September 21st Research Articles

Optimizing educational environments: microclimate analysis and energy efficiency through courtyard orientation in UAE schools

Sustainable school design is becoming increasingly important worldwide, particularly in the UAE, where schools are significant energy consumers. This study explores the impact of courtyard orientation on microclimate and energy consumption in UAE schools, utilizing a standardized template applied across 70 existing schools. By employing advanced simulation tools, ENVI-met and IES-ve software, the research provides a comprehensive analysis of air temperature and energy use related to different courtyard orientations, specifically on key dates of September 21st and March 21st, representing seasonal variations. The results indicate that North-facing courtyards consistently provide cooler microclimates compared to other orientations. Specifically, North-facing courtyards showed temperature reductions of 1.31°C in September and 1.9°C in March compared to the least favorable orientations. This orientation recorded the lowest average mass temperatures of 29.36°C in September and 25.13°C in March, surpassing the West-facing orientation by 0.39°C and 0.45°C, respectively. The primary factor for this improvement is the reduced solar radiation exposure on East-West aligned courtyards, which significantly lowers the heat gain. Additionally, the study assessed Physiologically Equivalent Temperature (PET) readings and cooling demands, both of which were found to be lower in North-facing courtyards. Cooling load reductions varied between 1% and 4%, depending on the day, further emphasizing the efficiency of this orientation. These findings suggest that strategic courtyard orientation is a critical design consideration for enhancing thermal comfort and energy efficiency in school buildings. The implications of this research are significant for sustainable design and construction practices. By highlighting the benefits of optimal courtyard orientation, this study offers practical solutions for reducing energy consumption and improving the indoor and outdoor thermal environments of schools. These insights contribute to the broader goal of developing greener, more sustainable educational facilities, particularly in hot climates like the UAE. This research not only informs architects and urban planners but also supports policymakers in implementing effective sustainability strategies in the educational sector.

Training Effect of Straight-Line Trajectory with the Ball on Dribbling Results on Disporasu Medan Football Players Aged 14-17 Years Old

The objective of this study was to examine the impact of straight-line trajectory ball training on the dribbling abilities of players at the Disporasu Football School, aged between 14 and 17 years old, in Medan City, Indonesia. The research addressed the observed deficiencies in dribbling abilities, including players' difficulty in maintaining close ball control and the monotony of existing training methods. The study employed an experimental one-group pre-test post-test design and involved 17 athletes, representing the entire population of the age group at the school. The intervention comprised seven variations of straight-line trajectory ball training, conducted thrice weekly for a period of six weeks between September 21st and December 12th, 2022. The dribbling ability of the subjects was evaluated using a standardized dribbling test before and after the training period. The data were analyzed using paired sample t-tests, with normality and homogeneity checks performed prior to hypothesis testing. The results demonstrated a notable enhancement in dribbling proficiency following the intervention, with the mean dribbling time reducing from 21.18 to 19.66 seconds. The study's findings indicate that straight-line trajectory ball training significantly enhances dribbling ability in youth soccer players. These results provide coaches and trainers with an evidence-based approach to improve essential soccer skills during a crucial developmental period. The research contributes to a broader understanding of skill acquisition in soccer, offering practical insights for optimizing player performance and engagement. Additionally, the study underscores the significance of structured, progressive training programs in youth soccer development and provides a valuable template for ongoing assessment and refinement of training methods.

Association between non-restorative sleep and psychotic-like experiences among Chinese college students: A latent profile and moderated mediation analysis

BackgroundNon-restorative sleep (NRS) is a core symptom of insomnia that has considerable consequences for daily life. However, the association between NRS and psychotic-like experiences (PLEs) remains unclear. The current study was designed to explore the relationship between NRS and PLEs as well as the mediation/moderation role of rumination and resilience among college students in China. Methods3060 college students were recruited from two universities in South China from September 21st to October 26th, 2022. Non-restorative Sleep Scale, 8-item Positive Subscale of the Community Assessment of Psychic Experiences, Ruminative Response Scale, and 10-item Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale were administered. Latent profile analysis and moderated mediation analysis were performed. Results11.3 % participants reported frequent PLEs in the past one month. Three profiles of rumination were identified and named as “low rumination” group (27.7 %), “medium rumination” group (55.3 %), and “high rumination” group (16.9 %). NRS directly predicted PLEs, and rumination played a significant mediation role between NRS and PLEs. Resilience significantly moderated the association between NRS and rumination as well as the association between NRS and PLEs. ConclusionsNRS, rumination and resilience are important predictors to PLEs. Strategies on increasing restorative sleep, decreasing rumination, and enhancing resilience are of great significance in the prevention of PLEs.

