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Objetivo. Avaliar o uso combinado de marcadores sorológicos e análise espacial para ampliar a sensibilidade da vigilância epidemiológica da hanseníase. Método. Este estudo transversal foi realizado com vizinhos de casos de hanseníase e familiares e vizinhos de escolares com sorologia positiva anti-glicolipídeo fenólico I (PGL-I) em Diamantina, Minas Gerais, Brasil. Definiram-se como vizinhos as pessoas que residiam em um raio de até 100 metros de escolares e de casos de hanseníase. Para a coleta de dados, foram realizados entrevista semiestruturada, exame dermatoneurológico e teste sorológico rápido ML Flow. Todos os endereços foram georreferenciados. Foram realizadas regressão multivariada e análise espacial, tendo a sororreatividade anti-PGL-I como variável dependente. Resultados. Foram estudadas 1 491 pessoas: 1 009 (67,7%) familiares e vizinhos dos escolares com sorologia positiva e 482 (32,3%) vizinhos dos casos de hanseníase. Do total, 421 (28,2%) apresentaram soropositividade anti-PGL-I. A chance de soropositividade foi maior entre familiares e vizinhos dos escolares soropositivos (P < 0,001), entre pessoas com renda familiar de 1 salário-mínimo (P < 0,001), entre os mais jovens (P < 0,001) e entre os que residiam em domicílios com um a cinco cômodos (P = 0,007). A taxa de soropositividade foi maior em área geográfica correspondente aos escolares soropositivos (P < 0,001), ou seja, houve divergência entre o foco de maior concentração de casos e o de maior soropositividade. Conclusões. O uso combinado de marcadores sorológicos e análise espacial possibilitou identificar fragilidades operacionais dos serviços e uma possível endemia oculta de hanseníase nos setores censitários urbanos do município. Atividades de rastreamento de contatos sociais e vizinhos, busca ativa, campanhas educativas, inquéritos escolares e análise do território facilitam o diagnóstico precoce da hanseníase.

While studies in social media and disability are growing globally, there is paucity in such studies in Nigeria. This study addresses this apparent gap by exploring the experiences and perceptions o...

Objectives To understand changes during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in weekly contact with nonresident family and friends for U.S. adults aged 70 and older in residential care and community settings. Methods Participants in the National Health and Aging Trends Study COVID-19 mail supplement (N = 3,098) reported frequency of phone, electronic, video, and in-person contact with nonresident family and friends in a typical week before and during the pandemic. We examined less than weekly contact by mode for those in residential care settings and community residents with and without limitations. We estimated multinomial logit models to examine predictors of change to less than weekly contact (vs. maintaining weekly or more contact) by mode, overall, and stratified by setting. Results Weekly in-person contact fell substantially (from 61% to 39%) and more so in residential care (from 56% to 22%), where nearly 4 in 10 transitioned to less than weekly in-person contact (doubling to 8 out of 10). Weekly or more contact was largely stable for electronic and telephone modes across settings. Weekly or more video contact increased mainly for community residents without limitations. Compared to community residents without limitations, those in assisted living or nursing homes had more than 5 times the odds (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 5.3; p = .01) of changing to less than weekly in-person contact; those in independent living also had higher odds of changing to less than weekly in-person (AOR = 2.6; p = .01) and video (AOR = 3.4; p = .01) contact. Discussion The pandemic revealed the importance of ensuring that communication technologies to maintain social ties are available to and usable by older adults, particularly for those living in residential care settings.

This article emphasizes the benefits of social media and online collaboration technology use in expatriate management, and the need to pay special attention to digitalization-related issues in supporting expatriates and their family members before, during, and after international assignments. In particular, we argue that the traditional approaches to expatriate management need to be developed further to reflect current technological advancements, especially social media and online collaboration tools that are increasingly used by millions of individuals worldwide on a daily basis—a trend that has been reinforced by the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and related social contact and international mobility restrictions. For this purpose, we show the advantages of implementing the above digital technologies in a number of instances, ranging from the recruitment and selection of international assignees to the cultural adjustment of expatriates and their families in a foreign country. Given these benefits, and the need to account for potential challenges associated with the use of or a high reliance on digital technology during expatriate assignments to both culturally close and distant countries, we outline recommendations that will guide the management of these digital tools by assigning organizations. © 2021 Wiley Periodicals LLC.

© The Author(s) 2021. Published by SAGE. This article is distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) license (https:// creativecommons.org/licenses/by/ 4.0/). Access to medical assistance in dying (MAID) is influenced by legislation, health care providers (HCPs), the number of patient requests, and the patients’ locations. This research explored the factors that influenced HCPs’ nonparticipation in formal MAID processes and their needs to support this emerging practice area. Using an interpretive description methodology, we interviewed 17 physicians and 18 nurse practitioners who identified as non-participators in formal MAID processes. Nonparticipation was influenced by their (a) previous personal and professional experiences, (b) comfort with death, (c) conceptualization of duty, (d) preferred end-of-life care approaches, (e) faith or spirituality beliefs, (f) self-accountability, (g) consideration of emotional labor, and (h) future emotional impact. They identified a need for clear care pathways and safe passage. Two separate yet overlapping concepts were identified, conscientious objection to and nonparticipation in MAID, and we discussed options to support the social contract of care between HCPs and patients. Faculty yes

Introduction To improve the quality of life in nursing homes, meaningful activities and social contact are indispensable. Exergames can play a role addressing these needs. Methods In a randomized single blinded controlled intervention study, we investigated the effect of playing exergames on general wellbeing, fun and on social interaction. Results Thirty-five residents participated: 18 residents took part in the intervention group and 17 in the control group. The median mental wellbeing score of the intervention group increased from 42/50 to 45. The median sleep score of the intervention increased from 23/30 to 28. The median pain score of the intervention group improved from 18/20 to 20. The median score on subjective cognition increased from 24/30 to 26 while the mean scores on the objective assessment decreased from 1.8/2 to 1.7. Coaches gave an average fun score of 8.9/10 and an average intensity of exercise score of 11.6/20. Residents and coaches appreciated the social contact. Coaches reported a high feasibility (average of 4.1/5) but a low accessibility and a high intensity of supervision. Conclusions Exergaming is a feasible and pleasant complement to the usual activities with a positive impact on wellbeing, sleep, pain, and perceived cognition. Future research should focus on vulnerable groups and aim to develop a study in an implementation design.

