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The pandemic has forced governments to implement emergent actions to help the population return to their "normal” activities, such as returning to face-to-face school activities. In this work, it was sought to determine the need, or not, of a synergy between educational authorities and the student population that allows students to return to face-to-face classes at the basic and intermediate levels. A contextual review of the pandemic caused by COVID-19 was carried out in relation to the possibilities of safe return to classes in Mexico, and the features that configure a "Human Ethical Profile” (HEP), derived from the "ethics of care”, were analyzed to contrast them with government actions. The foregoing, through a documentary review in the official media of the Ministry of Health, to know the behavior of the epidemiological traffic light regarding the institutional actions used by the Mexican government and the population response in terms of prevention measures. As a result, it was obtained that both the HEP and the minimum ethics, are essential requirements to achieve mutual care derived from actions between the government and citizen spheres for a safe return to face-to-face classes. © 2023, Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana. All rights reserved.
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The objective of this research is to develop a monthly indicator that synthesizes the economic acti-vity of the construction sector in Valle del Cauca, as a tool for analyzing the production cycle and as a single, public measure that contributes to decision-making. Dynamic factorial models, the Kalman filter and the Litterman method are used, also employed in the Monthly Index of Economic Activity (IMAE), in order to capture signals, changes in the productive cycle of construction and compile the sectoral economic facts that affect production. In the results, the dynamics of the sectoral and economic variables are observed that explain the behavior of the sector in Valle del Cauca during 2009-2020. A change of slope is observed in 2020, as a direct consequence of the crisis generated by COVID-19 and the restrictive measures taken by the government to contain its advance.
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Intro: Antimicrobial resistance has been considered a global health problem, being one of the 10 most important public health problems worldwide. During the COVID-19 pandemic, a large number of antibiotics were used without any control, both on an outpatient basis and in hospitalization, which can have serious consequences. Method(s): Prior informed consent, a cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted with a sample of 322 physicians. A survey was carried out in Google forms, and it was shared by telephone messages and social networks. Finding(s): 322 physicians, 60.9% women and 39.1% men, mean age 33.4 years, 85.9% general practitioners, 11.5% specialist physicians. 47.2% work in private institutions, 36% in public centers. Antibiotic policies in institutions: 50.3% do not have regulations for the use of antibiotics in COVID-19, only 29.5% work with policies to control the use of antibiotics and control measures against antibiotic resistance, 73.9% lack a committee for infection control and prevention of antibiotic resistance. Use of antibiotics: only 20.8% never used antibiotics in COVID-19, 45.6% used antibiotics in severe COVID-19, 40.4% hospitalized patients, and 33.5% outpatients. The most used antibiotics were azithromycin (67.1%), levofloxacin (53.4%), ceftriaxone (53.4%), and amoxicillin plus clavulanic acid (34.8%). 43.2% consider that using antibiotics can reduce mortality in moderate and severe COVID-19, 50.3% believe antibiotics should be suspended if there is clinical improvement, 96.3% believe there is an increase in self-medication of antibiotics, 59.8% consider that they used antibiotics inconrrectly at some point, 58.1% consider antibiotic resistance to be a problem in their workplace. 86.3% currently make less use of antibiotics in patients with COVID-19. Conclusion(s): In Honduras, there are deficiencies in policies for the use of antibiotics and control of antimicrobial resistance. Most doctors consider that they have used antibiotics incorrectly, including antibiotics that can generate resistance.Copyright © 2023
ABSTRACT
The objective of this research is to develop a monthly indicator that synthesizes the economic acti-vity of the construction sector in Valle del Cauca, as a tool for analyzing the production cycle and as a single, public measure that contributes to decision-making. Dynamic factorial models, the Kalman filter and the Litterman method are used, also employed in the Monthly Index of Economic Activity (IMAE), in order to capture signals, changes in the productive cycle of construction and compile the sectoral economic facts that affect production. In the results, the dynamics of the sectoral and economic variables are observed that explain the behavior of the sector in Valle del Cauca during 2009-2020. A change of slope is observed in 2020, as a direct consequence of the crisis generated by COVID-19 and the restrictive measures taken by the government to contain its advance.
