Practical recommendations for a post COVID-19 resilient Generation Z workforce

PURPOSE: The purpose of this short communication is to provide theoretical considerations that support Human Resources (HR) professionals' decisions regarding the development of a post COVID-19 pandemic career resilient Generation Z's workforce. Building on the work of Pataki-Bittó Kapusy [1] and Pichler, Kohli Granitz [2], an effort to provide practical recommendations, that align workplace policies and practices with Generation Z's work values will be made, in order to develop a resilient workforce. DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: The authors review literature on Generation Z, namely regarding the factors that shaped their underlying development and consequent work values. Furthermore, literature regarding current organizational policies and practices focused on this generation was reviewed. FINDINGS: Although the recommendations made here allow worker integration and a better person-organization fit, this conceptual framework also suggests that very little is known about this generation, and as such, no one-size-fits-all recommendation exists for managers. It is our understanding that the recommendations set out here must be adapted to each organizational context, and each manager should pay more attention to its content than its form. ORIGINALITY/VALUE: This short communication presents a reflection regarding recommendations, that align workplace policies and practices with Generation Z's work values, in order to develop a career resilient workforce. It is a work that combines previous works and as such it offers a more encompassing systematization of the latest recommendations regarding this generation. © 2023 - IOS Press. All rights reserved.

Colchicine reduces the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome in COVID-19 patients.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether colchicine treatment was associated with the inhibition of NLRP3 inflammasome activation in patients with COVID-19. METHODS: We present a post hoc analysis from a double-blinded placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial (RCT) on the effect of colchicine for the treatment of COVID-19. Serum levels of NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome products-active caspase-1 (Casp1p20), IL-1ß, and IL-18-were assessed at enrollment and after 48-72 h of treatment in patients receiving standard-of-care (SOC) plus placebo vs. those receiving SOC plus colchicine. The colchicine regimen was 0.5 mg tid for 5 days, followed by 0.5 mg bid for another 5 days. RESULTS: Thirty-six patients received SOC plus colchicine, and thirty-six received SOC plus placebo. Colchicine reduced the need for supplemental oxygen and the length of hospitalization. On Days 2-3, colchicine lowered the serum levels of Casp1p20 and IL-18, but not IL-1ß. CONCLUSION: Treatment with colchicine inhibited the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome, an event triggering the 'cytokine storm' in COVID-19. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBERS: RBR-8jyhxh.

Relationship between obesity and clinical aggravation in patients diagnosed with sars- cov-2: a review

Introduction: Obesity is considered one of the factors of clinical worsening of Sars-Cov-2. Objective: To verify the influence of obesity on possible clinical worsening in patients with Sars-CoV-2. Materials and methods: The methodology of this study was based on a review of the literature, of a descriptive nature, in order to understand the relationship between obesity and Sars-Cov-2, with a survey of scientific articles published in the years 2020 and 2021, with a search in the SciELO, Lilacs, PubMed and Google Scholar databases. Results: The results of this research indicate that obesity, because it is a disease that provides an inflammatory cascade in the body, decreases immune responses and causes pulmonary hypoventilation, increases the incidence of clinical worsening combined with Sars-Cov2, which can lead to a critical condition. Discussion: There was a greater worsening in cases of Covid-19 in overweight and obese patients, whether or not they had other associated comorbidities. Conclusion: Obesity is directly related to the clinical worsening of patients with Sars-Cov-2.

COVID-19 Impacts and Mitigation Strategies on Food Supply Chains: A Survey to the Brazilian Context

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly affected Food Supply Chains (FSCs), causing impacts that interfere with the normal flow of operations. This paper analyzes the COVID-19 impacts on FSCs and the main strategies to minimize their adverse effects. The research adopts a scoping review to identify impacts and strategies and an empirical study consisting of a survey with professionals operating in Brazilian SCs to discuss and validate the results. Impacts are categorized into final consumer, internal environment, and external environment. The policies are also divided into COVID-19 prevention policies and FSCs operational policies. The survey presents 45 complete responses to identify the major impacts and implementation of mitigation policies in FSCs during the COVID-19 pandemic. The main impacts are increased demand, increased operating costs, and price instability. The main mitigation policies are isolation of employees with suspicious cases (COVID-19 prevention) and strong and focused leadership (Operational policy). The results provide a first validation of the research, and the authors suggest as future research the development of studies deepening other types of supply chains. © 2022, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.

ULTRA-RAPID REAL-TIME MICROFLUIDIC POLYMERASE CHAIN REACTION INSTRUMENT FOR CLINICAL AND FORENSIC APPLICATIONS

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has elevated the development of novel diagnostic solutions, including rapid nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs), to a global priority to meet the high demand for accurate, timely viral detection and diagnosis. However, ubiquitously implemented NAATs, such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR), consume hours of testing. We report a field-forward instrument capable of ultra-fast real-time PCR for amplification-based nucleic acid detection in a custom-designed microfluidic chip. Prudent selection and unconventional positioning of thermal cyclers relative to the microfluidic chip and a fluorescent detector permit ultra-fast simultaneous amplification and detection, with 40 cycles complete in under 10 minutes. © 2021 MicroTAS 2021 - 25th International Conference on Miniaturized Systems for Chemistry and Life Sciences. All rights reserved.

Cyberspace and the ubiquity of communication in pandemic times: listening to students through episodic interview

Whether intertwined through wifi or plugged desktops, teenagers and young people are increasingly immersed in the ciberspace, due to the presence TDIC becoming ubiquitous. This study aims to comprehend how students from a public school in Bahia's countryside feel about having their lives more effectively in this space, as to relate socially, affectively, politically and so on in this pandemic context. It is an exploratory approach, with theoretical and methodological orientations that follow the New Studies of Literacies. The construction of the narratives happened through episodic interviews and the mining of the information over the Voyant Tools interface. From this interaction, it was possible to observe that some intermittences have provoked other sociocommunicatives becomings at the same time that some reverberations undertake that the participants of the research are in physical, but not social distancing, since sociability, too, happens over the virtual sphere.

