Predicting the Impact of Change in Air Quality Patterns Due to COVID-19 Lockdown Policies in Multiple Urban Cities of Henan: A Deep Learning Approach

Several countries implemented prevention and control measures in response to the 2019 new coronavirus virus (COVID-19) pandemic. To study the impact of the lockdown due to COVID-19 on multiple cities, this study utilized data from 18 cities of Henan to understand the air quality pattern change during COVID-19 from 2019 to 2021. It examined the temporal and spatial distribution impact. This study firstly utilized a deep learning bi-directional long-term short-term (Bi-LSTM) model to predict air quality patterns during 3 periods, i.e., COVID-A (before COVID-19, i.e., 2019), COVID-B (during COVID-19, i.e., 2020), COVID-C (after COVID-19 cases, i.e., 2021) and obtained the R-2 value of more than 72% average in each year and decreased MAE value, which was better than other studies' deep learning methods. This study secondly focused on the change of pollutants and observed an increase in Air Quality Index by 10%, a decrease in PM2.5 by 14%, PM10 by 18%, NO2 by 14%, and SO2 by 16% during the COVID-B period. This study found an increase in O-3 by 31% during the COVID-C period and observed a significant decrease in pollutants during the COVID-C period (PM10 by 42%, PM2.5 by 97%, NO2 by 89%, SO2 by 36%, CO by 58%, O-3 by 31%). Lastly, the impact of lockdown policies was studied during the COVID-B period and the results showed that Henan achieved the Grade I standards of air quality standards after lockdown was implemented. Although there were many severe effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on human health and the global economy, lockdowns likely resulted in significant short-term health advantages owing to reduced air pollution and significantly improved ambient air quality. Following COVID-19, the government must take action to address the environmental problems that contributed to the deteriorating air quality.

THE FINTECH FIRMS DURING COVID-19: THE ROLE OF TAIL RISK AND SYSTEMIC RISK

The primary purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between tail risk and systemic risk in financial technology (Fintech) companies. The study also analyzes the role of the tail and systemic risk in Fintech firms during the COVID-19 outbreak. The exponential increase in digital users of financial applications demonstrates the tremendous growth of the Fintech industry during COVID-19. Thus, the analysis of the association between tail risk, systemic risk, and Fintech is conducted on a deluxe sample of Fintech companies. From December 2019 to February 2022, the data of Fintech enterprises is compiled. The extreme value theory serves as the theoretical lens for determining the tail risk of based Fintech companies. The lower value of technology companies suggests a long tail for Fintech companies. The thicker tail suggests that Fintech firms grew dramatically throughout the COVID-19 timeframe. Few firms in our sample have the fattest tail, indicating that these enterprises were highly exposed to risk during COVID-19. Furthermore, the data indicate that the systemic risk of Fintech firms during COVID-19 depends on the global technology index. The likely explanation for these results is that during COVID-19, Fintech firms' clients grew faster than customers in other industries. During the COVID-19 epidemic, Fintech firms have raised their tails. This study is among the first and will aid regulators, financial professionals, and researchers in gaining a better grasp of the challenges surrounding tail risk and systemic risk in Fintech companies. © 2022, International Journal of Economics and Finance Studies. All Rights Reserved.

COVID-19 and Air Pollution: Air Quality Impact in 13 Cities of the Jiangsu Province of China

Jiangsu province is one of the economically strong provinces in east China. With the advance of the modernization process, the problem of air pollution in this area is facing a severe challenge under the common role of human activities and regional climate change. While the rest of the world struggles to control COVID-19, China has managed to control the pandemic rapidly and effectively with strong lockdown policies. This study investigates the change in air pollution (focusing on the air quality index (AQI), six ambient air pollutants nitrogen dioxide (NO2), ozone (O3), sulphur dioxide (SO2), carbon monoxide (CO), particulate matter with aerodynamic diameters ≤10 μm (PM10) and ≤2.5 μm (PM2.5)) patterns for different periods in last 5 years. Different pollutants have different behavior identified in this studied which is helping for understanding the pattern of air quality. Short-term health advantages from the COVID-19 pandemic can be attributed to the reduction in air pollution and significant improvement in ambient air quality, which need the government to enact post-COVID environmental regulations. © 2022, HARD Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

A Pre-to Post-COVID-19 Change of Air Quality Patterns in Anhui Province Using Path Analysis and Regression

