Effectiveness of the COVID-19 Contact-Confirming Application (COCOA) Based on Multi-Agent Simulation

As of Aug. 2020, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is still spreading in the world. In Japan, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare developed “COVID-19 Contact-Confirming Application (COCOA),” which was released on June 19, 2020. By utilizing COCOA, users can know whether or not they had contact with infected persons. If those who had contact with infected individuals keep staying at home, they may not infect those outside. However, effectiveness decreasing the number of infected individuals depending on the app’s various usage parameters is not clear. If it is clear, we could set the objective value of the app’s usage parameters (e.g., the usage rate of the total populations) and call for installation of the app. Therefore, we develop a multi-agent simulator that can express COVID-19 spreading and usage of the apps, such as COCOA. In this study, we describe the simulator and the effectiveness of the app in various scenarios. The result obtained in this study supports those of previously conducted studies.

Alcohol use and problems related to the Maxakali indigenous peoples' worldview: a cross-sectional census study

Background The objectives of this study were to estimate the prevalence of Alcohol Use and Alcohol-Related Problems (AU & ARP) among the Brazilian Maxakali indigenous people, and to examine how the prevalence varies according to sociodemographic characteristics and their associations with these characteristics. Methods A cross-sectional analytical population-based study was conducted with 1,036 Maxakali aged from nine years. A questionnaire was applied to 66 indigenous leaders who responded about alcohol consumption in 2016 and the negative consequences of this consumption among their friends in their villages. The association between consumption and consequences with the sociodemographic data of respondents was examined by applying the chi-square, Fisher's exact, and cluster analysis tests. Kappa values were calculated to assess the reproducibility of the questionnaire. Results The 12-month prevalence of alcohol use was 39.1%. The usage rate for women (17.3%) was 3.6 times lower than the usage rate for men. Male alcohol use rates increase from 8.1–64% in the age group from 09 to 14 to 15 to 19 years old. The highest proportions of alcohol use among mothers and fathers were found in extended families and associated with the negative consequences of those who use cachaça. On the other hand, nuclear families showed an association of protection against alcohol use in the age group of 9 to 14 years in females. Although alcohol use in females starts from 20 to 24 years of age, the rates of problems related to this use in women surpassed those of men during 25 to 45 years of age. Conclusions With the substantial agreement of reproducibility in the application of the questionnaire, we expect that the ease of application and the predictive power of this tool will allow the detection and monitoring of alcohol use and its consequences in the Maxakali people.

Mobile versus fixed automated external defibrillators (AED deployment in a geographically dispersed population: analysis of the girona territori cardioprotegit project

Introduction/Aim Public defibrillation doubles out-of-hospital cardiac arrest survival. However, the best way to provide public defibrillation coverage to geographically dispersed populations remains unknown. The aim of this study is to compare usage rates and effectivity between mobile versus fixed Automated External Defibrillators (AED). Methods This project is a prospective registry of the usage rate of public AED (542 fixed AED, 241 mobile AED) and the analysis of the electrocardiographic traces, from June 2011 until December 2019. We compared the usage rate, the proportion of shockable rhythms and defibrillation success between fixed versus mobile AED. Results Of 566 registered usages, we obtained 494 electrocardiographic traces, of which 108 (21%) were from fixed AED. The usage rate of fixed and mobile AED were 0.022use/AED-year and 0.177use/AED-year respectively. In Fixed AED group we observed a higher proportion of shockable rhythms (34.2% vs. 20.3%, p=0,01) and higher defibrillation success (79% vs. 63%, p=0,02). The proportion of patients with shockable rhythms who were transferred to a hospital were 62.1% and 50% in Fixed AED and Mobile AED group respectively (p=0,306). Conclusions In Fixed AED group we observed more shockable rhythms and higher defibrillation success rates. Mobile AED were 8 times more used. FUNDunding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: None.

