Home-Based Intelligent Exercise System for Seniors' Healthcare: The Example of Golf Croquet.

In 2020, the world experienced the threat of the COVID-19 epidemic, and seniors and chronic disease patients generally reduced their exercise and social activities to avoid increasing the risk of infection, which could lead to increased loneliness and even many diseases. Combining golf croquet games with a mobile application (App) and AIoT companion robots, this research constructs a home-based intelligent exercise system, uses the technology acceptance model (TAM), deduces users' intention to use this system based on perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use, and adds the needs of love and belonging, esteem, cognitive, aesthetic, and self-actualization in Maslow's hierarchy of needs theory (HNT) to conduct an analysis of system needs. This study collected empirical data, totaling 320 participants including seniors and their caregivers, from elderly care centers in northern Taiwan using a cross-sectional survey and purposive sampling. Based on regression and variance analysis, the results show that participants have a high level of acceptance of this system, believing that it is easy to learn and operate and can increase interaction with others, improve self-confirmation, satisfy the thirst for knowledge, increase the feeling of happiness, and fulfill self-actualization needs. In the future, by collecting and recording the process of seniors using the App, so as to find out their health problems as soon as possible, expand their daily life through this exercise, and achieve the goal of happy living and better healthcare.

Water Adsorption vs Phase Transition of Aerosols Monitored by a Quartz Crystal Microbalance.

A quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) with a high sensitivity of 0.1 ng was applied to monitor the oscillation frequency variation (Δf) of standard single species, two-component systems with typical ambient aerosol compositions, and ambient aerosol filter samples as a function of relative humidity (RH) and determine their deliquescence RH (DRH) and phase transition. Δf is associated with the adsorption or desorption process of water molecules for solid samples and physical properties of the sample film during solid-to-aqueous phase transition (deliquescence). During the pre-deliquescence stage, the water adsorption process led to the increased mass with decreasing Δf, especially for the hydrates such as MgCl2 and Ca(NO3)2, which have more than 20% and 40% increased mass, respectively. The water adsorption process might cause a mass deviation of ambient particulate matter measurement using similar instrument principles. During the deliquescence stage, the observed rapid increasing Δf with RH was caused by a significant change in the physical properties (such as density and viscosity) of the sample film. The determined DRH for a given single-component system is consistent with the results estimated from the thermodynamic models. For a complex system, the QCM can determine the DRH1st well as the eutonic point and track the possible variation of the physical properties of inorganic or with organic acid mixture systems. During the post-deliquescence stage, the gradual increasing trend of Δf with RH for Ca(NO3)2 and an external mixture of NaCl-Ca(NO3)2 was mainly contributed by a stronger RH dependent of physical properties for Ca(NO3)2(aq). Overall, this study provides the possible physical properties variation of common aerosol composition as a function of RH, which was consistent with the results calculated from the thermodynamic models. The stronger water adsorption for MgCl2 and Ca(NO3)2 with solid-like viscosity at RH < DRH might lead to different chemical reactivities in the atmospheric chemistry in addition to the radiative forcing of aerosols caused by the hysteresis.

Factors driving the seasonal and hourly variability of sea-spray aerosol number in the North Atlantic.

Four North Atlantic Aerosol and Marine Ecosystems Study (NAAMES) field campaigns from winter 2015 through spring 2018 sampled an extensive set of oceanographic and atmospheric parameters during the annual phytoplankton bloom cycle. This unique dataset provides four seasons of open-ocean observations of wind speed, sea surface temperature (SST), seawater particle attenuation at 660 nm (cp,660, a measure of ocean particulate organic carbon), bacterial production rates, and sea-spray aerosol size distributions and number concentrations (NSSA). The NAAMES measurements show moderate to strong correlations (0.56 < R < 0.70) between NSSA and local wind speeds in the marine boundary layer on hourly timescales, but this relationship weakens in the campaign averages that represent each season, in part because of the reduction in range of wind speed by multiday averaging. NSSA correlates weakly with seawater cp,660 (R = 0.36, P << 0.01), but the correlation with cp,660, is improved (R = 0.51, P < 0.05) for periods of low wind speeds. In addition, NAAMES measurements provide observational dependence of SSA mode diameter (dm) on SST, with dm increasing to larger sizes at higher SST (R = 0.60, P << 0.01) on hourly timescales. These results imply that climate models using bimodal SSA parameterizations to wind speed rather than a single SSA mode that varies with SST may overestimate SSA number concentrations (hence cloud condensation nuclei) by a factor of 4 to 7 and may underestimate SSA scattering (hence direct radiative effects) by a factor of 2 to 5, in addition to overpredicting variability in SSA scattering from wind speed by a factor of 5.

