Association between measured air pollution levels in the troposphere and surface air with COVID-19 hospitalization in Tomsk, Russia, 2022

The results of a preliminary analysis of the relationship between the short-term impact of air pollution exposure on hospitalizations associated with COVID-19 in Tomsk, Russia are presented. The statistical data on air pollution and COVID-19 associated hospitalization were collected and analyzed for the period from March 16, 2022 to April 14, 2022. This period corresponds to a flat plateau of confirmed COVID-19 cases after the main pandemic wave in 2022 in Tomsk and the Tomsk region which were associated with omicron strain of SARS-CoV-2. It was found that all representative peaks in a graph of daily hospitalizations coincide with the peaks in graphs of measured levels of air pollution. The increase in hospitalizations occurred on the same days when air pollution levels increased, or with a slight lag of 1-2 days. This allows us to tentatively conclude that air pollution has a quick effect on infected persons and may provoke an increase in symptoms and severity of the disease. Further detailed research is required. © 2022 SPIE.

Analysis of Impact of COVID-19 and Other Occupational Infectious Diseases on Construction of Transportation Projects

Infectious diseases affect those who are employed in many occupations, not just in human and animal healthcare industries and laboratories. Those who work in the construction industry are frequently exposed to infectious diseases caused by harmful pathogens in the air, water, soil, and chemicals at worksites, making it critical to identify the specific causes and effective preventative measures. This study aims to identify the causes and the short- and long-term health effects of these diseases on workers and develop strategies to overcome them. A comprehensive analysis of existing literature revealed 13 infectious diseases that we categorized according to their source. Strategies for controlling and mitigating the effects of the infections were identified and arranged in a hierarchy of effectiveness, from most efficient to least efficient. The study's findings will enhance construction employers' understanding of infectious diseases that put their employees at risk, enabling them to help their employees remain healthy and safe by adhering to workplace safety precautions.

Endocrine disrupting micropollutants in water and their effects on human fertility and fecundity.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: Micropollutants (MPs) are defined as persistent and biologically-active substances which occur in the environment in trace amounts, mainly as a result of industrial processes and human domestic activity. The published experimental data prove that, among other things, MPs present in the environment may also affect and disturb hormonal balance in humans, resulting in impairment of the reproductive function. In addition to the many MPs disrupting endocrine function described in literature and which exert an effect on human reproductive function, the study presents a review of current literature concerning the exposure to Bisphenol A, phthalates, organochlorine pesticides, and pyrethroids. REVIEW METHODS: Two independent authors searched in PubMed and Google scholar (any date until September 2022) for studies concerning chosen endocrine-disrupting MPs in water and their effects on human fertility and fecundity. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE STATE OF KNOWLEDGE: The review of the literature showed that EDMs present in the environment may create risk in the prenatal and postnatal development following premature birth, and exert a negative effect on fertility and reproductive functions in humans, especially during the perinatal period. SUMMARY: The presented review of literature indicates a negative effect of exposure to BPA, phthalates, OC and OP pesticides, as well as to pyrethroids, regarding human reproductive health. It also demonstrated considerable differences according to gender. Generally, there is a definitely stronger evidence for the presence of a cause-effect relationship between the discussed EDMs and a decreased fertility and fecundity in males. The negative effect of exposure to Bisphenol A, phthalates, selected organochlorine pesticides and pyrethroids appears to be quite well documented.

