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The chapter discusses pedagogical models of digital learning in the United Kingdom with a focus on online and blended learning, rolled out as a case study in one university. The chapter appraises the effectiveness of the model that implemented and foregrounded the evidence in the wider literature on models of digital learning in higher education. The chapter provides thematic analysis and methodological opportunities for the improvement of practice and presents a set of implementation implications and pitfalls to avoid for higher education institutions in Africa. Furthermore, a number of trends regarding the blending of learning and communication synchrony in digital learning have also been identified. © 2022 by Paula Shaw and Sarah Rawlinson.
ABSTRACT
Covid 19 is a pandemic disease spread almost in the whole world. To date, no medical advancement to curb the virus. Coronavirus is an enveloped virus transmitted from the biological and non-biological surface by direct or indirect contact. Limited literature revealed that the enveloped virus can be killed by disinfectants. There are many biocidal agents used for decontamination of the virus, yet they have many issues like toxicity, killing time, activation requirement, etc. Some are specific to the inanimate surface but not used by a human being. This current situation showed an urgent need for a biocidal agent which can act on biological as well as non-biological surfaces without any potential toxicity. Moreover, it should be easy to handle, inexpensive, and safe for the environment. Hypochlorous acid is a weak acid that acts as a powerful disinfectant and shows biocidal efficacy against a wide range of microorganisms. Hypochlorous acid is simple to use, inexpensive, eco-friendly, non-toxic, and stable. The properties of HOCl can be regulated at the site of preparation and therefore, its compliance is high. Hypochlorous acid seems to be a promising agent in disinfection and sterilization in healthcare facilities. Due to its diverse biocidal actions, it may be used as a potent disinfectant against novel coronavirus.Copyright © 2022 Bentham Science Publishers.
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A web-based survey of academic publishers was undertaken in 2021 by a team at Oxford International Centre for Publishing into the state of monograph publication in the arts, humanities, and social sciences. 25 publishing organisations responded, including many of the larger presses, representing approximately 75% of monograph output. Responses to the survey showed that the Covid 19 pandemic has accelerated the existing trend from print to digital dissemination and that Open Access (OA) titles receive substantially greater levels of usage than those published traditionally. Responses also showed that for most publishers OA publication stands at under 25% of output and that fewer than 10% of authors enquire about OA publication options. Continuing problem areas highlighted by respondents were the clearing of rights for OA publication and the standardisation of title and usage metadata. All responding organisations confirmed that they expect to be publishing monographs in ten years' time, but that they anticipate the format and/or the model will be different, with open access expected to play a key part in the future, perhaps in the context of a mixed economy of OA and ‘toll access' publication. © 2023, The Author(s).
ABSTRACT
Recent research has shown the mental health consequence of social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic, but longitudinal data are relatively scarce. It is unclear whether the pattern of isolation and elevated stress seen at the beginning of the pandemic persists over time. This study evaluates change in social interaction over six months and its mental health impact among older adults. We drew data from a panel study with six repeated assessments of social interaction and mental health conducted monthly May through October 2020. The sample included a total of 380 White, Black and Hispanic participants aged 50 and over, of whom 33% had low income, who residing in fourteen U.S. states with active stay-at-home orders in May 2020. The analysis examined how change in living arrangement, in-person interaction outside the household, quality of relationship with family and friends, and perceived social support affected trajectories of isolation stress, COVID worry and sadness. While their living arrangements and relationship quality remained stable, older adults experienced fluctuations in perceived social support and increases in in-person conversations outside the household. Living with a spouse/partner stabilized isolation stress and COVID worry over time. Individuals with better relationship quality with friends became happier over time. Changes in social support were associated with greater fluctuations in isolation stress and COVID worry. During the pandemic, social interactions are protective and lack of stability in feeling supported makes older adults vulnerable to stress. Efforts should focus on (re)building and maintaining companionship and support to mitigate the pandemic's negative impact.
