COVID-19 Lockdown Research Articles

Machine Learning Modeling Reveals Divergent Air Pollutant Responses to Stringent Emission Controls in the Yangtze River Delta Region

Ozone (O3) and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) are critical atmospheric pollutants whose complex chemical coupling presents significant challenges for multi-pollutant control strategies. This study investigated the spatiotemporal variations and driving mechanisms of O3 and PM2.5 in Jiaxing, China, during different COVID-19 lockdown periods from November 2019 to January 2024. Using high-resolution monitoring data, random forest modeling, and HYSPLIT backward trajectory analysis, we quantified the relative contributions of anthropogenic emissions, meteorological conditions, and regional transport to the formation and variation of O3 and PM2.5 concentrations. The results revealed a distinct inverse relationship between O3 and PM2.5, with meteorologically normalized PM2.5 decreasing significantly (−5.0 μg/m3 compared to the pre-lockdown baseline of 0.6 μg/m3), while O3 increased substantially (15.2 μg/m3 compared to the baseline of 5.3 μg/m3). Partial dependency analysis revealed that PM2.5-O3 relationships evolved from linear to non-linear patterns across lockdown periods, while NO2-O3 interactions indicated shifts from VOC-limited to NOx-limited regimes. Regional transport patterns exhibited significant temporal variations, with source regions shifting from predominantly northern areas pre-lockdown to more diverse directional contributions afterward. Notably, the partial lockdown period demonstrated the most balanced pollution control outcomes, maintaining reduced PM2.5 levels while avoiding O3 increases. These findings provide critical insights for developing targeted multi-pollutant control strategies in the Yangtze River Delta region and similar urban environments.

The development of food addiction symptoms and the role of mental health and sex among Indonesian adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The development of food addiction symptoms and the role of mental health and sex among Indonesian adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Increasing corn cultivation exacerbated crop residue burning in Northeast China in 21st century

Increasing corn cultivation exacerbated crop residue burning in Northeast China in 21st century

Mobile money remittances to cope with aggregate shocks: Urban migrants and rural families under the COVID-19 lockdown in Bangladesh

Mobile money remittances to cope with aggregate shocks: Urban migrants and rural families under the COVID-19 lockdown in Bangladesh

Change in monoterpene concentrations during winter-to-summer transition period and impact of COVID-19 lockdown at an urban site in India

Change in monoterpene concentrations during winter-to-summer transition period and impact of COVID-19 lockdown at an urban site in India

No effect of the COVID-19 lockdown on predatory fish abundance in the Caño Island Biological Reserve, Eastern Tropical Pacific Ocean

No effect of the COVID-19 lockdown on predatory fish abundance in the Caño Island Biological Reserve, Eastern Tropical Pacific Ocean

Mental disorder preventing by worry levels detection in social media using deep learning based on psycho-linguistic features: application on the COVID-19 lockdown period.

Mental disorder preventing by worry levels detection in social media using deep learning based on psycho-linguistic features: application on the COVID-19 lockdown period.

Different local air-pollution responses to the COVID-19 lockdown measures: three metropolises in Latin America

Abstract Usually, urban air pollution policies are mainly based on reducing traffic. The COVID-19 lockdown gave a great opportunity to understand the relevance of traffic on urban air pollution, because year 2020 had three periods with marked differences on traffic activity. Existing studies analyse changes on air pollution during lockdown, but not for the subsequent period when traffic increased. This study analyses short-term changes in ground-level air pollution in the Metropolitan Zone of Mexico City (MZMC), Metropolitan Area of São Paulo (MASP), and Bogotá, for three phases: before lockdown (P1), the most restrictive phase (P2), and the relaxation phase (P3). The analyses using statistical tests included: (a) comparing the average 24-h mean pollutant concentration of each phase in 2020 with the same periods from 2016 to 2019; and (b) comparing the average 24-h mean pollutant concentrations among the phases. Results show that air pollution in the three metropolises behaved differently with large but site-specific reductions in primary pollutants concentrations based on mobility-restrictions’ stringency and compliance, particular environmental characteristics, and other factors influencing emission concentrations of each metropolis. Then, in order to improve air quality, it is necessary to identify for each city, the specific factors that contribute to change emissions as much as or more than traffic, for developing holistic and effective air pollution abatement policies Air quality management strategies require understanding the effectiveness and potential side impacts of restrictive measures on traffic, considering different situations. This is a key problem for urban sustainability in Latin America.

