Search

Learning during the pandemic, based on government policies through the Ministry of Education and Culture, has issued a Circular Letter of the Ministry of Education and Culture (Kemendikbud) No. 4 of 2020 regarding the implementation of education policies in the emergency period of the spread of Corona Virus Disease (Covid-19). In the field of education, make a learning system in such a way as to prevent the spread of Covid-19. For this reason, online learning certainly has obstacles in its implementation. Online learning requires teachers, parents, and students to be able to use the internet. So that not a few schools carry out offline learning, previously all educational institutions conducted offline learning by giving assignments to students as a substitute for studying at school. Offline learning activities like that require parents to be able to guide their children in learning, understanding the material and completing school assignments given. This is an obstacle for offline learning with a task assignment system. Many parents are busy with other activities so they don't have much time to supervise and replace the teacher's position in guiding their children to study. In the era of the COVID-19 pandemic, the teaching and learning process that should take place in a classroom or school must be replaced by studying at home. This paper was written to address the following problems. What is the home visit method in offline learning? Is the Home visit method an alternative to learning during the Covid-19 pandemic? What are the indicators, objectives and benefits of the home visit method in offline learning?

The outbreak of the corona virus diseases (COVID-19) in the late 2019 has affected all facets of educational system including library and information services. Reference services, an important aspect of library services are not exempted from this impact. This study therefore, investigated the impact of COVI\D-19 pandemic on the use of reference services and sources by postgraduate students using Kenneth Dike Library (KDL), University of Ibadan, as a case study. Using descriptive survey of correlational type, the study adopted the use of structured questionnaire to randomly select three hundred (300) postgraduate users of reference sources and services in KDL using online survey monkey. Of the three hundred (300) copies, two hundred and twenty three (223) copies, representing 74.3% were retrieved and used for analysis. Findings revealed that, in spite of COVID-19 pandemic, most postgraduate students used Current Awareness Services (203, 91.0%, mean = 3.19), Reference Sources (202, 90.5%, mean = 3.18) and On-line Public Access Catalogue (195, 87.4%, mean = 3.13); low frequency of bibliotherapy (mean=2.22), Reader’s Advisory services (mean=2.30) and inter-library loan (mean=2.13) and that COVID-19 pandemic had high impact on post- graduate students’ use of reference services in Kenneth Dike Library, University of Ibadan. Based on the findings, recommendations were made that library management should consider the adoption of virtual reference services (VRS) in addition to the conventional mode of reference services to enhance patronage in the COVID-19 era. The library users should also be trained on how to take advantage of the COVID-19 pandemic to learn new skills in the digital space that will eventually optimize the usage of the library remotely. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aims to analyze pandemic life insurance companies faced matter of concerning to extension of customers of unit linked insurance policies during the COVID 19. Unit-linked life insurance product has become a major contributor to the company's profits. This study aims to investigate the factors that influence insurance awareness and perceived value and their impact on customer retention with the COVID 19 pandemic as a moderator. Design/methodology/approach. This study conducted an online survey and total of 230 completed questionnaires were collected from customers in Jakarta. The data was analyzed using SmartPLS software. Findings – Results indicate that insurance awareness, perceived value, and COVID 19 pandemic significantly influence customer retention. Insurance agents, psychological factors and financial literacy significantly influence insurance awareness. E-service quality significantly affects perceived value. The interaction between the COVID 19 pandemic and insurance awareness and the interaction between the COVID 19 pandemic and perceived value did not significantly affect customer retention. Originality/value – The study contributes to the marketing literature by proposing a conceptual model: the life insurance customer retention model. The findings offer practical guidance to life insurance companies to keep the customer loyalty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Today, digital transformation as a worldwide phenomenon has taken a great deal in corporate strategies. The implementation of strict confinement has resulted in a quite cancelation of transactions and movements. Digital transformation, synonym to accessibility, rapidity and reliability has been widely triggered during the COVID-19 pandemic. In essence, this research explores the effect of digital transformation on the pandemic outcome through identifying how digitization embraces opportunity and innovative strategy. A research model was proposed and empirically tested with partial least squares path-modeling approach, based on the methodological survey completed with Tunisian banks' CEO and operational service managing. The results have demonstrated the necessity of digitization as strategic planning to be deployed in both the short and long terms. It is considered a vector of innovation and sustainable development. It helps identify the essential aspects of business processes and how they should be employed to survive and thrive during crises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Business Model Innovation (BMI) concept has gained increased attention in recent years and has been seen as essential for company's growth and survival. Since Covid 19 (CV-19) pandemic, SMEs have been the most vulnerable because of restrictions and regulations by which have affected company's income. This study explores empirically the BMI by SMEs during the CV-19 pandemic. A quantitative descriptive approach was used to carry out the study. It was discovered through the study that the CV-19 pandemic had dire impact on SME operations and also that has led most SMEs to carry out adaptive BMI in order to survive the effects of the pandemic. Findings from research allow understanding the nature of business model innovations by SMEs in Zimbabwe during CV-19 pandemic. Therefore, this research helps to further advance BMI theory through exploring the concept in a practical and disruptive situation like CV-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

