Mental Health of Health Workers during Covid-19 Pandemic: What Kind of System Support They Need?

This study aimed to determine the relationship between spiritual support and social support with the mental health of frontline health workers during September to November 2021 which was under the COVID-1 9 pandemic. This study used a cross-sectional analytical research method. The research samples were frontline health workers in the Lamongan Regency area, using purposive sampling. The variables of social support, spiritual support, and mental health were measured once using a questionnaire via a google form. Data were analyzed by bivariate (chi-square) and multivariate with logistic regression. The results showed that 64.2% of respondents had good spiritual support;52.8% had good social support;and 50.9% had good mental health. The results of the bivariate analysis showed that there was a relationship between mental health and spiritual support (p= 0.001), and between mental health and social support (p=0,005). The results of multivariate analysis show that spiritual support has significant assosiation with mental health (aOR 8.372;95% CI: 2.359-29.716, p= 0.001) while the social support has not (aOR 1.266;95% CI: 0.465-3.443, p=0.644). It is very important that during this COVID-1 9 pandemic, health workers, especially those on the front lines, receive good spiritual and social support so that their mental health remains good which will affect their physical health and work productivity.

Assessment of Healthcare Service Provision to Pediatric Patients with Chronic Diseases during the Covid-19 Lockdown

BACKGROUND: The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-1 9) pandemic's impact on essential health services is of great concern. The most important step in managing any patient with chronic disease is compliance with follow-up visits.AIM: This study aims to assess healthcare services during the period of the COVID-1 9 pandemic lockdown regarding chronic patient visits and care, as well as to assess patient satisfaction with the provision of healthcare services during the lockdown period.METHODS: A cross-sectional study was performed at Cairo University Specialized Children Hospital, Egypt, through an interview questionnaire with the caregivers of chronic patients about the health care services throughout the COVID-19 pandemic from December 2020 to July 2021.RESULTS: More than 60% were satisfied with the healthcare service provision during the COVI D-1 9 pandemic lockdown. Satisfaction toward medical sub-specialties was significantly higher than that of surgical ones. Patients who attended for follow-up m arkedly decreased during the lockdown.CONCLUSION: During the COVI D-1 9 pandemic, healthcare service provision was negatively affected. Follow-up of chronic patients and continued medical care were challenging points.

Mediastinal Pigtail Catheterization for Treatment of Pneumomediastinum in a COVID-19 Patient: A Case Report

Spontaneous pneumomediastinum (SPM) is a decisive complication reported to be associated with COVID-19. Here, we present a case of SPM in a COVID-19positive patient that was not caused by any iatrogenic or known reasons. At the time of admission, the patient was COVID-positive and distressed. He was immediately subjected to hematological and radiological investigations (chest X-ray, HRCT), which confirmed pneumomediastinum. The patient was hypoxic and hypotensive even after receiving ionotropic support. Considering the patient's critical condition, a mediastinal pigtail catheterization was performed instead of a thoracotomy, and the catheter was in situ for nine days. Arterial blood gas was monitored during the hospital stay, and supplementary oxygen therapy was provided accordingly. The patient subsequently recovered and was discharged. Hence, SPM in this COVID patient was treated by pigtail catheterization, and major surgical interventions were avoided.Copyright © 2023 LookUs Scientific. All rights reserved.

The economic impacts of COVID-19 and city lockdown: Early evidence from China.

As the first major developing country heavily struck by the COVID-19 pandemic, China adopted the world's most stringent lockdown interventions to contain the virus spread. Using macro- and micro-level data, this paper shows that both the pandemic and lockdown policies have had negative and significant impacts on the economy. Gross regional product (GRP) fell by 9.5 and 0.3 percentage points in cities with and without lockdown interventions, respectively. These impacts represent a dramatic recession from China's average growth of 6.74% before the pandemic. The results indicate that lockdown explains 2.8 percentage points of the GDP loss. We also document significant spill-over effects of the pandemic in adjacent areas but no such effects of lockdown. Reduced labor mobility, land supply, and entrepreneurship are among the most significant mechanisms underpinning the impacts of the pandemic and lockdown. Cities with higher share of secondary industry, higher traffic intensity, lower population density, lower internet access, and lower fiscal capacity suffered more. However, these cities seem to have recovered well from the recession and quickly closed the economic gap in the aftermath of the pandemic and city lockdown. Our findings have broader implications for the global interventions in pandemic containment.

User Perception of Wysa as a Mental Well-being Support Tool during the COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted daily lives globally, causing social isolation that impacted the mental health and well-being of the population, particularly the students. With the shortage of accessible healthcare facilities and resources, the community is turning to technology-based mental healthcare interventions such as telemental health systems, online support groups, self-service web and mobile applications, and chatbots. In this study, we assessed the extent in which the daily interaction with the chatbot Wysa can influence the well-being of students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Students evaluated the usability and effectiveness of Wysa's clinical interventions which include the talk therapy, gratitude journal, self-care practices and mindfulness exercise throughout the duration of the week-long experiment. They provided their perception on the quality of the chatbot's response, affect and human-likeness, and shared attributes that would motivate self-disclosure and openness to communicate with the chatbot. Our findings can shed insights on the effectiveness of mental health apps as a coping mechanism in a time of social isolation and provide suggestions on how such technologies can be improved in order to maximize well-being benefits as well as user satisfaction. © 2022 ACM.

Performance Management and the COVID-19 Pandemic: Framework for an Agile Performance Management System for the South African Higher Education Institution

The main objective of this article is to shed some light on one of the burning questions in the South African university on how to manage people's performance in disruptive times. There is a shortage of scholarly work exploring PM during the COVID-19 in the university. Most of the extant studies examined PM before universities were forced to use Remote Emergency Teaching and Learning (RETL), the remote and hybrid work model. This article attempts to achieve its main objective by first re-examining the weaknesses of the traditional PM systems during disruptive times and developing an innovative performance management system to bridge the gap. An Agile performance management system framework for South African Higher Education Institution (HEI) was developed in light of the pitfalls of the PM systems and other relevant literature. The proposed Agile, Continuous Performance Management framework calls for an agile mind-set and the development of new competencies, which include manager-as-coach and compassionate leadership. This article is valuable as it does not only fill this gap by bringing together the pitfalls of PM during the COVID-19 in a South African HEI. It also calls for strategic change and reconceptualisation of PM to provide a strategic way forward.

COVID-19 accelerated digital transformation: The case of Meituan

The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic caused disruptions in supply chains. While most existing research suggests ways to improve organizational resilience, our research raises the question of whether the pandemic has accelerated digital transformation at the organizational level. Using the case of Meituan in China, we investigate the supply chain disruptions caused by COVID-19, the strategies taken by Meituan to address the problems and their strategic implications. Starting as a fast food delivery company, Meituan has developed into a leading online shopping platform in China specialized in using digital technologies to provide on-demand delivery services. Our research on Meituan during COVID-19 shows that companies can leverage emerging technologies to improve business models and deliver long-term strategic benefits through digital transformation, rather than focusing solely on improving organizational resilience to reduce uncertainty risk. © 2022 International Consortium for Electronic Business. All rights reserved.

"Always at Work": Canadian Academic Librarian Work During COVID-19

Afin de connaître les experiences des bibliothécaires travaillant pendant la COVID-19, nous avons méné des entrevues semi-dirigées auprės de bibliothécaires universitaires å travers le Canada sur des sujets tels la charge de travail, la collégialité et la satisfaction genérale a ľégard de leurs conditions de travail pendant la pandemie. Des thėmes ont émergé concernant la sécurité ďemploi, les changements de la charge de travail (tant au niveau des heures travaillées et le type de travail effectué), le travail å distance, les relations avec des collégues et des administrateurs (y compris la vitesse perçue de la réponse institutionnelle face å la pandemie et ľétat des communications provenant de ľadministration et avec celle-ci), et ľespoir pour ľavenir. Cet article porte suries elements sémantiques du travail des bibliothécaires pendant la COVID-19 découverts lors de ľanalyse thématique, Induant une discussion approfondle sur la façon dont la charge de travail des bibliothécaires universitaires a change;un deuxiéme article portera sur les themes latents sur la nature du care au sein du travail en bibliothéque. Cette étude relie des situations individuelles solees pour offrir un portrait general de ce â quoi ressemblait notre travail et de ce que nous ressentions face á celui-ci durant la pandemie de la COVID-19. Pour les administrateurs des bibliothéques, nous identifions des moyens par lesquels le soutien institutionnel a aidé ou a nui au travail des bibliothécaires.Alternate :To learn about the experiences of librarians working through COVID-19, we conducted semi-structured interviews with academic librarians from across Canada on issues such as workload, collegiality, and overall satisfaction with their working conditions during the pandemic. Themes emerged around job security, workload changes (both in terms of hours worked and the type of work being done), working from home, relationships with colleagues and administrators (including the perceived speed of the institutions pandemic response and the state of communication from or with administration), and hopes for the future. This article focuses on the semantic elements of librarian work during COVID-19 uncovered during thematic analysis, including an in-depth discussion of how academic librarians workload changed;a second planned article will focus on latent themes on the caring nature of library work. This study connects isolated individual situations with the overall picture of what librarians work looked and felt like during the COVID-19 pandemic. For library administrators, we identify the ways in which institutional support helped or hindered librarians in doing their work.

Desempenho econômico-financeiro de empresas do agronegócio da carne, listadas na B3, antes e após o início da Covid-19

Este estudo objetivou analisar o desempenho econômico-financeiro das quatro maiores empresas do Setor do Agronegócio da carne listadas na B3 S.A., antes e após o início da Pandemia do Coronavírus (período de 2018 a 2020). A análise foi realizada por meio de indicadores financeiros de estrutura de capital e rentabilidade, com foco em especial na Identidade DuPont, calculados com base em valores de contas contábeis das demonstrações financeiras das empresas. A coleta foi realizada por meio das demonstrações contábeis estruturadas e apresentadas no site da B3 S.A. e com o uso da base de dados Economática. A pesquisa se caracteriza como descritiva, de caráter documental e de abordagem quantitativa. Em comparação aos percentuais correspondentes aos indicadores de cada ano e ao cenário econômico do período, a pesquisa utilizou a Correlação de Pearson para a análise das relações entre as variações dos indicadores com relação à variação do Produto Interno Bruto (PIB) do Ramo Pecuário, no período estudado. Entre os principais achados, evidencia-se uma melhora significativa do Retorno sobre o Ativo e do Retorno sobre o Patrimônio Líquido, em correlações positivas médias e fortes com o crescimento do PIB do setor. Além disso, encontrou-se correlação positiva extremamente forte entre a Receita de Bens e Serviços das empresas e o PIB do Ramo Pecuário. Conclui-se que, no geral, além do crescimento do PIB do setor, apesar da crise econômica resultante da pandemia, as empresas elevaram seu faturamento e melhoraram a lucratividade e a rentabilidade.Alternate :This study aimed to analyze the economic and financial performance of the four largest companies in the Meat Agribusiness Sector listed on B3 S.A., before and after the onset of the Coronavirus Pandemic (period from 2018 to 2020). The analysis was carried out by means of financial indicators of capital structure and profitability, focusing in particular on the DuPont Identity, calculated based on values of accounting accounts in the companies' financial statements. The collection was performed through the structured financial statements presented on the B3 S.A. website and with the use of the Economática database. The research is characterized as descriptive, documentary, and quantitative. Comparing the percentages corresponding to the indicators for each year and the economic scenario of the period, the research used Pearson's Correlation to analyze the relationship between the variations of the indicators with respect to the variation of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the Livestock Branch, in the period studied. Among the main findings, a significant improvement of the Return on Assets and Return on Equity, in medium and strong positive correlations with the sector's GDP growth, is evident. Furthermore, an extremely strong positive correlation was found between the companies' Revenue from Goods and Services and the Livestock Industry GDP. It is concluded that, overall, in addition to the sector's GDP growth, despite the economic crisis resulting from the pandemic, companies raised their revenues and improved profitability and profitability.

Analysis of Death Toll from COVID-19 in China with Uncertain Time Series and Uncertain Regression Analysis

This paper employs uncertain time series and uncertain regression analysis to model the evolution of the cumulative death toll from COVID-19 in China. Then parameter estimation, residual analysis, forecast and confidence interval are investigated. Uncertain hypothesis test is proposed to determine whether the estimated uncertain statistical models are appropriate. By analyzing the characteristics of the residual plot, the reason of using uncertain statistics instead of probabilistic statistics is explained. © 2022 World Scientific Publishing Company.

A Secure Blockchain-based Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Management System: Traceability and Detection of Counterfeit Covid-19 Vaccines

Despite the network and internet technologies development, cases of counterfeit medicine still exist and an unreliable pharmaceutical supply chain infrastructure is one of the key factors behind drug counterfeiting. Before reaching the patient, medicines are transferred from suppliers to wholesalers, distributors, and pharmacists. Currently, information is not exchanged between supply chain management systems. Therefore, there is no visibility on the drug supply chain. Drug counterfeiting issue has become more important during the side spread of coronavirus disease due to the high popularity of this disease's vaccine. Even though this vaccine can help millions of people to eliminate coronavirus, the fake vaccine might be killable for them. This paper is proposing a solution by using blockchain technology for developing a secure pharmaceutical supply chain management system. This technology can add visibility, traceability, security, and transparency to the supply chain system. It is considered that to store the transactions, a permissioned blockchain will be used for this system, and only trusted parties will be permissioned to push data to the blockchain. By the end of this paper, a secure blockchain-based drug supply chain management system will be proposed by the researcher. © 2022 IEEE.

A More Unique Than Rare Myopericarditis - a Case Report

A 33yo man, ex-convict, with a history of IV substance abuse, without previous cardiological history, was admitted at our emergency department in the clinical context of an acute pericarditis, intermittent fever in the last 10 days and non-itchy maculo-papular erythema of palms and thorax. EKG documented a diffuse ST-segment elevation, chest X-rays revealed a bilateral pleural effusion and echocardiography documented a normal biventricular morphology and function, normal valvular function, and a circumferential pericardial effusion (14mm). The patient was admitted at our Cardiology Unit after a negative PCR SARS-CoV-2 test. Blood chemistry showed elevated WBC count with an important neutrophilia (24.000/mm3;90% neutrophils), elevated TnI-HS (236 ng/L;n.v. <18 ng/L), elevated C-reactive protein (340 mg/L;n.v. < 5mg/L). A classic anti-inflammatory therapy was set up with indomethacin + colchicine with little clinical benefit. Blood cultures, bacterial serology (i.e., Tubercolosis, T.gondii, Syphilis, Leptospirosis) and viral serology (i.e., HIV, HCV, HBV, EBV, HSV) resulted negative. However, an empirical antibiotic coverage was set up: sequentially with Piperacillin/Tazobactam, Vancomycin, Linezolid and Ceftriaxone. None of the antibiotics improved patient's clinical status. On the contrary, the patient developed an allergic reaction to Vancomycin and Linezolid. All autoantibodies tested resulted negative. After 10 days of hospitalization, the patient's clinical status continued to deteriorate. The intermittent fever (max 41degreeC) was not responsive to any treatment. The evanescent skin rash had spread to the whole body and was concomitant with the fever peaks. The indexes of inflammation were rising (C-reactive protein 400 mg/ L) and so were the WBC count (36.000/mm3). The patient lost weight (-8kg), developed hand and feet arthralgia, diffuse myalgia, painful retronucal lymph nodes, pharyngodynia and abdominal pain. An abdominal echography and CT were performed with evidence of mild abdominal effusion and splenomegaly. Hepatic cytolysis indices began to rise (AST 100 U/L;ALT 150 U/L;LDH 385 U/L). At that point, on the basis of Yamaguchi's Criteria, we suspected our patient could be affected by Adult-onset Still's disease (AOSD) with an initial stage of hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH). Prednisone (IV 2 mg/kg/die) was administered for 72h with an incomplete clinical and biochemical response (C-reactive Protein 180 mg/L). Subsequently, Anakinra (SC 100 mg/die) was administered with a complete clinical response in less than 72h. AOSD is very uncommon. The annual incidence is 0.16/100.000 with an equal distribution between sexes. HLH have been observed in 15% of patients, meanwhile myopericarditis is a rare complication. Although rare, it is fair to know and consider AOSD in the complicated and tricky diagnostic process of myopericarditis. A noteworthy point of this case report is the extreme efficacy of Anakinra in contexts of systemic inflammation and myopericarditis. A point still to be clarified concerns the duration of the treatment and the down-titration of Anakinra in these complicated contexts..

University-Assisted Community Schools as Partners in Neighborhood Revitalization Efforts

Urban policymakers, city officials, and community residents utilize neighborhood revitalization initiatives to establish safe and empowered neighborhoods. In 2016, leaders in Columbus, Ohio, launched a neighborhood revitalization effort designed to improve safety, access to opportunities, and economic development in the historically underserved Linden neighborhood. A priority focus involved strengthening Linden schools through the development of two university-assisted community schools (UACS). Using the community collaboration model as a guide, leaders from the schools, university, nonprofit, and local government sectors partnered to support school improvement processes in two Linden K–6 elementary schools. Annual stakeholder surveys have demonstrated marked improvements in perceptions of neighborhood safety, school climate, and the overall learning support system. The prevalence of behavioral incidences among students has decreased. Further, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the UACS model helped sustain student engagement and virtual learning and keep families connected to the schools. This article describes implementation outputs and evaluation outcomes associated with adopting the UACS model in these two Linden elementary schools. Findings contribute to a greater understanding of how UACS can serve as partners in neighborhood revitalization efforts.

Researching vulnerable multilinguals: Developing an inclusive research practice

Focus of the seminar While the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in many international and virtual opportunities that may have not been possible previously, we were convinced that a face-to-face event could have been more beneficial and impactful (i.e., networking and exchange of best practice). Dr. Ateek's presentation ‘Language analysis for determination of origin (LADO) and whether it works' explored how LADO is used as a gatekeeper by the Home Office with a focus on the perspectives of asylum seeker-participants who went through the process. In the presentation ‘Striving for inclusivity in an exclusionary environment – conducting research with refugees and asylum seekers in the UK', Dr. Reynolds reported and reflected on her own efforts to work ethically, responsibly, and reflexively with asylum seekers and refugees during her linguistic ethnographic doctoral study of communication in refugee and asylum legal advice meetings in the UK context.

High School Student Stress and School Improvement

Enabling students, teachers, and parents to become more informed about stress during adolescence can improve student emotional and social support. This article documents the growing problem of student stress and resulting effects on mental health. Students (Grades 9-12) at one public high school in the southern United States were invited by the principal to complete an anonymous online poll about sources of stress in their lives. The intent of the school principal was to use the findings to strengthen student support and contribute to the Continuous School Improvement Plan. Results of the 17-item Stress Poll are presented by frequency and percentages for the 349 students and compared by gender responses (females n = 172, males n = 177). Results indicated the most prominent student stresses at school involved worrying about getting good grades in required courses, not understanding some of their courses, being unable to concentrate, and having poor time management practices. Students felt that teachers should collaborate to reduce undue student stress by avoiding overloading and letting students make mistakes without affecting grades. Outside of school the main stress was getting along with relatives;in addition, parents should set more reasonable expectations for academic achievement. Students felt that workshops about stress could improve understanding and influence their parents and teachers.

Post Traumatic Growth as a way of mastering COViD- 19 Peritraumatic Distress Inde[ (in Russian sample)

Introduction: COVID-19 pandemic reality raise multiple problems that need effective ways of coping. Not only for people experienced contracting COVID-19 but those who did not the positive ways of coping are important way to overcome distress associated with COVID-19. Post-traumatic Growth of personality may be effective coping factor. To test this hypothesis we used several instruments: one of them - Peritraumatic Distress Index (CPDI) for assessing the level of distress specific to Covid-19 Objectives: 463 participants (including 66 patients in COVID-19 clinics) Methods: Russian version of Covid-19 Peritraumatic Distress Index (CPDI) validated in Psychological Helping and resocialization Department Moscow State University;Impact of Event Scale (Horowitz), Post-Traumatic Growth Inventory - PTGI (Tadeshi & Calhoun) adapted by M. Magomed-Eminov Results: Russian version of CPDI has high reliability-consistency (Cronbach's alpha -0.87). We obtained from our data: significant correlation between CPDI and PTG for people experienced COVID- 19 contamination. Content analysis of narratives and incomplete sentences showed: those who had higher scores on PTG and CPDI have differences in personal meaning of their traumatic experience. Conclusion(s): CPDI is presented in research as brief effective tool to identify COVID-19 related distress and plan helping strategies and psychiatric interventions for various people suffering by continuing pandemic crisis. Correlation between CPDI and COVID-19 contamination: could suggest more severe distress is associated with higher PTG. And PTG could be considered as positive factor coping with distress. We suggest cultural-activity approach to personality work with stressful experience of individual to confront distress, existential evaluation of life situation taking into account also resilience, growth.

Analysis of Influencing Factors of Perceived Stress among Frontline Nurses under the Background of COVID-1 9

To explore the influencing factors of perceived stress among frontline nurses during COVID-1 9, and the role of positive psychological capital in anxiety sensitivity and stress perception, so as to provide evidence for reducing the perceived stress of frontline nurses. From December 2021 to January 2022, 475 frontline nurses from 8 hospitals in X city were investigated by general data questionnaire, positive psychological capital, anxiety sensitivity index and perceived stress scale. The results showed that there were significant differences in nurses’ perceived stress in age, working years, professional title and salary. Perceived stress was positively correlated with anxiety sensitivity, negatively correlated with positive psychological capital, and anxiety sensitivity was negatively correlated with positive psychological capital. Anxiety sensitivity can not only directly predict perceived stress, but also negatively affect perceived stress through positive psychological capital. Therefore, during the epidemic prevention and control in COVID-1 9, nurses can obtain effective stress coping strategies by strengthening their positive psychological capital, thus reducing their anxiety and perceived stress, and better providing high-quality nursing services for patients. © 2022, Editorial department of Chinese Medical Ethics. All rights reserved.

Utilizing Google Street View for Rapid Seismic Vulnerability Assessment: Case Study in the City of Manila, Philippines

Earthquake Impact Reduction Study for Metro Manila (MMEIRS) estimated that around 40% of the total number of residential buildings within Metro Manila will either collapse or be affected by the M7.2 generated by the West Valley Fault. Need arises to evaluate the seismic vulnerability of structures in the area to enhance the city’s resilience to seismic hazards. Rapid seismic vulnerability assessments are typically conducted by means of sidewalk surveys. However, advances in digital technologies such as Google Street View (GSV) provide the potential to do remote assessments, particularly amid mobility restrictions brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. This paper aims to demonstrate the usefulness of GSV in collecting data needed for rapid seismic vulnerability assessments through the case of buildings in the City of Manila. Six 300 m x 300 m blocks were evaluated using GSV for identifying seismic-related building parameters. Results show the ease of use of GSV in data collection on areas encompassing commercial and residential zones within the city and poses difficulty for blocks dominated by informal settlements. Among the challenges observed in formal zones include blockages in views due to fences, trees, and/or vehicles parked in front. For informal settlements, much of the buildings are not visible in GSV for evaluation thereby necessitating supplemental data collection. Overall, GSV demonstrates usefulness, and has the potential to speed up seismic vulnerability assessments in urban areas in conjunction with existing in situ assessments currently conducted.

Intention of Covid-19 Vaccination in the Sri Lankan Context: A Structural Equation Model Approach

INTRODUCTION: The intention on vaccination of COVID-19 is influenced by demographic and psychological factors. An understanding of the factors that influence the intention of COVID-19 vaccination is important to achieve the successful vaccination programs.OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to determine the critical factors affecting the intention of COVID-1 9 vaccination in Sri Lanka.METHODOLOGY: An online questionnaire was implemented amongst Sri Lankans to acquire the primary data. The questionnaire assessed the social demographic features, vaccination details, perception and intention about the vaccination, social norm, media exposure, and trust towards vaccines. Descriptive analysis was used to analyse the demographic characters and vaccination details. The structural equation model was used to analyse the relationship between the intention of COVID-19 vaccination and other relevant factors.RESULTS: The results showed that the perception of vaccine, social norms and trust were significantly related with people's intention towards vaccination, whereas media exposure showed an insignificant relationship with the intention towards vaccination. Meanwhile, perception about vaccine and media exposure had significant relationships between trust of the vaccines.CONCLUSION: It was conclusive that the intention of the COVID-1 9 vaccination was greatly influenced by the perception of vaccine, social norms and trust besides media exposure, which had an indirect effect on intention towards vaccination of COVID-19.