e-Justice: Relating Practical Guidelines in Videoconferencing with the Concerns of Academic Literature

Videoconferencing was widely used in court proceedings during the covid 19 pandemic, and, probably, its use will not return to the point before the pandemic. The academic literature indicates many different concerns with videoconferencing in court proceedings that may ultimately impact the legitimacy of the judicial process. This study aims to appreciate if academic research has been incorporated into the practical recommendations which guide daily work in courts. First, we conducted a literature review to identify and organise the concerns about using videoconferencing in court proceedings. Then we selected two guidelines and evaluated whether their recommendations addressed solutions to concerns raised in the academic literature. We conclude that most of the concerns are present in the guidelines. Although, the concern regarding the difficulty of replicating the environment of the physical courtroom in videoconferencing, which is the most cited concern, is not addressed in the practical guidance. © 2022 Associacao Portuguesa de Sistemas de Informacao. All rights reserved.

Portuguese Sports Fans Reaction to Professional Athlete's Activism on Social Media: A Systematic Literature Review

Although athlete activism has gained tremendous popularity in all levels of competition over the years. With the Covid 19 pandemic, we started to witness numerous acts of activism such as protests and rallies that counted with the presence and support of some of sport's biggest names. Moreover, this topic, in specific the fan reaction to athlete activism remains vastly understudied. To better understand the manners in which Portuguese sports fans react to athlete activism on social media there is a need to deepen our understanding on this topic. Much of the academic research and studies performed on the area of athlete activism and fan reaction to said activism has been mostly conducted in the USA. To better comprehend the state of activism by professional athletes today as well as to have a better historic comprehension around athlete activism, a systematic literature review process was used to collect relevant literature. Consequently, this provides a solid theoretical framework that can back up an empirical investigation with a quantitative approach about Portuguese sports fans reaction to professional athlete's activism on social media. This process served the fundamental purpose of identifying relevant and valid literature in a systematic and organized manner while observing that the majority of the studies around this thematic used a qualitative approach. © 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.

Differential peripheral blood mononuclear cell reactivity against SARS-CoV-2 proteins in naive and previously infected subjects following COVID-19 vaccination

The decline in vaccine efficacy and the risk of reinfection by SARS-CoV-2 make new studies important to better characterize the immune response against the virus and its components. Here, we investigated the pattern of activation of T-cells and the expression of inflammatory factors by PBMCs obtained from naive and previously infected subjects following COVID-19 vaccination, after PBMCs stimulation with S1, RBD, and N-RBD SARS-CoV-2 proteins. PBMCs showed low levels of ACE2 and TMPRSS2 transcripts, which were not modulated by the exposure of these cells to SARS-CoV-2 proteins. Compared to S1 and RBD, N-RBD stimulation showed a greater ability to stimulate T-cell reactivity, according to CD25 and CD69 markers. Interestingly, T-cell reactivity was more pronounced in vaccinated subjects with prior SARS-CoV-2 infection than in vaccinated donors who never had been diagnosed with COVID-19. Finally, N-RBD stimulation promoted greater expression of IL-6 and IFN-gamma in PBMCs, which reinforces the greater immunogenic potential of this protein in the vaccinated subjects. These data suggest that PBMCs from previously infected and vaccinated subjects are more reactive than those derived from just vaccinated donors. Moreover, the N-RBD together viral proteins showed a greater stimulatory capacity than S1 and RBD viral proteins.Copyright © 2022

Influential Factors for Hospital Management Maturity Models in a post-Covid-19 scenario - Systematic Literature Review

