Quality Evaluations Research Articles

A Systematic Review and Narrative Synthesis of Strategies for Disaster Risk Reduction Education for People With Disabilities.

To identify the components and characteristics of disaster risk reduction education for people with disabilities and to explore the contents and results of disaster risk reduction education. A systematic review and narrative synthesis. The review was conducted in accordance with Tawfik's guidelines and followed the reporting standards outlined in the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analysis. The quality appraisal was guided by the mixed methods appraisal tool. The contents of each type of education were narratively synthesised. The literature search was conducted in December 2023 using several electronic databases, including PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, Cochrane library and PsycINFO. Eight quantitative studies were selected for this study. Disaster risk reduction education for people with disabilities has focused mainly on fires and earthquakes, and drills were the most used teaching method. Some of the education was conducted by designating a 1:1 ratio of educators and participants or modifying the ratio according to the type of disability. The staff mainly conducted the education, and after education, the effect of disaster risk reduction education was confirmed in terms of the knowledge and response of people with disabilities during drills. This review provides insights for developing disaster risk reduction education for people with disabilities. However, only a few randomised controlled trial (RCT) studies and quasi-experimental studies have been conducted, and several studies have bias risks. Thus, practical, continuous, quality interventions are needed for effective disaster risk reduction education for people with disabilities. This systematic review analysed the research trends of disaster risk reduction education for people with disabilities. The results provide the basis for quality evaluations of the operation, methods and achievements of educational programmes. Efforts are needed to promote collaboration between researcher and the practitioners to conduct further quality research. No Patient or Public Contribution: Systematic review.

Marketing inputs and outcome heterogeneity: Using a quantile regression framework in the entertainment industry

AbstractThe success of entertainment products such as movies or books varies tremendously, and managers strive to increase the odds by deciding on the right marketing input. Aiming to improve managerial decision making, we suggest and test a quantile regression framework to detect outcome heterogeneity effects of marketing inputs in the entertainment industry. By analyzing the spread of the .9 and the .1 conditioned quantile to the .5 (median) conditioned quantile, we study how much an increase (decrease) of an input factor (star power and quality) changes the spread of the expected outcome (revenues and sales). The spread serves as an indicator for the heterogeneity effect of the input factor regarding the outcome. In two empirical studies, we show how marketing instruments increase (or decrease) outcome heterogeneity by estimating quantile regressions and provide generalizable findings regarding the outcome heterogeneity effects of star power (increases outcome heterogeneity) and quality evaluations (reduces outcome heterogeneity) in the entertainment industry.

Wireless image transfer by various antennas using transmitter and receiver modules at 5.8 GHz

Abstract This research proposes an inexpensive technique for wireless image transfer for security and surveillance applications. The technique uses a 5.8 GHz transmitter and receiver module, along with external antennas in the real-time image transfer within a radius of 100 m. The transferred images are stored in a laptop using a Python code-based graphical user interface application. Different antennas, dipole, circular split-ring resonators, hexagonal split-ring resonators, and metamaterial antennas are utilized for comparison. The Blind/Referenceless Image Spatial Quality Evaluator method is used to assess the picture quality of transferred images to quantify image transfer performance when no ground truth or reference photos are supplied. According to the presented results, images transferred using metamaterial antennas have higher quality than those transferred with other types of antennas. For security considerations, such a system can communicate and store the images in real time.

The use of the species Triticum petropavlovskyi Udacz. et Migusch. to expand the genetic diversity of spring bread wheat

Background. The species Triticum petropavlovskyi Udacz. et Migusch. has a number of positive traits, but has rarely been used in breeding programs to improve bread wheat cultivars. The introgression of genetic material from this species into the Triticum aestivum L. gene pool will not only expand the genetic diversity of bread wheat with a set of traits valuable for breeders, but also help to analyze the expression of genes from T. petropavlovskyi in a new genetic environment. Materials and methods. Spring bread wheat lines L163 and L164 produced with the participation of bread wheat cv. ‘Voevoda’ and an accession of T. petropavlovskyi were target materials of the study. Conventional methods were applied to perform phenological, phytopathological, genetic, and bread quality evaluations. Statistical processing of the resulting data was carried out using the Agros-2.10 software. Results. L163 and L164 were studied for their morphological and phenological indicators, resistance to pathogens, productivity, and grain quality. Differences in a number of traits between the lines and the recipient cultivar were observed. The introgression of the T. petropavlovskyi genetic material into bread wheat showed both positive and negative effects on some agronomic characteristics. L163 was identified for its resistance to the pathogens of leaf rust and powdery mildew, and tolerance to cereal aphids. It combined high productivity with an increased grain protein content compared to the recipient cultivar. In addition, this line demonstrated good rheological properties of its dough. Conclusion. Merging genetic materials from T. petropavlovskyi and bread wheat cv. ‘Voevoda’ made it possible to produce lines with a set of positive characteristics. The selected line, L163, combined effective resistance to a number of diseases, high grain productivity, and good breadmaking qualities, so it was included in the breeding process.

