Social Media as an Opportunity for Public Health Interventions: The #Metoo Movement as an Exemplar

Background: Social media have been used exponentially and globally, providing a means for billions of users to connect, interact, share opinions and criticise, becoming one of the main channels of communication for users around the world. One of the most popular free social media networks is Twitter, with more than 100 million active users per day worldwide. Purpose: The aim of this study was to analyse a sample of the public conversations generated, using the hashtag #MeToo, around the topic of sexual abuse on Twitter.  Methods:  Using social media marketing software, the use of the #MeToo hashtag was analysed over a period of 60 days (14 September 2017 to 13 November of 2017). Results: The #MeToo conversation was mainly in English (79.3%), located in the United States (48.2% of cases), but with global repercussions. The volume of mentions of the #MeToo hashtag was far greater (97.7%), compared with other hashtags related to violence over this period of time, using mostly Twitter (96.2%). Conclusions: These results suggest that it is possible to describe different groups using the social media, and analyse their conversations to identify opportunities for successful public health interventions.  If the topic is relevant for the general public, it will generate interest and conversations at the global level, supported by a universal and borderless channel such as Twitter

Optimización de modelos en elementos finitos de los maniquíes Hybrid-III percentiles 50% y 95% para su aplicación en transporte ferroviario

En este artículo se presenta la metodología seguida para el desarrollo de los modelos matemáticos de los maniquíes Hybrid-III 50% y 95%, los cuales son capaces de predecir correctamente los criterios de lesión asociados a cada región del cuerpo. Como aplicación práctica de los modelos, se evalúa la seguridad de butacas de tren mediante técnicas de simulación. En primer lugar se han desarrollado los modelos a través de su geometría tridimensional. También han sido asignados los diferentes materiales y propiedades de cada parte de los maniquíes. Posteriormente se ha seguido un proceso de optimización y de mejora que incluye la verificación y validación de los maniquíes virtuales. Dicha validación se realiza a partir de los maniquíes físicos y de los datos experimentales que posee el Laboratorio de Seguridad Pasiva (LSP) del INSIA de la UPM, utilizando los maniquíes en varias configuraciones. Finalmente, se realiza el proceso de optimización de estos modelos virtuales para que representen lo más fielmente posible la realidad, que su comportamiento sea preciso y que el tiempo de cálculo o coste computacional sea el menor posible. Una vez creados los modelos en elementos finitos de ambos maniquíes, se emplean para analizar la seguridad de las butacas de tren mediante la simulación de los ensayos dinámicos que se describen en la norma GM/RT2100. Esta norma exige dos configuraciones de ensayo para evaluar la seguridad de las butacas. La primera configuración sirve para evaluar la resistencia y la integridad estructural de la butaca y sus anclajes mediante el uso de dos maniquíes Hybrid-III 95%. La segunda configuración se utiliza para evaluar la protección que las butacas ofrecen al ocupante mediante el uso de un maniquí Hybrid-III 50% instrumentado. En ambas configuraciones se realizan impactos en sentido de la marcha y en el sentido contrario y se compran los valores registrados en los maniquíes tanto en los ensayos reales como en las simulaciones matemáticas

The psychological syndrome associated with Long-COVID: A study protocol

Introduction: Chronic post-viral syndromes, including Long-COVID, are characterized by a range of persistent symptoms that occur following a viral infection. Psychological symptoms are prevalent in Long-COVID patients and can have a significant impact on their quality of life. However, the specific patterns of psychological symptoms, their associations with physical symptoms, and the factors predicting their severity remain poorly understood. Aims: This study aims to explore and systematically assess psychological symptoms in Long-COVID, to identify syndrome clusters based on these symptoms, to examine their relationship with physical symptoms, and to investigate the influence of pandemic-related variables. Methods: Descriptive, cross-sectional study with data collected through an online questionnaire across several EU countries, from February 2020 to December 2022. Participants were recruited using public relations, the social media and information campaigns directed at the public and health professionals using snowball sampling. Results: The findings will allow to phenotype Long-COVID related psychological symptom clusters based on self-reports. facilitating improved assessment and treatment approaches. Conclusions: The results will provide important knowledge for the public health management of the public healh management of Long COVID. The findings will contribute to a better understanding of the psychological symptoms associated with Long-COVID and the development of specific treatment guidelines for psychological burden associated with Long-COVID, thereby supporting management strategies to combat the after-effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, enhancing their overall well-being and quality of life

Effects of regularly consuming dietary fibre rich soluble cocoa products on bowel habits in healthy subjects: a free-living, two-stage, randomized, crossover, single-blind intervention

