Individual Protection Research Articles

New promising antiseptics for individual antiviral protection against seasonal infections including COVID-19

Seasonal viral infections of the upper respiratory tract are widespread throughout the world. The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has revealed the importance of timely personalized prevention of acute viral diseases and related bacterial complications. One of the main directions in the preventing viral infections relies on the development of effective antiseptics to inactivate viruses on the hands and mucous membranes. To effectively destroy SARS-CoV-2, the WHO recommends two antiseptics: a 70% ethanol solution and sodium hypochlorite. The proposed antiseptics are outdated and have an irritating effect on the skin and mucous membranes. In connection with this, a promising research direction includes development of new antiseptics with selective toxicity, low volatility, low coefficients in the oil-water system, weak lipophilic properties, low absorption into the vacuolar skin structures and low content of toxic impurities. One of these antiseptics is anavidin. The development and selection of molecules has been carried out, the next planned stage will be assessment of the effectiveness and safety of new molecules, including preclinical and early phase clinical trials, also analyzing prevention of viral infections, e.g. COVID-19.

EPIDEMIOLOGY OF INJURIES AND ASSOCIATED RISK FACTORS IN ATHLETES PARTICIPATING IN 2022 AEROBIC GYMNASTICS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPD CHAMPIONSHIP ATHLETES

Exercise is described as a preventive and therapeutic strategy against various diseases. However, competitive sports practice is associated with an increased risk of injuries, particularly with specialization and more intense training at younger ages. Given the importance of surveillance and epidemiological studies to protect athletes’ health, our study aimed to describe the prevalence of injuries among athletes at the 2022 Aerobic Gymnastics World Championship (WCH) and to understand the intrinsic and extrinsic risk factors that may contribute to these injuries. Athletes participating in WCH 2022 were invited to complete a retrospective injury questionnaire covering the past 12 months of their training schedule. Descriptive statistic data were used to analyze all variables in the study. Seventy-three percent of athletes reported sustaining injuries, with an average of 1.6 ± 1.5 injuries occurring one to three times in the past year. The most common injuries were muscle injuries, joint sprains, stress fractures, and contusions, with the lower limbs being the most affected, followed by the upper body and trunk. Regarding injury risk factors, a significant number of athletes reported experiencing psychological stress (p=0.043) and concerns about individual protection equipment (p=0.042). Given that the type of injury and affected body region seem to be related to sports-specific movements, the impact absorption of the floor and footwear should be studied further. Additionally, injury prevention measures should include coping strategies to manage stress effectively.

Role of Economic Rights in the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action: What is missing in the discussion

This paper examines the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action (VDPA), adopted in 1993, as a pivotal document in the post-Cold War era that aimed to consolidate and reaffirm universal human rights principles. While the VDPA successfully highlighted the rights of marginalized groups such as women, children, indigenous people, and those with disabilities, it notably falls short in addressing economic rights. The paper argues that the VDPA’s lack of clear guidance on economic rights is a significant omission, especially given the economic upheavals of the 1990s, including high unemployment and the transition to market economies. Through an analysis of primary and secondary sources, the paper reveals that the VDPA’s failure to include detailed provisions for economic rights leaves a critical gap in the protection of individuals’ right to economic participation and well-being. The conclusion calls for a reorganization of human rights frameworks to include economic rights as essential for the realization of human dignity and equality.

Cybercrime in Nordic countries: a scoping review on demographic, socioeconomic, and technological determinants

Knowledge of factors contributing to cybercrime threats is needed to plan effective prevention strategies to combat the increasingly common occurrence of cybercrime. This scoping review summarizes current status of the literature published on the demographic, socioeconomic, and technological determinants of cybercrime offenders and victims in Nordic countries. The review followed Arksey and O’Malley’s methodology and the PRISMA-ScR guidelines, leading to the selection of 16 articles published between 2013 and 2022 for critical appraisal and data extraction. Only two studies focused on cybercrime offenders. The majority of studies (n = 10) were conducted in Finland and the dominant types of crime were harassment and online hate. Age, gender, living alone, immigration background, income, and education played different roles in determining victimization for different types of cybercrime. Associations between victimization and technological factors such as computer skills, protective measures, and specific platforms have also been identified. This review contributes to the emerging research area of cybercrime in Nordic countries by mapping the context of cybercrime and highlighting areas where further research is needed to ensure the protection of individuals in an increasingly digitalized world.

