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Frontline workers who offered essential services in different industries during the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic faced enormous challenges. This study presents the outcome of a survey that investigates employees' sentiments, perceptions, and ergonomics in early childhood education while weathering the pandemic storms during in-person opening amidst the global health crisis. The results show that employees faced increased workload, psychological burden, and heightened uncertainty about health and social life as the pandemic raged. The teaching and non-teaching staff attributed the increased workload to additional paperwork requirements and worker shortages due to quarantine and self-isolation. Public health safety became a priority at the preschool to keep the students, staff, and their families safe. Despite the uncertain future, employees were resolute about career choices in early childhood education. The 'family advocacy' services, a unit that liaises with families to improve kids' learning outcomes, utilized virtual communication technology during the pandemic (e.g. Zoom and Microsoft Teams) to limit physical contact, which produced positive results, including significant improvement in productivity, performance efficiency, and quality. Most workers remained hopeful about overcoming the prevailing workplace challenges caused by the pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary A compact flag‐shaped slotted multiple input multiple output (MIMO) antenna is deliberated in the article for triple‐band applications. The flag‐shaped slotted antenna is built with the help of four radiating patches having rectangular slots and disconnected ground structures. The suggested flag‐shaped slotted antenna can operate in the key frequencies of 2.4, 3.5, and 5 GHz. The antenna elements are oriented orthogonally with each other, such that no external decoupling structures are required to provide isolation. The complete size of the four‐element MIMO is 30*30*1.6 mm3. The minimum isolation between the four flag‐shaped slotted elements is −61, −55, and −47 dB in the operating frequency band of 2.3–2.8 GHz, 3.4–3.9 GHz, and 4.5–5.6 GHz, respectively. The simulated and measured results agree with each other, and they have stable radiation and gain. The MIMO performance parameters are measured, and it is noticed that the envelope correlation coefficient is lower than 0.04 and the diversity gain is 9.99 dB in the considered working frequency bands. The proposed flag‐shaped slotted MIMO is appropriate for WLAN, 5G sub‐6 GHz, and ISM wireless applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research work addresses the challenges associated with isolation techniques in MIMO antenna design. The proposed 4-port L-Slotted Ultra-wideband (UWB) Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) antenna design aims to offer a simple and compact solution that naturally ensures isolation between antenna elements. By employing innovative design strategies, notably incorporating L-Slotted structures, the research aims to extend the impedance bandwidth to 14.28 GHz, with a notch band covering the X-band and the lower portion of the Ku-band. The antenna's performance is evaluated by examining key metrics such as reflection coefficient (< – 10 dB), isolation (< – 20 dB), and diversity parameters. The proposed antenna achieved notable maximum |S11| of 22.77 dB at 6.945 GHz, a peak gain of 10.61 dBi, ECC < 0.0044, TARC < – 10 dB, and a diversity gain of approximately 9.999 dB. The wide impedance bandwidth and compatibility with various frequency bands make this antenna design adaptable to diverse applications and environments, providing flexibility for different system requirements. With its compact and efficient design, this antenna can be integrated into Internet of Things (IoT) devices and smart appliances, enabling reliable and high-speed wireless connectivity. Wide impedance bandwidth makes this antenna design suitable for various wireless communication applications, including Wi-Fi, 5G, and beyond. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic was the first experience for the largest part of the world’s population of a new disease that spread rapidly across continents, a global threat to which unprecedented restrictive measures were elaborated. The purpose of the study was to analyse the everyday discourse on self-isolation among student youth based on the Theory of Social Representations. The study was conducted in two time periods corresponding to two “waves” of the COVID-19 pandemic in Russia (“first wave”: from 18, June to 10, July, 2020, and “second wave”: from 12, October to 18, November, 2020). The sample included 275 Russian university students (9.5 % male) aged 17 to 27 years. The main tool to reveal the social representations was free associations technique. The survey was conducted in online format via Google-forms. Comparison of the structure and content of social representations on self-isolation as a new social phenomenon at different stages of the pandemic made it possible to reveal their emergence and dynamics among student youth: (1) the opposition between voluntariness and coercion was characteristic of the everyday understanding of selfisolation at the very beginning of the pandemic, and (2) psychological experiences associated with the pandemic and the self-isolation caused by it turn out to be key further. In general, research findings show that self-isolation is understood by university students as a search for “pluses” in a situation of forced restrictions.

