Change is inevitable. As such, all global economies are susceptible to being impacted by a catalyst capable of altering the economy as well as the behaviours of consumers within that economy. COVID-19 may prove to be such an economic catalyst. This research examines the effects of the ongoing COVID-19 healthcare pandemic and the United States (US) government’s pandemic interventions on US consumers’ behaviours.This study provides a critical analysis of published findings across healthcare and marketing to examine macro changes in US consumer decision-making behaviours. To get a baseline for the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on consumers’ perceptions, we collected survey data from consumers and compared their behaviours pre- and post-declaration of the pandemic. The findings suggest that the COVID-19 pandemic has altered consumers’ product needs, shopping behaviours, purchasing behaviours as well as their post-purchase satisfaction levels. For example, since the start of the pandemic, consumers are avoiding publically consumed products and have increased their virtual shopping and online purchasing behaviours. Findings also suggest that it may now be more difficult for marketers to gain customer loyalty because consumers’ satisfaction levels have decreased.Never before has a health pandemic caused the US to mandate business closings or to hinder marketing operations across so many economic sectors, simultaneously. As such, the novel coronavirus and the resultant US governmental pandemic mitigation actions are unique. This research offers original findings on shifts in consumers’ decision-making behaviours. Marketing implications concerning an emerging post-pandemic marketing landscape are provided.

A total of 865 members of the U.S. military underwent repair of Achilles tendon ruptures at U.S. military hospitals during calendar years 1994, 1995, and 1996. The discharge summaries of these patients were analyzed for patient demographic information, including age, race, and causative activity. Patients were then stratified by age, race, and cause of injury. Blacks were at increased risk for undergoing repair of the Achilles tendon compared with nonblacks (overall relative risk = 4.15, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 3.63, 4.74; summary odds ratio controlling for age = 3.69, CI = 3.25, 4.19). Participation in the game of basketball accounted for 64.9% of all injuries in black patients and 34.0% of all injuries in nonblack patients. Among those injured, blacks had a significantly increased risk for injury related to playing basketball than nonblacks (relative risk = 1.82, CI = 1.58, 2.10). This finding suggests that there may be other predisposing factor(s) that result in a higher risk of Achilles tendon ruptures in black individuals.

Occupational hazards of Army aviators place them at risk for sustaining thoracolumbar fractures. These data are relevant to future decisions for research and resource allocation for aviation safety and policy.

ABSTRACTdepth, but that near midday it was not uncommon to find the highest activity at 4 to 8 m.MATERIALS AND METHODS Sampling Methods. Water samples were collected at a single site ( Fig. 1) with a 3-liter polyvinyl chloride VanDorn bottle, or from the surface in 3-or 12-liter polypropylene pails. The depth at this site was 15 m. Algae were frequently concentrated prior to measurement of acetylene reduction by filtering the lake water samples through 68 mesh/linear cm silk plankton netting; the concentrated algae were resuspended in 5 to 15 ml of filtered lake water. During the bloom peaks, it was not necessary to concentrate the algal samples. One-ml samples of the algae were bottled, supplied acetylene, and then were incubated in methyl methacrylate (Plexiglas) racks at the depth from which the samples were taken. Samples were collected between 0400 and 2100 CST. Acetylene Reduction Assays. Acetylene reduction assays have been described (8, 9). Four replicate 1-ml algal samples and a filtered lake water control were placed in 6-ml glass serum bottles capped with skirted septum-type rubber stoppers. Frequently, an acid control was also included. (One ml of 5 N H2S04, containing 0.25 mg/ml CuSeO3, was added to one of the algal bottles). After injection of 1 ml of acetylene into each bottle with a hypodermic syringe, the bottles were shaken gently and then vented to atmospheric pressure with a hypodermic needle to leave an acetylene partial pressure of 0.16 atm. The reaction in the three remaining algal bottles and the control bottle containing filtered water was terminated after 30 min by injecting 1 ml of the H2SO0-CuSeO3 solution with a hypodermic syringe. A 0.5-ml sample of the gas phase was withdrawn, and its content of ethylene was determined by flame ionization gas chromatography (1.5 m X 2 mm aluminum column packed with Poropak R; column temperature 25 or 75 C, detector 120 C).Specific Activity and Efficiency of C2H2 Reduction. Specific activity is defined here as CI2-reduction per Am unit Chl (algae, concentrated from a known quantity of lake water, were extracted in 80% acetone [v/v]