Adolescent E-cigarette use: Rates, concerns, and policy implications

While US consumption of conventional cigarettes has declined steadily, electronic cigarettes have been the most commonly used tobacco product among adolescents since 2014, with a particular surge in use starting in 2017. The 2021 National Youth Tobacco Survey (NYTS) found that even during the COVID-19 pandemic, 2 million adolescents were current e-cigarette users. Just prior to the pandemic in 2020, one in five high school students and one in ten middle school students were using e-cigarettes every day, about the same level as in 2018 when adolescent e-cigarette use was declared an epidemic. Daily use is a strong indicator of nicotine dependence, raising concerns that e-cigarettes will hook a new generation on nicotine, including combustible cigarettes and other tobacco products. E-cigarettes are associated with a number of significant health consequences, including nicotine addiction, toxic effects of flavors, and psychological, social, and educational effects. Adolescents are especially attracted to e-cigarettes because of their youth-friendly flavors and salt-based nicotine which makes the device easier to use with less harsh throat hit, and allows users to more readily inhale large amount of nicotine. Adolescents are also attracted to the appealing designs and ability to conceal the e-cigarette devices;aggressive marketing that targets adolescents;misperceptions about the products' nicotine levels and health effects;and ease of access. Previous successful efforts to reduce tobacco use have been washed away due to the adolescent e-cigarette epidemic. This chapter discusses rates of adolescent e-cigarette use, health effects, why adolescents use e-cigarettes, and then ends with a discussion of the policy implications. © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved

Elderberry Extracts: Characterization of the Polyphenolic Chemical Composition, Quality Consistency, Safety, Adulteration, and Attenuation of Oxidative Stress- and Inflammation-Induced Health Disorders.

Elderberry is highly reputed for its health-improving effects. Multiple pieces of evidence indicate that the consumption of berries is linked to enhancing human health and preventing or delaying the onset of chronic medical conditions. Compared with other fruit, elderberry is a very rich source of anthocyanins (approximately 80% of the polyphenol content). These polyphenols are the principals that essentially contribute to the high antioxidant and anti-inflammatory capacities and the health benefits of elderberry fruit extract. These health effects include attenuation of cardiovascular, neurodegenerative, and inflammatory disorders, as well as anti-diabetic, anticancer, antiviral, and immuno-stimulatory effects. Sales of elderberry supplements skyrocketed to $320 million over the year 2020, according to an American Botanical Council (ABC) report, which is attributable to the purported immune-enhancing effects of elderberry. In the current review, the chemical composition of the polyphenolic content of the European elderberry (Sambucus nigra) and the American elderberry (Sambucus canadensis), as well as the analytical techniques employed to analyze, characterize, and ascertain the chemical consistency will be addressed. Further, the factors that influence the consistency of the polyphenolic chemical composition, and hence, the consistency of the health benefits of elderberry extracts will be presented. Additionally, adulteration and safety as factors contributing to consistency will be covered. The role of elderberry in enhancing human health alone with the pharmacological basis, the cellular pathways, and the molecular mechanisms underlying the observed health benefits of elderberry fruit extracts will be also reviewed.

The negative health effects of anti-Asian stigma in the U.S. during COVID-19

This study provided a systemic review of the content of 50 behavioral and social science studies investigating enactment and outcomes of anti-Asian stigma related to coronavirus disease (COVID-19) published in the final quarter of 2020 and during 2021. Based on a systematic search of several databases in December of 2021, 500 studies describing the impact of COVID-related stigma on Asian Americans were identified. From this group, 50 studies meeting the inclusion criteria were analyzed focusing on health and social consequences of stigma. The studies were described by five stigma themes: the enactment of stigma, health consequences of stigma, stigma in the social media, Asian American stigma in education, and policy and political consequences of anti-Asian stigma. The studies appeared in a wide range of scholarly journals using several methodologies. While some studies exclusively focused on health impacts of stigma, all considered how Asian Americans have been scapegoated for COVID-19. Spread of blame and digital stigma on the social media has been particularly damaging to psychological well-being. Discussion of these studies provided an informative systemic overview for how scholars from various disciplines have investigated the antecedents and possible mechanisms leading to anti-Asian hate. This study serves as a baseline for other scholars who want to build on this body of research in future studies as Omicron and other potential future variants of COVID unfold. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)

Efficacy Evaluation of Silty-Sandy Soil and Chrysopogon zizanioides to Attenuate Doxycycline from Wastewater in a Constructed Wetland System