West Java is one of the Indonesia's regions with the highest number of Covid-19 positive confirmed cases. The main objective of this study was to assess the knowledge of the communities both inside and outside of West Java's province regarding of Covid-19 and self-isolation. This study relies on an online random sampling poll of 447 people. Arikunto's (2013) categorization was used to determine the categories of respondents' knowledge. As a result, with a score of 75.7 percent, the level of knowledge of the communities regarding Covid-19 and self-isolation inside and outside West Java is considered good. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study analyzes whether the intention to consume healthy foods, health consciousness, and self-isolation influence slow food consumption in the context of the coronavirus pandemic. An online survey gathered data from 423 valid respondents, and these were analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). In short, we found that the intention to consume healthy food explains slow food consumption. Both self-isolation and health consciousness indirectly impact slow food consumption through the intention to consume healthy foods. From a scientific point of view, this study offers several contributions to the specialized literature. Firstly, it expands the scope of studies on slow food since the literature has hitherto focused on addressing it as a movement. Secondly, it reveals which factors influence slow food amidst a scenario that, although adverse, has favored its occurrence. Finally, it advances and innovates by identifying new theoretical relations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACTLinking identified MPOX cases to care is essential for MPOX control. This study aims to investigate the intentions of healthcare seeking and self-isolation for MPOX among men who have sex with men (MSM) in China. A cross-sectional online survey was conducted in early August 2023 in China. Respondents were recruited by community-based organizations (CBOs), collecting information on demographics, health status, behavioural and psychological characteristics. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to examine the predictors of intentions to seek healthcare and self-isolate for MPOX within the MSM population. A total of 7725 participants were recruited, with a median age of 30 years. 92.21% of the participants would seek healthcare for MPOX-like symptoms, but only 52.50% intended to self-isolate if diagnosed. Intentions to seek healthcare were lower among those with MPOX-like symptoms in the past 3 months (standardized prevalence ratio (SPRs) = 0.82, 95% CI: 0.74–0.89) and the willingness to self-isolate was reduced among those diagnosed with MPOX in the past 3 months (SPRs = 0.65, 95% CI: 0.48–0.87). Participants free of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and those aware of their HIV status were more likely to seek healthcare and self-isolate than those with STIs or unaware of their HIV status. Regular followers of MPOX information and those perceiving a low risk of infection were more inclined to take preventive measures. These findings highlight the need for targeted MPOX prevention strategies for high-risk groups and the importance of addressing barriers in infectious disease prevention response.

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

The 2022 multi‐country mpox outbreak raised public concern globally. Self‐isolation and informing close contacts after developing mpox‐related symptoms are critical measures in controlling the outbreak. This study investigated behavioral intentions of self‐isolation and informing close contacts after developing mpox‐related symptoms and associated factors among young men who have sex with men (YMSM) aged 18−29 years in China. The cross‐sectional study was conducted among 2493 YMSM in six provincial regions in China from September 10th to 30th, 2022. Descriptive and logistic analyses were applied, using the intentions of self‐isolation and informing close contacts after developing mpox‐related symptoms as binary outcomes. The mean age of the participants was 24.6 (SD = 2.9) years. The prevalence of having intentions of self‐isolation and informing close contacts after developing mpox‐related symptoms was 88.6% (95% CI: 87.3%−89.9%) and 84.9% (95% CI: 83.5%−86.3%). Participants who were employed (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 1.474, 95% CI: 1.035−2.097; AOR = 1.371, 95% CI:1.002, 1.876), had higher mpox knowledge scores (AOR = 1.474, 95% CI: 1.035−2.097; AOR = 1.371, 95% CI: 1.002−1.876), and had higher perceived threats of mpox (AOR = 1.079, 95% CI: 1.030−1.130; AOR = 1.045, 95% CI: 1.002−1.090) were more likely to intend to self‐isolate and inform close contacts. Participants who had MSM in‐person gatherings in the past 6 months were more likely to intend to self‐isolate (AOR = 1.392, 95% CI: 1.066−1.208). Participants with higher depression scores (AOR = 0.968, 95% CI: 0.948−0.989) and self‐stigma (AOR = 0.975, 95% CI: 0.954−0.997) were less likely to intend to self‐isolate and inform close contacts, respectively. Self‐isolation and informing close contacts when developing disease‐related symptoms are acceptable measures in response to mpox in China. Strengthening targeted risk communication and self‐efficacy, raising disease knowledge, providing mental support, and reducing stigma toward the affected community are warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

Background & Aim: Results of previous studies on the role of personality traits and resilience in explaining health-oriented behaviors such as social/physical distance and self-isolation were inconsistent. The present study was conducted to determine the role of the five big personality traits and resilience in adherence to self-isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods & Materials: A prospective longitudinal cohort study tracked 112 healthcare providers who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. Using GPS data from their cell phones, researchers assessed self-isolation adherence over 14 days. Participants completed NEO-Five-Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI) and Connor–Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC) questionnaires. Results: Sixty-one (58.7%) of the subjects violated their self-isolation, and 43 (41.3%) did not violate it during the 14 days after PCR positivity for COVID-19. After adjustment for potential confounders, results showed that only two of the five big personality traits included, conscientiousness (AOR=1.37; 95%CI: 1.15–1.63) and neuroticism (AOR=0.85; 95%CI: 0.74–0.98), were significantly related to the self-isolation adherence. This means a one-unit increase in conscientiousness is associated with 37% higher odds of self-isolation adherence, while a one-unit increase in neuroticism reduces self-isolation adherence by 15%. Resilience was the main predictor for self-isolation adherence in which a one-unit increase in resilience score, the odds of adherence to self-isolation significantly increased by 18% (AOR=1.18, 95%CI: 1.07–1.30) (P

