Dystopian necropolitics in Arnau Sanz Martínez's Un fantasma and the admonitory role of contagion narratives in the COVID-19 era

This article analyses the dystopian necropolitics depicted in Un fantasma, which depicts a fictional viral pandemic that gives rise to a brutal military regime, and considers how such a dystopian depiction of pandemics can aid in understanding lived realities with COVID-19 and what these may mean for future social pacts following the global pandemic. Written in 2019 before the onset of COVID-19, the comic enables an analysis of extant social anxieties that existed prior to the pandemic as depicted in Un fantasma, as well as a comparison of this dystopia with what actually came to pass. By engaging with the history of contagion narratives, and also with scholars of dystopia studies, and necropolitics, this article argues that fears of rising authoritarianism that predated the COVID-19 pandemic remain relevant (and in some cases have been augmented) since its outbreak. The comic is an admonitory work;Sanz Martínez's imagining of what might come to pass in a worldwide pandemic reminds readers what they must strive to prevent during the pandemic in which they are actively living. [ FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Journal of Graphic Novels & Comics is the property of Routledge and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full . (Copyright applies to all s.)

The challenge of 'COVID-19 free' Australia: international travel restrictions and stranded citizens

This paper uses Australia as a case study to analyse restrictions on international movement during the COVID-19 pandemic. Restrictions on inbound and outbound travel have been a key tool deployed by governments across the globe to suppress the COVID-19 pandemic. We use 'COVID zero' Australia as a case study to assess an extreme response to restricting international movement. We look at the recent complaint launched before the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva. The action was raised with the support of a group of Australian citizens stranded abroad with the assistance of the expert in Australian constitutional law who is the second author of this paper. We argue that the measures implemented by Australian governments to effectively eliminate COVID-19 domestically have provided insufficient consideration of, and alternatives to, the current system's failure to facilitate essential international travel. For this reason, Australia's framework for restricting international movement lacks proportionality and necessity from the perspective of human rights and freedoms. [ FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of International Journal of Human Rights is the property of Routledge and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full . (Copyright applies to all s.)

Recommendations for the integral diagnosis of chronic viral hepatitis in a single analytical extraction. / Recomendaciones para el diagnóstico integral de las hepatitis virales crónicas en una única extracción analítica.

The Spanish Society of Digestive Pathology (SEPD), the Spanish Association for the Study of the Liver (AEEH), the Spanish Society of Infections and Clinical Microbiology (SEIMC) and its Viral Hepatitis Study Group (GEHEP), and with the endorsement of the Alliance for the Elimination of Viral Hepatitis in Spain (AEHVE), have agreed on a document to carry out a comprehensive diagnosis of viral hepatitis (B, C and D), from a single blood sample; that is, a comprehensive diagnosis, in the hospital and/or at the point of care of the patient. We propose an algorithm, so that the positive result in a viral hepatitis serology (B, C and D), as well as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), would trigger the analysis of the rest of the virus, including the viral load when necessary, in the same blood draw. In addition, we make two additional recommendations. First, the need to rule out a previous hepatitis A virus (VHA) infection, to proceed with its vaccination in cases where IgG-type studies against this virus are negative and the vaccine is indicated. Second, the determination of the HIV serology. Finally, in case of a positive result for any of the viruses analyzed, there must be an automated alerts and initiate epidemiological monitoring.

Assessment considerations during lockdown in Norway: An exploratory case study with focus on misconducts in university mathematics

The present paper raises a discussion about assessment formats in mathematics courses at Norwegian universities during the Covid lockdown. This proved to be challenging since the European GDPR regulations are strictly interpreted in Norway, making proctoring at home difficult. Based on analyses of nine university teachers' feedback on how exams were carried out at their university during lockdown, a discussion is raised about assessment modes and misconducts. The result shows how a framework from another research field can be adjusted to analyze data about the assessment situations. Next, by utilizing the different components (themes) of the adjusted framework, we shed light on perspectives on misconducts in un-proctored home exams. In doing so, the paper informs the discussion on challenges related to assessing students in mathematics at home. Results are relevant for future educational settings since change in the demographic profile of students increase topicality of online assessment. © 2023 UiT The Arctic University of Norway. Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.

