Special Environment Research Articles

Assessing the Impact of Climate Comfort on Labor Productivity in Hydropower Engineering Construction in Southwest China

Labor productivity exerts a significant influence on the construction cycle and investment in hydropower projects. Consequently, it is a crucial factor in the estimation of the cost of hydropower project construction. The mechanisms that are modulated by subjective factors have been extensively studied. However, the assessment of labor productivity in objective environments with regular changes is usually considered using a single factor, especially in special environments where the influence of environmental factors is of greater concern. As the most extensive region of China’s water-energy resources, the Southwest region has a lengthy tradition of using altitude or oxygen as an inherent criterion for the assessment of labor productivity. However, the applicability of inherent standards is limited. Therefore, we tried to assess the spatial and temporal changes in labor productivity based on the changes in meteorological conditions in Southwest China, employing climate comfort indicators in this study. The result identified five distinct regions of climate change in Southwest China (R-I to R-V). In particular, there is minimal variation in labor productivity as assessed by climate comfort indicators and the elevation between R-I and R-II. R-III and R-IV are influenced by oxygen, temperature, and humidity, while R-V is affected by a multitude of factors. Our findings indicate that temporal and spatial variations in meteorological conditions can result in up to a threefold difference in productivity at the same altitude in different regions. Importantly, our study provides valuable theoretical insights for engineering project management. In particular, it can be concluded that altitude is not a reliable indicator for evaluating labor productivity in high-altitude construction.

Impact of virtual reality on peri-interventional pain, anxiety and distress in a pediatric oncology outpatient clinic: a randomized controlled trial

PurposePain and anxiety-inducing interventions have a major impact on pediatric patients. Pain reduction by virtual reality (VR) during port and vein punctures is well studied. This study investigates peri-interventional reduction of pain, anxiety and distress using VR compared to the standard of care (SOC) in a pediatric oncology outpatient clinic.MethodsIn a randomized, controlled cross-over design, patients aged 6–18 years experience potentially painful interventions accompanied by VR. Observational instruments include NRS, FPS-r, BAADS, mYPAS-SF, PedsQL and SSKJ3-8R. All patients undergo two observations: SOC (A) and VR (B) in a randomized order. In addition, parents and staff are interviewed. Specific conditions for VR in an outpatient clinic setting derived from interprofessional focus group discussion are being explored.ResultsBetween July 2021 and December 2022 57 eligible patients were included and randomized to the orders A/B (n = 28) and B/A (n = 29). Thirty-eight patients completed both observations. Characteristics in both groups did not differ significantly. More than half of the patients had no previous experience with VR, 5% decided to discontinue VR prematurely. Peri-interventional pain, anxiety and distress were significantly reduced by VR compared with SOC. 71% of patients and 76% of parents perceived punctures with VR to be more relaxed than previous ones. 95% of patients perceived fun with VR goggles. Detailed questionnaires on individual stress and anxiety were returned from 26 of 38 patients. Focus group discussion with staff yielded evidence for successful implementation of VR in an outpatient clinic.ConclusionsThe present study shows that VR can be used for peri-interventional reduction of pain, anxiety, and distress in the special environment of a pediatric outpatient clinic. Specific conditions must be met for successful implementation. Further studies are needed to identify particularly susceptible patients and to illuminate alternatives for distraction that are feasible to implement with limited resources.Trial registration number(ClinicalTrials.gov ID): NCT06235723; 01/02/2024; retrospectively registered. This study adheres to the standard checklist of CONSORT guidelines.

