Refractive Errors Due To Online Classes Among School Children During The Covid-19 Pandemic

Aim: The current study aimed to assess the effect of refractive errors among school children due to online classes. Material(s) and Method(s): School-going children who were attending online classes between five and fifteen years were subjected to ophthalmic evaluation. A questionnaire including sections like demographics, gadget use, on-screen time, and physical complaints was administered to collect the required data. Result(s): The participants in our study had a mean age of 9 +/- 2 years (range 5-15 years) of whom 48.4% (n = 140) were males and 51.6% (n = 149) were females. There was a predominance of myopia (86.5%) in children where 44.6% of them have newly developed refractive errors. Around 70 (67.8%) children with a previous refractive error have been shown to have progression of refractive error. Conclusion(s): Our study reports that children were exposed to prolonged screen time which led to a rise in the number of myopia cases.Copyright © 2022 Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications. All rights reserved.

Industry 4.0 adoption for healthcare supply chain performance during COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil and India: the mediating role of resilience abilities development

This research investigates the mediation of resilience abilities on the relationship between Industry 4.0 technologies adoption and healthcare supply chain performance during the COVID-19 outbreak in Brazil and India. We surveyed 179 practitioners from organizations at different tiers of the healthcare supply chain (e.g., manufacturers, distributors, and care providers) in July 2021. Multivariate data techniques are used to the collected data to verify the hypotheses anchored on concepts from resource dependence theory. We identify two constructs of Industry 4.0 technologies (named after their predominant roles) and two constructs of resilience abilities (named according to the main abilities encompassed). Our findings indicate that resilience abilities mediate the impact of Industry 4.0 technologies on the performance of the healthcare supply chain since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the role played by adaptive and restorative abilities seems more prominent than the one played by anticipation and monitoring abilities. Further, sensing and communication technologies directly affect the healthcare supply chain's performance. Our study brings together three emerging topics related to the literature on the healthcare supply chain (Industry 4.0 adoption, resilience abilities development, and the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic). Although digitalization of the healthcare supply chain does improve its performance, our research indicated that its impact could be significantly enhanced when resilience abilities are concurrently developed, particularly in the Indian and Brazilian contexts. © 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.

Identifying factors that impact online teaching effectiveness during COVID-19

Purpose: This study aims to identify critical online teaching effectiveness factors from instructors' perspectives and experiences during COVID-19. Design/methodology/approach: This study used a qualitative phenomenology approach. In addition, the research used a snowball sample to identify faculty in the engineering and engineering technology fields with experience in online teaching and learning. All interviews were conducted online by the researchers. The interview questions were based on findings in the current literature. Further, the questions were open-ended. Findings: The analysis identified eight major themes that impact online teaching effectiveness: class recordings;course organization;collaboration;engagement;exam, assignment and quiz grades;games;valuable course content;and student timely feedback and response. Research limitations/implications: The study was not designed to be generalizable to the entire population of professors who teach online classes but to gain insights from faculty who taught online courses during the COVID-19 pandemic. Practical implications: Faculty can use the factors identified for online teaching effectiveness to enhance their course design and delivery while teaching online or blended courses. Originality/value: This research provides insights into factors that impact online teaching effectiveness during the COVID-19 pandemic. © 2022, Emerald Publishing Limited.

Understanding the Impact of Vaccination on Covid-19 in India Using Time-Interrupted Spatial Panel Data Models

COVID-19 is the biggest threat to the life of humankind around the globe. Vaccination became an important protective system against COVID-19 infection. The geographical aspect is an important factor in infection spreading. This study explores the effect of the vaccination on COVID-19 in India using the estimate of the spatial effects. Since the distribution of vaccination started in the middle of study period, time-interrupted spatial panel models were used. SDM model was selected as the best one. The spatial effect coefficients are statistically significant in SDM models (rho = 0.4057;p < 0.01 , rho = 0.3132;p < 0.01) and the spillover effect of second dose vaccination rate is statistically significant on both confirmed rate and deceased rate. The vaccination has a significant negative impact on deceased rate. There is a clear evidence for the requirement of second dose vaccination

Effect of Social Media in Adolescents on Academic Performance- A Cross- Sectional Study

Background: In this current scenario with Covid Pandemic and schools are closed for more than one and half years and students are forced to attend online classes. Also because of globalization students have more access to social media which has both favourable and unfavourable outcomes. Result: It was seen that both the gender had access to social media, and the internet and most of them were used for academic purposes during Covid lockdown. More usage of social media was noted among adolescents. Conclusion: Increase in usage of social media had an effect on the decrease in academic excellence.

