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Some problems of Filipino farmers in Nueva Ecija are irrigation systems and labor shortage. Most of them are unable to work due to old age while others chose to stop because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Meanwhile, irrigation systems have been an issue due to the lack of resources such as continuous water supply and control. Fortunately, there is a progression of smart farming in the country which could assist in optimizing farming processes. This study presents a systematic literature survey on rice farming technologies and challenges. This study also aims to help address these problems by creating a rice irrigation system that introduces a water level control system. The system was comprised of a mobile application, Arduino ESP32 module, and a tank with water level sensors. The mobile application was used to set the desired water level while the proportional- integral-derivative (PID) controller adjusted the water level automatically. When current water level is lower than the setpoint, the valves to the tank will open. Tank specifications were used to come up with a transfer function for the system. The proposed design was simulated in MATLAB Simulink and PID parameters were tuned to enhance system performance. The tuned control system obtained an output response with less overshoot and faster settling time. © 2022 IEEE.
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The Covid-19 global pandemic has represented a challenge for education, which had to migrate to virtual environments. Universities adopted different teaching methods to keep contributing to the growth of the professionals in various fields. In this context, the Biomedical Engineering program of the Pontificia Universidad Catolica del Peru and the Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia had to change or adapt the methodology of the courses included in its curriculum in order to reach the learning objectives. This paper presents a methodology for an innovative approach of simulated scenarios using digital tools for the virtual teaching of Clinical Engineering. The learning results achieved in two semesters of implementation of the methodology, during 2020 and 2021, were measured by means of a survey applied to the students at the end of the course. Obtaining achievement results above 76 % and improvement opportunities that would be useful for the next version of this course and for the replication of the methodology in other universities. © 2023 IEEE.
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There are still gender asymmetries in entrepreneurship, which generates that female entrepreneurship is lower than that of men, so there must be equity and gender jus-tice that may imply acting with coherence in an econo-mic, political and cultural environment providing women with the same opportunities as men. For this reason, in the present article it was intended to characterize female en-trepreneurship in university students as a response to the pandemic of COVID 19, being the same of bibliographic review in which the PRISMA schematization was consi-dered, through an exhaustive search of articles in the va-rious databases such as Scopus, Science Direct, Scielo and Ebsco of which it was possible to analyze 20 articles by complete reading, These were from 2018 to 2022, with which it was concluded that women tend to undertake mostly by necessity, either economic or to feel self-reali-zed and advance in their careers, or because they are not satisfied with their jobs, since their workplace does not allow them to move up to a position with higher hierarchy and prefer to spend more time with their children.
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Introduction (contexte de la recherche) Polyethylene glycol (PEG) allergies through IgE activation and a complement activation-related pseudoallergy mechanism have been suggested during reactions to COVID-19-mRNA vaccines. Objectif Reported allergy work-up and outcomes of subsequent COVID-19 vaccinations in patients with a suspicion of hypersensitivity to COVID-19-mRNA vaccines to determine risk factors for anaphylaxis at the next dose. Méthodes In total, 190 patients were referred to two European allergy centers for suspicion of hypersensitivity to COVID-19-mRNA. These patients have been an allergy work-up [skin tests (ST) with COVID-19-mRNA vaccine and PEGs with different molecular weight, and basophil activation tests (BAT) to PEG-2000]. Immediate, delayed reactions compatible with hypersensitivity and reactions not suggestive of hypersensitivity, after a detailed analysis of the medical history, were reported in 69, 84 and 37 patients, respectively. Thirty-one cases with index anaphylaxis (16%);with only 3 severe anaphylaxis, all occurred within one hour after vaccine administration. One hundred and sixty patients (84%) were revaccinated with good tolerance in 139 cases (87%). In 145 patients, revaccination was performed with the culprit vaccine, which was well tolerated in 126 of the patients;with an alternative COVID-19 vaccine (other mRNA vaccine for 12) in 15, well tolerated in 13. Among the 31 patients reporting index anaphylaxis, 23 were revaccinated with the culprit vaccine under hospital supervision, with good tolerance in 15 (65%). The eight immediate reactions after revaccination were less severe than the index one. The work-up was positive in 9 patients (4.7%);among them, four tolerated the culprit vaccine (n=1) or another COVID-19 vaccine (n=3), and five refused further vaccination. Résultats Our results are in accordance with the literature and with ENDA/EAACI recommendations for allergies to COVID-19 vaccines. Although more studies are needed to determine the ST and BAT predictive value. Conclusions This series strongly argues for re-vaccinating in suspected vaccine allergies. And we suggest to refer for allergy work-up only patients with reactions occurring within the first hour after COVID-19-mRNA vaccine administration.
