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COVID-19 is one of the serious catastrophes that have a substantial influence on human health and the environment. Diverse preventive actions were implemented globally to limit its spread and transmission. Personnel protective equipment (PPE) was an important part of these control approaches. But unfortunately, these types of PPE mainly comprise plastics, which sparked challenges in the management of plastic waste. Disposable face masks (DFM) are one of the efficient strategies used across the world to ward off disease transmission. DFMs can contribute to micro and nano plastic pollution as the plastic present in the mask may degrade when exposed to certain environmental conditions. Microplastics (MPs) can enter the food chain and devastate human health. Recognizing the possible environmental risks associated with the inappropriate disposal of masks, it is crucial to avert it from becoming the next plastic crisis. To address this environmental threat, titanium dioxide (TiO2)-based photocatalytic degradation (PCD) of MPs is one of the promising approaches. TiO2-based photocatalysts exhibit excellent plastic degradation potential due to their outstanding photocatalytic ability, cost efficiency, chemical, and thermal stability. In this review, we have discussed the reports on COVID-19 waste generation, the limitation of current waste management techniques, and the environmental impact of MPs leachates from DFMs. Mainly, the prominence of TiO2 in the PCD and the applications of TiO2-based photocatalysts in MPs degradation are the prime highlights of this review. Additionally, various synthesis methods to enhance the photocatalytic performance of TiO2 and the mechanism of PCD are also discussed. Furthermore, current challenges and the future research perspective on the improvement of this approach have been proposed.
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Wastewater surveillance has been widely used as a supplemental method to track the community infection levels of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. A gap exists in standardized reporting for fecal indicator concentrations, which can be used to calibrate the primary outcome concentrations from wastewater monitoring for use in epidemiological models. To address this, measurements of fecal indicator concentration among wastewater samples collected from sewers and treatment centers in four counties of Kentucky (N = 650) were examined. Results from the untransformed wastewater data over 4 months of sampling indicated that the fecal indicator concentration of human ribonuclease P (RNase P) ranged from 5.1 × 101 to 1.15 × 106 copies/ml, pepper mild mottle virus (PMMoV) ranged from 7.23 × 103 to 3.53 × 107 copies/ml, and cross-assembly phage (CrAssphage) ranged from 9.69 × 103 to 1.85 × 108 copies/ml. The results showed both regional and temporal variability. If fecal indicators are used as normalization factors, knowing the daily sewer system flow of the sample location may matter more than rainfall. RNase P, while it may be suitable as an internal amplification and sample adequacy control, has less utility than PMMoV and CrAssphage as a fecal indicator in wastewater samples when working at different sizes of catchment area. The choice of fecal indicator will impact the results of surveillance studies using this indicator to represent fecal load. Our results contribute broadly to an applicable standard normalization factor and assist in interpreting wastewater data in epidemiological modeling and monitoring.
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The majority of sewer systems in the United States and other countries are operated by public utilities. In the absence of any regulation, the public perception of wastewater monitoring for population health biomarkers is an important consideration for a public utility commission when allocating resources for this purpose. We conducted a survey in August 2021 as part of an ongoing COVID-19 community prevalence study in Louisville/Jefferson County, KY, US. The survey comprised seven questions about wastewater awareness and privacy concerns and was sent to approximately 35 000 households randomly distributed within the county. A total of 1220 adults were involved in the probability sample, and data from 981 respondents were used in the analysis. A total of 2444 adults additionally responded to the convenience sample, and data from 1751 respondents were used in the analysis. The samples were weighted to obtain estimates representative of all adults in the county. Public awareness of tracking the virus that causes COVID-19 in sewers was low. Opinions strongly support the public disclosure of monitoring results. Responses showed that people more strongly supported measurements in the largest areas (>50 000 households), typically representing population levels found in a large community wastewater treatment plant. Those with a history of COVID-19 infection were more likely to support highly localized monitoring. Understanding wastewater surveillance strategies and privacy concern thresholds requires an in-depth and comprehensive analysis of public opinion for continued success and effective public health monitoring.
