Adolescent Social Networks and Violence in Rural Colombia

This dissertation examines violence in adolescent social networks in the context of a rural and resource-limited community in the Caribbean region of Colombia. Utilizing mixed methods data (focus groups and surveys) from 242 school-enrolled adolescents, three empirical studies explored adolescent violence experiences in their community, school, and intimate partner violence relationships. Study one utilizes a social complexity framework and mixed methods design to address victimization. Social network data showed that adolescents\u27 psychological and physical violence victimizations occurred across their community, household, school, and emotionally adverse relationships; and were more likely in girl-nominated relationships, a relationship that shared more alters or included an adult. Qualitative findings highlight cycles of violence that were salient across inter-generational and community settings. Cultural beliefs about violence emerged as critical to consider, particularly as participants perceived differential effects and values of victimization by gender and age. The second study builds on the previous findings by concentrating on school peer violence perpetration. Results show that psychological and physical violence perpetration status is not related to being socially connected to similar perpetration status peers. Adolescent victims of school peer violence were more likely to engage in perpetration (both psychological and physical) than non-victims controlling for non-school victimization (e.g., community, household), age, and academic standing, ethnicity, and gender. Adolescents who engaged in physical violence perpetration were more likely to live with non-parental caregivers (than those living with one or both parents) and report multiple cross-gender friendships at school. Study three centers on school peers\u27 social network influence on physical intimate partner violence (IPV) engagement. Results show that adolescents with higher proportions of socially connected peers who perpetrate IPV are more likely to report perpetration, controlling for gender, age group, social network position, and school victimization. Conversely, adolescents with a higher proportion of IPV victim friends are less likely to report victimization. Bidirectional violence in the partnership was associated with the opposite status, such that victims were more likely to be perpetrators in the same relationship and vice versa. IPV engaged adolescents were not more likely to be socially connected to school peers of similar status, than expected by chance. Finally, the last paper describes how Community-Engaged Research (CEnR) approaches were used to develop, implement, and guide the dissemination and protocols for my study

El Marketing Relacional y la Calidad de Servicio que brinda el gimnasio Yaco’s Gym, Chimbote – 2017

La presente investigación busca determinar la relación entre el marketing relacional y la calidad de servicio que brinda el gimnasio Yaco’s Gym, Chimbote – 2017. El método aplicado fue descriptivo correlacional, tomando como población a los clientes que frecuentan el gimnasio, con un total de 115 habitantes por día. El total de muestra está constituida por 81 clientes. Los datos se recolectaron a través de un cuestionario, para este estudio se emplearon dos encuestas, para la variable marketing relacional se formularon 15 preguntas y para la variable calidad de servicio se formularon 17 preguntas, según la escala de Likert, donde fueron divididos con sus respectivos indicadores por cada variable. Estas encuestas fueron calculadas a través del coeficiente alfa de Cronbach. Una vez recolectados los datos, dicha información fue tabulada en Excel y registrada en una matriz de datos e ingresada al programa estadístico SPSS V. 24 para su respectivo procesamiento de análisis e interpretación. Según los resultados obtenidos, el 51.85 % de los encuestados manifiestan que, el nivel de marketing relacional es regular, el 23.46% es malo, el 6.17% es pésimo, el 18.52% es bueno y un 0% es excelente, donde demuestra que existe una preocupación porque no hay un excelente marketing relacional. Por otro lado, el 59.26 % de los encuestados manifiestan que, el nivel de calidad de servicio es aceptable, el 28.40% es malo, el 12.35% es bueno, y un 0.00% se considera como pésimo y excelente, lo cual muestra que la calidad de servicio tiene un lado positivo y negativo en la empresa. Aplicando la prueba de Rho de Spearman, se obtuvo un valor de significancia igual a 0.029 y un coeficiente correlacional de Spearman igual a 0.5313, siendo ρ ≤ 0.05, se rechazó la Ho y se aceptó la H1. De esta manera, se concluyó que existe una relación significativa y positiva entre el marketing relacional y la calidad de servicio. Por lo tanto, si se toman decisiones con respecto a la calidad de servicio, va influir en el marketing relacional

