New Approaches to the Economic Security of Russian Regions in Terms of the COVID-19 Pandemic

The study aims to identify the problems of economic security of the Russian regions under the influence of force majeure caused by the pandemic COVID-19 and their assessment, as well as to determine ways to stabilize the socio-economic situation. The authors conducted a grouping of the economic security indicators of the federal districts and proposed a methodology for its assessment in terms of the coronavirus pandemic. The authors identified the problem areas of socio-economic development of the Russian regions and also proved the decline in their economic security during the pandemic. The authors evaluated the effectiveness of the internal state administration of the federal districts according to the anti-crisis measures adopted in 2020 (maintaining turnover in the main regional segments of the economy, avoiding tax debt on regional fees, increasing the profitability of the real business, raising the level of digital development), as well as measures to preserve employment and solvency of the population of each region. The authors justified the directions of normalization of the socio-economic development of the federal districts of Russia by eliminating the economic security problems. © The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2022.

Study on Dynamic Change of Land Usage in Hongta District Based on Sentinel-2

This work utilizes Sentinel-2A L1C remote sensing photographs from the years 2018, 2020, and 2022 to identify the different land use categories in the study area using the support vector machine (SVM) technique. The accuracy of categorization is greater than 90%. This research explores four factors of the dynamic change in land use in Hongta District from 2018 to 2022: the proportion of various types of land;the extent of something like the changing land usage;land use transfer;and the dynamic degree of the change in land use. According to the study's results, the proportion of cultivated and grassland land grew, while the quantity of barren and construction land fell by 1.90 percent, 0.03 percent, and 0.69 percent, respectively. The water system land portion of total area increased by 2.58 percent and 0.13 percent, respectively. After comparing the two research periods, the entire dynamic degree of the second stage is determined to be 3.5 percent lower than that of the first stage, and the pace of land use change is quite sluggish, which may be associated with the worldwide COVID-19 outbreak in 2020. The outcomes of the research may give the natural resources department the knowledge it needs to manage land resources properly. © 2023 SPIE.

The Rising Epidemic of Mass Shootings in the US and Its Association with Gun Legislation, Laws, and Sales

Introduction: Mass shootings pose a considerable threat to public safety. This study aims to (1) assess US mass shootings, firearm-related sales, laws, and regional differences from 2015-2021 and (2) investigate changes in mass shootings and firearm sales before and during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Method(s): A retrospective review of mass shootings, gun sales, and laws regarding the minimum age required to purchase a firearm within the US from 2015-2021. The 10 states/regions with the greatest mean mass shootings/capita from 2015-2021 were selected for further analysis. Result(s): Mass shootings correlated significantly with firearm sales from 2015-2021 nationwide (p< 0.02 for all). The growth in mass shootings, the number killed/injured, and gun sales were greater in 2020 and 2021 compared withthe years prior. The 10 states with the highest mean mass shooting/capita over the study period were Alabama, Arkansas, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, South Carolina, and Tennessee. No significant correlation was found between the number of mass shootings/capita and the minimum age to purchase a firearm. Conclusion(s): Firearm sales correlated significantly with mass shootings from 2015-2021. Mass shootings and gun sales increased at greater rates during the COVID-19 pandemic compared withthe years before the pandemic. Mass shootings exhibited inconsistent trends with state gun laws regarding the minimum age to purchase a firearm. Future studies may consider investigating the methods by which firearms used in mass shootings are obtained to further identify targets for prevention.

ZOOMING OUR WAY OUT OF THE FORUM NON CONVENIENS DOCTRINE

The effects of the pandemic have shed light on the evolution of technology in the legal space, including the use of technology in videoconferencing proceedings and facilitating court procedures. Despite the benefits associated with technology, the rapid adoption of videoconferencing proceedings in courts may have unprecedented impacts on the relevance and practicality of the forum non conveniens doctrine. Additionally, the drastically different approaches that federal courts have taken in response to the disproportionate geographic effects of the pandemic may give way to forum shopping. Plaintiffs may be more incentivized to bring their cases to forums that allow for videoconferencing proceedings as a strategic way to circumvent a defendant's potential forum non conveniens argument in a motion to dismiss. This Note argues that videoconferencing technology allows courts to effectively transcend the restrictions of geography while mitigating arguments about the relative convenience of different forums. Creating more uniform rules for videoconferencing proceedings will ensure easier predictability and uniformity in the forum non conveniens analysis. Specifically, this Note recommends that Congress and the courts mandate standardized technological videoconferencing requirements and adopt the original understanding of the forum non conveniens doctrine for lower courts to more explicitly consider the benefits of technology when making a forum non conveniens determination.

