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Numbers are a constant presence in our daily lives: A brain devoid of the ability to process numbers would not be functional in its external environment. Comparing numerical magnitudes is a fundamental ability that requires the processing of numerical distances. Frommagnitude comparison tasks, a comparison distance effect (DE) emerges: It describes better performance when comparing numerically distant rather than close numbers. Unlike other signatures of number processing, the comparison DE has been assessed only implicitly, with numerical distance as nonsalient task property. Different assessments permit identification of different cognitive processes underlying a specific effect. To investigatewhether explicit and implicit assessment of the comparison DE influences numerical cognition differently, we introduced the distance classification task, involving explicit classification of numbers as close or far from a reference. N= 93 healthy adults classified numbers either by magnitude or by numerical distance. To investigate associations between numerical and physical distance, response buttons were positioned horizontally (Experiment 1) or radially (Experiment 2). In both experiments, there was an advantage for both the closest and farthest numbers with respect to the reference during distance classification, but not during magnitude classification. In Experiment 2, numerically close/far numbers were classified faster with the close/far response button, respectively, suggesting radial correspondence between physical and representational distances. These findings provide new theoretical and methodological insights into the mental representation of numbers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Under the framework of payment for transboundary watershed ecosystem services (ESs), identifying midstream and downstream residents' preference and willingness to pay (WTP) for ESs provided by the upstream is crucial for sustainable watershed management. The residents' preferences and WTP are not evenly distributed within the watershed. This study uses a choice experiment assessing the spatial impact of physical distance (including residents' watershed location and distance to waterbody) and psychological distance on residents' preference and WTP for the Wei River Basin ESs. The results showed that midstream and downstream residents' preference and WTP for the ecological attributes have a significant distance-decay effect, either the physical distance to the upstream exit or physical and psychological distance to the waterbody. However, compared with the residents in the midstream, the residents downstream have a stronger preference and WTP for upstream ecological governance. Besides, the distance-decay effect differs between urban and rural residents. There is a psychological distance-decay effect in rural residents' preference for water quality and a physical distance-decay effect in their preference for water quantity, entertainment area, and cost; there is a physical distance decay effect in urban residents' preference for entertainment areas. The above differences lead to heterogeneity in WTP and total economic value (TEV) for ESs. When calculating the TEV of the transboundary watershed ES and charging the public, policymakers should consider the location of the residents, the physical and psychological distance to the water body, and the difference between urban and rural areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The police legitimacy literature is grounded predominantly in studies from the Global North. In these contexts, technology and economic resources allow policing institutions to exercise significant reach in ways that mitigate the challenges to service delivery posed by distance and geography while the bureaucratic state relationally distances these same institutions from the public. This scholarship tends to take these governmental 'fixes' as given. In Global South contexts, these fixes are less reliable. The complexities of policing in dispersed states—rural, remote, and island—are frequently mentioned within scholarship. However, the question of how spatial relations impact police legitimacy and services largely remains a passing concern. In this paper, we argue that in the Global South, spatial relations are important elements contributing to police legitimacy. This argument is made by reframing the rural and remote policing literature to explore how spatial archipelagic features influence how policing by the state occurs. This work is used as our analytical scaffold in two case studies of the Solomon Islands and Tonga that illustrate how space influences local views of police. We argue that space is a key contextual characteristic that needs to be considered within future police legitimacy research and theorisation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In experimental psychology and neuroscience, computerized image stimuli are typically used as artificial proxies for real-world objects to understand brain and behavior. Here, in a series of five experiments (n = 165), we studied human memory for objects presented as tangible solids versus computerized images. We found that recall for solids was superior to images, both immediately after learning, and after a 24-hr delay. A "realness advantage" was also evident relative to three-dimensional (3-D) stereoscopic images, and when solids were viewed monocularly, arguing against explanations based on the presence of binocular depth cues in the stimulus. Critically, memory for solids was modulated by physical distance, with superior recall for objects positioned within versus outside of observers' reach, whereas recall for images was unaffected by distance. We conclude that solids are processed quantitatively and qualitatively differently in episodic memory than are images, suggesting caution in assuming that artifice can always substitute for reality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThis study empirically examines bank spatial competition within the rural banking setting of Indonesia. The specific focus is on bank cost efficiency. It presents a new competition measure based on two spatial variables: physical distances and Thiessen polygon market boundaries. This study uses panel data from a large sample of more than 1,000 rural banks using quarterly financial data of rural banks in Indonesia from Q1–2014 to Q4–2018. Parametric or stochastic frontier analysis of Model EN is used to handle the endogeneity in bank cost efficiency measurement. The results show that bank efficiency is higher for shorter distances between banks and larger boundaries. Overall, the results support the competition-efficiency hypothesis. It also helps the idea that banks have mark-up pricing (higher market power) and may choose to reduce their effort to maximize profit.