Changes in Passengers’ Travel Behavior Due to COVID-19

The COVID-19 outbreak in 2020 has changed the way people travel due to its highly contagious nature. In this study, changes in the travel behavior of passengers due to COVID-19 in the first half of 2020 were examined. To determine whether COVID-19 has affected the use of transportation by passengers, paired t-tests were conducted between the passenger volume of private vehicles in Seoul prior to and after the pandemic. Additionally, the passenger occupancy rate of different modes of transportation during the similar time periods were compared and analyzed to identify the changes in monthly usage rate for each mode. In the case of private vehicles and public bicycles, the usage rates have recovered or increased when compared to those of before the pandemic. Conversely, bus and rail passenger service rates have decreased from the previous year before the pandemic. Furthermore, it is found that existing bus and rail users have switched to the private auto mode due to COVID-19. Based on the results, traffic patterns of travelers after the outbreak and implications responding to the pandemic are discussed.

Estimation of Productivity and Costs of Using a Track Mini-Harvester with a Stroke Head for the First Commercial Thinning of a Scots Pine Stand

The aim of the present work was to estimate the productivity and costs of timber harvesting and forwarding during the first commercial thinning of a Scots pine stand. Three harvesting models were introduced and compared: narrow trail, wide access trail, and schematic extraction. The analyzed harvesting equipment consisted of a track mini-excavator (34 kW) with a stroke harvester head (gripping range 4–30 cm), and a farm tractor coupled to a logging trailer with a hydraulic crane. Merchantable timber (roundwood with a minimum diameter of 5 cm inside bark) was harvested from a 25-year-old planted Scots pine stand growing on a grid of 1.4 m × 1.8 m. The study showed the productivity of the mini-harvester ranged from 3.09 to 3.47 m3/PMH15 (productive machine hours plus 15 min), and that of the forwarding equipment to be 4.07 m3/PMH15. The analyzed model of productivity as a function of tree volume and thinning intensity was statistically significant, but the intensity parameter was significant only on plots located along wide access trails (3.7 m) and insignificant on plots located along narrow access trails (2.5 m). The distance between trees was not found to be significant. The calculated net machine costs for the forwarding equipment and track mini-harvester were EUR 36.12 and 52.47 per PMH, respectively. An increase in the usage rate of the harvesting equipment to 80% would reduce the harvesting and forwarding costs to EUR 22.07/m3.

The Impact of Internet Media on Knowledge of Reproductive Health

Background: Time spent on social media users every day to encourage people always to know the development of information and make it part of their daily lives. Increased social activity in youth kalngan no accompaniment with increased knowledge about sexual health HIV / AIDS, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), and contraception. Aim: This study aims to determine the long-standing relationship with the Internet usage rate of reproductive health knowledge. Methods: This study used a descriptive-analytic cohort study. Results: The results of the research in this study are no long relationship with the Internet usage rate of reproductive health knowledge where the p-value 0.534> 0.05 Conclusion: There was no relationship between Internet usage duration with the level of knowledge of reproductive health. Keyword: internet use, knowledge, reproductive health

Intricate Agribusiness in Potato Contract Farming in Gujarat: A Review

Gujarat ranks top in potato productivity and a hub of many processing organizations. Due to the globally changing potato consumption scenario, a new structural innovation was created between producers and processors named contract farming. It is a win-win situation for both the producers and processors. Potato contract farming in Gujarat is very special as many contract farming models were established under the agribusiness domain, of which some models were informal, and some were formal, but it helped to safeguard the interest of all the stakeholders. Lack of trust, transaction costs, liquidity issues, and present business scenarios like COVID-19 like situations create a challenge to this structure. A sound strategy like farm harvest branding, basket marketing, targeting an untapped market, and increase usage rate will create a space for processing varieties and impel contract farming in the future.