Medium-to Long-Term Socioeconomic Impact of Covid-19 in Arab Countries, 2022

COVID-19 pandemic is impacting institutions around the world. Its scope and economic dimensions pinpoint that it poses a major threat to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The main objective of thisresearch is to discuss how the coronavirus pandemic may influence the SDGsand affect their implementation. The methods used entail an analysis of lite rature, observations and an assessment of current world trends and applied UNDP method to Arab countries. Methodology/approach—the motivation behind this research is to assess the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Todo so, as a first step, we conduct an initial factual analysis to identify the pat-terns of how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the SDGs and has emphasized the interconnectedness of the SDGs. This target is achieved by con-ducting the methodology of the United Nations Development Program, withthe aid of Pardee Center at the University of Denver by using the impact of three different scenarios of COVID-19 on the Sustainable Development Goals,while capturing the multidimensional impacts of the pandemic over the coming decades. The main finding of this research is showing how governmentscan make choices today that have the greatest potential to advance progress inthe future, within planetary boundaries. This type of analysis can enable governments to turn COVID-19 from a short-term crisis into an opportunity to shift to sustainable development in the long term. © 2023 NSP Natural Sciences Publishing Cor.

The benefits of nature-based systems in a and uncertain world

Multifunctional nature-based solutions (NBS) can help urban areas become more climate proof and adaptable and provide a range of societal goals. Alongside chronic impacts from climate change, the Covid-19 pandemic has illustrated the disruption that unexpected and acute shocks can bring to society. Measures such as NBS can help reduce the vulnerability of urban areas and increase resilience. Traditional infrastructure planning relies on strong business cases to demonstrate the economic value of a scheme. Numerous approaches assign economic value to the benefits from using NBS. However, this value is more than what can be accounted for by traditional finance methods, as there are many different perspectives on 'value'. Decision making processes for selection of NBS measures require stronger integration of these value perspectives. This paper considers these perspectives in the business models that are being used in the decision processes regarding use and selection of NBS. Examples are drawn from case studies in the EU Begin project and also from the Living with Water partnership in the UK, which illustrate how value perspectives can be included in business cases for NBS, also signposting the need to account for potential future changes using scenario planning.

Risk Modeling Framework for Strategic and Operational Intervention to Enhance the Effectiveness of a Closed-Loop Supply Chain

In a closed-loop supply chain (CLSC), acquiring end-of-life vehicles (ELVs) and their components from both primary and secondary markets has posed a huge uncertainty and risk. Moreover, the constant supply of ELV components with minimization of cost and exploitation of natural resources is another pressing challenge. To address the issues, the present study has developed a risk simulation framework to study market uncertainty/risk in a CLSC. In the first phase of the framework, a total of 12 important variables are identified from the existing studies. The total interpretive structural model (TISM) is used to develop a causal relationship network among the variables. Then, Matriced Impacts Cruoses Multiplication Applique a un Classement is used for determining the nature of relationships (i.e., driving or dependence power). In the second phase, the relationship of TISM is used to derive a Bayesian belief network model for determining the level of risks (i.e., high, medium, and low) associated with the CLSC through the generation of conditional probabilities across 1) multi-, 2) single-, and 3) without-parent nodes. The study findings will help decision-makers in adopting strategic and operational interventions to increase the effectiveness and resiliency of the network. Furthermore, it will help practitioners to make decisions on change management implementation for stakeholders'performance audits on the attributes of the ELV recovery program and developing resilience in the CLSC network. Overall, the present study holistically contributes to a broader investigation of the implications of strategic decisions in automobile manufacturers and resellers. IEEE

The benefits of nature-based systems in a changing and uncertain world

Multifunctional nature-based solutions (NBS) can help urban areas become more climate proof and adaptable and provide a range of societal goals. Alongside chronic impacts from climate change, the Covid-19 pandemic has illustrated the disruption that unexpected and acute shocks can bring to society. Measures such as NBS can help reduce the vulnerability of urban areas and increase resilience. Traditional infrastructure planning relies on strong business cases to demonstrate the economic value of a scheme. Numerous approaches assign economic value to the benefits from using NBS. However, this value is more than what can be accounted for by traditional finance methods, as there are many different perspectives on 'value'. Decision making processes for selection of NBS measures require stronger integration of these value perspectives. This paper considers these perspectives in the business models that are being used in the decision processes regarding use and selection of NBS. Examples are drawn from case studies in the EU Begin project and also from the Living with Water partnership in the UK, which illustrate how value perspectives can be included in business cases for NBS, also signposting the need to account for potential future changes using scenario planning. [ FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers: Engineering Sustainability is the property of Thomas Telford Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full . (Copyright applies to all s.)

