The Reduction of SARS-CoV-2 RNA Concentration in the Presence of Sewer Biofilms

Wastewater surveillance has been widely used to track the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in communities. Although some studies have investigated the decay of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in wastewater, understanding about its fate during wastewater transport in real sewers is still limited. This study aims to assess the impact of sewer biofilms on the dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 RNA concentration in naturally contaminated real wastewater (raw influent wastewater without extra SARS-CoV-2 virus/gene seeding) using a simulated laboratory-scale sewer system. The results indicated that, with the sewer biofilms, a 90% concentration reduction of the SARS-CoV-2 RNA was observed within 2 h both in wastewater of gravity (GS, gravity-driven sewers) and rising main (RM, pressurized sewers) sewer reactors. In contrast, the 90% reduction time was 8–26 h in control reactors without biofilms. The concentration reduction of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in wastewater was significantly more in the presence of sewer biofilms. In addition, an accumulation of c.a. 260 and 110 genome copies/cm2 of the SARS-CoV-2 E gene was observed in the sewer biofilm samples from RM and GS reactors within 12 h, respectively. These results confirmed that the in-sewer concentration reduction of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in wastewater was likely caused by the partition to sewer biofilms. The need to investigate the in-sewer dynamic of SARS-CoV-2 RNA, such as the variation of RNA concentration in influent wastewater caused by biofilm attachment and detachment, was highlighted by the significantly enhanced reduction rate of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in wastewater of sewer biofilm reactors and the accumulation of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in sewer biofilms. Further research should be conducted to investigate the in-sewer transportation of SARS-CoV-2 and their RNA and evaluate the role of sewer biofilms in leading to underestimates of COVID-19 prevalence in communities.

Questão ambiental e pandemia: a destrutividade do sistema do capital na ordem do dia

O presente artigo tem como objetivo refletir sobre a relação entre a questão ambiental, crise estrutural do capital e a pandemia do novo Coronavírus. Compreendemos neste trabalho que a pandemia do novo Coronavírus que gera a doença nomeada de Covid-19 está organicamente relacionada com a crise do capital, como fruto do processo de acumulação capitalista avidamente crescente que necessita da exploração inesgotável dos recursos humanos e naturais, tornando-os mercadorias. Essa dupla exploração em ritmo galopante, inerente à ordem sociometabólica do capital, constituem elementos fundamentais para o atual cenário de crise mundial. Para tal reflexão, caminhamos sob a perspectiva do método dialético-crítico de Marx, utilizando-se como metodologia a pesquisa de caráter bibliográfico e documental. Dividimos o trabalho em duas seções centrais: a primeira discute a questão ambiental e a ordem sociometabólica do capital, relação de acumulação e destrutividade;a segunda realiza a relação entre os três eixos de discussão: a crise do capital, a pandemia e a questão ambiental.Alternate :This article aims to reflect on the relationship between the environmental issue, structural crisis of capitalism and the new Coronavirus pandemic. We understand in this work that the pandemic of the new Coronavirus that generates the disease named Covid-19 is organically related to the crisis of capitalism, as a result of the accumulation process greedily growing capitalist that needs the inexhaustible exploitation of human resources and natural, making them commodities. This double exploration at a galloping pace, inherent to sociometabolic order of the capital, constitute fundamental elements for the current scenario of world crisis. For such reflection, we walk under the perspective of the dialectical-critical method of Marx, using bibliographic and documentary research as a methodology. We divided the work into two central sections: the first discusses the environmental issue and the order sociometabolic of capitalism, relation of accumulation and destructiveness;the second analyzes the relationship between the three perspectives of the discussion: the crisis of capitalism, the pandemic and the environmental issue.

Differential impact of COVID-19 on urological surgeries in public and private institutions between 2019 and 2021 in France.

INTRODUCTION: The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted all routine health care services in 2020. To date, data regarding adjustment and coverage of surgical backlog in the post-COVID era actually remains scarce. The aim of this study was to compare the number of urological procedures coded between 2019 and 2021 in public and private institutions to (i) quantify the variation in surgical activity linked to the shutdown in 2020 and (ii) study the adjustment of procedures over the year 2021. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a comprehensive retrospective analysis of all urological surgeries coded between January 1, 2019 and December 31, 2021 in France. Data were extracted from the open access dataset of the national Technical Agency for Information on Hospital Care (ATIH) website. In total, 453 urological procedures were retained and allocated in 8 categories. Primary outcome was the impact of COVID-19 analyzed by the 2020/2019 variation. The secondary outcome was the post-COVID catch-up analyzed by the 2021/2019 variation. RESULTS: Surgical activity in public hospitals dropped by 13.2% in 2020 compared to 7.6% in the private sector. The most impacted areas were functional urology, stones and BPH. Incontinence surgery did not recover at all in 2021. BPH and stone surgeries were far less impacted in the private sector, with even explosive activity in 2021, post-COVID period. Onco-urology procedures were roughly maintained with a compensation in 2021 in both sectors. CONCLUSION: The recovery of surgical backlog was much more efficient in the private sector in 2021. The pressure on the health system associated to the multiple COVID-19 waves may generate a gap between public and private surgical activity in the future.