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, understanding the effects of location information of patients has significant theoretical and practical implications for public crisis management and health communication. Based on fear appeal theories, this research proposed a chain reaction model that links physical distance to the nearest patients, which is informed by the location information of patients, citizens' anxiety, attention to information and preventive behaviors. To test the hypothesized model, we conducted a study during the COVID-19 outbreak in mainland China in March 2020. The survey of 2061 people from 244 cities across 30 provinces showed that physical distance to confirmed cases has a significant influence on citizens' anxiety, which in turn can improve their preventive behaviors through the mediating factor of attention to information. In addition, this research also revealed the twofold effects of vertical collectivism as a personality trait on anxiety. These findings will provide support to help governments take actions to reduce citizens' anxiety and promote preventive behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: Upper cross syndrome is a type of muscle-skeletal disorder that leads to shortening of the anterior muscles and weakness of the posterior muscles at the neck and thorax. One of the common methods of correcting these malalignments is corrective exercises. So far, different approaches have been used to correct this malalignment. Given the physical distance during epidemics and the lack of participation in correctional programs, it is not known whether distance training approaches can be as effective as face-to-face training.Methods: The present study was semi-experimental with a pre-test and post-test design. In the present study, 60 female employees were selected and assigned to four groups randomly. The first experimental group performed corrective exercises, the second experimental group performed postural reeducation training at home during the same period of the training program, the third group performed combination exercises, and the fourth group was considered as control. Before and after the intervention of the forward head angle, the kyphosis and rounded shoulders of the individuals were measured. One-way analysis of variance and paired t-test were used to analyze the data.Results: All three experimental groups showed a significant difference before and after the intervention on the forward head angle, kyphosis, and rounded shoulder (P˂0.05). The results also showed that the rate of improvement in the combined training group was higher than that of the two training groups.Conclusion: According to the test of research hypotheses on the effectiveness of corrective exercise and postural reeducation training on the upper cross syndrome, probably combined exercises are more effective than independent corrective and postural reeducation training. Therefore, it is recommended to trainers and corrective exercise specialists that correctional exercises not be limited to the clinical environment and they can be combined with postural reeducation training at home to get better results.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), a member of the Corona-viridian family, is responsible for the emergence of the 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), which has developed into a worldwide pandemic since its initial detection in Wuhan, Hubei province of China, in early December 2019. The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of physical distancing measures on the transmission of COVID-19. A scoping review was conducted, with a focus on Englishlanguage literature available on Pub Med and Web of Science up to May 2022. The findings of this study indicate a statistically significant correlation between physical distance and the transmission of COVID-19. Nevertheless, it should be noted that COVID-19 primarily spreads through contact routes and respiratory droplets, and many aspects of its transmissibility are still not fully understood. As such, the topic of airborne transmission of COVID-19 remains a subject of debate and controversy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Physical presence is crucial in almost every social event in Indonesia, but could potentially inhibit obedience to physical distance protocol during COVID-19 pandemic. This study (N = 114 undegraduates, 62,3% female; M age = 21,69; SD = 2,19) explored the extent to which adherence of physical distance could be predicted by three social-cognitive factors from the Theory of Planned Behaviour (i.e., attitude, subjective norm, and perceived behavioural control), autonomy motivation from the Self-Determination Theory, and past adherence behaviour. We found that 68.02% of the variance in intention to perform physical distancing in the future was predicted by autonomy motivation, attitude, and perceived behavioural control explained. Moreover, after accounting autonomy motivation the role of subjective norm and past adherence behavior were no longer significant. It is therefore timely to shift focus from merely reporting past adherence behaviour to promoting an individual’s autonomy motivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 crisis has resulted in physical distancing regulations, disrupting traditional practices of establishing and maintaining social relationships. We draw attention to digital nomadism as a mature case of navigating sociality in uncertainty to investigate how the linking value of materiality establishes social proximity without geographic contiguity through physical, virtual, and imagined practices. Using Miller's (1987) theory of materiality and triangulating data collected from in-depth interviews and netnography, this study details the material constitution of co-presence with others in physical distance. We propose that consumers oscillate between work—instrumental practices of signaling and curating—and play—emotional practices of belonging and indulging—to experience social linking across different spatial and