Optimization of train formation plan based on technical station under railcar demand fluctuation

Train formation planning (TFP) is essential for rail freight logistics services. The fluctuation of railcar flows dramatically compared with before the outbreak of COVID-19. This paper studies train formation planning, considering three types of train services provided for railcar flow between pairs of technical stations (TS), including direct trains, district trains, and pickup trains. This paper introduces an optimization model with average railcars flow data (OMAD) and an optimization model with dynamic railcars flow data (OMDD) for the train formation planning based on TS under railcar demand fluctuation while minimizing railcar-hour consumption. The OMAD is a deterministic model, and the OMDD is a probability constraint model. To solve the OMDD, an approach for transforming probability constraints into deterministic constraints is presented. Various groups of scenarios are given to verify the effectiveness of the proposed models. [ FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Journal of Industrial & Production Engineering is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full . (Copyright applies to all s.)

Achieving Zero Stunting: A Sustainable Development Goal Interlinkage Approach at District Level

The sustainable development goals (SDGs) provide an integrated framework of targets and indicators, including the elimination of stunting, to support better development planning. Indonesia faces a significant challenge as it ranks fourth globally in terms of stunting prevalence, exacerbated by disparities across regions, gender, and socioeconomic status, further compounded by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Given the interlinked nature of SDGs, this study provides empirical support for the prioritization of SDG indicators, primarily in the context of stunting elimination at the district level in Indonesia. This study employed a combination of economic complexity and network theory, utilizing data from a comprehensive set of 54 indicators spanning 28 targets within 13 SDG goals in 514 districts. The analysis is based on network metrics, including revealed comparative advantage (RCA), proximity, centrality, and density to establish the SDG interlinkage network and identify key priority indicators. The findings highlight the importance of prioritizing indicators such as civil registration, health facilities and services, access to basic facilities and housing, and access to ICT in efforts to reduce stunting, particularly among disadvantaged households. Given the unique resources and capacities of each region, our analysis offers district-specific prioritization strategies for stunting elimination.

COVID-19: Adapting to change, general surgery at a district general hospital in the United Kingdom

The Coronavirus pandemic has caused major change across the world and in the National Health Service. In order to cope and help limit contagion, numerous institutions recognised the need to adjust clinical practice quickly yet safely. In this paper, we aim to describe the changes implemented in a general surgery department at a district general hospital in the United Kingdom. Across the surgical specialties, frameworks, protocols and guidelines have been established locally and nationally. The aerosol generating procedures involved in general surgery required us to alter our daily activities. Modifications to patient management were necessary to try and reduce viral spread. Staff wellbeing was heavily promoted in order to help maintain the frontline workforce. A holistic approach was required.

Industry Structure of Commercial Districts and the Impact of COVID-19

This paper aims to empirically analyze the difference in the closure rate of the commercial district according to the industry structure of the commercial district. Theoretically, the larger the number of stores in a commercial district, the greater the positive externality caused by the agglomeration economies in consumption, namely, the external economies of scale. However, the agglomeration economies could occur from comparison shopping or one-stop shopping, depending on the business structure of the commercial district. According to the empirical results of the regression analysis of all 1164 commercial districts in Korea, the more specialized a commercial district is by stores in a specific industry, the lower the closure rate of that commercial district. This means that the agglomeration economies in consumption are driven by comparison shopping rather than by one-stop shopping and implies that it is necessary to introduce incentives that allow stores in the same industry to cluster together in terms of policy. Meanwhile, if the closure is limited to a specific industry, it will cause an endogeneity problem since it affects the industry structure of the commercial district. Considering this, as a result of additional estimation by 2SLS and GMM using instrumental variables, the error in estimation due to the endogeneity problem was not large, confirming that COVID-19 corresponds to an overall external shock that is not limited to a specific industry. In addition, this paper presents diagnostic indicators for commercial districts to measure the impact of COVID-19. Through this, it will be possible to alleviate conflicts between social classes over compensation or subsidies for sanctions for quarantine. To the best of our knowledge, it is the first time to use all commercial districts in Korea for a research in evaluating the impact of COVID-19, and empirical results on agglomeration economies focusing on the consumption side are limited.

