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The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an ongoing global pandemic and wearing face mask is recommended across the globe to break the transmission chain of infection. The masks available in the market are of different types and materials and tend to alter the voice characteristics of the speaker. This can therefore impair optimal communication and the present study is a systematic review exploring the effect of various masks on voice production parameters. Systematic review. The titles and abstracts screening was carried out for the inclusion of articles using eight electronic databases spanning the period from 1st January 2020 to 30th April 2021. 10 articles (8 published & 2 in pre-print) that met the inclusion criteria were considered for this systematic review and the pooled age range was 18 –69 years. Three primary studies from the USA, 2 each from Australia & Italy, one each from Brazil, China, and Germany were found to have investigated the influence of wearing N95, KN95, surgical and fabric masks on voice related measures. The users significantly reported vocal fatigue, discomfort, and also perceived voice problems. Attenuation of speech sound amplitude was highest for the transparent mask followed by cloth mask, N95, KN95, and surgical mask. The World Health Organization (WHO) has been repeatedly endorsing the need to use a face mask in the current COVID-19 pandemic. However, for an unintruded voice production, the surgical mask is recommended for everyone, including healthcare professionals when they are not in close contact with patients, and not involved in aerosol-generating procedures. For teachers, doing direct teaching (offline classes), 'surgical mask' can reduce the vocal load of teachers, smoothen the teacher-student interaction and thereby facilitate better learning by the students. Additionally, it would be useful to protect oneself from the risk of developing voice problems by following standard vocal healthcare tips. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Information on Covid-19 disease highlights the importance of preventive measures, especially for those in risk groups. Industrial workers in these groups had to work on the front lines to continue their operation during the pandemic period. In addition to individual measures in controlling the pandemic, it is important to take the necessary measures by the enterprise and to spread these measures on a social level. A total of 194 people from the factory with 347 employees were surveyed in the study, which aimed to emphasize the importance of personal, institutional and social measures, healthy living habits, adequate and balanced eating habits that support the immune system and the importance of controlling the disease. In the study, it was found that healthy living habits and awareness of corona protection are paralleled, diet increases as healthy life habits increase, and corona and its effects decrease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the study was to investigate the effect of high interval training (HIIT) under mask on forced vital capacity in football players. Fourteen male football players (age 20 ± 2 years) were randomized into the without mask group (CON) or with the 2 difference mask groups [Surgical mask (SM), FFP2 mask (FM)]. HIIT program were implemented six movements in each session three times per week. Body composition, forced vital capacity and percutaneous oxygen saturation test were taken before and after 4 weeks intervention. The results show that forced vital capacity was statistically significant increased with both types of masks (SM: 5.68 ± 1.07 L; FM: 5.26 ± 0.86 L; CON: 4.66 ± 0.48 L, p < 0.01). Additionally, not significant difference in percutaneous oxygen saturation (SpO2) was found, and fat free mass (SM: 54.45 ± 4.01 kg; FM: 57.08 ± 4.38kg; CON: 58.34 ± 1.81 kg, p<0.01) were statistically significant changed with SM and CON but not FM. In conclusion, wearing surgical masks and FFP2 face mask during high-intensity interval exercise showed certain positive impacts on cardiopulmonary function. This short-term high-intensity interval training can be used to improve forced vital capacity performance among football players. This finding can be applied to develop the strength of breathing muscles in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In contrast to the beginning of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), pandemic, more and more hospital issues are now regulated by policy. To identify differences between expert recommendations and legal requirements regarding infection prevention and control (IPC) strategies. A cross-sectional study was conducted between 29th September 2022 and 3rd November 2022 addressing 1319 members of the German Society for Hygiene and Microbiology. The response rate was 12%. This paper reports the expert recommendations on different IPC strategies. The majority (66%) of experts recommended universal mask usage, with 34% recommending it seasonally, even after the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Medical microbiology (MM) experts were more likely to recommend continuing to wear the masks indefinitely compared with IPC experts. Concerning the mask type, medical masks were recommended more frequently by IPC experts (47.3%), while FFP2 masks were preferred by MM experts (31.8%). The majority (54.7%) of experts recommended universal screening of employees, mainly in settings with extremely vulnerable patients and if regional incidence rates were high, at a frequency of twice per week. The dominant advice (recommended by at least 50% of experts) for employees exposed to SARS-CoV-2 was daily testing and wearing a mask, regardless of the length of exposure. Expert recommendations deviate from the legal requirements and appear to be more differentiated and proportional. The influence of specific experience and expertise on mask recommendations should be investigated in more detail. For relevant policy decisions, a quick, focused and broad-based consultation of expertise could be of added value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The new coronavirus pandemic and the medical difficulties it brings with it also complicates the management of patients in emergency departments due to the limitations it creates in doctor-patient communication. Methods: This study consists of the patients who applied to the Emergency COVID-19 outpatient clinic of Manisa Merkezefendi State Hospital between 15 March 2022 and 15 July 2022 with symptoms such as fever, sore throat, shortness of breath and diarrhea, and the discussions between the doctors who provide care for these patients Results: The mean age of the physicians participating in the study is 39.42 ± 9.7 years, 33 (50%) are male. The mean age of the patients constituting the study's target population is between 42.83 ± 15.75 years, and 34 (51.5%) are male. There was a statistically significant difference between the groups for the answers given to the questions 'Inability to understand what was said