The COVID-19 School Closure Effect on Students’ Print and Digital Leisure Reading

Additively manufactured parts often comprise internal porosities due to the manufacturing process, which needs to be considered in modelling their mechanical behaviour. It was experimentally shown that additively manufactured parts’ tensile and compressive mechanical properties are different for various metallic alloys. In this study, isotropic continuum damage mechanics is used to model additively manufactured alloys’ tension and compression behaviours. Compressive stress components can shrink discontinuities present in additively manufactured alloys. Therefore, the crack closure effect was employed to describe different behaviours during uniaxial tension and compression tests. A finite element model embedded in an ABAQUS’s UMAT format was developed to account for the isotropic continuum damage mechanics model. The numerical results of tension and compression tests were compared with experimental observations for additively manufactured maraging steel, AlSi10Mg and Ti-6Al-4V. Stress–strain curves in tension and compression of these alloys were obtained using the continuum damage mechanics model and compared well with the experimental results.

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Do primary school libraries affect teenagers’ attitudes towards leisure reading?

IFLA Journal ◽

10.1177/0340035220983359 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 034003522098335

Author(s):

Pamela McKirdy

Keyword(s):

High School ◽

Primary School ◽

Family Background ◽

School Libraries ◽

First Year ◽

Noisy Environments ◽

Primary School Students ◽

School Students ◽

Leisure Reading ◽

Reading For Pleasure

This study explores how New Zealand primary school students’ experiences of school libraries affected their attitudes towards reading for pleasure once they entered secondary school. Two hundred and seventy-six students in their first year at high school completed a survey asking about their primary school libraries. The students were asked to self-identify as keen readers, occasional readers or non-readers. The results were analysed in a spreadsheet, considering variables such as attitude to reading, former school and family background. The students were mainly positive about their libraries, but were bothered by cramped and noisy environments and books they perceived as babyish. Students from schools with a librarian were more positive about reading for fun than those from schools where the library was not prioritised. Students from a family background where reading was encouraged were more likely to maintain a positive attitude to reading by the time they reached high school.

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A partisan pandemic: state government public health policies to combat COVID-19 in Brazil

BMJ Global Health ◽

10.1136/bmjgh-2021-005223 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 6 (6) ◽

pp. e005223

Author(s):

Michael Touchton ◽

Felicia Marie Knaul ◽

Héctor Arreola-Ornelas ◽

Thalia Porteny ◽

Mariano Sánchez ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Public Space ◽

State Government ◽

Public Transportation ◽

National Level ◽

International Travel ◽

School Closure ◽

Population Mobility ◽

Mato Grosso ◽

First Case ◽

National Response

IntroductionTo present an analysis of the Brazilian health system and subnational (state) variation in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, based on 10 non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs).Materials and methodsWe collected daily information on implementation of 10 NPI designed to inform the public of health risks and promote distancing and mask use at the national level for eight countries across the Americas. We then analyse the adoption of the 10 policies across Brazil’s 27 states over time, individually and using a composite index. We draw on this index to assess the timeliness and rigour of NPI implementation across the country, from the date of the first case, 26 February 2020. We also compile Google data on population mobility by state to describe changes in mobility throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.ResultsBrazil’s national NPI response was the least stringent among countries analysed. In the absence of a unified federal response to the pandemic, Brazilian state policy implementation was neither homogenous nor synchronised. The median NPI was no stay-at-home order, a recommendation to wear masks in public space but not a requirement, a full school closure and partial restrictions on businesses, public transportation, intrastate travel, interstate travel and international travel. These restrictions were implemented 45 days after the first case in each state, on average. Rondônia implemented the earliest and most rigorous policies, with school closures, business closures, information campaigns and restrictions on movement 24 days after the first case; Mato Grosso do Sul had the fewest, least stringent restrictions on movement, business operations and no mask recommendation.ConclusionsThe study identifies wide variation in national-level NPI responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. Our focus on Brazil identifies subsequent variability in how and when states implemented NPI to contain COVID-19. States’ NPIs and their scores on the composite policy index both align with the governors’ political affiliations: opposition governors implemented earlier, more stringent sanitary measures than those supporting the Bolsonaro administration. A strong, unified national response to a pandemic is essential for keeping the population safe and disease-free, both at the outset of an outbreak and as communities begin to reopen. This national response should be aligned with state and municipal implementation of NPI, which we show is not the case in Brazil.

