Understanding the conversation around COVID-19 and eating disorders: A thematic analysis of Reddit

Background Current research has found dramatic changes in the lives of those with eating disorders (EDs) during the COVID-19 pandemic. We build on existing research to investigate the long-term effects and adaptations that people with EDs have faced due to COVID-19 related changes. Method We collected 234 posts from three separate time periods from the subreddit r/EatingDisorders and analyzed them using thematic analysis. The posts were examined for initial patterns, and then those concepts were grouped into themes to reveal the authentic experiences of people living with EDs during the COVID-19 pandemic. Results Initially, we found “lack of control” and “familial influences (loved ones seeking support)” emerge as themes within our broader data set throughout all three timeframes. There were additional themes that were present in only one or two of the collection periods. These themes consisted of “symptom stress,” “technical stresses and concerns,” and “silver linings.” Conclusions Our analysis shows that people with EDs have fought significantly during the pandemic. Initially, the (lack of) control and routine in their lives has caused symptoms to become more challenging, while being forced to move back home also caused significant stress. However, concerns transformed as the pandemic progressed, resulting in new pressures causing people to exhibit novel ED symptoms or relapse altogether. Also notable is the relatively few COVID-specific posts as the pandemic progressed, suggesting that people have accepted COVID as their “new normal” and begun to build resilience to the challenges associated. These are vital factors for clinicians to consider as they begin taking existing and new patients, particularly as face-to-face treatment options become a possibility again. Plain English Summary Existing research shows that the COVID-19 pandemic has transformed the lives of people who live with eating disorders in various ways. First, the pandemic has placed barriers on the path to recovery by limiting coping mechanism (and sometimes removing them altogether) and changing their relationships with food and the people in their lives. Second, the pandemic has forced treatment options to change since ED patients can no longer seek treatment face-to-face. Finally, there have been unexpected benefits to the pandemic, such as allowing individuals time to slow down and focus on their mental health. Previous studies examined individuals in clinical contexts rather than in their natural environments. We explored an online forum for people with eating disorders for the various themes that were discussed at three points over the period of March 2020-December 2020 and found that many people with EDs report worsening symptoms or relapse. However, we also noted that, compared to the beginning of the pandemic, people seemed to be less frequently asking for support during the third data collection period, implying an adaptation to the “new normal” of life in a pandemic. We conclude with a discussion of the findings.

Finding Someone to Blame: The Link Between COVID-19 Conspiracy Beliefs, Prejudice, Support for Violence, and Other Negative Social Outcomes

One of the appeals of conspiracy theories in times of crises is that they provide someone to blame for what has happened. Thereby, they increase distrust, negative feelings, and hostility toward implicated actors, whether those are powerful social outgroups or one’s own government representatives. Two studies reported here examine associations of COVID-19 conspiracy theories with prejudice, support for violence, and other and negative social outcomes. In Study 1 (N = 501), the endorsement of the more specific conspiracy theories about the alleged role of China was associated with more prejudiced views of Chinese and Italian people. In Study 2 (N = 1024), lowered trust in government regulations and increased hostility associated with the COVID-19 and generic conspiracy beliefs were correlated with justification of and willingness to engage in non-compliance with regulations, violent attacks on 5G masts, and anti-government protests. Across both of the studies, higher exposure to news about COVID-19 was associated with lower endorsement of conspiracy theories, but also with increased feelings of anxiety and lack of control, which in turn were correlated with higher COVID-19 conspiracy beliefs endorsement. We highlight the potential social problems which are associated with the wide-spread endorsement of COVID-19 conspiracy theories.

