ABSTRACT
During a pandemic, public discussion and decision-making may be required in face of limited evidence. Data-grounded analysis can support decision-makers in such contexts, contributing to inform public policies. We present an empirical analysis method based on regression modelling and hypotheses testing to assess events for the possibility of occurrence of superspreading contagion with geographically heterogeneous impacts. We demonstrate the method by evaluating the case of the May 1st, 2020 Demonstration in Lisbon, Portugal, on regional growth patterns of COVID-19 cases. The methodology enabled concluding that the counties associated with the change in the growth pattern were those where likely means of travel to the demonstration were chartered buses or private cars, rather than subway or trains. Consequently, superspreading was likely due to travelling to/from the event, not from participating in it. The method is straightforward, prescribing systematic steps. Its application to events subject to media controversy enables extracting well founded conclusions, contributing to informed public discussion and decision-making, within a short time frame of the event occurring. © 2023 by the authors.
ABSTRACT
The COVID-19 pandemic period resulted in a global crisis, whether in the economy, personal or professional life. Because of the pandemic, people and institutions had to change the way they did things. Even though people are becoming more aware of the value of knowledge and it is becoming more common in some institutions, knowledge management methods are still not well known in the social sector and as a key tool for institutions in crisis. Considering the beneficial role that knowledge sharing (KS) practices play in organizations, the current study aims to investigate the impact of KS practices in Portuguese private social solidarity institutions in adapting to the COVID-19 pandemic period. To achieve the purpose and considering the exploratory nature of the research, semi-structured interviews were conducted with fifteen professionals from four private social solidarity institutions in northern Portugal. Nvivo processed the interviews. Because COVID-19 is new, there is no research on knowledge sharing in these institutions, so the study can be considered as original. Before and during pandemics, the presence of knowledge sharing practises, such as the integration of new employees, the proactivity of learning, the sharing of new ideas and mistakes, and the sharing relationship between peers and superiors and other institutions, was observed through the interviews. In this study, we discovered that trust, communication, technology, and social networks, as well as the role of leadership in creating an environment conducive to formal and informal sharing, were elements that facilitated knowledge sharing practises, even throughout the pandemics. During the interviews, both technical directors and employees acknowledged the following: the relationship between superiors and employees in decision-making processes;recognition, feedback and incentives from leaders and the presence of formal and informal communication networks. When it came to sharing, which could happen in a formal or informal setting, employees seemed to prefer informal interactions.To summarise, the institutions were able to adjust to the limits imposed by the pandemic, and the basic practises of KS are part of the daily routine of the organisations analysed. © 2022, Academic Conferences and Publishing International Limited. All rights reserved.
ABSTRACT
As of March 2020, skin lesions associated with COVID-19 have been described. The objectives of the study were to characterize the skin lesions in these patients, analyze their temporal relationship, association with the severity of the disease, extracutaneous symptoms and laboratory parameters. A prospective, observational, analytical and cross-sectional study was conducted in hospitalized patients diagnosed with COVID-19. Dermatoses were classified as primary and secondary. Forty-five patients were included, 44.4% with primary dermatoses and 53.3% with secondary lesions. The mean age was 46 years (SD: 17), with a male predominance (68.9%). The primary lesions appeared after a median of 5 days (IQR: 3-10) from the onset of COVID-19 symptoms and the secondary ones after 14.5 days (IQR: 7-20). The primary dermatoses found were maculopapular rash (65%), urticarial (20%, half with vesicular lesions), livedo reticular (10%) and purpura (5%). The most frequent secondary dermatoses were adverse drug reactions (37.1%) and infectious dermatoses (25.9%). Maculopapular rash was associated with moderate COVID-19 and pressure injuries with severe COVID-19 (p < 0.05). The finding of neutrophilia was higher among those with secondary infectious dermatoses (p < 0.05). No significant differences were found when evaluating other laboratory parameters. This work shows the skin manifestations in patients hospitalized with COVID-19 in our environment. The most prevalent pattern was the maculopapular rash that was associated with the moderate form of the disease. The appearance of lesions 2 weeks after the onset of COVID-19 symptoms was associated with secondary dermatoses.
