Project management Tools and Techniques (T&T) usage in building sector companies in Cartagena City, T.C.D..

This research work was based on an analysis of project management tools and techniques usage and its practical application in the construction sector. It is a fact that projects currently have a high failure rate which was corroborated in this research work through a diagnosis carried out in the city of Cartagena to 22 project managers of important construction companies that currently execute housing projects and therefore, it was determined that techniques and tools of worldwide recognition and suggested by the most relevant standards and methodology are not being used in construction projects. In this work the deficiencies and strengths of the companies were shown when applying the project management techniques and tools; a guide was prepared to use them through specific recommendations to the construction sector. © 2019 Latin American and Caribbean Consortium of Engineering Institutions. All rights reserved

International care programs for Pediatric Post-COVID Condition (Long COVID) and the way forward

Background: Pediatric Post-COVID-Condition (PPCC) clinics treat children despite limited scientific substantiation. By exploring real-life management of children diagnosed with PPCC, the International Post-COVID-Condition in Children Collaboration (IP4C) aimed to provide guidance for future PPCC care. Methods: We performed a cross-sectional international, multicenter study on used PPCC definitions; the organization of PPCC care programs and patients characteristics. We compared aggregated data from PPCC cohorts and identified priorities to improve PPCC care. Results: Ten PPCC care programs and six COVID-19 follow-up research cohorts participated. Aggregated data from 584 PPCC patients was analyzed. The most common symptoms included fatigue (71%), headache (55%), concentration difficulties (53%), and brain fog (48%). Severe limitations in daily life were reported in 31% of patients. Most PPCC care programs organized in-person visits with multidisciplinary teams. Diagnostic testing for respiratory and cardiac morbidity was most frequently performed and seldom abnormal. Treatment was often limited to physical therapy and psychological support. Conclusions: We found substantial heterogeneity in both the diagnostics and management of PPCC, possibly explained by scarce scientific evidence and lack of standardized care. We present a list of components which future guidelines should address, and outline priorities concerning PPCC care pathways, research and international collaboration

Challenges in periprosthetic knee-joint infection

The number of knee arthroplasty procedures is growing and projected to further increase. The risk for periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) is estimated to be low (>1%). However, considering the increasing number of total knee arthroplasty, the increasing number of patients with multiple comorbidities, and the lifelong risk for acquiring hematogenous infection, the total number of PJI will further increase. Despite existing treatment concepts for PJI of the knee, there are still questions to solve, such as type of debridement surgery in case of implant retention, the role of a spacer from a microbiological perspective, and the optimal duration of antimicrobial therapy. In this REVIEW, these questions will be analyzed according to the available literature and the experience of the authors. Moreover, we REVIEW the most recent data on infection, risk factors, and microbiology of PJI

SOAR/Goodman Spectroscopic Assessment of Candidate Counterparts of the LIGO/Virgo Event GW190814

On 2019 August 14 at 21:10:39 UTC, the LIGO/Virgo Collaboration (LVC) detected a possible neutron star–black hole merger (NSBH), the first ever identified. An extensive search for an optical counterpart of this event, designated GW190814, was undertaken using the Dark Energy Camera on the 4 m Victor M. Blanco Telescope at the Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory. Target of Opportunity interrupts were issued on eight separate nights to observe 11 candidates using the 4.1 m Southern Astrophysical Research (SOAR) telescope's Goodman High Throughput Spectrograph in order to assess whether any of these transients was likely to be an optical counterpart of the possible NSBH merger. Here, we describe the process of observing with SOAR, the analysis of our spectra, our spectroscopic typing methodology, and our resultant conclusion that none of the candidates corresponded to the gravitational wave merger event but were all instead other transients. Finally, we describe the lessons learned from this effort. Application of these lessons will be critical for a successful community spectroscopic follow-up program for LVC observing run 4 (O4) and beyond

The evolving SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in Africa: Insights from rapidly expanding genomic surveillance

The past 2 years, during which waves of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants swept the globe, have starkly highlighted health disparities across nations. Tegally et al. show how the coordinated efforts of talented African scientists have in a short time made great contributions to pandemic surveillance and data gathering. Their efforts and initiatives have provided early warning that has likely benefited wealthier countries more than their own. Genomic surveillance identified the emergence of the highly transmissible Beta and Omicron variants and now the appearance of Omicron sublineages in Africa. However, it is imperative that technology transfer for diagnostics and vaccines, as well the logistic wherewithal to produce and deploy them, match the data-gathering effort