ABSTRACT
This research explored the association between teachers' digital competence and their perception of specific topics as challenges or opportunities during the emergency remote teaching caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. The data were collected from 2282 Swiss vocational education and training (VET) teachers through open-ended questions and self-reported measures based on DigCompEdu. The results suggest that digital competence is associated with the tendency to perceive specific topics in terms of challenges or opportunities. Specifically, the teachers who reported assessment, students' empowerment and self-directed learning as opportunities had higher levels of competence in the respective DigCompEdu areas compared to those who perceived the same topics as challenges.
ABSTRACT
The sustainable and resilient agri-food systems are essential to ensure food security and nutrition for a rapidly growing world population. While the unprecedented COVID-19 outbreak has undoubtedly disrupted numerous businesses, small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) of agri-food supply chains (AFSCs) wereseen more vulnerable to disruptions due to their unique operational challenges. This research explores how SMEs of AFSCs across developing and developed contexts were disrupted by COVID-19 inflicted risks and what useful measures were embraced to cultivate supply chain resilience (SCRE). A qualitative research method, with 24 semi-structured interviews including two developing (Pakistan and Tanzania) and a developed (Australia) country, was employed. The cross-country analysis unveils a noticeable difference in risk and SCRE profiles between developing and developed contexts. We devisea systematic account of COVID-19 inflicted risks and related SCRE strategies to survive and thrive amid the current pandemic and similar future crises. Multiple perspectives from different contextswould assistpractitioners and policymakers to learn the key lessons, enhancing resilience of agri-food SMEs. This is among the few studies exploring risk and SCRE in SMEs of AFSCs across developing and developed contexts, benchmarking robust strategies applied by some leading firms. Our proposed conceptual framework offers a roadmap to building more resilient agri-food SMEs. © 2022 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
ABSTRACT
Introduction: In the COVID-19 context, the opportunity to work from home (WFH) became of great importance: several studies investigated the WFH phenomenon but, to the best of our knowledge, no studies have yet been performed considering the differences between WFH and WFO (working from office) conditions, in terms of exposure assessment to different air pollutants. The principal aim of this study is therefore to evaluate the personal exposure to selected airborne pollutants during these working conditions. Material and Methods: A long-term campaign involves the measurement of different PM (particulate matter) fractions, using portable direct-reading instrumentation. The measurements will be carried out in two different seasons for two consecutive weeks. The data relating to the exposure concentrations will be acquired at the same time by a subject in WFH conditions for 24 hours per day, and by a second subject in WFO conditions for 8 working hours. In a short-term campaign, at least 50 subjects are expected to be enrolled, who will carry out two consecutive monitoring days (respectively in WFO and WFH conditions). Results and Conclusions: Preliminary results (for both campaigns) indicate that, on average, the levels of exposure to the different PM fractions are higher during the WFH mode. The WFH/WFO ratios calculated on the different PM fractions are on average equal to 2.4 and 1.9 respectively for the short-term and long-term campaign. Differences in terms of median exposure concentrations measured during the two working conditions are statistically significant (p<0.001 for all PM fractions, in both campaigns).
ABSTRACT
Background Biocontainment systems in healthcare settings are intended to ensure isolation of contagious or potentially contagious patients so as to protect healthcare providers and control infection spread. The need for safe and effective biocontainment systems has emerged during the COVID-19 outbreak. In particular, transport of potentially contagious patients poses technical, logistical and medical challenges that are to be addressed to protect population health and enable safe healthcare services delivery. Methods As novel biocontainment systems become available it is important to assess their operational effectiveness and safety and to define their organizational impact. We applied the Health Technology Assessment (HTA) framework to evaluate a novel rigid bio-containment system (Billy-Cab) integrated with the stretcher support, for ambulance transport of contagious patients. Results We applied the EUnetHTA core model to conduct an HTA report of Billy-Cab. A multi-disciplinary working group was established. We assessed available biocontainment under the nine dimensions of the EUnetHTA core model. We derived and pooled: 1) original data derived from clinical practice, 2) secondary data derived from systematic reviews of the literature, conducted according to the PRISMA guidelines, 3) original data derived from validated questionnaires, 4) economic original data. Conclusions Preliminary data allow to conclude selected biocontainment systems are effective in ensuring infection control during ambulance transport, with manageable organizational impact. In addition, the use biocontainment systems positively influence healthcare professionals' attitudes and performances. The HTA methodology offers substantial support to evaluate the introduction of innovative technologies during health emergencies and beyond. Key messages Selected biocontainment systems are effective in ensuring infection control during ambulance transport. HTA is to be applied to evaluate the introduction of innovative technologies during health emergencies and beyond.
ABSTRACT
Propelled by urbanization, rising incomes, and changing diets, food markets have been expanding in Africa and South Asia, creating the vast potential for job and income opportunities along food supply chains and, hence, for poverty reduction. The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) that spread to a pandemic in early 2020 provokes enormous setbacks to this expansion. This, however, should provide lessons regarding the importance of resilient and inclusive food systems. Emergency responses to COVID-19 should consider interventions towards that end and leverage the opportunities provided by food markets growth as economies recover from the present economic recession. This paper assesses options of how this could be done by facilitating the better functioning and interconnectedness of the many small and medium-sized enterprises that are proliferating along the "hidden middle" of food value chains in storage, logistics, transportation, and wholesale and retail distribution. It also explores how policies can help smallholder farmers connect to this "hidden middle" in more gainful ways and help them climb out of poverty as well.