Representações sociais da autoproteção profissional e pessoal para Enfermeiros no contexto da COVID-19 / Social Representations of Professional and Personal Self-Protection for Nurses in the COVID-19 Context / Representaciones sociales de la autoprotección profesional y personal para enfermeros en el contexto del COVID-19

Objetivo: analisar as representações sociais da autoproteção profissional e pessoal dos enfermeiros no contexto da Covid-19. Método: estudo descritivo, com abordagem qualitativa, pautado na Teoria das Representações Sociais, abordagem processual. Participaram 30 enfermeiros que realizaram cuidados de enfermagem a pacientes com Covid-19, no Estado do Rio de Janeiro. A coleta de dados ocorreu por meio de entrevista semiestruturada entre abril e maio 2021, realizada em plataforma online. O tratamento dos dados foi realizado com a técnica de análise de conteúdo temático-categorial. Resultado: a análise resultou em quatro categorias: Representações sociais e práticas relativas a Covid-19; Representações sociais da autoproteção; Desafios no enfrentamento da Covid-19: autoproteção pessoal e profissional; e Estrutura e fluxo de atendimento e sua relação com a autoproteção profissional. Considerações finais: houve engajamento dos profissionais no uso dos EPI na pandemia, o que aponta uma preocupação quanto à autoproteção na prestação de cuidados à pacientes com a Covid-19.

Objective: to analyze the social representations of professional and personal self-protection among nurses in the context of Covid-19. Method: a descriptive study with a qualitative approach, based on the Social Representations Theory, using a procedural approach. Thirty nurses who provided nursing care to Covid-19 patients in the State of Rio de Janeiro participated in the study. Data collection took place through semi-structured interviews between April and May 2021, conducted on an online platform. Data analysis was performed using the thematic-categorical content analysis technique. Results: The analysis resulted in four categories of social representations and practices related to challenges in coping with Covid-19: personal and professional self-protection; Care structure and flow and its relationship with professional self-protection. Final considerations: There was engagement of professionals in the use of PPE during the pandemic, indicating a concern regarding self-protection in providing care to patients with Covid-19.

Objetivo: analizar las representaciones sociales de la autoprotección profesional y personal de los enfermeros en el contexto del Covid-19. Método: estudio descriptivo, con enfoque cualitativo, basado en la Teoría de las Representaciones Sociales, enfoque procesal. Participaron 30 enfermeros que brindaron cuidados de enfermería a pacientes con Covid-19 en el Estado de Río de Janeiro. La recolección de datos se llevó a cabo a través de entrevistas semiestructuradas entre abril y mayo de 2021, realizadas en una plataforma online. El procesamiento de los datos se realizó mediante la técnica de análisis de contenido temático categorial. Resultado: del análisis surgieron cuatro categorías: Representaciones sociales y prácticas relacionadas con el Covid-19; Representaciones sociales de la autoprotección; Desafíos de enfrentar el Covid-19: autoprotección personal y profesional; y Estructura y flujo de atención y su relación con la autoprotección profesional. Consideraciones finales: los profesionales demostraron compromiso en el uso de EPP durante la pandemia, lo que indica que se preocupaban por autoprotegerse durante la atención a pacientes con Covid-19.

Advancing Anode Performance in Aqueous Zinc-Ion Batteries: A Review of Metal-Organic Framework-Based Strategies.

Aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs) are garnering substantial research interest in electric vehicles, energy storage systems, and portable electronics, primarily for the reason that the inexpensive cost, high theoretical specific capacity, and environmental sustainability of zinc metal anodes, which are an essential component to their design. Nonetheless, the progress of AZIBs is hindered by significant obstacles, such as the occurrence of anodic side reactions (SR) and the formation of zinc dendrites. Metal-organic framework (MOF)-based materials are being explored as promising alternatives owing to homogeneous porous structure and large specific surface areas. There has been a rare overview and discussion on strategies for protecting anodes using MOF-based materials. This review specifically aims to investigate cutting-edge strategies for the design of highly stable MOF-based anodes in AZIBs. Firstly, the mechanisms of dendrites and SR are summarized. Secondly, the recent advances in MOF-based anodic protection including those of pristine MOFs, MOF composites, and MOF derivatives are reviewed. Furthermore, the strategies involving MOF-based materials for zinc anode stabilization are presented, including the engineering of surface coatings, three-dimensional zinc structures, artificial solid electrolyte interfaces, separators, and electrolytes. Finally, the ongoing challenges and prospective directions for further enhancement of MOF-based anodic protection technologies in AZIBs are highlighted.