ABSTRACT
Introduction: In the midst of a global pandemic with a rising death toll, the children's mental health can be easily overlooked in the country's response. But this overlook would have devastating consequences for years to come. Objective(s): The objective of this research is to compare children's physical and mental development before, during and after the situation of social isolation caused by the pandemic of COVID-19. Method(s): The parents/guardians of 100 children aged between 0 and 5 years and 11 months old were asked to answer questions based on the ASQ-3 (Ages and Stages Questionnaire III), containing questions related to Communication, Gross Motor, Fine Motor, Problem Solving, and Personal-Social and ASQ- SE (Ages and Stages Questionnaires Social-Emotional) addressing issues of selfregulation, compliance, social-communication, adaptive functioning, autonomy, and affect. In addition, behavioral issues related to children's mental health will be included, such as: aggressiveness, insomnia, lack of appetite, apathy, sadness, tiredness, lack of interest, hyperactivity, manias, tantrum, morning among others. Child development data will be collected before and during quarantine / isolation and later, in a second stage, after the end of social isolation. Result(s): The data will be analyzed in order to characterize child behavior before, during and after the period of social isolation, correlating the different areas of child development, especially mental health. Conclusion(s): As argued, socially isolated children are at increased risk of health problems in adulthood. Furthermore, studies on social isolation have demonstrated that a lack of social relationships negatively impacts the development of the brain's structure.
ABSTRACT
Computational methods have gained importance and popularity in both academia and industry for materials research and development in recent years. Since 2014, our team at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has consistently worked on reforming our Materials Science and Engineering curriculum by incorporating computational modules into all mandatory undergraduate courses. The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted education as on-campus resources and activities became highly restricted. Here we seek to investigate the impact of the university moving online in Spring 2020 and resuming in-person instructions in Fall 2021 on the effectiveness of our computational curricular reform from the students' perspective. We track and compare feedback from students in a representative course MSE 182 for their computational learning experience before, during and after the pandemic lockdown from 2019 to 2021. Besides, we survey all undergraduate students, for their online learning experiences during the pandemic. We find that online learning enhances the students' belief in the importance and benefits of computation in materials science and engineering, while making them less comfortable and confident to acquire skills that are relatively difficult. In addition, early computational learners are likely to experience more difficulties with online learning compared to students at late stages of their undergraduate education, regardless of the computational workload. Multiple reasons are found to limit the students' online computational learning, such as insufficient support from instructors and TAs, limited chances of peer communication and harder access to computational resources. Therefore, it is advised to guarantee more resources to students with novice computational skills regarding such limiting reasons in the future when online learning is applied. © American Society for Engineering Education, 2022
ABSTRACT
As of March 2020, skin lesions associated with COVID-19 have been described. The objectives of the study were to characterize the skin lesions in these patients, analyze their temporal relationship, association with the severity of the disease, extracutaneous symptoms and laboratory parameters. A prospective, observational, analytical and cross-sectional study was conducted in hospitalized patients diagnosed with COVID-19. Dermatoses were classified as primary and secondary. Forty-five patients were included, 44.4% with primary dermatoses and 53.3% with secondary lesions. The mean age was 46 years (SD: 17), with a male predominance (68.9%). The primary lesions appeared after a median of 5 days (IQR: 3-10) from the onset of COVID-19 symptoms and the secondary ones after 14.5 days (IQR: 7-20). The primary dermatoses found were maculopapular rash (65%), urticarial (20%, half with vesicular lesions), livedo reticular (10%) and purpura (5%). The most frequent secondary dermatoses were adverse drug reactions (37.1%) and infectious dermatoses (25.9%). Maculopapular rash was associated with moderate COVID-19 and pressure injuries with severe COVID-19 (p < 0.05). The finding of neutrophilia was higher among those with secondary infectious dermatoses (p < 0.05). No significant differences were found when evaluating other laboratory parameters. This work shows the skin manifestations in patients hospitalized with COVID-19 in our environment. The most prevalent pattern was the maculopapular rash that was associated with the moderate form of the disease. The appearance of lesions 2 weeks after the onset of COVID-19 symptoms was associated with secondary dermatoses.