E-learning was the most important technological response to school lockdowns during the COVID 19 pandemic. It was by far the most wide-scale application of e-learning, and thus an important cultural and technological experiment. The article focuses on challenges and opportunities offered by e-learning environment in American education, with some comparative context in European education. How successful was e-learning as a response to school lockdowns? Did it change American education? Did it change or reinforce the existing cultural patterns of discrimination and class division? While some of the advantages offered by e-learning will probably improve the educational practice in the USA, there are problems that e-learning did not solve. Instead, the technology of distant learning will probably reinforce existing cultural patterns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In Italy, regions have the mandate to implement population-based screening programs for breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer. From March to May 2020, a severe lockdown was imposed due to the COVID-19 pandemic by the Italian Ministry of Health, with the suspension of screening programs. This paper describes the impact of the pandemic on Italian screening activities and test coverage in 2020 overall and by socioeconomic characteristics. Methods: The regional number of subjects invited and of screening tests performed in 2020 were compared with those in 2019. Invitation and examination coverage were also calculated. PASSI surveillance system, through telephone interviews, collects information about screening test uptake by test provider (public screening and private opportunistic). Test coverage and test uptake in the last year were computed by educational attainment, perceived economic difficulties, and citizenship. Results: A reduction of subjects invited and tests performed, with differences between periods and geographical macro areas, was observed in 2020 vs. 2019. The reduction in examination coverage was larger than that in invitation coverage for all screening programs. From the second half of 2020, the trend for test coverage showed a decrease in all the macro areas for all the screening programs. Compared with the pre-pandemic period, there was a greater difference according to the level of education in the odds of having had a test last year vs. never having been screened or not being up to date with screening tests. Conclusions: The lockdown and the ongoing COVID-19 emergency caused an important delay in screening activities. This increased the preexisting individual and geographical inequalities in access. The opportunistic screening did not mitigate the impact of the pandemic. Funding: This study was partially supported by Italian Ministry of Health – Ricerca Corrente Annual Program 2023 and by the Emilian Region DGR 839/22.

The Covid 19 epidemic, which emerged in China at the end of 2019 and spread all over the world, has caused hard times in all countries. In this time, the support of the public authority was needed due to the restriction of economic and social activities. In Türkiye, public supports were mostly implemented in the form of financial supports in order to maintain liquidity. It is seen that public banks play a major role in these financial supports. In this study, the behaviors of state-owned deposit banks during the pandemic and the support they provide to economic life were tried to be examined by comparing them with private and foreign deposit banks. According to the pre-pandemic situation, unlike other banks, it is seen that public banks are the group that gives the most loans in the sector. In addition, there has been no increase in the non-performing loans of public banks, thanks to opportunities such as postponement and restructuring of loan debts of companies and individuals. Due to these incentive loans of public banks, loan volumes reached enormous sizes, but it was observed that the profitability ratios did not increase at the same level. As a result, it has been clearly revealed that public banks work in a service-oriented manner instead of profit-oriented in order to prevent the economic recession caused by the pandemic, and that they are extremely important institutions in delivering government incentives to the public in times of economic depression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to find out field facts related to the effect of implementing regional legal products, namely Regional Regulations (Peraturan Daerah) with a Religious (Shari'ah) nuance, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic which has an impact not only on legal social problems but also on the economy due to restrictions on the movement of community activities (PPKM). Based on this condition, the government is required to be more creative and innovative in overcoming problems in society, including poverty. Local regulations are required to contribute to the community, not only in normal conditions but also during an emergency. This study uses empirical legal research methods with a case approach. The results of the study show that: The implications or impacts of implementing regulations with sharia nuances during the pandemic, especially with regard to the Al-Qur'an Reading and Writing Regional Regulations and the Zakat Regional Regulations can partially facilitate the task of regional heads in handling social affairs, both regarding education, especially in eradicating Al-illiteracy. The Qur'an in which society creates independence through the efforts of each individual to develop themselves, both through formal and non-formal education, including the process of carrying out their obligations as God's creatures. The existence of the Regional Regulation on Zakat is able to support the development and the community's economy in the midst of an uncertain situation due to the pandemic, through the distribution of direct assistance, both in the form of business capital money and means of transportation (bentor). Together with the National Amil Zakat Agency (Baznas), the local government also intervenes in low-income communities in each sub-district gradually. As a recommendation, local governments need to maximize the provisions of regional regulations with sharia nuances to support development in the field of formal and non-formal education, by accommodating the regulatory substance of the learning process in the pandemic era. The regional regulations on zakat need to be maintained and improved in order to support the community's economy by expanding the income pool, increasing programs, and targeting communities as recipients of assistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Remote rehabilitation via advanced communications through network, online etc given in this advanced digital era is collectively known as telerehabilitation. American