United Nations Women

UN Women is the United Nations entity dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women. A global champion for women and girls, UN Women was established to accelerate progress on meeting their needs worldwide. UN Women supports UN Member States as they set global standards for achieving gender equality and works with governments and civil society to design laws, policies, programs, and services needed to ensure that the standards are effectively implemented and truly benefit women and girls worldwide. It works globally to make the vision of the sustainable development goals a reality for women and girls and stands behind women's equal participation in all aspects of life. This article outlines its history, structure, and major programmatic functions. © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

The Impact of External Shocks on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Linking the COVID-19 Pandemic to SDG Implementation at the Local Government Level

Using data from a survey we conducted in collaboration with the Association of Flemish Cities and Municipalities (VVSG), this article sought to examine the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the implementation of SDGs by Flemish local governments (cities and municipalities). Identifying such effects has usually been conducted on individuals and at a macro level and not at the organization and local government level. By using a counterfactual approach, we were able to disentangle various COVID-19 effects over time and learn how systems at the local level react to external shocks. The approach allowed us to single out the effects of the pandemic at the organizational level while looking into three distinct periods: before the pandemic, during the pandemic, and in its aftermath. Results showed that the COVID-19 pandemic slowed down the Flemish public sector's implementation of SDGs at the local level. At the same time, COVID-19 allowed local public institutions to accelerate the implementation of a few SDGs (e.g., SDG1, SDG3) and to postpone a few SDG-related activities which would be resumed once the pandemic is ‘over'. COVID-19 is not only a challenge;it acts as a wake-up call and an opportunity to commit more towards the implementation of (certain) SDGs. © 2023 by the authors.

Relational analysis between economic activities and mobility during the COVID

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has significantly affected daily lives since its declaration as a Pandemic in March 2020 by the WHO. Studies in Korea to interpret the relationship between COVID-19 and transportation show that there has been a decrease in public transportation use, and a significant decrease when a widespread infection occurs. In addition, COVID-19 has affected the commercial environment, particularly the number of people using commercial districts where the use of retail outlets decreased significantly. This study analyses the disease-vectors (spread factors) of COVID-19 in terms of transportation demand, the revitalisation of commercial districts, living populations, and socioeconomic indicators. It attempts to identify different infection factors for each district in Seoul using a causal analysis methodology PLS-SEM (Partial Least-Squares Structural Equation Modelling) such that COVID-19 can be managed continuously with the aim to provide a foundation for pre-emptive actions by adjusting or controlling specific influencing factors pertaining to infectious diseases. © 2023 ICE Publishing: All rights reserved.

Building information modelling a key for construction industry recovery post-Covid-19

Several countries have introduced and several kinds of research have discussed the performance of building information modelling (BIM) as an information technology trend. Despite its potential impact on construction performance, this concept has not attracted the attention of many countries such as Morocco. Coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) broke out when the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industry was suffering from several shortcomings, mainly the poor technology exploitation cited in the literature. Although this has weakened the sector, it is a real opportunity to assimilate and understand the role of technology, particularly BIM. In this context, the main objective is to draw conclusions on the role of BIM during and after Covid-19 through the analysis of the AEC industry in Morocco and the benchmarking of BIM contributions during this health crisis. A qualitative approach was conducted, including the analysis of the pre-Covid-19, Covid-19 and post-epidemic phases and the benchmarking of the contribution of BIM. This study demonstrates the inevitability of adopting critical thinking when it comes to solutions about the evolution of the construction sector and the practical implications for a successful revival of the AEC industry post-Covid-19. It contributes to the body of knowledge on AEC in the face of this universal pandemic. The findings are relevant to all countries where information technology exploitation is absent or weak. [ FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers: Engineering Sustainability is the property of Thomas Telford Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full . (Copyright applies to all s.)

Disability in Europe in pandemic time: Theoretical background

Welfare policies for persons with disabilities have been strongly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, and this introductory chapter provides the theoretical background to the book. Definition, data and main European policies about disabilities are outlined. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) is the key pillar of disability policies in European countries. In line with a Disability Studies perspective, COVID-19 health surveillance regime has been a challenge in the implementation process of the UNCRPD, highlighting the role of lay knowledge and community of practices in managing everyday challenges for persons with disabilities and their families, and therefore their potential role in becoming part of epistemic communities to support the policy making and implementation process of the UNCRPD. © 2023 Angela Genova, Alice Scavarda and Maria Światkiewicz-Mośny. All rights reserved.

Achieving the IA2030 Coverage and Equity Goals through a Renewed Focus on Urban Immunization.