Effect of Exogenous Application of Tryptophan and Methyl Jasmonate on Some Metabolites and Antioxidant Activities of Feverfew

Tanacetum parthenium (L.) Schultz-Bip (feverfew) is among the important medicinal and aromatic plants due to its tryptophan (TRP), serotonin (SER), melatonin (MEL), and parthenolide (PRT) content. In recent studies, have reported TRP, MEL, and (PRT) are effective in the treatment of COVID-19, thus increasing the popularity of feverfew, which is rich in these valuable molecules. This study investigated the possible effects of exogenous foliar applications of methyl jasmonate (MeJA 0.5 mM) and TRP (20 mM) on plant TRP, SER, MEL, and PRT levels. During the pre-flowering period, endogenous TRP was measured as 128.9 mu g/mL and endogenous PRT as 1.53% mg/g in the leaves of the control group. During the flowering period, the MEL level was measured as 1.38 mu g/mL in the leaves of the TRP application group. In addition, in the pre-flowering period, MeJA-induced increases of 94.51% were determined in DPPH antioxidant activity and the total flavonoid content was 38.76 mg QE/g, whereas the highest total phenolic content of 51.63 mg GAE/g was found in flower samples of the control group. However, neither the developmental periods nor the treatments significantly affected the total phenolic content in the leaves.

Quantities and qualities of fecal sludge: Experiences from field implementation with a Volaser in 7 countries during a pandemic

Reasonable estimates for quantities and qualities (Q&Q) of fecal sludge that accumulate in onsite sanitation containments are fundamental for the design of appropriate management and treatment solutions, from community to city-scale. There are increasing attempts to improve Q&Q estimates, but current approaches are still at a conceptual level, and are not yet standardized with confirmed statistical relationships. To reach this level, we will need consistent approaches for planning, measuring, and global collaborations. Hence, the objectives of this study were: (1) to assess and compare Q&Q of fecal sludge from seven cities and communities, and explore statistical relationships that could be used to increase accuracy of Q&Q estimations;(2) to test and launch the Volaser device for measuring in situ volumes of fecal sludge;and (3) to capture lessons learned from field implementation with collaborators in seven countries during a global pandemic when no international travel was possible. The study took place in Ghana, India, Lebanon, Kenya, Sierra Leone, Uganda, and Zambia during the COVID-19 pandemic. Q&Qs were measured in 204 containments with a Volaser, laboratory analysis, and questionnaire. Results indicate that there are differences in Total Solids (TS) and Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) in fecal sludge based on containment type, toilet type, source, and whether there is a water connection on the premises. Based on the results of this study, together with previously published open-source data, an empirical relationship for Volatile Solids (VS) and TS of 0.49 (R2 = 0.88) was established using 1,206 data points. For COD/TS, no significant relationship was observed. Developing such empirical relationships will be useful for planning and modeling approaches. An external evaluation was conducted to evaluate overall project management, Volaser technology transfer, and effects of collaborating during the COVID-19 pandemic. Success factors for collaborating with new and existing partners without face-to-face meetings included laboratory capacity and experience with analytical methods, study objectives that were relevant for the partner and locality, and a strong quality assurance plan to ensure comparability of results. The lessons learned can be taken forward as ways to reduce carbon footprint, and contribute to resilient, inclusive development research projects. Copyright © 2023 Andriessen, Appiah-Effah, Browne, al Jahjah, Kabika, Kinobe, Korir, Nishimwe, Niwagaba, Pradeep, Prasad, Tembo, William, Ambuehl and Strande.

The Transformation of the US's Hegemonic Paradigm: From Embedded Liberalism to Disembedded Financial Liberalism 1

