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The COVID-19 pandemic affected the lives of older adults. Yet, little is known about changes in well-being among older adults during the pandemic, especially when COVID-19 measures were relaxed. Therefore, we aimed to assess changes in the well-being of older adults during multiple turning points of the pandemic. This longitudinal study included data from Dutch older adults (≥65 years old) participating in the Lifelines COVID-19 cohort. Data consisted of seven questionnaires, administered every 2–4 months between May 2020 and October 2021. The outcomes were quality of life (n  = 14 682), physical fitness (n  = 14 761), and feelings of isolation (n  = 14 611), all graded on a scale from 0 to 10. Changes in well-being were analysed by multivariable linear mixed-effects models. The context of measures was described using the Government Stringency Index. Quality of life and feelings of isolation decreased when measures were tightened and increased when measures were relaxed. For example, when measures relaxed after the first lockdown in May 2020, quality of life increased by 0.23 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.16–0.29] towards July 2020. Physical fitness decreased by 0.26 [95% CI: 0.15–0.37] during the study period. Differences between subsamples were not found, except for sex in feelings of isolation, which differences diminished after a period of relaxed measures. Changes in quality of life and feelings of isolation improved after periods of stringent COVID-19 measures. Physical fitness did not improve after measures were relaxed, suggesting a possible negative effect of the pandemic on the physical fitness of older adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic impacted cancer services worldwide. We examined the effect of the first three pandemic waves on the number of electronic (e)-referrals to rapid access clinics (RACs) for breast, lung and prostate cancer in Ireland. Methods This study used a retrospective, repeated cross-sectional design. The predicted weekly number of e-referrals by suspected cancer types from March 2020 to May 2021 was calculated using the Holt-Winters seasonal smoothing method, based on the observed numbers from a representative pre-pandemic period (01 January 2019 to 01 March 2020) and compared this with the observed number across the first three pandemic waves (02 March 2020 to 09 May 2021). Percentage differences were calculated between observed and predicted numbers of e-referrals for the three RACs and patterns were examined in each wave. Results Observed e-referrals were lower than predicted for all three RACs in the first wave of the pandemic (15.7% lower for breast, 39.5% lower for lung and 28.1% lower for prostate) with varying levels of recovery in the second and third waves for the three e-referral types. Conclusions The COVID-19 pandemic impacted patterns of e-referrals to RACs in the first three pandemic waves in Ireland. Early identification of changes in engagement with health services, such as a decrease in primary care presentations with a resultant decrease in e-referrals to RACs can allow for a rapid response from cancer control programmes. Continued surveillance of the impact of service disruption on cancer services allows policy makers and strategic leaders in cancer control programmes to respond rapidly to mitigate the impact on cancer outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Previous studies found that the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic had a variable impact on the consumption of antimicrobial drugs in human medicine, with trends in several European countries differing between community and inpatient prescribing. Aim: This study analysed changes in the volumes and use density of antibacterial and antifungal drugs dispensed in acute care hospitals in Germany between 2019 and 2022. Methods: Surveillance data for the four years available from 279 hospitals were expressed as the total volumes of daily doses or as use density (daily doses per 100 patient/occupied bed days) per year and analysed descriptively, using recommended hospital-adapted daily dose definitions (RDDs) and (as sensitivity analysis) WHO/ATC-defined daily dose definitions (DDD). Hospitals were stratified according to size (number of beds), university affiliation, and location (East, West, South). Results: There were significant decreases in both the total number of patient days and antibacterial drug volumes in 2020 through 2022 compared with 2019. The relative changes between 2019 and 2020, 2021, and 2022 were −12.8%, −13.5%, and −13.3% for patient days, and −9.7%, −11.0%, and −10.1% for antibacterial RDDs, respectively. Broad-spectrum betalactams, notably piperacillin–tazobactam and carbapenems, increased in volume, unlike most other drug classes. The resulting antibacterial drug use density was slightly but significantly increased, with pooled means (and medians) of 43.3 (40.0) RDD/100 in 2019 compared to 44.8 (41.7), 44.5 (40.80), and 44.9 (41.7) RDD/100 in the years 2020 through 2022, respectively. Antifungal drug volumes and use density increased after 2019 and peaked in 2021 (the difference between 2019 and 2021 for total volumes was +6.4%, and that for pooled mean use density values was +22.9%, respectively). These trends were similar in the different hospital strata and comparable when DDDs instead of RDDs were used. Conclusions: Similar to what has been observed in a majority of European countries, the total volume of antibacterial drug use in German acute care hospitals decreased with the pandemic, without a rebound phenomenon in 2022. In association with restricted hospital capacities and presumably more immunocompromised general medicine patients, however, inpatient prescribing of (primarily broad-spectrum) antibacterials and of antifungal drugs increased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The world is constantly changing and urging people to prioritize their Work & Life Balance according to their personal needs and make sure they can adapt themselves to the environmental requirements to be socially accepted. The coronavirus pandemic has challenged people to change their lifestyles and shift their attention toward their mental and relationship health while also prioritizing physical well-being. The purpose of this research paper is to analyze different points of view and degrees in which the pandemic has affected people located in Romania by using Cornbach’s alpha coefficient. Through Google Forms, a number of 160 Romanians took part in the survey conveying their experience during the coronavirus pandemic.

Abstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the daily life and routines of Americans across the United States (U.S.), including those of our active-duty service members (ADSMs). Limited movement orders enacted during this time to promote social distancing prohibited access to fitness and dining facilities for ADSMs. This study aims to expand on previous work identifying changes in body mass index (BMI) among U.S. Army service members by identifying changes in body mass index (BMI) among active-duty service members from both the Navy and Marine Corps during the same time period. Methods We conducted a retrospective cohort study of active-duty service members from the Navy and Marine Corps using data from the Military Health System Data Repository. BMI was calculated and categorized according to CDC guidelines both before (February 2019 - January 2020) and during the pandemic (September 2020 - June 2021). Women who were pregnant or delivered during and one year prior to the study periods were excluded. Statistical analyses included paired t-tests evaluating mean BMI, percent change, and the Stuart-Maxwell test for marginal homogeneity. Results We identified 98,330 active-duty Sailors and 55,298 active-duty Marines for inclusion in this study. During the pandemic period the percentage of Sailors with Underweight decreased by 11%, Healthy weight decreased by 11.1%, Overweight increased by 2.1%, and the percentage of Sailors with Obesity increased by 16.5%. During this same time period, Marines with Underweight decreased by 1%, Healthy weight decreased by 16%, Overweight increased by 3.0%, and Marines with Obesity increased by 51%. The largest increases in service members with overweight and obesity observed among both cohorts were among female service members, service members under age 20, and service members with a Junior Enlisted rank. Conclusions Significant increases in obesity were observed amongst active-duty United States Navy and Marine Corps service members during DoD pandemic mitigation efforts. Increased rates of obesity likely effected fitness and force readiness. Future interventions should be targeted at younger, Junior-Enlisted Marines and Sailors to promote healthy lifestyles and provide education on nutrition, appropriate exercise, sleep hygiene, and stress management.