The importance of Maturity Models in healthcare is proven to support, monitor and direct healthcare organizations to better plan and execute their investments, developments and processes. In this work, two literature reviews were collected: one of them focuses on the identification of the main maturity models developed in the health area, the similarities and gaps between them, identifying what are the Influencing Factors for each model studied, and the other is the identification lessons learned for hospital management during the Covid-19 pandemic. Combining these two lines of investigation, it can be concluded that, in order to better prepare, adapt and make health systems more resilient, it is fundamental that future Maturity Models begin to map agility in diagnosing diseases, scale of exams, process of hospital disinfection and technological infrastructure, focusing on ICTs such as ML, LMS, DL, Robot Assistance, Actuators, Big Data, Blockchain, Smart Wearables, Delivery Drones, Artificial Intelligence, Internet of Things, Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality, Sensors and Cloud Technology. These IFs are identified as gaps for existing MMs in the sector. Allied to this, it is indicated that the future MMs consider expanding their focus in supply chain, services and applications, monitoring and, mainly, patient safety and care, given the importance that these IFs demonstrated in coping with the pandemic. Copyright © 2023 by Author/s and Licensed by IADiTI.

Abem: Emergency COVID19-when everybody must stay at home, Abem programme goes closer

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was classified by WHO as a global pandemic, and has gone on to affect millions of people worldwide with severe social and economic consequences. Purpose(s): Due to the global crisis the international community has been facing, many people leave their homes to have access to the medicines they needed. Moreover, many Portuguese households lost their source of income, being in a very difficult situation. Abem: Emergency COVID-19 aims to help the economic deprived citizens to have access to the medicines, health products and healthcare services they need. Method(s): Citizens in an unexpected situation of economic shortage due to the COVID-19 pandemic could be referred by local entities (Municipalities and Institutions of Social Solidarity) to be given access to their medications from local pharmacies. The beneficiaries belonging to risk groups received the medicines at their homes, through an articulation between our partners: pharmacies and local referral entities. Its transportation, articulated by pharmacies, was paid for by this initiative. The medicines and healthcare services were paid for by a Solidary Fund, to which many companies and citizens have contributed. Result(s): The Abem: Emergency COVID-19 are putting efforts in place to present effective results by the time we present the poster at the FIP Virtual 2020. Conclusion(s): This support shows the importance of pharmacies in their communities, as well as their synergic involvement with other partners, such as referral entities (Municipalities and Institutions of Social Solidarity), ANF, AFP, APIFARMA, ADIFA, Plataforma Saude em Dialogo and other local entities helping citizens in need.

Evolution of the Perceptions about Tourist Destinations Affected by Risk Events Using a PANAS-tDL Deep Learning Model

The tourism industry has dynamized the economy of the countries by offering places, as well as related tourism experiences, products, and services. In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, some of these tourist destinations were affected by subjective perceptions of users on social networks, within stands out Twitter. To achieve an objective perception from user comments posted on Twitter in front of a tourist destination, we propose a PANAS-tDL (Positive and Negative Affect Schedule - Deep Learning) model which integrates into a single structure a neural model inspired by a Stacked neural deep learning model (SDL), as well as the PANAS-t methodology. For this process, a database of comments was available for four destinations (Colombia, Italy, Spain, USA), and its tourist's products and services, before and in the context of COVID-19 pandemic throughout the year 2020. The proposed model made it possible to generate objective perceptions of the tourist destinations and their products and services using an automatic classification of comments in each category defined by the PANAS-t methodology (11-sentiments). The results show how users' perceptions were towards the negative sentiment zone defined by this methodology, according to the evolution of the COVID-19 pandemic worldwide throughout the year 2020. The proposed model also integrated an automatic process of normalisation, lemmatisation and tokenisation (Natural language process - NLP) for the objective characterization of perceptions, and due to its capacity for adaption and learning, it can be extended for the evaluation of new tourist destinations, products or services using comments from different social networks. Copyright © 2021 by Author/s and Licensed by Veritas Publications Ltd., UK.