ABSTRACT
Coronavirus infection in humans is not uncommon. The first coronavirus (HCoV-229E) in humans was isolated in 1965. Subsequently, three more coronaviruses were recognized: HCoV-NL63, HCoV-HKU1, and HCoV-229E. These viruses are endemic in humans and cause common cold and mild respiratory infections throughout the year. The three coronaviruses, SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV, and SARS-CoV-2 are highly pathogenic coronaviruses that cause very severe respiratory diseases in human. SARS-CoV-2 is a newly emerging coronavirus posing pandemic COVID-19 disease that has disrupted the human life in many ways. In this review, the origin, evolution, transmission, vaccine development, and clinical characteristics of these highly pathogenic human coronaviruses are compared and discussed to understand the common and different features of these viruses and their relevance to develop a successful vaccine to control the pandemic COVID-19. Coronavirus infection in humans is not uncommon. The first coronavirus (HCoV-229E) in humans was isolated in 1965. Subsequently, three more coronaviruses were recognized: HCoV-NL63, HCoV-HKU1, and HCoV-229E. These viruses are endemic in humans and cause common cold and mild respiratory infections throughout the year. The three coronaviruses, SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV, and SARS-CoV-2 are highly pathogenic coronaviruses that cause very severe respiratory diseases in human. SARS-CoV-2 is a newly emerging coronavirus posing pandemic COVID-19 disease that has disrupted the human life in many ways. In this review, the origin, evolution, transmission, vaccine development, and clinical characteristics of these highly pathogenic human coronaviruses are compared and discussed to understand the common and different features of these viruses and their relevance to develop a successful vaccine to control the pandemic COVID-19.
ABSTRACT
Background: Individuals hospitalized with COVID-19 exhibit a wide spectrum of disease. There is growing evidence that racial and ethnic minorities bear a disproportionate burden from COVID-19. Temporal changes in the pandemic epidemiology require careful study to identify determinants of poor outcomes. We assessed patient socio-demographics, comorbidities, baseline severity, treating hospital and pandemic month as independent risk factors for mortality and time to discharge. Methods: We analyzed 2500 individuals hospitalized with PCR-confirmed COVID-19 in 5 hospitals in the University of Pennsylvania Health System between March and September 2020, using electronic health records to assess outcomes through 8 weeks post-admission. Hospital discharge and mortality were analyzed as competing risks using a multivariable cause-specific hazards model. Results: Patients were 50.9% Black, 39.4% White and 9.7% other race;11% were Hispanic. Mortality decreased markedly over time, with cumulative incidence (95% CI) 30 days post-admission of 19.1% (17.2, 21.3) in March- April versus 6.3% (4.3, 8.9) in July-September;19% of deaths occurred after discharge. During this time, average age (SD) at admission declined from 62.7 (17.6) to 53.4 (20.6), ICU level care at admission increased from 16.5% to 18.6%, mechanical ventilation declined from 9.4% to 2.9%. Compared to Caucasian, Black race was associated with more severe disease at admission, a higher rate of co-morbidities and residence in low income zip code. In multivariable models, there were no detectable differences in mortality risk by race;while admitting hospital, increasing age, admission early in the pandemic, and severe disease and low blood pressure at admission were associated with increased mortality hazard (Figure 1). Mortality appeared similar between sexes, though males tended to have longer hospital stays (discharge hazard ratio 0.82 (95% CI: 0.75, 0.90)). Hispanic ethnicity was associated with fewer baseline co-morbidities and lower mortality hazard (0.57, 95% CI: 0.37, .087). Conclusion: We found that morbidity and mortality for hospitalized COVID-19 patients substantially decreased over time but post-discharge mortality remained non-trivial. Black race was associated with more risk factors for morbidity and with treatment at hospitals with lower mortality. In multivariable models, there were no detectable race differences in hospital outcomes. Future work is needed to better understand the identified betweenhospital differences in mortality.
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Objective: The study aimed to assess knowledge, attitude, practices, and perception (KAP) toward COVID-19 among the population of eight North Eastern (NE) states of India. Methods: A cross-sectional study from June 30 to July 13, 2020 was carried out through a self-reported, structured questionnaire that was circulated online to participants of age group of 18 years or above. Convenient sampling was used to recruit respondents for the study. Results: The study received responses from 8309 participants. Key findings revealed that most respondents had good knowledge of preventive measures and common symptoms of COVID-19. The majority of the respondents showed a good attitude and adopted preventive practices. The mean score of knowledge was 7.137, attitude was 16.132, practice was 9.379, and perception was 13.583. The scores of four KAP categories significantly differed across most of the demographic variables (p<0.001). The majority of people took homoeopathic medicine as prophylaxis for immune booster. Conclusion: The study highlights that the focus on behavioral change communication in all the NE states could be strengthened, especially in rural areas. Advocacy based on the comprehensive list of symptoms for COVID-19 may also be bolstered. There is scope for strategically promoting knowledge, immunity boosting, and self-care practices suggested in the AYUSH systems of medicine.