The Transition to College Process in PR-CETP Scholars

This article describes a study about the experiences of a group of students during the transition from high school to college. The students are future teachers who evidenced a high level of academic achievement in high school and received merit scholarships from the Puerto Rico Collaborative for Excellence in Teacher Preparation (PR-CETP). Two groups of students were compared: those who sustained a high GPA during their freshman year, and those who did not and, therefore, no longer qualified for the scholarship. The study was carried out through focused interviews with eight students, from three universities, four of whom maintained the scholarship and four who did not. Findings indicate that the main problems encountered were academic and social, and that the students received support from their families during the entire process. Regarding formal support, they pointed out that they felt highly satisfied with the services provided by PR-CETP and the universities, but they also pointed out (particularly those who lost the scholarship) that they needed additional services from the universities. They suggested, for example, better tutoring, and social activities among the scholars. The interviewed students, in general, consider that they faced the transition successfully since most of them described their academic, emotional, and social status as satisfactory at the time of the interviews

The white dwarf cooling sequence of 47 Tucanae

47 Tucanae is one of the most interesting and well observed and theoretically studied globular clusters. This allows us to study the reliability of our understanding of white dwarf cooling sequences, to confront different methods to determine its age, and to assess other important characteristics, like its star formation history. Here we present a population synthesis study of the cooling sequence of the globular cluster 47 Tucanae. In particular, we study the distribution of effective temperatures, the shape of the color-magnitude diagram, and the corresponding magnitude and color distributions. We do so using an up-to-date population synthesis code based on Monte Carlo techniques, that incorporates the most recent and reliable cooling sequences and an accurate modeling of the observational biases. We find a good agreement between our theoretical models and the observed data. Thus, our study, rules out previous claims that there are still missing physics in the white dwarf cooling models at moderately high effective temperatures. We also derive the age of the cluster using the termination of the cooling sequence, obtaining a good agreement with the age determinations using the main-sequence turn-off. Finally, we find that the star formation history of the cluster is compatible with that btained using main sequence stars, which predict the existence of two distinct populations. We conclude that a correct modeling of the white dwarf population of globular clusters, used in combination with the number counts of main sequence stars provides an unique tool to model the properties of globular clusters.Comment: 6 pages and 4 figures accepted for publication in A &

Fibromyalgia and therapeutic exercise: Qualitative systematic review

Objetivos: El objetivo de esta revisión es determinar qué ejercicio es más eficaz para reducir la sintomatología de la fibromialgia. Estrategia de búsqueda: Se realizaron búsquedas en las principales bases de datos de las ciencias de la salud: PEDro, PubMed, Cochrane Plus, ISI (Web of Knowledge), y PsycINFO, y en las revistas no indexadas del área, entre marzo y octubre de 2013. Resultados: Se analizó el nivel de evidencia y se aplicaron criterios de exclusión e inclusión para obtener 32 artículos en la revisión, clasificados en 5 categorías en función del tipo de ejercicio. Todos ellos eran ensayos clínicos aleatorios. Conclusiones: El ejercicio terapéutico es eficaz para reducir la sintomatología de la fibromialgia. El ejercicio acuático, el combinado y las actividades alternativas parecen más eficaces para el tratamiento de puntos sensibles, de la depresión, y tiene mayores niveles de adherencia terapéutica. Para el tratamiento del resto de síntomas, todos los tipos de ejercicio tienen similares resultadosObjective: The goal of this review is to determine which exercise is the best to reduce the symptomatology of fibromyalgia. Search Strategy: Intervention studies in fibromyalgia were retrieved through searches in the main health-science databases: PEDro, PubMed, Cochrane Plus, ISI (Web of Knowledge), y PsycINFO, and in in publications of the field, Fisioterapia y Cuestiones de Fisioterapia, between March and October 2013. Results: After applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, and analyze the level of evidence, 32 publications were accepted in this review, classified in 5 different categories, depending on the type of activity. They were all randomized clinical trials. Conclusions: Exercise is effective for reducing symptomatology of fibromyalgia. Aquatic and combined exercise, and alternative activities seem to be more accurate in the treatment of tender points, depression, and they have higher levels of adherence. Relating to the rest of the symptoms, every other type of exercise has similar resul

