Methodological Strategy for the Development of Academic Motivation of First-year High School Students in the Face of the New Normal

Academic demotivation is a determining factor in the risk of dropping out of school, it prevents the student from maintaining a behavior oriented to student achievement, low self-esteem and the formation of an erroneous self-concept;which became evident in the face of the changes in the educational context as a result of Covid-19. In view of the academic demotivation shown by the students when returning to face-to-face classes, the objective of the research was to design a methodological strategy for the development of the students' academic motivation in the face of the new normality. The sample consisted of 126 students, and the research approach was mixed. The method used was the survey, the results of which show that 54.76% of the students feel unmotivated to continue their studies. Based on the results obtained, a methodological strategy was designed for the development of students' academic motivation.

System of Activities to Counteract the Emotional State of Third Year High School Students Due to COVID-19

A good emotional state generates a favorable performance, however, the pandemic has affected students and is reflected in their academic performance. The objective is to develop a system of activities to counteract the emotional state of students in the educational environment. The approach applied is mixed, the type of study is descriptive and the design is non-experimental. The scientific methods used allowed the researchers to get closer to the object of the study and by using the techniques and instruments, the information was collected in a more direct and precise manner. The study population consisted of 187 students and the sample was 127 from a simple random and probabilistic sampling with a confidence level of 95% and a p<0.05. The system of activities was subjected to validation by specialists and then the ANOCHI concordance index was determined between their answers. Due to the health emergency, the students have presented various difficulties such as family losses and economic problems, so the development of a system of activities helps them to balance their emotional state in order to have better academic results.

Neoliberalism, ideology and Covid-19: An analysis from the perspective of Slavoj Žižek

This article looks at the Covid-19 pandemic as a contingent factor in, and its revelatory effect on, various contemporary expressions of neoliberal ideology in Latin America. Based on philosophical and psychoanalytical concepts of a Lacanian nature fundamentally proposed by Slavoj Žižek, it examines the critical uses of the notion of ideology in its various manifestations: fear of the other, imposition of the logic of self-promotion, destruction of social ties, extractivism of nature, and fetishization of the discourses of unity in the face of the pandemic. The hypothesis is that the pandemic offers an opportunity to rethink contemporary subjectivity, through a confrontation with the Real that borders on symbolization and, ultimately, ideological capture, in order to question the assertion that there is no alternative. © 2023 Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona and Universitat de Girona. All rights reserved.

Treatment of COVID-19 pneumonia with low-dose radiotherapy plus standard of care versus standard of care alone in frail patients : The SEOR-GICOR IPACOVID comparative cohort trial.

PURPOSE: To assess the efficacy of lung low-dose radiotherapy (LD-RT) in the treatment of patients with COVID-19 pneumonia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ambispective study with two cohorts to compare treatment with standard of care (SoC) plus a single dose of 0.5 Gy to the whole thorax (experimental prospective cohort) with SoC alone (control retrospective cohort) for patients with COVID-19 pneumonia not candidates for admission to the intensive care unit (ICU) for mechanical ventilation. RESULTS: Fifty patients treated with LD-RT were compared with 50 matched controls. Mean age was 85 years in both groups. An increase in arterial oxygen partial pressure (PaO2)/fraction of inspired oxygen (PAFI) in the experimental LD-RT-treated group compared to the control group could not be found at 48 h after LD-RT, which was the primary endpoint of the study. However, PAFI values significantly improved after 1 month (473 vs. 302 mm Hg; p < 0.0001). Pulse oxymetric saturation/fraction of inspired oxygen (SAFI) values were also significantly higher in LD-RT-treated patients than in control patients at 1 week (405 vs. 334 mm Hg; p = 0.0157) and 1 month after LD-RT (462 vs. 326 mm Hg; p < 0.0001). All other timepoint measurements of the respiratory parameters were similar across groups. Patients in the experimental group were discharged from the hospital significantly earlier (23 vs. 31 days; p = 0.047). Fifteen and 26 patients died due to COVID-19 pneumonia in the experimental and control cohorts, respectively (30% vs. 48%; p = 0.1). LD-RT was associated with a decreased odds ratio (OR) for 1­month COVID-19 mortality (OR = 0.302 [0.106-0.859]; p = 0.025) when adjusted for potentially confounding factors. Overall survival was significantly prolonged in the LD-RT group compared to the control group (log-rank p = 0.027). No adverse events related to radiation treatment were observed. CONCLUSION: Treatment of frail patients with COVID-19 pneumonia with SoC plus single-dose LD-RT of 0.5 Gy improved respiratory parameters, reduced the period of hospitalization, decreased the rate of 1­month mortality, and prolonged actuarial overall survival compared to SoC alone.

Three moments of the coronavirus era: obeying, be outraged and uprise

Just as there is an instant of seeing, a time for understanding and a moment of concluding in Lacanian theory, there is also an instant of obeying, a time of indignation and a moment to rise up. Lacan introduces these logical times to think the place of the Other. In this paper other logical times will be introduced to think the place of the coronavirus in our reality. The coronavirus and its pandemic have caused a series of subjective responses to anguish such as obedience and indignation;the proposal in this paper is that there is another way, a way out of that anguish through the act of rising up with the others.

