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Introduction: self-quarantine was one of the key public health interventions in halting the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Ghana. Despite its success, self-quarantine was bridled with challenges across the country, including in the Eastern Region. Consequently, it was pertinent to ascertain these challenges to inform future selfquarantine interventions in the region and the country. The study aimed to ascertain challenges faced by COVID-19 self-quarantined persons in the Eastern Region of Ghana to inform future policies on self-quarantine in the region and the country in general. Methods: thirty-five (35) participants were interviewed in both Twi and English. Following the thematic content analysis approach, Atlas. ti software was used to analyse the data. Relevant quotes were extracted from the transcripts to back the various sub-themes in presenting the results. Results: three global themes emerged from the analyses: socio-economic challenges of selfquarantine (lack of access to essential goods and services, loss of income, and poor housing conditions), health-related challenges (sedentary lifestyle, non-supply of essential personal protective equipment such as face masks, development of oedema and weight gain), and psychological challenges (loneliness, boredom, and anxiety). Conclusion: COVID-19-related challenges selfquarantined persons faced in the Eastern Region of Ghana were multifaceted, ranging from socioeconomic, and health to psychological ones. Consequently, emergency preparedness for future pandemic control using self-quarantine as a tool should bring on board various stakeholders to ensure challenges identified in this study are holistically addressed and do not recur. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given the high incidence and prevalence of myopia, the current healthcare system is struggling to handle the task of myopia management, which is worsened by home quarantine during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The utilization of artificial intelligence (AI) in ophthalmology is thriving, yet not enough in myopia. AI can serve as a solution for the myopia pandemic, with application potential in early identification, risk stratification, progression prediction, and timely intervention. The datasets used for developing AI models are the foundation and determine the upper limit of performance. Data generated from clinical practice in managing myopia can be categorized into clinical data and imaging data, and different AI methods can be used for analysis. In this review, we comprehensively review the current application status of AI in myopia with an emphasis on data modalities used for developing AI models. We propose that establishing large public datasets with high quality, enhancing the model's capability of handling multimodal input, and exploring novel data modalities could be of great significance for the further application of AI for myopia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The SARS-CoV-2 mutation in the bodies of COVID-19 patients is a critical factor for health. Notably, in October 2022, the disease recovery rate in Sidoarjo (96.05%) was lower than the national rate (97.30%). Purpose: This study aims to identify the recovery time and its influencing factors in COVID-19 patients in Sidoarjo. Methods: The lifetable method was used to conduct a survival analysis on data from the NAR COVID-19 dashboard in Sidoarjo from January 3 to August 4, 2022, which involved 20,662 respondents. Age group, sex, treatment status, and testing purpose were analyzed. Results: The majority of COVID-19 patients were females (50.30%) aged 26-<46 years (46.24%). Most patients (64.74%) chose to self-isolate, and 63.34% were screened as COVID-19 positive. On average, patients recovered within seven days of diagnosis. The Wilcoxon (Gehan) statistical test yielded a p-value of less than 0.001 for all factors at a significance level of 0.05, indicating a significant difference in the survival time distribution. The age group with the shortest median recovery time was 6-<12 years at 7.03 days, while males had a median recovery time of at 7.66 days. Patients who self-isolated had a median recovery time of 7.16 days, and those who were tested for close contact purposes had a median recovery time of 7.65 days. Conclusion: The median recovery time for COVID-19 patients post-diagnosis was seven days. There was a significant difference in recovery time among the COVID-19 patients based on age group, sex, treatment status, and testing purpose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the need to create a national quarantine plan as part of a modernized public health strategy to a pandemic in the U.S. following the COVID-19 pandemic. Other topics include the statutory ability of the federal government to implement a national quarantine as a public health response to contagious diseases, and the challenges with the implementation of public health mandates involving quarantine.

Vitamin D deficiency, which is considered a global pandemic, has become an even more important problem during the COVID-19 quarantine period. Our aim with this study is to investigate the change in vitamin D levels in babies of pregnant women who could not benefit from UV-B rays during the quarantine period. Retrospective study, and infants with hypocalcemia and low vitamin D levels (<20 ng/mL) hospitalized in the neonatal intensive care unit for any reason were included in the study. The patients were divided into two groups (study group and control group) and compared statistically. Study group of infants affected by the quarantine period (n:94); The control group was infants (38 infants) who were hospitalized in the neonatal intensive care unit for any reason before the quarantine. After the coronavirus quarantine period, annual hospitalization rates with the diagnosis of vitamin D deficiency increased from 1.4% to 3% (p:0.035). There was a significant decrease in serum vitamin D levels of the babies in the study group (p:0.001). Calcium treatment durations of the babies in the study group were higher than the babies in the control group (p:0.045). Although it is known that the application of vitamin D and calcium supplementation to women before pregnancy, during pregnancy, and lactation period leads to positive results, especially in newborns during the quarantine period, we should be alert to vitamin D deficiency especially, in newborns in this period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The George Washington University (GW) in Washington, D.C., USA established the Public Health Laboratory and Campus COVID-19 Support Team (CCST) to develop and implement its SARS-CoV-2 surveillance testing and outbreak response for the 2020-2021 academic year. Approximately 4,000 GW members had access to campus for living accommodations, limited in-person instruction, athletics, research, and university operations. The outbreak response included daily risk assessment surveys, weekly surveillance testing, symptomatic and voluntary testing, case investigation, and contact tracing. Between August 17 – November 24, 2020, 42,350 SARS-CoV-2 PCR tests were performed, and 194 (0.46%) of tests were positive. Surveillance testing identified 59 (30.4%); voluntary testing 97 (50%); and symptomatic testing 30 (15.5%) of the cases, respectively. Robust testing of asymptomatic people and rapid isolation and quarantine of members who are exposed or infected effectively limited the spread of SARS-CoV-2 during the Fall 2020 semester. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the first case of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2/Coronavirus Disease 2019 (SARS-COV-2/COVID-19) was discovered in Wuhan, China, it spread to vast limits globally and became a public health disaster, affecting nearly all countries around the globe. Along with mainstream medical treatment, alternative medicine desperately was the need of the hour for youngsters to manage their symptoms while being self-quarantined and ultimately to improve their chances of survival and recovery from COVID-19. Since the beginning of SARS-COV-2, few studies address the clinical-functional presentation of viral infection and management with physiotherapy for children. Major online electronic databases PubMed, PEDro, and Google Scholar were researched to identify, organize and commission the current review. To create a search strategy, Medical Subject Headings and Descriptors of Science and Health were utilized. The authors looked for other studies by screening the references list of the potentially pertinent papers. These computerized searches turned up studies and those studies' bibliographies with pertinent citations were examined. Personal protective equipment was a crucial component for protection and contact precaution. Following hypoxia, effective oxygen therapy is administered right away. When necessary, under the right circumstances, nasal high-flow oxygen therapy, non-invasive ventilation, lung-protective breathing methods, and prone positioning can be used. Children with SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 may benefit from physiotherapy interventions with a focus on ventilatory management, airway clearance procedures, early activities, and mobilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The effects of the COVID‐19 pandemic on cognitive decline are not fully understood. Higher social activity and relationships have been associated with decreased risk of dementia. We hypothesised that risk of transition to dementia would increase after the start of the first national lockdown. Methods: We obtained data from the Brains for Dementia (BDR) cohort, which has collected roughly annual data on 3726 older adults with and without dementia since 2008. Data continued to be collected during the lockdowns, although by telephone and/or video call instead of in person. Individuals diagnosed with dementia at study entry were excluded from this study as were individuals with only one visit. Cognitive status was classified using the Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) global score. Poisson regression with cubic splines to account for differences in age was used to compare the incidence of dementia before and after March 1st 2020. Results: Out of 2242 individuals, 208 individuals developed dementia before and 50 developed dementia after 01/03/20. The incidence rate ratio of developing dementia after 01/03/20 was 0.847 (0.538–1.335) p = 0.570. In our secondary analysis we found that the positive association between mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia incidence decreased after 1/3/20 (interaction effect p = 0.031). Conclusion: The incidence of dementia as defined using the CDR global score did not change significantly after the first lockdown began, but we found evidence that lockdown decreased the positive association between MCI and dementia incidence. This may reflect that individuals were progressing to dementia more rapidly and thus missing the MCI stage or that assessing patients over the phone made diagnosing MCI more challenging. Key points: Large cohort study with data collected both before and during the COVID‐19 pandemic.The incidence of dementia did not appear to have increased during the pandemic.The protective measures during the COVID‐19 pandemic may have led to a more rapid decline in cognition in people who developed dementia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives Strategies to manage the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic included widespread use of physical distancing measures. These well-intended strategies adversely affected long-term care (LTC) residents' socialization and their caregiving arrangements, leading to exacerbation of social isolation and emotional distress for both residents and their caregivers. This study aimed to understand how these measures affected informal caregivers of people living in LTC homes in Ontario. Strategies to increase socialization and promote social connection during and post-COVID-19 were also explored. Research Design and Methods This qualitative study used descriptive and photovoice approaches. Of the 9 potential caregivers identified, 6 participated in the study and shared their experiences and photographic reflections in virtual focus group sessions. Results Findings highlighted the increased social isolation experienced by people living in LTC and their caregivers during COVID-19. Caregivers reported pronounced declines in residents' well-being and were frustrated by challenges connecting with their family members during quarantine. Attempts made by LTC homes to maintain social connections, such as window visits and video calls, did not fulfill the social needs of residents and their caregivers. Discussion and Implications Findings underscore a need for better social support and resources for both LTC residents and their caregivers going forward to prevent further isolation and disengagement. Even in times of lockdown, LTC homes must implement policies, services, and programs that promote meaningful engagement for older adults and their families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic has stretched us into the vast unknowns, emotionally, logically, politically, and legally. Relying on their police power, governments inched into the darkness of the powers' fullest extent, leaving many to wonder whether the exercise of this power was constitutional. This Article examines the extent of the police power that both the federal and state governments have, and how Jacobson v. Massachusetts1 was the "silver bullet" for governments across the United States. Further, this Article provides an overview of police power, and the status of COVID-19 mandates. This Article additionally examines quarantine case law and provides an analysis of Jacobson. Finally, this Article discusses Jacobson's efficacy and future. While the rationale of Jacobson has in some instances been limited, its reasoning has in other ways been expanded, as seen in its application with respect to rationalizing COVID-19 mandates in the interest of protecting the public's welfare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

Since the COVID-19 outbreak was detected in Wuhan in December 2019 by the event-based surveillance of Taiwan Centers for Disease Control, Taiwan has been aligning risk management to policy planning with the assistance of comprehensive surveillance and regular rapid risk assessments. Taiwan Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) promptly initiated stepwise border control for major cities and provinces in China, European and American countries, and eventually expanded it to the whole world in March 2020. With stringent quarantine measures, the early response not only successfully blocked the first wave of imported cases, but also slowed down subsequent large local outbreaks. Digital technologies including digital fencing and government database linkage were adopted to facilitate the application of public health interventions and data collection. The experience of Taiwan's prompt and comprehensive response at the early stage may contribute to the preparedness for the next disease X outbreak. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: COVID-19 pandemic has negative effects on the mental health and well-being of pregnant women. However, the number of studies in which the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health and well-being of pregnant women was investigated from their perspectives was limited. Objective: This study was aimed at determining the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health and well-being of pregnant women. Methodology: In this study, the phenomenological method, a qualitative research design, was used. The data were obtained from 33 pregnant women who were hospitalized in the obstetric ward through essays they wrote. Results: Two main themes were determined: (1) feelings of pregnant women during the COVID 19 pandemic, (2) thoughts of pregnant women regarding the COVID 19 pandemic. Conclusions: During the pandemic, the participating pregnant women experienced negative feelings and thoughts, measures such as social isolation affected their pregnancy process and daily lives directly or indirectly, and almost none of them used a coping method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this research is to investigate the structural relationship between Uber corporate social responsibility (CSR), brand trust, and brand loyalty. Stakeholder theory is the theoretical foundation of the study. The CSR subdimensions of eco‐friendliness, quarantine, user privacy, user safety, and driver well‐being are used. Amazon Mechanical Turk was employed for data collection. The number of observations is 405. A structural equation model was implemented to test the research hypotheses. This study demonstrated the accountability of stakeholder theory for Uber brand management by showing a significant link between quarantine, user privacy, user safety, driver well‐being, brand trust, and brand loyalty. This study contributes to the literature by validating the explanatory power of