ABSTRACT
Site visits or field trips have been a tool utilized by construction engineering and management educators to engage students in active learning, assist traditional lessons, and attain stronger and deeper student learning experiences. Nevertheless, site visits present major logistical and accessibility challenges, which reduces the number of students that have access to the benefits of such a technique. The limitations for site visits have further broadened recently, as COVID-19 public health concerns has forced educators to move to online course delivery quickly and the majority of site visits have been canceled. This study presents the development of VR-OnSite-a web-based virtual environment that offers a social field trip experience for large groups of students that resembles real-world jobsite conditions. A pilot study was conducted with sixteen students that followed a guided site visit within the context of a railway transportation project. The use of VR-OnSite resulted in statistically significant increase in student perceived knowledge in railway transportation and high engagement during the virtual site visit. © 2022 ASCE.
ABSTRACT
Site visits or field trips have been a tool utilized by construction engineering and management educators to engage students in active learning, assist traditional lessons, and attain stronger and deeper student learning experiences. Nevertheless, site visits present major logistical and accessibility challenges, which reduces the number of students that have access to the benefits of such a technique. The limitations for site visits have further broadened recently, as COVID-19 public health concerns has forced educators to move to online course delivery quickly and the majority of site visits have been canceled. This study presents the development of VR-OnSite-a web-based virtual environment that offers a social field trip experience for large groups of students that resembles real-world jobsite conditions. A pilot study was conducted with sixteen students that followed a guided site visit within the context of a railway transportation project. The use of VR-OnSite resulted in statistically significant increase in student perceived knowledge in railway transportation and high engagement during the virtual site visit.
ABSTRACT
Background : Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has affected over 100 million globally to date. Although high rates of venous thromboembolism and evidence of COVID-19-induced endothelial dysfunction have been reported, the precise aetiology of the increased thrombotic risk associated with COVID-19 infection remains to be fully elucidated. Several studies to date suggest a role for platelets in COVID-19-associated thrombosis. Aims : To assess the impact of COVID-19 on platelet activity and to characterise the proteome of the platelet releasate from COVID-19 patients, compared with healthy controls. Methods : Ethical approval was granted by the Institutional Review Board of the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital. Haematologic parameters of patients with severe COVID-19 disease (requiring intensive care;n = 34), with non-severe disease (not requiring intensive care;n = 20) and in general medical in-patients without COVID-19 ( n = 20) were assessed. Platelet function and activity were evaluated by secretion and platelet marker analysis ( n = 6 each cohort). The proteome of the platelet releasate was assessed using label-free mass spectrometry. Results : We demonstrated agonist-induced ADP release was 30-to-90 fold higher in COVID-19 patients compared with hospitalized controls (Fig. 1) and circulating levels of platelet-factor 4 (PF4), soluble P-selectin (sP-selectin) and thrombopoietin (TPO) were also significantly elevated in COVID-19. This study shows that COVID-19 patients possess hyperactive circulating platelets combined with a decreased activation threshold. Mass spectrometry analysis identified over 400 proteins from the releasate of COVID-19 patients and controls, including a multitude of inflammatory, vasoactive and vesicular proteins. The release of a subset of highly-relevant platelet proteins was modified based on the severity of COVID-19 infection. controls (Fig. 1) and circulating levels of platelet-factor 4 (PF4), soluble P-selectin (sP-selectin) and thrombopoietin (TPO) were also significantly elevated in COVID-19. This study shows that COVID-19 patients possess hyperactive circulating platelets combined with a decreased activation threshold. Mass spectrometry analysis identified over 400 proteins from the releasate of COVID-19 patients and controls, including a multitude of inflammatory, vasoactive and vesicular proteins. The release of a subset of highly-relevant platelet proteins was modified based on the severity of COVID-19 infection.
ABSTRACT
Objective: We measured transmembrane pressure gradient (ΔP) and membrane lung resistance (RML) in Covid-19 patients supported by ECMO when unfractionated heparin (UFH) was administered systemically via a central venous catheter or administered immediately before the membrane lung. Methods: Daily changes in ΔP and RML were recorded during ECMO support (Cardiohelp, Getinge, Germany) in 2 patients where UFH was administered systemically (Sys UFH) and in 2 additional patients where UFH was administered pre-membrane lung (pre-ML UFH). The ECMO cannulation strategy was similar in all patients (bi-femoral cannulation with 25F multistage drainage and 21F return cannulae). Results: There was no difference in the daily APTT and CRP between the two groups (Table 1). The ECMO circuit was changed on day 6 and 7 in Sys UFH patients because of increased ΔP and RML. In pre- ML UFH patients, ΔP and RML remained stable with an unchanged ECMO circuit for 26 and 32 days respectively (Figure 1+2). Conclusions: Although many Covid-19 related factors increase the risk of thrombosis, the pre-ML administration of UFH may contribute to prolonged circuit function.