Evaluation of physico-chemical quality and occurrence of Salmonella in water from food retail outlets

Salmonella is one among the most important biological contaminants in drinking water that possess safety hazards to human life. Faecal contamination of the water, indirectly from the household sewage discharge, municipal sewage etc. attributes to the repeated detection of Salmonella in water. This study aimed to investigate the occurrence of Salmonella and physico- chemical quality evaluation of samples of water collected from food retail outlets of Thrissur and Kollam districts. A total of 50 water samples (25 each from Thrissur and Kollam districts) used for cooking purpose were collected over a period of six months, March to August 2023. Water samples were subjected to comparative evaluation of physico-chemical qualities viz., pH, turbidity, total dissolved solids (TDS) and hardness. Collected water samples were examined for Salmonella spp. by conventional culture method and PCR. Genus specific and virulence genes of the isolates were detected using polymerase chain reaction. The occurrence of Salmonella spp. in samples of water collected from Thrissur was 24 per cent whereas in Kollam district it was only four per cent. The overall occurrence of Salmonella spp. in samples of water collected from both districts was 14 per cent. Physico-chemical parameters of water samples viz., pH, turbidity, total dissolved solids and hardness were within the BIS prescribed standards. The molecular characterisation of Salmonella spp. detected 16S rRNA in all isolates but invA and spvA genes were detected only in 14.28 per cent of the isolates. Hence proper disinfection of water and food sanitation in the retail outlets will help to minimize the risk of foodborne pathogens Keywords: Salmonella, water, physico-chemical quality, food retail outlets

Sentiment analysis using graph-based Quickprop method for product quality enhancement

ABSTRACT The degree to which customers express satisfaction with a product on Twitter and other social media platforms is increasingly used to evaluate product quality. However, the volume and variety of textual data make traditional sentiment analysis methods challenging. The nuanced and context-dependent nature of product-related opinions presents a challenge for existing tools. This research addresses this gap by utilizing complex graph-based modelling strategies to capture the intricacies of real-world data. The Graph-based Quickprop Method constructs a graph model using the Sentiment140 dataset with 1.6 million tweets, where individuals are nodes and interactions are edges. Experimental results show a significant increase in sentiment classification accuracy, demonstrating the method’s efficacy. This contribution underscores the importance of relational structures in sentiment analysis and provides a robust framework for extracting actionable insights from user-generated content, leading to improved product quality evaluations. The GQP-PQE method advances sentiment analysis and offers practical implications for businesses seeking to enhance product quality through a better understanding of consumer feedback on social media.

Assessing Educational Quality: Comparative Analysis of Crowdsourced, Expert, and AI-Driven Rubric Applications

Exposing students to low-quality assessments such as multiple-choice questions (MCQs) and short answer questions (SAQs) is detrimental to their learning, making it essential to accurately evaluate these assessments. Existing evaluation methods are often challenging to scale and fail to consider their pedagogical value within course materials. Online crowds offer a scalable and cost-effective source of intelligence, but often lack necessary domain expertise. Advancements in Large Language Models (LLMs) offer automation and scalability, but may also lack precise domain knowledge. To explore these trade-offs, we compare the effectiveness and reliability of crowdsourced and LLM-based methods for assessing the quality of 30 MCQs and SAQs across six educational domains using two standardized evaluation rubrics. We analyzed the performance of 84 crowdworkers from Amazon's Mechanical Turk and Prolific, comparing their quality evaluations to those made by the three LLMs: GPT-4, Gemini 1.5 Pro, and Claude 3 Opus. We found that crowdworkers on Prolific consistently delivered the highest-quality assessments, and GPT-4 emerged as the most effective LLM for this task. Our study reveals that while traditional crowdsourced methods often yield more accurate assessments, LLMs can match this accuracy in specific evaluative criteria. These results provide evidence for a hybrid approach to educational content evaluation, integrating the scalability of AI with the nuanced judgment of humans. We offer feasibility considerations in using AI to supplement human judgment in educational assessment.