Impact of Covid-19 lockdowns on the anthropometric development in primary school children in the Rhein-Neckar Region, Germany

BackgroundPublished data suggests that lockdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic may have negatively affected children’s weight development. This study aims to assess the prevalence of overweight and obesity after the COVID-19 lockdowns as well as anthropometric development among primary school children in the Rhein-Neckar Region, Germany.MethodsIn this cross-sectional study, schools were selected in cooperation with the local health authority to include different socioeconomic backgrounds. Participation was voluntary at school and individual level, requiring written informed consent from legal guardians. Study visits in schools were conducted between October 2021 and July 2022. Anthropometric data from nationally recommended medical examinations at 4 years (U8) and 5 years (U9), data on nutrition, physical activity, and socioeconomic data was collected using questionnaires. zBMI and weight category were calculated based on German reference data.Results256 children with a mean age of 8.0 years (7.1–9.3 years) were included in the study. Most participants were from households with an above average income. 5.1% of the children were overweight, 4.7% were obese, 15.6% were underweight, and 74.6% were normal weight with a mean zBMI of -0.25 (SD 1.10), which is significantly lower than the mean zBMI of the German reference population (p < 0.001). No significant changes in zBMI were observed between U8 and U9 (p = 0.16). The mean zBMI decreased by 0.17 (SD 0.72) between U9 and the study visit (p = 0.02). A zBMI decrease of 0.5 was documented for the subgroup of overweight and obese children (p = 0.028) as well as a decrease of 0.23 (SD 0.63) for the normal-weight children subgroup (p < 0.001).ConclusionsContrary to previous reports mean zBMI decreased significantly in the children studied. No significant changes in zBMI were observed between U8 and U9 examinations, which supports the hypothesis that the decrease in zBMI could be attributed to lockdown measures. The study was registered at clinicaltrials.gov on September 21st 2021 under the registration number NCT05077059.

Anterior insular cortex and the perception of internalized stigma and its components: a scoping review.

IntroductionPersonality neuroscience employs a broad range of methods to identify the neurobiological mechanisms of complex psychological phenomena. The role of the insula is often associated with its involvement in emotion processing.ObjectivesThe study aims to identify the associations between neural activity in the anterior insula cortex (AInC) and self-stigma (or its components) in a scoping review.MethodsWe searched in PubMed (MEDLINE), PsychINFO, EMBASE via the Ovid platform through September 21st, 2022. Included studies had to use fMRI to assess neurophysiological markers in AInC, and to include a measure of association between fMRI results and a measure of self-stigma and/or its components as assessed by a scale or questionnaire in participants aged 18-65 y.o. The PRISMA-ScR checklist was used.ResultsAfter full-text screening 10 of 206 original researches were chosen for the final analysis (Table 1). Table 1:Included studies in the analysis.1DeWall et al. Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci. 2012; 7(2): 184-192.2Masten et al. Neuroimage. 2011; 55(1): 381-388.3Kross et al. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 2011; 108(15): 6270-6275.4Bolling et al. Neuroimage. 2011; 54(3): 2462-2471.5Lindner et al. PLoS One. 2014; 9(1): e85014.6Achterberg et al. Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci. 2016; 11(5): 712-720.7Muscatell et al. Brain Behav Immun. 2016; 57: 21-29.8Sankar et al. Front Behav Neurosci. 2019;13.9Cáceda et al. Clin Neurosci. 2020; 270(5): 619-631.10Landa et al. J Psychosom Res. 2020; 128: 109881.In 5 studies, the results were presented with MNI-space coordinates. Figure 1 illustrats the regions of local activity change maxima according to MNI-space coordinates based on the results of the included studies in the analysis.Neural activation in the regions of the AInC was positively associated with greater levels of social rejection sensitivity and other components of self-stigma in 9 studies. Reduced activity was observed in only one study (Lindner et al., PLoS One. 2014; 9(1): e85014) among highly self-stigmatized patients with schizophrenia. This finding may reflect a biological manifestation of deficits in self-awareness and affective processing in schizophrenia.Image: Conclusions Associations between neural activity changes in specific brain regions and levels of self-stigma and/or its components, as reported in included neuroimaging studies, have the potential to shed light on the neurobiological mechanisms underlying such a complex psychological phenomenon as stigma.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared

Preface

Preface Third International Conference on Physics of Materials & Nanotechnology (ICPN-2023) On behalf of Organizing committee, it’s my great pleasure to bring this beautiful collection of research articles which were presented in the Third International Conference on Physics of Materials and Nanotechnology (ICPN-2023) which was organized by Department of Physics, Mangalore University, Mangalagangothri, Mangalore (Karnataka), India during September 21st to 23rd, 2023. This conference will serve as an ideal platform for young researchers, academician and students from all over the country as well as from the globe to share their ideas and experiences in Physics, Nanotechnology and Nano science research. This conference provided meaningful platform for young researchers to update and upgrade themselves. The main themes of the conferences Advanced Energy and Solar Materials, 1-D, 2-D and Quantum dot Materials, Advanced Electronic Materials, Polymers, Conducting Polymer and Thin films, Solid State Materials and their properties, Sensors and actuators, Carbon related materials, Metal Oxide & Sulphide Materials, Ferroelectrics and dielectric materials, Soft, Magnetic and smart materials, Nano Material, Nanotechnology, Chemistry of Materials, Alloys, Semiconductor and optical Materials and Crystal growth & applications etc. I am glad that experts in the various field of Nanotechnology are here to present and discussed their ideas and latest development in the field. ICPN 2023 has received a great response throughout the country and globe. It includes 14 invited talks, 11 oral presentations and more than 120 poster presentations. We have received more than 130 papers for the publications in this issue, after reviewing and editing processes, 47 papers were accepted for the publication out of 74 submitted papers. We thank the authors for their contribution and the reviewers for their comments to improve the quality of article. I would like to express my gratitude to all members of organizing committee, staff, research scholars and postgraduate students of the institute for their willingness, commitment, dedication and relentless efforts in ensuring that conference was successful.List of Editorial Board is available in this pdf.

Depression and Anxiety among COVID-19 Patients in Jordan: A Cross-sectional Comparison between Inpatients and Outpatients

Background: Many studies have shown increased levels of anxiety and depression during the COVID-19 pandemic. Purpose: This study assesses anxiety and depression among COVID-19 patients who received treatment in outpatient and inpatient settings in Jordan. Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 236 individuals tested positive for COVID19 and having received care at the hospital either as inpatients or outpatients at King Abdullah University Hospital (KAUH) in Jordan from April 9th to September 21st of 2021. The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD7) were used as standardized assessments to evaluate these symptoms. Results: Our results indicated minimal anxiety and mild depression overall, with outpatients scoring significantly higher on both scales than inpatients (p-value= 0.011). Factors leading to higher depression and anxiety scores included chronic diseases, a family history of mentalhealth issues, COVID-19-related worries, experiences of social ostracism or bullying, inadequate government support, unemployment, daily following COVID-19 news, and being female. Participants aged 29-44 years and those who previously consulted a psychiatrist had higher anxiety scores. Conclusion: The findings suggest greater anxiety and depression among outpatients, linking these conditions to socio-demographic factors and COVID-19 experiences. The study underscores the need for healthcare systems to address the mental health of COVID-19 patients and combat misinformation's impact on emotional well-being. Implications for Nursing: Nurses play a pivotal role by integrating routine mental-health assessments, particularly for those with identified risk factors, and addressing both physical- and mental- health needs, emphasizing the necessity of a holistic approach to patient care. Keywords: Anxiety, Depression, Inpatient, Outpatient, COVID-19