due to the mask' and 'The use of masks limiting facial expr ession' (p < 0.05). Discussion: Pandemic and the limited pathological communication obligation create a constant perception of justification for the events. Conclusion: The pandemic might form an unhealthy sense of entitlement in doctor-patient communication due to the Rashomon effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Health care workers (HCWs) were on the frontline of the current pandemic. We aimed at identifying determinants of SARS-CoV-2 infection and the effectiveness of personal protection equipment (PPE) worn by HCWs before vaccination. Methods: We abstracted data on SARS-CoV-2 infection based on positive PCR results and sociodemographic characteristics of 38,793 HCWs from public hospitals and public health authorities from 10 European centers. We fitted cohort-specific multivariate logistic regression models to identify determinants of infection and combined the results using random-effects meta-analyses. Results: The overall prevalence of infection before vaccination among HCWs was 9.58%. Infection was associated with the presence of selected symptoms; no association was found between sociodemographic factors and increased risk of infection. The use of PPE and particularly FFP2/FFP3 masks had a different protective effect during the first and second waves of the COVID pandemic. Conclusions: The study provides evidence that mask use was the most effective PPE in preventing SARS-CoV-2 infection among HCWs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of BMS: Bulletin de Methodologie Sociologique (Sage Publications Ltd.) is the property of Sage Publications Inc. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Introduction: There is growing concern around the world regarding pandemic diseases of the respiratory system, including Coronavirus disease 2019 and tuberculosis, and the health problems associated with air pollution, which have led to wearing of protective masks in daily life, including during running exercises. Purpose: To study and compare the long-term effects of wearing reusable masks while running exercises on blood gas parameters and on haematocrit levels in adults. Methods: Fifteen healthy volunteers, aged 25-40 years old, were randomly assigned to two groups: moderate- and vigorous-intensity running groups. Both groups wore reusable masks that could filter air at 95% during running exercises for a period of 6 weeks. Results: Carbon dioxide in arterial blood and bicarbonate levels in red blood increased significantly (p<0.05) after wearing reusable masks during running. A comparison between the two groups revealed that the bicarbonate levels in arterial blood in the vigorous exercise group were significantly higher than those in the moderate exercise group (p<0.01), but there were no significant differences between the groups in the other variables tested. Conclusions: Wearing a mask while running for a prolonged time was associated with primary respiratory acidosis. However, the body retained the ability to reduce the blood pH without increasing the number of blood cells. Instead, rectification was performed through the proximal ureter, using bicarbonate as the chemical substrate. Consequently, a decrease in the amount of water in the blood was observed, which was associated with marked viscosity of the blood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

La crise sanitaire qu'a connue la France depuis le début de l'année 2020 a justifié la mise en place de nouvelles règles nécessitant des changements de comportements. Le contexte de mise en place de ces règles sanitaires, instituées très récemment et pour un temps limité, pose la question de leur perception et de leur respect dans la population. À partir de la psychologie sociale du développement, l'objectif de cet article est d'explorer les motivations à la conformité à ces règles sanitaires, mesurées ici au travers du port du masque, et d'étudier leur relation au vécu du contexte sanitaire et à la motivation à la conformité à d'autres règles légales, appréhendées ici au travers des règles de sécurité routière. Le recueil par questionnaire, effectué pendant le deuxième confinement auprès d'un échantillon de 4999 personnes représentatives de la population, a permis de mesurer le vécu du contexte sanitaire, l'internalisation des règles et leurs justifications, l'utilité des règles et la perception du système légal. Les résultats montrent les liens entre la règle, le type d'arguments utilisé pour la justifier pour le port du masque et pour les règles routières respectivement, ainsi que les liens entre l'internalisation et la perception du système légal. Ils montrent également que les femmes utilisent davantage les arguments moraux et prudentiels pour justifier leur internalisation des règles et qu'elles ont internalisé les règles routières (mais pas le port du masque) davantage que les hommes. Ces résultats montrent que la perception de la règle du port du masque semble davantage liée à la perception générale qu'ont les individus du système légal et d'autres règles légales de santé publique impliquant le rapport à autrui que du contexte de mise en place de ces règles. The health crisis that France has experienced since the beginning of 2020 has justified the introduction of new health rules requiring changes in behaviour. The context of the implementation of these health rules, instituted very recently and for a limited period of time, raises the question of their perception and respect among the population. Mobilising the social developmental psychology, the objective of this article is to explore inter-individual differences in the perception of these health rules measured through the wearing of masks. It aims also at studying the links between these perceptions with the experience of the health context and the perception of other legal public health rules, apprehended through some road safety rules. The questionnaire survey, carried out during the second confinement with a representative sample of 4999 people, made it possible to measure the experience of the health context, the internalisation of the rules and their justifications, the usefulness of the rules and the perception of the legal system. The results show the links between internalisation, the type of arguments used to justify it for wearing a mask and for road rules respectively, as well as the links between internalisation and the perception of the legal system. They also show that women use moral and prudential arguments more to justify their internalisation of rules and that they have internalised the traffic rules (but not the wearing of masks) more than men. These results show that the perception of the rule of wearing a mask is more related to the general perception that individuals have of the legal system and other legal public health rules involving the relationship with others than to the context in which these rules were put in place. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: We aimed to investigate the association between personal protective equipment (PPE) use and SARS-CoV-2 infection among healthcare workers (HCWs). Methods: We analyzed occupational surveillance contact forms followed by a PCR test notified between March and September 2020 by Italian HCWs. The odds ratios (ORs) and 95% Confidence Intervals (CIs) for positive PCR based on HCWs and contacts characteristics were calculated through multivariable logistic regression models. When multiple contacts were potentially effective for a PCR test, they were weighted by the inverse of their number. Results: Overall, 4,883 contacts reported by 2,952 HCWs were analyzed, and 224 contacts among 144 HCWs had positive PCR. No difference was found according to sex, age, employment, or job title, except for an OR of 0.30 (95%CI 0.11-0.78) for resident physicians, compared to administrative staff. The ORs for use of surgical mask were 0.59 (95%CI=0.40-0.86) for use only by HCW, 0.49 (95%CI=0.22-1.07) only by the infected person, and 0.40 (95%CI=0.27-0.60) by both, compared to use by neither. Use of other PPEs was not associated with infection, while the OR for hand sanitation was 0.61 (95%CI=0.40-0.93). HCWs reporting fever, cough, and asthenia had a higher risk of infection. Conclusions: Use of surgical masks was associated with a 40-60% lower risk of infection, especially when both HCWs and infected individuals used them. Our results quantify the role played by mask use and hand sanitation in preventing SARS-CoV-2 transmission in high-risk circumstances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Zeitschrift für Pädagogik is the property of Julius Beltz GmbH & Co. KG Beltz Juventa and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

We investigated whether face mask wearing in a hot and humid environment would influence subjective states: motivation, affect, and the performance of cognitive tasks requiring attentional processes. Forty volunteers performed the tasks under 4 repeated conditions: in an air-conditioned (AC) room or a tropical climate (TC; hot and wet environment) while wearing a mask or not (counterbalanced). For each condition, they completed questionnaires on subjective states (affect, motivation, and attentional processes) by performing the Bells and d2 tests, and a comparison of men and women was an indirect focus of this study. Results showed that the participants had higher sensations of fatigue, thermal discomfort, and a negative affect when wearing a mask in the TC condition. Additionally, lower performance scores were noted in the Bells test when participants wore a mask in a TC compared with all other conditions. Lastly, the participants' performance on the d2 test involving selective and sustained attention improved without a mask in AC and in TC conditions. Consequently, the results revealed that wearing a mask in a TC can induce anxiety, headaches, discomfort, and lower motivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly affected flight attendants' health, safety, and security. Members of this group work in a densely occupied and enclosed space where social distancing is virtually impossible, compliance with mask rules is uneven, aggressive passenger incidents are at an all-time high, and the vaccination status of passengers on domestic flights is unknown. Here is a description of the response by the federal government and the United States (U.S.) airline industry from the perspective of a flight attendant union between the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic and this writing. Specifically, the issues of ventilation, face masks, aggressive passengers, quarantine and isolation, and vaccinations are reviewed, including actions taken by the executive branch of the U.S. government, regulators, airlines, manufacturers, and our crew member union. Although there will be regional differences around the globe, many of these issues are universal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the importance and meanings of the masked character of the Mute (Mutul), part of the Căluş ritual performed at the Whitsuntide feast in several regions of Romania and observed in two villages in Argeş County (Stolnici and Bârla). The Căluşari (the members of the Căluş group) perform specific dances meant, first of all, to cure the ritual illness inflicted by Iele (mythological feminine creatures) and also intended to provide for the good health and prosperity of the households where they are being performed. One of the performers is the Mute, archetypally similar to the Jester/Joker, who is impersonated by a man dressed as a woman but endowed with the fertility symbol of a wooden phallus. His presence and actions are all about transgression – he can mock the Căluşari or the community members assisting in the ritual, breaking all conventional behaviour rules. He plays, as well, an important part in the short episodes meant to make the audience laugh. We inquire into how his performance and actions can be perceived in relation to the social limits they break. At the same time, the article discusses what happens to the masked character in the staging context of the ritual, since from the beginning of the twentieth century, especially during the communist period, it reached larger audiences during local (and international) festivals. As of 2008, the ritual has been recognised internationally as an identity emblem, part of the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organophosphates esters (OPEs) have become a preferred alternative in nail polish as plasticizers due to health concerns over previously used additives like dibutyl phthalate. However, the true extent of nail technicians' exposure to OPEs is largely unknown. This study shows that nail salon workers are significant exposed to OPEs, with varied concentrations found in air, dust, masks, and urine. The total concentrations of 11 OPEs in ultrasonic personal air samplers (UPAS) ranged from 251 to 1007 ng/m³, and in air conditioner filter dust from 371 to 14473 ng/g. Triphenyl phosphate (TPHP) was the most abundant compound found in the nail polishes used in these salons. On average, the concentrations of TPHP and diphenyl phosphate (DPHP) in workers' urine after work were 5.2 and 1.8 times higher than those before work, respectively. Two nail salons that had the highest nail polish usage also had very high concentrations of TPHP in surgical masks, dust, and UPAS. TPHP concentrations in workers' urine after work were 19 and 13 times those before work, respectively, in these two salons. Human internal exposure assessment showed that the average exposure dose of TPHP after work was 1.8 times higher than that before work. On average, use of masks reduced OPEs in urine by 77%. In conclusion, frequent mask replacement is highly recommended, especially in long working circumstances. Without regular replacement, masks may accumulate OPEs from the air, potentially becoming another source of human exposure to OPEs. Therefore, more attention should be paid to the occupational exposure of nail salon workers to OPEs, particularly considering that most practitioners in this industry are young women of reproductive age. [Display omitted] • TPHP concentrations in workers' urine were 5.2 times higher after work. • Nail polish usage led to the highest concentrations of TPHP in worker's urine. • Masks reduced worker exposure to OPEs by an average of 77%. • Frequent mask replacement is recommended, especially for long-term working conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The COVID-19 pandemic has had a negative impact on more than half of migraine patients. • N95 mask, double mask, and long-term use of masks are risk factors for migraine worsening. • Personal intensive disinfectant usage is associated with worsening of migraines. • Individualized prevention methods should be advised to migraine patients. Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and disinfectants has become necessary to prevent transmission of the virus. However, the effects of such pandemic obligations on chronic diseases such as migraine have not been fully elucidated. We aimed to investigate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the use of masks and disinfectants, on migraine patients. A total of 310 migraine patients were included. Demographic data, migraine characteristics, and mask and disinfectant use were obtained through a face-to-face survey. Patients were grouped as worsening, stable, or improving according to pre-pandemic and pandemic migraine characteristics. Migraine worsening was found in 177 (57.1%) patients, stable course in 96 (31%) patients, and improvement in 37 (11.9%) patients. The use of scalp contact masks and double masks and daily mask duration were higher in the worsening group (p:0.005, p:0.005 and p:0.001). In addition, the frequency of personal disinfectant use was higher in this group (p:0.011). In regression analysis, mask type, daily mask duration, presence of allodynia, being a health worker, depression score, and odor were determined as independent risk factors for migraine worsening. We found a worsening of migraines in more than half of patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. We also demonstrated a relationship between migraine worsening and mask type, number of masks, and intensive disinfectant use. Migraine patients should be advised of optimal prevention methods based on individual social and working conditions rather than exaggerated preventative measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prevention of respiratory viral infection in stem cell transplant patients is important due to its high risk of adverse outcome. This single-centre, mixed methods study, conducted before the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 pandemic, explored the barriers and facilitators to a policy of universal mask use by visitors and healthcare workers, and examined the impact of the first year of introduction of the policy on respiratory viral infection rates compared with preceding years, adjusted for overall incidence. Education around universal mask use was highlighted as being particularly important in policy implementation. A significant decrease in respiratory viral infection was observed following introduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the context of tourism, advertising as a “place” for the encounter of various fields, the destination as a landscape of identities appears as a mediatized image at various levels, among which the pragmatics of a specific promotional language. This specific language consists in specific techniques and generates meaning beyond the camera as a ubiquitous condition of the third Greimasian category (the aesthetic). Based on qualitative research methodology borrowed both from discourse studies and tourism studies, I aim at placing my model contradicting the tensed relation between the three categories (the sacred, the ludic and the aesthetic). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Faculty of Letters / Edebiyat Fakultesi Dergisi is the property of Hacettepe University Faculty of Letters and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) that has created the current pandemic, has caused a worldwide worry. Different countries have since enforced varying levels of lockdowns and guidelines for their populations to follow in a serious effort to mitigate the spread. Up until recently, the majority of these regulations and policies were established on the assumption that the dominant routes of transmission of this virus are through droplets and fomite contact. However, there is now a substantial amount of research pointing towards the strong possibility that SARS-CoV-2 can spread through airborne means. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have recently recognized this, which poses the question of whether our collective methods of lessening transmission risk and keeping people safe have been sufficient. This paper is a comprehensive review of the evidence on SARS-CoV-2 being an airborne disease, through different epidemiological, experimental, and animal-model based published research. Studies opposing this evidence have also been discussed. The majority of these studies are favoring the high plausibility of SARSCoV-2 aerosol transmission, and therefore the many implications of aerosol transmission have been discussed in this paper to suggest effective mitigation and control strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Cultura, Ciencia y Deporte is the property of Cultura, Ciencia y Deporte and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Cultura, Ciencia y Deporte is the property of Cultura, Ciencia y Deporte and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

World Health Organization declared the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) as a global pandemic on March 11, 2020. The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness and reliability of voice analysis performed with surgical masks and respirators during the pandemic and to discuss its routine applicability. This prospective study included 204 patients who applied to our clinic between the ages of 18 and 55, whose preoperative SARS-Cov-2 PCR tests were negative. Voice analyses were performed on each patient without a mask, with a surgical mask and with a valved face-filtering piece-3 (FFP3) respirator respectively. The F0, shimmer, jitter, s/z ratio, maximum phonation time and harmonic/noise ratio (HNR) values obtained from the voice analyses were compared with each other. No significant difference was found in terms of F0, Jitter, Shimmer, HNR, s/z and maximum phonation time values in the voice analyses performed without a mask and with a surgical mask. With an FFP3, a significant difference was found in only the Shimmer and HNR values compared to the other analysis values. When we look at the data with sex distinction, in the group of female and male patients, when the data of voice analysis obtained in three situations were compared, different results were obtained from the female and male group. In conclusion, it should be decided by the physician to perform the voice analysis with a surgical mask or with an FFP3, considering the clinically desired parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has taken a heavy toll on human life. • Creating a hybrid model that efficiently sanitizes the mask and increases its reuse. • The hybrid system can be used as standalone systems also. The pandemic coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has taken a heavy toll on human life and has upended the medical system in many countries. The disease has created a system wide worsening shortage of N95, medical masks, and other personal protective equipment (PPE) that is regularly used by healthcare personnel and emergency service providers for their protection. Considering the number of infected patients and the stressed supplies of PPE, reuse of PPE can serve as an efficient contingency plan. Multiple studies have investigated the effect of different decontamination methods. We chose the most user-friendly, easily scalable viral decontamination methods, including ultraviolet irradiation and heat treatment. In this paper, we investigated a unique approach to reuse the mask by creating a hybrid model that efficiently sanitizes the infected mask. The advantages of the proposed hybrid model as compared to the respective single arms is its decontamination efficacy, operational speed, as well as the number of reuse cycles as verified by mathematical analysis and simulation. This model is mainly intended for medical PPE but can also be used for other domestic and personal sanitization during the COVID-19 pandemic. As per the situation, the hybrid system can be used as standalone systems also. This sanitization process is not only limited to the elimination of Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 but can be extended to any other infectious agents. Thus, our results indicate that the proposed hybrid system is more effective, meets disinfection criterion and time saving for the reuse of respirators and PPE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Prolonged wear of facial protective equipment can lead to occupational dermatoses.Objective: To identify important causes of occupational dermatoses from facial protective equipment.Methods: A systematic review following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines was performed using PubMed and Embase databases. Articles were included if they reported occupational dermatoses caused by surgical/procedure masks or N95 respirators, or both.Results: We identified 344 articles, and 16 were suitable for inclusion in this review. Selected articles focused on facial occupational dermatoses in health care workers. Allergic contact dermatitis to the elastic straps, glue, and formaldehyde released from the mask fabric was reported. Irritant contact dermatitis was common on the cheeks and nasal bridge due to pressure and friction. Irritant dermatitis was associated with personal history of atopic dermatitis and prolonged mask wear (>6 hours). Acneiform eruption was reported due to prolonged wear and occlusion. Contact urticaria was rare.Limitations: Only publications listed in PubMed or Embase were included. Most publications were case reports and retrospective studies.Conclusion: This systematic review from members of the American Contact Dermatitis Society highlights cases of occupational dermatitis to facial protective equipment, including potential offending allergens. This work may help in the diagnosis and treatment of health care workers with facial occupational dermatitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The stressors caused by the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic have influenced both the physical and the mental health of the elderly, increasing their vulnerability. Counselling by the mental healthcare nurse is a critical protective factor in mitigating the mental health effects of COVID-19. However, counselling is unintentionally interrupted by the effects of the mask as a barrier to non-verbal communication. This commentary aims at conscientisation of mental healthcare nursing practice interruptions to non-verbal communication, brought upon by the pandemic. Practice recommendations focus on mask-wearing becoming less of a stressor to offset the challenges experienced by both the elderly and the mental healthcare nurses. Contribution: The authors conclude that a need exists to revisit the fundamentals of counselling, and show initiative to addressing the practice challenges created by the wearing of masks yet simultaneously contribute to #flatten_the_mental_illness_curve. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At the end of 2019, the first cases of COVID-19 were registered. As the disease spread across continents culminating in a pandemic, countries suffered from a shortage of personal protective equipment. In Brazil, the first case was recorded on February 2020. This study aims to describe the experience of creating an interinstitutional network to meet the pandemic's demands and the experience of transforming an academic design laboratory into space for the production of personal protective equipment using 3D printing and laser cutting techniques. The actions described in this study, made it possible to meet the high emergency demand for PPE in the city of Rio de Janeiro, as well as the construction of knowledge both within the scope of building networks to solve complex social problems and about the possibilities of production in an academic environment. The work also addresses the importance of the divulgation obtained by the project-specially on national TV broadcast and social media - as a way to raise society's awareness of design professionals work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An online survey conducted March 18–19, 2020 on the official China CDC WeChat account platform was used to evaluate the effect of public education about masks usage during the new coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic. Chinese nationals older than 18 were eligible for the survey. The survey collected 5,761 questionnaires from the 31 provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions of mainland China. 99.7% and 97.2% of the respondents answered correctly that respiratory droplets and direct contact were the main transmission routes. 