CONDITION STUDY SHIPPING DURING THE PANDEMIC

The article conducts a multidimensional diagnosis of the state of the Polish economy after two years of the COVID-19 pandemic. The author assessed the impact of the pandemic on the situation of enterprises and Polish households. The reference to the analysis are above mentioned such variables as: gross domestic product (GDP), CPI/HICP inflation, domestic demand, retail sales of goods, registered unemployment rate, consumer situation (BWUK, WWUK), economic situation, bankruptcy proceedings, restructuring proceedings, etc. The issues raised in the article have been grouped into four thematic blocks, i.e.: 1) the restrictiveness of the policy of the government of Mateusz Morawiecki at individual stages (waves) of the pandemic, 2) the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on key economic indicators, 3) the impact of the pandemic on indicators regarding the perception of the economic and consumer situation, 4) the social perception of the impact of the pandemic on the standard of living of Poles, the perception of the government of Mateusz Morawiecki and the actions taken by it concerning economic restrictions. This part is based on the results of the public opinion poll Opinion of Poles on the activities of the government of Mateusz Morawiecki during the coronavirus pandemic, which was carried out under the direction of the author in May 2021. For the purposes of the article, the author formulated a research thesis, i.e. the COVID-19 pandemic affected the state of the Polish economy, slowed it down, but did not lead to a collapse such as regression.

The COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic has had a global impact on healthcare provision. Changes in prescribing of commonly used medications can be used as a marker for diagnoses of new patients as well as measuring service levels for patients in primary care [1]. The consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic in relation to incident cases of depression and other mental health issues are well documented [2–4]. How much the prescribing of specific psychotropic medications was impacted by the pandemic has been less explored. This is relevant from a cardiovascular point of view as untreated depression and untreated psychosis are associated with a signficantly elevated cardiovascular event rate [5,6]. We here compare prescribing data for psychotropic medication with common physical health medications in England before/during the COVID-19 pandemic. Primary Care Prescribing data for different major national formulary classes of drug from March 2017 to February 2022 (5 years) were considered [7]. In order to capture the impact during periods of social restriction of access to health services for new diagnoses/existing conditions, repeat prescriptions and episodic prescribing were included with account taken of historical trend. The prepandemic prescriptions issued each month from March 2017 to February 2020 were linearly extrapolated forward to give estimates over the pandemic period to give an expected annual growth (EAG). From this the monthly average expected prescriptions for the pandemic period March 2020–February 2022 were calculated and compared to the actual average. The change in share of total prescriptions of the main antidepressantant medications was evaluated to show relative change. As comparative baseline, it was found that physical health medications had lower monthly prescription during the pandemic with antibiotic (which are episodic) −12.2% (EAG −1.4%), and the most repeat prescriptions for bronchodilators −1.8% (EAG 0%), hypertension and heart failure −1.3% (EAG 1%), and lipid regulating minimally less at −0.1% (EAG 2.3%). Mental Health monthly prescribing increased with hypnotics/anxiolytics by 0.6%(EAG −2.4%), antipsychotics by 0.5% (EAG 2.7%), and antidepressants up by 0.3% (EAG 4.9%) The profile of the three main antidepressant medications was: sertraline increased from 22.7 to 24.6% (+8%), mirtazapine increased from 13.0 to 13.6% (+5%), and venlafaxine stayed at 6.3% (0%). The pandemic effect on psychotropic prescribing was not as large as might be expected, possibly impacted by limited access to services [8]. The fall in antibiotic prescribing may similarly reflect the impact of reduced access to services, limiting episodic prescribing. The increase in anxiolytic/hypnotic and antidepressant prescribing above trend links to pandemic effects on anxiety/worry [2–4]. However, the increase is far from what might be expected, on the basis of what is known about the way that the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in increased rates of anxiety and depression in the UK population as elsewhere in the world [2,3.4]. The slight increase in antipsychotic prescribing likely relates to the use of antipsychotics in care home settings [9] and is additive to the trend before the pandemic for increased prescribing of antipsychotic medication in England [10]. Should our assertion that the increase in antidepressant prescribing be much less than anticipated, the inference is that depression has been underdiagnosed in England and possibly elsewhere. If untreated, depression is associated with an adverse cardiovascular profile [5,6] and poorer life/socioeconomic/health outcomes overall [11] Going forward, an evaluation of individuals’ experiences might illuminate why we have observed these prescribing trends. It is hoped that we can use the opportunity created by the COVID-19 pandemic to enable sustained, efficient, and equitable delivery of mental healthcare with attendant benefits for cardiovascular outcome in those affected by enduring mental health conditions [12]. Acknowledgements All authors contributed equally and substantially to the cocreation and writing of this paper. Data availability statement: the data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request. Conflicts of interest There are no conflicts of interest.

