Does Machismo Culture Influence Latina/o Attitudes on Mental Health?

This study represents an attempt to contribute to the identified gap in knowledge towards the effects of machismo on both Latina women and Latino men and how it effects their attitudes towards mental health. The idea that previous research on machismo has been so one-sided, but has revealed that psychological distresses were present and ignored, leaves room for my research to explore how Latina women are affected because they are just as susceptible to psychological distresses as men. By using a research based framework to explain the effects of machismo on both Latina women and Latino men, my study will measure machismo and will explore attitudes on mental health. The Latino family system, which incorporates machista principles and marianismo rules into their child rearing practices facilitates the idea that mental health is just something that does not need to be acknowledged. My study will shed some light on how prominent machismo culture is in today’s society and if it has any effect at all on attitudes pertaining to mental health. Mental health issues remain among the most highly stigmatized health concerns in today’s society. The expectation to overcome a mental health issue individually may be attributed to the stigma surrounding mental health issues overall. The cultural stigma against mental health issues along with the masculine notion of machismo, a ‘pull yourself up by your bootstraps’ (Martinez 2014) individualistic mentality that prizes being strong and taking care of one’s family fuels the hesitation in acknowledging and seeking treatment for mental health conditions. It is surprising that women are absent in all the literature pertaining to mental health and machismo culture. This masculine ideology does not only affect the men in the household, the women, and other members of the family adopt the same mentality, which perpetuates the stigma surrounding mental health

A Mechanistic Investigation of Insulin Receptor Substrate 2 Function in Breast Cancer Progression

The advancement of cancer treatment depends on understanding the biological processes that contribute to disease progression. The spread of tumor cells from the primary site to distant organs is the biggest obstacle to efficacious treatment. The insulin receptor substrate (IRS) proteins IRS1 and IRS2 are cytoplasmic adaptor proteins that organize signaling events downstream of the Insulin receptor (IR) and the Insulin-like growth factor receptor 1 (IGF1R). Both of these receptors have been implicated in cancer progression. The IRS proteins share a significant level of homology and are both capable of recruiting and activating phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase (PI3K). Despite these similarities, signaling through IRS1 and IRS2 leads to distinct tumor cell outcomes in vitro and in vivo. In vitro, IRS1 regulates cell proliferation and growth and IRS2 regulates metabolism, survival and invasion. In vivo, Irs2 is a positive regulator of tumor metastasis, whereas Irs1 does not promote metastasis. The major objective of this thesis work was to further the understanding of the mechanism by which IRS2 signaling regulates tumor progression. To investigate how IRS-1 and IRS-2 regulate distinct tumor cell outcomes, I examined the involvement of the microtubule cytoskeleton in IRS-dependent signaling. I determined that IRS2-mediated AKT activation is dependent upon an intact microtubule cytoskeleton, whereas IRS1-mediated AKT signaling occurs independently of microtubules. As a result, drugs that disrupt microtubules promote apoptosis in cells that signal through IRS2, but cells that signal through IRS1 are resistant to the effects of microtubule disruption. However, AKT inhibition sensitizes IRS1-dependent cells to apoptotic cell death upon microtubule disruption. From a clinical perspective, my studies identify IRS2 as a potential biomarker for the response of breast cancer patients to anti-microtubule drug therapy. To investigate further the mechanism of IRS2 contributions to tumor progression, I employed a mutagenesis approach to identify structural requirements of IRS2 for its function. I established that the ability of IRS2 to activate PI3K is necessary for its regulation of both invasion and tumor initiating cell (TIC) self-renewal. I also identified two independent regions within the IRS2 C-terminus that are required for invasion and self-renewal, respectively. Characterization of the invasion-promoting region identified BMP2-induced protein kinase (BMP2K) as an interacting protein. Suppression of BMP2K expression in mammary tumor cells disrupts IRS2-mediated tumor cell invasion. Taken together, my work advances the understanding of how IRS2 contributes to breast cancer progression and provides a molecular understanding for the development of novel approaches for the treatment of breast cancer and other malignancies that rely upon IRS2

Influencia del compromiso organizacional en la relación entre conflictos interpersonales y el síndrome de quemarse por el trabajo (burnout) en profesionales de servicios (salud y educación)

