Social-Class Inequalities in Distance Learning during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Digital Divide, Cultural Mismatch, and Psychological Barriers

The COVID-19 pandemic forced universities to move towards distance learning, requiring increased use of digital tools and more independent learning from students. In this context, the present study examined two previously documented barriers that contribute to social-class disparities in universities: the digital divide and the experience of cultural mismatch. Cultural mismatch refers to the disconnect between the highly independent cultural norms of universities and the interdependent cultural norms common among working-class students. Our goals are to (1) replicate the findings related to these barriers in a European context (2) provide pandemic-specific data related to these barriers, and (3) examine how the digital divide and cultural mismatch relate to psychological factors and learning behaviors necessary for academic success. Two thousand two hundred and seventy-five students in France answered questions about their digital access/use, self-construal, psychological factors (i.e., sense of belonging, self-efficacy, intentions to drop-out from the university), and learning behaviors (e.g., attending class, asking questions). Results showed that working-class students have less digital access and value interdependence more than their middle/ upper-class peers, suggesting they are more likely to experience a cultural mismatch. Structural equation modeling revealed that both the digital divide and the experience of cultural mismatch undermines working-class students' psychological experience (e.g., belonging), which, in turn, hinders their learning behavior. The distance learning required by the pandemic led to increased needs for digital access and independence, and therefore more negatively affected working-class students, which could fuel and widen the social-class achievement gap. © 2023 The Author(s).

A description of the COVID-19 outbreak role in financial risk forecasting

This study aims to describe the risk of the system composed on the market indexes of the countries that were more affected by COVID-19. Our sample encompasses the thirty-five countries with more cases and/or deaths caused by COVID-19 until November 2020. As a second contribution, we describe the risk of each market index individually. As a general pattern, we note that losses and individual and systemic risks peaked in March 2020. We verify that countries that were epicenters of the COVID-19 pandemic experienced critical levels of risk, which is partially explained by more stringent confinement measures since these are the ones whose labor markets will suffer more in the medium and long run. We perceived a market recovery, arguably due to the low-interest rates and expansive actions taken by central banks. Nonetheless, we also observed that the systemic risk returned to pre-pandemic levels at the end of 2020. © 2023 Elsevier Inc.

Acceptability and feasibility of selforganised blood sample collection for SARS-CoV-2 antibody screening in persons with a high risk for a severe COVID-19 disease progression

Background: The pandemic situation poses new challenges for research. Ethical issues might arise if especially vulnerable individuals expose themselves to a higher risk of infection for study purposes. Research question: How is the feasibility, quality and acceptance of self-organised blood sample collections to measure anti-SARS-CoV-2 Spike IgG antibodies in persons with a high risk for a severe COVID-19 disease progression? Methods: Persons with a high risk for a severe COVID-19 disease progression (immunocompromised, oncology or 80+ years) were recruited between January and September 2021 to send in blood samples (2.6 ml, 7.5 ml or 500 mul EDTA tubes) one month and six months after their second COVID- 19 vaccination. Participants were given the choice of drawing blood themselves (as capillary blood), with the research team, or in local practices or clinics. Participants were surveyed via a computer-assisted telephone interview in December 2021 and January 2022 about their choice of blood sampling methods, experiences, and influence of choice upon study participation. Result(s): Data from 366 participants was collected via telephone follow-up. First, blood samples were collected by the participants themselves (35.8%), local practices or clinics (32.0%) and the research team (22.7%). Second blood samples were mostly collected in local practices or clinics (43.7%) followed by participants themselves (32.5%) and the research team (14.3%). Only 3.3% of blood samples were not sent back or analysable. One-fourth (26%) of participants stated that they would not have participated in the study if it would have been required to travel to the university hospital to give their blood sample. Conclusion(s): Participants were able to self-organise blood collection, using several different blood sample methods. Nearly all blood samples were analyzable when self-collected and sent by post. One-fourth of the participants would not have participated in the study if required to give their blood samples at the study location.

Audiological profile of adult Long COVID patients.