ABSTRACT
Skin manifestations in patients with COVID-19. A prospective study. As of March 2020, skin lesions associated with COVID-19 have been described. The objectives of the study were to char-acterize the skin lesions in these patients, analyze their temporal relationship, association with the severity of the disease, extracutaneous symptoms and laboratory parameters. A prospective, observational, analytical and cross-sectional study was conducted in hospitalized patients diagnosed with COVID-19. Dermatoses were clas-sified as primary and secondary. Forty-five patients were included, 44.4% with primary dermatoses and 53.3% with secondary lesions. The mean age was 46 years (SD: 17), with a male predominance (68.9%). The primary lesions appeared after a median of 5 days (IQR: 3-10) from the onset of COVID-19 symptoms and the secondary ones after 14.5 days (IQR: 7-20). The primary dermatoses found were maculopapular rash (65%), urticarial (20%, half with vesicular lesions), livedo reticular (10%) and purpura (5%). The most frequent secondary dermatoses were adverse drug reactions (37.1%) and infectious dermatoses (25.9%). Maculopapular rash was associated with moderate COVID-19 and pressure injuries with severe COVID-19 (p < 0.05). The finding of neutrophilia was higher among those with secondary infectious dermatoses (p < 0.05). No significant differences were found when evaluating other laboratory parameters. This work shows the skin manifestations in patients hospitalized with COVID-19 in our environment. The most prevalent pattern was the maculopapular rash that was associated with the moderate form of the disease. The appearance of lesions 2 weeks after the onset of COVID-19 symptoms was associated with secondary dermatoses.
ABSTRACT
Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic may have an important effect on non-COVID-19 patients, namely due to allocation of healthcare resources to COVID-19 patients. Outpatients with chronic conditions requiring frequent medical attention, like liver cirrhosis, may suffer a greater impact due to lack of access to consultations and a possible delay in emergency room admissions. Aims & Methods: Our aim is to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on non-COVID-19 patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis (DLC). A retrospective single center study was conducted, including patients admitted due to DLC from 15/03/2019 to 15/03/2021. DLC was defined, in cirrhotic patients, as admission due to ascites, spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP), acute kidney injury (AKI), hepatic encephalopathy (EH), rupture of gastroesophageal varices (RGEV) and/or alcoholic hepatitis (AH). Hepatocellular carcinoma patients were excluded. Patients were allocated in two groups according to date of admission: COVID- 19 group (C group) if admitted between 15/03/2020 and 15/03/2021 and pre-COVID-19 group (pC group) if admitted in the previous year. Demographic, clinical and laboratory variables were compared between groups. Child-Pugh and Model for End-stage Liver Disease Sodium (MELDNa) were assessed at admission. Results: One-hundred-and-forty patients were included, 74 (53%) during COVID-19 pandemic (mean age 63±12 years, with 51 males), and 66 (47%) pre-COVID-19 (mean age 63±11 years, with 46 males). Alcohol consumption was the most frequent cause of cirrhosis in both groups. The majority of patients presented with Child-Pugh C in both groups and the mean MELDNa score at admission was 22±7 points in C group and 22±8 in pC group. The most common comorbid condition was diabetes (C group: n=15;20%;pC group: n=25;38%) and the mean Charlson Comorbidity Index was 5±2 points in both groups (p>0.05). The presentations of DLC, in C group and pC group, were respectively: ascites: 77% versus (vs) 73%;AKI: 39% vs 55%;HE: 50% vs 46%;RGEV: 14% vs 15%;AH: 14% vs 6%;SBP: 4% vs 14%. The median length of hospital stay was 8 days (IQR: 10) in C group and 11 days (IQR: 16) in pC group. Twelve patients died during hospital stay in C group (16%) and 12 in pC group (18%). The average time of follow-up was 156±119 days in C group and 112±100 days in pC group. Twenty-two deaths (30%) occurred during follow-up in C group and 15 (23%) in pC group;28 patients were readmitted during follow-up in C group (45%) and 26 (48%) in pC group. The absolute number of deaths was higher during COVID-19 (n=34 vs n=27), as well as the total number of admitted patients (n=74 vs n=66). However, mortality rates did not significantly differ in the two groups (46% vs 41%;p>0.05). SBP was more frequent in pC group (p=0.045). There was a tendency towards a higher number of first time DLC with AH during COVID- 19 (n=7 vs n=1, p=0.053). None of the other above-mentioned variables were significantly different between groups (p>0.05). Conclusion: During COVID-19 pandemic, we observed a higher absolute number of hospitalizations due to DLC and a proportional larger number of deaths. Nevertheless, severity at admission and mortality rates during and after hospitalization did not increase significantly during the pandemic period. There was a higher number of first time DLC with AH during COVID-19, which may reflect greater alcohol consumption during lockdown.
