Research of addition of N95 facial mask fibers, silica fume and marble powder in high performance mortar

The coronavirus pandemic, in addition to the global health crisis, shows damage to the environment due to the high number of disposable face masks, making it necessary to develop research to minimize the environmental risks associated with personal protective equipment used by the population. This research aims to reduce the waste generated by the pandemic, taking advantage of face masks, inserting them in the manufacture of mortars. Processing (grinding) of the masks was carried out and their inclusion in contents of 1.4% and 2.0% in relation to the cement consumption. The products were compared to a reference mix and evaluated for physical and mechanical properties. As a result, it was found that the addition of mask fibers resulting an increase in the water absorption rate, as well as reductions in diametral compression strength and compressive strength, respectively 30% and 50%, due to failures in the matrix/fiber interaction, which may limit the use of the mixture. However, this research contributes to the Brazilian agenda regarding sustainable urban, regional, and national development, through multidisciplinary and innovative approaches, enabling the reduction of environmental degradation by discarding masks and the making of new materials to be employees in the construction sector.

Teleworking and the Importance of Information Systems in a Pandemic Context: A Study Applied to the Health Sector

The pandemic crisis compelled organizations to adopt telework to continue their activity. This study seeks to determine the perception of individuals regarding teleworking, and also the role of Information Systems in the paradigm shift along the pandemic period, in the Portuguese health sector. An online questionnaire was applied to health professionals working in Portugal, obtaining a sample of 264 professionals. The perceptions identified in relation to telework can be especially useful when considering the progressive incorporation of non-face-to-face activities in the health sector. Participants identify advantages in teleworking, namely in reducing travel costs, but also identify work overload as a disadvantage. Despite the difficulties, Information Systems are identified as facilitators in this process of change. Most participants express availability to work in a mixed regime, in the post-pandemic period. © 2022 Associacao Portuguesa de Sistemas de Informacao. All rights reserved.

Resilience Based on Management Practices in Higher Education Institutions in an Emerging Economy

Although the potential benefits of management practices have been widely publicized, less is known about how management practices affect resilience in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in emerging economies. In this article, we test a research framework capable of capturing the relationships between management practices and resilience in HEIs in Brazil, in a context of post-pandemic SARS-CoV-2 (new normal). Primary survey-based data were collected from HEI managers using a scalar-type questionnaire (Likert). Data Mining, Spearman Correlation and Ordinal Regression techniques were applied. The calculations were developed using R software. The results of our research cover expected and unexpected results and suggest that the adoption of management practices in HEIs pays off in terms of economic and social resilience. Strategic planning and human resources are the most prominent practices. Our findings can be useful for HEIs from emerging economies that share similar characteristics with Brazil. This study is original, fills a gap in the literature and makes contributions to theory and practice: (i) it serves as a guide for managers in the formulation and implementation of management practices;(ii) advances the arguments of the literature on management in HEIs.

Psychometric properties of the University of California Los Angeles Loneliness Scale version 3: the European Portuguese version

Currently, the gold standard measure to assess loneliness is the University of California, Los Angeles Loneliness scale version 3 (UCLA v3). Objective. The aim of this study was to analyze the psychometric properties of UCLA v3 for the European Portuguese population. Method: A sample of 282 participants was surveyed in Portugal. Results: Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) supported a model portraying a global loneliness bifactor solution for positive and negative wording items, which achieved optimal fitness. Multi-group CFA indicates scalar and metric invariance across gender. Loneliness test scores (global score, positive items and negative items) correlated with well-established mental health indicators such as psychological stress, depressive and anxiety symptomatology, or psychological inflexibility. Internal consistency of the loneliness test scores was optimal for the global measure (α =.91;ω =.91) as well as for the positive (α =.87;ω =.87) and the negative factors (α =.86;ω =.88). Conclusions: Results support UCLA v3 as a reliable and valid measure of loneliness for future research studies interested in examining the prevalence of loneliness and impact in health in the context of Covid-19 in the Portuguese population and as a health indicator in health promotion and clinical interventions. © 2023 Sociedad Española para el Estudio de la Ansiedad y el Estrés - SEAS. Colegio de la Psicología de Madrid. Todos los derechos reservados.