Amerika'nın Íkinci Dünya Savaşı'ndan bu yana dünya çapında hakim bir güç olarak ortaya çıkışı, bazı tarihsel tecrübeler ışıǧında incelenmesi gereken bir konudur. Íkinci Dünya Savaşı'nın ardından ABD dünyanın çöken uluslararası para ve finans sistemini yeniden kurmuş, böylelikle lider pozisyonda olacaǧı uluslararası kapitalist sistemi oluşturmuştur. Gömülü liberalizm, ekonomik, politik ve kurumsal bir örgütlenme stratejisi olarak ABD hegemonyasını saǧlamlaştırarak istikrarlı bir hale getirmiş, uluslararası sistemde ABD'nin başrol oynadıǧı bir küresel ekonominin somutlaşmasının koşullarını yaratmıştır. 1970'lerin ortalarından itibaren ise-neoliberal politikalara geçişin doǧal bir sonucu olarak, dünya ekonomisinin finans kapital ile karakterize bir birikim rejimine entegrasyonunun ardından, parçalanmış finansal liberalizmin ABD hegemonyasının devamlılıǧını saǧlayacak yeni bir strateji olarak etkisini göstermeye başladıǧı anlaşılmıştır. Çalışma, ABD hegemonyasının ortaya çıkışından günümüze kadar uzanan zaman diliminde, ABD'nin hegemonik stratejisinde meydana gelen deǧişimi açıklama sorunsalından hareket etmiştir. Bu sorunsal baǧlamında, ABD hegemonik stratejisinin gömülü liberalizmden parçalanmış finansal liberalizme kayışı ve bu kayışı belirleyen temel dinamikler tarihsel perspektif ekseninde irdelenmiştir.Alternate :The emergence of the United States (US) as the worldwide dominant power is an affair that needs to be investigated in light of some historical experiences. Afterward the Second World War, the US reestablished the world's deteriorating international monetary and financial system. Embedded liberalism reinforced and stabilized the US hegemony (as the form of economic, political, and institutional organization) by generating the requirements for consolidating the global economy in which the US takes a leading role. From the mid-1970s, after integrating the world economy into an accumulation regime characterized by finance capital-as, a natural consequence of the transition to neoliberal policies-it was understood that fragmented financial liberalism began to show its effect as a new strategy that would ensure the continuity of the US hegemony. The study has departed from the problematic of elucidating the change in the hegemonic strategy of the US from its birth to the present day. In this problematic context, the shift of the US hegemonic strategy from embedded liberalism to disembedded financial liberalism and the central dynamics determining this shift is examined in the axis of historical perspective.

Growth, income and wealth accumulation in rich countries

This paper discusses estimates of the distribution of national income and wealth produced by the World Inequality Lab in its World Inequality Report 2022. The methodology combines all existing microeconomic data on incomes (surveys, tax data) with macroeconomic data (the system of national accounts). While growth has slowed in rich countries, private wealth accumulation has continued to accelerate and public wealth continued to decline in an era of rising asset prices. The importance of «pre-distributive» policies for income inequality, and «popular wealth» for wealth inequality is emphasised, as well as the differing effects of the financial and Covid crises. In an age of big data it is time for countries to reconcile sources to provide official distributional estimates consistent with macroeconomic growth. © 2023,Ekonomiaz. All Rights Reserved.

A review on quality control, toxicity and clinical application of Amomum tsao-ko Crevost & Lemarie

The dried fruit of Amomum tsao-ko Crevost & Lemarie, a perennial herb of Cardamom in Zingiberaceae, has been widely used in food and as a folk medicine. It is used not only as an important food additive and spice for removing peculiar smell and improving taste, but also as a traditional Chinese medicine with significant efficacy in treating many kinds of disorders. Based on the high edible and medicinal value, large amounts of investigation have been reported for A. tsaoko in the past several years. This review specifically summarises its quality control, toxicology and clinical application, about which no literature had systematically reviewed, based on our best acknowledge. The current quality control of A. tsaoko is based on the content of volatile oil, which should be no less than 1.4% according to the Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China (2020 edition), while a more possible Q-Markers should be developed to focus on either a specific bioactive ingredient or a component correlated with a certain clinical efficacy. Toxicity research suggests that A. tsaoko actually belongs to the non-toxic substance, although citral and 1,8-cineole, two main components of A. tsaoko, is hepatotoxic for the former and displays low acute toxicity and sub-chronic oral toxicity for the latter, but no obviously accumulative toxicity has so far been discovered for A. tsaoko. In clinical practice, A. tsaoko is often used in treatment of dampness/cold resistance, malaria, vomiting, fullness and epigastric distension across additional disorders, such as SARS, COVID-19 and hepatitis.Copyright © 2022 The Author(s)

Urban Soil Pollution by Heavy Metals: Effect of the Lockdown during the Period of COVID-19 on Pollutant Levels over a Five-Year Study

