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The Dubas bug is a serious and widespread pest of date palms in several countries in the Middle East. Chemical pesticides are widely used for managing this pest; however, most pesticides fail due to the continuous development of pesticide resistance. The primary goal of this research was to isolate endophytic fungi and test their entomopathogenic activity against Dubas bug nymphs and adults. A total of 27 fungal isolates were obtained and identified using the nuc rDNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 = ITS) region. These strains represent 16 species, belonging to 10 genera of seven different families, Ascomycota with six families and Basidiomycota with a single family, Quambalariaceae. Due to its remarkable biological control ability against insect pests, Clonostachys rosea was further studied for its entomopathogenic activity against Ommatissus lybicus nymphs and adults in comparison to a commercial strain of Beauveria bassiana. The concentration of 1 × 108 conidia/mL of the selected endophytic isolate was used in lab experiments targeting Dubas bug healthy nymphs and adults. After 7 days of C. rosea treatment, the isolate caused significant mortality rates of 85% in the adult insects, while the mortality rates were moderate in the nymphs (33%). The commercial strain of B. bassiana resulted in 100% mortality levels in nymphs and adults of the Dubas bug. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of O. lybicus adults treated with C. rosea and B. bassiana showed mycelium growing on the eye, antenna, cuticle, and egg oviposition parts of O. lybicus. Mycelium growth of both fungi was also evident on the nymphs. This study reports for the first time the isolation of C. rosea from the Dubas bug, and its high entomopathogenic activity against an adult population of O. lybicus.

We investigated the host status of harvest-ready green Persian lime, Citrus x latifolia Tan. (Rutaceae), to Oriental fruit fly (Bactrocera dorsalis [Hendel]) and Mediterranean fruit fly (Ceratitis capitata [Wiedemann]) (Diptera: Tephritidae) using laboratory and field studies. In forced-infestation small cage exposures (using 25 × 25 × 25 cm screened cages with 50 gravid females) and large olfactometer cage tests (using 2.9 × 2.9 × 2.5 m walk-in screened cages with 100 gravid females), punctured limes were infested by Oriental fruit fly and Mediterranean fruit fly at low rates compared to papaya controls, whereas undamaged intact fruit was not infested. Field collection and packing of 45,958 commercial export-grade fruit and subsequent incubation to look for natural infestation resulted in no emergence of fruit flies. Forced infestation studies in the field using sleeve cages to enclose fruit with a high density of fruit flies (50 gravid females) on the tree also showed no infestation. Commercial export-grade Persian lime fruit should be considered a conditional nonhost for Oriental fruit fly and Mediterranean fruit fly.

BACKGROUND: Hospital-based contact tracing aims to limit spread of COVID-19 within healthcare facilities. In large outbreaks, this can stretch resources and workforce due to quarantine of uninfected staff. We analysed the performance of a manual contact tracing system for healthcare workers (HCW) at a multi-site healthcare facility in Melbourne, Australia, from June-September 2020, during an epidemic of COVID-19. METHODS: All HCW close contacts were quarantined for 14 days, and tested around day 11, if not already diagnosed with COVID-19. We examined the prevalence and timing of symptoms in cases detected during quarantine, described this group as proportions of all close contacts and of all cases, and used logistic regression to assess factors associated with infection. RESULTS: COVID-19 was diagnosed during quarantine in 52 furloughed HCWs, from 483 quarantine episodes (11%), accounting for 19% (52/270) of total HCW cases. In 361 exposures to a clear index case, odds of infection were higher after contact with an infectious patient compared to an infectious HCW (aOR: 4.69, 95% CI: 1.98-12.14). Contact with cases outside the workplace increased odds of infection compared to workplace contact only (aOR: 7.70, 95% CI: 2.63-23.05). We estimated 30%, 78% and 95% of symptomatic cases would develop symptoms by days 3, 7, and 11 of quarantine, respectively. CONCLUSION: In our setting, hospital-based contact tracing detected and contained a significant proportion of HCW cases, without excessive quarantine of uninfected staff. Effectiveness of contact tracing is determined by a range of dynamic factors, so system performance should be monitored in real-time.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and its associated symptoms, named coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), have rapidly spread worldwide, resulting in the declaration of a pandemic. When several countries began enacting quarantine and lockdown policies, the pandemic as it is now known truly began. While most patients have minimal symptoms, approximately 20% of verified subjects are suffering from serious medical consequences. Co-existing diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, and others, have been shown to make patients more vulnerable to severe outcomes from COVID-19 by modulating host-viral interactions and immune responses, causing severe infection and mortality. In this review, we outline the putative signaling pathways at the interface of COVID-19 and several diseases, emphasizing the clinical and molecular implications of concurring diseases in COVID-19 clinical outcomes. As evidence is limited on co-existing diseases and COVID-19, most findings are preliminary, and further research is required for optimal management of patients with comorbidities.

BackgroundLittle information exists on how COVID-19 testing influences intentions to engage in risky behavior. Understanding the behavioral effects of diagnostic testing may highlight the role of adequate testing on controlling viral transmission. In order to evaluate these effects, simulated scenarios were conducted evaluating participant intentions to self-isolate based on COVID-19 diagnostic testing availability and results.MethodsParticipants from the United States were recruited through an online survey platform (Amazon Mechanical Turk) and randomized to one of three hypothetical scenarios. Each scenario asked participants to imagine having symptoms consistent with COVID-19 along with a clinical diagnosis from their physician. However, scenarios differed in either testing availability (testing available v. unavailable) or testing result (positive v. negative test). The primary outcome was intention to engage in high-risk COVID-19 behaviors, measured using an 11-item mean score (range 1-7) that was pre-registered prior to data collection. Multi-variable linear regression was used to compare the mean composite scores between conditions. The randomized survey was conducted between July 23rd to July 29th, 2020.ResultsA total of 1400 participants were recruited through a national, online, opt-in survey. Out of 1194 respondents (41.6% male, 58.4% female) with a median age of 38.5 years, participants who had no testing available in their clinical scenario showed significantly greater intentions to engage in behavior facilitating COVID-19 transmission compared to those who received a positive confirmatory test result scenario (mean absolute difference (SE): 0.14 (0.06), P = 0.016), equating to an 11.1% increase in mean score risky behavior intentions. Intention to engage in behaviors that can spread COVID-19 were also positively associated with male gender, poor health status, and Republican party affiliation.ConclusionTesting availability appears to play an independent role in influencing behaviors facilitating COVID-19 transmission. Such findings shed light on the possible negative externalities of testing unavailability.Trial registrationEffect of Availability of COVID-19 Testing on Choice to Isolate and Socially Distance, NCT04459520, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04459520.

