The 2020 pandemic for coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 infection has required strict measures for virus spreading reduction, including stay-at-home orders. To explore gender differences in mental health status after the first wave of the pandemic and in teleworking, we analyzed the frequency and distribution of emotions and coping strategies for facing the pandemic stratified by gender using data from an online survey conducted at the University of Salerno, Italy, between 11 May and 10 June 2020. The online questionnaire included 31 items on demographics, teleworking, COVID-19 emergency, and gender-based violence, with multiple-choice answers for some questions. Females felt significantly sadder (p = 0.0019), lonelier (p = 0.0058), more fearful (p = 0.0003), and more insecure (p = 0.0129) than males, experienced more sleep disorders (p = 0.0030), and were more likely to sanitize surfaces compared to males (p < 0.0001). Our results show gender differences in awareness and concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic that differently influenced mood, as females were more frightened and worried than males.

This paper analyzes the effect of transaction costs on the social learning in an asset market with asymmetric information, sequential trading and competitive price mechanism. Both fixed and proportional transaction costs reduce the informational content of trading orders and lead to informational cascades. If transaction costs are very high, an informational cascade can occur not only when beliefs converge to a specific asset value, but also when in the market there is complete uncertainty about the asset's fundamental value. Finally, if the asset value in the bad state is sufficiently low, proportional transaction costs lead to an informational cascade only when prices are very high. * I am grateful to Jean-Paul Decamps for his early input into my work. I would like to thank Marco Pagano and Alberto Bennardo for useful discussions and advice, and seminar participants at the CSEF, University of Salerno, for helpful comments. The views expressed here are those of the author.

PURPOSE: To investigate the long-term efficacy and safety of continuous light-accelerated corneal cross-linking (CXL) in patients with progressive keratoconus. METHODS: This retrospective study analyzed 29 eyes of 29 consecutive patients with progressive keratoconus treated with epithelium-off riboflavin-ultraviolet induced accelerated CXL (30 mW/cm 2 –7.2 joules/cm 2 ). Uncorrected (UDVA) and corrected (CDVA) distance visual acuity, keratometry measurements at 3 and 6 mm (Kmax, Kmin, and Kmean), topographic astigmatism, central corneal thickness, anterior corneal aberrometric analysis (at 3 and 6 mm), endothelial cell density, and central foveal thickness were evaluated before and 24 and 60 months after surgery. RESULTS: UDVA significantly improved at 60 months postoperatively ( P = .028). Kmax and Kmean at 3 mm significantly decreased at 24 ( P = .009 and .006, respectively) and 60 ( P = .017 and .034, respectively) months postoperatively, whereas Kmin significantly decreased only at 24 months postoperatively ( P = .032). Kmax at 6 mm significantly decreased at 24 and 60 months postoperatively ( P = .035 and .027, respectively). Cylinder error significantly decreased at 24 and 60 months postoperatively ( P = .001 and .023, respectively). Wavefront aberration variables remained unchanged after surgery, except for spherical aberration at 6 mm that decreased at 24 and 60 months postoperatively ( P = .038 and .031, respectively) and trefoil at 0° that significantly decreased at 24 months postoperatively ( P < .005). Endothelial cell density and central foveal thickness showed no changes from baseline. CONCLUSIONS: Accelerated CXL was found to be effective in halting keratoconus progression and improving some of the visual, topographic, and wavefront aberration variables evaluated. High energy irradiance did not induce significant changes in corneal transparency, endothelial cell density, and central foveal thickness. [ J Refract Surg . 2020;36(11):724–730.]

The present paper provides theoretical insights regarding the determinants of firms’ incentives to invest in a Circular Economy. The analysis relies on a Cournot model disaggregating the disposal cost in the production function. In a non-simultaneous sequential game, two risk-neutral firms are endowed with a green innovation project that, if successful, would reduce the overall production costs and implement a Circular Economy. Firms are plagued by asymmetric information about the exact value of the other firm’s innovation. In this setting, the R&D investment in a Circular Economy, by affecting the distribution of production and disposal costs, influences the production decisions of both the innovating and the rival firms. The sign of the impact depends on the firms’ strategy in the product market. Furthermore, the analysis points out that cooperation in R&D of firms competing in the product market reinforces incentives to invest in green innovation. This suggests that governments aimed to advance a Circular Economy should encourage firms’ cooperation.