73.3% of the respondents considered COVID-19 to be 'serious' or 'very serious'. When going to the hospital, 96.9% (2,885/2,976 had gone to a hospital) used a mask during the COVID-19 epidemic, while 41.1% (2,367/5,761) did not use a mask before the epidemic. Among the respondents that used public transportation and went shopping, 99.6% and 99.4%, respectively, wore masks. Among respondents who returned to work, 75.5% wore a mask at the workplace, while 86.3% of those who have not returned to work will choose to use masks when they return to the workplace. The Chinese public is highly likely to use a mask during COVID-19 epidemic, and the mask usage changed greatly since the COVID-19 outbreak. Therefore, public education has played an important role during the COVID-19 epidemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia pandemic, caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is spreading globally at an accelerated rate, with a basic reproduction number (R0) of 2-2.5, indicating that 2-3 persons will be infected from an index patient. A serious public health emergency, it is particularly deadly in vulnerable populations and communities in which healthcare providers are insufficiently prepared to manage the infection. As of March 16, 2020, there are more than 180,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 worldwide, with more than 7000 related deaths. The SARS-CoV-2 virus has been isolated from asymptomatic individuals, and affected patients continue to be infectious 2 weeks after cessation of symptoms. The substantial morbidity and socioeconomic impact have necessitated drastic measures across all continents, including nationwide lockdowns and border closures. Pregnant women and their fetuses represent a high-risk population during infectious disease outbreaks. To date, the outcomes of 55 pregnant women infected with COVID-19 and 46 neonates have been reported in the literature, with no definite evidence of vertical transmission. Physiological and mechanical changes in pregnancy increase susceptibility to infections in general, particularly when the cardiorespiratory system is affected, and encourage rapid progression to respiratory failure in the gravida. Furthermore, the pregnancy bias toward T-helper 2 (Th2) system dominance, which protects the fetus, leaves the mother vulnerable to viral infections, which are more effectively contained by the Th1 system. These unique challenges mandate an integrated approach to pregnancies affected by SARS-CoV-2. Here we present a review of COVID-19 in pregnancy, bringing together the various factors integral to the understanding of pathophysiology and susceptibility, diagnostic challenges with real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assays, therapeutic controversies, intrauterine transmission, and maternal-fetal complications. We discuss the latest options in antiviral therapy and vaccine development, including the novel use of chloroquine in the management of COVID-19. Fetal surveillance, in view of the predisposition to growth restriction and special considerations during labor and delivery, is addressed. In addition, we focus on keeping frontline obstetric care providers safe while continuing to provide essential services. Our clinical service model is built around the principles of workplace segregation, responsible social distancing, containment of cross-infection to healthcare providers, judicious use of personal protective equipment, and telemedicine. Our aim is to share a framework that can be adopted by tertiary maternity units managing pregnant women in the flux of a pandemic while maintaining the safety of the patient and healthcare provider at its core. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Aerosol-based transmission contributes to infection by various pathogens. Consequently, it is urgent to design antimicrobial personal protective equipment (PPE) and address the potential biological contamination of discarded PPE. We report a novel ZIF-67-modified PP fabric for photothermal disinfection; our work provides a fast, one-step, and low-cost preparation approach for incorporating zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF) nanoparticles (NPs) onto polypropylene (PP) fabric. First, we prepared ZIF-67-water NPs and ZIF-67-methanol NPs using relevant solvents and characterized them by X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and field-emission scanning electron microscopy. We then used only ultrasonication to prepare ZIF-67-modified fabrics by incorporating ZIF-67 NPs onto PP fabric with a 0.5－1.5 mg/cm2 loading rate (18.5－40.5 wt%). The ZIF-67-modified fabrics were subjected to the same characterization, and then they were evaluated for photothermal performance, hydrophobicity and antimicrobial ability. The fabric of ZIF-67-water@PP-1.5 was selected to repurpose an antimicrobial mask. We demonstrated that the ZIF-67-modified fabrics have excellent photothermal performance with near-infrared (NIR) radiation and exhibit increased hydrophobicity, which is determined by the loading rate of ZIF-67 NPs. The surface temperature reached and maintained peak levels (70 °C and 90 °C) with NIR radiation, whilst the highest contact angle was over 140°. The photothermal behaviour could kill over 99.9% of gram-negative and gram-positive drug-resistant bacteria, whilst the haemolytic behaviour was less than 5%. The repurposed mask retained controllable photothermal properties. The application of these fabrics not only addresses the demand for affordable antimicrobial PPE but also contributes to reducing potential biochemical threats in discarded PPE. [Display omitted] • We designed low-cost ZIF-67-modified PP fabrics with photothermal disinfection properties. • The modified fabrics have excellent photothermal performance and hydrophobicity. • Over 99.9% of gram-negative and gram-positive drug-resistant bacteria were killed. • We repurposed antimicrobial masks using the modified fabric. • This method provides low-cost antimicrobial PPE, reducing biochemical threats in discarded PPE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sleep disordered breathing is commonly treated with positive airway pressure therapy. Positive airway pressure therapy is delivered via a tight-fitting mask with common side effects including: leak, ineffective treatment, residual sleep disordered breathing, eye irritation, nasal congestion, pressure ulcers and poor concordance with therapy. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to identify the effectiveness of current treatment strategies for managing side effects associated with positive airway pressure therapy. Five databases were searched and 10,809 articles were screened, with 36 articles included in the review. Studies investigated: dressings, nasal spray/douche, chin straps, heated humidification and interfaces. No intervention either improved or detrimentally affected: positive airway pressure concordance, Epworth Sleepiness Score, residual apnoea hypopnea index or interface leak. The review was limited by study heterogeneity, particularly for outcome measures. Additionally, patient demographics were not reported, making it difficult to apply the findings to a broad clinical population. This review highlights the paucity of evidence supporting treatment strategies to manage side effects of positive airway pressure therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The selection of the mask interface for non-invasive ventilation (NIV) is recognized to be an essential part for therapy success. While nasal masks are the first recommended option in children and adults, there are indications for other mask types such as intolerance or complications from nasal masks. Evidence comparing performance, adherence and complication risk among mask interfaces in pediatrics is, however, scarce and information is often extrapolated from adult studies. Given this gap in knowledge and the lack of guidelines on NIV initiation in