In recent years, the emergence of COVID-19 has created disastrous health effects worldwide. Doxycycline, a member of the tetracycline group, has been prescribed as a treatment companion for attending this catastrophe. Due to extensive use and high solubility, a significant amount of un-metabolized doxycycline has been found to reach water bodies within a short time, and consumption of this water may lead to the development of fatal resistance in organisms and create health problems. Therefore, it has become necessary to develop suitable technologies from a geoenvironmental point of view to remove these unwanted antibiotics from wastewater. In this context, locally obtainable silty-sandy soil was explored as a low-cost material in a constructed wetland with Chrysopogon zizanioides (vetiver sp.) for phytoremediation to mitigate doxycycline spiked wastewater. The obtained soil hydraulic conductivity was 1.63×10-7 m/s. Batch adsorption tests conducted on silty-sandy soil, vetiver leaf, and vetiver root provided maximum removal efficiencies of 90%, 72%, and 80% percent, respectively, at optimal sorbent doses of 10 g/L, 17 g/L, and 16 g/L, and contaminant concentrations of 25 mg/L, 20 mg/L, and 23 mg/L, with a 30-min time of contact. The Freundlich isotherm was the best fit, indicative of sufficient sorption capacity of all the adsorbents for doxycycline. The best match in the kinetic research was pseudo-second-order kinetics. A one dimensional vertical column test with the used soil on doxycycline revealed a 90% breakthrough in 24 h for a soil depth of 30 mm. Studies on a laboratory-scale wetland and numerically modeled yielded removal of around 92% by the selected soil and about 98% combined with Chrysopogon zizanioides for 25 mg/L of initial doxycycline concentration, which is considered quite satisfactory. Simulated results matched the laboratory tests very well. The study is expected to provide insight into remedies for similar practical problems. © 2023 American Society of Civil Engineers.

Municipal wastewater viral pollution in Saudi Arabia: effect of hot climate on COVID-19 disease spreading.

The viral RNA of SARS-Coronavirus-2 is known to be contaminating municipal wastewater. We aimed to assess if COVID-19 disease is spreading through wastewater. We studied the amount of viral RNA in raw sewage and the efficiency of the sewage treatment to remove the virus. Sewage water was collected before and after the activated sludge process three times during summer 2020 from three different sewage treatment plants. The sewage treatment was efficient in removing SARS-CoV-2 viral RNA. Each sewage treatment plant gathered wastewater from one hospital, of which COVID-19 admissions were used to describe the level of disease occurrence in the area. The presence of SARS-CoV-2 viral RNA-specific target genes (N1, N2, and E) was confirmed using RT-qPCR analysis. However, hospital admission did not correlate significantly with viral RNA. Moreover, viral RNA loads were relatively low, suggesting that sewage might preserve viral RNA in a hot climate only for a short time.

Adverse effects of triclosan exposure on health and potential molecular mechanisms.

With the COVID-19 pandemic, the use of disinfectants has grown significantly around the world. Triclosan (TCS), namely 5-chloro-2-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy) phenol or 2,4,4'-trichloro-2'-hydroxydiphenyl ether, is a broad-spectrum, lipophilic, antibacterial agent that is extensively used in multifarious consumer products. Due to the widespread use and bioaccumulation, TCS is frequently detected in the environment and human biological samples. Accumulating evidence suggests that TCS is considered as a novel endocrine disruptor and may have potential unfavorable effects on human health, but studies on the toxic effect mediated by TCS exposure as well as its underlying mechanisms of action are relatively sparse. Therefore, in this review, we attempted to summarize the potential detrimental effects of TCS exposure on human reproductive health, liver function, intestinal homeostasis, kidney function, thyroid endocrine, and other tissue health, and further explore its mechanisms of action, thereby contributing to the better understanding of TCS characteristics and safety. Moreover, our work suggested the need to further investigate the biological effects of TCS exposure at the metabolic level in vivo.