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Afew months after the World Health Organization declared the global coronavirus outbreak a pandemic on March 11, 2020, I wrote to the mental health NGos and initiatives I have collaborated with for up to a decade now, clinics and centers that offer varieties of psychotherapeutic assistance to poor populations in global cities (Kolkata, Chennai, New York, London). The answer, unequivocal, from the three corners of the globe, was that work hadn't stopped, however stressful the increased caseload was for mental health professionals and despite the fact that grief counselling, a taxing job as well as a hard-earned skill, had overtaken other forms of therapy. There was no respite, no salutary social, economic, or psychological interregnum, for the slum inhabitants or transient and refugee populations these charities tend. Therefore, not only could the interventions not be stalled but they also had to be repurposed quickly to become Covid safe and lockdown compliant. The homeless inhabitants with psychosocial disabilities were staying put, said Dr. Tony Stern, resident psychiatrist at Harlem's TLC (Transitional Living Community), and the Covid infection rates were remarkably low as a result. The participants in the horticultural psychotherapy initiative of
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Mask detection plays a major role in the prevention and control of epidemics after the COVID-19 outbreak as it is the most practical and effective method of prevention. For the appropriate employees, a great automatic real-time face mask identification system based on deep learning can significantly lessen work-related stress. The systems for mask identification that are currently in use, however, are largely resource-intensive and do not strike a reasonable balance between speed and accuracy. In our system, the mask detector is SSD, and to extract the image's features and decrease a number of parameters, MobileNet takes the role of VGG-16. Pre-trained models from other domains are transferred to our model using transfer learning techniques. © 2023 IEEE.
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Does channeling government-to-person (G2P) payments through bank accounts encourage financial inclusion and use? This paper explores the factors that have driven the adoption of digital payments in India by beneficiaries of PMGKY, the large-scale COVID-19 relief program launched in May 2020. India's 2013 move to pay social benefits through direct transfers into bank accounts significantly increased account ownership, but uptake of digital payments has been slower, although it has accelerated more recently through smartphone-based apps. Recipient survey data shows that personal and household attributes influence the likelihood of adopting digital payments. Smartphone ownership and digital literacy improve the odds while being a woman reduces them. The strength of the local digital payments ecosystem also exerts significant influence on household adoption;favorable personal and ecosystem factors are needed for widespread use. The historical progression shows that G2P transfers create an entry point but that widespread access to low-cost mobile telecommunications, interoperability, and the entry of new players offering convenient payments interfaces have been vital to the growth of digital payments.
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Background Anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (ALCAPA) is an extremely rare disorder. Case A 20-year-old, 36-week pregnant female (G1P0) presented with acute shortness of breath, sharp chest pain and fever. She was COVID-19 positive and required BiPAP. Echocardiogram showed 40% EF, dilated LV with global hypokinesis and moderate mitral regurgitation (MR). She was hypotensive and on oxygen despite diuresis, emergent cesarean and COVID-19 treatment. Left heart catheterization showed anomalous takeoff of the left main coronary artery (LCA) from the dilated pulmonary artery (PA) with coronary steal (Figure 1). She had ALCAPA repair with LIMA to LAD bypass grafting. Decision-making Differential diagnoses included peripartum cardiomyopathy, Covid-myocarditis, pulmonary embolism, and spontaneous coronary artery dissection. LHC was performed only when symptoms failed to improve and troponin kept rising. ALCAPA has two major clinical subtypes - Infantile type and adult type. Adult type presents as dyspnea, chest pain, reduced exercise ability, and sudden cardiac death. Despite having good RCA to LCA collaterals, adult patients can still have ongoing ischemia of the LV myocardium, causing ischemic MR, malignant ventricular dysrhythmias. Diagnosis was delayed due to pregnancy and COVID-19 infection. Conclusion ALCAPA is a lethal coronary disorder. Elevated troponin and dilated cardiomyopathy with acute MR should raise suspicion of ALCAPA in young adults. [Formula presented]Copyright © 2023 American College of Cardiology Foundation
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During the COVID-19 pandemic, wastewater-based epidemiology has emerged as a promising approach for monitoring SARS-CoV-2 prevalence on a community-level. Despite much being known about the utility of making these measurements in large wastewater treatment plants, little is known about the correlation with finer geographic resolution, such as those obtained through sewershed sub-area catchments. This study aims to identify community wastewater surveillance characteristics between sewershed areas that affect the strength of the association of SARS-CoV-2 RNA detection in a metropolitan area. For this, wastewater from 17 sewershed areas were sampled in Louisville/Jefferson County, Kentucky (USA), from August 2020 to April 2021 (N = 727), which covered approximately 97% of the county's households. Solids were collected from the treatment plants from November 2020 to December 2020 (N = 42). Our results indicate that the sewersheds differ in SARS-CoV-2 trends;however, high pairwise correlation spatial trends were not observed, and the mean SARS-CoV-2 RNA concentrations of smaller upstream community sewershed areas did not differ from their respective treatment centers. Solid samples could only be collected at treatment plants, therefore not allowing us to evaluate SARS-CoV-2 abundance as a function of the sewershed scale. The population size sensitivity of SARS-CoV-2 concentration detection is non-linear: at low population levels the measures are either too sensitive and generate a high level of variability, or at high population levels the estimates are dampened making small changes in community infection levels more difficult to discern. Our results suggest selecting sampling sites that include a wide population range. This study and its findings may inform other system-wide strategies for sampling wastewater for estimating non-SARS-CoV-2 targets.