INTRODUCTION: Hearing loss is one of the self-reported symptoms of Long COVID patients, however data from objective and subjective audiological tests demonstrating diminished hearing in Long COVID patients has not been published. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Respondents of a large Long COVID online survey were invited to the ENT-department for an otologic exam. The participants were split into three groups based on their history of SARS-CoV-2 infection and persistence of symptoms. Respondents with a history of a SARS-CoV-2 infection were allocated to the Long COVID group, if they reported persistent symptoms and to the Ex COVID group, if they had regained their previous level of health. Participants without a history of SARS-CoV-2 infection made up the No COVID control group. In total, 295 ears were examined with otoscopy, tympanograms, pure tone audiometry and otoacoustic emissions. Ears with known preexisting hearing loss or status post ear surgery, as well as those with abnormal otoscopic findings, non-type A tympanograms or negative Rinne test were excluded. RESULTS: Compared to the No COVID and Ex COVID groups, we did not find a clinically significant difference in either hearing thresholds or frequency specific TEOAEs. However, at 500 Hz the data from the left ear, but not the right ear showed a significantly better threshold in the Ex COVID group, compared to Long COVID and No COVID groups. Any of the other tested frequencies between 500 Hz and 8 kHz were not significantly different between the different groups. There was a significantly lower frequency-specific signal-to-noise-ratio of the TEOAEs in the Long COVID compared to the No COVID group at 2.8 kHz. At all other frequencies, there were no significant differences between the three groups in the TEOAE signal-to-noise-ratio. CONCLUSION: This study detected no evidence of persistent cochlear damage months after SARS-CoV-2 infection in a large cohort of Long COVID patients, as well as those fully recovered.

Motivation in Instrumental Music Instruction Before and During the Remote Learning Phase Due to COVID-19 Crisis

This study, which is based on self-determination theory, compares the motivation and satisfaction of basic psychological needs of music students in instrumental lessons before and after the COVID-19-induced transition to online teaching and learning. We investigated whether, in addition to the satisfaction of students’ basic needs, teachers’ enthusiasm, experience with online teaching, and age can explain motivation in online lessons. Two independent groups of music students were surveyed: one group before (n = 856;Mage = 16.4, SD = 14.1) and the other group after the shift to enforced distance learning (n = 640;Mage = 16.7, SD = 13.8). The main findings are that intrinsic motivation in online learning was significantly lower, and controlled forms of motivation higher than before enforced distance learning. Furthermore, satisfaction of basic needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness, which are essential for autonomous motivation, were lower in online learning. Regression analyses showed that 39% of the variance of intrinsic motivation for online learning could be explained by social relatedness, perceived teacher’s enthusiasm for teaching, and age. © The Author(s) 2022.

A randomised controlled trial testing the efficacy of Fit after COVID, a cognitive behavioural therapy targeting severe post-infectious fatigue following COVID-19 (ReCOVer): study protocol.

BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) results in debilitating long-term symptoms, often referred to as Post-Acute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 Infection (PASC), in a substantial subgroup of patients. One of the most prevalent symptoms following COVID-19 is severe fatigue. Prompt delivery of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), an evidence-based treatment that has shown benefit in reducing severe fatigue in other conditions, may reduce post-COVID-19 fatigue. Based on an existing CBT protocol, a blended intervention of 17 weeks, Fit after COVID, was developed to treat severe fatigue after the acute phase of infection with SARS-CoV-2. METHOD: The ReCOVer study is a multicentre 2-arm randomised controlled trial (RCT) to test the efficacy of Fit after COVID on severe post-infectious fatigue. Participants are eligible if they report severe fatigue 3 up to and including 12 months following COVID-19. One hundred and fourteen participants will be randomised to either Fit after COVID or care as usual (ratio 1:1). The primary outcome, the fatigue severity subscale of the Checklist Individual Strength (CIS-fatigue), is assessed in both groups before randomisation (T0), directly post CBT or following care as usual (T1), and at follow-up 6 months after the second assessment (T2). In addition, a long-term follow-up (T3), 12 months after the second assessment, is performed in the CBT group only. The primary objective is to investigate whether CBT will lead to a significantly lower mean fatigue severity score measured with the CIS-fatigue across the first two follow-up assessments (T1 and T2) as compared to care as usual. Secondary objectives are to determine the proportion of participants no longer being severely fatigued (operationalised in different ways) at T1 and T2 and to investigate changes in physical and social functioning, in the number and severity of somatic symptoms and in problems concentrating across T1 and T2. DISCUSSION: This is the first trial testing a cognitive behavioural intervention targeting severe fatigue after COVID-19. If Fit after COVID is effective in reducing fatigue severity following COVID-19, this intervention could contribute to alleviating the long-term health consequences of COVID-19 by relieving one of its most prevalent and distressing long-term symptoms. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Netherlands Trial Register NL8947 . Registered on 14 October 2020.