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The semi-automated LAN-based enrolment system, which requires face-to-face transactions, was useful to the research locale until the outbreak of COVID-19 disease in the country. The NEUST iOES: A Pandemic-driven Integrated Online Enrolment System with Customer Relationship Management was developed with the aim of processing students' enrolment online so that university employees and students can avoid getting infected with the COVID-19 disease. This research study employed a developmental research design based on the Agile-Scrum Framework software development methodology. The gathered users' stories were planned and transformed into system designs that serve as a guide to developing the system. During implementation, sprint retrospective meetings were conducted to identify what build went well and what needed improvements. As evaluated, the results clearly affirm that the implemented NEUST iOES attained its goals and objectives. Because of the implemented system, about 26000 students were able to enrol online without the risk of having exposed to the COVID-19 virus;and faculty and staff can be able to process their usual work regarding enrolment even in a Work-From-Home setup. © School of Engineering, Taylor's University.
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Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a broad term used to refer to heart diseases and blood vessels. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the number of deaths from heart diseases between the years 2000-2019 has ranged between 2 million and almost 9 million people. After analyzing the need to implement and validate a monitoring system for the PUCP health center, we chose the FL10 device. This device has passed the design specifications under the following standards: IEC 60601-1:2005, IEC 60601-1-2:2014 and ISO 60601-2-47:2012, therefore it meets the safety, sensitivity and efficacy parameters but its design does not favor maintenance and periodic quality evaluations with commercial measurement equipment. An adapter was made by implementing digital manufacturing by 3D design using Inventor professional 2021 software with the educational license granted by the university. The electrical safety test showed that the leakage current value of all the electrodes was 0.3 uA which is less than the standard (0.1 mA) and the efficacy test showed that all measurements were acceptable. In the case of reproducibility and repeatability tests, the measurements were acceptable as well;in the value of 180 bpm, we observe an attenuation (179 bpm), however it is within the margin of error of 1 bpm. In summary, the FL 10 device is electrical safety and efficient in a health center in Peru. © 2022 IEEE.
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During the pandemic, Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) have been vital to maintain the operation of distance educational activities. This research analyzes the relationship between the technological implications, as well as the academic stress experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic in students of the Autonomous University of Baja California (UABC). In the methodology, the quantitative questionnaire method was used, with 95% confidence and 4% error, a sample of 638 university students was used and proportional allocation was used in eleven faculties. In testing the hypothesis, correlation and linear regression were used, likewise, the factorial model was analyzed to determine factors. In the results, the hypothesis was verified: the lack of technological resources, as well as academic stress negatively affects satisfaction in online education, the most frequent problems presented by university students: computer/laptop, smartphone, specialized software, office parcel, carry out homework/school projects, communicate with teachers and carry out teamwork. It is concluded that the lack of tools and technological problems, as well as academic stress, have a negative impact on the satisfaction of distance education, this can change depending on the capacity of resources available to students.
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BACKGROUND AND AIM: Pediatric Early Warning Systems (PEWS) are evidence-based interventions that improve early identification of deterioration in resource-limited hospitals. While PEWS can be successfully implemented in these settings, little is known about their sustainability postimplementation. This study evaluates staff perspectives on the importance of, and challenges to, sustaining PEWS. METHOD(S): We conducted semi-structured interviews of PEWS implementation leaders and hospital directors at 5 pediatric oncology centers sustaining PEWS in Latin America. Interviews were conducted in Spanish, transcribed, and translated into English. A code book was developed combining a priori and inductively derived codes. Transcripts were independently coded by 2 coders achieving a kappa of 0.8-0.9. Thematic content analyses explored staff perceptions on PEWS sustainability. RESULT(S): We interviewed 71 staff including physicians (45%), nurses (45%), and administrators (10%). Participants emphasized the importance of sustaining PEWS for continued patient benefit. However, participants reported a range of challenges sustaining PEWS, including fluctuations in human and material resources needed for PEWS, staff turnover and insufficient training, difficulty achieving new leadership buy-in, lack of internal systems to promote ongoing monitoring of PEWS, and the COVID-19 pandemic (Table 1). Together, these challenges resulted in multiple impacts, ranging from a small reduction in PEWS quality to complete disruption of PEWS use resulting in loss of benefits to patient outcomes in some units. CONCLUSION(S): While sustainability of evidence-based interventions like PEWS is valued by staff in resourcelimited hospitals, participants reported multiple challenges to sustainability resulting in reduced patient benefit. Future work should focus on identifying factors that promote intervention sustainability in these settings. (Table Presented).
