Differences in coastal and oceanic SST trends north of Yucatan Peninsula

The coastal area north of Yucatan has experienced a cooling SST trend from 1982 to 2015 during the upwelling season (May–September) that contrasts with the warming observed at the adjacent ocean area. Different drivers were analyzed to identify the possible causes of that unusual coastal cooling. Changes in coastal upwelling and in sea-atmosphere heat fluxes are not consistent with the observed coastal cooling. The eastward shift of the Yucatan Current observed over the last decades is hypothesized as the most probable cause of coastal cooling. This shift enhances the vertical transport of cold deeper water to the continental shelf from where it is pumped to the surface by upwelling favorable westerly winds.publishe

A global database of ant species abundances

What forces structure ecological assemblages? A key limitation to general insights about assemblage structure is the availability of data that are collected at a small spatial grain (local assemblages) and a large spatial extent (global coverage). Here, we present published and unpublished data from 51, 388 ant abundance and occurrence records of more than 2,693 species and 7,953 morphospecies from local assemblages collected at 4,212 locations around the world. Ants were selected because they are diverse and abundant globally, comprise a large fraction of animal biomass in most terrestrial communities, and are key contributors to a range of ecosystem functions. Data were collected between 1949 and 2014, and include, for each geo-referenced sampling site, both the identity of the ants collected and details of sampling design, habitat type, and degree of disturbance. The aim of compiling this data set was to provide comprehensive species abundance data in order to test relationships between assemblage structure and environmental and biogeographic factors. Data were collected using a variety of standardized methods, such as pitfall and Winkler traps, and will be valuable for studies investigating large-scale forces structuring local assemblages. Understanding such relationships is particularly critical under current rates of global change. We encourage authors holding additional data on systematically collected ant assemblages, especially those in dry and cold, and remote areas, to contact us and contribute their data to this growing data set

RICORS2040 : The need for collaborative research in chronic kidney disease

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a silent and poorly known killer. The current concept of CKD is relatively young and uptake by the public, physicians and health authorities is not widespread. Physicians still confuse CKD with chronic kidney insufficiency or failure. For the wider public and health authorities, CKD evokes kidney replacement therapy (KRT). In Spain, the prevalence of KRT is 0.13%. Thus health authorities may consider CKD a non-issue: very few persons eventually need KRT and, for those in whom kidneys fail, the problem is 'solved' by dialysis or kidney transplantation. However, KRT is the tip of the iceberg in the burden of CKD. The main burden of CKD is accelerated ageing and premature death. The cut-off points for kidney function and kidney damage indexes that define CKD also mark an increased risk for all-cause premature death. CKD is the most prevalent risk factor for lethal coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and the factor that most increases the risk of death in COVID-19, after old age. Men and women undergoing KRT still have an annual mortality that is 10- to 100-fold higher than similar-age peers, and life expectancy is shortened by ~40 years for young persons on dialysis and by 15 years for young persons with a functioning kidney graft. CKD is expected to become the fifth greatest global cause of death by 2040 and the second greatest cause of death in Spain before the end of the century, a time when one in four Spaniards will have CKD. However, by 2022, CKD will become the only top-15 global predicted cause of death that is not supported by a dedicated well-funded Centres for Biomedical Research (CIBER) network structure in Spain. Realizing the underestimation of the CKD burden of disease by health authorities, the Decade of the Kidney initiative for 2020-2030 was launched by the American Association of Kidney Patients and the European Kidney Health Alliance. Leading Spanish kidney researchers grouped in the kidney collaborative research network Red de Investigación Renal have now applied for the Redes de Investigación Cooperativa Orientadas a Resultados en Salud (RICORS) call for collaborative research in Spain with the support of the Spanish Society of Nephrology, Federación Nacional de Asociaciones para la Lucha Contra las Enfermedades del Riñón and ONT: RICORS2040 aims to prevent the dire predictions for the global 2040 burden of CKD from becoming true

The Usability of E-learning Platforms in Higher Education: A Systematic Mapping Study

The use of e-learning in higher education has increased significantly in recent years, which has led to several studies being conducted to investigate the usability of the platforms that support it. A variety of different usability evaluation methods and attributes have been used, and it has therefore become important to start reviewing this work in a systematic way to determine how the field has developed in the last 15 years. This paper describes a systematic mapping study that performed searches on five electronic libraries to identify usability issues and methods that have been used to evaluate e-learning platforms. Sixty-one papers were selected and analysed, with the majority of studies using a simple research design reliant on questionnaires. The usability attributes measured were mostly related to effectiveness, satisfaction, efficiency, and perceived ease of use. Furthermore, several research gaps have been identified and recommendations have been made for further work in the area of the usability of online learning

Programa de entrenamiento vacacional en investigación: una propuesta de estudiantes de medicina colombianos