The COVID-19 lockdown has had a significant impact on mental health. Patients with eating disorders (ED) have been particularly vulnerable. (1) To explore changes in eating-related symptoms and general psychopathology during lockdown in patients with an ED from various European and Asian countries; and (2) to assess differences related to diagnostic ED subtypes, age, and geography. The sample comprised 829 participants, diagnosed with an ED according to DSM-5 criteria from specialized ED units in Europe and Asia. Participants were assessed using the COVID-19 Isolation Scale (CIES). Patients with binge eating disorder (BED) experienced the highest impact on weight and ED symptoms in comparison with other ED subtypes during lockdown, whereas individuals with other specified feeding and eating disorders (OFSED) had greater deterioration in general psychological functioning than subjects with other ED subtypes. Finally, Asian and younger individuals appeared to be more resilient. The psychopathological changes in ED patients during the COVID-19 lockdown varied by cultural context and individual variation in age and ED diagnosis. Clinical services may need to target preventive measures and adapt therapeutic approaches for the most vulnerable patients.

The evolution of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus leads to new variants that warrant timely epidemiological characterization. Here we use the dense genomic surveillance data generated by the COVID-19 Genomics UK Consortium to reconstruct the dynamics of 71 different lineages in each of 315 English local authorities between September 2020 and June 2021. This analysis reveals a series of subepidemics that peaked in early autumn 2020, followed by a jump in transmissibility of the B.1.1.7/Alpha lineage. The Alpha variant grew when other lineages declined during the second national lockdown and regionally tiered restrictions between November and December 2020. A third more stringent national lockdown suppressed the Alpha variant and eliminated nearly all other lineages in early 2021. Yet a series of variants (most of which contained the spike E484K mutation) defied these trends and persisted at moderately increasing proportions. However, by accounting for sustained introductions, we found that the transmissibility of these variants is unlikely to have exceeded the transmissibility of the Alpha variant. Finally, B.1.617.2/Delta was repeatedly introduced in England and grew rapidly in early summer 2021, constituting approximately 98% of sampled SARS-CoV-2 genomes on 26 June 2021.

Characterizing the impacts of disruption attributable to the COVID-19 pandemic on clinical research is important, especially in pain research where psychological, social, and economic stressors attributable to the COVID-19 pandemic may greatly impact treatment effects. The National Institutes of Health - Department of Defense - Department of Veterans Affairs Pain Management Collaboratory (PMC) is a collective effort supporting 11 pragmatic clinical trials studying nonpharmacological approaches and innovative integrated care models for pain management in veteran and military health systems. The PMC rapidly developed a brief pandemic impacts measure for use across its pragmatic trials studying pain while remaining broadly applicable to other areas of clinical research. Through open discussion and consensus building by the PMC's Phenotypes and Outcomes Work Group, the PMC Coronavirus Pandemic (COVID-19) Measure was iteratively developed. The measure assesses the following domains (one item/domain): access to healthcare, social support, finances, ability to meet basic needs, and mental or emotional health. Two additional items assess infection status (personal and household) and hospitalization. The measure uses structured responses with a three-point scale for COVID-19 infection status and four-point ordinal rank response for all other domains. We recommend individualized adaptation as appropriate by clinical research teams using this measure to survey the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on study participants. This can also help maintain utility of the measure beyond the COVID-19 pandemic to characterize impacts during future public health emergencies that may require mitigation strategies such as periods of quarantine and isolation.

Aim. Formation of the species composition of the bioresource collection "State Collection of Entomoacariphages and Microorganisms" of the Lazarev Experimental Plant Protection Station – a branch of Federal Scientific Centre for Biological Plant Protection. The collection is based on species identified in local biocenoses as well as those introduced from regions with similar climatic conditions.Material and Methods. Collection and study of the effectiveness of native, invasive, introduced entomophages, the dynamics of their acclimatization and the possibility of their introduction into laboratory culture on the territory of the Black Sea coast of Sochi. Methods of their application in plant protection systems were tested.Results. The ability of Cryptolaemus montrouzieri Muls. to control the number of coccids, including Icerya purchase Maskell, has been experimentally established. Entomophages which are effective and adaptable to reproduction in laboratory conditions were selected: Dicyphus errans Wolff. and Macrolophus nubilis H.S., the aphidophage Harmonia axyridis Pall. and others.Conclusion. As a result of the study, wide polyphages of Dicyphus errans Wolff were found to be presented in the collection of the Lazarev Experimental Plant Protection Station, as well as and Macrolophus nubilis H.S., Cryptolaemus montrouzieri Muls., Leis dimidiata Fabr., Harmonia axyridis Pall., Encarsia partenopea Masi and Lysiphlebus fabarum Marsh. Acariphages are represented by Phytoseiulus persimilis Ath.‐Henr. and Amblyseius cucumeris Ond. The biological efficacy of Encarsia partenopea Masi has been evaluated in relation to Trialeurodes vaporariorum Westw. in the conditions of the protected ground of Sochi at the parasite ratio:host of 1:30; 68.6%, the best result being obtained with releases of 1:10; 79.19%. Research has begun on the development of methods for the laboratory breeding of Chilocorus renipustulatus.