Abstract Background Online education has emerged as a crucial tool for imparting knowledge and skills to students in the twenty-first century, especially in developing nations like India, which previously relied heavily on traditional teaching methods. Methods This study delved into the perceptions and challenges experienced by students and teachers in the context of online education during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data were collected from a sample of 491 dental students and 132 teachers utilizing a cross-sectional research design and an online-validated survey questionnaire. Results The study’s findings revealed significant insights. Internet accessibility emerged as a major impediment for students, with online instruction proving more effective for theoretical subjects compared to practical ones. Although most teachers expressed comfort with online teaching, they highlighted the absence of classroom interaction as a significant challenge. Conclusion This study comprehensively examines the perspectives of both students and teachers regarding online education during the pandemic. The results carry substantial implications for the academic community, underscoring the need to address internet access issues and explore ways to enhance engagement and interaction in online learning environments.

Until recently, the recognition to the European Union of the capacity to borrow from capital markets for spending purposes was considered almost inconceivable without a treaty amendment. When borrowing for spending was authorized under the Next Generation EU program to support the recovery of member states from the unprecedented consequences of the coronavirus, it was immediately faced with the suspicion that the pandemic was being used as a pretext to promote the creation of a fiscal and transfer union by the back door in violation of the principle of conferral. In its NGEU judgment, the German Federal Constitutional Court concluded that the authorization to borrow under the program could not be considered ultra vires. However, the ambiguous and controversial reasoning of the Constitutional Court gives rise to uncertainty as to whether the funding and financing model introduced by the recovery program could be used again in the future, beyond the exceptional circumstances of the pandemic. At the same time, it appears that, in this case, the Constitutional Court applied a considerably more restrained version of its ultra vires review compared to its recent case law on the asset purchase programs of the European Central Bank.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the daily life and routines of Americans across the United States (U.S.), including those of our active-duty service members (ADSMs). Limited movement orders enacted during this time to promote social distancing prohibited access to fitness and dining facilities for ADSMs. This study aims to expand on previous work identifying changes in body mass index (BMI) among U.S. Army service members by identifying changes in body mass index (BMI) among active-duty service members from both the Navy and Marine Corps during the same time period. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of active-duty service members from the Navy and Marine Corps using data from the Military Health System Data Repository. BMI was calculated and categorized according to CDC guidelines both before (February 2019 - January 2020) and during the pandemic (September 2020 - June 2021). Women who were pregnant or delivered during and one year prior to the study periods were excluded. Statistical analyses included paired t-tests evaluating mean BMI, percent change, and the Stuart-Maxwell test for marginal homogeneity. Results: We identified 98,330 active-duty Sailors and 55,298 active-duty Marines for inclusion in this study. During the pandemic period the percentage of Sailors with Underweight decreased by 11%, Healthy weight decreased by 11.1%, Overweight increased by 2.1%, and the percentage of Sailors with Obesity increased by 16.5%. During this same time period, Marines with Underweight decreased by 1%, Healthy weight decreased by 16%, Overweight increased by 3.0%, and Marines with Obesity increased by 51%. The largest increases in service members with overweight and obesity observed among both cohorts were among female service members, service members under age 20, and service members with a Junior Enlisted rank. Conclusions: Significant increases in obesity were observed amongst active-duty United States Navy and Marine Corps service members during DoD pandemic mitigation efforts. Increased rates of obesity likely effected fitness and force readiness. Future interventions should be targeted at younger, Junior-Enlisted Marines and Sailors to promote healthy lifestyles and provide education on nutrition, appropriate exercise, sleep hygiene, and stress management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses a study on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on surgical rates in different population groups in Ontario, Canada. The study found that surgery rates decreased significantly for all subgroups during the pandemic, but by 2023, most subgroups had returned to pre-pandemic levels except for immigrants and recent migrants who continued to have lower rates. The findings suggest a need for policy interventions to ensure equitable access to surgery for marginalized populations during the pandemic recovery. Further research is needed to understand the causes of disparities in surgical access and develop policies to address them. [Extracted from the article]

Until recently, the recognition to the European Union of the capacity to borrow from capital markets for spending purposes was considered almost inconceivable without a treaty amendment. When borrowing for spending was authorized under the Next Generation EU program to support the recovery of member states from the unprecedented consequences of the coronavirus, it was immediately faced with the suspicion that the pandemic was being used as a pretext to promote the creation of a fiscal and transfer union by the back door in violation of the principle of conferral. In its NGEU judgment, the German Federal Constitutional Court concluded that the authorization to borrow under the program could not be considered ultra vires. However, the ambiguous and controversial reasoning of the Constitutional Court gives rise to uncertainty as to whether the funding and financing model introduced by the recovery program could be used again in the future, beyond the exceptional circumstances of the pandemic. At the same time, it appears that, in this case, the Constitutional Court applied a considerably more restrained version of its ultra vires review compared to its recent case law on the asset purchase programs of the European Central Bank. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic caused widespread disruptions in cancer care. We hypothesized that the greatest disruptions in diagnosis occurred in screen-detected cancers. We identified patients (≥18 years of age) with newly diagnosed cancer from 2019 to 2020 in the US National Cancer Database and calculated the change in proportion of early-stage to late-stage cancers using a weighted linear regression. Disruptions in early-stage diagnosis were greater than in late-stage diagnosis (17% vs 12.5%). Melanoma demonstrated the greatest relative decrease in early-stage vs late-stage diagnosis (22.9% vs 9.2%), whereas the decrease was similar for pancreatic cancer. Compared with breast cancer, cervical, melanoma, prostate, colorectal, and lung cancers showed the greatest disruptions in early-stage diagnosis. Uninsured patients experienced greater disruptions than privately insured patients. Disruptions in cancer diagnosis in 2020 had a larger impact on early-stage disease, particularly screen-detected cancers. Our study supports emerging evidence that primary care visits may play a critical role in early melanoma detection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista de Medicina y Cine / Journal of Medicine & Movies is the property of Ediciones Universidad de Salamanca 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.)

