ABSTRACT
We sought to examine the potential environmental protective factors contributing to academic resilience among college students during emergency distance education. Data were collected from a sample of undergraduate students (n = 195) representing various majors and academic classifications. Our study results revealed that students perceived their motivation and comprehension of course material during emergency distance education as significantly lower than those before emergency distance education. Moreover, over 26% of the participants reported a decreased GPA during this period. However, a positive physical learning environment and student-perceived teacher academic support benefited students' academic performance. Interestingly, the physical learning environment positively predicted teacher academic support, beta=.31, t(193) = 4.32, p < .001. The physical learning environment also explained a significant proportion of variance in teacher academic support scores, R-2 = .08, F(1, 193) = 16.25, p < .001, suggesting student perceptions of teacher support partially depends on their physical learning environment. Finally, students that had a higher classification were more likely to report an increased GPA;seniors were better at coping with the negative effects of emergency distance education than juniors and sophomores.
ABSTRACT
The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic forced many institutions of higher learning across the United States to pivot to online instruction immediately or close altogether. This transition highlighted many inequities in access to education as well as the sense of community on college campuses for the students. Earlier digital divide research focused mainly on physical access, identifying patterns of hardware access by different social identities such as race, gender, and socioeconomic status. Soon after, digital divide researchers began to recognize that the divide exists even when there is physical access to hardware, because the usage and the quality of usage varies (Katz & Aspden, 1996). During the COVID-19 pandemic, many students have lost access to the free, public technology resources at their college or university. These inequities in online learning and the potential impact on student success were highlighted by our team in our prior publication (Simpson, 2020). In addition to access to education, students also lose connection with their community available on college campuses. The purpose of our study was to understand the challenges of online learning and the relationship between the Digital Divide and Sense of Belonging in underrepresented students amid a global pandemic. Using qualitative research methods, we examined the questions "How does the Digital Divide currently impact Sense of Belonging and community in students?" and "What patterns will be revealed when we investigate Sense of Belonging across different social identities?" We conducted 20 semi-structured interviews with current and recently graduated undergraduate engineering students. We were intentional to compose a diverse group of interview participants including students from underrepresented groups, including ethnic and gender minorities as well as first-generation students. Of the 20 participants, five self-identified as men and 15 as women;nine self-identified as Black/African American, eight as White, and three as Asian. Four were first-generation students. Four participants were rising juniors, 10 were rising seniors (one 5th year senior), and five were recent alumni (December and May 2020). We conducted first and second-cycle coding data analyses to identify themes regarding the impact of COVID-19 and Digital Divide on Sense of Belonging. Preliminary results suggest the presence of themes highlighting both victories and defeats within the realms of Digital Divide and Sense of Belonging. Digital Divide was highlighted by limitations of students' Physical Home Learning Environment, Internet Connectivity. The negative factors affecting students' Sense of Belonging included Social Isolation;Impersonal Learning;Missing Professional Opportunities, and Individual Differences. The themes highlighting factors that increased students' Sense of Belonging were: Student Organizations Impact;Togetherness in Pandemic;Group Work Benefits;and Connecting Through Tech. The COVID-19 pandemic provides a unique perspective for researchers to study the commonalities and differences among the experience of engineering students from diverse backgrounds. These findings will help to inform higher education administration of the impact of Sense of Belonging on college campuses and how it contributes to students' success. © American Society for Engineering Education, 2022.
ABSTRACT
Background: Patients (pts) with cancer have increased mortality from COVID-19 and their vaccination is crucial to prevent severe infection. We aimed to identify demographic and laboratory determinants of humoral immune responses to COVID-19 vaccination in pts with cancer and investigate differences in responses based on the vaccine platform. Methods: We searched for records in PubMed, Embase, and CENTRAL up to 28/09/21, as well as conference proceedings from ASCO and ESMO 2021. We included studies of pts ≥16 yr with a cancer diagnosis, who were vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2. Studies were excluded if ≥10% of the participants had other causes of immunosuppression or baseline anti- SARS-CoV-2 spike protein antibodies (Ab)/previous COVID-19 (PROSPERO ID: CRD42021282338). For this subgroup analysis of studies that reported a proportion of pts with cancer and positive Ab titers at any timepoint following complete vaccination, a random-effects model was used to estimate the humoral response rate (HRR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results: We included 64 records, reporting data from 10,511 cancer pts. The HRR in the overall population and by subgroup are shown in Table. Elder patients with hematologic cancers (59%, CI 47-70%,N= 667) and patients with lymphopenia (50%, CI 25-75%, N = 111) or hypogammaglobulinemia (36%, CI 19-57%, N=226) were the subgroups with lower HRR. Male (77%, CI 69-84%, N = 2,659) and Asian (84%, CI 54-96%, N = 37) pts showed a trend to lower HRR when compared with females and other races, respectively. Pts vaccinated with mRNA vaccine platforms (79%, CI 74-83%, N = 9,404) had numerically higher HRR than those receiving the adenovirus vaccines (28%, CI 19-40%, N = 74). Conclusions: This study highlights demographic and laboratory determinants of weaker immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 vaccination, permitting better identification of more vulnerable pts. Despite the small number of pts included receiving adenovirus vaccines, these data also suggest prioritizing mRNA platform vaccination in pts with cancer.
