ABSTRACT
Energy poverty is a multifaceted phenomenon that affects many Europeans. Alleviating energy poverty is high in the EU, national, and local policy agendas. Despite the attention the phenomenon has been gaining from a policy perspective, especially after the current energy crisis, there are still some gaps due to the complexity of the issue and its vastly different manifestations across Europe. This manuscript presents the policy implications stemming from the implementation of the POWEPROOR approach in alleviating energy poverty in eight European countries, as co-created with relevant stakeholders in each country. The knowledge gained from empowering energy-poor citizens by promoting behavioural changes and small-scale energy efficiency interventions, as well as by encouraging the uptake of renewable energy sources in the form of collective energy initiatives while leveraging innovative financing schemes, resulted in policy recommendations for national and sub-national governments and lessons for civil society and the private sector.
ABSTRACT
This paper investigates herding behavior of investors in three frontier Nordic countries from July 1,2002 until July 30, 2021, under different market conditions and during three crises that occurred in this period. As estimation methods, we use both OLS and quantile regression and determine that both up and down market, high and low volatility induce a weak herding behavior for at least one quantile in almost all Nordic countries examined, except for Latvia. At the same time, we find that crises determine a more prominent herding behavior in Nordic countries, but do not influent the behavior of investors from Latvia, that tend to remain rational even in stressful conditions.
ABSTRACT
In this paper, we have examined the impact of COVID-19 on labour force and recovery peculiarities in selected countries of Europe. Our goal has been to reach patients with post-COVID-19 or long-COVID-19 symptoms who were treated since 2020 and latest 2021 in different medical spas around Europe. Our research focused on whether work affects any aspect of life during illness and whether complaints experienced during post-COVID-19 treatments affect any aspect of life during illness. To achieve our results, we used quantitative research and tested two hypotheses. Our primary survey was conducted in May-June 2022. A total of 110 valid responses were received. The data collected through the questionnaire was examined using statistical analysis and calculations – descriptive statistics, one-way ANOVA, linear regression analysis. All the respondents had COVID-19 positive test results in their life and attended post-COVID treatments in different medical spas in Europe. The results showed that coronavirus symptoms (post- or long-COVID-19 syndrome) were most likely to interfere with social and leisure activities and work. Well-being and pain need improvement. Improvement is possible with spa rehabilitation packages offering complex interventions such as balneotherapy (which uses local natural resources such as natural healing water, peloids, mofette), climatotherapy, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and physiotherapy. Working during illness has a significant impact on quality of life. It also has an impact on daily activities, mobility, and pain. Working during illness (COVID-19 infection) affected all aspects of life, and patients perceived that illness-related disturbances mainly affected work performance.
ABSTRACT
The main objective of this interdisciplinary study is to find out if verbal aggressiveness expressed by news commenters on the three largest digital news media (delfi.lv, tvnet.lv, apollo.lv) in Latvia fosters COVID-19 pandemic-related linguistic creativity during two state of emergency periods in Latvia (2020 – 2021). Did the commenters' dissatisfaction with the course of the pandemic and their response to the news of the pandemic contribute to the creation of new words related to COVID-19? Using data provided by the Index of the Internet Aggressiveness (IIA), a research tool, and employing content analysis to evaluate the comments and pandemic-related words used in the comments, the study concludes that as the level of aggressiveness of commenters spikes, the use of COVID-19-related aggressive keywords and the number of new pandemic-related words increases as well. However, the aggressive words associated with COVID-19 account for a small proportion of commenters' aggressiveness and incivility during pandemic. The most widely applied word-formation pattern to coin COVID-19 related words is the syntactic word-formation pattern, allowing the commenters to quickly create compound words, one part of which relates to COVID-19, while the other part expresses their attitude and assessment of the pandemic realities. Most of the new words are used only once and do not become a stable part of the commenters' vocabulary, thus showing the variability, instability, and fragmented character of communication in digital public sphere. © 2022, Faculty of Social Sciences. All rights reserved.