Influences of Primary Emission and Secondary Coating Formation on the Particle Diversity and Mixing State of Black Carbon Particles.

The mixing state of black carbon (BC) affects its environmental fate and impacts. This work investigates particle diversity and mixing state for refractory BC (rBC) containing particles in an urban environment. The chemical compositions of individual rBC-containing particles were measured, from which a mixing state index and particle diversity were determined. The mixing state index (χ) varied between 26% and 69% with the average of 48% in this study and was slightly enhanced with the photochemical age of air masses, indicating that most of the rBC-containing particles cannot be simply explained by fully externally and internally mixed model. Clustering of single particle measurements was used to investigate the potential effects of different primary emissions and atmospheric processes on rBC-containing particle diversity and mixing state. The average particle species diversity and the bulk population species diversity both increased with primary traffic emissions and elevated nitrate concentrations in the morning but gradually decreased with secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formation in the afternoon. The single particle clustering results illustrate that primary traffic emissions and entrainment of nitrate-containing rBC particles from the residual layer to the surface could lead to more heterogeneous aerosol compositions, whereas substantial fresh SOA formation near vehicular emissions made the rBC-containing particles more homogeneous. This work highlights the importance of considering particle diversity and mixing state for investigating the chemical evolution of rBC-containing particles and the potential effects of coating on BC absorption enhancement.

A survey of ambulatory-treated asthma and correlation with weather and air pollution conditions within Taiwan during 2001-2010.

Objective: This study of asthma was performed to evaluate annual trends in emergency department (ED) for 10 years. Weather and air pollution factors affecting asthma were also studied in order to identify the important factors and alert the public in advance. Methods: A survey of ambulatory-treated asthma patients was performed and the correlations with weather and air pollution factors examined in a cohort of one million patients in 2010. The fixed-cohort study analyzed trends, medical costs, and annual prevalence grouped by age and gender. Results: The number of asthma patients visiting EDs and non-emergency (non-ED) clinics significantly increased, with average annual percentage changes (AAPCs) of 2.3 and 4.6%, respectively. The average direct medical cost for EDs was increased significantly as compared with that of non-ED visits. Classification of asthma visits by hospital level indicated that local hospitals and others exhibited a significantly increasing trend (AAPC =15.3% [95% CI: 14.3-16.2]). The annual prevalence of asthma in males, females, and children was significantly increased (AAPCs of 1.5, 1.8, and 3.9%, respectively). Asthma patient hospitalizations were significantly correlated with temperature, humidity, and air pollution factors. Conclusions: The number of non-ED visits due to asthma increased, and the average direct medical cost for ED admissions also increased. Asthma patients tended to visit local hospitals primarily. Asthma visits by children increased, but a decrease was observed in adults. The number of hospitalized asthma patients was negatively correlated with temperature and humidity but positively correlated with the levels of PM2.5, PM10, and NO2.

Particulate matter emissions and gaseous air toxic pollutants from commercial meat cooking operations.

This study assessed the effectiveness of three novel control technologies for particulate matter (PM) and volatile organic compound (VOC) removal from commercial meat cooking operations. All experiments were conducted using standardized procedures at University of California, Riverside's commercial test cooking facility. PM mass emissions collected using South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) Method 5.1, as well as a dilution tunnel-based PM method showed statistically significantly reductions for each control technology when compared to baseline testing (i.e., without a catalyst). Overall, particle number emissions decreased with the use of control technologies, with the exception of control technology 2 (CT2), which is a grease removal technology based on boundary layer momentum transfer (BLMT) theory. Particle size distributions were unimodal with CT2 resulting in higher particle number populations at lower particle diameters. Organic carbon was the dominant PM component (>99%) for all experiments. Formaldehyde and acetaldehyde were the most abundant carbonyl compounds and showed reductions with the application of the control technologies. Some reductions in mono-aromatic VOCs were also observed with CT2 and the electrostatic precipitator (ESP) CT3 compared to the baseline testing.