This study estimates the overall effect of two influenza vaccination programs consecutively administered in a cluster-randomized trial in western Senegal over the course of two influenza seasons from 2009 to 2011. We apply cutting-edge methodology combining social contact data with infection data to reduce bias in estimation arising from contamination between clusters. Our time-varying estimates reveal a reduction in seasonal influenza from the intervention and a non-significant increase in H1N1 pandemic influenza. We estimate an additive change in overall cumulative incidence (which was 6.13% in the control arm) of -0.68 percentage points during Year 1 of the study (95% CI: −2.53, 1.18). When H1N1 pandemic infections were excluded from analysis, the estimated change was −1.45 percentage points and was significant (95% CI, −2.81, −0.08). Because cross-cluster contamination was low (0–3% of contacts for most villages), an estimator assuming no contamination was only slightly attenuated (−0.65 percentage points). These findings are encouraging for studies carefully designed to minimize spillover. Further work is needed to estimate contamination – and its effect on estimation – in a variety of settings.

Purpose To examine associations between parental occupation and childhood germ cell tumors (GCTs) in offspring while distinguishing by common histologic subtype (i.e., yolk sac tumor and teratoma). Methods This population-based case–control study included childhood GCT cases in Denmark diagnosed 1968–2015 ( Results Overall, 178 childhood GCT cases (50 yolk sac tumors; 65 teratomas) and 4,355 controls were included for analysis. Maternal employment in education during pregnancy was associated with offspring GCTs (OR 2.45, 95% CI 1.23–4.90), especially yolk sac tumors (OR 5.27, 95% CI 1.94–14.28). High levels of both maternal and paternal occupational social contact were also associated with offspring yolk sac tumors across all exposure periods (ORs 2.30–4.63). No signals were observed for paternal occupational solvent exposure, while imprecise associations were estimated for maternal exposure (e.g., dichloromethane exposure during pregnancy, OR 1.51, 95% CI 0.77–2.95). Conclusion Our findings suggest that parental occupation is associated with offspring GCTs, with most consistent evidence supporting an association between maternal employment in education or other high social contact jobs and offspring yolk sac tumors.

Social contact becomes an essential agenda of tourist-resident relationship research. However, the development of social contact in tourism and how it could influence the tourist-resident relationship is still ambiguous. This conceptual study addresses those research gaps by providing an overview of the current development in tourist-resident social contact; developing a\ud tourist-resident social contact axis to understand different tourist-resident relationship through social contact; and delineating the future research directions of tourist-resident social contact. This research contributes to the theory by clarifying the development of the concept in terms of contact antecedents, contact types and contact impacts, proposing a social contact axis to understand the tourist-resident relationship through four contact scenarios and offering directions to guide the future investigations. Practically, results benefit different stakeholders regarding how to jointly develop a favourable and sustainable tourist-resident relationship.

Personal interaction with lesbians and gays is associated with greater support for lesbian and gay rights, but the effects of contact with married same-sex couples have not been studied. Using orig...

Objectives:We aimed to compare incident family caregivers and matched controls on change in social network variables and satisfaction with social activities. Methods: A total of 479 participants from the Caregiving Transitions Study were included in the analysis, 244 (50.9%) of whom began substantial and sustained caregiving between baseline and follow-up interviews. We assessed associations between incident caregiving and change in social network size, change in monthly social contact, and satisfaction with social activities. Results: Incident caregivers reported lower satisfaction with social activities and greater decline in social network size than controls. Among only the caregivers, dementia caregivers reported greater decline in social network size while caregivers who were spouses, experienced higher strain, and provided more hours of care reported lower satisfaction with social activities. Discussion: Social engagement declined more among incident caregivers than controls. Future studies should aim to understand why subgroups of caregivers reported lower social engagement.

Mental Health inpatient units have a primary purpose of treating mental health problems, managing disturbance and promoting social contact and support networks. These factors can conflict with optimal infection prevention and control (IPC) measures. This commentary describes an IPC perspective of the challenges in managing the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic that are specific to acute mental health settings. It points out the main areas for IPC and mental health practice development. The need for a new paradigm in the relationship between IPC and mental health specialists is identified. Recent collaboration between mental health and IPC specialists in evaluating personal protective equipment (PPE) for use in restraint is outlined.

We analyzed the daily incidence of newly reported COVID-19 cases among adults aged 20-39 years, 40-59 years, and 60 or more years in the sixteen most populous counties of the state of Florida from March 1 through June 27, 2020. In all 16 counties, an increase in reported COVID-19 case incidence was observed in all three age groups soon after the governor-ordered Full Phase 1 reopening went into effect. Trends in social mobility, but not trends in testing, track case incidence. Data on hospitalization do not support the hypothesis that the observed increase in case incidence was merely the result of liberalization of testing criteria. Parameter estimates from a parsimonious two-group heterogeneous SIR model strongly support the hypothesis that younger persons, having first acquired their infections through increasing social contact with their peers, then transmitted their infections to older, less socially mobile individuals. Without such cross-infection, an isolated epidemic among older people in Florida would be unsustainable.