Influence of Gender, Education, Age Group and Time in the Company on the Adoption of New Technologies and their Impact on Continuous Improvement

Continuous Improvement (CI) is a principle being adopted in many organizations around the world. It is present in relevant excellence models such as the Toyota Way, Shingo Model, and Lean Thinking. CI was implemented some years ago in a Public Company (Lipor) based in Porto, dedicated to municipal waste treatment, but the Covid-19 pandemic created some important challenges. The forced adoption of new technologies associated with I4.0 required important changes in the existing CI routines. This paper aims to assess the influence of gender, education, age group, and time in the company on adopting new technologies used in their IC routines. This study, based on employees' perceptions through questionnaires, shows that the CI system had, in general, a positive impact on their work and overall performance. Regarding the effect of forced teleworking caused by COVID-19 on office workers, this study shows that age, gender, education, and years in the company have an impact on the effective adoption of new technologies associated with digital transformation and Industry 4.0. The study also shows that those technologies effectively allow routines and culture of CI to be maintained when workers are forced to work remotely.

Diagnostico Da Evolucao De Sindrome Mielodisplasica Para Leucemia Mieloide Aguda Atraves De Biopsia Intraoral: Relato De Caso

Objetivo: O presente trabalho tem como objetivo relatar um caso de evolucao de sindrome mielodisplasica para leucemia mieloide aguda, diagnosticada atraves de biopsia de lesao intraoral de sarcoma mieloide. Material e Metodos: Trata-se de um estudo descritivo, retrospectivo, do tipo relato de caso. Os dados foram coletados atraves dos registros em prontuarios eletronico e fisico da instituicao. Resultados: O caso apresentado envolveu um paciente do sexo masculino, de 51 anos, melanoderma, matriculado na instituicao devido ao diagnostico de sindrome mielodisplasica, tratado com 19 ciclos de decitabina. Devido a um quadro de odontalgia e abscessos de repeticao o paciente foi encaminhado ao setor de Odontologia onde, durante o exame clinico, foi constatada presenca de lesao eritematosa, amolecida, friavel, de superficie lisa, base sessil, de aproximadamente 3 x 1cm na regiao distopalatina do dente 26. No exame radiografico, foi observada imagem radiopaca associada a raiz mesial do dente 26, com margens definidas. Foi realizada biopsia excisional da lesao em regiao de palato com carater de urgencia e as hipoteses diagnosticas iniciais foram de granuloma piogenico e cisto radicular. O laudo histopatologico foi compativel com quadro de sarcoma mieloide comprometendo mucosa, com imuno-histoquimica positiva para CD34 e CD117 e negativa para CD163 e TdT. Diante do diagnostico previo de sindrome mielodisplasica, associado ao diagnostico de sarcoma mieloide oral, a equipe medica constatou a transformacao da doenca inicial em leucemia mieloide aguda. Foi definido novo protocolo terapeutico e realizado um ciclo de citorreducao com Citarabina (ara-C) subcutaneo e resgate com hidroxiureia + ara-c (HYDAC) + idarrubicina. Durante este ciclo, o paciente foi diagnosticado com Covid-19, evoluindo para obito, nao concluindo portanto, o protocolo terapeutico proposto. Discussao: O diagnostico de sarcoma mieloide oral permitiu que a equipe multiprofissional detectasse a transformacao da doenca primaria em leucemia mieloide aguda, resultando na reformulacao do tratamento e conduta do caso. O prognostico da leucemia mieloide aguda secundaria a sindrome mielodisplasica e pior quando comparado as primarias, bem como, apresenta baixas taxas de remissao apos quimioterapia intensiva e a sobrevida global mediana de 9-12 meses. O diagnostico dessas lesoes por parte do cirurgiao-dentista e considerado um desafio, visto que sao raras em cavidade oral e as apresentacoes clinicas costumam ser variadas e inespecificas. Conclusao: O presente relato de caso evidencia a importancia de uma avaliacao clinica minuciosa e do diagnostico preciso e completo de lesoes orais, que podem implicar diretamente na definicao da doenca de base, tratamento e prognostico do paciente. Alem disso, ratifica a importancia do cirurgiao-dentista na pratica clinica e na atuacao profissional de forma interdisciplinar e integrada com a equipe de saude. Copyright © 2022

