Excess Mortality Estimation During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Preliminary Data from Portugal
coronavirus, mortality, coronavirus infections, Disease Outbreaks, pandemics, Portugal
Introduction: Portugal is experiencing the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic since March 2020. All-causes mortality in Portugal increased during March and April 2020 compared to previous years, but this increase is not explained by COVID-19 reported deaths. The aim of this study was to analyze and consider other criteria for estimating excessive all-causes mortality during the early COVID-19pandemic period. Material and Methods: Public data was used to estimate excess mortality by age and region between March 1 and April 22, proposing baselines adjusted for the lockdown period. Results: Despite the inherent uncertainty, it is safe to assume an observed excess mortality of 2400 to 4000 deaths. Excess mortality was associated with older age groups (over age 65). Discussion: The data suggests a ternary explanation for early excess mortality: COVID-19, non-identified COVID-19 and decrease in access to healthcare. The estimates have implications in terms of communication of non-pharmaceutical actions, for research, and to healthcare professionals. Conclusion: The excess mortality occurred between March 1 and April 22 was 3.5- to 5-fold higher than what can be explained by the official COVID-19 deaths.
Paulo Jorge Nogueira, Miguel de Araújo Nobre, Paulo Jorge Nicola, Cristina Furtado, António Vaz Carneiro
Containment of COVID-19 in Ethiopia and implications for tuberculosis care and research
coronavirus, Public health, covid-19, Ethiopia, Tuberculosis, Containment
Abstract Background The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has emerged as a global health and economic security threat with staggering cumulative incidence worldwide. Given the severity of projections, hospitals across the globe are creating additional critical care surge capacity and limiting patient routine access to care for other diseases like tuberculosis (TB). The outbreak fuels panic in sub-Saharan Africa where the healthcare system is fragile in withstanding the disease. Here, we looked over the COVID-19 containment measures in Ethiopia in context from reliable sources and put forth recommendations that leverage the health system response to COVID-19 and TB. Main text Ethiopia shares a major proportion of the global burden of infectious diseases, while the patterns of COVID-19 are still at an earlier stage of the epidemiology curve. The Ethiopian government exerted tremendous efforts to curb the disease. It limited public gatherings, ordered school closures, directed high-risk civil servants to work from home, and closed borders. It suspended flights to 120 countries and restricted mass transports. It declared a five-month national state of emergency and granted a pardon for 20 402 prisoners. It officially postponed parliamentary and presidential elections. It launched the ‘PM Abiy-Jack Ma initiative’, which supports African countries with COVID-19 diagnostics and infection prevention and control commodities. It expanded its COVID-19 testing capacity to 38 countrywide laboratories. Many institutions are made available to provide clinical care and quarantine. However, the outbreak still has the potential for greater loss of life in Ethiopia if the community is unable to shape the regular behavioral and sociocultural norms that would facilitate the spread of the disease. The government needs to keep cautious that irregular migrants would fuel the disease. A robust testing capacity is needed to figure out the actual status of the disease. The pandemic has reduced TB care and research activities significantly and these need due attention. Conclusions Ethiopia took several steps to detect, manage, and control COVID-19. More efforts are needed to increase testing capacity and bring about behavioral changes in the community. The country needs to put in place alternative options to mitigate interruptions of essential healthcare services and scientific researches of significant impact.
Hussen Mohammed, Lemessa Oljira, Kedir Teji Roba, Getnet Yimer, Abebaw Fekadu, Tsegahun Manyazewal
Infectious and parasitic diseases, Public aspects of medicine
Evaluation of the Effect of Environmental Parameters on the Spread of COVID-19: A Fuzzy Logic Approach
In recent months, the world has experienced the outbreak and spread of a new infectious disease, COVID-19. The spread of this disease has been so severe, and even many developed countries have struggled to manage this situation. However, some countries, such as China and Australia, have shown success in taking effective steps towards tackling the crisis. So far, some preventive measures to contain the spread of infection have emerged. Numerous studies have been undertaken worldwide in parallel in order to develop strategies to contain the virus, as well as to determine climatic or atmospheric conditions favoring COVID-19 spread. In this research, an artificial intelligence (AI) system has been adopted to assess the effective role of various environmental conditions in the spread of COVID-19. Temperature, relative humidity (RH), and UV index (UVI) of some affected countries were considered as input parameters while the total number of infected people is taken as the output variable. After plotting all available data as linguistic variables, a relationship is established between temperature, RH, UVI, and the number of infected people. From the surface graph, it can be stated that in addition to UVI, temperature and RH have a significant impact on the number of affected people. The maximum and minimum temperatures as well as other parameters are considered on the basis of mean values.
