COVID‑19 mitigation by digital contact tracing and contact prevention (app‑based social exposure warnings)

A plethora of measures are being combined in the attempt to reduce SARS-CoV-2 spread. Due to its sustainability, contact tracing is one of the most frequently applied interventions worldwide, albeit with mixed results. We evaluate the performance of digital contact tracing for different infection detection rates and response time delays. We also introduce and analyze a novel strategy we call contact prevention, which emits high exposure warnings to smartphone users according to Bluetooth-based contact counting. We model the effect of both strategies on transmission dynamics in SERIA, an agent-based simulation platform that implements population-dependent statistical distributions. Results show that contact prevention remains effective in scenarios with high diagnostic/response time delays and low infection detection rates, which greatly impair the effect of traditional contact tracing strategies. Contact prevention could play a significant role in pandemic mitigation, especially in developing countries where diagnostic and tracing capabilities are inadequate. Contact prevention could thus sustainably reduce the propagation of respiratory viruses while relying on available technology, respecting data privacy, and most importantly, promoting community-based awareness and social responsibility. Depending on infection detection and app adoption rates, applying a combination of digital contact tracing and contact prevention could reduce pandemic-related mortality by 20–56%.publishedVersionFil: Soldano, Germán J. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas; Argentina.Fil: Soldano, Germán J. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Investigaciones en Físico-química de Córdoba; Argentina.Fil: Fraire Juan A. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales; Argentina.Fil: Fraire Juan A. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Estudios Avanzados en ingeniería y Tecnología; Argentina.Fil: Fraire Juan A. Saarland University. Saarland Informatics Campus; Saarbrücken, Germany.Fil: Finochietto, Jorge M. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales; Argentina.Fil: Finochietto, Jorge M. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Estudios Avanzados en ingeniería y Tecnología; Argentina.Fil: Quiroga; Rodrigo. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas; Argentina.Fil: Quiroga; Rodrigo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Investigaciones en Físico-química de Córdoba; Argentina

Prevalencia de bajo peso, sobrepeso y obesidad en adolescentes escolarizados de la provincia de La Pampa

Introducción. Mientras que diversos estudios epidemiológicos incluyen como parte de su relevamiento datos de jóvenes de la provincia de La Pampa en relación con la prevalencia de sobrepeso y obesidad, sus diseños experimentales presentan ciertas limitaciones en cuanto a la descripción de la realidad regional. Objetivo. Obtener un diagnóstico de situación acerca del perfil de composición corporal de adolescentes de 13 años de edad de la provincia de La Pampa. Población y métodos. Se realizó un estudio de corte transversal en una muestra de varones y niñas nacidos en el año 2001, a los que se les tomó peso, talla, perímetro de cintura, pliegue subescapular y tricipital. Resultados. De los 711 varones y niñas evaluados, 5 sujetos (0,7%) presentaron un peso por debajo del percentilo 3 para sexo y edad. En lo que hace a sobrepeso y obesidad, los valores de la muestra fueron 26,4% y 14,1%, respectivamente (27,5% y 16,9% en varones; 25,5% y 11,7% en niñas). Un 15,8% del total de la muestra (16,5% de los varones y 15,6% de las niñas) presentó valores de perímetro de cintura compatibles con obesidad abdominal. Un 36,8% (37,4% de varones y 36% de mujeres) mostró valores de grasa por encima de lo normal de acuerdo con la evaluación realizada a partir de los pliegues cutáneos. Conclusión. En contraposición a la pequeña prevalencia de bajo peso en la región, el sobrepeso y la obesidad constituyen una problemática de magnitudes elevadas en nuestra provincia en lapoblación estudiada.Fil: Catalani, Fabrizio. Gobierno de la Provincia de La Pampa. Ministerio de Bienestar Social. Dirección de Deportes; ArgentinaFil: Fraire, Javier. Provincia de La Pampa. Hospital Gobernador Centeno; ArgentinaFil: Pérez, Norma. Gobierno de la Provincia de La Pampa. Ministerio de Bienestar Social. Dirección de Deportes; ArgentinaFil: Mazzola, Monica Beatriz. Universidad Nacional de La Pampa; ArgentinaFil: Martínez, Ana M.. Fundación Centro de Salud e Investigaciones Médicas; ArgentinaFil: Mayer, Marcos Alejandro. Universidad Nacional de La Pampa; Argentina. Fundación Centro de Salud e Investigaciones Médicas; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin

Inclusive processes: Concepts and Instruments for sharing the spatial information

The second thematic workshop within the SINERGI project (Turin, June 30 - July 2, 2015) is the final step of a process started several months before. A research team from SiTI (Turin, Italy) developed an instrumental method for structuring the aforementioned workshop following two parallel paths. The first path was methodological. It has been the fruit of the collaboration between SiTI and public institution of the City of Turin. The construction of the method focused on conceptual possibilities and choice of urban parameters for the building of different future scenarios for the case study area, a very large dismissed urban area with an industrial past and many future projects insisting on it. The second path was technical one. It concerned the issues needed to use the Interactive Visualisation Tool (InViTo) in order to achieve the planned tasks. A number of discussions emerged outlining possibilities and opportunities given by the use of interactive maps. After discussion and technical improvements, the application of the chosen method within the workshop in Turin provided a large number of outcomes: drawing planning options; discussions on the relationship between the policy-making and the choice of urban parameters; multi-disciplinary argumentations on the use of digital tools and on the human interaction with visual information