children, mask selection often relies on the clinicians' knowledge and expertise. Careful mask selection, a well-fitting headgear and time investment for mask desensitization are some important recommendations for adequate mask adaptation in children. Frequent mask-related complications include nasal symptoms, unintentional leak, mask displacement, skin injury, and midface hypoplasia. Close monitoring and a pro-active approach may help to minimize complications and promote the optimal use of home NIV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study examines the semiotics of Igbo mask head gears through semiotic perspective that treats masks as icons and indexes of identity. The study employs a qualitative research design and descriptive approach. Oral interview and focus group discussion were employed in data collection. The study was anchored on semiotic theory as espoused by Pierce and Ferdinand de Saussure. The findings of the study reveal that Igbo mask head gears are symbolic in their representation. The signification of the carved figures on Igbo mask head gears are culture specific. They portray Igbo culture, their belief system and philosophy of life. For instance, Okumkpo mask head gears contains bundles of scattered spear grass which signifies feminine signifies the feminine gender of the masquerade, small eye that symbolizes camera and the big eye that stands for boldness. The plaited hair style represents the gender of the masquerade as well while the black feather is a symbol of evil and the white feather represents sacredness. The study further reveals that in the head mask gears of Njenje masquerade, the carved skull symbolizes death while the rounded mirrors represent the reflection of life. The eye bra, red line on lips and the black dot represents women's makeup. Ekpe masquerade is another Igbo mask head gear that has a head dress bearing a carved figure of human head which is meant to jolt human beings in the parent society of the masquerade into the realization that the ancestral spirit and guardian of their communities could dispense with dissent, evil, lawlessness or immorality by means of capital punishment. The head mask of Mgbeke masquerade is a symbol of the white race. Egede head mask gears has palm branches or green grass on top of the mask to represent peace and warning for the initiated and uninitiated into the masquerade cult respectively. The skull on this masquerade head piece is a symbol of destruction while the palm front signifies the padlock used in locking its mouth. Furthermore, the findings of the study reveal that the feathers on top of the mask head gear of Eze Lugulu is a symbol of sacrifice elders perform to appease the gods while the carved human figure on the head mask is a symbol of priesthood. The red line from eyes down the cheeks, nose and mouth represent punishment and repercussions for violators of communal norms. The sack bag from head down to the shoulder is a symbol of protection from evil attack. In fact, all the carved images on Igbo mask head gears are symbolic and are also culturally determined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concept of carnivalesque, proposed by Bakhtin in Rabelais and His World (trans., 1984), conceives the idea of 'flouting of the authority and inversion of social hierarchies that, in many cultures, are permitted in a season of carnival.'1 It is done by allowing to mingle the voices from diversified strata of society in order to mock and subvert the authoritative voices, structures and hierarchies which are otherwise considered as sacrosanct and unquestionable. This paper seeks to study how Bakhtinian concept of carnivalesque is applicable to Indian woman playwright Volga's play The Six of Them. The play depicts an imagined conversation of six women characters from Challam's (another famous Telugu novelist) six different novels. While sharing their experiences with others, they also reveal the contemporary human history of Indian society from women's point of- view. They mock at the male psyche helplessly trying to reign supreme. The socio-cultural and familial customs, which are/were designed by patriarchy and enforced through structures and practices are ridiculed by women characters on grounds of their meaninglessness. The patriarchal essentials of institutions such as marriage and the assumption that family is the only legitimate structure for male-female relationship are argued against rigorously. Women characters try to be unapologetic about their experiences and beliefs. The real life restrictions and moral code is also taken liberty with. Simultaneously the characters celebrate being themselves free of patriarchal restrictions. Carnivalesque as a method is not only disruptive of patriarchal authority but also a source of 'vitality'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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This article examines practices of comparing by writers and artists from the Harlem Renaissance. Highlighting reflexivity and an awareness of subaltern positioning at the very basis of practices of comparing by black writers and artists in the early 20th century, the article directs the reader's attention to context, personal, and group positioning as well as emotional conditioning of the comparing actors. The article explores African American and Afro Caribbean masking strategies like the mastery of form to show how the comparata 'The Old Negro' and 'The New Negro' are negotiated and lead to an understanding of complex entanglements between black cultures, a tertium of blackness beyond colonial histories, and their racial baggage during the Harlem Renaissance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On the basis of the Francophone research in the field of visual anthropology we will try to show in this text that there was a shift between how the Ancient Greeks saw reality and how they portrayed it. We will base this examination on the second kind of mimesis presented in Plato's dialogue, Sophist, where representation deforms the real and we represent reality not as it is, but as we want to see it. Even scenes that have a supposed guarantee of realism, the scenes of everyday life, often represent our desires or fantasies more than the reality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

