Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Romina Alexandrou, Maria Kyprianidou, Galatia Photiou, Angelos P. Kassianos, Konstantinos Giannakou
Summary: This study aimed to understand the levels of fear regarding future pandemics and/or epidemics among the general population in Cyprus and examine the various factors that influence this fear. The study collected data from October 1st, 2022, to February 19th, 2023, using a self-administered questionnaire. The findings showed that women, individuals vaccinated against COVID-19, higher levels of trust, and higher health literacy were associated with a higher likelihood of fearing future pandemics, while unemployment and having a postgraduate education decreased this likelihood. Older age was negatively associated with a higher score of fear, whereas being in a vulnerable group and having a chronic disease were positively associated with increased fear of future epidemics and/or pandemics. These findings highlight the importance of prioritizing mental health and providing information in a way that avoids spreading fear and panic, particularly among vulnerable populations.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Bjoerg Helgadottir, Andreas Froberg, Karin Kjellenberg, Oerjan Ekblom, Gisela Nyberg
Summary: This paper assesses the impact of COVID-19 pandemic restrictions on physical activity, screen time, and sleep among Swedish adolescents. The study found that light physical activity decreased, sedentary time increased, sleep duration decreased, and screen time increased. Girls, adolescents with overweight/obesity, and those with lower cardiovascular fitness had less favorable changes in activity patterns, sleep, and screen time.
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
C. Arcidiacono, M. Mancino, S. M. C. Porto, V. Bloch, M. Pastell
Summary: Improved raw data handling is essential for enhancing the performance of IoT device-based data acquisition systems. This study developed firmware for low-cost acceleration sensors to optimize battery life-time and minimize packet loss while ensuring high accuracy in cow behavior discrimination. The comparisons between base firmware and new firmware showed outstanding performance in terms of CPU usage, memory occupation, and accuracy measures.
COMPUTERS AND ELECTRONICS IN AGRICULTURE
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Aerospace
Nate Harvey, Christopher M. McCullough, Himanshu Save
Summary: This paper describes the error sources in GRACE-FO accelerometers and the strategies used to mitigate these errors, emphasizing the importance of accurate measurements for estimating the Earth's gravitational field.
ADVANCES IN SPACE RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
P. Ellina, N. Middleton, E. Lambrinou, C. Kouta
Summary: The study in Limassol revealed that social inequalities exist in health behaviors and quality of life, with a strong relationship found between education level and physical health. Furthermore, profession seems to have a stronger impact on men than on women in both physical and mental dimensions.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yuntian Teng, Yewei Wang, Yixiang Tang, Xiaomei Wang, Caihua Li, Zhongchao Qiu
Summary: Acceleration detection is important in various fields, and this study proposes a FBG acceleration sensor for low-frequency vibration measurement. The sensor combines L-shaped rigid beam and spring structure to address the low sensitivity issue of FBG acceleration sensors in low-frequency vibration measurement. The study analyzes the effects of structural parameters, conducts simulation analysis, and tests the performance of the sensors. The findings show improved sensitivity and a wider operating frequency range.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Satoshi Arita, Daisuke Nishiyama, Takaya Taniguchi, Daisuke Fukui, Manabu Yamanaka, Hiroshi Yamada
Summary: This study identified important features for classifying differences in lameness patterns using an inertial measurement unit above the sacral region, providing new indicators for understanding lameness.