When residents of Volos, a city in central Greece, are trying to recall their daily life after the end of the quarantine due to COVID-19, the soil pollution survey provided valuable insights, which are compared with a 4-year study carried out in that area before the pandemic period. Using appropriate indices, namely contamination factor (CF), pollution load index (PLI), geo-accumulation index (Igeo), ecological risk factor (Er), and potential ecological risk index (RI), and using geostatistical tools, maps were constructed for each metal (Cu, Zn, Pb, Ni, Cd, Co, Cr, Mn). Variations in the values of the contamination indices showed a significant redistribution in pollutant load from areas previously polluted by high vehicle traffic and the activities of the main port to the residential areas, where the habitants have their homes and playgrounds. The study showed that Cu, Zn, Pb, and Co concentrations increased during the pandemic period by 10%, 22.7%, 3.7%, and 23.1%, respectively. Ni's concentration remained almost constant, while Cd, Cr, and Mn concentrations were decreased by 21.6%, 22.2%, and 9.5%, respectively. Fluctuations in the concentrations and corresponding contamination and ecological indices of the elements can serve as a means for highlighting potential sources of pollution. Therefore, although the pandemic period created anxiety, stress, and economic hardship for citizens, it may prove to be a valuable tool for investigating the sources of pollution in urban soils. The study of these results could potentially lead to optimal ways for managing the environmental crisis and solve persistent problems that pose risks to both the soil environment and human health. © 2023 by the authors.

The effect of mental health on human capital accumulation during COVID-19: Estimating retention and persistence of college students following return to campus life across Massachusetts public higher education institutions

Human capital theory suggests that lifetime income and socioeconomic status is a function of investments in human capital (Becker, 1962 & 1994;Becker & Tomes, 1986;Tomes, 1981). More recent developments show that human capital accumulation depends on mental health (Fletcher, 2008), in addition to ability, and access to resources to finance education and training (Becker, 1962 & 1994;Becker and Chiswick, 1966;Becker & Tomes, 1986;Tomes, 1981;Rosen, 1977). The COVID-19 pandemic is likely to impact human capital accumulation decisions as research has shown the pandemic impacted the mental health of college students, with women (Alon et al., 2020;Browning et al., 2021;Hoyt et al., 2020;Kecojevic et al., 2020) and sexual minorities (Hoyt et al., 2020;Lederer et al., 2020;Sanchez-Teruel et al., 2021) experiencing the worst well-being. In addition, research indicated differences in mental health among college students during the pandemic across race and ethnicity (Browing et al., 2021;Hoyt et al., 2020;Lederer et al., 2020). In this study, I investigated the impact of mental health of college students during the COVID-19 pandemic on a human capital accumulation decision, the likelihood of enrollment in Spring 2022 for college students enrolled in Fall 2021. I surveyed students to measure four dimensions of mental health at three higher education institutions in Massachusetts. The analysis provided a better understanding of the impact of mental health among college students on retention and persistence, and how they vary by demographic, academic, and socioeconomic characteristics. In addition, I investigated whether resilience and learning disabilities mediate and or moderate the impact of mental health on likelihood of reenrollment among college students. More than a third of students in the sample rated their mental health worse than before the pandemic. Controlling for mental health, demographic, academic, and socioeconomic characteristics, estimates for retention were not statistically significantly different at the three institutions that participated in this study. Furthermore, while loneliness and resilience scores did not play a role in the decision to enroll in Spring 2022, the results suggest that the higher the probability of an underlying anxiety or depressive disorder, the lower the probability of reenrollment for the cohort that participated in the study. Furthermore, this effect was larger and statistically significantly different for those who graduated from high school or earned a GED during the pandemic compared to those that did not. The understanding gained from this study may be used to improve the educational experience of students at colleges and universities during the COVID-19 pandemic. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)

Using a Claims-Based Frailty Index to Investigate Frailty, Survival, and Healthcare Expenditures among Older Adults Hospitalized for COVID-19 at an Academic Medical Center.

BACKGROUND: Frailty is associated with mortality in older adults hospitalized with COVID-19, yet few studies have quantified healthcare utilization and spending following COVID-19 hospitalization. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether survival and follow-up healthcare utilization and expenditures varied as a function of claims-based frailty status for older adults hospitalized with COVID-19. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. PARTICIPANTS: 136 patients aged 65 and older enrolled in an Accountable Care Organization (ACO) risk contract at an academic medical center and hospitalized for COVID-19 between March 11, 2020 - June 3, 2020. MEASUREMENTS: We linked a COVID-19 Registry with administrative claims data to quantify a frailty index and its relationship to mortality, healthcare utilization, and expenditures over 6 months following hospital discharge. Kaplan Meier curves and Cox Proportional Hazards models were used to evaluate survival by frailty. Kruskal-Wallis tests were used to compare utilization. A generalized linear model with a gamma distribution was used to evaluate differences in monthly Medicare expenditures. RESULTS: Much of the cohort was classified as moderate to severely frail (65.4%), 24.3% mildly frail, and 10.3% robust or pre-frail. Overall, 27.2% (n=37) of the cohort died (n=26 during hospitalization, n=11 after discharge) and survival did not significantly differ by frailty. Among survivors, inpatient hospitalizations during the 6-month follow-up period varied significantly by frailty (p=0.02). Mean cost over follow-up was $856.37 for the mild and $4914.16 for the moderate to severe frailty group, and monthly expenditures increased with higher frailty classification (p <.001). CONCLUSIONS: In this cohort, claims-based frailty was not significantly associated with survival but was associated with follow-up hospitalizations and Medicare expenditures.

