Post-pandemic policy imperatives to stem violence against women in China.

Violence against women is rampant in China. Even though meaningful strides have been made in the country, it remains disturbingly common for men to assault women-verbally or physically, who may or may not be their partners-in broad daylight in China. To make the situation worse, COVID-19, along with its restrictions, has both undermined women's ability to escape from abuse or violence and society's ability to provide timely help to victims. In light of the rising violence against women post-COVID, in this paper, we discuss the policy imperatives for countries like China to establish effective guardrails and support systems to protect women from the dehumanizing and destabilizing crime that is violence against women-a social malaise that not only harms and undermines the safety of society's daughters, mothers, and grandmothers, but also the integrity of local communities and social contract, let along shared humanity and global solidarity at large.

Post-pandemic policy imperatives to stem violence against women in China.

Violence against women is rampant in China. Even though meaningful strides have been made in the country, it remains disturbingly common for men to assault women-verbally or physically, who may or may not be their partners-in broad daylight in China. To make the situation worse, COVID-19, along with its restrictions, has both undermined women's ability to escape from abuse or violence and society's ability to provide timely help to victims. In light of the rising violence against women post-COVID, in this paper, we discuss the policy imperatives for countries like China to establish effective guardrails and support systems to protect women from the dehumanizing and destabilizing crime that is violence against women-a social malaise that not only harms and undermines the safety of society's daughters, mothers, and grandmothers, but also the integrity of local communities and social contract, let along shared humanity and global solidarity at large.

Crisis communication strategies for health officials.

Background: Mixed messaging among health officials are prevalent amid COVID-19. Crisis communication strategies have the potential to help health officials effectively address issues such as mixed messages and improve their crisis communication efficacy. However, there is a dearth of insights in the literature. Therefore, to bridge the research gap, this study aims to examine practical strategies health officials can utilize to improve their crisis communication efficacy. Methods: A literature review on effective crisis communication strategies amid COVID-19 was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and PsycINFO, with a focus on scholarly literature published in English. Results: The findings of the study identified the following strategies that health officials can utilize to improve their crisis communication capabilities: (1) develop fact-based, transparent, and accountable messaging, (2) utilize people-centered and empathetic persuasive strategies, and (3) leverage international collaboration for consistent messaging and comprehensive crisis communication. Conclusion: COVID-19 has challenged health officials with unprecedented crisis communication duties and responsibilities. In this study, we underscored the importance of effective crisis communication amid global health emergencies like COVID-19, and identified communication strategies health officials could adopt or adapt to improve their crisis communication efficacy. Future research could explore strategies health officials can use to better communicate with government officials and media professionals to further help health officials improve their crisis communication capabilities, their abilities to avoid preventable miscommunication or mixed messaging, and in turn, society's collective strengthen in curbing and controlling the pandemic.

Technology-based interventions for health challenges older women face amid COVID-19: a systematic review protocol.

BACKGROUND: Pandemics, such as COVID-19, are dangerous and socially disruptive. Though no one is immune to COVID-19, older persons often bear the brunt of its consequences. This is particularly true for older women, as they often face more pronounced health challenges relative to other segments in society, including complex care needs, insufficient care provisions, mental illness, neglect, and increased domestic abuse. To further compound the situation, because protective measures like lockdowns can result in unintended consequences, many health services older women depend on can become disrupted or discontinued amid pandemics. While technology-based interventions have the potential to provide near-time, location-free, and virtually accessible care, there is a dearth of systematic insights into this mode of care in the literature. To bridge the research gaps, this investigation aims to examine the characteristics and effectiveness of technology-based interventions that could address health challenges older women face amid COVID-19. METHODS: A systematic review of randomized trials reporting on technology-based interventions for older women (≥65 years) during COVID-19 will be conducted. The databases of Web of Science, ScienceDirect, PubMed/MEDLINE, PsycINFO, CINAHL, and Scopus will be searched. Retrieved citations will be screened independently by at least two reviewers against the eligibility criteria. Included studies will be assessed using the Cochrane ROB-2 tool. Data will be extracted independently by the reviewers. Where possible, meta-analyses will be performed on relevant study outcomes and analysed via odds ratios on the dichotomized outcomes. Where applicable, heterogeneity will be measured using the Cochrane Q test, and publication bias will be assessed via funnel plots and Egger's regression test. DISCUSSION: Technology has the potential to transform healthcare for the better. To help society better safeguard vulnerable populations' health and quality of life, this investigation sets out to gauge the state-of-the-art development of technology-based interventions tailored to the health challenges older women face amid COVID-19. In light of the growing prevalence of population ageing and the inevitability of infectious disease outbreaks, greater research efforts are needed to ensure the timely inception and effective implementation of technology-based health solutions for vulnerable populations like older women, amid public health crises like COVID-19 and beyond. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: PROSPERO CRD42020194003.

