Smartwatch-based ecological momentary assessments for occupant wellness and privacy in buildings

This paper describes the adaptation of an open-source ecological momentary assessment smartwatch platform with three sets of micro-survey wellness-related questions focused on i) infectious disease (COVID-19) risk perception, ii) privacy and distraction in an office context, and iii) triggers of various movement-related behaviors in buildings. This platform was previously used to collect data for thermal comfort, and this work extends its use to other domains. Several research participants took part in a proof-of-concept experiment by wearing a smartwatch to collect their micro-survey question preferences and perception responses for two of the question sets. Participants were also asked to install an indoor localization app on their phone to detect where precisely in the building they completed the survey. The experiment identified occupant information such as the tendencies for the research participants to prefer privacy in certain spaces and the difference between infectious disease risk perception in naturally versus mechanically ventilated spaces. © 2022 17th International Conference on Indoor Air Quality and Climate, INDOOR AIR 2022. All rights reserved.

Assessment of the teaching performance of students in initial training after participating in simulations of teaching practices in a virtual world

The Virtual World (VW) has gained theoretical prominence in the educational field due to its multiple advantages;however, in practice, its integration into Initial Teacher Training (ITT) processes is still scarcely studied. This pre-experimental design research aims to analyze the effect of simulations of pedagogical practices in a VW on the assessment of pedagogical performance of students in ITT. 140 Chilean students from pedagogy programs participated in an educational intervention consisting of six 90-minute sessions over a period of two months during the pandemic. A self-report instrument was administered as a pre-and post-test for the assessment of pedagogical performance. Findings show a positive effect of the simulations of pedagogical practices on teaching performance, as well as a higher rate by students at higher grades compared to students at lower grades. It is concluded that the VW allows reinforcing pedagogical, disciplinary and technological competencies of future teachers, and provide a space for simulation of effective practices in a safe context under the current conditions by COVID-19.

The economic performance of the EU fishing fleet during the COVID-19 pandemic

The COVID-19 outbreak and subsequent public health interventions have depressed demand and disrupted supply chains for many fishing businesses. This paper provides an analysis of the COVID-19 impacts on the profitability of the EU fishing fleets. Nowcasting techniques were used to estimate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the economic performance for the EU fishing fleet in 2020 and 2021. Our results show that the economic impact of COVID-19 on this sector was smaller than initially expected and overall profits remained positive. This was in part due to low fuel prices that reduced operating costs of fishing, and the early response from governments to support the sector. The results vary by fishing fleet, revealing that small-scale fleets and the fleets in the Mediterranean and Black seas have been more impacted than large-scale fleets and the fleets in the Northeast Atlantic. © G. Carpenter et al., Published by EDP Sciences 2023.

Analysis of combined non-invasive respiratory support in the first six waves of the COVID-19 pandemic. Outcome according to the first respiratory support

Introduction: COVID-19 can lead to acute respiratory failure (ARF) requiring admission to intensive care unit (ICU). This study analyzes COVID-19 patients admitted to the ICU, according to the initial respiratory support. Its main aim is to determine if the use of combination therapy: high-flow oxygen system with nasal cannula (HFNC) and non-invasive ventilation (NIV), is effective and safe in the treatment of these patients. Methods: Retrospective observational study with a prospective database. All COVID-19 patients, admitted to the ICU, between March 11, 2020, and February 12, 2022, and who required HFNC, NIV, or endotracheal intubation with invasive mechanical ventilation (ETI-IMV) were analyzed. HFNC failure was defined as therapeutic escalation to NIV, and NIV failure as the need for ETI-IMV or death in the ICU. The management of patients with non-invasive respiratory support included the use of combined therapy with different devices. The study period included the first six waves of the pandemic in Spain. Results: 424 patients were analyzed, of whom 12 (2.8%) received HFNC, 397 (93.7%) NIV and 15 (3.5%) ETI-IMV as first respiratory support. PaO2/FiO2 was 145 ± 30, 119 ± 26 and 117 ± 29 mmHg, respectively (p = 0.003). HFNC failed in 11 patients (91.7%), who then received NIV. Of the 408 patients treated with NIV, 353 (86.5%) received combination therapy with HFNC. In patients treated with NIV, there were 114 failures (27.9%). Only the value of SAPS II index (p = 0.001) and PaO2/FiO2 (p < 0.001) differed between the six analyzed waves, being the most altered values in the 3rd and 6th waves. Hospital mortality was 18.7%, not differing between the different waves (p = 0.713). Conclusions: Severe COVID-19 ARF can be effectively and safely treated with NIV combined with HFNC. The clinical characteristics of the patients did not change between the different waves, only showing a slight increase in severity in the 3rd and 6th waves, with no difference in the outcome. © 2022 Elsevier Ltd

Mathematical model optimized for prediction and health care planning for COVID-19. / Modelo matemático optimizado para la predicción y planificación de la asistencia sanitaria por la COVID-19.