Measuring Vaccine Literacy in Switzerland: How is the situation after COVID-19?

Abstract Background Vaccinations are one of the most effective medical health interventions and one of the most important preventive measures. However, the population is often unsure about vaccination, and the roles and responsibilities of the key actors seem often unclear. To adequately protect the population against vaccine-preventable diseases, the Swiss Confederation, the Cantons and other stakeholders have developed the National Vaccination Strategy and an associated action plan. For its implementation, studies on the population’s knowledge, attitudes, skills, and vaccination behavior are crucial. Thus, the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health launched a study to assess vaccine literacy and its relation to vaccination readiness and behavior in the adult population in Switzerland. Methods A representative sample of 2,500 people living in Switzerland will be surveyed in summer 2024. The online questionnaire will include validated instruments, e.g. the HLS19-VAC Instrument to measure vaccine literacy or the 7C Vaccination Readiness Scale, as well as questions on correlates of vaccine literacy, vaccination readiness and behavior. Results The results of the survey will be presented, with a focus on vaccine literacy, vaccination readiness and behavior and their correlates. Specifically, differences among the three main language regions and between specific population groups will be shown. Further, a comparison with data from previous studies will be presented. Conclusions Despite having an advanced healthcare system, to date Switzerland has only partially reached its objectives in terms of vaccination, both for individual protection and collective immunity. New data on vaccine literacy, vaccination readiness and behavior as well as on the influencing factors are needed, especially after the pandemic, to guide effective future actions and measures to improve the vaccine coverage and public health in Switzerland. Key messages • Due to the COVID-19 pandemic the topic of vaccination in general has received increasing attention and may has changed people’s knowledge and attitudes towards vaccination. • Newest data on vaccine literacy, vaccination readiness and behavior are necessary to inform future, targeted actions and increase vaccine uptake.

What happens to the “social” in psychosocial? Exploring epistemic practices and therapeutic culture in teacher education

This paper examines the role of the psychosocial as an influential epistemic category in the context of a globalised therapeutic culture. Drawing on empirical data from fieldwork conducted at a teacher education institution in Norway, we conceptualise the psychosocial as epistemic practice and analyse three interrelated social levels: the individual level, concerned with teachers’ performance as social caretakers; the community level, characterised by a diagnosing gaze on individual pupils; and the societal level, understood as structural threats to well-being. Our study suggests that these epistemic practices favour psychological diagnosis and individual protection over shared knowledge and broader social awareness.

Monitoring system for physical activity and fitness based on service robots and biomechanics

Exercise is one of the important ways for people to exercise, with characteristics such as sociality and strong participation. Especially with the improvement of the level of economic development and the improvement of the quality of life of the people, more and more people begin to attach importance to the maintenance of their own health. Physical fitness monitoring, as an effective means, is widely used in daily life, especially among the elderly. However, most of the existing monitoring methods are relatively simple, lacking pertinence, and the data collection process is relatively cumbersome and unstable, which cannot meet current needs. Therefore, it is very necessary to explore a new type of equipment that can more comprehensively and accurately monitor various physiological parameters of the human body to replace existing traditional detection technologies. Service Robots are currently the most promising intelligent hardware products. They mainly provide personalized services centered on users, sensing user behavior and implementing intelligent decision-making based on their characteristics, thereby better meeting the needs of different groups of people. This article focused on the research and development of Service Robots, and designed a comprehensive solution for Service Robots based on theories such as the Internet of Things, cloud computing, big data technology, and artificial intelligence. This article compared existing intelligent monitoring systems with fitness monitoring systems based on Service Robots, and proved that the user experience of fitness monitoring with robot participation has improved by about 4.68%. Its application scenarios were richer and its effects were more significant, enabling it to better complete tasks such as analysis and prediction of physical fitness status, real-time warning, etc., reducing the risk of people suffering from diseases, and enhancing individual protection awareness.

