Digital Commons Network^™

Market Signals From Online Behavior, Nicole J. Olynk Widmar, Michael L. Smith, Erin Robinson

Purdue University Press Books

Market Signals From Online Behavior asks, What do social media trends, Google searches, and online chatter reveal about consumer behavior? It also poses the question, How can we interpret these signals without losing sight of the people behind the posts? This book examines the digital traces left by consumers and explores how these signals intersect with food, agriculture, retail, and beyond.

Drawing from real-time data and social-listening analysis, Market Signals connects the dots between what is trending online and what it means for markets in the real world. Whether it is the rise of plant-based eating, changing holiday shopping norms, …

The Impact Of Covid-19 On Healthcare Workers: Risk Factors, Sources Of Infection, And Sickness Absenteeism, Ezgi̇ Gülten, Güle Çinar, İrem Akdemi̇r, Eli̇f Muki̇me Saricaoğlu, İlkay Taşdan, Emi̇ne Atmaca, Si̇bel Kaymakçi, Fatma Şanal, Di̇lek Sevi̇m Akdaş, Arzu Büyüm, Gülşah Kocaali̇, Safi̇ye Tarakçi, Ati̇lla Hali̇l Elhan, Mehmet Serhat Bi̇rengel, Kemal Osman Memi̇koğlu, Alpay Azap

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aim: Healthcare workers (HCWs) face increased risks of COVID-19 infection due to occupational exposure. Understanding infection sources, risk factors, and workforce losses is crucial for mitigating these impacts in future pandemics. This study aimed to evaluate the risk factors, infection sources, and sickness absenteeism among HCWs diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 infection, providing insights to enhance infection control strategies.

Materials and methods: The study included 2153 HCWs diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 between March 2020 and February 2023 at a tertiary care hospital in Türkiye. Demographic, clinical, and professional characteristics, personal protective equipment (PPE) usage, infection sources, and vaccination data were analyzed. Statistical analyses …

Community Or Commodity? Nurse Perceptions Of Support From Healthcare Institutions And The Community, Jacqueline Christianson, Madaline Mccarthy, Bonnie Sommers-Olson, Jill Guttormson, Norah Louise Johnson

Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE)

Purpose: High stress, moral distress, and burnout are common in nursing workplaces and are associated with poorer patient and nurse outcomes. Research showed that excessive work-related stress was a growing problem for the nursing workforce prior to the Covid-19 pandemic (Bakhamis et al., 2019). However, working conditions became considerably more stressful because pandemic-related workplace changes made previous methods of caring, connecting empathetically with patients, and behaving altruistically difficult to impossible for nurses to achieve (Foli et al., 2021; McAndrew et al., 2023). Community connectedness and mutual social support may be buffers against the harmful effects of chronic occupational stress and …

Treatment Outcomes And Factors Associated With Treatment Failure Among Mild-Moderate Covid-19 Patients Receiving Five-Days Oral Molnupiravir Vs Three-Days Intravenous Remdesivir In A Real-World Practice, Sarawut Kittikasemsook, Pattama Torvorapanit, Chotirat Nakaranurack

Chulalongkorn Medical Journal

Background: The initiation of antiviral treatment for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is based on the patient's risk of developing severe symptoms. Molnupiravir and remdesivir are new antiviral agents with limited data in real-world practice, especially in Thailand.

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the treatment outcomes, adverse drug reactions (ADRs), and factors associated with treatment failure in mild-moderate symptoms of adult COVID-19 who received molnupiravir or three days- intravenous remdesivir at the initiation of treatment.

Methods: This retrospective study was conducted at King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Thai Red Cross Society. The inclusion criteria were mild-moderate symptoms of COVID-19 patients …

Biomarkers Of Multiorgan Failure In Covid-19: A Predictive Framework For Disease Severity And Clinical Outcomes, Wesam A. Nasif, Mohammed H. Mukhtar, Mohammad Althubiti, Abeer Shaker El Moursy Ali

Saudi Medical Journal

Objective: To investigate the predictive value of inflammatory, liver, renal, and cardiac biomarkers in relation to the progression of multiorgan failure (MOF) in COVID-19 patients. A primary goal was to identify which of these markers served as the most discriminative predictors of disease severity.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was carried out between December 2020 and February 2023 to collect data from 1,803 COVID-19 patients from data records in different hospitals in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. The ROC curve analysis evaluated the diagnostic and predictive performance of selected biomarkers.