OBJECTIVE: The COVID-19 pandemic has threatened to collapse hospital and ICU services, and it has affected the care programs for non-COVID patients. The objective was to develop a mathematical model designed to optimize predictions related to the need for hospitalization and ICU admission by COVID-19 patients. DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: Province of Granada (Spain). POPULATION: COVID-19 patients hospitalized, admitted to ICU, recovered and died from March 15 to September 22, 2020. STUDY VARIABLES: The number of patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 and hospitalized or admitted to ICU for COVID-19. RESULTS: The data reported by hospitals was used to develop a mathematical model that reflects the flow of the population among the different interest groups in relation to COVID-19. This tool allows to analyse different scenarios based on socio-health restriction measures, and to forecast the number of people infected, hospitalized and admitted to the ICU. CONCLUSIONS: The mathematical model is capable of providing predictions on the evolution of the COVID-19 sufficiently in advance as to anticipate the peaks of prevalence and hospital and ICU care demands, and also the appearance of periods in which the care for non-COVID patients could be intensified.

Remote Cognitive Stimulation Therapy: Continuity in the Context of Covid-19 Pandemic in Buenos Aires, Argentina

BACKGROUND: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, clinical practice of neuropsychology has been substantially modified keeping the remote attention since then. In this work our experience in remote cognitive stimulation (RCS) for the past fifteen months and the user satisfaction during the second year of the pandemic is described.

Theme 01 - Epidemiology and Informatics

The incidence of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in Ohio 2016-2018: the Ohio population-based ALS Registry. Environmental and occupational risk factors of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a population-based case-control study. Risk factors associated with mortality among patients with COVID-19 in intensive care units in Lombardy, Italy. [Extracted from the article]

AGRINNOVACION 4.0: Methodological classification tool to determine production areas of short-cycle crops

The National Plan for the Improvement of Productivity and Sustainability of the Agricultural Sector aims to be applied in a staggered manner to the entire country, under the name of AGRINNOVACION 4.0 to promote economic recovery and job creation after the COVID-19 pandemic. The objective of this work is to analyze geospatial information of the producers of the AGRINNOVACION 4.0 program using the free Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform, in order to establish the base of the digital agricultural cadastre of the North Zone of Cartago and have a system of geographic information for the application of high-precision technologies, as a basis for the identification model of productive areas with short-cycle crops developed in the North Zone of Cartago. A data acquisition methodology was generated using geographic information systems and machine learning techniques (Random Forest), with good fitting results. For the area under study, it is imperative that the information affected by cloud cover be reduced to make the classification of lands for horticultural use as accurate as possible. The tool is replicable and constitutes a support in the success of the plan for the later stages.

Changes in the technological self-perception of teachers in the context of a pandemic

This study relates the changes in the self-perception of teachers in the context of pandemic with the curricular needs suggested by the Chilean Ministry of Education. The objective was to analyze the objectives of the curricular prioritizations and the degree of self-assessment on the integration of technologies of teachers in pre-pandemic and pandemic contexts. The study was analytical, interpretative and comparative. A total of 178 teachers were selected, a TPACK questionnaire was applied to them in December 2020 and January 2021, and four subjects were selected for word clouds based on their prioritized objectives. Results were analyzed descriptively, comparatively with another sample taken in 2018 and among other demographic groups. The results revealed significant differences in several TPACK components (TK, PK, PCK, TCK, and TPK) of teachers. It is concluded that teachers in pandemic context self-perceive themselves with greater technological knowledge, but less pedagogical and content knowledge than teachers in pre-pandemic context, not coinciding with the curricular needs in this period, where greater content and pedagogical management is needed to contextualize learning. © 2022 Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais. All rights reserved.