The 2021 WHO and UNICEF Estimates of National Immunization Coverage (WUENIC) reported approximately 25 million under-vaccinated children in 2021, out of which 18 million were zero-dose children who did not receive even the first dose of a diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis-(DPT) containing vaccine. The number of zero-dose children increased by six million between 2019, the pre-pandemic year, and 2021. A total of 20 countries with the highest number of zero-dose children and home to over 75% of these children in 2021 were prioritized for this review. Several of these countries have substantial urbanization with accompanying challenges. This review paper summarizes routine immunization backsliding following the COVID-19 pandemic and predictors of coverage and identifies pro-equity strategies in urban and peri-urban settings through a systematic search of the published literature. Two databases, PubMed and Web of Science, were exhaustively searched using search terms and synonyms, resulting in 608 identified peer-reviewed papers. Based on the inclusion criteria, 15 papers were included in the final review. The inclusion criteria included papers published between March 2020 and January 2023 and references to urban settings and COVID-19 in the papers. Several studies clearly documented a backsliding of coverage in urban and peri-urban settings, with some predictors or challenges to optimum coverage as well as some pro-equity strategies deployed or recommended in these studies. This emphasizes the need to focus on context-specific routine immunization catch-up and recovery strategies to suit the peculiarities of urban areas to get countries back on track toward achieving the targets of the IA2030. While more evidence is needed around the impact of the pandemic in urban areas, utilizing tools and platforms created to support advancing the equity agenda is pivotal. We posit that a renewed focus on urban immunization is critical if we are to achieve the IA2030 targets.

Impact of COVID-19 on the Income of Entrepreneurs Who Borrowed from SHG

The COVID-19 pandemic has shaken the world. After liberalization in 1991, microfinance became a panacea for poor people without collateral and information asymmetry. The higher cost of microfinance and debt traps highlighted the need for the state to intervene in resource redistribution. In addition, national lockdowns and COVID-19 restrictions have made it difficult for emerging economies like India to achieve this sustainable development goal. The Reserve Bank of India introduced self-help group (SHG) bank linkage to ensure the financial inclusion of the poor. The difference-in-difference method examined how SHGs affect entrepreneur households' income. CMIE Consumer Pyramid dx data were used for analysis. The data establish that SHGs have increased the income of the households, and demographic factors such as education, income level and gender also impact the financial inclusion of the poor. © 2023 Management Centre for Human Values.

International Legal Standards in Crime Prevention

A qualitatively new stage in the development of international and national criminal law was marked by the international standards created to combat crime and the treatment of offenders by the global community, which deepens their interaction and establishes conditions for crime prevention and the protection of human rights. The purpose of the academic paper is to identify the primary crime prevention standards, their initiators and disseminators, the principal standardization areas, and approaches to address the issue. The research aims to show modern international norms and standards based on investigating the UN declarations and other normative documents formed by international organizations considering their development prospects. The need for more scientific, legal literature on modern standardization in crime prevention determines the research relevance. Therefore, this research is based on the last three UN Congresses in world crime prevention. The results show systematized information and the standardization of crime prevention. The study reviews the primary standards in the criminal treatment and detainee juvenile offenders and methods of combating modern problems in the information space, human trafficking, and terrorism. Emphasis is also placed on gender policy, corruption, and other contemporary issues. The research shows that the UN holds the Congresses according to the social development and crimes variety once in five years. The relevant problems of the modern world are computer technology crimes, crime in COVID-19, and corruption. © 2023, World Scientific and Engineering Academy and Society. All rights reserved.

Urban Food Autonomy: The Flourishing of an Ethics of Care for Sustainability

Urban agriculture is often advanced as a sustainable solution to feed a growing urban population, offering a number of benefits: improved fresh food access, CO2 absorption, social justice and social cohesion among others. Going beyond these direct tangible/objective benefits from urban agriculture, in this paper we ask: How can growing food in the cities teach us about taking care of each other and the natural environment? We use the example of urban food autonomy movements to discuss the transformative potential of a grassroots-led initiative promoting permaculture, which is anchored in three "ethics”: care for the earth, care for the people, and fair share. Through examining the philosophical underpinnings of "autonomy” and "care”, we explore how urban food autonomy initiatives can enable the development of an ethics of care, especially using permaculture inspirations. Our theoretical review and case analysis reveal that "autonomy” can never be achieved without "care” and that these are co-dependent outcomes. The urban food autonomy initiatives are directly relevant for the achievement of the three of the UN's 17 Sustainable Development Goals: "Zero Hunger,” "Life on Land” and "Climate Action”, and contribute to a culture of care. Indeed, urban agriculture can act as a powerful education platform for the engagement of diverse stakeholders while also supporting a collective transformation of values.

