scholarly journals “A Labour of Love”: Active Lifestyle Entrepreneurship (Occupational Devotion) During a Time of COVID-19

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard Keith Wright ◽  
Cindy Wiersma ◽  
Richard Opara Ajiee

The Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis management strategies adopted by world leaders across the globe in 2020 impacted the work-life balance of billions of people. Entire populations were forced to stay at home and maintain a safe distance from family members, friends, colleagues, and customers. Occupational devotion is defined as a feeling of strong, positive attachment to a form of self-enhancing employment, where achievement and fulfillment are high, and the core activity has such intense appeal that the line between this work and leisure is virtually erased. Although it is not a new concept, this area of the serious leisure perspective has been largely overlooked by scholars observing the world of sport events and entrepreneurship. Using Creative Analytical Practice (CAP), a post-qualitative methodology, we present the personal narrative of a New Zealand-based active lifestyle entrepreneur who, as a result of a nationwide COVID19 lockdown, was forced to re-assess his long-established occupational devotion. Our co-constructed story offers an emotive insight into the personal cost and consequences of finding yourself living in a lockdown.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xingyi Guo ◽  
Zhishan Chen ◽  
Yumin Xia ◽  
Weiqiang Lin ◽  
Hongzhi Li

Abstract Background: The outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) was caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), through its surface spike glycoprotein (S-protein) recognition on the receptor Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) in humans. However, it remains unclear how genetic variations in ACE2 may affect its function and structure, and consequently alter the recognition by SARS-CoV-2. Methods: We have systemically characterized missense variants in the gene ACE2 using data from the Genome Aggregation Database (gnomAD; N = 141,456). To investigate the putative deleterious role of missense variants, six existing functional prediction tools were applied to evaluate their impact. We further analyzed the structural flexibility of ACE2 and its protein-protein interface with the S-protein of SARS-CoV-2 using our developed Legion Interfaces Analysis (LiAn) program.Results: Here, we characterized a total of 12 ACE2 putative deleterious missense variants. Of those 12 variants, we further showed that p.His378Arg could directly weaken the binding of catalytic metal atom to decrease ACE2 activity and p.Ser19Pro could distort the most important helix to the S-protein. Another seven missense variants may affect secondary structures (i.e. p.Gly211Arg; p.Asp206Gly; p.Arg219Cys; p.Arg219His, p.Lys341Arg, p.Ile468Val, and p.Ser547Cys), whereas p.Ile468Val with AF = 0.01 is only present in Asian.Conclusions: We provide strong evidence of putative deleterious missense variants in ACE2 that are present in specific populations, which could disrupt the function and structure of ACE2. These findings provide novel insight into the genetic variation in ACE2 which may affect the SARS-CoV-2 recognition and infection, and COVID-19 susceptibility and treatment.


Author(s):  
Francesca Gallè ◽  
Elita Anna Sabella ◽  
Stefano Ferracuti ◽  
Osvalda De Giglio ◽  
Giuseppina Caggiano ◽  
...  

Background: From March to May 2020, lockdown measures were adopted in Italy to contain the epidemic of the novel Coronavirus. People were forced to restrict their movement and social contacts, therefore having a higher risk of inactivity. This study, carried out among Italian undergraduates, explored their sedentary and physical activities (PA) during the lockdown with respect to their previous habits. Methods: An electronic questionnaire was administered once to students attending three Italian universities after the end of lockdown. Results: A total of 1430 students (mean age 22.9 ± 3.5 years, 65.5% females) completed the questionnaire. All the sedentary behaviors increased significantly, and all the physical activities decreased significantly during the lockdown. Time spent using electronic devices showed the highest increase (+52.4 min/day), and walking the greatest decrease (−365.5 min/week). Being younger than 22 years old, female, and previously active, attending the universities of Naples and Rome and having at least one graduate parent were associated with the achievement of recommended levels of PA even during the lockdown. Conclusions: This study highlights the reduction of PA among Italian undergraduates in the course of home-confinement due to the CoViD-19 pandemic. The practice of adequate PA during the lockdown was mainly associated with the previous adoption of an active lifestyle. Promoting active lifestyles during the non-pandemic period may have had positive effects also in case of lockdown.