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Introduction. This paper aims to determine whether e-Service-Learning, as a methodology that encourages learning based on student action and reflection on a social need, has a positive effect on an innovation-oriented teamwork competency, and to specify which areas of teamwork are affected, and any type of causal relationship that may exist between these areas, student's motivation and student's work engagement. These types of competencies are in high demand in the workplace. Method. A quasi-experimental design was proposed, with 298 students enrolled in an undergraduate degree in Tourism, Psychology or Teacher of Early Childhood Education, at the University of Almeria (Spain). One group had contact with e-SL (198 students), and a second group did not (100). The instruments used were the Team Climate Inventory (TCI-14) (adapted by Boada-Grau et al., 2011) and the student version of the Cuestionario de Aprendizaje y Servicio para entidades educativas [Learning and service questionnaire for educational institutions] (Fernandez-Torres et al., 2017). Results. Statistically significant between-group differences were shown in the variable support for innovation;and statistically significant, positive relationships were found between all the variables in the experimental group. Likewise, the data indicate that innovation, which was acquired through the practice of teamwork in e-SL, helped to increase academic motivation, which in turn affected student interest in working toward the best outcome, with the latter acting as a mediating variable between the two. Discussion and conclusions. These results show the need for socially engaged universities to take steps to consolidate these practices in university degree programs, because they further the development of transversal competencies.
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The collateral effects of the COVID-19 pandemic reached other sectors beyond the health sector, such as the poultry sector, generating variations in the prices of the inputs used in feeding the hens, causing a negative impact on the costs of production. In developing countries, the poultry sector are mostly integrated for medium-sized companies, which have less capacity to withstand market variations. The study presents a formulator developed in Excel, which optimizes the production of balanced feed for the genetic line of the Hy-Line Brown hen, considering the cost per kilogram of eggs produced, and assesses the performance of the treatment through the CASI indicator, which is contrasted in turn with other indicators such as the percentage of production, the weight of the egg, and the feed conversion factor. The study resulted in a reduction of 2.60% of the CASI indicator, in the group of hens that was fed with the optimized feed composition through the formulator, compared to the group that maintained the usual feeding. © 2022 Latin American and Caribbean Consortium of Engineering Institutions. All rights reserved.
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OBJECTIVE: Identify risk factors for severe outcome in Mexican patients with COVID-19 in the population of Quintana Roo. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Study of 5,916 who met the criteria for suspected cases of COVID-19, 2,531 confirmed by qrTPCR-Sars-CoV-2 tests, of which 1,486 were positive, among which they were classified as hospitalized (severe COVID-19) and outpatients. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to explore the factors associated with the severity of COVID-19 and death as clinical outcomes. The basic reproduction number (R0) was calculated Statistical analysis) Endorsement of the ethics committee 2301. RESULTS: SARS-CoV-2 positive patients presented a high prevalence of hypertension 29.1%, diabetes 23.5%, obesity 24%, and 48.5% have at least one chronic disease. There is a high risk of severity for COVID-19 in patients with diabetes OR=3.14, hypertension OR=1.88, obesity OR=1.68, kidney disease OR=3.2, older than 65 years OR=13.6 and men OR=1.7. These factors also increase the risk of death up to 7.7 times. The maximum R0 during the epidemic was 2.4. CONCLUSION: Liver and kidney disease, diabetes, hypertension, and obesity are significantly associated with severe COVID-19 and death.