telemedicine association initially explained the term of telerehabilitation based on the facilities in current advance digital world. Covid -19 pandemic enhanced the services of telerehabilitation as first line rehabilitation treatment method that need rehabilitations services in their domicile. Thus based on telerehabilitation has been warranted to administer in providing physical therapy services for subjects who have been diagnosed both positive and negative COVID. Aim & objectives of the study: To analyze the uses of exercise training through telerehabilitation applied during COVID-19 isolation period on overweight and obese college students on physical fitness and quality of life. Data Analysis and Results: Notable improvement in the variables of weight in kg and Body Mass Index (BMI) in obese and overweight as well as their quality of life which is measured by SF - 36 questionnaire in college students after rehabilitation through telerehabilitation method where the subjects were trained with aerobic exercises, breathing exercises along with core stability exercises on physical fitness and quality of life with significance equal or less than 0.05 and confidence interval at 95%. Conclusion: statistically significant improvement in weight in kg and BMI which reflected in their physical fitness and quality of life (SF - 36) in overweight and obese college students after the intervention of telerehabilitation consists of aerobic exercises, breathing exercises and core stability exercises applied to them during this COVID 19 Pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The iron deficient anaemia is a common medical condition in patients with heart failure receiving antithrombotic therapy. Especially during the COVID19 pandemic period the rate of bleeding complications associated with the antithrombotic therapy tend to be higher, as the patient’s referral to medical services is lower and the interaction doctor-patient is limited. In our retrospective observational study we included 300 consecutive patients with decompensated heat failure associating iron deficient anaemia. For defining the medical conditions we used the ESC guidelines terminology and diagnostic criteria. We assessed the association between the iron deficient anaemia and different antithrombotic therapies, recommended in concordance to ESC Guidelines. We found that aspirin 75mg/day was statistical significant associated with iron deficient anaemia (p 0.012) and anaemia severity (p 0.002), this association being assessed by Chi square and Pearson tests. Also, neither clopidogrel, ticagrelor, VKA or non-VKA were associated to the presence of anaemia. By assessing the mortality rate associated to anaemia severity, the severe anaemia was associated to higher mortality rate, meanwhile no antithrombotic therapy was associated with higher readmission or mortality rate (p<0.001). In conclusion, aspirin was the only antithrombotic therapy associated with the presence of anaemia and anaemia severity, while only severe anaemia was associated with statistic significant increase of patient’s mortality, with nonstatistical result regarding the readmission rate. This finding is concordant to the necessity of a permanent evaluation of the antithrombotic therapy in heart failure patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The spread of COVID-19 has overwhelmed medical facilities across the globe, with patients filling beds in both regular wards and in intensive care units. The repurposing of hospital facilities has resulted in a dramatic decrease in the capacity of hospitals—in terms of available beds, surgical facilities, and medical and nursing staff— to care for oncology patients. The Italian National Board of Bioethics provided precise and homogeneous guidelines for the allocation of the scarce resources available. In our experience, strictly following these general guidelines and not considering the clinical vocation of each single health care center did not allow us to resume usual activities but generated further confusion in resource allocation. To face the scarcity of available resources and guarantee our patients fair access to the health care system we created a surgical triage with four fundamental steps. We took into consideration " well defined and widely accepted clinical prognostic factors " as stated by the Italian Society of Anesthesia and Resuscitation. We were able to draw up a list of patients giving priority to those who theoretically should have a greater chance of overcoming their critical situation. The age criterion has also been used in the overall evaluation of different cure options in each case, but it has never been considered on its own or outside the other clinical parameters. Although not considered acceptable by many we had to forcefully adopt the criterion of comparison between patients to give priority to those most in need of immediate care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The world faces great challenges because of the Covid 19 pandemic, the health care system experiences crisis with high rising morbidity and mortality rate. During this global public health crisis, consideration of populations disproportionately exposed to risk is crucial. The challenge for nurses is to ensure that our voices are heard into the future and we need to take our place at policy making tables like never before. Purpose: The aim of the study to explore the lived experiences of nurses as front-line voices in innovation of caring the patient during pandemic. Nurses' knowledge and skills nurses have gained unique insights into the gaps in communication of knowledge, management, and preparation in responding the pandemic. Methods: This study used a qualitative phenomenological design in which the lived experiences of the respondents are the focus. Through this, the researchers were able to gather information based on what really happened in a certain phenomenon. A Non-Probability Sampling Technique was established in this study specifically the purposive sampling. A total of nine key informants who participated in the study. Result: The research study's phenomenological inquiry involved 9 key informants, 6 females (67%) and 3 male (33%) who both aged between 23 to 27 years old. The result of the study is based on the extracted response of Newly license nurses, the following themes are ((1) challenges in the delivery of care (2) nurses as work agent of innovation (3) work as self-fulfilment to serve during pandemic. Conclusion: Nurses are known to be the first line of front liners, where each of them fulfills a vital and indispensable part and purpose in caring for the COVID 19 patients. The ability to become change agent plays great opportunity in providing quality of care. Recognizing the trust on their ability to see problem and create solution, enhanced selffulfillment in caring. Nurses' ability to be innovate