Results: Inflammatory markers such as CRP and D-dimer were evaluated, but ferritin …

The Use Of Storytelling In Covid-19 Vaccine Promotion: A Scoping Review Of Interventions And Campaigns, Suha Ballout, Sabreen A Darwish, Patricia J Kelly, Teresa Keller, Ross Shegog, Basil H Aboul-Enein

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: The development of the COVID-19 vaccine, a groundbreaking scientific advancement, also fueled vaccine hesitancy mainly due to vaccine misinformation and the limited public understanding of the new technology and its rapid pace of development and deployment. A variety of public health communication strategies have been used that include engaging the community in identifying and developing messages, using culturally appropriate communication methods, applying behavioral health principles, and storytelling. The purpose of this scoping review was to assess the most relevant evidence from the research literature on storytelling interventions to mitigate COVID vaccine hesitancy during the pandemic.

Methods: A scoping review …

Infectious Causes Of Acute Febrile Illness In Belize, 2020-2022, Adrianna Maliga, Shannon E Ronca, Russell Manzanero, Roberto Melendez, Sarah M Gunter, Allison Lino, Joy Mackey, Andres Espinosa-Bode, Beatriz Lopez, Rafael Chacon-Fuentes, Freedom M Green, Oluwadara Okeremi, Sarah Strobel, Daniel P Rehm, Flor M Muñoz, Loren Cadena, Melissa Diaz-Musa, Francis Morey, Emily Zielinski-Gutierrez, Gerhaldine Morazan, Kristy O Murray

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Acute febrile illness (AFI) surveillance networks can play a key role in identifying emerging pathogens and promoting global health security, especially for vulnerable populations in low- and middle-income countries. In January 2020, the Belize AFI Surveillance network was formed, and 5,643 participants were enrolled over the first 3-year period across 11 participating public hospitals. Using real-time polymerase chain reaction testing for vector-borne pathogen detection and BioFire® diagnostic testing for respiratory and gastrointestinal pathogens, the causes of illness were examined in relation to 54 pathogens in these participants. In response to the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, surveillance was expanded to detect …

Estimated Effectiveness Of 2024-2025 Covid-19 Vaccination Against Severe Covid-19, Kevin C Ma, Jennie H Kwon, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

IMPORTANCE: As SARS-CoV-2 JN.1 lineage descendants continue to evolve, evaluating COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness (VE) against severe COVID-19 remains important to guide vaccination strategies.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the VE of the 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccines against COVID-19-associated hospitalization and severe in-hospital outcomes overall and by time since dose (7-89, 90-179, and ≥180 days), JN.1 descendant lineage (KP.3.1.1, XEC, LP.8.1), and spike protein mutations associated with immune evasion.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This multicenter, test-negative, case-control study conducted by the Investigating Respiratory Viruses in the Acutely Ill Network included adult patients (aged ≥18 years) hospitalized between September 1, 2024, and April 30, 2025, …

“Oh! It’S Fine, We’Re Not Even Counting This Anyways”: Remote Educational Experiences Of Rural Families With A Child With A Disability During The Early Covid-19 Pandemic, Andrew M. Colombo-Dougovito, A. Josephine Blagrave, Aubrey Newland

The Rural Educator

Disparities in rural areas regarding technology, internet access, and higher teacher turnover were amplified as a plurality of schools across the US moved to remote instruction in early 2020 as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic. While rural communities often show a greater resiliency and resourcefulness in the face of tragedy than their (typically) more affluent suburban or urban neighbors, regardless of location, the needs of children receiving educational accommodations are often not met effectively or are ignored altogether. To understand if those educational needs were met for rural families early in the COVID-19 pandemic, an exploratory descriptive qualitative approach …

