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 delta and omicron SARS-CoV-2 variants spread across the world, more tools to fight off serious infection have been developed. COVID antiviral drugs that can be taken orally at home could cut serious illness and reduce the risk of hospitalization and death. However, significant population of people consume alcohol before the infection and use of the antiviral drugs, which could potentiate side effects of the drugs on the liver. We investigated the role of alcohol in anti-Covid drug-induced stress responses in live cells. METHODS: HepG2 cells or primary mouse hepatocytes (PMH) were pre-treated with alcohol (50 mMlow dose or 100 mMhigh dose) for 6-24 hours and then treated with the newly developed oral anti-Covid drugs: nirmatrelvir, ritonavir, molnupiravir, and remdesivir at 10- 30 lg/ml for 6-24 hours. Unfolded protein response (UPR)/ER stress molecular markers (e.g. IRE1 GRP78, PERK, Xbp1 and CHOP), Golgi stress response (GSR) markers of GCP60, HSP47 and TFE3, and STAT3 were measured after the treatments. Cell death was assessed through double staining the liver cells with Syntox Green and Hoesche's Blue. RESULTS: ER stress response as indicated by IRE1, Xbp1 and CHOP was insignificant or mild in either HepG2 or PMH treated individually with alcohol at the low dose, nirmatrelvir, ritonavir, molnupiravir, or remdesivir. Alcohol or remdesivir induced moderate GSR based on mRNA increase of GCP60, HSP47 and TFE3, which was accompanied with apparent Golgi fragmentation in either HepG2 or PMH. Cell death rates in HepG2 treated with alcohol, nirmatrelvir, ritonavir, molnupiravir, or remdesivir individually were less than 5%. Pre-exposure to alcohol combined with subsequent treatment with nirmatrelvir, ritonavir molnupiravir, or remdesivir significantly increased both ER stress and GSR markers and expression of phosphorylated STAT3 (p-STAT3). Most significantly, cell death rates in HepG2 or PMH were increased by 2- to 5-fold by pre-alcohol exposure plus ritonavir, nirmatrelvir, molnupiravir, or remdesivir. The organelle stress markers, p-STAT3 and cell death were all further increased in alcoholand anti-Covid drug-treated HepG2 or primary mouse hepatocytes that were pre-infected with the lentiviruses that were pseudotyped with the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that pre-exposure to alcohol potentiates the liver cells to anti-Covid-19 drugs induced stress responses and cell death.
ABSTRACT
Paper-based flexible pressure sensors have received extensive attention owing to their recoverability and accessibility. This study, proposes a graphical pressure sensor array with a multilayered structure. A simple writing method is adopted to realize the adsorption of sensitive materials on the fiber structure of cellulose paper. Pressure sensors with 1, 3, 5, and 7 stacked layers are fabricated and compared. The results show that the seven-layer sensor achieves a high sensitivity (44 kPa–1) and fast time response (less than 150 ms). The highly sensitive stacked paper-based sensor array realizes the pressure detection in objects and special-shaped surfaces. A pressure sensor based on a commercial corrugated box is also fabricated for comparison. The corrugated carton array is used to switch the reminder devices for convenience and accessibility. Because many scenarios require a safe distance to be maintained, particularly under the influence of COVID-19, the writable paper-based sensor array is used to realize graphical distance perception and provide warnings. © 2021 Wiley-VCH GmbH
ABSTRACT
Almost all hospitals are equipped with air-conditioning systems to provide a comfortable environment for patients and staff. However, the accumulation of dust and moisture within these systems increases the risk of transmission of microbes and have on occasion been associated with outbreaks of infection. Nevertheless, the impact of air-conditioning on the transmission of microorganisms leading to infection remains largely uncertain. We conducted a scoping review to screen systematically the evidence for such an association in the face of the COVID-19 epidemic. PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases were explored for relevant studies addressing microbial contamination of the air, their transmission, and association with infectious diseases. The review process yielded 21 publications, 17 of which were cross-sectional studies, three were cohort studies, and one case-control study. Our analysis showed that, compared with naturally ventilated areas, microbial loads were significantly lower in air-conditioned areas, but the incidence of infections increased if not properly managed. The use of high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filtration not only decreased transmission of airborne bioaerosols and various microorganisms, but also reduced the risk of infections. By contrast, contaminated air-conditioning systems in hospital rooms were associated with a higher risk of patient infection. Cleaning and maintenance of such systems to recommended standards should be performed regularly and where appropriate, the installation of HEPA filters can effectively mitigate microbial contamination in the public areas of hospitals.