Article
Optics
Huicong Li, Wentao Zhang, Jianxiang Zhang, Wenzhu Huang
Summary: A fiber optic jerk sensor (FOJS) based on a fiber optic differentiating Mach-Zehnder interferometer is proposed, which can directly measure jerk with high sensitivity, ultra-low noise, wide measuring range, and good linearity. The FOJS shows good consistency with a standard piezoelectric accelerometer in impact tests.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Haris Haralambous, Antonios Constantinides, Krishnendu Sekhar Paul
Summary: Noise and interference are significant factors in HF system performance due to the long distance propagation characteristics of the HF spectrum. HF noise consists of man-made and naturally occurring components, with variability in terms of time, azimuth, and filter bandwidth. Understanding these characteristics is crucial for selecting appropriate HF system parameters.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Li Hong, Rui Sun, Zhongchao Qiu, Zhiming Han, Yanan Li
Summary: This study addresses the issue of low sensitivity in FBG acceleration sensors for low-frequency vibration measurements by proposing a multi-cantilever beam low-frequency FBG acceleration sensor. The sensor, optimized through simulation analysis, exhibits high sensitivity and low transverse crosstalk, making it suitable for monitoring low-frequency vibration signals within the range of 16-54Hz. Performance tests show that the sensor has a sensitivity of approximately 87.955 pm/m s^(-2), with a linearity exceeding 99% and a transverse interference immunity below 2.58%.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Pil Sang Song, Mi Joo Kim, Seok-Woo Seong, Si Wan Choi, Hyeon-Cheol Gwon, Seung-Ho Hur, Seung-Woon Rha, Chang-Hwan Yoon, Myung Ho Jeong, Jin-Ok Jeong
Summary: Studies on gender differences in mortality after AMI have yielded inconsistent results. This study found that young women have a significantly higher mortality rate compared to young men, while elderly women have a lower mortality hazard compared to elderly men. The interaction between gender and age was found to be significant.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Optics
Caihua Li, Yuxin Guan, Bingbing Zhang, Lei Qiu, Jianchao Zhou, Xingxing Hu
Summary: High-precision and high-sensitivity vibration acceleration sensors are crucial in engineering technology for structural health monitoring, earthquakes, tsunamis, and geological exploration. A novel fiber Bragg grating (FBG) acceleration sensor with a mass block and flexible hinge was proposed to address the low sensitivity and poor transverse interference resistance of existing FBG sensors. The sensor's structural parameters were optimized, real sensors were developed, and a performance test experiment was conducted. The results showed a high natural frequency of 1400 Hz, flat response in the frequency range of 50-800 Hz, sensitivity of 18.4 pm/g, linearity R2 of 0.9983, and transverse interference immunity below 3.2%. These findings provide a new perspective for high-precision and high-sensitivity vibration measurement in engineering technology.
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Tian Liang, Bowen Liu, Mingwei Chen, Yulan Lu, Jian Chen, Deyong Chen, Junbo Wang
Summary: This paper presents a highly integrated micromachined electrochemical angular accelerometer with sensitive microelectrodes. The device was optimized with key geometrical parameters and achieved a significant improvement in sensitivity compared to a previously reported accelerometer. The developed accelerometer shows potential for applications in seismology, including natural disaster monitoring and resource exploration.
MICROSYSTEMS & NANOENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Instruments & Instrumentation
Dong Li, Qiancheng Zhao, Jian Cui
Summary: This paper presents an improved frequency measurement method based on multi-phase clock, which can improve measurement accuracy without reducing the output rate. Experimental results show that the proposed method outperforms the traditional methods. Additionally, an algorithm running in FPGA is proposed to enhance the robustness of the optimized MPC.
REVIEW OF SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Dunzhu Xia, Mohan Yao, Jinhui Li
Summary: This article introduces a tri-axis accelerometer with a digital readout circuit and communication system. The device consists of resonant accelerometers in the x and y-axis and a seesaw capacitive one in the z-axis. The measurement is based on FPGA and test results show low bias instability, cross-coupling error, and nonlinearity. This tri-axis digital accelerometer with serial ports is more valuable than previous works with large commercial instruments.
Article
Nursing
Stelios Iordanou, Elizabeth Papathanassoglou, Nicos Middleton, Lakis Palazis, Chrystalla Timiliotou-Matsentidou, Vasilios Raftopoulos
Summary: This study evaluated the effectiveness of infection control measures in reducing DA-HAIs in an ICU of a General Hospital in Cyprus. The results showed a significant reduction in DA-HAI rates after implementing prevention measures.
