Variations in the Spatial Distribution of Smart Parcel Lockers in the Central Metropolitan Region of Tianjin, China: A Comparative Analysis before and after COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a significant increase in e-commerce, which has prompted residents to shift their purchasing habits from offline to online. As a result, Smart Parcel Lockers (SPLs) have emerged as an accessible end-to-end delivery service that fits into the pandemic strategy of maintaining social distance and no-contact protocols. Although numerous studies have examined SPLs from various perspectives, few have analyzed their spatial distribution from an urban planning perspective, which could enhance the development of other disciplines in this field. To address this gap, we investigate the distribution of SPLs in Tianjin's central urban area before and after the pandemic (i.e., 2019 and 2022) using kernel density estimation, average nearest neighbor analysis, standard deviation elliptic, and geographical detector. Our results show that, in three years, the number of SPLs has increased from 51 to 479, and a majority were installed in residential communities (i.e., 92.2% in 2019, and 97.7% in 2022). We find that SPLs were distributed randomly before the pandemic, but after the pandemic, SPLs agglomerated and followed Tianjin's development pattern. We identify eight influential factors on the spatial distribution of SPLs and discuss their individual and compound effects. Our discussion highlights potential spatial distribution analysis, such as dynamic layout planning, to improve the allocation of SPLs in city planning and city logistics.

THE FEATURE OF ATRIAL FIBRILLATION OCCURRENCE AND PROGRESSION IN PATIENTS WITH ARTERIAL HYPERTENSION, WHO HAVE UNDERGONE COVID-19

Objective: COVID-19 pandemic has a rather negative effect on patients with cardiovascular pathology. AH is one of the main reasons for the remodeling process in AF patients and makes a significant contribution to the development of heart structural changes. The aim of this study is to identify the feature of AF occurrence and progression in patients with AH, who have undergone COVID-19. Design and method: In this study where enrolled 91 patients with AH and nonvalvular paroxysmal/persistent AF, who have undergone COVID-19 (first group). As a control group 109 patients with AH and AF, but without have undergone COVID- 19 were also examined (second group). The database consisting of indices that characterize the clinical, hemodynamic and structural-functional state of the heart, were analyzed by SPSS 13. Results: The obtained results showed that in the first group patients were signifi- cantly older than in the second group (mean age 71.6 ± 7.4 vs. 61.6 ± 6.4 years, p < 0.001). Resting heart rate was significantly higher in patients from first group in comparison with second group (86.6 ± 6.2 vs. 76.9 ± 7.8 beat/min, p < 0.01). In first group body mass index of patients was significantly more than in second group (33.9 ± 1.5 vs. 31.6 ± 1.8 kg/m2, p < 0.05). In the first group the prevalence of patients with uncontrolled AH were statistically significantly higher, than in the second group (54% vs. 23%, p < 0.001). In those patients the doses of antihypertensive medications taken were either increased or the antihypertensive treatment were revised. Moreover, in the first group the frequency of hypertensive crises was nearly twofold higher (31% vs. 17%, p < 0.001). It was revealed that the left atrium diameter in patients of the first group was significantly greater than in the second (44.3 ± 1.4 vs.41.2 ± 1.1 mm, p < 0.05);but systolic and diastolic dysfunction did not significantly differ in both groups. Conclusions: The obtained results indicate that in patients with AH who have undergone COVID-19, the onset of AF has some features, namely;uncontrolled AH, frequent hypertensive crises, tachycardia, overweight and older age. As well as left atrium more large dilation compared with second group that did not undergo a viral infection.

The features of atrial fibrillation occurrence in patients who have undergone COVID-19

