How Filtering Affects Organizational Communication

Identifies the barriers to intra-agency communication and countermeasures

Knowledge, attitudes, and practices towards COVID-19 among Venezuelans during the 2020 epidemic:An online cross-sectional survey

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 threatens health systems worldwide, but Venezuela's system is particularly vulnerable. To prevent the spread of COVID-19, individuals must adopt preventive behaviors. However, to encourage behavior change, we must first understand current knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAPs) that inform response to this health threat. METHODS: We explored KAPs among Venezuelans using a cross-sectional, internet-based questionnaire. The questionnaire explored individuals' knowledge about COVID-19; their attitudes toward the world's and the Venezuelan authorities' abilities to control it; and their self-reported practices. We also collected demographic data. Binomial logistic regression analyses were used to predict the adoption of preventive behaviors based on demographic variables, individual knowledge level, and individual attitudes. RESULTS: 3122 individuals completed the questionnaire. Participants had a high level of knowledge about COVID-19. They expressed high levels of optimism that the world would eventually control COVID-19, but they were very pessimistic about the public authorities in Venezuela. Most participants adopted preventive practices. Binomial regression suggests younger people, less educated people, and manual laborers hold lower levels of knowledge, and these groups, as well as men, were less likely to adopt preventive practices. Knowledge, by itself, had no association with optimism and little association with self-reported practices. CONCLUSIONS: As other KAP studies in Latin America found, knowledge is not sufficient to prompt behavior change. Venezuelans' pessimism about their own country's ability should be explored in greater depth. Health promotion in Venezuela may wish to target the most at risk groups: men, younger people, less educated people, and manual laborers

Effects of shrimp-farm effluents on the food web structure in subtropical coastal lagoons

Received 4 October 2010, Revised 24 March 2011, Accepted 29 March 2011, Available online 19 April 2011Although numerous studies have reported the negative effects of shrimp aquaculture on water quality, little is known about the ecological effects of these practices in coastal lagoons and near-shore marine habitats. The impact of shrimp-farm effluents on the food webs of an impacted subtropical coastal lagoon in the Gulf of California was evaluated through measurements of isotopic (δ13C, δ15N) signatures in sediments, plants and animals, and compared with the results of a near-pristine reference site. Degradation was manifested in a strong reduction on fish diversity at the perturbed site. δ13C signatures provided ambiguous evidence of degradation while δ15N was a better descriptor of shrimp-farm effluent impact on coastal lagoon food webs. The site receiving nutrient-rich discharges showed significant enrichment of δ15N (≈ 5‰) in sediments, macroalgae, benthic algae, filterfeeders and omnivorous feeders, resulting in qualitative differences in foodweb structure between both lagoons. The food web in the perturbed site was sustained by sediment detritus and dominated by opportunistic species. The lowest influence on δ15N signatures by aquaculture discharges recorded in the upper trophic levels could be explained by the shift in the composition of biotic communities, and associated feeding strategies. While alterations in resource availability do not affect directly food chain length, trophic linkages between food web compartments can be reduced as a result of shrimp farm impacts. Our study demonstrates that nutrient-enriched discharges from shrimp-farm aquaculture generate changes in the availability of food sources, which reduce biodiversity and alter structural and functional food web characteristics.This research was supported by the Mexican Secretary of Natural Resources and Environment (SEMARNAT-CONACYT; contract SEMAR-NAT-2002-C01-0147) and by the Spanish Ministry of Environment (Organismo Autónomo Parques Nacionales; contracts 2008/001 DECA-MERON and 81/2005 CARBONDA.Peer reviewe

Influence of genotype and age of explant source on the capacity for somatic embryogenesis of two Cavendish banana cultivars (Musa acuminata Colla, AAA)