Exploring CBD Retail Performance, Recovery and Resilience of a Smart City Following COVID-19

The city of Christchurch, New Zealand, incurred significant damage due to a series of earthquakes in 2010 and 2011. The city had, by the late 2010s, regained economic and social normalcy after a sustained period of rebuilding and economic recovery. Through the concerted rebuilding effort, a modern central business district (CBD) with redesigned infrastructure and amenities was developed. The Christchurch rebuild was underpinned by a commitment of urban planners to an open and connected city, including the use of innovative technologies to gather, use and share data. As was the case elsewhere, the COVID-19 pandemic brought about significant disruptions to social and economic life in Christchurch. Border closures, lockdowns, trading limitations and other restrictions on movement led to changes in traditional consumer behaviors and affected the retail sector's resilience. In this study, we used CBD pedestrian traffic data gathered from various locations to predict changes in retail spending and identify recovery implications through the lens of retail resilience. We found that the COVID-19 pandemic and its related lockdowns have driven a substantive change in the behavioral patterns of city users. The implications for resilient retail, sustainable policy and further research are explored. © 2023 by the authors.

Cohort study on the change trend of astigmatism among preschool children in Baiyun district, Guangzhou from 2018 to 2021.

AIM: To explore the characteristics of astigmatism in preschool children before, during and after the COVID-19 epidemic, so as to provide a reference for further prevention and control of children's vision. *METHODS: In the consecutive four years from January 2018 to December 2021, a retrospective analysis of vision data was conducted on 2 273 preschool children (4546 eyes) younger than 4 years old who participated in children' s vision screening test in Baiyun district, Guangzhou. They were divided into 1 - year old group (ages<1-year old, 420 cases), 2-year old group (1-year <= ages < 2- year, 543 cases), 3- year old group (2- year <=ages <3-year, 614 cases), and 4 - year old group (3 - year <= ages< 4- year, 696 cases) according to ages. The analysis included astigmatic degrees of children's eyes as well as their conditions of astigmatism. *RESULTS: In 2018, the astigmatic degrees of the both eyes of 1-year-old group were higher than those of other groups (P<0.05). The binocular astigmatic degrees of the preschool children in four groups were obviously higher in 2020 than 2019 (P < 0. 05), while they were significantly decreased in 2021 when compared with 2020 (P < 0. 05). From 2019 to 2020, the increase of astigmatic degrees of the right eye is more considerable than the left eye of preschool children in those four groups (P < 0. 001). Furthermore, the morbidity of astigmatism basically echoes with the changing tendency of astigmatic degrees from 2018 to 2021. *CONCLUSIONS: Preschool children in Baiyun district, Guangzhou, have the highest degree of astigmatism and the fastest progression rate within 1 year old. Before COVID - 19 epidemic, the changes in astigmatism and prevalence were relatively stable;during COVID - 19 epidemic, the astigmatism and prevalence increased significantly and the astigmatic degrees of right eye increased more than that of the left eye;after the normalization of epidemic prevention and control, the astigmatism and prevalence decreased significantly.Copyright © 2023 International Journal of Ophthalmology (c/o Editorial Office). All rights reserved.

Community dialogue meetings among district leaders improved their willingness to receive COVID-19 vaccines in Western Uganda, May 2021.