The BISTIM study: a randomized controlled trial comparing dual ovarian stimulation (duostim) with two conventional ovarian stimulations in poor ovarian responders undergoing IVF.

STUDY QUESTION: Is the total number of oocytes retrieved with dual ovarian stimulation in the same cycle (duostim) higher than with two consecutive antagonist cycles in poor responders? SUMMARY ANSWER: Based on the number of total and mature oocytes retrieved in women with poor ovarian response (POR), there is no benefit of duostim versus two consecutive antagonist cycles. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY: Recent studies have shown the ability to obtain oocytes with equivalent quality from the follicular and the luteal phase, and a higher number of oocytes within one cycle when using duostim. If during follicular stimulation smaller follicles are sensitized and recruited, this may increase the number of follicles selected in the consecutive luteal phase stimulation, as shown in non-randomized controlled trials (RCT). This could be particularly relevant for women with POR. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION: This is a multicentre, open-labelled RCT, performed in four IVF centres from September 2018 to March 2021. The primary outcome was the number of oocytes retrieved over the two cycles. The primary objective was to demonstrate in women with POR that two ovarian stimulations within the same cycle (first in the follicular phase, followed by a second in the luteal phase) led to the retrieval of 1.5 (2) more oocytes than the cumulative number of oocytes from two consecutive conventional stimulations with an antagonist protocol. In a superiority hypothesis, with power 0.8 alpha-risk 0.05 and a 35% cancellation rate, 44 patients were needed in each group. Patients were randomized by computer allocation. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS: Eighty-eight women with POR, defined using adjusted Bologna criteria (antral follicle count ≤5 and/or anti-Müllerian hormone ≤1.2 ng/ml) were randomized, 44 in the duostim group and 44 in the conventional (control) group. HMG 300 IU/day with flexible antagonist protocol was used for ovarian stimulation, except in luteal phase stimulation of the duostim group. In the duostim group, oocytes were pooled and inseminated after the second retrieval, with a freeze-all protocol. Fresh transfers were performed in the control group, frozen embryo transfers were performed in both control and duostim groups in natural cycles. Data underwent intention-to-treat and per-protocol analyses. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE: There was no difference between the groups regarding demographics, ovarian reserve markers, and stimulation parameters. The mean (SD) cumulative number of oocytes retrieved from two ovarian stimulations was not statistically different between the control and duostim groups, respectively, 4.6 (3.4) and 5.0 (3.4) [mean difference (MD) [95% CI] +0.4 [-1.1; 1.9], P = 0.56]. The mean cumulative numbersof mature oocytes and total embryos obtained were not significantly different between groups. The total number of embryos transferred by patient was significantly higher in the control group 1.5 (1.1) versus the duostim group 0.9 (1.1) (P = 0.03). After two cumulative cycles, 78% of women in the control group and 53.8% in the duostim group had at least one embryo transfer (P = 0.02). There was no statistical difference in the mean number of total and mature oocytes retrieved per cycle comparing Cycle 1 versus Cycle 2, both in control and duostim groups. The time to the second oocyte retrieval was significantly longer in controls, at 2.8 (1.3) months compared to 0.3 (0.5) months in the duostim group (P < 0.001). The implantation rate was similar between groups. The cumulative live birth rate was not statistically different, comparing controls versus the duostim group, 34.1% versus 17.9%, respectively (P = 0.08). The time to transfer resulting in an ongoing pregnancy did not differ in controls 1.7 (1.5) months versus the duostim group, 3.0 (1.6) (P = 0.08). No serious adverse events were reported. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION: The RCT was impacted by the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic and the halt in IVF activities for 10 weeks. Delays were recalculated to exclude this period; however, one woman in the duostim group could not have the luteal stimulation. We also faced unexpected good ovarian responses and pregnancies after the first oocyte retrieval in both groups, with a higher incidence in the control group. However, our hypothesis was based on 1.5 more oocytes in the luteal than the follicular phase in the duostim group, and the number of patients to treat was reached in this group (N = 28). This study was only powered for cumulative number of oocytes retrieved. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS: This is the first RCT comparing the outcome of two consecutive cycles, either in the same menstrual cycle or in two consecutive menstrual cycles. In routine practice, the benefit of duostim in patients with POR regarding fresh embryo transfer is not confirmed in this RCT: first, because this study demonstrates no improvement in the number of oocytes retrieved in the luteal phase after follicular phase stimulation, in contrast to previous non-randomized studies, and second, because the freeze-all strategy avoids a pregnancy with fresh embryo transfer after the first cycle. However, duostim appears to be safe for women. In duostim, the two consecutive processes of freezing/thawing are mandatory and increase the risk of wastage of oocytes/embryos. The only benefit of duostim is to shorten the time to a second retrieval by 2 weeks if accumulation of oocytes/embryos is needed. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTERESTS: This is an investigator-initiated study supported by a research Grant from IBSA Pharma. N.M. declares grants paid to their institution from MSD (Organon France); consulting fees from MSD (Organon France), Ferring, and Merck KGaA; honoraria from Merck KGaA, General Electrics, Genevrier (IBSA Pharma), and Theramex; support for travel and meetings from Theramex, Merck KGaG, and Gedeon Richter; and equipment paid to their institution from Goodlife Pharma. I.A. declares honoraria from GISKIT and support for travel and meetings from GISKIT. G.P.-B. declares Consulting fees from Ferring and Merck KGaA; honoraria from Theramex, Gedeon Richter, and Ferring; payment for expert testimony from Ferring, Merck KGaA, and Gedeon Richter; and support for travel and meetings from Ferring, Theramex, and Gedeon Richter. N.C. declares grants from IBSA pharma, Merck KGaA, Ferring, and Gedeon Richter; support for travel and meetings from IBSA pharma, Merck KGaG, MSD (Organon France), Gedeon Richter, and Theramex; and participation on advisory board from Merck KGaA. E.D. declares support for travel and meetings from IBSA pharma, Merck KGaG, MSD (Organon France), Ferring, Gedeon Richter, Theramex, and General Electrics. C.P.-V. declares support for travel and meetings from IBSA Pharma, Merck KGaA, Ferring, Gedeon Richter, and Theramex. M.Pi. declares support for travel and meetings from Ferring, Gedeon Richetr, and Merck KGaA. M.Pa. declares honoraria from Merck KGaA, Theramex, and Gedeon Richter; support for travel and meetings from Merck KGaA, IBSA Pharma, Theramex, Ferring, Gedeon Richter, and MSD (Organon France). H.B.-G. declares honoraria from Merck KGaA, and Gedeon Richter and support for travel and meetings from Ferring, Merck KGaA, IBSA Pharma, MSD (Organon France), Theramex, and Gedeon Richter. S.G. and M.B. have nothing to declare. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: Registration number EudraCT: 2017-003223-30. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03803228. TRIAL REGISTRATION DATE: EudraCT: 28 July 2017. ClinicalTrials.gov: 14 January 2019. DATE OF FIRST PATIENT'S ENROLMENT: 3 September 2018.

