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Comparative empirical evidence for 22 OECD countries shows that country differences in cumulative mortality impacts of SARS-CoV-2 are caused by weaknesses in public health competences, pre-existing variances in structural socio-economic and public health vulnerabilities, and the presence of fiscal constraints. Remarkably, the (fiscally non-constrained) U.S. and the U.K. stand out, as they experience mortality outcomes similar to those of fiscally-constrained countries. High COVID19 mortality in the U.S. and the U.K. is due to pre-existing socio-economic and public health vulnerabilities, created by the following macroeconomic policy errors: (a) a deadly emphasis on fiscal austerity (which diminished public health capacities, damaged public health and deepened inequalities);(b) an obsessive belief in a trade-off between ‘efficiency' and ‘equity', which is mostly used to justify extreme inequality;(c) a complicit endorsement by mainstream macro of the unchecked power over monetary and fiscal policy-making of global finance and the rentier class;and (d) an unhealthy aversion to raising taxes, which deceives the public about the necessity to raise taxes to counter the excessive liquidity preference of the rentiers and to realign the interests of finance and of the real economy. The paper concludes by outlining a few lessons for a saner macroeconomics.
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Background: Although research on mathematics learning programs has taken off in recent years, little is known about how different person characteristics are related to practice behaviour with such programs. When implementing a mathematics learning program in the classroom, it might be important to know whether students with specific characteristics need more encouragement to make use of this learning opportunity. Objectives: Using a supply‐use model, we analysed the predictive power of students' cognitive characteristics (prior mathematics knowledge), personality traits (conscientiousness), motivational‐affective characteristics (mathematics self‐concept and mathematics anxiety), and family background characteristics (socioeconomic status and migration background) for practising with an adaptive arithmetic learning program. Methods: We used longitudinal data from 203 fifth graders from seven non‐academic‐track schools in Germany. Practice behaviour, measured by completed tasks in the learning program, was recorded weekly for every student over a period of 22 weeks. Results and Conclusions: The results of our multilevel analyses showed that mathematics anxious students practised less with the program. We did not find any relationship with the other characteristics. Takeaways: Our results suggest that mathematics anxious students need more encouragement when practising with a mathematics learning program;otherwise, they do not get the chance to benefit from the use. Lay Description: What is already known about this topic: The use of mathematics learning programmes in mathematics education has recently intensified.It is important that students practice with such learning programmes regularly over a longer period of time in order for them to achieve learning success.Students differ in their mathematics learning behaviour. What this paper adds: Little is known about how person characteristics are related to practice behaviour with mathematics learning programmes.Students may differ in their use of a mathematics learning programme, which is why cognitive characteristics, personality traits, motivational‐affective characteristics, and family background characteristics may affect students' practice behaviour. Implications for practice: Mathematics anxious students practiced less with a mathematics learning program, and need more encouragement to benefit equally from the implementation in school.Teachers should keep in mind that after the initial enthusiasm, practice with a programme may decrease over time, especially after school holidays.
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The COVID-19 pandemic has had massive impacts across the globe. Children with developmental delays are an increasingly vulnerable population, highlighting the importance of ensuring they have access to high-quality virtual services during this time. The Early Discovery program currently provides therapeutic interventions for children with mild developmental delays. We sought to compare the outcomes of 2 cohorts within the Early Discovery program using different delivery approaches (n = 238 families): children who received services in person before the pandemic (n = 126) and children who received services via telehealth in the acute phase of the pandemic (n = 112). Both groups of children showed significant improvements in language skills posttreatment, and, with regard to auditory comprehension, both groups showed similar rates of improvement. However, children receiving in-person services before the pandemic showed greater improvements in expressive communication skills than children receiving telehealth services during the pandemic. Results indicate that the Early Discovery program was able to make adjustments during the pandemic that assisted families in maintaining progress in improving their child's language skills.
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This article examines with empirical evidence the social protection measures implemented in response to the COVID-19 pandemic in ten welfare states in the Global North. We analysed the potential similarities and differences in responses by welfare regimes. The comparative study was conducted with data from 169 measures, collected from domestic sources as well as from COVID-19 response databases and reports. In qualitative terms, we redeveloped Hall's theory on the distinction between first-, second- and third-order changes. In accordance with the path-dependence thesis, we show systematically that the majority of the studied changes (91%) relied on a pre-pandemic tool demonstrating flexibility within social security systems. The relative share of completely new instruments was notable but modest (9%). Thematically, the social protection measures converged beyond traditional welfare regimes, particularly among the European welfare states. Somewhat surprisingly, the changes to social security systems related not just to emergency aid to mitigate traditional risks but, to a greater extent, also to prevent new risks from being actualised.