Self-rated health implications of noise for open-plan office workers: An overview of the literature

In open-plan offices (OPO), workspaces without ground-to-ceiling dividers, noise is one of the most complained about aspects, causing physical and psychological impacts. With the increasing interest for a human-centric design, notably after the publication of ISO 22955, this review aims to identify the main noise sources in this office layout and the employees' perception of related health effects, evaluating the interventions proposed to overcome their impacts. Following the PRISMA guidelines, a review was conducted using the Scopus and PubMed databases, considering subjective questionnaires distributed in offices, which could include physical workspace assessment. It excluded studies limited to: (a) laboratory experiments;(b) isolated cognitive tests;(c) office layouts other than OPO;(d) systematic reviews;and (e) mathematical models. Sixty studies were identified and the screening process resulted in 11 selected for inclusion, which indicated irrelevant speech, chatting, and telephone ringing as the main noise sources causing productivity loss, stress, and low comfort rates due to distraction and lack of privacy. To overcome these impacts, researchers suggested the use of sound-absorbing surfaces, separated zones for different tasks and headphones, although their effectiveness relies on human behaviour and economic feasibility. Thus, the evidence indicates that noise is a recurrent issue in OPOs, it demonstrates the importance of appropriate acoustic performance of the workspace and the necessity of new studies regarding OPO workers' perception of noise and their health, particularly after the COVID-19 new safety guidelines. © The Author(s) 2023.

Interaction, challenges and paths, in times of pandemic, in the context of LEdoC teacher training

This paper analyzes the interaction between teachers and students in the context of online classes, of the curricular component ‘Syntax of the Portuguese Language', in the second half of 2020, identifying didactic strategies to maintain teacher training in the Degree in Rural Education (LEdoC), at University of Brasília (UnB), in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic, when there was an abrupt change in the daily life of humanity, especially in relation to social isolation, which printed the interaction at a distance between people. Interactional Sociolinguistics, The Literacy Studies, as well as multiliteracies are the theoretical basis of the work. The methodology is qualitative, focusing on interactional frameworks, based on Interactional Sociolinguistics. The frames, with their specific genres, and the material produced for the discipline make up the data. The result of the study brings a reflection on a context of teacher training, from the perspective of Culturally Sensitive Pedagogy, which reveals possible strategies to provide a fruitful environment for teaching and learning language, even in complex times and with unconventional resources. In addition, it shows, in a way, the use of Digital Information and Communication Technologies (TDIC), as a strategy, for the continuation of teacher training at LEdoC. The research also showed that WhatsApp was the tool that enabled the interaction of teachers with students, even though it was not a resource planned by the University for pedagogical mediation. In view of this, the research also highlights the need for investment in TDIC that reach rural people, who need good quality internet access. Because, without internet access, the different forms of literacies will not be achieved by these people, excluding them from such important access for research, individual and professional training. © 2022 Eduem - Editora da Universidade Estadual de Maringa. All rights reserved.

An Analysis of Application the Kahoot! Tool in a Gamified Approach to Face-to-face and Emergency Remote Teaching and Learning of Software Engineering

This Research to Practice Full Paper presents that the use of gamified approaches in education has become increasingly common in classrooms. Aspects related to the motivation and engagement of students with a focus on learning are a constant challenge for professors, who use methodologies and tools to make the classroom a space for fun and learning. In addition, the use of tools and techniques to motivate and present more attractiveness in teaching is a constant challenge for professors. In an increasingly connected society, not using technology in the classroom is not an option. Allied to this approach through the use of gamification, the tools that support this process are highlighted, especially Kahoot!, a tool to encourage learning, is one of the main tools used by professors and students to support the teaching-learning process. The market for this application already has 24 million users. Considering the COVID-19 pandemic scenario, declared in Brazil in March 2020, and the need to continue teaching activities, the main alternative for Educational Institutions to maintain their academic activities was the change to a remote emergency teaching format. Given this scenario, this work aims to present a comparative study on the use of Kahoot! in two subjects of the Information Systems course at Federal University of the South and Southeast of Pará, in Brazil, in both classroom and remote teaching modalities. The motivation for carrying out the study was due to the need to understand and evaluate the use of the tool in the remote context, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and to compare it with the face-to-face format. As a result, the acceptance of 83.3% in face-to-face teaching and 58.8% in remote teaching was obtained for the use of the tool, in addition to the best performance in the Kahoot! in face-to-face teaching in relation to remote teaching, with the general average of correct answers of 62.81% and 47.56% for classroom teaching and remote teaching, respectively. So, this paper presents: (i) the theoretical foundation of this work, (ii) some works related to the research object, (iii) the research methodology for the development of the work, (iv) the structuring of Kahoot!'s application in classes, (v) the results of applying Kahoot! in classes and the discussion of the main results of this work. © 2022 IEEE.