The embryogenic capacities of flower explants from one- and two-week-old male inflorescence buds from Musa acuminata Cavendish, AAA, genotypes ‘Williams’ and ‘Grand Naine’ were investigated. Explants of hands with immature flowers were excised and induced for embryogenesis. Highlysignificant differences were found in the embryogenic response, depending on the genotype and the developmental stage of the buds from which the explants were excised. After four months of induction, the total percentage of callus formed ranged from 97.81% in explants of two-week-old ‘Williams’ buds to 52.11% in explants of two-week-old ‘Grand Naine’ buds. Embryogenic callus formation was, on average, higher in the two-week-old ‘Williams’ explants (10.01%) than in the one-week-old explants (0.78%). The opposite was true for ‘Grand Naine’, with 7.51% embryogenic callus produced in explants of one-week-old buds compared to 2.49% in two-week-old buds. Selected embryogenic calluses that were successfully established on proliferation medium led to embryogenic cell suspensions with good regeneration capacities. Fifteen to thirty-five percent of the embryos germinated, demonstrated high plant-conversion capacity (99%). The effect of the interaction between the developmental age ofexplant and the genotype on the embryogenesis response is discussed

Ecological factors related to the widespread distribution of sylvatic Rhodnius ecuadoriensis populations in southern Ecuador

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Chagas disease transmission risk is a function of the presence of triatomines in domestic habitats. <it>Rhodnius ecuadoriensis </it>is one of the main vectors implicated in transmission of <it>Trypanosoma cruzi </it>in Ecuador. This triatomine species is present in domestic, peridomestic and sylvatic habitats in the country. To determine the distribution of sylvatic populations of <it>R. ecuadoriensis </it>and the factors related to this distribution, triatomine searches were conducted between 2005 and 2009 in southern Ecuador.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Manual triatomine searches were conducted by skilled bug collectors in 23 communities. Sylvatic searched sites were selected by a) directed sampling, where microhabitats were selected by the searchers and b) random sampling, where sampling points where randomly generated. Domiciliary triatomine searches were conducted using the one man-hour method. Natural trypanosome infection was determined by microscopic examination and PCR. Generalized linear models were used to test the effect of environmental factors on the presence of sylvatic triatomines.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In total, 1,923 sylvatic individuals were collected representing a sampling effort of 751 man-hours. Collected sylvatic triatomines were associated with mammal and bird nests. The 1,219 sampled nests presented an infestation index of 11.9%, a crowding of 13 bugs per infested nest, and a colonization of 80% of the nests. Triatomine abundance was significantly higher in squirrel (<it>Sciurus stramineus</it>) nests located above five meters from ground level and close to the houses. In addition, 8.5% of the 820 examined houses in the same localities were infested with triatomines. There was a significant correlation between <it>R. ecuadoriensis </it>infestation rates found in sylvatic and synanthropic environments within communities (<it>p </it>= 0.012). Parasitological analysis revealed that 64.7% and 15.7% of the sylvatic bugs examined (n = 300) were infected with <it>Trypanosoma cruzi </it>and <it>T. rangeli </it>respectively, and 8% of the bugs presented mixed infections.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The wide distribution of sylvatic <it>R. ecuadoriensis </it>populations may jeopardize the effectiveness of control campaigns conducted to eliminate domestic populations of this species. Also, the high <it>T. cruzi </it>infection rates found in sylvatic <it>R. ecuadoriensis </it>populations in southern Ecuador could constitute a risk for house re-infestation and persistent long-term Chagas disease transmission in the region.</p

COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy in Three Latin American Countries:Reasons Given for Not Becoming Vaccinated in Colombia, Ecuador, and Venezuela

Although vaccines have been developed to prevent COVID-19, vaccine hesitancy is a significant barrier for vaccination programs. Most research on COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy has blamed misinformation and misstated concerns about effectiveness, safety, and side effects of these vaccines. The preponderance of these studies has been performed in the Global North. Although Latin American has been substantially and negatively impacted by COVID-19, few studies have examined COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy there. We explored reasons volunteered for COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy from a sample of 1,173 Colombians, Ecuadorians, and Venezuelans. Overall, COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in these three countries is higher than desirable, but most people who are COVID-19 vaccine hesitant offered one reason or fewer. The reasons offered are diverse, including myths and exaggerations, but also individual-level contraindications for vaccination and structural barriers. Because of the diversity of reasons, single-issue mass campaigns are unlikely to bring about large shifts in COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in Colombia, Ecuador, and Venezuela. Our data suggest that interpersonal communication, particularly in Ecuador, and addressing structural concerns, particularly in Venezuela, are likely to have the greatest impact on vaccine uptake

