Educating Oncology Nurses About the Emotional Impact of Cancer Diagnosis

Anxiety and depression are common mood disorders in cancer patients, regardless of mental state prior to diagnosis. A gap in the education of oncology nurses in an eastern Caribbean island was discovered regarding their ability to identify anxiety and depression symptoms and to help patients who suffered from these disorders. The purpose of this project was to improve oncology nurses\u27 assessment skills by reviewing appropriate use of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) tool and familiarizing nurses with resources to help patients who score high on the HADS. The Levine conservation model was the theoretical framework for this project. The research question addressed whether a staff education module regarding the use of the HADS tool would improve staff knowledge about screening cancer patients for mood disorders in a clinic setting. This project involved a staff education module with a pretest/posttest assessment and evaluation of the responses and levels of improvement. A total of 10 oncology nurses with varying academic degrees and years of experience participated in the project. The pretest showed that many had inadequate knowledge of the HADS tool. Based on posteducation assessment scores, all participants understood how to use the tool to screen for mood disorders. The implication of this study for positive social change is that oncology nurses will be able to use a screening tool to identify undiagnosed anxiety and depression symptoms in cancer patients and provide patients with appropriate resources

Helping HELP with limited resources: The Luquillo experience

By definition the HELP approach involves the active participation of individuals from a wide range of disciplines and backgrounds, including representatives of industry, academics, natural resource managers, and local officials and community leaders. While there is considerable enthusiasm and support for the integrated HELP approach, a central problem for all HELP basins is how to effectively engage individuals and groups with few, if any financial resources. In the Luquillo HELP project we have managed this issue by focusing our efforts on holding small, public meetings and workshops with technocrats and managers who are engaged in local water resource management. To date several forums have been organised, including: technical meetings with the directors of natural resource agencies; presentations and panel discussions at the meetings of local professional societies, including the societies of Civil Engineers and Architects, the Commonwealth Association of Tourism, the Association of Builders and Developers, and the Puerto Rican Association of Lawyers. During these forums HELP specialists gave presentations and led discussions on how integrated watershed management can help resolve local problems. Because the audience are directly involved with these issues, they are quite responsive to these discussions and have often provided unique solutions to common problems. Technical workshops are co-sponsored by local municipalities – these day-long workshops are hosted by a municipality and include managers from other municipalities, the local water authority, and local community leaders. Additional activities include: technical advice on water infrastructure projects is given; there are educational exchanges between local and international students, scientists, natural resource managers, and community leaders; and synthesis publications relevant to integrated water resource management are produced. Other activities have included compiling oral environmental histories and organising watershed restoration activities. This paper describes these activities and discusses the benefits and costs of each approach.Keywords: integrated water resource management, tropical mountains, Puerto Ric

Helping HELP with limited resources: The Luquillo experience

By definition the HELP approach involves the active participation of individuals from a wide range of disciplines and backgrounds, including representatives of industry, academics, natural resource managers, and local officials and community leaders. While there is considerable enthusiasm and support for the integrated HELP approach, a central problem for all HELP basins is how to effectively engage individuals and groups with few, if any financial resources. In the Luquillo HELP project we have managed this issue by focusing our efforts on holding small, public meetings and workshops with technocrats and managers who are engaged in local water resource management. To date several forums have been organised, including: technical meetings with the directors of natural resource agencies; presentations and panel discussions at the meetings of local professional societies, including the societies of Civil Engineers and Architects, the Commonwealth Association of Tourism, the Association of Builders and Developers, and the Puerto Rican Association of Lawyers. During these forums HELP specialists gave presentations and led discussions on how integrated watershed management can help resolve local problems. Because the audience are directly involved with these issues, they are quite responsive to these discussions and have often provided unique solutions to common problems. Technical workshops are co-sponsored by local municipalities – these day-long workshops are hosted by a municipality and include managers from other municipalities, the local water authority, and local community leaders. Additional activities include: technical advice on water infrastructure projects is given; there are educational exchanges between local and international students, scientists, natural resource managers, and community leaders; and synthesis publications relevant to integrated water resource management are produced. Other activities have included compiling oral environmental histories and organising watershed restoration activities. This paper describes these activities and discusses the benefits and costs of each approach

Level Achieved in the Development of Skills for the Sexual and Reproductive Life of University Students After the Application of a Sexual Education Strategy