Perception from the professors' point of view in the remote teaching of Software Testing using active methodologies during the Covid-19 pandemic

This Research Full Paper presents an analysis of the perception of research professors of Software Engineering on the use and difficulties in the context of developing classrooms with teaching strategies using active methodologies remotely. In recent years, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, professors have been facing several challenges to keep students engaged, motivated and learning. The active teaching methodologies that have been collaborating in recent years in the teaching and learning process of students, needed to adapt to the remote teaching class scenario that was implemented in several universities. This research measured the point of view of four professors, who are also researchers in computing education, about how their classes behaved in the last two years of the Software Testing subject in a graduate program at a Brazilian federal university. So that computing students have a way to obtain knowledge in a more practical way so that there is a decrease in the difficulty of students adapting to the job market. Professors are increasingly adopting active methodologies, group work and practical teaching approaches in order for students to acquire skills that will be decisive for their professional future. In view of the existing pandemic scenario and the need to adapt teaching plans for remote teaching, this paper sought to identify the perceptions that professors had, whether in the difficulties of adapting activities, adapting teaching plans to difficulties in keeping students attentive and motivated in the content that was being passed on. The objective of this work is to identify and discuss professors' perceptions about the use of active teaching methodologies using remote teaching in a software testing subject of a graduate class at a Brazilian federal university. It was also analyzed how the professors dealt with the issue of student motivation and engagement at that time. An analysis of the teaching plan of the software testing subject of the last two years of the graduate program in computing at a Brazilian federal university was carried out and each of the methodologies with the perception of the professors who participated in these subjects. The collection of these data was carried out by means of an interview with the four professors, the feedback from the students of the classes on each of the adopted methodologies was also analyzed and a triangulation of the data obtained was performed. The results indicate that there were great difficulties in adapting active methodologies from the point of view of the professors, however most of these challenges were overcome in the their views. It was also pointed out that certain methodologies and practices work better if the learning is done in an evolutionary way and that takes into account the students' previous knowledge about contents, tools and practices that the professors want to use. Thus, this paper aims to present an overview of professors' perspectives on the teaching of a computing subject that needs practical approaches using active methodologies in an emergency situation of remote teaching. © 2022 IEEE.

Using flipped classroom to promote active learning and engagement in a Software Testing subject remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic

This Research to Practice Full Paper presents the results obtained in an implementation of a flipped classroom, taught remotely synchronously in a subject of software testing in a graduate class. Due to the maintenance of the COVID-19 pandemic in the year 2021 due to the emergence of some variants, some universities around the world, especially in countries with a still high transmission rate, decided to continue with remote classes in this academic period. In this context, Software Testing is an important topic of knowledge derived from Software Engineering and has been gaining prominence in development companies in recent years, however it is a subject that needs a more practical and dynamic way of learning to obtain skills and competences. by the students. In order to promote a good teaching and learning process, more and more teachers and professors have been taking greater care in the selection of teaching strategies to help build the knowledge of their students, one of these strategies is the flipped classroom, in which the student internalizes the contents pointed out before a class and then, together with the class, a discussion is held about the knowledge acquired with the help and guidance of the teacher / professor. However, this knowledge transfer process has some extra difficulties with content that are more easily taught in a practical and face-to-face manner. Assuming, this work presents how the authors got around these difficulties and what the students present in a graduate class in a Software Testing subject thought of the adopted teaching strategy. To present an experience report of the use of the flipped classroom strategy in a software testing subject in a graduate computer science class. In parallel also, analyze the motivation and engagement of students in this learning scenario of the strategy in remote teaching. For this subject, a specific curriculum was selected for the teaching of software testing that takes into account the academic competences of the Brazilian Ministry of Education - MEC. Both the learning of the content were evaluated, taking into account the evaluations that were used in the flipped classroom with other teaching strategies in two other previous classes, the feedback given by the students about the subject and specifically about this teaching strategy was also considered, which was obtained via a structured questionnaire answered anonymously by each of the students participating in the course. The results indicate that there was an increase in the students' grade compared to evaluations of the same subject in the two previous years. However, the most important result was the feedback given by the students in the perception questionnaire of each teaching strategy adopted in the subject, considering that there was an excellent acceptance according to the participants. This paper mainly aims to help teachers / professors and researchers of active teaching methodologies in the perspective of knowledge construction in remote teaching using the flipped classroom as a support strategy. © 2022 IEEE.