temporal frameworks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the rise of the Internet of Things (IoT) architectures and protocols, new video analytics systems and surveillance applications have been developed. In conventional systems, all the streams produced by cameras are sent to a centralized node where they can be seen by human operators whose task is to identify uncommon on abnormal situations. However, this way, much bandwidth is necessary for the system to work, and the number of necessary resources is proportional to the number of cameras and streams involved. In this paper, we propose an interesting approach to this problem: transforming any IP camera into a cognitive object. A cognitive camera (CC) can be considered a classic connected camera with onboard computational power for intelligent video processing. A CC can understand and interact with the surroundings, intelligently analyze complex scenes, and interact with the users. The IoT Edge Computing approach decreases latency in the decision-making process and consumes a tiny portion of bandwidth concerning the stream of a video, even in low resolution. CCs can help to address COVID-19. As a preventive measure, proper crowd monitoring and management systems must be installed in public places to limit sudden outbreaks and improve healthcare. The number of new infections can be significantly reduced by adopting physical distancing measures earlier. Motivated by this notion, a real-time crowd monitoring and management system for physical distance classification using CCs is proposed in this research paper. The experiment on Movidius board, an AI accelerator device, provides promising results of our proposed method in which the accuracies can achieve more than 85% from different datasets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study empirically examines bank spatial competition within the rural banking setting of Indonesia. The specific focus is on bank cost efficiency. It presents a new competition measure based on two spatial variables: physical distances and Thiessen polygon market boundaries. This study uses panel data from a large sample of more than 1,000 rural banks using quarterly financial data of rural banks in Indonesia from Q1–2014 to Q4–2018. Parametric or stochastic frontier analysis of Model EN is used to handle the endogeneity in bank cost efficiency measurement. The results show that bank efficiency is higher for shorter distances between banks and larger boundaries. Overall, the results support the competition-efficiency hypothesis. It also helps the idea that banks have mark-up pricing (higher market power) and may choose to reduce their effort to maximize profit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Adherence to nonpharmaceutical interventions for COVID-19, including physical distancing, masking, staying home while sick, and avoiding crowded indoor spaces, remains critical for limiting the spread of COVID-19. Objective: The aim of this study was to test the effectiveness of using various persuasive appeals (deontological moral frame, empathy, identifiable victim, goal proximity, and reciprocity) at improving intentions to adhere to prevention behaviors. Methods: A randomized online experiment using a representative sample of adult Canadian residents with respect to age, ethnicity, and province of residence was performed from March 3 to March 6, 2021. Participants indicated their intentions to follow public health guidelines, saw one of six flyers featuring a persuasive appeal or no appeal, and then rated their intentions a second time. Known correlates of attitudes toward public health measures were also measured. Results: Intentions to adhere to public health measures increased in all appeal conditions. The message featuring an empathy appeal resulted in a greater increase in intentions than the control (no appeal) message. Moreover, the effectiveness of persuasive appeals was moderated by baseline intentions. Deontological, empathy, identifiable victim, and reciprocity appeals improved intentions more than the control message, but only for people with lower baseline intentions to adhere to nonpharmaceutical interventions. Conclusions: Public health marketing campaigns aiming to increase adherence to COVID-19 protective behaviors could achieve modest gains by employing a range of persuasive appeals. However, to maximize impact, it is important that these campaigns be targeted to the right individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Adherence to health-protective behaviours (regularly washing hands, wearing masks indoors, maintaining physical distancing, carrying disinfectant) remains paramount for the successful control of COVID-19 at population level. It is therefore important to monitor adherence and to identify factors associated with it. This study assessed: 1) rates of adherence, to key COVID-19 health-protective behaviours and 2) the socio-demographic, health and COVID-19-related factors associated with adherence. Methods: Data were collected on a sample of UK-based adults during August–September 2020 (n = 1,969; lockdown restrictions were eased in the UK; period 1) and November 2020- January 2021 (n = 1944; second UK lockdown; period 2). Results: Adherence ranged between 50–95%, with higher adherence during the period of stricter measures. Highest adherence was observed for wearing masks indoors (period 1: 80.2%, 95%CI 78.4%-82.0%, period 2: 92.4%, 95%CI 91.1%-93.6%) and lowest for carrying own disinfectant (period 1: 48.4%, 95%CI 46.2%-50.7%, period 2: 50.7%, 95%CI 48.4%-53.0%). Generalized estimating equation models indicated that key factors of greater odds of adherence included being female, older age, having higher income, residing in England, living with vulnerable individuals and perceived high risk of COVID-19. Conclusions: Targeted messages to different demographic groups may enhance adherence to health-protective behaviours, which is paramount for the control of airborne respiratory diseases. Protocol and analysis plan Registration: The analysis plan was pre-registered, and it is available at https://osf.io/6tnc9/. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The recent COVID-19 pandemic has contributed to the emergence of several technologies for infectious disease management. Although much focus has been placed on contact-tracing apps, another promising new tactic is proximity tracing, which focuses on health-related behavior and can be used for primary prevention. Underpinned by theories on behavioral design, a proximity-detection system can be devised that provides a user with immediate nudges to maintain physical distance from others. However, the practical feasibility of proximity detection during an infectious disease outbreak has not been sufficiently investigated. Objective: We aimed to evaluate the feasibility of using a wearable device to nudge for distance and to gather important insights about how functionality and interaction are experienced by users. The results of this study can guide future research and design efforts in this emerging technology. Methods: In this retrospective case study, a wearable proximity-detection technology was used in a workplace for 6 weeks during the production of a music competition. The purpose of the technology was to nudge users to maintain their physical distance using auditory feedback. We used a mixed methods sequential approach, including interviews (n=8) and a survey (n=30), to compile the experiences of using wearable technology in a real-life setting. Results: We generated themes from qualitative analysis based on data from interviews and open-text survey responses. The quantitative data were subsequently integrated into these themes: feasibility (implementation and acceptance—establishing a shared problem; distance tags in context—strategy, environment, and activities; understanding and learning; and accomplishing the purpose) and design aspects (a purposefully annoying device; timing, tone, and proximity; and additional functions). Conclusions: This empirical study reports on the feasibility of using wearable technology based on proximity detection to nudge individuals to maintain physical distance in the workplace. The technology supports attention to distance, but the usability of this approach is dependent on the context and situation. In certain situations, the audio signal is frustrating, but most users agree that it needs to be annoying to ensure sufficient behavioral adaption. We proposed a dual nudge that involves vibration followed by sound. There are indications that the technology also facilitates learning how to maintain a greater distance from others, and that this behavior can persist beyond the context of technology use. This study demonstrates that the key value of this technology is that it places the user in control and enables immediate action when the distance to others is not maintained. This study provides insights into the emerging field of personal and wearable technologies used for primary prevention during infectious disease outbreaks. Future research is needed to evaluate the preventive effect on transmission and investigate behavioral changes in detail and in relation to different forms of feedback. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aims to explore the predictors of customers' online shopping attitudes and their influence on customers' e-satisfaction, behavioral intention, and continuance intention to use online shopping applications during coronavirus outbreaks. A unique integrated model was validated by incorporating the expectation-confirmation model, Health Belief Model, and technology acceptance model, along with psychological (i.e., perceived threats), situational (e.g., physical distance), and the interactive technological feedback-related variables (i.e., online review). The data were collected from 410 respondents and analyzed by Structural Equation Modeling using SMART PLS3. The results depicted that attitude is predicted by usefulness and ease of use, while the behavioral intention was predicted by online review, physical distance, perceived threats, ease of use, usefulness, and attitudes. Moreover, the customers' expectation's confirmation influences e-satisfaction and usefulness. Similarly, the ease of use, usefulness and attitudes, e-satisfaction, and intention predicted continuance intention. Besides, behavioral intention mediated the influence of online review, ease of use, usefulness, threats, and physical distance except attitudes on continuance intention. Finally, usefulness and e-satisfaction mediate the influence of confirmation on continuance intention. The study contributes to the existing literature integrating psychological, situational, and interactive technological feedback-related variables into expectation confirmation theory, Health Belief Model, and technology acceptance model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has brought forth conversations about effective behavior change models for increasing prevention behavior, ranging from wearing masks in public to physical distancing. Among the considered behavior change techniques is the use of fear appeals, through which a negative possible outcome is emphasized to invoke fear, which in turn may promote prevention behaviors to counter the likelihood of the negative outcome. Although fear is hypothesized as health promoting in some theories of health behavior, little research has rigorously assessed the relationship. Objective: In our exploratory analyses, we aim to examine the association, including directionality of the association between fear of COVID-19 and COVID-19 prevention behaviors across 2 time points during the early COVID-19 pandemic among a sample of US women. Methods: The COPE study, a web-based survey of US women's COVID-19 experiences, was deployed in May-June 2020 (time 1) with follow-up in December 2020-January 2021 (time 2; n=200). Demographic characteristics as well as fear of COVID-19 and COVID-19 prevention behaviors (eg, staying home except for essential activities, physical distancing in public, and masking in public) were measured. Descriptive and bivariate analyses were used to characterize COVID-19 prevention behaviors and fear of COVID-19 among participants. Cross-lagged panel analysis, a type of structural equation modeling that assesses directionality of temporal associations, was used to understand relationships, if any, between variables of interest. Results: We found cross-sectional associations between fear of COVID-19 and staying home and physical distancing, as well as temporal associations between fear at time 1 and time 2 and prevention behaviors at time 1 and time 2. However, results of the cross-lagged panel analysis indicated no cross-lagged temporal relationships between fear of COVID-19 and COVID-19 prevention behaviors 6 months apart. Conclusions: Fear of COVID-19 did not appear to predict COVID-19 prevention