Evaluating thermal comfort in a vascular interventional radiology laboratory: Utilizing an onsite measurement approach

A vascular interventional radiology (VIR) laboratory is a specialized medical environment designed for diagnostic and therapeutic procedures focused on blood vessels. In this facility, healthcare practitioners employ diverse imaging technologies such as fluoroscopy and angiography to visualize blood vessels and conduct minimally invasive interventions. This research examines the thermal comfort within a VIR laboratory through the field measurements. Assessing thermal comfort in a VIR laboratory supports Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by enhancing the welfare and working conditions in the healthcare settings (SDG 3 and SDG 9). This effort also aligns with SDG 11 by advocating for sustainable urban environments through the optimization of indoor environmental conditions. The gathered data brings to light notable disparities in air temperature, relative humidity, and air velocity, underscoring the absence of homogeneity in the laboratory setting. It's evident that 67% of the spaces within the VIR laboratory will induce a "cool" sensation among medical staff members in standby mode, with the remaining 33% causing a "slightly cool" sensation. Both the Predicted Percentage of Dissatisfied (PPD) and Predicted Mean Vote (PMV) indices for thermal comfort deviate from the established ASHRAE 55 standard, emphasizing the considerable hurdles in achieving the desired thermal conditions. By integrating findings from this study into policy frameworks, stakeholders can prioritize investments in infrastructure and technology aimed at enhancing thermal comfort standards in healthcare facilities. This proactive approach not only fosters a conducive environment for medical procedures but also advances progress towards achieving key SDGs.

Elemental evolution characteristics and influencing factors of green infrastructure network in karst mountain cities: a case study of Qianzhong urban agglomeration in Southwest China

BackgroundThe urban green infrastructure (GI) network is an important conduit for ecological flows and plays a crucial role in improving regional habitats, especially in karst areas that are highly ecologically fragile and sensitive. However, the existing research only focuses on the construction of GI network in karst mountain cities, and the evolution characteristics of its elements and driving mechanism are not clear, which is of great significance for guiding urban land use planning and comprehensively improving the quality of the ecological environment. In view of this, this study took Qianzhong urban agglomeration as the study area, based on multi-source data, and identified ecological sources through ecological resilience analysis. Considering the special geographic environment, the rock exposure rate factor was added to correct the resistance surface, and the minimum cumulative resistance (MCR) and gravity model were coupled to extract the GI network. The complex network topology characterization parameter was introduced to assess the spatial and temporal variations of ecological sources and corridors. Finally, the geographical detector was used to identify the dominant influencing factors and interactions of the spatial distribution of the GI network.ResultsThe results showed that from 2000 to 2020, the condition of GI network elements in the study area presented a decreasing and then an increasing trend. The ecological sources or corridors in highly urbanized areas were critical for ecological flow transport and the overall structural stability of the GI network. The influence of natural factors on the spatial distribution of the GI network gradually weakened, and the influence of human factors continuously increased. The spatial distribution of the GI network was influenced by multiple factors, and the interaction between all the factors was enhanced, which gradually changed from the interaction of natural factors to the interaction of human factors during the study period.ConclusionsThe research results will provide scientific references for the construction of an ecologically safe environment and sustainable development of karst mountain cities.

Effect of fluid scour on stress distribution of film-substrate system

Under strong fluid scour in special service environment, the film-substrate system is prone to weaken its mechanical properties due to the additional shear stress by fluid, resulting in film debonding. The present study establishes a mechanical model incorporating the fluid shear stress for a film-substrate system with partial debonding. The debonding length, scour strength and thermal mismatch are considered in the model, respectively. Fluid induces compressive stress on inflow side and tensile stress on outflow side. Potential debonding behavior of film by the additional shear stress is qualitatively analyzed. Results show that the compressive stress by fluid releases part of the tensile stress of thermal mismatch, may mitigate surface cracking of film. The surface scour effect is amplified by the partial debonding, and is further enhanced with the increase of debonding length. The unevenness of stress distribution at the interface is intensified by the debonding and fluid scouring. The fluid scour poses a potential threat to the film-substrate system.