Inclusive processes: Concepts and Instruments for sharing the spatial information

The second thematic workshop within the SINERGI project (Turin, June 30 - July 2, 2015) is the final step of a process started several months before. A research team from SiTI (Turin, Italy) developed an instrumental method for structuring the aforementioned workshop following two parallel paths. The first path was methodological. It has been the fruit of the collaboration between SiTI and public institution of the City of Turin. The construction of the method focused on conceptual possibilities and choice of urban parameters for the building of different future scenarios for the case study area, a very large dismissed urban area with an industrial past and many future projects insisting on it. The second path was technical one. It concerned the issues needed to use the Interactive Visualisation Tool (InViTo) in order to achieve the planned tasks. A number of discussions emerged outlining possibilities and opportunities given by the use of interactive maps. After discussion and technical improvements, the application of the chosen method within the workshop in Turin provided a large number of outcomes: drawing planning options; discussions on the relationship between the policy-making and the choice of urban parameters; multi-disciplinary argumentations on the use of digital tools and on the human interaction with visual information

Simulating New Drop Test Vehicles and Test Techniques for the Orion CEV Parachute Assembly System

The Crew Exploration Vehicle Parachute Assembly System (CPAS) project is engaged in a multi-year design and test campaign to qualify a parachute recovery system for human use on the Orion Spacecraft. Test and simulation techniques have evolved concurrently to keep up with the demands of a challenging and complex system. The primary simulations used for preflight predictions and post-test data reconstructions are Decelerator System Simulation (DSS), Decelerator System Simulation Application (DSSA), and Drop Test Vehicle Simulation (DTV-SIM). The goal of this paper is to provide a roadmap to future programs on the test technique challenges and obstacles involved in executing a large-scale, multi-year parachute test program. A focus on flight simulation modeling and correlation to test techniques executed to obtain parachute performance parameters are presented

Summary of CPAS Gen II Parachute Analysis

The Orion spacecraft is currently under development by NASA and Lockheed Martin. Like Apollo, Orion will use a series of parachutes to slow its descent and splashdown safely. The Orion parachute system, known as the CEV Parachute Assembly System (CPAS), is being designed by NASA, the Engineering and Science Contract Group (ESCG), and Airborne Systems. The first generation (Gen I) of CPAS testing consisted of thirteen tests and was executed in the 2007-2008 timeframe. The Gen I tests provided an initial understanding of the CPAS parachutes. Knowledge gained from Gen I testing was used to plan the second generation of testing (Gen II). Gen II consisted of six tests: three singleparachute tests, designated as Main Development Tests, and three Cluster Development Tests. Gen II required a more thorough investigation into parachute performance than Gen I. Higher fidelity instrumentation, enhanced analysis methods and tools, and advanced test techniques were developed. The results of the Gen II test series are being incorporated into the CPAS design. Further testing and refinement of the design and model of parachute performance will occur during the upcoming third generation of testing (Gen III). This paper will provide an overview of the developments in CPAS analysis following the end of Gen I, including descriptions of new tools and techniques as well as overviews of the Gen II tests

Lessons from Mycobacterium avium complex-associated pneumonitis: a case report

ABSTRACT: INTRODUCTION: Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) is an increasingly recognized cause of pulmonary disease in immunocompetent individuals. An acute form of MAC lung disease, MAC-associated pneumonitis, has generally been associated with the use of hot tubs. There is controversy in the literature about whether MAC-associated pneumonitis is a classic hypersensitivity pneumonitis or is a direct manifestation of mycobacterial infection. CASE PRESENTATION: We report the second case in the literature of MAC-associated pneumonitis not related to the use of hot tubs. The source of MAC in a 52-year-old immunocompetent patient was an intrapulmonary cyst containing numerous acid-fast bacilli. The patient developed disseminated miliary nodules throughout both lung fields. Histological examination of resected lung tissue revealed well-formed, acid-fast negative granulomas composed predominantly of CD4+ T-cells and CD68+ histiocytes. The granulomas were strongly positive for tumor necrosis factor-alpha, a pro-inflammatory cytokine. CONCLUSION: The attempt to classify MAC-associated pneumonitis as either a classic hypersensitivity pneumonitis or a direct manifestation of mycobacterial infection is not particularly useful. Our case demonstrates that MAC-associated pneumonitis is characterized by a vigorous T-helper 1-like, pro-inflammatory, immune response to pulmonary mycobacterial infection. The immunopathology provides a rationale for clinical studies of anti-MAC therapy with the addition of anti-inflammatory agents (for example, corticosteroids) to hasten the resolution of infection and symptoms