2D materials and van der Waals heterostructures platforms for advanced sensing of COVID-19

Effective, low-cost, reliable, and versatile diagnosing of SARS-CoV-2 is a critical factor for containing the pandemic outbreak of COVID-19. 2D materials (2DMs) have recently emerged as very promising platforms for biomedical sensors since they offer high surface area and a wide range of tunable electronic, mechanical, and optical properties. In addition, 2DMs surfaces allow adjusting the interfacial phenomena, substantial property for the tailored design of the sensing mechanism, and successful device fabrication. In this chapter, achievements in the detection of COVID-19 using platforms produced from graphene, 2DMs, and their van der Waals (vdW) heterostructures are summarized. The most important outcomes of the use of 2DMs in COVID-19 detection such as cost-effective, massive production, the possibility for device manufacture, the fabrication of point-of-care test kids, and their straightforward capacity to interconnect to the Internet of Things are characteristics expected to produce devices able to sense, record, monitor, and respond. These abilities, in synergy, might help to minimize the spread of COVID-19 and further pandemic outbreaks. © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Incremento del riesgo cardiovascular en pacientes con COVID-19 a corto y largo plazo

Si bien la COVID-19 es una enfermedad dominantemente y los síntomas respiratorios tienden a ser la presentación clínica inicial, la evidencia acumulada ha sugerido que esta entidad clínica está estrechamente asociada con complicaciones cardiovasculares. Aunado a esto, aunque inicialmente se evidenció que las complicaciones cardiovasculares forman parte de la presentación aguda de la COVID-19, se dispone de datos limitados a largo plazo de las complicaciones posteriores a la misma. Hoy en día algunos estudios soportan que este tipo de complicaciones pueden persistir después de la resolución de la infección, evidenciándose la necesidad de un mayor entendimiento de las implicaciones a corto y largo plazo de la infección por SARS-CoV-2. El objetivo de esta revisión sintetizar la evidencia actual de las complicaciones cardiovasculares a corto y largo plazo de la COVID-19.Alternate :Although COVID-19 is a predominantly respiratory disease, and respiratory symptoms tend to be the initial clinical presentation, accumulated evidence suggests this clinical entity is closely related to cardiovascular complications. In addition, although cardiovascular complications have been an early observation of the acute presentation of COVID-19, limited data is available regarding the long-term complications in this respect. At present, some studies suggest that the risk for this type of complications may persist after the resolution of the infection, highlighting the need for a greater understanding of the implication of the SARS-CoV-2 infection in the short and long term. The objective of this review is to synthesize current evidence on the short-term and long-term cardiovascular complications of COVID-19.

Epileptic seizures in the emergency room: clinical and electroencephalographic findings associated with brain perfusion patterns on computed tomography.

BACKGROUND: Diagnosis of epileptic seizures, particularly regarding status epilepticus (SE), may be challenging in an emergency room setting. The aim of the study was to study the diagnostic yield of perfusion computed tomography (pCT) in patients with single epileptic seizures and SE. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the records of patients who followed an acute ischemic stroke pathway during a 9-month period and who were finally diagnosed with a single epileptic seizure or SE. Perfusion maps were visually analyzed for the presence of hyperperfusion and hypoperfusion. Clinical data, EEG patterns, and neuroimaging findings were compared. RESULTS: We included 47 patients: 20 (42.5%) with SE and 27 (57.5%) with single epileptic seizure. Of 18 patients who showed hyperperfusion on pCT, 12 were ultimately diagnosed with SE and eight had EEG findings compatible with an SE pattern. Focal hyperperfusion on pCT had a sensitivity of 60% (95% CI 36.4-80.2) and a specificity of 77.8% (95% CI 57.2-90.6) for predicting a final diagnosis of SE. The presence of cerebral cortical and thalamic hyperperfusion had a high specificity for predicting SE presence. Of note, 96% of patients without hyperperfusion on pCT did not show an SE pattern on early EEG. CONCLUSIONS: In acute settings, detection by visual analysis of focal cerebral cortical hyperperfusion on pCT in patients with epileptic seizures, especially if accompanied by the highly specific feature of thalamic hyperperfusion, is suggestive of a diagnosis of SE and requires clinical and EEG confirmation. The absence of focal hyperperfusion makes a diagnosis of SE unlikely.

