Segmentation and factors associated with the resilience of touristic SMEs: Results from Colombia

Organizational resilience refers to the ability of organizations to sustain and recover from adversity. The Covid-19 pandemic was an unexpected event of enormous magnitude that affected the stability and continuity of many organizations around the world. The tourism sector was among the hardest hit by the Covid-19 pandemic. In this sense and facing the Covid-19 pandemic, the objective of this study was to explore factors associated with greater resilience by the SMEs in the tourism sector in a destination of Colombia. The information used came from conducting 60 surveys directed to various SMEs, including adventure tourism service providers, overnight stay places and restaurants. In order to identify segments of touristic SMEs according to their resilience, a cluster analysis was carried out. Two segments of SMEs were found, one with greater resilience and another with less resilience. The incorporation of technology, the development of new products and the access to new market segments as actions to cope with the crisis generated by the Covid-19 pandemic are key factors that characterize the most resilient segment of touristic SMEs. Also, the size of the company and the gender and academic level of the managers are associated with resilience of the SMEs that took part in the study. © The Author(s) 2023.

Traditional Face-to-Face Educational Modality vs. Remote Face-to-Face: Its Impact on Academic Performance in the Context of the Covid 19 Pandemic

The purpose of this research proposal was aimed at analyzing the existence of a significantly differential academic performance depending on the class modality: traditional face-to-face vs. remote face-to-face, in students of the psychology program, who were studying the subject of fundamentals of measurement and psychological evaluation in a higher education institution in the city of Barranquilla/Colombia. To achieve this objective, a study framed in the postpositivist paradigm was developed, based on quantitative, non-experimental, correlational, cross-sectional and field research. The sample consisted of 37 students, divided into two groups: Group 1 traditional face-to-face modality: 20 students and Group 2 remote face-to-face modality with an N of 17. For the analysis of the data, the t-test was applied, for independent samples, using the SPSS version 18 statistical package. The results allowed to establish the existence of a significantly higher academic performance that favors the group that studied the subject under the traditional face-to-face modality. Elements that could explain this superior performance under the traditional education format, have to do with low level of adaptability of those involved to this new way of developing the teaching-learning process, alteration and emotional management in the face of this new learning atmosphere, low experience and little preparation of students and the teacher to digital management and connection platforms for the development of classes from face-to-face remote, not having the right tools to be able to work effectively lowers the remote connection. © 2022, Springer Nature Switzerland AG.

Application of Crossed Impacts to Obtain Risk Indices for Stock Management

As a result of COVID 19, companies have presented problems of both excess and shortages in the management of their stocks, since there are often sudden changes in demand as a result of the behavior of the pandemic, these changes occur quickly and the Companies must react in a timely manner to have the least possible losses, in view of this scenario a situational analysis is proposed by exploring events in the business environment that may affect their demand, making an analysis of the probabilities of said events and how these interact and impact each other to obtain the probability of a future scenario consisting of an increase or decrease in demand, taking this probability as a risk index that serves as a basis for decision-making in stock management. The importance of this index lies in reducing the problems of excess or shortage of stocks. © 2022 IEEE.

Revisión sistemática y metaanálisis de inhibidores de interleucina-6 para reducir la mortalidad en pacientes hospitalizados con COVID