SARS-CoV-2 testing has been critical in monitoring and containing the COVID-19 pandemic, but there is a dearth of studies on how individuals' adherence to testing varies according to their working conditions. This study aimed to investigate the association between the type of employment contract and COVID-19 testing among wage workers in South Korea. We used a nationally representative sample of employees aged 20–65 years collected from March 24 to 31, 2022. To focus on individual responses when the test was recommended, our sample consisted of 1266 participants who had experienced symptoms of COVID-19 or had been exposed to a confirmed case in the household. We used multivariate logistic regression to estimate the association between the odds of receiving a PCR test and the type of employment contract while controlling for other potential covariates. The percentage of participants who had a SARS-CoV-2 PCR test was 77.8%. After adjusting for all potential covariates, daily workers (OR = 0.35, 95% CI 0.18 to 0.70, P = 0.003) and part-time workers (OR = 0.58, 95% CI 0.39 to 0.86, P = 0.007) had significantly lower odds of being tested relative to standard workers. Other temporary or atypical workers showed no significant differences from standard workers. Our findings suggested that individuals in the most vulnerable job positions, with less job security and working hours, exhibited a decreased inclination to undergo COVID-19 testing. More effective job retention and income support policies are required to improve compliance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Swedish recommendations to reduce the risk of COVID-19 relied on each citizen's own sense of responsibility rather than mandatory lockdowns. We studied how COVID-19-related self-isolation and anxiety correlated to SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity and PCR-positivity in patients with active cancer treatment. In a longitudinal cohort study at Uppsala University Hospital patients and cancer personnel were included between April 1st 2020 to August 1st 2020. Serological testing for SARS-CoV-2 was done every 8–12-weeks until 30 March 2021. Patients completed a survey at inclusion regarding self-reported COVID-19-related anxiety and self-isolation. A total of 622 patients [n = 475 with solid malignancies (SM), n = 147 with haematological malignancies (HM)], and 358 healthcare personnel were included. The seropositivity rate was lower for patients than for personnel; 10.5% for SM patients, 6.8% for HM patients, and 16.2% for personnel (p = 0.005). Strict adherence to self-isolation guidelines was reported by 54% of patients but was not associated with a lower risk of becoming seropositive [OR = 1.4 (0.8–2.5), p = 0.2]. High anxiety was expressed by 32% of patients, more often by SM patients than HM patients (34% vs 25% [OR = 1.6 (1.1–2.5, p = 0.03)]). Female gender [OR = 3.5 (2.4–5.2), p < 0.001] and being born outside of Europe [OR = 2.9 (1.4–6.4), p = 0.007] were both associated with high anxiety. Patients reporting high anxiety became seropositive to a similar degree as those with low anxiety [OR = 0.7 (0.3–1.2), p = 0.2]. HM patients with PCR-positive COVID-19 were more likely than SM patients to require oxygen therapy, including non-invasive ventilation/intubation (69% vs. 26%, p = 0.005). For Swedish patients on active cancer treatment, high self-assessed COVID-19-related anxiety or strict adherence to self-isolation guidelines were not associated with a lower risk of COVID-19. Patients with HM were less likely to develop serological antibody response after COVID-19 and were more likely to require advanced hospital care, but expressed less COVID-19-related anxiety than patients with SM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this retrospective cohort study is to understand if and how much the preventive self-isolation approach might have been a valid model to avoid care-related infection, not only from COVID-19 but also from other non-viral infectious diseases. From March to May 2020, the healthcare and management staff of the Villa Santa Maria long-term care facilities, located in the village of Montenero di Bisaccia (Campobasso, Molise, Italy), decided to carry out a preventive self-isolation plan to safeguard the residents from SARS-CoV-2. The impact on other infectious diseases was evaluated by analyzing the antibiotic therapies prescription trend among the inpatients. Our data showed that although self-isolation protected residents and caregivers from SARS-CoV-2, it can also be associated with mobility reduction, leading to an increase in bedridden pathologies, namely, pressure ulcers and pressure sores. The simultaneous isolation of residents and caregivers in the same location significantly reduced any outside influence as a cause of possible infections.

Abstract Background During the early “containment” phase of the COVID-19 response in England (January-March 2020), contact tracing was managed by Public Health England (PHE). Adherence to self-isolation during this phase and how people were making those decisions has not previously been determined. The aim of this study was to gain a better understanding of decisions around adherence to self-isolation during the first phase of the COVID-19 response in England. Methods A mixed-methods cross sectional study was conducted, including an online survey and qualitative interviews. The overall pattern of adherence was described as never leaving home, leaving home for lower-contact reasons and leaving home for higher-contact reasons. Fisher’s exact test was used to test associations between adherence and potentially predictive binary factors. Factors showing evidence of association overall were then considered in relation to the three aspects of adherence individually. Qualitative data were analysed using inductive thematic analysis. Results Of 250 respondents who were advised to self-isolate, 63% reported not leaving home at all during their isolation period, 20% reported leaving only for lower-contact activities (dog walking or exercise) and 16% reported leaving for higher-contact, and therefore higher-risk, reasons. Factors associated with adherence to never going out included: the belief that following isolation advice would save lives, experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, being advised to stay in their room, having help from outside and having regular contact by text message from PHE. Factors associated with non-adherence included being angry about the advice to isolate, being unable to get groceries delivered and concerns about losing touch with friends and family. Interviews highlighted that a sense of duty motivated people to adhere to isolation guidance and where people did leave their homes, these decisions were based on rational calculations of the risk of transmission – people would only leave their homes when they thought they were unlikely to come into contact with others. Conclusions Understanding adherence to isolation and associated reasoning during the early stages of the pandemic is essential to pandemic preparedness for future emerging infectious disease outbreaks. Individuals make complex decisions around adherence by calibrating transmission risks, therefore treating adherence as binary should be avoided.

