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PurposeThe study aims to investigate the impact of workplace ostracism (WO) and fear of the COVID-19 pandemic on the family life of restaurant employees. This research is based on the conservation of resources (COR) theory and work-family interface model to understand the theoretical underpinnings of mistreatment in the food sector during the COVID-19 pandemic.Design/methodology/approachThe study utilized a survey with a structured questionnaire to collect time-lagged data from 238 restaurant employees in the central region of Punjab province in Pakistan. The collected data were analyzed using the SPSS tool with modern-day techniques like bootstrapping, process macro and SmartPLS.FindingsThe study reveals that perceived stress levels of the employees increase due to ostracism, leading to work-family conflict. Furthermore, the study found that employees who fear COVID-19 are less stressed by ostracism.Originality/valueThe study's significant contribution lies in demonstrating that the impact of ostracism in the workplace is quite different from what was expected. The results have shown that ostracism can reduce the perceived stress levels of employees, leading to a decrease in work-family conflict, especially in the presence of fear of COVID-19.
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Objective: To determine the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV2 antibodies in patients and healthy individuals presenting to a tertiary care hospital in Lahore. Study Design: Cross-sectional study Place and Duration of Study: Pathology Department of Surayya Azeem Hospital, Lahore Pakistan, from May to Jul 2020. Methodology: The study included clinically suspected patients of COVID-19 referred by clinicians and healthy individuals presenting to the hospital for the SARS-CoV-2 antibody test, irrespective of age and gender. Results: The SARS-CoV-2 antibody positivity was 704(59.4%) in our study. Out of 1184 individuals tested, 690 patients had a positive clinical history of COVID-19 infection, and 517(74.9%) were positive for COVID-19 antibodies. Out of 494 asymptomatic healthy individuals, positivity for COVID-19 antibodies was 187(37.8%). It was observed that positivity was significantly higher 169(44.0%) in contacts of COVID-19 infection patients compared to asymptomatic healthy individuals 18(16.3%). Conclusion: Our study shows that the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in the general public in Pakistan has greatly increased. © 2023, Army Medical College. All rights reserved.
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Fruit, vegetables, and green tea contain quercetin (a flavonoid). Some of the diet's most signifi-cant sources of quercetin are apples, onions, tomatoes, broccoli, and green tea. Antioxidant, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antibacterial, and anti-viral effects have been studied of quercetin. The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus, ribonucleic acid (RNA) polymer-ase, and other essential viral life-cycle enzymes are all prevented from entering the body by quercetin. Despite extensive in vitro and in vivo investigations on the immune-modulating effects of quercetin and vitamin C treatment. 3-methyl-quercetin has been shown to bind to essential proteins necessary to convert minus-strand RNA into positive-strand RNAs, preventing the replication of viral RNA in the cytoplasm. Quercetin has been identified as a potential SARS-CoV-2 3C-like protease (3CLpro) suppressor in recent molecular docking studies and in silico assessment of herbal medicines. It has been demonstrated that quercetin increases the expression of heme oxygenase-1 through the nuclear factor erythroid-related factor 2 (Nrf2) signal network. Inhibition of heme oxygenase-1 may increase bilirubin synthesis, an endoge-nous antioxidant that defends cells. When human gingival fibroblast (HGF) cells were exposed to lipo-polysaccharide (LPS), inflammatory cytokine production was inhibited. The magnesium (Mg+2) cation complexation improves quercetin free radical scavenging capacity, preventing oxidant loss and cell death. The main objective of this paper is to provide an overview of the pharmacological effects of quercetin, its protective role against SARS-CoV-2 infection, and any potential molecular processes.Copyright © 2022 Bentham Science Publishers.
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Progression of today's world has been given setback due to the adversity of a novel, viral, deadly outbreak COVID 19, which raised the concerns of the scientists, researchers and health related officials about the inherent and adaptive immune system of the living body and its relation with healthy diet balanced with pharma foods. Now world is coming out of the destructive pandemic era, the choice of right food can help to build and boost adaptive immunity and pumpkin due to excellent profile of functional and nutraceutical constituents could be the part of both infected and non-infected person's daily diet. Vitamins like A, C and E, minerals like zinc, iron and selenium, essential oils, peptides, carotenoids and polysaccharides present in pumpkin could accommodate the prevailing deficiencies in the body to fought against the viral pathogens. In current post COVID 19 scenario adequate supply of healthy diet, balanced with pharma foods could play a basic role in boosting immune system of the populations. This review covers the pharmacological activities of pumpkin functional constituents in relation with COVID 19 pandemic. Pumpkins are well equipped with nutraceuticals and functional bioactives like tocopherols, polyphenols, terpenoids and lutein therefore, consumption and processing of this remarkable vegetable could be encouraged as pharma food due to its antihyperlipidemic, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, antihyperglycemic, immunomodulatory, antihypertensive, antimicrobial and antioxidant potential. Need of healthy eating in current post COVID 19 period is very crucial for healthy population, and medicinal foods like pumpkin could play a vital role in developing a healthy community around the globe. Graphical : [Figure not available: see fulltext.]. © 2023, The Author(s).
