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Purpose – The purpose of this study is to examine the economic impact of COVID-19 and analyse how the corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives of Islami banks (IBs) can contribute to reducing the adverse economic impact in the context of Bangladesh. Design/Methodology/approach: Currently eight full-fledged IBs are functioning in Bangladesh adhering to the underlying principles of Shariah;among them, seven are actively engaged in CSR activities to help the underprivileged segments of its citizens. This study, through employing a content analysis method examined the information available from these IBs as well as other government sources and published materials to address the COVID-19 economic impacts, specially the role of these IBs. Findings: This study finds that along the line with national and international funds, IBs' CSR funds can also help address the economic downturn in Bangladesh caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The study further identified that if IBs develop a consortium among themselves, the CSR funds can be better utilised for the socio-economic development of Bangladesh. Research limitations/implications: The scope of this study is somehow limited, as it has only considered the impact of CSR funds by IBs in Bangladesh. Further research can be conducted in future considering the total CSR funds by all banks, i.e., conventional and Islamic banks. Practical implications: This study demonstrated that IBs spend USD 83.30 million annually, which means USD 417 in five years period. Based on the recommendations of this study, all IBs may work together to develop a joint CSR strategy for the socio-economic development of Bangladesh. Considering Bangladesh's poverty level, such a joint CSR strategy would be helpful for the vulnerable population of the country. Originality/value: This study is unique in the sense that it seeks to address the economic challenges of COVID-19 in the context of Bangladesh with support from the CSR initiatives of IBs. This study has created a new insight for IBs into developing an integrated CSR strategy, which is expected to bring significant contributions to the livelihood of the susceptible citizens of this country.
ABSTRACT
Clinically approved cell and gene therapies are opening up future possibilities to treat and prevent myriad diseases, which may include allergic diseases. In South Africa, this could help alleviate the high disease burden and economic cost of treating such diseases. However, even if viable gene-editing options to treat, cure and prevent allergic diseases become safe, effective and affordable for the South African market within the next few decades, the ethical implications and challenges of perceptions, regulation and oversight to ensure safety and equitable access remain. It would be important for all stakeholders involved, including the public and physicians, clinicians and ethicists on clinical and research ethics committees, to be informed about the possibilities, to engage in discussions with one another and to redress any gaps in knowledge. It would be especially important to determine whether cases for gene-editing aimed at allergy would be applied for therapeutic purposes or for enhancement. Much research and discussion remain to be embarked upon;however, it is imperative that research and engagement are expanded and prioritised.
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The goal of the paper is to assess early economics impact of Covid-19 on the aviation industry as it is one of the hardest hit industries. Covid-19 has an unprecedented impact on the international passenger seat capacity and gross passenger operating revenues of airlines. In the first part, we look at the impact of the pandemic on the economy as a whole and subsequently look at the economic cost of airlines. Two main elements are driving this negative trend - travel restrictions and overall economic development. We are currently experiencing the tightest international travel restrictions in the modern era of flight transportation with the economies worldwide experiencing a greater decline in GDP than during the last 3 recessions. In the second part, we look at two out of many possible path scenarios which are likely to drive the trend: V-shaped path and U-shaped path. All pandemic outbreaks before followed V-shaped scenario but Covid-19 has paralyzed the society for longer with stricter governmental measures and so U-shaped scenario has to be taken into account as the most likely outcome for the aviation industry during this pandemic. Copyright © 2022 Ubiquity Press. All rights reserved.
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Introduction: In the transmission of COVID-19 in Santiago de Cuba province, three epidemic outbreaks were observed between 2020 and 2021. Objective(s): To identify the differences between intra-and extra-domiciliary infections in three epidemic outbreaks of COVID-19 in Santiago de Cuba between March 2020 and May 2021. Method(s): A cross-sectional descriptive study of COVID-19 cases in the territory and period above mentioned was carried out, using the usual bivariate techniques of statistics and implicative statistical analysis, to a sample of 6408 cass that was chosen by simple random sampling from the database of confirmed cases. Result(s): Extra-domiciliary contagion was significantly higher than intra-domiciliary contagion without differences by sex, but according to age groups and municipalities within and between both groups. The predominance of older adults in intra-domiciliary contagion and of young adults in extra-domiciliary contagion was significant. Symptomatic patients prevailed in the intra-domiciliary;and, the asymptomatic, in the extra-domiciliary, without significant differences between both forms. Children under 20 years of age, older adults, asymptomatic and Mella municipality were the characteristics that were associated with intra-domiciliary contagion, while, with the extra-domiciliary were related symptomatic young adults. Conclusion(s): The forms of intra-and extra-domiciliary contagion were modulated according to the behavior of the people and the isolation of each age group. Extra-domiciliary predominated in intermediate ages of life, as an expression of the behavior mediated by their economic responsibility at home, while extreme ages, who remained at home to comply with isolation measures, were more prone to intra-domiciliary contagion. Copyright © 2022, Editorial Ciencias Medicas. All rights reserved.