Avaliacao Do Perfil De Doadores De Sangue Do Hospital Marcio Cunha Durante O Periodo Critico Da Pandemia De Covid-19

Introducao: Todos os servicos de saude foram impactados durante a pandemia de COVID-19, os servicos de hemoterapia, que dependem de doadores voluntarios, sofreram com a necessidade de isolamento da populacao e pelo medo do contagio ao vir doar, tambem por doadores infectados e maior numero de transfusoes em pacientes com complicacoes da COVID-19. As outras patologias com necessidade de transfusao ainda existiam e os bancos de sangue tiveram que se reorganizar para buscar ativamente os doadores e atender as medidas necessarias para evitar o contagio, como nao causar aglomeracoes, distanciamento entre as cadeiras do doador e uso de mascara e alcool gel. Objetivos: Avaliar o perfil do doador de sangue do servico de hemoterapia do Hospital Marcio Cunha durante o periodo critico da pandemia de COVID-19. Materiais e Metodos: estudo descritivo, retrospectivo e quantitativo, realizado no servico de hemoterapia atraves de avaliacao do relatorio de producao Hemoterapica - Hemoprod, dos meses de maio 2020 a julho 2021, periodo com elevado numero de obitos por COVID-19 no Brasil. Resultados e Discussao: Nos meses de maio/20 a julho/21 foram entrevistados 12.154 candidatos, sendo 9.449 aptos para doacao de sangue total, media de 629 doadores/mes. A maior parte das doacoes foi espontanea (55,6%), seguida de reposicao e apenas uma doacao autologa no periodo. Em relacao ao tipo de doador;69,7% doaram pela primeira vez;29,5% de forma esporadica e apenas 0,7% de repeticao. A maioria dos doadores foi do genero masculino (58,2%) com idade acima de 29 anos (67,7%). A principal causa da inaptidao na triagem foi descrito como outras (20%), sendo mais comum o uso de medicamentos que impedem a doacao e procedimentos endoscopicos nos ultimos seis meses;3,65% apresentavam hematocrito abaixo do necessario;2,8% hipotensao e 1,04% comportamento de risco para doenca sexualmente transmissivel. No que se refere a triagem sorologica, 221 doadores apresentaram sorologia positiva (2,3%) sendo 47% anti-HBc total reagente, 45.8% sifilis;2,7% anti-HCV;1,8% HBsAg e HTLV e 0,9% HIV. Quanto ao perfil imunohematologico 41,8% foram do grupo O positivo e 28,7% A positivo, sendo os mais frequentes e 9,9% foram O negativo. No periodo foram produzidos 9.323 concentrados de hemacias e transfundidos 6.826 e produzidos 8.948 concentrados de plaquetas e transfundidos 3.983. Conclusao: Nao ha substituto para sangue humano, por isso os servicos de hemoterapia dependem dos doadores voluntarios para manter o estoque de hemocomponentes. No periodo da pandemia houve menor numero de doacoes e maior necessidade de transfusoes em decorrencias das complicacoes da COVID-19. O banco de sangue do Hospital Marcio Cunha atendeu as medidas sanitarias para evitar o contagio e utilizou de estrategias de captacao de doares para tentar diminuir o impacto para o setor assistencial, no periodo analisado o numero de doacoes foi suficiente para atender a demanda transfusional, fato tambem relacionado a reducao de cirurgias eletivas. Copyright © 2022