stakeholder theory in the case of Uber brand management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monkeypox remains a public health concern in Nigeria, with periodic outbreaks reported. Despite efforts to control the disease, the number of reported cases continues to rise. Understanding the transmission dynamics of monkeypox and predicting its future spread can inform public health decision-making and guide the allocation of resources for control efforts. Hence, in this study, a deterministic model for the transmission dynamics of Monkeypox in the presence of quarantine and public enlightenment is presented. The model analysis involving the Disease Free Equilibrium (DFE) is established. Numerical simulations were used to better investigate the impact of quarantine and public enlightenment on human population. The results revealed that the effectiveness of the combined form of public awareness and quarantine produced more results followed by the effectiveness of public awareness alone, and then the result achieved when infected individuals were quarantined. If the measures were implemented with a greater degree of integration, there would be a significant reduction in the viral peak, thereby preventing its persistence within the human population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the outbreak of COVID-19, attention has been increasingly given to new forms of confinement, both in reception facilities and detention centres. In this context, emerging forms of immigration containment and detention have initially been analysed mostly through spatial lenses. In particular, in Italy, new forms of migration containment, especially the so-called 'quarantine ships', have been analysed mostly on their spatial features: in the middle of the sea, far away from the space of the "national polity". Yet, throughout the two years of existence of quarantine ships (until June 2022), attention has been increasingly drawn to the temporal dimension of this new form of migration containment. In this sense, moving beyond the analysis of quarantine ships as a static and unique form of containment, and including the ships into a broader picture that takes into consideration what happens before and after them, the article aims at understanding how new spatio-temporal regimes of control affect asylum seekers' lives. In particular, it studies how quarantine ships have become a central device of a specific temporal regime of migration control that developed in Italy with the outbreak of COVID-19; what the connections between this regime and pre-pandemic containment configurations are; and, finally, what tactics of resistance have been put in place by asylum seekers and those acting in solidarity with them. Quarantine ships and the temporal governance strategy that developed around them (the "detention-deportation chain") can be better understood looking at the increasing logistification of asylum seeking. On the other hand, within this emerging form of government, asylum seekers and those acting in solidarity with them put in place tactics of resistance to interrupt the suspended time imposed by this regime; to interrupt sudden accelerations, as in the case of deportations; and, finally, through practices of active memory, they challenged the status quo imposed by the European border regime. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic had substantially disrupted maternal health care provision and utilisation in Bangladesh. However, the extent of geographical disparities in service utilisation and how the health system withstood these challenges have not been studied. This study explores the divisional disparities in trends and disruptions in maternal health service utilisation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods Data was extracted from the District Health Information Software of Bangladesh from January 2017 to December 2021. We assessed the trend of first antenatal care visit, institutional delivery and number of caesarean sections over these years. We explored both the yearly and monthly trends to see the variations in the number of utilisations. Segmented regression with Poisson distribution was used to assess changes in service utilisation during the COVID-19 period. We reported incidence rate ratio (IRR) of service utilisation with a 95% confidence interval (CI) in different divisions during COVID-19 (2020–2021) compared to the reference period (2017–2019). Results Initially, a notable decline in maternal health care utilisation was observed in 2020 compared to the pre-pandemic period of 2017–2019. Divisional disparities were observed in this trend. Overall, compared to the pre-pandemic period, we observed around 30% decline in all three selected indicators of maternal health care. The lowest value was observed in Chattogram in 2020 (IRR = 0.66; 95% CI = 0.55–0.79) and Rajshahi in 2021 (IRR = 0.71; 95% CI = 0.60–0.82). For institutional delivery, Barishal division had the lowest IRR (0.64; 95% CI = 0.60–0.68) in 2020 and, in 2021 Rajshahi had the lowest IRR (0.71; 95% CI = 0.60–0.82). For caesarean section, the lowest value was observed in Barishal division (IRR = 0.48; 95% CI = 0.44–0.53) in 2020 and in Mymensingh (IRR = 0.37; 95% CI = 0.32–0.43) in 2021. By 2021, the three maternal health care utilisation indicators demonstrated recovery. Conclusions The effect of the pandemic, including lockdown, on the selected maternal service utilisation was observed in Bangladesh though there were substantial geographic disparities. These disruptions slightly recovered after the initial shock. These results will support the government in preparing the national and regional health systems for future epidemics in Bangladesh. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic is likely to increase the anxiety levels of university stakeholders. In view of COVID-19 fast transmission nature, life-threatening consequences and to follow preventive guidelines academic institutions have transformed their traditional classroom teaching into online mode. Directives of online teaching, learning, and evaluation with COVID-19 preventive guidelines create havoc among university students and teaching and nonteaching employees (staffs). These two factors together generate unendurable psychological pressure on university students and staffs. Aims and Objectives: The study aims to examine and quantify the psychological impact of COVID-19 pandemic among university students and staffs in Saudi Arabia. Materials and Methods: Data were collected from five Public universities in the southern region of Saudi Arabia using cluster sampling. A close-ended structured questionnaire was drafted using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 instruments. A total of 1134 responses were received, and 1005 were included. Results: The results of the study indicated that one-fourth (25.2%) of participants experienced a mild level of anxiety followed by a moderate level of anxiety (18.7%) and a severe level of anxiety (6.4%). The anxiety levels were statistically insignificant from age, gender, universities, area of study or courses, and friends or relatives with COVID-19 symptoms. Moreover, significant protective factors against experienced anxiety included being married (odds ratio [OR]=0.444, 95% confidence interval [CI] =0.315–0.624), staying with parents or family (OR = 0.195, 95% CI = 0.213–0.595), and spending more time in exercise (OR = 0.987, 95% CI = 0.674–1.579) were significant protective factors against experienced anxiety while suspected cases in neighbor (OR = 0.145, 95% CI = 0.070–0.300) and smoking (OR = 0.654, 95% CI = 0.070–0.300) were statistically insignificant protective factors against experienced anxiety. Conclusions: Economic influence, restricted lifestyle, and annoying academic pressure were significantly linked with anxiety while social support was insignificant with the level of anxiety. The psychological health of university students and staffs should be supervised during the COVID-19 pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