Causal impacts of epidemics and pandemics on food supply chains: A systematic review

The epidemics and pandemics can severely affect food supply chains, including producers, retailers, wholesalers, and customers. To minimize their impacts, it is fundamental to implement effective policies that ensure continuity in the provision, affordability, and distribution of basic food items. This research identifies the main impacts of pandemics and epidemics on food supply chains and policies that can minimize these impacts. Based on a systematic literature review (SLR), 173 documents are analysed to propose a taxonomy of impacts on four supply chain links: demand-side, supply-side, logistics and infrastructure, and management and operation. The taxonomy presents the main impacts and respective mitigation policies. In addition, the literature review leads to the development of a comprehensive causal loop diagram (CLD) with the identification of main variables and their relationship with food supply chains. Finally, a specific research agenda is proposed by identifying the main research gaps. These findings provide a structured method for evaluating policies that ensure the functioning of food supply chains, particularly in disruptions such as epidemics and pandemics. © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.

A Focus Group Research in the Frame of the AUTODRIVING Project Under Lockdown Conditions

In the frame of AUTODRIVING Project addressing automation in the road system, a Focus Group (FG) study was planned and setup targeting the collection of data to be used in the definition of details for the experimental project phase: the tests on a driving simulator. Having followed the FG procedure and prepared every required methodological tool, the planned FG sessions were ready to start when the pandemic outbreak imposed a lockdown for several months, which led to plan remote FG sessions. Thus, the planned FG sessions have been converted into remote FG sessions. Furthermore, most of the previously selected participants couldn’t participate, and the methodological procedure had to be re-initiated according to the new conditions imposed by the COVID 19 lockdown situation. The FG results were poorer than expected but the methodology for FG remote sessions has been set up and improved as the researchers’ experience was increased. © 2021, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.

Unforeseen consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic: Increased frequency of kite-string injuries in magnificent frigatebirds (Fregata magnificens) in Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil

Kite flying is a popular hobby and sport for children and adults. Despite being illegal in Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil, the use of abrasive threads remains widespread and poses a health risk to both humans and animals. In this study, we analysed the records of 462 magnificent frigatebirds (Fregata magnificens) submitted to rehabilitation centres or found dead along the southern coast of Rio de Janeiro state from October 2016 to August 2020. Of these, 244 individuals (52.8%) presented wing lesions consistent with kite-string injury, which can have a critical impact on the ability of frigatebirds to fly and will ultimately cause their death. Even when veterinary care is provided, only a small proportion of the individuals (2%) will fully recover the ability to fly in order to be released back to the wild. In 2020, an atypical increase in the number of individuals with kite-string injuries (similar to 1,200% increase compared to other years) was noted in the weeks following the suspension of school activities and commerce in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The number of frigatebirds with kite-string injuries recorded in a given week was positively correlated with internet searches for kite-related terms, which also peaked during the quarantine period of the COVID-19 pandemic. This illustrates how pandemic events may aggravate existing human-wildlife conflicts, and how preparedness plans need to incorporate measures to help communities cope with boredom and isolation during quarantine in ways that do not negatively impact the welfare and conservation of wildlife.

Contingency plans for health surveillance in the COVID-19 pandemic: analysis of compliance in a network of public teaching hospitals

Introduction: In December 2019, China was plagued by coronavirus disease (COVID-19), a disease caused by the new coronavirus, SARV-CoV-2. Due to the high contagion power, the World Health Organization declared a Public Health Emergency of International Importance on January 30, 2020. In March of the same year, more than 100 countries had registered cases of the new disease;thus, due to geographical spread, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 pandemic. Objective: To evaluate the adherence of public teaching hospitals to a Contingency Plan Model for Human Infection by the New Coronavirus published by the central management of a public company. Method: Descriptive-analytical study, using the model developed and published as a guiding document for adapting the contingency plan of each of the hospitals in the study Results: After two evaluations of the plans, 36 (94.7%) hospitals showed compliance greater than 70.0%, with four (10.5%) of them showing 100% compliance with the model. Hospitals' average adherence to the model increased from 82.3% in the first evaluation, to 91.3% in the second evaluation, a percentage increase equal to 11.0%. All hospitals in the study maintained or increased their adherence percentages. Conclusions: The research demonstrated the potential of the model to guide institutions in preparing their plans. Considering the positive results of this experience and the historical scarcity of hospital beds, especially those with ventilatory support, it is recommended that Brazilian health authorities can invest time and resources in the preparation of guiding documents that assist managers in reorganizing hospitals and response in crisis situations.

Health surveillance in the COVID-19 pandemic: resumption of elective activities in the network of teaching hospitals

Introduction: The resumption of activities during the COVID-19 pandemic has been a topic of discussion in different countries so that it does not affect the continuity of assistance to urgencies and emergencies currently underway. Objective: To describe strategies for resuming elective activities in a network of public teaching hospitals in Brazil during the COVID-19 pandemic. Method: This is a descriptive study in the form of an experience report that includes a hospital health surveillance process carried out based on observation and discussion from a network perspective. Results: The guide for resuming elective activities was structured into four topics, the second topic being divided into 11 others to detail the recommendations to be followed. The strategies and actions presented in this guide were categorized into project management stages to better visualize the path to be taken: organization, planning, implementation and monitoring. The material was published in September 2020 by the network's central administration and is being implemented by hospitals. Conclusions: The experience report can help other organizations to define strategies for the safe resumption of their activities.