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The Online Blood Donation Management System, the purpose of which is to act as a bridge between a person who needs blood, a patient, and a blood donor. The design of an automatic blood system has become an integral part for saving the human lives, who need the blood under different situations. Since, there are various drawbacks of the pre-existing system like privacy issues for the donors, which are getting reflected directly on the interface. Thus, we have designed a robust system that will create a connection between different hospitals, NGOs, and blood banks to help the patient in any difficult situation. Thus, HIPPA model provides a backbone for security breaches The interface designed will be easy-to-use and easy to access and will be a fast, efficient, and reliable way to get lifesaving blood, totally free of charge. Apart from this the visualization of the data is present along with the one extra COVID module, which will help covid and normal patients for plasma donation. The main aim of the paper is to reduce the complications of finding a blood donor during panic situations and provide a high level of security for the donors. © 2022 IEEE.
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Purpose: With theoretical underpinnings in the conservation of resources theory, this research aims at understanding the link between workplace ostracism (WPO) and its effects on customers' interests in the context of COVID-19, with the mediation of stress and moderation of self-efficacy (SE). Design/methodology/approach: The study followed a time-lagged design. A sample of 217 frontline employees working in the food sector of southern Punjab, Pakistan responded to the study questions using survey method with structured questionnaires. A Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) tool was utilized for data analysis with bootstrapping and PROCESS macro. Findings: The findings show that an important mechanism by which ostracism translates into customer service sabotage (CSS) is the increase in perceived stress levels of the employees. Additionally, SE was found to be an important personal resource that acts as a moderator in the said relationship. Practical implications: Employees with high SE sense less workplace stress even during a pandemic. Leadership should consider the stress-alleviating effect of SE for lessening the damaging influence of WPO on customers. Originality/value: The study fills an important empirical gap in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, by showing that due to resource loss perceived by employees while being targeted by ostracism, they may decide to transfer their frustration towards organizational customers by sabotaging their service experience. © 2022, Ambreen Sarwar, Muhammad Ibrahim Abdullah, Muhammad Kashif Imran and Nazia Rafiq.
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Introduction: Bronchial asthma is an age-old disease whereas COVID-19 is an officially declared pandemic on March 11, 2020 by WHO. Since both are primarily a disease of the respiratory system, researchers across the globe tried to explore the potential relationship between them; to date, there is no convincing data. Here, we tried to present a case to explore potential relationships between these two, if present. Case presentation: A 30-year-old male patient with well-controlled cough variant asthma was diagnosed with a case of covid-19 infection 12 months back. All other sign symptoms subsided except dry cough. The patient is treated with an inhaled bronchodilator, oral and inhaled steroid, Tab montelukast as well as other conservative management like hot water vapor, lozenge, honey, etc but symptoms were not controlled for the last 12 months. The patient could not do his job because of this problem. All examination and investigation findings were normal. After long-term use of inhaled steroids, he is now 50-60% improved and gradually improving. Discussion: Covid can exacerbate cough in an asthmatic patient. Neuronal activation and neuroinflammatory mechanisms may aggravate this cough after covid. Diagnosis confirmed clinically with the relevant improvement of symptoms. Other important differentials were excluded by appropriate history, examinations, and investigation. Cough is improved by steroids in this case. Conclusion: Summary of conclusion: Cough variant asthma may be aggravated with covid 19 infection and meticulous history, treatment, and follow up needed for an asthmatic patient who is infected with covid 19.
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Purpose This paper draws on the affordance perspective, to explore the social media (SM) usage experiences that might render valuable for academic women professionals, for knowledge exchange, networking and success. Owing to the increased SM usage during COVID-19 pandemic, this paper tries to find out that in what ways do SM affordances facilitate the underprivileged group of women professionals to grow in their careers in a masculine, conservative society through knowledge exchange. Design/methodology/approach By utilizing qualitative study design, the authors collected data from 31 women employed in Pakistani universities, through unstructured questionnaires. The responses were analyzed through Nvivo. Findings The generated themes suggested that women in Pakistan are aware of SM's potential for knowledge exchange among fellow professionals. They use it to aid them in communication, collaboration and networking. Additionally, they utilize it to share knowledge and build networks that are vital for career progression and success. Research limitations/implications The paper concludes with the implications for practitioners that would aid them in boosting career prospects for women academicians through SM usage in a developing country Pakistan;where women's career outlooks are not as promising as for men;or as bright as for women working in the developed economies. Originality/value This a unique attempt to explore knowledge exchange dimensions with the help of SM in the context of working women by the deploying the phenomenological approach.