Substantial Seasonal Contribution of Observed Biogenic Sulfate Particles to Cloud Condensation Nuclei.

Biogenic sources contribute to cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) in the clean marine atmosphere, but few measurements exist to constrain climate model simulations of their importance. The chemical composition of individual atmospheric aerosol particles showed two types of sulfate-containing particles in clean marine air masses in addition to mass-based Estimated Salt particles. Both types of sulfate particles lack combustion tracers and correlate, for some conditions, to atmospheric or seawater dimethyl sulfide (DMS) concentrations, which means their source was largely biogenic. The first type is identified as New Sulfate because their large sulfate mass fraction (63% sulfate) and association with entrainment conditions means they could have formed by nucleation in the free troposphere. The second type is Added Sulfate particles (38% sulfate), because they are preexisting particles onto which additional sulfate condensed. New Sulfate particles accounted for 31% (7 cm-3) and 33% (36 cm-3) CCN at 0.1% supersaturation in late-autumn and late-spring, respectively, whereas sea spray provided 55% (13 cm-3) in late-autumn but only 4% (4 cm-3) in late-spring. Our results show a clear seasonal difference in the marine CCN budget, which illustrates how important phytoplankton-produced DMS emissions are for CCN in the North Atlantic.

Comparison of three computed tomographic angiography protocols to assess diameters of major arteries in African grey parrots (Psittacus erithacus).

OBJECTIVE To evaluate 3 contrast medium infusion (CMI) protocols for CT angiography (CTA) and measurement of major artery diameters in African grey parrots (Psittacus erithacus). ANIMALS 9 African grey parrots with no detectable cardiovascular disease. PROCEDURES Each bird was anesthetized and underwent placement of an IV catheter in the left basilic vein and 16-slice CTA scanning (started at peak aortic enhancement) with each of 3 CMI protocols at ≥ 1-month intervals. Protocol 1 involved catheter flushing with saline (0.9% NaCl) solution and IV infusion of iopamidol (2 mL) followed by saline solution (0.2 mL; total infused volume, 5 mL). Protocol 2 involved IV infusion of iopamidol (2 mL) followed by saline solution (0.4 mL; total infused volume, 2.4 mL). Protocol 3 involved catheter flushing with saline solution and IV administration of iopamidol (2 mL; total infused volume, 4.8 mL). The diameters of 6 major arteries were measured by 2 observers, and intra- and interobserver agreement, time-enhancement variables, and patient factors affecting contrast medium enhancement were assessed. RESULTS Among the 3 CMI protocols, CTA-derived arterial diameters differed significantly. Measurements obtained with protocol 2 were significantly larger than those obtained with the other protocols. Uniformity of the time-enhancement variables differed among CMI protocols. Patient factors had nonsignificant effects on contrast medium enhancement. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Of the CMI protocols assessed, a 2-phase CMI protocol with a post-CMI saline solution flush was the most reliable for CTA-derived measurements of the major thoracic and abdominal arteries in African grey parrots. However, further technique modification is needed.

Atrial gap junctions, NF-kappaB and fibrosis in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery: the relationship with postoperative atrial fibrillation.

OBJECTIVES: We examined the role of atrial gap junctions, NF-kappaB and fibrosis in the occurrence of postoperative atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. METHODS: Forty-five patients with sinus rhythm were randomly assigned to the beating heart (n = 22) or cardioplegic cardiac arrest (n = 23) technique for surgery. Of them, 14 patients experienced post-CABG AF. Atrial samples taken before and after CABG surgery were analyzed. RESULTS: During surgery, Cx43 and Cx40 proteins were significantly reduced (both p < 0.05) in the arrested heart group, but only mildly decreased in the beating heart group. However, the change of either connexin was not associated with AF. In contrast, patients with AF had a higher baseline expression of NF-kappaB and more fibrosis compared to those without AF (both p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: CABG surgery with the beating heart technique attenuated the reduction of atrial Cx43 and Cx40 compared to the cardioplegic cardiac arrest technique. Atrial inflammation and fibrosis status before surgery, but not the changes of connexins during surgery, were associated with the occurrence of post-CABG AF.