can reach out in the fulfilling the adventure of nurses during pandemic that can lead to provide effective and safe care delivery despite being novice nurses, to be competitive in the field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the introduction of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in education, teachers and students can now engage in teaching and learning in new ways. It has given schools the ability to ensure that teachers and students have access to instructional resources both in and out of the classroom. The goal of this article is to look into how music tutors and student teachers in Ghana used ICT technologies in music sessions, as well as the problems that virtual teaching and learning encountered during the Covid-19 pandemic. With a case study as the research design, a mixed method research paradigm was applied Data was gathered using methods such as interviews and questionnaires. Scheduled phone calls and Google forms were used to collect data. The study found that ICT methods were the best way to keep teaching and learning going during the covid 19 pandemic, when schools were temporarily locked down, but there were significant problems. As a result, it was suggested that all music tutors and student teachers receive some training in the use of ICT tools. At addition, authorities in Ghana's colleges of education should make virtual interaction a part of the educational process to eliminate distance as a barrier to learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the study was to describe the positive mental health of Peruvian university students during the COVID 19 pandemic through the implementation of the Positive Mental Health scale. The same that was applied to 840 university students. The research was framed under the exploratory-descriptive perspective. It was obtained as results that 266 (32%) were male students and 574 (68%) female; the female gender stood out. Due to the COVID 19 pandemic, the positive mental health of university students is located between a very low, low and medium level at 60.6% and 39.4% at a high and very high level. In the same way as the components of mental health such as personal satisfaction, prosocial attitude, self-control, autonomy, problem solving, self-actualization and interpersonal relationship skills; It has also been affected by the COVID 19 pandemic. Therefore, it is concluded that Peruvian university students have been affected in their positive mental health. And it is urgent that private and public universities implement assistance and prevention programs for their students in relation to mental health and psychological support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Erciyes Communication / Erciyes İletişim Dergisi is the property of Erciyes University, Faculty of Communication / Erciyes Universitesi Iletism Fakultesi 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.)

Breastfeeding mothers have had limited access to breastfeeding support throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aims to investigate breastfeeding practices during the COVID-19 period and to determine the factors associated with supporting exclusive breastfeeding. A sequential explanatory mixed methods approach was adopted, including a quantitative method in the first phase and qualitative method in the second phase. Mothers whose babies were aged over 6 months to 24 months old from July to September 2021 in Pekanbaru City were selected as research subjects. Data analysis was performed with multivariate and deductive content analysis. Of 156 participants, 97 mothers (62.2%) exclusively breastfed their babies. Of those, mothers who delivered exclusive breastfeeding worked less than eight hours per day, were aged 17–25 and had low education. Though by using exclusive breastfeeding practice as a reference, associated supports, including emotional, instrumental, appraisal and information regarding exclusive breastfeeding practice were insignificant; however, mothers who practice exclusive breastfeeding had higher information support. During the COVID-19 pandemic period, the informational support factor was found to be important to achieve the successful exclusive breastfeeding practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the context of the economic uncertainty generated at the national level and caused not only by the COVID-19 pandemic, for a healthy evolution of business relations in the competitive environment, for resilience and survival in this context of the pandemic and efforts to counteract possible financial losses, optimal risk management plays a key role in the banking system to avoid excessive exposure with a negative impact on financial performance. The present research aimed to provide an analysis of the potential relationship between the competition presented on the example of the Romanian banking market (before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and after its start), risk management in terms of risk-weighted assets (credit risk, market risk and operational risk), on one hand, and the profitability of the banking system measured by the ROA (return on assets) indicator, on the other. In order to test the formulated hypotheses, the authors used a predominantly quantitative research methodology based on a statistically deductive analysis with a series of testing objectives and potential cause-effect links. The results of this study indicate, before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the existence of a significant intensity correlation between the banks' exposure to the total risk (RWA) (risk-weighted assets) and the market share (as dependent variables) and the banking performance indicator (ROA) (as an independent variable) and, after the onset of the COVID 19 pandemic, banks' exposure to the credit risk, together with the position on the banking market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID 19 pandemic has spurred significant changes and criminal innovations in cybercrime. In many cases, many types of crime have caused problems, especially with the fact that work from home has increased and everyone uses computer devices. Due to insufficient security measures of the information infrastructure and the use of the Internet, as well as insufficient awareness of users, we have seen an increase in cybercrime offenses such as: sexual exploitation of children via the Internet, misuse of personal data, computer attacks on critical infrastructure (malware, DDoS attacks), social engineering, phishing, etc. Cybercrime affects everyone, everywhere. The citizens in our country, but also the whole world. Cybercrime does not stand still. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Turkish Review of Communication Studies / Türkiye İletişim Araştırmaları Dergisi is the property of Marmara University 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.)