The Utrecht Refugee Launchpad was an experiment at city-level to create a more inclusive form of asylum seeker reception. The initiative used co-housing, bringing together young, local tenants with asylum seekers to improve social integration and local relations. This article examines the nature of social contact, and considers the value of relationships developed between asylum seekers and tenants, using qualitative data from interviews and participant observation. Our findings demonstrate the importance of context, as we show that the remote logics of the national asylum system imposed spatial and temporal limitations on the co-housing model to generate ‘adjacent’ and transient living. However, at times –through both accident and design– contact was developed with more ease: when there was an equal ratio, similarities between populations, low numbers (of around 80 people in total), access to shared space, and high commitment to the project’s ‘disposition to friendliness’. While we conclude that relationships proved ephemeral rather than sustained, the initiative nevertheless held promise by enabling asylum seekers brief escapes from landscapes of indifference encountered during reception. Recognising how wider institutional contexts impact on the development of contact however helps innovations like these to achieve a greater potential for transforming relationships and values in urban space.

Social contact patterns might contribute to excess burden of tuberculosis in men. We conducted a study of social contact surveys to evaluate contact patterns relevant to tuberculosis transmission. Available data describe 21 surveys in 17 countries and show profound differences in sex-based and age-based patterns of contact. Adults reported more adult contacts than children. Children preferentially mixed with women in all surveys (median sex assortativity 58%, interquartile range [IQR] 57%–59% for boys, 61% [IQR 60%–63%] for girls). Men and women reported sex-assortative mixing in 80% and 95% of surveys (median sex assortativity 56% [IQR 54%–58%] for men, 59% [IQR 57%–63%] for women). Sex-specific patterns of contact with adults were similar at home and outside the home for children; adults reported greater sex assortativity outside the home in most surveys. Sex assortativity in adult contacts likely contributes to sex disparities in adult tuberculosis burden by amplifying incidence among men.

Introduction Stress constitutes a serious social and health problem. At the beginning of the 21st century, it became a very common and popular topic in medicine. As such, it is important to conduct studies on the causes of preoperative stress and strategies of dealing with it, especially in a hospital environment. Our research results, alongside numerous other studies, show that the problem is still present. The aim of the study was to analyze the styles of coping with stress in women before surgeries using the Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations (CISS). Materials and methods The study was conducted on 339 women admitted to a surgical gynecology clinic. A diagnostic survey with a questionnaire CISS was conducted. Results The most dominant style of coping with stress is the avoidance-oriented style which is prevalent in 35.4% of respondents. The study shows that use of the avoidance-oriented style decreases with age (p = 0.007). Younger women try to avoid stress by socializing more frequently than older individuals. Less-educated women focus on avoiding stress more often (p = 0.017) than well-educated women who are more task-oriented (p = 0.011). Women with fewer past surgeries seek social contact to avoid stress more frequently (p = 0.019). Engaging in substitutive activities is more prevalent among women who underwent surgeries where the abdominal cavity is opened. Conclusions 1. Gynecological surgeries are a source of stress and a great emotional burden for women. 2. Older, well-educated women show better skills in coping with preoperative stress. 3. Most respondents use the avoidance-oriented style.

Highlights • Pneumococcal carriage rates and the frequency of physical contact differed by ethnicity. • Contact with older children and toddlers was positively associated with vaccine-type carriage. • Unvaccinated older children may become a vaccine-type carriage reservoir post-PCV10. • Ethnic differences in social contact did not explain ethnic differences in carriage. • Pneumococcal density was not associated with ethnicity, contact, or PCV10 status., Background Pneumococcal carriage is a prerequisite for pneumococcal disease. Little is known about whether social contact frequency and intensity are associated with pneumococcal carriage. In Fiji, indigenous iTaukei have higher prevalence of pneumococcal carriage compared with Fijians of Indian Descent (FID). We hypothesised that contact differences may contribute to ethnic differences in pneumococcal carriage prevalence and density. Methods In 2015, young infants (5–8 weeks), toddlers (12–23 months), children (2–6 years), and caregivers from Suva and surrounding areas, participated in a cross-sectional survey (n = 2014), three years post pneumococcal conjugate vaccine introduction. Demographic and contact data, and nasopharyngeal swabs were collected. Pneumococci were detected, and quantified using quantitative real-time PCR, with molecular serotyping by microarray. Associations between ethnicity, contact, and pneumococcal carriage and density were estimated using multivariable generalised estimating equation regression models. Results iTaukei participants had larger household sizes, higher pneumococcal carriage rates, more contacts, and more frequent contacts of longer duration, compared with FID. The odds of vaccine-type carriage increased by 28% (95% CI 8–53%) P

Social capital has been declining in America for the better part of a century, as citizens now find themselves connected to fewer people and resources. But computer-based modes of social contact have at the same time opened up new frontiers for expanding and developing personal relationships online. A two-wave U.S. web survey was used to examine the importance of computer-mediated communication (CMC) competence for social-resource development, measured in terms of occupational prestige. CMC competence related to acquiring more total resources over time. It also contributed to accessing a wider range of resources and having more valuable connections on average. When CMC competence was broken down into subscale measures, computer-based motivation contributed to total resources and range in resources, while computer-based attentiveness related to developing better resources. Findings speak to the value of CMC competence for social capital and the waning influence of interpersonal competence in general.

Social contact has been found to be both a success factor and an outcome of the international student sojourn. This two-stage mixed-methods case study sought to ascertain the role of social contact...

The COVID-19 pandemic prompted schools to close in 2020, and with its negative impact on the quality of learning, the conversation shifts to the re-opening scenarios. In this study, we coupled a COVID-19 agent-based model (ABM) with social contact probabilities from pre-pandemic estimates. We then simulated school re-opening and vaccination scenarios in Quezon City, Philippines using our ABM. Our toy simulations suggest that the city could already re-open schools with 50% vaccination coverage. However, we suggest that students shall be vaccinated first, mask-wearing and physical distance shall be strictly observed, and schools shall only be re-opened by 25% as a precaution. Policymakers may take insights from the study.