BACKGROUND: Widespread COVID-19 vaccine uptake can facilitate epidemic control. A February 2021 study in Uganda suggested that public vaccine uptake would follow uptake among leaders. In May 2021, Baylor Uganda led community dialogue meetings with district leaders from Western Uganda to promote vaccine uptake. We assessed the effect of these meetings on the leaders' COVID-19 risk perception, vaccine concerns, perception of vaccine benefits and access, and willingness to receive COVID-19 vaccine. METHODS: All departmental district leaders in the 17 districts in Western Uganda, were invited to the meetings, which lasted approximately four hours. Printed reference materials about COVID-19 and COVID-19 vaccines were provided to attendees at the start of the meetings. The same topics were discussed in all meetings. Before and after the meetings, leaders completed self-administered questionnaires with questions on a five-point Likert Scale about risk perception, vaccine concerns, perceived vaccine benefits, vaccine access, and willingness to receive the vaccine. We analyzed the findings using Wilcoxon's signed-rank test. RESULTS: Among 268 attendees, 164 (61%) completed the pre- and post-meeting questionnaires, 56 (21%) declined to complete the questionnaires due to time constraints and 48 (18%) were already vaccinated. Among the 164, the median COVID-19 risk perception scores changed from 3 (neutral) pre-meeting to 5 (strong agreement with being at high risk) post-meeting (p < 0.001). Vaccine concern scores reduced, with medians changing from 4 (worried about vaccine side effects) pre-meeting to 2 (not worried) post-meeting (p < 0.001). Median scores regarding perceived COVID-19 vaccine benefits changed from 3 (neutral) pre-meeting to 5 (very beneficial) post-meeting (p < 0.001). The median scores for perceived vaccine access increased from 3 (neutral) pre-meeting to 5 (very accessible) post-meeting (p < 0.001). The median scores for willingness to receive the vaccine changed from 3 (neutral) pre-meeting to 5 (strong willingness) post-meeting (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: COVID-19 dialogue meetings led to district leaders' increased risk perception, reduced concerns, and improvement in perceived vaccine benefits, vaccine access, and willingness to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. These could potentially influence public vaccine uptake if leaders are vaccinated publicly as a result. Broader use of such meetings with leaders could increase vaccine uptake among themselves and the community.

Balancing burdens of infection control: Norwegian district medical officers' ethical challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic.

BACKGROUND: In several countries, district medical officers (DMOs) are public health experts with duties including infection control measures. The Norwegian DMOs have been key actors in the local handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: The aim of the study was to explore the ethical challenges experienced by Norwegian DMOs during the COVID-19 pandemic, and how the DMOs have handled these challenges. 15 in-depth individual research interviews were performed and analyzed with a manifest approach. RESULTS: Norwegian DMOs have had to handle a large range of significant ethical problems during the COVID-19 pandemic. Often, a common denominator has been the need to balance burdens of the contagion control measures for different individuals and groups. In another large set of issues, the challenge was to achieve a balance between safety understood as effective contagion prevention on the one hand, and freedom, autonomy and quality of life for the same individuals on the other. CONCLUSIONS: The DMOs have a central role in the municipality's handling of the pandemic, and they wield significant influence. Thus, there is a need for support in decision-making, both from national authorities and regulations, and from discussions with colleagues.

Militarization in the Special Indigenous Health District of Maranhao: from the "announced disaster" to the epicenter of the pandemic

This case study used a historiographical methodology to investigate the trajectory and performance of the Special Indigenous Health District of Maranhao, having as a parameter what the National Policy for Health Care for Indigenous Peoples, still officially in force in 2021, recommended. It has the general context of health policies in successive federal governments as background. The period analyzed and discussed ranges from 2010 to 2021, covering: the crisis in the management of the National Health Care Policy for Indigenous Peoples, implemented by the National Health Foundation;the subsequent creation of the Special Secretariat for Indigenous Health and the transfer, to its scope, of the role of manager of this policy, in 2010;the challenges faced by the Special Secretariat for Indigenous Health in its first years of management, in the context of the political crises that led to the impeachment of President Dilma Rousseff and the administration of Michel Temer;the administration of Jair Messias Bolsonaro, with the consequent systematic attack on principles and guidelines inscribed in the 1988 Brazilian Constitution and the dismantling and/or sabotage of the National Health Care Policy for Indigenous Peoples;the advent of the covid-19 pandemic in this context and its specific impacts on the indigenous population, in Brazil and Maranhao, until 2021.

The Post-Pandemic Central Business District (CBD): Re-Imagining the Creative City?

