Clinical and Epidemiological Profile of Patients with Invasive Aspergillosis from a Fourth Level Hospital in Bogota, Colombia: A Retrospective Study

Invasive aspergillosis (IA) is a severe mycosis caused by Aspergillus species. The infection mainly affects immunocompromised patients with a significant clinical burden. This study aimed to determine the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of patients diagnosed with IA in a fourth level hospital in Colombia, as these data are scarce in the country. A retrospective, observational study, from a single center was conducted with 34 male and 32 female patients, between 1 month- and 90-year-old, diagnosed with proven (18.2%), probable (74.2%) and possible (7.6%) IA, during a 21-year period. The most frequent underlying conditions for IA were chemotherapy (39.4%) and corticosteroid use (34.8%). The lung was the most common affected organ (92.4%). Computed tomography (CT) imaging findings were mainly nodules (57.6%) and consolidation (31.8%). A low positive correlation was found between serum galactomannan and hospitalization length. Aspergillus fumigatus prevailed (73.3%) in sputum and bronchoalveolar lavage cultures. Most patients were hospitalized in general wards (63.6%) and treated with voriconazole (80.3%). Mortality rate was 15.2%. Common risk factors for IA were identified in the Colombian cohort, including medications and underlying diseases. However, their frequency differs from other countries, reinforcing the idea that local surveillance is essential and at-risk patients should be carefully monitored.

The Importance of Speech Communication in Achieving a Person’s Prestige Needs

The article deals with the correlation of speech communication with human needs, represented on the fourth level of "Maslow's pyramid". The role of speech communication in achieving such prestigious needs as respect, authority, fame, honor, power, etc. is revealed. Particular attention is paid to the expansion of the functionality of speech communication in connection with the specifics of the prestige needs of man and the change in his status as a conceptual person.

Development of Statistical Models for Predicting Losses based on the Characteristics of Discontinuities

A method for predicting losses over the area of the deposit to minimize the risks of accidents and gas and oil and water showings for the Permian-Carboniferous reservoir of the Usinskoye field was developed. In addition, the analysis of the influence of faults on the number of losses in wells during drilling was carried out. Based on the more than 250 wells drilling analysis, it was revealed that a significant problem during drilling was the loss of drilling fluid. This complication was found in 46% of drilled wells. The intensity of the studied losses was in a wide range: from insignificant losses to strong ones, with a complete loss of mud circulation. The faults identified both from well drilling data and from seismic data were characterized by a different number of wells with and without losses. Using the combination of various statistical methods, individual and complex models for predicting losses in wells depending on the distance from the fault were obtained. Using multilevel probabilistic-statistical modeling, the study of the influence of faults on losses was carried out: initially, based on the data of all wells, regardless of the methods for identifying faults - the first-level model; by the method of identifying faults (drilling / seismic exploration) - second-level models; according to the data of individual faults - the model of the third level. At the fourth level, a complex model was built, which takes into account the calculation results obtained at the previous levels of statistical modeling. The presence of direct and inverse dependences of the absorption probability from the shortest distance to the fault was established. Using linear discriminant analysis, the results of predicting the probability of absorption were checked.

Analisis Miskonsepsi Mahasiswa Pada Konsep Genetika Menggunakan Instrumen Four Tier Diagnostic Test

Genetic has a broad and complicated topic and abstract material considered difficult by students. The inability to connect and construct between genetic concepts properly causes misconceptions. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to analyze students' misconceptions on the concept of genetics using a four-tier diagnostic test. 91 students from the Faculty of Education, Department of Biology, University of Riau were used as samples. The method was descriptive quantitative with a survey research model. The four-tier diagnostic test instrument consists of four levels: the first stage uses multiple-choice questions with four distractors questions and one key answer; the second level is the level of student confidence to choose the answers; the third level is the students' reasons for answering the questions; the fourth level is the level of student confidence to choose reasons. The number of questions tested was 20 questions with six sub-concepts. Confidence Discrimination Quotient (CDQ) and four-tier diagnostic test were used to analyze data on misconceptions and interpretation of student answer patterns. Students experienced misconceptions on 19 answer questions, 13 reason questions, and 16 answer and reason questions. The results of the four-tier diagnostic test described that the category of misconceptions was 65.21%, not understanding the concept was 24.53% and understanding the concept was 10.34%. From the six sub-concepts tested, the highest score of misconception was found in genetic material (75.1%) and the lowest was found in the scope of genetics (44.4%). On average, the students had medium and high categories of misconception

Role of Integrated Information Technology for Responses to Violence Against Women and Children During Covid-19 Pandemic

Background: The restriction and quarantine due to Covid-19 has led to unprecedented disruptions in the lives of women and children. Due to the increase in violence against women and children, the using of e-health has been considered to provide supportive care in this area. The purpose of this paper is developing comprehensive evidence-based framework of e-health intervention to response women and child violence.Methods: The methodology of this study was based on a two-stage which included literature review at the beginning. In first step a comprehensive review performed for extracting studies that survey the effectiveness of information technology in managing violence against women and child. Researches extracted appropriate articles and summarized important component. The review steps included set questions, search strategy and inclusion/exclusion criteria. The framework was defined based on the literature review and social-ecological model (SEM).Result: The finalized framework for application IT-based interventions in the management of violence against women and children presented in 4 dimension including individual, relationship, community and societal. The first and second levels of this model include 4 dimensions of SEM and 6 types of violence. The third level includes suggestions for managing violence and the fourth level includes IT-based interventions. Surveillance system and information resource system can be used for monitoringConclusion: During Covid-19, domestic violence and economic pressures increased, and vulnerable women and children were at greater risk. It is critical to identify people at risk, to follow and monitor them, to raise the awareness and knowledge of these people, and to empower and provide psychosocial support to these people during this period. In this study, a comprehensive review of IT-based interventions was presented and finally an international framework in this field was described.