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Aim: A comparative analysis of short term outcome of colorectal resections undertaken before and during COVID-19 pandemic. Method(s): A retrospective analysis of prospective database of colorectal cancer resections pre and post COVID-19 (2019 vs 2020) in a DGH. The cohort had 106 patients (60 in 2019;46 in 2020). Outcome parameters analysed were, Length of stay (LOS), stoma formation, resection margin, Clavien-dindo classification of complications, 30 day re-admission rate and 30 day mortality. Demographic data included age, gender and type of resection Results: A total of 60 resections were performed in 2019, 53% being female and median age 68 years In 2020 there were 46 resections, median age 70.5yrs and 43% female. In 2019 15/60 (25%) of resections were performed as an emergency and in 2020 10/46 (22%) (P = 0.65). Median LOS was 8 days in 2019 and 7 in 2020 (P = 0.25). 5/60 patients were readmitted within 30days in 2019 and 9/46 in 2020 (P = 0.045*). In both arms 30 day mortality was 0. In 2019 8 patients suffered Clavien-dindo complications rated at 2 or greater and 11 in 2020 (P = 0.08). Stomas were formed in 26/60 in 2019 and 28/46 in 2020 (P = 0.037*). Finally in 2019 7/60 resections had R1 resection and 4/46 in 2020 (P = 0.62). Conclusion(s): The analysis found no signifcant difference in short term outcome of the two periods including length of stay or days in ICU. Comparatively little statistical difference was found between the two years despite COVID-19. The only parameters notably different were the stoma rate rising from 43% to 61%, and 30 day readmission rate increasing from 8% to 20%. This data-set is too small to infer if problems related to stoma care were responsible. This analysis would suggest that there was not a significant difference in occupancy of ICU beds despite increasing stoma formation at a local level. Many of these patients will need reversal and the pandemic is likely to continue, therefore should stomas be formed as readily? Larger multicentre audit may validate such observations.
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Firms are using blockchain technology to prevent fraudulent activities through consensus mechanisms and help identify data tampering through its underlying characteristics, such as immutability, encryption transparency, and operational resilience. However, a holistic review of blockchain application in building a cyber-secure supply chain remains elusive, which can impede the advancement of the field when competing arguments are made, and pure replications are initiated. Therefore, the present study carries a systematic literature review to assess the state of literature review on the significance of blockchain in developing a cyber-secure and resilient supply chain. A systematic review of 122 peer-reviewed papers published between 2012 and 2022 has been conducted using a structured methodological approach. Further, the Theory, Context and Methodology (TCM) framework has been applied to suggest avenues for future research. Our analysis reveals six dominant themes related to blockchain and its adoption, blockchain application for resilience, blockchain application for cyber-security, blockchain and its role in intermediation, disintermediation and reintermediation, challenges of blockchain adoption and benefits of blockchain applications in the supply chain. Although the role of blockchain application in the cyber secure and resilient supply chain has been recognised, very little attention has been given to contextual factors affecting its adoption and consequences on key performance parameters. The present study contributes to the literature by synthesising the prime findings of reviewed papers and the managerial impli-cations, thereby giving a holistic view of the existing research and presenting an array of future opportunities for firms to adopt blockchain technology in the supply chain.
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Aims: Gallbladder pathology is a common cause of Emergency admission under General surgery-however management had to be drastically changed given The unexpected pressures of The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. This study aimed to compare management strategies in patients presenting with Biliary pathology pre and intra-SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in one NHS truSt. Method(s): A database of patients admitted to The acute surgical admissions ward in The months of November 2019 and 2021 was accessed, patients with Biliary presentations were isolated and information about these admissions analysed. Result(s): In 2019 4 of 57 (8.7%) of patients admitted with Biliary pathology had a laparoscopic cholecystectomy during that acute admission, compared to 8 of 65 (12.3%) in 2021. For all interventions (including ERCp and cholecystostomy) these values were 14 of 57 (25%) in 2019 and 24 of 65 (37%) in 2021. of 54 patients in 2019 who did not have laparoscopic cholecystectomy on index admission, 9 were readmitted (16.7%). The median duration of admission for all Biliary patients on index admission was 4 days in 2019 compared to 5.9 days in 2021. Conclusion(s): SARS COV2 has precipitated a change in management of acute Biliary patients. There is now an increased rate of intervention during The index admission and subsequent increase in admission duration. This is seen as an improvement in The pathway for patients in The long term, reducing The burden on The elective waiting list and reducing re-admission which will of fset The modest increase in length of stay on The index admission.