ABSTRACT
Background: SARS-CoV- 2 infection remains a significant global concern. Since vaccination is one of the most effective methods of severe disease prevention, the question of its side effects is substantial. Therefore, collaboration between clinicians and the Pharmacovigilance department of the national competent authority is important and can provide essential information on this matter. Method(s): Spontaneous reports of adverse drug reactions received by the State Agency of Medicines of Latvia between 2021-01- 01 and 2022-01- 05 were reviewed to identify cases of hypersensitivity reactions. MedDRA Queries were used for data selection. In data analysis, descriptive statistics were used. Result(s): A total 90 possible hypersensitivity reactions were selected for analysis, of which 34 cases (37.8%) were reported by healthcare professionals and 56 cases (62.2%) by patients. 12 cases (13.3%) were anaphylaxis, 10 (11.1%) were immediate type reactions and 68 (75.6%) were potential delayed type reactions, among them 66 cases were possible type IV and 2 cases possible type III reactions. 70 patients (78.7%) were women and 19 (21.3%) were men. The mean age of patients was 43.13 +/- 15.9 (17-80) years old. 21 patients (23.3%) received Vaxzevria, 16 (17.8%) Janssen, 39 (43.3%) Comirnaty and 14 (15.6%) Spikevax. The most commonly reported symptoms in the anaphylaxis group was: impaired consciousness (33.3%), angioedema (33.3%), skin erythema (25%), urticaria (25%), hypotension (25%), tachycardia (25%), nausea and vomiting (25%), in the immediate type reaction group: dyspnoe (40%), skin erythema (30%), angioedema (30%), skin pruritus (20%), unspecified skin rash (20%), dizziness (20%), and in the delayed type reaction group: skin rash (92.6%), pruritus (25%), injection site reaction (23.5%). There were only eight patients with prior history of allergies. Conclusion(s): More than a half of the spontaneously reported cases of hypersensitivity reactions selected for the analysis were submitted by patients. Vast majority of all selected cases concerned women. Individuals who were affected by hypersensitivity reactions after COVID-19 vaccination were more likely to experience delayed-type than immediate-type reactions. Although, it should be considered that underreporting might be in place.
ABSTRACT
Since early 2020 Europe has been coping with previously unfamiliar economic and social distress caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the virus's uncontrollable spread (SARS-CoV-2) has thoroughly affected behavioural patterns, societal well-being, and everyday activities. With this study, we aim to contribute to the differences in daily commuting patterns between the first and second waves of the COVID-19 pandemics. Moreover, we seek to uncover factors and territorial differences in population mobility behaviour during the "COVID crisis”. As a method for insight into this, we used a CAWI population survey. Survey took place in March 2021 with a total sample of n=1023 respondents. Comparatively, we asked to report on the situation in 2020 and 2021, representing the first and second waves of the outbreak in Latvia. The paper we structured around three research questions: 1) What are the differences in daily commuting patterns during Latvia's first and second COVID-19 wave? 2) How do commuting patterns translate into regional differences? 3) What sociodemographic characteristics influence commuting habits? The findings suggest that around one-third of the population started working from home (WFH) along with the implemented restrictions. We find that the distinct ability to perform WFH is a pivotal contributor to socioeconomic disparities in commuting behaviour. No significant differences in daily commuting habits in Latvia were found when comparing the first and second waves. However, the heterogeneity of the findings appears when comparing the results among regions, age groups, education and occupations. We found a low "COVID crisis” impact on travel behaviour for less advanced population groups. And high impact or even far-reaching socioeconomic inequalities compared to students or those WFH with higher education, qualified specialists, managers, company owners and persons employed in the tertiary sector, as they are those coping with the most evident changes in their daily lives. © 2022 Societe Belge de Geographie. All rights reserved.
ABSTRACT
Purpose: This study aims to explore the role General Managers (GMs) play in mitigating the effects of the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic. Design/methodology/approach: Qualitative structured interviews conducted online with 50 hospitality GMs from 45 countries are used to explore the impact of the pandemic on the industry's operational norms and the role of managers in both managing the crisis and planning contingencies for recovery. Findings: The findings enhance the conceptual capital in this emerging field and provide insights on how GMs behave during crises. Four related sub-themes emerged from the data analysis, namely, contingency planning and crisis management, resilience and impact on GM roles, the impact on hotels' key functional areas and some GMs' suggestions for the future of luxury hospitality. Research limitations/implications: This study generates empirical data that inform contemporary debates about crisis management and resilience in hospitality organizations at a micro-level operational perspective. Practical implications: Findings suggest that, in times of uncertainty and crisis, luxury hotel GMs are vital in coping with changes and leading their organizations to recovery. GMs' resilience and renewed role and abilities enable them to adapt rapidly to external changes on their business environment. Originality/value: This study is unique in terms of scale and depth, as it provides useful insights regarding the GM's role during an unprecedented crisis such as COVID-19. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)