2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 124-133
Author(s):  
Fabricia Oliveira Oliveira ◽  
Larissa Moraes dos Santos Fonseca ◽  
Roberto Badaró ◽  
Bruna Aparecida Souza Machado

In less than a year, the novel coronavirus rapidly changed the world scenario. To dealing with the fast spread of the disease, health associations coordinate data flows and issue guidelines to better mitigate the impact of the threat. Also, scientific groups around the world are working to ensure that all information about the mechanisms of the virus, transmission, and disease clinics is updated as the disease progresses. The objective of this study was to present the guidelines and recommendations for preventing, management strategies, clarifications about pandemics disinformation, and diagnosing COVID-19 infection in human specimens adopted from the main health centers and institutions in the world, such as WHO and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It is important to highlight that the rapid and effective enforcement of existing international and national action plans, as well as parallel review and improvisation, is facilitating the affected countries to contain transmission and possibly delay the peak of outbreak and mortality.


Author(s):  
Gurkiran Kaur ◽  
Ankur Mohan ◽  
Mamta Mohan ◽  
Aprajita .

<p class="abstract"><strong>Background:</strong> Coronavirus is emerging as a major threat to the global economy and psychology. The survey aims to know the concerns and preparedness of healthcare workers in the region of Punjab.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Methods:</strong> An online anonymous survey of 22 item questionnaire was conducted over 124 frontline medical professionals in the region. Linear snowball sampling was done.  </p><p class="abstract"><strong>Results:</strong> The major bulk of the study population were doctors and psychological unpreparedness and fear of increased exposure and contracting infection to the family came out to be the main concerns. While lack of enough skilled staff, essential protective equipment, and adequate support from authorities came out to be major loopholes in management strategies of the novel coronavirus.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Conclusions:</strong> The authorities should provide enough encouragement and assistance mentally as well as in the form of diagnostic, protective, and remedial pieces of equipment. On the other hand, the up-gradation of preparedness plans cannot be ignored either.</p>


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ashfaq Ahmad ◽  
Sidra Majaz ◽  
Faisal Nouroz

Abstract Background. A novel, human-infecting coronavirus causing CoVID-19 was first identified in Wuhan, China in late December, 2019. Within a short span of time more the virus has recorded more than 1 million deaths world-wide. This study is designed to address the overall evolutionary process of the novel Coronavirus complete genomes. Addressing the complexity and huge population size, network-based approaches are used in mapping samples to their reported locations. Results. Total of 473 complete human-coronavirus genomes representing 20 different countries are studied including 17 states from the United States and samples collected from the Cruise-diamond princess. The phylodynamic network of global-scale is classified into five clusters contained two clusters U1 and U2 of the USA samples. Cluster B is a shared cluster of China and the USA while A and C are of diverse nature. We found that Chinese samples aggregated in cluster A and B which aided in retaining the homogeneous viral genomic pool. In contrast, samples from the USA and Spain were split into distinct clusters indicating multiple port entries and a possibility in implying a delay in quarantine measures. Among the samples from the USA, we found that sequences reported from Washington and Virginia are scattered indicating evolutionary diversity.Conclusion. This report provides insight into the transmission pattern of CoV2 which is complicated to evaluate exclusively through conventional surveillance means. Our data not only identify the transmission network but also suggest that the severity of the disease is linked to the spatial diversity of infection.


Author(s):  
Linbo Li ◽  
Yongchao Hou ◽  
Fengying Kang ◽  
Suping Li ◽  
Juan Zhao

Abstract Emergent public health events, such as COVID-19, have been the focus of attention of researchers at home and abroad. In China, nurses are an important group to the prevention and control of the COVID-19 pneumonia epidemic. Using semi-structured interviews, qualitative interviews were conducted with 23 nurses who supported the novel coronavirus pneumonia epidemic, and the data was collated and analyzed using Colaizzi analysis. The work experience of Chinese nurses can be summarized into 4 major themes. They had different emotional experiences during aiding period; Aiding work had a double impact on the nurses; There were certain difficulties in aiding work; There were significant age differences in aiding work experience. It is necessary to strengthen the psychological construction of nurses. All hospitals must coordinate and manage various safety tasks, and ensure the precise, scientific, and streamlined deployment of rescue work. Humanized management, shift adjustment, performance allocation weight, and organizational care are also the top priorities of human resource management.


Author(s):  
Fanila Shahzad ◽  
Md Talat Nasim

The novel coronavirus, otherwise known as COVID-19 has fast become a major health concern. The current pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARSCoV‐ 2) is the third coronavirus outbreak, following severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) coronaviruses. Since the initial cases of a pneumonia of unknown aetiology, which was later identified as COVID-19 in Wuhan, Hubei province, China, there has been much debate and speculation regarding the origins of this novel virus. This review aims to provide an insight into the origin of SARS-CoV-2 by reflecting on genomic data gathered thus far. Identifying the origins of SARS-CoV-2 can lead to better understanding of hidden viral reservoirs that may exist and pose a threat to society as well as allow greater understanding of the mechanisms by which these viruses have successfully achieved cross species transmission. Greater knowledge in regard to this can lead to the development of strategies which can aid in preventing future outbreaks of this scale. Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science Vol.19(0) 2020 p. p. S 85-S 87


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vincenzo d'Alessandro ◽  
Nicole Balasco ◽  
Pietro Ferrara ◽  
Luigi Vitagliano

After the global spread of the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), research has concentrated its efforts on several aspects of the epidemiological burden of pandemic. In this frame, the presented study follows a previous analysis of the temporal link between cases and deaths during the first epidemic wave (Phase 1) in Italy (March-June 2020). We here analyze the COVID-19 epidemic in the time span from March 2020 to June 2021. The elaboration of the curves of cases and deaths allows identifying the temporal shift between the positive testing and the fatal event, which corresponds to one week from W2 to W33, two weeks from W34 to W41, and three weeks from W42 to W67. Based on this finding, we calculate the Weekly Lethality Rate (WLR). The WLR was grossly overestimated (~13.5%) in Phase 1, while a mean value of 2.6% was observed in most of Phase 2 (starting from October 2020), with a drop to 1.4% in the last investigated weeks. Overall, these findings offer an interesting insight into the magnitude and time evolution of the lethality burden attributable to COVID-19 during the entire pandemic period in Italy. In particular, the analysis highlighted the impact of the effectiveness of public health and social measures, of changes in disease management, and of preventive strategies over time.


2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 6444-6459 ◽  

The rapid spread of the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) as a serious threat to the world public health is in dire need of finding potential therapeutic agents. Chinese have tested several antiviral and antimalarial drugs as potent inhibitors for the novel virus, such as remdesivir, chloroquine, hydroxychloroquine, umifenovir and favipiravir. In this study, we used the molecular docking models to study the binding interactions between these pharmaceuticals, as well as our proposed remdesivir analogue (AZCV-20) with the 3CLpro and RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) of the SARS-CoV-2, using MEO and Autodock4 methods. Our study provides insight into the possible role of structural flexibility and efficacy during interactions between 3CLpro, RdRp and the drugs.


Author(s):  
Željka Babić ◽  
Emir Muhić ◽  
Dijana Tica

The novel coronavirus communicative modalities are ever-emergent and infinitely adaptable systems of the new normal state of mind and play. By focusing on specificities found in the corpus extracted from three leading Bosnian and Herzegovinian (B&H) newspapers, the paper attempts to merge the predominant theoretical insight into a mixture of conceptual and critical theories of language. The focus of the paper is two-fold. The first one is targeted at testing the extracted theoretical posits on the linguistic corpora. The second aims at challenging the notions of togetherness and separateness in the B&H society by mirroring them through the prism of Covid-19 newspaper reports. The results of the corpus analysis suggest that it is still possible to draw a line between the notions in accordance with the specific geographical regions from which the data are drawn.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document