OBJECTIVE: One year after the declaration of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, only  dexamethasone has clearly shown a reduction in mortality for COVID-19  hospitalized patients. For interleukin-6 inhibitors, results are variable and  nclear. The objective was to review and analyze the effect of tocilizumab and  sarilumab on survival in this setting. METHOD: The PRISMA statements were fulfilled for the systematic review. A  systematic search in Medline, Embase and medRxiv was conducted to identify  randomized controlled trials with tocilizumab or sarilumab in hospitalized  patients with COVID-19. Mortality data from non-critical and critical patients  were extracted. A random-effects (DerSimonian-Laird) meta-analysis was  performed for both subgroups and the whole population using MAVIS software  v. 1.1.3. Similarity and homogeneity among trials were assessed. RESULTS: Twenty-five and 23 articles were identified in Medline and Embase,  respectively, five were trials with tocilizumab and/or sarilumab; two more were  identified at medRxiv. Seven randomized clinical trials fulfilled the  inclusion criteria. Another trial was pre-published and included post-hoc. The  meta-analysis, with eight randomized clinical trials and 6,340 patients, showed  a benefit on mortality for interleukin-6  heterogeneity (I2 = 7%), but  a low similarity among studies. The results showed no differences among  critical and non-critical patients. A sensitivity analysis excluding non-similar or  heterogeneous studies showed different results, without benefit and with low  precision of the result in non-critical patients. CONCLUSIONS: A benefit in mortality for interleukine-6 inhibitors was found, but  with important differences among the scenarios analyzed in the clinical  trials. Positive results are mainly caused by two randomized clinical trials which  are similar in concomitant use of steroids and veryhigh mortality in  critical patents. Sarilumab was poorly represented in the meta-analysis.  Nevertheless, an association between the benefit and the critical/non-critical  condition was not found. More randomized clinical trials, mainly focused in  atients at high mortality risk, are needed to confirm the benefit of interleukine- 6 inhibitors for COVID-19. Sarilumab was underrepresented in the meta- analysis. Copyright AULA MEDICA EDICIONES 2014. Published by AULA MEDICA. All rights reserved. OBJETIVO: Un año después de la declaración de la pandemia por SARS‑CoV-2,  solo dexametasona había mostrado claramente una reducción de la mortalidad  en pacientes hospitalizados por COVID-19. Los resultados de los inhibidores de  interleucina 6 son diversos y poco claros. El objetivo de este trabajo es  revisar y analizar el efecto de tocilizumab y sarilumab sobre la supervivencia  de los pacientes en este escenario.Método: La revisión sistemática siguió las recomendaciones de PRISMA. Se  realizó una búsqueda sistemática en Medline, Embase y medRxiv para identificar ensayos controlados aleatorizados con tocilizumab o sarilumab  en pacientes hospitalizados con COVID-19. Se recopilaron los datos de mortalidad de pacientes críticos y no críticos y se llevó a cabo un metaanálisis de efectos aleatorios (Der Simonian-Laird) para ambos  subgrupos y para toda la población, usando el software MAVIS v. 1.1.3. La similitud y homogeneidad entre los ensayos fue evaluada. RESULTADOS: Se identificaron 25 y 23 artículos en Medline y Embase, respectivamente;cinco eran ensayos con tocilizumab y/o sarilumab;  se identificaron dos más en medRxiv. En total, siete ensayos clínicos  aleatorizados cumplieron los criterios de inclusión. Posteriormente, se  prepublicó otro ensayo que cumplía los criterios de inclusión y se incorporó al  análisis. El metaanálisis, con ocho ensayos clínicos aleatorizados y 6.340  pacientes, mostró un beneficio sobre la mortalidad para los inhibidores de  interleucina-6 (hazard ratio 0,85;intervalo de confianza al 95% 0,74-0,99),  con baja h terogeneidad (I2 = 7%), pero reducida similitud entre los estudios.  Los resultados no mostraron diferencias entre pacientes críticos y no  críticos. Un análisis de sensibilidad excluyendo estudios heterogéneos o no  similares mostró resultados diferentes, sin beneficio y con baja precisión del  resultado en pacientes no críticos. CONCLUSIONES: Se encontró un beneficio en la mortalidad de los inhibidores de  la interleucina 6, pero con importantes diferencias entre los escenarios analizados en los ensayos clínicos. Los resultados positivos se  eben principalmente a dos ensayos que son similares en el uso concomitante  de esteroides y una mortalidad muy alta en pacientes críticos. Sarilumab estuvo escasamente representado en el metaanálisis. Sin embargo, el metaanálisis por subescenarios no encontró una relación entre  el beneficio y la condición de pacientes críticos/no críticos. Se necesitan más ensayos clínicos aleatorizados, principalmente enfocados en  pacientes con alto riesgo de mortalidad, para confirmar el beneficio de los  inhibidores de interleucina-6 en COVID-19.