Technology-based interventions for health challenges older women face amid COVID-19: a systematic review protocol.

BACKGROUND: Pandemics, such as COVID-19, are dangerous and socially disruptive. Though no one is immune to COVID-19, older persons often bear the brunt of its consequences. This is particularly true for older women, as they often face more pronounced health challenges relative to other segments in society, including complex care needs, insufficient care provisions, mental illness, neglect, and increased domestic abuse. To further compound the situation, because protective measures like lockdowns can result in unintended consequences, many health services older women depend on can become disrupted or discontinued amid pandemics. While technology-based interventions have the potential to provide near-time, location-free, and virtually accessible care, there is a dearth of systematic insights into this mode of care in the literature. To bridge the research gaps, this investigation aims to examine the characteristics and effectiveness of technology-based interventions that could address health challenges older women face amid COVID-19. METHODS: A systematic review of randomized trials reporting on technology-based interventions for older women (≥65 years) during COVID-19 will be conducted. The databases of Web of Science, ScienceDirect, PubMed/MEDLINE, PsycINFO, CINAHL, and Scopus will be searched. Retrieved citations will be screened independently by at least two reviewers against the eligibility criteria. Included studies will be assessed using the Cochrane ROB-2 tool. Data will be extracted independently by the reviewers. Where possible, meta-analyses will be performed on relevant study outcomes and analysed via odds ratios on the dichotomized outcomes. Where applicable, heterogeneity will be measured using the Cochrane Q test, and publication bias will be assessed via funnel plots and Egger's regression test. DISCUSSION: Technology has the potential to transform healthcare for the better. To help society better safeguard vulnerable populations' health and quality of life, this investigation sets out to gauge the state-of-the-art development of technology-based interventions tailored to the health challenges older women face amid COVID-19. In light of the growing prevalence of population ageing and the inevitability of infectious disease outbreaks, greater research efforts are needed to ensure the timely inception and effective implementation of technology-based health solutions for vulnerable populations like older women, amid public health crises like COVID-19 and beyond. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: PROSPERO CRD42020194003.

Crisis communication strategies for health officials.

Background: Mixed messaging among health officials are prevalent amid COVID-19. Crisis communication strategies have the potential to help health officials effectively address issues such as mixed messages and improve their crisis communication efficacy. However, there is a dearth of insights in the literature. Therefore, to bridge the research gap, this study aims to examine practical strategies health officials can utilize to improve their crisis communication efficacy. Methods: A literature review on effective crisis communication strategies amid COVID-19 was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and PsycINFO, with a focus on scholarly literature published in English. Results: The findings of the study identified the following strategies that health officials can utilize to improve their crisis communication capabilities: (1) develop fact-based, transparent, and accountable messaging, (2) utilize people-centered and empathetic persuasive strategies, and (3) leverage international collaboration for consistent messaging and comprehensive crisis communication. Conclusion: COVID-19 has challenged health officials with unprecedented crisis communication duties and responsibilities. In this study, we underscored the importance of effective crisis communication amid global health emergencies like COVID-19, and identified communication strategies health officials could adopt or adapt to improve their crisis communication efficacy. Future research could explore strategies health officials can use to better communicate with government officials and media professionals to further help health officials improve their crisis communication capabilities, their abilities to avoid preventable miscommunication or mixed messaging, and in turn, society's collective strengthen in curbing and controlling the pandemic.

A call to ban the sale of tobacco products.

Tobacco is both toxic and addictive. Mounting evidence shows that tobacco use has a detrimental impact on almost every aspect of human health, causing or worsening deadly public health crises from the cancer epidemic to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, while tobacco use is a threat to both personal and public health, it continues to surge across the world, especially in China and other low- and middle-income countries. To this end, this article argues in favor of using a ban on the sale of all tobacco products as a practical solution to the global tobacco use epidemic. It is our hope that insights provided by our work will inspire swift policy actions in countries such as China and beyond to curb the tide of rising tobacco consumption, so that populations around the world could be better shielded from the pervasive and long-lasting damage that tobacco products cause or compound.

Media-Induced War Trauma Amid Conflicts in Ukraine.