Reduction of the incidence of depression and improvement of quality of life (QOL) of elderly people have become important subjects. Various factors are related to depressive symptoms in elderly people, and sensory impairment is a key to health, QOL, and depressive symptoms. In this cross-sectional study, a visual acuity test and audiometry were used to examine the relationships of visual and hearing impairment and other factors with depressive symptoms in elderly people. A group of 490 community-dwelling people aged over 65 years old underwent vision and hearing tests, the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), and questionnaires on social isolation, QOL, and physical condition. Logistic regression analysis was used to examine factors affecting CES-D. Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that hearing impairment, pain score, and satisfaction with human relationships and activities of daily living (ADL) were independent predictors of CES-D scores. Satisfaction with human relationships and ADL can reduce depressive symptoms in elderly people. Hearing impairment, pain, and social contact are also important. Therefore, improvement of social networks, interpersonal relationships, ADL, and hearing impairment may be effective in improving these symptoms in elderly people.

People living with mental illnesses and their families may conceal their conditions to avoid prejudice and discrimination. Stigma often prevents people from receiving adequate health care and other social support services which could exacerbate social and health consequences such as unemployment, homelessness, substance use, and compulsory hospitalization. In this paper, we discuss social contact as a promising anti-stigma strategy for enhancing social interactions among people with mental illnesses, their families, and those without mental illnesses. In particularly, we consider next steps for an approach that works to reduce the stigma-related burden of mental illness. For social contact to be effective in reducing mental illness stigma, it requires broad social buy-in as well as implementation within care systems. Engagement with this approach can be driven through diverse contact-based education using collaborative efforts of society, academic institutions, policy-makers, health professionals, media, and governments. Ultimately, this work aims to consider the next steps in enacting social contact as an anti-stigma strategy through direct interventions and contact-based education. The success of this approach requires pragmatic public policies to support its implementation.

Background The effect of contact reduction measures on infectious disease transmission can only be assessed indirectly and with considerable delay. However, individual social contact data and population mobility data can offer near real-time proxy information. The aim of this study is to compare social contact data and population mobility data with respect to their ability to reflect transmission dynamics during the first wave of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in Germany. Methods We quantified the change in social contact patterns derived from self-reported contact survey data collected by the German COVIMOD study from 04/2020 to 06/2020 (compared to the pre-pandemic period from previous studies) and estimated the percentage mean reduction over time. We compared these results as well as the percentage mean reduction in population mobility data (corrected for pre-pandemic mobility) with and without the introduction of scaling factors and specific weights for different types of contacts and mobility to the relative reduction in transmission dynamics measured by changes in R values provided by the German Public Health Institute. Results We observed the largest reduction in social contacts (90%, compared to pre-pandemic data) in late April corresponding to the strictest contact reduction measures. Thereafter, the reduction in contacts dropped continuously to a minimum of 73% in late June. Relative reduction of infection dynamics derived from contact survey data underestimated the one based on reported R values in the time of strictest contact reduction measures but reflected it well thereafter. Relative reduction of infection dynamics derived from mobility data overestimated the one based on reported R values considerably throughout the study. After the introduction of a scaling factor, specific weights for different types of contacts and mobility reduced the mean absolute percentage error considerably; in all analyses, estimates based on contact data reflected measured R values better than those based on mobility. Conclusions Contact survey data reflected infection dynamics better than population mobility data, indicating that both data sources cover different dimensions of infection dynamics. The use of contact type-specific weights reduced the mean absolute percentage errors to less than 1%. Measuring the changes in mobility alone is not sufficient for understanding the changes in transmission dynamics triggered by public health measures.

Posttraumatic growth (PTG) may improve well-being among cancer survivors, but a longitudinal study addressing head and neck cancer (HNC) is lacking. This longitudinal study examined PTG trends and determined the associations of physical symptoms and complications, as well as sociodemographic and tumor characteristics on PTG over time among HNC survivors.Participants completed the European Organization of Research and Treatment of Cancer's "Quality of Life Questionnaire-Head and Neck 35" module (EORTC-QLQ-HN-35) and "Posttraumatic Growth Inventory-Short Form" (PTGI-SF) during baseline (TIn total, 200 HNC participants completed the study and 67.5% of them reported increasing PTG. Physical symptoms and complications that were significantly associated with lower PTG included problems with social contact and the senses. Meanwhile, sociodemographic variables that were significantly associated with PTG were gender (males had lower PTG than females) and religion (Muslims and Buddhists had higher PTG than participants of other religious faith).Our findings revealed the need to focus on the impact of sensory issues and reduced social contact following HNC on PTG which may be addressed by various restorative and supportive rehabilitation therapy.

Building on the studies of health quarantine from a social perspective, this article explores the complex contexts of social quarantine as a mode of public health, a mode of community action and a behavioural and psychological mode of social distancing. To establish a conceptual investigation of the “social quarantine” issue, this study investigates four approaches to quarantine: public health, social administration, behavioural norms, and psychological effects. The study identifies the features of these modes and discusses their relationships. In addition, this study constructs a preventive framework for quarantine that embraces social and health policies to enrich the understanding of policy measures for social distancing and lockdown measures. On this basis, the study evaluates the strategies of policy development in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The study concludes that these modes can reconstruct social relations and provide some basis for theoretical analysis about the features of social quarantine, which is vital for policymakers when considering national and global prevention strategies for public health.

Background Influenza is a substantial cause of morbidity and mortality for Israel and the Palestinian territory. Given the extensive interaction between the two populations, vaccination in one population may indirectly benefit the other via reduced transmission. Due to the mobility and extensive contacts, Palestinians employed in Israel could be a prime target for vaccination. Methods To evaluate the epidemiological and the economic benefits conferred by vaccinating Palestinians employed in Israel, we developed a model of influenza transmission within and between Israel and the West Bank. We parameterized the contact patterns underlying transmission by conducting a survey among Palestinians employed in Israel, and integrating survey results with traffic patterns and socio-demographic data. Results Vaccinating 50% of Palestinian workers is predicted to reduce the annual influenza burden by 28,745 cases (95% CI: 15,031-50,717) and 37.7 deaths (95% CI: 19·9–65·5) for the Israeli population, and by 32,9900 cases (95% CI: 14,379-51,531) and 20.2 deaths (CI 95%: 9·8–31·5) for the Palestinian population. Further, we found that as the indirect protection was so substantial, funding such a vaccination campaign would be cost-saving from the Israeli Ministry of Health perspective. Conclusions Offering influenza vaccination to Palestinians employed in Israel could efficiently reduce morbidity and mortality within both Israel and the Palestinian territory.