Background: During the early "containment" phase of the COVID-19 response in England (January-March 2020), contact tracing was managed by Public Health England (PHE). Adherence to self-isolation during this phase and how people were making those decisions has not previously been determined. The aim of this study was to gain a better understanding of decisions around adherence to self-isolation during the first phase of the COVID-19 response in England. Methods: A mixed-methods cross sectional study was conducted, including an online survey and qualitative interviews. The overall pattern of adherence was described as never leaving home, leaving home for lower-contact reasons and leaving home for higher-contact reasons. Fisher's exact test was used to test associations between adherence and potentially predictive binary factors. Factors showing evidence of association overall were then considered in relation to the three aspects of adherence individually. Qualitative data were analysed using inductive thematic analysis. Results: Of 250 respondents who were advised to self-isolate, 63% reported not leaving home at all during their isolation period, 20% reported leaving only for lower-contact activities (dog walking or exercise) and 16% reported leaving for higher-contact, and therefore higher-risk, reasons. Factors associated with adherence to never going out included: the belief that following isolation advice would save lives, experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, being advised to stay in their room, having help from outside and having regular contact by text message from PHE. Factors associated with non-adherence included being angry about the advice to isolate, being unable to get groceries delivered and concerns about losing touch with friends and family. Interviews highlighted that a sense of duty motivated people to adhere to isolation guidance and where people did leave their homes, these decisions were based on rational calculations of the risk of transmission – people would only leave their homes when they thought they were unlikely to come into contact with others. Conclusions: Understanding adherence to isolation and associated reasoning during the early stages of the pandemic is essential to pandemic preparedness for future emerging infectious disease outbreaks. Individuals make complex decisions around adherence by calibrating transmission risks, therefore treating adherence as binary should be avoided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The Internet is used as a tool to seek health information by individuals. Mental health concerns are the high prevalence of the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and preventive steps are required to curb the illness. Therefore, to gain more insight into health concerns, it is now a common practice to seek health information on the Internet. This study propose an integrated theoretical model to explore the relationship between COVID-19 protocols and perceived online trust with online health information seeking intention (OHISI) and a moderating effect of perceived severity and perceived urgency. Design/methodology/approach: Data are collected from 325 athletes in the category of individual and team sports through an online survey in a Likert-scale questionnaire. The analysis is performed with a quantitative methodology. Findings: The study reveals the bright side of online health information (OHI), which brings athletes together and has played out with virtual happy hours, meetings and events. The bright side of OHI reflects social, cultural, technological and economic benefits. An OHI chatbot offers bright personalised side information to the individual seeker, which is more convenient and efficient than human capabilities. Originality/value: The pivotal contribution is the integrated theoretical framework that is derived from multidisciplinary literature to capture the complexity of OHI. Also, it conceptualises the constructs in the context of OHI and COVID-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Raining, fog, lightning, insulation failure and short circuit are the major reason for fault occurrence in smart grids of distribution systems. This work arranges the distribution system as a radial network (closed loop structure). Generally, the radial network is suffered from both transient and permanent faults. This work uses the harris hawks optimization (HHO) algorithm to find and isolate such faults. Self-isolation separates faulted sections from the distribution system to provide a nonstop power supply. Accurate self-identification and permanent isolation of faulty sections are the main objective functions of HHO, which reduces the complexity and energy loss of the self-isolation process. The harris hawks optimized self-isolation (HHOSI) algorithm continuously monitors the smart grid relays, switches and circuit breakers through a wireless sensor network (WSN) to identify the faulty part. The proposed algorithm is implemented in the MATLAB platform and analyzed the performance of a self-isolation scheme for 5 minutes. As a result, the proposed method attains 32.38% performance improvement over AEC and 18.06% over the LO-ADI method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this analytical review was to hygienically assess non-specific prevention of the COVID-19 infection. Such measures have been examined profoundly both by Russian and foreign researchers all over the world. The pandemic of this new coronavirus infection has shown that sanitary and preventive measures are among the most significant components in fighting against it, along with anti-epidemic activities and treatment measures, development of new vaccines and medications. All over the world, many countries introduce several sanitary-epidemiological and social measures to prevent spreading of the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19. The review dwells on the results obtained by investigating effectiveness of non-specific prevention of the new coronavirus infection in different countries. As illustrated in the review, it was important to introduce restrictive measures with their major aim being to prevent (or limit) the infection transmission by airborne droplets or through household contacts. Researchers performed hygienic assessment of personal protective equipment used for protection of respiratory organs and hand skin and developed recommendations on its safe and effective use and utilization. Self-isolation as a restrictive measure to prevent the COVID-19 pandemic from spreading was a temporary one. Nevertheless, during the pandemic peak billions of people all over the world had to remain at home after the strict self-isolation had been introduced. The review provides some data on estimating the level of commitment among population to follow recommendations on limiting the infection spread in Russia and abroad. In Russia, there is a reliable and effective state infra-structure of public healthcare. It made it possible to keep the pandemic situation under control starting from the early days when cases of pneumonia with unspecified etiology were reported in December 2019 and the first COVID-19 cases were registered in the country. Several measures were introduced including administrative, organizational, technical and sanitary-hygienic ones. However, it was a challenging task to create a relevant response to the COVID-19 pandemic that the public healthcare system in Russia had to tackle.