The COVID-19 pandemic has sparked a paradigm change in pandemic preparedness measures, motivating an investigation of non-pharmaceutical therapies. This research dives into the lessons learned from COVID-19 to strengthen our strategy to prevent future pandemics. The study aimed to extract valuable insights from the COVID-19 experience, extrapolating lessons learned to develop strong strategies that include diet, lifestyle, risk factors and non-pharmaceutical treatments. Nutrition and lifestyle influences on illness susceptibility were studied using a comprehensive examination of scholarly literature, reports and epidemiological studies. Role of essential risk variables was investigated in magnifying pandemic outcomes and the efficiency of non-pharmaceutical treatments in reducing infectious agent transmission. The analysis demonstrates the long-term utility of COVID-19 findings. This review emphasizes the importance of nutrition and lifestyle variables in determining susceptibility to infectious illnesses. Furthermore, a detailed examination of risk variables shows critical predictors of pandemic severity. Most significantly, the findings highlight the effectiveness of non-pharmaceutical measures, emphasizing their vital role in pandemic containment. This study has far-reaching ramifications that advocate for a paradigm change towards comprehensive pandemic preparation using the lessons learned during COVID-19. Research findings highlight the need for a multifaceted strategy, including diet, lifestyle changes, targeted risk reduction and non-pharmaceutical therapies. This study provides a road map for improving global resilience to potential future pandemics, calling for preventative strategies beyond pharmacological remedies.

International travelers had to quarantine upon arrival at a designated hotel in Indonesia during the pandemic to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. This study aims to investigate the hotel quarantine program in Indonesia from management perspectives in crisis circumstances. A qualitative methodology was applied with data triangulation collected from 11 top-level managers, operations, and management from official quarantine hotels in the second quarter of 2022. In-depth interviews were conducted to explore the antecedents behind hotel management and evaluate the repatriation quarantine program through the crisis management lens framework. The findings enhance the concept of crisis management framework in a particular program employed during a pandemic. Three related phases emerged from data analysis in crisis prevention and planning, strategic implementation, and evaluation were discussed. This study reveals the suggestions for hotel managers and the government for a future sustainable strategy. This study is the first paper to address the hotel quarantine program evaluation in Indonesia. This study contributes to enriching the hotel industry's crisis management framework. Pertinent recommendations for hotel management and government are provided to cope with this crisis.

Objectives: To evaluate the contribution of the digital platform “Meu Diário de Quarentena (MDQ)'' or My Quarantine Diary concerning the monitoring and self-care of individuals with COVID-19 in Brazil. And to analyze the epidemiological and clinical characteristics related to the disease and the users who adhered to the support provided by MDQ. Methods: MDQ was developed by a multidisciplinary team and offered to the general population to provide self-care and health education during the COVID-19 pandemic, relying on users' self-reporting of information (such as signs and symptoms, pre-existing health conditions, and medications used during quarantine). The outcomes were measured, and the web app's support experience for public health was reported. Results: MDQ had 2439 active users on the platform, with 485 (19.9 %) self-reporting a COVID-19 diagnosis, mostly from individuals in the southeastern region of Brazil (56.5 %). The most common pre-existing health condition reported was related to circulatory system diseases. The most frequent reported signs and symptoms included headache, cough, myalgia, nasal congestion and muscle weakness. Corticosteroids, multivitamins, and anti-inflammatories were the most used medications during the pandemic period. There were several reports related to how users were feeling during the pandemic, and among these reports, negative feelings toward isolation stood out, such as “feeling lonely”, “anxious”, and “feeling useless”. A significant association was found between sex (p

In recent years, the world has witnessed the emergence and rapid spread of socially dangerous diseases, highlighting the critical need for robust ethical and legal frameworks within national biosecurity systems. This article discusses the ethical considerations and legal aspects surrounding the prevention and control of these diseases in order to devise effective strategies for their containment and mitigation. Drawing on a comprehensive review of literature, this study explores how societal norms, individual rights, and public health imperatives intersect within the context of biosecurity measures. It underscores the significance of ethical considerations to ensure fair and equitable access to preventive measures, diagnostics, treatments, and vaccines. Additionally, legal frameworks play a pivotal role in enabling the implementation of necessary interventions during disease outbreaks, such as quarantine measures, contact tracing, and the establishment of efficient surveillance systems. This study analyzes the national biological security measures in Azerbaijan and compares them to other countries to identify strategies for preserving and controlling the transmission of public health threats. The research aims to provide insights into the effectiveness of Azerbaijan’s current biological security policies and highlight areas for improvement. The study includes a comprehensive review of relevant literature on biosecurity measures of Azerbaijan. The findings of this study will contribute to the global understanding of biological security practices and inform recommendations for enhancing Azerbaijan’s preparedness in managing public health threats. Finally, the article emphasizes the need for international cooperation and harmonization of ethical and legal standards in addressing the global spread of socially dangerous diseases. It highlights the significance of sharing best practices and lessons learned to strengthen preparedness and response capacities across nations, facilitating a more coordinated and effective approach to prevent and control disease outbreaks.

‘Orri’ is the main mandarin (Citrus reticulata Blanco) cultivar grown in Israel and exported to global markets. As part of the export process, these fruits are exposed to quarantine treatments against the Mediterranean fruit fly Ceratitus capitate. In the current study, we examined the effects of phytosanitary ionizing irradiation treatments at doses of between 150 and 400 Gy on the quality and postharvest storage performance of ‘Orri’ mandarins. In 2021, we exposed ‘Orri’ mandarins to gamma irradiation doses of 150 and 400 Gy, and then stored the fruit for 3 or 6 weeks at 5 °C, followed by one additional week under shelf-life conditions at 22 °C. In 2022, we exposed ‘Orri’ mandarins to 150 Gy, which is the approved quarantine treatment against fruit flies, and then stored the fruit for 4 or 9 weeks at 5 °C, followed by one or two additional weeks under shelf-life conditions at 22 °C. The results indicate that the examined irradiation treatments do not affect the quality or postharvest storage performance of ‘Orri’ mandarins, as no significant differences were observed between the treated fruit and the untreated control fruit, in terms of weight loss, firmness, color, decay, peel damage, juice total soluble solids, acidity and vitamin C contents, ethanol accumulation or perceived flavor. We conclude that 'Orri’ mandarins are tolerant of postharvest phytosanitary irradiation treatments.