Clinical characteristics of refractory mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia in children treated with glucocorticoid pulse therapy

Background To observe the effect of corticosteroids in the treatment of children with refractory Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (RMPP) under different doses, to summarize the clinical features of children treated with glucocorticoid pulse therapy. Methods The clinical data of 125 children with RMPP hospitalized in Tianjin Children’s Hospital from September 2018 to October 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. They were divided into two groups according to the dose of hormone. Compare the clinical features, laboratory findings, and imaging between the two groups, and use meaningful related indicators as ROC curves to find reference indicators for pulse therapy. Results (1) The median age of the group II was older than that of the group I(P < 0.05). (2) We found more severe presentations, higher incidence of extra-pulmonary complications and more serious radiological findings in group II, which needed oxygen more often, higher the hormone, higher usage rate of gamma globulin, higher usage rate of bronchoscopy, and higher incidence of plastic bronchitis(P < 0.05). (3) WBC, CRP, LDH, FER, D-D dimer, APTT, TT, PCT, IL-6 and the percentage of neutrophils in peripheral blood in Group II were higher than those in Group I(P < 0.05). (4) In ROC curve analysis, CRP, LDH, FER, and neutrophils of leukocyte classification were independent related factors that could be used as valuable predictors of methylprednisolone pulse therapy for RMPP in children. The cut-off values were CRP44.45 mg/L, LDH590IU/L, FER411ng/L, and neutrophils in leukocyte classification were 73.75%, respectively. Conclusion CRP ≥ 44.45 mg/L, LDH ≥ 590 IU/L, FER ≥ 411 ng/L, neutrophil≥73.75%, lung consolidation, and pleural effusion may be predictors that guide the treatment of RMPP with pulse dose of GC.

An Examination of the Strava Usage Rate—A Parameter to Estimate Average Annual Daily Bicycle Volumes on Rural Roadways

In Spain, a new challenge is emerging due to the increase of many recreational bicyclists on two-lane rural roads. These facilities have been mainly designed for motorized vehicles, so the coexistence of cyclists and drivers produces an impact, in terms of road safety and operation. In order to analyze the occurrence of crashes and enhance safety for bicycling, it is crucial to know the cycling volume. Standard procedures recommend using data from permanent stations and temporary short counts, but bicycle volumes are rarely monitored in rural roads. However, bicyclists tend to track their leisure and exercise activities with fitness apps that use GPS. In this context, this research aims at analyzing the daily and seasonal variability of the Strava Usage Rate (SUR), defined as the proportion of bicyclists using the Strava app along a certain segment on rural highways, to estimate the Annual Average Daily Bicycle (AADB) volume on rural roads. The findings of this study offer possible solutions to policy makers in terms of planning and design of the cycling network. Moreover, the use of crowdsourced data from the Strava app will potentially save costs to public agencies, since public data could replace costly counting campaigns.

Clinical characteristics of refractory Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia in children treated with glucocorticoid pulse therapy

Background: To observe the effect of corticosteroids in the treatment of children with refractory Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (RMPP) under different doses, to summarize the clinical features of children treated with glucocorticoid pulse therapy.Methods: The clinical data of 125 children with RMPP hospitalized in Tianjin Children's Hospital from September 2018 to October 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. They were divided into two groups according to the dose of hormone. Compare the clinical features, laboratory findings, and imaging between the two groups, and use meaningful related indicators as ROC curves to find reference indicators for pulse therapy.Results: (1)The median age of the group II was older than that of the group I(P<0.05).(2)We found more severe presentations, higher incidence of extra-pulmonary complications and more serious radiological findings in group II, which needed oxygen more often, higher the hormone, higher usage rate of gamma globulin, higher usage rate of bronchoscopy, and higher incidence of plastic bronchitis(P<0.05).(3)WBC, CRP, LDH, FER, D-D dimer, APTT, TT, PCT, IL-6 and the percentage of neutrophils in peripheral blood in Group II were higher than those in Group I(P<0.05).(4)In ROC curve analysis, CRP, LDH, FER, and neutrophils of leukocyte classification were independent related factors that could be used as valuable predictors of methylprednisolone pulse therapy for RMPP in children. The cut-off values were CRP44.45mg/L, LDH590IU/L, FER411ng/L, and neutrophils in leukocyte classification were 73.75%, respectively.Conclusion: CRP≥44.45mg/L, LDH≥590IU/L, FER≥411ng/L, neutrophil≥73.75%, lung consolidation and pleural effusion are found in RMPP patients, which could be treated with pulse dose of methylprednisolone in time to reduce the incidence of severe RMPP and the occurrence of severe sequelae.