Architects’ ‘enforced togetherness’: new design affordances of the home

Lockdown impositions have impacted people’s lives, their health and wellbeing, changing the ways in which dwellings are used and occupied. Spaces within the home have had to be rapidly renegotiated, redesigned and resynchronised in ways not yet fully explored or understood. Social relationships in the home have shifted and adapted as a result of ‘enforced togetherness’. This study presents a rich snapshot of 23 UK designer-architects’ transformative lived experiences of lockdown, using an interpretative phenomenological approach. It identifies four critical socio-spatial affordances that are rooted in the physical and mental wellbeing of the architects/designers. ‘Individuality’ suggests the need for increased physical separation to be alone. ‘Communality’ denotes a need for household members to be together. Both individuality and communality are seen as two opposite dimensions of the socio-spatial affordance of the home. ‘Adaptability’ points to requirements for flexible, decluttered and versatile spaces to enable ‘vibrancy’ not ‘suffocation’. Finally, ‘connectivity’ encompasses the need for a strong connection between the indoors and outdoors. These dimensions must be considered in housing design, so new housing models can emerge. The use of interpretative phenomenological analysis, employing the architectural tool of drawing, is shown to be a useful approach for housing research. PRACTICE RELEVANCE The impact on households’ wellbeing as a consequence of Covid-19 lockdowns has led to new considerations for future housing design. In a post-Covid environment, the particular needs for housing have been transformed. The findings and insights from this study will help to reframe the existing conventions of housing design criteria (e.g. a reliance on defining space functions) toward a clearer set of qualities for inhabitant and household wellbeing. New housing criteria involving socio-spatial affordances of individuality, communality, adaptability, and connectivity are shown to be viable and highly appropriate. These new dimensions highlight how inhabitants’ wellbeing can be included in viable and affordable housing. © 2022 The Author(s).

Theoretical Description for Anti-COVID-19 Drug Molnupiravir Electrochemical Determination over the Poly-((1,2,4-triazole)-co-(squaraine dye)) Composite with Cobalt (III) Oxyhydroxide

The possibility of electrochemical determination of molnupiravir has been theoretically evaluated for the first time. The molnupiravir electrochemical oxidation over the poly((1,2,4-triazole)-co-(squaraine dye)) composite with cobalt (III) oxyhydroxide has been theoretically evaluated. The correspondent mathematical model analysis has shown that the composite is an efficient electrode modifier for molnupiravir electrochemical determination. As for the oscillatory behavior is more probable than for the simplest case, and its probability will be higher in alkaline media than in neutral.

Remote teaching and learning of software testing using active methodologies in the COVID-19 pandemic context

This Research for the Practice of Full Paper shows that in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, the immense challenge of continuing the teaching-learning process without face-to-face classes arose. This required a rapid shift to distance education in order to enable continuity of university activities. Distance education still needs the help of other factors, as some subjects, for example software testing, may need other forms of active approaches and methodologies to make their teaching and learning process more efficient. In teaching some computer science subjects, there is a need for learning through the application of practical activities. The use of distance learning entails an even greater aggravation of this need, given the numerous limitations that exist in this modality, requiring good planning and rigorous monitoring before, during and after classes. Thus, this paper aims to identify and discuss the findings, good practices, recommendations and perceptions used in a software testing subject, in addition to analyzing the motivations and perceptions of students in a distance learning environment.

The role of BDNF Val66Met polymorphism in circadian rhythm variation and attention in adolescents

Introduction: Adolescents' cognitive performance is impacted by factors such as sleep habits, chronotypes and also genetic characteristics. The periods of human sleep and wakefulness are controlled by homeostatic and circadian factors, which the combination generates variations in the preferences for hours of activity and rest, called chronotypes. Chronotypic classification impacts cognitive skills such as logic and problem solving. In adolescence, there is a greater tendency to evening chronotype. The neural factor called BDNF, Brain- Derived Neurotrophic Factor, showed a significant role in cognitive performance variations as in different sleep patterns. The human BDNF gene has a frequent polymorphism called Val66Met, related to several cognitive functions and different patterns of sleep and circadian rhythm. Objective: Evaluate the association of BDNF Val66Met polymorphism with circadian patterns and cognitive performance on tests of attention, in high school students. Methods: High school students, aged between 15 and 17 years old were included in the study, whose cognitive attention skills were investigated by the Psychological Battery for Assessment of Attention. Their BDNF genotypes were determined by analyzing self-collected oral cell samples, which were amplified by real-time PCR using fluorescent probes. Chronotypic characteristics were evaluated by completing two morningness and eveningness scales. Because of the pandemic of COVID-19, a questionnaire about the presence of symptoms, in the previous days of the tests, was included. At present, volunteers are being evaluated through actigraphy. Results: Eighty-five adolescents were evaluated in that study. The average attention score of students who study in the afternoon was lower than individuals who study in the morning. The average score attention for the female gender was significantly lower than that obtained for the male gender. The students who reported symptoms of COVID- 19 had a significantly lower attention score. Lastly, there was no correlation between the chronotype defined by the scales, the performance in the attention test, or even the BDNF genotype of the participants. Conclusion: The central findings obtained, in the first phase of the study, complement the understanding of the associations between the parameters of cognition, chronobiology and genetic aspects. In the next phase, the use of actigraphy will make it possible to deepen these analyzes and conclusions.

