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Abstract Objective The objective of this review is to determine the utilisation and adoption of teledentistry based solutions and technologies during the Covid-19 Pandemic in the Asean region. Background Teledentistry is a branch of telemedicine that has rapidly advanced in the last few years and has the potential to provide solutions to oral health problems of patients and locations that do not have prompt and immediate access to a dentist or dental services. The Covid-19 has increased the adaption of all digital health technologies and teledentistry is no exception. Methodology The study utilized online databases such as Pubmed (Medline), Scopus (Embase) and CINAHL for the purpose of document search. Newcastle Ottawa (NOS) scale was used to determine the quality of the studies included in our systematic review. PRISMA guidelines were used as the criteria for reporting items in the systematic review. Results A total of 1297 documents were found after applying the search criteria and the keywords for the selected study. After applying the Prisma guidelines, removal of duplicates and irrelevant entries, 10 studies that were conducted during the Covid-19 pandemic were selected, fitting the inclusion criteria. All the studies included were evaluated for quality and risk of bias through the Newcastle Ottawa scale. Only high-quality studies were included for the final review. Conclusion Teledentistry is a cost-effective solution to screen, diagnose and treat dental patients from a distance. Teledentistry also has the potential to continue seamless continuation of dental education to dental students, during disruptive and non-disruptive periods. ASEAN countries should fully utilise the potential of teledentistry, however sound and effective legislation would be the key first step to achieving that potential.

Two-dimensional material hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN), and its one-dimensional thin strips, boron nitride nanoribbons (BNNRs) are electrically insulating with high thermal stability, making them excellent thermal conductors suitable for high-temperature application. BNNRs are wide bandgap semiconductors with bandgaps ranging from 4 to 6 eV. This study investigates the electronic properties of BNNRs with single vacancy defects in armchair and zigzag configurations. The nearest-neighbour tight-binding model and numerical method were used to simulate the electronic properties of BNNRs with a single vacancy, including band structure and local density of states. The alpha and beta matrices were adjusted to account for missing boron or nitrogen atoms. Furthermore, a small perturbations were introduced to model the effects of impurities and edge imperfections. The simulation result from this work was compared with pristine BNNRs to examine the impact of a single vacancy on their electronic properties. The findings reveal that both armchair and zigzag BNNRs with single vacancy defects exhibit distorted band structures and local density of states due to the delocalization of pz orbitals. The valence bands show a higher concentration of nitrogen, while the conduction bands are richer in boron. These findings provide insights into how vacancy defects and edge perturbations can influence the electronic properties of BNNRs, which can guide the design and optimization of BNNR-based electronic devices in future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microbes are critical contributors in main areas of biotechnology, including green, red, and white biotechnology. This is why the importance of the preservation of microbial resources cannot be emphasized enough. Culture collections are repositories not only for the preservation and maintenance of a large variety of microbial resources and the associated data but also for their distribution in a quality-controlled manner. The mission of culture collections facilitates and supports utilization of microbial resources for research, education, and industrial purposes. Led by the World Federation for Culture Collections, an international organization committed to fostering the activities of culture collections of microorganisms and cell lines, more than 850 culture collections from 80 countries and regions work together to ensure the perpetuation of microbial resources. In addition, domestic networks, such as Japan Society for Culture Collections and United States Culture Collection Network along with regional networks for Europe, Latin America, and Asia thrive to ensure the long-term viability of microbial resources. The Republic of Korea recently took the first step in networking through the coordination of six ministries which house nine national microbial culture collections. With an explosion in microbiome research and a dramatic increase in the number of microbiome samples, the considerable challenge of culture collections will therefore be implementing the biobanking infrastructure of microbiome samples. Creating a domestic network of national culture collections is a key factor in efficiently and comprehensively managing nation-led microbiome research projects, particularly resulting microbiome samples. In this context, this review aims to provide an overview of microbial culture collection network and their future role to address the challenge in the microbiome era. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indoor location sensing systems are crucial for Internet of Things advancements, providing essential location-based information for large-scale applications and systems. The existing literature usually involves designing and testing systems using a single wireless standard. Therefore, it is still uncertain what is the best wireless standard for indoor location sensing and whether there are any benefits to implementing cooperative location sensing. Therefore, an indoor location sensing system was developed, utilizing the RSSI fingerprinting method with K-Nearest Neighbours algorithm. The system was used to evaluate the individual performance of Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and ZigBee for indoor location sensing as well as validate if cooperative location sensing is feasible. For testing purposes, the test sites were split into grids of 1.5m by 1.5m size and the system made predictions on the correct grid position of the user device. The indoor location sensing system developed has an accuracy of 1.5m for a detection range of 10m. In terms of prediction accuracy, the system managed to achieve a maximum accuracy of 80.56% in non-Line of Sight scenario and a maximum accuracy of 100.00% in Line of Sight scenario. The prediction accuracy performance of the system in predicting the correct grid position varies depending on the combination of wireless standards used, with the best accuracy result being 100.00% when using a combination of Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and ZigBee in a Line of Sight scenario. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies have shown that electronic discussion can be used effectively to teach critical thinking and can achieve greater understanding. The use of online discussions is common in polytechnics and universities, and many schools in Singapore have begun to introduce online forums for discussion beyond the classroom. This research investigates lower secondary school students' critical thinking in an asynchronous online discussion environment. The findings show that the students in this age group have only minimally exhibited critical thinking skills during the online discussion. However, investigation into students' perception of online discussion shows positive attitudes. Some enhanced scaffolding strategies for online discussion participants and guides on designing good questions are recommended to foster critical thinking skills in this environment. (Contains 1 figure and 3 tables.)