Alexis® Orthopedic Protector Provides Wound Protection and Aids in Hypertrophic Scar Prevention in Total Hip Arthroplasty.

PURPOSE: Total hip arthroplasty (THA) is one of the most widely performed orthopedic surgeries. Techniques for small skin incisions and preservation of muscles and tendons have been developed. However, avoiding skin complications and muscle damage due to forced deployment and surgical manipulation is challenging. This study aimed to investigate whether the use of Alexis® Orthopedic Protector (Applied Medical Resources Corp., Rancho Santa Margarita, CA, USA) affects postoperative outcomes. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study including 118 patients who underwent primary THA by the same surgeon at our single institution between March 2021 and March 2023. Protectors were used alternately for each operation. Fifty-nine patients were in the protector-using group (P group), and 59 were in the nonprotector-using group (N group), with comparisons made between groups. Protectors were placed under the fascia in all patients. RESULTS: Preoperative blood tests showed no difference in renal and hepatic function between the two groups. No differences in postoperative C-reactive protein (CRP) and creatine kinase (CK) values or in the Japanese Orthopedic Association Hip Disease Evaluation Questionnaire (JHEQ) and Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) scores were observed. Postoperative redness was significantly higher in the N group than in the P group (49.2% vs. 7%). The percentage of hypertrophic scars at three months postoperatively was 18.6% in the N group and 7% in the P group. Furthermore, the Japan Scar Workshop Scar Scale (JSS) indicated that hypertrophic scars were significantly worse in the N group than in the P group (p = 0.0012). CONCLUSION: Alexis® Orthopedic Protectors can not only provide short-term wound protection but also reduce the rate and degree of hypertrophic scarring.

Novel use of a stent retriever as a distal filler protection device for prevention of secondary embolization.

Distal embolus due to mechanical thrombectomy is a frequent complication and directly results in a poor prognosis. Therefore, it is important to decrease distal embolus as much as possible in mechanical thrombectomy. EmboTrap III may be useful as a filter to prevent distal embolus in patients with a large volume of thrombus. Here, we report the results of one suggestive case and we also provide experimental data from a vessel model. The patient was a 78-year-old female who was admitted to hospital as an emergency case with chief complaints including dysarthria and left hemiplegia, including facial paralysis. She was diagnosed as large vessel occlusion-acute ischemic stroke with right tandem lesions by workup and underwent mechanical thrombectomy. A large volume of secondary thrombus due to flow stasis was assumed based around the occlusion site, and worsening of neurological symptoms was a concern due to distal embolus caused by recanalization of the cervical internal carotid artery. The SEIMLESS technique was performed under distal protection using EmboTrap III. There was no distal embolus or deterioration of neurological symptoms, and a good prognosis was achieved. This outcome suggests that PTA under distal protection using EmboTrap III may be useful for prevention of distal embolus.

When does digital merger and acquisition create shareholder value? An empirical investigation in the Chinese context.

In China, acquiring firms are increasingly focused on the immediate financial returns that digital mergers and acquisitions (DM&A) can help them achieve in the stock market, but there is little literature that examines which acquiring firms achieve greater returns. Based on signaling theory, this study conceptualizes DM&A announcements as signals released by the acquiring firms to the stock market and explores the factors influencing the Chinese stock market's reaction to such signals. This research empirically investigates potential influencing factors using a short-term event methodology together with regression analysis based on the data collected in China's Shanghai and Shenzhen stock markets during 2012-2021. The research finds that the Chinese stock market reacts more positively to DM&A announcements for acquiring firms with high executive shareholdings, high executive openness, strong digital innovation capabilities, and in regions with higher levels of investor protection. This study is the first attempt to explore the factors influencing the stock market's response to DM&A in the Chinese context.

