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Summary: The recent pandemic caused by COVID‐19 has globally affected air transport mobility as well as the airline industry in general. Numerous restrictions have been implemented in airline transport, which is potentially leading toward severe long‐term impacts on the global airline industry. In this paper, air transport mobility was analyzed regarding Europe (EU) based on the available data from the relevant sources associated with the airline industry. Data were analyzed in specific periods from January to April of 2020, which corresponded with the initialization of the pandemic in the EU and later in its full development. Specifically, two airports were selected in Croatia as case studies to analyze the impact of COVID‐19 more thoroughly on mobility together with the estimation of carbon footprint during the pandemic and the year before the pandemic state. The results revealed that COVID‐19 gradually affected air transport mobility in the EU where a peak was reached in April with a reduction in the number of flights in the EU region reaching more than 89%. Cargo traffic was not significantly affected by the pandemic, and was even increased in some cases due to the supply of medical equipment in the fight against the disease. The analyzed case study revealed the reduction in air transport mobility for selected airports to be more than 96%, which directly affected the reduction of CO2 emissions to factor 1.81 for the commercial airport of Zagreb and 3.49 for the seasonal airport of Split. A normalization of air transport mobility is expected to be reached through a 1‐year period with a continued reduction in the number of flights ranging from 15% to 25%, based on the projections and expectations from relevant EU associations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated that global production chains significantly reduce the security of states and companies: in the face of problems with the movement of goods and people, there have been disruptions in the supply of goods. States and companies should influence the location of safety-critical businesses by limiting their acceptable space. This means the need to form a list of businesses that are important to the security of the state or company and are sensitive to pandemic threats, as well as the need to establish acceptable placement for such businesses. To assess the prospects of business placement in terms of pandemic threats, it is necessary to improve theoretical approaches to the study of factors of business placement. On this basis, it is possible to conduct a qualitative study of pandemic threats as factors in the placement of businesses and to develop recommendations for states and companies to limit the space for the acceptable placement of relevant businesses. Design/methodology/approach: Morphological analysis is used as the main research method. Findings: It is advisable to divide the business placement factors into internal factors, which are generated by the "business" side and external generated by the "place" side, as well as for the past, present and future. Internal and external factors of business placement form complementary pairs of factors, which are characterized by the strength of the impact, as well as the possibility of artificial creation, cost and duration. Originality/value: Business placement factors need to be investigated over time, for which it is advisable to use the term PPF-research (past-present-future-research). Pandemic threats were in the past, are now and, with a high probability, will be factors in the placement of many types of business in the future. Business placement under the influence of pandemic threat factors in targeting sales markets sharply increases the attractiveness of production using 3D printing technologies, the widespread and continuous improvement of which should become one of the priorities of the innovation policy of states and companies in Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acromegaly embraces typical complications of a pituitary tumor as well as GH (growth hormone) and IGF1 (insulin-like growth factor) excess-related cardio-metabolic and oncologic conditions; and associated medical, surgical treatment or even radiotherapy issues. We point out a few particular aspects concerning acromegaly issues amid COVID-19 pandemic. The review includes only full length, English published papers. One of the most important complications of long standing, untreated or un-responsive to therapy acromegaly is related to respiratory and otorhinolaryngology issues like sleep apnea; this becomes an important aspect causing pulmonary complications in patients with active coronavirus infection. In subjects who are not going through a COVID-19 infection, but they had a prior diagnostic of acromegaly, two main aspects of medical and surgical practice were noted: a massive reduction of surgical volume during the first year of pandemic, mostly during peak months of high infection rate in general population and the introduction of tele (digital) health care systems, of different protocols and various platforms mostly depending of medical center, rather than country or even continent related protocols. Associated central adrenal insufficiency requires a particular attention if COVID-19 positive. The data directly targeting the endocrinologists amid pandemic are very