Widespread Lockdowns Research Articles

Changes in biopsychosocial factors based on transportation independence among older adults: A one-year study post-COVID-19 movement restrictions

IntroductionThe global COVID-19 pandemic prompted widespread lockdown measures, impacting transportation systems and specifically affecting the mobility of older adults, which could result in changes to their biophysical, psychological and social health, or better known as biopsychosocial health. However, limited information exists regarding the alterations in the biopsychosocial aspects of older adults during and after the COVID-19 movement restrictions, as well as their association. The objective of this study is to investigate the biopsychosocial dynamics associated with navigating transportation during and after the recovery phase of COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, it aims to determine the association between transportation independence status and various biopsychosocial factors. MethodsA sub-sample of 100 individuals aged 60 years and above (mean age ± SD: 68.4 ± 5.3), from earlier cross-sectional study were recruited in a one year follow up study. Face-to-face interviews were conducted by the same researcher from baseline to obtain older adults’ sociodemographic health status, anthropometric measurements, functional status, depressive symptoms, nutritional status, cognitive status, visual assessment, physical activity and physical performance and transportation independence. Bivariate logistic regression was performed to examine the association. ResultsWhile there were no significant changes in transportation independence among older adults during and after the COVID-19 movement restriction, there were noticeable increases in outdoor mobility and certain changes in biopsychosocial factors. Results revealed higher fat mass (Adj OR = 1.20, 95% CI: 1.03–1.41, p < 0.05), poorer performance in Timed up and Go (TUG) (Adj OR = 1.40, 95% CI: 1.03–1.88, p < 0.05) test, poorer Hand Grip Strength (HGS) (Adj OR = .85, 95% CI: .74–.98, p < 0.05) and changes in Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) (p < 0.05) are associated with restricted transportation in older adults. ConclusionThe findings of this study highlight the importance of biopsychosocial health factors, such as body composition, physical performance, and function, which may be influenced by transportation independence among older adults.

Cross-Market Volatility Dynamics Among Crude Oil and South Asian Emerging Markets During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic had profound impacts on the global economy, initially triggering a severe economic downturn due to widespread lockdowns, this outbreak generated various economic shocks, a major one being the oil price crash. A brief understanding of how this pandemic is affecting the financial markets, empirical analysis is done on three financial markets. Three stock exchange markets are selected from emerging markets in South Asia (Pakistan, China, and India). The world crude oil market is selected as a reference, to how it transmits volatility to South Asian markets during the COVID-19 period. We employ a bivariate BEKK-GARCH model for analyzing the volatility spillover from November 19, 2019, to March 31, 2021. All markets show negative coefficients with the oil market, indicating that the previous day’s shocks in oil prices reduce today's stock market volatility, with significant values for India and Pakistan. China has a negative coefficient while the rest of the two markets show a positive and significant coefficient means past volatilities in the stock market decrease today’s oil market volatility, likely indicating a reactive or adaptive market behavior to stock volatility. Generally, oil price changes have a significant impact on these markets, with both immediate effects (via ARCH terms) and persistent effects (via GARCH terms). The study's findings offer valuable insights for policymakers, as they help identify the direction of spillovers among interconnected economies. Additionally, portfolio investors can use this information to effectively allocate weights to different asset classes when making investment decisions.

Augmented Reality Mobile Application for Promoting Culture and Heritage in Thailand and Malaysia: The Prototype Development and Heuristic Evaluation

The global coronavirus pandemic sparked widespread lockdowns and travel restrictions, leading to a significant economic downturn. However, the subsequent development of vaccines prompted governments to ease restrictions and explore technology-driven strategies for tourism revival, including the use of mobile applications and augmented reality (AR). In light of the progress of AR, this study addresses the lack of AR applications for promoting tourism in Southeast Asia, particularly in Thailand and Malaysia, where language barriers hinder cross-cultural communication. Therefore, this study aims to develop a content-specific AR mobile application to enhance tourists’ exploration of cultural heritage and facilitate communication in these multicultural and Islamic-influenced regions. This study adopts the design thinking approach for a solution-based methodology. The developed AR mobile application aims to enhance the tourist experience by providing immersive and informative content specific to the culture and heritage. The prototype undergoes a heuristic evaluation by ten experts in human-computer interaction (HCI). The results show a positive consensus on many aspects, highlighting the potential of the AR mobile application to promote culture and heritage effectively. Qualitative exploration through expert feedback is recommended in future studies to refine specific elements for a universally satisfactory user experience.