Introduction: Sexuality education must develop life skills. Methodology: The level of life skills was evaluated using a quasi- experimental design from before after with a control group, random   samples of   40   students   were selected in the study and control group, respectively. The sex education strategy was implemented in the study group and a pre and post test was applied; before and after the strategy. Statistical techniques were used for dependent and independent samples, with a significance level of p = 0,05. Results: The comparisons of the study and control groups before, the control group before and after, and the measurement after the implementation of the strategy of the satisfied needs of life skills in the study group, were within expectations, the most of the variables studied regarding the need to develop life skills are homogeneous in the study and control group before implementing the strategy; and no significant differences were found in the comparison of the control group before and after. Subsequent measurement regarding needs met or level achieved in the development of skills for sexual and reproductive life in the study group was high, even for some of them, 100% of students appreciated that they had achieved it. Conclusion: The sex education strategy was effective in developing skills for sexual and reproductive life due to the high level achieved by the students who participated in the strategy. Keywords: education, sex, life skills, sexual and reproductive health. RESUMEN Introducción: La educación sexual debe desarrollar habilidades para la vida. Metodología: Se evaluó el nivel de habilidades para la vida mediante un diseño cuasi experimental de antes después con grupo control, se seleccionaron muestras aleatorias de 40 estudiantes en el grupo de estudio y control respectivamente, se implementó la estrategia de educación sexual en el grupo de estudio y se aplicó una pre y post prueba; antes y después de la estrategia. Se utilizaron técnicas estadísticas para muestras dependientes e independientes, con un nivel de significación p = 0,05. Resultados: Las comparaciones de los grupos de estudio y control antes, grupo control antes y después y la medición posterior a la implementación de la estrategia de las necesidades satisfechas de habilidades para la vida en el grupo de estudio, estuvieron dentro de lo esperado, la mayoría de variables estudiadas respecto a la necesidad de desarrollar habilidades para la vida son homogéneas en el grupo de estudio y control antes de implementar la estrategia; y no se encontraron diferencias significativas en la comparación del grupo control antes y después. La medición posterior respecto a necesidades satisfechas o nivel conseguido en el desarrollo de habilidades para la vida sexual y reproductiva en el grupo de estudio fue elevado, incluso para algunas de ellas, el 100% de estudiantes apreció que lo había logrado. Conclusiones: La estrategia de educación sexual fue efectiva para desarrollar habilidades para la vida sexual y reproductiva debido al nivel elevado conseguido por los estudiantes que participaron en la estrategia. Palabras clave: educación sexual, habilidades para la vida, salud sexual, reproductiva

Análisis altmétrico de la investigación sobre trastornos en la calidad de sueño publicada en 2021

Introduction: sleep is a biological function of vital importance for most living beings. The number of published research articles related to sleep disturbances and sleep-wake rhythm is unprecedented and shows the intense efforts of the global research community to understand the different aspects of these pathologies and address them.Objective: to analyze the impact of research on sleep quality disorders published in 2021, based on the media, social and scientific attention received.Methods: an altmetric, observational, descriptive-retrospective and cross-sectional study was carried out, since the impact and use of research on effects on sleep quality published in 2021 on social and scientific platforms was analyzed through the use of altmetric indicators.     Results: of the 60 articles with the greatest altmetric attention, 50 were publications in journals, nine in preprint servers, and one monograph. Most of the online attention the posts received was on Twitter (1,685,152 total tweets). The journals that published the most influential articles related to the topic in question are classified in SJR Q3 with relatively high H indices.Conclusions: the research related to Sleep Quality Disorders that most predominated in this study were those published in scientific journals, with the most influential being those published in quartile three  journals. Most of the online attention received by these publications It was done on Twitter.Introducción: el sueño constituye una función biológica de vital importancia para la mayoría de los seres vivos. La cantidad de artículos de investigación publicados relacionados con las alteraciones del sueño y el ritmo sueño-vigilia, no tiene precedentes y muestra los intensos esfuerzos de la comunidad investigadora mundial para comprender los diferentes aspectos de estas patologías y abordarla.Objetivo: analizar el impacto de la investigación sobre trastornos en la calidad del sueño publicada en el año 2021, a partir de la atención mediática, social y científica recibida.Métodos: se realizó un estudio altmétrico, observacional de tipo descriptivo-retrospectivo y de corte transversal, pues se analizó el impacto y uso de investigación sobre afectaciones en la calidad de sueño publicada en 2021 en las plataformas sociales y científicas mediante el empleo de indicadores altmétricos.Resultados: de los 60 artículos con mayor atención altmétrica, 50 fueron publicaciones en revistas, nueve en servidores de preprint y una monografía. La mayor parte de la atención en línea que recibieron las publicaciones se realizó en Twitter (1,685,152 tweets en total). Las revistas que publicaron los artículos más influyentes relacionados con la temática en cuestión se encuentran clasificadas en el Q3 de SJR con índices H relativamente altos.Conclusiones: las investigaciones relacionadas con los Trastornos en la Calidad del Sueño que más predominaron en este estudio fueron aquellas publicadas en revistas científicas, siendo los más influyentes aquellos publicados en revistas de cuartil tres. La mayor parte de la atención en línea que recibieron estas publicaciones se realizó en Twitter

