Is investing in the renewable energy stock market both financially and ESG efficient? A COVID-19 pandemic analysis

The aim of this paper is to provide a tool for finding investments in the stocks of energy firms that achieve both good financial and reasonable environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance. Our methodology entails two steps and is based on diversification-consistent DEA models. The first step involves constructing a financially efficient frontier of investment portfolios by applying the model originally proposed by Branda (Omega 52:65–76. 10.1016/j.ejor.2007.04.014, 2015). In the second step, a new DEA model is proposed in order to find the ESG-efficient portfolios among the ones already identified in the first step and to rank them with respect to their ESG performance. This model is parameterised by a weighting system that allows us to assign different importance to the various ESG outputs. Additionally, the proposal allows an evaluation of both ESG and financial efficiency related to the financial energy market over two periods (the pre-COVID-19 and COVID-19 periods), considering renewable energy and non-renewable energy firms both jointly and separately. The results support the better financial performance of the renewable energy stock market compared with that of the non-renewable energy market. © 2023, The Author(s).

Survey of occupational risks in the agricultural sector of northeastern Buenos Aires, Argentina

Due to the scarce antecedents and the need to contribute to professional training, the following objectives were proposed: To study occupational hazards in the agricultural sector of the northeast of the province of Buenos Aires. To train students of the career of Higher Technician in Occupational Hygiene and Safety in the Workplace to carry out an investigation. A survey was carried out with 104 people of the local agricultural sector, during 2021 under the different modalities allowed by the coronavirus pandemics. The main risks surveyed were those related to the use of tractors and agricultural machinery, the use of agrochemicals, overexertion and exposure to climatic factors. A diversity of chemical products used was observed, which is directly related to the diversity of agricultural activities in the area. Training was scarce, with INTA being the main institution that carries out training in the region. The coronavirus pandemics had little impact on the activity, mainly in terms of less sales, difficulty in working according to protocols and loss of wages. There was agreement on the need for greater training and control by the authorities in terms of hygiene, safety and ergonomics in the field of agricultural work. With respect to the pedagogical objective sought, the research enabled the students to be trained for their future professional life. © 2022, Asociacion Argentina de Horticultura - ASAHO. All rights reserved.

An outbreak in a pandemic in healthcare workers

BACKGROUND: An outbreak is defined as an increase in epidemiologically-associated cases greater than expected, during the 2019 Coronavirus pandemic 10.1% of cases are reported in healthcare workers in Mexico, however the circulation of the new Omicron variant with greater transmissibility is a risk for the occurrence of outbreaks. OBJECTIVE: Describes an outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 infection in health personnel of a pediatric hospital during the pandemic. METHODS: An outbreak study is carried out in health personnel diagnosed with SARSCoV- 2 infection, in a tertiary pediatric hospital, from January 1, 2021 to January 30, 2022. The increase in laboratory confirmed cases in January, higher than cases reported in the previous period indicated an outbreak and the need to strengthen prevention measures in the population. RESULTS: An outbreak with 508 cases in health personnel in January 2022 was confirmed, identifying 27.5% as in-hospital. The circulation of a new variant with high transmissibility, together with the relaxation of prevention measures due to the state of vaccination and the perception of a lower risk from COVID 19, are factors for the presence of the outbreak. CONCLUSIONS: It is important to continuously strengthen prevention measures and make staff adopt them as a daily behavior to avoid outbreaks. © 2022 Instituto Nacional de Pediatria. All rights reserved.

Trends in the parents' intention to vaccinate their children against COVID-19: A comparative study in Peru

Background. Although COVID-19 vaccination has shown to be clearly beneficial in children and adolescents to reduce hospitalization and potentially transmission, there is still a lot of hesitation among parents due to concerns about vaccine safety and efficacy, especially in children under 12 years of age. Methods. We conducted a comparative study in Peru to evaluate the trends in parents' intention to vaccinate their children under 12 years of age against COVID-19, for which an online survey was administered. The survey was distributed through social networks (Facebook, Twitter, etc.), and was applied during two periods: 11/25/2021 to 12/06/2022 (Period 1) and 01/16/2022 to 01/24/2022 (Period 2). We also assessed the factors associated with the intention to vaccinate in each period through crude (cPR) and adjusted prevalence rates (aPR). Results. During period 1, there were 673 participants (69.7% women). In period 2, we had 1139 respondents (77.7% women). Regarding intention to vaccinate, 83.5% of parents intended to vaccinate their children under 12 years of age during period 1. This percentage was almost the same during period 2 (83.3%). During period 1, the factors associated with a decrease in this intention were to believe that the vaccine was not necessary (aPR 0.65;95% CI 0.44 - 0.94, p=0.022), that it would not protect (aPR: 0.14;95% CI 0.03 - 0.63, p=0.011), that it would not be safe (aPR: 0.80;95% CI 0.70 - 0.92, p=0.001), that it could cause long-termside effects (aPR: 0.92;95% CI 0.85 - 1.00, p=0.037), and to think it should not be mandatory (aPR: 0.89;95% CI 0.80-0.99, p=0.038). During period 2, besides the factors identified in period 1, not knowing about COVID-19 infection risk in children (aPR: 0.92;95% CI 0.85-1.00, p=0.042) was also associated with a decrease in the intention. Living on the highlands or jungle was associated with an increase in the intention in both periods. Conclusion. A high rate of intention to vaccinate children under 12 years of age was noted among parents in Peru, which was maintained until the end of January of 2022, right before COVID-19 vaccination started for this age group. There was a perception in some parents that the vaccine might not be necessary or safe, leading to a lower intention to vaccinate their children.