ABSTRACT
Background and aims: The current COVID-19 pandemic has made PCR nasopharyngeal swab test an essential procedure in both the screening and diagnosis of the general public and patients. Whereas there are many publications relating COVID-19 with a wide range of symptoms, complications/disorders related to testing are poorly described. Hence, we report a patient who developed diplopia after being tested with the nasopharyngeal swab test. Methods: Case report Results: A 63-year old man was admitted to the hospital to perform left fifth toe amputation due to diabetes-related foot complications. As part of our hospital protocol, a nasopharyngeal swab test was performed as COVID-19- screening-test, which resulted negative. A few hours later, the patient started complaining about left eye pain, exacerbated during eyeball movements, followed next day by double vision when looking down and to his right. Head CT-scan was unremarkable. The patient showed adduction, supra and infraduction paresis of the left eye, along with unilateral mild ptosis. A contrast head MRI showed a focal increase of left extraconal fat adjacent to the oblicous muscle and in contact to left nasal fossa roof, suggesting an orbital haematoma as the most plausible cause of the 3rd left cranial nerve palsy. The symptoms, diplopia and left eye pain, recovered partially with 50mg oral prednisone. Conclusion: To our knowledge, this is the 1st reported case associating nasopharyngeal swab test, a method for COVID-19-screening-test, with diplopia. Therefore, in addition to medical conditions due to COVID-19 disease, physicians should be aware of complications related to PCR nasopharyngeal swab test. (Figure Presented).
ABSTRACT
The world after the COVID-19 pandemic will change, from the perspective of both geopolitical and economic challenges. Therewill be a tendency for globalization to reverse, affecting the international positionof several countries.Thephenomenon of expanding the heavy use of information technology will mark the dynamics of many countries, including Brazil. Therefore, academia has to reflect on long-term strategies to create and maintain jobs while the economic structure changes. © 2020, Fundacao Getulio Vargas. All rights reserved.
ABSTRACT
The recent detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in stool and sewage samples highlights the possibility of mapping the circulation of the virus and even estimating the number of infected people through the systematic monitoring of sewage in a specific region. Therefore, this is an important epidemiological tool for large-scale indirect testing, including symptomatic and asymptomatic carriers. This project was conceived for the detection and quantification of the SARS-CoV-2 in sewage samples collected in 15 watersheds of the Arrudas and Onca streams, aiming to understand the dynamics of spread and the prevalence of the virus in these regions/watersheds. These sub-basins exhaust the effluents generated by a population of approximately 1.5 million people in the municipality of Belo Horizonte and part of Contagem. Weekly composite samples were collected during the morning periods in seventeen monitoring points (15 water sheds + influent to 2 sewage treatment plants). RNA detection and quantification were performed in the laboratory using RT-qPCR. The results obtained in four weeks of monitoring (epidemiological weeks 21 to 24) showed an increase in the occurrence of the virus, reaching 100% of the monitored regions investigated in epidemiological week 24. The infected population, estimated by sewage monitoring in Belo Horizonte, showed exponential growth, being up to 20 times higher than those of accumulated confirmed cases. As for the dynamics of virus spread, RNA concentrations have shown to be quite variable in the monitored regions with higher percentages of the estimated infected population in the northern and north-eastern portions of Belo Horizonte.