Videofluoroscopy of the aerodigestive tract in Phoca vitulina: reshaping perspectives on translational medicine.

Thousands of rescued harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) require rehabilitation worldwide. Many require resource intensive gavage feeding due to abandonment soon after birth. Little is known about seal swallowing, therefore, our primary objective was to determine the feasibility of conducting videofluoroscopic swallowing studies (VFS) on seal pups prior to their release. Secondarily, we propose swallowing phase descriptions. We adapted a VFS approach used in humans and our feasibility parameters included: bolus detection and consumption, and number of analyzable swallowing events. Unrestrained seals were imaged in a dry environment using a Siemens mobile c-arm fluoroscopy unit. Oral boluses were thawed herring injected with liquid barium suspension (105% w/v). Two independent raters described swallows using a standardized approach with results summarized descriptively. We successfully completed freely-behaving VFS with two infant seals (1 male: 8 wks, 3 d; 1 female: 5 wks, 3 d). Both consumed five boluses with six fully analyzable swallowing events. We describe four swallow phases: preparatory, prehension, oropharyngeal and esophageal. Airway protection likely occurs in two ways: (1) during the preparatory phase through modified corniculate cartilage contact with the glottis and (2) with soft palate contact to the base of tongue prior to swallow initiation. We have conducted a unique VFS approach on rehabilitated seals, prior to their release. We have described airway protection and suggest that swallowing is initiated earlier in the feeding process than described previously. This protocol success will afford: (1) collection of normative swallowing data, and (2) future knowledge translation from humans to seals.

Checklist of marine macroalgae in two contiguous Marine Protected Areas in the south-western Atlantic.

Background: The Costa das Algas Environmental Protection Area (EPA) and the Santa Cruz Wildlife Refuge (WR), located in the Espírito Santo Continental Shelf, Brazil, are outstanding marine protected areas due to their high biodiversity, particularly of macroalgae. Together, these two relatively small protected areas (1,150 and 177 km2, respectively) harbour about a quarter of all macroalgal species recorded in Brazil.The checklist presented herein updates the algal flora of these two protected areas with data obtained until 2019. Two hundred and sixty-five macroalgal taxa were recorded, most of which with vouchers. Checklists based on the collections of each protected area were published on: "Catálogo de Plantas das Unidades de Conservação do Brasil" (https://catalogo-ucs-brasil.jbrj.gov.br/). New information: Besides specimens collected between 2018 and 2019, the algal flora presented herein includes previous records from different Brazilian herbaria (e.g., SP, SPF, ALCB). Herbaria records may include species that do not occur in intertidal reefs (e.g., Laminaria). Overall, 249 macroalgal taxa and one marine angiosperm were recorded in the Costa das Algas EPA (87 new records) and 136 macroalgal taxa and one marine angiosperm in the Santa Cruz WR (46 new records). All taxa are native to Brazil and nine are endemic to Brazil. Our results provide a taxonomic foundation to support management, long-term monitoring and conservation in these protected areas.

Gastrodin exerts perioperative myocardial protection by improving mitophagy through the PINK1/Parkin pathway to reduce myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury.