Thermodynamic and Kinetic Study of Lignocellulosic Waste Gasification

In this chapter, the kinetic behavior during the steam gasification of sawdust, plum, and olive pits was investigated by thermogravimetric analysis where the weight loss is measured with the temperature variation at different heating rates (5, 10, and 15 K/min). The weight loss and their derivative curves show that the gasification takes place in three visible stages. The kinetic study was carried out using Coats-Redfern methods. The Ginstling-Brounstein model showed better fit. The obtained activation energy values vary between 70 and 100 kJ/mol for the pyrolysis stage for all studied agro-industrial wastes. On the other hand, a thermodynamic model was proposed to predict the five waste gasification processes, considering the char and tar production. The proposed model allows it to perform a parametric study, analyzing the process variables’ effect on the exergetic efficiency. The higher temperatures favor the endothermic reactions as the H2 and CO formation reactions. Therefore, in the product, moles of H2 and CO increase and consequently the exergy efficiency of the process. Increasing the equivalence ratio value, H2, CO, and CH4 contents decrease; thus the calorific value of the produced gas and the exergetic efficiency decrease. In addition, the CO2 and H2O presences in the syngas composition diminish its calorific value and the exergetic efficiency. Considering the influence of supply steam/biomass ratio, the exergetic efficiency decreases with the growth of this parameter

The Thymus in Chagas Disease: Molecular Interactions Involved in Abnormal T-Cell Migration and Differentiation

Chagas disease, caused by the protozoan parasite T. cruzi, is a prevalent parasitic disease in Latin America. Presently, it is spreading around the world by human migration, thus representing a new global health issue. Chronically infected individuals reveal a dissimilar disease progression: while nearly 60% remain without apparent disease for life, 30% develop life-threatening pathologies, such as chronic chagasic cardiomyopathy (CCC) or megaviscerae. Inflammation driven by parasite persistence seems to be involved in the pathophysiology of the disease. However, there is also evidence of the occurrence of autoimmune events, mainly caused by molecular mimicry and bystander activation. In experimental models of disease, is well-established that T. cruzi infects the thymus and causes locally profound structural and functional alterations. The hallmark is a massive loss of CD4+CD8+ double positive (DP) thymocytes, mainly triggered by increased levels of glucocorticoids, although other mechanisms seem to act simultaneously. Thymic epithelial cells (TEC) exhibited an increase in extracellular matrix deposition, which are related to thymocyte migratory alterations. Moreover, medullary TEC showed a decreased expression of AIRE and altered expression of microRNAs, which might be linked to a disrupted negative selection of the T-cell repertoire. Also, almost all stages of thymocyte development are altered, including an abnormal output of CD4−CD8− double negative (DN) and DP immature and mature cells, many of them carrying prohibited TCR-Vβ segments. Evidence has shown that DN and DP cells with an activated phenotype can be tracked in the blood of humans with chronic Chagas disease and also in the secondary lymphoid organs and heart of infected mice, raising new questions about the relevance of these populations in the pathogenesis of Chagas disease and their possible link with thymic alterations and an immunoendocrine imbalance. Here, we discuss diverse molecular mechanisms underlying thymic abnormalities occurring during T. cruzi infection and their link with CCC, which may contribute to the design of innovative strategies to control Chagas disease pathology.Fil: Perez, Ana Rosa. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Rosario. Instituto de Inmunología Clinica y Experimental de Rosario. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas. Instituto de Inmunología Clinica y Experimental de Rosario; ArgentinaFil: de Meis, Juliana. Fundación Oswaldo Cruz; BrasilFil: Rodriguez Galan, Maria Cecilia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Córdoba. Centro de Investigaciones en Bioquímica Clínica e Inmunología; ArgentinaFil: Savino, Wilson. Fundación Oswaldo Cruz; Brasi

Kinetic analysis and thermodynamics properties of air/steam gasification of agricultural waste