The article discusses the process of transferring the financial and economic activities of most self-employed entrepreneurs to the digital space, which was forced by the conditions of the remote work format during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the established legislative framework during the period of self-isolation. The analysis of the current legislative framework, which is included in the article, makes it possible to identify general trends in removing barriers to engage a larger group of entrepreneurs in a new format of working, as well as immersing the main financial instruments in the Internet. On the basis of empirical data obtained in the course of quantitative (data analytics of queries in Yandex.Direct) and qualitative sociological research (content analysis of financial applications) the features of registration and registration procedures in the digital space were formed, the online platforms of the Federal Tax Service and the largest banking organizations for servicing financial and economic activities for the self-employed were analyzed, including financial instruments. A number of main aggregators and marketplaces are distinguished by industries of the activity sphere of the self-employed according to the criterion of popularity in Internet search engines. The specificity of web analytics of the dynamics and content of search queries allows us to draw conclusions about the most pressing topics, both for the self-employed and for those interested in this topic for the purpose of subsequent registration and use of financial instruments on the Internet. Based on these requests, there is a surge of interest in self-employed entrepreneurship, the criteria for registering self-employment during the pandemic and post-pandemic, an active study of the specifics of tax liabilities and financial and economic activities, typical characteristics of search behavior and priority online platforms in the Yandex.Direct system have been formed.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been declared a global pandemic for more than two years. People who are confirmed positive for COVID-19 or had close contact with COVID-19 patients are suggested to selfisolate to prevent the transmission. Some medications and supplements are recommended to be taken during selfisolation. The aim of the study was to investigate the public knowledge and attitude towards medications and dietary supplements used during COVID-19 self-isolation such as paracetamol, vitamin C, vitamin D, zinc, and antiretroviral favipiravir. A survey of 380 participants in Surabaya, Indonesia using a self-developed questionnaire carried out online using Google form was conducted. The results showed that most participants had good knowledge (80.3%) and a positive attitude (89.5%). Furthermore, the good public knowledge about medications and dietary supplements used in COVID-19 self-isolation was correlated with a positive attitude (p=0.029). Therefore, continuous education and information campaign about medications and dietary supplements used during COVID-19 self-isolation which involving related parties is still needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the moderating effect of perceived social support from friends in the associations between self-isolation practices during the COVID-19 pandemic and adolescents' mental health (i.e., depression, subjective health complaints, self-harm), measured six months later (Time 2). Participants were 1,567 7th and 8th graders (51% female; 51% white; M age = 13.67) from the United States. They completed questionnaires on perceived social support from friends, depression, subjective health complaints, and self-harm at Time 1, and self-isolation practices during COVID-19, depression, subjective health complaints, and self-harm at Time 2. The findings revealed that self-isolation practices during COVID-19 was related positively to Time 1 perceived social support from friends, and negatively to Time 2 depression, subjective health complaints, and self-harm, while accounting for Time 1 mental health outcomes. Higher perceived social support from friends at Time 1 buffered against the negative impacts on adolescents' mental health outcomes at Time 2 when they practiced greater self-isolation during COVID-19, while lower perceived social support at Time 1 had the opposite effects on Time 2 mental health outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: This research suggests a compact uniplanar multiple‐input multiple‐output (MIMO) with four ports for n79/n46/millimeter‐wave (mm‐wave) applications. The size of the quad MIMO is only 30 × 30 × 0.8 mm3. MIMO system consists of four identical Z‐shaped radiators and common ground on the same plane and no decoupling structures are used for isolation. The system covers the bandwidth of 1.9 GHz (4.4–6.3 GHz) with a mid‐frequency of 5.6 GHz and also covers the high‐band frequencies ranging from 18 to 30 GHz with a bandwidth of 12 GHz. The suggested quad MIMO is fabricated on an FR‐4 board, and the measured outcomes are well in line with the simulated results. An isolation value of −11 dB has been achieved for mid‐band frequency and −24 dB has been attained for mm‐wave bands. Through the value of DG = 10 dB, ECC < 0.07, TARC < −3 dB, MEG < −5 dB, and the ratio of MEG = 1 dB, uniplanar quad MIMO shows acceptable MIMO diversity performance. The entire system was evaluated for the users' hand specific absorption rate (SAR) impacts and is within the limits. After the complete analysis of the miniature quad MIMO antenna, an 8‐port, and a 16‐port uniplanar MIMO are simulated for smartphone‐sized dielectric substrates and the performances were examined. The suggested MIMO system provides an efficient single‐layer MIMO antenna to 5G smartphones with high bandwidth and low SAR. The proposed quad MIMO systems are suitable for both the sub‐6 GHz band and the mm‐wave band. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the moderating effect of technology use for friendship maintenance in the associations between self-isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic and friendship quality, measured 6 months later (Time 2). Participants were 1,567 seventh and eighth graders (51% female; 51% white; M age = 13.47) from the United States. They completed questionnaires on friendship quality at Time 1, and self-isolation during COVID-19 and technology use for friendship maintenance and friendship quality at Time 2. The findings revealed that self-isolation during COVID-19 was related positively to technology use for friendship maintenance and negatively to Time 2 friendship quality. Higher technology use for friendship maintenance buffered against the negative impacts on friendship quality associated with self-isolation during COVID-19, while lower technology use had the opposite effects on Time 2 friendship quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the analysis of the results of the survey conducted by the authors through a service such as Google Forms, some aspects of the impact of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic on the socio-psychological state of a person are considered. The sample of respondents can be described as spontaneous. The age of respondents in the range from 14 to 71 years, these are residents of different states, localities, differing in the nature of leading activities and social status. However, the results of the study demonstrate that place, age, status and other characteristics are not crucial in terms of socio-psychological well-being during the pandemic. Among the main problems faced by the population in the conditions of the pandemic are limited contacts and movement, difficulties with the organization of school-age children’s studies, loss of work and reduced income, fear for their health and the health of loved ones.

Purpose and objectives. The article analyzes the state support for families with children during the COVID-19 pandemic in Russia and abroad. The purpose of the study was to study the opinion of families with children about state social support during the pandemic. Methods. The study uses a set of general scientific methods, such as analysis, synthesis, generalization, comparison, system-functional and integrated approach. Within the framework of the stated topic, systematization of measures to support families with children in the crisiscaused by the pandemic in different countries was carried out. In addition to the analysis of statistical data and scientific literature, a sociological study was conducted in the form of online surveys of families with children. Surveys were conducted in the period from June 2019 to March 2020 and from November 2020 to December 2020 (the total sample is 140 families). The theoretical and practical significance of the presented study is that it can become the basis for further study of measures of state support for families with children in crisis periods. The analysis actualizes the importance for the practice of international experience of measures of social support for families with children. Results and conclusions. The article analyzes the state support for families with children during the COVID-19 pandemic in Russia and abroad. The study is of practical importance for the development and implementation of measures to support families with children by state and public organizations, which will prevent the deterioration of the financial situation of families.