Understanding Constitutional Principles for the Advancement of Digital Rights in Palestine

Abstract Information and Communication Technologies raise new legal issues, risks and implications regarding the rights and legal protection of individuals in cyberspace. Constitutions generally protect basic rights and freedoms. Departing from the importance of constitutional protection concerning basic rights and freedoms, this article aims at assessing the constitutional and legal status of digital rights in Palestine, while considering the political and legal challenges. It studies the concept of digital rights and their protection in the Palestinian Basic Law, as constitutional norms. The article finally analyses the available constitutional remedies to address implications of the new and emerging needs to protect human rights in the cyberspace. The article argues that the existing constitutional principles should be understood broadly from a human-rights-centred approach to address risks and implications of technologies on human rights.

The role of social work intervention in promoting mental health and resilience in communities: Ubuntu perspective

The prevalence of mental health illness is on the rise throughout the world. Mental health is increasingly one of the most overwhelming conditions that has an effect on the social functioning of individuals and families within communities. Mental Health Care Act, No 17 of 2002 of the South African government provides for the protection of individuals and communities against mental health. Still, people continue to experience mental health problems at a high rate. Social workers have a fundamental role to play in improving mental health services and outcomes for communities. Social work services have the potential to improve the lives of people with mental health conditions and build resilience in individuals and families. Resilience is a critical technique that assists individuals to function properly despite the challenges they may have experienced. Research has shown that people with mental health problems struggle to return back to normality. This article aims to explore the roles of social work intervention in promoting mental health and resilience in communities. The study was conducted by analyzing research or studies related to mental health and resilience. The study carried out comprehensive desktop electronic research to gather data and themes from previous studies. The analysis showed that mental health is still a major concern, and social workers have an important role to play in building resilience for individuals and families.

The system of subjects of administrative and legal support for the use of individual armor protection by the civilian population

The system of subjects of administrative and legal support for the use of individual armor protection by the civilian population

Contraceptive Care in the Rheumatic Diseases: A Review.

Contraception can help individuals with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs) to avoid undesired pregnancies and improve reproductive outcomes. Despite the importance of contraception in the care of females with RMDs, evidence suggests that many of these individuals do not receive consistent or disease-specific counseling regarding contraceptive options. This includes female patients receiving teratogenic prescriptions as part of the management of their RMDs, or who have severe disease activity that might culminate in adverse pregnancy and perinatal outcomes. Contraceptive counseling can help females with RMDs who wish to prevent pregnancy to select a contraceptive method that is best for them.We conducted a narrative review of the primary literature addressing reversible, prescription-based contraception for females with RMDs, framed by published guidelines on contraceptive safety. Many safe and effective contraceptive options are available for females with RMDs. Special considerations must be given to individuals with systemic lupus erythematosus, whose disease activity may be exacerbated by exogenous estrogen. Females with positive antiphospholipid antibodies should avoid estrogen-containing contraception due to an unacceptable risk of thrombosis and should conditionally avoid depot medroxyprogesterone acetate, which appears to have a prothrombotic signature. Limited contraceptive options are available to male patients. Contraceptive care for adolescents with RMDs can be extrapolated from guidelines written for adult patients, with the additional consideration of barrier protection for individuals at risk for sexually transmitted infections. Future research is needed to assess the effects of contraception use on rheumatic disease activity and side effects.

Adhesion to use individual protection equipment during the Covid-19 pandemic: a phenomenological study with nurse managers

Abstrair Mirar: Compreender, segundo a percepção dos Enfermeiros Gerentes de um hospital, a adesão ao uso de equipamentos de proteção individual (EPIs) pelos profissionais de saúde durante a pandemia da Covid-19. Método: Estudo qualitativo fenomenológico, envolvendo 17 Enfermeiros Gerentes de um hospital do Norte de Portugal, durante a primeira onda da pandemia. Para o processamento dos dados, utilizou-se a entrevista semiestruturada e a análise de conteúdo. Resultados: Facilitadores da adesão ao uso de EPI; Dificultadores da adesão ao uso de EPI e estratégias que promovem a adesão foram as categorias resultantes. Conclusão: O medo e a percepção de risco foram os facilitadores que mais impactaram na mudança de comportamentos, enquanto o uso comprometido de EPI foi o maior impeditivo. A supervisão da equipe e da assistência prestada destaca-se como estratégia central dos enfermeiros gerentes. O enfermeiro gerente deve implementar estratégias que promovam mudanças comportamentais e favoreçam a adesão.

