Effect of intensity and duration of anthropic noises on European mink locomotor activity and fecal cortisol metabolite levels

Human activities involving noise emission can affect wild animals. European mink was exposed to road noise and human voice playbacks to analyze how sound intensity level and duration of both noises altered the time that individuals were active and if their fecal cortisol metabolite (FCM) levels varied. A Hierarchical Analysis Cluster was performed to establish 2 mink groups with respect to both noise source type: short duration/low intensity (SL) and long duration/high intensity (LH). We performed general linear mixed models to evaluate the variation in locomotor activity duration (s) and FCM (nanogram per gram) levels, respectively. The results showed both road noise and human voices decreased locomotor activity duration in SL more sharply compared with LH, and human voices were the triggers that induced the most pronounced response to both exposure conditions. FCM (ng/g) levels increased in SL compared with LH during road noise while the opposite happened during human voices. Differences based on sex and age of individuals were observed. In conclusion, noise characteristics given by the sound type determined the variations in locomotor activity duration while noise exposure level determined the variations in FCM (ng/g) levels. Attention should be paid to noisy activities (e.g., recreational activities for visitors in protected natural areas) and loud groups of people to conserve wildlife, especially noise sensitive specie

Mujeres y arte en la construcción de una cultura de paz

Maestría en Educación y Desarrollo Humano, Facultad de Ciencias Sociales y Humanas.La construcción de una cultura de paz se puede gestar en las vivencias, los sueños y las intuiciones de las mujeres que se desempeñan como agentes educativas de primera infancia, principalmente en aquellas partícipes en procesos de formación mediados por estrategias desde la educación artística, la cual promueve sus capacidades de empoderamiento. Así se da lugar a la resignificación de su práctica y vida cotidiana como escenarios de nuevas experiencias, y el reconocimiento de su acción en los entornos más inmediatos. Lo anterior se reflejó en la experiencia vivida por un grupo de mujeres, madres comunitarias de la ciudad de Cali en el proceso de formación Técnico en Atención Integral a la Primera Infancia del SENA

Psychometric properties of the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale in a large cross-cultural Spanish and Portuguese speaking sample

[EN]Two groups of participants were included: a non-clinical sample involving 31,243 community subjects and a clinical sample comprising 529 patients with a diagnosis of social anxiety disorder (SAD). Exploratory factor analysis (EFA), confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and exploratory structural equation modeling (ESEM) were used in order to determine the psychometric properties of the LSAS-SR. EFA identified five factors with eigenvalues greater than 1.00 explaining 50.78% of the cumulative variance. CFA and ESEM supported this 5-factor structure of the LSAS-SR. The factors included: 1) speaking in public; 2) eating/drinking in front of other people; 3) assertive behaviors; 4) working/writing while being observed; and 5) interactions with strangers. Other psychometric properties such as inter-factor correlations, invariance, reliability, and validity of the scale were also foun

Percepção do apoio social funcional em jovens estudantes pré-universitários em colima

This research aims to characterize and analyze the perception of social support in pre-university youngsters from Colima, Mexico. We seek relationships through social class, gender, and age variables. Likewise, the goal is to demonstrate the usefulness and practicality of the HJ-Biplot as an easy to understand and interpret multivariate tool that works for the representation of the results obtained at a social nature analysis. The studied population comprises 1,267 high school alumni from schools that were subsidized by the State and the State Federation. Among the main findings, we observed conections between the perception of limited Functional Social Support, gender and social class; in the same way, we noted that the usefulness and practicality of the HJ-Biplot was demonstrated.Esta investigación tiene como objetivo caracterizar y analizar la percepción del apoyo social en jóvenes preuniversitarios del Estado mexicano de Colima, buscando relaciones por medio de las variables de clase, género y edad. De igual forma, se quiere demostrar la utilidad y practicidad del HJ-Biplot como herramienta multivariante de fácil comprensión e interpretación para la representación de los resultados obtenidos en un análisis de índole social. La población de estudio incluye a 1,267 alumnos de primer año de bachillerato de las escuelas subsidiadas por el Estado y la Federación del Estado. Entre los principales hallazgos observamos relaciones en la percepción del escaso Apoyo Social Funcional, el sexo y la clase social; de igual forma, se demostró la utilidad y practicidad del HJ-Biplot.Cette recherche vise à caractériser et à analyser la perception du soutien social chez les jeunes étudiants pré-universitaires de l’État de Colima au Mexique, en recherchant les relations avec les variables de classe sociale, de genre et d’âge. De même, on cherche à démontrer l’utilité et le caractère pratique du HJ-Biplot en tant qu’outil multivarié facile à comprendre et à interpréter pour la représentation des résultats obtenus dans une analyse de nature sociale. La population étudiée est composée de 1 267 élèves de première année de secondaire provenant d’écoles subventionnées par l’État et la Fédération de l’État de Colima, au Mexique. Ce sont des jeunes de 15 à 18 ans, 46,5 % d’hommes et 53,5 % de femmes. Le questionnaire DUKE-UNC-11 a été utilisé pour déterminer la perception du soutien social fonctionnel et l’échelle Goldthorpe a été utilisée pour classer les jeunes en fonction de leur classe sociale. Parmi les résultats pertinents, il a été constaté que le 12,8 % des jeunes perçoivent un faible soutien fonctionnel social, étant principalement des hommes, plus âgés et issus d’une classe sociale intermédiaire. L’utilité et la praticité du HJ-Biplot pour l’analyse des variables de l’étude ont également été démontrées, en prouvant avec cet outil l’indépendance des scores attribués au DUKE-UNC-11 par rapport au genre, à l’âge et à la classe sociale.Esta investigação visa caracterizar e analisar a percepção do apoio social em jovens estudantes pré-universitários no Estado de Colima no México, procurando relações com variáveis de classe social, género e idade. Do mesmo modo, procura demonstrar a utilidade e praticidade do HJ-Biplot como instrumento multivariado de fácil compreensão e interpretação para a representação dos resultados obtidos numa análise de natureza social. A população do estudo é composta por 1.267 estudantes do primeiro ano do ensino secundário de escolas subsidiadas pelo Estado e Federação do Estado de Colima, México. São jovens entre os 15 e 18 anos, 46,5 % homens e 53,5 % mulheres. O Questionário DUKE-UNC-11 foi utilizado para determinar a percepção do Apoio Social Funcional e a Escala Goldthorpe foi utilizada para classificar os jovens de acordo com a sua classe social. Entre os resultados relevantes, constatouse que 12,8% dos jovens tinham a percepção de ter um escasso Apoio Funcional Social, sendo na sua maioria homens, mais velhos e de uma classe social intermédia. A utilidade e praticabilidade do HJ-Biplot para a análise das variáveis de estudo foi também demonstrada, provando com esta ferramenta a independência das pontuações dadas ao DUKE-UNC-11 com género, idade e classe social