A white dwarf catalogue from Gaia-DR2 and the Virtual Observatory

We present a catalogue of 73¿221 white dwarf candidates extracted from the astrometric and photometric data of the recently published Gaia-DR2 catalogue. White dwarfs were selected from the Gaia Hertzsprung–Russell diagram with the aid of the most updated population synthesis simulator. Our analysis shows that Gaia has virtually identified all white dwarfs within 100¿pc from the Sun. Hence, our sub-population of 8555 white dwarfs within this distance limit and the colour range considered, -0.52<(GBP-GRP)<0.80¿, is the largest and most complete volume-limited sample of such objects to date. From this sub-sample, we identified 8343 CO-core and 212 ONe-core white dwarf candidates and derived a white dwarf space density of 4.9±0.4×10-3pc-3¿. A bifurcation in the Hertzsprung–Russell diagram for these sources, which our models do not predict, is clearly visible. We used the Virtual Observatory SED Analyzer tool to derive effective temperatures and luminosities for our sources by fitting their spectral energy distributions, that we built from the ultraviolet to the near-infrared using publicly available photometry through the Virtual Observatory. From these parameters, we derived the white dwarf radii. Interpolating the radii and effective temperatures in hydrogen-rich white dwarf cooling sequences, we derived the surface gravities and masses. The Gaia 100¿pc white dwarf population is clearly dominated by cool (~8000¿K) objects and reveals a significant population of massive (¿M~0.8M¿¿) white dwarfs, of which no more than ~30--40 per cent can be attributed to hydrogen-deficient atmospheres, and whose origin remains uncertain.Peer ReviewedPreprin

O transtorno do espectro do autismo: desafios, oportunidades e necesidades

Objective: Research on autism spectrum disorder still has a long way to go, despite progress experienced in the knowledge of last decades. Taking perspective and on the light of recent developments and once has seen the light of the DSM-V, it is good to reflect on both the gnoseological adjustments and the definition of autism and PDD, as to the accuracy of its limits. The new proposals are committed to better define the disorder and narrow its spectral range, through the identification of severity. Conclusions: The challenges and opportunities in the short term are numerous and are evident in channeling the flow of information between research and intervention, addressing the etiological dimension from a multidisciplinary perspective, designing better diagnostic tools and work, ultimately, for integration and school, social and employment inclusion.Objetivo: Las investigaciones sobre el trastorno del espectro autista tienen todavía un largo camino por recorrer, pese a los progresos experimentados en el conocimiento de las últimas décadas. Tomando perspectiva y considerando los avances recientes y una vez ha visto la luz el DSM-V, cabe reflexionar tanto sobre los ajustes gnoseológicos y la propia definición del autismo y de los TGD, como también sobre la precisión de sus límites. Las nuevas propuestas apuestan por definir mejor el trastorno y por acotar su amplitud espectral, a través de la identificación de niveles de gravedad. Conclusiones: Los retos y las oportunidades en el corto plazo son numerosos y se evidencian en canalizar el flujo de información entre la investigación y la intervención, abordar su dimensión etiológica desde una perspectiva multidisciplinar, diseñar mejores herramientas diagnósticas y trabajar, en última instancia, por su integración e inclusión escolar, social y laboral.Objetivo: As investigações sobre o transtorno do espectro autista têm ainda um longo caminho por percorrer, pese aos progressos experimentados no conhecimento das últimas décadas. Tomando perspectiva e considerando os avanços recentes e uma vez viu a luz o DSM-V, cabe reflexionar tanto sobre os ajustes gnosiológicos e a própria definição do autismo e dos TGD, como também sobre a precisão de seus limites. As novas propostas apostam por definir melhor o transtorno e por circunscrever sua amplitude espectral, através da identificação de níveis de gravidade. Conclusões: Os desafios e as oportunidades no curto prazo são numerosos e se evidenciam em canalizar o fluxo de informação entre a investigação e a intervenção, abordar sua dimensão etiológica desde uma perspectiva multidisciplinar, desenhar melhores ferramentas diagnósticas e trabalhar, em última instância, por sua integração e inclusão escolar, social e trabalhista

Socioeconomic status and colorectal cancer screening behaviors in a vulnerable multiethnic population

