Proposition of a method based on mind maps to study changes in users’ perceptions during an IS/IT adoption process

Although knowledge about IS/IT adoption is very broad, it is fragmented, and we still do not understand well how users move dynamically from one stage to another during the adoption process, that is, from when a user knows a new technology until, if the process is successful, she/he incorporates it into her/his routine. One of the causes of this theoretical limitation relates to the lack of methodologies that help researchers analyze longitudinally collected data and distinguish changes that occur over time as participants experience the implementation of the new system. In this article, we present a method based on mind maps that allows researchers to graphically synthesize the mental processes experienced by individuals as they adopt a new system. The method allows comparing and measuring changes among mental models of an individual in different stages of the adoption. Findings show that this method better reflects user perceptions than others based on surveys and technical processing of textual data. Using mind maps is a novel contribution to researching and understanding technology adoption in a holistic way and with methods that include time as a contextual variable in the adoption process

Engaging Latino Adolescent Girls in Physical Activity Intervention Planning in a Low-income, Urban Environment

Purpose: Latino adolescent girls are less physically active than the general adolescent population, which puts them at increased risk for obesity and chronic disease. The Physical Activity Partnership for Girls (PG) uses a community-based participatory research approach to assess community needs and priorities related to physical activity (PA) behaviors of middle school girls living in low-income, urban sectors of San Antonio, Texas. Input was sought from girls, parents, and youth-serving agencies serving the community to inform the development of an innovative PA intervention utilizing low-cost, mobile technology (texting) and social media that will be delivered through Girl Scout troops. We will describe the results of two strategies used to elicit the perspectives of girls about their PA and technology use: 1) participatory photomapping (PPM), and 2) self-administered survey. Methods: Girl Scouts facilitated the participation of 40 girls (11-14years) in PPM activities to guide girls in assessing their active living experience in the community. PPM integrates traditional photovoice strategy with geographic information systems technology, connecting qualitative data to specific locations on a map. In addition, girls (n=102) completed a self-administered survey to assess access to and use of technology, including mobile phones, computer, television, internet, social networking, and PA. Results: The PPM process took place over 12 weeks and involved multiple photo walks, guided group discussions, and the development of an advocacy presentation for a community retreat. Of the 40 participants enrolled, 10 completed the process. The resulting photomap, presented to community stakeholders, revealed key themes about environmental barriers to PA for girls, including animal control, built environment, and safety concerns. Survey results indicated cell phone ownership and use varied by age: 76% of 14-year-olds owned a cell phone compared to 43% of 11-year-olds; 14-year-olds reported using cell phone 49 hours/week compared to 9 hours/week for 11-year-olds. Cell phone ownership was significantly associated with higher levels of PA (P≤0.05) and personal contentment (P=0.006). Conclusions: Use of cell phones and social networking holds promise as an effective strategy for engaging girls in improving individual PA behaviors. However, interventions should also address environmental concerns girl identified through PPM in order to maximize potential benefit

Uptake of NOy on wave-cloud ice particles

In flight through a wave cloud during SUCCESS on 2 May 1996, simultaneous forward- and aft- facing NOy inlets were used to infer the amount of condensed-phase NOy present on ice particles that were up to a few minutes old. Condensed-phased amounts were 25-75 pptv, or 10-20% of gas-phase NOy. Given the rapid HNO₃ uptake on ice observed in the laboratory, a model calculation implies that virtually all of the gas-phase HNO₃ will be depleted in the first 1-2 minutes after the appearance of ice. Thus the NOy observations are consistent with the laboratory results only of the ambient HNO₃/NOy ratio is 10-20%.Copyright 1998 by the American Geophysical Union