After central business districts (CBD) emptied from COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns and widespread working-from-home, culture and creativity feature prominently within recovery strategies, enrolling the arts and events to enliven urban precincts and attract people back into city centres. We draw upon resilience theory and creative city policymaking to critique present formulations of CBD revitalisation, and suggest alternatives. Despite overtures to social inclusion and environmental sustainability, revitalisation strategies mobilise pre-existing "vehicular ideas" that support corporate business interests in and claims on central city space. We articulate concerns around inclusivity, financial and property interests, creativity as consumption rather than production, livelihood concerns, and underwhelming acknowledgement of pandemic disruption. Instead of placing creativity in service of the competitive positioning of the CBD, we ask: what is the very purpose of the post-pandemic CBD, and who is the CBD for? Answering these questions invitesmore courageous propositions that seize once-in-a-generation opportunities for transformational change. (English) [ FROM AUTHOR] 由于新冠肺炎疫情的封锁和在家办公的普及，中央商务区(CBD)日渐冷清，文化和创意在复苏战略中占据了突出的位置，引入艺术和活动来活跃城市区域，并吸引人们回到城市中心。我们利用弹性理论和创意城市政策来批判现有的CBD复兴模式，并提出替代方案。尽管提出了社会包容和环境可持续发展的提议，但复兴战略调动了支持企业对中心城市空间商业利益和主张的既有"车辆理念"。我们表达了担忧，包括对包容性、金融和财产利益、将创造力视为消费而不是生产、生计问题以及对疫情破坏平淡无奇的认识。我们不要让创造力为CBD的竞争定位服务，而是要问：大流行后CBD的真正目标是什么，CBD是为谁服务的？回答这些问题需要更大胆的主张，以抓住千载难逢的变革机遇。 (Chinese) [ FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Urban Policy & Research is the property of Routledge and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full . (Copyright applies to all s.)

Lessons drawn from Shanghai for controlling highly transmissible SARS-CoV-2 variants: insights from a modelling study.

BACKGROUND: The continuous emergence of novel SARS-CoV-2 variants with markedly increased transmissibility presents major challenges to the zero-COVID policy in China. It is critical to adjust aspects of the policy about non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) by searching for and implementing more effective ways. We use a mathematical model to mimic the epidemic pattern of the Omicron variant in Shanghai to quantitatively show the control challenges and investigate the feasibility of different control patterns in avoiding other epidemic waves. METHODS: We initially construct a dynamic model with a core step-by-step release strategy to reveal its role in controlling the spread of COVID-19, including the city-based pattern and the district-based pattern. We used the least squares method and real reported case data to fit the model for Shanghai and its 16 districts, respectively. Optimal control theory was utilized to explore the quantitative and optimal solutions of the time-varying control strength (i.e., contact rate) to suppress the highly transmissible SARS-CoV-2 variants. RESULTS: The necessary period for reaching the zero-COVID goal can be nearly 4 months, and the final epidemic size was 629,625 (95%CI: [608,049, 651,201]). By adopting the city-based pattern, 7 out of 16 strategies released the NPIs more or earlier than the baseline and ensured a zero-resurgence risk at the average cost of 10 to 129 more cases in June. By adopting the district-based pattern, a regional linked release can allow resumption of social activity to ~ 100% in the boundary-region group about 14 days earlier and allow people to flow between different districts without causing infection resurgence. Optimal solutions of the contact rate were obtained with various testing intensities, and higher diagnosis rate correlated with higher optimal contact rate while the number of daily reported cases remained almost unchanged. CONCLUSIONS: Shanghai could have been bolder and more flexible in unleashing social activity than they did. The boundary-region group should be relaxed earlier and more attention should be paid to the centre-region group. With a more intensive testing strategy, people could return to normal life as much as possible but still ensure the epidemic was maintained at a relatively low level.

The battle over state lines: Leveraging an interstate compact to ensure continuity of care

