Experiencing the Unprecedented COVID-19 Lockdown: Abu Dhabi Older Adults’ Challenges and Concerns

This study focused on older adults (60+ years old) of both genders in Abu Dhabi during the COVID-19 pandemic before vaccines were made available (age ranged from 60 years to 75 years). They faced more strict rules of movement restriction and isolation that might have resulted in certain psychological feelings and social reactions. The main objective was to understand Abu Dhabi older adults’ psychological feelings during the pandemic and to identify their main concerns and challenges considering the various COVID-19-related policies and restrictions. The psychological feelings focused on fear, loneliness, sadness, irritability, emotional exhaustion, depressive symptoms, sleeping disorders, overeating, and excessive screen use. The objectives also included the changes in the psychological feelings concerning time. Other objectives covered better understanding the differences in (some activities) compared to the other age categories. Data were gathered through an online survey of community members from February to July 2020 as part of government initiatives (Department of Community Development). Responses were collected from 574 older adults in Abu Dhabi (60.1% male and 39.9% female). The analysis mainly used descriptive analysis, t-tests, analysis of variance (ANOVA), and simple trend analysis. For all tests, a p-value less than 0.05 was used for significance. The results pointed to the significant rise in feelings related to excessive screen use, fear, loneliness, and stress. The most significant concerns were related to more restrictions being imposed and not being able to see the grandchildren.The impact of new technologies on their quality of life was significantly reflected by respondents. The influence of the pandemic on older adults’ health and weight was also investigated. Analysis of variance, t-tests, and regression analysis with relevant tests were employed. The relevant results showed that some negative psychological feelings were common among older adults during the pandemic. However, the psychological feelings did not portray significant changes with time, except for sleeping disorders and overeating. Overall, older adults scored significantly different from other age groups on many challenges, concerns, and views regarding new technologies during the pandemic. No significant differences were observed regarding gender and marital status for the challenges and concerns. The research summarizes some policy guidance while noting some limitations of this study and future research directions.

The Effect of Pandemic Movement Restriction Policies on Children's Physical Fitness, Activity, Screen Time, and Sleep

Background: The negative impact of isolation, confinement, and physical (in)activity due to pandemic movement restriction has been well-documented over the past year, but less is known on the impact of these policies on children's physical fitness. This study was designed to determine the effects of pandemic movement restriction policies on the 24-hour movement behavior (24-HMB) of children, and whether any alterations are reflected in worsening physical fitness outcomes determined via direct testing.Methods: A two-phase, repeated-measures study with matched controls was conducted. Phase One: N = 62 schoolchildren (N = 31 female) completed self-assessment questionnaires on 24-HMB in October 2018 (pre-pandemic) and again in April 2020, at the height of movement restrictions enacted in response to the COVID-19 pandemic first wave. Phase Two: physical fitness of the original N = 62 children were determined directly pre- and post-isolation using an eight-component standardized fitness test battery and compared to N = 62 control children who were matched for age, sex, school region, and fitness centile scores.Results: During lockdown (total duration: 63 days), moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) decreased by ~46 min per day, screen time demonstrated a significant interaction effect, such that kids reported spending less recreational screen time on weekends during lockdown compared to no restriction, and sleep duration was consistently lower (95% CI: −104.1 to −45.5 min, p < 0.001). No interaction effect was present for direct fitness indicators, including: hand tapping (reaction time), standing broad jump, polygon backward obstacle course (coordination), sit-ups, stand-and-reach, bent-arm hang, 60-m, and 600-m run (p ≥ 0.05) although significant main effects are noted for both sexes.Conclusion: Initial changes in 24-HMB did not translate to reductions in physical fitness per se, likely due to the high initial fitness levels of the children. Further work is needed to confirm whether longer or repeated movement restrictions exacerbate initial negative 24-HMB trends, especially for children who are less fit when restrictions are initiated, prolonged, or repeated.

EDUKASI PROGRAM INOVASI DESAIN DAN PENGEMBANGAN PERANGKAT PENGENDALI ALAT PAKAN TERNAK OTOMATIS MENGGUNAKAN TEKNOLOGI INTERNET OF THINGS DI DESA KERTASARI, KECAMATAN RENGASDENGKLOK, KARAWANG, JAWA BARAT

ABSTRAKPandemi Covid-19 memiliki dampak yang sangat signifikan terhadap produktifitas peternakan unggas di Indonesia, khussusnya di Jawa Barat. Pembatasan gerak berskala besar menjadi salah satu penyebab yang menyebabkan terhambatnya distribusi pakan, produktifitas unggas menurun, penurunan minat konsumen. Sakah satu kendala yang dihadapi peterna pada skala mikro dan makro adalah manajemen pakan secara langsung di dalam kandang perwatan, yaitu proses pemberian dan penjadwalan pakan dan suplemen. Edukasi program inovasi desain dan pengembangan perangkat pengendali alat pakan ternak dengan teknologi IoT dapat menjadi akternatif perbaikan produktifitas peternakan unggas. Proses kerja yang efektif dengan otomatisasi penjadwalan dan pengaturan kuantitas pakan, serta pengguna akan mendapatkan data notifikasi dari aplikasi blynk tentang kondisi ketersediaan pakan dan nutrisi. Kata kunci: alat pakan otomatis; IoT; peternakan unggas ABSTRACTThe Covid-19 pandemic has a very significant impact on the productivity of poultry farming in Indonesia, especially in West Java. Large-scale movement restriction is one of the causes which causes the distribution of feed to be obstructed, poultry productivity decreases, and consumer interest decreases. One obstacle faced by peterna at the micro and macro scale is direct feed management in the care cage, namely the process of feeding and scheduling feed and supplements. Educational design innovation programs and development of animal feed control devices with IoT technology can be an alternative to improve the productivity of poultry farms. Effective work processes by automating the scheduling and setting of feed quantities, and users will get notification data from the Blynk application regarding conditions of feed availability and nutrition. Keywords: automatic feed equipment; Iot, poultry farming

RETROSPECTIVE ANALYSIS OF FUNDUS CHANGES IN POST COVID RHINO ORBITAL CEREBRAL MUCORMYCOSIS - A CASE SERIES

Aim:To study the fundus changes in post COVID- Rhino-orbital-cerebral mucormycosis. Methods: The study was done by collecting data from 30 cases of ROCM admitted in GGH, Kurnool. Detailed history was taken along with systemic ,ENT, ophthalmic and neurological examination and all necessary investigations were done including contrast enhanced MRI. Treatment was started with systemic and retrobulbar amphotericin-B injections. Fundus pictures were taken. Results: All of them had history of infection with covid-19 dated about 3-5 weeks back. Among them 18 had corticosteroid administration, 12 had oxygen with nasal prongs/mask, 2 had high flow/non-invasive ventilation. All of them were diabetics and 21 were hypertensives.Most of them had orbital/facial pain & edema, headache, 24 patients had proptosis, 16 had ptosis, 20 had ocular movement restriction,18 had loss of vision. In Contrast Enhanced MRI scan, 28 cases showed diffuse PNS involvement,4 had medial orbital involvement, 8 had diffuse orbital involvement,18 had involvement of orbital apex, 6 had CNS involvement. Fundus examination revealed optic atrophy in 15 cases, 5 had CRAO and 3 had CRVO,8 had diabetic retinopathy,4 had hypertensive retinopathy, others had no significant abnormality. Conclusion: Mucormycosis is a rapidly progressive angioinvasive fungal infection which has been on rise in India with the 2nd wave of COVID-19. Early diagnosis and management are essential to halt the spread of infection and prevent diminution of vision and therefore, further improve the visual outcome and overall prognosis of the patient.

Review of sheep and goat pox disease: current updates on epidemiology, diagnosis, prevention and control measures in Ethiopia

Sheep pox, goat pox, and lumpy skin diseases are economically significant and contagious viral diseases of sheep, goats and cattle, respectively, caused by the genus Capripoxvirus (CaPV) of the family Poxviridae. Currently, CaPV infection of small ruminants (sheep and goats) has been distributed widely and are prevalent in Central Africa, the Middle East, Europe and Asia. This disease poses challenges to food production and distribution, affecting rural livelihoods in most African countries, including Ethiopia. Transmission occurs mainly by direct or indirect contact with infected animals. They cause high morbidity (75-100% in endemic areas) and mortality (10-85%). Additionally, the mortality rate can approach 100% in susceptible animals. Diagnosis largely relies on clinical symptoms, confirmed by laboratory testing using real-time PCR, electron microscopy, virus isolation, serology and histology. Control and eradication of sheep pox virus (SPPV), goat pox virus (GTPV), and lumpy skin disease (LSDV) depend on timely recognition of disease eruption, vector control, and movement restriction. To date, attenuated vaccines originating from KSGPV O-180 strains are effective and widely used in Ethiopia to control CaPV throughout the country. This vaccine strain is clinically safe to control CaPV in small ruminants but not in cattle which may be associated with insufficient vaccination coverage and the production of low-quality vaccines.

The Power of Computational Intelligence Methods in the Containment of COVID-19 Pandemic from Detection to Recovery

The coronavirus disease (SARS-CoV-2)) pandemic has caused unprecedented economic crises, and changes in our lifestyle to different things that we have not experienced before in this century, which cause by movement restriction order by the authority to halt the spread of the disease around the globe. Researchers around the globe applied computational intelligence methods in numerous fields which exhibits a successful story. The computational intelligence methods play an important role in dealing with coronavirus pandemics. This research will focus on the use of computational intelligence methods in understanding the infection, accelerating drugs and treatments research, detecting, diagnosis, and predicting the virus, surveillance, and contact tracing to prevent or slow the virus from the spread, monitoring the recovery of the infected individuals. This study points out promising CI techniques utilized as an adjunct along with the current methods used in containments of COVID-19. It is imagined that this study will give CI researchers and the wider community an outline of the current status of CI applications and motivate CI researchers in harnessing CI technique possibilities in the battle against COVID-19.

A randomised controlled multicentre investigator-blinded clinical trial comparing efficacy and safety of surgery versus complex physical decongestive therapy for lipedema (LIPLEG)

Background Lipedema is a chronic disorder of the adipose tissue that affects mainly women, characterised by symmetrical, excessive fatty tissue on the legs and pain. Standard conservative treatment is long-term comprehensive decongestive therapy (CDT) to alleviate lipedema-related pain and to improve psychosocial well-being, mobility and physical activity. Patients may benefit from surgical removal of abnormally propagated adipose tissue by liposuction. The LIPLEG trial evaluates the efficacy and safety of liposuction compared to standard CDT. Methods/design LIPLEG is a randomised controlled multicentre investigator-blinded trial. Women with lipedema (n=405) without previous liposuction will be allocated 2:1 to liposuction or CDT. The primary outcome of the trial is leg pain reduction by ≥2 points on a visual analogue scale ranging 0–10 at 12 months on CDT or post-completion of liposuction. Secondary outcomes include changes in leg pain severity, health-related quality of life, depression tendency, haematoma tendency, prevalence of oedema, modification physical therapy scope, body fat percentage, leg circumference and movement restriction. The primary analysis bases on intention-to-treat. Success proportions are compared using the Mantel-Haenszel test stratified by lipedema stage at a 5% two-sided significance level. If this test is statistically significant, the equality of the response proportions in the separate strata is evaluated by Fisher’s exact test in a hierarchical test strategy. Discussion LIPLEG assesses whether surgical treatment of lipedema is safe and effective to reduce pain and other lipedema-related health issues. The findings of this trial have the potential to change the standard of care in lipedema. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04272827. Registered on February 14, 2020. Trial status Protocol version is 02_0, December 17, 2019

The Impact of Mobility Restriction Strategies in the Control of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Modelling the Relation between COVID-19 Health and Community Mobility Data

Background: Non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs), particularly mobility restrictions, are mainstay measures for the COVID-19 pandemic worldwide. We evaluated the effects of Oman’s mobility restriction strategies to highlight their efficacy in controlling the pandemic. Methods: Accessible national data of daily admissions and deaths were collected from 1 April 2020 to 22 May 2021. Google Community Mobility Report (CMR) data were downloaded for the same period. Among six CMR categories, three were used and reduced to one index—the community mobility index (CMI). We used a generalised linear model with a negative binomial distribution combined with a non-linear distributed lag model to investigate the short-term effects of CMI on the number of admitted PCR-confirmed COVID-19 cases and deaths, controlling for public holidays, day of the week, and Eid/Ramadan days. Results: We demonstrated the feasibility of using CMRs in the evaluation and monitoring of different NPIs, particularly those related to movement restriction. The best movement restriction strategy was a curfew from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. (level 3 of CMI = 8), which had a total reduction of 35% (95% confidence interval (CI); 25–44%) in new COVID-19 admissions in the following two weeks, and a fatality reduction in the following four weeks by 52% (95% CI; 11–75%). Conclusion: Evening lockdown significantly affected the course of the pandemic in Oman which lines up with similar studies throughout the world.