Virus-laden droplet nuclei in vortical structures associated with recirculation zones in indoor environments: A possible airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2.

Droplet nuclei dispersion patterns in indoor environments are reviewed from a physics view to explore the possibility of airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2. This review analyzes works on particle dispersion patterns and their concentration in vortical structures in different indoor environments. Numerical simulations and experiments reveal the formation of the buildings' recirculation zones and vortex flow regions by flow separation, airflow interaction around objects, internal dispersion of airflow, or thermal plume. These vortical structures showed high particle concentration because particles are trapped for long periods. Then a hypothesis is proposed to explain why some medical studies detect the presence of SARS-CoV-2 and others do not detect the virus. The hypothesis proposes that airborne transmission is possible if virus-laden droplet nuclei are trapped in vortical structures associated with recirculation zones. This hypothesis is reinforced by a numerical study in a restaurant that presented possible evidence of airborne transmission by a large recirculating air zone. Furthermore, a medical study in a hospital is discussed from a physical view for identifying the formation of recirculation zones and their relation with positive tests for viruses. The observations show air sampling site located in this vortical structure is positive for the SARS-CoV-2 RNA. Therefore, the formation of vortical structures associated with recirculation zones should be avoided to minimize the possibility of airborne transmission. This work tries to understand the complex phenomenon of airborne transmission as a way in the prevention of transmission of infectious diseases.

Three-years real-world evidence of adjuvant dabrafenib plus trametinib (DT) in patients with resected melanoma in Spain (GEM 1901 - DESCRIBE-AD)