Preface

The Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Modern Technologies in Agricultural Sciences (4th-ICMTAS) are encompassed within this Volume. The event was organized by the Faculty of Agriculture at the University of Kufa in Iraq. From September 20th to September 21st, 2023, the city of Kufa in Najaf, Iraq.The primary objective of the Conference was to facilitate the sharing of expertise among prominent specialists in the domains of high-tech geochemical, geological, geophysical, and information technologies in various sectors such as agriculture, energy, oil and gas engineering, environmental management and engineering, mining, and soil processing technologies. Additionally, the conference aimed to explore contemporary areas of biodiversity research and conservation methods for sustainable development. It also sought to examine the environmental impact of food production and sustainable systems of food technologies. Other topics of interest included agroforestry, environmental safety, green technologies, and the management of natural resources.The Conference was structured according to the following guidelines:The academic disciplines encompassed in this list include ecology, plant protection, horticulture and forest ecology, agronomy and medicinal plants, food technology and sustainability of food security, sustainability of animal production techniques, sustainability of soil and water resources, agricultural mechanization techniques, and renewable energy resources, as well as techniques of agricultural economic and social sciences.The primary objectives of the conference were to offer lecturers and researchers from across Iraq a platform to disseminate their research on an international scale, engage in discussions pertaining to technological advancements and innovative engineering solutions in the fields of farming and irrigation, and contribute to the global academic community by providing open access information on the current state of agriculture in Iraq.A total of 722 submissions were submitted by scientists and practitioners from Iraq as well as international contributors.All of the papers underwent a rigorous process of peer assessment. Consequently, a total of 542 submissions were chosen for publishing. The present proceedings provide readers with an overview of recent advancements in various areas of study, including agricultural machinery, green energy systems, biosystems engineering and waste management, digital technologies in agriculture, food storage and processing, tillage and reclamation technologies, and natural resources.The IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science (EES) was selected as the platform for authors to publish their works in a globally recognized publication that undergoes rigorous peer review. The aforementioned statement is highly regarded by all attendees of our conference.We would like to express our sincere gratitude to the Chairman, the distinguished keynote speakers, as well as all the participants. We also want to thank the publisher for publishing the proceedings. May the readers could enjoy the gain some valuable knowledge from it. We are expecting more and more experts and scholars from all over the world to join this international event next year.List of committees for 4th International Conference of Modern Technologies in Agricultural Sciences (4th-ICMTAS), Local Scientific Committee, International Scientific Committee, Organizing Committee, Media and Technical Committee, Keynote Speakers are available in the pdf.

Kilometer-precise (UII) Umbriel physical properties from the multichord stellar occultation on 2020 September 21

ABSTRACT We report the results of the stellar occultation by (UII) Umbriel on 2020 September 21. The shadow crossed the USA and Canada, and 19 positive chords were obtained. A limb parameter accounted for putative topographic features in the limb fittings. Ellipse fittings were not robust – only upper limits were derived for the true size/shape of a putative Umbriel ellipsoid. The adopted spherical solution gives radius = 582.4 ± 0.8 km, smaller/close to 584.7 ± 2.8 km from Voyager II. The apparent ellipse fit results in a true semi-major axis of 584.9 ± 3.8 km, semi-minor axis of 582.3 ± 0.6 km, and true oblateness of 0.004 ± 0.008 for a putative ellipsoid. The geometric albedo was pV = 0.26 ± 0.01. The density was ρ = 1.54 ± 0.04 g cm−3. The surface gravity was 0.251 ± 0.006 m s−2 and the escape velocity was 0.541 ± 0.006 km s−1. Upper limits of 13 and 72 nbar (at 1σ and 3σ levels, respectively) were obtained for the surface pressure of a putative isothermal CO2 atmosphere at T = 70 K. A milliarcsecond precision position was derived: α = 02h30m28${_{.}^{\rm s}}$84556 ± 0.1 mas, δ = 14o19′36″.5836 ± 0.2 mas. A large limb parameter of 4.2 km was obtained, in striking agreement with opposite Southern hemisphere measurements by Voyager II in 1986. Occultation and Voyager results indicate that the same strong topography variation in the surface of Umbriel is present on both hemispheres.