A Minireview of Microfluidic Scaffold Materials in Tissue Engineering

In 2020, nearly 107,000 people in the U.S needed a lifesaving organ transplant, but due to a limited number of donors, only ∼35% of them have actually received it. Thus, successful bio-manufacturing of artificial tissues and organs is central to satisfying the ever-growing demand for transplants. However, despite decades of tremendous investments in regenerative medicine research and development conventional scaffold technologies have failed to yield viable tissues and organs. Luckily, microfluidic scaffolds hold the promise of overcoming the major challenges associated with generating complex 3D cultures: 1) cell death due to poor metabolite distribution/clearing of waste in thick cultures; 2) sacrificial analysis due to inability to sample the culture non-invasively; 3) product variability due to lack of control over the cell action post-seeding, and 4) adoption barriers associated with having to learn a different culturing protocol for each new product. Namely, their active pore networks provide the ability to perform automated fluid and cell manipulations (e.g., seeding, feeding, probing, clearing waste, delivering drugs, etc.) at targeted locations in-situ. However, challenges remain in developing a biomaterial that would have the appropriate characteristics for such scaffolds. Specifically, it should ideally be: 1) biocompatible—to support cell attachment and growth, 2) biodegradable—to give way to newly formed tissue, 3) flexible—to create microfluidic valves, 4) photo-crosslinkable—to manufacture using light-based 3D printing and 5) transparent—for optical microscopy validation. To that end, this minireview summarizes the latest progress of the biomaterial design, and of the corresponding fabrication method development, for making the microfluidic scaffolds.

Bionematicides in Brazil: an emerging and challenging market

Management of plant parasitic nematodes in Brazil is a challenge and bionematicides are an important tool in the Integrated Nematode Management in several crops. There are 47 commercial bionematicides with 11 microorganisms as active ingredient available for growers in Brazil; Bacillus spp. are the main biological control agents, but fungi are also important for nematode management. Bionematicides reached 82% of the total market of nematicides in 2019/2020 in Brazil and, in soybean, they represented 90% of the area treated with nematicides. Although, the use of bionematicides is considered an emerging market worldwide, some challenges involve the correct use and formulation of organisms with different modes of action, difficulties in laboratory culturing, and the existence of non-regulated bionematicides, which do not ensure the quality, the purity, and the efficiency in the nematode control under field conditions, leading to lack of control and discredit of this tool. Considering the Brazilian biodiversity richness, a universe of new macroand microorganisms can be explored, as well as the metabolites produced by these organisms as the active ingredient of bionematicides. Expectations of an increase in this market are optimistic and may materialize in light of the increasing demand for biological products in Brazil.

Chocolate craving: does it affect eating attitude and body mass index?

Purpose Some kinds of foods, by producing an effect like addiction, may trigger overeating. This paper aims to investigate whether excessive chocolate consumption and hunger cause food addiction. Design/methodology/approach Food cravings questionnaire-trait-reduced (FCQ-T-r), food cravings questionnaire-state (FCQ-S) and eating attitude test-26 (EAT-26) scales were used. The relation between chocolate addiction, anthropometric measurements, demographic characteristics, eating behavior of the people were analyzed. The study was conducted on 864 individuals between 17 and 64 years old (men = 327, women = 537). Findings As the body mass index (BMI) of the individuals increased, chocolate craving, chocolate hunger, thought of eating chocolate, lack of control of chocolate increased. Also, significant correlations were determined with BMI, respectively, (r = 0.39; r = 0.32; r = 0.33; r = 0.29; p < 0.001). The lack of control overeating chocolate, craving for chocolate was found to be higher in female participants than in male participants. It was seen that craving for chocolate decreases (r = −0.17; p < 0.001) with increasing age; this was more apparent in male participants compared to female participants. Besides, significant correlation was found (r = 0.76, p < 0.05) between the EAT-26, the craving to eat chocolate in this study. It was seen that individual, who were excessively eager to consume chocolate, exhibited abnormal eating behavior (29.50 ± 12.09). This showed that there is a positive relation (r = 0.08, p < 0.001) between food addiction, eating attitude disorder. Originality/value Food craving increases the consumption of food, especially chocolate, sugar, with high carbohydrate content and energy. This can lead to overeating and being overweight.

Physician Burnout and the Electronic Health Record Leading up to and During The First Year of COVID-19: A Systematic Review (Preprint)

