An evaluation of the impact of COVID-19 lockdowns on electricity demand

The COVID-19 pandemic has given rise to significant changes in electricity demand around the world. Although these changes differ from region to region, countries that have implemented stringent lockdown measures to curtail the spread of the virus have experienced the greatest alterations in demand. Within Australia, the state of Victoria has been subject to the largest number of days in hard lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic. We conduct an exploratory data analysis to identify predictors of demand, and have built a time series forecasting model to predict the half-hourly electricity demand in Victoria. Our model distinguishes between lockdown periods and non-restrictive periods, and aims to identify a variety of patterns that we show to be influential on electricity demand. The model thereby provides a nuanced prediction of electricity demand that captures the shifting demand profile of intermittent lockdowns.

Trauma-informed school counseling practices to address COVID-19-fueled discrimination and racial trauma in Asian-American youth: A multitiered system of support

Following the COVID-19 outbreak, Asian Americans, more specifically East and Southeast Asian Americans, have become the targets of racism, discrimination, and hate crimes. Mirroring this broader societal problem of COVID-related racism, schools have become a hostile environment for Asian American students with a significant rise in bullying and discriminatory incidents. In addition to experiencing harassment and discrimination in schools, Asian American students have also reported such incidents in online platforms. Both in-person and online COVIDrelated discrimination experienced by Asian American students have been linked to the PTSD symptoms, racial trauma, in this minoritized population. Therefore, the purpose of this chapter is to serve as a resource for school counselors to implement trauma-informed, culturally-sensitive practices, using the multitiered systems of support (MTSS) as a guide, when working with Asian American youth affected by COVID-19-related racial discrimination. © 2021, IGI Global.

Differences in employment concerns between Hispanic and Caucasian persons with multiple sclerosis: A propensity score matching analysis

BACKGROUND: Little is known about the experiences and concerns of Hispanic Americans with multiple sclerosis (MS), especially how their experiences and concerns compare to those of Caucasian Americans with MS. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to examine differences in satisfaction with the overall employment situation between two matched samples of adults with MS, namely, Hispanics and Caucasians. METHODS: Participants in this study responded to a national survey of the employment and community living concerns of people with MS. A propensity score matching (PSM) procedure was used to match participants based on demographic and MS-related variables. RESULTS: A two-sample Hotelling T2 test revealed no statistically significant between-group differences on satisfaction regarding fair treatment in the workplace but between-group differences were observed on satisfaction regarding legal rights and personal-environmental resources related to work. CONCLUSIONS: Implications for future research and clinical practice in rehabilitation counseling in the COVID-19 era are discussed. © 2021 - IOS Press. All rights reserved.

Impact Analysis of Commuting Rideshare Design and Organizational Efficiency During Public Health Emergencies

To explore the feasibility and organizational efficiency of applying ridesharing to commutes during public health emergencies, this study analyzed the public's willingness and perception of the exposure risks of different travel modes based on an online questionnaire for passenger travel preferences during COVID-19. The survey shows that approximately 71% of both car owners and car-free groups have a high willingness to share rides with people from the same company. 60% of car owners are happy to offer rideshare services, while 73% of car-free employees show a willingness to join a carpool. Utilizing ridesharing in company is feasible and available, with proper demand and foundation. A study on the driving factors behind ridesharing based on a questionnaire and binary logit model shows that a traveler's subjective perception of travel mode risk has a significant influence on the rideshare choice. Considering the travel mode preferences of groups during COVID-19, this paper proposes the principles of mutual benefit, reassurance, shared appointments, shared ridership control, and requirements for levels of service based on the health management of the rideshare commuting mode. Through simulations of carpooling in different scenarios, the expected efficiency of the mode was analyzed. Compared to the "N to N" pairing in commercial ridesharing, the "N to 1" pairing in the commuting rideshare mode organized by the company greatly improved the efficiency. For different rates of car ownership, there generally exists a proper staff size, usually not large, corresponding to an optimum pairing rate. The pairing rate in distributed residences is lower than that in concentrated residences. When the car ownership rate reaches 65%, the pairing rate can be high in both distributed and concentrated residences. During public health emergencies, exploring urban transportation innovations to solve commuting mobility needs as well as risk management and control will provide a reference for resilient urban governance. © 2020, Editorial Department of China Journal of Highway and Transport. All right reserved.

Reducing the Effect of Functional Disability on Life Satisfaction Among Persons With a Lived Experience of an Infectious Viral Disease in Taiwan: A Tri-Mediation Model

The purpose of the study was to examine whether disability acceptance, hope, and resilience mediate the relationship between functional disability and life satisfaction in people with a lived experience of an infectious viral disease (i.e., polio and postpolio syndrome [PPS]). Participants consisted of 157 individuals diagnosed with polio or PPS who were recruited from two community support organizations in Taiwan. Participants completed self-report questionnaires. Data were analyzed with a simultaneous regression analysis. The tri-mediation model indicated that disability acceptance, hope, and resilience were associated with life satisfaction, accounting for a large effect size of 46% of the variance in the life satisfaction scores. The direct effect of functional disability on life satisfaction became insignificant when the mediators were controlled for in the model. Hope, disability acceptance, and resilience were found to fully explain the association between functional disability and life satisfaction. This study demonstrated that positive psychosocial factors might help to buffer the indirect and direct negative effects of functional disability on life satisfaction. Implications of these findings for future research and clinical practice when supporting individuals with a lived experience of an infectious viral disease, including COVID-19, are discussed. © Hammill Institute on Disabilities 2020.