In this study, it is substantiated that the process of globalization leads to the world economy acquiring the characteristics of a complex multi-level system, which makes it possible to use the properties of systems as tools for researching the effects of negative factors and threats to the development of the world economy and maritime transport as subsystems of the world economy. It was established that not only the rise in prices on the world's leading stock exchanges Using the systems theory methods but also the freight cost of dry cargo ships is a significant influencing factor on food prices for the whole world. It has also been established that since the cargo traffic of food with a substantial level of processing to countries where, due to the level of development of their economy, there are mostly no opportunities for processing products, this affects the increase in the cargo traffic of container transport in global sea transportation. The synergistic nature of the impact of negative factors on the worldwide economy and the maritime transport industry has been outlined. It is singled out that the synergistic negative effect led to a chain reaction to the change of international sea transport routes. The assessment of the effectiveness of management actions of the industry management on external challenges and threats was carried out. It is pointed out that the direction of the global maritime transport industry needs to dynamically adjust the operation of logistics networks to respond effectively to the growing needs of the world market. It is also indicated that the need for more efficiency and capacity of the port infrastructure still predominantly affects container transportation due to the growing demand for the volume of cargo transportation. It is emphasized that the established definition of the world transport system needs to be sufficiently corrected. The conducted research found that the world transport system, under the influence of the globalization of the world market and the internationalization of the cargo transportation process, acquires transnational features and becomes a global structure, working increasingly in the interests of the world market. Keywords: globalization, internationalization, maritime transport, crises, risks, threats, efficiency of industry management.

Application of AHP and VIKOR methods under interval type 2 fuzzy environment in maritime transportation

Background: Older adult quality of life (QoL) is facing huge challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. New normal lifestyle behaviors, including getting adequate physical activity (PA), consuming sufficient fruits and vegetables (FV) and enacting individual preventive behaviors (frequent hand washing, facemask wearing, and social distancing), as a significant determinant for QoL, have not been adequately addressed in older adults during the pandemic. This study aimed to investigate the characteristics of QoL in Chinese older adults after the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Hubei China. The objective of the study was to examine any associations of lifestyle behaviors with QoL, and to identify the moderating role of socioeconomic indicators in the associations identified.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Hubei, China, from June 15, 2020, to July 10, 2020. Five hundred sixteen older adults completed an online survey (mean age = 67.6 ± 6.6; 57.9% women). The questionnaire consisted of demographic information, covariates (chronic diseases and infected cases of acquaintances), lifestyle behaviors [PA stage, FV intake (FVI) stage and three preventive behaviors], and QoL. T-tests, ANOVA tests, multiple linear regression models with simple slope analyses were used to test the hypotheses.Results: QoL significantly differed in relation to economic situation, chronic diseases, marital status, education, living situation, age group, and professional status. Participants' economic situation (β average vs. below average = 0.17, p < 0.01; β above average vs. below average = 0.15, p < 0.01), chronic diseases (β yes vs. no = 0.19, p < 0.001), FVI stage (β = 0.21, p < 0.001), and preventive behaviors (β = 0.10, p < 0.05) indicated a significant association with QoL. Education level and economic situation significantly interacted with preventive behaviors on QoL, respectively (β preventive behaviors × educational level = −1.3, p < 0.01; β preventive behaviors × economic situation = −0.97, p < 0.05).Conclusions: Findings emphasize the importance of enhancing FVI and preventive behaviors on QoL improvement in older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. Older adults who are in a lower economic situation with lower education levels should be given priority when implementing interventions to improve preventive behaviors and QoL in older adults.

Pain Management during the COVID-19 Pandemic

During the COVID-19 pandemic, several educational institutions face critical challenges in conducting online classes. E-learning system through augmented reality application has several dynamic features that would enhance teachers’ and students’ intention to learn during the COVID-19 pandemic. Nevertheless, the implementation of augmented reality applications in e-learning systems relies on the advancement of technologies, technical training, educating teachers and students on how to use the novel technology in the online class environment. Thus, lack of agreement about the core challenges and factors that shape the successful implementation of augmented reality applications in the e-learning system environment during the COVID-19 pandemic. An empirical gap has been identified in developing the knowledge on the challenges and indicators on implementing augmented reality applications in e-learning systems during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the current study explores the influence of augmented reality applications in the e-learning system environment during the COVID-19 pandemic. It investigates the key challenges and factors that create barriers to implementing augmented reality applications. A qualitative research method was applied to obtain the aim of this study. We employed the interview method using thematic analysis through NVivo software. We conducted ten interviews with faculty members in the University of Business and Technology, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The respondents were selected based on their previous experience in the e-learning system. Overall, the findings of the current paper offer dynamic recommendations for educators, policymakers, developers, and researchers, which will significantly enable them to understand more about the usage of augmented reality applications in e-learning systems with the key indicators during the COVID-19 pandemic. KeywordsAugmented realityE-learningCOVID-19Educational institutions