War could be traumatic. War trauma could often lead to severe and sustained health consequences on people's physical and psychological health. War trauma is often prevalent in people who either participated in the war or lived near conflict zones, such as military professionals, refugees, and health workers. Advances in information and communication technologies, such as the speed, scale, and scope at which people worldwide could be exposed to the near-time happenings of the war, mean that an unprecedented number of people could face media-induced war trauma. Different from war experienced in person, which could be limited in scope and intensity, media-induced war trauma can be substantially more extensive and comprehensive-news reports on the war often cover all aspects and angles possible, possibly paired with disturbing, if not demoralizing, images, repeatedly 24/7. Although media-induced war trauma could have a profound influence on people's mental health, particularly factoring in the compounding challenges caused by the pandemic, there is a dearth of research in the literature. To shed light on this issue, in this article, we aim to examine the implications of media-induced war trauma on people's health and well-being. Furthermore, we discuss the duties and responsibilities of the media industry amid and beyond the current conflicts in Ukraine.

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times: A tale of two cities-Beijing and Shanghai-Why the divergent COVID-19 control outcomes?

COVID-19 both creates and complicates public health challenges. Yet the pandemic also provides a unique lens for dissecting complex issues in global health that could benefit society in the long run. In this paper, we discuss the underlying reasons that can help explain the divergent COVID-19 control outcomes between Beijing and Shanghai-two advanced metropolitans that are similar in their municipal capacity, administrative capability and pandemic strategy. We hope insights of this investigation contribute to the development of disease prevention systems, such as context-specific and data-driven public health strategies that could yield optimal pandemic control outcomes with minimal unintended consequences, both amid and beyond COVID-19.

Corrigendum: What "Family Affair?" domestic violence awareness in China.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.795841.].

Prevalence of Gallstones in Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn's Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

The meta-analysis aimed to investigate the prevalence of gallstones (GS) in Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), especially ulcerative colitis (UC). A systematic and thorough search was conducted on online electronic databases (PubMed/Medline, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar) from the databases' inception to April 30th, 2022. Review Manager 5.4.1 (The Nordic Cochrane Centre, The Cochrane Collaboration, Copenhagen) was used for all statistical analyses and forest plots. Only studies that met inclusion criteria were selected. The selected studies were pooled using a random-effect model and the results were reported in the odds ratio (OR) with their corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI). Ten studies met the final inclusion criteria and were analyzed. Patients with UC had significantly higher prevalence of GS than those in the control group (OR=1.67 [1.32-2.11]; p < 0.0001; I2=58%). There was also significant prevalence of GS in Crohn's disease (CD) than those in control group (OR=2.22 [1.82, 2.69]; p < 0.00001; I2=31%). Analysis also showed the prevalence of GS in studies conducted in Asia (OR=2.00 [1.48, 2.70]; p < 0.00001; I2=80%) and Europe (OR= 1.84 [1.32, 2.55]; p = 0.0003; I2=45%) compared to the control group. This study provided a conclusive answer to whether GS is significant in UC or not. Our meta-analysis provides a well-powered estimate that there is a prevalence of GS in UC. CD is also significantly associated with GS.

The Advantages of the Zero-COVID-19 Strategy.

Introduction: To curb the COVID-19 pandemic, countries across the globe have adopted either a mitigation or anelimination policy, such as the zero-COVID-19 strategy. However, further research is needed to systematically investigate the advantages of the zero-COVID-19 strategy in the literature. To bridge the research gap, this study examines the zero-COVID-19 strategy in terms of its advantages as a global anti-pandemic framework. Methods: A literature review was conducted in PubMed, PsycINFO, and Scopus to locate academic articles that discussed the advantages of the zero-COVID-19 strategy. Braun and Clarke's thematic analysis approach was adopted to guide the data analysis process. Results: The findings of our study show that the advantages of the zero-COVID-19 strategy range from short-term (e.g., limited virus infections, hospitalizations, and deaths), to medium-term (e.g., reduced presence of other infectious diseases), and long-term (e.g., low incidence of long COVID-19). While local residents mainly leverage these advantages, they also impact the global community (e.g., stable global supply of essentials, such as COVID-19 vaccines). Conclusions: COVID-19 is catastrophic, yet controllable. Our study examined the advantages of the zero-COVID-19 strategy from a nuanced perspective and discussed how these advantages benefit both the local and the global community in pandemic control and management. Future studies could investigate the shortcomings of the zero-COVID-19 strategy, especially its unintended consequences, such as adverse impacts on vulnerable populations' mental health, so that society could more efficiently, economically, and empathetically capitalize on the potential of the zero-COVID-19 strategy for the betterment of personal and public health.

Low-cost novel nano-constructed granite composites for removal of hazardous Terasil dye from wastewater.