Abstract Background Dietary fibre is both preventive and therapeutic for bowel functional diseases. Soluble cocoa products are good sources of dietary fibre that may be supplemented with this dietary component. This study assessed the effects of regularly consuming two soluble cocoa products (A and B) with different non-starch polysaccharides levels (NSP, 15.1 and 22.0% w/w, respectively) on bowel habits using subjective intestinal function and symptom questionnaires, a daily diary and a faecal marker in healthy individuals. Methods A free-living, two-stage, randomized, crossover, single-blind intervention was carried out in 44 healthy men and women, between 18-55 y old, who had not taken dietary supplements, laxatives, or antibiotics six months before the start of the study. In the four-week-long intervention stages, separated by a three-week-wash-out stage, two servings of A and B, that provided 2.26 vs. 6.60 g/day of NSP respectively, were taken. In each stage, volunteers' diet was recorded using a 72-h food intake report. Results Regularly consuming cocoa A and B increased fibre intake, although only cocoa B significantly increased fibre intake (p < 0.001) with respect to the non-cocoa stage. No changes in body weight were observed in either of the 4 week interventions. With cocoa product B, the number of daily bowel movements increased (p = 0.002), the frequency of having a bowel movement once a day increased (p = 0.009), the time to have a bowel movement was lower (p = 0.016) as well as the feeling of constipation (p = 0.046) without inducing adverse gastrointestinal symptoms, only flatulence increased (p = 0.019). Conclusions Regular consumption of the cocoa products increases dietary fibre intake to recommended levels and product B improves bowel habits. The use of both objective and subjective assessments to evaluate the effects of food on bowel habits is recommended.Projects AGL2007-64042 and Consolider-Ingenio (CSD2007-00063) from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation also acknowledged. S.M.-L. is a JAE-Predoc fellow of CSIC Programme "Junta para la Ampliación de Estudios" co-funded by the European Social Fund (ESF). M.G.-J. is a predoctoral fellow of the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation. A.F.-E. was a FINNOVA fellow also cofinanced by CSIC and the ESF.Peer Reviewe

Growth response to thinning in a mixed pine-oak stand of Pinus pinaster and Quercus pyrenaica.

During the last decades the interest on mixed stands has increased in forestry due to their potential benefits, especially conifer-broadleaves mixtures. However, more knowledge is need about their dynamic and their response to silvicultural treatments. On the other hand, climate change can affect different species in different ways, so it is important to study the effect of climate in mixed stands with different silvicultures. In this work we present preliminary results of a thinning trial in a mixed stands of Pinus pinaster Ait. and Quercus pyrenaica Willd located in ?Montes de Toledo? (Central Spain). The main objectives of the experiment are to study the growth response of each species to thinning and to analyse if there are different climate-growth relationships between species and thinning treatments. The stand is a stratified mixture with a planted pine overstory and a natural regenerated oak lower stratum (understory). The experiment design is a Latin square of order three with the following treatments: heavy thinning from below (40% of basal area is removed), moderate thinning from below (25% of basal area is removed) and control or unthinned. The thinning was applied during the winter 2009-10. The position of all trees larger than 7.5 cm of diameter per plot was recorded. Diameter of all trees and heights of a sample were measured before the thinning. In each plot dendrometer bands were installed in 10 trees per species in order to study the effect of treatments on individual tree growth. Dedrometer bands were read every month to detect possible differences in growth pattern between treatments. These data were complemented with continued records registered with electronic dendrometer installed in one tree per species and treatment. Climatic variables and soil temperature and humidity were recorded with a weather station and soil sensors set up in the study site. Data from the first growing season after the thinning treatment (spring of 2010) will be presented in this work. The possible differences in total growth and in growth pattern between species and treatments will be analysed and discussed

Composición nutricional y digestibilidad de semilla, torta y cáscara de dos especies de sacha inchi (Plukenetia volubilis y Plukenetia huayllabambana)

In Peru, sacha inchi (Plukenetia volubilis) has great production and industrialization potential; however, the real value of the seed and its by-products for use in animal feeding is not yet known. The objective of the study was to determine the nutritional composition, and content of antinutrients (saponins and tannins) of the cake meals (residues after oil extraction) of Plukenetia volubilis and Plukenetia huayllabambana, as well as the proximal composition of the seeds and skin. The moisture content, crude protein, crude fibre, ether extract, nitrogen-free extract, ash, neutral detergent fibre (NDF) and acid detergent fibre (ADF) were determined; as well as the content of tannins, saponins, fatty acid profile and in vitro digestibility of organic matter (IVDOM) of sacha inchi meal. No statistical differences were found (p &gt; 0,05) for the nutritional components evaluated in seed, skin and cake meal of both species of sacha inchi. However, the seeds of P. huayllabambana present higher amounts of fat, but lower protein content than P. volubilis. Likewise, in P. volubilis the protein content of the meal was lower than P. huayllabambana. The IVDOM of sacha inchi meal did not show statistical differences. The skin of P. volubilis has a lower content of crude fiber than P. huayllabambana. The concentration of polyunsaturated fatty acids was higher in P. volubilis (p &lt; 0,05). No traces of saponins or tanins were found in the sacha inchi meal of both species. The sacha inchi meal of both species has potential to be used in animal feed due to its high nutritional value and absence of antinutrients.En Perú, sacha inchi (Plukenetia volubilis) tiene un gran potencial de producción y de industrialización; sin embargo, aún no se conoce el valor real de la semilla y sus subproductos para uso en alimentación animal. El objetivo del estudio fue determinar la composición nutricional y contenido de antinutrientes (saponinas y taninos) de las tortas de Plukenetia volubilis y Plukenetia huayllabambana, así como la composición proximal de las semillas y de las cáscaras. Para ello, se determinó el contenido de humedad, proteína cruda, fibra cruda, extracto etéreo, extracto libre de nitrógeno, cenizas, fibra detergente neutro (FDN) y fibra detergente ácido (FDA), así como el contenido de taninos, saponinas, perfil de ácidos grasos y digestibilidad in vitro de la materia orgánica (DIVMO) de torta de sacha inchi. No se encontraron diferencias estadísticas (p &gt; 0,05) para los componentes nutricionales evaluados en semilla, cáscara y torta de ambas especies de sacha inchi. Sin embargo, las semillas de P. huayllabambana presentaron mayor cantidad de extracto etéreo, pero menor contenido de proteínas que P. volubilis. Asimismo, en P. volubilis el contenido de proteína de la torta fue menor que P. huayllabambana. La cáscara de P. volubilis presenta un menor contenido de fibra que P. huayllabambana. Los DIVMO de torta P. volubilis y P. huayllabambana no mostró diferencias estadísticas (p &gt; 0,05). La concentración de ácidos grasos poliinsaturados fue superior en P. volubilis (p &lt; 0,05). La torta de sacha inchi de ambas especies presenta potencial para ser utilizadas en alimentación animal por su alto valor nutricional y ausencia de antinutrientes

