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This paper works towards a social geography of eating disorders through the lens of the coronavirus pandemic in the UK. Through an empirical engagement with experience-centred knowledge, I couple nine in-depth interviews with autoethnographic material, drawing out the spatial (real and virtual) and temporal (habit, routine, anticipation, non-linearity) dimensions of eating disorder experience, management and recovery; highlighting principally how pandemic lockdown conditions intensified space-time, mind/body and social relations across various micro-domestic and macro-governmental scales. I engage 'lightly' with Foucauldian concepts of disciplinary and biopolitical power to draw out broad-brush themes around matters of containment, control and surveillance; taking feminist inspiration to think through Foucault critically as I explore a nexus of gendered pandemic power relations. In doing so, I contribute towards new feminist understandings of the disciplinary gaze, emphasizing the ongoingness of surveillance through both physical body-checking and what I term psychological 'guising'. Through such (in)voluntary disordered bodily practices, and an engagement with the feminist mind/body dualism, I emphasize the complexity of EDs as embodied mental illnesses, further complicating feminist understandings of control. I close by discussing the ethical-methodological importance of 'empathy' while emphasizing the overall imperative of critical qualitative inquiry for socio-cultural geographies and beyond. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the height of the recent Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, several surgeries were transitioned to ambulatory surgery centers to reserve inpatient resources and reduce transmission risks. Our study evaluated the surgical outcomes of patients who underwent prepectoral breast reconstruction in the operating rooms of two full-service main hospitals versus their associated surgery centers. A retrospective chart review was conducted of patients who underwent immediate prepectoral breast reconstruction at a single hospital between 2018 and 2022. Eligible patients had at least 3 months of post-expander follow-up, with the majority also having 3 months of post-implant follow-up. Patient demographics, reconstructive characteristics, post-expander outcomes, and post-implant outcomes were evaluated between the surgery center and main operating room using the chi-squared (or Fisher's exact) and Wilcoxon ranked-sum tests. This study included 301 patients, outcomes of 509 post-expander breasts, and outcomes of 410 post-implant breasts. The patient characteristics were similar with the only significant difference being the hospital length of stay (increased stay at the main hospital). There were no statistically significant differences in any of the surgical outcomes between the two groups in the post-expander or post-implant period. The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted elective procedures, prompting a shift toward outpatient surgery to optimize hospital resources and reduce inpatient exposure risks. Although breast reconstruction is elective, delays can pose risks for patients with cancer. Our results show that surgical outcomes for prepectoral prosthetic breast reconstruction remain consistent whether performed in outpatient surgical centers or main hospitals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

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

Teachers are returning to schools during the COVID-19 pandemic under the weight of unprecedented stressors to engage a student body that has also experienced stress and trauma. In this study, we examined how confident 454 teachers (55% Black) from 41 charter schools in New Orleans, Louisiana, were in their ability to address students' social-emotional needs upon their return to school. Results showed that Black teachers were more likely to report a greater sense of efficacy in addressing students' needs. Both Black and White teachers identified the top three resources needed to assist students: mental health supports, trainings, and in-class resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Cystic Fibrosis Foundation guidelines recommend annual diabetes screening by oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) in pediatric patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) starting at the age of 10 years. Adherence to these guidelines proves to be challenging, and the nationwide screening rates are still considered suboptimal. The aim of this study was to assess and improve the screening rates at our large pediatric center. Methods A 4-year retrospective audit of OGTT completion among pediatric patients with CF of age ≥10 years who are not yet diagnosed with diabetes was conducted. A collaborative working group was formed to identify the barriers to screening and formulate a quality improvement plan, which was monitored and evaluated for a 9-month period. Results Diabetes screening rates determined by OGTT completion at our center showed a gradual decline during the COVID-19 pandemic from 2019 to 2022. Following the implementation of the quality improvement plan during the summer of 2023, there was a marked increase in OGTT ordering compliance