The Hölder property in some degenerate parabolic problems

AbstractIn this paper it is proved that a solution of uuxx + ux2 + h(x, t, u)u = ut, with non-negative initial data uo(x), is α-Hölder continuous for any α ϵ (0, 1), with constant K independent of the modulus of continuity of h. Here u is the limit of solutions uε to the problems (uux)x + h(x, t, u)(u − ε) = ut, u(x, 0) = u0(x) + ε. We prove that ¦u¦α⩽K, independent of ε and the modulus of continuity of h. A similar result holds for the general porous medium equation ut = (um)xx + h(x, t, u)u, for any α ϵ (0, 1(m − 1))

Usability and Psychosocial Impact of Decision Support to Increase Sexual Health Education in American Indian and Alaska Native Communities

Despite sexual and reproductive health disparities, few evidence-based sexual health education programs exist for American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) youth, with even fewer tools available to assist AI/AN communities in adopting, implementing, and maintaining such programs. iCHAMPSS (Choosing And Maintaining effective Programs for Sex education in Schools) is a theory- and web-based decision-support-system designed to address dissemination barriers and increase the reach and fidelity of evidence-based programs (EBPs), specifically sexual health education programs. To investigate the potential of iCHAMPSS in AI/AN communities, we pilot-tested iCHAMPSS with adult stakeholders (N = 36) from agencies across the country that serve AI/AN communities. Stakeholders were recruited to review selected iCHAMPSS tools over two weeks in spring 2016. Pre- and post-surveys were administered to assess usability constructs, short-term psychosocial outcomes, and perceived feasibility. Data were analyzed using descriptive and non-parametric statistics. iCHAMPSS was perceived as acceptable, easy to use, credible, appealing, more helpful than current resources, and impactful of EBP adoption, implementation, and maintenance. Conversely, using iCHAMPSS significantly increased participants’ perceived barriers to adopting an EBP (p = 0.01). Overall, AI/AN stakeholders responded positively to iCHAMPSS, indicating the potential for adaptation to support the dissemination and implementation of evidence-based sexual health education in AI/AN communities

The Determinants of the Underemployment Gender Gap in the Philippines: A Decomposition Analysis

Underemployment is a prevalent labor market issue around the globe. It reflects how an individual can be employed but is unable to work to their desired number of hours, receive sufficient wages, or fully utilize their skills, leaving them in precarious working conditions. Studies on underemployment and its gendered impact in the Philippines remains limited with most labor studies primarily addressing wage and unemployment. This study addresses this gap by identifying the factors contributing to underemployment and gender-based inequalities in the Philippines. Using quarterly data from the Labor Force Survey from 2012 to 2021, we distinguished between visible and invisible underemployment based on the number of hours worked per week. To analyze the determinants of these two forms of underemployment, we employed a probit model with Heckman’s two-step sample correction that considers workers\u27 individual, organizational, and social characteristics. We then executed an Oaxaca-Blinder decomposition to estimate the visible and invisible underemployment gender gap and its component. We found that men have a higher probability of visible and invisible underemployment compared to women primarily because of endowments in education and occupational choice, although there is evidence men are rewarded more in the labor market than women. One policy recommendation is to improve upskilling, reskilling, and education programs for workers, especially for highly vulnerable demographics such as less-educated rural male workers

Variaciones climáticas en la Zona Metropolitana de la Ciudad de Toluca, Estado de México: 1960-2007

Los científicos del Panel Intergubernamental para el Cambio Climático (ipcc, 2001), han analizado las posibles consecuencias que pueden representar los cambios climáticos en distintos espacios geográficos de la Tierra. En México, el cambio climático empieza a ser notorio, por esta razón se realizó una investigación en la Zona Metropolitana de la Ciudad de Toluca y su hinterland para estudiar el comportamiento de la temperatura y la precipitación entre 1960 y 2007, y demostrar la existencia de variaciones que pueden contribuir al cambio climático. El sustento teórico de esta investigación fue la geografía ambiental, y el metodológico se basó en la estadística, trabajo de campo, el método comparativo y la cartografía automatizada. Con los resultados obtenidos se puede concluir que el clima en la zmct y su hinterland están en proceso de cambio y, de acuerdo con las investigaciones e informes de la nasa y el ipcc, éste seguirá cambiando globalmente.Los cientíÀcos del Panel Intergubernamental para el Cambio Climático (ipcc, 2001), han analizado las posibles consecuencias que pueden representar los cambios climáticos en distintos espacios geográÀcos de la Tierra. En México, el cambio climático empieza a ser notorio, por esta razón se realizó una investigación en la Zona Metropolitana de la Ciudad de Toluca y su hinterland para estudiar el comportamiento de la temperatura y la precipitación entre 1960 y 2007, y demostrar la existencia de variaciones que pueden contribuir al cambio climático. El sustento teórico de esta investigación fue la geografía ambiental, y el metodológico se basó en la estadística, trabajo de campo, el método comparativo y la cartografía automatizada. Con los resultados obtenidos se puede concluir que el clima en la zmct y su hinterland están en proceso de cambio y, de acuerdo con las investigaciones e informes de la nasa y el ipcc, éste seguirá cambiando globalmente

Improving the use of remote laboratories. The case of VISIR at Universidad Nacional de Rosario