The COVID-19 pandemic has necessitated the rapid transition to distance learning for students worldwide. This paper examines the current state of distance learning implementation in secondary schools of the Zhytomyr region in Ukraine. A survey of 2445 teachers found that most were using various software tools for distance learning without a unified learning management system. Analysis of the Moodle, Google Classroom, and "My Class" platforms showed Moodle to have significant advantages for supporting distance learning. To enable schools to leverage Moodle, an "Educational Portal for Secondary School" was developed at Zhytomyr Polytechnic State University using the Moodle platform. Based on this Moodle portal, the paper proposes a technology for the mass organisation of distance learning during quarantine. The technology combines the tools, electronic resources, course structure, and tutor competencies required for effective distance learning implementation.

We present an epidemiological model, which extend the classical SEIR model by accounting for the presence of asymptomatic individuals and the effect of isolation of infected individuals based on testing. Moreover, we introduce two types of home quarantine, namely gradual and abrupt one. We compute the equilibria of the new model and derive its reproduction number. Using numerical simulations we analyze the effect of quarantine and testing on the epidemic dynamic. Given a constraint that limits the maximal number of simultaneous active cases, we demonstrate that the isolation rate, which enforces this constraint, decreases with the increasing testing rate. Our simulations show that massive testing allows to control the infection spread using a much lower isolation rate than in the case of indiscriminate quarantining. Finally, based on the effective reproduction number we suggest a strategy to manage the epidemic. It consists in introducing abrupt quarantine as well as relaxing the quarantine in such a way that the epidemic remains under control and further waves do not occur. We analyze the sensitivity of the model dynamic to the quarantine size, timing and strength of the restrictions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While the world praised Taiwan for its exemplary management of the COVID-19 pandemic, a debate on its compliance with rule of law and human rights was shadowed. This manuscript examines the stringent policy of mandatory quarantine and isolation in Taiwan through the lens of personal liberty and argues that despite its effectiveness for public health, it was disproportionate, arbitrary and likely amounting to the ill-treatment of quarantined persons. Notwithstanding its implications for coronavirus policies elsewhere, the legal ramifications of Taiwan's lesson are also vital for scholarly debate on the limits of the established international human rights framework during the time of the pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mining sector plays a crucial role in the economies of West Africa and Western Australia, contributing to GDP, employment, and foreign exchange earnings. However, the sector also faces environmental, social, and health challenges, including land and water degradation, human rights violations, and occupational hazards. The COVID-19 pandemic worsened these challenges, affecting aspects of the mining industry. This systematic review follows the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines for literature search and selection. PubMed and Google Scholar were searched for relevant articles published from 2019 to 2023. Inclusion criteria encompassed studies focusing on COVID-19 management strategies in West Africa and Western Australia mining sectors. Mining industries in both regions adopted a spectrum of strategies. These included lockdowns and movement restrictions, extensive testing and contact tracing, quarantine protocols, stringent health and safety measures, support for vulnerable artisanal miners, technology integration to reduce human interaction, flexible work arrangements, and mental health support. Some companies diversified their supply chains, and community engagement programmes aimed to inform and support local populations. However, these strategies often led to disruptions, work stoppages, and reduced production. Lockdowns affected mining community mobility and COVID-19 cases among miners. Mental health concerns arose, particularly in Western Australia, due to isolation measures and job insecurity. The COVID-19 pandemic had profound effects on mining industries in both regions. We have provided insights for future research and industry practices, emphasising the necessity of resilient strategies to protect both well-being and economic stability during pandemics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The role of urban planning and architecture in mitigating infectious diseases has lately attracted more scholarly attention. The paper explores an epidemic of plague in nineteenth-century Odesa (then the Russian Empire, now Ukraine) and argues that the city's development was fundamentally linked to activities focused on preventing the disease's reoccurrence and creating a healthy urban environment. It analyzes never discussed visual materials from the collections of the Hermitage Museum, State Museum in Berlin, Canadian Centre for Architecture (CCA), British Museum, and Library of Congress and places them in the context of literary work, mainly travellers' diaries and memoirs of contemporaries. Although over the last two decades, several publications focused on Odesa's history, literature, culture, and social life came into existence, the urban development and architecture of this metropolis have yet to garner sufficient scholarly attention. The article focuses on primary sources making new attributions of visual materials. It illuminates such essential aspects of urban life as health and hygiene, sanitation, design of open green spaces, and control of air and water supplies. It also helps to understand the architectural solutions for mitigating infectious disease and establishing Odesa as one of the leaders in pandemic-related development at the time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We consider the problem of partitioning a set of items into unlabeled subsets so as to optimize an additive objective, i.e., the objective function value of a partition is equal to the sum of the contribution of each subset. Under an arbitrary objective function, this family of problems is known to be an N P -complete combinatorial optimization problem. We study this problem under a broad family of objective functions characterized by elementary symmetric polynomials, which are "building blocks" to symmetric functions. By analyzing a continuous relaxation of the problem, we identify conditions that enable the use of a reformulation technique in which the set partitioning problem is cast as a more tractable network flow problem solvable in polynomial-time. We show that a number of results from the literature arise as special cases of our proposed framework, highlighting its generality. We demonstrate the usefulness of the developed methodology through a novel and timely application of quarantining heterogeneous populations in an optimal manner. Our case study on real COVID-19 data reveals significant benefits over conventional measures in terms of both spread mitigation and economic impact, underscoring the importance of data-driven policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the outbreak of coronavirus disease, 83% of households experienced a reduction in income, more than 25% of Filipinos reported anxieties, and 66,000 deaths from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have been reported. With the pandemic, nurses are an essential part of the healthcare industry. With the notion that nurses now handle a variety of patients, sometimes nurses neglect their health. This study bridges the gap between the nurses' health