Since it was first identified in 2012, Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) has emerged as a novel viral pathogen that causes severe acute respiratory illness, including fever, cough, and [...]

Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) is characterized by mild-to-severe respiratory distress and is caused by a novel coronavirus (MERS-CoV) (1). Since its first identification in 2012, MERS-CoV infection has been [...]

Although artificial intelligence (AI; inclusive of machine learning) is gaining traction supporting climate change projections and impacts, limited work has used AI to address climate change adaptation. We identify this gap and highlight the value of AI especially in supporting complex adaptation choices and implementation. We illustrate how AI can effectively leverage precise, real‐time information in data‐scarce settings. We focus on supervised learning, transfer learning, reinforcement learning, and multimodal learning to illustrate how innovative AI methods can enable better‐informed choices, tailor adaptation measures to heterogenous groups and generate effective synergies and trade‐offs. This article is categorized under:Application Areas > Government and Public Sector [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Absorptive capacity–the ability to learn and apply external knowledge and information to acquire material resources–is an essential but overlooked driver in community adaptation to new and unprecedented disasters. We analyzed data from a representative random sample of 603 individuals from 25 coastal communities in Louisiana affected by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. We used simultaneous equation models to assess the relationship between absorptive capacity and resource acquisition for affected individuals after the disaster. Results show that the diversity of individuals' prior knowledge coupled with the community's external orientation and internal cohesion facilitate resource use. They go beyond simply providing resources and demonstrate individual and community features necessary for absorbing information and knowledge and help devise adaptation strategies to address the dynamics of changing economic, social, and political environment after the disaster. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1) virus has posed a serious public health threat since 1997, when the first transmission of the virus from birds to humans was reported in [...]