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic: Lockdown related morbidity among young adults in Chennai, India

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic triggered widespread lockdown measures, profoundly altering the daily routines and lifestyles of individuals worldwide. This study aims to investigate the repercussions of these lockdowns on the morbidity patterns among young adults in Chennai. Methods: A web-based questionnaire survey was conducted among 1110 young adults aged 18 to 29 years in Chennai, India. The study analyzed various aspects of health, encompassing physical, mental, and social well-being, during the lockdown period using a prevalidated questionnaire. Frequency distribution of variables and chi-square tests for categorical variables were employed. Result: The study revealed significant impacts on physical, mental, and social well-being during the lockdown period. Physical health was affected, with weight gain (56.83%) being the most common morbid condition due to physical inactivity and frequent eating. Headaches (33.24%) were prevalent, attributed to prolonged digital screen exposure and irregular sleep patterns. Psychological impacts included stress rates of 43.42% among young adults. Conclusion: This research highlights the intricate relationship between COVID-19 lockdown measures and morbidity among young adults. The findings provide valuable insights into the potential long-term implications of the pandemic on the health of this demographic group, emphasizing the importance of targeted interventions and support systems.

Enhancement of Genetic Algorithm by J.Zhang Applied to Tour Planning

Following widespread lockdowns, there has been a notable increase in people's desire to travel, leading to longer and more frequent trips. This trend has created a demand for customized itineraries and tour planning. Unfortunately, manual tour planning can be challenging to optimize, time-consuming, and increasingly complex as the number of locations increases. To automate and improve tour planning, optimization methods can be used, as they leverage algorithms to find efficient routes. The Genetic Algorithm (GA), an algorithm that mimics the course of natural evolution, is adept at navigating complex search spaces and finding optimal solutions, making it suitable for solving tour planning challenges. Building upon the work of J. Zhang (2021), this study aims to improve the performance of GA by enhancing the diversity of the population, removing redundant nodes, and reducing the execution time. Two simulators were created, one for each algorithm, to test their performance. The researchers conducted tests on both the existing and enhanced algorithms. This involved the utilization of several test data that contains coordinates of several cities in the Philippines. Based on the results, the enhanced algorithm showed better results compared to the existing algorithm. In conclusion, the enhanced algorithm performed better than the exiting algorithm

Emplacement and Emplotment: Media Production in Pandemic Times

Places matter, despite the discursive hype of virtual making or remote locations, in showing the ways that production is a process nested within social worlds. In 2020, global Hollywood promoted a “COVID-friendly ideal” in order to return to work during widespread lockdowns and work stoppages. Yet by focusing comparatively on the stories that film and television workers told about production during COVID, we argue that crisis stories reveal much about the specificity of places in studying production cultures. To illustrate, we compare workers’ pandemic stories as evidence of emplacement in national hierarchies and emplotment in local power dynamics. Drawing on a corpus of seventy interviews conducted in Tel Aviv, Israel and New Orleans, USA in 2020 and 2021, we show that production cultures provide ample critique of normative tales that media industries promote about themselves and their workforces.

Impact of E-Learning on High School Students’ English Language Learning

The COVID-19 pandemic significantly affected all sectors, including education&amp;mdash;schools were affected by widespread lockdowns, which necessitated the adoption of online learning platforms. Using a mixed-methods research methodology incorporating questionnaires and interviews, researchers in the current study examined the impact of e-learning on high school students&amp;rsquo; English language learning, particularly their spoken skills, in Kuwait. The researchers studied a sample of 60 participants for the quantitative analysis and 18 students for the qualitative analysis. All were high school students in Kuwait enrolled in English classes. The study&amp;rsquo;s results revealed significant challenges associated with e-learning, including low acceptance rates among students. Most students disagreed that online learning is a perfect learning tool, suggesting that e-learning fails to promote critical thinking skills and facilitate learning. E-learning also affects learners&amp;rsquo; capabilities to express their feelings and ideas. The interviews showed that e-learning failed to improve the students&amp;rsquo; English language mastery. Some of the challenges we noted include technical hitches and the inability to deploy teaching strategies used successfully in physical classes. Overall, the results indicate that students disliked online learning in Kuwait. In conclusion, e-learning is a significant opportunity for students to improve their learning, but it must be effectively used to encourage students&amp;rsquo; uptake. It is necessary to assess schools&amp;rsquo; preparedness to implement it as well as to design complementary programs and strategies to ensure students gain mastery of the English language.