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À la fin de mai 2020, les cas de COVID-19 chez les résident·es des établissements de soins de longue durée (SLD) en Ontario représentaient 5 157 des 28 499 cas de la province. En Colombie-Britannique (C.-B.), il y avait 339 cas chez les résident·es de ces établissements, comparativement à un total provincial de 2 562 cas. Bien que le secteur des SLD de ces deux provinces présente certaines différences, cet article passe en revue les politiques de dotation en personnel des SLD dans chacune des deux provinces avant la pandémie et compare leurs mesures de prévention de la COVID-19 ayant trait à la dotation pour 2020. Aux politiques de l'Ontario avant 2020 correspondent des ratios personnel-patients inférieurs à ceux de la Colombie-Britannique, ce qui peut avoir eu un effet limitant sur les réactions de l'Ontario à la pandémie. L'établissement de normes ou de lignes directrices ainsi qu'une modification du financement pourraient améliorer la résilience du secteur des SLD en matière de dotation en personnel.Alternate :By late May 2020, COVID-19 cases among long-term care (LTC) residents in Ontario constituted 5,157 of the province's 28,499 cases. In British Columbia (B.C.), there were 339 cases among LTC residents compared with a provincial total of 2,562 cases. While the LTC sectors in these two provinces have some differences, this article reviews their pre-pandemic LTC staffing policies and compares their staffing-related COVID-19 prevention measures in 2020. Ontario's policies before 2020 corresponded with lower staff-to-patient ratios than B.C., which may have constrained Ontario's pandemic responses. Implementation of standards or guidelines and changes to funding could help achieve LTC sector staffing resiliency.
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In this manuscript we use triangular norms to model contact between susceptible and infected individuals in the susceptible-infected-recovered (SIR) epidemiological model. In the classical SIR model, the encounter between susceptible and infected individuals is traditionally modeled by the product of their densities ([Formula Omitted]). That is, the encounter is modeled by the product t-norm. We use the COVID-19 data and extended versions of the SIR model whose encounters are modeled by four triangular norms, namely, product, minimum, and Frank and Hamacher t-norms, to analyze the scenario in three countries: 1) Germany;2) Italy;3) Switzerland. We compare all versions of the SIR model based on these triangular norms, and we analyze their effectiveness in fitting data and determining important parameters for the pandemic, such as the basic and effective reproduction number. In addition, Frank and Hamacher triangular norms present an auxiliary parameter that can be interpreted as an indicator of control measure, which we show to be important in the current pandemic scenario.
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The article discusses research which analyzed the differences in stress levels between junior high school students and college students during online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia. It discusses body change caused by stressors, the influence of sex on an individual's stress level, the potential of stress experienced by students to cause signs and symptoms of health problems, and factors influencing stress in male and female students.
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Technology greatly supports people's daily lives such as education, business, medical, and many other aspects. It can be noted that the higher education institutions' students rely on technological support and university assistance for their studies during the COVID-19 pandemic. Technological enablement is the primary determinant for entrepreneurial initiation that received attention from scholars. The focus areas include how governmental support, entrepreneurial intention, entrepreneurial education and technological enablement (mediator factor) can influence the entrepreneurial initiation. Empirical studies showed the direct and indirect impacts of the contributing factors in a particular area. However, is it the same effect of the factors for different countries? This study conducted a self-administered questionnaire to collect topic-related information from higher education institutions in Malaysia and the Philippines. A formative-reflective model, PLS-MGA, was used to analyse the direct and indirect impacts alongside the mediating factor, technological enablement. The results showed that entrepreneurial competencies, Entrepreneurial Education System, Entrepreneurial Education Mechanism, and Entrepreneurial Intention positively and significantly impact entrepreneurial success in both regions. However, the result also demonstrated that the impact of technological enablement on entrepreneurial success is more significant in Malaysia than in the Philippines. With such findings, policymakers and institutions in both countries can understand the insight and importance of technological enablement in stimulating entrepreneurship and its perceived success. Hence, they can implement supportive strategies and necessary policies to ensure technology adoption, success in shaping students' entrepreneurial mindset and achieving the perceived outcome.
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This study describes the understanding of concepts and problem-solving skills associated with direct current electrical circuits of doctors in training at a private university in Bogotá (Colombia) in times of the COVID-19 pandemic. The study of direct current electrical circuits is conducted through a didactic sequence supported by active learning and internet resources. In the research, the Inventory of Basic Conceptions - DC Circuits (IBCDC) instrument is used. The implementation of the study was carried out in four phases: a Pre-test, a pedagogical strategy in which the theoretical approach is carried out while the real application of this thematic nucleus in the human body is mentioned, the integration of a simulation as a technological tool that allows giving continuity to the practical and theoretical character of physics and a post-test. The results invite researchers to conduct an implementation exercise in the face-to-face modality, to generate a comparative study.
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Studiul s-a concentrat pe determinarea politicilor guvernamentale esenţiale si a barierelor comerciale care afectează performanţa exporturilor industriei textile în timpul pandemiei de COVID-19. Acest studiu a analizat influenţa politicilor guvernamentale de export asupra performanţei la export a industriei textile. Acest studiu a comparat, de asemenea, factori din trei industrii textile din Asia de Sud, respectiv Pakistan, India si Bangladesh. Studiul a identificat nouă politici guvernamentale de export esenţiale si bariere comerciale bazate pe vizualizarea organizaţiei industriale (Vizualizarea I/O). A fost utilizat un model de regresie de tip panel pentru a analiza semnificaţia fiecărei politici guvernamentale si barierele comerciale care afectează performanţa exporturilor de produse textile. Rezultatele studiului au arătat că ratele de schimb valutar, costul de export, timpul de export, stabilitatea politică a ţării, calitatea infrastructurii din ţară, libertatea din corupţie, costul de afaceri al terorismului si stabilitatea economică în ţară au un efect semnificativ asupra performanţei la export a industriei. În schimb, taxele pentru desfăşurarea afacerilor au un efect nesemnificativ asupra performanţei la export. Testul de Estimare aparent fără legătură (SUEST) a comparat diferenţele de performanţă la export ale industriilor textile din Pakistan, India si Bangladesh datorate politicilor guvernamentale. Rezultatele au arătat că un nivel mai ridicat de timp pentru export, costul de export si costul pentru desfăsurarea afacerilor terorismului duc la performanţa scăzută la export a industriei textile. În acelasi timp, un nivel mai ridicat al cursurilor de schimb valutar, stabilitatea politică a ţării, calitatea infrastructurii, libertatea din corupţie si stabilitatea economică în ţară duc la performanţe ridicate la export ale industriei textile. Mai mult, taxele pentru desfăsurarea afacerilor au un efect nesemnificativ asupra performanţei la export. Acest studiu este printre puţinele care abordează industria textilă în timpul pandemiei de COVID-19. Din cauza circumstanţelor incerte, va fi greu pentru guvern să identifice factori importanţi care ar putea ajuta exportatorii de textile să supravieţuiască si să se dezvolte în timpul pandemiei de COVID-19. Studiul a identificat politici guvernamentale importante si bariere comerciale care afectează exporturile de textile pe baza unui sprijin teoretic solid si a comparat si a elaborat, de asemenea, importanţa fiecărui factor în trei ţări din Asia de Sud. Acest studiu va ajuta factorii de decizie să-si reconsidere factorii legaţi de export pentru a-si spori exporturile de textile si pentru a-si relansa economia după pandemia de COVID-19.Alternate :The study focused on determining essential government policies and trade barriers affecting the textile industry's export performance during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study has analysed the effect of government export policies on the export performance of the textile industry. This study has also compared factors among three South Asian textile industries, including Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh. The study identified nine essential government export policies and trade barriers based on Industrial Organization View (I/O View). A panel regression model was used to analyse the significance of each government policy and trade barrier affecting textile export performance. Results of the study showed that currency exchange rates, the cost to export, time to export, political stability of the country, quality of infrastructure in the country, freedom from corruption, business cost of terrorism and economic stability in the country have a significant effect on export performance of the industry. In contrast, taxes on doing business have an insignificant effect on export performance. The Seemingly Unrelated Estimation (SUEST) test compared the differences in export performance of Pakistani, Indian and Bangladeshi textile industries due to governmen policies. The results showed that a higher level of time to export, cost to export and business cost of terrorism lead to the low export performance of the textile industry. At the same time, a higher level of currency exchange rates, political stability of the country, quality of infrastructure, freedom from corruption and economic stability in-country lead to the high export performance of the textile industry. Further, taxes on doing business have an insignificant effect on export performance. This study is among the few contributing to the textile industry during the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to uncertain circumstances, it becomes hard for the government to identify important factors which could help textile exporters to survive and grow during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study has identified important government policies and trade barriers affecting textile exports based on strong theoretical support and has also compared and elaborated on the importance of each factor across three South Asian countries. This study will help policymakers reconsider exportrelated factors to enhance their textile exports and revive their economy after the COVID-19 pandemic.
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In this paper, a hybrid variable-order mathematical model for multi-vaccination COVID-19 is analyzed. The hybrid variable-order derivative is defined as a linear combination of the variable-order integral of Riemann–Liouville and the variable-order Caputo derivative. A symmetry parameter σ is presented in order to be consistent with the physical model problem. The existence, uniqueness, boundedness and positivity of the proposed model are given. Moreover, the stability of the proposed model is discussed. The theta finite difference method with the discretization of the hybrid variable-order operator is developed for solving numerically the model problem. This method can be explicit or fully implicit with a large stability region depending on values of the factor Θ. The convergence and stability analysis of the proposed method are proved. Moreover, the fourth order generalized Runge–Kutta method is also used to study the proposed model. Comparative studies and numerical examples are presented. We found that the proposed model is also more general than the model in the previous study;the results obtained by the proposed method are more stable than previous research in this area.
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México y Corea del Sur han avanzado en sus vínculos comerciales desde que iniciaron relaciones diplomáticas en 1962. Actualmente, los gobiernos de ambas economías se encuentran discutiendo la posibilidad de negociar un acuerdo de libre comercio. El objetivo de esta investigación es evaluar los efectos potenciales de dicho acuerdo. Para ello, se utilizan índices de intensidad comercial, ventajas comparativas reveladas, complementariedad y similitud comercial. Los resultados obtenidos muestran que los dos países han visto intensificar sus relaciones comerciales, lo que ha convertido a México en el principal socio comercial de Corea del Sur en América Latina, y ha dado lugar a una estructura comercial de complementariedad con ventajas para México en el comercio de combustibles minerales, lubricantes, maquinaria y equipo de transporte. También se obtuvo evidencia de la existencia de una asimetría en sus tarifas arancelarias que podría generar ventajas comerciales, sobre todo para México en el sector primario, en caso de lograr avanzar a la firma de un tratado de libre comercio.Alternate :Mexico and South Korea have progressed in their commercial affairs since they began diplomatic relations in 1962. Currently, the possibility of negotiating a free trade agreement between both economies is being raised. The objective of this research is to evaluate the potential effects of such a trade agreement for both countries. For this, indexes of commercial intensity, revealed comparative advantages, complementarity, and commercial similarity are used. The results show that these two countries have intensified their trade relations, turning Mexico into South Korea's main trading partner in Latin America and giving rise to a complementary trade structure with advantages for Mexico in the trade of mineral fuels, lubricants, machinery, and transport equipment. Also, an asymmetry was found in the tariff rates that could generate commercial advantages, especially for Mexico in the primary sector in case of the signing of a free trade agreement.
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PurposeThis study aims to provide a comparative insight into the level of informational efficiency and irregularities of Shariah-compliant stocks and conventional stocks in three emerging markets, namely, China, Malaysia and Pakistan. The empirical evidence is provided for pre-crisis and crisis periods caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.Design/methodology/approachInformational efficiency is measured using the variance ratio (VR) Test developed by Kim (2006). The Approximate Entropy (ApEn) Metrics is used to investigate the level of irregularities in stock prices caused by the pandemic.FindingsAll the three emerging markets in the sample are not immune to the crisis caused by Covid-19 pandemic. The level of informational efficiency of both the Shariah-compliant and conventional stock is affected by the crisis. However, the former exhibits relatively high level of informational efficiency and stability in returns as compared to more volatility of conventional stocks.Practical implicationsThis study provides market agents and policy makers with a robust assessment of the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on informational efficiency of Shariah-compliant and conventional stocks. Relatively high informational efficiency of Shariah-compliant stocks indicates that they are more transparent and that investors can trust the Shariah-compliant stocks more. This higher level of transparency and trust leads to more steady returns and lower levels of risk even during turbulent time like Covid-19. Investors can gain superior returns by conducting fundamental analysis and investing in index funds.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first study that highlights the difference in informational efficiency of conventional stocks and Shariah-compliant stocks in the crisis period caused by Covid-19. Unlike previous studies, this study uses firm level data which enables firm-wise assessment of informational efficiency.
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This article aims to explore the impact of digital communication tools application by citizens and the perceived usefulness of social media on the relationship between citizens and local authorities. The data were gathered in April–September 2020 through a survey (CAWI) among citizens of Poznan, Poland (n=502), and Kutaisi, Georgia (n=504), and were analyzed with structural equation modeling. The findings show that the intensity of digital communication tools usage for participation in the city branding and the perceived usefulness of social media contribute to the lasting relationships between citizens and local authorities in both countries. The novelty of this research concerns comparing two countries with different levels of development. Georgia is a developing economy in Europe and is in the process of modernizing the local governance across the cities. Poland, however, is a mature economy with a post-transformation heritage, where its cities benefit from considerable experience in building and developing citizen participation policies. Furthermore, the research was conducted amid the COVID-19 pandemic and evidenced the growing popularity of digital tools adoption by citizens in city matters. This study contributes to understanding the impact of digital tools on the relationship between citizens and local authorities in terms of city brand management. Citizens' participation in the city branding process via various digital communication tools increased citizen commitment towards long-lasting collaboration with local authorities. Moreover, citizens' perception of social media usefulness positively influences their desire to engage in the city branding process online, supporting the trust-building and collaboration between citizens and local authorities. Points for practitioners The intensiveness of digital tools usage – governments should identify the tools already trusted and popular among their audience and employ those tools to a greater extent to maximize the chances of feedback, high citizen participation, and commitment. Citizens' perception of social media – such characteristics as ease of use, transparency, ease of communication with the municipality, and safety encourage citizens to get involved in the city brand management process. Consequently, local authorities should consider the features mentioned above and develop the online tools quality.
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Objective: This study was conducted to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the use of Cancer Early Diagnosis, Screening, and Education Centers (KETEM) services. Materials and Methods: In this study, which was conducted as a descriptive retrospective cohort type, a total of 52.955 patient application records made to KETEM between January 1st and December 31st, 2017-2020 and January 1st-1 October 2021 were examined. The data obtained within the scope of the study were expressed as frequency and percentage. Results: In the study, it was determined that the numbers decreased as compared to previous three years (2017, 2018 and 2019) 70.4%, 59.1%, 68.8% for mammography screenings, 75.8%, 68.8%, 65.8% for HPV-Pap smear scans and 46.1%, 81.9%, and 72.2% for colorectal scans, respectively. Conclusion: It was detected that mammography, HPV-Pap, smear, and colorectal screenings offered within the scope of KETEM services decreased significantly in 2020 and 2021 which includes the pandemic process, compared to the previous years. It is estimated that cancers that cannot be detected in the early period due to the decrease in the number of applications will cause a significant increase in cancer mortality in the following years. Accordingly, it is recommended that the society, especially the individuals in the risk group, not delay their applications to cancer screening services, to take the necessary pandemic measures to inform them about making their applications without delay, and to improve their awareness about this issue. Amaç: Bu çalışma COVID-19 pandemisinin Kanser Erken Teşhis, Tarama ve Eğitim Merkezleri (KETEM) hizmetlerinin kullanımı üzerindeki etkisini değerlendirmek amacıyla yapılmıştır. Gereç ve Yöntem: Retrospektif kohort tipinde betimleyici olarak yürütülen bu araştırmada, 2017-2020 yıllarında 1 Ocak-31 Aralık tarihleri ile 1 Ocak-1 Ekim 2021 tarihleri arasında bir ilin Kanser Erken Teşhis, Tarama ve Eğitim Merkezleri'ne yapılan toplam 52.955 hasta başvuru kaydı incelenmiştir. Çalışma kapsamında elde edilen veriler frekans ve yüzde ile ifade edilmiştir. Bulgular: Çalışmada 2020 yılındaki mamografi tarama sayısının önceki üç yıla kıyasla (2017, 2018, 2019) sırasıyla %70.4, %59.1, %68.8 oranında;HPV-Pap smear tarama sayısının %75.8, %68.8, %65.8 oranında;kolorektal tarama sayısının ise sırasıyla %46.1, %81.9 ve %72.2 oranında düştüğü saptanmıştır. Sonuç: Bu araştırmada KETEM hizmetleri kapsamında sunulan mamografi, HPV-Pap smear ve kolorektal taramalarının pandemi sürecini kapsayan 2020 ve 2021 yıllarında önceki yıllara nazaran önemli düzeylerde azaldığı belirlenmiştir. Başvuru sayısındaki azalmaya bağlı olarak erken dönemde tespit edilemeyen kanserlerin ilerleyen yıllarda kanser mortalitesinde önemli bir artışa neden olacağı ön görülmektedir. Bu doğrultuda özellikle risk grubunda yer alan bireyler başta olmak üzere toplumun kanser tarama hizmetlerine başvurularını ertelememeleri, gerekli pandemi tedbirlerini alarak vakit kaybetmeden başvurularını gerçekleştirmeleri konusunda bilgilendirilmesi ve bu duruma yönelik farkındalıklarının geliştirilmesi önerilmektedir.
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Israel's aid initiatives have historically been facilitated through the Agency for International Development Cooperation (MASHAV). However, the COVID-19 pandemic impacted MASHAVs ability to provide assistance due to budget cuts and government instability. As such, Israel's COVID-19 diplomacy initiative took on greater importance in maintaining its presence and reputation internationally. This article analyzes Israel's approach to COVID-19 diplomacy, which involved providing medical teams, PPE, and surplus vaccines to approximately 20 countries, and examines the political and strategic calculations behind Israel's decision to extend assistance to specific countries. The article argues that Israel's COVID-19 diplomacy initiative was more limited in scope and geography compared to other countries with similar economic development levels, and aid efforts were concentrated in regions where Israel has sought to increase its involvement in recent years, particularly sub-Saharan Africa and Central Europe. Finally, the article assesses the impact of Israel's COVID-19 diplomacy initiative on its diplomatic relations with recipient countries and the broader international community.
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Machine Learning (ML) methods have become important for enhancing the performance of decision-support predictive models. However, class imbalance is one of the main challenges for developing ML models, because it may bias the learning process and the model generalization ability. In this paper, we consider oversampling methods for generating synthetic categorical clinical data aiming to improve the predictive performance in ML models, and the identification of risk factors for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). We performed a comparative study of several categorical synthetic data generation methods, including Synthetic Minority Oversampling Technique Nominal (SMOTEN), Tabular Variational Autoencoder (TVAE) and Conditional Tabular Generative Adversarial Networks (CTGANs). Then, we assessed the impact of combining oversampling strategies and linear and nonlinear supervised ML methods. Lastly, we conducted a post-hoc model interpretability based on the importance of the risk factors. Experimental results show the potential of GAN-based models for generating high-quality categorical synthetic data, yielding probability mass functions that are very close to those provided by real data, maintaining relevant insights, and contributing to increasing the predictive performance. The GAN-based model and a linear classifier outperform other oversampling techniques, improving the area under the curve by 2%. These results demonstrate the capability of synthetic data to help with both determining risk factors and building models for CVD prediction.
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Two inexpensive and simple methods for synthesis of carbon nanodots were applied and compared to each other, namely a hydrothermal and microwave-assisted method. The synthesized carbon nanodots were characterized using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis), photoluminescence (PL), Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The synthesized microwave carbon nanodots had smaller particle size and were thus chosen for better electrochemical performance. Therefore, they were used for our modification process. The proposed electrodes performance characteristics were evaluated according to the IUPAC guidelines, showing linear response in the concentration range 10−6–10−2, 10−7–10−2, and 10−8–10−2 M of tobramycin with a Nernstian slope of 52.60, 58.34, and 57.32 mV/decade for the bare, silver nanoparticle and carbon nanodots modified carbon paste electrodes, respectively. This developed potentiometric method was used for quantification of tobramycin in its co-formulated dosage form and spiked human plasma with good recovery percentages and without interference of the co-formulated drug loteprednol etabonate and excipients.
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Population around the world had huge concern toward COVID19 disease that affect directly or indirectly on all populations' lives. It caused by novel virus called sever acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), therefore;The Iraqi Ministry of Health (MOH) and numerous scientific agencies had advised to promote population for receiving Covid 19 vaccines as Largest astride of an attempt to reduce the serious challenges burden of Covidi 9 in global. Aims of Study are: 1-To evaluate prevalence of the willingness to accept different types of COVID19 vaccines in middle and south of Iraq. 2-Compare the vaccinated and unvaccinated of the southern Iraqi population and detection some factor behind acceptance of COVID19 vaccines. Method: Based Cross-Sectional Observational Study utilized validated questionnaire.it conducted from 5 February to 5 April 2022 and distribute in two ways,online and manually, depending on the different living locations of the participants. Results: The total number of participants' responses was 767. It is obtained from the distribution of surveys in different ways. 104 of participants were excluded due to not giving complete answers to the survey questionnaire. On the other hand, 42 of the participants were excluded due to not living in the middle and south of Iraq. 621 participants from the total participant response were enrolled in the study analysis. Half of participants were 50.08% female and other half were 49.92% male with 52.33% of the participants were married. About two-third of the participants accepted to receive covid19 vaccines (75.68%), while 24.31 % of the participants were unvaccinated(14.65% of them hesitant and 9.66% rejecters). Most of participants were from Basra city (79.87%) and more than half of them were vaccinated and other were unvaccinated (71.98% versus 28.02%) (P value=0.000). Two-third of the participants had graduated degree bachelor and more (75.8%) and the percent of vaccinated group of them were significantly higher than unvaccinated (80.9% versus 19.1%) (P value = 0.000). Less than half of the participants were the healthcare providers (35.91%) and the percent of vaccinated group of them were significantly higher than unvaccinated (82.96% versus 17.04%) (P value=0.002). A small percent of the participants had a chronic disease (15.46%) and 79.17% of them accepted to receive covid19 vaccines which was higher than unvaccinated (20.83%, where 9.3% hesitant and 11.45% rejecters). More than half of participants had sign and symptoms of Covid19 infection (61.84%) and 78.39% of them were vaccinated which was significantly higher than unvaccinated (21.61%) (P value=0.046) and only 41.22% of them were diagnosed by doctor. More than half of the participants had one of the family members and/or friends died from corona virus (66.51%) and 79.18% of them were vaccinated which was significantly higher than unvaccinated (20.82%) (P value=0.004). Conclusion From above results, the percent of covid 19 vaccines acceptance was higher than hesitancy and rejection. The higher rate of covid 19 vaccines acceptance could be related to many factors that might affect on the success of vaccinated programs, including: level of education, place of living, had sign and symptoms of Covid19 infection have family members and/or friends died from covid19 and are members of the health care providers. Knownledgment The study was supported by clinical trial
ABSTRACT
MotivationEmergencies heighten societies' need to be governed. Accordingly, the COVID‐19 pandemic put systems of public governance under severe pressure across the globe. Civic freedoms were widely curtailed for public health reasons. Scarce resources needed to be allocated swiftly, with little opportunity for debate.PurposeIn settings characterized by authoritarianism, violent conflict, and restricted civic space, relations between governments, civil society, and citizens at best tend to be fragile and fraught even in "normal” times. What happens when these settings are rocked by a profound shock such as the onset of a global pandemic?Methods and approachThis article is based on research on civic space and civic action shortly after the onset of the pandemic in three such settings—Mozambique, Nigeria, and Pakistan. Civil society advocates in each country tracked and interpreted events in real time, debated their responses, supplemented their own knowledge through key informant interviews, and compared experiences across countries.FindingsI argue that the three governments' responses to the COVID‐19 pandemic constitute a "governance shock doctrine,” based on the premise that shocks bring responses from the powerful that advance certain agendas. This patterned phenomenon, visible across the three countries, consists of "securitization” of the public health emergency, suppression of dissent, extension and centralization of executive powers, curtailment of press freedoms, and tightened regulation of civic space, including online space. Civic activism navigated or combated these attacks in various ways.Policy implicationsMeasures adopted in emergency situations tend to persist, threatening to lock civil society into living with pandemic‐era restrictions. Preventing this should be a global priority, and especially important where authoritarianism already looms. An energetic mobilization among national and international actors to reassert and protect civic space is needed if the erosion of civil liberties and normalization of autocratic governance wrought by the political‐military apparatus in so many countries during the COVID‐19 pandemic is not to become permanent, and if the inspired and progressive innovations in organic civic activism over the 2020–2021 crisis period are to survive and flourish.