behaviors 6 months after initial measurements among the sample of women recruited for our study. Future research should rigorously test these associations longitudinally, and alternative methods of public health prevention promotion should be considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As part of the global response to COVID-19, categorized by the WHO as a pandemic, social distancing has emerged as a key concept in the management of the bioemergency. This article discusses social distancing from a sociological perspective, drawing on Simmel, Cantó-Milà and Sabido Ramos’ notions of proximity and distance. We intend to illustrate the implicit and explicit meanings and dimensions given to the concepts of social distance and distancing during the initial months of the pandemic, along with their impact on relationships, interactions, and ties. We reflect on the function of framing all social relations in terms of distance and proximity, analytically differentiating between the concepts of relationship, interaction, and ties.

This research paper aims to examine the impact of Covid 19 on older people's cultural lives. In the first section, the study provides a discussion on physical isolation caused by Covid and in the second part analyses museums' digital adaptation strategies and reopening plans capacities. Museums have adapted to the COVID-19 restrictions by offering older people digital alternatives and creative aging programs, from virtual museum tours to nature journaling programs. However, it appears that digital inclusion programs are not as fulfilling and exciting as traditional ways of involving senior citizens in museum life, such as volunteering and leadership programs. Therefore, findings suggest new ways of interaction for older people with effects on sense of isolation and physical distance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted how the construction industry operates around the world. To fight the risk of transmission, new health, safety, and environmental (HSE) protocols have been put in place. Among these protocols are social distancing and limiting the number of workers per area, where social distancing acts as a so-called protective bubble for each worker. Contractors are now required to attempt to achieve (and be prepared to keep) social distancing among their workers whenever needed and possible. Otherwise, they could be forced to halt operations due to having an unsafe environment. Accordingly, construction plans, and corresponding workspace assignments, should be revised in a four-dimensional (4D) environment to ensure fulfillment. Even after the end of this pandemic, the new HSE awareness achieved during this experiment is expected to reshape the so-called new normal of construction. Therefore, this paper presents a novel workspace simulation and management solution comprising a theoretical framework and a semiautomated tool to incorporate physical distancing during 4D planning. The semiautomated tool creates a 4D building information model, loaded with workspaces and social distance bubbles as stochastic variables, and utilizes Monte Carlo simulation to model uncertainties occurring onsite. The uncertainties considered are both temporal and spatial, i.e., changes in productivity and workspace sizes, respectively. This tool surpasses existing workspace management solutions in that (1) it has a schedule generation module to recompute schedule projections based on temporal uncertainties, (2) its workspace generation module can automatically create physical distance buffers around selected workspaces, as per site conditions, (3) its 4D simulation can realistically mimic the work progress on the site, and (4) its 4D clash detection module can smartly detect and report both soft and hard operational clashes. Additionally, the proposed analytics target three levels of clash resolution: site, workspace, and activity level. The framework and developed tool were tested against a residential building case study. Over the course of 155 days, 26 activities with 257 workspace assignments were examined. The proposed solution was able to capture the critical schedule duration (21 out of 155 days), the impactful 4D clashes (44 out of 2,900), and the activities involved in the most sever clashes (5 out of 26). Hence, the proposed method and the developed software tool will help planners/construction managers understand the space requirements for construction operations considering social distancing and other required safety buffering, identify critical spatiotemporal zones, and suggest resolution strategies for the resulting clashes based on the analytics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study explored changes in individuals’ behavior in response to social distancing (SD) levels and the “no gatherings of more than 5 people” (NGM5) rule in Korea during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Methods: Using survey data from the COVID-19 Behavior Tracker, exploratory factor analysis extracted 3 preventive factors: maintenance of personal hygiene, avoiding going out, and avoiding meeting people. Each factor was used as a dependent variable. The chi-square test was used to compare differences in distributions between categorical variables, while binary logistic regression was performed to identify factors associated with high compliance with measures to prevent transmission. Results: In men, all 3 factors were significantly associated with lower compliance. Younger age groups were associated with lower compliance with maintenance of personal hygiene and avoiding meeting people. Employment status was significantly associated with avoiding going out and avoiding meeting people. Residence in the capital area was significantly associated with higher compliance with personal hygiene and avoiding venturing out. Increasing SD levels were associated with personal hygiene, avoiding going out, and avoiding meeting people. The NGM5 policy was not significantly associated with compliance. Conclusions: SD levels, gender, age, employment status, and region had explanatory power for compliance with non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs). Strengthening social campaigns to inspire voluntary compliance with NPIs, especially focused on men, younger people, full-time workers, and residents of the capital area is recommended. Simultaneously, efforts need to be made to segment SD measures into substrategies with detailed guidance at each level.