OBJECTIVES: The COVID-19 pandemic may contribute to heightened anxiety among older adults with chronic conditions, which might be attenuated by social resources. This study examined how social contact and emotional support were linked to anxiety symptoms among adults aged 50 and older with chronic conditions, and whether these links varied by age. METHODS: Participants included 705 adults (M = 64.61 years, SD = 8.85, range = 50 – 94) from Michigan (82.4%) and 33 other U.S. states who reported at least one chronic condition and completed an anonymous online survey between May 14 and July 9, 2020. RESULTS: Multiple regression models revealed among younger people, those reporting more frequent social contact had significantly lower anxiety symptoms. Emotional support was not significantly associated with anxiety symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: More frequent social contact was linked to lower anxiety symptoms for younger but not older individuals. Emotional support was not significantly associated with anxiety symptoms. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Interventions to manage anxiety during the pandemic among older adults with chronic conditions may benefit from strategies to safely increase social contact, especially for middle-aged adults.

The response to the COVID-19 pandemic in the U.S prompted abrupt and dramatic changes to social contact patterns. Monitoring changing social behavior is essential to provide reliable input data for mechanistic models of infectious disease, which have been increasingly used to support public health policy to mitigate the impacts of the pandemic. While some studies have reported on changing contact patterns throughout the pandemic., few have reported on differences in contact patterns among key demographic groups and none have reported nationally representative estimates. We conducted a national probability survey of US households and collected information on social contact patterns during two time periods: August-December 2020 (before widespread vaccine availability) and March-April 2021 (during national vaccine rollout). Overall, contact rates in Spring 2021 were similar to those in Fall 2020, with most contacts reported at work. Persons identifying as non-White, non-Black, non-Asian, and non-Hispanic reported high numbers of contacts relative to other racial and ethnic groups. Contact rates were highest in those reporting occupations in retail, hospitality and food service, and transportation. Those testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies reported a higher number of daily contacts than those who were seronegative. Our findings provide evidence for differences in social behavior among demographic groups, highlighting the profound disparities that have become the hallmark of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Background Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Belgian government imposed two semi-lockdowns (LD) with different social behavioral restrictions in 2020. Our aim was to assess the impact of these COVID-19 pandemic-response measures on Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) and Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) figures in an STI clinic (low-threshold clinic, PrEP & HIV follow-up) in Antwerp, Belgium. Methods The overall number of CT/NG requests and positivity ratio during 2020 was compared with 2019. In addition, different periods of 2019 and 2020 were compared using mixed-effects logistic regression methods. 1. pre-lockdown (01/01–17/03, no restrictions), 2. LD1 (18/03–10/05, no social contact outside the household, only ‘urgent’ consultations), 3. after LD1 (11/05–01/11, varying between 2–10 additional social contacts) and 4. LD2 (02/11–31/12, maximum two social contacts). Results Overall, the number of CT/NG requests decreased by 27.7% (7170 in 2019 to 5183 in 2020). Whilst the number of patient contacts declined by 22.4%, positivity rate of CT (8.0% in 2019; 7.8% in 2020) and NG (4.7% vs 5.5%) remained similar in both years. During LD1, a significant reduction in CT/NG requests was noted (decrease of 88.1%) and the number of consultations dropped by 60.1%. Whereas the positivity ratio of NG during period LD1 increased from 5.3% in 2019 to 9.3% in 2020, no significant change was found for CT (8.2% in 2019 to 7.8% in 2020). During the other time periods, the absolute number of requests and CT/NG infections in 2020 were comparable with 2019. Nevertheless, higher positivity ratios were found during LD2 period 2020 compared to 2019 (CT: 9.9% vs 8.2% in 2019; NG: 6.1 vs 5.1% in 2019, p>0.05). Conclusion Despite a sharp drop in consultations, the proportion of CT/NG did not decrease in 2020 compared to 2019. We observed a trend towards higher positive CT/NG rates in LD2 which may depict social distancing fatigue.

According to the last Brazilian census in 2010 conducted by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE), 5.1% of the Brazilian population had some degree of hearing impairment and thus somehow deprive them of full social contact. This study proposes the implementation of software that is capable of adapting sounds to be emitted on a smartphone to an area of audible intensity according to the user's need, improving the understanding of these sounds. To carry out the tests, 11 participants with some type of hearing impairment were invited and the results are presented in this work.

Worldwide, the use of digital technologies for learning, seeking information, social contact and entertainment is on the rise. In Denmark, 70% of children aged seven to twelve are active YouTube consumers (Mehlsen 2016). They also communicate heavily by exchanging text, pictures and links through social media, such as Facebook, Snapchat and Instagram.