The present work originates in the Project "Educational Modules for Electric and Electronic Circuits Theory and Practice following an Inquiry-based Teaching and Learning Methodology supported by VISIR", carried out with the support of the Erasmus+ Programme. Remote labs can provide a framework where physical experiments can be developed for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) education. Although remote labs have been in use for over a decade now in several countries and levels of education, their use is not yet being generalized in Latin America. Through the VISIR+ International Cooperation Project from the Erasmus+ Programme, five higher education institutions from Latin America have incorporated de VISIR remote lab in order to carry out experiments with electric and electronic circuits. In the present work, the results of the study developed at Universidad Nacional de Rosario within the framework of the aforementioned project are shown.This work was carried out with the economic support of the European Commission through Project 561735-EPP-12015-1-PTEPPKA2-CBHE-JP and by Universidad Nacional de Rosario, through Project PID 1ING505.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Effect of the implementation of an enhanced recovery after surgery protocol (ERAS) in patients undergoing an elective cesarean section

Objectives: To demonstrate that the application of an enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocol in elective cesarean sections is associated with reduced hospital stay without increasing maternal complications. Material and methods: This retrospective, comparative study included patients who underwent an elective cesarean section. The patients were divided into groups: group 1, women who received elements of standardized care according to ERAS guidelines, and group 2, women who did not receive this care. Results: The study included 295 patients, 139 in group 1 (ERAS) and 156 in group 2. The demographic characteristics were similar. Hospital stay and postoperative pain at 24 and 48 hours were lower in patients in group 1; these differences were statistically significant (p < 0.001). The overall complication rate, head pain, surgical wound infection, urinary retention, and readmission were similar in both groups. Conclusions: The application of an ERAS protocol can reduce hospital stay and postoperative pain without increasing the postoperative complication rate in patients who undergo an elective cesarean section. In developing countries, the application of this protocol could help in optimizing available health system resources

Tissue print of prostate biopsy: a novel tool in the diagnostic procedure of prostate cancer

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Nowadays, the histological examination of prostate core needle biopsies is still regarded as the gold standard in the diagnosis of prostate cancer (PCa). We investigated if the tissue print of core needle biopsy (biopsy print) could be used as adjunctive molecular investigative procedures in conjunction with routine histological examination of biopsy to improve PCa diagnosis.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The direct contact of PCa core biopsy to nitrocellulose membrane resulted in the release of a cellular micropeel that was used for downstream analytical procedures.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>By zymogram print-phoresis we demonstrated that matrix metalloproteases MMP-2 and MMP-9 could be visualized in biopsy prints and that the gelatinolytic activity was positively correlated with immunohistochemistry analysis of the same markers in matched bioptic specimens. Moreover, we compared the ability to detect the PCa-associated hypermethylation of GSTP1 promoter in DNA extracted from biopsy prints with those of the corresponding core needle biopsies. Biopsy prints demonstrated the same specificity of biopsies in detecting PCa (50%) while the sensitivity and the positive predictive value were lower than biopsies (56% vs 78% and 63% vs 70%, respectively).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Biopsy print, combining a molecular point of view to the routinely hystopathological analysis of prostate biopsies, should be a useful tool to improve the diagnosis of PCa.</p

Pancreas transplantation: differences in activity between Europe and the United States

Background. Although pancreas transplantation (PT) is the treatment of choice in selected diabetic patients, the International Pancreas Transplant Registry (IPTR) has reported important differences in activity between USA and Europe. Of all cases reported, 75% are from USA and only 23% from Europe. Therefore, an analysis of PT activity in selected European countries (SEC) and USA was performed

Elevational Gradients in Bird Diversity in the Eastern Himalaya: An Evaluation of Distribution Patterns and Their Underlying Mechanisms

BACKGROUND: Understanding diversity patterns and the mechanisms underlying those patterns along elevational gradients is critically important for conservation efforts in montane ecosystems, especially those that are biodiversity hotspots. Despite recent advances, consensus on the underlying causes, or even the relative influence of a suite of factors on elevational diversity patterns has remained elusive. METHODS AND PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We examined patterns of species richness, density and range size distribution of birds, and the suite of biotic and abiotic factors (primary productivity, habitat variables, climatic factors and geometric constraints) that governs diversity along a 4500-m elevational gradient in the Eastern Himalayan region, a biodiversity hotspot within the world's tallest mountains. We used point count methods for sampling birds and quadrats for estimating vegetation at 22 sites along the elevational gradient. We found that species richness increased to approximately 2000 m, then declined. We found no evidence that geometric constraints influenced this pattern, whereas actual evapotranspiration (a surrogate for primary productivity) and various habitat variables (plant species richness, shrub density and basal area of trees) accounted for most of the variation in bird species richness. We also observed that ranges of most bird species were narrow along the elevation gradient. We find little evidence to support Rapoport's rule for the birds of Sikkim region of the Himalaya. CONCLUSIONS AND SIGNIFICANCE: This study in the Eastern Himalaya indicates that species richness of birds is highest at intermediate elevations along one of the most extensive elevational gradients ever examined. Additionally, primary productivity and factors associated with habitat accounted for most of the variation in avian species richness. The diversity peak at intermediate elevations and the narrow elevational ranges of most species suggest important conservation implications: not only should mid-elevation areas be conserved, but the entire gradient requires equal conservation attention