by providers as well as test completion by patients. Notably, the fractional OGTT completion rate rose from 45% during the preintervention phase (January-April 2023) to 70% during the postintervention phase (May-September 2023). Conclusion Diabetes screening in pediatric patients with CF can be effectively improved by refining practices related to patient experience, care coordination, and laboratory testing strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in great incertitude and overwhelming changes in healthcare that have had a direct impact on antibiotic prescription. However, the influence of this pandemic on antibiotic consumption in patients undergoing surgery has not yet been analysed. The goal of this study was to analyse antimicrobial consumption and prescription in the same period of 2019 (pre-COVID-19), 2020 (beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic) and 2021 (established COVID-19) according to the DDD system in surgical patients at a tertiary-level hospital. Methods A prospectively maintained database was analysed. All patients who underwent elective or emergency gastrointestinal surgery during the same period (2019, 2020 and 2021) were included. Those who received at least 1 of the 10 most frequently prescribed antimicrobials during those periods were analysed. Results A total of 2975 patients were included in this study. In 2020, the number of procedures performed decreased significantly (653 versus 1154 and 1168 in 2020 versus 2019 and 2021, respectively; P  = 0.005). Of all patients who underwent surgery during these periods, 45.08% received at least one of the antimicrobials studied (45.8% in 2020 versus 22.9% and 22.97% in 2019 and 2021, respectively; P  = 0.005). Of these, 22.97% of the patients received a combination of these antimicrobials, with ceftriaxone/metronidazole being the most frequent. Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary and Liver Transplant, Emergency Surgery and Colorectal Surgery units had higher antibiotic consumption. Conclusions The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a significant decrease in surgical activity and higher post-operative antimicrobial prescription compared with previous and subsequent years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction During the coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, routine childhood immunization rates dropped dramatically across the world, and the Military Health System (MHS) was no exception. In the MHS, which is a large, universally covered, low-to-no-cost health system, the immunization rates with the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine remain below the rate necessary to prevent community transmission of measles. We aimed to improve childhood immunization rates in the MHS with an expansive quality improvement project. Materials and Methods Measles, mumps, and rubella immunization rates served as proxy outcome measures for routine immunization rates tracked by the Center for Disease Control multi-immunization combination measures. The tracked measure was the percentage of 16- to 18-month olds and 6-year olds who had received MMR #1 and MMR #2, respectively. Various countermeasures were implemented throughout the study period, and standard quality improvement analyses informed the effect of countermeasures. Results By January 2023, the percentage of 16- to 18-month olds and 6-year olds who had received MMR #1 and MMR #2 was 85% and 91%, respectively, with no positive shift in immunization rates despite various countermeasures introduced during the study period. For reference, the MMR immunization rates of commercial health maintenance organization and commercial preferred provider organization for 24-month-old populations were 92% and 90.3%, respectively. On chart review, the most common cause for under-immunization (55%) was vaccine abandonment. MMR #1 rates rose to 92% in 24-month olds. Conclusions Measles, mumps, and rubella immunization rates within the MHS remained below commercial health system rates and below public health standards required for herd immunity despite various countermeasures throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Immunization rates increased with age, suggesting that children within the MHS eventually catch up despite potential barriers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction The COVID-19 pandemic profoundly affected the health and well-being of people globally. Some studies suggest individuals with overweight or obesity may have been more adversely impacted by pandemic restrictions. Additionally, military personnel may have been more vulnerable to stress during the pandemic because of job demands (e.g. work in close quarters). Our research group was conducting a randomized clinical trial of a weight management intervention in active duty military personnel with overweight or obesity when the COVID-19 pandemic struck. Thus, we collected additional pandemic-related data from participants enrolled during the COVID-19 pandemic and conducted exploratory analyses to understand how the pandemic affected their stress levels and perceived abilities to engage in health behaviors like exercise and healthy eating. The aims of this exploratory study were to: (1) assess associations between pandemic-related stress and health