Knowledge, attitudes and behaviour towards ticks and tick-borne diseases—A survey among Lyme borreliosis cases in Bavaria in 2019

Lyme borreliosis (LB) is the most common tick-borne disease (TBD) in Germany. In Bavaria, the average annual incidence of reported cases was 34.3 cases per 100,000 inhabitants between 2013 and 2020, although case numbers were presumed to be substantially higher. Since no vaccine against LB is currently available, prevention focuses on individual protection measures. This study aims to address knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours among LB cases, a population group at increased exposure to ticks, tick bites and repeated infections.We invited Bavarian LB cases reported between weeks 23 and 35 in 2019 to participate in a questionnaire study. Questions included socio-demographic characteristics, experiences with TBDs, potential tick exposures, details of the recent episode of LB, and knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours regarding TBDs and protection measures.Among the 377 participants, 300 were adults/adolescents, 77 were children (<14 years). Two third resided in rural areas. Although mostly well informed, a significant proportion of participants did not know or were misinformed about availability of repellents (48.5 %), risk of LB in their district (24.9 %), ticks not falling from trees (22.1 %) and non-availability of vaccination against LB (20.9 %). Even though a majority perceived checking for ticks after spending time outdoors, wearing long clothes, wearing closed shoes and tucking pants in socks as effective protection measures against tick bites, a much lower proportion applied those measures frequently (proportions perceived vs. applied: 99.2 % vs. 72.1%; 93.8 % vs. 40.2 %, 88.8 % vs. 51.1 % and 85.4 % vs. 16.8 %, respectively).Identified lack of knowledge or misconception regarding risk factors, availability of protection measures and tick behaviour may hamper application of recommended protection measures. There appeared to be a discrepancy between perceived effectiveness and frequency of application of protection measures. Addressing identified gaps in education campaigns, specifically targeting people living in rural areas, and utilising physician-patient interactions for education are promising entry points to increase awareness and prevent TBDs. Moreover, motivators and barriers for the application of preventive behaviour should be subject of future studies.

Household financial burden associated with out-of-pocket payments for healthcare in Iran: insights from a cross-sectional survey

BackgroundOne of the key functions and ultimate goals of health systems is to provide financial protection for individuals when using health services. This study sought to evaluate the level of financial protection and its inequality among individuals covered by the Social Security Organization (SSO) health insurance between September and December 2023 in Iran.MethodsWe collected data on 1691 households in five provinces using multistage sampling to examine the prevalence of catastrophic healthcare expenditure (CHE) at four different thresholds (10%, 20%, 30%, and 40%) of the household’s capacity to pay (CTP). Additionally, we explored the prevalence of impoverishment due to health costs and assessed socioeconomic-related inequality in OOP payments for healthcare using the concentration index and concentration curve. To measure equity in out-of-pocket (OOP) payments for healthcare, we utilized the Kakwani progressivity index (KPI). Furthermore, we employed multiple logistic regression to identify the main factors contributing to households experiencing CHE.Findings: The study revealed that households in our sample allocated approximately 11% of their budgets to healthcare services. The prevalence of CHE at the thresholds of 10%, 20%, 30%, and 40% was found to be 47.1%, 30.1%, 20.1%, and 15.7%, respectively. Additionally, we observed that about 7.9% of the households experienced impoverishment due to health costs. Multiple logistic regression analysis indicated that the age of the head of the household, place of residence, socioeconomic status, utilization of dental services, utilization of medicine, and province of residence were the main factors influencing CHE. Furthermore, the study demonstrated that while wealthy households spend more money on healthcare, poorer households spend a larger proportion of their total income to healthcare costs. The KPI showed that households with lower total expenditures had higher OOP payments relative to their CTP.ConclusionThe study findings underscore the need for targeted interventions to improve financial protection in healthcare and mitigate inequalities among individuals covered by SSO. It is recommended that these interventions prioritize the expansion of coverage for dental services and medication expenses, particularly for lower socioeconomic status household.

