Aggravated accumulation of emerging micropollutants (EMs) in aquatic environments, especially after COVID-19, raised significant attention throughout the world for safety concerns. This article ...reviews the sources and occurrence of 25 anti-COVID-19 related EMs in wastewater. It should be pointed out that the concentration of anti-COVID-19 related EMs, such as antivirals, plasticizers, antimicrobials, and psychotropic drugs in wastewater increased notably after the pandemic. Furthermore, the ecotoxicity, ecological, and health risks of typical EMs before and after COVID-19 were emphatically compared and analyzed. Based on the environmental health prioritization index method, the priority control sequence of typical EMs related to anti-COVID-19 was identified. Lopinavir (LPV), venlafaxine (VLX), di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), benzalkonium chloride (BAC), triclocarban (TCC), di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP), citalopram (CIT), diisobutyl phthalate (DIBP), and triclosan (TCS) were identified as the top-priority control EMs in the post-pandemic period. Besides, some insights into the toxicity and risk assessment of EMs were also provided. This review provides direction for proper understanding and controlling the EMs pollution after COVID-19, and is of significance to evaluate objectively the environmental and health impacts induced by COVID-19.
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•Typical EMs concentrations in wastewater increased apparently after the pandemic.•Ecological risks of EMs were compared in pre- and post-COVID-19 pandemic.•Human health risk of typical EMs significantly increased after COVID-19.•Priority controlled sequences of 25 anti-COVID-19 related EMs were ranked.
We propose a compartmental mathematical model for the spread of the COVID-19 disease with special focus on the transmissibility of super-spreaders individuals. We compute the basic reproduction ...number threshold, we study the local stability of the disease free equilibrium in terms of the basic reproduction number, and we investigate the sensitivity of the model with respect to the variation of each one of its parameters. Numerical simulations show the suitability of the proposed COVID-19 model for the outbreak that occurred in Wuhan, China.
•Quarantine decisions during a pandemic directly affect the hospitality industry.•A DEMATEL method is proposed for quarantine decision due to COVID-19 Pandemic.•A real life case study in Turkey is ...conducted in this paper.•Istanbul has an essential impact on the rest of all regions in Turkey.
Countries' most effective methods to reduce the impact of outbreaks are quarantine the regions during the pandemic periods. Quarantine decisions during a pandemic directly affect the hospitality industry. There is no universal guideline regarding the quarantine decision during a pandemic. There is a gap in the literature on making the right quarantine decisions to decrease the negative effect of a pandemic on the hospitality industry. To fill this gap, this study uses a decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL) method to help countries for quarantine decisions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. One of the critical hospitality industry indicators is the inter-regional travel flow between regions for local tourism. Data from the household domestic tourism survey obtained from the Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat) is used to acquire the number of people entering and exiting among regions. This study's findings indicate that Istanbul has an essential impact on Turkey's rest. The results also demonstrate that the DEMATEL method provides convenient solutions for quarantine decisions during a pandemic. The DEMATEL application results concerning the COVID-19 pandemic effect might shed light on the hospitality industry’s prospects and challenges. This study's findings might be adopted to prepare the hospitality industry for the COVID-19 pandemic and similar pandemic.
Respiratory infections are common diseases, the most common causative agent is a virus. In case of novel viral diseases pandemic like the COVID-19, routinely surveillance of respiratory viruses is ...useful. In this study, to clarify what kind of virus is involved in suspected cases of COVID-19 in the early stages of the pandemic, we attempted to detect various respiratory viruses from 613 specimens that tested negative for SARS-CoV-2 using RT- PCR method. Viruses were detected from 59 (9.6%) patients. Human rhinovirus (HRV), human metapneumovirus (HMPV), human respiratory syncytial virus, and human parechovirus were detected in 29 cases, 25 cases, 3 cases, and 2 cases, respectively. Although this study was conducted in a short period of time and not all specimens were tested, these results indicate that various respiratory viruses, especially HRV and HMPV can be detected even in the early stages of a pandemic, such as COVID-19. Because various respiratory viruses maintain a constant effect during the outbreak of the newly emerged pandemic respiratory virus, to make good use for clinical and public health, from normal period systematic surveillance about respiratory viruses is needed.
The COVID-19 pandemic and its related public health restrictions are having an increasingly serious impact on mental health, and measures need to be taken to curb this trend. The positive ...relationship between physical exercise and mental health has been well-established, but during the COVID-19 pandemic, with various restrictions, the space and facilities for physical exercise are limited. This article explores the relationship between physical exercise and mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic based on the latest research findings published in 2019-2021. We offer a novel model that consists of three central arguments. First, physical exercises during COVID-19, especially supervised exercises, are conducive to enhancing happiness and improving mental health. Second, physical exercise reduces people's anxiety, sadness and depression during the COVID-19 pandemic. Third, the maintenance and improvement of mental health are related to the intensity and frequency of physical exercise. Intensive and frequent physical exercise are conducive to maintaining mental health. Finally, this article proposes important directions for future research.