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COVID-19 pathology is characterized by a variety of symptoms, from respiratory to cardiac and even neuronal affections. However, from all of these manifestations, lungs' affection remains a focus of attention due to being considered as the main cause of death. Respiratory failure is treated using different strategies, but a very common practice is to provide respiratory support through artificial ventilation to patients. Unfortunately, due to the shortage of devices capable to offer such functionality, many patients are left unattended given that public healthcare systems' resources are not enough - the Bolivian healthcare system was not the exception. This paper reports the approach followed to develop MAMBU which stands for Mechatronic Ambulatory Medical Breathing Unit, an automation system for AMBU-based ventilation designed to face the shortage of ventilation devices in Bolivia. A MAMBU device can be manufactured and assembled in a short amount of time, with a low cost and easy transportation. Furthermore, it includes control schemes to manage the respiratory frequency, I:E ratio, PEEP, and FiO2. The device was validated through instrumental testing and in-vivo procedures following Bolivian current regulations. The results obtained show that the device is safe for human usage as well as relatively reliable (around 7% of error). © 2022 IEEE.
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In the midst the COVID-19 pandemic, and given the imminence of oxygen shortages in Colombia, the Knowledge Management and Transfer Network, made up of 19 scientific societies, health institutions, and universities, generates an update to the document led by the Colombian Association of Critical Medicine and includes new evidence-informed guidelines for the rational management of oxygen therapy, as well as basic and advanced devices for oxygen therapy. The recommendations refer to five topics: goal-oriented rational use of oxygen, standardization of follow-up and dose adjustment, effective use of oxygen therapy devices, rational use of invasive mechanical ventilation, and rational use of extracorporeal oxygenation membrane therapy. When exercising their judgment, it is expected that professionals and care teams will take into account these guidelines to make rational and safe use of oxygen therapy and its basic and advanced devices, together with the individual needs and preferences of the people who are under their care. © 2021 Asociación Colombiana de Medicina Crítica y Cuidado lntensivo
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The spread of COVID-19 has altered the structure and functioning of spatial systems, giving rise to multiple dynamics. The spatial and temporal concentration of cases requiring medical care has led to the collapse of healthcare systems around the world, particularly in territories with already limited resilience potential and provision of medical services, as was the case of Ecuador. In this South American country, a reform of the healthcare system was launched as part of the 2008 Constitution that involved a strengthened investment in healthcare services;however © 2022 Instituto de Geografia. All rights reserved.
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In this article, we aim to estimate what the cost of Covid-19 has been in terms of unemployment for Spain. We use a simple autoregressive model to simulate what the unemployment rate would have been without the pandemic and we compare this with the actual values. We also forecast the unemployment rate for 2021 and 2022 to analyse the persistence of the pandemic shock to unemployment.
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Some of the current vaccines have shown the need to have an infrastructure for cold vaccine storage and distribution. This represents a major logistic challenge for developed countries and a major limitation for underdeveloped ones. This paper proposes the use of thermoelectric devices in the insulation of the boxes being considered for distribution of vaccines with storage requirements near 203 K. We present some initial design considerations and propose a method of use in conjunction with a conventional refrigeration to improve the ability of the box insulation active and passive strategies to maintain the desired storage temperatures. © 2021 IEEE.
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In emergencies such as those suffered by many countries in the world due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it is necessary to reflect on the legal status of the state of emergency and its relationship with democracy, all from the international legal regulation in which Mexico is listed as a State party and also of its internal constitutional and legal regulation that was applied to address that health emergency. Thus, the documentary method reflects on the Mexican case on the non-suspension restriction in the exercise of the rights and guarantees provided for in Article 29 of its Political Constitution, and, on the contrary, the application of different constitutional and legal rules. It is concluded that in "abnormal" situations, democratic categories should be applied as a general parameter in all that state situation whose characteristics are exceptional and representing it an emergency that threatens its security, the above based on a "democratic exception" based on citizen conscience, beyond the formal compliance with the legally established and the action of the State through its bodies and institutions.
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The current COVID-19 global pandemic has amplified the pressure on the agriculture sector, inciting the need for sustainable agriculture more than ever. Thus, in this review, a sustainable perspective of the use of remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) or drone technology in the agriculture sector is discussed. Similarly, the types of cameras (multispectral, thermal, and visible), sensors, software, and platforms frequently deployed for ensuring precision agriculture for crop monitoring, disease detection, or even yield estimation are briefly discoursed. In this regard, vegetation indices (VIs) embrace an imperative prominence as they provide vital information for crop monitoring and decision-making, thus a summary of most commonly used VIs is also furnished and serves as a guide while planning to collect specific crop data. Furthermore, the establishment of significant applications of RPAs in livestock, forestry, crop monitoring, disease surveillance, irrigation, soil analysis, fertilization, crop harvest, weed management, mechanical pollination, crop insurance and tree plantation are cited in the light of currently available literature in this domain. RPA technology efficiency, cost and limitations are also considered based on the previous studies that may help to devise policies, technology adoption, investment, and research activities in this sphere. © 2020 by the authors.