ABSTRACT
Pineapple (Ananas comosus) is a tropical fruit that is numerous in Indonesia. This fruit can be processed into various processed food products. This author writes this article to find out the potential of pineapple as a food product that can be anti-noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes, obesity, oxidative stress, and cancer. This article is written using the narrative review method where data are collected from literature studies, namely articles in journals, books, and other literature-based online on database portals and leading search engines such as PUBMED and NCBI, the official website of the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) and the European Phenols Explorer. The collected data are then analyzed, synthesized, discussed in the discussion, and general conclusions are drawn. The findings uncovered that pineapple contains polyphenols and antioxidant components, which are pretty high in concentration and could be useful as anti-NCDs. This fruit also has a proteolytic enzyme, bromelains, which is an immunomodulator against viral infections and diseases. This review concluded that pineapple fruit can be processed into various functional food products through several methods to maintain the content of polyphenols and antioxidants that have anti-NCDs potentials. It is necessary to process or execute this idea to identify and feel its benefits according to the research objectives, and in vivo, clinical trials are needed. Copyright © 2022 The Authors. Published by Rynnye Lyan Resources.
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Background: One hundred and thirty (130) pharmacy students from the University of Copenhagen were doing their pharmacy internship in community pharmacy. Here they are to acquire knowledge of, as well as skills and competencies in, areas such as organisation, leadership, ethics, economy, patient counselling, patient safety, cooperation etc. The COVID-19 pandemic hit the entire world and created an extra steep learning curve for the interns. And why not try and combine the two: the pharmacy internship learning and the COVID-19 crisis? It is important to explore how pharmacies manage their customary and newly emerging roles during the COVID-19 outbreak. Purpose(s): The purpose of the study is to reveal how the COVID-19 pandemic influences pharmacy organisation, leadership, ethics, economy, patient counselling, patient safety, and cooperation seen through the eyes of the pharmacy interns. Method(s): A two-page long questionnaire on how COVID-19 influences the above mentioned areas was uploaded to the internship webpage, hopefully inspiring the interns, who were tasked with handing in a nine-page long report as part of their exam. A content analysis of the reports will be done. Result(s): Since the interns hand in their reports by June 19 2020, no results are available yet. If all interns write about COVID-19 in their report, though, more than 1,000 pages on their COVID-19 experiences will exist. Answers with the most insightful learning potential for pharmacy practice globally will be presented and discussed. Conclusion(s): Having successfully carried out pharmacy internship-based research for more than 20 years in Denmark, we are convinced that the study will reveal useful results.
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Based on digital network narratives, we analyzed various forms of solidarity actions negotiated by users of the mental health care network to deal with the problems arising from the Covid-19 pandemic in a context of ultra-neoliberal economy. If, on the one hand, the increase in psychosocial suffering was evident, on the other hand, the coping strategies organized by those people were astounding, many of them being developed and managed by themselves. Among these strategies, there is the activation and creation of social networks for specific purposes depending on the problem to be solved. Prioritizing the notion of "gift," these strategies updated the illusio of militancy of the users involved in them. However, the physical distance between the network members and the organization of dialogue in a virtual space make difficult the interaction dynamics in favor of the establishment of interpersonal bonds and conflict resolution. Copyright © 2023, Fundacao UNI Botucatu/UNESP. All rights reserved.
ABSTRACT
The business sector's finances have already begun to suffer as a result of decreased production and lockdowns, which have already begun to take their toll. In order to keep operations running smoothly, a significant public budget or stimulus is required to address issues such as interruptions in supply chains, difficulties in manufacturing, and paralyzed health systems. The banking and financial industry, whose prospects are related closely to those of the economy, is sure to face the brunt of the anticipated slowdown in economic development. The International Monetary Fund has reduced India's GDP growth prediction to 1.9 percent for 2020-21. There is a possibility of an increase in defaulted loans. "The downturn might potentially lead to job losses, which could put on on the retail lending books of financial institutions. The loss of revenue from tourism and the entertainment industries, amongst many other areas of business, has already damaged the economy. These and other such factors are all building up to put a burden on the economy of the whole world, which may potentially have ramifications for the next few years. The governments, central banks, and regulatory bodies in the Asia-Pacific region have each implemented their own unique set of countermeasures in response to COVID-19. These include the infusion of additional cash, loans directed at damaged companies and areas, and reductions in the policy interest rate. Additionally, it involves assistance for financial institutions in their provision of forbearance to economically viable people and companies that were negatively impacted by COVID-19. Copyright © 2023 Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications. All rights reserved.