ABSTRACT
Mobile applications have become popular tools for supporting healthy nutrition behavior. Current tools are primarily based on the detailed tracking of a user's direct consumption, thus intervening only during or even after a user has eaten something. With increasing home office hours (especially during the COVID-19 pandemic), people are eating more often at home, which has also led to a decrease in fruit and vegetable consumption. Therefore, we aim to support people in the food-shopping process. We suggest a mobile application that helps people reflect on their purchases and tries to nudge users toward healthier product choices. We conducted a pilot study with 31 participants who used the application for two consecutive weeks. During this time, we observed a decrease in the caloric values per 100 g of purchases. Furthermore, we collected positive feedback on the app regarding acceptance, usability, and user experience. © 2023 IEEE Computer Society. All rights reserved.
ABSTRACT
The concept of a 'just transition' is gaining traction in international policy discourses. It has particular significance in relation to achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions and the need for ensuring rights and responsibilities of all actors in transitions to agroecological farming systems. Research plays an important role in accompanying this transformation. It explores pathways for more sustainable and fair food systems, barriers to them being achieved, and where and what risks arise for communities of interest and of place. Researchers and practitioners across levels and sectors were brought together in H2020 projects LIFT and UNISECO using processes of stakeholder engagement. Both projects analysed the perceptions of actors towards agroecological farming, and their active involvement in the transitions required. This article summarises lessons learnt regarding multi-actor engagement in different participatory settings in both projects, including a Multi-Actor Platform approach, Q method, DELPHI and Hybrid forum workshops. The interactions involved several hundred actors from 18 countries across Europe. The article reflects on implications of the Covid-19 pandemic on the processes and effectiveness of multi-actor engagement, and assessments of the impacts on the empowerment of the actors. The findings are contextualised by contemporary European Union and national policy objectives of tackling climate change, the loss of biodiversity, and inequalities.
ABSTRACT
The concept of a ‘just transition' is gaining traction in international policy discourses. It has particular significance in relation to achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions and the need for ensuring rights and responsibilities of all actors in transitions to agroecological farming systems. Research plays an important role in accompanying this transformation. It explores pathways for more sustainable and fair food systems, barriers to them being achieved, and where and what risks arise for communities of interest and of place. Researchers and practitioners across levels and sectors were brought together in H2020 projects LIFT and UNISECO using processes of stakeholder engagement. Both projects analysed the perceptions of actors towards agroecological farming, and their active involvement in the transitions required. This article summarises lessons learnt regarding multi-actor engagement in different participatory settings in both projects, including a Multi-Actor Platform approach, Q method, DELPHI and Hybrid forum workshops. The interactions involved several hundred actors from 18 countries across Europe. The article reflects on implications of the Covid-19 pandemic on the processes and effectiveness of multi-actor engagement, and assessments of the impacts on the empowerment of the actors. The findings are contextualised by contemporary European Union and national policy objectives of tackling climate change, the loss of biodiversity, and inequalities. © 2022 The Authors. EuroChoices published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Agricultural Economics Society and European Association of Agricultural Economists.
ABSTRACT
The concept of a 'just transition' is gaining traction in international policy discourses. It has particular significance in relation to achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions and the need for ensuring rights and responsibilities of all actors in transitions to agroecological farming systems. Research plays an important role in accompanying this transformation. It explores pathways for more sustainable and fair food systems, barriers to them being achieved, and where and what risks arise for communities of interest and of place. Researchers and practitioners across levels and sectors were brought together in H2020 projects LIFT and UNISECO using processes of stakeholder engagement. Both projects analysed the perceptions of actors towards agroecological farming, and their active involvement in the transitions required. This article summarises lessons learnt regarding multi-actor engagement in different participatory settings in both projects, including a Multi-Actor Platform approach, Q method, DELPHI and Hybrid forum workshops. The interactions involved several hundred actors from 18 countries across Europe. The article reflects on implications of the Covid-19 pandemic on the processes and effectiveness of multi-actor engagement, and assessments of the impacts on the empowerment of the actors. The findings are contextualised by contemporary European Union and national policy objectives of tackling climate change, the loss of biodiversity, and inequalities.