The animated musicogram: an innovative didactic tool for music, digital and mediated pedagogy

The present work aims to value the animated digital musicogram, as an innovative teaching tool, aimed at music education teachers in Primary. This experience was developed during the COVID pandemic, with the intention of making the teaching-learning process of music in Primary Education more creative and interactive. It was urgent to find didactic alternatives that would allow breaking the space-time coordinates, typical of face-to-face teaching, based on the digital and mediated reinvention of classic pedagogical resources such as the musicogram. Through different editing, digitizing and video recording programs, an innovative version of the digital and mediated musicogram was developed for Primary teachers. Immediately afterwards, a didactic tutorial video was created, shared with the teachers involved, hosted on its own YouTube channel, which contained the different steps to follow in its design as a mediated didactic resource. The results showed, in addition to its ease of adaptation, enormous potential for application in the classroom, as well as excellent acceptance by students. Currently, the video has more than 74,000 views and the creation of animated musicograms, as an open digital pedagogical resource, is increasingly widespread among specialist teachers.

Perceived Teacher Digital Competence of Pre-Service Bilingual Teachers: A Comparative Study of On-Site vs Emergency Remote Teaching

Digital competence is of utmost importance due to its direct link to the use of technologies, a key ability in the 21st-century society. However, research analyses neither pre-service bilingual teachers' digital competence nor its relationship with emergency remote teaching in situations such as that caused by COVID-19. Following a quantitative analysis, this paper compares the perceptions regarding teacher digital competence of two groups of pre-service bilingual teachers. Findings reveal an overall positive perceived competence. Moreover, significant differences are observed in favor of women in terms of gender and in terms of received instruction in favor of face-to-face teaching versus emergency remote teaching. It is also concluded the need for specific training for teachers to develop their digital competence, as well as the necessity to experience emergency remote teaching situations.

Africa trade and Covid-19: the supply chain dimension

The economic crisis generated by the COVID-19 pandemic is likely to be the deepest since records began. In Africa, trade volumes are projected to decrease by 8% for exports and about 16% for imports for 2020, compared with previous historic trend estimates (WTO, 2020a). Managing the pandemic has generated a unique blow to the world economy, simultaneously affecting supply, demand and trade. Supply has been affected directly through the suspension of operation of economic units across multiple activities. The lockdowns have directly affected many services, such as hospitality and retail services, with a knock-on effect on their domestic and foreign suppliers. In addition, restrictions applied on the movement of people and goods represent a huge hit to activities such as tourism and transportation. The fall in commodity prices constitutes a significant blow to the trade and macroeconomic situation of many African countries that rely on few agricultural and mineral commodities. Meanwhile, the anticipated massive fall in income from tourism is going to hit many other countries that rely on tourism. Trade is also being affected, as COVID-19 is increasing international trade costs through additional inspections, reduced hours of operation, road and border closures and increased transport costs. Africa is primarily involved upstream, providing intermediate products and services to a wide range of global supply chains. African exports, including their value added, are therefore being affected simultaneously by the impact on direct exports but also by the impact on exports between third countries. Europe (the EU and the UK) appears to be particularly important in the integration of African firms into global supply chains. More than 60% of African value added in global exports is embedded in European production. This value added embedded in part directly in exports to Europe but also indirectly in the exports of third countries to Europe. In order to recover and build resilience in the medium to long term, African economies should maintain momentum and ambition on the landmark African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Agreement. A rapid and ambitious implementation of the AfCFTA will help the recovery from Covid-19 impacts, while reducing Africa's exposure to future adverse effects of global shocks related to health, food supply and climate change, and more regional shocks such as the locust crisis in East Africa. The pandemic has highlighted that a robust supplier management system that takes into account sub-tier dependencies and proximity is a prerequisite for today's supply chain, and in turn has underlined the need to use the AfCFTA as a springboard for developing Africa's industrial base. The delay to the start of trading offers a window of opportunity for creative thinking on how to reconfigure the AfCFTA to reflect the new realities and risks of the twenty-first century. The health sector needs to be elevated as the heart of the AfCFTA Agreement and prioritised in the initial stages of implementation. Pharmaceutical and medical products should not be included on the sensitive item or exclusion lists of state parties' tariff schedules and should be prioritised in the finalisation of rules of origin and harmonisation of standards. Member states should also consider adding health and education services to the priority list of services sectors for the first round of services negotiations, and revisiting the AfCFTA built-in agenda to introduce a new ambitious work programme of simultaneous negotiations on Phase 2 issues (intellectual property rights, investment and competition policy) and Phase 3 issues (e-commerce) in 2021-2022. In addition to developing more regional value chains, African countries need to protect the position they have achieved in existing global value chains. The implementation of the AfCFTA is instrumental to this goal but insufficient. While investment has been substantially affected, African countries must assure that it is oriented to the sectors with the highest impacts in terms of competitive