A New Logic of Multilateralism on Demand

In the twenty-first century, against the background of changing geopolitics, multilateralism has been emphasized even during the U.S. Donald Trump administration, which asserted "America first” and turned his back on alliances and partnerships. Denial of multilateralism by some has been rescued by other willing powers. This chapter reflects on a logic of multilateralism developed over the years, examines what multilateralism can cater to, and analyzes new trends. Beyond the immediate crisis, this chapter also examines a new logic of multilateralism on demand that will be effective for peace, stability, and prosperity in the twenty-first century, responding to the demands of today. © 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.

Retour d'expérience sur la réorganisation d'un service d'urgence de centre hospitalo-universitaire en réponse à l'épidémie de Covid-19

Depuis décembre 2019 le monde a dû faire face à une nouvelle maladie nommée : Covid-19. Sa dissémination rapide a imposé à l'Organisation mondiale de la santé de déclarer le statut de pandémie mondiale. La réponse des services d'urgence français à cette catastrophe sanitaire était cruciale. Elle a dû intégrer la notion d'urgence inhérente à la multiplication des nouveaux cas, mais également la nécessité d'une réponse organisée et d'une modulation continuelle de celle-ci sur une période jusqu'alors inconnue. Nous présentons dans cet article un schéma d'organisation et un retour d'expérience, d'un service d'urgence de centre hospitalier universitaire (CHU), établissement de santé de référence (ESR) pour le risque épidémique et biologique pour faire face à l'épidémie. Nous exposons les grandes lignes d'une réorganisation structurelle de notre service, la modification du circuit patient en amont de la filière des urgences et en aval, mais également la modification de nos pratiques de soins. Cette réorganisation a dû prendre en compte la notion de contagiosité avec la nécessité d'une séparation précoce en deux filières de soins, effectuée grâce à un processus de prétriage et de triage en amont de la filière. L'un des points clés de cette organisation a été l'évolutivité des définitions des cas suspects au cours du temps et au gré de l'évolution de la connaissance de ce virus et de sa dissémination. Cela a nécessité une adaptabilité de notre filière et une réévaluation quasi quotidienne de cette organisation associée à une information, une formation et un entraînement du personnel de cette structure.Alternate : Since December 2019 the world has had to face a new disease called: Coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19). Its rapid spread required theWorld Health Organization (WHO) to declare the status of a global pandemic. The response of the French emergency services to this health disaster was crucial. It had to integrate the notion of emergency, inherent to the new case's multiplication, but also the need of an organized response and a continual modulation of it, over an unknown period. In this article, we present an organizational diagram and feedback to the COVID-19 outbreak from an emergency department of an academic hospital, a reference health establishment (ESR) for epidemic and biological risk. We report the main lines of a structural reorganization of our service, the modification of the patient circuit upstream of the emergency department and downstream, but also the modification of our care practices. This reorganization had to take the notion of contagiousness with the need of an early separation into two care lines, with a pre-triage and triage process upstream of the line. One of the key points of this organization has been the evolving nature of the definitions of suspected cases over time and of the virus knowledge and its spread. This has required an adaptability of our sector and a daily reassessment of this organization associated with information, training and staff training of this structure.

Building Equality: A "Litmus Test” for Recognising and Evidencing Inequalities and Segregation in the Built Environment

The current convergence of global challenges, particularly the climate change emergency, the Covid‐19 pandemic, and the Black Lives Matter movement, have highlighted the need for a new lens to challenge and interrogate key urban planning assumptions related to spatial urban inequality. Yet urban inequality is often and invariably described from a limited economic perspective, commonly interpreted and measured as income inequality. This is an overtly statistical measure, or Gini‐Type index, often giving limited and unsatisfactory results. Yet, in practice, the spatial distribution and concentration of income inequality is a multi‐scalar, multi‐variant, and multi‐disciplinary issue and has links with other and wider dimensions of inequality and well‐being. As such, this article argues for a holistic understanding of urban inequality that goes beyond narrow empirical and quantitative models. It presents collaborative research that aims to impact the actions of urban professionals, to accurately identify and adequately respond to urban inequalities. Through the establishment of an interdisciplinary expert panel, we have uncovered a series of provisional mechanisms and responses to aid practitioners to achieve more spatial equality. We introduce an integrated analytical method, the "litmus test,” that acts as a planning tool for understanding, evaluating, and responding to inequalities and segregation present in the built environment. This novel methodology and procedural framework will assist us in (a) identifying and defining different forms of inequality and segregation beyond the current scope of physical and agency‐based forms;(b) measuring and demonstrating the latter with a combination of qualitative, empirical sources that are materially significant in supporting and evidencing planning strate-gies;and (c) setting out a series of planning and built environment specific responses. © 2023 by the author(s);.