Association between NO2 and human mobility: a two-year spatiotemporal study during the COVID-19 pandemic in Southeast Asia

ABSTRACT In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, global efforts to mitigate the spread of the virus have led to widespread lockdowns and movement restrictions. Earlier studies have reported a notable positive correlation between nitrogen dioxide (NO2) levels and mobility during the initial 2020 lockdowns. However, our explorative investigation in Southeast Asia observed that, despite their similar spatial distribution, NO2 does not consistently align with mobility patterns. This observation indicates the existence of additional influential factors apart from mobility contributing to NO2 variation, necessitating a more comprehensive examination. Subsequently, we developed a trained Multi-Layer Perceptron (MLP) model and leveraged SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) values. Our analysis extends beyond mobility to encompass diverse potential factors such as travel modes and meteorological factors. The model results suggest that, while as expected mobility has a strong impact on NO2 column density, a more accurate prediction requires considering different travel modes (i.e. driving and walking). Furthermore, the study reveals that spatio-temporal heterogeneity and meteorological factors also play roles in shaping NO2 level. These findings emphasize the importance of integrating such multifaceted considerations in future NO2 study for a more accurate and holistic understanding.

Embodied practice in a disembodied time: How the COVID‐19 pandemic shaped direct work with children and young people

AbstractThe COVID‐19 pandemic and related restrictions imposed in the UK had a significant impact on social work practice with children and young people. As has been widely reported, practitioners were deprived of multisensory information in their assessments and of opportunities to connect with children. In this article, we consider data from Scotland, created through interviews with practitioners during May 2021, a time of tentative optimism between periods of widespread lockdown. The Scottish policy context offers particular tensions and contrasts through which to understand how practice was impacted by physical distancing measures. Just prior to the beginning of pandemic restrictions, in February 2020, the report of Scotland's Independent Care Review, The Promise, was published and emphasized the importance of love, nurture, and care for children. The Promise encouraged professionals to ‘bring their whole selves to work’ and to relate to families in ways that are natural, and not constrained by ideas of professionalism. The following month, the country was in a national lockdown with strict restrictions on the contact workers could have with families. Drawing on data from practitioners working in this context, we aim to explore how social workers reconceptualized direct work with children during this period.

COVID-19 Supply Chain Disruptions

In the early phase of the COVID-19 crisis, China imposed widespread lockdowns to contain the virus. We study the spillovers from the lockdowns to the US economy. We find that sectors with a high exposure to intermediate goods imports from China experienced significantly larger declines in production, employment, imports, and exports. In addition, relative input and output prices increased in these sectors. At the peak of the recession in April 2020, output was 16% lower in sectors with a one standard deviation higher China exposure. The estimated effects on output, input, and inflation are short-lived and dissipate by summer 2020.

The Federal Reserve's Interest Rate Increases and Their Effect on the U.S. and Global Economies under the Covid-19 Pandemic

This paper delves into the successive Fed rate hikes that began in March 2022 and their far-reaching impact on the domestic and global economy. The paper primarily examines the reasons behind these rate hikes, focusing on their response to the problems caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly unemployment and inflation trends. The pandemic triggered widespread lockdowns, leading to severe supply chain disruptions and economic downturns. During this period, unemployment rates rose sharply and reached historic levels. Central banks worldwide had adopted loose monetary policies to stabilize economies in the short term. However, this also raised the risk of persistent inflation. Fiscal stimulus, intermittent interest rate cuts, and a raft of bailouts, such as the CARES Act, have added complexity to the economic landscape, affecting various sectors and necessitating higher interest rates to restore pre-pandemic stability. Disruptions in global supply chains played a key role in stoking inflationary pressures, eroding consumer purchasing powers, and highlighting the urgency for the US Federal Reserve to intervene by adjusting interest rates. Assessing the impact of these rate hikes on stocks shows a resilient market that remained optimistic about the U.S. economic recovery. In addition, the study outlines the impact of these rate hikes on foreign exchange markets, international capital flows, emerging markets, trade dynamics, and global competitiveness.