“I Help My Parents by Using Some of My FAFSA Money”: A Qualitative Exploration of Pandemic-related Stress among Community College Students

The coronavirus (COVID-19) global pandemic upended the academic trajectories and opportunities of many community college students in the United States. While four-year universities have seen an uptick in applications in the 2021–2022 academic year, community colleges have experienced a sharp decrease in enrollment, signifying significant challenges to students’ life circumstances. In May 2020, we sampled 116 community college students (M age 23.08;SD = 7.17) attending Hispanic Serving Institutions in California. The online survey gathered: (a) in-depth demographic information, including pandemic-related changes to students’ academic and financial standing, and (b) qualitative data on pandemic-related stress. Given the novelty of the COVID-19 pandemic in May 2020, the overarching goal of this study was to conduct a broad needs assessment of community college students’ experiences. Data highlighted significant socio-emotional challenges, financial hardship, and both current and projected academic delays. Community college students described severe challenges across financial, socio-emotional and academic areas. Data that capture first-hand qualitative descriptions of COVID-19 stress are necessary to inform the allocation of critical resources and policies to improve the well-being of community college students. © 2022 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

Enzyme-mediated synthesis of Molnupiravir: paving the way for the application of biocatalysis in pharmaceutical industry

Molnupiravir (Lagevrio (R)) is an orally-administered anti-COVID-19 agent. Due to the urgency to meet the worldwide demand and the growing environmental concern, there is a need for speed in the industrial implementation of novel and efficient bioprocesses for Molnupiravir synthesis. This concept paper aims to review the most relevant milestones that have guided important developments in the enzyme-mediated synthesis of Molnupiravir, including detailed comments on the advantages and drawbacks of the different synthetic routes. Finally, based on a personal perspective, new greener processes for Molnupiravir manufacturing are proposed and discussed.

Genetic predisposition to cardiovascular disease is associated with higher risk of stroke in persons with COVID-19

Background and Purpose: Stroke is a serious complication of COVID-19. However, the risk factors for this complication are poorly understood. We hypothesize that genetic predisposition to cardioand cerebrovascular disease (CVD) leads to an increased risk of stroke in patients with COVID-19 infection. Methods: We evaluated data from a nested cohort study conducted within the UK Biobank focused on persons with documented COVID-19. Incident strokes (ischemic and hemorrhagic) were identified by combining inpatient data (including critical care and discharge diagnostic codes) and primary care data, the latter entered by providers within 30 days of a positive COVID-19 test. Genetic predisposition to CVD was evaluated through a polygenic risk score that integrated genomic information on 2,176 independent genetic risk variants for stroke, coronary artery disease and cardiometabolic risk factors. This score was divided into low (0-20th percentile), intermediate (20th- 80th percentile), and high (80 -100 percentile) genetic risk. Results: A total of 11,882 study participants (mean age 65.8, SD [8.6], female sex 6,306 [53.1%]) with documented COVID-19 infection were included in this study, including 99 (0.8%) persons that ustained a stroke during the infection. Compared to persons with low genetic predisposition to CVD, those with intermediate and high genetic risk had 35% (OR 1.35, 95%CI 1.14-1.55) and 2.4- fold (OR 2.38, 95% CI 1.71-3.05) higher risk of stroke (test for trend p=0.004). Sub-scoring analyses evaluating one polygenic risk score per CVD trait of interest indicated that genetic predisposition to hypertension (p=0.017) and smoking (p=0.03) were the most important genetic risk factors. Conclusions: Genetic predisposition to CVD is associated with a higher risk of stroke in persons with acute COVID-19 infection. Genetic risk factors for hypertension and smoking appear to mediate a significant portion of this association. Genetic information should be considered in the multiple ongoing efforts to create risk-stratification strategies to identify COVID-19 patients at high risk of stroke.

Deglobalize Covid-19: The pandemic from an off-center perspective

This article proposes a retrospective look at the last year following the World Health Organization’s declaration of Covid-19 as a pandemic, and seeks to reflect the wide diversity of its impact. In reviewing research from around the world, a panorama emerges showing the vast complexity of the phenomenon. This article reviews many of the analyses and debates that have been proposed from the framework of political philosophy, which are drawn almost exclusively from the European context. It shows that the suggested diagnoses, models and concepts can not be universally applied across geographies, such as Latin America, Asia or Africa. It therefore proposes to “deglobalize” the Covid-19 pandemic and invites the reader to consider it through another lens. © 2021, Universidade de Brasilia. All rights reserved.