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A Longitudinal Study of Subjective Daytime Sleepiness Changes in Elementary School Children Following a Temporary School Closure Due to COVID-19

Children ◽

10.3390/children8030183 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 (3) ◽

pp. 183

Author(s):

Yoko Komada ◽

Yoshiki Ishibashi ◽

Shunta Hagiwara ◽

Mariko Kobori ◽

Akiyoshi Shimura

Keyword(s):

Elementary School ◽

School Children ◽

Daytime Sleepiness ◽

Elementary School Children ◽

Japanese Version ◽

School Closure ◽

Health Concern ◽

Sleep Habits ◽

Social Jetlag ◽

Questionnaire Surveys

Excessive daytime sleepiness is increasingly being recognized as a major global health concern. However, there have been few studies related to sleepiness and its associated factors in elementary school children. In Japan, all schools were closed from February to May 2020 to prevent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreaks. The aim of this study was to identify changes in the subjective sleepiness of pupils during the 1.5-year period and to elucidate factors associated with changes in sleepiness. Questionnaire surveys about pupils’ sleep habits and the Japanese version of the Pediatric Daytime Sleepiness Scale (PDSS-J) were conducted longitudinally at one elementary school in June 2019, January 2020, and June 2020. The average ∆PDSS score was 0.94 ± 5.51 (mean ± standard deviation) from June 2019 to January 2020 and −1.65 ± 5.71 (t[498] = 6.13, p < 0.01) from January 2020 to June 2020. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses revealed that decreasing social jetlag was associated with decreasing PDSS scores (OR = 0.77, 95% CI: 0.62–0.96, p = 0.02) during the school closure. A less restrictive school schedule secondary to a COVID-19-related school closure decreased sleepiness in children and was associated with decreasing social jetlag.

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Distance learning during the COVID-19 pandemic: School closure in Indonesia

International Journal of Mathematical Education in Science and Technology ◽

10.1080/0020739x.2021.1875072 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-21

Author(s):

Budi Azhari ◽

Iwan Fajri

Keyword(s):

Distance Learning ◽

School Closure

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Modeling the interplay between demography, social contact patterns, and SARS-CoV-2 transmission in the South West Shewa Zone of Oromia Region, Ethiopia

BMC Medicine ◽

10.1186/s12916-021-01967-w ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 19 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Filippo Trentini ◽

Giorgio Guzzetta ◽

Margherita Galli ◽

Agnese Zardini ◽

Fabio Manenti ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Attack Rate ◽

Reproduction Number ◽

Demographic Factors ◽

School Closure ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

The South ◽

South West ◽

Mixing Patterns ◽

Sub Saharan ◽

Socio Demographic Factors

Abstract Background COVID-19 spread may have a dramatic impact in countries with vulnerable economies and limited availability of, and access to, healthcare resources and infrastructures. However, in sub-Saharan Africa, a low prevalence and mortality have been observed so far. Methods We collected data on individuals’ social contacts in the South West Shewa Zone (SWSZ) of Ethiopia across geographical contexts characterized by heterogeneous population density, work and travel opportunities, and access to primary care. We assessed how socio-demographic factors and observed mixing patterns can influence the COVID-19 disease burden, by simulating SARS-CoV-2 transmission in remote settlements, rural villages, and urban neighborhoods, under school closure mandate. Results From national surveillance data, we estimated a net reproduction number of 1.62 (95% CI 1.55–1.70). We found that, at the end of an epidemic mitigated by school closure alone, 10–15% of the population residing in the SWSZ would have been symptomatic and 0.3–0.4% of the population would require mechanical ventilation and/or possibly result in a fatal outcome. Higher infection attack rates are expected in more urbanized areas, but the highest incidence of critical disease is expected in remote subsistence farming settlements. School closure contributed to reduce the reproduction number by 49% and the attack rate of infections by 28–34%. Conclusions Our results suggest that the relatively low burden of COVID-19 in Ethiopia observed so far may depend on social mixing patterns, underlying demography, and the enacted school closures. Our findings highlight that socio-demographic factors can also determine marked heterogeneities across different geographical contexts within the same region, and they contribute to understand why sub-Saharan Africa is experiencing a relatively lower attack rate of severe cases compared to high-income countries.

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Comprehensive and safe school strategy during COVID-19 pandemic

Italian Journal of Pediatrics ◽

10.1186/s13052-021-00960-6 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 47 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Susanna Esposito ◽

Nicola Cotugno ◽

Nicola Principi

Keyword(s):

School Attendance ◽

Asymptomatic Infection ◽

School Closure ◽

Prevention Measures ◽

Effective Measure ◽

The Real ◽

Definitive Answer ◽

Mild Disease ◽

Infectious Risk ◽

Over Time

Abstract Background Although several studies have tried to evaluate the real efficacy of school closure for pandemic control over time, no definitive answer to this question has been given. Moreover, it has not been clarified whether children or teenagers could be considered a problem for SARS-CoV-2 diffusion or, on the contrary, whether parents and school workers play a greater role. The aims of this review are to discuss about children’s safety at school and the better strategies currently able to reduce the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection at school. Main aim Compared to adults, very few cases of COVID-19 were diagnosed in children, who generally suffered from an asymptomatic infection or a mild disease. Moreover, school closure is systematically associated with the development of problems involving students, teachers and parents, particularly among populations with poor resources. Although several researches have tried to evaluate the real efficacy of school closure for pandemic control over time, no definitive answer to this question has been given. Available findings seem to confirm that to ensure adequate learning and to avoid social and economic problems, schools must remain open, provided that the adults who follow children at home and at school absolutely comply with recommendations for prevention measures and that school facilities can be optimized in order to significantly reduce the spread of infection. In this regard, the universal use of face masks in addition to hand hygiene and safe distancing in schools, at least starting from the age of 6 years, seems extremely useful. Moreover, since the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak the use of telemedicine to manage suspected SARS-CoV-2-infected individuals in the community has appeared to be an easy and effective measure to solve many paediatric problems and could represent a further support to schools . Conclusions We think that schools must remain open, despite COVID-19 pandemic. However, several problems strictly related to school frequency and reduction of infectious risk must be solved before school attendance can be considered completely safe. A single more in-depth guideline agreed between countries with the same school problems could be very useful in eliminating doubts and fostering the compliance of students, teachers and non-teaching school staff reducing errors and misinterpretations.

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Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Emergency Department of a tertiary children’s hospital

Italian Journal of Pediatrics ◽

10.1186/s13052-021-00976-y ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 47 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Umberto Raucci ◽

Anna Maria Musolino ◽

Domenico Di Lallo ◽

Simone Piga ◽

Maria Antonietta Barbieri ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Emergency Department ◽

School Closure ◽

Process Step ◽

Lazio Region ◽

Children's Hospital ◽

Number Of Children ◽

Children’S Hospital ◽

Ed Visits ◽

Relative Decline ◽

Tract Infections

Abstract Background Italy was the first country in Europe affected by COVID-19: the emergency started on February 20, 2020, culminating with national lockdown on March 11, which terminated on May 4, 2020. We describe how the pandemic affected Emergency Department (ED) accesses in a tertiary children’s hospital, composed by two different pediatric centers, one located in Rome’s city center and the second, Palidoro (regional COVID-19 center), in its surrounding metropolitan area, both in the Lazio region, analyzing the profile of admitted patients during the pandemic period in terms of their general characteristics (at presentation in the ED’s) and urgent hospitalizations compared to prepandemic period. Methods The study compare the period between the 21st of February and the 30th of April 2020, covering the three phases of the national responses (this period will be referred to as the pandemic period) with the same period of 2019 (prepandemic period). The study analyzes the number of ED visits and urgent hospitalizations and their distribution according to selected characteristics. Results The reduction of ED visits was 56 and 62%, respectively in Rome and Palidoro centers. The higher relative decline was encountered for Diseases of Respiratory System, and for Diseases of the Nervous System and Sense Organs. A doubling of the relative frequency of hospitalizations was observed, going from 14.2 to 24.4% in Rome and from 6.4 to 10.3% in Palidoro. In terms of absolute daily numbers the decrease of urgent hospitalizations was less sharp than ED visits. For pathologies such as peritonitis, tumors or other possible life-treathening conditions we did not observe a significative increase due to delayed access. Conclusions In the pandemic period there was a general reduction in the number of children referred to ED, such reduction was greater in low-acuity levels. The reduction for respiratory tract infections and other communicable diseases during school closure and the national lockdown must make us reflect on the possible impact that these conditions may have on the health system, in particular the ED, at the reopening of schools. The major problem remains the fear for possible diagnostic delays in life-threatening or crippling diseases; our study doesn’t demonstrate an increase in number or significant delay in some serious conditions such as tumors, peritonitis, diabetic ketoacidosis, ileo-colic intussusception and testis/ovary torsion. A continuous, deep re-organizational process step by step of the ED is nececessary in the present and upcoming pandemic situation.

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Students’ attitude and sleep pattern during school closure following COVID-19 pandemic quarantine: a web-based survey in south of Iran

Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine ◽

10.1186/s12199-021-00950-4 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 26 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Keivan Ranjbar ◽

Hamidreza Hosseinpour ◽

Reza Shahriarirad ◽

Haleh Ghaem ◽

Khoubyar Jafari ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Public Schools ◽

Computer Games ◽

Urban Areas ◽

First Grade ◽

General Information ◽

School Closure ◽

Sleep Pattern ◽

Fars Province ◽

Sleep Patterns ◽

Online Questionnaire

Abstract Background School closure is one of the main policies of global health care strategies performed worldwide. Despite all benefits, there might be some threats for younger groups spending their time in quarantine. This study aims to determine the impacts of lockdown and school closure on children’s major lifestyle aspects, especially their leisure and sleep pattern during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods For the purpose of this study, an online questionnaire was distributed from 14th to 31st of March 2020 among the schools and students from the first grade to the 12th grade (before university) in Fars province, southern Iran. The questionnaire consisted of five sections which included data regarding the students’ general information, activity priorities, adherence to quarantine, attitude toward school closure, and sleep patterns. Results In our study, 20,697 filled questionnaires were received from the participants with an average age of 13.76 years; 29.7% of them were male, 80.6% were from urban areas, and 83.3% were from public schools. The overall first preference of students during school closure was mobile and computer games (30.1%), followed by studying (26.6%) and watching television (13.8%). Our results demonstrated that the majority of students adhered to social distancing and there was also a significant correlation among education levels and desire for schools to be closed till the end of the semester (P = 0.015). Also, regarding sleep patterns, the majority (53.5%) had above 12 h of sleep throughout the day. Conclusion It seems that lockdown following COVID-19 pandemic has changed various aspects of the students’ lifestyle remarkably, especially by increasing screen time and even sleep duration and pattern. We believe that certain strategies should be implemented by the Health and Educational Ministry to control not only the visible side effects of the quarantine period, but also the collateral consequences on their psychological and mental health.

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The Impact of COVID-19 School Closure on Child and Adolescent Health: A Rapid Systematic Review

Children ◽

10.3390/children8050415 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 (5) ◽

pp. 415

Author(s):

Sonia Chaabane ◽

Sathyanarayanan Doraiswamy ◽

Karima Chaabna ◽

Ravinder Mamtani ◽

Sohaila Cheema

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Children And Adolescents ◽

Adolescent Health ◽

Children With Disabilities ◽

Child And Adolescent ◽

Emergency Department Visits ◽

School Closure ◽

School Closures ◽

Child And Adolescent Health ◽

The Impact

School closures during pandemics raise important concerns for children and adolescents. Our aim is synthesizing available data on the impact of school closure during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on child and adolescent health globally. We conducted a rapid systematic review by searching PubMed, Embase, and Google Scholar for any study published between January and September 2020. We included a total of ten primary studies. COVID-19-related school closure was associated with a significant decline in the number of hospital admissions and pediatric emergency department visits. However, a number of children and adolescents lost access to school-based healthcare services, special services for children with disabilities, and nutrition programs. A greater risk of widening educational disparities due to lack of support and resources for remote learning were also reported among poorer families and children with disabilities. School closure also contributed to increased anxiety and loneliness in young people and child stress, sadness, frustration, indiscipline, and hyperactivity. The longer the duration of school closure and reduction of daily physical activity, the higher was the predicted increase of Body Mass Index and childhood obesity prevalence. There is a need to identify children and adolescents at higher risk of learning and mental health impairments and support them during school closures.

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