Evaluations of Groundwater Quality using Principal Component Analysis and Associated Multivariate Techniques: A Case History in Ewekoro Communities, South-West Nigeria

The quest for quality water consumption is comprised of integration of numerous techniques from different professionals whose contributions go a long way in determining overall health status and wellness of any given society. The water quality status of boreholes in Ewekoro communities of Ewekoro Local Government Area, South-West Nigeria was investigated in this work. Water samples were collected from 25 boreholes at various sampling stations across the study area. Standard analytical water quality methods using Inductively Coupled Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS)/Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES) and Pour Plate Techniques were respectively employed in the laboratory for the samples’ geochemical and bacteriological analyses. The raw data were processed and analyzed using Principal Component Analysis and other multivariate techniques with Excel and SPSS 20.0 statistical software packages with the corresponding outcomes systematically compared with water quality standards. For the PCA, the varimax rotation converged in 23 iterations with 6 components extracted which accounted for 92.76% of the total cumulative variance respectively observed for geochemical parameters. Na2+, K+, Ca2+, Cl-, SO42-, NH4+, PO43-, and HCO3-, Mg3+, Cu2+, Cd2+, Zn2+, Ni, S , Si, Fe3+, NO3− and Al3+ played a significant contribution with higher factor loading supported by the dominance of HCO3− among the water quality determinants. The rotation converged in 8 iterations with 3 extracted components that accounted for a total cumulative variance of 90.99% % with pH, TEMP, EC, BOD, TS, TURB, ALK, TH, TDS, THC, and DO in the Physico-chemical Parameters series. Most quality determinants in the sampled water are within allowable limits of the approved water quality standards including WHO except Alkalinity, HCO3−, MgCO3−, Cl−, BOD, Cd2+, Fe3+ and Zn2+. The overall ionic dominance pattern follows the same trend K+ >Na2+ > Fe3+ >Mn2+ and Cl- >NO3- >NO2-. The results of the microbial analyses revealed the highest Total Coliform Count of 17 x 102 MPN/100 ml while that of THBC and FCC were reported as 7.8 ×102 cfu/ml and 1.2×102 cfu/ml respectively. The hygienic status of the water sources was found to be poor. High BOD, Coliform Count and BOD5:NO3- ratios of 248.23 recorded for the groundwater samples were suggestive of possible organic pollution due to faecal invasion with the lowest measured depth of 35m. Multivariate statistical approaches namely Correlation, Principal Component Analysis and Descriptive statistics simplified and identified the interrelationship among the analyzed physicochemical parameters and the pollution sources. This study has therefore revealed that boreholes in Ewekoro were polluted and posed potential risk to biomedical safety and overall human health. Intervention measures are therefore necessary to safeguard the inhabitants from water-related diseases and their consequences.

Color restoration of mural images based on a reversible neural network: leveraging reversible residual networks for structure and texture preservation

AbstractThe Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang, a treasure of China's and the world's cultural heritage, contains rich historical and cultural deposits and has left precious relics of the history of human art. Over centuries, the Mogao Caves have been affected by natural and human factors, resulting in irreversible fading and discoloration of many murals. In recent years, deep learning technology has shown great potential in the field of virtual mural color restoration. Therefore, this paper proposes a mural image color restoration method based on a reversible neural network. The method first employs an automatic reference selection module based on structural and texture similarity to choose suitable reference mural images for the faded murals. Then, it utilizes a reversible residual network to extract deep features of the mural images without information loss. Next, a channel refinement module is used to eliminate redundant information in the network channels. Finally, an unbiased color transfer module restores the color of the faded mural images. Compared to other image color restoration methods, the proposed method achieves superior color restoration effects while effectively preserving the original structure and texture details of the mural images. Compared to baseline methods, the Structural Similarity Index (SSIM), Feature Similarity Index (FSIM), and Perception-based Image Quality Evaluator (PIQE) values are improved by 7.97%, 3.46%, and 13.98%, respectively. The color restoration of the Dunhuang Mural holds significant historical, artistic, cultural, and economic values, and plays a positive role in the preservation and inheritance of Chinese culture, as well as in the promotion of cultural exchange and mutual understanding.

