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OBJECTIVE: Masks are one of the most important defenses against the virus. However, the impact of wearing masks during daily activities or sports on respiratory and circulatory function remains controversial. A comprehensive quantitative evaluation of the effects of mask-wearing on human heart rate, oxygen saturation and end-expiratory carbon dioxide by Meta-analysis was conducted. The effects of wearing different types of masks at different exercise intensities and time of exercise on the human respiratory and circulatory system were explored. METHODS: By February 2023, with “mask, face mask, N95, training, sports, running, walking, cycling” as the Chinese search terms and “masks, respiratory protective devices, N95 respirators, surgical face masks, exercise, resistance training, explosive training, muscle exercises” as English search terms, the experimental studies addressing the influence of exercise with a mask on hemodynamic indexes were retrieved from CNKI, Web of Science, PubMed, Cochrane Library and WanFang databases. The outcome indicators included three continuous variables - exercise center rate, blood oxygen saturation and end-expiratory carbon dioxide. Stata16.0 software was used to analyze the outcome indicators of the included literature. The PEDro scale was used as a quality assessment tool, and the funnel plot was used to analyze the impact of publication bias. RESULTS: Totally 25 articles involving 857 healthy children and adults were included in this Meta-analysis. The overall methodological quality was high, with 22 studies scoring 6 points on the PEDro scale, 2 studies scoring 7 points and 1 study scoring 8 points. The meta-analysis results showed that compared with the control group, exercise with masks had no significant effect on heart rate (SMD=0.02, 95%CI: -0.11 to 0.15, P=0.81), but increased end-expiratory carbon dioxide (SMD=0.60, 95%CI: 0.37 to 0.83, P=0.00), decreased oxygen saturation (SMD=-0.28, 95%CI: -0.47 to -0.09, P=0.03). Intensity and duration were the factors that affected the heterogeneity between studies. Wearing a mask during high-intensity exercise significantly increased heart rate (SMD=-0.20, 95%CI: -0.36 to -0.04, P=0.02). The effect of high-intensity and short-time exercise on blood oxygen saturation was significantly higher than that of other exercises (SMD=-0.40, 95%CI: -0.70 to -0.10; SMD=-0.25, 95%CI: -0.45 to -0.04). For end-expiratory carbon dioxide, maintaining a certain intensity and increasing the exercise time or increasing the intensity further increased the index significantly, reaching a moderate effect size (SMD=0.61, 95%CI: 0.06 to 1.15; SMD=0.58, 95%CI: 0.04 to 1.13). CONCLUSION: Existing evidence suggests that exercise with masks may have the adverse effect of increasing end-expiratory carbon dioxide and decreasing blood oxygen saturation. The influence of different exercise test time and intensities on the three outcome indexes was different. Wearing a mask during high-intensity exercise can significantly increase heart rate and decrease blood oxygen saturation. Maintaining moderate intensity for a long period or further increasing the intensity of exercise will lead to increased end-expiratory carbon dioxide levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Superspreading, under‐reporting, reporting delay, and confounding complicate statistical inference on determinants of disease transmission. A model that accounts for these factors within a Bayesian framework is estimated using German Covid‐19 surveillance data. Compartments based on date of symptom onset, location, and age group allow to identify age‐specific changes in transmission, adjusting for weather, reported prevalence, and testing and tracing. Several factors were associated with a reduction in transmission: public awareness rising, information on local prevalence, testing and tracing, high temperature, stay‐at‐home orders, and restaurant closures. However, substantial uncertainty remains for other interventions including school closures and mandatory face coverings. The challenge of disentangling the effects of different determinants is discussed and examined through a simulation study. On a broader perspective, the study illustrates the potential of surveillance data with demographic information and date of symptom onset to improve inference in the presence of under‐reporting and reporting delay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The COVID‐19 pandemic brought about a new normal, necessitating the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) like face shields, surgical masks, gloves, and goggles. However, prolonged mask‐wearing introduced skin‐related issues due to changes in the skin's microenvironment, including increased humidity and temperature, as well as pressure on the skin. These factors led to skin deformation, vascular issues, edema, and inflammation, resulting in discomfort and cosmetic concerns. Clinical reports quickly highlighted the consequences of long‐term mask use, including increased cases of "maskne" (mask‐related acne) or mask‐wearing related disorders such as rosacea flare‐ups, skin‐barrier defects, itching, erythema, redness, hyperpigmentation, and lichenification. Some of these issues, like inflammation, oxidative stress, and poor wound healing, could be directly linked to acne‐related disorders or skin hypoxia. Aim: To address these problems, researchers turned to rutin, a well‐known flavonoid with antioxidant, vasoactive, and anti‐inflammatory properties. However, rutin's poor water solubility presented a challenge for cosmetic formulations. To overcome this limitation, a highly water‐soluble form of rutin was developed, making it suitable for use at higher concentrations. Methods: In vitro and ex vivo tests were conducted, as well as an innovative clinical trial including volunteers wearing surgical masks for at least 2 h, to evaluate the biological activity of this soluble rutin on the main skin concerns associated with mask‐wearing (inflammation, oxidative stress, skin repair, hyperpigmentation, and skin redness). Results: The in vitro results showed that the active ingredient significantly reduced oxidative stress, improved wound healing, and reduced inflammation. In dark skin explants, the active ingredient significantly reduced melanin content, indicating its lightening activity. This effect was confirmed in the clinical study, where brown spots decreased significantly after 4 days of application. Moreover, measurements on volunteers demonstrated a decrease in skin redness and vascularization after the active ingredient application, indicating inflammation and erythema reduction. Volunteers reported improved skin comfort. Conclusion: In summary, the COVID‐19 pandemic led to various skin issues associated with mask‐wearing. A highly soluble form of rutin was developed, which effectively addressed these concerns by reducing inflammation, oxidative stress, and hyperpigmentation while promoting wound healing. This soluble rutin offers a promising solution for the rapid treatment of maskne‐related disorders and other skin problems caused by prolonged mask use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Collagen, a critical structural protein found abundantly in animal skin and bones, has become increasingly recognized for its potential therapeutic role in skincare. Despite growing interest, the scientific evidence for the efficacy of collagen sheet masks remains limited. The principal objective of our study was to provide insights into the multifaceted role of collagen in skin health, with a specific focus on its application in collagen sheet masks. Methods: The effects of a collagen sheet mask consisting of >92% native bovine collagen were investigated. The soluble protein components of the collagen matrix were analyzed and the influence of soluble collagen components on fibroblast regulation was examined. Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) analysis was performed for structural analysis and effect on irritated skin. Five different clinical studies were conducted, including a comparison of the diversity of the skin microbiome, the tolerance and local irritating reactions in atopic dermatitis, an evaluation of skin redness after UV radiation, wrinkle reduction, and hydration and skin roughness of the collagen mask in comparison to a pre‐soaked cellulose sheet mask. Results: The collagen mask contains soluble protein components, including small collagen peptides. The mask showed potential for promoting fibroblast activity. SEM analysis showed a native collagen structure similar to human dermis. The mask maintained the skin microbiome diversity and decreased skin pH levels. It demonstrated good tolerability on both intact and lesional skin and had a significant effect in reducing erythema caused by UV radiation compared to other skincare products. It showed significant improvements in skin hydration and the volume of eye wrinkles and was more effective than pre‐soaked cellulose sheet masks. Conclusion: Collagen sheet masks have the potential to positively impact skin health and appearance by increasing hydration, reducing erythema, minimizing wrinkles, and maintaining a healthy skin microbiome and skin barrier. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Face masks are essential in reducing the transmission of respiratory infections and bacterial filtration efficiency, a key parameter of mask performances, requires the use of Staphylococcus aureus and specialised staff. This study aims to develop a novel method for a preliminary screening of masks or materials filtration efficiency by a green, easy and rapid setup based on the use of a riboflavin solution, a safe autofluorescent biomolecule. The proposed setup is composed of a commercial aerosol generator commonly used for aerosol therapy, custom 3D printed aerosol chamber and sample holder, a filter for downstream riboflavin detection and a vacuum pump. The filtration efficiency of four different masks was assessed using the riboflavin-based setup and the bacterial filtration efficiency (BFE). The averaged filtration efficiency values, measured with both methods, were similar but were higher for the riboflavin-based setup (about 2% for all tested samples) than bacterial filtration efficiency. Considering the good correlation, the riboflavin-based setup can be considered validated as an alternative method to bacterial filtration efficiency for masks and related materials fabrics filtration efficiency screening but This study aims to develop a novel method for a preliminary screening of masks or materials filtration efficiency by a green, easy and rapid setup based on the use of a riboflavin solution, a safe autofluorescent biomolecule, but not to replace regulation approaches. The proposed setup can be easily implemented at low price, is more rapid and eco-friendly and can be performed in chemical-physical laboratories without the needing of biosafety laboratory and specialised operators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the design and research of a sensor-based personal air-quality monitoring device are presented, which is retrofitted into different personal protective face masks. Due to its small size and low power consumption, the device can be integrated into and applied in practical urban usage. We present our research and the development of the sensor node based on a BME680-type environmental sensor cluster with a wireless IoT (Internet of Things)-capable central unit and overall low power consumption. The integration of the sensor node was investigated with traditional medical masks and a professional FFP2-type mask. The filtering efficiency after embedding was validated with a head model and a particle counter. We found that the professional mask withstood the embedding without losing the protective filtering aspect. We compared the inner and outer sensor data and investigated the temperature, pressure, humidity, and AQI (Air Quality Index) relations with possible sensor data-fusion options. The novelty is increased with the dual-sensor layout (inward and outward). It was found that efficient respiration monitoring is achievable with the device. With the analysis of the recorded data, characteristic signals were identified in an urban environment, enabling urban altimetry and urban zone detection. The results promote smart city concepts and help in endeavors related to SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) 3 and 11. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The COVID‐19 pandemic prompted the use of face masks as a social distancing measure. Although evidence supports their effectiveness in preventing infection, it remains unclear why some adolescents choose to continue wearing them postpandemic, even when it is no longer mandatory. This study aims to explore adolescents' experiences of wearing face masks during the COVID‐19 pandemic when their use was no longer mandatory. Method: In this exploratory qualitative study, data were collected from 16 adolescents through face‐to‐face semistructured interviews. The participants were asked about the reasons and feelings associated with continuing to wear masks, as well as the contexts in which they felt safe without a mask. The collected data were analysed using Braun and Clarke's thematic analysis. Results: Three main themes were identified: (1) Navigating complex decision‐making: balancing safety and self‐image, (2) peer influence dynamics and (3) managing the future: weather dynamics and pandemic evolution. Discussion: The potential implications of withdrawing COVID‐19 preventive measures, such as mask‐wearing, beyond the pandemic remain understudied. It is crucial to further investigate the perceptions related to wearing masks and its cessation, especially amongst vulnerable individuals. Patient or Public Contribution: Due to methodological constraints associated with participants' age, they were not engaged in the design, data analysis, data interpretation or manuscript preparation phases of the study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic created an unprecedented increase in the usage of personal protective equipment (PPE) in the healthcare industry, especially in the form of face coverings. Subsequently, guidelines related to breathability and wear comfort were published by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) as an influx of various new materials entered the PPE market. This study evaluated a proprietary, novel, zinc-ion embedded fiber with the ability to deactivate bacteria and viruses, including SARS-COV-2, for its wear comfort in a nonwoven disposable mask in comparison to a commercially available surgical face mask which served as the control. Ten healthy, full-time, career, firefighters participated in this study wearing both masks in a randomized fashion. A medical task simulation (MTS) protocol was developed to replicate nursing task metabolic rates, per the compendium of physical activities, via a graded treadmill walking exercise. Participant ratings including ease of mask fit, overall mask comfort, facial comfort, breathability, and facial temperature sensation were recorded before, during, and after the 50-minute protocol in a controlled environmental chamber. The 100% nylon, zinc ion mask was rated as slightly cooler at the beginning of the trial (at 0.8 vs. 1.3), than the commercially available polypropylene mask. The polypropylene mask also reached a perceived mask facial comfort (MFC) rating of 1.6 just 35 min into the protocol whereas the zinc ion mask did not reach a rating of slight discomfort until the end of the exercise. Findings indicate the novel zinc-ion embedded mask was as comfortable, if not more so, than the commercially available nonwoven mask with more favorable ratings for longer durations. Not only do the zinc properties provide enhanced protection, but they maintain, if not improve, wearer comfort. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The production of personal protective equipment (PPE) has increased dramatically in recent years, not only because of the pandemic, but also because of stricter legislation in the field of Employee Protection. The increasing use of PPE, including disposable surgical masks (DSMs), is putting additional pressure on waste collectors. For this reason, it is necessary to find high-quality solutions for this type of waste. Mechanical recycling is still the most common type of recycling, but the recyclates are often classified as low-grade materials. For this reason, a detailed analysis of the recyclates is necessary. These data will help us to improve the properties and find the right end application that will increase the value of the materials. This work represents an extended analysis of the recyclates obtained from DSMs, manufactured from different polymers. Using surface and morphology tests, we have gained insights into the distribution of different polymers in polymer blends and their effects on mechanical and surface properties. It was found that the addition of ear loop material to the PP melt makes the material tougher. In the polymer blends obtained, PP and PA 6 form the surface (affects surface properties), while PU and PET are distributed mainly inside the injection-molded samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The circular economy model is based on the 4R framework—reduce, reuse, recycle, and recover. While recycling was the primary focus in the past, the shortage of raw materials and the desire to reduce carbon footprints have led to a change in focus: end-of-life materials are now considered resources rather than waste. When discharged, end-of-life materials still possess properties that can be exploited. For this reason, a comprehensive characterization of reusable materials is mandatory to reduce waste and increase material availability. The reuse of waste materials, such as surgical masks, is of particular interest in giving people in disadvantaged contexts the opportunity to self-produce and self-install panels within their homes, with the dual result of improving indoor comfort and increasing human capital. This paper focuses on the identification of a possible second application for surgical face masks through experimental characterization. Panels made of masks were tested for water vapor permeability, thermal conductivity, and fire resistance and their use as insulating material in the building sector was discussed. Based on the results, surgical face masks are suitable as thermal insulating materials, do not pose safety concerns, and can reduce energy consumption and improve thermal comfort when installed indoors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The multifunctional development in the field of face masks and the growing demand for scalable manufacturing have become increasingly prominent. In this study, we utilized high-vacuum magnetron sputtering technology to deposit a 5 nm ultra-thin Ag–Cu film on non-woven fabric and fabricated ultra-thin Ag–Cu film face masks. The antibacterial rates against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus were 99.996% and 99.978%, respectively, while the antiviral activity against influenza A virus H1N1 was 99.02%. Furthermore, the mask's ability to monitor respiratory system diseases was achieved through color change (from brownish-yellow to grey-white). The low cost and scalability potential of ultra-thin silver–copper film masks offer new possibilities for practical applications of multifunctional masks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of anti‐pandemic measures, including wearing a face mask and receiving vaccinations, on interpersonal distance (IPD) during the normalization stage of the COVID‐19 pandemic. Virtual reality (VR) technology was used to simulate the experimental environment and a confederate in different conditions. Thirty‐one participants were asked to approach the virtual confederate, who could exhibit three vaccination states and two mask‐wearing conditions, actively and passively in both indoor and outdoor environments. ANOVA results showed that the participants kept a smaller IPD from the confederate wearing a face mask (IPD = 125.6 cm) than from the one without a face mask (IPD = 154.2 cm). The effects of vaccination states were significant, with the largest distance for an unvaccinated confederate (IPD = 182.3 cm) and the smallest distance for the confederate who had received a booster vaccine (IPD = 111.5 cm). Significant effects of environment were also found, with the participants maintaining a larger IPD in an outdoor environment (IPD = 143.4 cm) than in an indoor room (IPD = 136.4 cm). Additionally, the IPD collected when the participants were passively approached (IPD = 149.6 cm) was significantly larger than that obtained when they actively approached the confederate (IPD = 130.3 cm). Moreover, when the participants faced a confederate who had received a booster vaccine and wore a mask, the IPD was not significantly different from that collected before the COVID‐19 pandemic in both the active and passive patterns. These findings help us to better understand the nature of IPD and human behaviors during the normalization stage of the pandemic and provide scientific suggestions for policymakers to develop pandemic‐prevention measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the COVID-19 pandemic, myriad factors contributed to disagreements around the use of masks to curb the public health crisis. Against this backdrop, this study spotlights how interactional processes predict masking compliance following an interpersonal discussion. The sample included 345 U.S. adults who were requested to put on a face mask in a conversation. The results showed control variables, such as gender, political orientation, and attitude toward masking, are associated with post-interaction masking compliance. Controlling for these factors, involvement and reactance both reduced compliance; involvement amplified the negative impact of reactance on compliance, supporting the general intensifier hypothesis in relational framing theory. The discussion advocates for a close examination of interpersonal conversations as a result of health campaigns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To assess the impact of wearing masks (KN95, surgical, cloth mask) due to COVID-19 pandemic on interpersonal communication among health care workers and with patients. The present observational study was conducted in tertiary care centre and also included participants from various other health care facilities from all over India over a period of one year from March 2022 to March 2023. 203 health care workers consented to participate in the study. The study was done as an online survey using the questionnaire which was adapted into a Google form consisting of a 15 closed set questions. Participants rated the question using a binary forced choice as either YES or NO. The mean age of participants consenting to the study was 30.9 ± 6.3 SD years,with male predominance (%). Among the choice of use of face mask, 76.35% used surgical mask, 14.77% used KN95 and 8.86% used cloth masks. 