Objectives: Global pandemics, such as the current COVID‐19 pandemic, are predicted to increase in prevalence in the future. Transmission suppression techniques such as social distancing and stay‐at‐home restrictions have introduced an abundance of additional stressors while simultaneously reducing our capacity to cope with stress, thus increasing the collective burden of the pandemic. Numerous psychosocial factors have been identified to protect against distress in difficult circumstances. However, it is unknown whether these factors will continue to be protective in the pandemic context. Design: The aim of the current study was to determine whether locus of control (LOC), coping style or self‐compassion were debilitating or protective factors towards psychological well‐being (depression, anxiety, stress and positive and negative affect) during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Methods: In the current study, Australian adults (N = 176) completed a longitudinal online survey (two time points, 2 weeks apart) incorporating measures of demographics, locus of control, coping, self‐compassion (measured at T1), depression, anxiety, stress and positive and negative affect (measured at T1 and T2) throughout June–August 2020, during the height of lockdown in Australia. Results: Multiple regression analyses suggested that avoidant coping was predictive of increases in stress and negative affect across time points. Additionally, self‐compassion was predictive of increased positive affect across time points. Conclusions: These results suggest that the pandemic context represents a unique stressor, demanding a distinctive set of strategies and psychosocial characteristics to cope. Interventions targeted at reducing avoidant coping behaviours and promoting self‐compassion may contribute to improvements in psychological well‐being during the COVID‐19 pandemic as well as future pandemics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Self-isolation is challenging and adherence is dependent on a range of psychological, social and economic factors. We aimed to identify the challenges experienced by contacts of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases to better target support and minimize the harms of self-isolation. Methods The Contact Adherence Behavioural Insights Study (CABINS) was a 15-minute telephone survey conducted with confirmed contacts of COVID-19 (N  = 2027), identified through the NHS Wales Test Trace Protect (TTP) database. Results Younger people (aged 18–29 years) were three times more likely to report mental health concerns (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 3.16, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.05–4.86) and two times more likely to report loneliness (aOR: 1.96, CI: 1.37–2.81) compared to people aged over 60 years. Women were 1.5 times more likely to experience mental health concerns (aOR: 1.51, 95% CI: 1.20–1.92) compared to men. People with high levels of income precarity were eight times more likely to report financial challenges (aOR: 7.73, CI: 5.10–11.74) and three times more likely to report mental health concerns than their more financially secure counterparts (aOR: 3.08, CI: 2.22–4.28). Conclusion Self-isolation is particularly challenging for younger people, women and those with precarious incomes. Providing enhanced support is required to minimize the harms of self-isolation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Social distancing and self-isolation were key parts of the UK’s strategy for reducing the spread of COVID-19. This study explored young people’s attitudes, perceptions and experiences of social distancing and social isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic.Methods: Qualitative individual, family and paired-friendship interviews were conducted. All 26 participants lived or worked in East London and were aged between 20 and 39 years.Results: Qualitative analysis revealed three main themes: 1) trust and breaking of the social distancing and self-isolation rules—trust in their friends to be careful and say if they are unwell; 2) own rule making—making their own household rules which made them less guilty about breaking national rules as they were adhering to rules (albeit their own); and 3) lack of clarity around self isolation and the need for practical support—confusion around length of time needed to self isolate and what self-isolation really meant.Conclusion: Developing more effective and targeted communications and practical support mechanisms to encourage better adherence to social distancing and self-isolation rules among young people will be essential to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

The article contains the results of a survey of Moscow students of both sexes during the quarantine period associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. Hypersthetic reactions and self-perception were studied. It is shown that the proportion of students with a high overall level of hypersthetic reactions was 5.8 %, with an average – 27.5 %, with a low – 66.7 %. All private indicators of this parameter are registered in the low range of values with a tendency to the average level. The most pronounced reaction turned out to be “paying attention to different situations, events or stimuli that I had completely ignored before.” The results of a comparative analysis of data by gender are presented; girls have a significantly higher overall level of hypersthetic reactions. All indicators of actual self-perception turned out to be moderately pronounced, indicating its adequacy. Intersex differences were found in the assessments of “free” and “healthy”. Attention was drawn to the fact that the Pearson correlation analysis did not show a connection between hypersthetic reactions and self-perception - they were identified using the method of statistical relationships research within the framework of the synergetic approach and the nonlinear psychology of M.M. Basimov.