Climate change decision-making has emerged in recent decades as an area of research and practice, expanding on an earlier focus on climate policy. Defined as the study of decisions relevant for climate change, it draws on developments in decision science, particularly advances in the study of cognitive and deliberative processes in individuals and organizations. The effects of climate, economic, social, and other framings on decision-making have been studied, often showing that nonclimate frames can be as effective as, or more effective than, climate frames in promoting decision-making and action. The concept of urgency, linked to the ideas of climate crisis and climate emergency, has taken on importance in recent years. Research on climate decision-making has influenced numerous areas of climate action, including nudges and other behavioral interventions, corporate social responsibility, and Indigenous decision-making. Areas of transformational change, such as strategic retreat in the face of sea-level rise, are emerging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Why is Ortley Beach, New Jersey, known as Superstorm Sandy's ground zero? This article employs qualitative vulnerability analysis to understand why vulnerability of second homes in Ortley Beach resulted in dune failure and slow rebuilding after Sandy. The second-home owners who largely make up the community in Ortley Beach are identified as the key vulnerable group. This group's lack of political representation and financial compensation after Sandy increased house damage and slowed rebuilding. Identifying the level of vulnerability of the majority group in a location is paramount to understanding how the community recovers from a disaster. Such identification can also aid in preparing communities, especially for types of disasters they have not yet encountered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prevalence of eight respiratory viruses detected in patients with acute respiratory infections (ARIs) in Korea was investigated through analysis of data recorded by the Korea Influenza and Respiratory Viruses Surveillance System (KINRESS) from 2013 to 2015. Nasal aspirate and throat swabs specimens were collected from 36 915 patients with ARIs, and viral nucleic acids were detected by real‐time (reverse‐transcription) polymerase chain reaction for eight respiratory viruses, including human respiratory syncytial viruses (HRSVs), influenza viruses (IFVs), human parainfluenza viruses (HPIVs), human coronaviruses (HCoVs), human rhinovirus (HRV), human adenovirus (HAdV), human bocavirus (HBoV), and human metapneumovirus (HMPV). The overall positive rate of patient specimens was 49.4% (18 236/36 915), 5% of which carried two or more viruses simultaneously. HRV (15.6%) was the most predominantly detected virus, followed by IFVs (14.6%), HAdV (7.5%), HPIVs (5.8%), HCoVs (4.2%), HRSVs (3.6%), HBoV (1.9%), and HMPV (1.6%). Most of the ARIs were significantly correlated with clinical symptoms of fever, cough, and runny nose. Although HRV and HAdV were frequently detected throughout the year in patients, other respiratory viruses showed apparent seasonality. HRSVs and IFVs were the major causative agents of acute respiratory diseases in infants and young children. Overall, this study demonstrates a meaningful relationship between viral infection and typical manifestations of known clinical features as well as seasonality, age distribution, and co‐infection among respiratory viruses. Therefore, these data could provide useful information for public health management and to enhance patient care for primary clinicians. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of combined approaches to coastal adaptation in lieu of a single strategy, such as sea-wall construction, allows for better preparation for a highly uncertain and dynamic coastal environment. Although general principles such as mainstreaming and no- or low-regret options exist to guide coastal adaptation and provide the framework in which combined approaches operate, few have examined the interactions, synergistic effects and benefits of combined approaches to adaptation. This Perspective provides three examples of ecological engineering - marshes, mangroves and oyster reefs - and illustrates how the combination of ecology and engineering works. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This paper argues for a stronger integration of marine sciences and coastal management studies that generates better formulated marine policies and viable policy implementation strategies. Integration of natural and social sciences in environmental management has surfaced as a key issue recently in the fields of sustainability science, ecosystem-based management, and social–ecological resilience. This paper promotes such trend in marine studies, and examines the rationale, progress, and examples of the integration. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This paper addresses limitations of community-based resource management by examining Korean fishing communities making the transition into tourism. It challenges local-centered views of resource management implemented through a homogeneous, cooperative, and self-reliant community. Local communities more often than not consist of diverse groups, demonstrate internal political dynamics, and need external resources in times of crisis. Utilizing three case studies of depressed Korean fishing communities, the author emphasizes the significance of external linkages, and concludes that existing community-based resource management is not adequate to the task of transition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines development of tourism in Korean fishing communities, and illustrates the ways in which the responses of the state and the fishing village cooperative to tourism have advanced the privatization of commonly held local fishing grounds and of cooperative businesses. The financial assistance from the state and some privatization of common fishing grounds by the cooperative precipitated this trend. In addition, the development largely focused on the private goods characteristic of the tourist resources. In place, common assets are overlooked though tourism enterprises ultimately depend on common tourism assets. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This paper reviews recent advances in non-invasive blood pressure monitoring and highlights the added value of a novel algorithm-based blood pressure sensor which uses machine-learning techniques to extract blood pressure values from the shape of the pulse waveform. We report results from preliminary studies on a range of patient populations and discuss the accuracy and limitations of this capacitive-based technology and its potential application in hospitals and communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human rhinoviruses (HRVs), in the Enterovirus genus within the family Picornaviridae, are a highly prevalent cause of acute respiratory infection (ARI). Enteroviruses are genetically highly variable, and recombination between serotypes is known to be a major contribution to their diversity. Recently it was reported that recombination events in HRVs cause the diversity of HRV-C. This study analyzed parts of the viral genes spanning the 5′ non- coding region (NCR) through to the viral protein (VP) encoding sequences of 105 HRV field isolates from 51 outpatient cases of Acute Respiratory Infectious Network (ARINET) and 54 inpatient cases of severe lower respiratory infection (SLRI) surveillance, in order to identify recombination in field samples. When analyzing parts of the 5′NCR and VP4/VP2 encoding sequences, we found intra- and interspecies recombinants in field strains of HRV-A and -C. Nineteen cases of recombination events (18.1%) were found among 105 field strains. For HRV-A, there were five cases (4.8%) of intraspecies recombination events and three cases (2.8%) of interspecies recombination events. For HRV-C, there were four cases (3.8%) of intraspecies recombination events and seven cases (6.7%) of interspecies recombination events. Recombination events were significantly more frequently observed in the ARINET samples (18 cases) than in the SLRI samples (1 case; P< 0.0001). The recombination breakpoints were located in nucleotides (nt) 472–554, which comprise stem-loop 5 in the internal ribosomal entry site (IRES), based on the HRV-B 35 sequence (accession no. FJ445187). Our findings regarding genomic recombination in circulating HRV-A and -C strains suggest that recombination might play a role in HRV fitness and could be a possible determinant of disease severity caused by various HRV infections in patients with ARI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]