Mohammad Asaduzzaman Chowdhury, Quazi Zobaer Shah, Mohammod Abul Kashem, Abdus Shahid, Nasim Akhtar
Electrical engineering. Electronics. Nuclear engineering, Computer software
The Spatial Dimension of COVID-19: The Potential of Earth Observation Data in Support of Slum Communities with Evidence from Brazil
Pandemic, urban health, informal settlements, urban remote sensing, deprived areas
The COVID-19 health emergency is impacting all of our lives, but the living conditions and urban morphologies found in poor communities make inhabitants more vulnerable to the COVID-19 outbreak as compared to the formal city, where inhabitants have the resources to follow WHO guidelines. In general, municipal spatial datasets are not well equipped to support spatial responses to health emergencies, particularly in poor communities. In such critical situations, Earth observation (EO) data can play a vital role in timely decision making and can save many people’s lives. This work provides an overview of the potential of EO-based global and local datasets, as well as local data gathering procedures (e.g., drones), in support of COVID-19 responses by referring to two slum areas in Salvador, Brazil as a case study. We discuss the role of datasets as well as data gaps that hinder COVID-19 responses. In Salvador and other low- and middle-income countries’ (LMICs) cities, local data are available; however, they are not up to date. For example, depending on the source, the population of the study areas in 2020 varies by more than 20%. Thus, EO data integration can help in updating local datasets and in the acquisition of physical parameters of poor urban communities, which are often not systematically collected in local surveys.
Patricia Lustosa Brito, Monika Kuffer, Mila Koeva, Julio Cesar Pedrassoli, Jiong Wang, Federico Costa, Anderson Dias de Freitas
How Will We Dine? Prospective Shifts in International Haute Cuisine and Innovation beyond Kitchen and Plate
innovation, Delphi method, haute cuisine, Michelin Star, fine dining, high gastronomy
Haute cuisine, the cooking style for fine dining at gourmet restaurants, has changed over the last decades and can be expected to evolve in the upcoming years. To engage in foresight, the purpose of this study is to identify a plausible future trend scenario for the haute cuisine sector within the next five to ten years, based on today’s chefs’ views. To achieve this goal, an international, two-stage Delphi study was conducted. The derived scenario suggests that the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic will lead to significant restaurant bankruptcies and will raise creativity and innovation among the remaining ones. It is expected that haute cuisine tourism will grow and that menu prices will differ for customer segments. More haute cuisine restaurants will open in Asia and America. Local food will remain a major trend and will be complemented by insect as well as plant-based proteins and sophisticated nonalcoholic food pairings. Restaurant design and the use of scents will become more relevant. Also, private dining and fine dining at home will become more important. The scenario also includes negative projections. These findings can serve as a research agenda for future research in haute cuisine, including the extension of the innovation lens towards the restaurant and the business model. Practical implications include the necessity for haute cuisine restaurants to innovate to cope with increasing competition in several regions. Customers should be seen as co-creators of the value of haute cuisine.
Victor Tiberius, Nele Schwark, Manuela Fabro
Burnout Syndrome among Healthcare Workers is Associated with Violence against Them. What Needs to Be Done?
SARS-CoV-2, mental fatigue, dehumanization, doctors' abuse, maslach theory, workplace aggressiveness
Background: Patients have seemingly become more aggressive against healthcare workers when seeking their demands during the SARS-CoV2 pandemic. Violence against healthcare workers is multifactorial and one that strongly associates with the burnout syndrome. Objectives: The aim of this study was to draw a conclusion from the previously published literature about the association of violence against Health Care Workers (HCWs) and their burnout syndrome. And also, to find out other associated factors and possible solutions for this phenomenon. Results: HCWs are subject to stressful situations and high pressure, alongside highly infectious diseases (SARS-CoV2), shortage of PPE, working for more than 24 hr, without payment or reward, difficulties at the workplace, and a poor workplace administration, which can all lead to what is known as a “burnout syndrome.” On the other hand, patients have high expectations of their needs. Their attendants' (co-patients) are generally anxious about their patients' medical fate. Also, patients or co-patients perceive a doctor as their only savior, and so any unexpected or unpleasant behavior from the burnt-out HCWs can be counteracted by aggressiveness and violence. Conclusion: Violence against HCWs is associated with burnout syndrome and vice versa. A real attempt should be made focusing on the radical solution for the problem of burnout syndrome rather than enacting laws to punish the aggressors against HCWs.