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COVID-19 has now infected over 165 million people and killed over 3.5 million people. While public health interventions have reduced its spread and vaccines are being deployed, passive detection methods are needed to detect infections and early track its resurgence. Wearables that are widely owned can gather various physiological and activity data, presenting an opportunity to detect COVID-19 unobtrusively. COVID-19 infection causes deviations in the vital physiological signs and activity patterns of infected users. However, similar deviations of these same variables can also be affected by non-COVID factors, confounding the signals. In this paper, we investigate the feasibility of predicting COVID-19 infection to detect abnormalities in heart rate, activity (steps), and sleep data available on low-end wearables by using machine learning. Prior work utilized data such as oxygen saturation that is only available on clinical-grade equipment or expensive wearables. We extracted 43 statistical features (standard deviation, mean, slope) and behavioral (min/max/avg length of sedentary and active bouts, sleep duration, no. of awake/asleep/restless samples) from wearable sensor data. We classified these features using machine learning classification and anomaly detection algorithms. Physical activity features were the most predictive (min length of the sedentary and active bout), yielding an AUC-ROC of 78% [specificity=74%, sensitivity=69%] when classified using Gradient Boosting Machines (GBMs). We also found that sleep irregularities had low discriminative performance. COVID-19 detection using inexpensive wearables can facilitate population-level interventions. © 2021 IEEE.
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In Human-Robot Interaction (HRI) domain the prime focus is laid on the safety of the involved humans. High inertias, velocities and extensive work envelop, particularly of most of the currently used industrial robots, are reasons for the hazards associated with the interaction of humans with robots. Several strategies are being investigated for ensuring safety which includes lightweight robots (LWR), force-limiting control, start-stop monitoring, speed limiting mode, etc. These approaches often require a range of hardware peripherals to be incorporated within and around the robotic system. Alternatively, the use of Virtual Reality (VR) systems to interact with otherwise dangerous robots allows for contactless interaction. In this paper we present a Virtual Reality based arrangement that allows the interaction with the robot from distance, in a virtually created environment, to ensure human safety. Keeping in view the frequent requirements of changes in robot’s movement plan, the proposed scheme demonstrates the capability of programming these plans in the virtual environment as well. We have shown the results of controlling a real robot in VR and the root mean square error (RMSE) between the two joint angles of the real and the virtual robot is 2.61 degrees and 3.08 degrees. This leads to remote/tele-control of the robot which is one of the future demands considering the social impact of COVID-19. © 2021. Pakistan Journal of Engineering and Applied Sciences. All Rights Reserved.
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The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has had a tremendous effect on daily life and a great impact on the economy of the world. More than 200 countries have been affected. The diagnosis of coronavirus is a major challenge for medical experts. Early detection is one of the most effective ways to reduce the mortality rate and increase the chance of successful treatment. At this point in time, no antiviral drugs have been approved for use, and clinically approved vaccines have only recently become available in some countries. Hybrid artificial intelligence computer-aided systems for the diagnosis of disease are needed to help prevent the rapid spread of COVID-19. Various detection methods are being used to diagnose coronavirus. Deep extreme learning is the most successful artificial intelligence (AI) technique that efficiently supports medical experts in making smart decisions for the detection of COVID-19. In this study, a novel detection model to diagnose COVID-19 has been introduced to achieve a better accuracy rate. The study focuses on quantitative analysis and disease detection of COVID-19 empowered by a statistical real-time sequential deep extreme learning machine (D2C-RTS-DELM). The experimental results show 98.18% accuracy and 98.87% selectivity, and the probability of detection is 98.84%. The results demonstrate that the quantitative analysis and statistical real-time sequential deep extreme learning machine used in this study perform well in forecasting COVID-19 as well as in making timely decisions for treatment.
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The strict lockdown measures not only contributed to curbing the spread of COVID-19 infection, but also improved the environmental conditions worldwide. The main goal of the current study was to investigate the co-benefits of COVID-19 lockdown on the atmosphere and aquatic ecological system under restricted anthropogenic activities in South Asia. The remote sensing data (a) NO2 emissions from the Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI), (b) Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS), and (c) chlorophyll (Chl-a) and turbidity data from MODIS-Aqua Level-3 during Jan–Oct (2020) were analyzed to assess the changes in air and water pollution compared to the last five years (2015–2019). The interactions between the air and water pollution were also investigated using overland runoff and precipitation in 2019 and 2020 at a monthly scale to investigate the anomalous events, which could affect the N loading to coastal regions. The results revealed a considerable drop in the air and water pollution (30–40% reduction in NO2 emissions, 45% in AOD, 50% decline in coastal Chl-a concentration, and 29% decline in turbidity) over South Asia. The rate of reduction in NO2 emissions was found the highest for Lahore (32%), New Delhi (31%), Ahmadabad (29%), Karachi (26%), Hyderabad (24%), and Chennai (17%) during the strict lockdown period from Apr–Jun, 2020. A positive correlation between AOD and NO2 emissions (0.23–0.50) implies that a decrease in AOD is attributed to a reduction in NO2. It was observed that during strict lockdown, the turbidity has decreased by 29%, 11%, 16%, and 17% along the coastal regions of Karachi, Mumbai, Calcutta, and Dhaka, respectively, while a 5–6% increase in turbidity was seen over the Madras during the same period. The findings stress the importance of reduced N emissions due to halted fossil fuel consumption and their relationships with the reduced air and water pollution. It is concluded that the atmospheric and hydrospheric environment can be improved by implementing smart restrictions on fossil fuel consumption with a minimum effect on socioeconomics in the region. Smart constraints on fossil fuel usage are recommended to control air and water pollution even after the social and economic activities resume business-as-usual scenario. © 2021 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.