BACKGROUND: Although blood flow is restored after treatment of myocardial infarction (MI), myocardial ischemia and reperfusion (I/R) can cause cardiac injury, which is a leading cause of heart failure. Gastrodin (GAS) exerts protective effects against brain, heart, and kidney I/R. However, its pharmacological mechanism in myocardial I/R injury (MIRI) remains unclear. PURPOSE: GAS regulates autophagy in various diseases, such as acute hepatitis, vascular dementia, and stroke. We hypothesized that GAS could repair mitochondrial damage and regulate autophagy to protect against MIRI. STUDY DESIGN: Male C57BL/6 mice and H9C2 cells were subjected to I/R and hypoxia-reoxygenation (H/R) injury after GAS administration, respectively, to assess the impact of GAS on cardiomyocyte phenotypes, heart, and mitochondrial structure and function. The effect of GAS on cardiac function and mitochondrial structure in patients undergoing cardiac surgery has been observed in clinical practice. METHODS: The effects of GAS on cardiac structure and function, mitochondrial structure, and expression of related molecules in an animal model of MIRI were evaluated using immunohistochemical staining, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), transmission electron microscopy, western blotting, and gene sequencing. Its effects on the morphological, molecular, and functional phenotypes of cardiomyocytes undergoing H/R were observed using immunohistochemical staining, real-time quantitative PCR, and western blotting. RESULTS: GAS significantly reduces myocardial infarct size and improves cardiac function in MIRI mice in animal models and increases cardiomyocyte viability and reduces cardiomyocyte damage in cellular models. In clinical practice, myocardial injury was alleviated with better cardiac function in patients undergoing cardiac surgery after the application of GAS; improvements in mitochondria and autophagy activation were also observed. GAS primarily exerts cardioprotective effects through activation of the PINK1/Parkin pathway, which promotes mitochondrial autophagy to clear damaged mitochondria. CONCLUSION: GAS can promote mitophagy and preserve mitochondria through PINK1/Parkin, thus indicating its tremendous potential as an effective perioperative myocardial protective agent.

A replisome-associated histone H3-H4 chaperone required for epigenetic inheritance.

Faithful transfer of parental histones to newly replicated daughter DNA strands is critical for inheritance of epigenetic states. Although replication proteins that facilitate parental histone transfer have been identified, how intact histone H3-H4 tetramers travel from the front to the back of the replication fork remains unknown. Here, we use AlphaFold-Multimer structural predictions combined with biochemical and genetic approaches to identify the Mrc1/CLASPIN subunit of the replisome as a histone chaperone. Mrc1 contains a conserved histone-binding domain that forms a brace around the H3-H4 tetramer mimicking nucleosomal DNA and H2A-H2B histones, is required for heterochromatin inheritance, and promotes parental histone recycling during replication. We further identify binding sites for the FACT histone chaperone in Swi1/TIMELESS and DNA polymerase α that are required for heterochromatin inheritance. We propose that Mrc1, in concert with FACT acting as a mobile co-chaperone, coordinates the distribution of parental histones to newly replicated DNA.

Let's talk about radiation dose and radiation protection in children.

Children are more sensitive to ionizing radiation than adults. Even though the risk is very low, exposure from radiological examinations can possibly cause them long-term side effects. Recent large epidemiological studies involving children and young adults have added evidence suggesting that even small doses of radiation, such as those from computed tomography scans, might slightly increase the risk of developing cancer later in life. Therefore, even though radiologic studies are essential for an accurate diagnosis and management of various conditions, it is crucial to minimize radiation exposure. This article addresses radiation protection for children in the medical use of ionizing radiation and it is set in the context of the European legislative framework regarding radiation protection. It advocates for a holistic approach to paediatric radiological tests. This approach includes the key principles of radiation protection, such as the justification of imaging procedures supported by referral guidelines, as well as the optimization of techniques (according to the ALARA principle) and effective communication with parents about the benefits and the risks of radiologic procedures. Protecting children from unnecessary radiation is not only a technical challenge, but also a moral obligation and a legal requirement.

Construction and validation of a scale to assess knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding vascular protection anticipatory to the creation of an arteriovenous fistula.

BACKGROUND: The possibility of creating an arteriovenous fistula (AVF) depends on the existence of an arterial-venous network that is in good condition, defined by the size and elasticity of the blood vessels. The knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) toward vascular protection play a crucial role in preserving the vascular network for patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD), it is observed that there is a significant lack of tools to measure these variables. Thus, the aim of this study is to develop and validate a scale to assess KAP regarding vascular protection anticipatory to the creation of an arteriovenous fistula (the KAP-VPAC-AVF Scale). METHODS: Initial item development was guided by a literature review and clinical experience, after which the items were improved and perfected through the Delphi process. The content of the scale was judged by an expert panel for content validity. In a convenience sample of 551 patients with ESRD, exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) were conducted to examine the instrument's factor structure. RESULTS: The KAP-VPAC-AVF Scale encompasses 11 items distributed over three factors: knowledge, attitude, and practice, demonstrated excellent internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.917) and construct validity, as confirmed by CFA with satisfactory fit indices (χ2/df = 2.394, RMSEA = 0.075, RMR = 0.049, CFI = 0.969, GFI = 0.936, AGFI = 0.892, TLI = 0.957, IFI = 0.970). CONCLUSION: The KAP-VPAC-AVF Scale is a scientific and effective assessment tool that can evaluate the KAP of ESRD patients regarding measures to preserve the vascular network.