El objetivo de esta investigación es analizar la influencia de los conflictos interpersonales en el trabajo y del compromiso organizacional sobre el síndrome de quemarse por el trabajo (burnout), una respuesta psicológica al estrés laboral crónico que aparece en los profesionales del sector servicio que trabajan hacia personas. La muestra del estudio estuvo compuesta por 389 mexicanos de los sectores salud y educación. Los resultados obtenidos indicaron que los conflictos interpersonales tienen un efecto directo positivo y significativo sobre el síndrome de quemarse por el trabajo (Hipótesis 1), mientras que el efecto del compromiso organizacional resultó negativo y significativo (Hipótesis 2). Los resultados alcanzados mediante el análisis de regresión múltiple jerárquica permiten afirmar que la interacción entre ambas variables (conflictos interpersonales y compromiso organizacional) establece diferencias significativas en los niveles del síndrome de quemarse por el trabajo (Hipótesis 3). Se concluye que al potenciar el compromiso organizacional se contribuye a disminuir el síndrome de quemarse por el trabajo, aunque ante la presencia de conflictos interpersonales el personal con alto compromiso organizacional (normativo y afectivo) es más sensible al desarrollo del síndrome. Por tanto, se debe intervenir conjuntamente sobre la organización y los empleados

Satisfacción del usuario del servicio de medicina interna sobre la calidad de atención en el Hospital Daniel Alcides Carrión, Huancayo – Perú: Patient satisfaction and quality of care of the internal medicine service of Hospital Daniel Alcides Carrión. Huancayo - Perú

Introduction: Patient satisfaction is an indicator of the quality of care provided in health services.Knowing the level of satisfaction will improve deficiencies and reaffirm strengths to develop a healthsystem that provides the quality care that patients demand. Objective: To determine the satisfactionof the quality of service of patients of external Internal Medicine consultation of Hospital Daniel AlcidesCarrión - Huancayo, from July to November 2016. Methods: Observational, descriptive, cross-sectionalstudy. The sample consisted of 292 patients. The quality of service in the health system according topatient satisfaction was measured using the standardized SERVQUAL questionnaire. Results: 57% ofthe sample was female, the ages of the participants ranged from 36 to 45 years. Similarly, 36% of usershad complete secondary education and 63% were continuing patients. Overall satisfaction was 60.3%.The percentage values depended on the dimensions of safety and empathy with 86.8% and 80.3%satisfaction, respectively. The highest level of dissatisfaction was obtained by the dimension of tangibleaspects with 57.1% of dissatisfied users, followed by the dimension of responsiveness of health serviceswith 55.5% of dissatisfaction. Conclusions: the health system must implement strategies to improvecare services to provide timely and quality care to users.Introducción: La satisfacción del usuario es un indicador de calidad de atención prestada en losservicios de salud. Conocer el nivel de satisfacción permitirá mejorar falencias y reafirmar fortalezas afin de desarrollar un sistema de salud que brinde la atención de calidad que los pacientes demandan.Objetivo: Determinar la satisfacción de la calidad del servicio de los usuarios de consulta externode medicina interna del hospital Daniel Alcides Carrión - Huancayo, de julio a noviembre del 2016.Métodos: Estudio observacional, descriptivo, de corte transversal. La muestra estuvo conformada por292 pacientes. La calidad del servicio del sistema de salud en función de la satisfacción del usuario semidió mediante el cuestionario estandarizado SERVQUAL. Resultados: El 57% de la muestra fue desexo femenino, el rango de edades de los participantes osciló entre 36 a 45 años. Asímismo, el 36% delos usuarios contaba con educación secundaria completa y el 63% fueron pacientes continuadores.Se obtuvo una satisfacción global de 60,3%. Los valores porcentuales dependieron básicamentede las dimensiones seguridad y empatía con 86,8 % y 80,3 % de satisfacción respectivamente. Elmayor nivel de insatisfacción la obtuvo la dimensión de aspectos tangibles con el 57,1 % de usuariosinsatisfechos, seguida de la dimensión de capacidad de respuesta de los servicios de salud con el55,5% de insatisfacción. Conclusión: El sistema de salud debe implementar estrategias de mejora delos servicios de atención con el fin de proporcionar una atención oportuna y de calidad a los usuarios

An easy to control all-metal in-line-series ohmic RF MEMS switch

Copyright @ 2010 Springer-VerlagThe analysis, design and simulation of a novel easy to control all-metal in-line-series ohmic RF MEMS switch is presented, for applications where the operating frequency ranges from DC to 4 GHz. The proposed switch, due to its unique shape and size, assures high isolation and great linearity fulfilling the necessary requirements as concerns loss, power handling and power consumption. Simplicity has been set as the key success factor implying robustness and high fabrication yield. On the other hand, the specially designed cantilever-shape (hammerhead) allows distributed actuation force ensuring high controllability as well as reliability making the presented RF MEMS switch one of its kind