situation when afflicted with COVID-19, and how they can manage their health in terms of stress management, interpersonal, and spiritual aspects while in quarantine. Thus, using the quantitative design, this study determined the extent of impact of quarantine on the stress management, interpersonal, and spiritual growth of nurses who were infected with COVID-19 and experienced quarantine in Negros Occidental when they were taken as a whole and grouped according to age, sex, civil status, areas of the hospital, and types of quarantine facility. Also, it investigated on the relationship between the demographics and the impact of quarantine on stress management and interpersonal and spiritual growth of nurses. The study determined a very great extent of quarantine impact on the stress management, interpersonal, and spiritual growth of nurses who were infected with COVID-19 and experienced quarantine in Negros Occidental. There was a significant relationship for age and areas of the hospital on the impact of quarantine; while there was no significant relationship for the variables sex, civil status, and types of quarantine facilities on the impact of quarantine. It is essential to recognize that stress is a subjective experience that varies from person to person; it is crucial for policymakers and healthcare providers to recognize the importance of addressing the mental health needs of individuals in quarantine facilities. At the same time, the administrators should recognize and address different challenges encountered by nurses in quarantine to ensure their well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the narratives presented on Quarantine Stories, an online platform where users posted their home-quarantine experiences amid the COVID-19 pandemic. It investigates the recurrent themes in quarantine stories and how tellers constructed their lives in isolation. Quarantine stories submitted worldwide were examined via semantic tag and concordance analyses to identify their recurrent themes and narrative elements. The results reveal that digital storytelling allowed tellers and readers to form a community of shared support beyond spatiotemporal boundaries. Most quarantine stories were characterised by fragmentation and simultaneity, whereas others had Labovian narrative structures. The recurrent themes found (quarantine duration, favourite quarantine spots and self-healing) demonstrated how tellers used time stamps to create meaning. The present study contributes to social media research by suggesting the further categorisation of breaking stories into major and minor and by regarding self-reflection as a sub-type of evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction, movement, holding, multiplication and release of Union quarantine pests is generally prohibited. In addition, there are requirements for plants, plant products and other objects that are subject to phytosanitary regulations such as import prohibitions. Research work, trials and breeding with quarantine-relevant material is therefore only possible in compliance with quarantine requirements after authorization by the responsible plant protection service. The article details these legal requirements and necessary procedures and reports on authorizations in 2023. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Limited evidence exists on the policies to increase self‐isolation compliance, with no experimental evidence. This trial aimed to evaluate the effect of a home visiting intervention in the London Borough of Havering on compliance with self‐isolation guidance, relative to positive COVID‐19 cases who received no home visits. Design: Mixed method evaluation involving a two‐arm randomized controlled trial (RCT) with an implementation and process evaluation. Methods: A total of 3878 cases who tested positive for COVID‐19 were randomly allocated with equal probability to receive home visits from Havering outreach team staff (n = 1946) or to a control group (n = 1932) who did not receive home visits. Randomization was implemented through a spreadsheet consisting of random numbers generated online that was used to randomly allocate cases to treatment and control. Check‐in calls were conducted by a separate blinded contact tracing team on day six of isolation to measure successful self‐isolation compliance. The primary intention‐to‐treat (ITT) analysis was conducted on 3860 cases as 18 patients were excluded from analysis because of the missing outcome data. For the implementation and process evaluation, qualitative, semi‐structured, one‐to‐one interviews were conducted with trial participants in the treatment arm of the RCT (n = 15) and stakeholders within the London Borough of Havering's Adult Social Care and Health Team (n = 8). Qualitative data was analysed thematically using a framework approach. Results: Positive cases who were allocated to receive the home visiting intervention (n = 1933) were more likely to report successful self‐isolation compared to those allocated to the control group (n = 1927), an effect that was statistically significant (odds ratio 1.204 [95% CI: 1.052, 1.377]; absolute probability difference: 4.1 percentage points [95% CI: 1.2–6.9]). The implementation and process evaluation found that a key driver of compliance was altruistic motivation based on its perceived importance for protecting the community with some participants also reporting the potential of being caught not complying as a driving factor. Participants also reported that the intervention helped them 'feel supported', provided them with information about practical and financial support, and clarified their understanding or increased their awareness of self‐isolation and COVID‐19 guidance. No harms were reported from this trial. The trial was registered at the ISRCTN registry, number ISRCTN10030612. Conclusions: A home‐visiting intervention conducted between January and March 2022 increased the self‐isolation compliance of positive COVID‐19 cases allocated to receive home visits. The implementation and process evaluation highlighted that the intervention increased individuals' motivation to comply with guidance, and addressed some barriers associated with opportunity and capability to comply. This trial provides much‐needed evidence to inform the policy and intervention design to support public health and social measures in future outbreak scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: In pandemics, infection exposure and quarantine represent critical occupational risks for healthcare workers (HCWs). However, while the psychological consequences of HCWs' quarantine have been reviewed, other potential implications of quarantine on HCWs, such as those that are work-, professional-, social- and private-related, have not been summarised to date. Summarising quarantined HCWs' experiences in the current and past pandemics, as investigated with qualitative studies, might improve awareness of their needs, concerns, and the consequences of quarantine on their personal lives. Therefore, the lived experience of quarantined HCWs was reviewed and subjected to meta-synthesis and -summary. Methods: A systematic review of qualitative studies followed by a meta-synthesis and -summary allowing an interpretative integration of the findings of qualitative studies, was performed. PubMed, CINHAL and Scopus databases were explored up to 31 January, 2021, without any limitation in time. The methodological quality of the studies was assessed using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme. Methods and findings are reported according to the Enhancing transparency in reporting the synthesis of qualitative research statement. Results: A total of 635 records were retrieved and five studies were included. Overall, five themes summarised the lived experience of quarantined HCWs: 1) Being emotionally challenged; 2) Living the quarantine limitations; 3) Losing freedom; 4) Accepting the quarantine; and 5) Staying away