Bayesian-optimized LSTM-DWT approach for reliable fault detection in MMC-based HVDC systems.

As Europe integrates more renewable energy resources, notably offshore wind power, into its super meshed grid, the demand for reliable long-distance High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) transmission systems has surged. This paper addresses the intricacies of HVDC systems built upon Modular Multi-Level Converters (MMCs), especially concerning the rapid rise of DC fault currents. We propose a novel fault identification and classification for DC transmission lines only by employing Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) networks integrated with Discrete Wavelet Transform (DWT) for feature extraction. Our LSTM-based algorithm operates effectively under challenging environmental conditions, ensuring high fault resistance detection. A unique three-level relay system with multiple time windows (1 ms, 1.5 ms, and 2 ms) ensures accurate fault detection over large distances. Bayesian Optimization is employed for hyperparameter tuning, streamlining the model's training process. The study shows that our proposed framework exhibits 100% resilience against external faults and disturbances, achieving an average recognition accuracy rate of 99.04% in diverse testing scenarios. Unlike traditional schemes that rely on multiple manual thresholds, our approach utilizes a single intelligently tuned model to detect faults up to 480 ohms, enhancing the efficiency and robustness of DC grid protection.

Overexpression of protection of telomeres 1 (POT1), a single-stranded DNA-binding proteins in alfalfa (Medicago sativa), enhances seed vigor.

Extensive bodies of research are dedicated to the study of seed aging with a particular focus on the roles of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and the ensuing oxidative damage during storage, as a primary cause of seed vigor decreasing. ROS diffuse to the nucleus and damage the telomeres, resulting in a loss of genetic integrity. Protection of telomeres 1 (POT1) is a telomeric protein that binds to the telomere region, and plays an essential role in maintaining genomic stability in plants. In this study, there were totally four MsPOT1 genes obtained from alfalfa genome. Expression analysis of four MsPOT1 genes in germinated seed presented the different expressions. Four MsPOT1 genes displayed high expression levels at the early stage of seed germination, Among the four POT1 genes, it was found that MS. gene040108 was significantly up-regulated in the early germination stage of CK seeds, but down-regulated in aged seeds. RT-qPCR assays and RNA-seq data revealed that MsPOT1-X gene was significantly induced by seed aging treatment. Transgenic seeds overexpressing MsPOT1-X gene in Arabidopsis thaliana and Medicago trunctula exhibited enhanced seed vigor, telomere length, telomerase activity associated with reduced H2O2 content. These results would provide a new way to understand aging stress-responsive MsPOT1 genes for genetic improvement of seed vigor. Although a key gene regulating seed vigor was identified in this study, the specific mechanism of MsPOT1-X gene regulating seed vigor needs to be further explored.

COVID-19 Impact on Refugees Mask-Wearing Behaviors and Intentions.

COVID-19 challenged countries in addressing population and raising awareness about mask-wearing during pandemic; Lebanon is a refugee hotspot, with humanitarian responsibility for their protection. The goal of this study is to emphasize the need of raising awareness among vulnerable populations and studying their mask-wearing behavior and intentions. This research draws on findings from a survey characterized by refugees' representatives from NGO, focusing on the behaviors and implications of refugees' mask-wearing. To address the study question, a customized survey based on Theory of Interpersonal Behavior was undertaken, in which the behavior of refugees was impacted by their desire to engage in an activity. The findings show that refugees are influenced by other people's mask-wearing behavior; they view masks as providing protection and aim to use them in the future provided all enabling conditions are met. Artificial intelligence might be a better monitor for this behavior in the future.