The air/steam gasification of wood sawdust (SD), plum and olive pits (PP, OP) bio-wastes was studied using macro-thermogravimetric analysis at three heating rates (5, 10, 15K/min). Three stages were identified during gasification process: water vaporization; de-volatilization and char gasification. The experimental data were analysed by applying five model-free methods: Flynn-Wall-Ozawa (FWO), Distributed Activation Energy Model (DAEM), Friedman, Starink, and Kissinger-Akahira-Sunose (KAS), to evaluate the gasification kinetic parameters. The FWO method exhibited the best fit to the experimental results. The pre-exponential factor was estimated using the Kissinger's expression. The average apparent activation energy (E) for the char-gasification step was found to be 218.27 (SD), 143.70 (PP) and 87.89kJ mol-1 (OP). The pre-exponential factors were 6.93 1023 (SD), 5.10 1014 (PP), and 3.71 1009 s-1 (OP). A kinetic model to predict the CO release during the bio-waste decomposition was also proposed and validated. The E values for global release of CO were 87.34 (SD), 67.19 (PP), and 133.23kJ mol-1 (OP). In addition, the thermodynamic parameters ΔS, ΔH and ΔG were calculated from the FWO method. The positive values of ΔH evidenced the global endothermicity of the gasification process over the whole range of the conversion degree. The average ΔG values were 130.53 (SD), 148.17 (PP) and 132.91kJ mol-1 (OP). The average ΔS and ΔG values, together with the Arrhenius kinetic coefficient showed that the reactivity for gasification decreased in the following order: SD>OP>PP. The results are in good agreement with previously reported data.Fil: Fernandez Brizuela, Anabel Alejandra. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ingeniería. Instituto de Ingeniería Química; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Patagonia Norte. Instituto de Investigación y Desarrollo en Ingeniería de Procesos, Biotecnología y Energías Alternativas. Grupo Vinculado Instituto de Ingeniería Química | Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Instituto de Investigación y Desarrollo en Ingeniería de Procesos, Biotecnología y Energías Alternativas. Grupo Vinculado Instituto de Ingeniería Química; ArgentinaFil: Rodriguez Ortiz, Leandro Alexei. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ingeniería. Instituto de Ingeniería Química; ArgentinaFil: Asensio, Daniela Anabel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Patagonia Norte. Instituto de Investigación y Desarrollo en Ingeniería de Procesos, Biotecnología y Energías Alternativas. Grupo Vinculado Instituto de Ingeniería Química | Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Instituto de Investigación y Desarrollo en Ingeniería de Procesos, Biotecnología y Energías Alternativas. Grupo Vinculado Instituto de Ingeniería Química; ArgentinaFil: Rodriguez, Rosa Ana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Patagonia Norte. Instituto de Investigación y Desarrollo en Ingeniería de Procesos, Biotecnología y Energías Alternativas. Grupo Vinculado Instituto de Ingeniería Química | Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Instituto de Investigación y Desarrollo en Ingeniería de Procesos, Biotecnología y Energías Alternativas. Grupo Vinculado Instituto de Ingeniería Química; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ingeniería. Instituto de Ingeniería Química; ArgentinaFil: Mazza, German Delfor. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Patagonia Norte. Instituto de Investigación y Desarrollo en Ingeniería de Procesos, Biotecnología y Energías Alternativas. Grupo Vinculado Instituto de Ingeniería Química | Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Instituto de Investigación y Desarrollo en Ingeniería de Procesos, Biotecnología y Energías Alternativas. Grupo Vinculado Instituto de Ingeniería Química; Argentin

A Multi-Temporal Analysis on the Dynamics of the Impact of Land Use and Land Cover on NO2 and CO Emissions in Argentina for Sustainable Environmental Management