NURSING IN CRITICAL CARE
(2022)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Daphne Kleopa, Andrie Panayiotou, Christiana Kouta, Chrystalla Kaiafa, Nicos Middleton
Summary: This study surveyed citizens' perceptions of Place in diverse settings in Cyprus using the Place Standard Tool (PST). The findings showed that except for safety, citizens rated other features of the neighbourhood environment unfavorably, with the lowest scores for influence, sense of control, and public transport. There was a clear social gradient in the dissatisfaction levels, with lower-rated features being more prevalent among participants with lower social positions. The study also identified the dimensions of the neighbourhood environment and demonstrated its construct validity as a measurement tool. This research is important for understanding the variability and inequity in the health-related neighbourhood environment, and the PST can be used to advocate for neighbourhood initiatives that enhance citizens' participation.
Article
Pediatrics
Panayiotis Kouis, Eleni Michaelidou, Paraskevi Kinni, Antonis Michanikou, Pinelopi Anagnostopoulou, Helen Dimitriou, Kostas Karanicolas, Andreas M. Matthaiou, Souzana Achilleos, Stefania Papatheodorou, Petros Koutrakis, Nicos Middleton, Emmanouil Galanakis, Panayiotis K. Yiallouros
Summary: Clinically meaningful improvements in asthma symptom control were observed among asthmatic schoolchildren during the COVID-19 lockdown measures in Spring 2020, independently associated with time spent at home and more profound in children with severe asthma.
PEDIATRIC PULMONOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Andrea Cannas, Margaret P. Rayman, Ourania Kolokotroni, Sarah C. Bath
Summary: Pregnant women in Cyprus have inadequate iodine status and are at risk of mild-to-moderate iodine deficiency. Egg intake is significantly associated with a higher iodine-to-creatinine ratio.
BRITISH JOURNAL OF NUTRITION
(2023)
Article
Management
Ioannis Leontiou, Evridiki Papastavrou, Nicos Middleton, Anastasios Merkouris
Summary: This study investigates the perceived empowerment and turnover intention of middle nurse managers before and after a major reform of the health care system in Cyprus. The results show lower levels of empowerment among nurse managers with turnover intentions. The study suggests that senior management should create opportunities and interventions to improve nurse managers' empowerment and assess their effectiveness in terms of turnover intention.
JOURNAL OF NURSING MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Meeting Abstract
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
I Lakatamitou, N. Middleton, L. Paikousis, C. Kouta, E. Lambrinou
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF CARDIOVASCULAR NURSING
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
K. Psistaki, S. Achilleos, N. Middleton, A. K. Paschalidou
Summary: This study explores the impact of particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10) on mortality (all-cause, cardiovascular, respiratory) in two coastal cities in the Eastern Mediterranean. The results show significant positive associations between PM2.5 and PM10 with mortality at different lags, with a protective effect observed only during dust storms in Thessaloniki. Gender-specific analysis reveals significant associations only for males in both cities. The findings highlight the need for city-specific public health interventions to address the impact of air pollution and other factors on population health.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Souzana Achilleos, Antonis Michanikou, Panayiotis Kouis, Stefania I. Papatheodorou, Andrie G. Panayiotou, Paraskevi Kinni, Nikos Mihalopoulos, Nikos Kalivitis, Giorgos Kouvarakis, Emmanouil Galanakis, Eleni Michailidi, Filippos Tymvios, Andreas Chrysanthou, Marina Neophytou, Petros Mouzourides, Chrysanthos Savvides, Emily Vasiliadou, Ilias Papasavvas, Theodoros Christophides, Rozalia Nicolaou, Panayiotis Avraamides, Choong-Min Kang, Nicos Middleton, Petros Koutrakis, Panayiotis K. Yiallouros
Summary: Desert dust storms have a significant impact on populations near the emission sources as well as those located far away. The study found that using air purifiers and reducing ventilation measures is an effective way to reduce indoor exposure to particles during both desert dust storms and normal days. This intervention proves to be especially beneficial for high-risk population groups such as asthma patients and individuals with atrial fibrillation.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Andreas Eleftheriou, Petros Mouzourides, George Biskos, Panayiotis Yiallouros, Prashant Kumar, Marina K. -A. Neophytou
Summary: This critical review analyzes the feasibility of mitigation and adaptation measures for sand and dust storms (SDS) in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR). It concludes that implementing appropriate measures at the local level is possible, but poses a new challenge at a wider scale. The EMR, being at the intersection of three major SDS areas with diverse economic, political, and social conditions, adds complexity to this challenge. The review also highlights the lack of adaptation measures in the region and identifies successful mitigation strategies for similar environmental issues.