limited. ACROCOVID is a 2021 study that was internationally conducted based on a questionnaire that was applied to 84 endocrinologists (67% of them in Europe); 33% of acromegalic individuals had a delay on procedure because of insufficient COVID-19 assays and 54% of them due to inefficient provision for neurosurgery. Secondary diabetes mellitus (with a potential worsening in some patients due to pasireotide LAR) is at high risk for COVID-19 infection; the level of glycated hemoglobin A1c seems a good predictor at onset of infectious disease. Acromegaly might associate osteoporosis; coronavirus infection aggravates bone loss due to oxidative stress, inflammatory status, cytokine release, immobilization, glucocorticoid use. Acromegaly field concerning pandemic changes represents a complex, still ongoing matter involving both patients and multidisciplinary practitioners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the uneven geography of COVID‐19‐related excess mortality during the first wave of the pandemic in Europe, before assessing the factors behind the geographical differences in impact. The analysis of 206 regions across 23 European countries reveals a distinct COVID‐19 geography. Excess deaths were concentrated in a limited number of regions—expected deaths exceeded 20% in just 16 regions—with more than 40% of the regions considered experiencing no excess mortality during the first 6 months of 2020. Highly connected regions, in colder and dryer climates, with high air pollution levels, and relatively poorly endowed health systems witnessed the highest incidence of excess mortality. Institutional factors also played an important role. The first wave hit regions with a combination of weak and declining formal institutional quality and fragile informal institutions hardest. Low and declining national government effectiveness, together with a limited capacity to reach out across societal divides, and a frequent tendency to meet with friends and family were powerful drivers of regional excess mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a response to the COVID-19 pandemic, many public institutions in Europe designed policies that increased the use of ICTs with the public to provide or collect information, offer support, and perform educational activities. This process was in line with a sociotechnical imaginary where people's lives are increasingly "smart" and enhanced through digital innovation. We provide an analysis of the implications of this imaginary during the pandemic for people belonging to vulnerable categories, to understand how these actors are considered in the digital transition process at the European level. This analysis is based on qualitative data collected in 30 European countries in the frame of an EU project aimed at understanding how COVID-19-related public policies shaped social inequalities. Building on the intersection between gender studies, science and technology studies, and media studies, this analysis aims to contribute to a more inequality-aware policy reflection on the digital transition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Owing to the vulnerability of patients with chronic kidney disease to infectious diseases, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has been particularly devastating for the nephrology community. Unfortunately, the possibility of future COVID-19 waves or outbreaks of other infectious diseases with pandemic potential cannot be ruled out. The nephrology community made tremendous efforts to contain the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite this, the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted several shortcomings in our response to the pandemic and has taught us important lessons that can be utilized to improve our preparedness for any future health crises of a similar nature. In this article we draw lessons from the European Renal Association COVID-19 Database (ERACODA) project, a pan-European collaboration initiated in March 2020 to understand the prognosis of COVID-19 in patients on kidney function replacement therapy. We discuss the challenges faced in generating timely and robust evidence for informed management of patients with kidney disease and give recommendations for our preparedness for the next pandemic in Europe. Limited collaboration, the absence of common data architecture and the sub-optimal quality of available data posed challenges in our response to COVID-19. Aligning different research initiatives, strengthening electronic health records, and involving experts in study design and data analysis will be important in our response to the next pandemic. The European Renal Association may take a leading role in aligning research initiatives via its engagement with other scientific societies, national registries, administrators and researchers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyzes airline reactions to the COVID-19 crisis in the spring months of 2020 along the typical crisis response strategies of retrenchment, persevering, innovating, and exit. Based on the content analysis of 148 news items filtered from a daily aviation industry newsletter published during the unfolding of the crisis in Europe (from January 6 to June 2), the paper specifies and differentiates European airlines' strategic responses, outlines key implications for the post-COVID-19 competitive landscape, and raises attention points for managers and policy makers. • Analyzes European airlines strategic reactions to the COVID-19 pandemic. • Differentiates and specifies European airlines responses along retrenchment, persevering, innovating and exit strategies. • Governments might act as change agents; preventing the collapse of large carriers, but hindering efficient decision-making. • Suggests impact on business model convergence; network carrier and low-cost carrier propositions likely drift apart again. • Suggests cementation of industry structures; the consolidation that was underway is halted at least temporarily. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Covid‐19 pandemic has challenged the resilience of care organisations (and those dependent on them), especially when services are stopped or restricted. This study focuses on the experiences of care organisations that offer services to individuals in highly precarious situations in 10 European countries. It is based on 32 qualitative interviews and three workshops with managers and staff. The four key types of organisations reviewed largely had the same adaptation patterns in all countries. The most drastic changes were experienced by day centres, which had to suspend or digitise services, whereas night shelters and soup kitchens had to reorganise broadly their work; residential facilities were minimally affected. Given the drastic surge in demand for services, reliance on an overburdened (volunteer) workforce, and a lack of crisis plans, the care organisations with long‐term trust networks with clients and intra‐organisational cooperation adapted easier. The outcomes were worse for new clients, migrants, psychologically vulnerable people, and those with limited communicative abilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maintaining healthcare for noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) is particularly important during the COVID-19 pandemic; however, diversion of resources to acute care, and physical distancing restrictions markedly affected management of NCDs. We aimed to assess the medication management practices in place for NCDs during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic across European countries. In December 2020, the European Network to Advance Best practices & technoLogy on medication adherencE (ENABLE) conducted a cross-sectional, web-based survey in 38 European and one non-European countries. Besides descriptive statistics of responses, nonparametric tests and generalized linear models were used to evaluate the impact on available NCD services of the number of COVID-19 cases and deaths per 100,000 inhabitants, and gross domestic product (GDP) per capita. Fifty-three collaborators from 39 countries completed the survey. In 35 (90%) countries face-to-face primary-care, and out-patient consultations were reduced during the COVID-19 pandemic. The mean ± SD number of available forms of teleconsultation services in the public healthcare system was 3 ± 1.3. Electronic prescriptions were available in 36 (92%) countries. Online ordering and home delivery of prescription medication (avoiding pharmacy visits) were available in 18 (46%) and 26 (67%) countries, respectively. In 20 (51%) countries our respondents were unaware of any national guidelines regarding maintaining medication availability for NCDs, nor advice for patients on how to ensure access to medication and adherence during the pandemic. Our results point to an urgent need for a paradigm shift in NCD-related healthcare services to assure the maintenance of chronic pharmacological treatments during COVID-19 outbreaks, as well as possible future disasters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Healthcare systems and general surgeons are being challenged by the current pandemic. The European Association for Endoscopic Surgery (EAES) aimed to evaluate surgeons' experiences and perspectives, to identify gaps in knowledge, to record shortcomings in resources and to register research priorities.Methods: An ad hoc web-based survey of EAES members and affiliates was developed by the EAES Research Committee. The questionnaire consisted of 69 items divided into the following sections: (Ι) demographics, (II) institutional burdens and management strategies, and (III) analysis of resource, knowledge, and evidence gaps. Descriptive statistics were summarized as frequencies, medians, ranges,, and interquartile ranges, as appropriate.Results: The survey took place between March 25th and April 16th with a total of 550 surgeons from 79 countries. Eighty-one percent had to postpone elective cases or suspend their practice and 35% assumed roles not related to their primary expertise. One-fourth of respondents reported having encountered abdominal pathologies in COVID-19-positive patients, most frequently acute appendicitis (47% of respondents). The effect of protective measures in surgical or endoscopic procedures on infected patients, the effect of endoscopic surgery on infected patients, and the infectivity of positive patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery were prioritized as knowledge gaps and research priorities.Conclusions: Perspectives and priorities of EAES members in the era of the pandemic are hereto summarized. Research evidence is urgently needed to effectively respond to challenges arisen from the pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]