ABSTRACT
Historically, feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) has been considered almost invariably fatal. The recent COVID-19 pandemic has fuelled research in coronavirus pathophysiology and treatment. An unintended consequence is that we now have an effective treatment accessible for FIP. This paper reports on the successful resolution of immunohistochemistry-confirmed effusive FIP in an adolescent cat in South Africa following monotherapy with remdesivir at 4.9-5.6 mg/kg daily for 80 days.
Subject(s)
Cat Diseases , Coronavirus, Feline , Feline Infectious Peritonitis , Animals , Cats , Coronavirus, Feline/drug effects , Feline Infectious Peritonitis/drug therapy , South Africa , COVID-19 Drug TreatmentABSTRACT
Background: There are no authorized or approved treatments in the US for COVID-19 in patients <12 years of age. SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing monoclonal antibodies bamlanivimab and etesevimab together (BAM+ETE) reduce COVID-19 related hospitalization and all-cause mortality in patients ≥12 years of age with mild to moderate COVID-19. Herein, we present the pharmacokinetic (PK), safety, and efficacy results from an open-label Phase III clinical trial addendum (BLAZE-1, NCT04427501) investigating weight-based dosing of BAM+ETE in pediatric patients at increased risk for severe COVID-19. Methods: A total of 91 pediatric patients (<18 years of age) were evaluated for PK. Pediatric patients weighing ≥40kg received 700mg BAM+1400mg ETE. Pediatric patients weighing less than 40kg received weight-based dosing to match the exposures observed in adults and adolescents (12 to <18 years of age) who received the authorized dose of 700mg BAM+1400mg ETE. Twenty additional adolescent patients (12 to <18 years of age) received BAM+ETE in controlled BLAZE-1 cohorts and were included in safety and efficacy analyses. All ambulatory patients had mild to moderate COVID-19 upon enrollment, at least one risk factor for severe COVID-19, and received treatment within 3 days of a positive SARS-CoV-2 test. The primary objective was to characterize the pharmacokinetics of weight-based dosing of BAM+ETE in pediatric patients. Results: Of the 111 pediatric patients who received BAM+ETE, the median age was 12 and age distribution was 12 to <18 (n=60), 6 to <12 (n=36), 2 to <6 (n=10), and 0 to <2 (n=5). Overall, 47.7% were female, 19.1% were Hispanic/Latino, and 62.4% were Black/African American. In patients receiving weight-based dosing, the AUC for both BAM and ETE in pediatric patients was similar (within 90% interval) to adults (Figure). For all pediatric patients, there were no reports of hospitalizations, serious adverse events, or deaths. At Day 7, pediatric patients had a change in viral load from baseline of-4.10 (normalized baseline viral load of 6.41) as compared to-3.65 (normalized baseline viral load of 6.75) in adult patients. The median time to complete symptom resolution was 5 days for all pediatric patients. Conclusion: The weight-based doses administered to pediatric patients provided similar drug exposures when compared to adult patients who received the authorized dose of 700 mg BAM+1400mg ETE. Treatment in pediatric patients was well-tolerated and resulted in favorable viral load reduction and symptom resolution.