Changes in vitamin D status among adults from the COVID-19 pandemic to post-pandemic normality.

The COVID-19 pandemic has prompted widespread lockdown measures globally, significantly impacting daily activities and outdoor exposure. This study investigates the effect of the pandemic on vitamin D levels and the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in the adult population, with a focus on gender-specific differences. A total of 1525 adults from Henan Provincial People's Hospital were included. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels were measured using the Elecsys® Vitamin D total kit on the Roche Cobas® 8000 analyzer. The Clinical Application Consensus on Vitamin D and Its Analogs defined deficiency as 25(OH)D levels below 20 ng/ml. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 23.0 and GraphPad Prism 8 software. The overall 25(OH)D levels increased from 18.14 ng/ml [IQR: 13.78, 23.68] in 2022 to 19.15 ng/ml [IQR: 14.88, 25.01] in 2023 (p=0.004). Males exhibited significant improvement in 25(OH)D levels from 18.01 ng/ml [IQR: 14.10, 23.53] in 2022 to 20.49 ng/ml [IQR: 16.11, 26.01] in 2023 (p<0.001). The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency decreased from 62% in 2022 to 54.9% in 2023 (p=0.009), with a notable reduction in males (64.1% in 2022 to 47.2% in 2023). Among 168 individuals tested in both years, 25(OH)D levels increased from 20.73 ± 9.37 ng/ml in 2022 to 22.28 ± 8.59 ng/ml in 2023 (p=0.012), and the deficiency rate decreased from 58.3% in 2022 to 47.0% in 2023 (p=0.038). The 40-49 age group showed significant improvement in 25(OH)D levels from 16.10 ng/ml [IQR: 12.41, 21.18] in 2022 to 18.28 ng/ml [IQR: 13.91, 23.86] in 2023 (p=0.005), with a reduction in deficiency rate from 72.8% to 59.9% (p=0.02). Furthermore, in February, March, and April, 2022, 25(OH)D levels were significantly lower compared to 2023 (p<0.001, p=0.002, p<0.001, respectively), accompanied by a higher prevalence of vitamin D deficiency (p<0.001, p=0.015, p<0.001, respectively). This study demonstrates that the COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted vitamin D levels, leading to an increased prevalence of deficiency, particularly among males. These findings highlight the critical importance of maintaining sufficient outdoor activities to ensure adequate vitamin D levels. The data underscore the need for public health strategies to address potential deficiencies during prolonged periods of limited outdoor exposure.

Healing Loneliness Post-COVID-19: A Review of Multicultural Exploration of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy's Success in Western and Eastern Cultures

The global COVID-19 pandemic threatened physical health and triggered a surge in loneliness, particularly post-outbreak in Western and Eastern societies. This study explores the psychological implications and societal impact of loneliness in the era of widespread lockdowns, social distancing, and the new norm, including work-from-home practices. Loneliness, a distressing sense of isolation, intensified during the pandemic due to genetic, cultural, and digital factors linked to adverse mental and physical health effects. The research highlights loneliness as a buffer against social pain or a correlate of illness, and findings associate loneliness with age, relationships, and behavior.Comparatively, Eastern societies experienced heightened loneliness, driven by a cultural emphasis on collectivism and face-to-face interactions. Innovative adaptations, such as virtual gatherings and online communities, helped mitigate the psychological impacts of social distancing. Both Eastern and Western societies relied on the digital landscape—virtual events, online communities, streaming services, and online gaming—to combat loneliness and foster connection. Understanding and addressing loneliness are vital for promoting mental well-being and resilience in the evolving global landscape.

Systematic Thinking Approach for Analyzing Individuals and Government Impact on COVID-19 Outbreak in Iran

The world faced a crisis called the coronavirus pandemic, a disease that has been able to disrupt a large proportion of the power and activities of the whole world and has evolved all economic and social decisions. These decisions are primarily related to restrictions such as widespread lockdowns and social distancing. Different countries have taken various approaches and decisions to deal with this situation, each of which has positive and negative sides. Apart from this issue, the rapid spread of this pandemic has affected researchers’ knowledge and viewpoints about this disease. Without any doubt, to expand our scientific knowledge and reduce the side effects of this challenge, it is essential to evaluate the behavior of COVID-19. Moreover, developing an effective vaccine in the short term was challenging. Regarding this issue, systematic thinking not only helps to find various ways to prevent this illness from spreading throughout the world but also reduces the mortality rate of this viral disease. From a systematic thinking perspective, governments and individuals play pivotal roles. They take care of vulnerable groups, support health employees, provide general education, identify new patients, and control specific situations in their countries. In such a situation where experts have not discovered any vaccine, governments and the people of society can be considered essential parameters to intensify or reduce the outbreak of this viral disease throughout the country. This paper’s main objective and motivation are to utilize causal loop diagrams (CLDs) to evaluate and determine various affecting factors created by governments and members of societies that have direct impacts on deteriorating or decreasing the outbreak of COVID-19 in Iran from a system dynamics perspective. Hence, the statistics on the incidence and deaths caused by the coronavirus in Iran were extracted during some periods. Using the cause and effect diagrams, the behavior of the people and the government in increasing or decreasing the number of patients is discussed.

Videoconference fatigue: validation of the Italian translated Zoom Exhaustion and Fatigue Scale (ZEFS)

ABSTRACT Background The global COVID-19 pandemic prompted widespread lockdowns as governments sought to contain the spread of the virus and minimize fatalities. Measures such as the stay-at-home orders imposed in Italy and the suspension of non-essential economic activities disrupted work and education worldwide. Telework, previously used by only one in five workers, gained prominence, albeit unevenly across countries. The surge in telework required the extensive use of video conferencing platforms. However, prolonged use of these platforms led to ‘Zoom fatigue’, characterized by mental fatigue and exhaustion. Objectives The aim of this study is to validate the Zoom Exhaustion & Fatigue Scale (ZEFS) in its Italian version, examining its relationship with videoconferencing characteristics, and outcomes such as emotional exhaustion, sleep problems, and technostress. Method The study included a sample of 372 workers (50% female) who held video conferences at least once a week. They were asked to complete an online self-report questionnaire. Results The results confirmed the original structure of the scale and identified a second-order factor and the five dimensions of Zoom fatigue, namely general fatigue, visual fatigue, social fatigue, emotional fatigue, and motivational fatigue. In addition, Zoom fatigue was positively correlated with sleep problems, emotional exhaustion, techno-stressors, frequency of video conferences and burstiness, and negatively correlated with attitudes toward video conferences, confirming the construct validity of the ZEFS. Conclusions The present study suggests that the Italian version of the ZEFS is a psychometrically sound measure for assessing Zoom fatigue in the Italian working population. The practical implications are discussed.

A glimpse of the “new normal” in online language learning and teaching

The Covid-19 pandemic has significantly promoted online foreign language learning and teaching, given in the situation of the widespread lockdowns globally. Most of Southeast Asian countries took harsher approach to the pandemic. In the context of the Philippines, where in-person school operations were prohibited for a continuous period of 20 months, the impact of these restrictions has been unmistakable. This study aims to explore and highlight the experiences of online language learners and teachers during the Covid-19 pandemic. Research in this area remains limited due to the recent conclusion of the pandemic. In the present study, eight foreign language teachers participated in the focus groups, and eight language learners took part in one-on-one interviews. Through thematic analysis, the findings of this study unveiled a notable trend, which are that learners exhibited a strong preference for online classes, while teachers expressed an equitable preference for both online and face-to-face instruction. This divergence in preferences signifies a dynamic shift in the landscape of language education. The study therefore concludes that the "new normal" of language learning and teaching has indeed materialized during the pandemic, as evidenced by the transformative shift towards online modes of instruction.

Music as Magic

Music as Magic

The Effects of COVID-19 Pandemic Lock Down on Body Weight and Risk Score for Diabetes Among Healthcare Students

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated widespread lockdowns, significantly altering daily routines and activity levels. This study hypothesizes that such changes might have exacerbated the health risks associated with type 2 diabetes (T2D). Objective: Given the prevalence of T2D among U.S. adults and the centrality of weight gain as a risk factor, this research aims to explore the potential ramifications of the pandemic on TGD risk. Such findings are important for preparations against future outbreaks, which might amplify T2D onset rates. Methods: Affiliates from three U.S. Touro college campuses were surveyed to assess the pandemic’s effects on dietary patterns, daily activity levels, and weight change. To gauge changes in T2D risk, a diabetes risk score was determined, comparing pre-pandemic levels to those observed during COVID-19 restrictions. The study used a survey research method and Qualtrics for data collection. The research proposal was approved by the University Institutional Review Board (M-0221). Results: Of the participants, 65.9% reported decreased activity levels, while 46.3% experienced weight gain. Notably, 64.2% of participants had an elevated risk score, signifying an increased vulnerability to T2D.

ROLE OF PHARMA DIGITALIZATION IN HEALTHCARE DEVELOPMENTS

Healthcare development is a revolutionary sector where digital technologies drive success, with exponential growth seen in a computing system involving advancements in medical devices. Due to social distancing norms, widespread lockdowns, and an emphasis on individualized healthcare, the Covid-19 pandemic has inevitably increased the usage of digital technologies. “Digital” has become the most essential part of day-to-day existence, and all sectors are adapting more swiftly to the digital world. The healthcare system is more complicated, as its culture and structure are not ready to accept innovation, since development in healthcare involves decision on a person’s life or death. The use of digital health tools has the potential to significantly improve individual patient care by enhancing the accuracy diagnosis and treatment of diseases. For the clinical adoption of any digital healthcare technology, evidence is required first, and their effects must be assessed before integrating them into healthcare systems such as Electronic Health Records (EHRs). The broad definition of digital health encompasses fields like wearable technology, telehealth and telemedicine, personalized medicine, the Internet of Things (Internet of things (IoT)), virtual reality (VR), Artificial Intelligence (AI), and mobile health (mHealth). Pharmaceutical digitalization is still in a testing phase regarding offering advanced administrations beyond conventional products. In this paper, digitalization from the perspective of diverse case studies was carried out to collect data from several companies, and a literature study was conducted to complement the data on healthcare development. The digitalization of health care is a game changer for developing health care.

The impacts of lockdown on open source software contributions during the COVID-19 pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic instigated widespread lockdowns, compelling millions to transition to work-from-home (WFH) arrangements and rely heavily on computer-mediated communications (CMC) for collaboration. This study examines the impacts of lockdown on innovation-driven work productivity, focusing on contributions to open source software (OSS) projects on GitHub, the world's largest OSS platform. By leveraging two lockdowns in China as natural experiments, we discover that developers in the 2021 Xi'an lockdown increased OSS contributions by 9.0 %, while those in the 2020 Wuhan lockdown reduced their contributions by 10.5 %. A subsequent survey study elucidates this divergence, uncovering an adaptation effect wherein Xi'an developers became more accustomed to the new norm of WFH over time, capitalizing on the flexibility and opportunities of remote work. Moreover, our findings across both lockdowns reveal that the lack of face-to-face (F2F) interactions significantly impeded OSS contributions, whereas the increased available time at home positively influenced them. This finding is especially noteworthy as it challenges the assumption that CMC can effortlessly substitute for F2F interactions without negatively affecting productivity. We further examine the impacts of stay-at-home orders in the United States (US) on OSS contributions and find no significant effects. Collectively, our research offers valuable insights into the multifaceted impacts of lockdown on productivity, shedding light on how individuals adapt to remote work norms during protracted disruptions like a pandemic. These insights provide various stakeholders, including individuals, organizations, and policymakers, with vital knowledge to prepare for future disruptions, foster sustainable resilience, and adeptly navigate the evolving landscape of remote work in a post-pandemic world.