Bilim İletişiminde Gazeteler: Bilim ve Teknoloji Haberleri Üzerine Bir İçerik Analizi

Science communication describes the connection between science and society in various ways. Written media and media tools contribute to strengthening science communication. The aim of this research was to examine the science and technology news in daily newspapers published in Turkey. Three newspapers in Turkey (Hürriyet, Sabah, and Posta), and their publications between August 28th and September 21st, 2019, were selected in this study. Some reviews have been made into how often these newspapers include science and technology events occurring in Turkey and around the world, what type of scientific news there is, and in what way the socio-scientific contents are presented in newspapers. The content analysis method was used in the study and the news items were presented in categories. As a result of the research, it was observed that science and technology news is given little space in these newspapers and is generally presented in the small columns on the last pages. It was seen that newspapers are an important tool in presenting scientific content and socio-scientific issues to society, but these depictions made are in certain patterns.

Performance Analysis of a Solar Continuous Adsorption Refrigeration System

A study is conducted on the performances of a solar powered continuous-adsorption refrigerator considering two particular days as references cases, namely, the summer solstice (June 21st) and the autumn equinox (September 21st). The cooling capacity, system performance coefficient and the daily rate of available cooling energy are assessed. The main goal is to compare the performances of a solar adsorption chiller equipped with a hot water tank (HWT) with an equivalent system relying on solar collectors with no heat storage module. The daily cooling rates for the solar refrigerator are found to be 102.4 kWh and 74.3 kWh, respectively, on June 21st and on September 21st, using a total collector’s area of 43.47 m2. The corresponding values for the adsorption chiller equipped with a hot water tank of 2 m3 (and using a total collector’s area of 72.45 m2), are 127.1 kWh and 106.13 kWh, respectively.

The KISSinger of Death: Henry Kissinger and the Letelier-Moffitt Assassination

On September 21st, 1976, Orlando Letelier was assassinated in the streets of Washington, DC. The murky story of the assassination has slowly emerged in the decades since, revealing the key roles of Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet and Operation Condor. However, with the level of intelligence available to the United States about the Chilean dictatorship, how was the assassination able to take place at all? Was the United States complicit? This paper illuminates the role of the US Secretary of State, Henry Kissinger, in the Letelier-Moffitt assassination by investigating declassified documents from US National Security Archive from the months leading up to the murder. While the existing historical record does not show that Kissinger was directly involved in the Letelier assassination, Kissinger could have prevented this tragedy and failed to. I suggest a variety of possible explanations as to why Kissinger failed to act; however, the full truth remains riddled with secrecy and ambiguity. Until the full historical record is revealed and efforts are made to unshroud the mystery of this story, there will be barriers to believing the words of the government, barriers to collective healing, and there will be barriers to knowing history itself.

Solar energy digitalization at high latitudes: A model chain combining solar irradiation models, a LiDAR scanner, and high-detail 3D building model

Solar mapping can contribute to exploiting more efficiently the solar energy potential in cities. Solar maps and 3D solar cadasters consist of visualization tools for solar irradiation analysis on urban surfaces (i.e., orography, roofs, and façades). Recent advancements in solar decomposition and transposition modeling and Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) scanning enable high levels of detail in 3D solar cadasters, in which the façade domain is considered beside the roof. In this study, a model chain to estimate solar irradiation impinging on surfaces with different orientations at high latitudes is developed and validated against experimental data. The case study is the Zero Emission Building Laboratory in Trondheim (Norway). The main stages of the workflow concern (1) data acquisition, (2) geometry detection, (3) solar radiation modeling, (4) data quality check, and (5) experimental validation. Data are recorded from seven pyranometers installed on the façades (4), roof (2), and pergola (1) and used to validate the Radiance-based numerical model over the period between June 21st and September 21st. This study investigates to which extent high-resolution data sources for both solar radiation and geometry are suitable to estimate global tilted irradiation at high latitudes. In general, the Radiance-based model is found to overestimate solar irradiation. Nonetheless, the hourly solar irradiation modeled for the two pyranometers installed on the roof has been experimentally validated in accordance with ASHRAE Guideline 14. When monthly outcomes are considered for validation, the east and the south pyranometers are validated as well. The achieved results build the ground for the further development of the 3D solar cadaster of Trondheim.