• This study assessed the adherence to PPE (mask, gowns, and gloves) at the workplace, as well as to non-pharmacological preventive measures (NPPM) outside of the workplace among healthcare workers. • NPPM was defined as physical distance as hardly ever and/or never approaches other people within 1.5 meters, social isolation as leaving home less than once a week; hand hygiene as performing hand hygiene ≥ 6 times per period; and adherence to the use of a mask outside of the workplace was defined as on all outings and hardly ever/never removes the mask. • High adherence to PPE was independently associated with younger age, professional category, work in an area of direct patient assistance; use of public transportation, or adherence to NPPM outside of the workplace. This study assessed, using a self-reported questionnaire, the adherence to PPE (mask, gowns, and gloves) at the workplace, as well as to non-pharmacological preventive measures (NPPM) (physical distance defined as hardly ever and/or never approaches other people within 1.5 meters, social isolation as leaving home less than once a week, hand hygiene was defined as performing hand hygiene ≥ 6 times per period, and adherence to the use of a mask outside of the workplace was defined as on all outings and hardly ever and/or never removes the mask) outside of the workplace among 1,296 health care workers (HCWs), including if NPPM adherence was associated with COVID-19 in HCWs. High adherence to PPE was independently associated with younger age, professional category, work in an area of direct patient assistance; use of public transportation, or adherence to NPPM outside of the workplace. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aims: Recently, the respiratory acute syndrome or Covid-19 disease has been become as one of the most important concerns in the national and global level. Covid-19 disease is caused by the virus SARS-CoV-2 or Covid-19. Covid-19 virus is spreading through saliva drops or nasal discharge when coughing or sneezing. Covid-19 disease not only has significantly negative affect on the general health of the society but also on job activities of the people like business, economy and industries activities so that outlook of this disease create stress and concern for the workers and employees about the affecting this disease in the workplace and this stress can be transferred to other workers, family and customers. Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) has classified the workplaces into 4 categories in terms of potential of disease: very high risk, high risk, intermediate risk and low risk. Jobs classification include: 1. Very high exposure risk jobs are those with very high potential to meet the discovered cases or suspected of Covid-19 disease during medical cares, after death or during clinical experiments like healthcare stuff and laboratories stuff. 2- High exposure risk jobs: jobs with high potential and lower than previous class jobs to meet the discovered cases or suspected of Covid-19 disease like healthcare and support services employees, medical transportation and funeral workers. 3. Medium exposure risk jobs: jobs where workers are in repeated contact with other workers, public or in close contact with people those possibly with Covid-19 disease but are not diagnosed as suspected ill. These jobs include schools, some crowded retails and activities with high population density. 4. Low exposure risk jobs: jobs where workers are not in close and continuous contact with other works, public or people suspected of Covid-19 disease. The work international organization announced people who are affected to Covid-19 in the workplace must have access to healthcare and treatment services including usual medical cares, specialized cares( inside and outside of the hospital) pharmaceutical , hospital and medical rehabilitation services. On the other hand, since no vaccine or certain treatment is known for this disease till now, the best way to prevent and decrease this disease is to raise the awareness and information about this virus, how this disease is created and how it spreads.so, the present study was conducted with the aim of determining the hygienic performance and effect of training in order to confronting with the Covid-19 virus in the metal industries staff Methods: This analytical-descriptive study is cross-sectional in terms of time. 5 metal industries were studied by the census method in Isfahan province (3 industries) and Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province (2 industries). The studied units include employers and directors, administrative, production, Facilities (Technical) and services stuff. To collect data, researcher-made checklist was used to evaluate the personal hygienic of stuff and to evaluate the industry environment and building, environment checklist was used. Totally 569 stuff and 11 checklists were studied to consider environmental health status in the studied industries buildings. Research team was composed of 2 experts. One expert was required to study the personal health of stuff and buildings environments hygiene and the other was responsible to teach stuff. The education subjects included properties of Covid-19 virus, symptoms of affecting to disease, disease transmission methods, methods of preventing the spread of the disease and importance to observe the personal health and the correct method to use the mask and gloves. After studying the personal health by the checklist, stuff specially who did not observed the personal health were trained for 10-15 minutes. Training was performed face to face while observing the hygienic protocols and standard physical distance. In order to study the effect of training in the personal health observance, the studied industries were referred after 3 weeks and personal health checklist was completed for all workers participating in the research. Data analysis was performed by the SPSS 21 software and paired-samples T-test. Results: The total studied stuff was 569 persons, 7.38% were women and 92.62% were men. The age average of stuff was 36.7± 8.31 years and 81.27% were married. Before training, 23.73% of stuff used mask and gloves and 30.93% just used mask. Also 78.21% observed the appropriate distance with others and 76.8% observed using personal devices or common surfaces disinfectant solution and 31.46% had hand disinfectant solution. But after training, the personal health observance was raised significantly so that the significant relation (PValue