Nano-BN and nano-cellulose synergistically enhanced the mechanical, thermal, and insulating properties of cellulose insulating paper

The complex and demanding environments of high humidity, heat, altitude, and intricate electric fields necessitate higher standards for the mechanical, thermal stability, and electric insulation properties of insulating paper. However, a single nanomaterial alone struggles to enhance overall performance. Hence, we propose employing two-phase nanomaterials with distinct dimensions to synergistically enhance the performance of cellulose insulation paper. Accordingly, “simulation design directly guided experimental research” was utilized in constructing nano-BN/nanocellulose/cellulose (nano-BN/NFC/cellulose) models through molecular dynamics simulation, and its mechanical parameters, dielectric properties, thermal stability, and so on were simulated and calculated. Based on simulation results, suitable proportions of nano-BN/NFC/cellulose insulating paper were prepared. Nano-BN and NFC synergistically enhance the mechanical properties of insulating paper. The nano-BN, CNF, and cellulose are arranged layer by layer under the action of gravity, allowing the fillers to overlap diagonally along the plane, synergistically forming a thermally conductive network conducive to heat transfer. Additionally, a strong interfacial effect is formed between the three-phase materials, reducing the overall structure's polarization effect and charge accumulation, and synergistically enhancing electrical insulation performance. The 12%nano-BN/NFC/cellulose (P12) exhibits optimal overall performance and is expected to be used in power equipment operating in special environments with high humidity and heat.

Impact of Urban Morphology on High-Density Commercial Block Energy Consumption in Severe Cold Regions

In sustainable city development, urban form plays an important role in block energy consumption, and as different environmental contexts and block functions create differences in energy use, it is necessary to study the relationship between morphology and energy consumption under the dual constraints of special environments and special block functions. Urban high-density blocks have concentrated energy consumption, high energy intensity, and complex morphological layout, but the influencing mechanism of the block’s morphology on its energy consumption remains unclear. Accordingly, this study focuses on the mechanism and evaluation method of the influence of morphology on the energy consumption of high-density commercial blocks in severe cold regions. Through Grasshopper model extraction, EnergyPlus performance simulation, Pearson correlation analysis, and linear regression analysis, this study extracts and classifies high-density commercial blocks in Harbin, China, into six basic layout types (Courtyard, Courtyard-T, Slab, Slab-T, Point, Point-T) according to their horizontal and vertical morphology, analyzes the energy consumption characteristics of each basic type, examines the relationships between energy use intensity (EUI) and building density (BD) and between floor area ratio (FAR) and building height standard deviation (BHSD), and constructs theoretical models by controlling variables to study the effect of a single form parameter on block EUI. The research findings are as follows: (1) The annual energy consumption of Point and Slab blocks is relatively low, whereas that of Courtyard and Courtyard-T blocks is higher due to the lack of open space in Courtyards and the poor ventilation in summer. (2) FAR is significantly correlated with the energy consumption of high-density commercial blocks in severe cold regions, while the effects of BD and BHSD are weaker than those of FAR. For every 0.1 increase in BD, every 1 increase in FAR, and every 1(m) increase in BHSD, the Winter Daily EUI of the Slab block changes by +0.87, −2.26, and −0.22 (kWh/m2), respectively, whereas that of the Slab-T block changes by −0.38, +0.68, and +0.08 (kWh/m2), respectively. (3) Controlling other variables, a large BD is theoretically beneficial to energy performance in the blocks, and increasing BD in the range of 0.4–0.55 has a significant effect on lowering energy consumption in Point blocks. EUI increases with the increase in FAR, while the change depends on different block types with the increase in BHSD. This study provides design strategies for high-density commercial blocks in severe cold regions. Under different layout types, though EUI shows different relationships with BD, FAR, and BHSD, Slab-T and Point-T blocks can achieve excellent energy performance by appropriately increasing BD and decreasing FAR, whereas Slab blocks need to decrease BD while increasing FAR. The patterns found in this paper can provide strategic help for policymaking and early urban design.