Emergency department (ED) visits for conditions unrelated to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic decreased during the early pandemic, raising concerns about critically ill patients forgoing care and increasing their risk of adverse outcomes. It is unclear if Hispanic and Black adults, who have a high prevalence of chronic conditions, sought medical assistance for acute emergencies during this time. This study used 2018-2020 ED visit data from the largest safety net hospital in Los Angeles County to estimate ED visit differences for cardiac emergencies, diabetic complications, and strokes, during the first societal lockdown among Black and Hispanic patients using time series analyses. Emergency department visits were lower than the expected levels during the first societal lockdown. However, after the lockdown ended, Black patients experienced a rebound in ED visits while visits for Hispanics remained depressed. Future research could identify barriers Hispanics experienced that contributed to prolonged ED avoidance.

This research is basically focusing on studying the physical effects of the spread of Coronavirus within interior architectural spaces. In most international research centres concerning coping Covid-19 virus, similar studies were conducted to introduce ways of combating the spread of this virus. Places of human gatherings are more appropriate to carry out such studies related to finding ways to prevent the spread of Coronavirus infection. Therefore, educational buildings, especially classrooms and lectures halls are among the most crowded places, and their indoor space is ideal to a large extent for increasing the spread of Corona virus infection among people. The aim of this research is to calculate the rate of air change per hour in the interior spaces of educational buildings, based on the decision of the strategy of moving the air necessary to renew it by replacing clean air instead of polluted air by expelling it outside the building through a series of similar studies and applying to one of the educational halls. In this context, the methods of combating and preventing the Coronavirus were reviewed and the case of one of the halls was studied within one of the educational institutes in Dakahlia governorate and some recommendations were given that can be applied in similar institutes. There are significant risks in building ventilation management and in maintaining healthy indoor environments. Dealing with the global epidemic of the covid-19 varies from one country to another, according to preventive measures, method, behaviour, and culture. The disease in Egypt becomes more brutal in the winter months at a time when people especially during work hours where the indoor atmosphere is closed and with poor ventilation conditions. Moreover, the Egyptian government tries to preserve its economy which is depending on different shapes of social interactions, such as commercial centres, public and private clubs, schools, universities, and government service organizations. In this context, the Egyptian government has eased the lock down restrictions gradually, and then cancelled it completely regarding certain vital associations such as universities, schools, commercial centres, and public services (UK-Government, 2018). Therefore, besides the national vaccination program for Egyptian citizens, it is also necessary to adopt the measures of the World Health Organization to prevent the spread of Covid 19 infection, including physical distancing, personal hygiene, and good ventilation of spaces, to obtain more effective results in limiting the spread of infection (World-Health-Organization, 2022).

The article is devoted to the analysis of forecasts of the world energy development made recently (from September 2020 to May 2021) by the world’s leading analytical centers, taking into account “the new reality” – the coronavirus pandemic. The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the development of the world economy and energy consumption and the estimates of its consequences on longterm global economic growth made in various forecasts and prognostic studies are considered. It is shown that the priority of most of the prognostic estimates of the world consumption of primary energy resources made by the world’s leading analytical centers in recent years is a sharp reduction in CO2 emissions by energy and stabilization of global anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions in order to prevent negative climate changes on our planet. A conditional classification of scenarios for the prospective development of global energy is given, depending on the ideology that is embedded in them, an analysis of the fulfilled forecasts is given. It is concluded that Russian research structures need to develop their own similar forecasts.

Water is considered a fundamental factor, and plays a role in public health and economic growth. Therefore, it should be free of all kinds of microorganisms, and chemical substances that are dangerous to fauna and flora. Insufficient water supply is one of the issues confronting Middle Eastern countries, and Lebanon becomes a typical example. This study aims to evaluate the basic physical, chemical, and microbiological water properties for eight distinct sites, in southeastern Lebanon, identified during the coronavirus pandemic, as the worst economic situation to hit Lebanon began. These tests were carried out by the World Health Organization (WHO). The results were utilized to assess the level of environmental pollution. A comparison was made between the obtained results with other studies: Lebanon southwest and the northwest region of Jordan Valley. The novelty of this study stems from the fact that it is the first to shed light on the degree of pollution level and the lack of environmental education for water conservation and water pollution prevention in this unstudied area, and compares the results locally and regionally. In addition, the obtained results indicate the impact of the Coronavirus on the behavior of the habitants in this region. HIGHLIGHTS Check the importance of habitat education in saving water and reducing its pollution to prevent losses at different levels (human life and economic way).; Encourage the researches to take into consideration such catastrophic situations and ensure water purification worldwide.; Study the effect of Coronavirus on the behavior of people in the same country and in the same region during the Corona pandemic.;