To Blanch an Ethiop: Motifs of Blackness in The Tempest and Ben Jonson’s Masque of Blackness

In the period between 2021 and 2022 immediately following the COVID-19 lockdowns, there were 37 professional or academic productions of The Tempest in the United States. The play was by far the most produced of Shakespeare’s works in this timespan, and those 37 productions represent a 280% increase compared to 2019, in which there were 13 such productions. Considering The Tempest’s hyper-popularity within the context of the Black Lives Matter Movement and the birth of We See You White American Theatre’s calls for reform in 2020, this paper seeks to understand anew the way in which Shakespeare constructs blackness in the play. Indeed for all of its beauty and magic, The Tempest stages a violent anti-blackness in its treatment of Caliban. In particular, I argue an unexplored connection between The Tempest and Ben Jonson’s 1605 court masque, The Masque of Blackness, itself an exploration of the construction of race for a particular early modern audience. My exploration here began as a partial answer to a question posed by Robin Alfriend Kello: “how do you balance [an] attraction to the richness of Shakespearian verse against these layered histories of racial violence and exclusion?” A deeper understanding of Shakespeare’s version of blackness may grant insights into areas of intervention for those theaters reaching for The Tempest amidst national calls for anti-racist theatrical work.

The perception of dental students and educators about e-learning during COVID − 19 pandemic

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic necessitated an abrupt shift to e-learning in higher education institutions worldwide to ensure educational continuity during lockdowns. The aim of this study was to evaluate dental students’ and educators’ perceptions of e-learning during the COVID-19 lockdown and their attitudes toward implementing blended learning in post-pandemic dental education.MethodsA cross-sectional survey regarding e-teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic was conducted at the College of Dentistry. Satisfaction and attitude towards technology-based learning (TBL) were assessed. Two binary logistic regression models were performed to assess the association of factors (age, gender, Grade Point Average, IT skills and experience in TBL) with educators and students’ overall satisfaction and attitude towards TBL. The teaching staff attitude towards TBL was also assessed. Adjusted odds ratios (AOR), and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated. Significance was set at p value < 0.05.Results and conclusionsThe study included 431 students and 74 teaching staff (response rate = 92.1% and 75.6%). Most students and teaching staff rated their computer skills as intermediate (≈ 67%), and most students (77.5%) reported a fair experience in TBL. Most students were satisfied and showed a positive attitude towards the TBL experience. Male and older students showed significantly higher overall satisfaction and attitude than female and younger students. Nevertheless, most teaching staff easily adapted to the shift from traditional to TBL (74.3%), and preferred blended learning after the pandemic (73%). However, only a few of them prefer TBL in all teaching activities.

Understanding Longitudinal Muscle Injury Trends in Youth Football: Insights from U9 to U13 Players

This longitudinal study investigated the incidence and characteristics of injuries among U9, U11, and U13 male football players in an academy setting over a six-season period, from 2016/17 to 2021/22. A total of 374 injuries were analyzed, with a particular focus on muscle injuries, including Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS), muscle ruptures, and contusions. The study revealed that the highest injury incidence occurred in the U13 group, with quadriceps injuries being most prevalent in both the U13 and U11 groups. The study found that muscle injuries accounted for a significant proportion of all injuries, particularly in the U13 group, where muscle injuries increased over time. Intrinsic factors such as physical development during puberty and extrinsic factors like training intensity and psychological pressures may contribute to the higher injury rates in older age groups. Additionally, seasonal fluctuations in injury rates were observed, with a notable decline during the COVID-19 lockdowns in 2019/20 and 2020/21, followed by an increase post-lockdown due to deconditioning. The study highlights the vulnerability of young athletes to muscle injuries, particularly during growth spurts, and calls for further research into training methods and injury prevention strategies to mitigate these risks.

COVID-19-Related Lockdowns and Teen Dating Violence Prevalence Across Gender, Race, and Sex of Sexual Partners.

Research has identified increased rates of intimate partner violence (IPV) as a damaging aftereffect of COVID-19 lockdowns. While this association has been well documented in adult populations, there has been minimal research examining potential shifts in rates of teen dating violence (TDV) across the pandemic period. Members of historically minoritized groups are at particular risk for IPV victimization and perpetration. Further, some of these groups have been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic, which may lead to additional increased risk. As such, an intersectional lens is necessary to adequately investigate pandemic-related changes in TDV rates. To explore these potential relations, we examined rates of TDV before and after the COVID-19 pandemic, across a nationally representative population. The current study utilized data from the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System, a nationwide survey of health risk behaviors experienced by students in grades 9 to 12 in the United States. Pairwise t-tests were used to identify demographic differences among outcomes. Change in prevalence of outcomes across years was assessed by using absolute and relative measures of association overall and by demographic sub-groups. We found that while teen dating rates significantly decreased, rates of both physical and sexual TDV increased with sexual TDV rising significantly. In analyses by subgroup, we found significant rises in sexual TDV for females, whites, and adolescents reporting opposite-sex sexual contacts. Non-significant rises in sexual TDV rates were noted for males and Hispanics/Latinos. We also observed significantly elevated rates among students reporting both-sex sexual contacts, although rates did not change significantly between timepoints. Our findings suggest that the pandemic's impact on teen behaviors has been complex, with differential effects across different demographic groups. These results highlight the importance of ongoing tracking of TDV rates, especially during global crises, in order to better protect and support at-risk youth.