COVID-19 impacts on multilateralism and diplomacy: the potential of business diplomacy

This article begins by analysing the pandemic as an 'accelerator' of previous trends. The international context from which these trends emerged was one of a 'crisis in globalisation', in conjunction with an increase in protectionism and heightened tensions between Donald Trump's USA and Xi Jinping's China. After analysing how multilateralism has been questioned and eroded, the present article turns its attention to currently unfolding developments: from transregionalism á la carte to minilateralism, as encapsulated by the notion of 'multipolarity without multilateralism'. However, one strategic tool in particular has the potential to serve as a vital component of a formula to revive multilateralism in a context of crisis: business diplomacy. This sphere of knowledge, strategically applied, may serve as a roadmap to internationalise and promote multilateralism, while attributing due recognition to the role of business as an actor capable of shaping the ecosystem and, specifically, redesigning aspects of the great contemporary political consensus, from the rules of business internationalisation to the 2030 Agenda. © 2022 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd.

Feminist Security Studies and Care Ethics: Security in Latin America in the Wake of the Pandemic

Security in Latin America has traditionally been addressed from a state-centric and notable realistic perspective, underlining the threats to the state, from an external actor or from internal destabilization. This paper aims to highlight the suitability of incorporating Feminist Security Studies and Care Ethics in security analysis in order to redefine threats and what "feeling safe" implies, especially in the scenario generated by the COVID-19 pandemic. To this end, the gaps and silences in mainstream theories in the diagnoses on the worsening of the security challenges in the first semester of the pandemic are evidenced. Also, the nuances and perceptions of security included in the Care Ethics approach are highlighted. It is concluded that the conceptual broadening that the Care Ethics approach entails is relevant to analyze -academically and politically- the security threats in Latin America.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on clinical lung cancer management

Background and importance The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic could have changed the clinical management of cancer patients because of travel restrictions, overloading of hospital systems and disruption of treatment. Lung cancer patients constitute a vulnerable population due to the particular risk of their disease, chemotherapy or immunotherapy. Aim and objectives To analyse disease management and the clinical impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients receiving intravenous treatment during the social isolation period compared with the normal situation. Material and methods This retrospective observational cohort study included a 2:1 random sample of NSCLC patients in the 'COVID cohort' (patients in isolation February 2020 to June 2020) and the 'no COVID cohort' (patients treated between February 2019 and June 2019). Collected variables from digital clinical history were age, sex, stage, previous lines, type of treatment, number of medical visits and telephone consults, cycles received, worsening of performance status (PS), respiratory infection (COVID-19 and others), delays, therapeutic rest break, disease progression and deaths. Results COVID cohort (CC): 40 patients, 31 (78%) men;mean 67 years (59-84). Cancer stage: IV (69%), IIIB (28%), IIIA (2%) and IIIC (1%). 12 (30%) patients had not received lines previously. 38% of the population received immunotherapy. Median number of medical visits was 3 (14-1) and median number of telephone consults was 3 (1-8). Median number of cycles was 4 (1-16). PS 0 (58%) and PS 1 (42%). No patient had COVID-19. No COVID cohort' (NCC): 20 patients, 15 (75%) men, mean 67 years (54-85). Cancer stage: stage IV (75%), IIIB (25%). All patients had received lines previously and none had received immunotherapy. Median medical visits was 7 (3- 11) with no telephone consults. Median number of cycles was 3 (1-11). PS 0 (70%) and PS1-2 (30%). The rest of the variables are shown in table 1. Conclusion and relevance In spite of the limitations of the study, the new strategies of clinical management during the COVID-19 pandemic (telephone consults and therapeutic tire) did not appear to affect disease progression and NSCLC patient survival although worsening of performance status was observed.