Psychometric validation of an instrument to measure cyber-coexistence among young Chileans during the pandemic and post-pandemic period

In mid-March 2020, the world suddenly stopped with the appearance of COVID-19. However, the need to continue formal education, go to work and maintain communication with others remained intact. Technologies have made it possible to carry out these activities digitally in a space of interaction called cyber-coexistence. This research analyses the psychometric properties of a questionnaire intended to measure cyber-coexistence in the context of teaching and learning processes during the health crisis. Recommendations based on the literature were considered in the construction and validation of the instrument, which was carried out through expert judgement and exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis. The instrument was administrated in June 2020 remotely to a convenience sample of 400 secondary and tertiary students from schools in the Biobio region, Chile. Factor analyses yielded a latent structure with an adequate fit to the data, consisting of 23 items divided into six underlying dimensions of the construct. Reliability analysis yields an internal consistency of .76 according to the Omega coefficient. Orientations for the regulation of the use of mobile devices to promote positive cyber-coexistence in educational context are offered.

Trends in household energy-related GHG emissions during COVID-19 in four Chilean cities

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has strongly affected economies and human lifestyles globally. The changes observed in domestic energy consumption patterns have had an impact on household greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Since GHG emissions inventories are only available at the country level and at annual intervals, most studies have calculated the local emission variations by extrapolating annual emissions with smaller time and territorial scale consumption data. This research presents a bottom-up method, based on the exploitation of a survey addressed to 1200 households, that provides the information to calculate directly the variation in their energy-related GHG emissions, without the need for extrapolations. This method has been applied to four medium-sized Chilean cities with serious air quality problems. Given the high correlation between atmospheric pollutants such as NOx and CO2 emissions, we estimate that before the appearance of COVID-19, per capita CO2 emissions were already high. The results show that space heating-related GHG emissions have increased moderately (between 1 and 6%), while emissions from electricity and gas consumption for non-heating uses have increased significantly (between 8 and 23%). This has harmed the household economy, highlighting the importance of considering socioeconomic aspects when assessing the impact of COVID-19 in its entirety. © 2022 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.

Mathematical model optimized for prediction and health care planning for COVID-19⋆ Modelo matemático optimizado para la predicción y planificación de la asistencia sanitaria por la COVID-19

Objective The COVID-19 pandemic has threatened to collapse hospital and ICU services, and it has affected the care programs for non-COVID patients. The objective was to develop a mathematical model designed to optimize predictions related to the need for hospitalization and ICU admission by COVID-19 patients. Design Prospective study. Setting Province of Granada (Spain). Population COVID-19 patients hospitalized, admitted to ICU, recovered and died from March 15 to September 22, 2020. Study variables The number of patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 and hospitalized or admitted to ICU for COVID-19. Results The data reported by hospitals was used to develop a mathematical model that reflects the flow of the population among the different interest groups in relation to COVID-19. This tool allows to analyse different scenarios based on socio-health restriction measures, and to forecast the number of people infected, hospitalized and admitted to the ICU. Conclusions The mathematical model is capable of providing predictions on the evolution of the COVID-19 sufficiently in advance as to anticipate the peaks of prevalence and hospital and ICU care demands, and also the appearance of periods in which the care for non-COVID patients could be intensified.

Mathematical model optimized for prediction and health care planning for COVID-19.

OBJECTIVE: The COVID-19 pandemic has threatened to collapse hospital and ICU services, and it has affected the care programs for non-COVID patients. The objective was to develop a mathematical model designed to optimize predictions related to the need for hospitalization and ICU admission by COVID-19 patients. DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: Province of Granada (Spain). POPULATION: COVID-19 patients hospitalized, admitted to ICU, recovered and died from March 15 to September 22, 2020. STUDY VARIABLES: The number of patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 and hospitalized or admitted to ICU for COVID-19. RESULTS: The data reported by hospitals was used to develop a mathematical model that reflects the flow of the population among the different interest groups in relation to COVID-19. This tool allows to analyse different scenarios based on socio-health restriction measures, and to forecast the number of people infected, hospitalized and admitted to the ICU. CONCLUSIONS: The mathematical model is capable of providing predictions on the evolution of the COVID-19 sufficiently in advance as to anticipate the peaks of prevalence and hospital and ICU care demands, and also the appearance of periods in which the care for non-COVID patients could be intensified.

[Weakness as a complication of COVID-19 in critically ill patients: clinical features and prognostic factors in a case series]. / Debilidad como complicación del paciente crítico por COVID-19: características clínicas y factores pronósticos en una serie de casos.