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SESSION TITLE: Drug-Induced Lung Injury Pathology Case Posters SESSION TYPE: Case Report Posters PRESENTED ON: 10/19/2022 12:45 pm - 01:45 pm INTRODUCTION: Daptomycin is an antibiotic that exerts its bactericidal effect by disrupting multiple aspects of bacterial cell membrane function. It has notable adverse effects including myopathy, rhabdomyolysis, eosinophilic pneumonitis, and anaphylactic hypersensitivity reactions. CASE PRESENTATION: A 46-year-old male with a history of type 2 diabetes presented with a 1-week history of dyspnea and productive cough. 2 weeks prior, he was started on vancomycin for MRSA osteomyelitis of the right foot, but was switched to daptomycin due to vancomycin induced nephrotoxicity. On presentation he was afebrile, tachycardic 100, hypertensive 183/109, tachypneic to 26, hypoxemic 84% on room air, which improved to 94% on nasal cannula. Chest exam noted coarse breath sounds in all fields and pitting edema of lower extremities were present. Labs showed leukocytosis of 15.2/L, Na of 132 mmol/L, and creatinine 3.20mg/dL (normal 1 month prior). COVID-19 testing was negative. Chest X-ray noted new bilateral asymmetric opacifications. Daptomycin was discontinued on day 1 of admission, he was started on IV diuretics and ceftaroline. Further study noted peripheral eosinophilia. Computed tomography of the chest showed bilateral centrally predominant ground-glass infiltrates with air bronchograms and subcarinal and paratracheal lymphadenopathy. On day 4, he underwent bronchoscopy with bronchoalveolar lavage. Cytology noted 4% eosinophil with 43% lymphocytes. Eventually, oxygen requirements and kidney function returned to baseline. He was discharged on ceftaroline for osteomyelitis DISCUSSION: Daptomycin-induced acute eosinophilic pneumonitis (AEP) often results in respiratory failure in the setting of exposure to doses of daptomycin >6mg/kg/day. It is characterized by the infiltration of pulmonary parenchyma with eosinophils and is often associated with peripheral eosinophilia. AEP has been associated with certain chemicals, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents, and antibiotics including daptomycin. Renal dysfunction is associated with an increased risk for developing AEP. The mechanism for daptomycin-induced lung injury is unknown but is believed to be related to daptomycin binding to pulmonary surfactant culminating in epithelial injury. Diagnostic criteria include recent daptomycin exposure, fever, dyspnea with hypoxemic respiratory failure, new infiltrates on chest radiography, BAL with > 25% eosinophils, and clinical improvement following daptomycin discontinuation. Our patient met four out of six criteria;we believe that BAL results were due to discontinuing daptomycin days before the procedure was performed. Sometimes stopping daptomycin is enough for recovery, however, steroids may be beneficial and were used in some of the cases reported in the literature CONCLUSIONS: Clinicians should consider AEP in a patient on Daptomycin presenting with respiratory failure, as timely discontinuation favors a good prognosis Reference #1: Uppal P, LaPlante KL, Gaitanis MM, Jankowich MD, Ward KE. Daptomycin-induced eosinophilic pneumonia - a systematic review. Antimicrob Resist Infect Control. 2016;5:55. Published 2016 Dec 12. doi:10.1186/s13756-016-0158-8 Reference #2: Kumar S, Acosta-Sanchez I, Rajagopalan N. Daptomycin-induced Acute Eosinophilic Pneumonia. Cureus. 2018;10(6):e2899. Published 2018 Jun 30. doi:10.7759/cureus.2899 Reference #3: Bartal C, Sagy I, Barski L. Drug-induced eosinophilic pneumonia: A review of 196 case reports. Medicine (Baltimore). 2018;97(4):e9688. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000009688 DISCLOSURES: No relevant relationships by Chika Winifred Akabusi No relevant relationships by Shazia Choudry No relevant relationships by Hector Ojeda-Martinez No relevant relationships by Mario Torres
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SESSION TITLE: Challenging Cases of Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis SESSION TYPE: Rapid Fire Case Reports PRESENTED ON: 10/19/2022 12:45 pm - 1:45 pm INTRODUCTION: Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a syndrome of excessive immune activation in response to a variety of insults including malignant, autoimmune and infectious processes. The most common infectious trigger is a viral infection, but other pathogens have also been implicated including Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) CASE PRESENTATION: 62-year-old male from Bangladesh presented due to lethargy, weakness, and anorexia for several weeks. He also reported fevers, diarrhea, and unintentional weight loss. On examination, he appeared acutely ill with diffuse bibasilar crackles on lung exam. Labs showed platelets of 132, ESR 45 mm/hr, CRP 9.6mg/dL, ferritin 1,765ng/mL and transaminitis. A viral panel was positive for Rhinovirus. Computed tomography (CT) of the chest showed diffuse bilateral ground-glass opacities and he was started on antibiotics for pneumonia. On day 3, his respiratory status worsened and he was emergently intubated. He underwent bronchoscopy and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and started on high-dose steroids for possible hypersensitivity pneumonitis. On day 5, he was extubated to nasal cannula, however, his condition worsened despite treatment. Extensive infectious workup, including HIV, Covid and P jirovecii PCR, sputum, and blood cultures, and preliminary AFB smear were negative. Subsequent labs noted rising ferritin levels (4,164 ng/mL), high triglycerides, pancytopenia and transaminitis. Calculated H score was 211 which gave a 93-96% probability of HLH. Initiation of Etoposide was discussed but family deferred. He was later transferred to another facility. On follow-up, IL-2 