Background: As a result of COVID-19-related precautions, states temporarily relaxed certain restrictions on telehealth services during the pandemic, including waiving licensing requirements so physicians could serve patients across state lines, but many states ended this flexibility in 2021. According to two online surveys fielded by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CFF) to accredited centers in 2020 and 2021, 65% of programs reported providing care to patients living in another state. Of these, 18.5% reported that some of their out-of-state (OOS) patients were not able to access telehealth services because of licensure-related issues [1]. CFF Compass fielded 20 calls from people with cystic fibrosis (CF) in 15 states requesting assistance in accessing their OOS care center, accounting for more than 25% of all network adequacy inquiries received during that time. CFF recognized the need for policy change to improve access to OOS care for people with CF. Method(s): In 2021, we interviewed five CF care centers about their experiences with telehealth and OOS licensing. The administrative burden of applying for multiple state medical licenses was a key barrier to providing remote OOS care, and CFF identified the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact (IMLC) as one solution. The IMLC streamlines the licensing application process for physicians who want to practice in multiple states. From January 2021 to March 2022, CFF supported legislation in 10 states to join the IMLC by sending letters with 31 care center director co-signers. CFF also hosted a webinar in June 2021 to educate CF care centers about the IMLC as away to pursue multiple medical licenses with one application. We shared follow-up information about the IMLC through CFF COVID-19 digest emails. CFF sent a survey in March 2022 to all CF care centers to understand current use of and barriers to telehealth for CF care teams. Data from this survey are forthcoming. Result(s): Before CFF's engagement in January 2021, 30 states and the District of Columbia were members of the IMLC. As of April 8, 2022, five additional states have passed legislation to join the IMLC, reflecting a 17% increase in state participation from January 2021 to March 2022. Within the 35 participating states at present,126 CF care center programs will have the potential to use the IMLC. CFF has supported legislation in all six states with pending legislation to join the IMLC in 2022. Increased physician awareness of IMLCwas evidenced by physician participation from 20 states in thewebinar, aswell as broad distribution of the recording via the COVID- 19 digest to 288 CF programs in 49 states afater the session. Conclusion(s): Although more states taking action to join the IMLC is an important step, challenges persist. Even in IMLC member states, CF providers express concerns about the cost and administrative burden of maintaining licenses in multiple states. Permanent regulations regarding use of and reimbursement for telehealth remain uncertain. To better understand current challenges and opportunities for telehealth and remote OOS care, CFF is supporting additional research and advocacy.Copyright © 2022, European Cystic Fibrosis Society. All rights reserved

Mpox Awareness, Risk Reduction, and Vaccine Acceptance among Pwh in Washington, Dc

Background: PWH are disproportionally affected by mpox and at high risk for severe complications. The recent mpox outbreak response included increasing awareness, encouraging behavioral changes and pre- and post-exposure vaccination. We assessed knowledge and perceptions of mpox, adoption of preventive behaviors, and attitudes towards vaccination among PWH in Washington, DC. Method(s): Data from a cross-sectional mpox survey were collected between August and December 2022 from PWH enrolled in a longitudinal HIV cohort, the DC Cohort. We conducted uni- and bivariable analyses comparing participants by vaccination status (vaccinated, plan to vaccinate, no plan to vaccinate) and by HIV risk group (MSM vs. non-MSM). We conducted multinomial regression to identify factors associated with vaccine acceptance. Result(s): Among 178 PWH completing the survey (median age 55;71% male, 81% non-Hispanic Black, 37% MSM), 162 (91%) had heard of mpox. Among 159 PWH who had heard of mpox and answered vaccination questions, 21% (n=33) were vaccinated, 43% (n=69) planned to vaccinate and 36% (n=57) did not plan to vaccinate. Comparing the 3 groups, significant differences were observed by age, gender, education, income, HIV risk group, and level of worry about mpox (all p< 0.01). Viral suppression, prior COVID and influenza vaccination, access to STI services, and STI diagnoses in the last year were not associated with vaccine status. Behaviorally, a higher proportion of vaccinated participants reported limiting their number of sexual partners (p< 0.001) and using more preventive behaviors (e.g., limiting gatherings, increased condom use, avoiding skin-to-skin contact;p=0.034) in response to mpox. A higher proportion of MSM reported limiting their number of sexual partners compared to non-MSM (33% vs 7%, p< 0.0001) and were more likely to be vaccinated or plan to vaccinate vs non-MSM (p< 0.001). In adjusted multinomial regression models comparing vaccinated PWH and those planning to vaccinate to those not planning to vaccinate, age (p= 0.0231) and HIV risk factor/gender (p< 0.0001) were significantly associated with vaccination status with younger PWH and MSM more likely to vaccinate (Figure). Conclusion(s): High levels of mpox awareness were observed among this cohort of PWH in Washington, DC with more MSM employing risk reduction behaviors and vaccination as mpox prevention strategies. Ensuring that all PWH, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, or age, understand the risks of mpox may improve vaccination uptake.