Chronic vascular access devices are widely used in a variety of species for repeated blood sampling or substance administration. Jugular catheters are commonly used for studying addiction-related behaviors in rats. Rats with catheters have historically been individually housed for the duration of the study to prevent cage mates from damaging the catheter. The 2 goals of this study were to determine 1) the effects of pair housing on catheter patency and 2) the effects of pair housing on catheter patency of rats in a study of opioid self-administration and cue-induced reinstatement of opioid-seeking behavior. The latter study also represented an opportunity for experimental refinement as it evaluated the temporary use of a barrier that allowed for pair-housed rats to be physically separated. Male Heterogeneous Stock (HS; n = 24) and Sprague–Dawley (SD; n = 121) rats were allocated to either single- or pair-housed condition. To assess the effect of social housing on catheter patency, rats (HS, n = 24; SD, n = 36) were monitored in their assigned housing condition for one month, with scheduled evaluation of catheter patency and structural damage. To examine the effect of social housing on catheter patency during a study of opioid self-administration and cue-induced reinstatement of opioid-seeking behavior, rats (SD, n = 85) were monitored in their assigned housing condition with similar routine patency evaluations. Catheter patency rates between single- and pairhoused rats were not statistically different in the first experiment, and pair-housed animals were successfully maintained on an infusion study in the second experiment. The use of a barrier between pair-housed rats after surgery allowed continued social contact with no observed adverse effects. These results suggest that, pair housing is a viable option for rats with chronic vascular implants, and may improve their wellbeing by allowing them to display species-typical social behaviors.

This article contributes to the geographical understanding of how mobile online presence enabled by smartphones transforms human spatial practices; that is, people’s everyday routines and experienc...

Edgar Allan Poe is the father of horror stories. In his three short stories, Ligiea, the Fall of the house of Usher, The Black Cat, he portrays the image of horror in the form of being buried alive or premature burial, Mental Disorder or Madness or Mentally Ill, and Supernatural. Being buried alive can be seen in The Black Cat as well as in the Fall of the house of Usher. Mentally Ill can be found in the Black Cat and in the Fall of the house of Usher. Meanwhile Supernatural image of horror is reflected in Ligiea and in The Black Cat. Being buried alive is illustrated in the way when The Narrator of the Fall of the House help Roderick Usher entombed his twin sister, while in the Black Cat the Narrator buried his wife in the wall to conceal from the police investigation. Mental Illnesses can be seen in the Black Cat when the Narrator suffers from alcoholic addicted. Roderick Usher the character of The Fall of the house of Usher suffers from not only does he live in fear, but also to have lost all interest in every kind of social contact. Supernatural is portrayed in Ligeia, when the narrator’s wife, Ligiea, dead, she transforms into Lady Rowena, the new wife of the Narrator.

The current research focuses on the role of both physical and virtual environments in facilitating subtle and blatant prejudice reduction of the Jewish majority toward the Arab minority in Israel. This research was conducted through an online survey of 450 Jewish students who use digital media daily. Virtual contact and exposure to negative content about Arabs on digital media were found to reduce subtle prejudice. We found that face-to-face contact reduces both types of prejudice, whereas the effect of traditional media was not found.

Duchenne muscular dystrophy is a neuromuscular disorder characterized by deficient dystrophin protein in the muscle. The main symptoms the patient presented were delay in expressive and receptive language development, visual discontent, hyperkinetic behaviour, and inability to initiate and maintain social contact with peers. The data obtained from the family, following clinical examination, laboratory investigation results and assessment of mental status were significant for the diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder, hyperkinetic behaviour and Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. In Ayurveda it has been classified under Medomamsa dusti further vitiates the Vata doshas occurs due to the Bheejabagahaavyava Dusti. In modern medicine there is no significant treatment available for this diseases while in Ayurvedic panchakrma therapy shows significant results in all signs and symptoms of this diseases.

This study explored the stressors and coping mechanisms of older adults, 60 years old and over, who teach in three state higher education institutions in Manila, Philippines. Descriptive correlation method of research was employed. One hundred eighty-eight were randomly selected from the roster of 356 target participants. The Older Adults Life Stress Inventory was used to identify the severity of stressors as experienced by the respondent senior professionals for the past 3 years along the areas of physical, health, social, family, occupational and financial domains. The Coping Strategy Inventory Short Form 32 was used to determine typical coping strategies that involve problem-solving, cognitive restructuring, express emotions and social contact. Tests of correlation, however, revealed that all the six stressors areas have a significant positive correlation with problem avoidance, wishful thinking, self-criticism and social withdrawal (p < 0.01). Multiple regression analyses disclosed that older adult men have a greater preponderance to experience stressors than older adult women Keywords: Older adult professionals, stressors, coping mechanisms, physical-related stressors, health-related stressors, social-related stressors, family-related stressors, occupational stressors, financial stressors.

Introdução: Dentre as alterações fisiológicas do processo de envelhecimento humano, a perda auditiva relacionada à idade é uma das mais frequentes e incapacitantes, pois diminui o contato social do idoso, podendo afetar suas condições de saúde. Objetivo: Verificar a percepção de idosos sobre a restrição da participação relacionada à perda auditiva. Método: Estudo transversal e quantitativo com idosos maiores de 60 anos que têm perda auditiva, usuários ou não de aparelho de amplificação sonora. Analisou-se a audiometria tonal convencional e aplicou-se o questionário Hearing Handicap Inventory for the Elderly. Resultado: A amostra foi composta por 46 indivíduos, sendo 43,48% (n=20) do sexo feminino e 56,52% (n=26) do sexo masculino. A idade média foi 74,78 anos, com desvio padrão de 7,96 anos. A perda auditiva de maior ocorrência, em 73,91% (n=34) da amostra, foi do tipo neurossensorial bilateral e de configuração descendente, sendo que 50% (n=23) não usava aparelho de amplificação sonora individual, 45,65% (n=21) afirmou usá-lo e 4,35 (n=2) não respondeu essa questão. Quanto à participação, 82,6% dos idosos relatou restrições para participar de atividades sociais, sendo 50% da amostra (n=23) com percepção significativa. No geral, tal restrição foi maior no gênero masculino, na perda auditiva neurossensorial de grau moderado e configuração descendente, com idade até 79 anos e que não utilizavam o referido aparelho. Conclusão: Os idosos com perda auditiva apresentaram percepção significativa da restrição da participação, principalmente os que não utilizam aparelho de amplificação sonora individual, impactando negativamente sua qualidade de vida.