Therapeutic Potential Of C1-Inhibitor In Vascular Diseases And Beyond, Linda Sundler Björkman, Harish Eswaran, Steven P Grover

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

C1INH (C1-inhibitor) is a multifunctional SERPIN (serine protease inhibitor) that functions as a major negative regulator of the complement, coagulation, and kallikrein-kinin systems. C1INH products were originally developed for the treatment of hereditary angioedema associated with C1INH deficiency. A growing body of literature indicates that C1INH products may find utility in the management of several other disease states. In this review, we detail the key biological activities of C1INH and consider the pathophysiological role of C1INH targets in many conditions. The therapeutic potential of exogenous C1INH is highlighted in the settings of thromboembolism, ischemia-reperfusion injury, sepsis, transplantation, and coronavirus disease …

Essays On Public Policy And Health Outcomes: Unintended Consequences And The Cost Of Influence, Wenhan Yan

Dissertations and Theses Collection (Open Access)

This dissertation investigates the complex behavioral responses to public policy shifts and institutional cues, quantifying their intended and unintended societal impacts. Across two distinct empirical contexts, this research examines how individuals adapt their risk profiles when signals from political or legal authorities change and how these adaptations generate measurable externalities.

The first chapter, "From Punishment to Treatment: Unintended Social Impacts of Changing Drug Policies," shifts the focus to the intersection of health policy and criminal justice. This chapter evaluates the sudden transition from punitive drug enforcement to health-oriented decriminalization, utilizing the 2021 State v. Blake decision in Washington as a …

Clinical Evaluation Of Nasal Swab Specimens In Vtm/Utm And Respdirect Estm Using The Panther Fusion Sars-Cov-2/Flu A/B/Rsv Assay., Salika M. Shakir, Robert K. Mccall, Rangaraj Selvarangan, Dithi Banerjee, Yitz Goldstein, Christine Lansang, Rachel Bogh, Carmelle V. Remillard, Respdirect Clinical Study Group

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

BACKGROUND: Respiratory viral infections by SARS-CoV-2, influenza A and B viruses, and RSV overlap in disease signs and symptomology, but differ in treatment modality. Nasal swab specimens have been shown to be an effective alternative specimen type for SARS-CoV-2 detection.

OBJECTIVES: This study evaluated the performance of the Panther Fusion® SARS-CoV-2/Flu A/B/RSV assay in anterior nasal swab specimens (self- or healthcare professional [HCP]-) collected in either viral/universal (VTM/UTM) transport media or the Hologic® RespDirect® collection kit (RespDirect swab in enhanced specimen transport media [eSTM]).

STUDY DESIGN: A multicenter study was conducted from October 2022 to March 2024. A total of …

Examination Of Traffic Safety In Neighborhoods Associated With Active Commuting To School In Austin, Texas, Kathryn G Burford, Deborah Salvo, Harold W Kohl, Leigh Ann Ganzar, Cici X Bauer, Eugen Resendiz, Yuzi Zhang, Deanna M Hoelscher

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Only 10% of US children participate in active commuting (walking and bicycling) to school (ACS). Parental concerns related to traffic are a primary barrier to ACS, yet no studies have assessed these concerns together with neighborhood traffic safety-related features. This study examined the associations between traffic safety-related features in neighborhoods and ACS among school-age children in Austin, Texas.

Methods: This cross-sectional analysis utilized pre-COVID-19 baseline data (2019-2020) of parent-child dyads enrolled in the Safe TRavel Environment Evaluation in Texas Schools study. ACS, traffic safety-related features in the neighborhood (sidewalk availability, safe road crossings, traffic safety, traffic speed, and safety …

Investigation Of Teratogenic Concerns In The Coronavirus Disease Of 2019 Era, Kate Richardson, Emily C Daykin, Kathleen Shields, S Shahrukh Hashmi, Lorrie Harris-Sagaribay, Molly Daniels, Myla Ashfaq

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: MotherToBaby (MTB) is a teratogen information service that provides information about exposures during pregnancy and breastfeeding to the public and healthcare providers. During the Coronavirus Disease of 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, MTB received an influx of queries regarding the teratogenicity of the virus and the vaccine. The purpose of this study was to assess the frequency and type of exposures asked about prior to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic through March 2022 and to evaluate the demographics of individuals who made inquiries.

