COVID-19 Deaths in México: A Spatiotemporal Analysis

Officially named severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), COVID-19 was first reported in Wuhan, China, at the end of 2019. By February 2020, Mexico had registered its first confirmed case, and by March, its first death. This chapter examines the spatial and temporal patterns of COVID-19 cumulative deaths in Mexico by municipio and analyzes the spatio-temporal distribution and shifting trends of deaths. The analysis was based on a space-time cube with publicly available data from February 3, 2020, through February 8, 2021. The analysis shows the impact of population density and isolation on COVID-19 cumulative deaths in Mexico. © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2022.

A Literature Review of the Effects of Air Pollution on COVID-19 Health Outcomes Worldwide: Statistical Challenges and Data Visualization.

Several peer-reviewed papers and reviews have examined the relationship between exposure to air pollution and COVID-19 spread and severity. However, many of the existing reviews on this topic do not extensively present the statistical challenges associated with this field, do not provide comprehensive guidelines for future researchers, and review only the results of a relatively small number of papers. We reviewed 139 papers, 127 of which reported a statistically significant positive association between air pollution and adverse COVID-19 health outcomes. Here, we summarize the evidence, describe the statistical challenges, and make recommendations for future research. To summarize the 139 papers with data from geographical locations around the world, we also present anopen-source data visualization tool that summarizes these studies and allows the research community to contribute evidence as new research papers are published.

COVID-19 pandemic-induced organisational cultural shifts and employee information security compliance behaviour: a South African case study

Purpose: The purpose of this preliminary empirical research study is to understand how environmental disruption such as brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic induces shifts in organisational culture, information security culture and subsequently employee information security compliance behaviour. Design/methodology/approach: A single-organisation case study was used to develop understanding from direct experiences of organisational life. Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected using a sequential mixed methods approach, with the qualitative phase following the quantitative to achieve complementarity and completeness in analysis. For the quantitative phase, 48 useful responses were received after a questionnaire was sent to all 150–200 employees. For the qualitative phase, eight semi-structured interviews were conducted. Statistical software was used to analyse the quantitative data and NVivo software was used to analyse the qualitative data. Findings: The pandemic-induced environmental disruption manifested as a sudden shift to work-from-home for employees, and relatedly an increase in cybercrime. The organisational response to this gave rise to shifts in both organisational and information security culture towards greater control (rule and goal orientations) and greater flexibility (support and innovation orientations), most significantly with information security culture flexibility. The net effect was an increase in employee information security compliance. Originality/value: The vast literature on organisational culture and information security culture was drawn on to theoretically anchor and develop parsimonious measures of information security culture. Environmental disruptions such as those caused by the pandemic are unpredictable and their effects uncertain, hence, the study provides insight into the consequences of such disruption on information security in organisations. © 2022, Emerald Publishing Limited.

Model Checking Functional Integration of Human Cognition and Machine Reasoning

Functional integration of human cognition and machine reasoning is an industry-wide problem where failure risks health or safety. Differences in human versus machine functioning obscure conventional integration. We introduce cognitive work problems (CWP) for rigorous, verifiable functional integration. CWP specify the cognitive problem that integrated designs must solve. They are technology-neutral, work objects, allowing people and computing to share and transform them in coordination. The end-to-end method is illustrated on a system that employs AI for remote patient monitoring (RPM) during COVID-19 home care. The CWP specified actionable risk awareness as the medical problem RPM must solve. Graphical modeling standards enabled user participation: CWP as finite state machines and system behavior in BPMN. For model checking, the CWPs logical content was translated to linear temporal logic (LTL) and the BPMN into Promela as inputs to the SPIN model checker. SPIN verified the Promela implements the LTL correctly. We conclude this CWP-derived RPM design solves the medical problem and enhances patient safety. The method appears general to many critical systems. © 2022 IEEE.

Virtual or face to face modified Constraint Induced Movement Therapy (mCIMT) or CIMT – real world service transformation considerations

Keywords: Virtual;CIMT;Service Purpose: Upper limb weakness is a common complaint post stroke. Motor impairment and learned non-use can lead to secondary complications such as muscle atrophy, weakness, stiffness and contractures, which reduce function. Constraint induced movement therapy (CIMT) is a daily intensive rehabilitation treatment for upper limb weakness post stroke shown to improve activity of the weaker limb by constraining the non-affected hand and undertaking repetitive task and motor learning exercises. However CIMT is sometimes difficult to implement due to the length of time of the programme (daily attendance for 2–3 weeks) and the therapy staff and time needed. COVID-19 and the global pandemic halted face to face therapy and our aim was to redesign and deliver CIMT virtually. The objective was to consider the practicalities of virtual programmes and use patient reported outcomes to determine any difference between virtual and face to face. Methods: From September 2020 to March 2021 patients referred for CIMT were assessed using established criteria. Programmes were individually tailored to include daily supervised and independent practice. The virtual programme was established to align with the face to face programme as closely as possible. The main requirements for the virtual programme were patients’ acceptance and ability to undertake a virtual programme and access to technology that supported video consultation. Patients were supported via email/telephone and a member of the therapy team monitored progress daily in a 45 min video consultation. The ArmA (Arm Activity Measure) was completed pre and post programme for both virtual and face to face. ArmA consists of two parts;ArmA-A asks whether the patient is able to care for their arm themselves or with a carer and ArmA-B asks how easy or hard it is to use their affected arm in functional tasks. Lower scores indicate better ability. Results: Four patients completed a CIMT programme face to face and 6 virtually. ArmA scores for the whole group pre CIMT;ArmA-A, range 1–18 (maximum score 32) and ArmA-B, range 8–43 (maximum score 52). Post CIMT;ArmA-A range 0–15 with 4 patients scoring 0 or 1 and ArmA-B range 4–31. Virtual versus face to face ArmA scores reduced in both groups with change scores of between 4–14 points on ArmA-A and 3–22 points on ArmA-B. Conclusion(s): This is a small service evaluation of CIMT delivery methods in an outpatient service. Both groups showed improvements in caring for and functional use of their arm. Patients found CIMT delivered virtually or face to face as acceptable and all adhered to the programme. Impact: There are clear advantages to virtually delivered therapy programmes with the impact of flexibility and choice for patients and a ‘Greener NHS’ service due to decreased daily travel and reduction in carbon footprint that could transform physiotherapy practice and contribute to greater accessibility for many. Services that have been traditionally thought of as face to face delivery are showing commensurate benefit that needs further evaluation and research. Funding acknowledgements: No funding received.