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The COVID-19 pandemic has shown that stock outs of essential items like hand sanitizers, tissue papers and other items of hygiene and daily use have been characteristic of a supply chain, especially immediately following a pandemic wave. Consequently, retailers have to indulge in substantial supplier management efforts to ensure product availability during a pandemic wave. Using a piecewise deterministic differential game, we model a scenario where, while anticipating a pandemic wave, a supplier decides on product availability efforts to ensure product availability under the impending threat of stock outs. A market leader coordinating retailer, on the other hand, decides on the proportion of the costs of the efforts to be shared with the supplier. Copyright (C) 2022 The Authors.
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This chapter details the crucial role that fossil fuels have played in the transformation of the human race. The chapter also aims to stress upon the importance of fossil fuels in the social and economic up-gradation of countries worldwide. However, there is no denying of the fact that burning fossil fuels emits a large volume of CO2 into the atmosphere, which is dangerous for human health. A brief introduction of CO2, its potency as a greenhouse gas, and the various sources of anthropogenic CO2 have also been provided in the chapter. Following this, CO2 storage and the future of climate goals have been briefly discussed upon. Finally, the chapter concludes by underlining the role of climate goal in energy transition and suggests a future course of action, based on recommendations made by key intellectuals and policymakers. © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
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India is a de facto continent in the garb of a country. COVID-19 is an unprecedented global pandemic spanning continents. Being the second most populous country in the world, experts regard how India deals with the outbreak will have enormous impact on the world’s ability to deal with it. The country has been in lockdown since March 25, 2020 until the current time of early May 2020, and despite several challenges, there has been early success. The major conflict now is the health benefits weighed up against the deleterious social and economic consequences of prolonged lockdown, that is, life versus livelihood. This unprecedented calamity could potentially cause or exacerbate various psychiatric disorders. It is recognized that lifestyle changes and limited screen time may help reduce mental health difficulties. Considering the physical barriers to consultation, development of telemedicine services is needed. This pandemic, like other previous pandemics, will pass, and until this happens, we must remain extremely vigilant.
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From December 2019, COVID-19 pandemic has hit the human civilization in an unprecedented way. It has taken more than five million lives in just a span of two years. Two major mechanisms via which COVID-19 affects us are either via direct respiratory disorder and lung failure or otherwise via delayed flare of immune systems more prevalently known as the cytokine storm. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can be a potential therapeutic agent against mortality and morbidity of COVID-19 via direct differentiation into pulmonary epithelial cells as well as via antiinflammatory paracrine activities. MSCs are also can be useful to replicate COVID-19 infection in an in vitro organ model. In current study, we are systematically reviewing and finding out the potential applications of MSCs which could help mankind to combat COVID-19. © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
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Background: Vaccine hesitancy has been recognized as a public health issue which needs to be addressed urgently. With reopening of school unvaccinated children might become major carriers of COVID-19. An assessment of the determinants of vaccine hesitancy will aid in the acceleration of vaccine administration among children. Objective: This study aims to explore parental COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in Surat and determine factors associated with it. Methodology: This is a cross sectional study in Surat among 250 participants selected from Rural and Urban field practice area by Systematic Random Sampling. Data collection was done by data collectors in an interview during the month of January and February, 2022. Univariate analysis was done, followed by Chi square test to establish associations. Predictors were determined by Binomial Logistic Regression. Results: Mean age of population was 31.3 + 10.7 years. Vaccine Hesitancy was recorded in 154 (61.6%) participants. Urban address (p=0.013), Full Vaccination status of parents (<0.001) and Perceived Benefits of vaccine to the child (p=0.001) were significant predictors of Vaccine Hesitancy. Conclusion: High proportion of Vaccine hesitancy was found in this study. Interventions can be planned on the basis of factors affecting Vaccine Hesitancy. © The Authors retain the copyrights of this article.