Working in the world of the pandemic

This paper compiles a series of responses from key information professionals to the novel coronavirus pandemic of 2020. Respondents were invited to answer the questions how the pandemic has impacted on their work, and how it might change the way of working in the future. Contributors to the article include Scott Brown, Steve Dale, Denise Carter, Alison Day, Hal Kirkwood and Emily Hopkins.

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Covid-19, Fourth industrial revolution and the future of elections in Africa

Journal of African Elections ◽

10.20940/jae/2020/v19i2a1 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 19 (2) ◽

pp. 1-17

Author(s):

Joseph Olusegun Adebayo ◽

Blessing Makwambeni ◽

Colin Thakur

Keyword(s):

Industrial Revolution ◽

Human Existence ◽

Specific Reference ◽

The Novel ◽

Fourth Industrial Revolution ◽

The Future ◽

Potential Impact ◽

Novel Coronavirus ◽

Initial Focus ◽

The Way

The initial focus of this study was on exploring the potential impact of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) on future elections in Africa. The Fourth Industrial Revolution is fundamentally changing the way we live, work and relate to one another. In its scale and complexity, 4IR could change humanity and human existence as we presently know it. The suddenness with which the novel coronavirus pandemic has shut down life across the globe, including the cancellation and postponement of scheduled elections, led to a realignment of the research goals. The study thus includes ways in which 4IR and unforeseen global emergencies like pandemics can impact future elections, with specific reference to Africa.

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Becoming Politicized

Zeitschrift für Psychologie ◽

10.1027/2151-2604/a000311 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 225 (4) ◽

pp. 324-335 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Dimitrios Barkas ◽

Xenia Chryssochoou

Keyword(s):

Collective Identity ◽

Political Socialization ◽

Greek Society ◽

Economic Vulnerability ◽

The World ◽

The Future ◽

Identity Model ◽

Beliefs About The Future ◽

Of Greece ◽

The Way

Abstract. This research took place just after the end of the protests following the killing of a 16-year-old boy by a policeman in Greece in December 2008. Participants (N = 224) were 16-year-olds in different schools in Attiki. Informed by the Politicized Collective Identity Model ( Simon & Klandermans, 2001 ), a questionnaire measuring grievances, adversarial attributions, emotions, vulnerability, identifications with students and activists, and questions about justice and Greek society in the future, as well as about youngsters’ participation in different actions, was completed. Four profiles of the participants emerged from a cluster analysis using representations of the conflict, emotions, and identifications with activists and students. These profiles differed on beliefs about the future of Greece, participants’ economic vulnerability, and forms of participation. Importantly, the clusters corresponded to students from schools of different socioeconomic areas. The results indicate that the way young people interpret the events and the context, their levels of identification, and the way they represent society are important factors of their political socialization that impacts on their forms of participation. Political socialization seems to be related to youngsters’ position in society which probably constitutes an important anchoring point of their interpretation of the world.

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Profilometry. Using Corneo-scleral topography for scleral lens fitting

The Eye ◽

10.33791/2222-4408-2019-4-19-22 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 21 (128) ◽

pp. 19-22

Author(s):

Gregory DeNaeyer

Keyword(s):

Ocular Surface ◽

World Wide ◽

Contact Lenses ◽

The Past ◽

The World ◽

The Future ◽

The Way

The world-wide use of scleral contact lenses has dramatically increased over the past 10 year and has changed the way that we manage patients with corneal irregularity. Successfully fitting them can be challenging especially for eyes that have significant asymmetries of the cornea or sclera. The future of scleral lens fitting is utilizing corneo-scleral topography to accurately measure the anterior ocular surface and then using software to design lenses that identically match the scleral surface and evenly vault the cornea. This process allows the practitioner to efficiently fit a customized scleral lens that successfully provides the patient with comfortable wear and improved vision.