Adherence to Covid-19 Appropriate Behavior among Adolescent Age Group

Background: Adolescent youngsters' adherence to COVID-19 Appropriate Behaviour (CAB) is essential to forestall and oversee Covid illness 19. The review planned to decide the pervasiveness and related variables of adherence to CAB in juvenile youngsters by applying Health Benefit Model (HBM) and summing up friendly convictions. Techniques: This is a hospital-based, cross-sectional review done between January 202 to June 2022. A pre-tied, organized, questioner-regulated device was utilized to gather information from 384 members. Information was gathered from Outpatients after acquiring informed assent. Results: The mean (SD) period of members was 16.3 (2.84) years. Around 56% of members were male. Adherence to all CAB means was 23%, it was not viewed as associated with age and orientation. The most widely recognized rehearsed CAB measure was face cover (64.2%) trailed by handwashing (56.71%). Conclusion: The adherence to CAB was low among young adolescents. It is critical to consider the wellbeing training, parenteral help, social maxims, seriousness, benefit, boundary, prompt to activity, pessimism and compensation for application to work on the adherence towards CAB.

Identifying factors that impact online teaching effectiveness during COVID-19

Purpose: This study aims to identify critical online teaching effectiveness factors from instructors’ perspectives and experiences during COVID-19. Design/methodology/approach: This study used a qualitative phenomenology approach. In addition, the research used a snowball sample to identify faculty in the engineering and engineering technology fields with experience in online teaching and learning. All interviews were conducted online by the researchers. The interview questions were based on findings in the current literature. Further, the questions were open-ended. Findings: The analysis identified eight major themes that impact online teaching effectiveness: class recordings;course organization;collaboration;engagement;exam, assignment and quiz grades;games;valuable course content;and student timely feedback and response. Research limitations/implications: The study was not designed to be generalizable to the entire population of professors who teach online classes but to gain insights from faculty who taught online courses during the COVID-19 pandemic. Practical implications: Faculty can use the factors identified for online teaching effectiveness to enhance their course design and delivery while teaching online or blended courses. Originality/value: This research provides insights into factors that impact online teaching effectiveness during the COVID-19 pandemic. © 2022, Emerald Publishing Limited.

THE ROLE OF VACCINES IN PUBLIC HEALTH

The development and usage of vaccines depend on the assessment of their benefits and risks, primarily by regulatory bodies as well as by physicians and patients. The immunization programs have helped to increase life expectancy, reduce parental fears of life-threatening childhood diseases, eradication of certain destructive epidemics from the community, and pecuniary savings by prevention of disabilities and diseases. Different types of vaccines are currently in use against various life-threatening diseases and those which have the potential of emerging in previously unaffected regions of the world. For certain globally infectious diseases like Yellow Fever, Japanese Encephalitis, Dengue, Influenza, Pneumonia, Rotaviral Gastroenteritis and Hepatitis B, effective human vaccines have already been developed, while for Gonorrhoea, Melioidosis and Tuberculosis (apart from the BCG vaccine) several effective vaccines are in development. Research advancements and most modern technologies are being applied in the development of several modern vaccines through the support of proteomics, genomics, comparative genomics, structural vaccinology, transcriptomics, mRNA based technologies and most recently vaccinomics. The rate of vaccine refusal or delay has been reported to increase in developed countries due to several reasons, leading to variation in vaccine coverage rates and reemergence of vaccinepreventable diseases. Use of combination vaccines increases vaccination rates, provide better coverage and timeliness of vaccination, improve the efficiency of healthcare practice, and reduce costs for the healthcare system. Veterinary vaccines are important for animal health and welfare, food production and public health by preventing animal diseases, reducing transmission of zoonotic and food borne infections to people and finally by enhancing the efficiency of food production. According to WHO, the pandemic COVID-19 is a serious threat to our health and well-being. Recently different countries have developed and are still developing several vaccines in order to combat this lifethreatening disease. Currently, while widespread vaccination is the only strategy that is effective in preventing the transmission of COVID-19, questions remain about the degree and duration of protection that will be offered from the COVID-19 vaccines. Recent studies report the emergence of an anti-vaccination culture among public and its spread through social media, which consequently may result in reduction of herd immunity and the spread of infectious diseases. © 2022 by Nova Science Publishers, Inc.

