Aptamer-Capped Nanoporous Anodic Alumina for SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein Detection

The COVID-19 pandemic, which began in 2019, has highlighted the importance of testing and tracking infected individuals as a means of mitigating the spread of the virus. In this context, the development of sensitive and rapid methods for the detection of SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19, is crucial. Here, a biosensor based on oligonucleotide-gated nanomaterials for the specific detection of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein is presented. The sensing system consists of a nanoporous anodic alumina disk loaded with the fluorescent indicator rhodamine B and capped with a DNA aptamer that selectively binds the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. The system is initially evaluated using pseudotype virus systems based on vesicular stomatitis virus carrying different SARS-CoV-2 S-proteins on their surface. When the pseudotype virus is present, the cap of the solid is selectively removed, triggering the release of the dye from the pore voids to the medium. The nanodevice demonstrated its ability to detect pseudotype virus concentrations as low as 7.5·103 PFU mL. In addition, the nanodevice is tested on nasopharyngeal samples from individuals suspected of having COVID-19. © 2023 The Authors. Advanced Materials Technologies published by Wiley-VCH GmbH.

WhatsApp Remote Reading Recovery: Using Mobile Technology to Promote Literacy during COVID-19

School closures because of the COVID-19 pandemic affected over a billion young people worldwide and presented a threat to long-term learning, particularly for public school students in low socioeconomic situations. This article offers quasi-experimental evidence on a low-cost strategy for distance learning applied in the Republic of Panama to minimize the negative consequences of the pandemic on public elementary school children's reading levels. We conducted a 12-week intervention that utilized mobile phone technology and dissemination of reading material through WhatsApp, a cross-platform messaging freeware service, to maintain and improve children's reading levels during the pandemic school shutdown. The objective was to determine the feasibility of using WhatsApp as a digital tool to facilitate education and inform evolving practice and policy responses. Results among 292 students between the second and sixth grades indicated overall mean gains of up to 10.3% in the number of words read per minute, with statistically significant improvements overall and higher gains among the second and third grades. In addition, the adoption rate was high, with a reported average of 84% completion of the daily readings. The results of this low-tech intervention have immediate and longer-term implications for using mobile technology as a supplemental or complementary learning tool, especially for developing regions and during school closures or school vacations. © 2022, The International Academic Forum (IAFOR). All rights reserved.

Effectiveness of family connections intervention for family members of persons with personality disorders in two different formats: Online vs face-to-face.

Introduction: Personality disorders (PD) have a serious impact on the lives of individuals who suffer from them and those around them. It is common for family members to experience high levels of burden, anxiety, and depression, and deterioration in their quality of life. It is curious that few interventions have been developed for family members of people with PD. However, Family Connections (FC) (Hoffman and Fruzzetti, 2005) is the most empirically supported intervention for family members of people with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). Aim: The aim of this study is to explore the effectiveness of online vs face-to-face FC. Given the current social constraints resulting from SARS-CoV-2, interventions have been delivered online and modified. Method: This was a non-randomized pilot study with a pre-post evaluation and two conditions: The sample consisted of 45 family members distributed in two conditions: FC face-to-face (20) performed by groups before the pandemic, and FC online (25), performed by groups during the pandemic. All participants completed the evaluation protocol before and after the intervention. Results: There is a statistically significant improvement in levels of burden (η 2 = 0.471), depression, anxiety, and stress (η 2 = 0.279), family empowerment (η 2 = 0.243), family functioning (η 2 = 0.345), and quality of life (µ2 η 2 = 0.237). There were no differences based on the application format burden (η 2 = 0.134); depression, anxiety, and stress (η 2 = 0.087); family empowerment (η 2 = 0,27), family functioning (η 2 = 0.219); and quality of life (η 2 = 0.006), respectively). Conclusions: This study provides relevant data about the possibility of implementing an intervention in a sample of family members of people with PD in an online format without losing its effectiveness. During the pandemic, and despite the initial reluctance of family members and the therapists to carry out the interventions online, this work shows the effectiveness of the results and the satisfaction of the family members. These results are particularly relevant in a pandemic context, where there was no possibility of providing help in other ways. All of this represents a great step forward in terms of providing psychological treatment.

Equality and non-discrimination in pandemic times

This article analyses the impact that SARS-Cov-2 has had on various social groups, by confronting of the social and legal determinants of health. The text argues that a critical view that must be hold in the use of the latter, as it disregards subordinate patterns of discrimination within the current social context.

Public procurement in Ecuador, current situation in the face of the covid-19 pandemic

The public procurement processes are designed in Ecuador to guarantee the administrative operation of the nation under any circumstance. However, it has been shown that the control measures and policies implemented to achieve excellence in public procurement management are not sufficient, affecting ethical foundations that undermine social responsibility. The objective of this research is to carry out a study on public procurement in Ecuador. The current situation in the face of the covid-19 pandemic is characterized and a description of the main measures that can mitigate corruption actions is made. © 2020, University of Cienfuegos, Carlos Rafael Rodriguez. All rights reserved.

Legitimate decisions of the competent authority in the health emergency due to the covid-19

The pandemic generated by COVID-19 has led to the implementation of policies aimed at social isolation. However, there are always people who do not comply with established policies, requiring police intervention. Criminal law establishes that offenders are brought before a judge of criminal guarantees to resolve their legal situation. The objective of this research is to carry out a study on legitimate decisions of the competent authority in the health emergency caused by COVID-19 in Ecuador. A method for recommending the application of legitimate decisions is presented. © 2020, University of Cienfuegos, Carlos Rafael Rodriguez. All rights reserved.

Mobile robots application against covid-19 pandemic

This article presents an investigation about the different applications of mobile robots in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic. It shows the different contributions of companies around the world that seek to adapt to the new needs in order to be able to mitigate the progress of the Covid-19 using mobile robots as a tool, focusing primarily in the area of health and service. © 2020 IEEE.

Mechanical power measurement during mechanical ventilation of SARS-CoV-2 critically ill patients. A cohort study

Introduction: The ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI) depends on the amount of energy per minute transferred by the ventilator to the lung measured in Joules, which is called mechanical power. Mechanical power is a development variable probably associated with outcomes in ventilated patients. Objective(s): To describe the value of mechanical power in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection and ventilated for other causes and its relationship between days of mechanical ventilation, length of stay in the intensive care unit (ICU), and mortality. Method(s): A multicenter, analytical, observational cohort study was conducted in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection who required invasive mechanical ventilation and patients ventilated for other causes for more than 24 hours. Result(s): The cohort included 91 patients on mechanical ventilation in three tertiary care centers in the city of Pereira, Colombia. The average value of the mechanical power found was 22.7 +/- 1 Joules/min. In the subgroup of patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection, the value of mechanical power was higher 26.8 +/- 9 than in the subgroup of patients without a diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection 18.2 +/- 1 (p <0.001). Conclusion(s): Mechanical power is an important variable to consider during the monitoring of mechanical ventilation. This study found an average value of mechanical power of 22.7 +/- 1 Joules/min, being higher in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection related to longer days of mechanical ventilation and a longer stay in the ICU. Copyright © 2022 Lippincott Williams and Wilkins. All rights reserved.