Digital Banking through the Uncertain COVID Period: A Panel Data Study

This research investigates how the uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has affected digital banking usage in India. The study is made by utilizing a panel of data consisting of 108 firm-month observations during covid period from 2020 to 2022, with data mainly collected to analyze the impact of COVID-19 uncertainty. Most of the determinants were collected from the RBI data website. The main emphasis of this study is on the utilization of digital banking services in the context of the pandemic, and the research assesses the factors that have influenced this trend, including the number of physical bank branches, the utilization of debit and credit cards at automated teller machines (ATMs) and points of sale (PoS), as well as the level of economic policy uncertainty (EPU). The analysis was conducted using panel regression analysis, a suitable method for handling the error components in the model that are either fixed or random. The findings indicate that the uncertainty caused by the pandemic has had a negative impact on the use of digital banking services. Additionally, the study highlights that the usage of debit and credit cards at PoS has significantly contributed to promoting the progress of digital banking services during the pandemic. Overall, this study provides valuable insights into how digital banking services have evolved during a period of significant uncertainty and disruption. © 2023 by the authors.

Body mass index and lactate levels on admission predict ICU mortality in elderly critically ill with severe COVID-19 pneumonia

Introduction: Obesity paradox is an established phenomenon regarding overweight patients treated in ICUs. Mortality of especially elderly patients with COVID-19 pneumonia is high and there is still scarcity of definitive predictors. Aim of our study was to assess the prediction value of Body Mass Index (BMI) on mortality of elderly critically ill with severe COVID-19 pneumonia. Methods: Data of patients, older than 70 years, with severe COVID- 19 pneumonia, admitted to 22-bed mixed ICU, level 3, was analysed retrospectively. We especially focused on BMI and lactate levels at admission. Results: A total of 102 patients (average age 77 ± 5 years) were included. Average length of ICU stay was 11.4 ± 9.2 days. Average BMI was 29.3 ± 5.2 kg/m2 and lactate levels 2.9 ± 3.2 mmol/l (Table 1). High-flow oxygenation, non-invasive ventilation and invasive ventilation were at some point used to support 34/102, 36/102 and 69/102 patients respectively. ICU mortality was 51/102 (50.0%). ICU stay was shorter in survivors (9.1 ± 8.5 vs 13.6 ± 9.4 days, p = 0.01). BMI was higher in survivors (30.5 ± 5.6 vs. 28.1 ± 4.5 kg/m2, p = 0.02);26/51 (51%) survivors and only 15/51 (29%) non-survivors had BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2 (chi-square p = 0.043). At admission BMI (OR 0.9153, 95%CI 0.8610-0.9730, p = 0.0045) and lactate levels (OR 1.3492, 95%CI 1.0856-1.676, p = 0.0069) were independent predictors of ICU mortality. Conclusions: BMI and lactate levels at admission are independent predictors of ICU mortality of elderly patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia. The study confirmed the obesity paradox in elderly critically ill with severe COVID-19 pneumonia. (Table Presented).

Pulmonary artery systolic pressure at admission predicts ICU mortality in elderly critically ill with severe COVID-19 pneumonia

Introduction: Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) is a useful diagnostic tool in noninvasive assessment of critically ill patients. Mortality of especially elderly patients with COVID-19 pneumonia is high and there is still scarcity of definitive predictors. Aim of our study was to assess the prediction value of combined lung and heart POCUS data on mortality of elderly critically ill patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia. Methods: Data of patients older than 70 years, with severe COVID-19 pneumonia admitted to 22-bed mixed ICU, level 3, was analysed retrospectively. POCUS was performed on all admitted patients;our parameters of interest were pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PAPs) and diffuse B-line lung pattern (B-pattern). Results: A total of 116 patients (average age 77 ± 5 years) were included. Average length of ICU stay was 10.7 ± 8.9 days. High-flow oxygenation, non-invasive ventilation and invasive mechanical ventilation were at some point used to support 36/116, 39/116 and 75/116 patients respectively. ICU mortality was 59/116 (50.9%). ICU stay was shorter in survivors (8.8 ± 8.3 vs 12.6 ± 9.3 days, p = 0.02). PAPs was lower in ICU survivors (32.5 ± 9.8 vs. 40.4 ± 14.3 mmHg, p = 0.024) (Table 1). B-pattern was more often detected in non-survivals (35/24 (59%) vs. 19/38 (33%), p = 0.005). PAPs and B-pattern were both univariate predictors of mortality. PAPs was an independent predictor of ICU mortality (OR 1.0683, 95%CI: 1.0108-1.1291, p = 0.02). Conclusions: PAPs at admission is an independent predictor of ICU mortality of elderly patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia. (Table Presented).

Investigating Impact of Disruption to Biological and Agricultural Engineering Senior Design Capstone Courses Due to Covid-19

Senior Capstone Design is a culminating course of the undergraduate engineering curriculum which gives students the opportunity to work in teams on designing a solution to real-world problems submitted and mentored by industrial and research project sponsors. In Biological and Agricultural Engineering disciplines, these projects can involve tasks such as field data collection, laboratory experiments or fabrication of prototypes that require access to specific laboratories and equipment. In the Spring 2020, Universities across the US shut down to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and transitioned to remote or virtual courses. The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of the transition to remote and virtual courses on senior design or capstone courses in Biological and Agricultural Engineering to find lessons learned and help plan for future disruption in these courses. Four Senior Design Capstone Course instructors from different Biological and Agricultural Engineering departments were interviewed to gather their perspectives and experiences regarding changes in instruction;student projects' management and outcomes;as well as students' learning and performance in the course. The shift to remote learning triggered frustration on both students and instructors' sides. They also faced unprecedented challenges with technology and access. Instructors acknowledged student resilience and adaptability to the situation. The creative flexibility that instructors applied to course delivery, project deliverables and assessment is a key tool that allowed them to maintain the real-world experiential nature of BAE capstone programs. © American Society for Engineering Education, 2021

Experiences with Online Education during the COVID-19 Pandemic-Stricken Semester

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic that bursted out this year, online education has become a main type of education and an entire education system was forced to make a switch from classrooms to World Wide Web. The impact of the students receiving education online for the entire semester on their final grade was analysed and the results are shown in the paper. These results are obtained by analysing the academic course Mathematical Analysis 2, held online at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing, University of Zagreb, Croatia, in the summer semester of 2020. Furthermore, the number of views of the lectures in relation to the time left until the final exam was checked in order to investigate the students' studying habits. Unsurprisingly, the most noticeable effect here is the last minute cramming. Nevertheless, the overall results show the pros and cons of online education, as well as the huge potential that online education has, even when performed at the current state. © 2020 IEEE.