This study aims at answering the questions of what obstacles experienced by employees who have to carry out Work From Home (WFH) and how employees apply Self Leadership in implementing WFH. This study is a qualitative research with a phenomenological approach. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews and in a fluid atmosphere. In this study, interviews were conducted with 20 employees who had to work with the WFH system to obtain data whether employees were familiar with Self Leadership and whether they had implemented it during WFH. The researcher also conducted interviews with 2 HRD heads to see if every leader has already understood how to motivate their subordinates to have self-leadership. This study proves that self-leadership is very important for everyone who runs WFH. The WFH system where people have to work independently requires everyone to be able to organize themselves, motivate themselves and discipline themselves so that the tasks or work entrusted to them can be completed properly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous pandemics have had significant impact on psychological well-being of front-line health care workers. Issues such as fear of contracting the disease, high workload as a result of high numbers of infected cases, increased job stress and unavailability of personal protective equipment have been implicated in development of psychological distress in this subset of individuals. The aim of the present paper is to describe psychobehavioral responses of health care workers and potential predictors of emotional response at onset of COVID-19 outbreak in Nigeria. Cross-sectional web-based survey and 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire (GAD-7) were administered anonymously to 444 respondents comprising various categories of frontline healthcare workers. Stepwise multiple linear regression was used to determine predictors of anxiety scores. Participants were mostly young adults (mean age 38 years), females (57%), living with a partner (78.2%) and medical doctors (56.8%). Restrictions in clinical activities and use of hand sanitizers were commonest precautionary behaviors. Commonest emotional responses were anger and despair (27.0% and 25.7%), respectively. About 42.8% had clinically significant anxiety symptoms with highest burden among nurses. Perception of likelihood of 2nd wave (p=0.03), self-preparedness (p=0.04), gender (p=0.01) and cadre (p=0.02) were significant predictors of emotional response of anxiety. Study findings highlighted diverse psychological reactions of health care workers with a large proportion screening positive for significant anxiety symptoms. This has implications for planning a comprehensive psychosocial response to COVID-19 pandemic and for future pandemics among frontline health care workers in lowresource settings.

Background The global COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the physical and mental health of people everywhere. The aim of the study is to understand how people living in 15 countries around the globe experience an unexpected crisis which threatens their health and that of loved ones, and how they make meaning of this disruption in their narratives. Methods Data were collected through an anonymous online survey during May–September 2020, which was during or just after the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, depending on the country. The questionnaire included demographic and three open-ended questions as prompts for stories about experiences during the initial months of the pandemic. The text was analyzed through inductive thematic content analysis and quantified for full sample description, demographic and subsequently international comparisons. Results The final qualitative dataset included stories from n = 1685 respondents. The sample was 73.6% women and 26.4% men. The mean age of participants was 39.55 years (SD = 14.71). The identified four groups of overarching themes were: The presence and absence of others; Rediscovering oneself; The meaning of daily life; Rethinking societal and environmental values. We discuss the prevalence of each theme for the sample as a whole and differences by demographic groups. The most prevalent theme referred to disruptions in interpersonal contacts, made meaningful by the increased appreciation of the value of relationships, present in (45.6%) of stories. It was more prevalent in the stories of women compared to men (χ² = 24.88, p = .001). Conclusions The paper provides a detailed overview of the methodology, the main themes identified inductively in the stories and differences according to select demographic variables. We identify several major ways of making meaning of the pandemic. The pandemic has impacted many aspects of people’s lives which give it meaning, no matter where they live.