BACKGROUND Physician burnout was first identified in 1974, and it has been particularly prevalent during the first year of the pandemic. OBJECTIVE To objectively analyze the literature over the last five years for empirical evidence of burnout incident to the EHR and to identify barriers, facilitators, associated patient satisfaction to using the EHR to improve symptoms of burnout. METHODS No human subjects were used in this review, however 100% of participants in studies analyzed were adult physicians. Four research databases and one targeted journal were queried for studies commensurate with the objective statement from January 1, 2016 through January 31st 2021 (n=25). RESULTS The hours spent in documentation and workflow are responsible for the sense of loss of autonomy, lack of work-life balance, lack of control of one’s schedule, cognitive fatigue, a general loss of autonomy and poor relationships with colleagues. Researchers have identified training, local customization of templates and workflow, and the use of scribes to alleviate the administrative burden of the EHR and decreased symptoms of burnout. CONCLUSIONS The solutions provided in the literature only addressed two of the three factors, workflow and documentation time, but not the third, usability. Practitioners and administrators should focus on the former two factors because they are within their sphere of control. EHR vendors should focus on empirical evidence to identify usability features with the greatest impact to improve. Researchers should design experiments to explore solutions that address all three factors of the EHR that contribute to burnout. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT RR2-10.2196/15490

Teachers’ Moral Evaluation of Students in an Inclusive Secondary School: A Study of Minority Students’ Behaviour and School Performance

This study aims to analyze the issue of morality in a teaching and learning set up. After discussion and answering the question “Is it ever the case that teachers hold students morally blameworthy or praiseworthy for factors that are known to be beyond their control?” the study concludes that teachers hold students to be morally blameworthy or praiseworthy for factors that are beyond their control, because they do not fully comprehend their lack of control over their situation, which is still bad. The study also found that most teachers do not have a clear cross-cultural knowledge of minority students’ background causing a moral judgement dilemma of students’ behaviours and actions. A critical look at other variables that may affect students’ learning is recommended by this study.Keywords: minority students, blameworthy, praiseworthy, knowledge, moral judgement

Evaluation of the volleyball coaches’ experience in a 3-dimensions environment

The new technologies in sport can help to reproduce a real game context. Therefore, we aim to characterize the experience of volleyball coaches immerged in a 3D volleyball game to see if the device could be a credible tool in a coaching training program. Seventeen volleyball coaches were immerged into three sequences of a 3D volleyball game with Oculus Rift headset before completing a perceptions’ questionnaire composed by 33 items concerning users’ experience factors and 3 open-ended questions. The results show positive scores for the immersion (M = 6.49, SD = 2.84), positive emotions (M = 5.24, SD = 2.69), judgment (M = 7.70, SD = 1.82) and flow (M = 5.83, SD = 2.75) even if this last result has to be taken carefully. The answers to the open-ended questions confirm those data. Despite some limitations, the link between the results and some important notions of the behaviour change as the intrinsic motivation, the self-determination theory and the learning outcomes seems to emphasize the benefits of an implementation of the device into a coaching training program. Nevertheless, this use has to be limited to the training of observations of the environment rather than the intervention training because of the lack of control on the environment and interaction allows by the 3D device.

Socioeconomic Aspects and Characteristics of Artisanal Fishing in the Marchica Lagoon (Mediterranean, Morocco)

Marchica lagoon offers very favourable conditions for practice of artisanal fishing which is the main socioeconomic activity carried out in this coastal ecosystem. However, artisanal fishing there suffers from a lack of control and management due to the absence of a data collection system on the various biological and socioeconomic aspects of this fishery. Thus, it considers serious threaten their sustainability. The main purpose of the paper to give a comprehensive account of artisanal fishing and its socioeconomic aspects in the Marchica lagoon, through a survey carried out at five sites around the lagoon. It has been found that there a low level of education among fishermen. The fishermen practiced two gears, pound net and trammel net. The economical analysis showed that the total annual gross product per boat is about 15766,80 USD, which gives an average monthly income of about 1148, 10USD par boat. Therefore, the wealth produced by these fisheries have a real impact on the quality of the fishermen live. Hence, ensure sustainable development of this fishery.

Vehicular Pollution Monitoring Using IOT

The air quality in metropolises is demeaning as a result of a complex commerce between natural and artificial environmental conditions. With the increase in urbanization and industrialization and lack of control on emigrations and use of catalytic transformers, a great quantum of particulate and poisonous feasts is produced. The ideal of this design is to cover air pollution on roads and track vehicles which beget pollution over a specified limit. Increased use of motorcars is a serious problem that has been around for a veritably long time. This paper gives check of different systems used to cover vehicular pollution and proposes use of Internet of Effects (IoT) to address this problem. Then, combination of Poisonous Gas Detectors and Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) trailing system is used to cover vehicular pollution records anytime anywhere. Keywords: loT, WS, Arduino, RFlD, Gas Sensor