Screening for and Disclosure of Domestic Violence during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Results of the PRICOV-19 Cross-Sectional Study in 33 Countries

The COVID-19 pandemic left no one untouched, and reports of domestic violence (DV) increased during the crisis. DV victims rarely seek professional help, yet when they do so, they often disclose it to their general practitioner (GP), with whom they have a trusting relationship. GPs rarely screen and hence rarely take the initiative to discuss DV with patients, although victims indicate that offering this opportunity would facilitate their disclosure. This paper aims to describe the frequency of screening for DV by GPs and disclosure of DV by patients to the GP during the COVID-19 pandemic, and to identify key elements that could potentially explain differences in screening for and disclosure of DV. The PRICOV-19 data of 4295 GP practices from 33 countries were included in the analyses, with practices nested in countries. Two stepwise forward clustered ordinal logistic regressions were performed. Only 11% of the GPs reported (much) more disclosure of DV by patients during COVID-19, and 12% reported having screened for DV (much). Most significant associations with screening for and disclosure of DV concerned general (pro)active communication. However, (pro)active communication was performed less frequently for DV than for health conditions, which might indicate that GPs are insufficiently aware of the general magnitude of DV and its impact on patients and society, and its approach/management. Thus, professional education and training for GPs about DV seems highly and urgently needed

AGENCIA DE AUTOCUIDADO Y APRENDIZAJE A TRAVÉS DE PROBLEMAS EN ESTUDIANTES DE ENFERMERÍA

La agencia de autocuidado es fundamental en la ciencia de enfermería. Asimismo, el aprendizaje a través de problemas ha sido utilizado por los maestros de la profesión como estrategia didáctica que permite el desarrollo de algunas competencias de los futuros enfermeros. Objetivo: determinar la relación entre la agencia de autocuidado y el aprendizaje a través de problemas de los estudiantes de enfermería de una universidad de Bucaramanga - Colombia. Métodología: La investigación es de tipo analítico de corte transversal. La muestra fue de 127 estudiantes de enfermería en pregrado. Se realizó la recolección de datos a través de la escala de valoración de agencia de autocuidado derivada de la teoría de Dorothea Orem. Resultados: existe relación estadísticamente significativa entre la agencia de autocuidado y las fases de resolución de problemas. Conclusiones: los estudiantes distinguieron características que se deben tener en cuenta al establecer la estrategia del aprendizaje basado en problemas como son: la motivación, el manejo del tiempo y la certeza que todos los estudiantes entiendan el problema

A Health Sector Online Toolkit for Implementing Learning into Practice from Violence Against Women Trainings (TILPVAWT)

Violence against women (VAW) is a major public health and human rights concern. Intimate partner violence and sexual violence are among the most pervasive forms of violence against women. Training health professionals in VAW is essential to raise awareness and improve the care for victims with a comprehensive approach. One of the objectives of this project was the development of a set of 28 tools to facilitate VAW training of health professionals, using certain common content, and the transfer of this knowledge into their clinical practice. This toolkit has been presented on the website http://www.toolner.com/en/. This website has been designed in an easy to use and friendly way, and is oriented to trainers, organisations and individuals interested in improving their teaching skills in VAW, but with the potential to be adapted and used independently by different organisations. The toolkit is divided into five phases of training: preparation, development, implementation, post-training, and assessment; each containing different tools and examples. Training in VAW is the first step to change attitudes but it is necessary to motivate professionals, adapt content, methodology and assess the impact of the training. This website is a tool by which to achieve this