SarsCov2 pandemic and patients with metastatic cancers in Germany-Data from four prospective cancer registries

Introduction: Patients (pts) with metastatic cancers undergoing treatment are considered a high risk group for infection and potentially inferior outcome during the SarsCov2 pandemic. Currently no data have been published on the test rate, infection rate, efects on treatment and potential outcome. Here we present data from four prospective cohort studies (cancer registries) addressing these questions. Method(s): MYRIAM (multiple myeloma (MM), NCT03308474), OPAL (advanced breast cancer (ABC), NCT03417115), CARAT (advanced or metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC), NCT03374267) and SAPHIR (gastric/oesophageal cancer (ESCC, GAC or GEJAC), NCT04290806) are prospective, observational, open, multicentre, interdisciplinary and intersectional clinical registries that collect data on all (sequential) treatments, patient and tumour characteristics, clinical and patient-reported outcomes in about 200 hospitals and ofce-based practices in Germany. Pts are recruited at start of treatment. In April 2nd 2020 data collection was updated regarding testing for SarsCov2, test results, efects on cancer treatment and outcome for all patients newly recruited, under observation or deceased afer March 1st 2020. Interim results as by June 17th have been summarised here and will be updated regarding further details with a data cut on August 31st 2020. Result(s): Until data cut for this snapshot analysis the question regarding testing had been answered for a total of 239 pts in the four projects (94 ABC, 72 MM, 46 RCC, 27 GAC/ESCC/GEJAC). Of these a total of 56 pts (23%) had been tested for a SarsCov2 infection and 5 patients (2% and 9% of those tested) had been tested positive. Further results on the test rate, severity of symptoms at diagnosis, course of disease and consequences on the cancer treatment will be analysed and presented with an updated data cut when about 500 pts are expected to have been documented. Conclusion(s): First data on SarsCov2 testing in patients with advanced cancers in Germany reveals that this high risk group had access to testing and that positive cases were identifed in routine care. While these first interim data have to be interpreted with caution, they proof that quick implementation of relevant new variables into existing cohort studies is feasibly and important to address urgent questions regarding the care of cancer patients.

SARS-CoV-2 Infection Incidence Following Exposure Assessments for Healthcare Workers

Background. Although healthcare worker (HCW) absenteeism due to COVID-19 exposure represents a significant challenge, there are currently no evidence-based criteria for assessing infection risk based on COVID-19 exposure type.We aimed to identify the incidence of acquiring infection following varying exposures to COVID-19 to guide safe return-to-work policies for staff in healthcare settings. Methods. We analyzed prospectively collected data at an academic centre with approximately 17 000 active staff between January 1 - April 30, 2022 during a large BA.1 Omicron surge. More than 99% of staff received >2 vaccine doses. All staff selfreporting household, community, and workplace exposure to confirmed cases of COVID-19 submitted attestation to the Occupational Health department detailing the nature of the exposure, the duration, and setting. Staff were required to report all positive test results by rapid antigen or PCR testing. Results. A total of 3209 staff submitted exposure reports (2493 household, 539 community, and 177 workplace). Of these, 1008 (31.4%) tested positive 2 days prior to or 14 days after the exposure (36% household;19% community, 7% workplace). In the community exposure group, 19% tested positive due to a discrete exposure of < 4 hours and 21% tested positive with an exposure >4 hours. For household exposures and workplace exposures, these values were 25%/27% and 6%/10%, respectively (Figure 1). The median time to testing positive was 2 days for household exposures and 3 days for community and workplace exposures (Figure 2, Panels A-C). By day 4 post-exposure, more than 80% of positive results were reported (Figure 2, Panel D). Risk of testing positive differed based on baseline symptom status at the time of reporting (Table 1). The risk of infection amongst healthcare workers reporting exposures, according to their symptom status at the time of reporting their exposures. Conclusion. Our data suggests that the highest risk of acquiring SARS-CoV-2 was via household contacts, regardless of exposure duration, with workplace exposures carrying less risk. Using a cut-off of 4 hours for exposure duration to delineate risk may be of limited value. These data could help workplaces predict infection risk following exposure and guide return-to-work policies that balance the need to staff workplaces, including hospitals, with reducing risk of on-site transmission during periods of increased community transmission (Figure 3). (Figure Presented).

Exploring Notions of Resilience and Adaptability in the Context of Piloting a Mobile App for Risk Awareness During Covid-19

This paper explores notions of resilience and adaptability in the context of the design, development and pilot of a mobile phone application, COVID-Aware, for enhancing risk awareness during the COVID-19 pandemic. Through an interdisciplinary team approach, we explore the utilization of an information and communications technology platform in supporting resilience and wellbeing at the individual and collective levels among community members. The study integrated data models, that were developed in Jamaica to predict the risk of COVID-19, with existing epidemiological models developed for COVID-19 in different parts of the world. Participants' perspectives on adapting to the use of the app on their mobile devices assisted with exploring ways to share visualisations of this data, and their views of adaptations to health protocols provided feedback for participatory development of the app. The use of the mobile application to support risk awareness, assessment and potential choices, and implications for resilience are discussed. © 2022, IFIP International Federation for Information Processing.

Towards Multidimensional Infection Risk Monitoring

Many employees and employers are negatively affected by the ongoing Coronavirus disease pandemic. Although the infection spread has decreased during the summer 2022, the possibility of being infected still is high. There are plenty of industries that are forced to work onsite, and they must ensure a safe work environment by mitigating related risks and their negative effects on the health of employees and enterprise business continuity. In order to take control over the situation in offices, shops, factories and other working places, it is proposed to develop a Covid-19-safe workplace platform for infection risks monitoring and minimization. The platform is based on a risk model, which can help an employer to follow the rules and create safe work conditions for his employees. Scientific articles, safe work environment requirements and recommendations connected to the Covid-19 infection, its spread and control factors were studied and considered. As a result the risk model that has data about risks, their impact, hazard and mitigation measures was created. © 2022 IEEE.

Teaching in higher education during COVID 19 pandemic - Empirical findings and assumptions based on results of an online-survey in a European context

The COVID 19 pandemic is a worldwide phenomenon: On the one hand, it poses challenges to all social subsystems, on the other, it tests the extent to which they can cope with such situations. This is also the case in higher education. In this context, digitization, which has been driven forward in the field for years, provides approaches and instruments for adapting to such situations by converting the system as far as possible to operation in virtual space. This has been done in many places in universities and universities of applied sciences. It remains to be seen how this is perceived by those involved. Therefore, the following article addresses the question: To what extent has the conversion of teaching and learning as a result of the restrictions on teaching caused by COVID 19 worked from the point of view of the teachers? To answer it, this paper presents empirical results of an online survey among teachers of the Cooperation Network for Risk, Safety & Security Studies (CONRIS). The results indicate a broad use of various digital tools for teaching and communication with students, but also deficits in the area of crisis structures as well as in social regards.

Secondhand Conspiracy Theories: The Social, Emotional and Political Tolls on Loved Ones of QAnon Followers

QAnon is a set of conspiracy theories that originated online in 2017 and achieved a sizable following in the U.S. and around the world. QAnon's viral disinformation contributed to violent crimes committed by QAnon followers based on their conspiratorial beliefs, as well as to participation of some QAnon followers in the January 6(th) attack on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, and to widespread COVID vaccine hesitancy and rejection among believers. This paper presents a to-date unexplored additional cost of conspiracy beliefs: the emotional, social and political toll a relationship with QAnon followers can have on their loved ones. In an Internet survey of 288 U.S.-based participants, a majority (80%) reported having a QAnon-following family member or friend. These relationships have suffered as a result of the loved one's conspiratorial beliefs, leading to self-reported emotional distress and reevaluation of participants' views of the government and society. Participants with a QAnon loved one reported higher anxiety and PTSD than those without such connection. On average, participants viewed QAnon as significantly more radical (willing to engage in illegal or violent acts) than themselves. Perceived QAnon radicalization was predicted by own anxiety and by relationship deterioration with QAnon loved one. The discussion focuses on the importance of tracking these secondhand effects of conspiracy theories as drivers of political polarization.

Creativity as a Key Constituent for Smart Specialization Strategies (S3), What Is in It for Peripheral Regions? Co-creating Sustainable and Resilient Tourism with Cultural and Creative Industries

Sustainable tourism is one of the key sectors in the South Baltic Sea Region (SBSR), which belongs to the role model for sustainability—the Baltic Sea Region (BSR). In this context, resilience, recovery and sustainability become key common threads calling for new approaches mitigating negative impacts, upscaling resilience capacity and boosting recovery in the post-pandemic era. The present work aims at revealing conceptual and practical pathways for policy makers and businesses in revitalizing sustainable tourism in the region by emphasizing cultural and creative industries (CCIs) as strong contributors to sustainable development and economic ecosystems, such as tourism. Tourism is also one of the key thematic areas of the smart specialization strategies (S3) in the SBSR. However, there is almost no link between CCIs’ potential for sustainable and resilient tourism and their contribution to the co-design and co-creation of S3. CCIs are rather absent agents in quadruple helix networks supporting S3 policy implementation. The literature on this topic is still premature, and represents a clear gap in knowledge. By virtue of these circumstances, the present research investigates how CCIs contribute and reveal new linkages between local assets, potential markets and societal challenges by engaging them as proven sustainable innovation and transition brokers in transnational quadruple helix partnerships following S3 policies in accordance with the sustainable development goals (SDGs), thus supporting sustainable and resilient tourism. Moreover, this paper aims at advocating for development of rural and peripheral regions, thus reducing the so-called “rural marginalization”. In addition, this paper also supports ongoing recent discussions on related vs. unrelated diversification policy within the S3 realm.

[Cu(dipicolinoylamide)(NO3)(H2O)] as anti-COVID-19 and antibacterial drug candidate: Design, synthesis, crystal structure, DFT and molecular docking.

For first time the new N-picolinoypicolinlamide was obtained as in situ ligand during the reaction of 2,4,6-ris(2-pyridyl)-,3,5-triazine with aqueous solution of CuNO3·3H2O and formed the corresponding complex [Cu(dipicolinoylamide)(NO3)(H2O)]. The crystal structure of the obtained complex was determined by x-ray structure. The complex crystallizes in space group P21/n, a = 10.2782(9) Å, b = 7.5173(6) Å, c = 17.738(2) Å, α = 90.00°, ß = 91.368(1)°, γ = 90.00°, V = 1370.1(2) Å3, Z = 4. The copper center has a distorted octahedral geometry. DFT calculations show good agreement between theoretical and X-ray data. The Molecular docking studies were executed to consider the nature of binding and binding affinity of the synthesized compounds with the receptor of COVID-19 main protease viral protein (PDB ID: 6lu7), the receptor of gram -ve bacteria (Escherichia coli, PDB ID: 1fj4) and the receptor of gram +ve bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, PDB ID: 3q8u and Proteus PDB ID: 5i39) and with human DNA. Finally, in silico ADMET predictions was also examined.