Africans in China: a sociocultural study and its implications on Africa-China relations. Adams Bodomo (2012) Amherst, NY: Cambria Press. Pp. 300. ISBN-10: 1604977906. ISBN-13: 978-1604977905Globalization and, more precisely, the economic relations that emerge from capitalism, have led to the appearance of multiple diasporas around the world. Modern economic and political relations between China and Africa have opened the way to the latest, and not so much documented, emergence of African communities in China. Bodomo's Africans in China (2012) attempts to describe in a thorough manner what it is like to be an African in China.The structural flow of this book enhances its contents. After the introduction (1), Chapters 2 to 7 present a portrayal of the ethnic, national and social profile of the African communities in six particular cities of China, focusing on their role with regard to Africa-China relations and their contribution to their respective economies. In the following chapters, 8-10, Bodomo succeeds in creating a progressive feeling of closure through the depiction of additional African communities in other Asian places and in the West (8) and a comparison with the previously analysed cities in China (9). Finally, future thoughts and scholarly implications are commented upon in Chapter 10. These are indispensable, taking into account the achievements of a six-year-long study and the limits of a book-length description. Numerous figures, tables and photographs complement the reading.In the first chapter, 'Introducing Africans in China', the object of study is clearly stated through the explanation of key terms, the review of historical and geographical factors as well as a brief, although accurate, literature overview. The emigration of Africans to China is almost always related to trade: 300,000- 400,000 out of 500,000 Africans in China are traders. In such a context, Bodomo highlights the importance of a 3-dimensional theoretical approach applied to any migrant and diaspora context. This bridge theory incorporates the role of the target community which serves as a link, or bridge, connecting the source and host community, bringing advantages to both. In terms of methodology, Bodomo's examination of the existing African communities in China is based on fieldwork carried out over a period of six years (2005-2011) in the Chinese cities most populated by Africans - Guangzhou, Yiwu, Hong Kong, Macau, Beijing and Shanghai. Interestingly, qualitative and quantitative methods were combined for the first time in the study of the new African Diaspora: 736 questionnaires, including 27 questions aimed at bringing light on gender, age and the sociolinguistic and sociocultural profiles of the respondents were supported by in-depth interviews, detailed focus group meetings and participant observation.'Africans in Guangzhou' is the longest description in the volume. It constitutes a comprehensive introduction to what will be the line of analysis and presentation of results in this and the following analyzed cities. Guangzhou is a perfect research context since it holds one of the biggest marketplaces in China, which is known as the Chocolate City, referring to the number of Africans living in the area (100,000). A total of 312 valid questionnaires were returned. The most striking finding in this area was the existence of calculator communication. This consists of using a calculator in combination with basic body gestures to reduce communication problems. Being less than 10 years old, Bodomo asserts, this kind of communication is in the process of turning into a pidgin.The following chapter, 'Africans in Yiwu', is dedicated to the analysis of the mostly temporarily settled Africans in the world's largest commodities market. At fewer than 30,000, Yiwu comprises the second most prominent group of Africans in China. In this case, communication problems are reduced by the widespread habit of Africans hiring translators. …

AB1121 HOW FEARS AND HOPES HAVE EVOLVED IN PATIENTS WITH RMDs THROUGHOUT THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC? RESULTS FROM THE REUMAVID STUDY (PHASE 1 AND 2)

Global container ship movements may reliably predict trade flows. First, this paper provides the methodology to construct maritime shipping time series from a dataset comprising millions of container vessel positions annually. Second, to forecast monthly goods trade using these time series, this study outlines the use of the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) in combination with a partial least squares process (PLS). An expanding window, out-of-sample exercise demonstrates that constructed forecasts outperform benchmark models for the vast majority of 76 countries and regions. The performance holds true for unilateral and bilateral trade flows, for trade of developed and developing countries, for real and nominal trade, as well as for time periods of economic crisis such as the COVID-19 pandemic. The resulting forecasts of trade flows precede official statistics by several months and may facilitate quantification of supply chain disruptions and trade wars.

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the global educational standards of nearly 1.6 billion pupils in over 200 countries. For instance, face-to- face educational cancellations, social alienation and constrained mobility restrictions of students around the world have wreaked havoc on standard teaching approaches. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, various findings have been reported by a group of investigators on the teaching and learning process. At a wide range of educational institutions, face-to-face training has been tapered away where inclusive educational settings and evaluation techniques required urgent creativity and deployment. The role of faculty members has been transformed from the traditional lecturer-centric to student-centric model which serves the current new global situation. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the university staff perceptions, experiences and barriers, and focus on their e-learning challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, the study investigates the factors that have influenced the acceptance of e-learning as a teaching tool at the higher educational level that could assist in implementing e-learning for future endeavours.