ABSTRACT
Knowledge regarding digital practices in the field of systemic therapy is poor. A few surveys have been conducted in non-European countries investigating the provision of digitally based therapy, counselling, training, and supervision by systemic family and couple therapists (SCFTs). Thus, a survey aiming to investigate the use of information and communication technology (ICT) among European SCFTs was launched in 2017. A sample of 220 SCFTs was included in the survey. The majority were residents in Greece, France and Italy. Descriptive analysis compared SCFTs' digital practices and concerns from the above three countries with those from the rest of Europe. Results showed that 81.4 per cent of European SCFTs used ICT for clinical purposes and 47.7 per cent in training and supervision. Main concerns among European SCFTs related to the quality of therapeutic relationship, ethical and legal issues, and a lack of national and transnational regulation. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved) Impact Statement ICT use and e-therapy increase access to mental health services and maintain therapeutic contact. Systemic individual therapy, supervision and training are workable online settings. Legislation regulating ICT use in therapy, supervision and training (e.g. General Data Protection Regulation) has to be respected. Training and continuous education in online practices enhance therapists' and clients' options, and ensure digital safeness and effective treatment. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)
ABSTRACT
The role of nutrition in the treatment of diseases is known, and it can be a contributing and hindering factor which can shorten or prolong the time of treatment. Studies on mental health have shown that the inclusion of certain nutrient in increased amounts in patients' diet can have a positive effect on the treatment of depression, anxiety etc. The COVID-19 pandemic increases the risk of depression in general population, which means an increased number of patients in need of professional help. Therefore, the aim of the study was to evaluate the patients' diets in Latvian psycho-neurological hospitals, emphasizing the provision of certain nutrients which are essential for mental health. There were analyzed a one-week menu at three Latvian psycho-neurological hospitals. Provision of nutrients (minerals, vitamins, fatty acids) in patients' diets was calculated using Finish food composition database. Basic conditions for provision of patients' diet are determined by the regulation of the Cabinet of Ministers, indicating the daily variety of energy value, minimum and maximum amount of proteins, fats and carbohydrates. The obtained results regarding patients' diets were processed using MS Excel and SPSS Statistics 22. The required amount of nutrients per day can be achieved with a variety of foods which in turn can significantly affect the concentration of minerals and vitamins and profile of fatty acids in the diet. In general, the provision of minerals and vitamins in hospitals' diets was close to the recommendations of a healthy person, but it was not sufficient for psycho-neurological hospital patients. It would be desirable to raise their concentration by increasing the amount of vegetables and fruits in the diet. Analysis of fatty acid profile in patients' diets showed significant differences depending on whether fish or meat products were included. It would be advisable to increase the concentration of omega-3 fatty acids. In general, the nutrition provision for patients of psycho-neurological hospitals could be assessed as sufficient, but several aspects need to be improved. Vitamin D intake should be significantly increased as it didn't reach the generally recommended dose. Fruit should be included and the amount of vegetables should be increased to provide a recommendation of at least 400 g per day, which in turn will increase the intake of vitamins and minerals.
ABSTRACT
During the Covid-19 pandemic, time had become legato, if not stationary for many. This included secondary school students who were about to finish high school and transition to a new phase in their life, be that work, higher education or other activities. Many feared they are missing out or lost opportunities. In this paper, we explore how Latvian secondary school graduates perceive their mobility opportunities and intentions using survey data gathered during years 2019, 2020 and 2021, i.e., the year before Covid-19 and during two years of pandemic. This will provide insight into Generation Z students' plans for the future as well as how they adopt to a world that is freer of restrictions but not what it used to be. © 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.
ABSTRACT
SARS-CoV-2 was first identified in humans in December 2019 and has since affected almost 68 million people causing over 1.5 million deaths worldwide. Animal-to-human and animal-to-animal transmission has been documented within farmed minks in several countries. SARS-CoV-2 has been identified in a farmed mink population in a number of countries. Some of the affected farms reported also workers SARS-CoV-2 infection and it is hypothesized that the mink farms were infected through human-mink transmission proving SARS-CoV-2 capability of reverse zoonosis. This Tripartite Risk Assessment, as a joint effort under the GLEWS+ initiative, completed with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), evaluates the risk of introduction and spread of SARS-CoV-2 within fur farming systems as well as whether farmed fur animals could play a significant role in the spread of SARS-CoV-2 to humans via spillover. Additionally, using a One Health approach, the Tripartite evaluated the risk of the escaped minks leading to the establishment of a viral reservoir in susceptible wildlife populations. This work provides guidance to Members on this newly emerging threat.