Background: Routine vaccination coverage in Latin America and the Caribbean declined prior to and during the coronavirus pandemic. We assessed the pandemic's impact on national coverage levels and analyzed whether financial and inequality indicators, immunization policies, and pandemic policies were associated with changes in national and regional coverage levels. Methodology: We compared first- and third-dose coverage of diphtheria–pertussis–tetanus-containing vaccine (DTPcv) with predicted coverages using time series forecast modeling for 39 LAC countries and territories. Data were from the PAHO/WHO/UNICEF Joint Reporting Form. A secondary analysis of factors hypothesized to affect coverages during the pandemic was also performed. Results: In total, 31 of 39 countries and territories (79%) had greater-than-predicted declines in DTPcv1 and DTPcv3 coverage during the pandemic, with 9 and 12 of these, respectively, falling outside the 95% confidence interval. Within-country income inequality (i.e., Gini coefficient) was associated with significant declines in DTPcv1 coverage, and cross-country income inequality was associated with declines in DTPcv1 and DTPcv3 coverages. Observed absolute and relative inequality gaps in DTPcv1 and DTPcv3 coverage between extreme country quintiles of income inequality (i.e., Q1 vs. Q5) were accentuated in 2021, as compared with the 2019 observed and 2021 predicted values. We also observed a trend between school closures and greater-than-predicted declines in DTPcv3 coverage that approached statistical significance (p = 0.06). Conclusion: The pandemic exposed vaccination inequities in LAC and significantly impacted coverage levels in many countries. New strategies are needed to reattain high coverage levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Motif Academy Journal of Folklore is the property of Motif Yayincilik 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 uses a qualitative research mixed methods design to explore the Coronavirus pandemic's uncertainty effect on mature board governance practices and a board decision processes framework within 16 large Australian financial services entities. Findings provide support for two effects. Firstly, the Coronavirus pandemic had led to a hesitation effect on the board members on-going journey of developing a conscious sense of 'self' and awareness. Secondly, the skills and diversity of personalities of directors comprising the board has a positive impact on the effectiveness and success of strategic decisions. The ongoing ambiguity impact of the Coronavirus pandemic on effective board decision-making processes was investigated. The board members expressed confidence in the Australian financial services sector's ability to overcome the global Coronavirus pandemic's temporary uncertainty impact on board decision processes frameworks. Future research may extend the focus to senior executives' or owners' EI personality traits to investigate the relationship between such individual's or teams' traits and ongoing effective board decision-making processes during uncertainty in either developing or developed countries or a cross-cultural study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Finance & Financial Law / Finanse i Prawo Finansowe is the property of Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Lodzkiego 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 novel coronavirus outbreak has significantly heightened environmental costs and operational challenges for civil aviation airlines, prompting emergency airport closures in affected regions and a substantial decline in ridership. The consequential need to reassess, delay, or cancel flight itineraries has led to disruptions at airports, amplifying the risk of disease transmission. In response, this paper proposes a spatial approach to efficiently address pandemic spread in the civil aviation network. The methodology prioritizes the use of a static gravity model for calculating route-specific infection pressures, enabling strategic flight rescheduling to control infection levels at airports (nodes) and among airlines (edges). Temporally, this study considers intervals between takeoffs and landings to minimize crowd gatherings, mitigating the novel coronavirus transmission rate. By constructing a discrete space–time network for irregular flights, this research generates a viable set of routes for aircraft operating in special circumstances, minimizing both route-specific infection pressures and operational costs for airlines. Remarkably, the introduced method demonstrates substantial savings, reaching almost 53.4%, compared to traditional plans. This showcases its efficacy in optimizing responses to pandemic-induced disruptions within the civil aviation network, offering a comprehensive solution that balances operational efficiency and public health considerations in the face of unprecedented challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The novel coronavirus outbreak has significantly heightened environmental costs and operational challenges for civil aviation airlines, prompting emergency airport closures in affected regions and a substantial decline in ridership. The consequential need to reassess, delay, or cancel flight itineraries has led to disruptions at airports, amplifying the risk of disease transmission. In response, this paper proposes a spatial approach to efficiently address pandemic spread in the civil aviation network. The methodology prioritizes the use of a static gravity model for calculating route-specific infection pressures, enabling strategic flight rescheduling to control infection levels at airports (nodes) and among airlines (edges). Temporally, this study considers intervals between takeoffs and landings to minimize crowd gatherings, mitigating the novel coronavirus transmission rate. By constructing a discrete space–time network for irregular flights, this research generates a viable set of routes for aircraft operating in special circumstances, minimizing both route-specific infection pressures and operational costs for airlines. Remarkably, the introduced method demonstrates substantial savings, reaching almost 53.4%, compared to traditional plans. This showcases its efficacy in optimizing responses to pandemic-induced disruptions within the civil aviation network, offering a comprehensive solution that balances operational efficiency and public health considerations in the face of unprecedented challenges.

Abstract Protective face masks were one of the central measures to counteract viral transmission in the COVID-19 pandemic. Prior research indicates that face masks impact various aspects of social cognition, such as emotion recognition and social evaluation. Whether protective masks also influence social avoidance behavior is less clear. Our project assessed direct and indirect measures of social avoidance tendencies towards masked and unmasked faces in two experiments with 311 participants during the first half of 2021. Two interventions were used in half of the participants from each sample (Experiment 1: protective face masks; Experiment 2: a disease prime video) to decrease or increase the salience of the immediate contagion threat. In the direct social avoidance measure, which asked for the deliberate decision to approach or avoid a person in a hypothetical social encounter, participants showed an increased willingness to approach masked as opposed to unmasked faces across experiments. This effect was further related to interindividual differences in pandemic threat perception in both samples. In the indirect measure, which assessed automatic social approach and avoidance tendencies, we neither observed an approach advantage towards masked faces nor an avoidance advantage for unmasked faces. Thus, while the absence of protective face masks may have led to increased deliberate social avoidance during the pandemic, no such effect was observed on automatic regulation of behavior, thus indicating the relative robustness of this latter behavior against changes in superordinate social norms.

Crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, significantly impacted individuals’ attitudes and behaviors worldwide. Romania suffered considerably during this health crisis due to low vaccination rates influenced by the media’s approach that shaped attitudes towards vaccination. The Media Dependency Theory is relevant in this context, emphasizing the dependent link between individuals, media, and society during high uncertainty periods. This research aimed to look into the media’s influence on Romanian vaccination choices and trust in media and government during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study employed a social survey and content analysis to investigate people’s attitudes as well as media approaches during the pandemic. The primary results of this study highlight the link between media preferences and attitudes toward media and vaccination during the pandemic, as well as generational differences that influence trust in media and government. This study reveals a mixed media approach, with informative and shocking news present in most analyzed articles. The pandemic context, as well as the study’s methods, which include two both traditional and new media and four generations (Z, Y, X, and Baby Boomers), make this research paper relevant for understanding communication as well as the media`s impact on attitude formation in crises.

Background: Previous studies found that the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic had a variable impact on the consumption of antimicrobial drugs in human medicine, with trends in several European countries differing between community and inpatient prescribing. Aim: This study analysed changes in the volumes and use density of antibacterial and antifungal drugs dispensed in acute care hospitals in Germany between 2019 and 2022. Methods: Surveillance data for the four years available from 279 hospitals were expressed as the total volumes of daily doses or as use density (daily doses per 100 patient/occupied bed days) per year and analysed descriptively, using recommended hospital-adapted daily dose definitions (RDDs) and (as sensitivity analysis) WHO/ATC-defined daily dose definitions (DDD). Hospitals were stratified according to size (number of beds), university affiliation, and location (East, West, South). Results: There were significant decreases in both the total number of patient days and antibacterial drug volumes in 2020 through 2022 compared with 2019. The relative changes between 2019 and 2020, 2021, and 2022 were −12.8%, −13.5%, and −13.3% for patient days, and −9.7%, −11.0%, and −10.1% for antibacterial RDDs, respectively. Broad-spectrum betalactams, notably piperacillin–tazobactam and carbapenems, increased in volume, unlike most other drug classes. The resulting antibacterial drug use density was slightly but significantly increased, with pooled means (and medians) of 43.3 (40.0) RDD/100 in 2019 compared to 44.8 (41.7), 44.5 (40.80), and 44.9 (41.7) RDD/100 in the years 2020 through 2022, respectively. Antifungal drug volumes and use density increased after 2019 and peaked in 2021 (the difference between 2019 and 2021 for total volumes was +6.4%, and that for pooled mean use density values was +22.9%, respectively). These trends were similar in the different hospital strata and comparable when DDDs instead of RDDs were used. Conclusions: Similar to what has been observed in a majority of European countries, the total volume of antibacterial drug use in German acute care hospitals decreased with the pandemic, without a rebound phenomenon in 2022. In association with restricted hospital capacities and presumably more immunocompromised general medicine patients, however, inpatient prescribing of (primarily broad-spectrum) antibacterials and of antifungal drugs increased.