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, various models of virus spread have been proposed. While most of these models focused on the replication of the interaction processes through which the virus is passed on from infected agents to susceptible ones, less effort has been devoted to the process through which agents modify their behaviour as they adapt to the risks posed by the pandemic. Understanding the way agents respond to COVID-19 spread is important, as this behavioural response affects the dynamics of virus spread by modifying interaction patterns. In this article, we present an agent-based model that includes a behavioural module determining agent testing and isolation propensity in order to understand the role of various behavioural parameters in the spread of COVID-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The status of a global pandemic or epidemic indicates that the spread of COVID-19 is very fast and worrying, namely Covid 19 1166 cases were recorded as of April 30, 2021, 802 cases were declared cured and 328 were treated and 36 people were declared dead. With details of cases of self-isolation at home 269 people, 32 cases treated at the Cendana Hotel and 27 cases treated at the Umbu Rara Meha Hospital, Waingapu. The purpose of the study was to conduct a field analysis in the application of management functions in Isoman (Independent Isolation) of Covid19 patients in East Sumba Regency and to analyze the management needs of Covid19 patient care in performing self-isolation at home. This research method is a survey study of descriptive data analyzed in a frequency table, namely the importance of implementing the management functions of coordination, control/supervision, budgeting/financing and evaluation of patients during COVID19 self-isolation. The number of samples targeted was accidental sampling, namely samples that happened to be present during the study take place. Conclusion: East Sumba COVID-19 self-isolation patients with coordination management were 46% no coordination, 29% patients were not monitored, 37% did not receive fees and 34% were not evaluated [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In addition to altering public infrastructure and social patterning, the COVID‐19 pandemic has delayed many pelvic organ prolapse (POP) surgeries. POP‐related stigma, symptomology and the experience of waiting for POP surgery can negatively impact women's quality of life and mental health. The experience of preoperative POP patients during the pandemic thus entails a new intersection of gendered, stigmatic and medical realities. Qualitative interviews were conducted with 26 preoperative POP patients as part of a larger qualitative study, 20 of whom spontaneously volunteered information about how the pandemic coloured their experience living with and awaiting surgery for POP. Interviews occurred between January and July 2021, which coincided with the second and third waves of the pandemic in Alberta, Canada, and before full immunisation was available for all Albertans. Pandemic‐related interview excerpts were thematically analysed, and four main findings emerged. (1) Though surgical delay meant living with unpleasant symptoms for longer than anticipated, some sought this out in order to protect vulnerable loved ones from possible hospital‐acquired infection, (2) shifting and unclear hospital policies and logistics resulted in intense preoperative stress, at times causing women to temporarily cease treatment, (3) decreased access to public restroom infrastructure caused women to reduce their outings and (4) the imperative to minimise social gatherings made it easier for women to engage in POP‐related, shame‐based self‐isolation without the notice of friends and family. As they can influence postoperative outcomes and treatment adherence, trends observed should be of interest to clinicians and policymakers alike. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the correlates of depressive and anxious symptomatology in a Lebanese sample during the COVID-19 outbreak. A convenience sample of 191 respondents participated in a cross-sectional survey and completed measures of fear of COVID-19, rumination about COVID-19, job insecurity, political trust, depression, and generalized anxiety. Results indicated that political trust was associated with greater wellbeing (manifested as decreased job insecurity, fear of COVID-19, depression, and anxiety). Respondents who reported no compliance with self-isolation measures reported less rumination about COVID-19 and less fear of COVID-19 than those who did. Multiple regression analyses showed that fear of, and rumination about, COVID-19 predicted depressive and anxious symptomatology while political trust was protective against depressive symptomatology only. This study provides a novel perspective on mental health in Lebanon, by focusing on its social and psychological predictors during the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to political and economic instability in Lebanon, the COVID-19 crisis may have deleterious effects on mental health in the Lebanese population. Internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy is an evidence-based and cost-effective approach to enhancing mental health during the pandemic and may be beneficial in the Lebanese context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected many aspects of our lives, including mental health. Identifying risk factors and risk groups associated with anxiety, depression, and other emotional disorders for reasons related to the COVID-19 pandemic is highly relevant. This narrative review aims to summarize the evidence to date on risk factors for emotional disorders during the COVID-19 pandemic in order to identify the risk groups of people in need of early psychiatric and psychological assistance, point out the controversial data on the influence of risk factors on emotional disorders in COVID-19, and finally offer recommendations for alleviating symptoms of anxiety, depression, and other emotional disorders in such people. According to the current literature, being under the age of 40, being female, having contact with a COVID-infected person, and watching the news about COVID-19 for more than 3 h a day all increase the likelihood of anxiety, depression, and sleep disturbances. Healthcare workers, particularly nurses, working in the COVID-19 hot zone suffer more from sleep disorders, anxiety, and depression. It is also noted that people with a previous psychiatric history, in addition to increased risks of anxiety and depression, have an increased risk of relapse during the COVID-19 pandemic. The same is true for people who have had episodes of substance abuse in the past. Aside from socioeconomic factors, the mental wellbeing of those who have had COVID-19 is also impacted by biological factors (using anti-COVID-19 drugs, COVID-19-associated immunothrombosis and venous thromboembolism, interferon-gamma-related cytokine storm, etc.), resulting in a wide range of acute and long-term cognitive disorders. During the restricted resource time, the aforementioned risk groups should be prioritized for prevention, early identification, and proper treatment of potential emotional disorders. The risk factors that were found in this narrative review, as well as how they interact and change over time, will help understand why some studies of at-risk groups do not agree with each other, justify new preventive measures, and strengthen existing programs to keep people’s mental health in check during this pandemic and other emergencies.

The article describes the results of a longitudinal study of 1036 diary entries organised in the form of a daily description by respondents of emotional states and behavioral reactions in the first two weeks of self-isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic and exactly a year later. The analysis of the dynamics of changes in the mental state of respondents, depending on their gender and age, has been presented. Significant differences in the dynamics of mental state over the year have been revealed in the direction of improvement in the whole sample, except for 2 groups: women 18– 30 years old and 56–95 years old. Gender analysis has shown that women show a most pronounced reaction to stress, anxiety and depression at the moment and in long term perspective. Age analysis has shown that young people, students, demonstrate pronounced fluctuations in their mental state and a tendency to a negative background of experiences both at the time of the outbreak of coronavirus infection and a year later.