INTRODUCTION: Weakness is a frequent complication in those critically ill due to COVID-19. This study describes its characteristics and the factors that can condition and predict it. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We conducted a prospective, descriptive, observational study of patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) due to COVID-19 between April and May 2020 with muscle weakness. A motor balance equal to or lower than 3/5 according to the modified Medical Research Council muscle strength scale was considered to be severe clinical impairment. Altogether 25 analytical studies, 16 neurophysiological studies and one muscle biopsy were performed, with a telephone follow-up at one month, a comparative analysis between the groups with and without severe compromise, and determination of cut-off points for analytical parameters to predict severe involvement using ROC curves. RESULTS: The sample consisted of 25 patients with a mean age of 58 years (standard deviation ± 9). The median length of stay in the ICU was 27.5 days. All the electromyograms exhibited a myogenic pattern and 75% also showed neuropathy. The group with severe clinical involvement had higher levels of D-dimer (p = 0.08), lactate dehydrogenase (p = 0.03) and interleukin-6 (p = 0.10), and the combination of the alteration of any two of these three parameters predicted severe involvement with a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 76.9%. At one month of follow-up, 36% were unable to walk autonomously and 92% continued with muscle weakness. CONCLUSIONS: Weakness in severe COVID-19 patients has a major clinical impact. Its early detection and study by means of predictors of its development may allow for better management. The absence in some cases of classical risk factors for ICU-acquired weakness suggests a different pathophysiology.

TITLE: Debilidad como complicación del paciente crítico por COVID-19: características clínicas y factores pronósticos en una serie de casos.Introducción. La debilidad es una complicación frecuente en el enfermo crítico por COVID-19. Se describen sus características, y los factores que pueden condicionarla y predecirla. Pacientes y métodos. Estudio observacional descriptivo prospectivo con pacientes ingresados en la unidad de cuidados intensivos (UCI) por COVID-19 entre abril y mayo de 2020 con debilidad muscular. Se consideró una afectación clínica grave un equilibrio motor igual o inferior a 3/5 según la escala de fuerza muscular modificada del Medical Research Council. Se han realizado 25 estudios analíticos, 16 estudios neurofisiológicos y una biopsia muscular; seguimiento telefónico al mes; análisis comparativo entre los grupos con y sin afectación grave, y determinación de puntos de corte de parámetros analíticos para predecir afectación grave mediante curvas ROC. Resultados. Se incluyó a 25 pacientes con 58 años (desviación estándar ± 9) de edad media. La mediana de estancia en la UCI fue de 27,5 días. Todos los electromiogramas mostraban un patrón miógeno y el 75%, también una neuropatía. El grupo con afectación clínica grave tenía mayores niveles de dímero-D (p = 0,08), lactato deshidrogenasa (p = 0,03) e interleucina 6 (p = 0,10), y la combinación de la alteración de dos cualquiera de estos tres parámetros pronosticaba la afectación grave con una sensibilidad del 100% y una especificidad del 76,9%. Al mes de seguimiento, el 36% no podía deambular autónomamente y el 92% seguía con debilidad muscular. Conclusiones. La debilidad en el enfermo por COVID-19 grave tiene una repercusión clínica importante. Su detección y estudio precoces mediante predictores de su desarrollo pueden permitir un mejor manejo. La ausencia en algunos casos de los factores de riesgo clásicos para la debilidad adquirida en la UCI sugiere una fisiopatología diferente.

Does the maternal-fetal transmission of SARS-CoV-2 occur during pregnancy? / ¿Existe transmisión materno-fetal del SARS-CoV-2 durante la gestación?

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: On January 7th, 2020, a new coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, was identified, as responsible for a new human disease: COVID-19. Given its recent appearance, our current knowledge about the possible influence that this disease can exert on pregnancy is very limited. One of the unknowns to be solved is whether there is a vertical transmission of the infection during pregnancy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Using the Real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction techniques for SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acids, the possible presence of this germ in vaginal discharge and amniotic fluid was investigated in four pregnant Caucasian patients affected by mild acute symptoms of COVID-19 during the second trimester of pregnancy. RESULTS: There is no laboratory evidence to suggest a possible passage of SARS-CoV-2 from the infected mother to the amniotic fluid. CONCLUSIONS: It is necessary to expand the investigation of COVID-19 cases diagnosed during pregnancy to clarify the real influence that SARS-CoV-2 has on pregnant women and their offspring, as well as those factors that modulate the disease.