“The police came in white protective suits and with batons, it was pure disaster” – a multi-stakeholder perspective on infection control in reception centers for asylum seekers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic presented unprecedented challenges, particularly for vulnerable populations residing in confined settings such as refugee shelters: Physical distancing measures were challenging to implement in shelters due to shared rooms or communal use of kitchens and sanitary facilities, which increased the risk of infections. Meanwhile, individuals’ capabilities for individual protection strategies were severely impaired by the structure of the shelters. Consequently, shelters had the duty to develop and implement strategies for the prevention and handling of SARS-CoV-2 infections. The aim of this study was to explore the perspectives of refugees, NGO employees, and shelter directors regarding COVID-19-related measures in German refugee shelters. The study aimed to identify challenges and conflicts arising from implemented measures, as well as expectations for improved support during the pandemic.MethodsSemi-structured and narrative interviews were conducted with 6 refugees, 6 facility managers, 12 NGO staff, and 2 social service agency staff from February to August 2022. Qualitative content analysis was employed to analyze the data, identifying overarching themes and codes.ResultsThe study uncovered challenges and conflicts resulting from pandemic measures, particularly mass quarantine orders, within refugee shelters. Lack of transparency and ineffective communication worsened tensions, with refugees feeling distressed and anxious. The quarantine experience had a negative impact on refugees’ mental health, which was exacerbated by limited social interaction and leisure-time activities. Shelter managers encountered administrative challenges when implementing measures due to facility constraints and limited resources, while NGO employees encountered obstacles in providing immediate assistance due to legal regulations and a lack of cooperation from shelter managers.ConclusionsThe study highlights that shelters are problematic institutions from a public health perspective. It shows the importance of implementing customized pandemic interventions in refugee shelters that take account of the diverse needs and experiences of both refugee and staff. To achieve this, we recommend to establish an ethics committee and involve various stakeholders in decision-making processes. Additionally, enhancing information dissemination to promote transparency and public understanding of measures is crucial. These insights can help develop comprehensive and effective pandemic plans for refugee shelters, ensuring better preparedness for future public health crises.

Dengue vaccine endgame: why has the global response to exponential demand in the tropics been so slow?

IntroductionThere has been a dramatic global surge in dengue fever (DF) in recent years, with a projected 100-400 million cases annually and large outbreaks expected every 3-4 years. This concerning scenario is in sharp contrast to the very low availability of dengue vaccines to meet this spiraling demand, particularly affecting developing countries in Latin America and Africa. In our study, we aim to identify current vaccine development constraints, from a technological perspective, based on clinical trials and patent landscape data.MethodsThis study was conducted in a two-step methodology. First, candidates and launched products and methods used in the development or as part of DF vaccines were identified from the Cortellis Drug Discovery Intelligence (CDDI) platform. Second, the Derwent Innovation database was used to retrieve patent documents related to dengue vaccines. Data were collected in the period 2014-2024 (to identify the candidate and or launched vaccines) and 2018-2022 (to identify patent documents) with claims involving applications for dengue vaccine development. We presented these descriptive data in the following format: quantitative and qualitative assessments describing the vaccine development scenario and the claimed vaccine technologies.ResultsOur study indicated that 65% of dengue vaccines are still in phase 1 of development. The few current dengue vaccines that have reached phase 3 (1) and launched (2) have shown limited levels of individual protection for one or more dengue serotypes and there is an anemic pipeline of the next generation of more effective tetravalent dengue vaccines. Although the intelligent use of multiple dengue vaccine formulations in immunization campaigns can result in effective protection against all serotypes at the population level, the implementation of this is complex and challenging. The results of our study thus provide evidence of a worrisome global situation regarding the development of new dengue vaccine candidates.ConclusionTo reverse this scenario, there is an urgent need to implement new knowledge governance approaches and business models to stimulate an exponential increase in global vaccine development funding for dengue and several other vaccines.

In case of emergency break glass: Reckoning with Project 2025.

Public health nursing frequently finds itself at the nexus of community and politics. It is a precarious position, one that demands a keen understanding of how decisions made in the halls of power impact the most vulnerable among us. From gutting Medicaid and TANF to eroding protections for LGBTQ individuals and female-headed households, Project 2025 is an affront to public health nursing's moral foundation and professional ethos. This personal reflection challenges nurses to embrace their role as advocatesfor a more just and equitable society.