Academic Self-Regulation, Chronotype and Personality in University Students During the Remote Learning Phase due to COVID-19

During the COVID-19 shutdown phase in Germany, universities stopped presence teaching and students had to turn to digital instruction. To examine their capability to cope with the changed learning situation, we assessed how basic psychological need satisfaction and frustration, motivational regulation, vitality, and self-efficacy of 228 German biology-teaching students (75% female) relate to their chronotype and personality (Big Five). Specifically, we were interested in possible effects of chronotype and personality dimensions on variables related to successful remote learning. Since the pandemic and remote learning will accompany teaching and learning at university in 2021, predictors of successful remote learning need to be identified to support student learning optimally in digital learning environments. In our study, morning-oriented, conscientious, and open students with low neuroticism seem to better cope with the shutdown environment due to vitality, self-efficacy, and partly their self-determined motivation. Moreover, our findings implicate students might need different support depending on their chronotype and personality during the digital learning phase. © Copyright © 2021 Staller, Großmann, Eckes, Wilde, Müller and Randler.

AN ENGAGED UNIVERSITY: RESCUING SMES DURING THE COVID-19 CRISIS

The economic effects of isolation policies resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic have led small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to look for alternatives to survive. Within this crisis scenario, an engaged university has an important role to play in a regional context in addressing not only health issues, but also any resultant social and economic problems. An engaged university needs to take actions that go beyond its traditional missions of education and research - it has to deliver knowledge to society. This paper analyzes a university-community project in Brazil to identify the necessary elements that help promote a regionally-engaged university: the SOS-PME Advisory Network project, which was originally designed to assist SMEs during the crisis. As a result, we identified elements necessary for promoting the university’s third mission - social engagement by way of a university-community project: an engaged team, multi disciplinarity, project management, agility, alliances, a communication strategy, institutional support, and reputation. © RAE ;São Paulo

Elevated markers of gut leakage and inflammasome activation in COVID-19 patients with cardiac involvement.

BACKGROUND: A high proportion of COVID-19 patients have cardiac involvement, even those without known cardiac disease. Downregulation of angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), a receptor for SARS-CoV-2 and the renin-angiotensin system, as well as inflammatory mechanisms have been suggested to play a role. ACE2 is abundant in the gut and associated with gut microbiota composition. We hypothesized that gut leakage of microbial products, and subsequent inflammasome activation could contribute to cardiac involvement in COVID-19 patients. METHODS: Plasma levels of a gut leakage marker (LPS-binding protein, LBP), a marker of enterocyte damage (intestinal fatty acid binding protein, IFABP), a gut homing marker (CCL25, ligand for chemokine receptor CCR9) and markers of inflammasome activation (IL-1ß, IL-18 and their regulatory proteins) were measured at three time points (day 1, 3-5 and 7-10) in 39 hospitalized COVID-19 patients and related to cardiac involvement. RESULTS: Compared to controls, COVID-19 patients had elevated plasma levels of LBP and CCL25 but not IFABP, suggesting impaired gut barrier function and accentuated gut homing of T cells without excessive enterocyte damage. Levels of LBP were twice as high at baseline in patients with elevated cardiac markers compared with those without and remained elevated during hospitalization. Also, markers of inflammasome activation were moderately elevated in patients with cardiac involvement. LBP was associated with higher NT-pro-BNP levels, whereas IL-18, IL-18BP and IL-1Ra were associated with higher troponin levels. CONCLUSION: Patients with cardiac involvement had elevated markers of gut leakage and inflammasome activation, suggestive of a potential gut-heart axis in COVID-19.