Additive Effects of Esaxerenone, a Nonsteroidal Mineralocorticoid Receptor Blocker, on Cardioplegic Arrest in Rat Hearts.

PURPOSE: Esaxerenone, a mineralocorticoid receptor blocker, attenuates global ischemia-induced myocardial damage and coronary endothelial dysfunction. This study aimed to determine whether esaxerenone exerted cardioprotective effects against cardioplegic arrest in Wistar rat hearts. METHODS: Isolated male Wistar rat hearts aerobically perfused via the Langendorff method for 20 min were randomly allocated to the Control (n = 6; perfused for an additional 10 min and subjected to no treatment) or Esax (n = 6; perfused with 0.1 µmol/L esaxerenone in perfusate for 10 min before ischemia) groups. Hearts in both groups were perfused with St. Thomas' Hospital No. 2 solution (STH2) for 2 min and subjected to 28 min of global ischemia. The recovery of left ventricular developed pressure (LVDP) and total troponin T leakage were measured after reperfusion. RESULTS: The final recovery of LVDP (expressed as a percentage of pre-ischemic value) in the Control and Esax groups was 50.8 ± 3.5% and 62.1 ± 5.6%, respectively (p <0.05, Esax vs. Control). The total troponin T leakage in the Control and Esax groups was 138.8 ± 18.5 ng/g heart wt and 74.3 ± 18.6 ng/g heart wt, respectively (p <0.05, Esax vs. Control). CONCLUSION: The administration of esaxerenone before cardioplegic arrest enhanced the cardioprotective effect exerted by STH2.

Methoxy Chalcone Derivatives: Promising Antimicrobial Agents Against Phytopathogens.

Chalcone (E)-1,3-diphenyl-prop-2-en-1-one and a series of 14 methoxylated derivatives have been synthesized via Claisen-Schmidt aldol condensation and characterized by FTIR, CG/MS/DIC, 1D (1H and 13C), 2D (COSY, HSQC, and HMBC) NMR, and EMAR techniques. All molecules were tested at 1mM concentration for antifungal (Sclerotium sp., Macrophomina phaesolina and Colletotrichum gloeosporioides), antibacterial (Acidovorax citrulli two strains), and antiprotozoal (Phytomonas serpens) activities. Unmodified chalcone (CH0) and derivatives CH1, CH2, CH8 stood out in terms of antifungal activity. CH0 presented IC50 values of 47.3 µM (9.8 µg/mL) for the fungus C. gloeosporioides. In addition, fluorescence microscopy indicated that CH0 promoted loss of hyphal cell membrane integrity. The CH1 and CH2 derivatives promoted the inhibition of Sclerotium sp. with IC50 of 127.5 µM (32.9 µg/mL) and 110.4 µM (29.6 µg/mL), respectively. All molecules showed high activity against the phytoparasite P. serpens with IC50 values of 0.98, 2.40, 10.25, and 3.11 µM for the derivatives CH2, CH3, CH5 and CH14 respectively. The results demonstrated that derivatives methoxylated in both rings (CH2) as well as derivatives with a furan ring associated with the methoxy group in ring A, as well as unmodified chalcone can be promising agricultural fungicides for controlling the fungi studied.

The threshold of child protection notifications is higher in municipalities with a high level of risk factors - Is this evidence of the inverse intervention law?

BACKGROUND: Child protection notifications aim to secure the wellbeing of children. However, there is a large variation in the implementation of notifications across the municipalities in Finland. OBJECTIVE: This article explores whether the threshold of child protection notifications is higher in municipalities with a high level of socio-economic risk factors, as assumed by the inverse intervention law. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING: The study is based on the system-level data of Finnish municipalities, and their socio-economic indicators for the period of 2010-2021. METHODS: A cluster analysis is used to group Finnish municipalities, based on the level of socio-economic risk factors, and a panel regression analysis, to verify whether these factors act as risk factors or as driving forces of inverse intervention law. RESULTS: The municipalities with a high level of risk factors have the higher threshold level for child protection notifications compared to other municipalities. In all municipalities, the share of single-parent families acts as a risk factor, while the share of residents with higher education acts as a driver of the inverse intervention law. Reduction of unemployment and income inequalities are also recognised as drivers of this law, but only in municipalities with a relatively higher level of risk factors. CONCLUSIONS: This study promotes the inverse intervention law, and contribute to the understanding of the driving forces of this law. Further, there is a difference in the threshold level of child protection notifications among municipalities which is based on their socio-economic context. Children are in an unequal position in relation to the municipality in which they live.