Research on the association mechanism and evaluation model between EMG data and product aesthetic quality in product aesthetics evaluation

Product aesthetics play a crucial role in user satisfaction and product success. However, the feasibility and accuracy of using electromyographic (EMG) data for product aesthetic quality evaluation are unknown. Here, we analysed the correlations and associations between EMG physiological data and product aesthetic quality of 60 subjects by SPSS software and designed a product aesthetic quality evaluation model based on the multivariate logistic (M) algorithm to answer this question. It was found that the EMG data of the zygomatic and buccal muscles did not have significant correlations with product aesthetic quality, whereas five indicators in the EMG data of the frowning muscles had significant correlations relationships with product aesthetic quality. We also found that the overall accuracy of the product aesthetic quality evaluation model was 72.3%, which was able to better distinguish product aesthetic quality. This study demonstrates that product aesthetic quality can be evaluated using EMG data and that the product aesthetic quality evaluation model can provide an objective and accurate decision-making reference to help engineers and designers in product aesthetic quality evaluation and product design. This study lays the foundation for the future integrated multimodal physiology to conduct aesthetics quality evaluations with a high degree of accuracy.

Analysing the robustness of finger vein recognition: cross-dataset reliability and vein utility

AbstractFinger vein recognition is an emerging biometric trait known for its privacy features. Despite the remarkable performance of deep learning methods like convolutional neural networks on challenging finger vein datasets, their reliability and robustness need further examination. This study evaluates the robustness of three recognition methods—the traditional Miura Method, a supervised convolutional neural network, and an unsupervised convolutional auto-encoder—through the challenging and more realistic scenario of cross-dataset comparisons. We also analyse the reliability of these methods in terms of sample quality. We introduce a novel vein quality metric to measure vein clarity and complexity and compare it against an existing image quality metric, natural image quality evaluator. Our findings reveal differences in how these recognition methods utilise finger vein images for comparisons, highlighting the need for robust recognition techniques in more realistic scenarios. In addition, our vein quality metric effectively detects defective images, reducing the zero false-match rate from 34.98% to 8.18% on the SDUMLA-HMT dataset. These results indicate the need for metrics more focussing on finger vein image characteristics for effective quality assessment for finger vein images.

What’s a news media brand worth? Investigating the effect of cognitive brand representations on recipients’ quality assessment of news articles

News recipients evaluate the quality of journalistic news articles based on the article’s journalistic quality and its media brand. We argue that differentiating a news media’s brand identity from recipients’ cognitive associations with the brand offers a valuable perspective to understand quality evaluations in a more detailed way. We, therefore, specify the effect of media brands on the quality evaluation by including consumer-based brand equity (CBBE) as a mediator and investigate this mediation effect for five quality dimensions and a global quality measure. Based on a two (high vs low quality) x three (quality brand vs tabloid brand vs control group) between-subject experiment with 469 German respondents, we conducted structural equation modeling to investigate the direct effects of media brands on recipients’ quality assessment of news articles and the mediating effect via CBBE. We found mediation effects of the media brand via CBBE on all quality dimensions and the global measure. In addition, two direct media brand effects with opposite effect directions than expected could be identified. All results are discussed concerning further theory development and practical implications.

Rectifying inhomogeneous illumination in digital images using a latent light manifestation algorithm

ABSTRACT Rectification of illumination is vital in enhancing the visibility of images acquired in suboptimal lighting conditions. Still, it remains a challenging yet intriguing process as many existing algorithms fail to meet expectations. Hence, a latent light manifestation (LLM) algorithm is introduced, beginning with a conversion to the HSV space, processing the V channel using the Naka-Rushton and exponential equations. Next, the two output images are blended using a two-step range-expansion blending approach. After that, a statistics-based tonality adjustment method and a dynamic range extension process are applied. Finally, a transfer to the RGB space is performed to produce the output image. The LLM is tested using three datasets, compared with eight contemporary algorithms, and the quality evaluations are carried out via five performance measures. The results denote that the developed LLM consistently outperforms existing algorithms, scoring the best according to the used measures and yielding visually pleasing results.

Large-area coverage–transmission near-infrared measurement of dried laver to determine crude protein content

A large-area coverage (LAC)–transmission near-infrared (NIR) measurement scheme was demonstrated to determine the crude protein content of a dried laver sheet. Because dried laver sheets are large (approximately 19 cm × 21 cm) and the algae packing over the sheet is not homogeneous with including numerous void spots, acquisition of sample-representative and reproducible spectra is necessary for reliable quality evaluations. The proposed scheme incorporated a fixed NIR illumination in the y direction and an xz-direction linear motor stage, allowing for a snake scan over an area of 10 cm × 7 cm. This scheme successfully acquired sample-representative and reproducible NIR spectra of nonhomogeneous laver-sheet samples. The predicted crude protein contents of the samples correlated closely with those determined using conventional Kjeldahl analysis, which required destructive sample digestion. The proposed LAC-NIR scheme demonstrated its suitability as a quality assurance tool in real-world field analysis.