The hazardous dyes on mixing with water resources are affecting many life forms. Granite stone is popular worldwide for decorating floors, making other forms of decorative materials and items. Granite stone powder waste can be obtained free of cost from marble factories as factories spend on the disposal of this waste. In the present study, novel granite stone powder waste composite has been prepared and utilized for the effective removal of Terasil dye. Two types of granite including gray granite and white granite were used in pure, calcinized, and chemically modified forms. Freundlich adsorption isotherm model best explained the adsorption mechanism of dye removal using granite composites as compared to other adsorption isothermal models. Characterization techniques like scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy were used for the determination of morphological features and functional groups of granite composites. The obtained results were statistically analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) along with the post hoc Tukey test. An extraordinarily high Terasil dye uptake capacity (more than 400 mg/g) was exhibited by granite composites prepared using sodium metasilicate. The synthesized novel nano-constructed composites provided a viable strategy as compared to the pure granite stone for dye removal from wastewater water.

Prediction of Compressive Strength of Sustainable Foam Concrete Using Individual and Ensemble Machine Learning Approaches.

The entraining and distribution of air voids in the concrete matrix is a complex process that makes the mechanical properties of lightweight foamed concrete (LFC) highly unpredictable. To study the complex nature of aerated concrete, a reliable and robust prediction model is required, employing different machine learning (ML) techniques. This study aims to predict the compressive strength of LFC by using a support vector machine (SVM) as an individual learner along with bagging, boosting, and random forest (RF) as a modified ensemble learner. For that purpose, a database of 191 data points was collected from published literature, where the mix design ingredients, i.e., cement content, sand content, water to cement ratio, and foam volume, were chosen to predict the compressive strength of LFC. The 10-K fold cross-validation method and different statistical error and regression tools, i.e., mean absolute error (MAE), root means square error (RMSE), and coefficient of determinant (R2), were used to evaluate the performance of the developed ML models. The modified ensemble learner (RF) outperforms all models by yielding a strong correlation of R2 = 0.96 along with the lowest statistical error values of MAE = 1.84 MPa and RMSE = 2.52 MPa. Overall, the result suggests that the ensemble learners would significantly enhance the performance and robustness of ML models.

A systematic analysis of worldwide disasters, epidemics and pandemics associated mortality of 210 countries for 15 years (2001-2015).

In recent years, the unprecedented death tolls resulting from epidemics and natural disasters made everyone interested, from the general public to country heads, to know about the mortality rates. The coronavirus issue is the most recent example all over the media, and everyone is talking about corona-induced mortality. The study aimed to estimate the disaster-induced mortality rates at the global level for two hundred and ten countries for fifteen years (2001-2015). Using a retrospective study design, we extracted datasets from two data sources, EM-DAT and UNFPA, in October 2019. The cut-off time for the data download was midnight Central European Time, October 17, 2019. The most noticeable finding in this study is that, against the common prevailing notion, both developed and developing countries equally carry the brunt of disaster-induced mortality. This study proposes empirical confirmation of the direction and magnitude of any year-over-year correlation of disaster and mortality rates. Furthermore, the analysis of the trend in mortality rate over the past fifteen years concludes it is not linear. However, there are huge variations across the years and the countries. The study is of paramount importance to initiate a debate amongst the concerned policymakers and stakeholders to regularly monitor the disaster-induced mortality rates. So that effective interventions can be devised to decrease the mortality rates.

Public health crises and Ukrainian refugees.

Conflicts are inevitable, and so are refugees. Due to conflicts in Ukraine, the global refugee population has reached new highs. As people continue to flee Ukraine amid the ongoing pandemic in droves, their exposure to COVID-19 and infectious diseases that are common among the refugee population, such as tuberculosis, is on the rise as well. Also factoring in the fact that Ukraine has a large population living with communicable diseases like HIV and hepatitis C, along with other non-communicable conditions like diabetes and cancer, there is a pronounced need to protect these refugees and local residents from potential public health crises. In this paper, we investigate the challenges that health and government officials face in addressing refugees' health needs and preferences. Furthermore, we discuss the imperative to provide timely and effective health services to refugees, such as psychoneuroimmunology-based interventions that could help address refugees' multifactorial and multifaceted health needs and requirements. While conflicts are inevitable, public health crises are not. In light of the renewed imperative to safeguard shared humanity and solidify global solidarity, collaborative actions are needed to ensure fair, kind, and true public health environments are available to refugees of the current conflict and beyond.

Technology-Based Mental Health Interventions for Domestic Violence Victims Amid COVID-19.