Dating Violence Among Chinese College Students: Unaided Victims and Legal Lacunae.

This research draws on literature review and case analyses revealed that the main reasons for Chinese dating violence's high prevalence are the long-term influence of patriarchy and gender culture and low recognition and awareness of the issue among students. Current Anti-domestic Violence Act does not apply to dating violence rendering victims devoid of preventive skills or relief recourse critiqued. Research exploring the lack of education on intimate partner violence in colleges has made students oblivious to the risks. Finally, the review provides detailed recommendations on expanding the practical scope of the Anti-domestic Violence Act to include dating violence and provide judges with clarification on the relevant elements of a dating relationship and cooperation of the legal system and education system in preventing dating violence.

Effect of COVID-19 on livelihoods of people with and without disabilities: Results from a cross-sectional survey in 3 urban areas of Viet Nam.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has had widespread health, social and economic impacts worldwide. In many contexts, it has likely exacerbated existing inequalities. OBJECTIVE: This study compares the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic amongst people with and without disabilities in Viet Nam. METHODS: A telephone survey was conducted in the three largest cities of Viet Nam (Da Nang, Ha Noi, and Ho Chi Minh City) between December 2021 and January 2022. Participants were recruited through convenience sampling (n = 898; 479 people with disabilities; 419 without). The survey collected data on livelihoods, employment, household economic security, and access to social protection and assistance. RESULTS: People with disabilities were three times more likely to have stopped working completely (PR: 2.8, 95 % CI: 2.0-4.0), 30 % more likely to report reduced earnings (PR: 1.3, 95 % CI: 1.2-1.5), twice as likely to report severe impacts on household finances (PR: 1.9, 95 % CI: 1.6-2.3) and three times more likely to report severe impacts on household food security (PR: 3.2, 95 % CI: 2.3-4.6) since the onset of the pandemic. Amongst people with disabilities, informal workers were particularly negatively affected. Households with members with disabilities were more likely to receive some types of COVID-19-related assistance (e.g. financial or food aid), but less likely to be enrolled in social insurance. CONCLUSIONS: Urgent and inclusive responses are necessary during crises to address the unique challenges faced by people with disabilities. Implementing comprehensive social protection measures is crucial to narrowing disparities, and maintaining well-being and economic security during shocks such as COVID-19.

Psychiatric rehabilitation in routine Indian mental health practice: A review of social protections for persons with mental health conditions.

Background: An estimated 200 million Indians have mental health conditions - a sizeable proportion of them requiring psychiatric rehabilitation services. The numbers of mental health professionals are abysmally low. Early psycho-social rehabilitation interventions can improve functional outcomes, reducing disability. Psycho-social interventions have been made possible with the shift away from medical and charity models of disability to the establishment of social protections for vulnerable groups. Materials and Methods: The authors have undertaken a narrative review of all the social protection measures that can be explained to persons affected by mental health conditions and their family members. A larger tabulation is provided as an appendix to this article that has details of all the social protection measures across the states and union territories of India. This tabulation can be useful as a one-stop reference for every mental health practitioner in India toward informing persons affected by mental health conditions and their family members about how recovery journeys can be advanced. The data have been compiled after extensive searches of official government websites, information brochures, and even relevant legal provisions. Conclusion: For almost all the social protection measures provided by the central or state government, a disability certificate is a prerequisite. Rehabilitation today is a collaborative process aimed at community re-integration. In the absence of specialized services like those of clinical psychologists, vocational trainers, and psychiatric social workers, the psychiatrist becomes the sole point of contact. Motivated community members, recovered services users, and family members can aid mental health professionals by disseminating this knowledge further.