Fears and hopes of patients with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases during the COVID-19 pandemic across Europe. Results from the REUMAVID study (phase 1 and phase 2).

For many years, Brazil has held the title of the world’s largest coffee producer and exporter. However, despite this, national coffee producers still struggle to access foreign markets due to the bottlenecks and high costs associated with the agro-industrial system’s port logistics. The onset of the Covid-19 pandemic only exacerbated these challenges. Issues such as the scarcity of shipping containers and space on ships, cancellation of ship calls, and greater concentration and verticalization of the maritime and port transport sectors have further complicated matters. Furthermore, the regulation of these sectors in Brazil is still in its early stage. This study aimed to enhance the comprehension of the port costs incurred in exporting coffee in containers and the impacts that the Covid-19 pandemic on these costs and export logistics. The research utilized a quantitative and descriptive methodology. Data were gathered through a questionnaire administered to thirteen managers of Brazilian businesses and cooperatives engaged in containerized coffee exports. The study found that the pandemic directly impacted port costs and logistics, leading to more frequent container detention and additional port storage charges. Furthermore, the pandemic resulted in the introduction of new port fees/tariffs and raised the existing ones, such as the “Terminal Handling Charge” (THC), the “Export Logistic Fee” (ELF), the “Bill of Lading Issuance Fee” and the container scanning fee. Key words: Container detention; Maritime transport; Port fees/tariffs; Port logistics; Port warehousing.

The COVID-19 pandemic has suddenly swept across the world on an unprecedented scale, having a global and destructive impact on numerous areas of both social and economic life. For the most part, the effects of the current pandemic crisis have been evaluated negatively, although they may also bring about positive future trends, such as accelerated technological advancement or increased financial support for and development of areas such as smart cities. Given the above, the focal point of our deliberations is the concept of smart cities and the exemplification of smart solutions implemented in cities in the context of new environmental challenges triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic. The purpose of the article is, on one hand, to identify the key theoretical and research problems that define the framework for smart city development, and on the other, to present selected practical smart projects implemented in different city areas in Poland and around the world during the COVID-19 pandemic. As far as the methodology, systematic literature analysis and case study have been opted for. To explain the essence of the smart city concept, Polish and foreign peer-reviewed scientific publications were analysed. To characterize smart solutions that are being implemented in different cities, findings from reports and materials retrieved from websites dedicated to smart initiatives were used. A search was carried out for scientific papers that contain the terms "smart city" and "COVID-19" in the title, abstract or among the keywords. Bibliometric analysis was the research method used to evaluate publications in terms of the smart city concept and the COVID-19 pandemic. To that end, research techniques such as trend analysis, citation analysis and word coexistence analysis were applied. In the article, selected issues of the smart cities functioning during a pandemic crisis are analysed. The findings show that cities have been keen on developing and implementing smart solutions during the COVID-19 pandemic, the latter obviously causing the accelerated development of smart-city systems. The pandemic-driven changes adopted so far by cities in the area of smart solutions are not only futureproof in terms of epidemic safety but also make other goals, such as limiting the use natural resources or increasing the quality of life for residents, more attainable.

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to present a comparison between the traditional methods for the calculation of customer relationship performance and the modern metrics suggested by the current literature in business-to-business (B2B) markets using the Greek maritime shipping industry as an example.Design/methodology/approachThe primary research was conducted in two phases: quantitative analysis of actual measurements and qualitative evaluation of the results. More specifically, in the first phase, the measures used were a collection of traditional and modern customer relationship management (CRM) metrics applied to actual historical data along with statistical data for actual customers of a company supplying services for maritime transportation of containers in the Greek international trade market. For the qualitative evaluation of these results, a semi-structured interview was carried out with seven “specialists/experts” in this business sector, who provided an assessment of the relative worth of each set of CRM measures.FindingsThe use of modern customer-centred metrics (Share and Size of Wallet, recency, frequency, monetary value) in the shipping sector of Greek industrial activity is the most profitable and efficient means of decision-making. The qualitative research showed that the customer-centred metrics were judged to be more effective and useful, as they provided a multi-dimensional and multi-layered picture of the current and future situation for the company and its customer base.Research limitations/implicationsTo ensure confidentiality of personal information, the research did not use, examine or evaluate the individualized data to preserve the anonymity of the survey sponsor and their specific customers.Originality/valueThis is the first study that examines the effectiveness of different types of CRM metrics in the B2B market, which has, until now, suffered a dearth of empirical studies in the field, especially in the context of national economies that face intense international trading problems and significant reductions in activity in their maritime shipping industry due to the economic recession.