Effects of Nationwide COVID-19 Lockdown on Fossil Fuel and Biomass Burning Emissions in India

Effects of Nationwide COVID-19 Lockdown on Fossil Fuel and Biomass Burning Emissions in India

Childhood Humoral Immunity During and After COVID-19 Lockdowns

Our study, including serum from 3678 hospital inpatients and outpatients sampled before, during and after the COVID-19 lockdown periods, showed a significant decrease in overall IgG levels during the periods of sanitary restriction, particularly in children 3–10 years of age. Few months after the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions, immunoglobulin levels normalized. COVID-19 lockdowns may have induced a transient humoral immune gap.

Sex Differences in Mental Health-Related Work Incapacity Across Occupational Sectors During the COVID-19 Lockdown in Spain.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated mental health challenges across occupational sectors, disproportionately affecting workers in essential and public-facing roles. Objectives: This study ai to identify the occupational sectors in Spain most affected by mental health-related Temporary Work Incapacity due to Common Contingencies during the first COVID-19 lookdown (14 March-21 June 2020) to examine sex-based differences and to analyze the associate economic burden. Methods: A descriptive, retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted using data from salaried workers affiliated with Asepeyo, a major Social Security mutual insurance provider in Spain. The sample comprised 5135 workers granted Temporary Work Incapacity due to mental health diagnoses during the lockdown period. Variables analyzed included sex, age, ICD-10 diagnosis, occupational sector, duration of medically certified leave, and estimated direct economic cost. A focused subsample of 2123 workers from the ten most affected sectors was also examined. Results: Generalized Anxiety Disorder was the most prevalent diagnosis (69.17%), followed by adjustment disorders and depressive episodes. Women accounted for 63.5% of the total sample and 80.6% of the most affected sectors, which included elderly care, retail, education, cleaning, and healthcare. The average cost per episode was EUR 2465.7, with longer leave durations observed in sectors characterized by high emotional and social exposure. Conclusions: Mental health-related disorders during the COVID-19 lockdown revealed marked sex-based disparities and sectoral vulnerabilities. Public-facing and care-related occupations experienced a disproportionate burden. These findings support the need to recognize certain mental health conditions as occupational diseases to develop targeted, gender-informed workplace mental health strategies.

Acceptability and Feasibility of Remote PrEP Visits for Adolescent Girls and Young Women in South Africa.

The World Health Organization recommends differentiated service delivery (DSD) models for HIV prevention, including alternatives to clinic-based PrEP services. This study assessed the acceptability and feasibility of remote PrEP delivery-including HIV and pregnancy self-testing, and phone-based adherence counselling-among adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) in Johannesburg. The research was nested within the PrEP SMART trial (2019-2022), which evaluated scalable adherence support strategies for AGYW aged 18-25. During COVID-19 lockdowns, PrEP refills and testing kits were delivered to participants' homes, and counselling was provided by phone. Using a phenomenological qualitative method, we conducted in-depth interviews with AGYW (n = 14) who had the option to complete remote PrEP visits (accepting or declining), study staff (n = 12), and key informants (n = 10) involved in PrEP programming. Thematic analysis explored experiences of remote delivery, focusing on acceptability and feasibility. AGYW found remote PrEP visits convenient, empowering, and time-saving. Procedures such as self-testing and phone counselling were generally acceptable, though some expressed anxiety about performing tests incorrectly and concerns over privacy, stigma, and unintentional disclosure of PrEP use at home. About half still preferred clinic-based visits. Staff and key informants recognized benefits, but highlighted challenges related to cost, sustainability, and provider workload. Suggestions for improvement included integrating contraception and partnering with community organizations. In conclusion, remote PrEP delivery is acceptable and feasible for many AGYW but not universally suitable. These findings support the inclusion of remote PrEP options in DSD models, with attention to privacy concerns and support for self-testing in this age group.