While COVID-19 lockdowns have slowed coronavirus transmission, such structural measures also have unintended consequences on mental and physical health. Growing evidence shows that exposure to the natural environment (e.g., blue-green spaces) can improve human health and wellbeing. In this narrative review, we synthesized the evidence about natures contributions to health and wellbeing during the first two years of the COVID-19 pandemic. We found that during the pandemic, people experienced multiple types of nature, including both outdoors and indoors. Frequency of visits to outdoor natural areas (i.e., public parks) depended on lockdown severity and socio-cultural contexts. Other forms of nature exposure, such as spending time in private gardens and viewing outdoor greenery from windows, may have increased. The majority of the evidence suggests nature exposure during COVID-19 pandemic was associated with less depression, anxiety, stress, and more happiness and life satisfaction. Additionally, nature exposure was correlated with less physical inactivity and fewer sleep disturbances. Evidence was mixed regarding associations between nature exposure and COVID-related health outcomes, while nature visits might be associated with greater rates of COVID-19 transmission and mortality when proper social distancing measures were not maintained. Findings on whether nature exposure during lockdowns helped ameliorate health inequities by impacting the health of lower-socioeconomic populations more than their higher-socioeconomic counterparts for example were mixed. Based on these findings, we argue that nature exposure may have buffered the negative mental and behavioral impacts of lockdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic. Recovery and resilience during the current crises and future public health crises might be improved with nature-based infrastructure, interventions, designs, and governance.

Background The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a disruption of daily routines and changes in health behaviors leading to widespread concerns about unfavorable changes in weight status and a potential increase in the prevalence of obesity. This study examined the long-term impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on changes in weight status and its possible dependency on educational level and mental health. Methods The study utilizes the Danish Health and Well-being Survey with repeated self-reported information on weight status collected before the COVID-19 pandemic (autumn of 2019) and twice during the pandemic (autumns of 2020 and 2021). Information on educational level was derived from registers, whereas mental health was measured using validated scales. Generalized estimating equations were performed to investigate changes in mean weight and body mass index (BMI) category (BMI < 30 to BMI ≥ 30) between 2019 and 2021 and to investigate potential differences in changes in weight status by pre-pandemic educational level and mental health. Results Mean weight significantly increased by 0.34 kg [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.16–0.51] in 2020 and by 0.46 kg (95% CI: 0.26–0.66) in 2021 compared with pre-pandemic weight status. The increase was greater among individuals with lower educational levels and poorer mental health. There were no significant changes in BMI category during the pandemic. Conclusion The results showed a significant increase in mean weight among the Danish population, particularly among individuals with lower educational levels and poorer mental health, but without detectable differences in obesity, supporting a long-term but minor impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on weight status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Few studies have investigated the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cancer survival. Those studies that have included pandemic vs prepandemic comparisons can mask differences during different periods of the pandemic such as COVID-19 waves. The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cancer survival using an interrupted time series analysis and to identify time points during the pandemic when observed survival deviated from expected survival. Methods A retrospective population-based cohort study that included individuals diagnosed with cancer between January 2015 and September 2021 from Manitoba, Canada, was performed. Interrupted time series analyses with Royston–Parmar models as well as Kaplan–Meier survival estimates and delta restricted mean survival times at 1 year were used to compare survival rates for those diagnosed before and after the pandemic. Analyses were performed for 11 cancer types. Results Survival at 1 year for most cancer types was not statistically different during the pandemic compared with prepandemic except for individuals aged 50-74 years who were diagnosed with lung cancer from April to June 2021 (delta restricted mean survival times = −31.6 days, 95% confidence interval [CI] = −58.3 to −7.2 days). Conclusions With the exception of individuals diagnosed with lung cancer, the COVID-19 pandemic did not impact overall 1-year survival in Manitoba. Additional research is needed to examine the impact of the pandemic on long-term cancer survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Protective face masks were one of the central measures to counteract viral transmission in the COVID-19 pandemic. Prior research indicates that face masks impact various aspects of social cognition, such as emotion recognition and social evaluation. Whether protective masks also influence social avoidance behavior is less clear. Our project assessed direct and indirect measures of social avoidance tendencies towards masked and unmasked faces in two experiments with 311 participants during the first half of 2021. Two interventions were used in half of the participants from each sample (Experiment 1: protective face masks; Experiment 2: a disease prime video) to decrease or increase the salience of the immediate contagion threat. In the direct social avoidance measure, which asked for the deliberate decision to approach or avoid a person in a hypothetical social encounter, participants showed an increased willingness to approach masked as opposed to unmasked faces across experiments. This effect was further related to interindividual differences in pandemic threat perception in both samples. In the indirect measure, which assessed automatic social approach and avoidance tendencies, we neither observed an approach advantage towards masked faces nor an avoidance advantage for unmasked faces. Thus, while the absence of protective face masks may have led to increased deliberate social avoidance during the pandemic, no such effect was observed on automatic regulation of behavior, thus indicating the relative robustness of this latter behavior against changes in superordinate social norms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The world faced a crisis called the coronavirus pandemic, a disease that has been able to disrupt a large proportion of the power and activities of the whole world and has evolved all economic and social decisions. These decisions are primarily related to restrictions such as widespread lockdowns and social distancing. Different countries have taken various approaches and decisions to deal with this situation, each of which has positive and negative sides. Apart from this issue, the rapid spread of this pandemic has affected researchers' knowledge and viewpoints about this disease. Without any doubt, to expand our scientific knowledge and reduce the side effects of this challenge, it is essential to evaluate the behavior of COVID-19. Moreover, developing an effective vaccine in the short term was challenging. Regarding this issue, systematic thinking not only helps to find various ways to prevent this illness from spreading throughout the world but also reduces the mortality rate of this viral disease. From a systematic thinking perspective, governments and individuals play pivotal roles. They take care of vulnerable groups, support health employees, provide general education, identify new patients, and control specific situations in their countries. In such a situation where experts have not discovered any vaccine, governments and the people of society can be considered essential parameters to intensify or reduce the outbreak of this viral disease throughout the country. This paper's main objective and motivation are to utilize causal loop diagrams (CLDs) to evaluate and determine various affecting factors created by governments and members of societies that have direct impacts on deteriorating or decreasing the outbreak of COVID-19 in Iran from a system dynamics perspective. Hence, the statistics on the incidence and deaths caused by the coronavirus in Iran were extracted during some periods. Using the cause and effect diagrams, the behavior of the people and the government in increasing or decreasing the number of patients is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The world is constantly changing and urging people to prioritize their Work & Life Balance according to their personal needs and make sure they can adapt themselves to the environmental requirements to be socially accepted. The coronavirus pandemic has challenged people to change their lifestyles and shift their attention toward their mental and relationship health while also prioritizing physical well-being. The purpose of this research paper is to analyze different points of view and degrees in which the pandemic has affected people located in Romania by using Cornbach's alpha coefficient. Through Google Forms, a number of 160 Romanians took part in the survey conveying their experience during the coronavirus pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Motivation: Under contemporary market conditions in China, the stock index has been volatile and highly reflect trends in the coronavirus pandemic, but rare scientific research has been conducted to model the possible nonlinear relations between the two indicators. Added, on the advent that covid-related news in one time period impacts the stock market in another period, time delay can be an equally good predictor of the stock index but rarely investigated. Objectives: To contribute to filling the gaps identified in existing research, this study models relationship between the stock market index and coronavirus pandemic by leveraging volatility in the stock market and covid data through time delay and best degree in a polynomial environment. The resultant optimal time delay and best degree model is used to derive a high-accuracy prediction of stock market index. Novelty: In line with the possible relations, the novelty of this study is that it proposes, validates and implements polynomial regression with time delay to model nonlinear relationship between the stock index and covid. Methods: This study utilizes high-frequency data from January 2020 to the first week of July 2022 to model the nonlinear relationship between the stock index, new covid cases and time delay under polynomial regression environment. Findings: The empirical results show that time delay and new covid cases, when modelled in a polynomial environment with optimal degree and delay, do present better representation of the nonlinear relationship such predictors have with stock index for China. Relative to results from the polynomial regression without delay, the empirical evidence from the model with delay show that an optimal time delay of 17 weeks makes it possible to predict the stock index at high accuracy and record improvements of 16-fold or higher. The representative delay model is used to project for up to 17 weeks for future trends in the stock index. Implication: The implication of the findings herein is that the prowess of the time delay polynomial regression is heavily dependent on instability in covid-related time trends and that researchers and decision-makers should consider modeling to cover for the unsteadiness in coronavirus cases to achieve better results.