Electronic modulation on allotropic Co2P/CoP heterojunctions with N, P co-doped porous carbon matrix through metal-injection toward high-efficiency water splitting

The interfacial electron modulation of electrocatalysts is a useful technique for promoting catalyst performance for the water-related dissociation reactions. Herein, a high-efficient Fe-doped allotropic Co2P/CoP heterojunction nanoparticles embedded in N, P co-doped carbon matrix was constructed. The intense electrical interfacial contacts between the allotropic heterojunction optimized the reaction kinetics by boosting efficient charged active centers, regulating the intermediate adsorption/desorption. The incorporation of Fe atoms further enhancing the heterointerface contact between CoP and Co2P by providing favorable electronic properties and special coordination environment, causing the interfacial coupling enhancement. Therefore, Fe-Co2P/CoP possesses outstanding performance in both hydrogen evolution reaction and oxygen evolution reaction, with small overpotentials of 174 mV and 286 mV at 10 mA·cm−2 in alkaline medium, respectively. And only 1.71 V battery voltage is needed for the Fe-Co2P/CoP (+, −) cell device with satisfactory durability. This finding provides valuable insights into the engineering of electronic structures of well-designed metal phosphides for water electrolysis.

Research Progress on the Mechanism of Intestinal Barrier Damage and Drug Therapy in a High Altitude Environment.

The plateau is a typical extreme environment with low temperature, low oxygen and high ultraviolet rays. The integrity of the intestinal barrier is the basis for the functioning of the intestine, which plays an important role in absorbing nutrients, maintaining the balance of intestinal flora, and blocking the invasion of toxins. Currently, there is increasing evidence that high altitude environment can enhance intestinal permeability and disrupt intestinal barrier integrity. This article mainly focuses on the regulation of the expression of HIF and tight junction proteins in the high altitude environment, which promotes the release of pro-inflammatory factors, especially the imbalance of intestinal flora caused by the high altitude environment. The mechanism of intestinal barrier damage and the drugs to protect the intestinal barrier are reviewed. Studying the mechanism of intestinal barrier damage in high altitude environment is not only conducive to understanding the mechanism of high altitude environment affecting intestinal barrier function, but also provides a more scientific medicine treatment method for intestinal damage caused by the special high altitude environment.

Fuzzy evaluation and obstacle factors of urban ecological health changes in the Wei River Basin, northwest China

BackgroundUrban ecological health is crucial for the long-term sustainable development of watershed. Accurately evaluating the health level of the ecological environment helps to develop reasonable strategies for ecological environment restoration and resource management. This paper constructed a comprehensive evaluation index system based on the Pressure-State-Response (PSR) framework and evaluated the ecological health of eleven administrative regions in the Wei River Basin (WRB), northwest China in 1980, 2000, and 2020 using an evaluation model established by fuzzy mathematics. Further, obstacle degrees were used to quantify the contribution of pressure, state, and response modules, as well as individual indicators to ecological health.ResultsThe comprehensive evaluation system constructed based on the PSR framework could effectively reflect the ecological health conditions of different regions in the WRB. During the study period, the ecological health went through a process of first deterioration and then improvement. By 2020, the ecological health of seven administrative regions reached healthy levels. The state module was the main obstacle module of the PSR framework to the ecological health of the most regions. The population density (P1), patch density of construction land (S5), comprehensive elasticity index (S8), soil erosion index (R1), and per capital GDP (R3) were the most crucial individual indicators affecting the ecological health. For different cities, the main obstacle factors varied. In economically developed cities, the limiting effect of P1 was more significant, while in economically underdeveloped cities, the limiting effect of R3 was stronger.ConclusionsIn response to the special natural environment and socio-economic conditions of arid and semi-arid areas in the WRB, an ecological health evaluation index system suitable for the characteristics of the basin was constructed. The results indicated that, to improve the levels of urban ecological health, it is necessary to restore the natural ecological environment and control population size while accelerating economic construction. Our results can provide scientific support for the ecological health evaluation and protection of the WRB and even the arid and semi-arid areas in northwest China.

Diversity and saline-alkali resistance of Coleoptera endosymbiont bacteria in arid and semi-arid climate.