Relevance of Political Actions Aimed at Guaranteeing a Healthy and Sufficient Diet During and After the COVID-19 Pandemic in the context of Latin America

Unhealthy eating patterns are the main behavioral risk factor related to mortality in Latin America and the Caribbean. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the implementation of political actions to promote a healthy diet and reduce the consumption of ultra-processed foods is a priority, not only to prevent non-communicable diseases (NCDs), but also to reduce the clinical impairment of the persons who suffer them. The political actions that ensure the supply of unprocessed foods of high nutritional value to the markets in a periodic and timely manner and that allow the farmers to continue with their cultivation and harvest activities are a fundamental pillar to mitigate the effects of indirect health negatives derived from the pandemic. To face the growing challenge of obesity and NCDs associated with unhealthy eating patterns a comprehensive approach is required that includes the following actions: taxes on sugary beverages, restrictions on marketing and advertising of ultra-processed foods and beverages, front-of-package warning label, as well as policies to modify agricultural and food systems.

Sars CoV 2, an experience of biochemistry in context for teaching concepts associated with proteins

This article shows the results of a didactic intervention in the field of teaching biochemistry in context, to teach some concepts associated with proteins. The participants were fourteen students enrolled in the Bachelor of Chemistry program of the National Pedagogical University, with whom the subject of COVID 19 was worked, and emphasis was placed on the proteins of the coronavirus Sars CoV 2, to teach concepts such as amino acids, peptide bond, proteins, primary, and secondary protein structures. Thus, activities such as explanatory videos of the coronavirus, readings of academic articles on the structure of the virus, lectures, as well as the use of bioinformatics tools to design and predict protein structures were carried out. The academic performance of the students was evaluated through mental maps, initial and final questionnaires, as well as an essay. As a result, it could suggest that the use of these didactic tools, applied in the context of the pandemic, improves academic performance, since the students were able to elaborate the different structures of a protein fraction, including their respective characteristics.

ORAL ABSTRACTS: O4 IMPACT OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC ON PREGNANCY PREFERENCES: A LONGITUDINAL INTERRUPTED TIME-SERIES STUDY

Objectives: Research on how major disruptive events – pandemics, wars, and economic recessions – influence people's pregnancy intentions and fertility yields mixed findings. Experts have speculated about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on pregnancy desires, but existing research has major limitations, including being cross-sectional, relying on people's perceptions of their preference changes (rather than documenting actual changes), and lacking valid measures. Methods: Using longitudinal data collected from March 2019 to March 2021, we assessed changes in trajectories of pregnancy preferences among women aged 15-34 in Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas (N=630, n=2,860). At baseline and quarterly for one year, participants responded to a validated measure of feelings and desires around pregnancy within 3 months (Desire to Avoid Pregnancy [DAP] scale, range 0-4, 4=higher preference to avoid pregnancy). We used multivariable mixed effects segmented regression to examine changes in pregnancy preferences before and during the pandemic. Results: Over the 12-months prior to the first shelter-in-place order (April 2020), marginal DAP scores decreased steadily over time (coefficient.=-0.24/year [95% CI: -0.31- -0.17], p<0.001). When shelter-in-place went into effect, DAP scores stopped declining and became flat (coefficient.=0/year, change in slope: p<0.001). Scores remained flat until the resurgence in COVID-19 cases in November 2020, when DAP scores started to increase, but insignificantly (coefficient.=0.25/year). Time-by-socioeconomic status interactions were insignificant. Conclusions: Pandemic onset was associated with changes in people's preference to avoid pregnancy, stalling a general trend toward greater openness to pregnancy over time. Understanding how COVID-19 affected people's pregnancy preferences is essential for evaluating pandemic effects on contraception and abortion.