Identification and high-throughput quantification of baicalein and its metabolites in plasma and urine

Ethnopharmacological relevance: Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi. contains varieties of function compounds, and it has been used as traditional drug for centuries. Baicalein is the highest amount of flavonoid found in Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi., which exerts various pharmacological activities and might be a promising drug to treat COVID-19. Aim of the study: The present work aims to investigate the metabolism of baicalein in humans after oral administration, and study the pharmacokinetics of BA and its seven metabolites in plasma and urine. Materials and methods: The metabolism profiling and the identification of baicalein metabolites were performed on HPLC-Q-TOF. Then a column-switching method named MPX™-2 system was applied for the high-throughput quantificationof BA and seven metabolites. Results: Seven metabolites were identified using HPLC-Q-TOF, including sulfate, glucuronide, glucoside, and methyl-conjugated metabolites. Pharmacokinetic study found that BA was extensively metabolized in vivo, and only 5.65% of the drug remained intact in the circulatory system after single dosing. Baicalein-7-O-sulfate and baicalein-6-O-glucuronide-7-O-glucuronide were the most abundant metabolites. About 7.2% of the drug was excreted through urine and mostly was metabolites. Conclusion: Seven conjugated metabolites were identified in our assay. A high-throughput HPLC-MS/MS method using column switch was established for quantifying BA and its metabolites. The method has good sensitivity and reproducibility, and successfully applied for the clinical pharmacokinetic study of baicalein and identified metabolites. We expect that our results will provide a metabolic and pharmacokinetic foundation for the potential application of baicalein in medicine. © 2022

Fighting on the frontlines: Intersectional organizing in educators' social justice unions during COVID‐19

This article explores a growing trend in the politics of education: the intersectional frontline organizing work of educators' social justice unions on behalf of a woman‐dominated workforce and local students, families, and communities, many of whom experience racial and economic disparity. I show that educators' social justice unions have tended to coherently employ intersectional language to articulate student, family, and community need along racial and class lines during the COVID‐19 crisis, but have struggled to explicitly tie a gendered analysis of educators' working conditions to the raced and classed public school experiences of the populations they serve. In the spirit of supporting the growth of educators' social justice unions in the educational justice movement, I bring together the theoretical work of Angela Davis, David McNally and Nancy Fraser to argue that long‐term movement growth requires enhanced intentionality in naming systemic identity‐based linkages across worker and student experiences of public schooling while highlighting how "advanced neoliberalism” co‐opts identity‐based rhetoric to maximize capitalist accumulation for the few while limiting educational equity for the many. In other words, I assert that movement growth requires intentional articulation of the systemic identity‐based relations linking working with learning conditions in late‐stage capitalism.