from me. The most frequent categories across studies were 'Feeling stressed' and 'Being constrained' (both 100%). The least frequent were 'Feeling sad' (20%), 'Enjoying my family' (20%) and 'Being refused as a family member' (20%). Conclusions: The lived experience of HCWs is multidimensional, the implications of which also affect private spheres of life: the immediate family and wider relatives. Understanding and learning from HCWs' lived experiences might support policymakers, public health authorities and managers with the goal of maintaining the highest physical and mental health of staff during outbreaks. Timely services supporting HCWs, both during and after episode(s) of quarantine, are suggested to prevent additional burdens on frontline professionals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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During the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, teachers who are accustomed to teaching and preparing lessons through traditional ways have been forced to move the workplace from school to home and to shift their traditional working method to telecommuting. To understand how teachers are affected by the mandatory telecommuting, this study examined the association between telecommuting and teacher burnout and investigated the mediating role of harmonious passion and the moderating role of housing size in this relationship. Using data from 168 teachers, we tested our model and found that the extent of mandatory telecommuting not only has a direct positive effect on teachers' burnout but also positively affects burnout by decreasing their harmonious passion for work. Housing size, the physical work environment during the quarantine lockdown, moderates this indirect effect. Future research can be carried out from perspectives of considering cross-cultural contexts, exploring different moderators, such as other physical conditions or individuals' subjective feelings engendered by the pandemic situation, and investigating the impact of teachers' telecommuting on students' individual outcomes. Implications for theory and practice are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper studies continuing optimal lockdowns (can also be interpreted as quarantines or self-isolation) in the long run if a disease (Covid-19) is endemic and immunity can fail, that is, the disease has SIRS dynamics. We model how disease related mortality affects the optimal choices in a dynamic general equilibrium neoclassical growth framework. An extended welfare function that incorporates loss from mortality is used. In a disease endemic steady state, without this welfare loss even if there is continuing mortality, it is not optimal to impose even a partial lockdown. We characterize how the optimal restriction and equilibrium outcomes vary with the effectiveness of the lockdown, the productivity of working from home, the rate of mortality from the disease, and failure of immunity. We provide the sufficiency conditions for economic models with SIRS dynamics with disease related mortality–a class of models which are non-convex and have endogenous discounting so that no existing results are applicable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: COVID-19 is continuing to ravage globally and has resulted in a huge health and financial burden. Chinese proprietary medicines, such as Lianhua Qingwen (LHQW) and Huoxiang Zhengqi (HXZQ) capsules, have been recommended for non-high-risk patients with COVID-19 in China. Based on this, we described the baseline information, using status of LHQW and HXZQ capsules and inoculation history of quarantined patients in the second half of 2022 in Macao. Additionally, we analyzed the underlying association among medicines administration, vaccination and COVID-19 indices, in order to explore novel clues for the regular control and prevention of local epidemic situation in the future. Methods: A total of 976 patients in Macao quarantine hotels from June to August 2022 were included in the present study, of which, 857 subjects were followed-up for prognosis evaluation. During quarantine, the baseline demographic information, including sex, age, BMI, occupation and personal habits were collected. Additionally, the inoculation history, medicine employment status and cycle threshold (Ct) values were also reported. We interviewed the patients for collection of their symptoms at the beginning and end of quarantine, as well as prognostic ones. Basic statistical description of baseline information, vaccination history and medication were displayed. Chi-squared test or with continuous correction test was employed for comparison of dichotomous data between two or multiple groups. Binary logistic regression was applied to reveal the correlation between potential risk factors and Ct values or prognosis symptoms. We also used Cox regression model to identify the effect of different types of vaccine products on Ct value altering rate. Results: Patients who were female (52.0%), engaged in service industry (31.8%), from Macao native (65.8%), never took physical exercises (33.6%) and preferred irritated diet (59.5%) enjoyed more dominant proportions. Over 80% of participants were inoculated and 74.6% of them chose inactivated COVID-19 vaccine produced by China National Biotech Group (CNBG). Participants used LHQW capsules accounted for 92.1% and the duration of medicating lasted for one to two weeks. All of the reported symptoms were significantly ameliorated after quarantine and the duration of quarantine was concentrated on 21 days. People with different age, sex, occupation and region had different choices of HXZQ administration and vaccination. Additionally, middle dose (4–5 boxes) of LHQW capsules exhibited evidently negative association with positive Ct values (adjusted, − 0.037 ± 0.19, p = 0.04). Two doses of CNBG and one dose of mRNA vaccine had obvious protective effect on reducing Ct positive rate (p = 0.041). Meanwhile, symptoms after quarantine were significantly positive correlated with those in prognosis (adjusted, 1.38 ± 0.18, p < 0.0001). Conclusion: Our study found that the administration of LHQW capsules was beneficial for Ct value turning negative, meanwhile, certain mixed inoculation may be the promoting factor to reduce the positive rate of Ct value. These findings provide data basis for the Chinese proprietary medicine treatment and mixed vaccination applying for prevention and control of local COVID-19 epidemic in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic prompted varied policy responses globally, with Latin America facing unique challenges. A detailed examination of these policies' impacts on health systems is crucial, particularly in Bolivia, where information about policy implementation and outcomes is limited. Objective: To describe the COVID-19 testing trends and evaluate the effects of quarantine measures on these trends in Cochabamba, Bolivia. Methods: Utilizing COVID-19 testing data from the Cochabamba Department Health Service for the 2020–2022 period. Stratified testing rates in the health system sectors were first estimated followed by an interrupted time series analysis using a quasi-Poisson regression model for assessing the quarantine effects on the mitigation of cases during surge periods. Results: The public sector reported the larger percentage of tests (65%), followed by the private sector (23%) with almost double as many tests as the public-social security sector (11%). In the time series analysis, a correlation between the implementation of quarantine policies and a decrease in the slope of positive rates of COVID-19 cases was observed compared to periods without or with reduced quarantine policies. Conclusion: This research underscores the local health system disparities and the effectiveness of stringent quarantine measures in curbing COVID-19 transmission in the Cochabamba region. The findings stress the importance of the measures' intensity and duration, providing