Sexual behaviour, human papillomavirus and its vaccine: a qualitative study of adolescents and parents in Andalusia

Background: Human papillomavirus (HPV) is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections and can be prevented by vaccination. The purpose of this study is to gain a better understanding, by analysing interview responses of adolescents and parents, of how adolescent sexual behaviour is approached in families, how widespread knowledge about HPV is in Andalusia, the autonomous region with the lowest vaccination rate in Spain, as well as to learn more about the interviewees’ position regarding vaccination. Methods: A qualitative study by means of 15 focus groups of adolescents (N = 137, aged 14–17 years) and five focus groups of parents with children of those ages (N = 37) was conducted in the provinces of Granada, Seville and Jaén (Andalusia, Spain). The audio data were transcribed verbatim, coded and analysed thematically using NVIVO-10 software. Results: There were three major results: (1) There is a lack of communication between adolescents and parents regarding sexual behaviour; (2) In both groups, scarce knowledge about HPV and vaccination was found; (3) Parents mistrust vaccination due to a lack of qualified and verified information about its benefits. Conclusions: Healthy adolescent sexual behaviour is aided by communication within the family. Families need more information based on the evidence about HPV and vaccination. Health professionals are a key element in this process

Is Gender Inequality a Barrier to Economic Growth? A Panel Data Analysis of Developing Countries

This study provides empirical evidence about the effects of various dimensions of gender inequalities (education, labour market and institutional representation) on economic growth. We use data from the World Bank Development Indicators database for the period 1990–2017. We initially use a large panel of 105 developing countries. Subsequently we study a panel with the sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries since this region is one of the poorest regions in the world. We estimate cross-country and panel regressions. The results suggest that gender equality in education contributes to economic growth and this is a common feature in developing countries. The contribution of equality in education to growth seems to be greater in the SSA countries than in the entire sample of developing countries. The female–male ratio of labour market participation is not statistically significant. We also find a significant link between the presence of women in parliaments and growth in the sample of all developing countries, while this relationship is negative for the SSA countries. It is likely that despite the increased participation of women in the political arena in these countries, women may still encounter major obstacles to altering political priorities and affecting economic growth.The research was funded from the Research Group by the Basque Government «Institutions, Regulation and Economic Policy» (IT1052-16)

Repositioning through Culture: Testing Change in Connectivity Patterns

Symbolic knowledge-driven innovations can play an important role in the economic development of cities and regions. Cultural events and infrastructures can act as powerful connectivity engines, generating new connections, rewiring links, and repositioning institutions/cities/regions on the Internet map. Within this framework, this paper aims to contribute to the analytical understanding of culture-led repositioning. For this purpose we perform regression analysis with cultural networks (observational cross-sectional network data) from digital media for a specific cultural case study: the Basque Culinary Center (BCC), a higher education faculty of haute cuisine promoted by the University of Mondragon along with a group of Michelin-starred chefs. Results show that a cultural sector, such as haute cuisine, can contribute to structural changes in connectivity patterns, putting an institution/city/region on the media map. It is the connection (in the online press) of the BCC to the influential Michelin-starred chefs that can fuel the accumulation of press articles (media items) on the BCC; and it is precisely this accumulation of press articles that can impact BCC revenues. Put differently, the co-branding between the influential Michelin chefs and the BCC may have put the BCC on the press map, promoting new student registrations and fostering Basque haute cuisine. The main contribution of this article is a prototype of regression analysis to test repositioning with network data.The authors acknowledge the financial support from the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (MINECOR 2015 CREA-NETWORK CSO2015-65265-C4-3-R MINECOR-FEDER). The Art4pax Foundation (Guernica) and the Basque Government (SAIOTEK) provided support for this project. We are grateful to BASQUETOUR (Basque Agency of Tourism) and to Silke Haarich (Germany) who kindly read an early draft of the article. They are not responsible for our interpretations

Do It, Don’t Feel It, and Be Invincible: A Prolog of Exercise Addiction in Endurance Sports

