Work-in-Progress: HyFlex Hands-On Hardware Security Education During COVID-19

Practical, hands-on hardware experience is an essential component of computer engineering education. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, courses with laboratory components such as Computer Logic Design or FPGA Design were subject to interruption from sudden changes in course modality. While simulators can cover some aspects of laboratory work, they cannot fully replace the hands-on experience students receive working with and debugging hardware. For hardware security in particular, experimenting with attacks and countermeasures on real hardware is vital. In this paper, we describe our approach to designing a practical, hands-on hardware security course that is suitable for HyFlex delivery. We have developed a total of nine experiments utilizing two inexpensive, portable, and self-contained development boards which generally obviate the need for bench equipment. We discuss the trade-offs inherent in the course and experiment design, as well as issues relating to deployment and support for the required design software.

Clinical Presentations of Suspected and Confirmed COVID-19 Cases in Shahroud, Iran

Background & Objective: COVID-19 is a serious disease with different symptoms and risk factors infecting and killing many people around the world. This study was performed to investigate the demographic and clinical characteristics of COVID-19 suspects referred to the hospitals and coronavirus treatment centers of Shahroud, Iran. Materials & Methods: Upon the outbreak of the COVID-19 epidemic in Shahroud, Shahroud University of Medical Sciences launched a project to systematically record the demographic, clinical, and medical data of all suspects referred to the Corona Center. In this study, the data of 3945 suspected people collected during 5 months were analyzed. The RT-PCR test was used as the criterion for diagnosing the disease. Results: Among 3945 suspected cases, 24.4% had positive RT-PCR test. The mean age of confirmed cases was 52.16 years. Dry cough and fever in addition to anorexia were reported as the most common symptoms. The results of logistic regression analysis showed that people over 60 years with heart disease reduce the risk, while people over 60 years, diabetics, and obese people increase the risk of infection. Conclusion: These results necessitate further lines of research into different symptoms and risk factors to help identify COVID-19 cases earlier and start faster treatment. © 2022, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences and Health Services. All rights reserved.

Relationship between precautionary measures and perceived stress and self-care behaviors in Shahid Beheshti Dental School during COVID-19 pandemic: a path analysis study

Background and purpose: Mental health problems can negatively affect one's ability to take precautionary measures. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of perceived stress and self-care behaviors on precautionary measures against COVID-19 among staff and students in shahid Beheshti Dental School. Materials and methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted after reopening of the school. Information was collected from 830 people (academic members, students, and staff) within two weeks in spring 2020. A questionnaire was designed consisting of items on demographic characteristics, perceived stress, self-care behaviors, and precautionary measures. To calculate the coefficients of the effects of stress and self-care behaviors on precautionary measures, path model analysis was applied.

Epidemiological characteristics of the coronavirus disease 2019 in healthcare providers of the School of Dentistry, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran: A prospective cohort study

BACKGROUND AND AIM: The coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) has become a public health emergency of worldwide concern. In addition to the serious impacts of this disease, it has caused numerous problems for dental treatments. Here, the findings on the first phase of the cohort study on reopening the School of Dentistry, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran and its subordinate clinics during the COVID-19 pandemic were reported. METHODS: Data were collected via a 100-item self-administered online questionnaire from June 2 to June 20, 2020. A total of 1,110 members from the academics, students, and personnel of the school participated in the study. The questionnaire included demographic data, socio-personal patterns, systemic conditions, COVID-19 infection information, and personal protective equipment (PPE). RESULTS: Since the outbreak of the pandemic, 87.4% of the professors, 49.0% of the students, and 29.0% of the personnel of the school used personal vehicles other than public transportation. In addition, over 50.0% of the students and about 70.0% of the other two groups had not attended any gatherings. Moreover, 83.0% of the academics, 93.0% of the students, and 84.0% of the personnel had no systemic conditions. Furthermore, about 16.0% of the professors, 14.0% of the students, and 22.0% of the personnel had tested for the COVID-19 infection, of whom only about 1.0% reported positive results. Fatigue, dry coughs, and shortness of breath were the most common symptoms reported by the respondents. CONCLUSION: Dental offices are high-risk environments for the transmission of air-borne diseases. Considering the low percentage of the participants with positive test, it may be concluded that the safety protocols could effectively limit the spread of the COVID-19 infection.

Dental students' perceived stress during the COVID-19 outbreak in Tehran, Iran

Introduction: Mental health is an inseparable part of overall health and healthcare workers have experienced mental issues during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to investigate the amount of stress undergone by dental students and its affecting factors. Materials & Methods: This cross-sectional study included all students of Shahid Beheshti Dental School, Tehran. The data on demographic and individual-social characteristics of the participants and questions related to the perceived stress level (PSS-10 questionnaire) were collected using an online questionnaire. The results were analyzed using a T-test and the correlations in SPSS-26 (P<0.05).

COVID-19 and Fast Foods Consumption: a Review

While all groups are affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, the aged people as well as those with underlying chronic medical conditions are at the greatest risk. The higher adherence to refined carbohydrate diets, sweats, and saturated fats contributes to the prevalence of obesity and type 2 diabetes;these disorders increase the risk for severe COVID-19 morbidity and mortality. Fast food consumption activates the intrinsic immune system and impairs adaptive immunity, leading to chronic inflammation and impaired host defence against viruses. Furthermore, inflammatory responses caused by COVID-19 may have long-term costs in survived individuals, leading to chronic disorders such as dementia and neurodegenerative disease through neuroinflammatory mechanisms that are related to an unhealthy diet. Therefore, now more than ever, wider access to healthy foods should be a main concern and individuals should be aware of healthy eating habits to reduce COVID-19 complications. © 2021, Published with license by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. © 2021 Jalal Bohlouli, Amir Reza Moravejolahkami, Marjan Ganjali Dashti, Zakiyeh Balouch Zehi, Mohammad Ali Hojjati Kermani, Mohammad Borzoo-Isfahani and Nimah Bahreini-Esfahani.