Pennathrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), a new panchaetothripine genus from New Caledonia

The Pacific island of New Caledonia is located about 1500km East of Australia just north of the Tropic of Capricorn. It has a rich endemic flora involving more than 5000 plant species (Endemia.nc 2021; Guillaumin 1948), but the only account of the Thysanoptera fauna apart from some new species descriptions is a check-list of 44 genera and 68 species (Bournier & Mound 2000). Here we describe a new monotypic genus of Panchaetothripinae that has been collected twice in New Caledonia, in 1992 and 2012, but without any information on possible host associations. This genus shares character states with a monobasic genus from New Zealand, but more particularly with a genus of four species endemic to Australia. The Thripidae fauna of New Zealand appears to be well-studied (Mound et al. 2017), with only one or two undescribed species known in collections. The Australian Thysanoptera fauna has also been studied extensively in the past 20 years (Mound & Tree 2020), and few undescribed species of Thripidae are known. In contrast, the Thysanoptera fauna of New Caledonia appears to be largely unexplored, and description here of this new genus serves to emphasize the uniqueness of this fauna. Photographs of the habitus and morphological characters were taken on the technical platform at CBGP (Centre de Biologie pour la Gestion des Populations) using a KEYENCE® VHX-5000 digital microscope and a Leica DM5500, and at CSIRO, Canberra using a Leica DM2500 with Nomarski illumination.

Symptomatic Myxoma of the Left Atrium Enclosed In the Mitrate Valve: Case Report

We report the case of a myxoma of the left atrium in a patient aged 73, who presented for lipothymic discomfort. Echocardiography was used to diagnose an hypermobile myxoma attached to the interauricular septum with haemodynamic impact. Support was limited because of the very small technical platform.

Audit of Maternal Deaths in the Context of the Free Obstetrical Care at the Maternity of the Ignace Deen National Hospital of Conakry Chu

Objectives: To describe the evolution of half-yearly maternal mortality ratios, to describe the socio-demographic characteristics of the patients who died in the facility, to analyse the causes and determining factors of maternal deaths that have occurred in the facility, and to implement strategies to reduce this maternal mortality. Methodology: this was a descriptive, cross-sectional and analytical study carried out at the maternity ward of the Ignace Deen National Hospital of the Conakry University Hospital with data collection in two phases, including a retrospective lasting 6 months from July 1 to December 31, 2018, and the other prospective for a period of 18 months from January 1, 2019, to June 30, 2020. Result: During the study period, 224 deaths were recorded out of a total of 8,539 live births, for an intra-hospital maternal mortality ratio of 2,623.25 per 100,000 live births. The profile of women at risk of maternal death was as follows: patients aged 20-31 (56.26%), married (87.6%), low-income (41.96%), multiparous (33, 1%), evacuated from a peripheral maternity hospital (79.91%), multi guest (34.9%). The majority of deaths occurred within the first 24 hours (75%). The majority of deaths were due to direct obstetric causes: postpartum haemorrhage (52.68%), eclampsia (21.88%). Indirect obstetric causes were dominated by anaemia (16.07%). But in some cases, two or even three factors were associated with the occurrence of the same maternal death. The most frequently encountered obstetric period of death was postpartum (77.68%). The average recovery time was 31.96 minutes. The lack of blood products and the inadequacy of the technical platform were the main associated factors. Also, it appears that all our cases of death were preventable. The causes of the dysfunctions were attributable: to the person by their attitude (delay in specific care); in the hospital for the lack of equipment and blood products and in the consultation. Free obstetric care was not complete in some cases. Conclusion: maternal mortality is a major health problem in our structure. Its reduction requires the mobilization of all actors in society involving good health education; improving the quality of prenatal consultations and emergency obstetric care by consciously taking charge of staff and strengthening the technical platform.

AI for interactive performance: Challenges and techniques

AI techniques and systems are pervasive to the media and entertainment industry, with application ranging from chatbots and characters to games and virtual environments. A common feature characterising these applications is given by the intent to introduce a narrative element in the user experience, often conveyed through some type of performance. In this paper, we analyse the contribution of AI techniques in the design and realization of a dramatic performance, an interactive system participated by human performers and audiences through some type of enactment. Drawing on real applications developed for innovative performances, we propose an architectural model that forms the technical platform of the system, and discuss how it can be deployed using Artificial Intelligence techniques with reference to real, experimental applications created in the last two decades.

Conducting Web-Based Focus Groups With Adolescents and Young Adults

This methodologic paper aims to update researchers working with adolescents and young adults on the potentials and pitfalls associated with web-based qualitative research. We present a case study of synchronous web-based focus groups with 35 adolescents and young women ages 15–24 years old recruited from a clinical sample for a mixed methods study of heart disease awareness. We contrast this with two other studies, one using asynchronous web-based focus groups with 30 transgender youth ages 13 to 24 years old and another using synchronous web-based focus groups with 48 young men who have sex with men ages 18 to 26 years old, both recruited via social media. We describe general and logistical considerations, technical platform considerations, and ethical, regulatory, and research considerations associated with web-based qualitative research. In an era of technology ubiquity and dependence, researchers should consider web-based focus groups a potential qualitative research tool, especially when working with youth.

ELMA-BASED DIGITAL BUSINESS PROCESS DOUBLE

This paper describes a prototype of a digital twin of a business process model. The apparatus of GERT networks are used to predict the parameters. BPMS ELMA was used as a technical platform. The structure and parameters of the GERT model are continuously updated based on the ELMA database.

Internet of Things (IoT) adoption model for early identification and monitoring of COVID-19 cases: a systematic review (Preprint)

BACKGROUND The 2019 Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is a mysterious and highly infectious disease which was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO). The virus poses a great threat for global health and economy. Currently, in the absence of effective treatment or vaccine, leveraging advanced digital technologies is of great importance. OBJECTIVE In this respect, Internet of Things (IoT) is useful for smart monitoring and tracing of COVID-19. Therefore, in this study, we have reviewed the literature available on the IoT-enabled solutions to tackle the current COVID-19 outbreak. METHODS This Systematic Literature Review (SLR) was conducted an electronic search of articles in the PubMed, Google Scholar, ProQuest, Scopus, Science direct, and Web of Science (WOS) databases to formulate a complete view the IoT enabled solutions to monitoring and tracing of COVID-19 according FITT model (Fit between Individual, Task, and Technology). RESULTS In the literature review, 28 articles were identified as eligible studies for analysis. This review will provide an overview of technological adoption of IoT in COVID-19 to identify significant users either primary or secondary, required technologies including technical platform, exchange, processing, storage and added value technologies and system tasks or applications in “on-body”, “in-clinic/hospital” and even “in-community” levels. CONCLUSIONS The use of IoT along with advanced intelligent and computing technologies for ubiquitous monitoring and tracking of patients in quarantine has made it a critical aspect in fighting the spread of current COVID-19 and even future pandemics.

DISTANCE LEARNING IN INFORMATICS LESSONS USING THE ONLINE TEST PAD WEB SERVICE

In modern education, distance learning can serve as an additional tool for learning and quality assimilation of educational material. The article presents the technical platform Online Test Pad, and also discusses in detail the possibility of using distance learning technology using this multifunctional web service. Attention is paid to this technology in the modern educational process. The subject teacher can both use the Online Test Pad technical platform during class time, and involve students in independent study, repeating material at home or preparing for a future lesson. The article provides examples of performing independent, control and home work in online mode, which significantly reduces the time for checking assignments for the teacher and at the same time will allow the student to find out the assessment for it and analyze his mistakes immediately after completing the work.