RAZÕES HEMATOLÓGICAS NA COVID-19: DIFERENÇAS ENTRE PACIENTES COM E SEM NECESSIDADE DE VENTILAÇÃO MECÂNICA INVASIVA

Objetivos Investigar as diferenças na Razão Neutrófilo-Linfócito (NLR), Razão Neutrófilo-Linfócito derivada (d-NLR), Razão Linfócito-Monócito (LMR), Razão Plaquetas-Linfócitos (PLR), Razão Neutrófilos-Plaquetas (NPR) e Índice de Inflamação Sistêmica (SII) entre pacientes COVID-19 com e sem necessidade de ventilação mecânica invasiva e um grupo controle saudável. Material e Métodos Foram incluídos pacientes com diagnóstico de COVID-19 admitidos no Hospital Universitário de Santa Maria (HUSM) no período de 1°de março de 2020 a 31 de março de 2021. Foram excluídos pacientes com falta de informações nos prontuários, com câncer, internados por acidentes graves, com lúpus, apendicite, transferidos para outros hospitais, gestantes e menores de 18 anos, resultando em 212 pacientes. Foi incluído um grupo controle com 198 indivíduos saudáveis. Os dados do primeiro hemograma após internação foram obtidos do prontuário eletrônico do hospital. A partir desses dados, calculou-se: Razão Neutrófilo-Linfócito (NLR), razão neutrófilo-linfócito derivada (d-NLR, divisão do total de neutrófilos por leucócitos menos neutrófilos totais), Razão Linfócito-Monócito (LMR), Razão Plaquetas-Linfócitos (PLR), razão neutrófilos-plaquetas (NPR) e índice de inflamação sistêmica (SII, multiplicação de plaquetas por neutrófilos totais seguida de divisão por linfócitos totais). Os pacientes foram estratificados em com necessidade de Ventilação Mecânica Invasiva (VMI) (n=129) e sem Necessidade de Ventilação Mecânica Invasiva (NVMI) (n=83). O estudo foi aprovado pelo Comitê de Ética em Pesquisa da UFSM (CAAE 30917320.5.0000.5346). Resultados As razões calculadas apresentaram as seguintes medianas e intervalos interquartis para grupo controle, NIMV e IMV respectivamente: NLR 1,75 (1,42‒2,24), 6,58 (3,29‒12,7), 14,5 (8,10‒23,2);d-NLR 1,28 (1,07‒1,64), 4,00 (2,23‒7,33), 8,09 (4,81‒12,89);LMR 3,89 (3,22‒5,02), 2,00 (1,25‒3,07), 1,53 (1,00‒2,73);PLR 101 (84‒119), 227 (159‒400), 310 (207‒441);NPR 0,02 (0,01‒0,02), 0,02 (0,02‒0,04), 0,04 (0,03‒0,06);SII 387 (302‒522), 1748 (739,6‒2705), 3115 (1429‒5769). Todas as razões calculadas apresentaram resultados significativamente diferentes (p<0,001) entre o grupo controle e o grupo de pacientes com COVID-19. NLR, d-NLR, NPR e SII apresentaram diferença significativa entre grupo controle, VMI e NVMI. Discussão O hemograma é um exame realizado rotineiramente na maioria dos laboratórios, portanto as razões hematológicas representam parâmetros alternativos que não agregam custo e não requerem análises adicionais. Estas razões já demonstraram diferença em pacientes com outras doenças e no caso da COVID-19 para outros parâmetros, como mortalidade, por exemplo. Nosso trabalho demonstrou que existe diferença significativa entre pacientes com e sem necessidade de intubação, o que ainda não havia sido descrito anteriormente. Conclusão Embora mais estudos sejam necessários, os índices hematológicos abordados neste trabalho são potenciais auxiliares na tomada de decisão clínica quanto à necessidade de ventilação mecânica invasiva.