This paper deals with specific 'polymedia repertoires' of young people with the characteristics of their changing, adaptive and often parallel/simultaneous movement across different platforms and legacy media within their daily interactions during quarantine. Audiencing practices where it is especially important to examine relationships with technologies in contemporary media manifold were approached through the analysis of the media diaries of young people, aged between 21 and 25 years. The conclusions of the analysis point to a technological/media transformation, a transformation of practices in everyday life and a radical mediatisation which plays an important part in the changing generational structure of feeling. This paper argues that a generation-specific relationship with technologies forms a generation-specific structure of feeling or specific subject cultures that develop as by-products of deep mediatisation, in which digital media, especially during quarantine, expanded into all spheres of their social life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monkeypox (mpox), a viral zoonotic disease, is spreading worldwide. However, evidence that informs prevention and control strategies in the Asia Pacific Region is very limited. Our study aims to investigate the experiences of mpox patients from infection to treatment to provide scientific basis for the prevention and control. A multicenter qualitative design was used. A total of 15 mpox patients were recruited between July 6 and July 25, 2023, from six cities in China. Semistructured interviews were conducted by telephone and analyzed using the thematic analysis. The interview was divided into two sections: patients' experiences (prediagnosis experience, treatment‐seeking experience, and quarantine experience) and advice. Prediagnosis experience was summarized into three themes: symptoms, possible routes of infection, and knowledge of mpox. Treatment‐seeking experience was summarized into three themes: time of visit to hospital, diagnostic difficulties, and attitude toward diagnosis. Quarantine experience was summarized into three themes: body and mind reactions, reluctance to self‐disclose infection status, and factors facilitating recovery. Themes identified from patients' advice were as follows: (1) Increase in testing channels and methods, (2) Development and introduction of vaccines, (3) Adjustment of quarantine program, (4) Improvement of treatment measures, and (5) Improvement of publicity and education. To effectively curb the mpox epidemic, structured measures are urgently needed to address the mpox‐related stigma and discrimination. Targeted health education should be provided to MSM, focusing on the prevention, detection, and treatment services. Hospitals should enhance the training of clinicians in key departments including infectious disease and dermatology, to improve diagnostic capability and sensitivity. Furthermore, given the absence of specific antiviral medications, supervised home quarantine may be a good option. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to severe restrictions on society worldwide, and social restrictions can lead to poor physical and oral health. This study investigated the association between oral disease symptoms and changes in lifestyle due to COVID-19. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to analyze data from the 2021 Korea Youth Risk Behavior Survey (N = 54 848). It showed that most households' economic conditions as "did not change at all" (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.00), "no change" (aOR = 1.10), "slightly worsened" (aOR = 1.21), and "very worsened" (aOR = 1.24). Information in a with "did not change at all" (aOR = 1.00), "no change" (aOR = 1.13), "slightly worsened" (aOR = 1.15), and "very worsened" (aOR = 1.18) economic conditions experienced heightened gingival pain and bleeding. In conclusion, the COVID-19 pandemic has caused a change in lifestyle and worsened socioeconomic status. In addition, as lifestyle changed and socioeconomic status declined, symptoms of deteriorating dental health emerged. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aviation passenger screening has been used worldwide to mitigate the translocation risk of SARS-CoV-2. We present a model that evaluates factors in screening strategies used in air travel and assess their relative sensitivity and importance in identifying infectious passengers. We use adapted Monte Carlo simulations to produce hypothetical disease timelines for the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 for travelling passengers. Screening strategy factors assessed include having one or two RT-PCR and/or antigen tests prior to departure and/or post-arrival, and quarantine length and compliance upon arrival. One or more post-arrival tests and high quarantine compliance were the most important factors in reducing pathogen translocation. Screening that combines quarantine and post-arrival testing can shorten the length of quarantine for travelers, and variability and mean testing sensitivity in post-arrival RT-PCR and antigen tests decrease and increase with the greater time between the first and second post-arrival test, respectively. This study provides insight into the role various screening strategy factors have in preventing the translocation of infectious diseases and a flexible framework adaptable to other existing or emerging diseases. Such findings may help in public health policy and decision-making in present and future evidence-based practices for passenger screening and pandemic preparedness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A local COVID-19 outbreak with two community clusters occurred in a large industrial city, Shaoxing, China, in December 2021 after serial interventions were imposed. We aimed to understand the reason by analysing the characteristics of the outbreak and evaluating the effects of phase-adjusted interventions. Publicly available data from 7 December 2021 to 25 January 2022 were collected to analyse the epidemiological characteristics of this outbreak. The incubation period was estimated using Hamiltonian Monte Carlo method. A well-fitted extended susceptible-exposed-infectious-recovered model was used to simulate the impact of different interventions under various combination of scenarios. There were 387 SARS-CoV-2-infected cases identified, and 8.3% of them were initially diagnosed as asymptomatic cases. The estimated incubation period was 5.4 (95% CI 5.2–5.7) days for all patients. Strengthened measures of comprehensive quarantine based on tracing led to less infections and a shorter duration of epidemic. With a same period of incubation, comprehensive quarantine was more effective in containing the transmission than other interventions. Our findings reveal an important role of tracing and comprehensive quarantine in blocking community spread when a cluster occurred. Regions with tense resources can adopt home quarantine as a relatively affordable and low-impact intervention measure compared with centralized quarantine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Karnal bunt of wheat caused by Tilletia indica Mitra (Nevossia indica Mundkur), was first reported in Karnal, India, in 1931 hence named as 'Karnal bunt'. The disease mainly occurs in wheat growing regions with low winter temperatures and high humidity and affects mainly common wheat, durum wheat, triticale and other related species. This pathogen poses a serious quarantine problem and thus restricts the international trade of wheat. Therefore, quarantine restriction is applied by approximately 70 countries on wheat trade where Karnal bunt is known to occur. To access the status of Karnal bunt in major wheat growing regions of Meerut Division Western Uttar Pradesh, apost-harvest survey was conducted during the year 2021-22 and 2022-23. In the survey six Districtsof Meerut Division viz., Meerut, Bulandshahar, Hapur, Gautambuddhnagar, Gaziabadand Baghpat comprises 45 blocks were covered and 1125 samples from different wheat varietieswere collected from all blocks of six Districts. During the survey of both year the percent disease incidence of karnal bunt was not exceeding the permissible limit (0.25%) of Indian Minimum Seed Certification Standards for quality seed production except Kanaksona (0.288%) from Bulandshahar District and 1085 (0.42%) from Meerut District which is more than the permissible limit of standards. In both year (2021-22 and 2022-23) of survey the maximum incidence (0.42%) of karnal bunt was recorded in 1085 variety of Meerut District and 0.141% in HD 3226 of Baghpat District followed by 0.288% in Kanaksona of Bulandshahar District and 0.110% in UP 272 of Hapur District, whereas the minimum incidence (0.007%) was recorded in DBW 226 of Bulandshahar District and 0.001% in UP 303 of Meerut District respectively. The incidence percent of karnal bunt was recorded nil (0.00%) in both the year of all varieties of Gautambuddh Nagar District. Confirmation of karnal bunt pathogen was determined by species specific primers in PCR and RT-PCR on the basis of Diagnostic Protocol (DP4) of International Standard for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPM 27). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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In March 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic forced many in person undergraduate research experiences (UREs) to pivot to remote online training. To investigate how the COVID-19 quarantine disrupted student URE outcomes over time, the current study examines Building Infrastructure Leading to Diversity (BUILD) Promoting Opportunities for Diversity in Education and Research (PODER) URE outcomes across different platforms (in-person, remote, and hybrid models) by comparing student survey data from 2019 to 2021. Participants consisted of three cohorts: 2019 (n = 26 students), 2020 (n = 33), 2021 (n = 34). The BUILD PODER Summer JumpStart program (SJS), which aims to increase diversity in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) by recruiting mostly underrepresented students, was conducted in person in 2019, remotely in 2020 and using a hybrid model in 2021. All students completed an online survey on the first and last day of the four-week SJS program. We used one-way and mixed ANOVA models to analyze Cohort, Time (pre-test vs. post-test scores), and interaction of Cohort and Time for Research Self-Efficacy, Sense of Belonging, Mentor Relationship, Mentee Knowledge, Health, Stress, and Student Program Satisfaction measures. Despite the platform changes, student scores increased significantly over time for all measures. There was a significant main effect of Time for Research Self-Efficacy, Sense of Belonging, Mentor Relationship, Mentee Knowledge, Health Assessment, and Stress Management. Findings indicate that URE programs that are implemented remotely and using a hybrid format can provide students with experiences similar to in-person URE programs. In addition, remote UREs may provide added benefits compared to in-person programs. For instance, remote UREs could engage more historically minoritized students, who may experience barriers to access, such as work/family commitments, financial constraints, and geographic limitations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: This study aims to determine the effect of COVID-19-related hospital isolation or self-isolation on depression using the propensity score matching method. Methods: Data on 217,734 participants were divided into groups based on whether or not they underwent quarantine for their COVID-19 diagnosis. COVID-19-related anxiety, depressive symptoms, subjective health status, and perceived stress were evaluated. Results: Based on the calculated propensity score, we matched the quarantined group and non-quarantined group using 1:2 matching with nearest neighbor matching and a caliper width of 0.1. Within the quarantined group, 16.4% of participants experienced significant depressive symptoms, which was significantly higher than that of the non-quarantined group. However, there was no significant difference between the two groups in COVID-19-related anxiety, self-rated health status, and perceived stress. In our multiple logistic regression analysis with related variables corrected, the quarantined group was 1.298 times more likely to have depressive symptoms than the non-quarantined group (95% CI = 1.030-1.634). Conclusion: Our study confirmed that COVID-19 quarantine is associated with depressive symptoms. These results indicate that healthcare policymakers and healthcare professionals must consider the negative mental and physical effects of quarantine when determining quarantine measures during an infectious disease disaster such as the COVID-19 pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quarantine has been long used as a public health response to emerging infectious diseases, particularly at the onset of an epidemic when the infected proportion of a population remains identifiable and logistically tractable. In theory, the same logic should apply to low-incidence infections; however, the application and impact of quarantine in low prevalence settings appears less common and lacks a formal analysis. Here, we present a quantitative framework using a series of progressively more biologically realistic models of canine rabies in domestic dogs and from dogs to humans, a suitable example system to characterize dynamical changes under varying levels of dog quarantine. We explicitly incorporate health-seeking behaviour data to inform the modelling of contact-tracing and exclusion of rabies suspect and probable dogs that can be identified through bite-histories of patients presenting at anti-rabies clinics. We find that a temporary quarantine of rabies suspect and probable dogs provides a powerful tool to curtail rabies transmission, especially in settings where optimal vaccination coverage is yet to be achieved, providing a critical stopgap to reduce the number of human and animal deaths due to rabid bites. We conclude that whilst comprehensive measures including sensitive surveillance and large-scale vaccination of dogs will be required to achieve disease elimination and sustained freedom given the persistent risk of rabies re-introductions, quarantine offers a low-cost community driven solution to intersectoral health burden. Author summary: Canine rabies remains a human health risk in many countries around the world, particularly in lower and middle income settings where many dogs are free roaming and able to interact more easily with other dogs and humans. In this paper, we present results from a mathematical model that simulates the spread of rabies both between dogs and from dogs to humans and investigate the impact of quarantine and vaccination at reducing transmission. Our work demonstrates the effectiveness of quarantining both infectious and exposed dogs—we observe that quarantine can have a substantial effect on reducing the number of new animals subsequently infected and thereby lowering the risk of humans being exposed to infection. Such a policy can have significant benefits, particularly in settings where access to vaccinations is challenging and resources are limited. Our research can therefore help to inform policy makers in countries where canine rabies is circulating to develop appropriate strategies to reduce the human health risks associated with canine rabies in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Single Site Order (SSO)—a policy restricting staff from working at multiple long-term care (LTC) homes—was mandated by the Public Health Agency of Canada to control the spread of COVID-19 in LTC homes, where nearly 70% of COVID-19-related deaths in Canada occurred. This mixed methods study assesses the impact of the SSO on LTC residents in British Columbia. Interviews were conducted (residents (n = 6), family members (n = 9), staff (n = 18), and leadership (n = 10) from long-term care homes (n = 4)) and analyzed using thematic analysis. Administrative data were collected between April 2019 and March 2020 and between April 2020 and March 2021 and analyzed using descriptive statistics and data visualization. Qualitative and quantitative data were triangulated and demonstrated that staffing challenges became worse during the implementation of the SSO, resulting in the mental and physical health deterioration of LTC residents. Qualitative data demonstrated decreased time for personalized and proactive care, increased communication challenges, and increased loneliness and isolation. Quantitative data showed a decline in activities of daily living, increased antipsychotic medication use, pressure ulcers, behavioural symptoms, and an increase in falls. Addressing staff workload and staffing shortages during SSO-related policy implementation is essential to avoid resident health deterioration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Detection of exotic plant pathogens and preventing their entry and establishment are critical for the protection of agricultural systems while securing the global trading of agricultural commodities. High-throughput sequencing (HTS) has been applied successfully for plant pathogen discovery, leading to its current application in routine pathogen detection. However, the analysis of massive amounts of HTS data has become one of the major challenges for the use of HTS more broadly as a rapid diagnostics tool. Several bioinformatics pipelines have been developed to handle HTS data with a focus on plant virus and viroid detection. However, there is a need for an integrative tool that can simultaneously detect a wider range of other plant pathogens in HTS data, such as bacteria (including phytoplasmas), fungi, and