This study presents an analysis of NO2 and CO emissions in Argentina, utilizing remote sensing data. This research aims to determine the spatiotemporal distribution of NO2 and CO emissions from 2019 to 2021. It examines the influence of land use and cover on NO2 and CO emissions using various climatic, anthropic, and natural indicators. The year with the highest CO and NO2 concentration was 2020. NO2 exhibited the highest concentrations in built-up urban areas and croplands, notably impacting the capital city and the northern region of Buenos Aires province. Also, CO concentration was influenced by anthropic variable distances to national route, mining extraction, power plants, airports, and urban index (UI). They were also influenced by climatic and natural variables (Palmer drought index, vapor pressure, maximum environment temperature, wind speed, DEM, humidity, and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI)) for the different uses and land covers. NO2 concentrations were influenced by anthropic (distance to airports, service stations, open dumpsites, power plants, and factories), climatic, and natural variables (Palmer drought index, vapor pressure, wind speed, and DEM) for the different uses and land cover. This research supports sustainable environmental management by guiding the development of effective emission mitigation strategies for improved community health and well-being.Fil: Fernandez Maldonado, Viviana Noemi. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Patagonia Norte. Instituto de Investigación y Desarrollo en Ingeniería de Procesos, Biotecnología y Energías Alternativas. Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Instituto de Investigación y Desarrollo en Ingeniería de Procesos, Biotecnología y Energías Alternativas; ArgentinaFil: Navas Romero, Ana Laura. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Patagonia Norte. Instituto de Investigación y Desarrollo en Ingeniería de Procesos, Biotecnología y Energías Alternativas. Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Instituto de Investigación y Desarrollo en Ingeniería de Procesos, Biotecnología y Energías Alternativas; ArgentinaFil: Fabani, Maria Paula. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Patagonia Norte. Instituto de Investigación y Desarrollo en Ingeniería de Procesos, Biotecnología y Energías Alternativas. Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Instituto de Investigación y Desarrollo en Ingeniería de Procesos, Biotecnología y Energías Alternativas; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas. Centro Cientifico Tecnologico Conicet - Patagonia Confluencia. Instituto de Investigacion y Desarrollo En Ingenieria de Procesos, Biotecnologia y Energias Alternativas. Grupo Vinculado Instituto de Ingenieria Quimica | Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Instituto de Investigacion y Desarrollo En Ingenieria de Procesos, Biotecnologia y Energias Alternativas. Grupo Vinculado Instituto de Ingenieria Quimica.; ArgentinaFil: Mazza, German Delfor. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Patagonia Norte. Instituto de Investigación y Desarrollo en Ingeniería de Procesos, Biotecnología y Energías Alternativas. Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Instituto de Investigación y Desarrollo en Ingeniería de Procesos, Biotecnología y Energías Alternativas; ArgentinaFil: Rodriguez, Rosa Ana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas. Centro Cientifico Tecnologico Conicet - Patagonia Confluencia. Instituto de Investigacion y Desarrollo En Ingenieria de Procesos, Biotecnologia y Energias Alternativas. Grupo Vinculado Instituto de Ingenieria Quimica | Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Instituto de Investigacion y Desarrollo En Ingenieria de Procesos, Biotecnologia y Energias Alternativas. Grupo Vinculado Instituto de Ingenieria Quimica.; Argentin

Thermogravimetric and Kinetic Analysis of Different Agro-Industrial Wastes Under Nitrogen Atmosphere

In this work, the behavior during thermal treatment processes of marcs, stalk and peach pits, from the wineries, canning and the jam industries was studied.The immediate and elemental analysis are realized.The studied agro-industrial wastes have higher water content than 30%, suggesting that these wastes should be dried before the thermal treatment. The ash contents are smaller than 7%, considering these contents low.The ultimate analysis showed higher oxygen concentrations present in the studied agroindustrial wastes, decreasing the HHV. The trace elements contents in these wastes are determined too. These elements remain in the char/ash fraction of the different pyrolysis products, during thermal treatment under inert atmosphere. Thermal decomposition of the studied wastes was studied in inert nitrogen atmosphere. Their decompositions proceed through three stages of weight loss, dehydration, active pyrolysis and passive pyrolysis. The maximum weight loss took place during the active pyrolysis step. In this stage, the peach pits exhibit the most prominent due to the higher content of hemicellulose. Another reason can be the difference of elements concentrations such us the Ca. This element is present in smaller concentration in the peach pits.Themarcs decomposing at lower temperature compared with the other biomasses. It also has the lowest mass loss. This behavior might be associated with the highest content of extractives in its structure. The higher value of activation energy was obtained for the peach pits, meaning slower reaction. The reaction orders were smaller than 1 for the studied agro-industrial wastes.Fil: Echegaray, Marcelo Eduardo. Universidad Nacional de San Juan; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Saffe Pinto, María Alejandra. Universidad Nacional de San Juan; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Mazza, German Delfor. Universidad Nacional del Comahue; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Rodriguez, Rosa Ana. Universidad Nacional de San Juan; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin

Prediction of regional agro-industrial wastes characteristics by thermogravimetric analysis to obtain bioenergy using thermal process