Coleoptera insects, as the first largest order of insect class, have the characteristics of a wide variety and wide distribution. The arid and semi-arid climate makes it more adaptable. By studying the endosymbiont bacteria of Coleoptera insects, we can systematically understand the adaptability of endosymbiont bacteria to host and special environment. Through the analysis of endosymbiont bacteria of Coleoptera insects in different saline-alkali areas in arid and semi-arid regions of Xinjiang, it was found that bacteria in different host samples were resistant to saline-alkali stress. These results suggest that bacteria and their hosts co-evolved in response to this climate. Therefore, this study is of great significance for understanding the endosymbiont bacteria of Coleoptera insects and obtaining extremophile resources (Saline-alkali-resistant chassis strains with modification potential for the production of bulk chemicals and highly robust industrial enzymes).

Design and motion control of a tendon-driven continuum robot for aerospace applications

Continuum robots are flexible and compliant. Compared to the case in conventional articulated manipulators, the driving unit can be placed outside the workspace of the robot, so that the motion orientation has a relatively complete linear configuration flow, which can be applied to a special environment with narrow and multiple obstacles such as aerospace. This study presents the development process of a tendon-driven continuum robot (TCR) with a high length-diameter ratio. The skeleton structure which imitates a snake is composed of continuous joints in series. The driving device is operated by using a tendon-driven method, which reduces the complexity of the driving box and control system significantly. The diameter of the robot is designed to be 5 mm, which enables it to work in a narrow and slender space with certain flexibility. Subsequently, a kinematic model of the robot is established. The mode function backbone method is applied to realize TCR trajectory planning. An idea of segmented solving is adopted to achieve trajectory tracking control of the continuum robot. Finally, a prototype of the continuum robot is produced, and the rationality of the robot design and the effectiveness of the motion control method are verified through trajectory simulations and experiments. The robot can perform inspection tasks within a narrow gap of 20 mm with good environmental adaptability.

Association between sleep state misperception and bedtime behavior in patients with chronic insomnia

Previous studies on sleep state misperception have objectively evaluated sleep status in special environments using polysomnography. There is a paucity of data from studies that evaluated habitual sleep status in home environments. The present study aimed to investigate sleep state misperception in the home environment of patients with chronic insomnia using a lumbar-worn actigraphy to identify sleep habits associated with sleep state misperception severity. Thirty-one patients and 42 healthy volunteers were included in the insomnia and non-insomnia group, respectively. Participants recorded subjective assessments in sleep diaries, objective assessments with an actigraphy worn for 14 days, and self-assessments using questionnaires. Both groups had similar objective sleep ratings; however, insomnia group had significantly worse subjective ratings (total sleep time, wake after sleep onset, and sleep onset latency). A significant correlation was found between subjective and objective total sleep time scores in non-insomnia group but not in insomnia group. Insomnia group had earlier bedtimes, significantly longer bedtimes, and impaired daytime functioning (Sheehan Disability Scale score); additionally, they underestimated their total sleep time, particularly with earlier bedtimes and longer laying durations. Monitoring the sleep status and habits of individuals in home environments could be instrumental in identifying key points for targeted interventions on sleep hygiene and cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia.

Crafting very low frequency magnetoelectric antenna via piezoelectric and electromechanical synergic optimization strategy

A boom in exploration for marine geology and ocean resources has resulted in a huge demand for radio navigation or special environment communications, in turn spurring the rapid development of portable underwater wireless communication technology. State of the art acoustic communication methods used today are plagued by substantial transmission delays, multipath effects, and doppler frequency shifts, among other challenges, thus impeding the advancement of underwater wireless communication technology. Low-frequency electromagnetic transmission has proven to be a prospective solution for underwater communication, but the conventional electrical antennas is too large for portable underwater wireless communication. Emergent magnetoelectric (ME) antennas driven by piezoelectric materials have become a promising solution for miniaturizing very low frequency (VLF) communication systems. Here, a theoretical model between the radiation performance and piezoelectric material properties of the ME antenna was conducted. Guide by the theory analysis, Pb(In1/2Nb1/2)O3Pb(Mn1/3Sb2/3)O3Pb(Zr0.49Ti0.51)O3 (PIN-PMS-PZT) piezoelectric ceramic simultaneous with high d33 and Qm (d33 ∼ 401, Qm ∼ 1510) has been designed to enhance the magnetoelectric radiation of the VLF ME antenna. The PIN-PMS-PZT based ME antenna achieves a large converse magnetoelectric response 1.78 Gs⋅cm/V in EMR, which is almost doubled to commercial PZT based ME antenna. More importantly, a VLF communication system was built based on the VLF antenna, which successfully transmitted digital signals using Amplitude-Shift-Keying (ASK) modulation. It is believed that the presented work could provide a theoretical basis and feasible technical path for the employment of ME antennas in the future.