During the epidemic period, primary emissions across the world were significantly reduced, while the response to secondary pollution such as ozone differed from region to region. To study the impact of the strict control measures of the new COVID-19 epidemic on the air quality of Anhui in early 2020, the air quality monitoring data of Anhui, from 2019 to 2021, specifically 1 January to 30 August, was examined to analyze the characteristics of the temporal and spatial distribution. Regression and path analysis were used to extract the relationship between the variable. PM10 and O3, on average, increased by 6%, and 2%, while PM2.5, SO2 decreased by 15% and 10% in the post-COVID-19 period. All air quality pollutants decreased during the active-COVID-19 period, with a maximum decrease of 21% observed in PM10, followed by 19% of PM2.5, and a minimum decrease of 2% observed in O3 . Changes in air pollutants from 2017 to 2021 were also compared, and a decrease in all pollutants through 2020 was found. The air quality index (AQI) recorded a low decrease of 3% post-COVID-19, which shows that air quality will worsen in the future, but it decreased by 16% during the active-COVID-19 period. A path analysis model was developed to further understand the relationship between the AQI and air quality patterns. This path analysis shows a strong correlation between the AQI and PM10 and PM2.5, however, its correlation with other air pollutants is weak. Regression analysis shows a similar pattern of there being a strong relationship between AQI and PM10 (r2 = 0.97) and PM2.5 (r2 = 0.93). The government must implement policies to control the environmental issues which are causing poor air quality in post-COVID-19. © 2022, HARD Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Role of Teachers’ Ability and Students’ Facilities in Educational Sustainability during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Empirical Evidence from Saudi Arabia

Purpose The sustainability of education became a global issue due to the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown and captured the focus of regulators and recent literature. The current article investigated the impact of teachers’ ability related to the usage of learning management system (LMS) and research engines and students’ facilities related to access online learning activities and learning resources. The objective was to examine the moderating role of institutional support among the linkage of students’ access to online learning activities, students’ access to learning resources, and education sustainability of private and public universities in Saudi Arabia. Methodology The study used a survey questionnaire to gather the data and smart-PLS to analyze the data. Findings The results indicated that teachers’ ability to use LMS and research engines and students’ access to online learning activities and learning resources have a positive impact on the education sustainability of private and public universities in Saudi Arabia. The results also exposed that institutional support significantly moderated between the linkage of students’ access to online learning activities and education sustainability of private and public universities in Saudi Arabia. Implications to Research and Practice This study would provide help to the policymakers while developing the policies regarding education sustainability during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. © 2022 Ani Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved.

Relative performance of different concentrations of mint (Mentha longifolia L.) against Tribolium castaneum (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) in wheat

The experiment on effectiveness of various concentrations of mint leaves Mentha longifolia L. was conducted at Sindh Agriculture University, Tando Jam. Mint powder was applied at 2.00%, 1.50%, 1.00% and 0.50% concentrations in 200 gm of wheat grains (variety TD-1) in plastic jars against Triboleum castaneum. The observations on efficacy of different concentrations as mortality of beetles was recorded after 24 hours, 48 hours and 7 days, whereas, population fluctuation was observed at monthly intervals for three months. Weight loss was also noted at the end of experiment. Although, no significant mortality of T. castaneum was recorded in any treatment, a rise in mortality was recorded after 48 hours of application as significantly higher mortality was observed in 2% mint concentration (4.33+or-0.33), followed by 1.5% (2.67+or-0.33), 1% (1.33+or-0.33) and 0.5% (1.00+or-0.00. Overall at the end of week, the highest (66.70%) and lowest (26.70%)) percentage mortality of T. castaneum was recorded in 2% and 0.50% mint concentrations, respectively. The population fluctuation of T. castaneum also showed that at the end of third month, control showed the highest population (45.67+or-2.91 beetles) of beetles, whereas, 2.00% mint concentration treatment exhibited lowest population of beetles (16.33+or-0.88). The maximum overall (50.33 grams or 25.17%) and grain (63.00 grams or 31.50%) weight loss was recorded in control, whereas, 2.00% mint concentration treatment exhibited overall (19.00/9.50%) and grains (24.67/12.33%) weight loss. Thus, it is suggested that 2.00% mint concentration should be included as protectant in store grains especially wheat against T. castaneum.

Single center analysis of incidence and outcome of covid-19 infection in solid organ transplant recipients

Aim: To determine overall mortality, outcome and mortality of COVID 19 infection in solid organ transplant pts. Study design: Retrospective study. Place and duration of study: Department of Medicine, Bahria International Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan15thApril 2020 to 31stDecember 2020. Methodology: Twenty-three patients 18 out of which were kidney transplant recipients while 5 were liver transplant recipients. All the solid organ transplant patients who were admitted with Sars CoV2 (Corona virus) infection were recorded. Their charts were reviewed regarding clinical course, management, and outcome of COVID-19 infection in recipients of solid organ (liver and kidney) transplant. Results: Mean age was 44.8±10.9 years. Median time lapsed from transplant surgery to admission was 2.88 years (interquartile range 2.25, 7.33). Median hospital stay was 15 days (interquartile range 13, 28). All 23 patients were admitted and managed, with 17 (73.91%) admitted in ICU. Over half of the cases (58.2%) presented with raised serum creatinine due to acute kidney injury. 80% received azithromycin, Tocilizumab and 50% received Remdesivir. Antimetabolites with or without calcineurin inhibitors were held or reduced. A total of 5 patients had died while the others 18 patients (78.26%) were discharged home. Conclusion: There is a theoretical high risk of getting Sars CoV-2 infection in post-transplant patients but we did not find any increase in overall mortality in solid organ transplant recipients receiving immunosuppressive therapy who acquired Sars CoV2 infection as compared with mortality in the general patients with SARS-CoV-2. We had favorable outcome in solid organ transplant COVID 19 patients in our center.