The use of energy from biomass is becoming more common worldwide. This energy source has several benefits that promote its acceptance; it is bio-renewable, non-toxic and biodegradable. To predict its behavior as a fuel during thermal treatment, its characterization is necessary. The experimental determination of ultimate analysis data requires special instrumentation, while proximate analysis data can be obtained easily by using common equipment but, the required time is high. In this work, a methodology is applied based on thermogravimetric analysis, curves deconvolution and empirical correlations for characterizing different regional agro-industrial wastes to determine the high heating value, the contents of moisture, volatiles matter, fixed carbon, ash, carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, lignin, cellulose and hemicellulose. The obtained results are similar to those using standard techniques, showing the accuracy of proposed method and its wide application range. This methodology allows to determine the main parameters required for industrial operation in only in one step, saving time.Fil: Saffe Pinto, María Alejandra. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Patagonia Norte. Instituto de Investigación y Desarrollo en Ingeniería de Procesos, Biotecnología y Energías Alternativas. Grupo Vinculado Instituto de Ingeniería Química | Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Instituto de Investigación y Desarrollo en Ingeniería de Procesos, Biotecnología y Energías Alternativas. Grupo Vinculado Instituto de Ingeniería Química; ArgentinaFil: Fernandez Brizuela, Anabel Alejandra. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Patagonia Norte. Instituto de Investigación y Desarrollo en Ingeniería de Procesos, Biotecnología y Energías Alternativas. Grupo Vinculado Instituto de Ingeniería Química | Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Instituto de Investigación y Desarrollo en Ingeniería de Procesos, Biotecnología y Energías Alternativas. Grupo Vinculado Instituto de Ingeniería Química; ArgentinaFil: Mazza, German Delfor. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Patagonia Norte. Instituto de Investigación y Desarrollo en Ingeniería de Procesos, Biotecnología y Energías Alternativas. Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Instituto de Investigación y Desarrollo en Ingeniería de Procesos, Biotecnología y Energías Alternativas; ArgentinaFil: Rodriguez, Rosa Ana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Patagonia Norte. Instituto de Investigación y Desarrollo en Ingeniería de Procesos, Biotecnología y Energías Alternativas. Grupo Vinculado Instituto de Ingeniería Química | Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Instituto de Investigación y Desarrollo en Ingeniería de Procesos, Biotecnología y Energías Alternativas. Grupo Vinculado Instituto de Ingeniería Química; Argentin

Determination of effective moisture diffusivity and thermodynamic properties variation of regional wastes under different atmospheres

During the thermal process to transform lignocellulosic wastes in energy, the drying process is an important stage because it requires energy and decreases overall process yield. Considering this process, moisture diffusivity is an important factor that is considered essential to understand for design, analysis, and its optimization. In this work, this parameter was analyzed at non-isothermal condition and considering the process under inert and oxidative atmospheres. Lower diffusivities were obtained under low heating rates, due to the disfavoring the moisture diffusion in the particles. Higher effective diffusivity (Deff) values were obtained when the drying is carried out under the atmosphere oxidative. Moreover, the thermodynamic parameters and DTA curves were determined. ΔH values are positive in all cases, showing that the drying process is endothermic. ΔG are positive and ΔS negative, indicating that the process is non-spontaneous. DTA curves show that the drying process is endothermic, according with the calculated ΔH.Fil: Fernandez Brizuela, Anabel Alejandra. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ingeniería. Instituto de Ingeniería Química; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Román Barón, María Celia. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ingeniería. Instituto de Ingeniería Química; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Mazza, German Delfor. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Patagonia Norte. Instituto de Investigación y Desarrollo en Ingeniería de Procesos, Biotecnología y Energías Alternativas. Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Instituto de Investigación y Desarrollo en Ingeniería de Procesos, Biotecnología y Energías Alternativas; ArgentinaFil: Rodriguez, Rosa Ana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ingeniería. Instituto de Ingeniería Química; Argentin

Influence of climate variables on resin yield and secretory structures in tapped Pinus pinaster Ait. in central Spain

The role of climate and soil water availability on resin yield was evaluated. Resin yield increased with temperature, radiation and evapotranspiration values. Resin yield and axial canal size were correlated with water deficit in spring. Above a certain threshold of cumulated water deficit, summer rainfall favored resin yield. Stand density and soil quality affected the relations between climate and resin yield