V-CarE-A Conceptual Design Model for Providing COVID-19 Pandemic Awareness: Proposal for a Virtual Reality Design Approach to Facilitate People With Persistent Postural-Perceptual Dizziness.

BACKGROUND: Virtual reality (VR) technology has been solidifying its ground since its existence, where engagement and a sense of presence are key. The contemporary field of development has captured the attention of researchers due to its flexibility and compatibility attributes. During the COVID-19 pandemic, several research outputs have shown promising prospects of continuing research in the field of VR design and development-in health sciences including learning and training. OBJECTIVE: In this paper, we aim to propose a conceptual development model named V-CarE (Virtual Care Experience) that can facilitate the understanding of pandemics when it comes to a crisis, taking precautionary measures where needed, and getting used to certain actions for preventing pandemic spread through habituation. Moreover, this conceptual model is useful to expand the development strategy to incorporate different types of users and technological aid as per need and requirement. METHODS: For a detailed understanding of the proposed model, we have developed a novel design strategy to bring awareness to the user about the current COVID-19 pandemic. VR research in health sciences has shown that with appropriate management and development, VR technology can efficiently support people with health issues and special needs, which motivated our attempts to explore the possibility of employing our proposed model to treat Persistent Postural-Perceptual Dizziness (PPPD)-a persistent nonvertiginous dizziness that could last for 3 months or more. The purpose of including patients with PPPD is to get them engaged in the learning experience and to make them comfortable with VR. We believe this confidence and habituation would help them get engaged with VR for treatment (dizziness alleviation) while practicing the preventive measures during the pandemic in an interactive environment without actually facing any pandemic directly. Subsequently, for advanced development using the V-CarE model, we have briefly discussed that even contemporary technology like internet of things (IoT) for handling devices, can be incorporated without disrupting the complete 3D-immersive experience. RESULTS: In our discussion, we have shown that the proposed model represents a significant step toward the accessibility of VR technology by creating a pathway toward awareness of pandemics and, also, an effective care strategy for PPPD people. Moreover, by introducing advanced technology, we will only further enhance the development for wider accessibility of VR technology while keeping the core purpose of the development intact. CONCLUSIONS: V-CarE-based developed VR projects are designed with all the core elements of health sciences, technology, and training making it accessible and engaging for the users and improving their lifestyle by safely experiencing the unknown. We suggest that with further design-based research, the proposed V-CarE model has the potential to be a valuable tool connecting different fields to wider communities.

Van der Waals heterostructures of SiC and Janus MSSe (M = Mo, W) monolayers: a first principles study.

Favorable stacking patterns of two models with alternative orders of chalcogen atoms in SiC-MSSe (M = Mo, W) vdW heterostructures are investigated using density functional theory calculations. Both model-I and model-II of the SiC-MSSe (M = Mo, W) vdW heterostructures show type-II band alignment, while the spin orbit coupling effect causes considerable Rashba spin splitting. Furthermore, the plane-average electrostatic potential is also calculated to investigate the potential drops across the heterostructure and work function. The imaginary part of the dielectric function reveals that the first optical transition is dominated by excitons with high absorption in the visible region for both heterostructures. Appropriate band alignments with standard water redox potentials enable the capability of these heterostructures to dissociate water into H+/H2 and O2/H2O.

Operations in spinal surgery are not always needed. Do we operate more than we should?

Lumbar disc herniation and low back pain are the main cause of sickness during labor life. The decision for operation is thought to be taken easily and as a result a lot of money is being spent for treatment and rehabilitation. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether conservative treatment is sufficient for treatment of lumbar disc herniation and low back pain and what percentage of the patients operated are satisfied with social and everyday life two years after operation. One hundred and twenty seven patients (67 male and 60 female) were treated because of lumbar disc herniation. No neurological deficiency or muscle weakness was observed. Seventy two patients underwent conservative treatment. Fifty five patients underwent microsurgical discectomy. Back and leg pain are reported on a visual analog scale (VAS) and with the Oswestry disability index (ODI). The Short Form-36 health survey (SF-36) and the European Quality of Life questionnaire (EQ-5D) should also be completed. Surgical data, including diagnosis, are recorded by the surgeon without access to the patient's questionnaires. Both groups (conservative and operative) improved from baseline with regard to SF-36 and ODI (all P<0.01). The results 2 years after surgery were similar for both groups, as measured with the SF-36 and the ODI. Both groups improved from baseline to follow-up with regard to both back pain and leg pain (all P<0.01). The frequency of returning to work was analyzed for those patients who were less than 65 years of age at the time of follow up, and who had been working before surgery. Statistical analysis indicates that there are no significant differences between the groups. The decision for operation is thought to be taken easily and as a result a lot of money is being spent for treatment and rehabilitation. In conclusion, this study shows that operative treatment is equal in outcome to conservative treatment and should follow, seen from an economic perspective, the conservative treatment.

Mesenteric myolipoma.

The authors report on a case of benign myolipoma (synonym lipoleiomyoma) which was first described in 1991. The benign soft tissue tumor is composed of smooth muscle and adipose tissue and occurs sporadically in different locations. In the available literature cases were described retroperitoneal, spinal, orbital and subcutaneous and mostly have been discovered in females. Characteristically myolipomas are very large at diagnosis and reach diameters of 7 to 30 cm particularly in peritoneal or retroperitoneal localization. The sometimes enormous size leads to a displacing growth pattern which ultimately leads to the clinical symptoms. The patients often complain of nonspecific, mostly painless abdominal or thoracic pressure. Bordered by an intact capsule the tumors show no signs of malignancy and in the available literature there is no evidence of metastatic seeding. To the best of our knowledge the presented case is the first description of a diffuse mesenteric myolipoma in a male individual. In this article, we present the multidetector computed tomographic image characteristics, macroscopic appearance and histopathological findings.