Nanotechnology meets immunology towards a rapid diagnosis solution: the COVID-19 outbreak challenge† † Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available. See DOI: https://doi.org/10.1039/d2ra05096j

The current COVID-19 pandemic presents one of the greatest challenges in human history. There is a consensus that the rapid and accurate diagnosis of COVID-19 directly affects procedures to avoid dissemination, promote treatments, and favor the prognosis of infected patients. This interdisciplinary study aims at designing new synthetic peptides inspired by the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein (SARS-CoV-2S) to produce rapid detection tests relying on nanomaterial-based colorimetric properties. Hence, in silico analyses of SARS-CoV-2S were performed using advanced bioinformatic simulation tools and algorithms. Five novel peptide sequences were proposed, and three were selected (P2, J4, and J5) based on their prospective reactivity against positive serum from naturally COVID-19-infected humans. Next, hyperimmune sera against the selected peptides were produced in rabbits. Concurrently, gold nanoparticles (AuNP) were synthesized using a green aqueous method under mild conditions through in situ reduction by trisodium citrate salt. They were extensively characterized by their morphological, physicochemical, and optical properties. The AuNPs demonstrated colloidal chemical stability in aqueous media, with an average size of approximately 29 nm (metallic core), and zeta potential before and after bioconjugation of −43 mV and −31 mV, respectively. Moreover, they presented an intense reddish-bluish color due to the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) effect, with maxima at λ = 525 nm and 536 nm, before and after bioconjugation, respectively, evidencing their applicability as colorimetric biomarkers for antigen–antibody immunoassay detection. To develop a rapid COVID-19 diagnosis test using lateral flow assay (LFA), semi-purified anti-SARS-CoV-2S sera against the three selected peptides were bioconjugated to the AuNPs as the highly optically sensitive agents using a considerably low antibody concentration (0.2 mg mL−1). All tested peptide sequences (P2, J4, and J5) induced antibodies capable of identifying the presence of SARS-CoV-2 virus inactivate suspensions (1 : 10, 1 : 100, or 1 : 1000 dilutions). For LFA positive test control, an anti-rabbit antibody was used. In summary, this research comprises several contributions and advances to the broad and multidisciplinary field of nanomaterials-based immunodiagnosis tools, encompassing: (a) the novelty of designing and synthesizing new immunogenic peptides inspired by SARS-CoV-2 virus epitopes using in silico bioinformatics;(b) the peptides induced the immune response in rabbit animal model producing hyperimmune serum;(c) the semi-purified hyperimmune serum rendered effective antibodies to detect SARS-CoV-2 virus in cell suspension;(d) colloidal gold nanoparticles were produced and bioconjugated to the antibodies for qualitative colorimetric detection. As the overall result of this study, it was designed, developed, produced, and validated a new simple, rapid, and sensitive LFA diagnostic test for the SARS-CoV-2 virus using a nanotechnology-based qualitative colorimetric assay, which can be envisioned as promising nanoplatforms for detecting other diseases. The current COVID-19 pandemic presents one of the greatest challenges in human history.

Impact of Remote Work on IT Implantation Projects: A Reflection on the State of the Art and Research Opportunities

The COVID-19 pandemic brought new challenges and demands to individuals and organizations, implying profound changes in society as we knew it. The Information Technology (IT) sector was not immune to these changes. It was necessary to adapt quickly to new circumstances, for example, concerning the modalities for carrying out the work. Several research works seek to analyze the sudden adoption of remote work, focusing mainly on social and human factors. However, other factors should be considered, including methodological, organizational, and regulatory factors. This article presents a reflection on the challenges of remote work and the impact of its sudden adoption in the context of IT implantation projects, identifying research opportunities for the future. © 2021 Associacao Portuguesa de Sistemas de Informacao. All rights reserved.