Analysis of the Development of Drones and their Application in the Logistics Field

This study discusses the evolution of drone technology and its application in the logistics field, analyzes its impact on the logistics industry, and predicts future development trends. Through case study and technology comparison, this article thoroughly researches the technological development, classification, characteristics of drones, and their application in the logistics field. The application of drones in the logistics field has gradually become widespread, and it shows significant advantages in the aspects of aerial transportation of cargo, inventory management of warehouses, and planning of distribution routes. The results show that drone not only improves logistics efficiency and reduce cost but also have a unique value in special environments and emergencies.

Thermal Chiroptical Switch Based on an Ultrahigh Temperature-Initiated Macrocycle Gel Platform.

Responsive chiral optical materials have gained considerable interests from the fields of sensing, display, and optical devices. Materials that are capable of changing chiral optics under harsh conditions such as strong basic/acidic or ultrahigh temperature provides thoughts for the design of materials working at special environments, which however, are still underdeveloped. Here, a proof-of-concept design of organogel is reported that acts as matrices for thermal chiroptical switch with critical working temperature above 100°C. The reversible solution-to-gel transition of the specific β-cyclodextrin/dimethyl formide/LiCl system is initialized at about 130°C, when the luminophores with aggregation-induced-emission property shall be lighted up with transferred chirality from inherent chiral β-cyclodextrin. It allows for the controlled emergence of circularly polarized luminescence. This delicate design enables successful fabrication of ultrahigh temperature thermal chiroptical switch.

Testing Quantitative and Qualitative Sex Effects in a National Swedish Twin-Sibling Study of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder.

Twin studies have demonstrated that posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is moderately heritable, and the pattern of findings across studies suggests higher heritability in females compared with males. Formal testing of sex differences has yet to be done in twin studies of PTSD. The authors sought to estimate the genetic and environmental contributions to PTSD, and to formally test for sex differences, in the largest sample to date of both sexes, among twins and siblings. Using the Swedish National Registries, the authors performed structural equation modeling to decompose genetic and environmental variance for PTSD and to formally test for quantitative and qualitative sex differences in twins (16,242 pairs) and in full siblings within 2 years of age of each other (376,093 pairs), using diagnostic codes from medical registries. The best-fit model suggested that additive genetic and unique environmental effects contributed to PTSD. Evidence for a quantitative sex effect was found, such that heritability was significantly greater in females (35.4%) than males (28.6%). Evidence of a qualitative sex effect was found, such that the genetic correlation was high but less than complete (rg=0.81, 95% CI=0.73-0.89). No evidence of shared environment or special twin environment was found. This is the first demonstration of quantitative and qualitative sex effects for PTSD. The results suggest that unique environmental effects, but not the shared environment, contributed to PTSD and that genetic influences for the disorder are stronger in females compared with males. Although the heritability is highly correlated, it is not at unity between the sexes.

Potential therapeutic effects of traditional Chinese medicine in acute mountain sickness: pathogenesis, mechanisms and future directions.