Presentación, clasificación y evolución de los pacientes con carcinoma hepatocelular en un centro de Veracruz, México

ResumenAntecedentesLa estadificación en el carcinoma hepatocelular (CHC) otorga pronóstico y orientación terapéutica. La resección y el trasplante hepático son opciones curativas y las terapias de ablación se aplican a pacientes que no reciben tratamiento curativo. La sobrevida tras la resección hepática o terapias de ablación es variada.ObjetivoDescribir la presentación, la estadificación, el manejo y la evolución de los pacientes con CHC en nuestro centro.Pacientes y métodosCuarenta y dos pacientes fueron seguidos prospectivamente durante 7 años. La sobrevida se calculó mediante Kaplan-Meier y log-rank entre los sistemas de estadificación (Okuda, BCLC y CLIP) y tipos de tratamiento (resección hepática, ablación por radiofrecuencia y ningún tratamiento quirúrgico).ResultadosLa edad media ± desviación estándar de los pacientes fue 68,9 ± 9,5 años; el 57% fueron mujeres y el 54% cirróticos. El 31% tenía infección por VHC. El tamaño medio del tumor fue 6.48 ± 2.52cm. Los estadios CLIP 0, Okuda I y BCLC A tuvieron mejor sobrevida que otros estadios (p<0.05). La resección tuvo mejor sobrevida (mediana: 32 meses y sobrevida a 1, 3 y 5 años del 83, el 39 y 19.7%) que ablación por radiofrecuencia (25 meses, y el 90 y el 17.2% a 1 y 3 años) y que ningún tratamiento quirúrgico (1 año<5%) (p<0.05).ConclusiónLos pacientes con CHC en nuestro centro al igual que otra población en México son diagnosticados tardíamente. El pronóstico usando CLIP y BCLC es similar a la literatura. Los mejores resultados se observaron en estadios tempranos y los que tuvieron resección quirúrgica del CHC.AbstractBackgroundHepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) staging provides a basis for calculating disease prognosis and therapeutic guidance. Liver resection and transplantation are curative options, and ablation therapies are applied to patients that are not candidates for curative treatment. Survival after liver resection or ablation therapies varies.AimsTo describe the presentation, staging, management, and outcome in patients with HCC in our center.Patients and methodsForty-two patients had a 7-year prospective follow-up. Survival was calculated with the Kaplan-Meier analysis and the log-rank test was used for its comparison between the staging systems (Okuda, BCLC, and CLIP) and types of treatment (liver resection, radiofrequency ablation, and no surgical treatment).ResultsThe mean age of the patients was 68.9 ± 9.5 years; 57% were women. A total of 54% of the patients presented with cirrhosis and 31% were infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV). The mean tumor size was 6.48 ± 2.52cm. The CLIP 0, Okuda I, and BCLC A stages had better survival rates than the other stages (P<0.05). Survival with resection was superior (median of 32 months and survival at 1, 3, and 5 years of 83, 39, and 19.7%, respectively) to that of both radiofrequency ablation (median of 25 months and survival at 1 and 3 years of 90 and 17.2%, respectively) and no surgical treatment (1 year < 5%) (P<0.05).ConclusionThe patients at our center were diagnosed at late stages of HCC, as is the case in other Mexican populations. Outcome in relation to CLIP and BCLC was similar to the prognoses reported in the literature. The best results were observed in the patients with early stage disease and those that underwent HCC resection surgery

Equivalence of Narcissistic Personality Inventory constructs and correlates across scoring approaches and response formats

The prevalent scoring practice for the Narcissistic Personality Inventory (NPI) ignores the forced-choice nature of the items. The aim of this study was to investigate whether findings based on NPI scores reported in previous research can be confirmed when the forced-choice nature of the NPI’s original response format is appropriately modeled, and when NPI items are presented in different response formats (true/false or rating scale). The relationships between NPI facets and various criteria were robust across scoring approaches (mean score vs. model-based), but were only partly robust across response formats. In addition, the scoring approaches and response formats achieved equivalent measurements of the vanity facet and in part of the leadership facet, but differed with respect to the entitlement facet