Nursing care and the psychology effects on post-care nurses serving COVID-19 patients in Vera Cruz isolation room, Dili, Timor-Leste

Introduction: Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a syndrome of acute respiration that is serious like corona acid ribonucleic detected, made separation and identification in pneumonia sick patients in Wuhan, China in December 2019 (WHO, 2020). Timor-Leste on May 1, 2020, 24 cumulative cases was confirmed, 16 cases recovered, 12 cases are still being treated, and 12 patients experienced psychological pressure from patients and health professional. This study aimed to determine the knowledge of nurses;nursing service and the psychological influence of nurses after providing care for Covid-19 patients. Method: Qualitative research with a phenomenological approach has been used in this study, ten nurses who have worked serving Covid-19 patients participated in this study, and data was collected using interview guidelines, voice recorder, deep-interview, data analysis techniques by organizing data, grouping, categorical data, topic and answer formulation, data assessment and writing the results. Result: The majority of nurses understand and apply Covid-19 prevention, but some are confused the cause. Have not carried out nursing care according to the standards of the International Counsel of Nursing (ICN) and the Timor-Leste Nursing Association, as (assessment, diagnosis, intervention, implementation, and nursing evaluation), reasoned: new job, no format, less manpower, no orientation from senior, emergency time. The majority experienced psychological effects after providing care to the Covid-19 patient. Conclusion: This study concluded that nurses understand Covid-19, the nursing care implementation is not yet based on ICN and ETNA standards and after returning home the nurses experienced psychological effects. © 2022, Sanglah General Hospital. All rights reserved.

IGARA: A Proposal for a Pedagogical Approach to Apply Educational Robotics through Collaborative Learning

This Research Full Paper presents a proposal for a pedagogical approach to be applied to educational robotics on a virtual distance learning platform, to foster teaching and learning, knowledge sharing and interaction between teachers and students. Recent studies indicate that 21st century students can master different skills and competencies to achieve success in their education, among which we highlight collaborative learning and educational robotics. One of the resources which successfully employ collaborative activities is groupware, which is a virtual collaborative system that supports groups of people with common tasks or objectives and enables the management of group activities. Many research works show that educational robotics has become an important facilitating and motivating tool for students entering Computer-focused courses. Literature has shown that both tools are important for the application of a STEM approach and have led to good results in an educational environment. To analyse the learning perceptions of educational robotics in a collaborative environment, we have developed a pedagogical approach that relies on collaborative learning through a groupware called IGARA, developed on Moodle platform. Activities made available by the virtual environment were developed based on constructivist, interactionist principles, with task contextualization to enhance students' perception. In order to assess the functionality of such an approach, an exploratory study was carried out with a set of 14 students, divided into 3 groups, spatially distant due to Covid-19 pandemic safety measures. Preliminary results were very promising and groupware was well accepted by participants.

Does Real-time Online Physical Exercise Improve Physical Fitness in Seniors?

The need to interrupt in-person physical exercise due to the COVID-19 pandemic required the design of alternatives. Thus, the aim was to evaluate the effectiveness of an 8-month online physical exercise on physical fitness and body composition in community-dwelling older adults. This is a non-randomized controlled trial comprising 62 older adults (74.59 ± 5.79 years, 59.7% women) distributed in an exercise group (EG) that executed an 8-month online physical exercise (three sessions/week, multicomponent regime), or control group (CG). Changes in groups over time were modeled using a linear mixed model. The EG did not improve physical fitness nor body composition. After adjustments for age, sex, and body fat, there was a minimal significant benefit for lower body strength favoring the EG [group*time interaction 1.55 (0.65);p = .020]. In conclusion, online physical exercise did not improve but maintained overall physical fitness. The in-person physical exercise for older adults must be re-opened as soon as this population is going to be protected from COVID-19. © 2022 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