Vaccine hesitancy is an important feature of every vaccination and COVID-19 vaccination is not an exception. During the COVID-19 pandemic, vaccine hesitancy has exhibited different phases and has shown both temporal and spatial variation in these phases. This has likely arisen due to varied socio-behavioural characteristics of humans and their response towards COVID 19 pandemic and its vaccination strategies. This commentary highlights that there are multiple phases of vaccine hesitancy: Vaccine Eagerness, Vaccine Ignorance, Vaccine Resistance, Vaccine Confidence, Vaccine Complacency and Vaccine Apathy. Though the phases seem to be sequential, they may co-exist at the same time in different regions and at different times in the same region. This may be attributed to several factors influencing the phases of vaccine hesitancy. The complexities of the societal reactions need to be understood in full to be addressed better. There is a dire need of different strategies of communication to deal with the various nuances of all of the phases. To address of vaccine hesitancy, an understanding of the societal reactions leading to various phases of vaccine hesitancy is of utmost importance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The outbreak of corona virus evolved into global pandemic causing serious breakdown in economic activities globally, with dire consequences on the pursuance of sustainable development. The aim of this study is to investigate the impact of corona virus outbreak on small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs) in Lagos state, Nigeria. A total of 382 questionnaire was administered to small and medium scale enterprises operating in Lagos state. The author employed the use of both descriptive and regression analysis. The results show that, Covid-19 has a significant negative influence on both profit and sales performance of SMEs. SMEs adopted different coping strategies ranging from online marketing, home delivery, opening for few hours daily to keep their businesses alive. The author recommended that to ensure sustainable development, government should ensure the prompt and effective disbursement of Covid-19 relief funds to the SMEs in order to cushion the effect of the virus on their sales and profits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cryptocurrency could redefine the interplay of Internet-connected world markets by eliminating constraints set by traditional local currencies and exchange rates. It has the potential to revolutionise digital markets through the use of duty-free trading. This study investigates the factors which influence the behavioural intention to use cryptocurrency based on the Technology Acceptance Model 3 (TAM 3) during the COVID-19 (SARS-COV-2) pandemic. Data were collected through a cross-sectional questionnaire from 357 Pakistani business-educated adults, including investors who had a rudimentary understanding of the technology and financial instruments. Partial least square (PLS)-based structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to test the developed theoretical framework based on the Technology acceptance model 3. The PLS model has explained 72.1% of what constitutes the behavioural intention to use cryptocurrency. Surprisingly, risk was not a major consideration. This might be due to the fact that the majority of respondents thought working with cryptocurrency was hazardous. Willingness to handle cryptocurrency risk, on the other hand, might be a stumbling block to acceptance. The most essential aspect of a cryptocurrency's success was the perceived usefulness. Moreover, the moderating role of experience was not substantiated in this study. However, perceived usefulness was identified as a partial mediator of subjective norm and the perceived ease to use. This study contributed to the literature through the application of TAM 3 (an extension of the technology acceptance models) to investigate the fundamental qualities a cryptocurrency should have in order to influence investor's behavioural intention to use it. These findings provide revolutionary insights for the present and future market players for investment planning and for improved cryptocurrencies development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Environmental & Social Management Journal / Revista de Gestão Social e Ambiental is the property of Environmental & Social Management Journal 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 aim of this paper is to analyze fiscal-budgetary responsibility and the implications for the European budgetary framework in the context of the COVID-19 crisis. The study incorporates retrospective analysis of the European institutional framework, presentation of concepts and typologies of institutional organization in direct relation to the fiscal responsibility. The research hypotheses are based on the demonstration of inconsistency in the European working framework, regarding budgetary fiscal responsibility, as well as on the foundation of the institutional levels of organization and the demonstration of the existence of warning indicators regarding the vulnerabilities of the budgetary framework. The results of the study confirm the working hypotheses. Therefore, there is a need to establish responsibility mechanisms, which allow the replacement of arbitrary rules with clear directions to be followed by policy makers, so that interference between different institutional levels directly impacts the coordinates of fiscal risk management. The path of combating an economic crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic involves coordination, responsibility and common frameworks for action, so that the test of European unity to be passed successfully. The study exemplifies the importance of perceiving fiscal risk in relation to specific vulnerabilities and reveals a number of challenges to fiscal responsibility in the context of the COVID-19 crisis.