Due to the threat of COVID-19 pandemic, personal protection equipment (PPE) has raised lots of attentions to protect people from infection. This unprecedented virus can be spread through airborne, respiratory droplets and social contact. Although there are some devices and PPEs for people who are conscious and able to obey the social distance policy, to protect infants is still challenging. Baby is one of the vulnerable groups to the disease but there is no appropriate PPE when baby needs to be exposed to irresistible events like visiting a hospital, receiving vaccination or being accompanied by parents who come home from work). In this study, a concept of smart baby protective tent is developed. The simple hardware offers a quick assembly using PVC pipes, 3D-printed joints and a transparent cover sheet to create an independent and safe space from direct and indirect infection through breathing or saliva. With two additional parts, the smart baby protective tent can thereby provide clear air circulation and modern care. A fan system equipped with a clamp for a disposable medical-certified mask is applied to supply clean and circulated air for the babies. Functional sensors are attached to detect essential signals like body temperature, environment temperature, humidity, vibration, brightness, sound, CO2, and PM 2.5. These received signals are processed via a micro-controller and can be uploaded to personal social media in order to increase caregivers’ awareness of the babies’ situation inside the tent.

Varicella, which is caused by the varicella zoster virus (VZV), is a common infectious disease affecting children. Varicella vaccines have been used for decades; however, vaccination policies vary across countries because of differences in VZV epidemiology. The basic reproductive number [Image: see text] (a) transmissibility measure parameter, also differs from country to country. In this study [Image: see text] for varicella was estimated in South Korea using the contact rate matrix derived from averaged POLYMOD contact data, the Korean population, and proportionality factor fitted to the Korean VZV seroprevalence [Image: see text] for varicella in South Korea was estimated to be 5.67 (95% CI: 5.33, 6.33). Therefore, to reach the herd immunity threshold, the critical vaccine coverage should be greater than 82.4% with a perfect vaccine, or the primary vaccine failure proportion should be less than 17.6% with 100% coverage. Because of the relatively low seroconversion rate and rapidly waning immunity after one-dose vaccination in South Korea, the herd immunity threshold is difficult to attain with only a one-dose vaccine. Two doses of vaccination may be necessary to effectively interrupt varicella transmission and maintain herd immunity in South Korea. The study results can help guide the decision-making on an effective varicella vaccination policy in South Korea.

Patients with various forms of cancer often have unmet psychosocial support needs. By interpretative phenomenological approach, this study aimed to acquire a deeper understanding of home-living patients with cancer’s experience and meaning from videoconferencing in oncological nursing follow-up in primary healthcare and contact with networks. Six patients from rural Norway participated. Three themes emerged: (1) From skepticism to videoconferencing-enthusiasm; (2) Oncology nurses ensured tablet mastery and delivered close follow-up; and (3) Oncology nurses helped ensure general social support using videoconferencing. Oncology follow-up care in rural areas using videoconferencing may enhance care availability and provision of psychosocial support meeting patients’ needs.

COVID-PCD is a participatory study initiated by people with primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) who have an essential vote in all stages of the research from the design of the study to the recruitment of participants, and interpretation and communication of the study results. COVID-PCD aims to collect epidemiological data in real-time from people with PCD throughout the pandemic to describe incidence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), symptoms and course of disease; identify risk factors for prognosis; and assess experiences, wishes and needs. The study is advertised through patient support groups and participants register online on the study website (www.covid19pcd.ispm.ch). The study invites persons of any age from anywhere in the world with a suspected or confirmed PCD. A baseline questionnaire assesses details on PCD diagnosis, habitual symptoms and COVID-19 episodes that occurred before study entry. Afterwards, participants receive a weekly follow-up questionnaire with questions on incident severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections, current symptoms, social contact behaviour and physical activity. Occasional thematic questionnaires are sent out focussing on emerging questions of interest chosen by people with PCD. In case of hospitalisation, patients or family members are asked to obtain a hospital report. Results are continuously analysed and summaries put online. The study started recruitment on April 30, 2020, and 556 people with PCD completed the baseline questionnaire by November 2, 2020. The COVID-PCD study is a participatory study that follows people with PCD during the COVID-19 pandemic, helps to empower affected persons, and serves as a platform for communication between patients, physicians and researchers., The COVID-PCD study is a longitudinal participatory study that follows people with #PCD during the #COVID19 pandemic, empowers people who have PCD, and provides a platform for communication between patients, physicians and researchers https://bit.ly/3fGi2DV

BackgroundAs the availability of COVID-19 vaccines, it is badly needed to develop vaccination guidelines to prioritize the vaccination delivery in order to effectively stop COVID-19 epidemic and minimize the loss.MethodsWe evaluated the effect of age-specific vaccination strategies on the number of infections and deaths using an SEIR model, considering the age structure and social contact patterns for different age groups for each of different countries.ResultsIn general, the vaccination priority should be given to those younger people who are active in social contacts to minimize the number of infections; while the vaccination priority should be given to the elderly to minimize the number of deaths. But this principle may not always apply when the interaction of age structure and age-specific social contact patterns is complicated. Partially reopening schools, workplaces or households, the vaccination priority may need to be adjusted accordingly.ConclusionsPrematurely reopening social contacts could initiate a new outbreak or even a new pandemic out of control if the vaccination rate and the detection rate are not high enough. Our result suggests that it requires at least nine months of vaccination before fully reopening social contacts in order to avoid a new pandemic.