On January 31, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the outbreak of a novel coronavirus responsible for an infection termed COVID-19 as a global public health emergency. To slow the spread of the coronavirus, countries around the world have been implementing various measures, including school and institutional closures, lockdown and targeted quarantine for suspected infected individuals. More than a third of the world’s population have been home confined less than 4 months after the start of the outbreak. The present article aims to advise healthy individuals and athletes who are in lockdown regarding their lifestyle in order to keep healthy, safe and fit. The advice contained in the present article could apply to anyone aiming at remaining in good physical and mental health while forced to undergo lockdown, quarantine, or limited movement (movement control order). Boosting the immune system is crucial during such periods for confined people and especially for confined athletes. Specific recommendations must be followed concerning boosting the immune system through physiological and psychological management. This article analyses the available scientific evidence in order to recommend a practical approach, focusing on nutrition, intermittent fasting or caloric restriction, vitamin D insufficiency, sleep pattern, exercise, and psychodynamic aspects as factors impacting the immune system and human health in general.

The paper considers the use of the term "social distance" during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is indicated that the term has been uncritically adopted by the scientific medical-epidemiological and public discourse from sociology, and that its subject and content of the concept are essentially different. An argument is proposed for the thesis that such situation was caused, on one hand, by the failure to apply the concretely dialecticallogical rules of definition and, on the other hand, due to ideological attitudes about individualism which are common both to neoliberalism and neoconservatism. The article emphasizes the need to replace the concept of "social distance" in epidemiology with the concept of "physical distance" or just "distance" or "space".

Including more locally grown products in our diet is a way to reduce our diets' environmental impact. Therefore, it is important to investigate how this can be effectively communicated on food products to increase consumer acceptance. We propose that product communication that focuses on decreasing the physical and social distance between the food producer and the consumer can result in consumers identifying more with the food producer, which, in turn, can increase the buying intention of food products. The current research comprises an online survey that includes an experimental design and a real-life assessment among 825 Dutch participants. Results of the experiment show that decreasing physical distance, but not social distance, increases consumers' intention to buy a food product. This effect can be explained by increased feelings of identification with a food producer. Moreover, the real-life assessment provides a first indication that both having a food producer living close by (physical distance) and personally knowing a food producer (social distance) might increase acceptance of the producer and the product, and highlights the relevance of perceived connection. These findings give insights into how food producers can market local food products to increase acceptance; communication on a decreased distance between consumers and the food producer is only effective when it results in more identification with the food producer. Perceived connection seems to be an essential part of the acceptance of local products., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors report there are no competing interests to declare., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

In this paper, a novel solution to avoid new infections is presented. Instead of tracing users' locations, the presence of individuals is detected by analysing the voices, and people's faces are detected by the camera. To do this, two different Android applications were implemented. The first one uses the camera to detect people's faces whenever the user answers or performs a phone call. Firebase Platform will be used to detect faces captured by the camera and determine its size and estimate their distance to the phone terminal. The second application uses voice biometrics to differentiate the users' voice from unknown speakers and creates a neural network model based on 5 samples of the user's voice. This feature will only be activated whenever the user is surfing the Internet or using other applications to prevent undesired contacts. Currently, the patient's tracking is performed by geolocation or by using Bluetooth connection. Although face detection and voice recognition are existing methods, this paper aims to use them and integrate both in a single device. Our application cannot violate privacy since it does not save the data used to carry out the detection and does not associate this data to people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As part of the global response to