PurposeAnalyzing Kawasaki disease epidemiology during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in South Korea using 2012–2020 National Health Insurance Service data.MethodsThe incidence of Kawasaki disease for 2012–2020 was investigated to identify changes in incidence after the start of the pandemic. National Health Insurance Service data from the Republic of Korea were used. Kawasaki disease was defined based on the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, the Tenth Revision diagnostic code (M30.3), and the intravenous immunoglobulin prescription code. Prescription history was collected for the following medications: intravenous immunoglobulin, aspirin, corticosteroids, tumor necrosis factor-α antagonist, clopidogrel, and anticoagulation drugs.ResultsThe Kawasaki disease incidence per 100,000 individuals younger than 5 years was 238.9, 230.0, and 141.2 in 2018, 2019, and 2020, respectively. Regarding the incidence from 2012 to 2020, it was the highest in 2018 and decreased to 141.2 (p

Our study investigates the trends in prostate cancer screening amid the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly focusing on racial disparities between Black and White men. Utilizing data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System from 2018, 2020, and 2022, we analyzed prostate-specific antigen screening rates in men aged 45-75 years. Our findings reveal initial declines in screening rates for both groups during the pandemic, with subsequent recovery; however, the pace of rebound differed statistically significantly between races. Whereas White men showed a notable increase in screening rates postpandemic, Black men's rates recovered more slowly. This disparity underscores the impact of socioeconomic factors, health-care access, and possibly systemic biases affecting health-care delivery. Our study highlights the need for targeted interventions to address these inequalities and ensure equitable access to prostate cancer preventive care in the aftermath of COVID-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One group whose work involves information management is librarians. The study thus sought to understand their information management and sharing behavior during the current pandemic. An online survey was activated and shared among respondents. The questionnaires created with Google Forms were sent through the WhatsApp messaging system and email addresses of the members of the national library association (The Ghana Library Association). The questionnaire elicited information on COVID-19 information sharing and management of librarians in Ghana. Librarians in the country were asked how they receive, share and check the credibility of information regarding the pandemic. Results indicated that different people treated pandemic-related information differently. The respondents were involved in information sharing and considered information management as very important in the fight against the disease. It came out that the surest way to contain the disease would be through a well-coordinated channel such as educating the masses in information literacy and news literacy skills.

In light of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, there is a strong correlation between citizens' social responsibility (SR) and sustainable development (SD). Accordingly, the present study aimed to model the impact of citizens' SR on SD concerning the modifying role of the COVID-19 pandemic. To this end, the data were collected from two target groups, namely, elites (viz. experts and professionals) (n=15) and the citizens of Tehran, Iran (n=384), through a questionnaire. The research model was also designed based on expert opinions, using the Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS), type-II fuzzy logic, and ELECTRE III, and then modified. The given model was subsequently examined by the partial least squares regression (PLS regression). Results showed that if citizens' SR is elevated by about one-unit, social justice, sustainable economy, and stable environment would be augmented by 0.693, 0.735, and 0.583 units, respectively. SD would also grow by 0.485, 0.948, and 0.743 units if social justice, sustainable economy, and sustainable environment increased by one unit. Consequently, the results of the present study confirm the mechanism of the impact of citizens' SR on SD.

BackgroundThe coronavirus pandemic has potential implications for stress levels and resilience among oncology healthcare professionals (HCPs). This study aims to assess perceived stress, resilience, and moral distress levels among oncology HCPs in Jordan during the pandemic and identify associated risk factors.MethodsAn online cross-sectional survey was conducted among oncology HCPs in Jordan using three validated tools: Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RSIC), and Moral Distress Thermometer (MDT). Seven items were used to assess sources of stress.ResultsA total of 965 participants enrolled with a 74% response rate. The participants’ ages ranged from 20 to 74 (mean = 32.74, SD = 5.197), with 79.1% males, 45.1% were physicians, 32.6% were public hospital workers, 57.1% were married, and 56.6% had children below 18 years. Findings indicated moderate perceived stress (Mean = 15.87, SD = 5.861), low resilience (Mean = 29.18, SD = 5.197), and high moral distress (Mean = 4.72, SD = 2.564). Females, unmarried individuals, and younger age groups exhibited higher PSS (p = 0.009, p

AbstractUniversities worldwide transitioned to online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to a digital revolution in higher education. The aim of this study is to give a unique insider’s perspective of how students experienced the shift to online learning within a Qualitative Methods course at the beginning of the pandemic. Our data is comprised of a thematic analysis of three focus group discussions (FGDs) with the Master’s in Public Health Sciences programme students at Karolinska Institutet, Sweden, on their experiences of learning and applying qualitative methods online. The findings showed different processes of adaptation to the learning environment at the early stages of the pandemic. Use of digital technologies for online education were learnt and re-embodied by students, to the point they eventually defined themselves as “Zoom beings”. An overarching theme describes the process of students’ re-embodiment of their student-researcher role in a dematerialized online classroom. The adaptation to the learning process resulted in growing pains, but also enabled student to foresee complementarity of online and physical worlds. Understanding the students’ experiences of the sudden switch to online learning can guide the adaptation for potential future disruptions of campus-based teaching.