Regional Security, Problems and Influencing Factors: A Case Study of Albania

The new national, regional and global security environment and its trends are expressed in a synthesized way in the National Security Strategy. Our region is increasingly characterized, on the one hand, by overcoming the old mindsets of confrontation between states and the perceptible reduction of traditional threats, by the promotion of a new spirit of cooperation and the values of integration in the collective security structures and on the other hand, it is facing a new nature of challenges, dangers and threats with non-traditional, asymmetric forms and contents, on terrorist, ethnic or other grounds, initiated by nationalist-extremist elements and groups. Receiving the long-awaited invitation to the Bucharest Summit in April 2008, as well as the final moment for NATO accession at the NATO Summit in Stratsburg and Kehl, marks a qualitative stage in the complete process of Albania in the Euro-Atlantic structures. In this new perspective, the security and defense of our country will suffer qualitative effects; from the concept of individual security and protection, it will finally be passed "de jure" to the concept of collective security and protection, accompanied by all the relevant benefits and contributions. Likewise, the new states of Kosovo and Montenegro have given our region a new favorable panorama of regional security. Going forward, our assessments of the security environment, expected risks and threats, and the spectrum of FARSH combat and non-combat missions will be significantly influenced by the collective security assessments articulated in the Alliance's Strategic Concept (CSC), Policy of European Security and Defense (ESDP) and the Charter of the United Nations. In this new perspective, in full accordance with the constitutional obligations, FARSH to adopt a new defense planning system, in harmony with the standards and planning processes of the Euro-Atlantic Alliance. Keywords: Influencing factors, Regional security, NATO, National security

Reliability modeling and optimization of a two-dimensional system considering performance sharing mechanism

Photovoltaic (PV) power generation systems are increasingly installed on the factory rooftop. The installed PV power generation system exits a two-dimensional structure since the factories are usually designed to be square or rectangular. Motivated by real industry practice, this research proposes a two-dimensional performance sharing reliability model for the factory rooftop PV power generation system, where a common bus exists in each row and across all rows. The component availability is affected by both internal failure and external impacts. The system reliability is the probability that each component can meet its own demand and each row can meet its required demand after performance sharing. To mitigate external impacts, the factory rooftop PV power generation system employs both overarching protection and individual protection measures. We extend the universal generating function (UGF) technique to propose a reliability evaluation algorithm and use the genetic algorithm (GA) to determine optimal protection resource allocation to improve system reliability. Further, the proposed two-dimensional performance sharing reliability model is extended to consider multiple phased-mission. Numerical studies indicate that both expanding common bus capacity and optimizing the protection allocation strategy are effective ways to improve the factory rooftop PV power generation system reliability.

Mechanism of pre-tension on the impact response of plain weave fabric: Experimental and numerical investigation

The fabrics made of high strength and toughness fibers are increasingly used in the structural and individual protection. The research on energy dissipation mechanism and the improvement methods for improving energy dissipation of the fabric under impact, as well as the change of ballistic limit velocity under pre-stress, is relatively mature. However, the transmission mode and velocity of transverse wave in the fabric, as well as the method of accurate finite element simulation is still lacking. In this paper, the transverse impact response of ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) fabric subjected to fragment impact is studied experimentally and numerically. A novel biaxial pre-tension fixture was developed, and fragment impact test of the fabric in pre-tension state was realized using a gas gun. The displacement-time history of each point on the fabric in three-dimensional space was characterized through 3-D DIC technology, and the process of transverse wave transmission on the fabric after fragment impact was obtained. The calculated results of the finite element model established by truss element agrees reasonably well with the experimental results. The experimental and numerical results indicate that the impact velocity of fragment affects the velocity of transverse wave in the fabric, but does not change its transmission mode. With the increase of pre-tension amount, the propagation mode changes from a cross shape to a rhombic shape and finally to a circular shape, and the wave velocity increases greatly. The wave transmission process in yarns at a mesoscopic level was analyzed through finite element simulation, and the transmission path was determined. It was found that pre-tension accelerated the wave velocity on the stepwise path, causing the transverse wave to reach a farther position in the diagonal direction of the fabric, resulting in different modes of wave transmission. The research content may provide more ways for the application of fabrics in protection.