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Patients with COVID-19-induced ARDS commonly receive heavy sedation that is aimed at facilitating lung-protective mechanical ventilation and ensuring amnesia during paralysis. The goal of the study was to quantify sedative drug utilization in a cohort of critically ill patients with COVID-19 and compare standard sedation with an alternative approach utilizing inhaled isoflurane. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed a cohort of mechanically ventilated patients with COVID-19 that were admitted to the intensive care unit at Massachusetts General Hospital between April 2 and May 4, 2020. Mechanical ventilation was delivered with Drager Apollo anesthesia machines. The choice of sedatives, their dosing, and timing of initiation and discontinuation of isoflurane were at the discretion of ICU physicians. Maximum inspired concentrations of isoflurane ranged between 0.2 and 1.1%. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize demographics and clinical data. P values were calculated using Chi-square test or Fisher's Exact test in categorical variables and Student's t test in continuous variables. This analysis was approved by the Institutional Review Board. RESULTS: Thirty-five mechanically ventilated patients were included in the study, with a mean (SD) age of 59.4 (12.8) years. Twenty-three (65.7%) patients were men. Seventeen (48.6%) patients received standard intravenous sedation, while 18 (51.4%) also received isoflurane. The mean duration of mechanical ventilation (SD) was 23.3 (11.6) days in the standard sedation group and 23.8 (12.5) days in the isoflurane group. Mean (SD) duration of isoflurane exposure was 5.61 (2.99) days, representing 29.1% of total sedation time (SD, 20.4). Cumulative opioid exposure did not differ between the standard sedation and isoflurane sedation groups (mean morphine milligram equivalent 6668 [SD, 1346] vs 6678 [SD, 2000]. However, the initiation of isoflurane in patients was associated with decreased utilization of propofol (mean daily amount 3656[SD, 1635] before vs 950[SD,1804] during isoflurane, and hydromorphone (mean daily amount 48[SD, 30] before vs 23[SD, 27] during isoflurane. CONCLUSIONS: In the subjects that received isoflurane, its initiation was associated with significant decreases in propofol and hydromorphone infusions.
ABSTRACT
Pig farmers' willingness to recover production under the COVID-19 pandemic shock is significant to recover live pigs' supply in China in 2020. Increasing farmers' willingness to recover pig production contributes to enhance pig supply, stabilize the pig and pork market, and to improve pig farmers' income. This research studies the determinants of pig farmers' willingness to recover production under COVID-19 pandemic shock by applying survey data of 201 farmers in Huai'an City and Lin'an City and a logit regression model. The estimation results show that a farmer's risk perception, the duration time of a farmer's feed supply under COVID-19 pandemic shock, whether or not being a cooperative member, and a farmer's knowledge on government's policy designed to encourage pig production, a farmer's education level and production experience are the key determinants to a farmer's willingness to recover pig production. Thus, it's important for policymakers to solve the problems for farmers to get access to feed during the pandemic, to encourage the development of cooperatives, as well as to issue and advocate policies to encourage pig production. The study contributes to the scant literature by providing fresh empirical evidences on determinants of farmers' willingness to recover pig production. It has significance to farmers and governments to enhance farmers' willingness to recover production, which contributes to secure pig supply in China after the COVID-19 pandemic.
ABSTRACT
The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pneumonia has been classified as a category B and dealt with as a category A infectious disease by the National Health Commission of China, and also as a public health emergency of international concern by the World Health Organization. During the epidemic, unnecessary visits to hospitals may increase the risk of infection among patients and clinicians. Therefore, it is particularly important to provide some scientific medical guidance for patients with male diseases, which is also a current imperative for andrology management. And it also deserves the attention of clinical researchers whether COVID-19 pneumonia and its clinical treatments currently used may affect the male reproductive system.
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Many people all over the world still suffer from the stress induced by quarantine and social distancing during the coronavirus outbreak, and it is a topic of significance to manage negative feelings and emotions when considering mental health and wellness. Our questions are: "Can a game help people maintain mental health and wellness in such a situation?"and "Will virtual escape from isolation in the game help people feel better in reality?"Therefore, with the design concept of a "healing game", we developed Daydream, a game that combines puzzles and interactive music-making experiences with the design concept of a "healing game"to help players slow down, relax, and imagine. In Daydream, players collect magic objects that can retrieve the main character's memories and unfold her imagination, allowing players to enter a musical adventure. While this research project is still in the early stage, we conducted a preliminary user study and the feedback from the participant were generally positive to our design concept and game design. We believe such a design concept of a 'healing game' would be promising as an interesting research topic in serious games. © 2020 ACM.
ABSTRACT
Hands-on wet lab simulation training is a vital part of modern surgical training. Since 2010, surgical 'boot camps' have been run by many UK deaneries to teach core surgical trainees basic entry level skills. Training in advanced skills often requires attendance at national fee-paying courses. In the Wessex Deanery, multiple, free of charge, core surgical 'field camps' were developed to provide more advanced level teaching in the particular specialty preference of each core surgical trainee. After the COVID-19 pandemic, national hands-on courses will be challenging to provide and deanery-based advanced skills training may be the way forward for craft-based specialties. The experiences over 2 years of delivering the Wessex core surgical field camps are shared, giving a guide and advice for other trainers on how to run a field camp.