Effects of covid-induced lockdown on inhabitants' perception of indoor air quality in naturally ventilated homes.

The intensified indoor living during the spring 2020 lockdown, with enhanced user awareness of the prevailing conditions in their homes, constituted a natural stress test for the housing design in place today. Surveys conducted during this period have yielded lessons for designing better intervention strategies for the residential sector, taking into account the systematic morphological and economic limitations of the buildings concerned. These considerations should inform the development of policies and strategies for improving environmental quality compatible with lower residential energy consumption and higher quality of life. This study explores the effect of occupant behaviour on home ventilation and the perception of the impact of indoor air quality on user health before and during lockdown. The method deployed consisted in monitoring environmental variables and conducting user surveys before and after restrictions came into force. The findings showed that prior to lockdown, occupants were unaware of or paid little heed to changes in indoor air quality, failed to perceive stuffiness, and, as a rule, reported symptoms or discomfort only at night during the summer months. During lockdown, however, users came to attach greater importance to air quality, and a greater sensitivity to odours and a heightened awareness of CO2 concentration prompted them to ventilate their homes more frequently. In the spring of 2020, occupants also indicated a wider spectrum of indisposition, in particular in connection with sleep patterns.

Online Research on COVID-19—The Role of Content Ranking and COVID-19 Fear

Cyberchondria is defined as excessive online health research followed by distress. Theoretical models of cyberchondria suggest that it can be influenced by both characteristics of the internet (content, information ranking, amount and quality of information) and individual vulnerability factors (general health anxiety or COVID-19 fear). In order to simultaneously explore the role of both factors, an innovative search engine software (Foogle) was developed and used in the present study that enables manipulation of the presented content and content ranking while also recording users' online behavior. A total of 36 participants with high and 28 participants with low COVID-19 fear searched for the long-term health effects of COVID-19 using Foogle. They were presented with search engine results that rank long-term health effects of COVID-19 from more to less severe or vice versa (randomized). Results revealed that participants who were presented with articles describing more to less severe long-term COVID-19 health effects accessed articles with a higher mean severity index. In general, participants spent more time on articles depicting more severe content. Participants with high COVID-19 fear felt more anxious post-search than those with low COVID-19 fear and expressed a greater wish to continue searching. © Creative Commons.

Cost-effective Vaccine Provisioning using Coalitional Game Theory

Rapid development and distribution of vaccines have been a hallmark of the battle against COVID-19. While the efficacy, clinical trials, adverse health effects, and sociodemographic and clinical factors determining the distribution of vaccines have been studied extensively, there has been little effort to design cost-effective vaccine provisioning schemes. We introduce a vaccine provisioning scheme that leverages coalitional game theory to improve the cost of vaccines while meeting the epidemiological demand of neighboring zones. The proposed approach incentivizes bulk purchases by groups (or coalitions) of zones at lower prices while penalizing large coalitions to avoid logistical challenges. Moreover, it enables the policymaker to model the vaccine demand of zones based on their epidemiological profiles, such as susceptible, infected numbers or population density, or a combination thereof. We carry out experiments using the SEIRD (susceptible, exposed, infected, recovered, death) epidemic model as well as the daily confirmed cases in the five boroughs of New York City to show the efficacy of the approach. © 2022 IEEE.

Cost-effective Vaccine Provisioning using Coalitional Game Theory

Rapid development and distribution of vaccines have been a hallmark of the battle against COVID-19. While the efficacy, clinical trials, adverse health effects, and sociodemographic and clinical factors determining the distribution of vaccines have been studied extensively, there has been little effort to design cost-effective vaccine provisioning schemes. We introduce a vaccine provisioning scheme that leverages coalitional game theory to improve the cost of vaccines while meeting the epidemiological demand of neighboring zones. The proposed approach incentivizes bulk purchases by groups (or coalitions) of zones at lower prices while penalizing large coalitions to avoid logistical challenges. Moreover, it enables the policymaker to model the vaccine demand of zones based on their epidemiological profiles, such as susceptible, infected numbers or population density, or a combination thereof. We carry out experiments using the SEIRD (susceptible, exposed, infected, recovered, death) epidemic model as well as the daily confirmed cases in the five boroughs of New York City to show the efficacy of the approach. © 2022 IEEE.

Designing Smart Restaurant for Reopening During the Relaxation of Lockdown in the Time of Corona Pandemic

Considering the changes that the world is going through, since the emergence of the Coronavirus 'COVID 19' and the following versions of the same virus which has fast spreading behavior among all countries and sometimes worse health effects on the human. It seems that its economic and social repercussions will be significant and influential at the global and national levels, as the outbreak imposed by taking a set of precautionary measures and measures represented in 'isolation' with quarantine or social distancing and restaurant closures. These procedures cause poverty among workers in malls and restaurants and economical losses, so countries start to relax the lockdown. This work aims to propose some procedures in designing restaurants for reopening during the relaxation of lockdown to reduce human contact through designing a waiter robot moves by line follower approach in a restaurant to serve meals to customers and also designing a wireless network to send the customizers orders from the tables to the kitchen. © 2022 IEEE.

Online Research on COVID-19—The Role of Content Ranking and COVID-19 Fear

Cyberchondria is defined as excessive online health research followed by distress. Theoretical models of cyberchondria suggest that it can be influenced by both characteristics of the internet (content, information ranking, amount and quality of information) and individual vulnerability factors (general health anxiety or COVID-19 fear). In order to simultaneously explore the role of both factors, an innovative search engine software (Foogle) was developed and used in the present study that enables manipulation of the presented content and content ranking while also recording users’ online behavior. A total of 36 participants with high and 28 participants with low COVID-19 fear searched for the long-term health effects of COVID-19 using Foogle. They were presented with search engine results that rank long-term health effects of COVID19 from more to less severe or vice versa (randomized). Results revealed that participants who were presented with articles describing more to less severe long-term COVID-19 health effects accessed articles with a higher mean severity index. In general, participants spent more time on articles depicting more severe content. Participants with high COVID-19 fear felt more anxious post-search than those with low COVID-19 fear and expressed a greater wish to continue searching. [ FROM AUTHOR]

Impact of prolonged wearing of face masks - medical and forensic implications.

Since December 2019, the global outbreak of coronavirus disease had a significant impact on humanity. Because of the large number of casualties worldwide, the WHO (World Health Organization) declared the coronavirus disease caused by SARS-CoV-2 a pandemic. Since the start of the pandemic, facial masks have become essential as well as mandatory to protect ourselves from COVID-19. As a result of the pandemic, healthcare professionals (HCPs) have been required to wear personal protective equipment (PPE) for extended periods. Wearing face masks for an extended period has been shown to have several negative effects on HCPs. Additionally, face masks have hampered the use of digital techniques for facial identification. This paper examines the effects of wearing face masks for an extended period, as well as the effect of wearing face masks on facial identification technology. The Web of Science, PubMed, and Scopus databases were searched and screened for relevant studies. According to the current review, prolonged use of masks was found to be associated with adverse effects on the face and skin, including acne, redness, rashes, and itching. The use of masks also resulted in headaches, hypoxic conditions, and changes in voice and speech parameters. This communication in no way intends to advocate the discontinuation of wearing masks, on the contrary, the primary goal of this article is to spread awareness about the adverse effects associated with prolonged use of facial masks (N95, KF94, or surgical). This will help in increasing compliance with mask mandates by helping to develop preventive solutions to the problems that tend to deter the general public. This also demonstrates how the use of masks has become a challenge for facial recognition technologies.

Lockdown Amid COVID-19 Ascendancy over Ambient Particulate Matter Pollution Anomaly.

