Did the COVID-19 Lock-Down Make Us Better at Working in Virtual Teams?

The COVID-19 pandemic was a key event forcing an increase in virtual work. Drawing on event system theory, we examined whether virtual teams showed enhanced processes in later stages of the pandemic compared to the early stages of the pandemic. We collected data from 54 virtual teams ( N = 152 individuals) who worked on a 30-minute task. We measured team processes and performance. Virtual teams during the post-transition phase (June–August 2020) showed better levels of team action processes and conflict management compared to teams working in the immediate transition phase (March–May 2020), indicative of an adaptation effect.

Perturbations both trigger and delay seizures due to generic properties of slow-fast relaxation oscillators

The mechanisms underlying the emergence of seizures are one of the most important unresolved issues in epilepsy research. In this paper, we study how perturbations, exogenous or endogenous, may promote or delay seizure emergence. To this aim, due to the increasingly adopted view of epileptic dynamics in terms of slow-fast systems, we perform a theoretical analysis of the phase response of a generic relaxation oscillator. As relaxation oscillators are effectively bistable systems at the fast time scale, it is intuitive that perturbations of the non-seizing state with a suitable direction and amplitude may cause an immediate transition to seizure. By contrast, and perhaps less intuitively, smaller amplitude perturbations have been found to delay the spontaneous seizure initiation. By studying the isochrons of relaxation oscillators, we show that this is a generic phenomenon, with the size of such delay depending on the slow flow component. Therefore, depending on perturbation amplitudes, frequency and timing, a train of perturbations causes an occurrence increase, decrease or complete suppression of seizures. This dependence lends itself to analysis and mechanistic understanding through methods outlined in this paper. We illustrate this methodology by computing the isochrons, phase response curves and the response to perturbations in several epileptic models possessing different slow vector fields. While our theoretical results are applicable to any planar relaxation oscillator, in the motivating context of epilepsy they elucidate mechanisms of triggering and abating seizures, thus suggesting stimulation strategies with effects ranging from mere delaying to full suppression of seizures.

The Abstract Grid of Distribution

The necessity of immediate transition from fossil fuels has made painfully conspicuous the fact that energy sources such as solar and wind do not have the same material properties as coal and oil, and has attracted critical attention to the ways in which the social values and political-economic possibilities of the last century and a half have depended on a fossil regime. This essay takes up the notion of solar economy to ask what such a perspective may reveal that goes beyond a petro-analytic framework centered on the material properties of fuel. Drawing on Marx, Bataille, and Deleuze and Guattari, I emphasize the interrelated themes of the distribution of excess, the socius or virtual body of the social, and the reproduction of form. Taking as an example California’s recent struggles to make good on what some have viewed as the revolutionary potential of solar, this essay argues that capitalist dynamics can survive a material influx of the solar energy if more is not done to elaborate a transversal and molecular distribution of excess that solarity as a general condition invites. This discussion provides a starting point for a broad assessment of the nature and status of subjectivity in relation to questions of energy, infrastructure, and capitalism today.

E-learning: A way out in COVID-19 Crisis

COVID-19 pandemic has not only negatively impacted the socio-economic attributes worldwide1 but also led to the confrontation of the education system with enormous challenges. This necessitated the immediate transition from face-to-face teaching to e-learning.2 This abrupt shift was primarily attributed to the need for social distancing due to the contagiousness of this disease and hence was intended to save humanity from coronavirus infection.3 Availing the e-learning alternatives for academic continuity in response to pandemic was the only solution. The teachers shared educational resources in the form of presentations, audio-visual videos, and documents, etc. by using assorted modalities like Microsoft Teams, Zoom, and Webinar.4 Although this exercise demanded stringent efforts of our teachers this bestowed them with an exhilarating opportunity to modify their pedagogical strategies.5 Lockdown imposition and abrupt closure of academic organizations considerably impacted the domain of higher studies. Everybody adapted to deliver their services remotely. The lectures, practicals, tutorials, examinations all were suspended with immediate effect amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.6 Although most of our students managed to attend online classes this modality was perceived inefficient in coverage of the whole curriculum in terms of acquisition of practical skills.7 No doubt synchronous and asynchronous teachings were done by using diverse instructional methods but adjustment of teaching pace, constructive feedback to the students’ assignments, and activation of students’ prior knowledge were reported to be immensely deficient.8 Resource-constrained countries profoundly faced problems in the smooth execution of virtual learning.9 Considerable uncertainties pertinent to COVID-19 along with limited facilities in the execution of prosperous e-learning academia made the scenario quite cumbersome. Tutors implicated in e-learning universally were dealt with issues of online connectivity, capacity building for proficient content delivery, and efficient interactivity with students.10 Designing an appropriate framework to bridge the gaps in e-learning conduction is deemed necessary for the provision of quality education without compromising the established standards amidst rampant outbreaks.

Role of percutaneous testis biopsy in management of patients with azoospermia

Purpose of the study. To determine the practical value of puncture methods for obtaining spermatozoa in azoospermia. Patients and methods. The results of 127 puncture biopsies of testis (TESA) and testicular appendage (PESA) in patients with azoospermia of presumably obstructive origin were analyzed. The sperm production frequency (SPF) was calculated, as well as the frequency of transition to an open testicular biopsy. Was built a logistic regression model to analyze factors influencing the result, TESA / PESA, which included as independent variables the following parameters: patient age, duration of involuntary infertility, the level of sex hormones (testosterone, estradiol, luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, prolactin, progesterone, inhibin B), the total volume of testes, presence of varicocele, the presence of chemotherapy or radiation therapy, a history of alcohol abuse, Smoking, regular violation of the thermal mode, surgery in the inguinal and scrotal region. Indicators of the probability ratio (PR) with a 95% confidence interval (95% CI) were obtained. Results. 92 biopsy attempts out of 127 were successful, and the NPV was 72.4%. Independent statistically significant predictors of PESA / TESA success were testicular volume (PR = 1.113; 95% CI = 1.026–1.207) and inhibin b level (PR = 1.026; 95% CI = 1.011–1.041). In 35 patients whose spermatozoa were not found during the puncture biopsy, conversion to open microsurgical biopsy was performed. Conclusion. PESA and TESA have only limited effectiveness in azoospermia. We believe that puncture biopsy of the testicles and epididymis is justified only in patients with normal testicular volume and high levels of inhibin B. PESA / TESA should be performed in conditions that allow immediate transition to an open biopsy in case of failure.