Methods: Data from MTB contacts (2018-2022) were accessed through a data-sharing agreement. The data were cleaned and …

Impact Of Treatment Interruption On Outcomes In Head And Neck Cancer: Nrg/Rtog Secondary Analysis, Laila A Gharzai, Emily Morris, Matthew J Schipper, Kelley M Kidwell, Phuc Felix Nguyen-Tân, David I Rosenthal, Maura L Gillison, Richard C Jordan, Adam S Garden, Shlomo A Koyfman, Jimmy J Caudell, Dukagjin M Blakaj, Neal E Dunlap, Greg A Krempl, John M Longo, Christopher U Jones, Michael F Gensheimer, Thomas J Galloway, Lyudmila Demora, Quynh-Thu Le, Jennifer L Shah, Krithika Suresh, Michelle Mierzwa

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Importance: Historical evidence demonstrated that delays or interruptions in radiotherapy (RT) are associated with poorer oncologic outcomes in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Substantial concerns arose during the COVID-19 pandemic, when treatment schedules were frequently disrupted.

Objective: To determine the association of RT interruptions with locoregional failure (LRF) and overall survival (OS).

Design, setting, and participants: This retrospective review and secondary analysis of 3 randomized clinical trials (NRG/RTOG 0129, 0522, and 1016) included patients enrolled in the trials who were treated with RT. Patients with HNSCC were grouped as (1) p16-positive oropharynx (p16+ OPSCC) and (2) p16-negative oropharynx …

The Pandemic Effect: Secondary Impact On The Diagnosis Of Clinically Significant Congenital Heart Disease And Role Of Deprivation Index, Cassandra Campbell, Kristin Wyckoff, Ronak Naik, Nithya Swaminathan, Salima Ahmed Bhimani, Jason Johnson, Vijaya Joshi, Ranjit Philip

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

We sought to determine the impact of the COVID-19 on prenatal diagnosis (PND) of clinically significant congenital heart disease (CHD) and the role of socioeconomic status (SES), complexity of diagnosis, and proximity to advance testing. This single-center retrospective study evaluated 2 eras of infants (COVID (born July 1, 2020–July 31, 2023) and pre-COVID (born June 1, 2017–July 1, 2020) who had cardiac surgery in the first year of life. 512 infants, 292 in pre-COVID era and 220 in COVID era with no significant difference in the rate of prenatal care (PNC) or PND in the COVID era (88%/42%) versus pre-COVID …

Demographic And Other Correlates Of Non-Prescription Drug Use Among College Students During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Subi Gandhi, Sidketa Fofana, Md Rafiul Islam, Tamer Oraby

School of Mathematical & Statistical Sciences Faculty Publications

Background and objectives: Substance use among college students in the U.S. remains a pressing concern and may have intensified during the COVID-19 pandemic due to increased stress, uncertainty, and academic disruptions. This study investigates the relationship between non-prescription drug use and various demographic, mental health, and behavioral factors among college students during the pandemic's early stages.

Methods: Data were collected through online and in-person surveys in the summer semester of 2021. Behavioral health was assessed using validated instruments: the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) for depression and the Drug Abuse Screening Test-20 (DAST-20) for substance use. Demographic and behavioral variables were …

Pandemic Mask Mandates And Closures Were Linked To Increased Gun Violence, Douglas A. Wolf, Emily W. Wiemers, Iliya Gutin, Jennifer Karas Montez, Shannon M. Monnat

Population Health Research Brief Series

Gun violence worsened substantially during the COVID-19 pandemic. This brief summarizes findings from a study using weekly gun violence casualty data from 2016-2021 for 304 U.S. counties from the Gun Violence Archive and COVID-19 policy data from county-level measures of activity restrictions and masking requirements. The authors find that policies requiring masking and activity restrictions were associated with significant increases in gun violence. Indoor masking requirements were linked to a 28% increase in gun violence, while activity restrictions were associated with a 4.2% increase.