The Covid 19 pandemic has disrupted life in all countries and communities, affecting global economic growth in 2020 in ways that have not been seen in a century. Governments responded to the extraordinary reduction in economic activity by enacting several policies, which included monetary policies aimed at stabilizing financial markets and ensuring the flow of credit. Governments used quarantines and social isolation in the second phase, while policy activities moved to budgetary measures aimed at sustaining economic growth. To response to repeated crises and pandemic-induced global economic stagnation, a new paradigm is required. This qualitative study intended to examine various Islamic financing techniques and services that can help the economy recover from the pandemic crisis' disruption. Countries that follow Islamic economic principles in their economic transactions, such as Indonesia, have begun to adopt some of these principles, and it is believed that the application of the Islamic economic system can be a golden momentum to restore economic recession of these countries following the effects of national policies aimed at combating the effects of Covid pandemic. This study examines different stages of economic challenges that have occurred because of the Covid 19 pandemic to examine different Islamic financial services and their application to minimize the crisis developed at each stage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Community mental health systems worldwide have undergone transformation in order to accommodate enormous demands of the pandemic and its mitigation efforts. The pandemic created unprecedented challenges that required Mehac Foundation (further referred as Mehac), a not for profit organization based in Kerala, to reassess our care delivery model. The aim of this report is to present a flexible, need-based biopsychosocial response; a case study effectuated by the Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) with a focus on minimizing the impact of COVID 19 on vulnerable communities, while adhering to timely regulations issued by the government. The key aspect of our biopsychosocial response was implementation of a phased approach that was rooted in real time need identification. The strategies will be described under broad headings of (i) adaptations for maintaining continuity of care, (ii) identifying vulnerable subgroups and need based psychological response, (iii) exploring social dimensions of the pandemic and implementing strategies to address them, (iv) ensuring team well-being and enhancing skills to effectively respond to the challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim The damage caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has made the prevention of its further spread at the top of the list of priorities of many governments and state institutions responsible for health and civil protection around the world. This prevention implies an effective system of epidemiological surveillance and the application of timely and effective control measures. This research focuses on the application of techniques for modelling and geovisualization of epidemic data with the aim of simple and fast communication of analytical results via geoportal. Methods The paper describes the approach applied through the project of establishing the epidemiological location-intelligence system for monitoring the effectiveness of control measures in preventing the spread of COVID-19 in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Results Epidemic data were processed and the results related to spatio-temporal analysis of the infection spread were presented by compartmental epidemic model, reproduction number R, epi-curve diagrams as well as choropleth maps for different levels of administrative units. Geovisualization of epidemic data enabled the release of numerous information from described models and indicators, providing easier visual communication of the spread of the disease and better recognition of its trend. Conclusion The approach involves the simultaneous application of epidemic models and epidemic data geovisualization, which allows a simple and rapid evaluation of the epidemic situation and the effects of control measures. This contributes to more informative decision-making related to control measures by suggesting their selective application at the local level.

Before the COVID 19 outbreak, online ordering was herald as the quickest growing segment within the restaurant industry. Recent scenario, online ordering is the only source of revenue for restaurants helping them inhibit permanent closures. Indeed,delivery and take out services have been the saving grace for most restaurants, helping them stay afloat during this pandemic. This study focus on Online food delivery as an effective marketing tool for restaurants and they taught online ordering system in place is more about having an auxiliary sales channel but a necessity [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The economic convergence of the European Union countries is a result that we expect to be achieved by relying on Solow's neoclassical growth model. This article presents the analysis results of convergence speed in terms of GDP per inhabitant of the European Union individual states. The analyses are carried out on the convergence, in order to highlight the impact of pandemic caused by the COVID 19 compared to the global economic and financial crisis of 2008. The existence of convergence of GDP per capita is confirm by the results obtain in the countries from the sample studied, members of European Union, in the studied period. The speed of convergence, after the 2008 crisis, is significantly reduced, but the emergence of Covid 19 pandemic does not significantly influence the speed of convergence although the results are incipient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Scientific Chronicles / Epistimonika Chronika is the property of Tzaneio General Hospital 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.)

Background: The study sought to describe student time use and to analyse the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic (lockdown) on changes in the time use and their role within the context of health and social aspects. Material and methods: The research was carried out every year from 2017 to 2020 in the same period of time. The study included 340 students of physical education. In their time budget diaries, the participants noted down the amount of time devoted to activities performed in a typical week. Results: The study showed that during the lockdown, students devoted less time to sports training, social meetings or cultural activities as compared to previous years. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the amount of time devoted to the majority of activities was different on weekdays and at weekends. The results also showed that women devoted more time to personal hygiene and individual study, while men spent more time doing sports training. Conclusions: The crisis sparked off by COVID-19 resulted in considerable changes in student time use. The findings show that the allocation of time to various activities depends on gender, days of the week, legal regulations and recipients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the higher susceptibility of post-stroke patients to infection calls for extra safety precautions. Despite the imposed restrictions, early neurorehabilitation cannot be postponed due to its paramount importance for improving motor and functional recovery chances. Utilizing accessible state-of-the-art technologies, home-based rehabilitation devices are proposed as a sustainable solution in the current crisis. In this paper, a comprehensive review on developed home-based rehabilitation technologies of the last 10 years (2011–2020), categorizing them into upper and lower limb devices and considering both commercialized and state-of-the-art realms. Mechatronic, control, and software aspects of the system are discussed to provide a classified roadmap for home-based systems development. Subsequently, a conceptual framework on the development of smart and intelligent community-based home rehabilitation systems based on novel mechatronic technologies is proposed. In this framework, each rehabilitation device acts as an agent in the network, using the internet of things (IoT) technologies, which facilitates learning from the recorded data of the other agents, as well as the tele-supervision of the treatment by an expert. The presented design paradigm based on the above-mentioned leading technologies could lead to the development of promising home rehabilitation systems, which encourage stroke survivors to engage in under-supervised or unsupervised therapeutic activities.