15 questions were divided in 5 categories; analysis showed that majority of questions had an affirmative "yes" response. This results of this study indicated that the sudden change in the existing communication situation due to use of face masks in the clinical setup affected interpersonal communication among healthcare workers and with patients, which may also have a bearing on both patient and clinician well being and could have a significant economic impact on health care systems globally. These results provide information about the clinical strain introduced from use of face masks in healthcare settings. Overall, results showed that in healthcare settings, there is increased cognitive load and listening effort for patients and health care providers, as well as changes in clinical efficiency for providers when utilizing masks. These effects are often greater with hearing loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There are many post‐procedural treatments touted to improve comfort and decrease downtime, but very few prospective randomized studies. Aims: To analyze the safety and efficacy of a post‐procedural biotech cellulose mask. Patients/Method: Fifteen patients undergoing either a microneedling with radiofrequency (n = 5), non‐ablative fractional (n = 5), or full erbium:YAG resurfacing (n = 5) treatment were randomized to receive a biotech cellulose mask on one side of the face for 30 min after the procedure and for 2 h a day until healed. Standardized photos and thermal images were taken 30 min after the procedure and daily until healed. The investigator and blind evaluators reviewed the photos, and subjects answered daily questionnaires. Results: An analysis of the thermal images showed a significant reduction in facial temperature on the biotech cellulose mask side as compared to the control side in all groups with an average of 2.2 (range 0.2–6.5) degree Celsius reduction across all 15 subjects. All subjects reported less pain and heat immediately upon application of the mask. Thirty minutes after application, 13/15 continued to report less pain and heat, and 11/15 reported less erythema and swelling on the mask side while blind evaluators were able to choose which side had the mask 80% of the time. On average, subjects also reported significantly less swelling on Day 1 and Day 2. Conclusion: The biotech cellulose mask decreased patient's facial temperature, feelings of heat and pain, as well as downtime without any side effects for the subjects in this study undergoing a variety of treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The bacterial inactivation using near-infrared (NIR) light irradiation with spatiotemporal control is advantageous to deal with the emerging microbial infection and the drug resistance in the environment and health-care facilities. Here, nanoflower-like MoS2 prepared by electrolysis synthesis was functionalized with α-lipoic acid and chitosan oligosaccharide (MoS2-LA-COS) resulting in a highly biocompatible, well dispersive, and NIR photo-responsive composite. The produced nanocomposite of MoS2-LA-COS retained the nanoflower-like morphological feature, of which the hexagonal structure (2H phase) was similar with that of MoS2 according to the X-ray diffraction measurement. Moreover, the produced MoS2-LA-COS was efficiently loaded into the electrospun nanofiber membranes (ENFs) endowing the fibrous scaffold with outstanding photothermal performance. The antibacterial studies indicated a superior bactericidal effect of the formed membranes under NIR irradiation towards the inactivation of model G−Staphylococcus aureus and G+Escherichia coli strains, which was originated from the uniform distribution of MoS2-LA-COS on the fibrous scaffold. The produced MoS2-LA-COS nanofibrous membranes of good water vapor transmission rate and improved photothermal performance possess enormous potential for the development as well as the disposal of personal protective equipment such as medical masks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work reports an optical double-image crosstalk free encryption scheme that employs equal modulus decomposition and random masks. For the encryption, two plaintexts by a random amplitude mask and a random phase mask have been encrypted into a single ciphertext mask and two private key masks. Owing to the two random masks introduced, the functional relation between the plaintext pair and the ciphertext indirectly cause the paucity of constraints employed for the specific attack. Unlike the traditional phase-truncation-based techniques, this scheme is immune to the information leakage and different types of attacks. Furthermore, the three different diffraction distances and the illuminating wavelength also function as four additional keys to significantly reinforce the security. Simulation results demonstrate the feasibility and validity of the proposal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wearing facepieces is discussed in the context of increasing the volume of rebreathed air. We hypothesized that rebreathed air volume increases with increasing filtering facepiece (FFP) class and that persons breathing via facepieces compensate for the additional dead-space. We have determined the effective amount of rebreathed air for a surgical masks and FFP2 and FFP3 respirators in a physical model and determined tidal volumes, breathing frequency, blood oxygen saturation, and transcutaneously measured blood carbon dioxide partial pressure (PCO2) in lung-healthy subjects breathing without and with facepieces at rest and during exercising on a recumbent ergometer. Rebreathed air volume increased with the facepieces' protection class and with increasing inspiration volume by 45 ± 2 ml to 247 ± 1 ml. Ambient airflow reduced rebreathed air volume by 17% up to 100% (all p < 0.001). When wearing facepieces, subjects increased tidal volume (p < 0.001) but not breathing frequency. Oxygen saturation was not influenced by facepieces. With FFP3 respirators PCO2 increased by up to 3.2 mmHg (p < 0.001) at rest but only up to 1.4 mmHg (p < 0.001) when exercising. Discomfort of breathing increased with increasing protection class of the facepiece but was consistently perceived as tolerable. We conclude that the amount of rebreathed air increases with increasing protection class of facepieces. Healthy adults were capable to compensate the facepieces' dead-space by adapting tidal volume at rest and during physical activity; thereby they tolerated moderate increases in PCO2. Ambient airflow may considerably reduce the amount of facepiece related rebreathed air. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective of this study was to explore the effects of surgical masks and N95 respirators on patients diagnosed with anxiety. Methods: Subjects diagnosed with first-episode anxiety disorders were recruited from outpatient departments between February and July, 2023. A self-administered questionnaire was administered at baseline and at follow-up. The questionnaire addressed demographic information, Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A), Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) and Insomnia Severity Index (ISI). Subjects were divided into three groups (n=30 each): control (no mask); surgical mask; and N95 respirator. The Kruskal–Wallis test and repeated measures analysis of variance were used to examine associations between face mask use and emotion. Results: Ninety subjects completed the study, of whom 51 (56.67%) were male and 39 (43.33%) were female. Time and group effects were observed in HAM-A score among the 3 groups. After 4 weeks, mean (± SD) HAM-A score decreased from 32.63± 13.37 to 28.07± 9.33 in the control group, increased from 33.67± 12.47 to 36.80± 10.32 in the surgical mask group, and from 32.33± 14.73 to 41.13± 8.29 in the N95 respirator group, with no sex differences among the 3 groups. HAM-A score was significantly higher in the mask groups than that in the control group at follow-up. Only N95 respirator group exhibited significant time effects on HAM-D and ISI scores, with a