scholarly journals Assessing the Role of Daily Activities and Mobility in the Spread of COVID-19 in Montreal With an Agent-Based Approach

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ouassim Manout ◽  
Francesco Ciari
Keyword(s):  
Public Transportation ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Daily Activities ◽  
Risk Of Infection ◽  
Mobility Patterns ◽  
Agent Based ◽  
Synthetic Population ◽  
Community Transmission ◽  
Business As Usual

Daily activities and mobility dynamics play a central role in the spread of COVID-19. Close physical interactions involved by certain daily activities help transmit the virus. Travel required by the spatial distribution of activities contributes to the propagation of the virus. In order to control and limit this propagation, it is critical to understand the contribution of daily activities to the dynamics of COVID-19. This paper investigates the connection between daily activities, their distribution in space and time, the characteristics of the individuals performing them, and the transmission of the virus. A business-as-usual agent-based simulation scenario of Montreal, Canada is used. To address this research question, we use two agent-based models: MATSIM and EPISIM. MATSIM simulates daily activities and mobility dynamics of the population. EPISIM simulates the spread of the virus in the population using contact networks computed by MATSIM. A synthetic population of Montreal is defined to replicate the main observed sociodemographic characteristics of Montrealers as well as their activity and mobility patterns. The definition of the synthetic population relies on various data sources: household travel survey, census, real estate, car ownership, and housing data. In the business-as-usual scenario, findings underline the significant role of home, work, and school activities in community transmission of COVID-19. Secondary activities, including leisure and shopping, also help spread the virus, but to a lesser degree in comparison with primary activities. The risk of infection in the workplace depends on the economic sector. Healthcare workers are, by far, the most exposed workers to the virus. Workplace infections mirror the gender-biased job market of Montreal. Most infections in the healthcare and educational services are among women. Most infections in the manufacturing, construction, transportation, and warehousing industries are among men. In the business-as-usual scenario where community transmission is high, primary and secondary school-aged children are found to be a major transmission vector of the virus. Finally, simulation results suggest that the risk of infection in the public transportation system is low.

scholarly journals The role of masks in reducing the risk of new waves of COVID-19 in low transmission settings: a modeling study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robyn M Stuart ◽  
Romesh G Abeysuriya ◽  
Cliff C Kerr ◽  
Dina Mistry ◽  
Daniel J Klein ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Initial Conditions ◽  
High Mobility ◽  
Baseline Scenario ◽  
New Wave ◽  
Policy Environment ◽  
Agent Based ◽  
Low Transmission ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Community Transmission

Objectives: To evaluate the risk of a new wave of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in a setting with ongoing low transmission, high mobility, and an effective test-and-trace system, under different assumptions about mask uptake. Design: We used a stochastic agent-based microsimulation model to create multiple simulations of possible epidemic trajectories that could eventuate over a five-week period following prolonged low levels of community transmission. Setting: We calibrated the model to the epidemiological and policy environment in New South Wales, Australia, at the end of August 2020. Participants: None Intervention: From September 1, 2020, we ran the stochastic model with the same initial conditions (i.e., those prevailing at August 31, 2020), and analyzed the outputs of the model to determine the probability of exceeding a given number of new diagnoses and active cases within five weeks, under three assumptions about future mask usage: a baseline scenario of 30% uptake, a scenario assuming no mask usage, and a scenario assuming mandatory mask usage with near-universal uptake (95%). Main outcome measure: Probability of exceeding a given number of new diagnoses and active cases within five weeks. Results: The policy environment at the end of August is sufficient to slow the rate of epidemic growth, but may not stop the epidemic from growing: we estimate a 20% chance that NSW will be diagnosing at least 50 new cases per day within five weeks from the date of this analysis. Mandatory mask usage would reduce this to 6-9%. Conclusions: Mandating the use of masks in community settings would significantly reduce the risk of epidemic resurgence.

scholarly journals The motivational primacy of environmental coherence : self-derogation and the experience of meaning in life

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Samantha J. Heintzelman
Keyword(s):  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Sense Of Coherence ◽  
Meaning In Life ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Self Esteem ◽  
Daily Activities ◽  
Future Directions ◽  
The World ◽  
Human Tendency