Dialogue of Knowledge on Unplanned Pregnancies and Abortions in Ecuadorian University Students

A knowledge dialogue was created to explore the manifestations, representations, and social practices of students at the Escuela Superior Politécnica de Chimborazo on unplanned pregnancies and abortions. Focus groups were created out of two second-semester student groups of the university. While the study group included public health faculty students, the control group comprised of students from other faculties. A comparison between the two groups showed many similarities, including between women and men. However, in their expressions, gender constructs of their sex were observed. Students believed that sexual and reproductive health is affected by pregnancies that, in many cases, are unplanned and unwanted. Therefore, abortions in unsafe conditions are common. It not only has a psychological effect, especially, on women but also leads them to drop out of university as a consequence of it. These problems were attributed to the lack of information, as not much has been talked about these issues with the required depth. The existence of ignorance, myths, beliefs, and taboos around the subject was also indicated. Regarding sexual behavior, the students believed that since most university students do not live with their families, it gives them greater freedom for alcohol and drug consumption, making multiple partners, infidelity, and nonuse of protection and contraceptives. Keywords: Unplanned pregnancy, Abortion, Sex education, Reproductive health. Resumen Se estableció un diálogo de saberes para explorar las manifestaciones, representaciones, saberes y prácticas sociales de estudiantes universitarios sobre embarazos no planificados y abortos. Se aplicaron grupos focales en dos grupos de estudiantes de segundo semestre de la Escuela Superior Politécnica de Chimborazo, el grupo de estudio fue conformado por estudiantes de las carreras de la Facultad de Salud Pública y el grupo control por estudiantes de carreras del resto de facultades; al ser homólogos, permitieron la comparación entre grupos y entre hombres y mujeres. Los resultados muestran semejanzas en los datos de ambos grupos, y de las mujeres y los hombres, en sus expresiones se observan constructos de género propios de su sexo. Según los estudiantes, la salud sexual y reproductiva está afectada por embarazos que en muchos casos no son planificados ni deseados, y como consecuencia de esto, son comunes abortos en condiciones poco seguras, con efectos psicológicos, la deserción universitaria sobre todo de las mujeres es una consecuencia a causa de enfrentar el embarazo. Atribuyeron estos problemas a la información inadecua que poseen, debido a que no han hablado sobre estos temas con la profundidad que se requiere, indicaron la existencia de desconocimiento, mitos, creencias y tabúes alrededor del tema. En cuanto a las conductas sexuales refirieron que la mayor libertad que tienen muchos al no vivir con su familia y varias veces ligadas con el consumo de alcohol y drogas, hace que sean comunes las múltiples parejas, infidelidad, no uso de protección ni anticonceptivos. Palabras Clave: Embarazo no planificado, Abortos, Educación sexual, Salud reproductiva

Metabolism of a tropical rainforest stream

Gradients in photosynthesis (P) and respiration (R) were measured on an unperturbed portion of the Rio Mameyes, a tropical stream in the Luquillo Experimental Forest, northeastern Puerto Rico. Rates of P, which were similar to those of streams in temperate-deciduous forests, were low in the heavily canopied headwaters (\u3c70 g O2 m−2 y−1) and were higher (453–634 g O2 m−2 y−1) in middle and lower reaches. Periphyton biomass did not show the expected increase as the canopy opened downstream, probably because of increasing herbivory in downstream reaches. Rates of R, which were much higher than in most temperate streams, also were lower in the headwaters (767 g O2 m−2 y−1) than in the middle and lower reaches (1550–1660 g O2 m−2 y−1). High rates of R and suppressed periphyton abundance caused annual P/R to be \u3c\u3c1 from headwaters to lower reaches. Results for the Rio Mameyes suggest that intense herbivory, which is favored by the presence of large herbivores and consistently high temperatures, may be more typical of tropical than temperate streams. Results also show that the tropical rainforest provides the stream with sufficient amounts of labile organic C to support high rates of respiration over long distances across the basin