Effective Policies for Single-Parent Families and Prospects for Policy Reforms in the United States: Concluding Reflections

This conclusion engages two questions catalyzed by the articles in this volume. First, which policies are effective in reducing economic hardship among single-parent families overall and minimizing disparities across subgroups? Second, what are the prospects for related reforms in the United States? We draw four lessons from the articles in this volume and from prior research about effective policy design: (1) work-family reconciliation policies are crucial;(2) strengthening and stabilizing employment is necessary, but not sufficient;(3) it is important to support the accumulation of wealth in addition to shoring up income;and (4) policies can be designed to include and protect those single parents and their children who are especially at risk. Turning to the feasibility of policy change in the United States, we conclude that some factors—especially policy elements that encourage self-reliance, shifting public opinion, the COVID-19 crisis, and federalism itself—may enhance opportunities for policy development in support of single parents.

The crisis of US neoliberalism and the risk of current economic stagflation

Purpose>Since the outbreak of COVID-19, tremendous changes have taken place in the US economy – the economic growth in the whole year of 2020 was negative, and though it enjoyed a significant rebound for the first half of 2021, the growth rate began to decline rapidly by the third quarter, and inflation suddenly rises rapidly, which after came the all-time highs of the “misery index” consisted of the inflation rate and unemployment rate. All signs indicate that the US economy will likely enter a “stagflation” crisis.Design/methodology/approach>This paper analyzes the institutional and social contradictions in the United States during the neoliberal era from the perspectives of domestic social structure of accumulation (SSA) and international SSA based on the SSA theory.Findings>The current risk of stagflation in the US economy is a concentrated outbreak of the long-term accumulated contradictions in neoliberal SSA under the impact of the epidemic, which is the product of the irreconcilable contradictions inherent in the capitalist mode of production.Originality/value>Based on this analysis, the paper points out that with the deepening of the crisis, the neoliberal SSA is likely to end and a new SSA will be established gradually.

Identifying built environment solutions, in Thai community hospital outpatient clinics, to prevent the spread of COVID-19

Due to the unprecedented outbreak of COVID-19 (Corona Virus Disease - 2019) healthcare facilities, including Thailand community hospitals were mandated to adjust their facilities to both medical and non-clinical areas to prevent the spread of the disease. The study aimed to identify problems focusing on the physical settings of out-patient departments (OPD) in community hospitals during the first Thailand COVID-19 outbreak in March 2020. Furthermore, the study focused on providing design suggestions for preventing the spread of respiratory infectious diseases. The study employed a two-step approach to data collection. First, physical setting observations of the OPD of the two hospital buildings. Second, interviews with 22 healthcare employees;11 participants from the first hospital and 11 participants from the second hospital. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using content analysis. Five main themes were identified: (1) factors leading to accumulation of pathogens, (2) measures for preventing the spread of respiratory diseases, (3) current services and physical settings of outpatient clinics, (4) guidelines for improving the physical setting of outpatient clinics and (5) prevention of accumulation of pathogens in OPD areas. Results indicate that not only improving the physical setting of the OPD areas is required, but a strict patient screening process and an organized building management programme should also be considered. Such actions with workflow management would have played important roles in preventing the spread of respiratory diseases during the first COVID-19 outbreak. The findings from the study contribute to both research and industry. For the research, the study contributes to three literature topics including hospital building evaluation and assessment techniques, hospital design, and design prevention for the spread of COVID-19. For industry, the study contributes to the future development of layout design that can prevent the spread of COVID-19 throughout Thai community hospitals.