MITIGATION AND ADAPTATION STRATEGIES FOR GLOBAL CHANGE
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Pinelopi Anagnostopoulou, Panayiotis Kouis, Stefania Papatheodorou, Nicos Middleton, Ilias Papasavvas, Panayiotis Avraamides, Emmanuel Simantirakis, Ioannis Anastasiou, Victor Novack, Gerasimos Stamatelatos, Efstathios Revvas, Christos Kaniklides, Filippos Tymvios, Chrysanthos Savvides, Petros Koutrakis, Panayiotis K. Yiallouros
Summary: The Mitigating the Health Effects of Desert Dust Storms Using Exposure-Reduction Approaches is a clinical randomised intervention study funded by the EU LIFE+ programme. The study aims to evaluate the efficacy of recommendations to reduce exposure to desert dust and its effects on heart arrhythmia. The study is being conducted in three heavily exposed regions of the Eastern Mediterranean and the findings will be disseminated through various channels.
Article
Psychiatry
Maria Karanikola, Maria Nystazaki, Katerina Kaikoushi, Nicos Middleton, Andreas Chatzittofis
Summary: This study assessed the association between cognitive function, psychotic symptoms, and doses of antipsychotics in adults under compulsory psychiatric care. The results showed that patients with positive mental health history, non-adherence to pharmacotherapy, and prescription of high-dose antipsychotics had lower cognitive function scores.
Review
Nutrition & Dietetics
Nieves Amat Camacho, Johan von Schreeb, Francesco Della Corte, Ourania Kolokotroni
Summary: This study aimed to compile and evaluate the characteristics, outcomes, and factors influencing the implementation of relactation support interventions. The findings suggest that relactation support can contribute to re-establishing breastfeeding, but its effectiveness in humanitarian settings remains uncertain.
MATERNAL AND CHILD NUTRITION
(2023)
Article
Nursing
Kleanthi Gourounti, Antigoni Sarantaki, Maria-Eleni Dafnou, Eleni Hadjigeorgiou, Aikaterini Lykeridou, Nicos Middleton
Summary: The study aimed to explore the learning needs and digital health literacy of pregnant women in Greece regarding perinatal health and care issues. The findings indicated that pregnant women relied on various sources, such as antenatal classes, health professionals, the Internet, books, friends, and relatives, for information. Concerns were raised regarding the validity of information on the Internet and the difficulty of accessing reliable scientific resources. Pregnant women often refrained from discussing information obtained from the Internet with healthcare providers.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF MIDWIFERY
(2022)
Meeting Abstract
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
G. Photiou, N. Middleton, D. B. Panagiotakos, A. Panayiotou
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Areti Efthymiou, Nicos Middleton, Andreas Charalambous, Evridiki Papastavrou
Summary: This study identified high levels of health literacy and eHealth literacy among carers of people with dementia in Greece and Cyprus. Carers with higher health literacy were more likely to have higher eHealth literacy and caregiving self-efficacy, as well as lower problematic coping scores. Higher scores in eHeals-Carer information seeking were linked to increased use of emotion-focused coping strategies.
HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE IN THE COMMUNITY
(2022)