OBJECTIVES: This pilot study describes the characteristics of social contact patterns of the elderly, a group at high-risk for contracting infections. DESIGN: A cross-sectional design was used. SAMPLE: Participants included 30 volunteers aged 65 years or older. MEASUREMENTS: Records of a contact diary were maintained for a period of 24-hr. RESULTS: Thirty participants recorded 340 contacts within the 24 hr period, with a mean of 11.3 people daily. Physical encounters accounted for 50.9% of contacts. Participants with an occupation had significantly higher contacts than those without (p=.013). Contact type differed by location and duration (p

Baggrund: Ved indlæggelse med en smitsom sygdom isoleres patienten på enestue. Studier viser, at patientens sociale kontakt påvirkes under isolationen, og at det kan medføre angst og depression. Formål: At opnå større indsigt i, hvordan patienter og deres pårørende oplever den sociale kontakt under indlæggelse i isolation. Metode: Dataindsamlingen tog afsæt i individuelle interviews med syv patienter og fem pårørende, analyseret vha. kvalitativ indholdsanalyse. Fund: Der fremkom fire temaer; 1) Rammernes dobbelte betydning for kontakten – imellem frihed og begrænsning, 2) Risiko for smitte ændrer omgangsformen indenfor og udenfor isolationsstuen, 3) Kontakten til plejepersonalet i et spændingsfelt mellem nærvær og distance og 4) Patienten som omdrejningspunkt – pårørendes bekymringer og oplevelse af ansvar. Konklusion: Isolationsstuen påvirkede patienters og pårørendes oplevelse af social kontakt og skabte et privat rum, som styrkede relationen til de pårørende, men samtidig skabte begrænsninger i kontakten til plejepersonalet og omverdenen. Smitterisikoen ændrede patientens og de pårørendes kropsopfattelse og medførte fysisk afstand både inde på og udenfor isolationsstuen. Plejepersonalet havde en central rolle for at imødekomme behovet for social kontakt og nærhed i relationen både overfor patienterne og de pårørende. Endelig gav undersøgelsen et særligt indblik i de pårørendes perspektiv, specielt det ansvar og de bekymringer, som de oplevede. Title: Behind closed doors: Patients’ and relatives’ experiences of social contact during source isolation. Background: Patients are isolated in single rooms when admitted with a contagious disease. Studies have shown that source isolation affects social contact and can lead to patients suffering from anxiety and depression. Purpose: To gain a deeper insight into how patients and their relatives experience social contact during source isolation. Method: The study included individual interviews with seven patients and five relatives. Data was analysed and interpreted by means of qualitative content analysis. Findings: Four themes were identified: (1) The dual meaning of the single room – between freedom and limitation, (2) Risk of contamination changes the physical and social contact – inside and outside the single room, (3) Care interactions – between presence and distance, (4) Concerns and responsibility experienced by the relatives. Conclusion: The single room influenced the experience of social contact for both patients and their relatives by creating a private room. However, it also created limitations in the contact to the healthcare professionals and the outside world. The risk of contagious disease changed the body experience and lead to physical distance among relatives, inside as well as outside the room. Finally, the study provided insight into the relatives’ perspectives, particularly their responsibilities and concerns.

Global health related disasters affect humans in several areas of life. COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 had great impact on people’s everyday life, livelihood and health. It had huge impact on global economy as well as business dynamics. However, contemporary post-industrial society is more resilient due to digitalisation, turning operations spatially dispersed and even asynchronic. Thereby, most operations were maintained at least on satisfactory level. Taking the resilience to wider extension the burden on health care system was eased by quarantines and people still maintained most of their social contact by sociotechnical means. The aim of this paper is to address the topic of resilience by current global crisis, digital coping strategies and evident aftermath.

Aims It remains unclear whether the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is having an impact on suicide rates (SR). Economic insecurity and mental disorders are risk factors for suicide, which may increase during the pandemic. Methods Data on suicide events in a major city in Germany, and the corresponding life years (LY) were provided by the local authorities. For the year 2020, periods without restrictions on freedom of movement and social contact were compared with periods of moderate and severe COVID-19 restrictions. To avoid distortions due to seasonal fluctuations and linear time trends, suicide risk during the COVID-19 pandemic was compared with data from 2010 to 2019 using an interrupted time series analysis. Results A total of 643 suicides were registered and 6 032 690 LY were spent between 2010 and 2020. Of these, 53 suicides and 450 429 LY accounted for the year 2020. In 2020, SR (suicides per 100 000 LY) were lower in periods with severe COVID-19 restrictions (SR = 7.2, χ2 = 4.033, p = 0.045) compared with periods without restrictions (SR = 16.8). A comparison with previous years showed that this difference was caused by unusually high SR before the imposition of restrictions, while SR during the pandemic were within the trend corridor of previous years (expected suicides = 32.3, observed suicides = 35; IRR = 1.084, p = 0.682). Conclusions SR during COVID-19 pandemic are in line with the trend in previous years. Careful monitoring of SR in the further course of the COVID-19 crisis is urgently needed. The findings have regional reference and should not be over-generalised.

During a pandemic, one of the most important tasks is to track social contacts with those who are sick. This article categorizes projects that track these contacts. Projects are classified by architecture and the common components of such systems are highlighted. It is concluded that the hybrid architecture of such a solution based on an exclusive blockchain will have several advantages, and a conceptual model of such a system is described. However, an analysis of existing blockchain projects showed that their main problem is the unresolved issue of scaling such kinds of systems, which is becoming a key issue in the context of creating a global digital infrastructure of society. Further, the scaling of the system's conceptual model is assessed based on open-source information about the Moscow metro, and the main conclusions about the selected architectural solutions are confirmed.

During the coronavirus crisis, educational activities and nearly all social contact with friends and family were conducted via online communication tools. Such tools can only be used effectively if an individual has suitable internet access. Thankfully, the Netherlands is one of the EU leaders when it comes to Next Generation Access (NGA) coverage, with 98% of Dutch households having access to these high-speed connections; this is well above the USA (94%) and EU (87%) averages. However, this still means that nearly 344,000 individuals living in the Netherlands lack a strong internet connection. Here, we contend that the coronavirus crisis, and especially the associated lockdown wherein individuals were strongly encouraged to not leave their homes, has made it clear that high-speed internet access is a necessary good for modern social living.