valuable lessons for Bolivia and beyond. As the global community learns from the pandemic, these insights are critical for shaping resilient and effective health policy responses. Paper Context: Main findings: The findings highlight the importance of stringent quarantine measures in managing infectious disease outbreaks, offering valuable insights for policymakers worldwide in strategizing effective public health interventions. Added knowledge: By providing a detailed analysis of testing disparities and quarantine policies' effectiveness within a specific Latin American context, our research fills a critical gap in understanding their impacts on health system responses and disease control. Global health impact for policy and action: The findings highlight the importance of stringent quarantine measures in managing infectious disease outbreaks, offering valuable insights for policymakers worldwide in strategizing effective public health interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Depression among older adults is a growing problem. With aging being a risk factor for COVID-19 infection, depression in this population may have been exacerbated. This study aimed to describe experiences and changes in depressive symptoms and well-being of older adults during and after the COVID-19 first wave in Spain. Methods: The study used a multi-method design. Participants self-reported depressive symptoms (Geriatric Depression Scale) and well-being (Cantril Ladder of Life). Participants were asked about changes in depressive symptoms or well-being during quarantine. If a change was perceived, they were asked to describe the change. In addition, the Patient Global Impression of Change scale was used. Both quantitative and qualitative analyses were performed on the data. Results: 111 participants (mean age: 71±5 years; 76% women) completed the study. Sixty-three percent reported mild and 2% reported major depressive symptoms. Nearly half (47.7%) reported changes in depressive symptoms during the lockdown. While 37% reported feeling better during the lockdown, about 11% reported depressive symptoms were worse now compared with during the lockdown. 60% reported worsening well-being during the quarantining period. The qualitative analysis revealed 2 main themes: (1) psychological discomfort (mood deflection, fear/worries, and boredom/inactivity) and (2) social issues (inability to go out, missing family members and others). Conclusions: Worsening depressive symptoms and lowering of well-being were noticed in this sample of older adults during and post-COVID lockdowns. Evaluation of mental health in the primary care setting and providing referrals for mental health services is essential for older adults who experienced COVID-19-related lockdowns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We show a qualitative analysis of the quarantine lines —barricades that prohibited access to localities— installed in rural populations of Yucatán, Mexico, at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. The objective of the article is to study the relation between health crisis and autonomous local powers. We proposed that the health crisis, by promoting the emergence of territories where the governance of the nation-state was temporarily suspended, triggered the immediate emergence of powers that, based on their ability to isolate the population, operated with great autonomy in the local space. However, we argue that these powers were not solely the product of spontaneity, but rather of pre-existing socio-political arrangements and forms of domination, strengthened in the scenario of the pandemic crisis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Quarantine was one of the strategies adopted by governments against the spread of COVID-19. This restriction has caused an increase in sedentary behaviors and a decrease in the practice of physical activity (PA), with a consequent negative impact on lifestyle both in healthy people and in those who need constant practice of PA to combat diseases, such as patients suffering from neuromuscular diseases (NMDs). Hence, this study aimed to compare PA levels among patients with NMD during and after quarantine. Methods: An adapted version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire Short-Form and the Short-Form Health Survey were administered during COVID-19 quarantine (T0) and after 3 years (T1) to 91 Italian patients with NMDs. Results: We found a significant increase in the total PA level at T1, with no significant changes in vigorous-intensity PA. Moreover, a significant decrease in the PA level was found among the patients with different NMDs. No significant changes in physical component scores and mental component scores were detected. Conclusions: Our results suggest that it would be necessary to provide alternative indoor exercise settings to prevent the adoption of sedentary behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Lumpy skin disease (LSD) is a highly infectious and economically important transboundary disease that is rapidly spreading to the globe. The disease causes high morbidity and a low mortality rate of infection. The animals show acute or chronic illnesses depending on the immune responses of the hosts. The economic burden of LSD manifested the poor-quality hides, a drop in milk and meat production, abortion, and death. Methods: This systematic literature review was accomplished according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The literature on lumpy skin disease has been explored over the last two decades and searched keywords on online databases such as Google Scholar, PubMed, and Scopus. Both automated and manual searching tools were used to screen the articles. The literature published other than English was rejected during the screening process. Conference papers were excluded during the screening. Results: LSD is transmitted by blood-sucking arthropods and is most prevalent in summer and rainy seasons. Exotic-bred cattle and calves are highly susceptible. Although the disease has low mortality, the high mortality of the disease prevails in endemic regions in complicated cases. Calves from unvaccinated cows should be vaccinated at any age, on the other hand, the calves from vaccinated cows should be immunized at 3 months of age. Animals should be vaccinated before the risk period. Strict biosecurity, quarantine, and immunoprophylaxis can reduce the prevalence of the disease. Conclusions: Lumpy skin disease (LSD) is an acute infectious and contagious disease affecting cattle and water buffaloes. The disease causes serious economic loss due to decreased production, skin problems, and mortality in complicated cases. Further details on genetic characterization, transmission dynamics, and host-pathogen interaction should be performed to prevent the prevalence of the disease in emerging or reemerging countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the psychological impact of quarantine on international travelers during the COVID-19 pandemic, specifically focusing on those quarantined in Thailand. While some studies suggest that enforced quarantine does not significantly increase the risk of mental health issues, others report symptoms such as anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts. Loneliness experienced during quarantine can be similar to the emotions felt by stranded travelers. The study found that a significant percentage of participants exhibited depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, post-traumatic stress symptoms, and thoughts of self-harm or suicide during quarantine. Factors such as gender, occupation, residence in heavily affected areas, and access to reliable internet were associated with these symptoms. The study recommends implementing strategies such as ensuring reliable internet access and raising awareness to support travelers during quarantine, and further research on this topic is encouraged. [Extracted from the article]