How the COVID-19 lockdowns influenced journalists to change the way they react to online and digitally enhanced dangerous and fake content

The COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns prompted the elevation of technology facilitated online and digital resources as vital mainstays for journalists to conduct their professional duties. The pivot towards digital and online resources, already in motion within the journalism industry, was accelerated by the changes to work and life patterns in the wake of the pandemic. The same reliance correspondingly increased the exposure journalists experience to online and digital dangers. Our research demonstrates how disruptions to work routines during and after the COVID-19 lockdowns influence behavioural shifts in journalists. We highlight three key changes: journalism is now more reliant on online and digital resources and practitioners spend more time using them; during lockdowns, the more time journalists spent online or within digitally enhanced work conditions, the more they felt entrapped, a feeling accentuated by the restricted work and life conditions; and journalists tried to mitigate these dangers by resorting to avoidance or self-censorship, removing themselves from vital news architecture informing their reporting. In conclusion we propose that more resources are needed to identify and understand these complex threats and begin to discuss effective and applicable mitigative skills.

Social media use, online experiences, and loneliness among young adults: A cohort study.

This study investigated patterns of digital technology use and their associations with loneliness in a cohort of 1632 young adults (mean age 26) in the UK who had been followed prospectively since childhood by the Environmental Risk Longitudinal Twin Study. Data were collected via an online survey in 2019-2020. Although overall time spent online was associated with greater loneliness, this was not the case for social media usage specifically. Use of social media platforms (e.g., Facebook, Instagram, Twitter) showed no association with loneliness. Instead, greater loneliness was associated with the use of Reddit and dating apps, while the use of WhatsApp was associated with lower loneliness. However, individuals who reported more compulsive use of digital technology, or experiences of online victimization, were lonelier on average, suggesting that the types of experiences individuals encounter online may be more related to loneliness than using particular platforms per se. Associations were robust to controls for a prior history of depression or anxiety at age 18. Moreover, findings remained broadly consistent between those who participated before versus during COVID-19 lockdown measures. An exception was that certain types of media characterized by passive consumption were associated with loneliness prior to, but not during lockdown.

COVID-19, Involvement in Activities, and School Delinquency: A Mixed Methods Study

ABSTRACT This study examined how involvement in school activities may have affected school delinquency after the COVID-19 lockdown. It used a sequential explanatory mixed methods design and three data sources: Quantitative surveys with public school principals, in-depth qualitative interviews, and official school delinquency statistics. Contrary to expectations, school delinquency decreased after the lockdown. However, interviews with principals revealed that the types of delinquency changed. Although quantitative analysis found no significant relationship between school activities and delinquency, principals stressed the importance of these activities and other bonds to school. The findings suggest that bonds to teachers and parents may have provided a protective factor against delinquency when students did not have access to school activities.

Distance Learning During the COVID-19 Lockdown and Self-Assessed Competency Development Among Radiology Residents in China: Cross-Sectional Survey.

During the COVID-19 lockdown, it was difficult for residency training programs to conduct on-site, hands-on training. Distance learning, as an alternative to in-person training, could serve as a viable option during this challenging period, but few studies have assessed its role. This study aims to investigate the impact of distance learning during the lockdown on residents' self-assessed competency development and to explore the moderating effect of poor mental health on the associations. It is hypothesized that radiology residents who were trained through distance learning during the lockdown were more likely to report higher self-assessed competency compared to those who did not receive organized, formal training. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in 2021 among all of the radiology residents in 407 radiology residency programs across 31 provinces of China. To estimate the long-term outcomes of radiology residents' training after the initial COVID-19 outbreak, this study measured 6 core competencies developed by the US Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education reported by radiology residents. Multiple linear regression and moderating effect analysis were conducted to examine the associations between distance learning, mental health status, and self-assessed competencies. Mental health status moderated the association between distance learning and self-assessed competency of radiology residents. A total of 2381 radiology residents (29.7% of the 8,008 nationwide) met the inclusion criteria and were included in the analysis. Among them, 71.4% (n=1699) received distance learning during the COVID-19 lockdown, and 73.2% (n=1742) reported mental health struggles ranging in severity from slight to extremely severe. Radiology residents who were trained through distance learning (β=0.35, 90% CI 0.24-0.45) were more likely to report higher self-assessed competencies. This was particularly true for the competency of "interpersonal and communication skills" (β=0.55, 90% CI 0.39-0.70). Whereas, the competency of "patient care and technical skills" (β=0.14, 90% CI 0.01-0.26) benefited the least from distance learning. Poor mental health significantly moderated the relationship between distance learning and competency (β=-0.15, 90% CI -0.27 to -0.02). Distance learning, a means of promoting enabling environments during the COVID-19 lockdown, serves its purpose and helps generally improve residents' self-assessed competencies, though different competency domains benefit unequally. The impact of mental health status calls for special attention so that distance learning can fulfill its potential.