behaviors with body fat percentage (BF%) and psychological and physical health, and (2) explore how pandemic-related stress and health behaviors affected BF% during and after the intervention. Materials and Methods A total of 29 active duty Navy personnel (55% female, 69% White) were enrolled after the onset of pandemic restrictions and completed measures assessing pandemic-related stress and health behaviors as well as measures of general psychological and physical health before the intervention. BF% was collected at 5 timepoints, including baseline, during, and following the intervention. Bivariate correlations assessed associations at baseline. Linearmixed-effects longitudinal models explored how pandemic-related stress and health behaviors affected BF%. Post-hoc analyses evaluated the effects of pandemic factors on BF% at each timepoint. Results Most participants perceived of the pandemic as increasing stress and detracting from their abilities to engage in health behaviors (i.e. exercise and healthy eating). Higher pandemic stress was significantly associated with reporting exercise and healthy eating as more difficult, worse overall health, and more anxiety and general stress. Reporting exercise as harder during the pandemic also was associated with more psychological distress at baseline. A linearmixed- effects model controlling for age, sex, and number of intervention sessions attended revealed endorsing "exercise as harder" was associated with higher BF%. Post-hoc regression analyses revealed rating "exercise as harder" significantly predicted higher BF% 3 months post-intervention (B = 0.65, P  = .01), whereas pandemic stress was not significantly associated with higher BF% at 3 month (B =0.14, P  = .08) or 6 month (B = 0.21, P  = .09) follow-up. Conclusions As expected, most participants perceived of the pandemic as heightening stress and interfering with engagement in health behaviors. It is possible that pandemic-related stress may have exacerbated weight gain-promoting behaviors and/or interfered with achievement of desired weight management outcomes. Outside the context of the pandemic, it may be beneficial for healthcare providers to screen individuals for stress and perceptions of ease of engagement in health behaviors before enrollment in a weight management intervention. Further, tailoring interventions to mitigate stress and promote perceptions of ease in engaging in health behaviors may promote better weight management outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study seeks to explore the importance of digital platforms in restoring global supply chains interrupted by the coronavirus pandemic. Specifically, the research focuses on internally developed digital platforms and their potential to ensure supply chain continuity between developed and emerging markets. Design/methodology/approach: Multiple comparative case studies have been selected for the research methodology. Eight cases concerning digital platform implementation for global SC management – four from developed countries and four from emerging markets – have been selected. The four pairs of cases represent four global supply chain mechanisms. Findings: The results revealed that the use of internally developed digital platforms serves as a quick solution for immediate problems caused by ripple effects in global supply chain and negative environmental conditions. Digital platforms could therefore facilitate reciprocal monitoring and information exchanges between SC partners in different countries. Originality/value: The digital platform research stream is in its early stages. Research thus far has mostly focused on externally developed digital platforms managed by an orchestrator. The platforms' usefulness in the dialogue between developed and emerging markets requires further exploration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

With state-wide quarantine policies during the COVID-19 pandemic like those implemented in the state of Texas, intimate partner violence (IPV) shelter staff were forced to incorporate new safety measures to keep survivors and advocates safe. To understand the impact of these adaptations fully, authors interviewed shelter staff and residents to capture both of their experiences living and working in the same shelter during the height of the coronavirus pandemic (summer 2020) to understand how changes in policy and procedure in shelters impacted survivors and advocates. A qualitative phenomenological design was utilized to collect and analyze data from 10 staff and 10 survivors to develop both a textual and a structural description of participant experiences living in an IPV shelter. The current study captured the survivors' and advocates' perspectives related to the 1) vacillating views of shelter social distancing and quarantine policies, 2) shelter occupancy and staffing unpredictability, 3) the broader challenges related to environmental stressors and 4) mobility challenges. Results of this study highlight factors related to interpersonal relationships within the shelter and structural factors of shelter which contributed to stress for participants. The coronavirus is continuing to present challenges for shelters. Implications can be drawn from provider and client experiences that can inform policies and procedures for future