Development of a Portable, Ultra-Rapid and Ultra-Sensitive Cell-Based Biosensor for the Direct Detection of the SARS-CoV-2 S1 Spike Protein Antigen
serological assay, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (sars-cov-2), point-of-care (POC), membrane engineering, bioelectric recognition assay (bera), S1 spike protein
One of the key challenges of the recent COVID-19 pandemic is the ability to accurately estimate the number of infected individuals, particularly asymptomatic and/or early-stage patients. We herewith report the proof-of-concept development of a biosensor able to detect the SARS-CoV-2 S1 spike protein expressed on the surface of the virus. The biosensor is based on membrane-engineered mammalian cells bearing the human chimeric spike S1 antibody. We demonstrate that the attachment of the protein to the membrane-bound antibodies resulted in a selective and considerable change in the cellular bioelectric properties measured by means of a Bioelectric Recognition Assay. The novel biosensor provided results in an ultra-rapid manner (3 min), with a detection limit of 1 fg/mL and a semi-linear range of response between 10 fg and 1 μg/mL. In addition, no cross-reactivity was observed against the SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein. Furthermore, the biosensor was configured as a ready-to-use platform, including a portable read-out device operated via smartphone/tablet. In this way, we demonstrate that the novel biosensor can be potentially applied for the mass screening of SARS-CoV-2 surface antigens without prior sample processing, therefore offering a possible solution for the timely monitoring and eventual control of the global coronavirus pandemic.
Sophie Mavrikou, Georgia Moschopoulou, Vasileios Tsekouras, Spyridon Kintzios
Erythematous Papular Rash: A Dermatological Feature of COVID-19
COVID-19 is the clinical expression of the highly contagious severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) viral infection. Most patients have mild symptoms, but a significant proportion have severe or critical disease, which can include cardiac injury, sepsis, acute kidney failure and respiratory failure. It is also worth highlighting the increasing number of reported COVID-19 cases with dermatological disease/manifestations. The cutaneous clinical spectrum is wide and includes maculopapular, urticarial, varicelliform and petechial rashes, pseudo perniosis, livedo reticularis, and pityriasis rosea-like, violaceous and pustular lesions. Until the physiological mechanism is fully understood, it is important to describe these manifestations, which could help identify a typical pattern. This report describes a cutaneous manifestation in a COVID-19 patient.
Lourdes Alvoeiro, Catarina Sousa Gonçalves, Nuno Alexandre de Sousa Reis Carreira, Dúlio Teixeira Passos, Ana Luísa Barbosa, Ana Maria Baltazar, Alexandra Wahnon, Ana Mafalda Abrantes, Pedro Miguel Garrido, Teresa Ferreira, Marisa Teixeira Silva
Creative Economy: World Experience and Challenges for Ukraine within the Terms of Crisis Transformations
economic crisis, profitability, creative industries, creative economy, Creative Business, global rating
Today, there is a need for new theoretical-methodological and practical methods and approaches to activate and efficiently use creative human potential, which is an important factor in stabilizing and sustainable development of the modern economy. It is specified that creative and intellectual human potential is the main driver of formation of the new economy and a determining factor of competitiveness at the global level. In the article, the creative economy is defined as the conception of a post-industrial economy, which is based on the formation of a system of socio-economic relations regarding the production, distribution and consumption of benefits, which use as factors the production creativity, intellectual resources, as well as a talent for generating new ideas, which creates an innovative product or service. Also proved is the probability of Ukraine’s creative economy reaching the highest level of development, provided the efforts of the State, enterprises and society are combined, as evidenced by Ukraine’s high position in the global rankings of creativity and innovation. The creative potential of each of the five continents of the world are analyzed and a rating of creative industries by the level of profitability is built up. Creative industries with the largest share of profitability (television, visual arts, newspapers and magazines) as well as regional leaders for most creative industries – the USA and Asia – are identified. The profitability of creative industries in different regions of the world is estimated and, according to the results obtained, the prevailing share of creative industries is observed in the Asia-Pacific region (33%). The importance of supporting creative businesses during the crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic is emphasized. Based on the analysis of the survey of creative business owners, recommendations are made for the government to enable creative industries to compensate for their own losses and to provide favorable conditions for the reactivation of their activities.
Female Nurse Performance Model Based on Triple Roles Conflict and Job Stress in Pandemic COVID-19
covid-19, Pandemic, job stress, nurse performance, triple roles conflict
being a nurse is not just a matter of restoring a patient's physical health. More than that, nurses have an obligation to provide mental support to patients in order to remain optimistic about achieving recovery. What's more, to patients infected with COVID-19. The testimony of one of the nurses stated that he understood anyone who was infected with COVID-19 had the opportunity to experience a mental breakdown and that is where the humanist duty of a nurse was tested. The purpose of this study is to explain the performance of female nurses affected by triple roles conflict and job stress who they work at an accredited government hospital in Bali. The population in this research was married women and has children and for respondents were 52 nurses. The data analysis used regression analysis techniques. The results of this study found that triple roles conflict had a negative and significant effect on the performance of nurses. There was a negative and significant influence between job stress and performance of nurses. Also, there was a simultaneous negative influence between triple roles conflict and job stress on the performance of nurses. It can be concluded that there was an influence between triple roles conflict and job stress on women nursing performance partially or simultaneous. Therefore, female nurses, as well as housewives who have triple role conflict and job stress, are expected to have good time management that can improve aspects of their performance so be able to carry out their duties, and no one role is neglected.
I Gusti Bagus Rai Utama, Ni Putu Dyah Krismawintari, Yeyen Komalasari