Microbiological quality of human milk from a Brazilian milk bank

OBJECTIVE: The objectives of the present study were to determine the prevalence of potentially pathogenic microorganisms that indicate the hygienic and sanitary conditions of human milk samples collected at a Human Milk Bank. METHODS: Three hundred and thirty eight (338) samples of human milk collected from a milk bank in a maternity in the municipality of Goiânia, in the state of Goias, Brazil were submitted to microbiological analysis. The latter were plated on McConkey agar according to the type of bacteria. Among the total number of samples collected, 194 consisted of raw milk and the remaining 144 were pasteurized milk. RESULTS: The presence of Staphylococcus spp., Streptococcus spp., yeasts and molds, and Enterobacteriaceae was verified in the raw milk samples. Staphylococcus aureus were isolated in 10 (5.2%) samples, Staphylococcus epidermidis in 28 (14.4%) samples, Streptococcus spp. in three (1.6%) samples, yeasts and molds in 43 (22.2%) and Enterobacteriaceae in 49 (25.3%) samples. In a hundred and forty four (144) samples which underwent thermal treatment Staphylococcus aureus was detected in five (3.5%) samples, Staphylococcus epidermidis in 15 (10.4%), Staphylococcus lugdenensis in two (1.4%), Streptococcus spp. in four (2.8%), yeasts and molds in 37 (25.7%), and Enterobacteriaceae in nine (6.3%). CONCLUSIONS: Analysis indicated a high degree of contamination in raw human milk, and as for the pasteurized milk, despite elimination of the great majority of potentially pathogenic microorganisms, the percentage of yeasts and molds was higher than in raw milk, demonstrating that a lower degree of initial contamination would be necessary for pasteurization to be an efficient means of microbiological control.OBJETIVO: Determinar a prevalência de microrganismos indicadores e potencialmente patogênicos que indicam as condições higiênico-sanitárias das amostras de leite humano ordenhado coletadas em banco de leite. MÉTODOS: Foram realizadas análises microbiológicas de 338 amostras de leite humano ordenhado, sendo 194 de leite cru e 144, pasteurizado, coletadas em banco de leite humano de um hospital materno infantil de Goiânia, GO. As análises microbiológicas foram realizadas com semeadura em ágar Mc Conkey, de acordo com o tipo de bactéria. RESULTADOS: No leite cru, verificou-se a presença de Staphylococcus spp. Streptococcus spp., bolores e leveduras e Enterobacteriaceae. Observou-se que Staphylococcus aureus esteve presente em 10 (5,2%) amostras, Staphylococcus epidermidis em 28 (14,4%), Streptococcus spp. em três (1,6%), bolores e leveduras em 43 (22,2%) e Enterobacteriaceae em 49 (25,3%). Das 144 amostras de leite humano ordenhado pasteurizado, detectaram-se Staphylococcus aureus em cinco (3,5%), Staphylococcus epidermidis em 15 (10,4%), Staphylococcus lugdenensis em duas (1,4%), Streptococcus spp. em quatro (2,8%), bolores e leveduras em 37 (25,7%) e Enterobacteriaceae em nove (6,3%). CONCLUSÕES: Os resultados mostraram um alto grau de contaminação no leite cru. No leite pasteurizado, apesar da eliminação da grande maioria de microrganismos potencialmente patogênicos, a percentagem de bolores e leveduras excedeu a de leite cru, mostrando a necessidade de obtenção de um leite com carga microbiana inicial mais baixa para que a pasteurização seja eficiente no controle microbiológico

Discectomia percutânea lombar: uma revisão sistemática

Introduction: low back pain is a clinical condition with a multifactorial etiopathogenesis, which has a high socioeconomic impact, especially in the economically active population, as it is associated with frequent absenteeism and reduced quality of life. Through intervertebral disc degeneration, a progressive instability of the compromised region is observed, triggering a harmful positive feedback mechanism that further promotes intervertebral disc disease. Built by the interaction between the predisposing biopsychosocial components, a multidisciplinary therapeutic proposition is suggested. In persistent low back pain, treatment involves surgical procedures such as Percutaneous Lumbar Discectomy. Objective: to evaluate the scientific evidence regarding the clinical outcomes and safety of this surgery. Methods: systematic review duly registered in Prospero (CRD42022370811), based on the PICOD question, elaborated from a Boolean search in different databases for scientific articles, evaluated and selected in a paired way based on the eligibility criteria. In addition to extracting data related to the proposed objectives, the articles included were evaluated in relation to their level of evidence and strength of recommendation. Results: among the 12 articles included, it was observed that it is a clinically effective and safe procedure. In the set of evidences gathered, they are of high and moderate level of evidence with respective strength of recommendation strong/good and weak/moderate. Conclusion: Percutaneous Lumbar Discectomy promotes significant reduction of pain and increase in body functionality, in addition to preserving local musculoskeletal structures and preventing post-surgical joint instability. It is, therefore, a safe and clinically effective minimally invasive procedure for patients with herniated discs.Introdução: a lombalgia é uma condição clínica de etiopatogenia multifatorial, que desencadeia um elevado impacto socioeconômico especialmente na população economicamente ativa, por associar-se ao absenteísmo frequente e à redução da qualidade de vida. Observa-se mediante a degeneração do disco intervertebral, uma instabilidade progressiva da região comprometida desencadeando um mecanismo de feedback positivo prejudicial que promove ainda mais a doença do disco intervertebral. Edificada pela interação entre os componentes biopsicossocial predisponentes, sugere-se uma proposição terapêutica multidisciplinar. Na dor lombar persistente o tratamento envolve procedimentos cirúrgicos como a Discectomia Percutânea Lombar. Objetivo: avaliar as evidencias científicas relativas aos desfechos clínicos e à segurança desta cirurgia. Método: revisão sistemática devidamente registrada no Prospero (CRD42022370811), fundamentada na pergunta PICOD, elaborada a partir de busca booleana em diferentes bases de dados por artigos científicos, avaliados e selecionados de forma pareado com base nos critérios de elegibilidade. Além da extração de dados relativos aos objetivos propostos, os artigos incluídos foram avaliados em relação ao respectivo nível de evidencia e força de recomendação. Resultados: dentre os 12 artigos incluídos, observou-se que se trata de um procedimento clinicamente efetivo e seguro. No conjunto de evidencias reunidas são de alto e moderado nível de evidencia com respectiva força de recomendação forte/boa e, fraca/moderada. Conclusão: a Discectomia Percutânea Lombar promove relevante redução da dor e aumento da funcionalidade corporal, além de preservar as estruturas musculoesqueléticas locais e prevenir a instabilidade articular pós-cirúrgica. Trata-se, portanto, de um procedimento minimamente invasivo seguro e clinicamente efetivo para os pacientes portadores de hérnia discal

Ecosystem resilience despite large-scale altered hydroclimatic conditions

Climate change is predicted to increase both drought frequency and duration, and when coupled with substantial warming, will establish a new hydroclimatological model for many regions. Large-scale, warm droughts have recently occurred in North America, Africa, Europe, Amazonia and Australia, resulting in major effects on terrestrial ecosystems, carbon balance and food security. Here we compare the functional response of above-ground net primary production to contrasting hydroclimatic periods in the late twentieth century (1975-1998), and drier, warmer conditions in the early twenty-first century (2000-2009) in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. We find a common ecosystem water-use efficiency (WUE e: Above-ground net primary production/ evapotranspiration) across biomes ranging from grassland to forest that indicates an intrinsic system sensitivity to water availability across rainfall regimes, regardless of hydroclimatic conditions. We found higher WUE e in drier years that increased significantly with drought to a maximum WUE e across all biomes; and a minimum native state in wetter years that was common across hydroclimatic periods. This indicates biome-scale resilience to the interannual variability associated with the early twenty-first century drought - that is, the capacity to tolerate low, annual precipitation and to respond to subsequent periods of favourable water balance. These findings provide a conceptual model of ecosystem properties at the decadal scale applicable to the widespread altered hydroclimatic conditions that are predicted for later this century. Understanding the hydroclimatic threshold that will break down ecosystem resilience and alter maximum WUE e may allow us to predict land-surface consequences as large regions become more arid, starting with water-limited, low-productivity grasslands. © 2013 Macmillan Publishers Limited. All rights reserved

Functional gene delivery to and across brain vasculature of systemic AAVs with endothelial-specific tropism in rodents and broad tropism in primates

Delivering genes to and across the brain vasculature efficiently and specifically across species remains a critical challenge for addressing neurological diseases. We have evolved adeno-associated virus (AAV9) capsids into vectors that transduce brain endothelial cells specifically and efficiently following systemic administration in wild-type mice with diverse genetic backgrounds, and in rats. These AAVs also exhibit superior transduction of the CNS across non-human primates (marmosets and rhesus macaques), and in ex vivo human brain slices, although the endothelial tropism is not conserved across species. The capsid modifications translate from AAV9 to other serotypes such as AAV1 and AAV-DJ, enabling serotype switching for sequential AAV administration in mice. We demonstrate that the endothelial-specific mouse capsids can be used to genetically engineer the blood-brain barrier by transforming the mouse brain vasculature into a functional biofactory. We apply this approach to Hevin knockout mice, where AAV-X1-mediated ectopic expression of the synaptogenic protein Sparcl1/Hevin in brain endothelial cells rescued synaptic deficits

Functional gene delivery to and across brain vasculature of systemic AAVs with endothelial-specific tropism in rodents and broad tropism in primates

Delivering genes to and across the brain vasculature efficiently and specifically across species remains a critical challenge for addressing neurological diseases. We have evolved adeno-associated virus (AAV9) capsids into vectors that transduce brain endothelial cells specifically and efficiently following systemic administration in wild-type mice with diverse genetic backgrounds, and in rats. These AAVs also exhibit superior transduction of the CNS across non-human primates (marmosets and rhesus macaques), and in ex vivo human brain slices, although the endothelial tropism is not conserved across species. The capsid modifications translate from AAV9 to other serotypes such as AAV1 and AAV-DJ, enabling serotype switching for sequential AAV administration in mice. We demonstrate that the endothelial-specific mouse capsids can be used to genetically engineer the blood-brain barrier by transforming the mouse brain vasculature into a functional biofactory. We apply this approach to Hevin knockout mice, where AAV-X1-mediated ectopic expression of the synaptogenic protein Sparcl1/Hevin in brain endothelial cells rescued synaptic deficits