Impacto de la segunda ola de infección de covid-19 en pacientes de hemodiálisis extremadura (España)

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Hemodialysis patients are high-risk patients for severe forms of SARS-Cov 2. Extremadura has two provinces Badajoz(B) and Caceres(C) with one million of people. The incidence was small in the first part of the pandemic (2,6%) compared with the national incidence, and it was higher in C than in B (5,6% vs 1,1%) The aim of this study was to estimate the incidence of COVID-19 disease in the population of Extremadura's hemodialysis patients and to study the clinical evolution, treatment and mortality in patients with confirmed infection with Polymerase chain reaction(PCR) during the second wave. METHOD: Multicenter, retrospective, observational study of hemodialysis patients with COVID-19 disease between August and December of 2020. There were 683 hemodialysis patients in this period distributed in 5 hospital units and 7 out of hospital Units. RESULTS: Incidence: 6,8% (46 infected of SARS-Cov 2), with almost one patient in each center (the highest with 16,1%) and higher incidence in B than in C (8,1% vs 4,1%). Males (58,7%), media age, (69,3±11,9) and median renal replacement therapy time 29 months (RIC 47,4). The most frequent CKD was diabetic nephropathy (16%), but 35% of the patients have diabetes, 86% hypertension and 56% cardiovascular illness. Treatment with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin II receptor blockers 40% and with vitamin D 62,8%. There were 42% patients who had contacted with positive people of hemodialysis unit and 37% with positive people outside. 67% have symptoms: the most frequent cough and fever (46%). Hospitalized patients: 41,6%, all of them with bilateral pneumonia. All had lymphocytopenia and high acute phase reactants: D-dimer 1195 ng/ml (RIC 1545), Ferritin 950,12ng/ml (RIC 533,6) IL-6 30,11pg/ml (RIC 41,13) C-reactive protein 28 mg/l (RIC 62,10) Procalcitonin 0,42 ng/ml (RIC 0,44), all increased in the hospitalized period without significant differences. Median hospitalized time was 10 days (RIC 11). Nine patients died (19,5%), 3 of them in intensive unit care with 15 days median. Most of them needed antibiotic therapy, steroids and anticoagulation, 5 convalescent plasma and 5 tocilizumab. We stopped isolated room dialysis when they had negative PCR (56%) or IgG positive (54%), median insulation 17 days (RIC 7). We haven't found differences in hospitalized vs no hospitalized patients in age, gender, renal replacement therapy time, etiology, DM, hypertension or cardiovascular illness and treatment, nor in relation with mortality. CONCLUSION: We have observed an increase in the incidence of infection in this period compared with the first period of the pandemic, parallel to the increases in the incidence of the general population in Extremadura (more in B than in C). The mortality is high but similar to other publications. We have to do screening due to the possibility of asymptomatic patients that could have contributed to expand the infection. The high number of hospitalized patients and the need of isolated rooms dialysis for infections patients is a challenge for the organization of hemodialysis units but having positive serologic reduce the isolation time.

Early-onset cytokine release syndrome following allogeneic haploidentical peripheral blood stem cell transplantation might decrease overall survival