Patient with Eisenmenger syndrome complicated by upper digestive bleeding

Eisenmenger syndrome is a multisystemic disorder characterized by pulmonary hypertension with reversal or bidirectional flow through an intracardiac or aortopulmonary communication. We present the case of a 48-year-old male patient with a history of Pulmonary Hypertension and Heart Failure under treatment, who presented with melena, decay, and hemodynamic instability. Physical examination revealed an ascending systolic murmur in the lung focus, a distended abdomen with the presence of an ascitic wave. In the complementary exams, conventional chest radiography showed an increase in the pulmonary vascular pattern, as well as electrocardiographic alterations were also found. The patient showed an unfavorable evolution, producing heart failure, which led to subsequent death due to cardiorespiratory arrest.El Síndrome de Eisenmenger es un desorden multisistémico caracterizado por hipertensión pulmonar con inversión o bidireccionalidad del flujo a través de una comunicación intracardíaca o aortopulmonar. Se presenta el caso de un paciente masculino de 48 años de edad con antecedentes de Hipertensión Pulmonar e Insuficiencia Cardíaca en tratamiento, quien acude por cuadro de melenas, decaimiento e inestabilidad hemodinámica. Al examen físico se ausculta soplo sistólico ascendente en foco pulmonar, abdomen distendido con presencia de onda ascítica. En los exámenes complementarios; la radiografía convencional de tórax mostró aumento de la trama vascular pulmonar, además de encontrarse alteraciones electrocardiográficas. El paciente mostró una evolución desfavorable produciéndose falla cardíaca, que dio lugar al posterior fallecimiento debido a un paro cardiorrespiratorio

Accurate GPS Time-Linked data Acquisition System (ATLAS II) user's manual.

The Accurate Time-Linked data Acquisition System (ATLAS II) is a small, lightweight, time-synchronized, robust data acquisition system that is capable of acquiring simultaneous long-term time-series data from both a wind turbine rotor and ground-based instrumentation. This document is a user's manual for the ATLAS II hardware and software. It describes the hardware and software components of ATLAS II, and explains how to install and execute the software

Niveles séricos de inmunoglobulinas en pacientes pediátricos con infecciones respiratorias recurrentes

ABSTRACT Introduction: among the most frequent consultations in pediatric immunology are recurrent respiratory infections, which constitute one of the main health problems worldwide.Objective: to describe the alterations in the levels of immunoglobulins A, G and E in pediatric patients with recurrent respiratory infections.Method: an observational, descriptive and cross-sectional study was carried out between January and September 2020. 56 children from zero to five years old treated for recurrent respiratory infections in the period were studied. Variables such as age, sex, area of origin, nutritional evaluation, clinical manifestations, associated respiratory infections, and immunoglobulin alterations were analyzed. Absolute frequency and percentage were used as summary measures. Medical ethics was respected.Results: 67,86 % were male. 21,43 % were less than one year old and 51 children presented immunodeficiencies, predominantly IgA deficiency (42,86 %), most frequently between zero and two years. Among respiratory diseases, the common cold and bacterial bronchopneumonia predominated (67,86 % and 53,57 % respectively), with decay and dyspnea as the main symptoms (86,71 %). A relationship between immunodeficiencies and allergies was found in 46,43 %.Conclusions: immunodeficiencies are frequent in preschool ages due to the immaturity of the immune system, mainly in males. They are frequently associated with respiratory infections, as well as with allergic processes, being the IgA deficit the most common.Introducción: entre las consultas más frecuentes en inmunología pediátrica se encuentran las infecciones respiratorias recurrentes, que constituyen uno de los principales problemas de salud a nivel mundial.Objetivo: describir las alteraciones de los niveles de inmunoglobulinas A, G y E en pacientes pediátricos con infecciones respiratorias a repetición.Método: se realizó estudio observacional, descriptivo, de corte transversal, entre enero y septiembre del 2020. El universo estuvo constituido por 112 niños de cero a cinco años, atendidos por infecciones a repetición en el período. Se seleccionó una muestra intencional de 56 pacientes, cuyas infecciones eran respiratorias. Fueron analizadas variables como edad, sexo, zona de procedencia, evaluación nutricional, manifestaciones clínicas, infecciones respiratorias asociadas, alteraciones de las inmunoglobulinas, presencia de alergias. Se utilizó la frecuencia absoluta y el porcentaje como medidas de resumen. Se respetó la ética médica.Resultados: el 67,86 % eran varones. El 21,43 % tenían menos de un año y 51 niños presentaron inmunodeficiencias, predominando el déficit de IgA (42,86 %), con mayor frecuencia entre cero y dos años. Entre las enfermedades respiratorias, predominó el catarro común y la bronconeumonía bacteriana (67,86 y 53,57 %, respectivamente), con decaimiento y disnea como principales síntomas (86,71 %). Se encontró relación entre las inmunodeficiencias y las alergias en el 46,43 %.Conclusiones: las inmunodeficiencias son frecuentes en edades preescolares por la inmadurez del sistema inmune, con predominio en el sexo masculino. Se asocian con frecuencia a infecciones respiratorias, así como a procesos alérgicos, siendo el déficit de IgA el más común