DESIGN OF A NET ZERO HOUSE AT 100-YEAR FLOOD ZONE IN A HISTORIC DISTRICT: A CASE OF SOLAR DECATHLON DESIGN CHALLENGE ENTRY

This paper discusses the design of a net-zero single-family house in Chattanooga, Tennessee, which was proposed for the 2022 Solar Decathlon Design Challenge entry. The site was in a 100-year flood zone and registered as a national and local historic district. The interdisciplinary team consisted of University of Tennessee Chattanooga (UTC) students from the interior architecture and engineering departments who embraced the challenges of the local climate and the restrictions of the historic district guidelines. This entry, Moc House, focused on the integration of passive design and active HVAC systems including photovoltaic systems in the process. In responding to recent housing market changes in Chattanooga due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a young professional couple in their 30s who have two children was identified as the target market which guided the space planning. Market analysis, including ROI, was conducted in addition to construction cost calculations. Building materials were selected to enhance the durability and resilience of the house structure. Finally, energy analysis was conducted to check the project's Home Energy Rating using Ekotrope and found it less than zero. © 2023, College Publishing. All rights reserved.

Geodemographic classification of the North Caucasus Federal District Regions

Introduction. The dynamics of the vital movement of the population of the North Caucasus for 2005-2020 is investigated. Research methods and materials. Both traditional and the latest geographic research methods are used - comparative geographical, spatial analysis, statistical, GIS technologies, population surveys, etc. Research results. The conducted studies have shown that despite the apparent well-being, a tense demographic situation is developing in the North Caucasus. Favorable demographic results are obtained only at the expense of three subjects - Dagestan, Ingushetia and Chechnya. In other regions, narrowed and negative reproduction is observed. The natural increase is getting lower and lower. The small generation born in the 1990s reached the fertile age. COVID-19 restrictions and a crisis in the economy have led to an even greater decline in the birth rate and an increase in mortality. The conducted geodemographic classification of the regions of the North Caucasus showed that the most favorable situation is observed in Ingushetia, the situation is slightly worse in Chechnya and Dagestan, narrowed reproduction in Kabardino-Balkaria and Karachay-Cherkessia and the most tense situation is in North Ossetia and the Stavropol Territory. Conclusion. To improve the situation, a differentiated approach is needed to different regions in the demographic sphere, the creation of new workplaces. The outflow of the able-bodied population from the regions of the North Caucasus leads to a violation of the population age composition and, thereby, undermines the fertility of the population. This leads to a decrease in the birth rate and, accordingly, natural increase. Resume. The article presents the results of studies of the natural movement of the population of Russia and the North Caucasus Federal District. At the same time, the multi-scale method of research and geodemographic classification was taken as the basis. It has been established that relatively favorable results on the scale of Russia were achieved in the North Caucasus Federal District, and on the scale of the North Caucasian Federal District - in Ingushetia, Chechnya and Dagestan. It was determined that along with the traditional factors of mortality, the factor of infectious morbidity began to play a significant role. It is shown that at the same time, mortality in working age has increased. It was revealed that there is a significant territorial differentiation of the natural movement of the population both in Russia as a whole and in the North Caucasus Federal District. The results of the research can be useful in developing programs for further demographic development of the regions. © 2022 North Caucasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, State Technological University. All rights reserved.

Moral Distress Amongst District Leaders: Intensity, Dilemmas, and Coping Mechanisms in the Context of Covid-19

Purpose: This study examines the sources and intensity of moral distress among school district leaders during the first full school year of the Covid-19 pandemic and investigates their coping mechanisms for addressing issues that create moral dilemmas for them. Design and Evidence: We draw on semi-structured interviews with 26 school district leaders across 13 school districts in the Northwestern United States. Brief summaries detailing themes in each interview were prepared. Magnitude coding was used to understand the intensity of district leaders' feelings of distress. Open coding and axial coding allowed us to categorize the origins/sources of distress and the approaches/strategies district leaders used to reduce feelings of moral distress. Findings: Reported moral distress ranged from none to moderate but manageable amounts. Three types of problems were described as morally distressing: political problems with the community or unions, staff problems including staff stress, staff resistance, and collaboration amongst staff members, and an inability to meet student needs due to resource, policy, or community/family constraints. Leaders' coping mechanisms included social responses such as team building, but also drew on individual virtues such as persistence and patience. Implications: Within the ranks of district leaders, the extent to which leaders frame their challenges in a moral frame is varied. A sizable group articulated challenges with implications for moral action in primarily technical or political terms. If district leaders engage unevenly with the moral tradeoffs of their decisions, they risk adopting an overly managerialist frame. [ FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Educational Administration Quarterly is the property of Sage Publications Inc. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full . (Copyright applies to all s.)