ABSTRACT
The COVID-19 pandemic has been one of the most unprecedented crises of recent decades with a global effect on society and the economy. It has triggered changes in the behavior and consumption patterns of both final consumer and industrial consumers. The consumption patterns of industrial consumers are also influenced by changes in consumer values, environmental regulations, and technological developments. One of the technological highlights of the last decade is biocomposite materials being increasingly used by the packaging industry. The pandemic has highlighted the problems and challenges of the development of biocomposites to adapt to new market conditions. This study aims to investigate the industrial consumption of biocomposite materials and the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on the main stages of the value chain of sustainable industrial consumption of biocomposites. The research results reveal there is a growing interest in the use of biocomposites. Suppliers and processors of raw materials are being encouraged to optimize and adapt cleaner production processes in the sustainable transition pathway. The study highlights the positive impact of COVID-19 on the feedstock production, raw material processing, and packaging manufacturing stages of the value chain as well as the neutral impact on the product manufacturing stage and negative impact on the retail stage. The companies willing to move toward the sustainable industrial chain have to incorporate economic, environmental, social, stakeholder, volunteer, resilience, and long-term directions within their strategies.
ABSTRACT
"Social Europe Days" is a collaborative four-day international seminar held yearly near Brussels, Belgium, by a network of ten European universities from eight different countries. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the seminar had to be offered virtually and redesigned. The final design included synchronous and asynchronous activities, informal and formal interactions, and a focus on empathy for the existential problems faced by participating students and faculty during the pandemic. This article describes the design challenges, the design choices and decisions that led to the virtual seminar design, and reflections based on lead faculty notes, member checking, and student evaluations.
ABSTRACT
The objective of the paper is to assess the resilience of UKs economy towards two economic shocks: the Covid-19pandemic that hit the global economy in Q4 2019, in years 2020,2021 and2022 and the Brexit following the withdrawal ofUKfrom the European Union on 31 January 2020. To assess the resilience ofUK s economy, two sets of forecasts are generated: forecasts using historical data including the pandemic and the Brexit (from Q11998 to Q4 2021) and not including the pandemic and the Brexit (from Q1 1998 to Q3 2019). The computation of the difference of their averages is an indicator of the resilience of the economy during the pandemic, the greater the difference the greater the resilience. Eurozone is used as benchmark. By subtracting the average forecasted 20222050 Eurozone quarterly GDP growth rate (annualized) obtained with the Q1 1998-Q4 2021 data, +2.93%, by the one obtained with the Q11998-Q3 2019 data, +1.59% the difference is + 1.33%, whereas with UK the difference is -2.33% [-0.24% - (-2.09%)]. Thus, Eurozone shows a greater resilience (+1.33%) than the UK (-2.33%) based on 2022-2050forecasts. In addition, the authors pointed out that the average ofthe 2022-2050 quarterly (annualized) growth rate forecasts ofthe Eurozone is expected to be +2.93% with the 1998-2021 data whereas it is expected to be only -2.09%for UK The Eurozone economy shows better prospects than the UK economy.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To investigate women's perspectives on the quality of maternal and newborn care (QMNC) around the time of childbirth during the COVID-19 pandemic in Latvia, comparing the years 2020 and 2021, among women who went into labor or had a prelabor cesarean. METHODS: Women giving birth in healthcare facilities in Latvia from March 1, 2020, to October 28, 2021, answered an online questionnaire including 40 WHO standards-based quality measures. Descriptive and multivariate quantile regression analyses were performed to compare QMNC in 2020 and 2021. RESULTS: 2079 women were included in the analysis: 1860 women who went into labor (group 1) and 219 with prelabor cesarean (group 2). Among group 1, 66.4% (n = 99/149) of women received fundal pressure in an instrumental vaginal birth, 43.5% (n = 810) lacked involvement in choices, 17.4% (n = 317) reported suffering abuse, 32.7% (n = 609) reported inadequate breastfeeding support while 5.2% (n = 96) lack of early breastfeeding. A significant reduction in QMNC due to the COVID-19 pandemic was reported by 29.5% (n = 219) and 25.0% (n = 270) of respondents in 2020 and 2021, respectively (P = 0.045). Multivariate analyses highlighted a significantly lower QMNC index for 2020 compared with 2021 (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: This first study investigating QMNC in Latvia showed significant gaps in QMNC perceived by respondents, with slightly better results in 2021. Appropriate healthcare strategies to improve health care for women and newborns in Latvia are required. CLINICALTRIALS: gov Identifier:NCT04847336.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Maternal Health Services , Female , Humans , Infant, Newborn , Pregnancy , COVID-19/epidemiology , Latvia/epidemiology , Pandemics , Parturition , Quality Indicators, Health Care , Quality of Health Care , World Health OrganizationABSTRACT
COVID-19 resulted in school closures on a global scale. However, the most significant closures appear to be in North America. Educational disruption is anticipated to impact educational attainment in terms of drop-out rates but more significantly with respect to exacerbating pre-pandemic educational inequity and corresponding poverty. This discussion evaluates the impact of COVID-19 on the United States through a case-study review of Sri Lanka, Turkey, and Latvia. The case studies highlight that poor and marginalized populations irrespective of geography are vulnerable to economic shocks. Further, COVID-19 has prompted greater transparency of the inequities faced by marginalized groups and by doing so, increased the visibility of the need for intervention. Through an evaluation of literacy, the discussion addresses the impact of normalized US racism on educational equity and economic growth and highlights how a legacy of race-based policies may impact the resiliency of the United States specific to the present pandemic.