COVID-19 pandemic has a rather negative effect on patients with cardiovascular pathology, also in patients without cardiovascular disease because its pathogenesis is based on generalized vascuities of the microvasculature with the development of multiple thrombosis and thromboembolism. Atrial fibrillation (AF) is one of the major cardiac arrhythmias and accounts for almost one third of all arrhythmias. Changes in electrical, structural, and contractile properties of cardiac tissue that are thought to underlie AF maintenance and progression are reviewed. The aim of this study is to identify the features and predictors that contribute to the onset or development of AF in patients who have had COVID -19. Methods: This was a three-center prospective study, conducted in the coronary care unit during the period of February 2020 to June 2021. This study included 196 patients with AF who underwent COVID-19 at different times of this period (I group). For comparison, the data of similar 203 AF patients without COVID (II group) were analyzed in the period from February 2018 to February 2019 from the same centers. Medical history, clinical, instrumental and laboratory data, including troponin-1, tissue factor (TF), and hsCRP were studied in all patients. The data obtained was analyzed for statistical significance including multivariable logistic regression using analyses by SPSS 16. Results: The compared results showed that the first-onset AF in patients from first group was observed in 18.7% compared with 8.1% in second group. In intensive care units, AF were registered in 44.2% of patients in I group vs. 7.1% of patients in II group. In first group among patients with ACS, AF occurred in 12.7% of cases vs. similar patients in II group- 8.4%. In first group hypokalemia was observed in 67.8% of cases vs. 28.6% in II group. Multivariable logistic regression was shown that among tested biomarkers, hsCRP , troponin-I and TF were more higher in patients undergoing COVID in compared patients with AF without COVID (odds ratio, 3.48;p<0.001, 2.36 p<0.017 and 2.48 p<0.01 accordingly). Conclusions: Some features of the onset or development of AF were identified in patients undergoing COVID. So, In these patients compared with AF patients without COVID, AF more often occurs in clinically severe patients, with ACS, as well as in patients with severe hypokalemia, higher hsCRP, TF and troponin values.

Intercultural Communication in Teaching Strategies for a Polyethnic Environment in Modern University (Online and Digital Forms)

The intercultural competence of students in the context of the value approach helps to harmonize the psychological climate in the ingtergroup throughout the entire period of study, which helps to improve the academic performance of students and prevents interethnic conflicts both in online and digital forms. Modern education in higher educational institutions, the leadership of which was forced to largely revise the principles of interaction between students and teachers due to the introduced self-isolation regime and lockdown measures during the Covid-19 pandemic around the world, today includes contact and distant forms of communication, implemented through online and offline formats. At the same time, an increase in the number of situations in which it is necessary to interact in writing and orally is due to the introduction of social networks and instant messengers into the educational process, in which intercultural competence allows expressing one's thoughts more correctly and better understanding the foreign recipient. Tasks: (1) identify the main predictors of misunderstanding that may arise in the process of intercultural communication;(2) identify the factors contributing to the establishment of intercultural communication;(3) analyze the specifics of intercultural communication in digital and offline formats. © 2022, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.

The identification of predictors and characteristics of the course of ACS in patients undergoing COVID-19

COVID-19 pandemic is a global public health burden, which has a rather negative effect on patients with cardiovascular pathology, especially with ischemic heart disease. The aim of this study is to identify predictors that contribute to the onset or development of ACS in patients who have had COVID-19 Methods: This was a three-center prospective study, conducted in the coronary care unit of two medical centers and the Institute of Cardiology in Armenia during the period of February 2020 to February 2021. This study included 393 patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients who underwent COVID-19 at different times of this period (I group). For comparison, the data of similar 297 patients were analyzed in the period from February 2018 to February 2019 from the same centers without COVD (II group). Admissions were classified as ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), non-STEMI (NSTEMI), or other ACS (including unstable angina). Medical history, clinical, instrumental and laboratory data were studied in all patients. The data obtained was analyzed for statistical significance using multivariate analyses by SPSS 16. Results: The compared results showed that the number of I group patients with NSTEMI was significantly higher than in the second group (67% vs 49%). The most common complications include arrhythmia (atrial fibrillation, ventricular tachyarrhythmia, and ventricular fibrillation) also increased in first group. Atrial fibrillation (AF) in I group was detected in 12.7% of cases, especially in those patients who have had lung damage and accompanied by more severe hemodynamic disorders. In II group AF was detected in 8.1% cases. Patients have a history of arterial hypertension (AH) and diabetes (D) in I group patients were detected in 79.3% and 28.3% of cases respectively, and in II group in 67.8% and 21.2% cases. Heart failure (HF) occurred in 1 group more often than in II group patients (47% vs 34%). In I group the age of patients was significantly higher than in group II (73±8.6 vs. 69±9.9 p<0.013). Analysis of coronary angiography data showed that, multivessel coronary vessels in I group patients was observed more often than in second group (16.8% vs 7.9%). Conclusions: The results of the present study revealed that older age, AH, diabetes and HF are predictors of ACS in patients with COVID-19. These patients more often develop NSTEMI and are characterized by multivessel coronary artery disease. Among the complications, heart rhythm disturbances, especially AF, are more common.