The Covid-19 pandemic has transformed the world since the beginning of 2020 and has produced many changes in key aspects of healthcare delivery. The emergence of SARS-CoV-2 has been seen as the promoter of many dramatic changes, especially in the medical field, having a huge impact on health systems around the world. Both patients and healthcare professionals have been subjected to a new stress factor that has resonated strongly in everyday life. This leads to an increased risk of association of psychological disorders, especially for patients suffering from chronic diseases, as they have already had a history of psycho-vulnerability. Patients with known chronic pathologies therefore have several concerns about important issues in the future, therefore, they are associated with an increased risk of occurrence of psychological phenomena. The present research represents an observational study, with a prospective case-witness type, carried out over a period of 2 years, between 2019 and 2020. The patients included in this research are part of the databases of the Children’s Pneumology Department of “Sfântul Spiridon” Pneumoftiziology Hospital of Galati and in the TB (Tuberculosis) Clinics in Galati County, being patients diagnosed and treated in these departments. We aimed to study the association between the presence of tuberculosis and depressive disorders reported in children aged 7-18 years, during 2019 and 2020 and in addition, to expose the results of the psychological effects of the pandemic on these chronic patients. We finally hypothesized that depression, but also the symptoms associated with them, will have a significantly higher incidence among patients with tuberculosis during the Covid pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Iraq and the Kurdistan region was affected by the epidemic of covid-19 which gradually led to a lockdown in March and April and a wide-spread disruption of people’s life and activates. Objective: In this study, the researcher investigated psychological hardiness and its relation to health awareness among citizens of the Kurdistan region during the Corona epidemic. Methods: Across sectional design quantitative survey, conducted online from 1st to 18 April 2020. The survey was carried out after two months of lockdown due to the Covid-19 in the Kurdistan region. A questionnaire consist of 25 questions was prepared to measure psychological hardiness. Results: The researcher observed a low level of psychological hardiness, because of the pandemic of Covid-19. It has shown the non-significant association between psychological hardiness and health awareness also identified several significant factors associated with this psychological hardiness and health awareness. Conclusion: The study showed that the psychological hardiness of the citizens of the Kurdistan region is at a low level during the COVID-19 pandemic. The results can contribute to further research to investigate the effect of the pandemic on the public`s association of psychological hardiness with health awareness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since continuing learning draws on education, wherever it is available, no matter by whom provided, it is clear that programmes offered by formal education institutions are only one of many sources and options. The current study aimed at identification students' preferable levels and challenges of using distance learning in COVID-19. The sample comprised of 720 students. The researchers adopted a questionnaire and verified its validity and reliability. Mean, standard deviations, and ANOVA tests were conducted. The results indicated that the level of students' preferable in using distance learning is medium in general. The results did not show significant differences at the level (α = 0.05) of the use of distance learning for two independent variables: students' gender and region, yet they indicated statistically significant differences in students' preferable in distance learning for both educational level and ICT skills. On the other hand, the results indicated that the level of challenges faced by the students toward using distance learning is weak. This shows that students did confront real learning problems via digital platforms. Inferential statistics indicated that there is a significant difference in ICT skills in favor of those who did not have ICT skills. However, no statistically significant differences for three independent variables: students' gender, educational level, and region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper try to give an ethnographical look over a positive exemple of collective actions address by originals peoples of Oaxaca state, in Mexico, to prevent and overcome the pandemic Covid19. I shall present with detail the case of Santiago Comaltepec, a municipality at the Sierra Norte inhabited by chinantec indians; what they think, the decisions they make and the actions they take to confront it.The autonomous community responses are posible beacause the exercise of traditional forms of election and government called Internal Normative Systems at the Constitution of Oaxaca State.

Pharmaceutical and nonpharmaceutical of Music and al Quran therapy are capable of are helping humans to meditate or concentrate and free humans from a perplexing life. Through this harmonious characteristic, music and al Quran therapy touches every particle of existence. Several approaches to music therapy assume that the human body acts as the source of the voice and its organs are the musical instruments. Hence, healing through music uses the frequency or the combination of the voice and music or the musical element, such as harmony, rhythm and melody, to enhance healing. Music therapy and al Quran therapy are an effective treatment for overcoming stress problems, for example, increasing one's mood and being accepted by anybody. Healing through sound results from the belief that everything in this world vibrates. Hence, treatment through music uses frequencies or sound that is combined with music or musical elements to enhance healing. The focus is on physiological changes, such as blood pressure, muscle relaxation or the pulse. The effectiveness of sound therapy differs depending on the type, frequency, environment and the level of sound during treatment. Reciting the al-Quran is believed to have unique qualities and effects on the human body. Listening to recitals of the al-Quran has a positive effect and helps someone to reach a rested, calm and also found that the al-Quranic rhythm can reduce the level of depression and be a nonpharmaceutical procedure as well as safe for alleviating anxiety and improving critical signs. The psychoacoustic principles of music found in recitals of the al-Quran function as a kind of relaxing music that has a high impact on reducing pressure, anxiety and depression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]