ABSTRACT
Background: Patients (pts) with cancer are at increased risk of severe COVID-19. Both underlying malignancy and anti-cancer treatments influence the immune system, potentially impacting the level of vaccine protection achieved. Methods: A systematic literature search of PubMed, Embase, CENTRAL and conference proceedings (ASCO annual meetings and ESMO congress) up to 28/09/21, was conducted to identify studies reporting anti-SARS-CoV-2 spike protein immunoglobulin G seroconversion rates (SR) at any time point after complete COVID-19 immunization (mRNA- or adenoviral-based vaccines) in cancer pts. Complete immunization was defined as 1 dose of JNJ-78436735 vaccine or 2 doses of BNT162b2, mRNA-1273 or ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccines. Subgroup analyses were performed to examine the impact of cancer diagnosis, disease stage, and anticancer therapies on the SR. Overall effects were pooled using random-effects models and reported as pooled SR with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results: Of 1,548 identified records, 64 studies were included in this analysis reporting data from 10,511 subjects. The Table shows the SR in the overall population and specific subgroups. In pts with solid malignancies (SM), disease stage and primary site did not significantly impact the SR. In pts with hematologic malignancies (HM), SR were significantly lower in pts with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) compared to acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), Hodgkin lymphoma (HL), and multiple myeloma (MM). Concerning the impact of cancer therapies on SR, pts with SM undergoing chemotherapy had numerically lower SR (N = 1,234, SR 87%, CI 81-92) compared to those treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (N = 574, SR 94%, CI 88-97) or endocrine therapy (N = 326, SR 94%, CI 86-97) with or without another targeted therapy. Pts with HM treated with anti-CD20 therapy (within the last 12 months: N = 360, SR 7%, CI 2-20;or more than 12m: N = 175, SR 59%, CI 35-80), immune-modulating agents (BTK or BCL2 inhibitors) (N = 462, SR 47%, CI 32-64%) or other immunotherapies (anti-CD19/CART or anti-CD38) (N = 293, SR 37%, CI 23-53) had lower SR compared to pts treated with autologous (N = 353, SR 77%, CI 67- 85) or allogenic stem cell transplantation (N = 509, SR 77%, CI 68-84). Conclusions: SR varies between cancer types and anticancer therapies with some cancer pts having low protection against COVID- 19 even after complete vaccination.
ABSTRACT
Introduction: Extended criteria donors (ECD) in liver transplantation (LT) is gaining worldwide acceptance due to the shortage of optimal donors. Most of liver transplant groups agree that ager over 60, prolonged cold ischemia time (CIT), steatosis, inotropic support, non-heart beating donors (NHBD), sustained hypernatremia, split livers among other factors are related to primary non-function (PNF) with high morbimortality. Before COVID-19 pandemia discarded liver grafts that nobody wants accounts for the double of LT done each year in Mexico and it seems that there is an increasing rate of marginal or ECD. To define discarded liver grafts, these must be refused by 3 of the main liver transplant centers in the country and have ≥ 3 risk factors for PNF and delayed graft function (DGF). Method: A period from january 2015 to january 2021 was observed. Donor characteristics such sustained severe hypernatremia (>165 mEq/l), moderate steatosis (>40%), body mass index (BMI) >30 k/m2, alcohol abuse, CIT >12 h and norepinephrine support were considered risk factors for PNF and DGF. DGF, PNF, morbidity and mortality were evaluated. Result: 159 LT were done. Marginal donors 61 (38.3%), discarded livers 40 (65.5%). Severe hypernatremia (165-188 mEq/l) 20 (50%), obesity (BMI 30-45k/m2) 30 (75%), moderate to severe steatosis (40-76%) 22 (55%), alcohol abuse in 3 (7.5%), age >60 (35%) and norepinephrine support 27 (67%). No CIT > 12 h was recorded. PNF between marginal and discarded liver grafts were the same (5%) and between optimal grafts and discarded or marginal the rate of PNF were 2.1 to 5%. DGF was present in 7.5%, 5% and 3.1% of discarded, marginal and optimal grafts respectively. No differences in mortality rate between groups. Conclusion: Discarded livers are an acceptable choice to expand liver donor pool in Mexico. None hypernatremia, obesity, steatosis or age are independent poor risk factors for developing PNF.