Current approaches to the identification and management of gambling disorder: a narrative review to inform clinical practice in Australia and New Zealand.

Gambling disorder is a recognised psychiatric disorder in the Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (DSM-5) and is classified as an addiction alongside alcohol and substance use disorders. The DSM-5 describes a past-year timeframe, episodic or persistent specifiers, early or sustained remission specifiers, and three gambling disorder severity specifiers (mild, moderate and severe). Although anyone can develop gambling disorder, there are known risk factors. In studies involving general adult populations, the likelihood of developing the disorder varies with the type of gambling, and is particularly high for internet gambling, casino table games and poker machines. Australia and New Zealand have shifted the focus of gambling disorder to the identification of gambling harm, in recognition that efforts targeting the prevention of harm may be more effective as they potentially influence a larger segment of the population. Temporal categories of gambling harm (crisis harms versus legacy harms) affect help-seeking and need for treatment. Crisis harms often motivate people to change their behaviour or seek help, whereas treatment addresses legacy harms, which emerge or continue to occur after gambling behaviour ceases. The evidence base and clinical guidelines recommend cognitive behavioural therapy and motivational interviewing but there are many gaps in our understanding of treatment for gambling disorder, including an absence of high quality evaluations that assess treatment effectiveness over the longer term, especially for treatment delivered in community settings. There is also an urgent need to understand how, why and for whom treatment works so that interventions can be optimised to individual needs, thereby facilitating client engagement. Because of limited access to health care and poor retention in treatment, in recent years there has been an increase in treatment choices in the form of internet therapies and smartphone applications.

Simulation of pulse width modulation strategies: validation based on sound quality evaluations

Though the noise emitted by an electrical machine is less loud than the one from a combustion engine, the existing literature shows it is not always more pleasant. This is because of its strong tonal content, due to deterministic excitations (e.g. electromagnetic slotting and switching effects, mechanical gear mesh effects). The main source of magnetic noise is the radiation of the stator submitted to electromagnetic forces, which are harmonic by nature. Their highest frequency components are generated by the Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) technique designed to vary the supply frequency and operating speed of the electric machine. Several PWM strategies exist, leading to specific harmonic spectra. A temporal simulation model has been developed to auralize the corresponding electromagnetic noise emitted by the machine, considering its mechanical and electrical parameters. A testbench has been adapted to test the relevance of the model, both from an electrical and acoustic point of view. The simulation model and the testbench can be used to generate virtual and real sound stimuli to be assessed in a jury testing. The subjective evaluations allow to assess the relevance of the auralization model, but also to identify the least annoying strategies.

Sound quality characteristics of reciprocating hermetic refrigeration compressors

In recent years, sound quality (SQ) has become an increasingly important factor in the home appliance industry, enhancing the customer experience and comfort. Manufacturers that prioritize SQ in their designs can gain a competitive advantage in the market and increase customer satisfaction. The compressor is one of the main sources of noise in a refrigerator. While manufacturers typically provide refrigerator sound quality and noise labels, research that specifically evaluates the compressor sound quality metrics at a component level is not common. Therefore, this study aims to isolate the compressor from the refrigerator to investigate SQ metrics for hermetic refrigeration compressors. To achieve this, compressors with different capacities are operated and recorded at different working speeds for different thermal conditions. Objective parameters are calculated and tested using time domain signals and analyzed with spectral analysis methods. In addition to the objective parameters, subjective results are obtained through jury tests consisting of 75 people of different genders and age ranges. By considering objective parameters of sound quality as input and sound quality evaluation values as output, a regression model is established. It is found that Loudness, Sharpness, and Degree of Modulation play an important role in compressor sound quality evaluations consider.