ObjectiveDespite some progress in recent years, colorectal cancer (CRC) screening adherence in the United States is still suboptimal, particularly among disadvantaged groups. In this study, we assessed the association between socioeconomic status (SES) and self-reported screening non-adherence (SNA) in a sample of racial/ethnic minorities living in San Francisco, California.Design/methodsA total of 376 participants of the San Francisco version of the Health Information National Trends Survey (SF-HINTS) with ages 50-75 years were included in this cross-sectional study. SNA was defined as not reporting blood stool test within the past year and not reporting sigmoidoscopy/colonoscopy within the past 10 years. Poisson regression models with robust variance estimators were used to evaluate the relation of SES with SNA, adjusting for measured confounders. Results are reported as prevalence ratios (PR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI).ResultsOverall SNA was 40%. In multivariable models including all respondents, retired participants had significantly lower SNA prevalence than employed participants (PR = 0.46, 95% CI = 0.26 0.83). In stratified analyses by race/ethnicity, Black respondents with less than high school (PR = 1.93, 95% CI = 1.09, 3.43) and those with high school or equivalent (PR = 1.88, 95% CI = 1.16, 3.04) had significantly higher SNA prevalence than those with at least some college. Among non-Hispanic Asian/Pacific Islanders, those disabled had significantly higher prevalence of SNA as compared to employed people (PR = 4.26, 95% CI = 2.11, 8.60). None of the SES indicators were significantly associated to SNA among Hispanics.ConclusionsParticipants with lower SES characteristics were less likely to adhere to CRC screening guidelines and being retired was a predictor of compliance. There was evidence of heterogeneity in associations between SES and CRC screening by race/ethnicity. Life circumstances of retired people could provide insights for designing interventions aimed to improve CRC screening uptake in these priority groups. Future efforts should consider mechanisms underlying differences by race/ethnicity

Control and Guidance of Low-Cost Robots via Gesture Perception for Monitoring Activities in the Home

This paper describes the development of a low-cost mini-robot that is controlled by visual gestures. The prototype allows a person with disabilities to perform visual inspections indoors and in domestic spaces. Such a device could be used as the operator's eyes obviating the need for him to move about. The robot is equipped with a motorised webcam that is also controlled by visual gestures. This camera is used to monitor tasks in the home using the mini-robot while the operator remains quiet and motionless. The prototype was evaluated through several experiments testing the ability to use the mini-robot’s kinematics and communication systems to make it follow certain paths. The mini-robot can be programmed with specific orders and can be tele-operated by means of 3D hand gestures to enable the operator to perform movements and monitor tasks from a distance.The research that yielded these results has received funding from the projects DPI2012-32390 and PROMETEO/2013/085

It\u27s Not That We Care Less : Insights into Health Care Utilization for Comorbid Diabetes and Depression among Latinos

Despite robust knowledge regarding the socio-economic and cultural factors affecting Latino* access to healthcare, limited research has explored service utilization in the context of comorbid conditions like diabetes and depression. This qualitative study, embedded in a larger mixed-methods project, aimed to investigate perceptions held by Latinos and their social support systems (i.e., family members) regarding comorbid diabetes and depression and to identify barriers and facilitators to their help-seeking behaviors and treatment engagement. Bilingual and bicultural researchers conducted eight focus groups with 94 participants in a large U.S. metropolitan area and were primarily conducted in Spanish. The participants either had a diagnosis of diabetes and depression or were closely associated with someone who did. This study identified key individual and structural barriers and facilitators affecting healthcare access and treatment for Latinos living with comorbid diagnoses. A thematic analysis revealed structural barriers to healthcare access, including financial burdens and navigating healthcare institutions. Personal barriers included fears, personal responsibility, and negative family dynamics. Facilitators included accessible information, family support, and spirituality. These findings underscore the need to address these multi-level factors and for healthcare institutions and providers to actively involve Hispanic community members in developing services and interventions

Infrared-excess white dwarfs in the Gaia 100 pc sample

We analyse the 100¿pc Gaia white dwarf volume-limited sample by means of VOSA (Virtual Observatory SED Analyser) with the aim of identifying candidates for displaying infrared excesses. Our search focuses on the study of the spectral energy distribution (SED) of 3733 white dwarfs with reliable infrared photometry and GBP - GRP colours below 0.8 mag, a sample that seems to be nearly representative of the overall white dwarf population. Our search results in 77 selected candidates, 52 of which are new identifications. For each target, we apply a two-component SED fitting implemented in VOSA to derive the effective temperatures of both the white dwarf and the object causing the excess. We calculate a fraction of infrared-excess white dwarfs due to the presence of a circumstellar disc of 1.6 ± 0.2 per¿cent, a value that increases to 2.6 ± 0.3 per¿cent if we take into account incompleteness issues. Our results are in agreement with the drop in the percentage of infrared excess detections for cool (20¿000¿K) white dwarfs obtained in previous analyses. The fraction of white dwarfs with brown dwarf companions we derive is ¿0.1–0.2 per¿cent.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft