Using the Telegram Messenger as a Tool for Supporting the Educational Process under Quarantine Restrictions

The global pandemic caused by Covid-19 has led to the fact that more than 1.8 billion children and young people around the world found themselves outside the classroom education process. This prompted the expansion of digitization processes, the search for effective solutions to support remote educational interaction, which is reflected in articles of the American, Malaysian, Spanish, Iranian, Ukrainian, etc. scientists The analysis of foreign experience proved the interest of the world educational community in the introduction of mobile services, messengers, in particular the Telegram messenger, as a tool for supporting the educational process. The article examines the problem of using the Telegram messenger to support the educational process in higher education institution in the conditions of quarantine restrictions caused by the global Covid-19 pandemic. Modern messengers, in particular Telegram, Viber, Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, are analyzed due to criteria (commerciality, functionality, architecture, security) and indicators. The advantages of using the Telegram messenger to support the educational process are outlined, in particular: cross-platform, support for synchronous and asynchronous interaction, the ability to exchange messages in different formats, support for various types of interaction, the ability to ensure the fulfillment of many pedagogical tasks. The essence, advantages and possibilities of using the chatbot tool from the Telegram messenger are described. The psychological and pedagogical recommendations for increasing the pedagogical effect of using the Telegram chatbot are provided. The educational interaction results after using the Telegram messenger were analyzed (survey of 112 students, learning results evaluation in the experimental (112 persons) and control (110 persons) student groups). The empirical research shows that the Telegram messenger allows supporting the educational process in the conditions of quarantine restrictions, with saving quality indicators, as well as achieving pedagogical goals.

A dichotomy between democracy and personal freedom on the spread of COVID-19

PurposeThe authors analyze the effects of political freedom and personal freedom on the spread of COVID-19 in a cross-country study. The authors also investigate how income inequality, urbanization and previous experience with a similar respiratory epidemic/pandemic, such as SARS and MERS, affect the spread of COVID-19.Design/methodology/approachThe authors employ data from 102 countries to examine the relationship of countries' economic and sociopolitical factors, such as political freedom and personal freedom and their COVID-19 infection cases per million population at 120 days, 150 days and 180 days after the reported 10th infection case. The authors also include the log term of real GDP per capita to control for counties' economic development and regional dummies to control for regional-specific effects.FindingsResults of this study show that personal freedom, rather than democracy, has a significant positive effect on countries' COVID-19 infection cases. On the contrary, democracy has a negative impact on the infection rate. The authors also find that socioeconomic factors such as higher income inequality and urbanization rate adversely affect the COVID-19 infection cases. A larger older population is associated with fewer infection cases, holding everything else equal. Previous experiences with the coronavirus crisis affect countries only at the 120 days mark. Real GDP per capita has no significant effect.Originality/valueThe main contribution of this paper is to jointly explore personal freedom, which implies a social framework with more emphasis on self-value and self-realization and political freedom, that is, democracy. The authors show that it is personal freedom, rather than democracy, that contributes to higher COVID-19 infection cases. Democracy, on the other hand, reduces the number of infection cases.Peer reviewThe peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/IJSE-12-2021-0769

Evidence-Based Policymaking during the COVID-19 Crisis: Regulatory Impact Assessments and the Polish COVID-19 Restrictions

The COVID-19 pandemic transformed our understanding of the state's role during a public health crisis and introduced an array of unprecedented policy tools: ever-stricter travel restrictions, lockdowns and closures of whole branches of the economy. Evidence-based policymaking seems to be the gold standard of such high-stakes policy interventions. This article presents an empirical investigation into the regulatory impact assessments accompanying sixty-four executive acts (regulations) introducing anti-pandemic restrictions in Poland over the first year of the pandemic. To this end, the study utilises the so-called scorecard methodology, which is popular in regulatory impact assessment research. This methodology highlights the shallowness of these documents and the accompanying processes, with an absence not only of a sound evidence base behind specific anti-pandemic measures or estimates of their economic impacts, but even of the comparative data on restrictions introduced in other European Union/Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries. Overall, the collected data support the hypothesis that the ad hoc pandemic management process crowded out the law-making process through tools such as regulatory impact assessments and consultations. In other words, the genuine decision-making occurred elsewhere (with the exact process being largely invisible to public opinion and scholars) and drafting legal texts simply codified these decisions, with the law-making process becoming mere window-dressing.

The Vulnerability of Rural Migrants Under COVID-19 Quarantine in China and its Global Implications: A Socio-Ethical Analysis.

Despite the role of public health interventions in controlling disease transmission and protecting the public during the COVID-19 emergency, the implementation of quarantine restrictions has raised serious ethical concerns, especially in relation to the well-being of vulnerable populations. Drawing on the lived experiences of rural Chinese migrants who are subject to pandemic control, the authors highlight their inadequate capacities to manage the risks associated with the pandemic and adjust to quarantine restrictions. Informed by an ethical discourse of vulnerability, we show that underpinning this group's deficient coping strategies is a range of detrimental social structures and institutions that have developed under the persistent rural-urban divide in China. These structural constraints and pathologies expose rural migrants to serious risks and uncertainties while depriving them of the means and resources necessary to protect their own interests in the process of complying with quarantine restrictions. Understanding the plight of rural Chinese migrants as a structural problem also has implications for the global response to the COVID-19 pandemic. We further suggest a need for state intervention to mitigate structural deficiencies and empower the vulnerable during the COVID-19 era.

INTERNET-DELIVERED LOW-INTENSITY CBT FOR PEOPLE WITH SOCIAL ANXIETY DISORDER IN A PERIOD OF COVID-19: RESULTS OF PILOT RESEARCH.

OBJECTIVE: The aim: The study aims to provide evidence of the effectiveness of online low-intensity CBT-based psychological interventions on the psychological well-being of people with social anxiety disorders and related impairments in the COVID-19 pandemic. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Materials and methods: 222 volunteers aged 18-35 years included in study: low-intensity CBT group (n=106) and control group (n=116). To assess the mental health prob¬lems were used International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) and a set of IAPT scales. Analyses considered levels of pre-post intervention effect sizes and clinically significant improvement of symptoms of social anxiety disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, depression, and distress in maintaining general and work activity scores. RESULTS: Results: Comparisons between the low-intensity interventions group and control (self-help guide psychological care as usual) indicated more reduction in the severity of symp¬toms of social anxiety disorder and comorbid impairments associated with depression or generalized anxiety disorder. Changes for social phobia and other outcomes indicate that the odds of relapse or exacerbation of symptoms in the control group are more significant than those after a CBT-based low-intensity psychosocial care program. Analysis showed a significant interaction between outcomes scores and the number of sessions: more than five online sessions and homework with a self-help guide improved outcome. CONCLUSION: Conclusions: This pilot trial provides initial evidence that low-intensity online interventions based on CBT result in reductions in psychological problems for persons with a social anxiety disorder during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Changes in the Use of the Moodle Platform by Students at Different Levels of Training Depending on the Period of Restrictions Due to Covid-19

The use of modern innovative information technology in education is a promising direction in pedagogical science as it enables the provision of educational services through a specialized information educational environment - a complex of information resources and technical instruments and channels of communication that provides for the exchange of educational information over long distances. In today's conditions, despite the alleviation of restrictive measures, the problem of organizing distance learning continues to be relevant. The purpose of the study is to identify and compare the views of undergraduate and graduate students on the use of the Moodie system in university education depending on the period of restrictions caused by COVID-19. Based on a survey of university students engaged in distance learning during the period of quarantine restrictions using the Moodle platform, the authors analyze the specific features of student registration on this e-learning platform and determine the peculiarities of the use of Moodle by students depending on the period of restrictions introduced due to COVID-19. It is concluded that the Moodle platform is highly popular in the sphere of higher education and acts as an effective instrument for organizing distance learning under quarantine restrictions.

Telegram Messenger for Supporting Educational Process Under the Conditions of Quarantine Restrictions

The article is devoted to the problem of using Telegram messenger in the educational process in supporting the higher school under the conditions of forced quarantine restrictions due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Modern messengers (Telegram, Viber, Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp) are analyzed via pre-defined criteria (commerciality, functionality, architecture, security) and the range of indicators, the benefits of using Telegram messenger to support the educational process are outlined. The essence, benefits, and possibilities of using Telegram ChatBot are characterized. The main steps for creating Telegram ChatBot are described. Recommendations are provided to improve the pedagogical effect of using Telegram ChatBots. The analysis of results of educational interaction via Telegram messenger is presented (112 students’ survey, evaluation of learning outcomes in experiment (112 students) and control (110 students) groups). The empirical research has shown that Telegram messenger allowed supporting the educational process in the conditions of unexpected and forced quarantine restrictions, with no loss of qualitative indicators, achieving the pedagogical goals. © 2022, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.

TRENDS OF DEVELOPMENT OF FINANCIAL AND ECONOMIC ACTIVITY OF ENTREPRENEURIAL STRUCTURES DURING THE PERIOD OF QUARANTINE RESTRICTIONS

Purpose. To study the impact of quarantine restrictions on the financial and economic performance of business structures. Methodology. Both general and special methods of cognition were used in the study: system analysis, structural and functional method, comparison, synthesis, deduction, logical research, graphical way of presenting information. Findings. The study revealed the impact of quarantine restrictions due to COVID-19 on the financial and economic activities of business structures and studied trends in the industry. A financial and economic analysis of the activity of enterprises, leaders of the international market in the chosen field of research is carried out. The data in the forecasts for the following periods have been adjusted to take into account the following factors: recognition of assets in the form of rights of use, separation of lease obligations, transfer of lease costs from operating expenses and depreciation assets in the form of rights of use. This made it possible to study the further development of new tools and their impact on future financial and economic performance of enterprises in quarantine conditions. Originality. The analysis, estimation and forecast concerning financial and economic activity of business structures are given and the tendencies of development in the period of quarantine restrictions of COVID-19 are revealed. This analysis makes it possible to make a forecast for the following periods adjusted taking into account quarantine restrictions. Practical value. The results of the study presented in this work can be used by economists, scientists and practitioners to develop and launch investment projects for enterprise development programs. © Kryshtal H., Kalina I., Shuliar N., Kapeliushna T., Martynenko M., Ingram K., 2022.

Marketing Strategy of the Small Business Adaptation to Quarantine Limitations in the Sphere of Trade Entrepreneurship

The article considers the peculiarities of developing a marketing strategy for the adaptation of small businesses to quarantine restrictions in the field of commercial entrepreneurship. The importance of reformatting the existing marketing strategy in connection with the change of key conditions of trade activity with the introduction of quarantine restrictions due to the covid19 virus epidemic is substantiated. Quarantine restrictions and the temporary introduction of lockdown in various countries around the world, including Ukraine, have not only caused a crisis for small businesses. But they became a shock therapy and accelerated the digitalization of retail. Trends in digitalization and development of digital infrastructure allow both to adapt the structures of commercial entrepreneurship to the current conditions, and set directions for development in the long run. Particular attention in the article is paid to changing the business model and automation of sales processes based on the introduction of vending. The preconditions and existing experience of vending in Ukraine are analyzed. An outline of the business model of the project for the sale of goods through vending machines has been developed.

INFLUENCE OF QUARANTINE MEASURES AGAINST THE NEW CORONAVIRUS INFECTION COVID-19 ON THE STATE OF BLACK SEA COASTAL WATERS

The Black Sea is one of the main recreational facilities in Russia subject to a high annual anthropogenic stress. Anthropogenic activity led to high coastal sea waters pollution, eutrophy, and endangered the sea’s self-purification capabilities. The total quarantine introduced on the Black Sea coast of the Krasnodar territory associated with the new coronavirus infection COVID-19 pandemic led to a decrease in anthropogenic pressure on coastal ecosystems and provided a unique opportunity to trace the dynamics of the most important hydrochemical indicators of coastal waters in the Tuapse district. The study aimed to characterize the impact of quarantine measures against the coronavirus on the state of coastal waters in the eastern part of the Russian Black Sea. For this, we identified and characterized the hydrochemical indicators and determined the effect of quarantine measures on their dynamics. The study used the standardized methods. The results obtained showed that a decrease in the recreational stress led to a proportional decrease in the pollutants supply to coastal sea waters;with the recreational stress resumption the concentrations of mobile pollutants tended to increase;a proportional relationship was established between biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5 ) and the ammonium nitrogen (NH4+ ) concentration;the nitrates’ (NO3– ) concentration, in the seawater did not depend on the recreational stress degree. In particular, a proportional increase in NH4+ concentration and BOD5 in seawater was detected: in the third quarter of 2019 the concentration of NH4+ and BOD5 amounted to 3.0 mg/dm3 and 8.5 mg/dm3, and 3.8 mg/dm3 and 7.5 mg/dm3 in the fourth quarter, respectively;in the 2020 samples, a decrease in the NH4+ concentration to 0.8 mg/dm3 in the third and to 1.2 mg/dm3 in the fourth quarter led to a proportional decrease in BOD5 4.5 mg/dm3 and 3.9 mg/dm3, respectively. Thus, it was shown that the quarantine measures were shown to have a positive effect on the processes of self-purification of coastal sea waters in recreational zones. © 2021, Russian Geographical Society. All rights reserved.

Responding to a simulated disaster in the virtual or live classroom: Is there a difference in BSN student learning?