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OBJECTIVES: The primary objective was to describe the characteristics and demographics of the surgical procedures carried out at a tertiary hospital during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. The secondary objective was to study the impact of the pandemic on the acute appendicitis cases treated at our healthcare facility and to compare them with a pre- SARS-CoV-2 period. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective study of all patients undergoing surgery at the pediatric surgery department in the pandemic period, from the beginning of the state of emergency in Spain until the first restrictions were removed, was conducted. RESULTS: A total of 61 patients underwent surgery in 58 days vs. 406 patients in the same 2019 period (p < 0.00001). 59.01% of surgeries were urgent. 5.1% of patients had a positive SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic test. 30 different procedures were carried out, with appendectomy being the most frequent one (n = 13, 19.6% of patients). 61.5% of appendicitis cases were complicated vs. 42.4% in the non-COVID period (p = 0.17). Surgical approach was open in 46.1% of patients vs. 6.1% in the non-COVID period (p = 0.004). No statistically significant differences were found in terms of complication rate or hospital stay. CONCLUSIONS: During the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, a significant decrease in the number of daily procedures was noted, with more than half being urgent. Appendicular pathologies were in a more advanced stage than usual, with a clear trend towards open surgery vs. laparoscopy.
OBJETIVOS: Describir las características y demografía de los procedimientos quirúrgicos realizados en un hospital de tercer nivel durante la pandemia del SARS-CoV-2. Como objetivo secundario se estudia el impacto de la pandemia en las apendicitis agudas tratadas en nuestro centro y su comparación con un periodo previo al SARS-CoV-2. MATERIAL Y METODOS: Estudio retrospectivo incluyendo a todos los pacientes intervenidos por parte del Servicio de Cirugía Pediátrica durante el periodo de pandemia. Abarca desde el primer día del estado de alarma hasta la desescalada de las restricciones. RESULTADOS: Se intervinieron un total de 61 pacientes en 58 días frente a 406 pacientes durante el mismo periodo de 2019 (p < 0,00001). El 59,01% de las intervenciones eran de carácter urgente. Un 5,1% de los pacientes tuvieron un test diagnóstico de SARS-CoV-2 positivo. Se realizaron 30 procedimientos distintos, siendo el más frecuente la apendicectomía (n = 13, 19,6% de los pacientes). El 61,5% de las apendicitis fueron complicadas frente a un 42,4% en periodo no COVID (p = 0,17). El abordaje quirúrgico fue abierto en un 46,1% de los pacientes frente al 6,1% no COVID (p = 0,004). No hubo diferencias estadísticamente significativas en la tasa de complicaciones o la estancia hospitalaria. CONCLUSIONES: Durante la pandemia por SARS-CoV-2 se ha producido una importante disminución del número de procedimientos diarios, pasando a ser más de la mitad de carácter urgente. La patología apendicular se ha presentado más evolucionada de lo habitual, habiendo una clara tendencia a la cirugía abierta frente a la laparoscopia.
Subject(s)
Appendectomy/methods , Appendicitis/surgery , COVID-19 , Surgical Procedures, Operative/statistics & numerical data , Adolescent , Child , Child, Preschool , Female , Humans , Infant , Infant, Newborn , Laparoscopy/statistics & numerical data , Length of Stay/statistics & numerical data , Male , Pediatrics , Retrospective Studies , Spain , Tertiary Care CentersABSTRACT
Honduras health workers are reduced;doctors and nurses are getting infected by COVID-19. The primary purpose of this project is the design and development of software that performs facial recognition and temperature registration for patients. The incremental model was used to develop the software. The algorithm was trained with 5 images per face for the first test and 10 images per face for the second, with a total sample of 80 participants. At a maximum distance of 1.4 meters from the camera, the system obtained 72% and 82% accuracy for each of the tests. Finally, the authors conclude that the system can be implemented in health areas such as laboratories, hospitals, and clinics so that contact between patients and doctors can be reduced. © Published under licence by IOP Publishing Ltd.