receptor antibodies were elevated, bone marrow biopsy showed hemophagocytosis and necrotizing granulomas. He was intubated for worsening hypoxemia. Repeat bronchoscopy and BAL analysis showed many acid-fast bacilli. Anti TB treatment (ATT) was deferred due to his critical state. He further declined and eventually expired. DISCUSSION: The exact mechanism for which MTB triggers HLH is unclear, however, it is thought that MTB serves as an obligate intracellular pathogen after phagocytosis by phagocytic cells to induce TH1-mediated cytotoxicity, activating macrophages and NK cells, further releasing a large quantity of cytokines and chemokines. The lack of specific clinical signs, low sensitivity for acid-fast staining, and time-consuming culture make the diagnosis of TB-HLH difficult. However, the use of NAATs has improved the yield of sputum testing. Exceedingly high ferritin levels should serve as a red flag in cases of undetermined diagnosis. Moreso, Cytopenias, elevated LFTs, and coagulation dysfunction are other clues that a diagnosis of HLH should be on the differential. It is believed that early and effective ATT is the key to preventing HLH in TB patients. CONCLUSIONS: It is paramount to both recognize the features of TB as well as HLH as early diagnosis and treatment favor better outcomes. Reference #1: Padhi S, Ravichandran K, Sahoo J, Varghese RG, Basheer A. Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis: An Unusual Complication in Disseminated Mycobacterium Tuberculosis. Lung India (2015) 32(6):593–601. doi: 10.4103/0970-2113.168100 Reference #2: Dalugama, C., Gawarammana, I.B. Fever with pancytopenia: unusual presentation of extrapulmonary tuberculosis: a case report. J Med Case Reports 12, 58 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13256-018-1596-0 Reference #3: O M P Jolobe, Timely recognition of hematophagocytosis attributable to coexistence of lymphoma and tuberculosis, QJM: An International Journal of Medicine, Volume 112, Issue 4, April 2019, Page 315, https://doi.org/10.1093/qjmed/hcy198 DISCLOSURES: No relevant relationships by Katherine Acosta No relevant relationships by Chika Winifred Akabusi No relevant relationships by Uma Medapati No relevant relationships by Hector Ojeda-Martinez No relevant relationships by Busala Oke No relevant relationships by Mar o Torres
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Before the shutdown due to COVID-19, all courses and laboratories from the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department (ECE) at The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) were conducted in person at the university facilities. Many of the laboratories required students to work in groups due to the limited equipment availability. Most universities were forced to adopt distance learning as a primary teaching modality when the pandemic started. Previously, the Learning Management Systems (LMS) were used mainly for support course functions, where students could review the content and grades in their own time, submit assignments, or download materials. During the pandemic time, students attended virtual sessions via video conference, reviewed materials independently, or had restricted interactions. This modality limited the ability to conduct lab experiments. The adopted lab methodologies were to offer online circuits laboratories implemented via portable equipment, designed for work at home, and acquired for the students;or by providing remote access to some university equipment. The ECE department had additional challenges because most of our students live in the border region between USA and México, and many had limited technological resources to access virtual or remote laboratories. UTEP started resuming face-to-face courses and events on campus after the pandemic acute phase period. For the fall 2021 semester, the school initiated activities under enhanced safety precautions for in-person classes. Currently, the circuits laboratory returned to face-to-face delivery mode using bench industrial-grade equipment with higher resolution and accuracy than personal devices, offering students a more comprehensive range of experiments to improve their abilities and knowledge in the technical field. However, some characteristics of the virtual model were kept, such as working at home in the preliminary laboratory phase using portable equipment and then allowing students to work individually at the university workstation, using time more efficiently, and keeping the improved LMS content. This paper compares online and in-person circuits laboratory sessions, exploring the differences, limitations, benefits, and challenges for the students and the response due to geographic restrictions. © American Society for Engineering Education, 2022
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Objectives: to analyze the experience of health professionals who provided first-line care to infected patients during the COVID-19 pandemic during the first wave. Material and Methods: Participants were recruited from among physicians and nurses in several hospitals and health centers in Spain. Narratives were obtained through three focus groups. Qualitative methodology was used according to exploratory, inductive, and ethnographic principles. Results: The experience of the health personnel was classified into six categories: The reaction and organization of health workers, materials and tests, emotional aspects of care, ethical conflicts, health management of the pandemic, and the social role of health workers. Conclusions: Healthcare workers took a proactive approach during the pandemic. Weaknesses and strengths in the provision of health care were.The capacity of emotional self-regulation of the health care workers is shown to be key to the ability of the health care system to continue operating. © 2022, Accion Medica S.A.. All rights reserved.