COVID-19 masks increase the influence of face recognition algorithm decisions on human decisions in unfamiliar face matching.

Face masks, recently adopted to reduce the spread of COVID-19, have had the unintended consequence of increasing the difficulty of face recognition. In security applications, face recognition algorithms are used to identify individuals and present results for human review. This combination of human and algorithm capabilities, known as human-algorithm teaming, is intended to improve total system performance. However, prior work has shown that human judgments of face pair similarity-confidence can be biased by an algorithm's decision even in the case of an error by that algorithm. This can reduce team effectiveness, particularly for difficult face pairs. We conducted two studies to examine whether face masks, now routinely present in security applications, impact the degree to which this cognitive bias is experienced by humans. We first compared the influence of algorithm's decisions on human similarity-confidence ratings in the presence and absence of face masks and found that face masks more than doubled the influence of algorithm decisions on human similarity-confidence ratings. We then investigated if this increase in cognitive bias was dependent on perceived algorithm accuracy by also presenting algorithm accuracy rates in the presence of face masks. We found that making humans aware of the potential for algorithm errors mitigated the increase in cognitive bias due to face masks. Our findings suggest that humans reviewing face recognition algorithm decisions should be made aware of the potential for algorithm errors to improve human-algorithm team performance.

NIOSH Risk-Based Model to Resume Field Research and Public Health Service in 2020 During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

In the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, field research and public health service work conducted by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) was put on hold. During this time, NIOSH developed a risk-based model to resume fieldwork, balancing the public health benefit of such fieldwork with the risks of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 exposure and transmission. We describe our experiences with this model, along with the broader public health significance of the methods used to inform risk management decisions. (Am J Public Health. 2022;112(8):1138-1141. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2022.306882).

Trichosporon asahii Urinary Tract Infection in a Patient with Severe COVID-19.

Trichosporon asahii is a yeast-like basidiomycete that is an emerging opportunistic infection in immunocompromised patients. Urinary tract infections due to T. asahii are rarely reported in the literature and typically seen only in immunocompromised patients. In addition to being immunocompromised, critically ill COVID-19 patients often have prolonged exposure to antibiotics, corticosteroids, and Foley catheters, which further increases their susceptibility to infection with T. asahii. There are limited case reports documenting successful treatment of T. asahii among hospitalized patients, particularly among COVID-19 patients, in the literature. Therefore, it is important that successful treatment regimens be reported. Here, we report a case of T. asahii urinary tract infection successfully treated with fluconazole and voriconazole in a 73-year-old male recovering from COVID-19. Urinary tract infections with T. asahii should be considered in persistently febrile COVID-19 patients with fungal urinary tract infections since prompt recognition and treatment can reduce the risk of disseminated disease and early mortality.

Oral Administration of Coronavirus Spike Protein Provides Protection to Newborn Pigs When Challenged with PEDV.

To investigate whether oral administration of maize-produced S antigen can provide passive immunity to piglets against porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV), 16 pregnant sows were randomly assigned to one of four treatments: (1) injection of PEDV vaccine (INJ), (2) maize grain without S protein (CON), (3) maize grain containing low dose of S antigen (LOV) and (4) maize grain containing a high dose of S antigen (HOV). Vaccines were administered on days 57, 85 and 110 of gestation. Sows' serum and colostrum were collected at farrowing and milk on day 6 post-challenge to quantify neutralizing antibodies (NABs) and cytokines. Piglets were challenged with PEDV 3-5 d after farrowing, and severity of disease and mortality assessed on day 11 post-challenge. Disease severity was lower in LOV and INJ compared with HOV and CON, whereas the survival rate increased in piglets from LOV sows compared with HOV and CON (p ≤ 0.001). Higher titers of NABs and lower levels of cytokine granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor in sows' milk were positively correlated with piglet survivability (p ≤ 0.05). These data suggest that feeding S protein in corn to pregnant sows protects nursing piglets against PEDV.

Leveraging Strategic Foresight to Advance Worker Safety, Health, and Well-Being.

Attending to the ever-expanding list of factors impacting work, the workplace, and the workforce will require innovative methods and approaches for occupational safety and health (OSH) research and practice. This paper explores strategic foresight as a tool that can enhance OSH capacity to anticipate, and even shape, the future as it pertains to work. Equal parts science and art, strategic foresight includes the development and analysis of plausible alternative futures as inputs to strategic plans and actions. Here, we review several published foresight approaches and examples of work-related futures scenarios. We also present a working foresight framework tailored for OSH and offer recommendations for next steps to incorporate strategic foresight into research and practice in order to advance worker safety, health, and well-being.

Proposed Framework for Considering SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Testing of Unexposed Asymptomatic Workers in Selected Workplaces.

OBJECTIVES: To propose a framework for considering SARS-CoV-2 antigen testing of unexposed asymptomatic workers in selected workplaces. METHODS: This is a commentary based on established occupational safety and health principles, published articles, and other pertinent literature, including non-peer-reviewed preprints in medrixiv.org prior to April 16, 2021. RESULTS: Not applicable to this commentary/viewpoint article. CONCLUSION: Antigen testing is a rapidly evolving and useful public health tool that can be used to guide measures to reduce spread of SARS-CoV-2 in the community and in selected workplaces. This commentary provides a proposed framework for occupational safety and health practitioners and employers for considering antigen testing as a method to screen asymptomatic workers in selected non-healthcare settings. When applied selectively, antigen testing can be a useful, effective part of a comprehensive workplace program for COVID-19 prevention and control.

Considerations for Pooled Testing of Employees for SARS-CoV-2.

OBJECTIVES: To identify important background information on pooled tested of employees that employers workers, and health authorities should consider. METHODS: This paper is a commentary based on the review by the authors of pertinent literature generally from preprints in medrixiv.org prior to August 2020. RESULTS/CONCLUSIONS: Pooled testing may be particularly useful to employers in communities with low prevalence of COVID-19. It can be used to reduce the number of tests and associated financial costs. For effective and efficient pooled testing employers should consider it as part of a broader, more comprehensive workplace COVID-19 prevention and control program. Pooled testing of asymptomatic employees can prevent transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and help assure employers and customers that employees are not infectious.