oomycetes, and this tool should also be capable of generating a comprehensive report on the phytosanitary status of the diagnosed specimen. Results: We have developed an open-source bioinformatics pipeline called PhytoPipe (Phytosanitary Pipeline) to provide the plant pathology diagnostician community with a user-friendly tool that integrates analysis and visualization of HTS RNA-seq data. PhytoPipe includes quality control of reads, read classification, assembly-based annotation, and reference-based mapping. The final product of the analysis is a comprehensive report for easy interpretation of not only viruses and viroids but also bacteria (including phytoplasma), fungi, and oomycetes. PhytoPipe is implemented in Snakemake workflow with Python 3 and bash scripts in a Linux environment. The source code for PhytoPipe is freely available and distributed under a BSD-3 license. Conclusions: PhytoPipe provides an integrative bioinformatics pipeline that can be used for the analysis of HTS RNA-seq data. PhytoPipe is easily installed on a Linux or Mac system and can be conveniently used with a Docker image, which includes all dependent packages and software related to analyses. It is publicly available on GitHub at https://github.com/healthyPlant/PhytoPipe and on Docker Hub at https://hub.docker.com/r/healthyplant/phytopipe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aimed to investigate self-reported sleep quality and psychological well-being, specifically anxiety, depression and stress, in undergraduate students during home quarantine. A total of 7,364 students participated and completed the PSQI and DASS-21 scales. The results showed that higher-grade students were more likely to have mental health problems compared to their lower-grade students. Additionally, male students reported better sleep quality than females, and high-grade students reported more sleep problems than low-grade students. Significant correlations were observed between PSQI scores and stress, anxiety and depression scores (r=0.469, 0.458, 0.408, p<0.01). Specifically, the PSQI score explained 22.0%, 21.0% and 16.6% of the variance in stress, anxiety and depression scores respectively. In conclusion, gender and grade differences in sleep and mental health were evident, with female students reporting lower sleep quality than males, and high-grade students experiencing worse sleep quality and mental health than their low-grade students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: During the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, countries implemented border control and quarantine measures to reduce transmission. The Alberta Border Testing Pilot Program (ABTPP) allowed international travellers entering Alberta to reduce their quarantine period following two negative COVID-19 tests. We evaluated participant experiences with the ABTPP and implementation. Method: We used a parallel convergent mixed-methods design to explore participant experiences through electronic web-based questionnaires (n = 21,089; n = 13,839) and semi-structured telephone interviews (n = 30). We evaluated implementation through three staff focus groups (n = 11). We analysed questionnaires using descriptive statistics and analysed interviews using inductive and deductive thematic analysis. We deductively coded focus group data using the 2009 Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR). Results: Questionnaires indicated minimal issues with registration forms (91.7%), symptom reports (95.5%), and COVID-19 testing (95.7%). Most respondents (95.1%) expressed willingness to participate in the ABTPP again. Interviews revealed three themes related to participant experience: program efficiency, clarity of information, and requisite effort. Focus groups identified key implementation facilitators including the single health information system, strong stakeholder partnerships, and good communication across partnerships. Barriers included program complexity, implementation timeline, and evolving external context. Discussion: Participants reported high satisfaction with the ABTPP. Border testing programs should have high efficiency, require low effort, and use messaging that is clear and consistent. The effective implementation of border testing programs may be facilitated by strong leadership, adaptability, automated components, good communication, and simple technology. Learnings from participants and staff may help improve the implementation of border control programs for future pandemics or other emergencies. Conclusions: The ABTTP was a novel border control measure during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our evaluation of both participant and staff experiences demonstrated high levels of traveller satisfaction and identified areas for improvement that can inform the development of future border control measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Past literature showed an increase in the tendency to seek out news media information when social connections are strained. In general, news exposure has been linked to a mix of both positive and negative outcomes, such as heightened protective behaviors, feelings of reassurance, lower uncertainty, and an increase in stress and anxiety. However, its impact on individuals living in communities under lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic has yet to be explored. This study contributes to the existing literature by exploring the effects of COVID-19-related news exposure on mental health outcomes (such as depression and anxiety) for people living in areas that are under community lockdown. Using purposive sampling, 435 Filipinos under community quarantine were surveyed. The structural model of the relations between exposure to COVID-19-related news, difficulty accessing social support, stress, depression, and anxiety was tested via ML estimation with Robust specification using EQS 6.3 software. Social support access was hypothesized to have a moderating role in the impact of COVID-19 news exposure on stress. The results showed an adequately fit model. Results show that higher exposure to news related to COVID-19 led to lower levels of stress, especially for those who were having more difficulty accessing social support. In turn, lesser stress was shown to lead to lesser symptoms of anxiety and depression. This research illustrates the modest, positive impact news exposure has on mental health outcomes, particularly for individuals who may have difficulty accessing social support due to lockdown measures. In situations where social connectedness and access to social support becomes strained, accessing news can be one way to reduce distress among individuals in lockdown and quarantine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Argentinean quarantine is among the strictest and longest quarantines in the world. To determine if a worsening pattern on mental health would emerge with a prolonged quarantine duration, a longitudinal analysis pertaining to the lengthy mandatory Argentinean quarantine was conducted. To examine depression and anxiety changes in college students, as a function of quarantine duration, demographic and health-related factors, during successive time cuts of the lengthy mandatory quarantine in Argentina. We used a longitudinal design, N = 1492 college students. For the first measurement, successive samplings were carried out across quarantine sub-periods of up to 106-days duration. The follow-up was one month later. Particularly women, young, and having a history of mental disorder and suicidal behavior, were more depressed and anxious under mandatory restrictive quarantine conditions. Repeated measures of both depression and anxiety scores remained constantly high during the more restrictive quarantine sub-periods of up to 13 and 53-days duration, and decreased during the less restrictive quarantine sub-period of up to 106-days duration, but with small effect sizes (0.10–0.08). Restrictive quarantine has negative effects on mental health outcomes. Partial spontaneous remissions of depression and anxiety symptoms may be expected with further quarantine relaxations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The critical coronavirus pandemic presents a global challenge with dimensions yet unknown, underscoring the essential need to comprehend the lived experiences, especially for vulnerable groups. This study delves into the childbirth experiences of mothers dealing with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Methods: Employing hermeneutic phenomenology, this qualitative research was conducted at Mashhad University of Medical