Characteristics and Potential Sources of Four Ozone Pollution Processes in Hainan Province in Autumn of 2019

Based on the air quality and meteorological monitoring data of Hainan province in autumn of 2019, this study analyzed the characteristics and potential sources for the four O3 polluted processes in Hainan province, using the methods of correlation analysis, HYSPLIT backward trajectory modeling, PSCF (potential source contribution function), and CWT (concentration weighted-trajectory). The results showed that ① the average concentrations of the maximum 8h average (O3-8h) for process 1 and process 3, which occurred from September 21st to 30th and November 3rd to 11th with the durations of 10 d and 9 d, were 145.52 μg·m-3 and 143.55 μg·m-3, respectively. Process 2 and process 4 occurred from October 18th to 21st and November 20th to 25th, with the durations of 4 d and 6 d, and the average concentrations of O3-8h were 130.79 μg·m-3 and 115.46 μg·m-3, respectively. ② High air pressure, low precipitation and relative humidity, long sunshine duration, and strong solar radiation favored the occurrence of O3-polluted weather in Hainan province. Northerly wind was conducive to the increase in O3-8h concentration, and wind speeds affected the regional distribution of high-value areas of O3-8h concentration in Hainan province. ③ Furthermore, process 1 and process 3 with more serious pollution had a larger air flow divergence, and there were two airflows originating from the inland area and the southeast coastal area, respectively. Air flow of process 2 and process 4 was relatively more concentrated with less O3 pollution and was classified as southeast coastal air flow. 4 The analysis of potential contribution sources showed that transport from Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Fujian, and Guangdong provinces were the main sources of O3 pollution in Hainan province in autumn 2019. Among them, the weight potential source contribution function (WPSCF) and weight concentration weighted-trajectory (WCWT) values were larger than 0.36 and 90 μg·m-3 in the PRD (Pearl River Delta) and western Guangdong province regions, respectively.

Characteristics of Freeze–Thaw Cycles in an Endorheic Basin on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau Based on SBAS-InSAR Technology

The freeze–thaw (F-T) cycle of the active layer (AL) causes the “frost heave and thaw settlement” deformation of the terrain surface. Accurately identifying its amplitude and time characteristics is important for climate, hydrology, and ecology research in permafrost regions. We used Sentinel-1 SAR data and small baseline subset-interferometric synthetic aperture radar (SBAS-InSAR) technology to obtain the characteristics of F-T cycles in the Zonag Lake-Yanhu Lake permafrost-affected endorheic basin on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau from 2017 to 2019. The results show that the seasonal deformation amplitude (SDA) in the study area mainly ranges from 0 to 60 mm, with an average value of 19 mm. The date of maximum frost heave (MFH) occurred between November 27th and March 21st of the following year, averaged in date of the year (DOY) 37. The maximum thaw settlement (MTS) occurred between July 25th and September 21st, averaged in DOY 225. The thawing duration is the thawing process lasting about 193 days. The spatial distribution differences in SDA, the date of MFH, and the date of MTS are relatively significant, but there is no apparent spatial difference in thawing duration. Although the SDA in the study area is mainly affected by the thermal state of permafrost, it still has the most apparent relationship with vegetation cover, the soil water content in AL, and active layer thickness. SDA has an apparent negative and positive correlation with the date of MFH and the date of MTS. In addition, due to the influence of soil texture and seasonal rivers, the seasonal deformation characteristics of the alluvial-diluvial area are different from those of the surrounding areas. This study provides a method for analyzing the F-T cycle of the AL using multi-temporal InSAR technology.

2022 Conferences Suitable for AHP/ANP Decision-Making Submissions

There are two upcoming conferences with either tracks or sessions where you can submit decision-making papers. These upcoming conferences are: The 33rd Central European Conference on Information and Intelligent Systems CECIIS 2022 that will take place from September 21st to 23rd in Dubrovnik, Croatia. The 21st international conference on Economy, Finance and Management, in its first Polish-Peruvian edition and entitled “New challenges in economic policy, business, and management,” will take place on October 23- 25 in Wieliczka, Poland.