decreasing trend in HAM-D score and an opposite trend in ISI score. Conclusion: Prolonged mask use may exacerbate anxiety, especially among those wearing N95 respirator masks. In a post-pandemic environment, governments should improve public health beliefs regarding coronavirus disease 2019 and promote the safety of face mask use, thus reducing the physiological and psychological effects of improper mask use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Respiratory pandemics cannot be prevented from spreading if the mask is not worn correctly. This study aims to determine adult's awareness of mask use and the factors that influence mask use. Materials and Methods: This descriptive study was conducted in a university hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic (June 2020). Participants were asked to complete a questionnaire on socio-demographic characteristics and mask use. Results: In the presented study, 705 people were included. The mean age of the participants was 35.86±8.77 (18-65) years old and 71.2% (n=502) were male, and 45.5% (n=321) were university graduates. Complete compliance with the pandemic rules was achieved by 83.7% of women (n=170) and 58.0% of men (n=291) (p<0.001). While 77.6% (n=547) used surgical/medical masks, 60.4% (n=426) reported using the same mask more than once. Of these, 44.8% (n=191) washed the mask, 36.9% (n=157) ventilated the mask and 18.3% (n=78) did nothing before reuse. Among mask wearers, 51.9% (n=366) reported breathing difficulties and 33.2% (n=234) reported that wearing a mask had a negative psychological impact. Conclusions: It has been determined that there is a lack of information on the use of masks, even during the COVID-19 pandemic where the use of masks is mandatory. It is important that the mask is used correctly to provide effective protection. Efforts should be accelerated to ensure that all segments of the society are sufficiently aware of this issue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the number of Covid-19 cases has increased, the production and use of face masks have also increased accordingly. This widespread use of face masks generates millions of tons of mask waste. This study analyzed the bacterial community composition of discarded masks from landfills (Piyungan, Jatibarang, Burangkeng); mangroves (Wanatirta, Tirang, Teluk Naga); and beaches (Parangtritis, Marina, Tanjung Pasir) in Yogyakarta, Semarang, Bekasi, and Tangerang, Java, Indonesia using 16S rRNA sequencing. Analyzing all samples from landfills, mangroves, and beaches revealed that the Proteobacteria phylum is the predominant. In addition, Firmicutes was the second-highest phylum in the samples from landfills and mangroves. In the meantime, Actinobacteria and Cyanobacteria dominated the phyla found in samples from beaches. Analyses at the genus level revealed that Bacillus members predominated in samples of discarded face masks from landfills. In addition, the most prevalent genus found in samples from mangroves and beaches was Vibrio. According to the findings, the distribution of bacterial communities differed among the various regions. Dissimilar bacterial communities and gradient distributions were found among discarded face masks in landfills, mangroves, and beaches. It was the first examination of bacterial distribution in discarded disposable face masks from various locations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The presence of mycotoxins and their masked forms in chicken feed poses a significant threat to both productivity and health. This review examines the multifaceted impacts of mycotoxins on various aspects of chicken well-being, encompassing feed efficiency, growth, immunity, antioxidants, blood biochemistry, and internal organs. Mycotoxins, toxic substances produced by fungi, can exert detrimental effects even at low levels of contamination. The hidden or masked forms of mycotoxins further complicate the situation, as they are not easily detected by conventional methods but can be converted into their toxic forms during digestion. Consequently, chickens are exposed to mycotoxin-related risks despite apparently low mycotoxin levels. The consequences of mycotoxin exposure in chickens include reduced feed efficiency, compromised growth rates, impaired immune function, altered antioxidant levels, disturbances in blood biochemical parameters, and adverse effects on internal organs. To mitigate these impacts, effective management strategies are essential, such as routine monitoring of feed ingredients and finished feeds, adherence to proper storage practices, and the implementation of feed detoxification methods and mycotoxin binders. Raising awareness of these hidden hazards is crucial for safeguarding chicken productivity and health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aims: Hypoxemia is a common side effect of propofol sedation during endoscopy. Applying mild positive airway pressure (PAP) using a nasal mask may offer a simple way to reduce such events and optimize the conditions for diagnostic and therapeutic upper gastrointestinal endoscopies. Methods: We compared overweight patients (body mass index >25 kg/m²) with a nasal PAP mask or standard nasal cannula undergoing upper gastrointestinal endoscopies by non-anesthesiologists who provided propofol sedation. Outcome parameters included the frequency and severity of hypoxemic episodes. Results: We analyzed 102 procedures in 51 patients with nasal PAP masks and 51 controls. Episodes of hypoxemia (oxygen saturation [SpO2] <90% at any time during sedation) occurred in 25 (49.0%) controls compared to 8 (15.7%) patients with nasal PAP masks (p<0.001). Severe hypoxemia (SpO2 <80%) occurred in three individuals (5.9%) in both groups. The mean delta between baseline SpO2 and the lowest SpO2 recorded was significantly decreased among patients with nasal PAP mask compared to controls (3.7 and 8.2 percentage points difference, respectively). There were significantly fewer airway interventions performed in the nasal PAP mask group (15.7% vs. 41.2%, p=0.008). Conclusions: Using a nasal PAP mask may be a simple means of increasing patient safety and ease of examination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surgical face masks have become commonplace during the COVID-19 pandemic, producing debates on mask practices. This paper explains the semiotic practices of the face mask among Koreans, who accepted the mask early and have simultaneously remained uneasy about it until late 2020. It aims to explain this paradox by discovering various meanings Koreans ascribe to the mask. A content analysis of reader responses to news articles finds that Koreans signify what the mask means for life in various voices (i.e., instrumental meanings) in which they concurrently reveal multiple and contradictory meanings of everyday life (i.e., existential meanings) during the pandemic. Eight themes--beneficence, futility, nuisance, routine, privacy, dominance, collective commitment, and intricacy--constitute what the mask and everyday life mean. This study also finds that contradictions among these meanings are resolved either incidentally by their being simultaneously harbored in one piece of the mask that stays and holds tight in most circumstances or semiotically by certain integrative meanings embracing multiple meanings at once. The study argues that the meanings of the mask reflect meanings of life that are often contradictory and yet held together during the pandemic. It demonstrates that mask sociology serves as a promising humanistic inquiry on how the Maussian totality of everyday life is concretely experienced in the context of the pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: During the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, wearing medical respirators and masks was essential