Pre-Pandemic Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy In Vulvar Cancer: 4-Year Single Centre Audit

Introduction and aims of the study: In early vulvar cancer, lymph node status is the most important prognostic factor. Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) is the minimally invasive procedure that lead to the most significant reduction in the classical high morbidity associated with the sistematic inguinal-femoral lymphadenectomy. Besides quality control, the aim of this study is to document the overall experience around SLNB at this referral Centre before the Covid pandemic, in order to monitor and possibly prevent future related changes. Methods: Retrospective analysis of patient files in cases where SLNB was performed as part of the treatment for vulvar cancer at the authors’ Department, from January, 2016 to December, 2019. A single surgeon performed the SLNB with the combined technique (technetium and patent blue). Data collected included demographics, pathology, accuracy, surgery and perioperative results, feasibility and survival. Results: 18 patients with vulvar squamous cell cancer were enrolled in the study. Median age was 68 years, average BMI 27.5kg/m2, 61.1% were married and Charlson score ≥5 was 55.6%. Primary site was labia majora in 44.4% and mid-line was affected in 27.8%. FIGO stage IB in 72.2% of cases, mean tumour diameter was 20.2 (7-39)mm. SLNB was bilateral in 27.8%, 1 out of 38 nodes removed was positive and average number of nodes per patient was 2.1. Mean hospital stay was 13.2 days, blood loss 72ml and no surgical complications. There was a single case of groin recurrence in 45.1 months mean follow-up time and 2 cases of non-related deaths. 33.3% and 5.6% patients had short and long-term postoperative complications, respectively, mostly infectious. Conclusions: SLNB is a reliable and safe minimally invasive technique that should be performed by experienced gynaecological oncologists in well-equipped and multidisciplinary Centres. The Covid pandemic is believed to be causing severe difficulties in the management of patients with vulvar cancer, from diagnosis to follow-up and treatment of recurrences. This study allows a future comparison with positive results at this Centre, possibly reflecting other similar scenarios in Europe.

Generational Differences and Similitudes among Austrian Nurses from the Twentieth and Twenty-First Centuries Based on a Gender Perceptive

Introduction: The past century facilitates access to the legacy that can be provided by different generations of nursing professionals in different health care settings. Four generations of Asturian nurses could coincide in the same work group and, upon analyzing the historical time that has corresponded to each one, a great difference was observed at the theoretical, practical and technological levels regarding the way of providing care. Objective: To identify the generational differences or similarities between perception of paradomestic roles of four generations of Asturian nurses and their level of dependence on medical power from a gender perspective. Methods: The start has been the principles of the hermeneutic paradigm, orienting the research from the perspective provided by social and cultural history. The sample was composed of Asturian nurses belonging to the generation of veterans, baby boomers, generation X and millennials. Forty interviews were conducted from February 2018 to April 2020. The dialectical structural model of care was used for data analysis, while the ATLAS.ti 7 software was used for qualitative data analysis. Results: Three categories emerged: functional unit, functional framework and functional element. The different expectations in the use of information technology by the different generations stand out. Millennial nurses perceive their valuation based on the fact that they are an important member of the healthcare team, especially by the opinion of younger physicians. In the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, nursing is reinforced as a feminized workforce. Conclusion: Millennial nurses, despite recognizing the subservience that still exists within the nursing profession, are committed to change and the struggle for recognition of their work, both socially and professionally. © 2022, Editorial Ciencias Medicas. All rights reserved.

Neuropsychological manifestations of long COVID in hospitalized and non-hospitalized Brazilian Patients.