Prevalence of medical students’ satisfaction with online education during COVID- 19 pandemic: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: Electronic (E)-learning is defined as the use of electronic tools for education, training, and communication.(ERT) is defined as use of alternative methods of teaching such as remote learning during a crisis circumstances Education, among many other sectors, has been profoundly affected by the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). More than 90% of the world’s students are unable to attend teaching sessions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: This study was conducted in accordance with the published guidelines for meta-analysis and reviews (PRISMA) reporting guidelines. A database and electronic search was performed on September 21st, 2021 using PubMed, Medline and Embase through the OVID platform, and ScienceDirect. We removed duplicates, and screened the title, abstract, and full texts of included papers. We included studies published only in English and excluded studies without sufficient data, case reports, editorials, and protocols. The quality of included articles was examined using the AXIS tool for cross-sectional studies, and the Newcastle–Ottawa scale for observational case-control studies. From the included studies, demographic and satisfaction with online education (OE) prevalence data were extracted and analyzed. We calculated the pooled prevalence of medical students’ satisfaction. Results: Eighteen studies with a total sample of 7,907 students were included in the meta-analysis. The pooled prevalence of medical students’ satisfaction with online education was 57% (95% CI: 47 - 67%). Publication bias was assessed and reported. Conclusions: The pooled prevalence of medical students’ satisfaction with online education was 57 %. Online learning satisfaction was associated with students’ prior experience with OE. The greatest benefit of OE is overcoming obstacles faced with learning Major challenges for implementing OE were technical and infrastructural resources.

Nursing Experiences Applying Swanson's Caring Theory to Assist a Family Confronting the Impact of an Infant With CHARGE Syndrome

The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of nurses who applied Swanson's Caring Theory to assist coping in a family of an infant with CHARGE Syndrome. The patient was born with multiple organ hypoplasia and was diagnosed using genetic testing with CHARGE syndrome. The shock and sadness, coupled with returning home for care and the long and endless journey of rehabilitation, were the most significant challenges and pressures for the parents when taking care of the patient. The author used interviews, texting apps, and observations to collect data, and completed the recording process between September 21st and December 3rd, 2020. Based on the data, the primary nursing problem was caregiver role strain. The process of nursing was summarized as (1) the impact stage, when the family first faces the child's diagnosis of a rare disease; (2) the transition stage from the hospital to the home in the care situation; and (3) the re-impact stage when the child experiences developmental delays. Swanson's Caring Theory was applied in this study to guide nursing care. The five caring processes outlined in Swanson's Caring Theory include knowing, being with, doing for, enabling, and maintaining belief. The authors used these caring processes at every stage to provide an individualized caring plan that included attentively listening to parents' ideas, encouraging parents to express personal perceptions, providing strategies to enhance parents' caring skills, and establishing positive beliefs to improve confidence. Nursing personnel may apply Swanson's Caring Theory to assist families of children with rare diseases to not only gain positive beliefs in a grieving situation but also achieve a rewarding life.

The 25th Edition of the International Symposium on Wearable Computers

This year marks the 25th edition of ISWC—International Symposium on Wearable Computers—which is the leading research venue for all the topics related to wearables. The conference was held September 21st—24th, 2021, with workshops dedicated to specialized research topics further extending into the 26th. ISWC was co-hosted with the 2021 ACM International Joint Conference on Pervasive and Ubiquitous Computing, as has been the case for a few years.

Prevalence of medical students’ satisfaction with online education during COVID- 19 pandemic: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: Electronic (E)-learning is defined as the use of electronic tools for education, training, and communication. Education, among many other sectors, has been profoundly affected by the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). More than 90% of the world’s students are unable to attend teaching sessions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: This study was conducted in accordance with the published guidelines for meta-analysis and reviews (PRISMA) reporting guidelines. A database and electronic search was performed on September 21st, 2021 using PubMed, Medline and Embase through the OVID platform, and ScienceDirect. We removed duplicates, and screened the title, abstract, and full texts of included papers. We included studies published only in English and excluded studies without sufficient data, case reports, editorials, and protocols. The quality of included articles was examined using the AXIS tool for cross-sectional studies, and the Newcastle–Ottawa scale for observational case-control studies. From the included studies, demographic and satisfaction with online education (OE) prevalence data were extracted and analyzed. We calculated the pooled prevalence of medical students’ satisfaction. Results: Eighteen studies with a total sample of 7,907 students were included in the meta-analysis. The pooled prevalence of medical students’ satisfaction with online education was 0.57 (95% CI: 47 - 67%). Publication bias was assessed and reported. Conclusions: The pooled prevalence of medical students’ satisfaction with online education was 53 %. Online learning satisfaction was associated with students’ prior experience with OE. The greatest benefit of OE is overcoming obstacles faced with learning Major challenges for implementing OE were technical and infrastructural resources.