ABSTRACT
Background Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) accounts for ~15% of breast cancer diagnoses but is linked to worse outcomes and comprises a disproportionate number of breast cancer deaths. The TNBC pilot study is a prospective longitudinal study to provide a critical resource for understanding TNBC disease. However, the pandemic impacted the collection of samples. Objective To highlight the impacts of COVID-19 on this longitudinal cancer translational research study including the patient's perspective and to develop recommendations to avoid future disruptions. Methods 389 participants were enrolled in the prospective longitudinal cohort, which collected serial blood samples for up to 5 years. Due to the pandemic, research was curtailed for 6 months due to concerns about patient safety, halting the collection of blood samples. Missed samples and data gaps were documented. To complement this, we initiated a survey capturing the patient perspective on their experience of the study disruption due to COVID. Results 217 enrolled participants missed a blood draw or had a collection outside the study window. 158 patients missed 1 time-point collection, and 59 patients missed >= 2 collections. Of the 217 participants who missed a collection, 6 disease recurrence diagnoses and 3 deaths occurred during research curtailment. The collection of survey responses from participants is ongoing and will be presented at the AACR Annual Meeting. Conclusion Missed samples resulted in irreplaceable data gaps critical to monitoring patient outcomes, and reduced cohort sampling during the pandemic. Our current knowledge of the risks suggests that with proper informed consent, collections could have continued. To mitigate disruption in future clinical studies, clear plans should be part of study design to provide continuity. The participants' experience to be reported will also help researchers understand their issues and help develop policies. (Table Presented).
ABSTRACT
This research aims to identify the potentialities and limitations of emergency remote education in the Peruvian university context as a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic based on teachers' experience of the Hermilio Valdizan National University (UNHEVAL). The type of this research was descriptive and the sample consisted of 123 teachers of the academic period 2020-I. For the data collection, a questionnaire was used, whose validation was made through the judgment of experts (0.96) and the reliability of the results through the Z-test. According to the results, flexibility stands out between the potentialities in regards to topics' distribution, time, and the possibility to produce greater interest in the participants. It was observed that time flexibility is not considered as favorable unlike what was detected through literature. Infrastructure stands out, especially when is related to the connectivity and Internet access as well as the distractors produced by the easy access to devices and applications that are not related to the class session. The paper revealed weakness in the digital competencies of both teachers and students, and the scarce level of social interaction caused by social isolation. It is concluded that the potentialities and limits of emergency remote education in a Peruvian university are conditioned by different elements specific to each context or country and must be considered for the production of new educational proposals as a policy of prevention of the possibility of new events that require mandatory isolation.
ABSTRACT
We present CO2 emissions from Norway's tourist travel by the available transport modes, i.e., aviation, maritime (ferries and cruises) and land-based transport (road and railways). Our study includes detailed information on both domestic and international tourist travel within, from and to Norway. We have coupled statistics from several large surveys with detailed emission data to allow us to separate the purpose of the travel (holiday or business). Total transport CO2 emissions for tourists in 2018 were estimated to be 8 530 kt, equivalent to 19% of the reported Norwegian national CO2 emissions. Of these emissions, international tourists visiting Norway were responsible for 3 273 kt CO2, whereas travel by Norwegians accounted for 4 875 kt CO2, most of which occur outside Norway's reporting obligations. Aviation and maritime transport were found to be the largest emission sources, responsible for 71% and 21% of total CO2 emissions, respectively. The reduction due to the COVID-19 pandemic was approximately 60% in 2020, and was sustained throughout the year. Our study shows that officially reported emissions, as limited to the countries territory, are not suitable for accurate evaluation of transport CO2 emissions related to tourism. A consumer or tourist-based calculation gives a marked redistribution of emission responsibility. Our results indicate that emissions from Norwegian residents travelling abroad are 1 602 kt higher than those from tourists coming to Norway. This is driven by frequent trips to popular tourist destinations such as Spain, Thailand, Turkey and Greece. Globally consumer based calculations would shift the responsibility of emissions by tourists to the large wealthy nations, with the most international tourists. The understanding of emission distributed by population group or market support in addition the developing of marketing strategies to attract low emission tourist markets and create awareness among the nations with higher shares of international tourist. © 2021 The Authors