INTRODUCTION: Domestic violence is a threat to human dignity and public health. Mounting evidence shows that domestic violence erodes personal and public health, spawning issues such as lifelong mental health challenges. To further compound the situation, COVID-19 and societies' poor response to the pandemic have not only worsened the domestic violence crisis but also disrupted mental health services for domestic violence victims. While technology-based health solutions can overcome physical constraints posed by the pandemic and offer timely support to address domestic violence victims' mental health issues, there is a dearth of research in the literature. To bridge the research gap, in this study, we aim to examine technology-based mental health solutions for domestic violence victims amid COVID-19. METHODS: A literature review was conducted to examine solutions that domestic violence victims can utilize to safeguard and improve their mental health amid COVID-19. Databases including PubMed, PsycINFO, and Scopus were utilized for the literature search. The search was focused on four themes: domestic violence, mental health, technology-based interventions, and COVID-19. A reverse search of pertinent references was conducted in Google Scholar. The social ecological model was utilized to systematically structure the review findings. RESULTS: The findings show that a wide array of technology-based solutions has been proposed to address mental health challenges faced by domestic violence victims amid COVID-19. However, none of these proposals is based on empirical evidence amid COVID-19. In terms of social and ecological levels of influence, most of the interventions were developed on the individual level, as opposed to the community level or social level, effectively placing the healthcare responsibility on the victims rather than government and health officials. Furthermore, most of the articles failed to address risks associated with utilizing technology-based interventions (e.g., privacy issues) or navigating the online environment (e.g., cyberstalking). CONCLUSION: Overall, our findings highlight the need for greater research endeavors on the research topic. Although technology-based interventions have great potential in resolving domestic violence victims' mental health issues, risks associated with these health solutions should be comprehensively acknowledged and addressed.

6G and Artificial Intelligence Technologies for Dementia Care: Literature Review and Practical Analysis.

BACKGROUND: The dementia epidemic is progressing fast. As the world's older population keeps skyrocketing, the traditional incompetent, time-consuming, and laborious interventions are becoming increasingly insufficient to address dementia patients' health care needs. This is particularly true amid COVID-19. Instead, efficient, cost-effective, and technology-based strategies, such as sixth-generation communication solutions (6G) and artificial intelligence (AI)-empowered health solutions, might be the key to successfully managing the dementia epidemic until a cure becomes available. However, while 6G and AI technologies hold great promise, no research has examined how 6G and AI applications can effectively and efficiently address dementia patients' health care needs and improve their quality of life. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to investigate ways in which 6G and AI technologies could elevate dementia care to address this study gap. METHODS: A literature review was conducted in databases such as PubMed, Scopus, and PsycINFO. The search focused on three themes: dementia, 6G, and AI technologies. The initial search was conducted on April 25, 2021, complemented by relevant articles identified via a follow-up search on November 11, 2021, and Google Scholar alerts. RESULTS: The findings of the study were analyzed in terms of the interplay between people with dementia's unique health challenges and the promising capabilities of health technologies, with in-depth and comprehensive analyses of advanced technology-based solutions that could address key dementia care needs, ranging from impairments in memory (eg, Egocentric Live 4D Perception), speech (eg, Project Relate), motor (eg, Avatar Robot Café), cognitive (eg, Affectiva), to social interactions (eg, social robots). CONCLUSIONS: To live is to grow old. Yet dementia is neither a proper way to live nor a natural aging process. By identifying advanced health solutions powered by 6G and AI opportunities, our study sheds light on the imperative of leveraging the potential of advanced technologies to elevate dementia patients' will to live, enrich their daily activities, and help them engage in societies across shapes and forms.

Photocatalytic CO2 Reduction Using TiO2-Based Photocatalysts and TiO2 Z-Scheme Heterojunction Composites: A Review.

Photocatalytic CO2 reduction is a most promising technique to capture CO2 and reduce it to non-fossil fuel and other valuable compounds. Today, we are facing serious environmental issues due to the usage of excessive amounts of non-renewable energy resources. In this aspect, photocatalytic CO2 reduction will provide us with energy-enriched compounds and help to keep our environment clean and healthy. For this purpose, various photocatalysts have been designed to obtain selective products and improve efficiency of the system. Semiconductor materials have received great attention and have showed good performances for CO2 reduction. Titanium dioxide has been widely explored as a photocatalyst for CO2 reduction among the semiconductors due to its suitable electronic/optical properties, availability at low cost, thermal stability, low toxicity, and high photoactivity. Inspired by natural photosynthesis, the artificial Z-scheme of photocatalyst is constructed to provide an easy method to enhance efficiency of CO2 reduction. This review covers literature in this field, particularly the studies about the photocatalytic system, TiO2 Z-scheme heterojunction composites, and use of transition metals for CO2 photoreduction. Lastly, challenges and opportunities are described to open a new era in engineering and attain good performances with semiconductor materials for photocatalytic CO2 reduction.