Statistical Analysis Of Log Transformation Effectiveness In Air Traffic Movement Forecasting During Covid-19 In South Africa, John Lehlaka Masekoameng

Journal of Aviation Technology and Engineering

This study evaluates the effectiveness of log transformation in enhancing multiple regression models used to forecast air traffic movements (ATMs) in South Africa during the COVID-19 pandemic. Using 60 monthly observations from October 2016 to September 2021, the analysis incorporates variables such as revenue, lockdown levels, COVID-19 metrics, exchange rates, gross domestic product, and population. Two models are compared: one using raw ATMs and another with log-transformed ATMs as the dependent variable.

While the untransformed model shows stronger explanatory power (R² = 0.904, adjusted R² = 0.891) compared to the log-transformed model (R² = 0.772, adjusted R² = 0.741), the …

Change Management In Higher Education: The Role Of Non-Academic Staff In The Change Process., Scott Robert Kuttenkuler

Student Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of non-academic staff regarding preparedness and response to significant institutional change within higher education during the COVID-19 pandemic. Guided by Kotter’s (1995, 2012B) Change Model, the study examined how non-academic personnel perceived leadership effectiveness, readiness for change, and resistance to change amid an unprecedented disruption that reshaped higher education operations worldwide. Fifteen non-academic staff members employed at two-year colleges in the South-Central United States participated in semi-structured interviews designed to elicit in-depth, descriptive accounts of their experiences. Participants represented four primary functional areas—front-facing support, information technology, facilities …

Panic Learning Off (And On) The Covid Campus, Tara Brabazon, Jamie Quinton, Narelle Hunter

Fast Capitalism

Online learning has been flooded with platitudes, promises and possibilities for twenty years. Oversold and undertheorized, online learning reached its "moment' through the Covid lockdown. Underprepared staff and underfunded universities implemented online learning in a crisis. This was a zombie apocalypse of a context in which to summon innovation. This article activates Paul Virilio's University of Disaster to explore the COVID campus and classroom, entering panic learning.

Author Biographies

Tara Brabazon, Dean of Graduate Research / Professor of Cultural Studies Flinders University

Tara Brabazon is the dean of graduate research and professor of cultural studies at Flinders University, Australia, fellow …

Obesity And Long Covid: Intersecting Epidemics?, Michael Gottlieb, Huihui Yu, Ji Chen, Erica S. Spatz, Nicole L. Gentile, Rachel E. Geyer, Michelle Santangelo, Caitlin Malicki, Kristyn Gatling, Kelli N. O'Laughlin, Kari A. Stephens, Joann G. Elmore, Lauren E. Wisk, Michelle L'Hommedieu, Robert M. Rodriguez, Juan Carlos C. Montoy, Ralph C. Wang, Kristin L. Rising, Efrat Kean, Jonathan W. Dyal, Mandy J. Hill, Arjun K. Venkatesh, Robert A. Weinstein, Inspire Group

Jefferson Center for Connected Care Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Obesity affects over 10% of the world population and has significant public health implications. With rising recognition of the long-term effects of Long COVID (LC) coupled with new agents to facilitate weight loss, it is critical to understand the influence of obesity on LC. This study assessed the association of obesity with rates of LC and degree of LC-related mental and physical health outcomes among participants up to three years after initial infection.

METHODS: This was a cross-sectional, multisite study of participants with SARS-CoV-2 infection from 12/11/2020–8/29/2022, with data collected through 4/2/2024. Surveys included validated tools for physical and …

Precarious Labor In Covid Times: The Case Of Musicians, David M. Arditi

Fast Capitalism

The coronavirus pandemic changed the way we think about work, the economy, and our everyday lives as governments shutdown all but the most essential public spaces. Workers who earn a living through precarious employment have faced unique barriers to securing wages. The impact of the pandemic shutdown was especially devastating on musicians' lives and many supporting workers in the entertainment industry. The structural insecurity of gig work became amplified as venues were forced to stop performances for a year or more. In this paper, I argue the current phase of capitalism that depends on precarious labor and unending consumption destroys …