Resumen: Introducción: La investigación es una prioridad en la formación académica en el pregrado de medicina; se asocia a positivismo, motivación y pensamiento crítico. Las asociaciones científicas formas un papel fundamental en el fomento de la investigación en el pregrado. El objetivo de este estudio fue describir los resultados del programa vacacional en investigación propuesto por estudiantes de medicina colombianos y evaluar la importancia de fomentarlos en América Latina. Materiales y métodos: La población de estudio incluyó a los estudiantes de la Universidad Tecnológica de Pereira (Risaralda, Colombia) participantes, quienes resolvieron un cuestionario sobre aspectos asociados a la investigación y publicación científica; además, se utilizó el cuestionario de actitudes hacia la investigación. Se realizó una segunda encuesta a un grupo de estudiantes latinoamericanos que incluyó la importancia de realizar programas vacacionales de investigación. Los análisis estadísticos se hicieron en STATA. Resultados: Ser parte de una asociación aumenta las posibilidades de ganar un premio en un congreso (86%), presentar un trabajo de investigación en un congreso (68%) y tener una publicación científica (59%). El 82,2% dedicaría al menos 5 h diarias de forma ininterrumpida a la investigación durante su periodo vacacional. En vacaciones tienen en promedio 5,5 h frente a 2,2 h durante jornada académica para investigar. Conclusiones: La investigación es de gran importancia en la formación del médico; los estudiantes de medicina desean que en sus universidades se realicen cursos o programas vacacionales en investigación científica porque es cuando más tiempo disponen para actividades complementarias. Abstract: Introduction: Research has become a priority in academic training among medical undergraduate students, and it has been associated with positivism, motivation, and critical thinking. Scientific associations also play a role in the research training for undergraduate students. The objective of this study was to describe the results of a research program during holiday periods proposed by Colombian medical students and to evaluate the importance of promoting them in Latin America. Materials and methods: The study population included students from the Universidad Tecnológica de Pereira (Risaralda, Colombia) who had completed a questionnaire on aspects associated with scientific research and publications. Furthermore, a questionnaire of attitudes towards research was also completed. A second survey was conducted by a group of Latin America students, which included the importance of conducting research–based programs. The statistical analysis was performed using the STATA program. Results: To be a member of an association increased the chances of winning an award at a congress (89%), as well as presenting a research paper at congress (68%), and to have a scientific publication (59%). The large majority of them (82,2%) would spend at least 5 hours a day continuously on research during their vacation time. During their vacation, they spend a mean of 5.5 hours per day, and 2.2 hours in an academic day. Conclusions: Research is important in medical training. Medical students would like to receive courses or programs during holiday periods about scientific research, as they have more free time for these complementary activities. Palabras clave: Estudiantes de Medicina, Sociedades científicas, Investigación, Vacaciones y feriados, Educación médica, Colombia, Keywords: Medical students, Scientific societies, Research, Holidays, Medical education, Colombi

Levels of bactericidal antibodies against meningococcus C after vaccination in 2- to 6-year-old children in Andalusia

BACKGROUND: In 1997, 18.5% of the cases of Meningococcal Disease caused b serogroup C in Andalusia were children between 2 and 4 years of age; ages where the initial immune response and the duration of the capsular A + C meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine is less than in older age groups. Research was designed in order to measure the immune response produced by this vaccine in children from 2 to 6 years of age and to compare it with the natural immunity present in unvaccinated children. METHODS: I. Dual monitoring study: a) groups of children vaccinated previously and control groups, b) groups of children who were going to be vaccinated, for pre and post-vaccination (1, 6 and 12 months) analysis and a control group. II. The bactericidal activity was measured according to the standardised protocol of the CDC with regard to the strain of N. meningitidis C-11. The sera with bactericidal activity (TAB) > 1:8 were considered to be protective. RESULTS: 1 and 2 months following vaccination, the proportion of TAB > 1:8 was significantly higher than that of the control group (65.6% and 73% in comparison to 2.2% and 12%). In the pre-vaccine and post-vaccine (after 6, 7, 12 and 13 months) verification, no significant difference between vaccinated individuals and controls was observed. CONCLUSIONS: The differences between vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals 1 and 2 months following vaccination indicate seroconversion in the vaccinated individuals. For the age group of between 2 to 6 years of age, the bactericidal activity acquired decline quickly, as, after 6 months, differences between this group and the control group are no longer observed. Fundamento: En 1997 el 18,.5% de los casos de Enfermedad Meningccócica por serogrupo C en Andalucía fueron niños de 2 a 4 años de edad; edades donde respuesta inmune inicial y duración de la vacuna antimeningocócica de polisactido capsular A+C, es menor que en eda- des superiores. Se diseñó una investigación para medir la respuesta inmune producida por esta vacuna, en niños de 2 a 6 años de edad, y compararla con la inmunidad natural presente en milos no vacunados. Métodos: 1. Doble estudio de seguimiento: J) grupos de niños previamente vacunados y grupos control, b) grupo de niños que iba a ser vacunado, para análisis pre y postvacunal(l.6 y 12 meses) y grupo control. II.- La actividad bactericida se midió según protocolo estanda- rizado del CDC frente a cepa de N. rnehyírih C-11. Los sueros con título de actividad bactericida (TAB)> 1.8 se consideraron protectores. Resultados: Al mes y a los 2 meses de vacunarse la proporción de TAB>I:B era significativamente superior a la del grupo control (65.5% y 73,9% frente a 2,2% y 12%). En el prevacunal y en el post- vacuna1 a los 6. 7, 12 y 13 meses no se observó diferencia significativa entre vacunados y controles. Conclusiones: Las diferencias entre vacunados y no vacunados 1 y 2 meses después de la vacunación indican seroconversión en los vacu- nados. Para el grupo de edad de 2 a 6 aiios la actividad bactericida adquirida declma rápidamente, ya que a los 6 meses dejan de observarse dife- rencias con el grupo control