Background: DT combination has shown efficacy in the adjuvant setting for BRAF-mutated melanoma (BMM) patients (pts) in clinical trials. Previous reports from DESCRIBE-AD resulted in promising overall survival (OS) rates at 12 months. Methods: An observational retrospective study was carried out in 25 GEM sites in Spain. Histologically confirmed and resected BMM pts previously treated with DT according to standard clinical practice in the adjuvant setting were included. Only surgical resection was allowed as a prior treatment to DT. DT discontinuation rate and time to treatment discontinuation were the primary objective. Secondary objectives included safety and efficacy of the combination. Here, we report 3-year results for OS. Results: From 10/2020 to 03/2021, 65 pts were included. Median age was 58 years, 55% were male and 60%, 25%, and 14% had an ECOG PS 0/1/Uk respectively, one patient presented ECOG 3. Allocation of stage IIIA, IIIB and IIIC according to TNM AJCC 7th edition was 29%, 26% and 32%, respectively. There were 3 pts diagnosed at stage I/II but considered of risk, and 2 pts with stage IV but completely resected, all considered for adjuvant DT. Ulceration was present in 40%, Breslow ≥2 mm in 71%, and nodes were microscopically and macroscopically affected in 39% and 22% of pts, respectively. Only 9.2% of pts discontinued DT prematurely due to toxicity and 21.2% had dose reductions to manage toxicity. After a median follow-up of 36.2 m (range: 13-51.1), the overall OS rate at 3-years was 83.5% (95% CI: 74.5-93.5). According to AJCC 7 stage at diagnosis, the 3-years OS rate was 95.2% (95% CI: 86.6-100), 75% (56-100), and 76.8% (60.7-97.2) for stage I-II-IIIA, IIIB, and IIIC-IV respectively. Throughout the study period 11 (16.9%) pts died, of which 10 died due to disease progression and one due to COVID-19 infection. Conclusions: Adjuvant treatment with DT for melanoma achieved good treatment compliance and has proven efficacy in the real world. Adjuvant DT has a clinical impact in survival in line with previous clinical trial COMBI-AD. Editorial acknowledgement: We acknowledge Mfar Clinical Research staff for their assistance in the development of this . Legal entity responsible for the study: Grupo Español Multidisciplinar en Melanoma (GEM). Funding: Grupo Español Multidisciplinar en Melanoma (GEM) as Sponsor with Industry partner NOVARTIS. Disclosure: P. Cerezuela-Fuentes: Financial Interests, Personal, Other, Consultancy, conference,congress attendance/infrastructure: BMS, MSD, Pierre Fabre, Roche, Sanofi, SunPharma. J. Martín-Liberal: Financial Interests, Personal, Other, Lecture fees: Astellas, MSD;Financial Interests, Personal, Other, Lecture fees, advisory fees: Bristol Myers Squibb, Novartis, Pierre Fabre, Pfizer, Roche, Sanofi;Non-Financial Interests, Personal, Member, membership or affiliation: ASCO, ESMO, SEOM, GEM, EORTC, SOGUG, GEIS. L.A. Fernández-Morales: Financial Interests, Personal, Invited Speaker, Speak at sponsored meetings: BMS, MSD, Pierre-Fabre, Roche;Financial Interests, Personal, Other, Speak at sponsored meetings and advisory role: Novartis. J. Medina Martinez: Financial Interests, Personal, Other, Speaker, consultancy or advisory role or similar activity: Novartis, Roche, Pierre Fabre, BMS, MSD, Sanofi. M. Quindós: Financial Interests, Personal, Other, speaker, consultancy and advisory: AstraZeneca, GSK, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Novartis, PharmaMar, Roche, Bristol Myers Squibb, Pierre Fabre;Financial Interests, Institutional, Other, Clinical trials: Merck Sharp & Dohme, Roche, Bristol Myers Squibb. A. García Castaño: Non-Financial Interests, Advisory Role: Bristol, MSD, Novartis. T. Puértolas: Financial Interests, Personal, Invited Speaker, Speaker and advisory role: BMS, Novartis;Financial Interests, Personal, Invited Speaker: Roche, MSD, Sun-Pharma;Financial Interests, Personal, Other, Speaker and advisory role: Pierre-Fabre;Financial Interests, Personal, Advisory Role: Sanofi;Financial Interests, Institutional, Other, Clinical trial: Roche, BMS, Apexi en Inc, Aduro Biotech, Alkermes Inc;Non-Financial Interests, Institutional, Other, congresses inscriptions: Lilly, Sun-Pharma, Novartis, Roche, MSD;Non-Financial Interests, Institutional, Leadership Role, Vocal: GEM (Grupo Español Multidisciplinar de Melanoma);Non-Financial Interests, Institutional, Affiliate: SEOM (Sociedad Española de Oncología Médica), GEM (Grupo Español Multidisciplinar de Melanoma). P. Ayala de Miguel: Financial Interests, Personal, Invited Speaker, Public speaking: Novartis, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Sanofi, Pierre-Fabré. B. Campos: Financial Interests, Personal, Other, Speaker or advisory role: Roche, BMS, Sanofi, Novartis, Pierre-Fabre, Sun Pharma;Financial Interests, Personal, Other, Speaker role: AstraZeneca, Merck, ROVI, Leo Pharma. E. Espinosa: Financial Interests, Personal, Advisory Role, Advisory: BMS, MSD;Financial Interests, Personal, Other, Advisory, educational activities: Novartis;Financial Interests, Personal, Invited Speaker, Advisory, educational activities: Pierre Fabre;Financial Interests, Personal, Funding, Funding for translational investigation: Roche;Non-Financial Interests, Personal, Member, Vicepresident: Grupo Español Multidisciplinario de Melanoma. A. Rodríguez-Lescure: Financial Interests, Personal, Advisory Role: Pfizer, Novartis, ROCHE, AstraZeneca, Daiichi Sankyo, Seagen;Financial Interests, Personal, Invited Speaker, Public speaking: Pierre-Fabre;Financial Interests, Institutional, Research Grant, Grant for Clinical Trials: BMS, Lilly, Roche, Novartis, Amgen, Pzifer, Zimeworks, AstraZeneca, G1 Therapeutics, Bayer. L. Espasa Font: Financial Interests, Personal, Full or part-time Employment: Novartis. G. Belaustegui Ferrández: Financial Interests, Personal, Full or part-time Employment: Novartis. All other authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

Lessons from the Great Recession for a Post-Pandemic Economy: The Limits of Monetary Policy

In this paper we present a response mechanism to the COVID-19 pandemic consistent with the previous empirical literature that emerged during the Great Recession, although not with the underlying ontology. Therefore, we analyze the principle of the endogeneity of money and argue how the proposed mechanism, the Guaranteed Employment, is an institutional and functional solution that allows for overcoming the limitations of the mechanisms used during the Great Recession. This is a further step towards closer coordination between the Central Bank and the Treasury, which has certainly proven essential for financial stability since the international financial crisis of 2007-2008, and which must also encompass macroeconomic stability to cope with the current and future challenges we face as a society: today it is the pandemic, but tomorrow it will be climate change.

Dissemination of Cultural Heritage: Design and Implementation of a VR environment for the preservation of art and culture in Pujilí - Ecuador

Technology through time has been a fundamental mean in the development and cultural evolution, changing the perspective of the human being with the world in relation to the reconstruction of memory and the historical past. In this context, Ecuador seeks to adapt to the rapid changes of the technological era and solve the problems caused by the pandemic caused by the outbreak of COVID-19 in early 2020, in the interruption of cultural and economic activities. At the local level, Pujilí, Land of the DANZANTE, considered intangible cultural heritage of humanity, has not been exempt from this situation, being the Cultural area the most affected. For this reason, the current research, PUJILÍ MUSEUM, proposes a means of dissemination and preservation of Art and Culture, adapted to current changes, through a Virtual Reality mobile application that integrates 3D modeling technologies and reconstruction by Photogrammetry, to improve the quality and immersion, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in a world full of history, art and culture, music, and tradition. The application was tested by 30 users/visitors who had mid/high range mobile devices, applying the convenience sampling technique, in order to know the levels of satisfaction and learning of the different interactive areas. The experimental results showed a positive effect on visitors and a high level of acceptance when using the virtual environment. This has been corroborated by the number of downloads, ratings, and reviews. © 2021 IEEE.

The Development of Mathematics and Soft Skills at the Graduate Level through Project-Based Learning in Times of COVID-19

The objective of the research was to analyse the development of mathematical competences and soft skills in graduate students through the implementation of the Project-Based Learning methodology in times of COVID-19. The type of study used was a quantitative methodology with a descriptive scope. The instrument used to obtain the information was a questionnaire based on a five-point Likert scale. The main results were that the participants developed the mathematical competences of using mathematical terminology, formulating and estimating the quantitative model. The soft skills developed were time management, collaborative work, self-regulation and decision-making.

Socio-educational interrelationships, on-line education and wellbeing during COVID-19 confinement

In this study, socio-educational interactions of parents, teachers and students are approached regarding distance education in the context of the Programa Aprende en Casa (Learn at Home Program) during the COVID-19 confinement. The distance learning setting is approached as a space for interactions in which emotional, communicative and cognitive factors intervene and revisit factors emanating from a psychosocial line in the role of social interactions to configure wellbeing conditions. Eight hundred and ninety-nine (899) people took part in an electronic survey for the study (parents) from 17 municipalities in the state of Morelos, Mexico. A Multivariate Factor Analysis was applied to analyze relationships between the perception of wellbeing and the different variables dependent on socio-educational interactions as well as an ANOVA test to identify differences between groups. It was detected that wellbeing during distance classes is associated significantly with all socio-educational interactions. Differences were also observed depending on the technology dominance of parents and interactions. Lastly, educational implications were discussed on results regarding the relational character of learning, its impact on wellbeing, and interactions such as the key element in the socio-educational sphere. © 2021 Fundacion para la Investigacion Social Avanzada. All rights reserved.

The academic training of the student body in the postgraduate degrees in administration in COVID-19 times

The objective of the research was to initially assess the training process of the graduate students in administration in the context of the coronavirus. The study methodology was a quantitative investigation with an exploratory-descriptive scope. The sample consisted of 95 participants distributed in four administration graduate programs. The instrument used was a questionnaire based on a Likert-type scale. The main results were the incorporation in a diversified way of learning resources;the collaboration with teachers to monitor the academic journey;the use of continuous and diversified evaluation;as well as the adaptation of both the course work plan and the contents to the distance modality. The conclusions of the study were the use of technological tools, academic and administrative flexibility as good educational practices that favor the academic training of postgraduate students in administration in distance education.

Academic Self-Effectiiveness of Postgraduate Students in Administration in COVID-19 Time

The objective of the research was to analyze the academic self-effectiveness perceived by the students of the postgraduate courses in administration at the time of COVID-19 to determine its influence on school performance. The type of study was a quantitative investigation with a correlational scope which main variables were self-effectiveness and academic performance. The study sample consisted of 97 participants distributed in four master's programs and organized by gender, 55% in women and 45% in men. The instrument used was the Inventory of Academic Self-Efficacy Expectations (IEAA) prepared and validated by Barraza (2010) with a four-point Likert-type scale: Not sure (0), a little sure (1), sure (2) and very sure (3). The organization and analysis of the information was done using descriptive and inferential statistics. The main results were the existence of a high level of academic self-effectiveness in times of the coronavirus, as well as a direct and significant association between the two research variables (r = 0.721, p = 0.00). Statistically significant differences were also found for work experience (F = 4,234, p = 0.00);educational program (F = 5,348, p = 0.00) and semester (F = 3,453, p = 0.00).

It’s time for fiscal policy: Rethinking automatic stabilizers against the pandemic

Hysteresis, Secular Stagnation, and Zero Lower Bound have been joined by a fourth rider, the Coronavirus pandemic. If the disconnection from the traditional Interest Rate Policy for macroeconomic management forced central banks around the world to make incursions into unexplored terrain;the shock of COVID-19 forces us to delve deeper into the unknown and do it quickly, because the costs of not doing so will cause extensive and persistent damage. In this context, we discuss the role of fiscal policy and how emerging ideas appearing at similar historical moments should be reconsidered. © 2020, Universidad de Huelva. All rights reserved.