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Comparative docking of SARS-CoV-2 receptors antagonists from repurposing drugs

10.26434/chemrxiv.12044538.v4 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Micael Davi Lima de Oliveira ◽

Kelson Mota Teixeira de Oliveira

Keyword(s):

World Health Organisation ◽

World Health ◽

Lung Cells ◽

The Novel ◽

High Modulation ◽

Main Protease ◽

The World ◽

Novel Coronavirus ◽

Viral Receptors ◽

Theoretical Results

According to the World Health Organisation, until 16 June, 2020, the number of confirmed and notified cases of COVID-19 has already exceeded 7.9 million with approximately 434 thousand deaths worldwide. This research aimed to find repurposing antagonists, that may inhibit the activity of the main protease (Mpro) of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, as well as partially modulate the ACE2 receptors largely found in lung cells, and reduce viral replication by inhibiting Nsp12 RNA polymerase. Docking molecular simulations were performed among a total of 60 structures, most of all, published in the literature against the novel coronavirus. The theoretical results indicated that, in comparative terms, paritaprevir, ivermectin, ledipasvir, and simeprevir, are among the most theoretical promising drugs in remission of symptoms from the disease. Furthermore, also corroborate indinavir to the high modulation in viral receptors. The second group of promising drugs includes remdesivir and azithromycin. The repurposing drugs HCQ and chloroquine were not effective in comparative terms to other drugs, as monotherapies, against SARS-CoV-2 infection.

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Association and treatment of diabetes in patients affected by Covid-19

International Journal of Research in Pharmaceutical Sciences ◽

10.26452/ijrps.v11ispl1.3591 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 (SPL1) ◽

pp. 1198-1201

Author(s):

Syed Yasir Afaque

Keyword(s):

Diabetes Mellitus ◽

Prognostic Value ◽

Heart Diseases ◽

The Novel ◽

The World ◽

Treatment Of Diabetes ◽

Coronavirus Infection ◽

Composite Outcomes ◽

Novel Coronavirus ◽

The Impact

In December 2019, a unique coronavirus infection, SARS-CoV-2, was first identified in the province of Wuhan in China. Since then, it spread rapidly all over the world and has been responsible for a large number of morbidity and mortality among humans. According to a latest study, Diabetes mellitus, heart diseases, Hypertension etc. are being considered important risk factors for the development of this infection and is also associated with unfavorable outcomes in these patients. There is little evidence concerning the trail back of these patients possibly because of a small number of participants and people who experienced primary composite outcomes (such as admission in the ICU, usage of machine-driven ventilation or even fatality of these patients). Until now, there are no academic findings that have proven independent prognostic value of diabetes on death in the novel Coronavirus patients. However, there are several conjectures linking Diabetes with the impact as well as progression of COVID-19 in these patients. The aim of this review is to acknowledge about the association amongst Diabetes and the novel Coronavirus and the result of the infection in such patients.

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Synthetic and semi-synthetic drugs as promising therapeutic option for the treatment of COVID-19

Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry ◽

10.2174/1389557520666201204162103 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 20 ◽

Author(s):

Ekta Shirbhate ◽

Preeti Patel ◽

Vijay K Patel ◽

Ravichandran Veerasamy ◽

Prabodh C Sharma ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Therapeutic Option ◽

Antiviral Treatment ◽

The Novel ◽

Clinical Experiences ◽

Synthetic Compounds ◽

Synthetic Drugs ◽

Global Pandemic ◽

The World ◽

Novel Coronavirus

: The novel coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19), a global pandemic that emerged from Wuhan, China has today travelled all around the world, so far 216 countries or territories with 21,732,472 people infected and 770,866 deaths globally (as per WHO COVID-19 update dated August 18, 2020). Continuous efforts are being made to repurpose the existing drugs and develop vaccines for combating this infection. Despite, to date, no certified antiviral treatment or vaccine prevails. Although, few candidates have displayed their efficacy in in vitro studies and are being repurposed for COVID-19 treatment. This article summarizes synthetic and semi-synthetic compounds displaying potent activity in their clinical experiences or studies against COVID-19 and also focuses on mode of action of drugs being repositioned against COVID-19.

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Redesigning Life

10.1093/oso/9780198766834.001.0001 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

John Parrington

Keyword(s):

Genetic Engineering ◽

The World ◽

The Future ◽

Synthetic Organisms ◽

The Way

We can now edit genomes. The technique, which involves cutting and pasting DNA code into the genome, is faster and cheaper than traditional genetic engineering and can be used on almost any animal or plant. What will this technology mean for the future? It may pave the way to banishing many diseases, and help feed the burgeoning population of the world. Woolly mammoths may again roam the tundra. But are there also risks? Might a nightmarish world of bioterrorism and rogue synthetic organisms await? John Parrington reports on the astonishing revolution underway in genetic engineering and why it matters to us all.

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An outline of SARS-CoV-2 pathogenesis and the complement cascade of immune system

Bulletin of the National Research Centre ◽

10.1186/s42269-021-00582-2 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 45 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Padmalochan Hembram

Keyword(s):

Immune System ◽

Dark Side ◽

Main Body ◽

The Novel ◽

Transmission Chain ◽

The World ◽

Therapeutic Molecules ◽

Rapid Transmission ◽

Novel Coronavirus ◽

Near Future

Abstract Background Coronavirus disease 19 is a viral infection caused by a novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2. It was first notified in Wuhan, China, is now spread into numerous part of the world. Thus, the world needs urgent support and encouragement to develop a vaccine or antiviral treatments to combat the atrocious outbreak. Main body of the abstract The origin of this virus is yet unknown; however, rapid transmission from human-to-human “Anthroponosis” has widely confirmed. The world is witnessing a continuous hike in SARS-CoV-2 infection. In light of the outbreak of coronavirus disease 19, we have aimed to highlight the basic and vital information about the novel coronavirus. We provide an overview of SARS-CoV-2 transmission, timeline and its pathophysiological properties which would be an aid for the development of therapeutic molecules and antiviral drugs. Immune system plays a crucial role in virus infection in order to control but may have dark side when becomes uncontrollable. The host and SARS-CoV-2 interaction describe how the virus exploits host machinery and how overactive host immune response can cause disease severity also addressed in this review. Short conclusion Safe and effective vaccines may be the game-changing tools, but in the near future wearing mask, washing hands at regular intervals, avoiding crowed, maintaining physical distancing and hygienic surrounding, must be good practices to reduce and break the transmission chain. Still, research is ongoing not only on how vaccines protect against disease, but also against infection and transmission.

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COVID-19 Vaccination: From Interesting Agent to the Patient

Vaccines ◽

10.3390/vaccines9020120 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (2) ◽

pp. 120

Author(s):

Anis Daou

Keyword(s):

Central Nervous System ◽

Nervous System ◽

Gastrointestinal Tract ◽

Circulatory System ◽

The Novel ◽

Lead Compound ◽

Fda Approval ◽

The World ◽

The Central Nervous System ◽

Novel Coronavirus

The vaccination for the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) is undergoing its final stages of analysis and testing. It is an impressive feat under the circumstances that we are on the verge of a potential breakthrough vaccination. This will help reduce the stress for millions of people around the globe, helping to restore worldwide normalcy. In this review, the analysis looks into how the new branch of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) came into the forefront of the world like a pandemic. This review will break down the details of what COVID-19 is, the viral family it belongs to and its background of how this family of viruses alters bodily functions by attacking vital human respiratory organs, the circulatory system, the central nervous system and the gastrointestinal tract. This review also looks at the process a new drug analogue undergoes, from (i) being a promising lead compound to (ii) being released into the market, from the drug development and discovery stage right through to FDA approval and aftermarket research. This review also addresses viable reasoning as to why the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine may have taken much less time than normal in order for it to be released for use.

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