ABSTRACT
Objectives: Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), as a poorly understood, serious, complex, multisystem disorder, remains relevant and its coverage has increased due to COVID-19 pandemic. Based on the earlier studies on other infections, researchers suggested that 10% of COVID-19 survivors could develop ME/CFS. Prevalence is expanding rapidly, but effective treatments are still being sought. In these circumstances, it is worth considering an integrative approach and attracting additional efforts to improve patients' health. The aim of this research was dedicated to evaluating the coaching potential in healthcare of ME/CFS and persistent-post-COVID-19 syndrome (PPCS) patients, by using a case studies approach, at a primary healthcare institution in Latvia. Method(s): The coaching sessions for two ME/CFS and two PPCS patients were carried out from March to May 2022. The sessions were performed by a certified coach of the Erickson Coaching International. The patient's Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) was assessed using the EuroQol-5D-5L measure, as well as the overall health status - by the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for the time prior to the onset of illness, for the state before coaching sessions and after a one-month period of coaching. Descriptive and analytical statistical methods were used for the analysis of the obtained data. Result(s): After the coaching period, all patients demonstrated an improvement in overall health status: ME/CFS patients - by 30% each, one PPCS patient - by 20%, and another patient - by 10%. The HRQoL reported by EuroQol-5D-5L demonstrated improvement in all domains, with a stronger impact on pain/discomfort and anxiety/depression reduction;moderate enhancement in mobility and usual activities;and less improvement - in self-care ability (self-care ability was reported as less affected by illness). Conclusion(s): The case studies performed in the framework of Research project No. lzp-2019/1-0380, demonstrated the potential of an integrative approach to improving healthcare outcomes for ME/CFS and PPCS patients. Copyright © 2022
ABSTRACT
The study used Google search query data on real estate interest for several countries in the Baltic area. The dynamics of public interest in housing have been compared to the dynamics of the COVID-19 infections in Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, and Sweden. This study uses the Vector autoregressive (VAR) model to forecast such time series. VAR is a multivariate linear time series model in which the endogenous variables in the system are lagged functions of the values of all endogenous variables. The increase in COVID-19 infections negatively affected society's interest in housing. The study used Google Trends and R software. [ FROM AUTHOR]
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has severely impacted Europe, resulting in a high caseload and deaths that varied by country. The second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic has breached the borders of Europe. Public health surveillance is necessary to inform policy and guide leaders. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to provide advanced surveillance metrics for COVID-19 transmission that account for weekly shifts in the pandemic, speed, acceleration, jerk, and persistence, to better understand countries at risk for explosive growth and those that are managing the pandemic effectively. METHODS: We performed a longitudinal trend analysis and extracted 62 days of COVID-19 data from public health registries. We used an empirical difference equation to measure the daily number of cases in Europe as a function of the prior number of cases, the level of testing, and weekly shift variables based on a dynamic panel model that was estimated using the generalized method of moments approach by implementing the Arellano-Bond estimator in R. RESULTS: New COVID-19 cases slightly decreased from 158,741 (week 1, January 4-10, 2021) to 152,064 (week 2, January 11-17, 2021), and cumulative cases increased from 22,507,271 (week 1) to 23,890,761 (week 2), with a weekly increase of 1,383,490 between January 10 and January 17. France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom had the largest 7-day moving averages for new cases during week 1. During week 2, the 7-day moving average for France and Spain increased. From week 1 to week 2, the speed decreased (37.72 to 33.02 per 100,000), acceleration decreased (0.39 to -0.16 per 100,000), and jerk increased (-1.30 to 1.37 per 100,000). CONCLUSIONS: The United Kingdom, Spain, and Portugal, in particular, are at risk for a rapid expansion in COVID-19 transmission. An examination of the European region suggests that there was a decrease in the COVID-19 caseload between January 4 and January 17, 2021. Unfortunately, the rates of jerk, which were negative for Europe at the beginning of the month, reversed course and became positive, despite decreases in speed and acceleration. Finally, the 7-day persistence rate was higher during week 2 than during week 1. These measures indicate that the second wave of the pandemic may be subsiding, but some countries remain at risk for new outbreaks and increased transmission in the absence of rapid policy responses.