Simple Summary: The immune response towards SARS-CoV-2 during the recent pandemic was analyzed retrospectively in a cohort of 512 individuals comprising 334 females and 178 males. In total, 737 sera were tested against several proteins of the virus and six seasonal coronaviruses. Differential reactivity was observed, and different HLA proteins were found to be associated with the antibody response towards SARS-CoV-2. This allowed us to identify low- and high-responder individuals. These results are indicative for an individual host immune response and may enable future individualized protective measures. During the coronavirus pandemic, evidence is growing that the severity, susceptibility and host immune response to SARS-CoV-2 infection can be highly variable. Several influencing factors have been discussed. Here, we investigated the humoral immune response against SARS-CoV-2 spike, S1, S2, the RBD, nucleocapsid moieties and S1 of seasonal coronaviruses: hCoV-229E, hCoV-HKU1, hCoV-NL63 and hCoV-OC43, as well as MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV, in a cohort of 512 individuals. A bead-based multiplex assay allowed simultaneous testing for all the above antigens and the identification of different antibody patterns. Then, we correlated these patterns with 11 HLA loci. Regarding the seasonal coronaviruses, we found a moderate negative correlation between antibody levels against hCoV-229E, hCoV-HKU1 and hCoV-NL63 and the SARS-CoV-2 antigens. This could be an indication of the original immunological imprinting. High and low antibody response patterns were distinguishable, demonstrating the individuality of the humoral response towards the virus. An immunogenetical factor associated with a high antibody response (formation of ≥4 different antibodies) was the presence of HLA A*26:01, C*02:02 and DPB1*04:01 alleles, whereas the HLA alleles DRB3*01:01, DPB1*03:01 and DB1*10:01 were enriched in low responders. A better understanding of this variable immune response could enable more individualized protective measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on memory training in Czech public libraries. The theoretical part presents the origin, development and specifics of memory training in libraries. The practical part is devoted to the specific effects of the pandemic on memory training. Based on a questionnaire survey and available literature, new methods and forms of training and their use in practice are described. The development of training in 2022, the post-pandemic period, is also examined. A concrete example of the impact of the coronavirus crisis and how to deal with it is shown using the example of the Moravian-Silesian Research Library in Ostrava. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent time, the two significant events; Coronavirus epidemic and Russian invasion are effecting all over the world in various aspects; healthily, economically, environmentally, and socially, etc. The first event has brought uncertainties to the economic situation in most countries based on the epidemic transmission. In addition to that, on 24th February 2022 the Russian invasion of Ukraine affected negatively almost all stock markets all over the world, but the effects are heterogeneous across countries according to their economic-political relationship or neighbourhood, etc. Due to that, the stock market price in Turkey has been affected dramatically over that period. This empirical study is the first attempts to explore the impact of Coronavirus epidemic and Russian invasion on the stock market index XU100 in Turkey by applying the developed statistical method namely elastic-net regression based on empirical mode decomposition which can precisely tackle the nonstationary and nonlinearity data. Then we performed the robustness check by applying a nonlinear techniques Markov switching regression. The data are collected from the beginning of the epidemic in Turkey from March 11, 2020 until May 31, 2022. The finding reveals that there is significant effect of the Coronavirus spreading on the Turkish stock market index, particularly during the first wave. Then after the Russian Invasion the XU100 index is effected more negatively. As the credit default swap and TL reference interest rate have a negative impact but the foreigner exchange rate has a positive significant impact on the XU100 index, and it varies according to the period of short term and long term. Moreover, the results obtained by using the robustness check shows a robust and consistent finding. In conclusion, understanding the impact of Coronavirus pandemic and Russian invasion on the Turkish stock market can provide important implications for investors, financial sectors, and policymakers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cannabis-using youth are a large epidemiologic subgroup whose age and smoking-related risks underscore the importance of examining the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in this population. Within a clinical trial (n = 36 received an intervention prior to data collection reported herein), we surveyed cannabis-using emerging adults (ages 18-25) about perceived COVID-19 impacts. Participants (n = 141) reporting weekly cannabis use (M = 18.6 use days in the past 30) were enrolled and completed online surveys as part of either their baseline or 3 month assessment. COVID-19-related measures included symptoms, substance use, mood, etc. Participants were 57% female (mean age = 21, standard deviation = 2.2), with 21% Hispanic/Latinx, 70% White, 20% Black/African American, and 10% of other races. Most participants (86%) reported quarantine/self-isolation (M = 59 days). Several had COVID-19 symptoms (16%), but none reported testing COVID-19 positive. Many respondents felt their cannabis use (35%-50%, across consumption methods) and negative emotions (e.g., loneliness, stress, and depression; 69.5%, 69.5%, and 61.8%, respectively) increased. They reported decreased in-person socialization (90.8%) and job losses (23.4%). Reports of increased cannabis smoking were associated with increased negative emotions. On an open-response item, employment/finances and social isolation were frequently named negative impacts (33.3% and 29.4%, respectively). Although cannabis-using emerging adults' reports of increases in cannabis use, coupled with mental health symptoms and social isolation, are concerning, the full impact of the pandemic on their health and well-being remains unknown. Future studies examining the relationship between social isolation, mental health, and cannabis use among young people are needed.

Abstract Introduction In South Africa, public perceptions of the COVID-19 pandemic and risk mitigation measures remain mixed. To better understand health behaviours in the context of COVID-19, a qualitative study was conducted, which aimed to investigate perceptions relating to the COVID-19 pandemic among the South African adult population. Methods Twelve online focus groups were conducted across the following age groups: 18–34, 35–54, 55 + years old (total n = 70) in December 2021. Diversity across socioeconomic status, geographical areas, and urban and rural settings was maximised, with an equal representation of men and women. Focus groups were conducted, and audio recorded using an online platform, transcribed verbatim and thematically analysed using MAXQDA. Results There were mixed perceptions around the pandemic, however, the majority of participants appreciated government actions at the onset of the pandemic and as a result government trust was reported to have initially been high. Nevertheless, as the pandemic progressed, challenges relating to government communication around the pandemic, the inconsistent application of preventative measures by government, the use of soldiers to enforce preventative measures, the banning of alcohol and cigarettes, government corruption and the pervasiveness of social media were reported to have eroded government trust, negatively impacting the uptake of preventative measures. Economic and psychological impacts were experienced differently across income groups. Low-income earners, who already had pre-existing economic challenges reported increased psychological and financial strain. While the once cushioned middle class reported an increase in job insecurity accompanied by psychological challenges. High income earners did not report economic challenges but reported being affected psychologically. Though, low-income earners reported an appreciation of the government financial relief afforded to them middle income earners appeared to not have received adequate financial support. Conclusion With the existing mistrust of government, there is need for government to leverage existing trusted sources in communities to aid in the implementation of preventative measures. These findings support the development of context specific solutions to address challenges faced at different socioeconomic levels.