The social relevance of endurance sports has increased people’s motivation to engage in these particular physical activities, associating their practice with a particular lifestyle (e.g., feeling victorious and a feeling of self-improvement). Therefore, the dark personality traits (not because they are negative but because they are more hidden), understood as a personal and adaptive response to the psychosocial relationships that athletes establish while practicing these sports. Following these arguments, Grit has been used to trace the response of athletes in their quest to improve performance and endurance in the face of common setbacks suffered as a result of long hours of training. Empirical studies should help to discover how these personality traits can pose real challenges to their adaptation, and what the impact of their psychological response may be in a functional or dysfunctional way [e.g., exercise addiction (EA)], in order to classify them as risk or protective factors. Through transversal design, the present study sought to explore the relationship between Grit and Dark Traits of Personality regarding the appearance of EA in a sample (N = 241) of amateur endurance sport athletes (Mage = 31.80; SD = 9.87). The results show that men not only score higher for addiction levels but also for narcissism (grandiosity feelings) and psychopathy (coldness) factors. If signs of narcissism and Machiavellianism increase, perseverance efforts grow too, and the likelihood of EA increases considerably. The conclusions drawn on the basis of the results allow us to place consistency of interest as a protective factor for the EA, whereas Dark Traits of personality – especially Machiavellianism – constitute a risk factor

Fortalezas e ameaças em torno da segurança do paciente segundo a opinião dos profissionais de enfermagem

The aim of this research is to know the barriers and opportunities that nursing professionals detect in their clinical practice in order to develop the culture of patient safety and to identify future research lines. This qualitative study is based on the DELPHI method, with a group of 19 nursing professionals from education and care practice, involving both primary and specialized care. Weaknesses and threats revolve around five categories: profession, organization and infrastructure; indicators; communication and safety culture; and safety training. Opportunities to improve safety cover six categories: organizational change; promotion of the safety culture, professional training and development; relationship with the patients; research; and strategic planning. Work is needed to improve safety and nursing should be ready to assume this leadership.El objetivo de este estudio es conocer las barreras y oportunidades que los profesionales de enfermería detectan en su práctica clínica para el pleno desarrollo de la cultura de la seguridad del paciente e identificar posibles líneas de investigación futuras. Se trata de un estudio cualitativo basado en la técnica Delphi modificada sobre un grupo compuesto por 19 profesionales de enfermería del ámbito docente y asistencial, tanto de atención primaria como especializada. Se encontró que las debilidades y amenazas giran alrededor de cinco categorías: profesión; organización e infraestructura; indicadores; comunicación y cultura de seguridad; y, formación en seguridad. Las oportunidades para mejorar la seguridad comprenden seis categorías: cambio organizacional; fomento de la cultura de seguridad, formación y desarrollo profesional; relación con los pacientes, investigación; y, planificación estratégica. Se concluye que existe la necesidad de trabajar para mejorar la seguridad y que la enfermería debe asumir ese liderazgo.O objetivo deste estudo é conhecer as barreiras e oportunidades que os profissionais de enfermagem detectam em sua prática clínica para o pleno desenvolvimento da cultura da segurança do paciente e identificar possíveis linhas de pesquisa futuras. Trata-se de um estudo qualitativo baseado na técnica Delphi modificada sobre um grupo composto por 19 profissionais de enfermagem do âmbito docente e assistencial, tanto do atendimento primário como especializado. Encontrou-se que as debilidades e ameaças giram em torno de cinco categorias: profissão; organização e infra-estrutura; indicadores; comunicação e cultura de segurança; e, formação em segurança. As oportunidades para melhorar a segurança compreendem seis categorias: mudança organizacional; fomento da cultura de segurança, formação e desenvolvimento profissional; relação com os pacientes; pesquisa; e, planejamento estratégico. Conclui-se que existe a necessidade de trabalhar para melhorar a segurança e que a enfermagem deve assumir essa liderança

Cuantificación de las demandas de carrera en hockey hierba femenino mediante el uso de umbrales individualizados. [Quantification of the running demands in women`s field hockey using individualized thresholds].

El objetivo de este estudio fue analizar las demandas de carrera del hockey hierba femenino utilizando valores relativos para determinar los umbrales de intensidad. 15 jugadoras (23,7 ± 4,1 años) fueron monitorizadas en partidos de competición oficial, utilizando un sistema de posicionamiento global (GPS). Para determinar los umbrales relativos de intensidad de carrera se usaron el test 30-15IFT y la velocidad máxima de sprint. Los resultados muestran que existen diferencias significativas entre analizar la carrera de alta intensidad de las jugadoras de hockey con valores absolutos y valores relativos pasando de 479,8 ±134,9 m a 1116,3 ± 281,4 m); Tamaño del efecto ± 90% LC = 2,78 (2,17-3,38), distancias que se ajustan más a los esfuerzos de las jugadoras. Sin embargo, el número de sprint realizados disminuyó (de 6,26 a 3,59). Se concluye que el uso de umbrales relativos incrementa la distancia recorrida a alta intensidad en jugadoras de hockey hierba. Abstract The objective of this study was to analyze the running demands of women’s field hockey, using relative values to determine intensity thresholds. 15 players (23,7 ± 4,1 years) were monitored in official competition matches, using a global positioning system (GPS). To determine the thresholds relative to the intensity of the race, the 30-15IFT test and the maximum sprint speed were used. The results show that there are significant differences between the analysis of high-speed running of the hockey players with absolute and relative values, increasing from 479.8 ± 134,9 m to 1116,3 ± 281,4 m; Effect size ± 90% CL = 2,78 (2,17-3,38), distances that are more accurate to the player’s effort. However, the sprint number was decreased (from 6,26 to 3,59). The use of relative thresholds increases high-intensity running in women’s field hockey

Diferencias de género en la distribución del tiempo de trabajo en las regiones españolas

This study examines, from a regional perspective, the relationship between the patterns of time allocation to paid and domestic work within heterosexual couples and the socio-economic and institutional characteristics of regions. The hypothesis of this work is that, in regions with an institutional system characterized by generous social and family policies, greater participation of women in the labor market, greater wealth and higher educational level, the distribution of paid and domestic work between men and women is more egalitarian. Regarding domestic work, we distinguish between time devoted to housework and childcare. Using the 2009- 2010 Spanish Time Use Survey, we applied Principal Components Analysis (PCA) and Cluster Analysis. We identified five groups of regions or patterns of time allocation between men and women. Heterogeneity among these patterns can be associated to regional differences in the economic, social and institutional settings.Este trabajo examina la relación entre los patrones de distribución del tiempo dedicado al trabajo remunerado y al doméstico de las parejas heterosexuales y las características socioeconómicas e institucionales de las regiones españolas. La hipótesis que contrastamos es que las regiones con un sistema institucional amplio de políticas sociales y familiares, mayor riqueza, nivel educativo y participación femenina en el mercado laboral, tienen una distribución del trabajo remunerado y doméstico entre géneros más igualitaria. Distinguimos, dentro del trabajo doméstico, entre el tiempo dedicado a las tareas del hogar y al cuidado de los niños. Los datos utilizados provienen de la última Encuesta de Empleo de Tiempo española (2009-2010). La metodología utilizada es el Análisis en Componentes Principales (ACP) y el Análisis Clúster. Los resultados permiten identificar cinco grupos de regiones o patrones de distribución del tiempo entre hombres y mujeres que se asocian con contextos socioeconómicos e institucionales diferente

Solid lipid nanoparticles to improve bioaccessibility and permeability of orally administered maslinic acid

Maslinic acid (MA) is a plant-derived, low water-soluble compound with antitumor activity. We have formulated MA in the form of solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) with three different shell compositions: Poloxamer 407 (PMA), dicarboxylic acid-Poloxamer 407 (PCMA), and HA-coated PCMA (PCMA-HA). These SLNs improved the solubility of MA up to 7.5mg/mL, are stable in a wide range of pH, and increase the bioaccessibility of MA after in vitro gastrointestinal (GI) digestion. Gastrointestinal digested SLNs afforded MA delivery across in vitro gut barrier models (21 days old Caco-2 and mucus-producing Caco-2/HT29-MTX co-cultures). The cellular fraction of Caco-2/HT29-MTX co-cultures retained more MA from GI digested PCMA-HA than the Caco-2 monolayers. The concentration of MA reached in the basolateral chamber inhibited growth of pancreatic cancer cells, BxPC3. Finally, confocal microscopy images provided evidence that Nile Red incorporated in MA SLNs was capable of crossing Caco-2 monolayers to be taken up by basolaterally located BxPC3 cells. We have demonstrated that SLNs can be used as nanocarriers of hydrophobic antitumor compounds and that these SLNs are suitable for oral consumption and delivery of the bioactive across the gut barrier.Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovacion (MCIN/AEI/FEDER) RTI2018-101309-B-C21 RTI2018-101309-B-C22European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO-short term fellowships) 8475Enterprise Ireland (Career-FIT)European Commission 713654MF2018-0151 Food-BIBSScience Foundation IrelandDepartment of Agriculture, Food and Marine on behalf of the Government of Ireland 16/RC/3835European Commission European Commission Joint Research Centre European Regional Development Funds of the Junta de AndaluciaSpanish Governmen