to prevent transmission. Objective: To quantify the effects of N95 mask usage by measuring facial skin biophysical characteristics and changes in the lipidome. Methods: Sixty healthy volunteers wore N95 respirators for 3 or 6 h. Facial images were acquired and physiological parameters were measured in specific facial areas, before and after mask‐wearing. Lipidome analysis was also performed. Results: After N95 respirator usage, facial erythema was observed in both the 3 and 6 h groups. Both sebum secretion and trans‐epidermal water loss increased significantly in mask‐covered cheeks and chins after 6 h of mask wearing compared with before mask wearing (p < 0.05). Principal component analysis revealed significant differences in lipid composition after mask wearing compared with before. The ceramide subclass NS exhibited a positive correlation with stratum corneum hydration, whereas the AP subclass was negatively correlated with trans‐epidermal water loss in the 6 h group. Conclusion: Prolonged wear of N95 respirators may impair facial skin function and alter lipidome composition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this editorial, Massimiliano Polastri and Robert Reed discuss the effects of wearing face masks during exercise for patients with respiratory disease and typically healthy individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Women who gave birth in the spring and summer of 2020 contended with a host of challenging factors. In addition to facing pregnancy, labor, and delivery during an emerging global pandemic, women grappled with health care restrictions that altered their birth experience. To explore how women made sense of their birth during COVID-19, we analyzed written narratives from 71 women who gave birth in the United States from March to July 2020. Based on tenets of communicated narrative sense-making, the themes that emerged from our data suggest that women framed the role of the pandemic as either completely overshadowing their birth experience or as an inconvenience. Women also wrote about threats to their agency as patients, mothers, and caregivers, as well as the evolving emotional toll of the pandemic that often prompted feelings of fear and sadness, along with self-identified anxiety and depression. We discuss these findings in light of the literature on birth stories as essential sites of narrative sense-making for women and their families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

COVID-19 has had a devastating impact on people's lives since its initial outbreak and global spread in 2020. While the U.S. government and public health officials have recommended best practices such as social distancing, wearing a mask, and avoiding large public gatherings, these orders have been met with varying levels of acceptance from the public. Given the disparate compliance, this study builds on Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) to explore individual differences and personal motivation factors in order to better understand what may influence one's likelihood to adhere to COVID-19 protective measures. A U.S. national survey (N = 2,049) was conducted April–May 2020, roughly one month after stay-at-home orders were issued in some states. Participants were asked to report their likelihood of taking individual and community protective measures. Multivariate hierarchical linear regressions were run to analyze the extent to which participants' concerns about COVID-19's impact, individual and collective self-efficacy, coping behaviors, and personality traits influenced the dependent variables. Findings showed that COVID-19-related health concerns, collective efficacy, and proactive coping strategies were positively related to participants' likelihood of taking protective measures. Those with greater concerns about their general well-being and the economy, adverse coping strategies like denial and joking, as well as sensation-seeking personalities, were less likely to take protective measures. The discussion considers how individual differences fit into broader global efforts to stem COVID-19. Practical implications for public health messaging are that communication may focus on facilitating efficacy in order to boost compliance with protective measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the use of march-in rights to lower drug prices in the United States. March-in rights, which were established by the Bayh-Dole Act in 1980, allow the government to license patents to others if the recipient of federal funding fails to make reasonable efforts to use the patented technology. The Biden administration has proposed a framework for considering the exercise of march-in rights in situations where drug prices are deemed unreasonable. The draft guidance does not specify what prices are considered reasonable, but it provides a hypothetical scenario to illustrate the considerations involved. The article acknowledges the challenges of balancing access to affordable treatments with the promotion of innovation in the pharmaceutical industry. The proposed framework has received criticism, and the debate on this issue is ongoing. [Extracted from the article]

Background: Face masks have become an important tool for preventing the spread of respiratory diseases. However, we hypothesized that face masks with reduced nasal airflow may alter pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP). Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of face masks on PASP in children and adolescents. Methods: This case-control study was conducted between March 2021 and April 2022 at the Pediatric Cardiovascular Research Center in Isfahan, Iran. Using a convenience sampling method, a total of 120 children and adolescents, boys and girls aged 3-18 years, were allocated into 2 groups of 60 each (case group with congenital heart disease (CHD), control group of healthy subjects). For each patient in the case and control groups, echocardiography (ECHO), heart rate (HR), and blood oxygen saturation (SpO2) were performed and measured twice--once with a surgical mask and once without a surgical mask--by a pediatric cardiologist at 10-min intervals. Results: A total of 110 participants were analyzed. The mean patient age was 9.58±3.40 years versus 10.20±4.15 years in the case (n=50) and control (n=60) groups, respectively. Approximately 76.0% (n=38) of the participants in the case group versus 60.0% of those in the control group were male. In the case and control groups, there was a statistically significant reduction in the mean changes in tricuspid regurgitation (P=0.001), pulmonary regurgitation (P=0.002), and PASP (P=0.001) after face mask removal. Although this study showed a reduction in pulmonary arterial pressure after face mask removal in patients with CHD and healthy subjects, no significant changes in HR (P=0.535) or SpO2 (P=0.741) were observed in either group. Conclusion: Wearing a face mask increased PASP in healthy children and adolescents with CHD; however, the SPO2 and HR remained unchanged. Therefore, mask removal during ECHO is recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Acute hypoxemic respiratory failure is among the more commonly occurring complications in postoperative patients. Supplemental oxygen and addressing the primary etiology form the basis of its treatment. Materials and methods: We conducted an open-labeled randomized control trial with 90 adult patients and compared three oxygen delivery vehicles (ODV), i.e., noninvasive ventilation (NIV), high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC), and venturi mask (VM) in postoperative hypoxemic patients. The primary outcome variable was a change in the P/F ratio after 2 hours of use of ODV. Results: It was observed that the change in P/F ratio after 2 hours was similar in all three ODV groups (p = 0.274). The mean values of the post- ODV P/F ratio were comparable with the pre-ODV P/F ratio in all three modalities. The P/F ratio after HFNC was 358.08 ± 117.95; after NIV was 357.60 ± 220.67; and after VM was 355.47 ± 101.90 (p = 0.997). Conclusion: Among HFNC, NIV, and VM, none of the devices proved superior to the other for use in postoperative hypoxemia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted pregnant and breastfeeding women. Both low- and high-risk groups adopted preventive approaches such as mask-wearing and handwashing to slow down and prevent viral transmission during critical periods that may affect mother-child interactions. Methods: A longitudinal observational study was conducted with primiparous women recruited using convenience sampling from the postpartum care ward of Afzalipour Teaching Hospital in Kerman from August 1, 2020 to March 30, 2021. The research questionnaires included demographic information, preventive behaviors, breastfeeding intention and practices, postpartum distress, and Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale. All the questionnaires were self-reported online in three stages: before discharge from the postpartum ward, the first month after delivery, and the third month after delivery. Results: A Total of 160 primiparous women were included. The results showed significant changes in preventive behaviors and postpartum distress levels during the study. Breastfeeding intention and practices were negatively affected by postpartum distress (P = 0.034), unwanted pregnancies (P = 0.009), and cesarean delivery (P < 0.001). Postpartum distress was directly affected by the presence of depression (P < 0.001). Preventive behaviors at discharge were significantly associated with postpartum distress three months after delivery (P = 0.013). The study also found an association between women's and partner's education, unwanted pregnancy, and cesarean delivery that determined postpartum distress. Conclusions: Pandemic restrictions did not affect breastfeeding intentions or practices, possibly due to sufficient social and family support during the pandemic. However, robust guidelines are required to increase enable women's access to specializede care to cope with future pandemics, particularly during the first few weeks after childbirth. Significance: • Sufficient social and family support can overcome such concerns to promote breastfeeding. • Maternal support services are vital during the current and future pandemic periods to promote breastfeeding. • Pandemics like COVID-19 will become more common in the future. The outcome of this study provides a useful perspective for the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Facemasks are an important piece of personal protective equipment (PPE) to mitigate the spread of respiratory illnesses, but they can impede communication between patients and healthcare providers. The purpose of this scoping review is to identify effective communication practices while wearing facemasks. Design: Scoping review using a systematic search of articles from the PubMed, CINAHL, and Embase databases. Methods: The PEO (population, exposure, outcome) methodology was selected for this systematic scoping review. The population of interest (P) includes humans of all ages (children, adults, and older adults); the exposure of interest (E) is PPE that covers the mouth (i.e., facemasks); and the outcome of interest (O) is successful or unsuccessful communication practices. The Johns Hopkins Evidence‐Based Practice for Nurses and Healthcare Professionals appraisal guidelines were used to determine the level and quality of the research. Results: Thirty‐nine articles met the inclusion criteria. Seventeen of these were high‐ or good‐quality research studies, and the remaining 22 were non‐research articles included with separate analysis as part of the scoping review. The 17 articles encompassed 2656 participants. The highest quality evidence indicated that standard surgical masks have the least impact on speech perception compared to other non‐transparent mask types, and that recognizing emotions is less accurate with facemasks, necessitating compensatory actions (i.e., reducing extraneous noise, using a microphone to amplify voice, and employing clear speech). Evidence was contradictory regarding the use of transparent masks. Evidence was of limited quality for other non‐verbal and verbal communication strategies. Conclusion: Awareness of communication challenges is crucial when wearing facemasks. More high‐quality studies are needed to evaluate communication techniques when speakers are wearing facemasks. Basic strategies such as selecting an appropriate mask type, reducing extraneous noise, using microphones, verbalizing emotions, and employing clear speech appear to be beneficial. Clinical Relevance: The findings of this scoping review highlight the importance of considering communication challenges while wearing facemasks in the healthcare settings. The review suggests that selecting an appropriate mask type, reducing extraneous noise, verbalizing emotions, and employing clear speech are some strategies that may be effective in mitigating the impact of facemasks on communication between patients and healthcare providers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The outbreak of the COVID‐19 poses a great threat to students globally. China has taken steps to keep students from becoming infected for more than 30 months, while other countries have also taken steps. Comparing the intentions, implementation, immediate and long‐term effects of these initiatives can shed more light on the care of adolescents in schools. Objective: The focus of the study is to describe the full range of school prevention measures in China, identifying when they work and when they do not. At the same time, some typical measures taken in other countries' schools are presented and compared to provide a comprehensive discussion. Methods: This study attempted to combine data comparison, information analysis, policy interpretation, and participatory observation to form a comprehensive analytical network. Results: China's schools have gone through of lucky periods, safety periods, difficult periods, and crisis periods. These efforts are due to the government's intense control measures, strict accountability of school administrators, frequent nucleic acid testing, widespread vaccination, and widely implemented online learning. In comparison, the measures taken by China are difficult to implement, and the price paid by the government, schools and students needs to be further assessed and reflected upon. Conclusions: The virus is able to destroy the school's defence with ease. There should be a consensus among countries for a permanent virus control strategy, but the severity of the various measures needs to be appropriately determined, strict control measures can also have negative effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Understanding the relationship between mental health and COVID-19 prevention practices is crucial but challenging considering COVID-19's impact on mental well-being. Liberia, a West African country, had well-documented rates of depression and anxiety prior to COVID-19. Liberia responded aggressively to COVID-19 while case counts remained low; thus, it is an ideal setting to study the relationship of mental health and COVID-19 prevention practices. Methods: A validated cross-sectional survey was administered to 250 randomly selected residents of Montserrado county, Liberia in June 2021, asking about their mental health and adherence to COVID-19 prevention practices. The survey included the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 to assess for anxiety and depression, respectively. Responses were analyzed using Spearman correlation