The impact of Lean Six Sigma practices on supply chain resilience during COVID 19 disruption: a conceptual framework

The purpose of this research is to explore the potential impact of Lean Six Sigma practices on supply chain resilience proposing a conceptual framework. A content analysis method was used to identify themes from the interview data conducted with (n = 21) participants who are involved within the healthcare sector. The first-order coding of interview data performed by the researchers with inter-reliability (k = 0.74) identified IT management, big data analytics, risk management, efficient process management, process reconfiguration and disruption readiness as the emerging themes. The second-order coding of interview data with inter-reliability (k = 0.84) analysed the relationship between the first-order themes exploring the impact of Lean Six Sigma practices on building supply chain resilience. As a result, a framework was developed for achieving resilience in the supply chain through the application of six sigma practices.

Identification of LZTFL1 as a candidate effector gene at a COVID-19 risk locus.

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS­CoV­2) disease (COVID-19) pandemic has caused millions of deaths worldwide. Genome-wide association studies identified the 3p21.31 region as conferring a twofold increased risk of respiratory failure. Here, using a combined multiomics and machine learning approach, we identify the gain-of-function risk A allele of an SNP, rs17713054G>A, as a probable causative variant. We show with chromosome conformation capture and gene-expression analysis that the rs17713054-affected enhancer upregulates the interacting gene, leucine zipper transcription factor like 1 (LZTFL1). Selective spatial transcriptomic analysis of lung biopsies from patients with COVID-19 shows the presence of signals associated with epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), a viral response pathway that is regulated by LZTFL1. We conclude that pulmonary epithelial cells undergoing EMT, rather than immune cells, are likely responsible for the 3p21.31-associated risk. Since the 3p21.31 effect is conferred by a gain-of-function, LZTFL1 may represent a therapeutic target.

Lean Six Sigma as an organizational resilience mechanism in health care during the era of COVID-19

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate how Lean Six Sigma (LSS) may help mitigate the impact of COVID-19 within health care environments. The goals of this study were to understand the current knowledge of LSS and COVID-19 through a systematic review of the current literature, identify the gap in the current knowledge of LSS in COVID-19 mitigation within health care environments and define the principles of LSS, within organizational resilience that support a health care organization’s ability to mitigate the impact of COVID-19. Design/methodology/approach: A narrative literature review was conducted to identify relevant research. A total of 21 subject matter experts (SMEs) meeting the inclusion criteria were approached through a guided interview process. Content analysis was conducted to describe how LSS principles contribute to supporting health care organizations operating in the era of COVID-19. Findings: Study results report that personal safety is the primary subject, followed by supporting dimensions of process redesign, and telemedicine. LSS topics that directly relate to COVID-19 are in four thematic areas: tools, applications, benefits and challenges. Particular areas of application, techniques, challenges and benefits are identified and discussed that could be applied proactively and reactively, to organizational and supply chain resilience to recover from COVID-19. Research limitations/implications: There were a number of limitations to the generalizability of this work. The sample size was small and purposeful, thus, external validity of the study results are not determined. The SMEs in this study have not implemented the practices noted in the results at the time of the study, and knowledge of results is limited to the study aims. Originality/value: This study of LSS principles and COVID-19 has implications for practitioners and offers specific guidance for areas of health care adoption of LSS techniques and tools that benefit patient safety, challenges for the user to be mindful of and potential benefits in resilience of operations in the era of COVID-19. © 2020, Emerald Publishing Limited.

Repurposing Quaternary Ammonium Compounds as Potential Treatments for COVID-19.

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted an important role for drug repurposing. Quaternary ammonium compounds such as ammonium chloride, cetylpyridinium and miramistin represent widely accessible antiseptic molecules with well-known broad-spectrum antiviral activities and represent a repurposing opportunity as therapeutics against SARS-CoV-2.