Mid-term evaluation of CATIE's program on ecologically-based participatory implementation of IPM and agroforestry in Nicaragua and Central America (CATI-MIP/AF) Phase III

CATIE-MIP/AF is a well-conceived and well-managed program that has capitalized on lessons learned in previous phases and from other programs. It developed in response to the weakening of the extension function within national agricultural systems in Central America and has contributed to the reorientation of the linear transfer-of-technology model prevailing in Nicaragua and other Central American Countries into a participatory extension approach that links farm families, extensionists, researchers and trainers, and decision-makers. The participatory methodologies developed by the program are a major strength in addressing challenges posed by modern-day complexity, uncertainty and dynamism in agriculture and natural resource management by farmers. The Program has catalyzed the establishment of a field-based multi-level, multi-institutional platform for participatory development and extension of technology for three important Central American farming systems, coffee, vegetables and basic grains (maize and beans), combining these with a broad array of ecological practices based on principles of agroforestry, integrated pest management, and natural resource conservation. The participatory capacity-building supported by the program develops powers of ecological reasoning, and incorporates a gender and family focus. The program has supported participatory training of 19,964 farmers, 861extensionists, 133 trainers (specialists) and has involved 380 decision-makers in joint planning and public monitoring of the process. Benefits to participating farmers of at least US$3.7 million have accrued during the first three years of the program. High priorities during the remaining two years of the program include Sustained effort in: systematization of program experience, promotion of institutional learning in CATIE about the MIP/AF experience; capacity-building to develop ecological reasoning; development of the regionalization process for scaling-out the work of the program to pilot areas in other Central Amercian countries capacity-building work on basic grains, The mission also recommends formulation of a plan to ensure devolution of the field based, multi-level, multi-institutional process in Nicaragua and elswhere when appropriate. This could occur by establishment of a process for promoting proposal development by counterparts, and by the program, that will ensure the future integrity of the multinstitutional platform and of the integrated MIP/AF focus. The review mission recommends further sustained funding counterpart organisations and to the program. The mission sees a need for developing empresarial reasoning as a complement to the current focus on ecological reasoning. Combining the two within a new cycle of funding involving both counterpart organisations and CATIE will increase the sustainability of achievements and the chances of significant impact on poverty alleviation in the future

Nanostructural changes in cell wall pectins during strawberry fruit ripening assessed by atomic force microscopy

Rapid loss of firmness occurs during strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch) ripening, resulting in a short shelf life and high economic losses. The disassembly of cell walls is considered the main responsible for fruit softening, being pectins extensively modified during strawberry ripening (Paniagua et al. 2014). Atomic force microscopy allows the analysis of individual polymer chains at nanostructural level with a minimal sample preparation (Morris et al., 2001). The main objective of this research was to compare pectins of green and red ripe strawberry fruits at the nanostructural level to shed light on structural changes that could be related to softening. Cell walls from strawberry fruits were extracted and fractionated with different solvents to obtain fractions enriched in a specific component. The yield of cell wall material, as well as the amount of the different fractions, decreased in ripe fruits. CDTA and Na2CO3 fractions underwent the largest decrements, being these fractions enriched in pectins supposedly located in the middle lamella and primary cell wall, respectively. Uronic acid content also decreased significantly during ripening in both pectin fractions, but the amount of soluble pectins, those extracted with phenol:acetic acid:water (PAW) and water increased in ripe fruits. Monosaccharide composition in CDTA and Na2CO3 fractions was determined by gas chromatography. In both pectin fractions, the amount of Ara and Gal, the two most abundant carbohydrates, decreased in ripe fruits. The nanostructural characteristics of CDTA and Na2CO3 pectins were analyzed by AFM. Isolated pectic chains present in the CDTA fraction were significantly longer and more branched in samples from green fruits than those present in samples obtained from red fruit. In spite of slight differences in length distributions, Na2CO3 samples from unripe fruits displayed some longer chains at low frequency that were not detected in ripe fruits. Pectin aggregates were more frequently observed in green fruit samples from both fractions. These results support that pectic chain length and the nanostructural complexity of the pectins present in CDTA and Na2CO3 fractions diminish during strawberry fruit development, and these changes, jointly with the loss of neutral sugars, could contribute to the solubilization of pectins and fruit softening. Paniagua et al. (2014). Ann Bot, 114: 1375-1383 Morris et al. (2001). Food Sci Tech 34: 3-10 This research was supported by FEDER EU Funds and the Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia of Spain (grant reference AGL2011-24814)Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech