Search Results (91)

This retrospective, non-interventional study investigated the impact of a forced training interruption, such as the COVID-19 nationwide lockdown, on the physical efficiency, performance, and technical-agility skills of prepubertal soccer players by comparing pre- and post-interruption cohorts within the same youth academy and at the same chronological age. Anonymised data collected across multiple competitive seasons included anthropometric measures and motor performance tests: Standing Long Jump, Shuttle Run, Shuttle Dribble, and Mini Cooper. Between-group differences were analysed using Mann–Whitney U tests, with p < 0.05 as the level of significance. The post-training interruption cohort showed significantly higher values in the Standing Long Jump (+11.2%, p < 0.001) and the Shuttle Run (+8.0%, p = 0.011), indicating improved explosive power and agility-speed. Conversely, performance on the Shuttle Dribble test declined by 13.4% (p < 0.001), while Mini Cooper results and BMI did not differ significantly. These findings suggest that modifications to compulsory training and children’s natural adaptability may have enhanced physical abilities, whereas the lack of contextual and interactive practice negatively affected technical-agility skills. Coaches should incorporate alternative workouts to maintain motor performance and emphasise ball-related and decision-making drills within ecological and dynamic environments to maximise developmental outcomes. This study offers new insights into the adaptive responses of young athletes and provides practical lessons for future youth soccer development, particularly during periods of forced training interruption. Full article

The COVID-19 pandemic was responsible for an unprecedented increase in psychological problems among post-secondary students worldwide. Drawing on data from a repeated cross-sectional (RCS) project, this study investigated changes in psychological symptoms, emotional regulation (cognitive reappraisal and emotional suppression), and academic, social, and personal–emotional college adjustment, and associations between these variables among students in two countries during the phases of lockdown (2021), lifting of restrictions (2022), and the endemic phase (2023). University students in Canada (n = 1014) and Spain (n = 447) completed online surveys during these periods. Students in both countries reported significant declines in perceived COVID-19 stress across the pandemic phases. In comparison with pre-pandemic rates, elevated psychological symptoms remained constant. There were some country differences, but sex differences were consistent. Psychological symptoms mediated the association between cognitive reappraisal and the adjustment measures among Canadian students during each pandemic period. Alternatively, they mediated the linkages of maladaptive emotional suppression with academic, social, and personal–emotional functioning of Spanish students at every phase, but only during the lifting of restrictions and the endemic phase for Canadian students. The results indicate the complexity of country and context in the role of emotional regulation during uncontrollable conditions and provide directions for intervention in stressful situations, including adjustment to university and future disastrous environmental events. Full article

The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly affected global economies, including the electricity sector. Governments implemented strict containment measures to mitigate the health crisis, including lockdowns, social distancing, and event cancelations. These interventions, while essential for public health, also disrupted energy demand and supply patterns. This study supports regulators by quantifying the short- and long-term impacts of the pandemic on local electricity prices (LEPs) in the Nord Pool market (Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania) during 2020. The findings highlight a crucial link between crisis response strategies and the transition to sustainable energy systems. In times of uncertainty, governments tend to prioritize renewable energy investments, particularly wind power, which offers a clean and resilient alternative to fossil-fuel-based electricity generation. Using the PMG-ARDL estimator, our analysis reveals a significant long-term negative association between government interventions and LEP, as well as between wind energy production (WEP) and LEP. Specifically, an additional gigawatt of wind energy generation reduces local electricity prices by up to EUR 0.09, confirming the merit-order effect. These findings emphasize the environmental and economic benefits of expanding wind energy capacity as a stabilizing force in electricity markets. Moreover, while health-related news influenced LEP fluctuations in the long run, government restrictions had a limited short-term impact, likely due to the inelastic nature of electricity demand and supply. This study reinforces the argument that integrating more renewable energy sources can enhance market resilience, reduce price volatility, and contribute to long-term sustainable development, making the energy transition an essential pillar of post-pandemic recovery strategies. Full article

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted essential health services globally, including contraceptive provision. This study examined barriers to contraceptive access in Nigeria during the national lockdown and lessons for future health crisis preparedness. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey of 1273 respondents was conducted during the COVID-19 lockdown. Descriptive statistics and multivariate logistic regression were used to identify predictors of unmet contraceptive need. Online convenience sampling may limit representativeness. Results: Fear of contracting COVID-19 at health facilities (76.6%), closure of drug and chemist shops (53.7%), movement restrictions (48.4%), and inability to reach healthcare providers (43.5%) were the most reported barriers. Adults aged 26–33 years (AOR = 2.00, 95% CI: 1.05–3.73), those married or cohabiting (AOR = 3.87, 95% CI: 2.58–5.68), and Yoruba respondents (AOR = 1.70, 95% CI: 1.04–2.58) were significantly more likely to report unmet need. Tertiary education (AOR = 0.28, 95% CI: 0.13–0.55) and rural residence (AOR = 0.57, 95% CI: 0.37–0.86) were protective factors. Conclusion: COVID-19-related restrictions exposed systemic weaknesses in Nigeria’s contraceptive delivery. Addressing fragile supply chains, strengthening community-based alternatives, and embedding reproductive health into emergency preparedness plans will be critical to building resilient systems for future crises. Full article

This study investigates the variability of major air pollutants, such as nitrogen oxides (NO_x, including nitric oxide (NO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO₂)), ozone (O₃), and particulate matter with a diameter ≤ 10 µm (PM10), in Thessaloniki over the period 2001–2022, highlighting their evolution in response to vehicle technology adoption and the COVID-19 pandemic. Four monitoring stations representing urban traffic, urban background, urban industrial, and suburban industrial environments were analyzed. PM10 concentrations generally decreased until 2015 but rose thereafter, mainly due to increased petrol car usage, with the highest levels recorded at the urban traffic station during colder months, influenced by domestic heating and local wind patterns. NO and NO₂ concentrations peaked at urban traffic and industrial sites, closely linked to vehicle emissions and industrial activities, respectively, with notable reductions during the 2020 COVID-19 lockdown. O₃ levels showed steady trends with diurnal and seasonal variability inversely related to NO_x concentrations and positively correlated with temperature. Despite some pollutant reductions, air quality issues persist in Thessaloniki. The findings emphasize the need for robust governmental policies promoting cleaner heating alternatives; two policy scenarios are presented in this respect with the corresponding air pollutant concentrations estimates up to 2035. Full article

In this study, a prototype system was developed as a potential alternative to lockdown measures against the spread of airborne infectious diseases such as COVID-19. The system integrates real-time estimation functions for respiratory flow and mask leakage into a low-cost powered air-purifying respirator (PAPR) designed for the general public. Using only a single differential-pressure sensor (SDP810) and a controller (Arduino UNO R4 WiFi), the respiratory flow (Q_3e) is estimated from the differential pressure (ΔP) and battery voltage (V_b), and both the wearing status and leak status are transmitted to and displayed on a smartphone application. For evaluation, a testbench called the Respiratory Airflow Testbench was constructed by connecting a cylinder–piston drive to a mannequin head to simulate realistic wearing conditions. The estimated respiratory flow Q_3e, calculated solely from ΔP and V_b, showed high agreement with the measured flow Q_3m obtained from a reference flow sensor, confirming the effectiveness of the estimation algorithm. Furthermore, an automatic leak detection method based on the time-integrated value of Q_3e was implemented, enabling the detection of improper wearing. This system thus achieves respiratory flow estimation and leakage detection based only on ΔP and V_b. In the future, it is expected to be extended to applications such as pressure control synchronized with breathing activity and health monitoring based on respiratory and coughing analysis. This platform also has the potential to serve as the foundation of a PAPR Wearing Status Network Management System, which will contribute to societal-level infection control through the networked sharing of wearing status information. Full article

The increased stress during the COVID-19 pandemic may have influenced the coping strategies used by children and parents who adapted to a diagnosis of central precocious puberty (CPP). This study aimed to explore whether the coping mechanisms of parents and their daughters diagnosed with CPP differed before and after the COVID-19 lockdown and if certain factors could be associated with these mechanisms. Specific questionnaires were completed by 174/524 girls with CPP enrolled at four different pediatric endocrinology centers in Italy. All girls filled in the questionnaire about the Children’s Coping Strategies (CCSs), and their parents completed the Coping Orientation to the Problems Experienced (COPE-NVI-25) questionnaire. Cronbach’s test was performed to check the reliability of answers. Despite increased stress-related coping behaviors among girls with CPP after the lockdown, parents presented more functional coping behaviors related to problem-solving strategies and seeking social support. After the lockdown, children showed stronger associations with their parents’ adaptive strategies, emphasizing the important role of parental behaviors in shaping the responses of children to stressful events. Additionally, coping strategies were found to differ by country of origin: families of non-Italian origin showed a greater reliance on transcendence, while girls from these families had lower avoidance scores, suggesting the use of alternative adaptive strategies in stressful situations. Full article

Fluid dynamics modeling was conducted for the supply unit of a Powered Air-Purifying Respirator (PAPR) consisting of a nonwoven fabric filter and a pump, as well as for the exhaust filter (nonwoven fabric). The supply flow rate Q₁ was modeled as a function of the differential pressure ΔP and the duty value d of the PWM control under a constant pump voltage of V = 12.0 [V]. In contrast, the exhaust flow rate Q₂ was modeled solely as a function of ΔP. To simulate the pressurized hood compartment of the PAPR, a pressure buffer and a connected “respiratory airflow simulator” (a piston–cylinder mechanism) were developed. The supply unit and exhaust filter were connected to this pressure buffer, and simulated respiratory flow was introduced as an external disturbance flow. Under these conditions, it was demonstrated that the respiratory state—i.e., the expiratory state (flow from the simulator to the pressure buffer) and the inspiratory state (flow from the pressure buffer to the simulator)—can be estimated from the differential pressure ΔP, the pump voltage V, and the PWM duty value d, with respect to the disturbance flow generated by the respiratory airflow simulator. It was also confirmed that such respiratory state estimation remains valid even when the duty value d of the pump is being actively modulated to control the internal pressure of the PAPR hood. Furthermore, based on the estimated respiratory states, a theoretical investigation was conducted on constant pressure control inside the PAPR and on the inverse pressure control aimed at supporting respiratory activity—namely, pressure control that assists breathing by depressurizing when expiratory motion is detected and pressurizing when inspiratory motion is detected. This study was conducted as part of a research and development project on public-oriented PAPR systems, which are being explored as alternatives to lockdown measures in response to airborne infectious diseases such as COVID-19. The present work specifically focused on improving the wearing comfort of the PAPR. Full article

South Africa’s health system was affected by the various mitigation measures implemented to control the rapid spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, innovative interventions were introduced to ensure service continuity. This study sought to explore the perspectives of stakeholders regarding the pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) innovative interventions implemented during the COVID-19 lockdown period among adolescent girls and young women (AGYW), as well as their successes and improvements. We selected and interviewed 12 PrEP stakeholders, including professional nurses, case managers, peer educators, and counselors from the TB HIV Care programme in the Dr. Kenneth Kaunda District, in the North-West Province. The qualitative questions explored (1) how PrEP services were disrupted during the lockdown period, (2) how the disruptions were managed, and (3) the challenges and successes of the innovative interventions implemented. The interviews were audio-taped, transcribed, and thematically analyzed through Tesch’s eight steps of analysis. The stakeholders confirmed that COVID-19 disruptions affected the provision of PrEP services in terms of recruitment, counseling, HIV testing, and adherence support offered in different community hotspots. Responding to these difficulties, alternative avenues such as social media platforms were implemented and used for service continuity. The themes that emerged were organized into the following two categories: PrEP services provided during and after the COVID-19 lockdown period, as well as the successes and challenges. The current study provides further insight into COVID-19, aiming to inform preparations for future pandemics. Innovative PrEP interventions alleviated COVID-19 disruptions in some settings and improved HIV services, but this was not the case in the selected study area. Full article

Background: The pandemic and lockdown caused a slowdown or halt in many work activities across sectors, including academic research, which had to adapt lab procedures to lockdown restrictions. This study aimed to assess an innovative approach to sensory analysis that aligned with the pandemic’s constraints and could enhance traditional methods even in normal conditions. Methods: Remote training of judges was conducted to test the method’s effectiveness. Sensory evaluation of sous-vide chicken breast fillets was conducted at different temperatures (60, 70, 80 °C) and time combinations (60, 90, 120, 150 min), compared to a control (boiled at 100 °C for 60 min). Judges tasted 6 out of 13 randomized samples, recording intensities on a cloud-based sensory card. Results: Judges demonstrated good repeatability and panel homogeneity (RSD ≤ 30%). Significant differences (p < 0.05) in olfactory and flavor characteristics were noted among samples. Higher-temperature samples had stronger boiled meat and chicken flavors, and sous-vide samples showed greater juiciness, especially LT2 and LT3. Conclusions: The remote home-tasting approach proved effective in distinguishing key differences in meat characteristics based on cooking conditions. This method’s reliability and adaptability make it a promising alternative to lab-based sensory evaluation, ensuring research continuity in restrictive conditions and broadening potential for decentralized studies. Full article

The climate crisis, combined with the COVID-19 lockdown measures, exacerbated pre-existing psychological conditions among young people experiencing climate anxiety due to a lack of information and a diffuse sense of powerlessness. The current study aimed to find correlations between the health status of a community, the environmental determinants among youths, and how these affect their vision of climate change and their mental health. An exploratory survey was conducted among people aged between 18 and 33 years old from three continents, with a focus on emotional states related to natural disasters occurring in their regions. The online survey consisted of six questions. The pilot phase results showed that more females from India experienced stressful situations related to climate change, and that respondents aged between 18 and 20 years old were more informed about eco-anxiety. Given its growing frequency among young adults, further studies should be conducted to address the problem and create alternatives and coping mechanisms such as climate action. Full article

Research background: Despite the fact that the issue of private, decentralized digital money (cryptocurrencies) is already quite extensively described in the literature dedicated to the financial system, especially its periphery, there is a deficiency in terms of research on the opinions of participants in the financial system, based on trust in money and its widespread acceptance. International comparative studies are lacking, particularly those conducted before and after the COVID-19 virus pandemic. The pandemic showed that people had significantly changed their willingness to use different forms of money. Being isolated at home and avoiding direct contact with others, people started to use digital money more frequently. Purpose of the article: In response to the identified research gap, this study reports research results on the perception of cryptocurrencies by young financial market participants. It attempts to provide answers to the following research questions: (1) Has the COVID-19 pandemic and the lockdown of economies caused changes at the international level in perceptions and attitudes toward the traditional monetary system and cryptocurrencies? (2) Has the COVID-19 pandemic changed perceptions of cryptocurrencies as a potential alternative to current fiat money? Methods: To evaluate respondents’ opinions, a survey in the form of a questionnaire was conducted. The respondent groups in 2019/2020 were N = 171 (Germany = 143 and Poland = 128), while in 2021, N = 157 (Germany = 95 and Poland = 62). For analytical purposes, statistical analysis using the Z ratio test was used to capture the characteristics of the response distributions and the relationships between them. These two moments in time allowed us to determine whether there were significant changes between opinions before and after COVID-19. Findings & value added: The study’s results showed that while there are significant differences in perceptions of the traditional monetary system and cryptocurrencies due to a variety of factors, the COVID-19 pandemic and the shutdown of economies did not cause statistically significant differences in this regard. Full article

This work presents a retrospective analysis of indoor CO₂ measurements obtained with a mobile robot in an educational building after the COVID-19 lockdown (May 2021), at a time when public activities resumed with mandatory local pandemic restrictions. The robot-based CO₂ measurement system was assessed as an alternative to the deployment of a net of sensors in a building in the pandemic period, in which there was a global stock outage of CO₂ sensors. The analysis of the obtained measurements confirms that a mobile system can be used to obtain interpretable information on the CO₂ levels inside the rooms of a building during a pandemic outbreak. Full article

During the COVID-19 pandemic, lockdowns and social distancing measures drove the shift from in-person to online physical exercise classes, leading individuals to explore these digital alternatives. Guided by the Expectation-Confirmation Model, this article examines older adults’ intentions to continue using online physical exercise classes. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 17 adults aged 65 and older who had participated in online physical exercise classes during the pandemic. Transcripts were subject to thematic analysis using the NVivo software program. The results indicate that older adults recognize the usefulness of online physical exercise classes because of their ability to enhance their health and well-being. Their initial expectations were surpassed, and they were generally satisfied with the experience. However, in-person classes remained preferred due to their enhanced benefits. They also felt that the adoption of online classes was involuntary; instead of an autonomous decision guided by their needs and preferences, this was a viable solution imposed by the lockdown. Therefore, their continuance intentions are limited to specific conditions, namely a new lockdown or other physical impediments. Still, considering the flexibility that online physical exercise classes offer, accommodating time and physical constraints, participants highlighted the advantages of a hybrid approach for those who may face challenges attending in-person classes. Based on the findings, this article proposes that ECM provides a relevant, yet insufficient, framework for explaining older adults’ continuance intentions for online physical exercise classes, suggesting the inclusion of additional explaining factors: perceived usefulness of non-technological alternatives, necessary conditions, and self-determination. Full article

COVID-19 poses a significant threat to the present and future of mankind. The emergence of diverse strains during the pandemic creates uncertainty regarding their disappearance or resurgence. Lockdown measures and travel restrictions impact national and household food systems, hindering the movement of people and goods. Effective COVID-19 control requires science-based preventive measures and consideration of food availability. In Tanzania, resource-constrained farmers rely on the self-storage of food crops. Precise pest control information and tailored detection/storage systems are essential for preserving major staple foods such as maize and beans, which face frequent infestation by beetles and moths. Traditional methods used before the pandemic are insufficient compared to advanced global alternatives. This paper reviewed about 175 publications from different databases, dated from 1984 to 2023 (2023 to 2014 = 134, 2013 to 2004 = 26 and 2003 to 1984 = 15), assessing storage management for maize and beans. Identifying gaps between Tanzania and global advancements aiming to empower farming communities with the latest technologies and ensuring food security amid the pandemic. Full article