The effect of mental health on human capital accumulation during COVID-19: Estimating retention and persistence of college students following return to campus life across Massachusetts public higher education institutions

Human capital theory suggests that lifetime income and socioeconomic status is a function of investments in human capital (Becker, 1962 & 1994;Becker & Tomes, 1986;Tomes, 1981). More recent developments show that human capital accumulation depends on mental health (Fletcher, 2008), in addition to ability, and access to resources to finance education and training (Becker, 1962 & 1994;Becker and Chiswick, 1966;Becker & Tomes, 1986;Tomes, 1981;Rosen, 1977). The COVID-19 pandemic is likely to impact human capital accumulation decisions as research has shown the pandemic impacted the mental health of college students, with women (Alon et al., 2020;Browning et al., 2021;Hoyt et al., 2020;Kecojevic et al., 2020) and sexual minorities (Hoyt et al., 2020;Lederer et al., 2020;Sanchez-Teruel et al., 2021) experiencing the worst well-being. In addition, research indicated differences in mental health among college students during the pandemic across race and ethnicity (Browing et al., 2021;Hoyt et al., 2020;Lederer et al., 2020). In this study, I investigated the impact of mental health of college students during the COVID-19 pandemic on a human capital accumulation decision, the likelihood of enrollment in Spring 2022 for college students enrolled in Fall 2021. I surveyed students to measure four dimensions of mental health at three higher education institutions in Massachusetts. The analysis provided a better understanding of the impact of mental health among college students on retention and persistence, and how they vary by demographic, academic, and socioeconomic characteristics. In addition, I investigated whether resilience and learning disabilities mediate and or moderate the impact of mental health on likelihood of reenrollment among college students. More than a third of students in the sample rated their mental health worse than before the pandemic. Controlling for mental health, demographic, academic, and socioeconomic characteristics, estimates for retention were not statistically significantly different at the three institutions that participated in this study. Furthermore, while loneliness and resilience scores did not play a role in the decision to enroll in Spring 2022, the results suggest that the higher the probability of an underlying anxiety or depressive disorder, the lower the probability of reenrollment for the cohort that participated in the study. Furthermore, this effect was larger and statistically significantly different for those who graduated from high school or earned a GED during the pandemic compared to those that did not. The understanding gained from this study may be used to improve the educational experience of students at colleges and universities during the COVID-19 pandemic. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)

Claves para transformar el currículo en el sistema escolar chileno tras la pandemia

El currículo en Chile ha estado tensionado en las últimas décadas y si consideramos las implicancias de la pandemia, la tensión crece y se profUndiza. Esto repercute en la gestión curricular de los establecimientos escolares, donde los problemas detectados exigen un análisis de los elementos en clave sistémica. En este artículo, por medio de la revisión de evidencia nacional e internacional, reflexionamos sobre la gestión curricular durante la pandemia, centrándonos en la educación escolar. Se abordan las tensiones y los desafíos utilizando como referencia los estándares indicativos de desempeño vigentes en Chile. El análisis da cuenta del cúmulo de funciones y responsabilidades administrativas que desempeña el personal directivo. Asimismo, se evidencia un plan de estudios sobrecargado, poca claridad en el uso del tiempo no lectivo y problemas en la comprensión y el tratamiento de las evaluaciones y su vinculación con los objetivos de aprendizaje. Presentamos tres propuestas para avanzar: 1) políticas educativas orientadas a una mayor descentralización curricular, a partir de una base acotada de objetivos de aprendizajes a nivel nacional y de flexibilidad para incorporar objetivos a nivel regional;2) un desarrollo profesional coherente con el diseño e implementación curricular en los equipos regionales;y 3) espacios exclusivos para que directoras y directores de establecimientos escolares logren analizar las prácticas pedagógicas que permitan la implementación curricular pertinente.Alternate :The curriculum in Chile has been under pressure in recent decades and, considering the implications of the pandemic, the pressure has spread and deepened. This situation has had repercussions for the curricular management of schools, where problems detected require a systemic analysis of their elements. In this article, through a review of national and international evidence, we reflect on curriculum management during the pandemic, focusing on primary school education. Tensions and challenges are addressed using the indicative performance standards currently in force in Chile as a reference. The analysis reflects the accumulation of administrative functions and responsibilities carried out by the management staff. Likewise, the analysis highlights an overloaded curriculum, lack of clarity in the use of non-instructional time, and problems in the understanding and treatment of evaluations and their link with learning objectives. We present three proposals to move forward: 1) educational policies aimed at greater curricular decentralization, based on a limited set of learning objectives at the national level and flexibility to incorporate objectives at the regional level;2) professional development coherent with curricular design and implementation in regional teams;and 3) specific spaces for school principals to analyze pedagogical practices that allow for relevant curricular implementation.

The COVID-19 Crisis: A Case of Capitalism’s Dialectic of Failure

Acknowledging the multiple ways capitalism fails humanity and the planet, regularly triggering anticapitalist resistance, this essay employs the term “dialectic of failure” to examine how capitalist failures often boost profits and facilitate capitalism’s reproduction. This tendency for capitalism’s failures to create opportunities as well as risks for itself is analyzed with respect to the COVID-19 pandemic. After first analyzing the pandemic as a capitalist failure, and while acknowledging the social-justice and anticapitalist struggles the pandemic has given rise to, the essay examines how the pandemic may also be facilitating capital accumulation and the reproduction of the prevailing socioeconomic order.