Air is a diverse mixture of gaseous and suspended solid particles. Several new substances are being added to the air daily, polluting it and causing human health effects. Particulate matter (PM) is the primary health concern among these air toxins. The World Health Organization (WHO) addressed the fact that particulate pollution affects human health more severely than other air pollutants. The spread of air pollution and viruses, two of our millennium's most serious concerns, have been linked closely. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) can spread through the air, and PM could act as a host to spread the virus beyond those in close contact. Studies on COVID-19 cover diverse environmental segments and become complicated with time. As PM pollution is related to everyday life, an essential awareness regarding PM-impacted COVID-19 among the masses is required, which can help researchers understand the various features of ambient particulate pollution, particularly in the era of COVID-19. Given this, the present work provides an overview of the recent developments in COVID-19 research linked to ambient particulate studies. This review summarizes the effect of the lockdown on the characteristics of ambient particulate matter pollution, the transmission mechanism of COVID-19, and the combined health repercussions of PM pollution. In addition to a comprehensive evaluation of the implementation of the lockdown, its rationales-based on topographic and socioeconomic dynamics-are also discussed in detail. The current review is expected to encourage and motivate academics to concentrate on improving air quality management and COVID-19 control.

Couch Fitness Heroes - Examining Fitness Exergame Motivational Concepts and Player Monitoring

In recent years, sports and fitness apps have become increasingly popular. In a 2018 survey, 60% of respondents aged 18–69 years old reported using a fitness app several times a week [1]. Moreover, it is expected that the use of these offers will continue to increase in the future. By 2024, 18.3 million users are predicted to use the service. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with restrictions on team sports and the closure of gyms, many people try to compensate for the lack of exercise by doing workouts. There are many different programs and apps that motivate the user to do sports at home. Systems like Nintendo’s Switch Ring Fit Adventure try to animate the user playfully. Other apps, such as Adidas Training by Runtastic and 7-min Workout, on the other hand, motivate the user through instructions, challenges and customizable workout plans for body-weight exercises. This paper aims to analyze the current market situation of digital fitness applications. The applications are to be categorized and evaluated concerning their application area and structure. The focus of the analysis is, on the one hand, on the possibilities and methods for recording sport sessions and, on the other hand, on the applications’ approach to motivate the users to exercise in the long term. © 2022, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.

Continuous EMF Monitoring as an Emergency and Disaster Detection Tool

A number of applications founded on electromagnetic field (EMF) has increased, since wireless personal communication devices are used by a large number of people. Simultaneously, the controversy about adverse health effects of EMF exposure is in a focus of the public debate. Thus, there are constant demands for comprehensive investigation and monitoring of existing exposure to EMF. In last decade, the wireless sensors networks emerged as an innovative solution for EMF monitoring in the environment. The newest established is Serbian EMF RATEL network that performs continuous wideband monitoring, counting contribution of all active EMF sources, in particular frequency range and in the vicinity of observed location. Besides the monitoring for the health protection purposes, this network can be used as an emergency and disaster detection tool, as demonstrated in a case study of COVID-19 presence in campus of the University of Novi Sad. In this paper, technical details of the Serbian EMF RATEL monitoring network are presented, along with monitoring results from two campus locations, which clearly indicate some significant changes in the EMF level. © 2022 IEEE.

Mental health effects of COVID-19

The physical effects of COVID-19 are felt globally. However, one issue that has not been sufficiently addressed is the impact of COVID-19 on mental health. During the COVID-19 pandemic, citizens worldwide are enduring widespread lockdowns;children are out of school;and millions have lost their jobs, which has caused anxiety, depression, insomnia, and distress. Mental Health Effects of COVID-19 provides a comprehensive analysis of mental health problems resulting from COVID-19, including depression, suicidal thoughts and attempts, trauma, and PTSD. The book includes chapters detailing the impact of COVID-19 on the family's well-being and society dynamics. The book concludes with an explanation on how meditation and online treatment methods can be used to combat the effects on mental health. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)