Risk assessment for COVID-19 infection in indigenous populations

In Wuhan, China, at the end of 2019 it was reported for the first time, declared by the World Health Organization (WHO) as an international health emergency in January 2020 and classified as a pandemic in March of the same year, the Covid-19, is undoubtedly the topic of greatest clinical and research interest globally, nationally and locally.. The pandemic has not stopped and the social, economic, as well as health ravages have continued even with research, scientific advances in medicine, as well as research devoted entirely to studying the novel coronavirus, have affected all levels and social strata. a community intervention was developed through an explanatory, experimental, longitudinal and prospective study with deliberate intervention, conducting 381 surveys in indigenous people of the communities of Ambato, to identify the determinants that favor the increase in the transmissibility of SARS-Cov-2 in the indigenous population,.analyze the impact of COVID-19 on mortality and morbidity according to the comorbidities of indigenous peoples, identify the psychological impact of periods of confinement. It was concluded that the indigenous communities showed the overcrowding of families with few resources that are forced to live together more than a generation and favors the contagion, this made them see themselves in quarantine for contacts with patients, comorbidities were also a cause of predisposition to infections and severe form of COVID-19 including death, they were also psychologically affected by confinement and little family interaction, poor access to technological elements, poor information and poor leadership of their leaders favored a low dissemination of preventive measures.

Autonomous communication prototype: support in humanitarian crises

One of the main needs of human beings is communication, however, due to the current situation (COVID-19 pandemic) this has been undermined in different areas, particularly in the educational area. In this article we propose an autonomous communication prototype. We highlight the possibility of taking advantage of two benefits: routing (by facilitating communication between devices), use of a Content Management System - CMS - (improving student/academic communication) using solar energy as a power source. The hardware and software used in the design and configuration of the prototype is described. Some tests are described, as well as the autonomy of the device and a cost estimate. Finally, some future work is described, this development being the start of a series of projects.

Rural education in times of COVID-19. Experiences of pedagogical continuity in the primary schools of Maipu, province of Buenos Aires, Argentina

This paper presents the results of an inquiry made to teachers of primary schools located in the rural area of Maipu, province of Buenos Aires, Argentina, about the teaching and communication proposals that they have implemented to attend to the pedagogical continuity in this current context of social, preventive and compulsory isolation (ASPO), implemented since mid-March 2020. In order to guarantee the educational trajectories of the students, the government of the Province of Buenos launched a program of pedagogical continuity, with the aim of that students from their homes and with the accompaniment of their teachers, continue with the educational process. Teachers in rural schools have a long history in developing a particular dynamic that has allowed them to face this scenario more quickly, thanks to the experience acquired in working with students and their families, where they are already part from school, with long periods of absence. However, in these spaces there are very heterogeneous situations because not all families have the time or the necessary skills to be able to accompany the pedagogical continuity. Sustaining distance education becomes difficult due to the lack of mobile devices and / or little or no Internet signal.

Could pulmonary low-dose radiation therapy be an alternative treatment for patients with COVID-19 pneumonia? Preliminary results of a multicenter SEOR-GICOR nonrandomized prospective trial (IPACOVID trial).

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of lung low-dose radiation therapy (LD-RT) for pneumonia in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Inclusion criteria comprised patients with COVID-19-related moderate-severe pneumonia warranting hospitalization with supplemental O2 and not candidates for admission to the intensive care unit because of comorbidities or general status. All patients received single lung dose of 0.5 Gy. Respiratory and systemic inflammatory parameters were evaluated before irradiation, at 24 h and 1 week after LD-RT. Primary endpoint was increased in the ratio of arterial oxygen partial pressure (PaO2) or the pulse oximetry saturation (SpO2) to fractional inspired oxygen (FiO2) ratio of at least 20% at 24 h with respect to the preirradiation value. RESULTS: Between June and November 2020, 36 patients with COVID-19 pneumonia and a mean age of 84 years were enrolled. Seventeen were women and 19 were men and all of them had comorbidities. All patients had bilateral pulmonary infiltrates on chest X­ray. All patients received dexamethasone treatment. Mean SpO2 pretreatment value was 94.28% and the SpO2/FiO2 ratio varied from 255 mm Hg to 283 mm Hg at 24 h and to 381 mm Hg at 1 week, respectively. In those who survived (23/36, 64%), a significant improvement was observed in the percentage of lung involvement in the CT scan at 1 week after LD-RT. No adverse effects related to radiation treatment have been reported. CONCLUSIONS: LD-RT appears to be a feasible and safe option in a population with COVID-19 bilateral interstitial pneumonia in the presence of significant comorbidities.

Household transmission of SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) in Lima, Peru

The study aimed to describe the characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 transmission among members of households with a confirmed primary case of COVID-19 in districts with low burden of cases in Lima, Peru, compared to a district with high burden. This was a retrospective study with a secondary database review. Information was collected from an epidemiological surveillance activity in close contacts (household members) in 52 households in Lima, with a single member with COVID-19. Reevaluation was conducted in 10 households. The study evaluated epidemiological and clinical variables and their association with the result of the rapid serological test (presence of IgG, IgM, or both). Secondary cases were found in 40 households, representing mean identification of 49.9% per household. Secondary attack rate in household members was 53% (125 cases), and symptomatic individuals accounted for 77.6% of cases (symptomatic/asymptomatic ratio: 3.5). Presence of fever and/or chills was found in 40% of persons with positive test results, followed by sore throat with 39.2%. Ageusia and anosmia were present in 22.4% and 20.8% of cases, respectively. When there was a primary case of COVID-19 in the household, the secondary attack rate was 53%;however, in an important proportion of households there were no positive cases other than the primary case. The epidemiological and clinical findings were consistent with reports from other international series.