AIM: This study aim was to investigate if prelicensure baccalaureate nursing students gained more knowledge from a live or virtual disaster simulation. The study goal was to inform the use of e-learning or traditional textbooks in undergraduate nursing population health courses. BACKGROUND: Weather-related disasters have increased in frequency and severity in the past ten years, with 2020 being the most active storm season ever seen (National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, 2021.) Even with advances in early warning systems and mitigation efforts, educating student nurses in disaster response remains a priority. Due to the impact of Covid-19 quarantine policies, many in-person student learning labs and clinical experiences were cancelled. However, virtual simulation offers an alternative to developing nursing student skills and clinical reasoning ability (Aebersold, 2018; Fogg et al., 2020). DESIGN: A randomized quasi-experimental, repeated measures 2 × 2 crossover design (Kim, 2018) was applied, which allowed students to participate in both the live and virtual simulations. METHODS: Analysis was conducted using paired samples t-test to evaluate knowledge gains. To measure students' self-assessment of knowledge, Unver et al. (2018) 12-item survey was administered. To explore students' own perceptions about the disaster simulations, semi-structured interview questions were offered through private Wiki postings. The responses were analyzed using Saldaña's in vivo coding (2015) and thematic analysis. RESULTS: Students retained more empirical knowledge following the virtual assignment as compared to the disaster simulation, except in two items addressing triage. Neither age, years of education, or GPA impacted test results. However, students' own assessment of learning did not differ between live and virtual simulations. In all but three items, students perceived a significant increase (p < .05) in their learning following the simulation, regardless whether it was live or virtual. In narrative responses, students overwhelmingly cited the benefit of an in-person simulation. However, they did not believe that they were prepared adequately for the live simulation. They also expressed that they would be more prepared if the simulation was repeated. Students expressed discomfort, even distress, regarding not being able to care adequately for everyone, even though it was a simulation (See Table 5). This highlighted that live simulations can affect students emotionally, and follow-up debriefing is essential to help in both acknowledging and processing student feelings. CONCLUSION: These findings, which support the use of virtual disaster training in nursing education, are especially important in the light of Covid-19 and increasing threat of storm disasters.

LEGAL REGULATION OF EPIDEMIC SECURITY UNDER THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC CONDITIONS IN SOME POST-SOVIET COUNTRIES AND POLAND.

OBJECTIVE: The aim: To reveal the features of the epidemic safety and security legal regulation in Belarus, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Poland, Russia and Ukraine during the COVID-19 pandemic. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Materials and methods: This study is based on Belarusian, Kazakh, Moldavian, Polish, Russian and Ukrainian regulatory acts as well as national court judgments. Such methods as dialectical, comparative, analytic, synthetic, comprehensive, statistical and generalization approaches have been used in the article. CONCLUSION: Conclusions: the study confirmed that the direct impact on the spread and dynamics of morbidity during the COVID-19 pandemic in the countries to be analyzed is determined by: the presence of government agencies and special institutions involved in combating, preventing and monitoring the spread of infectious diseases and their readiness for effective measures in emergency situations caused, in particular, by epidemics; timeliness and duration of quarantine restrictions, their severity and scope; observance of these restrictions by the population; effectiveness of law enforcement responses to violations. The strengthening of administrative and/or criminal liability had no significant impact on the morbidity situation in the country.

Suboptimal declines and delays in early breast cancer treatment after COVID-19 quarantine restrictions in China: A national survey of 8397 patients in the first quarter of 2020.

BACKGROUND: Cancer patients had been profoundly affected by the outbreak of COVID-19 especially after quarantine restrictions in China. We aimed to explore the treatment changes and delays of early breast cancer (EBC) during the first quarter of 2020. METHODS: We did this retrospective, multicentre, cohort study at 97 cancer centres in China. EBC patients who received treatment regardless of preoperative therapy, surgery or postoperative therapy during first quarter of 2020 were included. FINDINGS: 8397 patients were eligible with a median age of 50 (IQR 43-56). 0·2% (15/8397) of EBC patients were confirmed as COVID-19 infection. Only 5·2% of breast cancer diagnosis occurred after quarantine in Hubei compared with 15·3% in other provinces (OR= 0·30, 95%CI 0·24-0·38). postoperative endocrine therapy were least affected compared with different regions after quarantine (OR=0·37 [95%CI 0·19-0·73]). The proportion of surgery decreased from 16·4% in December last year to 2·6% in February in Hubei. Compared with intervals from diagnosis to treatment before quarantine restrictions, the average time increased with significance from 3·5 to 7·7 days in Hubei and 5·7 to 7·7 days in other provinces (p< 0·001). There were also 18·5 and 7·2 days delay in Hubei and other provinces respectively when calculating interval from surgery to postoperative therapy. INTERPRETATION: EBC from high risk regions had a comparative rate of COVID-19 infection. After implementation of COVID-19 quarantine restrictions, fewer diagnosis and surgery with significant delays were seen when compared with treatment before. FUNDING: Beijing Medical Award Foundation (YJ0120).