and regression. Results: Scores indicative of depression were present in 43% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 37-49) of participants; scores indicative of anxiety were present in 41% (95% CI: 34-47). Self-reported adherence to COVID-19 prevention practices was middling and varied greatly by behavior. Higher scores for depression and anxiety were significantly associated with lower adherence to COVID-19 prevention practices. Conclusions: Results indicate that while the spread of COVID-19 has certainly affected mental health, it is likely that pre-existing mental health conditions affected the spread of COVID-19 through lower adherence to prevention practices. Policymakers should consider investing in mental health services as an important step in managing future epidemics, and the needs of people with poor mental health when designing epidemic responses, particularly in low-income countries where the burdens of adherence are likely to be greater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Face masks were heavily used during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic to reduce the transmission of the virus by aerosols. These facial barriers are tested in laboratory against particles and bacteria, but their efficiency is not tested for viruses. This study presents a wind tunnel designed to evaluate the filtration efficiency of different material use in face masks against particulates, total viral genomes and assess filtration impact on viral infectivity. The test bench was validated theoretically by mathematical modeling and experimentally by testing the performance of standardized masks against particles and MS2 viruses (Emesvirus zinderi). Results demonstrate that the data obtained for particle filtration was reliable and that filtration efficiency against viruses can be measured with the device. Copyright © 2024 American Association for Aerosol Research [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic made face masks part of daily life. While masks protect against the virus, it is important to understand the impact masks have on listeners' recognition of spoken words. We examined spoken word recognition under three different mask conditions (no mask; cloth mask; Kn95 mask) and in both easy (low density, high phonotactic probability) and hard (high density, low phonotactic probability) words in a lexical decision task. In Experiment 1, participants heard all words and nonwords under all three mask conditions. In Experiment 2, participants heard each word and nonword only once under one of the mask conditions. The reaction time and accuracy results were consistent between Experiments 1 and 2. The pattern of results was such that the no mask condition produced the fastest and most accurate responses followed by the Kn95 mask condition and the cloth mask condition, respectively. Furthermore, there was a trend towards a speed-accuracy trade-off with Word Type. Easy words produced faster but less accurate responses relative to hard words. The finding that cloth masks had a more detrimental impact on spoken word recognition than Kn95 masks is consistent with previous research, and the current results further demonstrate that this effect extends to individual word recognition tasks with only audio presentation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Masks have the function of blocking harmful particles, gases, odors, droplets, viruses and other substances. When respiratory infectious diseases are prevalent, wearing masks can effectively reduce the spread of the virus. When working in dust and other polluted environments, wearing a mask can have a certain filtering effect on the air entering the lungs of the human body, protecting human health. Wearing masks in production sites such as electronic products and pharmaceuticals can effectively prevent particulate matter or bacteria from contaminating the air in the oral and nasal areas, reducing the risk of product pollution. The mask detection task involves complex and diverse scenarios with problems of missed and false detection caused by face features being obscured, varying target scales, poor detection of small targets and small differences in features between correctly and incorrectly worn masks. A new face mask detection model, MFMDet, has been proposed to address these issues. MFMDet employs recursive feature pyramid to process multi-scale features extracted by the backbone network, enhancing the receptive field and improving multi-scale feature representation to achieve effective detection, especially for small objects. To ensure accurate extraction of essential information and handle occluded targets and objects at different scales more effectively, MFMDet introduces modulated deformable RoIpooling into the detection head, enabling the network to better adapt to target variations and enhancing spatial and task awareness of the detection head. In addition, MFMDet uses Joint Image Hybrid Augmentation to increase the number and diversity of effective samples. Experimental results show that MFMDet improved by 2.5 mAP over the baseline, compared to the baseline on the PWMFD dataset, and outperforms other existing target detection algorithms. The proposed method MFMDet also conducted experiments on the WMD dataset to further validate its generalization ability and effectiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the "Internet of Medical Things (IoMT)" grows, healthcare systems can collect and process data. It is also challenging to study public health prevention requirements. Virus transmission can be prevented by wearing a mask. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends wearing a facemask to protect against the COVID‐19 pandemic—the levels of a pandemic rise across almost all regions of the world. By following the WHO rules, we support the development of face mask‐detecting technologies and determine whether or not people are using masks in public locations. The proposed paradigm in this paper will work in three stages. Firstly, we use an Image data generator to import the images. In addition to using a Haar cascade (HC) classifier for detecting faces, residual learning (ResNet152V2) trains a model that detects whether someone is wearing a face mask. Detection and classification are carried out in real‐time with high precision. Compared with other recently proposed methods, the model achieved 99.65% accuracy during training and 99.63% during validation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) threatens people's health. During the COVID-19 outbreak, people are encouraged to wear masks to reduce the spread of the virus. With the strong demand for masks, it has come a boom in counterfeit production. Combating counterfeit masks is vital and urgent to reduce the risks for public health. Motivated by the actual practices during the COVID-19, we examine how quality inspection and blockchain adoption help combat counterfeit masks. We find that quality inspection may not be always effective, as the government will tolerate the presence of counterfeit masks if the presence of the counterfeits is not significant. Comparing quality inspection with blockchain adoption, when the spread of COVID-19 is mild, authentic mask sellers may be encouraged to use the blockchain technology, which can increase their profits and reduce the social health risk. Furthermore, we extend our model to investigate the impacts of endogenous quality. Both quality inspection and blockchain adoption can induce low-quality mask sellers to enhance thequality level. When the number of counterfeit masks is increasing, encouraging the high-quality mask sellers to adopt the blockchain technology is effective to reduce social health risk when the spread of the coronavirus is rapid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]