Although the human tendency to make self-serving attributions is well-documented, not all behaviors and cognitions are primarily self-serving. Victims blame themselves for uncontrollable circumstances and individuals derogate themselves to maintain a sense that the world is just. Callan and colleagues (2014) found that random negative outcomes result in lowered self-esteem, increased perceptions that one deserves bad outcomes, and spurred self-detrimental behaviors. How might these self-defeating processes be explained? I examined whether such processes might serve to maintain a broader sense of coherence that allows the experience of life as meaningful. Participants (N = 1199) wrote about past bad or good breaks, or daily activities, and then rated self-esteem, deservingness of bad outcomes, and meaning in life and coherence. I found no support for the prediction that self-esteem would negatively relate (or deservingness of bad outcome beliefs would positively relate) to meaning in life following reminders of bad breaks. Some evidence emerged suggesting that self-esteem was less strongly related to coherence in the good breaks condition compared to controls. Exploratory analyses examined the role of depression in processes involved in the experience of life as meaningful. The manipulation had stronger effects on meaning in life in participants experiencing depressive symptoms compared to those who were not. Furthermore, self-esteem was more strongly related to meaning in life in individuals experiencing some depression compared to the non-depressed participants, especially in the bad breaks condition. Implications for this work regarding the study of meaning in life and future directions regarding this research question are discussed.

scholarly journals Lessons learned from Vietnam’s COVID-19 response: the role of adaptive behavior change and testing in epidemic control

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Quang D. Pham ◽  
Robyn M. Stuart ◽  
Thuong V. Nguyen ◽  
Quang C. Luong ◽  
Dai Q. Tran ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Agent Based ◽  
Policy Responses ◽  
Testing Rate ◽  
Success Stories ◽  
Speed Of Response ◽  
Testing Data ◽  
Community Transmission ◽  
New Phase

AbstractBackgroundVietnam has emerged as one of the world’s leading success stories in responding to COVID-19. After prolonged zero-low transmission, a summer outbreak of unknown source at Da Nang caused the country’s first COVID-19 deaths, but was quickly suppressed. Vietnam recently reopened its borders to international travelers. Understanding the attendant risks and how to minimize them is crucial as Vietnam moves into this new phase.MethodsWe create an agent-based model of COVID-19 in Vietnam, using regional testing data and a detailed linelist of the 1,014 COVID-19 cases, including 35 deaths, identified across Vietnam. We investigate the Da Nang outbreak, and quantify the risk of another outbreak under different assumptions about behavioral/policy responses and ongoing testing.ResultsThe Da Nang outbreak, although rapidly contained once detected, nevertheless caused significant community transmission before it was detected; higher symptomatic testing could have mitigated this. If testing levels do not increase, the adoption of past policies in response to newly-detected cases may reduce the size of potential outbreaks but will not prevent them. Compared to a baseline symptomatic testing rate of 10%, we estimate half as many infections under a 20% testing rate, and a quarter as many with 40-50% testing rates, over the four months following border reopenings.ConclusionsVietnam’s success in controlling COVID-19 is largely attributable to its rapid response to detected outbreaks, but the speed of response could be improved even further with higher levels of symptomatic testing.

Adherence to mask wearing on public transport during the COVID-19 pandemic and influential factors: the case of Hanoi

2021 ◽  
Vol 72 (4) ◽  
pp. 486-497
Author(s):  
Tong Huu Manh ◽  
Do Anh Duong ◽  
Nguyen Ngoc Anh ◽  
Nguyen Trung Duc ◽  
Nguyen Binh Minh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Public Transport ◽  
Public Spaces ◽  
Influential Factors ◽  
Risk Of Infection ◽  
The Public ◽  
Community Transmission ◽  
Over Time ◽  
Significant Factors

In response to little known about the use of face masks for public transport passengers in developing countries, this study investigates the prevalence of using masks and using masks correctly together with influential factors. Using 570-passenger data collected on the whole bus network from 7 September to 3 October 2020 in Hanoi, the authors found that 100% of users wore masks; however, about 11% failed to wear masks correctly. As regards factors, passengers who are old, rarely ride by bus, take heavy luggage, travel with other(s) were more likely to use masks incorrectly. Having a health issue encouraged the correct use of masks. Attitudes towards the COVID-19 were significant factors. The higher levels of agreement with the acute danger of COVID-19 and the risk of infection from the public were involved in the higher likelihood of the correct mask wearing. Notably, over time with no community transmission of the coronavirus, the likelihood of incorrect use of masks was more inclined to increase. To address the wrong utilization of masks on buses, the role of ticket conductors in reminding and asking users using masks incorrectly should be enhanced. Additionally, authorities should issue messages and implement campaigns to encourage citizens to wear in public spaces on a regular basis, particularly when the adherence reduces over the time without community transmission of COVID-19. Although not covering all aspects representing the incorrect mask wearing, this study is one the first research on the incorrect use of masks, thus extending the literature on how public transport users respond the effects of COVID-19.

Posttransplant CMV infection and the role of immunosuppression (Sponsor: Novartis Pharma GmbH, Nürnberg)

2016 ◽  
Vol 04 (01) ◽  
pp. 4-10
Keyword(s):  
Lower Incidence ◽  
Paradigm Shift ◽  
Mtor Inhibitor ◽  
De Novo ◽  
Expert Panel ◽  
Risk Of Infection ◽  
Cmv Infection ◽  
Expert Meeting ◽  
Selection Of

AbstractImmunosuppression permits graft survival after transplantation and consequently a longer and better life. On the other hand, it increases the risk of infection, for instance with cytomegalovirus (CMV). However, the various available immunosuppressive therapies differ in this regard. One of the first clinical trials using de novo everolimus after kidney transplantation [1] already revealed a considerably lower incidence of CMV infection in the everolimus arms than in the mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) arm. This result was repeatedly confirmed in later studies [2–4]. Everolimus is now considered a substance with antiviral properties. This article is based on the expert meeting “Posttransplant CMV infection and the role of immunosuppression”. The expert panel called for a paradigm shift: In a CMV prevention strategy the targeted selection of the immunosuppressive therapy is also a key element. For patients with elevated risk of CMV, mTOR inhibitor-based immunosuppression is advantageous as it is associated with a significantly lower incidence of CMV events.

PERAN ORANGTUA DAN GURU PEMBIMBING KHUSUS KEPADA ANAK BERKUBUTAHAN KHUSU (SLOW LEARNER) DI SD NEGERI 5 ARCAWINANGUN

2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Ujang Khiyarusoleh
Keyword(s):  
Special Needs ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Children With Special Needs ◽  
Special Needs Children ◽  
Slow Learner ◽  
Learning Achievement ◽  
Study Approach ◽  
Role Of Parents ◽  
Guidance Teachers

ABSTRAK Penelitian ini dilatarbelakangi oleh adanya pendidikan yang diperuntukkan bagi semua anak, termasuk anak berkebutuhan khusus. Anak berkebutuhan khusus memiliki karakter yang berbeda-beda, khususnya slow learner dalam pembelajaran mengalami keterlambatan dalam memahami materi. Oleh karena itulah diperlukan peran orangtua dan guru pembimbing khusus untuk membantu memberikan pendidikan yang lebih baik sesuai dengan karakternya. Rumusan masalah penelitian ini yaitu bagaimana peran orangtua dan guru pembimbing khusus kepada slow learner di SD Negeri 5 Arcawinangun. Tujuan penelitian ini yaitu untuk mengetahui peran orangtua dan guru pembimbing khusus kepada slow learner di SD Negeri 5 Arcawinangun. Jenis penelitian ini yaitu penelitian kualitatif dengan pendekatan studi kasus. Teknik pengumpulan data yang digunakan adalah observasi, wawancara, dokumentasi dan triangulasi sumber. Hasil penelitian ini menunjukan bahwa terdapat beberapa peran orangtua yaitu meliputi: orangtua sebagai pendamping utama, orangtua sebagai advokat, orangtua sebagai guru, orangtua sebagai diagnostian. Serta peran guru pembimbing khusus yang meliputi: merancang dan melaksanakan program kekhususan, melakukan identifikasi, asesmen dan menyususn program pembelajaran individual, memodifikasi bahan ajar, melakukan evaluasi, dan membuat laporan program dan perkembangan anak berkebutuhan khusus. Dengan peran peran tersebut, maka sebagian besar anak berkebutuhan khusus di SD Negeri 5 Arcawinangun dapat memberikan layanan dengan baik. Saran untuk penelitian ini orangtua senantiasa mendorong anaknya untuk belajar bersungguh-sungguh di rumah dan di skolah, serta menyediakan fasilitas belajar yang mendukung perkembangan pendidikan bagi anaknya. Kata Kunci: peran guru pembimbing khusus, peran orangtua, slow learner   ABSTRACT Background of the study was the existence of education aimed at all children, including children with special needs. Children with special needs have different characters, thus affecting their learning achievement. Therefore, the role of parents and special tutors were needed to help them improve learning achievement. The research question of this research was how the role of parents and special guidance teachers towards learning achievement of children with special needs in SD Negeri 5 Arcawinangun. The focus of this research was the role of parents and special guidance teachers on learning achievement of children with special needs in grades 1, 2 and 3 of SD Negeri 5 Arcawinangun. The purpose of this study was to determine the role of parents and special guidance teachers on the learning achievement of children with special needs in Arcawinangun 5 Public Elementary School. This type of research was qualitative research with a case study approach. Technique of data collection was observation, interviews, documentation and source triangulation. The results of this research indicated that there were several roles of parents, namely: parents as the main companion, parents as advocates, parents as teachers, parents as diagnostics. As well as the role of a special mentor teacher which includes: designing and implementing specific programs, identifying, assessing and arranging individual learning programs, modifying teaching materials, evaluating, and making program reports and development of children with special needs.With this role, most of the children with special needs in SD Negeri 5 Arcawinangun can improve their learning achievement well.Suggestions of this research were parents always encourage their children to study seriously at home and at school, and provide learning facilities that support the development of education for their children. Keywords: role of parents, role of special guidance teachers, slow learner

The Role of Mobile Money in Moderating Financial Exclusion: A Tanzanian Experience

2020 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
pp. 1-24 ◽  
Author(s):  
Deogratius Joseph Mhella
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Financial Institutions ◽  
Banking Sector ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Microfinance Institutions ◽  
Mobile Money ◽  
Access To Credit ◽  
Financial Exclusion

Prior to the advent of mobile money, the banking sector in most of the developing countries excluded certain segments of the population. The excluded populations were deemed as a risk to the banking sector. The banking sector did not work with cash stripped and the financially disenfranchised people. Financial exclusion persisted to incredibly higher levels. Those excluded did not have: bank accounts, savings in financial institutions, access to credit, loan and insurance services. The advent of mobile money moderated the very factors of financial exclusion that the banks failed to resolve. This paper explains how mobile money moderates the factors of financial exclusion that the banks and microfinance institutions have always failed to moderate. The paper seeks to answer the following research question: 'How has mobile money moderated the factors of financial exclusion that other financial institutions failed to resolve between 1960 and 2008? Tanzania has been chosen as a case study to show how mobile has succeeded in moderating financial exclusion in the period after 2008.

The Plausible role of Indian Traditional Medicine in combating Corona Virus (SARS-CoV 2): a mini-review

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adithya J ◽  
Bhagyalakshmi Nair ◽  
Aishwarya S ◽  
Lekshmi R. Nath
Keyword(s):  
Specific Treatment ◽  
Ocimum Sanctum ◽  
Drug Candidate ◽  
Asparagus Racemosus ◽  
Traditional System ◽  
Traditional Medicines ◽  
Contagious Nature ◽  
Community Transmission ◽  
Novel Virus

: SARS-CoV 2 is a novel virus strain of Coronavirus, reported in China in late December 2019. Its highly contagious nature in humans has prompted WHO to designate the ongoing pandemic as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. At this moment, there is no specific treatment and the therapeutic strategies to deal with the infection are only supportive, and prevention aimed at reducing community transmission. A permanent solution for the pandemic, which has brought the world economy to the edge of collapse, is the need of the hour. This situation has brought intense research in traditional systems of medicine. Indian Traditional System, Ayurveda has a clear concept of the cause and treatment of pandemics. Through this review, information on the potential antiviral traditional medicines along with their immunomodulatory pathways is discussed. We have covered the seven most important Indian traditional plants with antiviral properties :Withaniasomnifera (L.) Dunal(family: Solanaceae),Tinosporacordifolia(Thunb.)Miers (family:Menispermaceae),Phyllanthusemblica L.(family:Euphorbiaceae),Asparagus racemosus L.(family:Liliaceae), Glycyrrhizaglabra L.(family:Fabaceae), Ocimum sanctum L.(family:Lamiaceae) and Azadirachta indica A.Juss(family:Meliaceae)in this review. An attempt is also made to bring into limelight the importance of dietary polyphenol, Quercetin which is a potential drug candidate in the making against the SARS-CoV2 virus.

scholarly journals Influence of Land Use on Avian Diversity in North African Urban Environments

Land ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 434
Author(s):  
Hani Amir Aouissi ◽  
Alexandru-Ionuţ Petrişor ◽  
Mostefa Ababsa ◽  
Maria Boştenaru-Dan ◽  
Mahmoud Tourki ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Green Infrastructure ◽  
Diversity Index ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Urban Environments ◽  
Ecological Group ◽  
Avian Diversity ◽  
North African ◽  
Index Method ◽  
Urban Green Spaces

Land cover and use changes are important to study for their impact on ecosystem services and ultimately on sustainability. In urban environments, a particularly important research question addresses the relationship between urbanization-related changes and biodiversity, subject to controversies in the literature. Birds are an important ecological group, and useful for answering this question. The present study builds upon the hypothesis according to which avian diversity decreases with urbanization. In order to answer it, a sample of 4245 observations from 650 sites in Annaba, Algeria, obtained through the point abundance index method, were investigated by computing Shannon-Wiener’s diversity index and the species richness, mapping them, and analyzing the results statistically. The findings confirm the study hypothesis and are relevant for planning, as they stress the role of urban green spaces as biodiversity hotspots, and plead for the need of connecting them. From a planning perspective, the results emphasize the need for interconnecting the green infrastructure through avian corridors. Moreover, the results fill in an important lack of data on the biodiversity of the region, and are relevant for other similar Mediterranean areas. Future studies could use the findings to compare with data from other countries and continents.

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