Background: Isolation is a special environment that will affect the mental health and behavior of individuals. The current study was to explore the relationship between behavior intention (BI) and perceived stress in isolated environment during Shanghai Omicron pandemic. Methods: A cross‐sectional study was conducted between April 8 and 14, 2022. Three self‐reported questionnaires were used to evaluate quarantine duration, stress perception, and BI. A total of 1042 participants in Shanghai under quarantine at home were included by random sampling. Logistic regression and one‐way variance analysis were used to determine the risk factors related to BI. Results: The finding implicated negative BI was more reported by the population of males, with lower educational background, with jobs, and youngers. A negative association existed between perceived stress and BI (B = −1.004, p =.003, OR = 0.367, 95% CI =.191–.703). The proportion of positive BI decreased with quarantined duration, whereas the negative BI seemed vibrate upward then downward. Conclusion: There existed a significant effect of quarantined days on perceived stress with different BIs. High perceived stress was a risk factor of positive BI. This preliminary study has significance to understand the effect of compulsory measures on BI and for policies makers to take a psychosocial perspective to consider the effective pandemic intervention strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The EFSA Panel on Plant Health performed a pest categorisation of Malacosoma parallela (Staudinger) (Lepidoptera: Lasiocampidae) for the territory of the European Union, following commodity risk assessments of Berberis thunbergii, Malus domestica, Prunus persica and P. dulcis plants for planting from Türkiye, in which M. parallela came to attention as of possible concern. M. parallela is commonly known as the mountain ring silk moth and is a polyphagous leaf‐eating pest in west‐central Asia, primarily feeding on deciduous trees and shrubs, and known to cause serious damage to Malus, Prunus, and Quercus species. It is found at a range of altitudes from 130 m to 3000 m although most common above 1000 m. It is a univoltine species. Eggs are laid in masses on twigs and branches in the summer and larvae hatch the following spring to feed on buds and fresh leaves. Host plants can be completely defoliated. Plants for planting and cut branches provide pathways for entry, especially if infested with egg masses. Host availability and climate suitability suggest that parts of the EU would be suitable for establishment. Adults can fly and the pest could spread naturally within the EU although adults only live for a few days. Faster and more extensive spread is therefore more likely via egg masses moved on plants for planting. The introduction of M. parallela into the EU could lead to outbreaks causing damage to deciduous trees and shrubs in forests and orchards. Phytosanitary measures are available to inhibit the entry and spread of this species. M. parallela satisfies all the criteria that are within the remit of EFSA to assess for it to be regarded as a potential Union quarantine pest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The European Commission requested the EFSA Panel on Plant Health to evaluate the probability of entry of pests (likelihood of pest freedom at entry), including both, regulated and non‐regulated pests, associated with unrooted cuttings of the genera Petunia and Calibrachoa produced under physical isolation in Guatemala. The relevance of any pest for this opinion was based on evidence following defined criteria, based on the methodology used for high‐risk plants adapted for the specificity of this assessment. Nineteen EU regulated pests (Bemisia tabaci, pepper golden mosaic virus, pepper huasteco yellow vein virus, tomato severe leaf curl virus, tomato yellow leaf curl virus, tomato spotted wilt virus, Liriomyza huidobrensis, Liriomyza sativae, Liriomyza trifolii, Bactericera cockerelli, Eotetranichus lewisi, Epitrix subcrinita, Epitrix cucumeris, Helicoverpa zea, Chloridea virescens, Spodoptera ornithogalli, Ralstonia solanacearum, Ralstonia pseudosolanacearum, Xanthomonas vesicatoria) and one EU non‐regulated (Phenacoccus solenopsis) pest fulfilled all relevant criteria and were selected for further evaluation. For these pests, the risk mitigation measures proposed in the technical dossier from Guatemala were evaluated taking into account the possible limiting factors, and an expert judgement is given on the likelihood of pest freedom taking into consideration the risk mitigation measures acting on the pest, including uncertainties associated with the assessment. The limited and partially conflicting information provided in the dossier contributes to the wide estimates of pest freedom. The estimated degree of pest freedom varies among the pests evaluated, with Ralstonia spp. (R. solanacearum and R. pseudosolanacearum) being the pest most frequently expected on the imported cuttings. The expert knowledge elicitation indicated, with 95% certainty, that between 9916 and 10,000 bags containing unrooted cuttings per 10,000 would be free of Ralstonia spp. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to identify the perception of parents of students attending private schools in the city of Tubarão, SC, Brazil, about the influence of community-wide quarantine due to COVID-19 on the interactions with their children. This exploratory and qualitative field research included semi-structured interviews held with ten families. Several aspects related to the quarantine were investigated, such as changes in the families' routine, feelings the parents experienced in the interactions with their children, difficulties faced in these interactions, and positive aspects. The interviews were assessed according to content analysis, from which categories of research emerged. The results revealed changes in the families' routine caused by distance education, less social contact, task overload, and impacts on professional life. The feelings the parents experienced included fatigue, guilt, stress, and emotional responses, adaptation to the change of roles, difficulty in implementing distance education, and more dependent children. A few positive aspects were mentioned: closeness, more mature children, and more affectionate interactions. A few families did not identify positive aspects. The results show the parents' lack of preparation to deal with the new contingencies, the importance of providing preventive parental guidance, and the need to assess the impact of the methods adopted to implement distance education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed identify the perception of parents of students from private schools in the municipality of Tubarão (SC) about the influence of quarantine due the COVID-19 pandemic in their interaction with their children. This is an exploratory and qualitative field research in which several aspects related to the quarantine period were investigated. The results were obtained through content analysis, which showed changes in routine related to distance education, less social contact, overload of activities, and professional impact. As feelings experienced by parents, fatigue, guilt, and stress were mentioned. As difficulties encountered, emotional reactions, adaptation to the change of roles, difficulties with distance education, and increased dependence were pointed out. Few were the positive aspects mentioned. Based on the results, the unpreparedness of parents to deal with new contingencies, the importance of preventive parental guidance, and the need to reevaluate the way distance education is applied were highlighted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impact of the pandemic is being very significant psychologically, especially for people who were already vulnerable in these aspects, such as adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and Intellectual Disability (ID). A longitudinal analysis of motor aspects such as balance and gait, executive functions in daily life, severity of symptoms characteristic of autism, and degree of subjective well-being was performed in 53 adults with ASD and ID. A repeated measures ANOVA was performed and three measures were taken, the first in December 2019, the second in March 2020, and the last in July 2020. The results demonstrated a significant decrease in balance on the latter measure, along with a deterioration in well-being and ASD symptoms in the period of seclusion and an improvement in executive functions after seclusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]