Evaluation of commercial and taste qualities of plum fruits in the foothills of Kabardino-Balkaria

Breeding varieties with high commercial and consumer qualities of fruits is one of the priority areas in the selection and variety study of domestic plum. Accordingly, the evaluation of some commercial and consumer qualities of fruits in plum varieties in the specific conditions of the mountains and foothills of the region is of great practical and scientific interest. Taking into account market requirements and the growth of consumer demand for fruit products, it is necessary to constantly update the range of plums. In this regard, varieties and hybrid forms of European plum for the subsequent selection of variety samples with high commercial characteristics have been studied (fruit weight, their uniformity and shape, cover color, aroma, pulp juiciness, taste, etc.). As a result of the studies, variety samples with the best commercial and taste properties of fruits have been selected. The following varieties have been distinguished by a high sugar content: Čačakska rannyaya - 18.8%, Grosso de Felicio - 16.5%, Big Heart - 14.7%, Milena - 13.8%, Velikiy Gertsog - 12.7%. The following varieties have been noted for the content of organic acids: Big Heart - 1.31%, Velikiy Gertsog - 1.1%, Milena - 0.92%, Čačakska rannyaya - 0.9%, Grossa de Felicio - 0.89%. Vitamin C is found in the highest amounts in the fruits of the following varieties: Big Heart – 7.85%, Grossa de Felicio – 6.34%, Angelina – 6.2%, Kyrgyzskaya Prevoskhodnaya – 5.34%. The size of the fruit is one of the characteristic varietal properties, despite the fact that it is largely determined by the cultivation conditions, the agricultural technology used, the age of the plant, its crop load, the variety-rootstock combination, as well as a number of other circumstances. The highest fruit weights are shown by the following varieties: Big Heart - 39.1 g, Kyrgyzskaya Prevoskhodnaya - 46.3 g, Zheltaya Afaska - 53.3 g, Zheltaya Large - 56.0 g, Kabardinskaya Rannyaya - 59.0 g, Fortuna - 65.1 g, Black Star - 78.7 g, Byron Gold - 84.2 g, Grossa de Felicio - 85.3 g, Angelina - 87.0 g, Ti Chi San - 97.1 g, Burbank Giant - 120.0 g.

A meta-analysis on the improvement of vocal function in unilateral vocal cord paralysis by reinnervation of the recurrent laryngeal nerve

Objective:To conduct a systematic description and meta-analysis of the treatment of unilateral vocal cord paralysis（UVCP） with recurrent laryngeal nerve reinnervation through literature search, and to analyze the therapeutic effect of recurrent laryngeal nerve reinnervation on improving vocal function in UVCP. Methods:Electronic databases Pubmed, Web of Science, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, CNKI, and Wanfang databases were searched using relevant keywords and screened in strict accordance with the inclusion and exclusion criteria, and quality evaluations were conducted. Reported treatment outcomes were measured by relevant data extracted from literature, such as auditory perception assessment（GRBAS）, voice handicap index（VHI）, maximal phonation time（MPT）, jitter, shimmer, and noise harmonic ratio（NHR）, etc. Meta-analysis was performed by Revman5.3 and heterogeneity was analyzed using fixed effects or random effects models. Results:Eight articles were included in this study, all of which showed that the postoperative maximum phonation time of patients was significantly prolonged compared to preoperative, while the postoperative GRBAS score, Jitter, Shimmer, and NHR decreased compared to preoperative with statistical significance. Conclusion:The innervation of the internal laryngeal muscle was obtained through the reinnervation of the recurrent laryngeal nerve, which effectively improved the patient's vocal function and had a good long-term therapeutic effect. Although there was no difference in the efficacy of surgical methods for reconstructing the recurrent laryngeal nerve, the anastomosis between ansa cervicalis nerve and the recurrent laryngeal nerve is more ideal. Further randomized controlled studies with longer follow-up periods and larger samples will increase the credibility of their effectiveness.

A novel dataset of indoor environmental conditions in work-from-home settings

During the last week of March 2020, millions of workers around the world transitioned to working from home due to the COVID-19 pandemic. While much research has explored the behavioural and psychological aspects of work-from-home (WFH), few studies have provided data-driven evaluations of indoor environmental quality (IEQ). This paper presents findings from a summer 2022 field study of IEQ conditions in WFH settings, involving 95 participants in the North American Pacific Northwest. Sensors installed on participants' work desks continuously measured total volatile organic compounds (tVOC), particulate matter (PM2.5), carbon dioxide (CO2) air temperature, humidity, and sound pressure levels (SPLs). Participants also completed surveys on home and workspace characteristics, as well as their subjective assessments of IEQ, well-being, and productivity. The study found that mean indoor concentrations of tVOC, PM2.5, and CO2 were 262 ppb, 5 µg/m3, and 712 ppm, respectively. Indoor air temperature ranged between 14.7–32.3°C, with a mean of 22.8°C, while relative humidity and SPL averaged at 52.5% and 53.7 dBA. Statistically-significant associations were observed between IEQ variables and factors such as residence type, cooking habits, workspace type, and window availability. A future paper will assess the surveyed behavioural and psychological characteristics in greater detail.