health crises, including the need to mitigate environmental stress and transportation challenges, as well as considerations for maintaining social support should social distancing be necessary in future epidemics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports on findings from a study of Swedish retail stores, with the aim of discussing the triggers and amplifiers by offering a nuanced perspective on the effects of organisational resilience (OR) of the COVID-19 pandemic on Swedish firms. The study is based on interviews with 28 store managers. Drawing on the concept of organisational resilience, we offer three contributions. First, we empirically and theoretically develop the discussion on triggers of OR. Second, we explain that the positive and negative effects of a crisis on particular firms' OR can be amplified (or inhibited) by certain factors, which we call the amplifiers of OR. These amplifiers include the retail industry sector, store location and type of ownership. Third, we empirically illustrate the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic and its restrictions on the retail sector in a Swedish context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the link between tourist flows to and from China and the COVID-19 death rate. This includes the moderating influence of the quality of health security in the underlying relationship. Bilateral tourist flows data to and from China to 152 countries are used for the empirical analysis. The results show that tourist flows to and from China are associated with a higher COVID-19 death rate. This suggests that international tourism flow is one of the major conduits for the transmission of COVID-19 across borders, especially at the initial stage of the pandemic. Furthermore, the results show that countries with stronger health security capabilities are better at reducing COVID-19 death rates even when they attract a higher number of tourist inflows from China or when they register a higher number of tourist flows to China. Governments, especially in countries that are more globally connected through international tourism, should consider using some share of the economic stimulus funds to enhance health capabilities to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic as well as potential future pandemics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThe COVID-19 pandemic focused the world’s attention on the gross relative health risks, inequities and injustices experienced by first responders, of whom front-line, hospital-based nurses may be the most vulnerable. A series of research syntheses prior to the pandemic estimated that such front-line nurses were at approximately two-fold greater risk of experiencing mental health challenges such as increased symptoms (and diagnoses) of anxiety, depression and PTSD than were nursing administrators or otherwise similar, people in the general population. Aiming to clarify how the pandemic impacted such mental health risks, we conducted a rapid review and meta-analysis of observational studies from the worldwide published and gray research literature. Twelve longitudinal studies that covered the pandemic’s pre-vaccination phase were included. The overall pooled increased relative risk of mental health challenges among frontline, hospital-based nurses from pre-pandemic to the pre-vaccination phase of the COVID-19 pandemic was 2.62 (95% CI 2.10, 3.27). But sensitivity and moderator analyses accounting for research design limitations better estimated two-fold increased risks (relative risks ranged from 1.69 to 2.00). Already at elevated risk of experiencing symptoms of anxiety, depression and PTSD and so, such increased symptoms and diagnoses among front-line, hospital-based nurses probably doubled during the early, pre-vaccination phase of the pandemic, perhaps quadrupling among women. Implications for nursing practice, health care policy, future pandemic preparedness as well as future research are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study delves into the rebound effect between telecommuting and trip reduction during the pandemic, offering crucial insights for transportation policy and societal well-being amidst the rise of remote work. Drawing from data across major US cities, it assesses transportation equity among socioeconomic groups. This study corrects sampling biases with the synthetic minority oversampling technique and captures endogeneities among correlated dependent variables using multivariate mixed models. The findings underscore variations in telecommuting and trip reduction levels across cities and identify the absence of the rebound effect between telecommuting and trip reduction during the pandemic. Importantly, this study informs telecommuting practices in the endemic era, highlighting the need to prioritize equity considerations for marginalized groups such as the elderly, females, minorities, and low-income households. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The period of the coronavirus pandemic (SARS-CoV-2), which hit Poland in early March 2020, has become a great challenge for the whole education sector. The limitations in the functioning of schools, imposed on all teachers, including RE teachers, created the immediate need to adapt to new conditions and start remote teaching. Some of these teachers have never worked in such a way before, have not used information and communication technology, and possessed no or only elementary digital competences. Therefore, the author of the article attempts to seek answers to the following questions: To what extent could RE teachers count on methodological help of those responsible for RE teaching in individual dioceses during the pandemic and has the need to use digital didactics in distance teaching of Religious Education been recognized? The author present the context of her research, formulate the research problem and indicate its relevance and originality, which is based on presenting the issues of remote teaching from the perspective of methodological support for teachers of RE given by the Catholic Church in Poland, then describe the results of a critical analysis of materials for RE teachers published on-line during the pandemic and give conclusions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

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

Copyright of Revista de Medicina y Cine / Journal of Medicine & Movies is the property of Ediciones Universidad de Salamanca and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

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

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

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

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

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

Statistical modeling of epidemiological curves to capture the course of epidemic processes and to implement a signaling system for detecting significant changes in the process is a challenging task, especially when the process is affected by political measures. As previous monitoring approaches are subject to various problems, we develop a practical and flexible tool that is well suited for monitoring epidemic processes under political measures. This tool enables monitoring across different epochs using a single statistical model that constantly adapts to the underlying process, and therefore allows both retrospective and on‐line monitoring of epidemic processes. It is able to detect essential shifts and to identify anomaly conditions in the epidemic process, and it provides decision‐makers a reliable method for rapidly learning from trends in the epidemiological curves. Moreover, it is a tool to evaluate the effectivity of political measures and to detect the transition from pandemic to endemic. This research is based on a comprehensive COVID‐19 study on infection rates under political measures in line with the reporting of the Robert Koch Institute covering the entire period of the pandemic in Germany. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction The U.S. Air Force's Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) force stands ready to launch weapons 365 days per year. Since its inception, missileers vigilantly operate launch consoles on a 3-day cycle: minimum 24-hour alert-shift/24-hour travel-admin/24-hour off, leading to concerns that health, morale, and alertness are chronically impacted. In 2020, a Missileer Occupational Health Assessment (OHA) revealed 76% of respondents struggle with being rested for duty and 29% of respondents never feel adequately rested for duty. Later that year, 20th Air Force initiated long-duration operations to safeguard from the SARS CoV-2 (COVID-19) Pandemic, resulting in increased operations tempo, and exacerbating crew fatigue. 341st Operations Group and 341st Medical Group at Malmstrom Air Force Base enacted interventions to mitigate crew fatigue and support continued readiness during pandemic operations. They recorded, analyzed, and compiled findings in this report, including recommendations for long-term ICBM operations at Missile Wings. Materials and Methods All participants were Nuclear and Missile Operations Officers, or missileers, were continuously evaluated with qualitative and quantitative measures to ensure safety of the force during a period of unprecedented change. Interventions implemented and evaluated during the 9-month period included: environmental modifications, scheduling changes, and crew education on fatigue management, nutrition, anticipatory sleep preparation, and fitness. Most notably, the 341st Operations Group examined various 3-person and 4-person shift-length and alert duration schedules. Psychomotor vigilance testing results validated safety of operators and delta between pre- and post-shift measurements. Crew force readiness trends were analyzed for force-health awareness. Pre- and post-OHA results were compared for subjective changes. Fatigue and health-related outcomes were collected from a safety monitoring effort during standard and COVID-19 operations at 341st Missile Wing. Results Findings from qualitative and quantitative data indicate the optimal schedule is a 3-week cycle: 7-day alert/7-day recovery/7-day training-administrative utilizing 4-member or 3-member crews for low tempo operations. Crews experimented with shift-lengths of 24hrs-on/24hrs-off, 16hrs-on/8hrs-off, and 12hrs-on/12hrs-off. Maximum safe alert duration is 7 days due to task fatigue onset between 8 and 10 days. Short and long duration Duties Not to Include Flight (DNIF) (also known as Duties Not to Include Alert (DNIA) among