Sciences (Iran). Purposeful sampling involved 16 mothers with maximum variation. Unstructured telephone interviews collected data, analyzed using the Diekelman approach. Results: Unveiling the theme "Novel Memories of Motherhood," four central themes emerged: "The Missing Link in Quality Care," "Coronavirus Stigma," "A lonely mother in quarantine," and "Cascade of Psychological Trauma." Conclusion: COVID-19 acts as an intervening factor, distorting routine care and delivery programs. The focus for service providers attending to mothers in labor should extend beyond physical care, encompassing the elimination of coronavirus-related stigma and prioritizing psychological attention. This holistic approach is crucial for maintaining quality care standards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Host specificity determination of weed biocontrol agents has historically relied on evidence generated through quarantine trials in the region of introduction. These trials could give 'false positive' results due to a maximum type I error probability, and where possible, more research under field conditions should be conducted in the region of origin. The oligophagous, semiaquatic grasshopper, Cornops aquaticum Bruner (Orthoptera: Acrididae, Tetrataeniini), was released in South Africa for the biological control of Pontederia crassipes Pellegrini and Horn (Pontederiaceae). The aim of this study was to assess how the performance and field host range of C. aquaticum varies according to its stages of development, and how this contributes to the understanding of the relationship between the fundamental (laboratory‐based) and the ecological (field‐based) host range of this grasshopper, and its implications for water hyacinth biocontrol. We conducted post‐release laboratory no‐choice trials, confining early instars (instars 1 and 2), later instars (instars 3–6), and adult females and males in mesh cages, to determine insect performance on wetland plants growing in sympatry with P. crassipes. Also, gut analysis from field‐collected C. aquaticum was done to determine the ecological host range of this insect, identifying epidermal tissue of consumed plants. In no‐choice trials, survival rates of the later instars and adult C. aquaticum were similar on Pistia stratiotes L. (Araceae), Oxycaryum cubense (Poepp. & Kunth) Lye (Cyperaceae), and P. crassipes. However, under field conditions, P. crassipes and the congeneric Pontederia azurea Sw. were the only plant contents in the guts of early instars and the most abundant species in later instars and adults. The results support the hypothesis that C. aquaticum is an oligophagous insect on the genus Pontederia, and that different life stages should be considered when conducting host‐specificity trials in externally feeding mobile herbivore species. Diet composition of field‐collected insects thus could help detect false positives in laboratory trials, being an additional and realistic approach in understanding and predicting the selection processes of the insect in the new environment. Retrospective analysis of potential agents that were rejected due to lack of host‐specificity, using the methods from this study, could add a suite of additional agents to programs where invasive weeds remain unmanaged. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-human primate (NHP) research faces challenges due to zoonosis risk and complex veterinary management yet lacks standardized guidelines for animal care. Therefore, we developed an advanced veterinary management protocol for NHP quarantine, anesthesia, and postoperative care. Three female 4 to 5-year-old cynomolgus monkeys were anesthetized and underwent various tests, including body weight, temperature, blood tests, urinalysis, microbiological monitoring, and physical and dental examinations. Ivermectin and medicated baths were administered to eradicate ectoparasites and endoparasites, and testing was repeated 30 days later. Following quarantine, we performed computed tomography and anesthesia maintenance for mastoidectomy. To relieve pain and maintain body weight, we administered tramadol intramuscularly 4 times/day for 3 days and meloxicam subcutaneously twice daily for 14 days. Feed replacements were provided. During the 33-day quarantine period, physical examinations revealed no abnormalities indicative of infectious diseases, and no specific clinical symptoms were observed. Through a preliminary test of anesthesia time, we selected ketamine 4 mg/kg + medetomidine 50 µg/kg for short experiments such as computed tomography, and ketamine 8 mg/ kg + medetomidine 50 µg/kg for intubation. Ten days after mastoidectomy, NHPs consumed 100 kcal/kg and recovered their body weight. This study offers advanced veterinary management guideline for NHP research. Such protocols can lead to more standardized and ethical practices in NHP research, thereby enhancing the quality of studies on NHPs and the translation of findings to human health and disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focuses on the cholera epidemic that occurred in the Benghazi Sanjak, a part of the Ottoman Empire, in the year 1858, and examines how the epidemic was managed. The purpose of this study is to reveal what both the central and local governments did in response to this cholera epidemic, what measures were taken, and to address the management of the epidemic. In this context, the historical process leading up to the epidemic is elucidated, taking into account the social health practices and public health concerns of the Benghazi Sanjak from the early 1800s under the Karamanlı administration of Tripolitania to the period after 1835 when it became directly connected to the Ottoman central government. The implementation of quarantine practices initiated by the Ottoman Empire from the 1840s onwards in Benghazi also holds a significant position in understanding the epidemic. Thus, it is important to highlight the progress of the Benghazi Sanjak in the field of health. Before the region came under direct Ottoman rule in 1835, there were no health practices administered by the state in the Benghazi region. In the event of an outbreak or disease, efforts were made to take necessary measures. However, after the region came under direct Ottoman rule, a surge in health practices was observed. The archive documents demonstrate that although the cholera epidemic, which began in March 1858, was intense in its early months, the measures taken successfully reduced the rate of spread. The Ottoman Empire promptly organized a commission for this epidemic, swiftly sent this commission to Benghazi, and managed to control the course of the disease. This was achieved by sending doctors to all regions and populations in the sanjak where the disease had spread. With quarantine measures and cordon applications to prevent the disease from spreading to other provinces and ports, a rapid decline in the spread of the disease was observed, and the epidemic ended after one year. As a result of the research, it is concluded that the region of Berka, which includes Benghazi Sanjak and was often prone to epidemics, witnessed a significant improvement in the field of health from the early 19th century to the 1860s. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

COVID-19 pandemic orders were weaponized by state and local governments in Black neighborhoods, often through violent acts of the police. This revealed an intersection of three centuries-old patterns--criminalizing Black movement, quarantining racial minorities in public health crises, and segregation. The geographic borders of the most restrictive pandemic order enforcement were nearly identical to the borders of highly segregated, historically Black neighborhoods. The right to free movement is fundamental and, as a rule, cannot be impeded by the state. But the jurisprudence around state power in public health emergencies, deriving from the 1905 case Jacobson v. Massachusetts, has practically resulted in a public health exception to this general rule. Over the past twenty years, scholars have asserted that deference in this context, including denying due process and suspending judicial review, can lead courts to sustain gross violations of civil rights in emergencies. These scholars' arguments gained traction amongst libertarians and the courts during the COVID-19 pandemic. But scholars and courts alike have failed to sufficiently center race as they update the law of quarantine, despite a four-hundred-year history of racialized quarantines. This Article seeks to render race visible in our understanding of the nature and scope