COVID-19, categorized by the WHO as a pandemic, social distancing has emerged as a key concept in the management of the bioemergency. This article discusses social distancing from a sociological perspective, drawing on Simmel, Cantó-Milà and Sabido Ramos' notions of proximity and distance. We intend to illustrate the implicit and explicit meanings and dimensions given to the concepts of social distance and distancing during the initial months of the pandemic, along with their impact on relationships, interactions, and ties. We reflect on the function of framing all social relations in terms of distance and proximity, analytically differentiating between the concepts of relationship, interaction, and ties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On January 31, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the outbreak of a novel coronavirus responsible for an infection termed COVID-19 as a global public health emergency. To slow the spread of the coronavirus, countries around the world have been implementing various measures, including school and institutional closures, lockdown and targeted quarantine for suspected infected individuals. More than a third of the world's population have been home confined less than 4 months after the start of the outbreak. The present article aims to advise healthy individuals and athletes who are in lockdown regarding their lifestyle in order to keep healthy, safe and fit. The advice contained in the present article could apply to anyone aiming at remaining in good physical and mental health while forced to undergo lockdown, quarantine, or limited movement (movement control order). Boosting the immune system is crucial during such periods for confined people and especially for confined athletes. Specific recommendations must be followed concerning boosting the immune system through physiological and psychological management. This article analyses the available scientific evidence in order to recommend a practical approach, focusing on nutrition, intermittent fasting or caloric restriction, vitamin D insufficiency, sleep pattern, exercise, and psychodynamic aspects as factors impacting the immune system and human health in general. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

"CALM"ing strategies during COVID-19 pandemic. Created with BioRender.com. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical Abstract“CALM”ing strategies during COVID-19 pandemic. Created with BioRender.com.

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Responses to the COVID-19 pandemic in terms of physical distancing risk collateral damage such as increased loneliness. Older adults have been identified as being at higher risk of poor outcomes if infected and in many countries have been subjected to greater restrictions on physical contacts with others. Most research so far points towards an increase in loneliness during the pandemic. However, there has been a lack of prospective studies based on representative samples of older adults, with the oldest old, older adults with low or no Internet usage, and those in poor health currently underrepresented. Despite the significance of cultural norms for individuals' standards for social relations and, thus, the experience of loneliness, there has been a lack of comparative research on loneliness in older adults during the pandemic. Reviews have found little evidence for what interventions and what elements of interventions are effective in reducing loneliness. There is potential for social relations to be maintained via technology-based solutions, although there is a risk of excluding older adults with limited resources who are both least likely to use technology and most vulnerable to loneliness. Furthermore, remote social contacts cannot fully compensate for the loss of physical contacts. Where stay-at-home orders are not imposed, supporting neighbourliness and the community use of accessible open spaces are other options. Finally, policy responses to the pandemic need to be more nuanced and non-ageist in order to avoid unnecessary increases in loneliness in older adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is emerging evidence that decreased muscle mass and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) are associated with increased risk of cancer-related mortality. This paper aimed to present recommendations to prescribe effective and safe exercise protocols to minimize losses, maintain or even improve muscle mass, strength, and CRF of the cancer patients who are undergoing or beyond treatment during the COVID-19 era. Overall, we recommend performing exercises with bodyweight, elastic bands, or suspension bands to voluntary interruption (i.e., interrupt the exercise set voluntarily, according to their perception of fatigue, before concentric muscular failure) to maintain or increase muscle strength and mass and CRF during COVID-19 physical distancing. Additionally, rest intervals between sets and exercises (i.e., long or short) should favor maintaining exercise intensities between 50 and 80% of maxHR and/or RPE of 12. In an exercise program with these characteristics, the progression of the stimulus must be carried out by increasing exercise complexity, number of sets, and weekly frequency. With feasible exercises attainable anywhere, modulating only the work-to-rest ratio and using voluntary interruption, it is possible to prescribe exercise for a wide range of patients with cancer as well as training goals. Exercise must be encouraged; however, exercise professionals must be aware of the patient’s health condition even at a physical distance to provide a safe and efficient exercise program. Exercise professionals should adjust the exercise prescription throughout home confinement whenever necessary, keeping in mind that minimal exercise stimuli are beneficial to patients in poor physical condition.