Background: Haploidentical HLA stem cell transplantation (haplo- HSCT) is increasingly being used as part of the treatment of hematological malignancies lacking a suitable HLA-matched donor. Cytokine release syndrome (CRS) is a systemic inflammatory response with aberrant immune activation and hyperstimulation which has been described in a number of clinical settings, including haplo-HSCT. However, clinical impact of CRS on these patients is controversial. During COVID-19 pandemic, graft cryopreservation in haplo-HSCT has increased in our centre. As a result, we clinically noticed a change in CRS onset in these patients. Aims: To identify novel CRS features that might have a prognostic impact on haplo-HSCT, as well as to determine if graft cryopreservation might influence any of those features. Methods: A cohort of154 patients undergoing allogeneic stem cell transplantation in2019 and2020 in our centre, from which 51 patients receiving peripheral blood haplo-HSCT from1st February2019 to31st December2020 were selected. Two of them were excluded for the CRS analysis due to relevant microbiological isolation close to the infusion date and impossibility to distinguish between infectious and CRS fever. CRS was graded according to the ASBMT consensus. Results: The median age was 51 years (range17-72), 59% were male. Median follow-up was359 days for alive patients. Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation Comorbidity Index (HCT-CI) was low risk in 45%, intermediate risk in22% and high risk in33%. Most patients (71%) had an intermediate Disease Risk Index (DRI). Conditioning regimen was myeloablative in12 (24%). 84% of the patients presented with CRS after haplo-HSCT (71% of them occurred in the first 48 hours after infusion). CRS was mild in most patients (grade1 in29 (71%) and grade2 in12 (29%);no grade3 CRS or further occurred. Graft cryopreservation accounted for13 (25%) patients. Early-onset CRS (<48h since stem cell infusion) was associated with lower overall survival (Figure1, p=0,01), as well as lower event free survival (relapse or death, p=0,03) when compared with the remaining patients in a univariate analysis. Non-myeloablative conditioning was associated with a higher proportion of early-onset CRS (74% vs 9%, p<0,001) as well as age >60 years (80% vs 45% p=0,014). It should be noted that age >60 years did not impact on overall survival in the first year following haplo-HSCT in our patients (p=0,485). We also found an interesting trend between graft cryopreservation and early- onset CRS (only38% of patients with graft cryopreservation presented early-onset CRS, whereas 67% of patients with fresh graft did so, p=0,075). Cryopreservation was related to less proportion of CRS grade ≥2 (0% vs33%, p=0,014) and it did not impact on engraftment, overall survival nor graft versus receptor disease rate or severity in our patients. Patients with refractory disease prior to transplantation presented higher rates of CRS grade ≥2 (75% vs20%, p=0,041). Moreover, a trend was observed for mononucleated cell count >8 x108 (37% vs14%, p=0,067). However, CRS grade ≥2 did not impact on overall survival in our patients (p=0,251) Summary/Conclusion: Early-onset CRS is associated with less overall survival and less event-free survival following the first year after haplo- HSCT. Cryopreservation is associated with less CRS grade =2 probability and might also reduce the chance of developing early-onset CRS.

Childhood and adolescence: Experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic in Argentina

The advent of the COVID-19 pandemic and the preventive and compulsory social confinement established as a response by the national government of Argentina had an impact on the daily lives and subjectivities of children and adolescents. The authors carried out a qualitative exploratory-descriptive study that focused on the construction of meanings and emotions in relation to the pandemic, lock-downs, school experiences and care practices. A total of 68 children and adolescents from four different jurisdictions in Argentina participated in the study between March and June 2020. The authors collected oral narratives, photos, drawings and videos produced by the children and adolescents. The participants reinvented ways of bonding, playing and inhabiting spaces, establishing themselves as ethical-political subjects who are capable of caring and transforming the roles assigned to them by society despite worsening situations of inequality, fear of contagion and loss of loved ones. © 2022 Women's Health Care. All rights reserved.

Impact of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on Colombian anesthesiologists: Survey study

Introduction: The practice of anesthesiology during the COVID-19/SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has had a psychological impact, and has been associated with ethical dilemmas, work overload, and occupational risk. Objective(s): To understand different problems affecting anesthesiologists, in particular with regards to professional ethics in the decision-making process, increased personal workload, and the potential risk in terms of their own safety and health, as a consequence of working during the COVID-19 pandemic. Method(s): Observational, descriptive, cross-sectional study. A survey was administered to anesthesiologists members of the Colombian Society of Anesthesiology and Resuscitation (S.C.A.R.E.), to enquire about work hours, occupational safety, prevention standards and strategies, and ethical aspects involved in decision making during the COVID-19 pandemic. Result(s): 218 anesthesiologist participated in the survey. Most of the respondents felt that there was not a significant increase in their workload, except for those in critical care (42.5 %;n = 17). Most of the participants believe that leisure time is not enough. 55.96 % (n = 122) of the participants said they felt moderately safe with the biosecurity measures, but with a higher risk of contagion versus other practitioners, with 72.9 % (n = 159) responding that they used their own money to buy personal protection equipment (PPE). There was also evidence that one fourth of the respondents has faced ethical dilemmas during the resuscitation of SARS-CoV-2 - infected patients. Conclusion(s): The information gathered is a preliminary approach to the situation arising in Colombia as a result of the pandemic;it is clear that anesthesiologists perceive higher associated lack of safety due to different factors such as higher risk of infection, shortage of PPEs and burnout, inter alia. Hence we believe that it is fundamental to acknowledge the work of all anesthesiologists and understand the impact that the pandemic has had on this group of professionals. Copyright © 2022 Lippincott Williams and Wilkins. All rights reserved.