of quarantines during public health emergencies. The Article makes the claim that COVID-19 pandemic orders and their enforcement schemes are genealogically related to a larger American project of racializing neighborhood borders and constricting Black movement. And it proposes the abolition of carceral responses to public health crises in Black communities, including quarantines, and the reconstruction of liberty to bring Black communities within the sphere of the state's protection in future emergencies. Abolition and Slavery in Accra, Ghana, the Richmond Junior Faculty Workshop, and a faculty workshop at Brooklyn Law School. I am also grateful to Bernard Bell, Bennett Capers, Carliss Chatman, Nestor Davidson, Taja-Nia Henderson, Tanya Hernandez, Clare Huntington, Marissa Sow Jackson, Jamelia Morgan, and India Thusi for their invaluable feedback. Dani D'Annunzio, Lea Dyce, Nicholas Gervasi, Sydney Harris, and Liviya James all provided excellent research assistance. And I am grateful to the editors at the Northwestern University Law Review for their insightful and thoughtful editing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the development of Australia's policy approach towards communicable disease, both domestically and internationally. Drawing on archival records, it considers the methods used by federal and state governments to manage disease in Australia over time, analysing the key beliefs and priorities held by successive governments, and how these reflect Australia's particular character and history. Against these domestic concerns, the article interrogates Australia's approach to global health governance, with a particular focus on the state's contributions to the drafting of major international health instruments on communicable disease. This analysis reveals the idiosyncratic nature of Australia's health policy and the resulting impact on Australia's contributions to the international legal system. It shows that Australia's approach has consistently relied on the creation and preservation of an impermeable national border. This policy reflects an institutionalised belief, held continually since the early colonial period, that disease must be fully eradicated, and that this is best effected through taking advantage of the country's geographic isolation. Domestically, this conception of disease control results in the adoption of strict quarantine requirements, immigration restrictions and broad discretionary powers regarding the entry of people and goods, while in the international context, Australia supports norms that facilitate its reification of its border. Accordingly, the article contextualises Australia's health policy across four time periods of global health governance: the first sanitary conferences of the 19th and early-20th centuries, the post-World War II creation of the World Health Organization, the International Health Regulations 2005 revision project, and those Regulations' operation before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. This article's findings reveal the intrinsic connection between the unique domestic concerns of states and their approaches to international negotiations, which stymies the ability to generate effective cooperation globally. It clarifies this relationship and invites reflection on the resulting obstacles to international law's progressive development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the population dynamics of a novel coronavirus are studied. An extended SEIR model with quarantine, hospitalization, and the environment compartment is proposed to simulate the novel coronavirus epidemic. The model considers eight distinct epidemiological classes: susceptible, exposed, asymptomatic, symptomatic, quarantined, hospitalized, recovered, and viruses in the environment. The basic reproduction numbers are determined by using a method called the next-generation matrix. The model has two equilibria: a disease-free equilibrium and an endemic equilibrium. The Lyapunov function and the LaSalle invariance principle are used to analyze the global asymptotical stability of the equilibria of the proposed model. The disease-free equilibrium is globally asymptotically stable if the basic reproduction number is less than unity, and the endemic equilibrium is globally asymptotically stable if the basic reproduction number is greater than unity. To study cost-effectiveness assessments for the four optimum control strategies, we ran numerical simulations. When the four control strategies were compared, it was discovered that Strategy A (public health education and intensive medical treatment) was the most economical and efficient control intervention in the absence of vaccination. However, we observe that strategies A, B, and D are similarly effective at containing COVID-19 in terms of infection prevention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This scoping review aims to identify and critically review quarantine preparedness in New Zealand and Australia pre-COVID-19 by categorising, comparing, and evaluating quarantine information contained within pandemic plans and exercises from both countries. Parliamentary websites, including Archives New Zealand, ParlInfo and Google Scholar, were searched for publicly available plans and exercise reports from 2002 to 2019. Data were extracted from documents meeting the inclusion criteria and analysed using directive content analysis based on the Australian Disaster Preparedness Framework categories. This scoping review followed the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology for scoping reviews, which guided the data extraction, analysis, and presentation of results. A total of 16 documents mentioned quarantine and were included in this scoping review. The emphasis and level of detail regarding quarantine characteristics and capabilities varied between New Zealand's five documents (one plan and four exercise reports) and Australia's 11 documents (one Influenza pandemic plan, eight state plans and two exercise reports). New Zealand's plan forecasted the need for both voluntary quarantine at home and involuntary quarantine in facilities for incoming travellers, whilst the Australian Influenza pandemic plan and state plans primarily considered voluntary quarantine within private residences. Capability gaps identified during exercises were not consistently incorporated into revised plans. Some government documents containing information on quarantine may not be publicly available, limiting the available evidence for this review. This scoping review highlights the need to incorporate a range of possible quarantine options into plans and preparation activities to test and identify gaps in government and responsible agencies' capabilities. Pandemic preparedness will be strengthened by incorporating quarantine scale and duration variables into exercise scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant quarantine pests worldwide cause considerable economic damage due to direct plant losses, eradication costs, and contamination measures. Although these losses can threaten the survival of a farm, no country to date has a universal compensation solution that encompasses all agricultural sectors. This paper aims to assess various compensation options by, firstly, calculating potential monetary losses caused by selected quarantine pests, which have not been studied in this context before. Secondly, we calculate farmers' willingness to pay (WTP) for different components of compensation options in plant production using a discrete choice experiment (DCE). We find that monetary losses caused by quarantine pests vary significantly across products and sectors and are highest for intensive vegetable production. The DCE reveals a strong preference for the state compensation and heterogeneity of preferences among farmers depending on their experience with risk management options and perception of pest occurrence. The WTP analysis indicates that requiring preventive plant protection measures as a prerequisite for receiving compensation significantly deters farmers from participating in such a system, as its WTP exhibits the most negative impact compared to all other factors. Due to sectoral differences and path-dependent nature of compensation programs, a universal solution is rather not feasible. Sector-specific solutions must be considered, which does not rule out similar compensation approaches among sectors. Our findings are useful for designing compensation programs for quarantine plant pest cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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