This work presents a compact dual-band two-port multiple input multiple output (MIMO) antenna with high performance that is specifically used for 5G applications. The proposed design comprises closely spaced, mirror-symmetrical X-shaped structures positioned at an edge spacing of 0.02 λ 0 between antenna elements. Subsequently, a metasurface is located at a distance of 0.27 λ 0 above the radiator to improve the performance of the MIMO antenna. The proposed antenna resonates at 3.27 GHz within a frequency range of (3.03–3.44) GHz in the primary band, achieving a peak realized gain of 7.57 dBi. In the secondary band, the resonance occurs at 4.78 GHz with a range of (4.01–5.87) GHz below −10 dB reflection coefficient and produces a peak realized gain of 5.60 dBi. After positioning the metasurface on top of the reference antenna, the peak realized gain improves by 116.28 % in the primary band and 69.69 % in the secondary band respectively. Whereas the isolation is increased to −30.01 dB from –22.26 dB in the primary band, similarly for the secondary band the isolation is amended to −21.00 dB from −18.20 dB. Moreover, circular polarization is realized at working frequencies after placing the metasurface on the reference antenna. Simulation and measurement results prove that the S-parameters exceed more than −20 dB in both frequency bands. Additionally, MIMO performance metrics, including envelope correlation coefficient (ECC), channel capacity loss (CCL), total active reflection coefficient (TARC), mean effective gain (MEG), and diversity gain (DG) are simulated and measured. The designed antenna proves suitable for the new radio (NR) 5G of n48 (3.55–3.70 GHz) in the primary band and the n79 (4.4–5.0 GHz) in the secondary band respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In China, acute stigma accompanying an HIV diagnosis can lead to self-isolation. In a cultural setting where family relationships are highly valued and contribute critically to well-being, such self-isolation can thwart HIV self-management and engagement in medical care, and so heighten risk for health disparities. To understand this phenomenon, we conducted individual in-depth interviews with 34 persons living with HIV/AIDS (PLwHA) in Shanghai and Beijing. Inductive content analysis revealed a range of forms of self-isolation motivation, beliefs, and behaviors influenced by: 1) internalized stigma and desire to avoid discrimination; 2) HIV-related factors such as HIV knowledge and disease progression; and 3) familial factors such as a sense of responsibility and family members' reactions. Based on a proposed framework centering on dialectical family influences (whereby PLwHA are pushed away from, yet pulled toward the family fold), implications for provision of multidisciplinary care in medical settings are considered, including culturally appropriate strategies to decrease health disparities.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the methods of pain self-care used by patients in Türkiye with chronic musculoskeletal pain who could not access a healthcare provider during the coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Materials and Methods: A total of 255 participants (mean age 40.8±13.2 years) diagnosed with chronic musculoskeletal pain were included in the study. The Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire and a form created by the researchers were used to assess the prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms and methods of pain management. Results: The primary site of symptoms during the previous 12-month period was the low back, neck, and upper back regions (69%, 64.7%, and 60% respectively). The detailed assessment revealed that in the prior 7 days, patients experienced symptoms most often in the lower back (56.9%), upper back (45.1%), and neck (43.9%). The most frequently used methods of pain self-care were massage (71%), pain relief medication (68.2%), and topical analgesics (55.3%). Conclusion: Patients most often reported symptoms in the spinal area, and the most used means of self-care for pain management were massaging the painful area, pain medication, and topical analgesics. Self-care initiatives can be very valuable, however, at least some initial guidance from health professionals is advisable. Additional exploration of technological means of intervention and awareness of appropriate self-care could be of substantial benefit individuals and society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 restrictions that require the lockdown of public and economic activities heighten the levels of sexual and gender-based violence against women and girls with disabilities. As the COVID-19 pandemic spreads across the globe, particularly in Africa, women and girls with disabilities become vulnerable to sexual and gender-based violence, highlighting that the home is no longer a safe space for the vulnerable. The restrictions have eroded the community structures that are promoted by Ubuntu to protect vulnerable community members from violence and different forms of abuse. This article grapples with the question of African women's theology of disability and Ubuntu in the context of COVID-19. It seeks to address the vulnerability of women and girls with disabilities to sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) in private homes. The question, therefore, that this article seeks to answer is how African women's theology of disability informed by Ubuntu can curb the violence and abuses perpetrated on women and girls with disabilities in the context of COVID-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study assessed the prevalence of infection, management strategies and associated disease outcomes of COVID-19 among Autoimmune Rheumatic Disease (AIRD) patients in a teaching hospital in Ghana., Design: This was a retrospective cross-sectional study., Setting: Rheumatology Unit, Korle Bu Teaching Hospital., Participants: Autoimmune Rheumatic Disease patients., Results: Thirty-one (31) out of approximately 1700 AIRD patients in the unit tested positive for COVID-19, registering a COVID-19 prevalence of 1.82%. The majority, 25(80.6%), were females with a mean ± SD age of 41.7 ± 12.8 years. Systemic lupus erythematosus was the most affected autoimmune rheumatic condition, reporting fever as the commonest COVID-19-related symptom. Most participants, 22(71%), were managed by the "self-isolation"/home management" strategy. In comparison, 7(22.5%) were monitored at the hospital, with both strategies having resulted in complete recovery. The remaining 2(6.5%) patients who managed under "intensive care unit" strategy resulted in mortality., Conclusion: These findings highlight the relatively low frequency of COVID-19 infection among AIRD patients, the encouraging recovery, and the low severe disease rates observed within this cohort. Additionally, the outcome of self-isolation and home management strategies underscore the importance of personalised approaches to COVID-19 management in this population., Funding: None ., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest: None declared, (Copyright © The Author(s).)