeling cannot be achieved via the current policy, and NPV17 decreases up to USD-51,485 depending on the credit loan interest rate and the green remodeling interest subsidy program. In other words, it is difficult to reach 2030 CERT and 2050 carbon-neutrality via the current policy. Therefore, the South Korean government is required to reorganize financial policies, establish active systems, increase public awareness of the policy, and improve energy efficiency technology. © 2023 Elsevier B.V.
ABSTRACT
As the amount of ventilation required in buildings has increased to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the inflow of high humidity outside air in summer has increased the processing rate of latent heat loads as well as sensible heat loads. Accordingly, the ability to handle the latent heat load with low energy consumption has become important in order to maintain a comfortable indoor environment. In this study, a humidity control device composed of a desiccant rotor was designed and manufactured, and performance experiments were performed. Using an empirical formula obtained through experiments, a thermal environment simulation was conducted for a school classroom. Furthermore, a temperature-humidity control device that combines a desiccant rotor and heat pump was proposed, and the performance and energy consumption were analyzed by comparing it with the existing heat pump design. With conventional temperature control method using a heat pump, the average indoor relative humidity values in August were 65.7 %, which exceeds the set relative humidity range of 50 +/- 5 %. On the other hand, when using the temperature-humidity control device, the average indoor relative humidity values in August was 50.2 %, a more comfortable indoor environment than when using a conventional method. In addition, the energy consumption was reduced by 3 % compared to existing heat pump design.
ABSTRACT
The COVID-19 pandemic was a significant social disaster that radically affected the paradigm of current urbanization and city-center living. Responses to the disaster varied depending on related experiences, individual status, and attitudes. Thus, this research extends the previous literature by examining the effects of experiences related to the COVID-19 pandemic, socioeconomic status, and how perceptions and attitudes affect preferences for city-center living in the Seoul Metropolitan Area, South Korea. We use data from PSSRAC (Perception Survey of Seoul metropolitan area Residential Awareness during COVID-19) of 2021. A binary logistic regression method is used to examine significant characteristics that affected the residential preference change due to "Experience,” "Status,” and "Attitude” in the COVID-19 era. The findings showed that respondents' experience, status, and attitude related to the pandemic could have a complex effect on predictions of preference, for central or suburban living tendencies in the post-COVID-19 era. In terms of "Experience,” people who had bad experiences during the pandemic, for example, poor economic conditions were associated with suburban area living trends. For "Status,” socially and economically vulnerable groups preferred suburban residence due to the steep rise in housing prices in the city center after the pandemic. Finally, for "Attitude,” ‘value of housing for investment” was positively associated with a preference for city-center living in the post-COVID-19 era;respondents with a higher priority for maintaining remote work tended not to change their current residence. This study may provide planners, housing developers, and policymakers with meaningful implications for addressing urban changes in the post-COVID-19 era. Additionally, it is expected that this research's ESA analysis and results can be used as a valid reference for other global cities. © The Author(s) 2023.
ABSTRACT
Purpose: This is a descriptive correlation study to confirm the effect of stress and anxiety caused by COVID-19 on the quality of life of small business owners in an area under environment of COVID-19. Methods: The participants were 150 small business owners in an area. The collected data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, an independent t-test, a one-way ANOVA, Pearson's correlation coefficients, and multiple regression with the SPSS 25.0 Program. Results: The stress of small business owners averaged 3.67±0.65 out of 4 points, anxiety of COVID-19 was 2.65±0.52, and quality of life was 75.61±20.26 out of 130 points. The quality of life showed a significant negative correlation with ‘fear of infection’ (r=-.42, p<.001), ‘difficulties caused by social distancing’ (r=-.49, p<.001) in the stress subdomain, and anxiety (r=-.61, p<.001). On the other hand, stress, ‘fear of infection’ (r=.50, p<.001), ‘difficulties caused by social distancing’ (r=.60 p<.001), ‘anger against others’ (r=.35, p<.001) and anxiety showed positive correlation. Factors affecting the quality of life of the subjects were ‘fear of infection’ in the stress subdomain (β=-.23, p=.003), anxiety (β=-.45, p<.001), and residential area (J zone) (β=-.16, p=.030). These factors explained 47.0% of the variance. Conclusion: In order to enhance the quality of life of small business owners in an area, it is required to reduce stress and anxiety. In addition, it is necessary to prepare an intervention program that can reduce stress and anxiety of small business owners © 2022 Korean Academy of Community Health Nursing
ABSTRACT
Rapid polymerase chain reaction (PCR) utilizing plasmon-driven photothermal cycling requires real-time quantification of amplicons during PCR and miniaturization of real-time PCR (qPCR) system for point-of-care (POC) diagnostics. In this work, we have demonstrated handheld photothermal qPCR system with disposable aluminum PCR chips for the ultrafast amplification and real-time quantification of plasmids expressing SARSCoV-2 envelope protein within 5 min. This novel system provides stable and useful point-of-care diagnostic platform for prevention of fast-spreading pandemic in airport and harbor. © 2021 MicroTAS 2021 - 25th International Conference on Miniaturized Systems for Chemistry and Life Sciences. All rights reserved.