BACKGROUND: There has been a significant increase in number of patients seeking neuropsychological rehabilitation months after the acute phase of COVID-19 infection. OBJECTIVE: Identify the cognitive and psychiatric disorders in patients with long COVID or Post-Acute Sequelae of COVID (PASC) and explore the association between disease severity during the acute phase and persistent neuropsychological manifestations. METHODS: 614 adults were assessed an average of eight months post-infection. Participants were, on average, 47.6 y.o., who sought rehabilitation for neuropsychological problems. Patients were evaluated using the Barrow Neurological Institute Screen for Higher Cerebral Functions (BNIS), Phonemic Verbal Fluency and Clock Drawing tests (NEUPSILIN) for executive functions, and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). RESULTS: The BNIS score was significantly below reference values in all subscales, especially affect and memory. Verbal Fluency and Clock Drawing subtest results were also lower. Patients with PASC tested high for anxiety/depression, but there was no statistically significant relationship between HADS and BNIS scores. Neuropsychological evaluations showed no differences in cognitive or psychiatric profiles between hospitalized and non-hospitalized patients. CONCLUSIONS: Neuropsychological results suggest executive function problems and high incidence of anxiety/depression, irrespective of acute-phase severity, underscoring a need for neurorehabilitation programs while providing data for public policy initiatives.

Case report of Curtobacterium isolated from a catheter tip sample misidentified as Cronobacter.

The Curtobacterium genus is a member of the family Microbacteriaceae, and Curtobacterium species are recognized as plant pathogens. The aim of this study was to investigate a dubious result of species identification for an infection located on a catheter tip of a patient with Covid-19. A strain isolated from a catheter tip sample, identified by VITEK® 2 as Cronobacter spp., was submitted to polyphasic analysis: Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization-Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) using VITEK® MS, real-time polymerase chain reaction targeting dnaG gene, and 16S rRNA full gene Sanger sequencing analysis for confirmation. The strain presented negative result using qPCR and could not identified by MALDI-TOF MS. 16S rRNA full gene Sanger sequencing analysis identified the strain as Curtobacterium spp. The Gram-variable characteristic (Gram-negative instead of Gram-positive) of the isolated strain was the responsible for the misidentification by VITEK® 2 and VITEK® MS did not identify the strain. 16S rRNA full gene sequencing analysis identified the strain as Curtobacterium genus, but other complementary techniques are necessary to identify at species level.

MOOD STATES AND QUALITY OF LIFE IN PARALYMPIC BOCCIA ATHLETES IN THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Introduction: Although studies have been conducted in the athlete population during the pandemic, its impacts on Paralympic athletes are still unknown. Objective:To evaluate the mood and quality of life of Paralympic boccia players during the COVID-19 pandemic period. Method: Questionnaires assessing mood, quality of life, and demographic data were sent electronically via social media.The study included 43 athletes from all functional classes (BC1= 8, BC2 = 12, BC3 =11, and BC4 = 11) and four regions of Brazil (Northeast= 12, Southeast = 12, Central-West = 3, and South = 17). ANOVA, t test, and similar non-parametric tests were used, with the respective effect sizes (ES). Resu Its: Regarding mood states, BC4 athletes differed from BC1 athletes in the depression subscale score (25.5 vs.14.5, p = 0.026, ES=1.47).The fatigue subscale score differed between BC4 and BC1 athletes (17.8 vs. 10.4, p= 0.023, ES=138) and between BC4 and BC2 athletes (17.8 vs 10.3, p = 0.008, ES=1.32). BC4 athletes had higher total mood disturbance (TMD) values than BC1 (175 vs. 141, p = 0.025, ES=1.35) and BC2 (175 vs.141, p = 0.025, ES=0.97) athletes. Lower stress (18.5 vs.21.8, p = 0.027, ES=0.64) and TMD (148.0 vs 162.0;p = 0.044;ES= 0.53) values were observed among the national level athletes. In terms of quality of life, differences were found between BC4 and BC2 athletes in the psychological health domain (3.73 vs. 4.49, p = 0.024, ES=0.89) and between athletes from the Northeast and South in the environment domain (3.39 vs. 4.18, p=0.030, ES=0.44). Conclusion: BC4 athletes are more susceptible to negative mood and quality-of-life perceptions. Additionally, athletes from the Northeast region may have poorer perceptions of quality of life related to the environment in which they live.