missileers) rates decreased from the first to last month of the period by 74.6% and 79.2%, respectively. The number of alerts missed per month decreased 86% from baseline. The 2021 OHA found a 7% decline in members seeking separation, and absence of sleep, fatigue, and physical or mental health as missileer concerns. Conclusions This analysis has identified a sustainable alert rotation of 7/7/7 with emphasis on protected recovery and training time and has been continued after concluding pandemic operations, creating consistent schedule stability where there once was none. If executed properly, this alert rotation, regardless of shift-length selected, has potential to improve trust between crews and leadership, provides adequate recovery time between alerts to maintain health, and improves wellness, family stability, morale, unit cohesion, and crew force retention. Notably, all Air Force Global Strike Missile Operations Groups adjusted scheduling practices to align with these findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Forensische Psychiatrie, Psychologie, Kriminologie is the property of Springer Nature 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 article investigates the differences and similarities between the news frames used by online mainstream media in Vietnam and Australia when reporting COVID-19 in the early waves of the pandemic. The project uses constant comparative analysis to interrogate data gathered from two online news sources: ABC Online (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) in Australia, and Tuoi Tre Online in Vietnam. The article concludes that the Australian Broadcasting Corporation coverage focuses more on social, political and economic factors than is the case with Tuoi Tre Online, which foregrounds civic responsibility in response to the COVID-19 epidemic. The Australian Broadcasting Corporation highlights how COVID-19 amplifies the long-term consequences of social disadvantage while Tuoi Tre Online, in contrast, emphasises the short-term, acute community impacts of outbreaks, given that these require rapid identification and control. It is argued that differences between the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's and Tuoi Tre Online's framings of the pandemic reflect national differences in governance of disasters. Tuoi Tre Online perceives healthy citizenry as soldiers, and constructs the vulnerable and infected as challenges to the biological safety of the whole: the majority social collective. In contrast, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation frames vulnerable and infected individuals as important, focussing on their rights and on the responsibilities of mainstream society towards those who are at risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The diagnostic performance of a prospective, systematic screening strategy for COVID-19 associated pulmonary aspergillosis (CAPA) during the COVID-19 pandemic was investigated. Patients with COVID-19 admitted to the ICU were screened for CAPA twice weekly by collection of tracheal aspirate (TA) for Aspergillus culture and PCR. Subsequently, bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) sampling was performed in patients with positive screening results and clinical suspicion of infection. Patient data were collected from April 2020–February 2022. Patients were classified according to 2020 ECMM/ISHAM consensus criteria. In total, 126/370 (34%) patients were positive in screening and CAPA frequency was 52/370 (14%) (including 13 patients negative in screening). CAPA was confirmed in 32/43 (74%) screening positive patients who underwent BAL sampling. ICU mortality was 62% in patients with positive screening and confirmed CAPA, and 31% in CAPA cases who were screening negative. The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value (PPV & NPV) of screening for CAPA were 0.71, 0.73, 0.27, and 0.95, respectively. The PPV was higher if screening was culture positive compared to PCR positive only, 0.42 and 0.12 respectively. CAPA was confirmed in 74% of screening positive patients, and culture of TA had a better diagnostic performance than PCR. Positive screening along with clinical manifestations appeared to be a good indication for BAL sampling since diagnosis of CAPA was confirmed in most of these patients. Prospective, systematic screening allowed to quickly gain insight into the epidemiology of fungal superinfections during the pandemic and could be applicable for future pandemics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has affected daily activities since December 2019. Burn injuries to head and neck can result in cosmetic and functional deformities. The purpose of this study was to characterize patients with burns to head and neck during the pandemic. This cross-sectional study reviewed patients in Burn Care Quality Platform Registry. Patients were included if they were aged 18 years or older and sustained burns to head and neck. Patients were stratified according to the date of injury into 1) March 13 to September 13, 2019 (ie, before COVID-19 pandemic, BC19) or 2) March 13 to September 13, 2020. March 13, 2020 was chosen because 1) COVID-19 was announced as a national emergency on that date and 2) it was the last day of in-person schools in the state of Georgia. Data collection included patient demographics, admission details, burn details, and hospital-related variables. During the study period, 157 patients had burns to head and neck (BC19, 70; C19, 71). Our data showed a 375% increase in March following the announcement of the pandemic (BC19, 4; C19,19). Admissions from another facility were statistically more than in the C19 group (P ≤.0001). For the C19 group, there were 53% more admissions from the emergency department than the BC19 group (P  = .001). Additionally, in the BC19 group, patients presented with concomitant inhalation injuries significantly more than the C19 group (P  = .04). In conclusion, the total number of burns is the same during BC19 and C19; however, there was a significant spike in the number of cases in March 2020. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assessing the psychological needs of students and employees as they return to campus is crucial to resuming University life in a safe and secure way. The current research aimed to explore how safety concerns, anticipatory worry, and mitigation efforts affected the well-being of individuals within a campus community. A five-part survey was distributed via student & employee listservs in the Fall 2020 at a midsize private university in the Mid-Atlantic Mid-Atlantic United States. Participants were surveyed about sources of worry regarding Covid-19, levels of anticipatory worry, amenability to various mitigation strategies and whether intended implementation of safety mitigation measures impacted worry levels. Data collected from 559 students and employees indicated a relationship between source of worry and level of distress, with the greatest source of worry being fear of getting sick. Anticipatory worry after thinking about safety mechanisms was significantly lower than anticipated worry before thinking about safety mechanisms. No differences were found between students and employee experiences of worry, and there was no moderating effect of role on the difference between anticipated worry after, as compared to before, thinking about the mechanisms. Findings highlight how different sources of concern related to Covid-19 are associated with varying levels of distress, the significant impact that the presence of mitigation strategies can have on reducing overall levels of anticipatory worry, and the universality of distress associated with Covid-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to uncover challenges faced by students transitioning from field training to virtual training due to primary school closures amid the COVID-19 pandemic. It also sought to explore the emotions of female students during virtual training and their satisfaction levels. Employing a narrative design within the qualitative method, the researcher conducted semi-structured interviews, including individual written interviews and focus groups. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the results. The study included 28 firstsemester students in the academic year 2021, with 12 participating in individual written interviews and 7 in the focus group. The results revealed numerous challenges stemming from the transition, such as the closure of primary schools, hindering access to specialized teachers, and the difficulty in finding suitable substitutes for teaching children with learning difficulties. Additionally, there was a notable inability to obtain authorization to teach children with learning difficulties remotely. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

How does a life-threatening pandemic affect a culture? The Theory of Social Change, Cultural Evolution, and Human Development predicts that danger, as indicated by rising death rates and narrowing social worlds, shifts human psychology and behavior toward that found in small-scale, collectivistic, and rural subsistence ecologies. In particular, mortality salience, collectivism, and engagement in subsistence activities should increase as death rates rise and the social world retracts. Studies on the psychological response to the pandemic in the United States confirmed these predicted increases. The present study sought to generalize these previous findings by comparing the frequency of conceptually relevant linguistic terms used in Google searches and Twitter posts in the United States, Japan, Indonesia, and Mexico for 30 days before the coronavirus pandemic began in each country with frequencies of the same terms for 30 days after. Generally, we found that mortality salience increased to the extent that countries experienced excess COVID mortality; collectivism increased to the extent that countries experienced excess COVID mortality and increased mortality salience; and subsistence activities increased to the extent that countries experienced excess COVID mortality and/or stay-at-home-policies. Almost all these increases went beyond the general increase in internet use, which was a control variable in all analyses. These findings support a growing body of research documenting a human response to ecological danger. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of International Journal of Contemporary Humanities & Educational Science is the property of International Journal of Contemporary Humanities & Educational Science 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.)