scholarly journals Results from Canton Grisons of Switzerland Suggest Repetitive Testing Reduces SARS-CoV-2 Incidence (February-March 2021)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hossein Gorji ◽  
Ivan Lunati ◽  
Fabian Rudolf ◽  
Beatriz Vidondo ◽  
Wolf-Dietrich Hardt ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Empirical Evidence ◽  
Incidence Rate ◽  
Labour Force ◽  
Extended Period ◽  
Test Results ◽  
Testing Program ◽  
Cross Border ◽  
Real Population ◽  
Voluntary Basis

In February 2021, in response to emergence of more transmissible SARS-CoV-2 virus variants, the Canton Grisons launched a unique RNA mass testing program targeting the labour force in local businesses. Employees were offered weekly tests free of charge and on a voluntary basis. If tested positive, they were required to self-isolate for ten days and their contacts were subjected to daily testing at work. Thereby, the quarantine of contact persons could be waved. Here, we evaluate the effects of the testing program on the tested cohorts. We examined 121'364 test results from 27'514 participants during February-March 2021. By distinguishing different cohorts of employees, we observe a noticeable decrease in the test positivity rate and a statistically significant reduction in the associated incidence rate over the considered period. The reduction in the latter ranges between 18\%-50\%. The variability is partly explained by different exposures to exogenous infection sources (e.g., contacts with visiting tourists or cross-border commuters). Our analysis provides the first empirical evidence that applying repetitive mass testing to a real population over an extended period of time can prevent spread of COVID-19 pandemic. However, to overcome logistic, uptake, and adherence challenges it is important that the program is carefully designed and that disease incursion from the population outside of the program is considered and controlled.

scholarly journals Cross-border mobility in European countries: associations between cross-border worker status and health outcomes

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucas Nonnenmacher ◽  
Michèle Baumann ◽  
Etienne le Bihan ◽  
Philippe Askenazy ◽  
Louis Chauvel
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Chronic Diseases ◽  
Reference Group ◽  
Labour Force ◽  
High Risk Population ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Health Index ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Border

Abstract Background Mobility of workers living in one country and working in a different country has increased in the European Union. Exposed to commuting factors, cross-border workers (CBWs) constitute a potential high-risk population. But the relationships between health and commuting abroad are under-documented. Our aims were to: (1) measure the prevalence of the perceived health status and the physical health outcomes (activity limitation, chronic diseases, disability and no leisure activities), (2) analyse their associations with commuting status as well as (3) with income and health index among CBWs. Methods Based on the ‘Enquête Emploi’, the French cross-sectional survey segment of the European Labour Force Survey (EU LFS), the population was composed of 2,546,802 workers. Inclusion criteria for the samples were aged between 20 and 60 years and living in the French cross-border departments of Germany, Belgium, Switzerland and Luxembourg. The Health Index is an additional measure obtained with five health variables. A logistic model was used to estimate the odds ratios of each group of CBWs, taking non-cross border workers (NCBWs) as the reference group, controlling by demographic background and labour status variables. Results A sample of 22,828 observations (2456 CBWs vs. 20,372 NCBWs) was retained. The CBW status is negatively associated with chronic diseases and disability. A marginal improvement of the health index is correlated with a wage premium for both NCBWs and CBWs. Commuters to Luxembourg have the best health outcomes, whereas commuters to Germany the worst. Conclusion CBWs are healthier and have more income. Interpretations suggest (1) a healthy cross-border phenomenon steming from a social selection and a positive association between income and the health index is confirmed; (2) the existence of major health disparities among CBWs; and (3) the rejection of the spillover phenomenon assumption for CBWs. The newly founded European Labour Authority (ELA) should take into account health policies as a promising way to support the cross-border mobility within the European Union.

scholarly journals The endogeneity of the natural rate of growth: An application to Turkey

2010 ◽  
Vol 57 (4) ◽  
pp. 447-469
Author(s):  
Senay Acikgoz ◽  
Merter Mert
Keyword(s):  
Capital Stock ◽  
Labour Force ◽  
Physical Capital ◽  
Test Results ◽  
Natural Rate ◽  
Causality Test ◽  
Rate Of Growth ◽  
Production Factors ◽  
Long Run ◽  
Turkish Economy

The purpose of this paper is to examine the sensitivity of the Turkish economy?s natural rate of growth to the actual rate of growth, covering the period 1980-2008. To determine the reason why the natural rate of growth is endogenous, the long-run and the causality relationships between real gross domestic product and each of the production factors (labour force and physical capital stock) are investigated with the bounds test. The natural rate of growth for the Turkish economy is found to be at 4.97 percent and it increases approximately 35.6 percent in the boom periods; indicating endogeneity. However, according to the causality test results, the endogeneity of the natural rate of growth may be attributed to the total factor productivity rather than the labour force and physical capital stock. This result is important and the debate on this subject may lead to further studies.

Which professional skills value more under digital transformation?

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sofia Paklina ◽  
Elena Shakina
Keyword(s):  
Text Mining ◽  
Labour Market ◽  
Empirical Evidence ◽  
Labour Force ◽  
Sample Selection ◽  
Large Data ◽  
Hedonic Pricing ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Computing Skills

PurposeThis study seeks to explore the demand side of the labour market influenced by the digital revolution. It aims at identifying the new composition of skills and their value as implicitly manifested by employers when they look for the new labour force. The authors analyse the returns to computing skills based on text mining techniques applied to the job advertisements.Design/methodology/approachThe methodology is based on the hedonic pricing model with the Heckman correction to overcome the sample selection bias. The empirical part is based on a large data set that includes more than 9m online vacancies on one of the biggest job boards in Russia from 2006 to 2018.FindingsEmpirical evidence for both negative and positive returns to computing skills and their monetary values is found. Importantly, the authors also have found both complementary and substitutional effects within and between non-domain (basic) and domain (advanced) subgroups of computing skills.Originality/valueApart from the empirical evidence on the value of professional computing skills and their interrelations, this study provides the important methodological contribution on applying the hedonic procedure and text mining to the field of human resource management and labour market research.

Mozambican Labour Regimes and the Eastern Main Line

2021 ◽  
pp. 37-56
Author(s):  
Charles van Onselen
Keyword(s):  
South African ◽  
Labour Force ◽  
Mining Industry ◽  
Main Line ◽  
Market Forces ◽  
The South ◽  
Forced Labour ◽  
Line P ◽  
Voluntary Basis ◽  
Low Wages

The South African mining industry profited from the slave- and forced-labour regimes that preceded it in the adjacent Portuguese colony of Mozambique. Many of the earliest migrants were part of a labour force ‘recruited’ through coercion. Black Mozambicans later preferred to work as cheap, indentured migrant labourers rather than face working for no or low wages in their own country. The chapter explains how this helped underpin the illusion that black labour was somehow free, mobile and voluntary. But as southern Mozambique became progressively more underdeveloped economically, the need to coerce black labour became less necessary and the system was said to be operating on a wholly voluntary basis as part of an economy dominated by ‘market forces’.

Challenges and Opportunities From COVID-19 vis-à-vis Informal Cross-Border Women Entrepreneurs Scenario in Zimbabwe

2021 ◽  
pp. 40-59
Author(s):  
Mufaro Dzingirai ◽  
Munyaradzi Chagwesha ◽  
Florence Mudzurandende
Keyword(s):  
Economic Development ◽  
Empirical Evidence ◽  
Women Entrepreneurs ◽  
Digital Marketing ◽  
Business Networks ◽  
Cross Border ◽  
Economic Development And Growth ◽  
Challenges And Opportunities ◽  
Liquidity Crisis ◽  
Caregiving Responsibility

Although entrepreneurship is widely accepted as a driver of economic development and growth across the globe, the COVID-19 pandemic and several lockdowns have created a unique situation in the entrepreneurship discourse. Accordingly, this chapter aims at providing empirical evidence on the challenges and opportunities emanating from COVID-19 within the context of informal cross-border women entrepreneurs. This study establishes five challenges, namely, business closures, caregiving responsibility, the decline in demand, shortage of goods, and liquidity crisis. Moreover, it also establishes digital marketing and business networks as opportunities. The recommendations to deal with these challenges are proffered and the suggestions for further study are captured.

Study on a sequencing batch membrane bioreactor for wastewater treatment

2000 ◽  
Vol 41 (10-11) ◽  
pp. 227-234 ◽  
Author(s):  
W.J. Ng ◽  
S.L. Ong ◽  
M.J. Gomez ◽  
J.Y. Hu ◽  
X.J. Fan
Keyword(s):  
Wastewater Treatment ◽  
Nitrogen Removal ◽  
Membrane Bioreactor ◽  
Extended Period ◽  
Cod Removal ◽  
Nitrification Inhibition ◽  
Test Results ◽  
Two Factors ◽  
High Feed ◽  
Average Flux

This study investigated the effect of MLSS concentration in a sequencing batch membrane bioreactor on COD and nitrogen removal as well as flux. Two values of MLSS (5 g/l and 10 g/l) were investigated in this study. The strength of the feed was varied to achieve a target F/M ratio of 0.5 based on COD. Accordingly, the concentration of COD was determined as 3.5 and 7.0 g/l for the 5 and 10 g/l MLSS targets, respectively. The test results showed that an average COD removal of 98.5% was achievable. However, it was noted that nitrification inhibition occurred. Nitrification inhibition occurred because of two factors, namely high NH4+–N concentration and high DO demand. High NH4+–N in the feed led to the inhibition of nitratation and thus high nitrites are found in the effluent. High DO demand due to high feed COD concentration led to an extended period with low DO levels inside the reactor thus retarding the conversion of NH4+–N. The increase in the MLSS concentration from 5 to 10 g/l led to a decrease in the average flux from11.1 l/m2 · h to 9.6 l/m2 · h. An increase in aeration, from 2.0 to 8.0 l/min, did not lead to any significant improvement in terms of fouling.

Investigation of Bonding Materials for Traffic Monitoring Equipment: Properties of Selected Formulated Materials

1996 ◽  
Vol 1536 (1) ◽  
pp. 25-30
Author(s):  
Agata J. Wiackowska-La Rue ◽  
David W. Fowler ◽  
Eric J. Ueber
Keyword(s):  
Laboratory Testing ◽  
Traffic Monitoring ◽  
Vehicle Classification ◽  
Test Results ◽  
Foreseeable Future ◽  
Monitoring Equipment ◽  
Testing Program ◽  
Accurate Knowledge ◽  
New Construction ◽  
Monitoring Devices

Planning for new construction and rehabilitation requires accurate knowledge of traffic volume, vehicle classification, and axle loads. Monitoring and controlling the movements of cars and other vehicles will grow increasingly important in the foreseeable future. To estimate the number of vehicles, truck weights, and speed, piezoelectric axle detectors placed into pavements are used. In Texas several thousand devices at over 1,000 sites are maintained and regularly monitored online. It is essential that the installation of monitoring devices be fast, easy, usable in all types of pavements, and reliable without requiring maintenance or reinstallation for a reasonable length of time. Bonding materials are needed to install the monitoring devices in the pavement. A study was conducted to select materials that would perform satisfactorily. Several chemically different materials were tested. Descriptions of the laboratory testing program, field installations, test results, and conclusions are presented.

Composite repair of sub-sea pipelines

2011 ◽  
Vol 51 (2) ◽  
pp. 729
Author(s):  
Colin Wood ◽  
Karen Kozielski ◽  
Wendy Tian ◽  
Song Gao ◽  
Jonathan Hodgkin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Prolonged Exposure ◽  
Mechanical Test ◽  
Extended Period ◽  
Mechanical Analysis ◽  
Test Results ◽  
Metal Structures ◽  
Oil And Gas Fields ◽  
Gas Fields ◽  
Safety And Environment

The development of new deepwater oil and gas fields provide an opportunity for increased use of new materials. Conventional infrastructure is constructed using significant quantities of steel and concrete, which is becoming less practical in comparison to new light weight, easy to handle composites. When infrastructure needs to be repaired, there is often a requirement for underwater welding, which carries considerable occupational health, safety and environment (OHSE) risks. For this reason, moving away from traditional metal structures or repair technologies is increasingly attractive. In recent years a number of new water activated composite wrap materials have been developed for use in underwater applications. The materials properties that are required can be difficult to achieve and maintain over an extended period of exposure to the marine environment, though, so many research groups are working on this challenge. A comprehensive literature review has been undertaken to identify present state of the art ideas for the development of improved underwater materials and this will be discussed in the context of adhesive applications. Preliminary material characterisation work will be described where new resins have been formulated to perform well in marine environments and survive prolonged exposure to seawater. Experiments were carried out in artificial seawater and samples left to cure at a range of temperatures DSC and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMTA) were used to evaluate the crosslink density of the network and the glass transition temperature respectively, while FTIR was used to determine the chemical structure in the cured systems. Preliminary mechanical test results have shown significant improvement in strength for the new formulations compared to a set of control samples of commercially available materials.

scholarly journals Results from a Multiple Morbidities Testing Program Offering Rapid HIV Testing Bundled with Hepatitis and Sexually Transmitted Infection Testing

2008 ◽  
Vol 123 (3_suppl) ◽  
pp. 63-69 ◽  
Author(s):  
Grace L. Reynolds ◽  
Dennis G. Fisher ◽  
Lucy E. Napper ◽  
Kimberly A. Marsh ◽  
Christine Willey ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hiv Testing ◽  
Test Results ◽  
Long Beach ◽  
Transmitted Infection ◽  
Testing Program ◽  
Sexually Transmitted ◽  
Rapid Hiv Testing ◽  
Hiv Test ◽  
Rapid Hiv Test ◽  
Multiple Morbidities

Objectives. Bundling human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing with tests for other infectious diseases such as hepatitis C, syphilis, or gonorrhea has been proposed as a method to recruit at-risk individuals into HIV testing. The objectives of this study were to determine ( 1) the types of at-risk clients who choose the rapid vs. standard HIV test when bundled with hepatitis and sexually transmitted infection (STI) tests, and ( 2) whether clients receiving a rapid HIV test are more likely to return on time for hepatitis and STI test results. Methods. We recruited individuals from drug treatment programs, methadone maintenance programs, needle-exchange programs, a community-based agency serving the gay and lesbian community, and the Center for Behavioral Research and Services' office-based testing facility at California State University, Long Beach from January 2005 through November 2007. Results. A total of 2,031 clients from a multiple morbidities testing program in Long Beach, California, were tested between January 2005 and November 2007. For clients receiving hepatitis and STI testing, the majority chose the standard HIV test. Clients who received a rapid HIV test returned in significantly fewer days than clients who received a standard HIV test. Injection drug users and sex traders were more likely to choose the standard HIV test and more likely to fail to return for test results on time. Conclusion. The rapid HIV test, in conjunction with hepatitis and STI tests, results in clients being more likely to return on time for hepatitis and STI results. Public health efforts should focus on acquainting high-risk clients with rapid HIV testing.

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