Organizational Toughness in Clothing Industry during Covid-19 Pandemic

Today, the existence of natural (earthquakes, pandemics, etc.) and human (large strikes, revolutions, etc.) events that can lead to economic paralysis are more and more frequent. Thus, it is not surprising that researchers try to develop new concepts and theories to explain the phenomena' reality. It is the case of a new conceptual approach - organisational toughness - that can give us insights into an organisation's capacity to survive in turbulent environmental contexts, like this of the Covid-19 pandemic. This study aimed at analysing the survival capability of the Portuguese clothing sector, in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic, through a new tool to measure organisational toughness. A sample of 106 organisations was studied using a questionnaire, leading to the conclusion that the measurement tool is effective, reliable and valid for that purpose, contributing to helping entrepreneurs to be able to assess crucial management variables to face this type of crisis. Theoretical and practical implications were taken, highlighting the importance of other concepts like organisational plasticity and organisational strength as the main factors to face new market threats and opportunities, impacting companies' economic and social sustainability.

Analysis of the Use, Knowledge and Problems of E-learning in a Distance Learning Master’s Programme

The pandemic caused by COVID-19 has led many more universities to increase the number of online courses they offer. Methodological processes and infrastructure have had to be adapted so as to make the shift from a classroom-based model to distance learning. The context of our research is the Master’s Degree in Research in Teacher Training and Information and Communication Technologies (ICT). Two research objectives were established: To determine the changes that take place between the beginning and end of the Master’s degree in relation to the students’ engagement with ICT and to ascertain if students’ perception of the problems encountered in the virtual teaching/learning process has changed. Twenty-one master’s students took part. The research was based on the qualitative paradigm, with a content analysis research design. A table of categories was developed and validated, from which the script for the structured interviews was prepared. The main findings highlight the lack of training and involvement of teachers and their failure to adapt to the online methodology, together with a decrease in student motivation, as being particularly problematic in the teaching and learning process. © 2022, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.

CHALLENGES OF EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION IN TIMES OF PANDEMICS: THE TECHNOLOGY IN QUESTION

The pandemic generated by COVID-19 has highlighted challenges and many concerns in society and in people as a whole. In addition to questions inherent to chaos, early childhood education is an accentuated field of distressing moments in relation to children in Kindergarten, the starting point of this study. Thus, this article seeks to outline reflections on children's access to digital technologies in the context of educational institutions and/or outside of it. It aims to think about the use of digital technologies in this educational stage, in the context of a pandemic, as a support for learning and communication between families and children's institutions. With a qualitative approach, it is a documental research that includes legal texts and guiding manuals on Early Childhood Education, as well as the sociology of childhood as a theoretical contribution, and presents a conversation wheel between a teacher, a mother and a child, to emerge the data from research, thus pointing out that technological articulation is emerging considering the pandemic responsible for many changes today.

COVID-19 and obesity: Difficulties faced by patients in the preoperative period for bariatric surgery

Introduction: Obesity is a chronic disease that poses health risks and is associated with severe forms of COVID-19. During the COVID-19 pandemic, psychological difficulties may emerge more often in obese patients. Objective: to evaluate possible impacts when coping with the pandemic in patients in the preoperative period for bariatric surgery. Method: A cross-sectional descriptive study with a qualitative approach and data collected through semi-structured interviews. The sample was composed of patients in the preoperative period for bariatric surgery. Three main thematic axes were previously established, and after transcribing the interviews, the answers were analyzed and classified into categories. Results: Seventeen patients in the preoperative period for bariatric surgery were interviewed, 10 females and 7 males. The mean age of participants was 36.7 ± 13.6 years, and the mean body mass index was 43.9 ± 8.4 kg/m2. The patients had difficulties in following the nutritional protocol and performing physical activities, which are important in preparing for bariatric surgery. The moment experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic caused sequels, particularly emotional ones, in the interviewees. Conclusion: It is important to maintain frequent monitoring by multidisciplinary teams for these patients during the pandemic, even if remotely, to improve the management of their physical and mental health in the preoperative period of bariatric surgery.