The objective process of expanding application of digital technologies, significantly accelerated and enhanced by the pandemic, has identified a number of promising directions in training both within the framework of university educational programs and in the postgraduate development system of competences. Among adequate education formats the so-called MOOCs are allocated - mass open online courses, which have become particularly popular in the conditions of insulation of people caused by the coronavirus pandemic. The problem: reformatting educational material in order to transfer it to a remote type with the use of educational technologies of e-learning - interactive elements, various media formats, etc. The purpose of the research is to show the possibility of transferring online management personnel to the skills of the application of the principles and instruments of Lean production based on the developed mass open course in order to master the lean technologies, if necessary, the translation of the educational process into electronic form in the pandemic period. The research methods used are critical analysis of pedagogical, psychological and regulatory sources, design, modeling, systematization. The research results are the following: the article shows the practical possibility of digital transformation of the learning process and lean production tools in a remote form on the basis of mass open online courses conducted in the pandemic period with the help of an electronic information educational environment of the University. The tasks of the online course and its structure are also given, experience has been described with training groups of employees of manufacturing divisions and administrative workers, whose heterogeneity requires special attention, the process and peculiarities of transfer of lean production teaching to the online format have been described. Key findings: training in the online format allows to improve special knowledge in a convenient form, to acquaint employees with corporate values and strengthen the competitive advantages of an organization by forming an excellently prepared team, armed with lean production skills.

The relevance of the study. The consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic remain a topical research field not only in epidemiology, but also in the social sciences. The introduction of a lockdown in most of the world provoked serious social and economic upheavals that affected all spheres of life in 2020. The purpose of the article lies in the study of changes in the labor activity of Russians during the pandemic, which is caused by the small number of empirical works in this area. Materials and methods. The research is based on the monitoring data of the quality of labor potential of the Vologda region population for 2018 and 2020 respectively. In order to form a more homogeneous sample, the object of the study was narrowed down to employees. During the comparative statistical analysis, we used traditional methods, one of which was the method of frequency distribution. Findings and conclusions. The results showed that working hours at the main job did not change significantly during the first waves of the pandemic. At the same time, the resort to practices of secondary employment and unregulated work outside normal working hours began to be observed much more often. The most noticeable effects of the pandemic were reflected in the intensity of labor, which turned into the need to work harder. This applies to all considered qualities of the employee's labor potential considered in the study, but the burden on physical health has increased most of all. According to the respondents, the reserves for increasing the productivity of their work are primarily related to the modernization of equipment and the improvement of production. In conclusion, the article emphasized the importance of the research field in the light of the sanctions pressure caused by geopolitical instability in 2022. The analysis gives us a new perspective on the external stability of the sphere of social and labor relations in Russia and outlines the range of problematic issues, neglect of which in the current conditions can lead to severe socioeconomic consequences. Prospects for further study are seen in the revelation of the features of the workers’ labor activity in various sectors of the economy.

Introduction Chronic intestinal constipation (CIC) presents an incidence of 2.6 to 30.7% in the overall population and due to the social reality imposed by the coronavirus pandemic, some behavior changes in the Brazilian population occurred that might or not be associated with alterations of CIC prevalence. Objective To assess CIC incidence in medical students before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil in a private higher educational institution in the city of São Paulo, state of São Paulo. Methods Clinic data were collected through Google Forms software from the same students seeking to analyze the variables before (year of 2019) and during the coronavirus pandemic. The data were: age, sex, body mass index, constipation referred in a subjective way and confirmed through the ROME III criteria, feces consistency and anxiety and/or depression during the pandemic. Results A total of 126 medical students from a private higher education institution from São Paulo, SP were included. The average age was 22.9 years old, 70.6% were female and the average BMI was 23.3 kg/m2. Regarding the ROME III criteria, 32.5% presented > 2 in 2019 and 42.1% during the pandemic. Concerning the feces consistency, 31.75 and 35.71% presented dry Bristol 1 feces or in both periods, respectively. Conclusion It was observed an increase in the prevalence of chronic intestinal constipation in medical students from a private higher education institution from São Paulo, state of São Paulo, during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as dryness in the feces.

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to assess racial disparities in total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) in the United States and to determine whether these disparities were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) 100% sample was used to examine primary TSA volume from April to December from 2019 to 2020. Utilization was assessed for White, Black, Hispanic, and Asian populations to determine if COVID-19 affected these groups differently. A regression model adjusted for age, sex, CMS-hierarchical condition categories (HCC) score, dual enrollment (proxy for socioeconomic status), time-fixed effects, and core-based statistical area fixed effects was used to study difference across groups. Results: In 2019, the TSA volume per 1000 beneficiaries was 1.51 for White and 0.57 for non-White, with a 2.6-fold difference. In 2020, the rate of TSA in White patients (1.30/1000) was 2.9 times higher than non-White (0.45/1000) during the COVID-19 pandemic (P

Background: Routine vaccination coverage in Latin America and the Caribbean declined prior to and during the coronavirus pandemic. We assessed the pandemic’s impact on national coverage levels and analyzed whether financial and inequality indicators, immunization policies, and pandemic policies were associated with changes in national and regional coverage levels. Methodology: We compared first- and third-dose coverage of diphtheria–pertussis–tetanus-containing vaccine (DTPcv) with predicted coverages using time series forecast modeling for 39 LAC countries and territories. Data were from the PAHO/WHO/UNICEF Joint Reporting Form. A secondary analysis of factors hypothesized to affect coverages during the pandemic was also performed. Results: In total, 31 of 39 countries and territories (79%) had greater-than-predicted declines in DTPcv1 and DTPcv3 coverage during the pandemic, with 9 and 12 of these, respectively, falling outside the 95% confidence interval. Within-country income inequality (i.e., Gini coefficient) was associated with significant declines in DTPcv1 coverage, and cross-country income inequality was associated with declines in DTPcv1 and DTPcv3 coverages. Observed absolute and relative inequality gaps in DTPcv1 and DTPcv3 coverage between extreme country quintiles of income inequality (i.e., Q1 vs. Q5) were accentuated in 2021, as compared with the 2019 observed and 2021 predicted values. We also observed a trend between school closures and greater-than-predicted declines in DTPcv3 coverage that approached statistical significance (p = 0.06). Conclusion: The pandemic exposed vaccination inequities in LAC and significantly impacted coverage levels in many countries. New strategies are needed to reattain high coverage levels.