Acute mountain sickness (AMS) is a pathology with different symptoms in which the organism is not adapted to the environment that occurs under the special environment of high altitude. Its main mechanism is the organism's tissue damage caused by acute hypobaric hypoxia. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) theory focuses on the holistic concept. TCM has made remarkable achievements in the treatment of many mountain sicknesses. This review outlines the pathogenesis of AMS in modern and traditional medicine, the progress of animal models of AMS, and summarizes the therapeutic effects of TCM on AMS. Using the keywords "traditional Chinese medicine," "herbal medicine," "acute mountain sickness," "high-altitude pulmonary edema," "high-altitude cerebral edema," "acute hypobaric hypoxia," and "high-altitude," all relevant TCM literature published up to November 2023 were collected from Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure databases, and the key information was analyzed. We systematically summarised the effects of acute hypobaric hypoxia on the tissues of the organism, the study of the methodology for the establishment of an animal model of AMS, and retrieved 18 proprietary Chinese medicines for the clinical treatment of AMS. The therapeutic principle of medicines is mainly invigorating qi, activating blood and removing stasis. The components of botanical drugs mainly include salidroside, ginsenoside Rg1, and tetrahydrocurcumin. The mechanism of action of TCM in the treatment of AMS is mainly through the regulation of HIF-1α/NF-κB signaling pathway, inhibition of inflammatory response and oxidative stress, and enhancement of energy metabolism. The main pathogenesis of AMS is unclear. Still, TCM formulas and components have been used to treat AMS through multifaceted interventions, such as compound danshen drip pills, Huangqi Baihe granules, salidroside, and ginsenoside Rg1. These components generally exert anti-AMS pharmacological effects by inhibiting the expression of VEGF, concentration of MDA and pro-inflammatory factors, down-regulating NF-κB/NLRP3 pathway, and promoting SOD and Na + -K + -ATPase activities, which attenuates acute hypobaric hypoxia-induced tissue injury. This review comprehensively analyses the application of TCM in AMS and makes suggestions for more in-depth studies in the future, aiming to provide some ideas and insights for subsequent studies.

Effects of Post-COVID-19 Syndrome on Quality of Life Among Airline Crew.

Background: Interest in post-coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) syndrome following COVID-19 infection has been increasing. Maintaining quality of life (QoL) is vital for airline crews because they work in a special environment, where they are responsible for the passengers' safety. This study aims to closely investigate factors affecting the QoL of airline crews, including post-COVID-19 syndrome. Methods: This study was designed as a cross-sectional survey, comprising 167 crews. Findings: Age-specific significant differences were observed in social, overall, and total QoL scores. The physical domain QoL was significantly higher in the cockpit crews than that in the cabin crews. Significant differences were found in psychological and overall QoL depending on years of continuous service. Social domain and environmental QoL were lower in those who had no symptoms after being diagnosed with COVID-19 than in those who were symptomatic. Among the participants, 4.2% had post-COVID-19 syndrome, indicating significant differences in the physical domain, depending on whether they exhibit post-COVID-19 syndrome. Conclusion: It is urgent to develop measures to increase the QoL of airline crews, investigate post-COVID-19 syndrome before returning to work, and develop strategies to manage it. Application to practice: The QoL among airline crews differed not only by the demographic characteristics of the participants but also by the presence of symptoms during COVID-19 diagnosis and post-COVID-19 syndrome. Higher QoL among airline crews is associated with the safety of both airline crews and passengers. Therefore, it is necessary to establish a systematic management protocol for airline crews returning to work after following COVID-19 infection.

Growing through understanding and support: special boarding school teachers’ perspectives and experiences on sexual education for children with autism

This study aims to thoroughly analyze the perspectives of teachers in special boarding schools in Harbin, China, regarding sexual education for children with autism, with the goal of better understanding and improving practices in this crucial educational area. Using a semi-structured interview approach, the study conducted detailed interviews with 20 teachers from special boarding schools across urban and suburban areas, representing a diverse range of socio-economic backgrounds, to gather their direct insights and experiences regarding sexual education for children with autism. Employing a reflective thematic analysis, the study systematically coded and analyzed the interview content to delve into teachers’ viewpoints and strategies. The research revealed four core themes: trust building, addressing diversity, expanding interactions, and promoting sustained development. These findings not only provide profound insights into the practical aspects of sexual education in special school environments but also offer valuable guidance for future educational practices and policy formulation.