ABSTRACT
Background/Aims COVID-19 can manifest as a significant lung inflammation in adults. Although the course of disease is usually mild in children, it occasionally results in Paediatric Inflammatory Multisystem Syndrome temporally associated with COVID-19 (PIMS). We present a cohort of 79 children treated for PIMS-TS in Yorkshire, UK between May 2020 and September 2021. Methods This retrospective multicentre cohort study includes children fulfilling the case definition of PIMS-TS according to Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health criteria. The collected data include demographics, clinical symptoms, laboratory results, echocardiographic findings, treatment and outcomes. Results Out of 79 PIMS-TS cases, 50 were male, 29 female. Ages were between 3 months and 16 years (median 7 years). 45 children were within the normal weight range for age, 4 underweight, 30 overweight. 41 children were Caucasian, 34 Asian, 2 African and 2 Afro-Caribbean origin. The median duration of admission was 7 days with range 0-21 days. All children had fever. In 51 cardiac involvement was detected (impaired cardiac function, pericardial effusion or changes on coronary arteries by echocardiographic examination). In 51 children a skin rash was observed (usually macular blanching confluent non-pruritic), 48 children had gastrointestinal symptoms such as abdominal pains, vomiting or diarrhoea, 39 children had non-purulent conjunctivitis, 13 children enlarged cervical lymph nodes. All patients initially received antibiotics and all but two were treated with an anti-platelet dose of aspirin, a small number early on with an anti-inflammatory dose of aspirin, 31 were treated with 3 consecutive infusions of intravenous methylprednisolone (IVMP) 10 mg/kg daily followed by a weaning dose of oral prednisolone, 35 by IVMP and intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIG), 9 by IVIG only. The duration of treatment by oral prednisolone was 3-35 days with median 15 days. Inotropic support for hypotension was needed in 18 cases and oxygen therapy in 11 cases. All children had a good outcome and are being followed-up in our Paediatric Rheumatology / Cardiology clinics at 1-2 weeks, 6 weeks, 6 months and 12 months. To date, follow-up at 12 months has shown resolution of cardiac abnormalities including initial mild dilatation of coronary arteries;most of our patients have fully recovered within 6 weeks. No patients had any thromboembolic event identified. After discharge from hospital self-limiting musculoskeletal pains, lethargy, peeling of palms and/or headaches were common. 3 patients received psychology support. Conclusion We report 100% survival in our cohort of patients with PIMS-TS. None of the patients represented with flare of the symptoms. The majority were treated by corticosteroids alone, or in combination with IVIG. We believe that advance knowledge of PIMS-TS (from colleagues in other regions in the UK, affected earlier), prompt treatment and structured follow-up approach by multi-disciplinary team contributed to the good outcomes so far.
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Arterial hypertension remains the most significant risk factor for cardiovascular disease and associated disability worldwide. In the field of arterial hypertension the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic also determined major parts of the scientific debate. Arterial hypertension is associated with a severe course of COVID-19, whereas risk of infection by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) does not appear to be increased in hypertensive individuals. According to current data, treatment with angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and angiotensin type 1 receptor blockers is not associated with an increased risk of SARS-CoV‑2 infection or with a more severe course of COVID-19. A study on antihypertensive chronotherapy determined the scientific discourse on the medication treatment of hypertension. The HYGIA study concluded that bedtime medication reduces the cardiovascular risk in patients with arterial hypertension. Due to some study limitations, routine administration of bedtime antihypertensive medication cannot be recommended. Some of the reasons are discussed herein. Another scientific focus was on new renal denervation studies. Here, one can summarize that according to novel evidence, catheter-based renal denervation is an effective and safe procedure for the treatment of arterial hypertension, which could become established as an alternative to pharmaceutical blood pressure reduction in the near future.
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COVID-19 has created many constraint-related challenges for humans in general and organisations in particular. Specifically, businesses that require physical contact, such as mobility providers, have been severely impacted by the crisis. This paper reveals how mobility platforms and their ecosystem of actors have adapted faster than their non-platform competitors to become resilient. Whereas current research on resilience explicitly deals with the concept of organisational resilience, community resilience, or IT resilience, socio-technical characteristics of digital platforms have not been investigated. We build on a case survey approach, including heterogeneous qualitative evidence of 266 actions of 171 analysed mobility platforms. The results show five archetypes of how mobility platforms leverage their platform-based nature and the ecosystem to build resilience. Based on this, we develop the concept of platform ecosystem resilience as leveraging socio-technical factors of digital platforms and ecosystems frugally to design, deploy and use situation-specific responses to prepare for, endure and adapt by capturing new opportunities and engaging in transformative activities to cope with exogenous shocks and become resilient for future disruptions. Our results emphasise the importance of platform ecosystems for practitioners and policy planners to develop the "new normal" rather than resuming existing practices.