The COVID-19 outbreak has had a serious effect on the global economy, particularly the volume of port trade between imports and exports. We construct a panel regression model with month as time ...series where panel data from 14 major ports in China from January to October 2020 to analyze how the macro economy, the severity of the epidemic, and government control measures affect port operations. Based on the results, we have identified the key factors affecting port operations in the context of the pandemic and the managerial insights can help shipping company, port operator and government to change the strategy to copy with the effect of COVID-19 pandemic.
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•The COVID-19 epidemic has caused a serious effect on port performance.•A panel regression model is constructed to analyze the effect on port performance.•14 major ports in China are selected as case study.•Government's control measures have the opposite impact on port performance.
•Airborne transmission characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 in enclosed spaces are provided.•Operation guidelines of HVAC systems issued during the pandemic are compared.•Energy impacts of COVID-19 on HVAC ...systems are analyzed quantitatively.•Future impacts on HVAC system innovations and research trends are discussed.
Heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) system is favourable for regulating indoor temperature, relative humidity, airflow pattern and air quality. However, HVAC systems may turn out to be the culprit of microbial contamination in enclosed spaces and deteriorate the environment due to inappropriate design and operation. In the context of COVID-19, significant transformations and new requirements are occurring in HVAC systems. Recently, several updated operational guidelines for HVAC systems have been issued by various institutions to control the airborne transmission and mitigate infection risks in enclosed environments. Challenges and innovations emerge in response to operational variations of HVAC systems. To efficiently prevent the spread of the pandemic and reduce infection risks, it is essential to have an overall understanding of impacts caused by COVID-19 on HVAC systems. Therefore, the objectives of this article are to: (a) provide a comprehensive review of the airborne transmission characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 in enclosed spaces and a theoretical basis for HVAC operation guideline revision; (b) investigate HVAC-related guidelines to clarify the operational variations of HVAC systems during the pandemic; (c) analyse how operational variations of HVAC systems affect energy consumption; and (d) identify the innovations and research trends concerning future HVAC systems. Furthermore, this paper compares the energy consumption of HVAC system operation during the normal times versus pandemic period, based on a case study in China, providing a reference for other countries around the world. Results of this paper offer comprehensive insights into how to keep indoor environments safe while maintaining energy-efficient operation of HVAC systems.
Objectives: This study assessed undergraduates' sleep in Hawaiʻi during the COVID-19 pandemic and whether demographic characteristics, health locus of control, substance use and campus features ...related to sleep outcomes. Implications are considered for programs to support students' sleep and health during pandemic conditions. Participants: About 1,288 undergraduate students from six universities in Hawai'i. Methods: Surveys assessing sleep, emotional wellbeing, ethnicity, body mass index, locus of health control, and substance use. Results: Students' reported increased sleep time but decreased sleep quality during the pandemic. Sleep disruption related to anxiety, depression, ethnicity, substance use, BMI, health locus of control, class rank, and whether students lived at home. All campuses were associated with disrupted sleep, regardless of size, location, religious affiliation, term structure, or method of instruction. Conclusions: In response to public health crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, all Hawaiʻi universities should screen students for sleep disruption, emotional adjustment, social isolation and substance misuse. Programs to promote sleep and behavioral health appear particularly warranted for graduating seniors, Pacific Islanders, students with high BMI, and students who commute to college.
Food delivery apps (FDAs) have transformed the way consumers order and consume food, especially during the mobility limitations of the COVID-19 pandemic. The hospitality industry, especially ...restaurants are heavily reliant on mobile technology during the pandemic to strengthen essential online to offline food delivery, helping large number of consumers. This study investigates the role of app aesthetics in evoking emotions which predict continued usage intentions for FDAs using the theoretical lens of the pleasure arousal dominance (PAD) framework. Data was collected from 341 consumers during the pandemic. Findings indicate that app aesthetics generate pleasure, arousal, and dominance emotions among consumers during pandemic where pleasure is the most significant predictor of continued usage intentions followed by dominance. Findings also confirm the mediating effect of arousal on pleasure and pleasure on continued usage intentions. The study has implications for academicians, food delivery companies, app designers and other app-based businesses as it proves the significance of an aesthetic app design in evoking positive PAD emotions in consumers during a crisis and strengthens the explanation of continued usage intentions.
•Understanding continued usage intentions of food delivery apps during COVID-19.•Aesthetic formality influences pleasure, arousal, and dominance.•Aesthetic appeal is associated with arousal and dominance.•Pleasure and dominance determine continued usage intentions for food delivery apps.•Mediating role of pleasure and arousal is also confirmed.