The Abnormal Imaging of SARS-CoV-2: A Predictive Measure of Disease Severity

To investigate the characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia and evaluate whether CT scans, especially at a certain CT level, could be used to predict the severity of SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia. In total 118 confirmed patients had been enrolled. All data including epidemiological, clinical characteristics, laboratory results, and images were collected and analyzed when they were administrated for the first time. All patients were divided into two groups. There were 106 severe/critical patients and 12 common ones. A total of 38 of the patients were women. The mean age was 50.5 ± 11.5 years. Overall, 80 patients had a history of exposure. The median time from onset of symptoms to administration was 8.0 days. The main symptoms included fever, cough, anorexia, fatigue, myalgia, headaches, and chills. Lymphocytes and platelets decreased and lactate dehydrogenase increased with increased diseased severity (P < 0.05). Calcium and chloride ions were decreased more significantly in severe/critical patients than in common ones (P < 0.05). The main comorbidities were diabetes, chronic cardiovascular disease, and chronic pulmonary disease, which occurred in 47 patients. In all 69 patients had respiratory failure, which is the most common SARS-CoV-2 complication, and liver dysfunction presented in 37 patients. Nine patients received mechanical ventilation therapy. One patient received continuous blood purification and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (EMCO) treatments. The average stay was 18.1 ± 10.8 days. Four patients died. The median of the radiographic score was four in common, and five in the severe/critical illness, which was a significant difference between the two groups. The radiographic score was in negative correlation with OI (ρ = −0.467, P < 0.01). The OI in severe/critically ill cases decreased significantly as the disease progressed, which was related to the lesion area in the left lung and right lungs (ρ = 0.688, R = 0.733). OI, the lesion area in the left lung and right lungs, lymphocytes, etc. were associated with different degrees of SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia (P < 0.05). The lesion area in both lungs were possible predictive factors for severe/critical cases. Patients with SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia showed obvious clinical manifestations and laboratory result changes. Combining clinical features and the quantity of the lesion area in the fourth level of CT could effectively predict severe/critical SARS-CoV-2 cases.

KEMAMPUAN BERPIKIR KREATIF SISWA DALAM MENYELESAIKAN SOAL OPEN ENDED DITINJAU DARI KEMAMPUAN MATEMATIKA

The research describes the students' creative thinking ability in solving open-ended questions based on mathematics ability. Indicators of the ability to think creatively used in this study are fluency, flexibility, and novelty. This research is qualitative descriptive research. The subjects in this study were eighth-grade students of Baitul Fattah Junior High School, Sambikerep, Surabaya, 2019/2020 school year. The instruments used were the mathematics ability test, creative thinking ability test, and interview. The sum of the subjects who do the mathematics ability test is 30 students, the researcher chooses six students for the creative thinking test. Of the six students, three students were select to be an interview. There are five levels of TKBK (Creative Thinking Ability Level), namely fourth level (very creative), third level (creative), second level (quite creatives), first-level (less creative), and level 0 (not creatives). Based on the results of the analysis and discussion, it can be concluded that subjects with high ability have TKBK at the third level, namely creative with the acquisition of a score of four. Subjects with moderate ability have TKBK at the fourth level, namely highly creative with the acquisition of a score of thirty-six. While subjects with low ability have TKBK at the first level, namely are less creative with the acquisition of a score of thirteen.

Mastery of Basic Mathematics Facts in Slow Learner Children

As one of the mathematics objects, the basic facts of mathematics are the primary material that students must master. The facts of addition and subtraction should have been taught in the first level and mastered by the end of the second level. The multiplication and division facts should have been taught at the third level and could be mastered at the fourth level. The primary fact mastery phase consists of a counting phase, a reasoning phase, and a mastering/advanced phase. Mathematics as science should also be accepted by all students regardless of their characteristics, background, or physical needs. They must have the opportunity to learn and be supported to learn mathematics, one of which is a child with special needs slow learner. This research aims to describe the mastery of basic math facts in slow learner children. This is qualitative research, with research subjects totaling three slow learner students of Melana Junior Hight School, Semarang. Subjects are selected by purposive sampling. Data are collected through tests. Time triangulation is used for data validation. Data collection is carried out three times with a gap of 2-3 weeks. The data analysis technique in this research is data reduction, data presentation, and concluding. The research results conclude that the slow learner children are not yet proficient in mastering the basic facts of mathematics. There are slow learner children who can reach the reasoning stage in mastering basic facts, but more are still in the counting stage. Slow learner children who have good basic fact skills have better grades in mathematics. The addition facts are the most effortless facts to master, while the division facts are the most difficult facts to master. Some students can master multiplication facts better than subtraction facts, but some can master subtraction facts more than multiplication facts.

Self-Adaptive Swarm System (SASS)

Distributed artificial intelligence (DAI) studies artificial intelligence entities working together to reason, plan, solve problems, organize behaviors and strategies, make collective decisions and learn. This Ph.D. research proposes a principled Multi-Agent Systems (MAS) cooperation framework -- Self-Adaptive Swarm System (SASS) -- to bridge the fourth level automation gap between perception, communication, planning, execution, decision-making, and learning.