COVID 19, started as a respiratory illness has affected the human life world-wide. Mandatory guidelines for wearing of masks have been issued by WHO even if you are stepping out. The continuous wearing of masks for prolonged duration has led to some negative consequences. A new method was introduced to increase the compliance of mask by using easily available orthodontic wires in the dental set up. The new approach was helpful in getting rid of rashes, irritation and erythematous patches behind the ears along with the reduction in the chances of cross contamination. This method can be incorporated in routine in the dental practice, even when one is not working on the patient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Majority of Iranians touch their face at least once an hour. • Iranians touch their face on average 10 times per hour. • COVID-safe behavior includes mask use. • Non-mask wearers were 1.5 more likely to touch their mucosal zone compared with mask wearers. Iranian were advice to wear a mask and not touch their face during COVID-19 restrictions in Iran. One-thousand people were observed for 15-30 minutes in public places between April 22 and May 9, 2020. The average number of touches to the mucosal zone was calculated per hour and mask wearers (N = 568) were compared with those not wearing a mask (N = 432). Ninety-two percent were observed touching their face at least once an hour and averaged 10 (SD 6) touches per hour. Nonmask wearers touched their face significantly more often than mask wearers (11 vs 8 times per hour, P <.001). Nonmask wearers were 1.5 (95%CI OR 1.2-2.0) times more likely to touch their mucosal zone than mask wearers (P <.001). Face touching is a common behavior and may have a role in COVID-19 transmission in the absence of hand hygiene. Mask use decrease the frequency of touching the mucosal zone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anxiety in patients undergoing Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examinations has been well documented along with causes and strategies to support patent through this. During the Covid-19 pandemic, mask wearing in clinical settings became compulsory for both staff and patients. Whilst staff may be more familiar with wearing personal protective equipment it is unknown how this could affect patient experiences. We know that patients can get claustrophobic in MR scans which affects their wellbeing, scan attendance and even scan quality. This study aims to understand if wearing a mask had any effect of their willingness to comply with the scan, and if they were adequately prepared, and how it affects their feelings about attending for future scan appointments. A purposive sampling technique was chosen with participants being invited nationally across the UK. Inclusion criteria required that participants be aged 18 years or older, their scan had taken place in a UK organisation either NHS or private between March 2020 and December 2021 and that they had worn a face mask during their scan. Ethical approval was gained from University of Derby Research and Ethics Committee. Informed consent and participation information sheets were completed. No identifying data was collected and therefore responses were anonymous. A mixed methods online survey design was utilised, and this was shared on social media using professional accounts and charities. Inductive thematic analysis was used with both researchers independently blind coded the qualitative data. The main themes emerged which were anxiety and discomfort, information and preparation and positivity around the experience. The quantitative data analysis in on-going and will be presented in the final presentation. We should review patient experiences taking a holistic approach to the entire examination including preparatory material as well as activity in the waiting area and scan room. We need to consider the impact of mask wearing on anxiety and discomfort and revisit what patient preparation looks like to ensure patients have a better experience. This needs to take place in the education of student radiographers as well as qualified professionals in clinical departments. People want to feel prepared and be treated as individuals. We must embrace the principles of person-centred care at every level of what we do. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On December 31, 2019, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported a cluster of cases of pneumonia of unknown cause detected in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China. As of February 29, 2020, the National Health Commission of China has reported 79,389 confirmed cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection in 34 provinces. The masks can be used to block respiratory transmission from human to human, and are an effective way to control influenza. It is, therefore, necessary to wear a mask when respiratory infectious diseases are prevalent. China has a population of 1.4 billion. Assuming that two-thirds of the people in China must wear a mask every day, the daily demand for masks will reach 900 million. The Chinese government has taken many measures to solve these problems. Additionally, more measures should be taken to properly dispose of mask garbage. Although the outbreak originated in China, person-to-person transmission of SARS-CoV-2 has been confirmed, which means that it can be spread to anywhere in the world if prevention measures fail. The issues regarding face mask shortages and garbage in China, therefore, deserve worldwide attention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The article is devoted to the study of medical knowledge structure. In the process of the patient's treatment, the doctor makes a number of important decisions, not all of which are within the theoretical knowledge obtained during training at the University or from professional literature. His personal experience gives much. But practical experience is usually scattered and non-systematic. The doctor produces himself the ordering and justification of the information. Our data processing methods allow us to systematize the new knowledge elements and to select suitable reasons for diagnostic rules formulating. For this purpose we use: semi-quantitative models of the observed processes (sliding standards), three-valued logic for analysis of concepts interrelations, representation of knowledge elements as the logical symptoms, formulating rules as "masks" for the logical symptoms vectors. These methods form a concept system insensitive to gaps in data and allow comparison of patient's groups whose descriptions coincide only partially. The rules working out with procedure based on these methods suppose the joint work of physicians and mathematicians team. Practical examples are related to the field of obstetric diagnosis and forecasting problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Noninvasive ventilation is an effective treatment for a significant proportion of patients with acute respiratory failure. The success of noninvasive ventilation, however, depends on several factors, a major one being the selection of the proper interface. The choice and application of the interface in patients with acute respiratory failure is a considerable challenge for any treatment team. This review discusses the different types of interfaces that can be used in patients with acute respiratory failure, the differences between nasal, oro-nasal, and total face masks and the helmet, as well as the effect of interface type on treatment success and upper airway patency, mask fitting, problems related to the interface, and the relationship between ventilator type and interface choice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Res Humanitariae is the property of Res Humanitariae and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)