The Academic Precariat Post-Covid-19, Aidan Cornelius-Bell, Piper A. Bell

Fast Capitalism

The nature of work has changed, in accelerated late-capitalism and as a result of the COVID-19 global health crisis. For academics, casualised and precarious, the sweeping institutional changes of contemporary neoliberal universities, the sharp rise in managerialism, and the political power plays of universities have created further untenable spaces for work and study. In this article we explore the relationship between doctoral studies, precarious academic employment, the pandemic, and the disproportionate effects of the changes in higher education on women. Through exploration of personal experience, as precarious academic workers, researchers, and doctoral students, we provide parallels to research literature across …

Front Matter, Fast Capitalism Editorial Team

Fast Capitalism

No abstract provided.

Full Issue, Fast Capitalism Editorial Team

Fast Capitalism

No abstract provided.

Fda's New Approval Plan For Covid-19 Vaccines: An Inquiry Of "Benefit" Rather Than The Statutory Scope Of "Safety, Purity, And Potency"?, Henry Yat-Shing Kwan

Journal of Law and Health

This article analyzes the FDA's proposed policy plan issued in May 2025 regarding the approval of Covid-19 boosters for different groups of persons. It offers two constructive recommendations that will help prevent constitutionality challenge on impermissible intrusion of the freedom of health.

The first is to avoid using the confusing term "benefit" but instead focus on the statutory parameters of "safety, purity, and potency." The affected group can make a strong case that their free choice of vaccination should not be deprived, as long as the vaccine qualifies for the statutory thresholds of being safe, pure, and potent. They are …

Prevalence Of Depression Among Doctors In General Hospitals Of Basrah City Center During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Riham Sabri Saleh, Amaleed Kadhum, Raya Habeeb Abdulimam

Iraqi National Journal of Medicine

Background: Depression is the most common mental disorder in community settings and a major cause of disability worldwide. In 1999, it was the fourth most common cause of disability globally, and by 2020, it is projected to become the second most common cause. Doctors, as the primary workforce in hospitals, endure significant emotional and physical stress, which may have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Aim: This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of depression among doctors during the COVID-19 pandemic and its risk factors. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted from February 1 to June 1, 2021. The …

A Hermeneutic Exploration Of Professional Place-Based Belonging Experienced By Faculty In Covid-19 Informed Undergraduate Formal Learning Places, Jennifer Ryley Welsh

Educational Studies Dissertations

The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the rhythms of higher education and redefined the ways faculty experienced connection, identity, and purpose within formal learning places. This study examined professional belonging by exploring the question: What was the lived experience of belonging for teaching faculty in a COVID-informed undergraduate formal learning place? The aim was to investigate how belonging was constructed, challenged, and reimagined during a period of collective disruption. Using a hermeneutic phenomenological methodology and framed as a scholarly imram – a journey of wandering and insight drawn from Irish mythology – the research engaged nine faculty participants through semi-structured interviews. Data …

Socioecological Stressors During Covid-19 Among Urban Refugee Youth In Kampala, Uganda: A Qualitative Descriptive Analysis, Sikky Shiqi Chen, Carmen H. Logie, Frannie Mackenzie, Moses Okumu, Robert Hakiza, Brenda Katisi, Daniel Kibuuka Musoke, Aidah Nakitende, Isha Berry, Bay Bahri, Peter Kyambadde

Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences

Limited studies have examined pandemic-related stressors among urban refugee youth in low and middle-income humanitarian countries (LMICs), such as Uganda. We explored the lived experience of COVID-19-related stressors among urban refugee youth in Kampala, Uganda. We analyzed qualitative data (text messages, WhatsApp chats, photos) collected in an interactive mobile health intervention with 346 refugee youth aged 16–24 in Kampala. Findings revealed stressors across socioecological levels: individual (e.g., financial-related distress), social (e.g., limited social interactions), community (e.g., food insecurity), and policy (e.g., unprecedented lockdowns). Findings can inform social work organization pandemic preparedness strategies for economic empowerment and social cohesion with youth.