A beam-beam monitoring detector for the MPD experiment at NICA

The Multi-Purpose Detector (MPD) is to be installed at the Nuclotron Ion Collider fAcility (NICA) of the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research (JINR). Its main goal is to study the phase diagram of the strongly interacting matter produced in heavy-ion collisions. These studies, while providing insight into the physics of heavy-ion collisions, are relevant for improving our understanding of the evolution of the early Universe and the formation of neutron stars. In order to extend the MPD trigger capabilities, we propose to include a high granularity beam-beam monitoring detector (BE-BE) to provide a level-0 trigger signal with an expected time resolution of 30 ps. This new detector will improve the determination of the reaction plane by the MPD experiment, a key measurement for flow studies that provides physics insight into the early stages of the reaction. In this work, we use simulated Au+Au collisions at NICA energies to show the potential of such a detector to determine the event plane resolution, providing further redundancy to the detectors originally considered for this purpose namely, the Fast Forward Detector (FFD) and the Hadron Calorimeter (HCAL). We also show our results for the time resolution studies of two prototype cells carried out at the T10 beam line at the CERN PS complex.Comment: 16 pages, 12 figures. Updated to published version with added comments and correction

Microglial Activation in the Retina of a Triple-Transgenic Alzheimer’s Disease Mouse Model (3xTg-AD)

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common type of dementia in the world. The main biomarkers associated with AD are protein amyloid-β (Aβ) plaques and protein tau neurofibrillary tangles, which are responsible for brain neuroinflammation mediated by microglial cells. Increasing evidence has shown that the retina can also be affected in AD, presenting some molecular and cellular changes in the brain, such as microglia activation. However, there are only a few studies assessing such changes in the retinal microglia in animal models of AD. These studies use retinal sections, which have some limitations. In this study, we performed, for the first time in a triple-transgenic AD mouse model (3xTg-AD), a quantitative morphometric analysis of microglia activation (using the anti-Iba-1 antibody) in retinal whole-mounts, allowing visualization of the entire microglial cell, as well as its localization along the extension of the retina in different layers. Compared to age-matched animals, the retina of 3xTg-AD mice presents a higher number of microglial cells and a thicker microglial cell body area. Moreover, the microglia migrate, reorient, and retract their processes, changing their localization from a parallel to a perpendicular position relative to the retinal surface. These findings demonstrate clear microglia remodeling in the retina of 3xTg-AD mice

Retinal Thickness Changes Over Time in a Murine AD Model APP NL-F/NL-F.

Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD) may present retinal changes before brain pathology, suggesting the retina as an accessible biomarker of AD. The present work is a diachronic study using spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) to determine the total retinal thickness and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness in an APPNL-F/NL-F mouse model of AD at 6, 9, 12, 15, 17, and 20 months old compared to wild type (WT) animals. Methods: Total retinal thickness and RNFL thickness were determined. The mean total retinal thickness was analyzed following the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study sectors. RNFL was measured in six sectors of axonal ring scans around the optic nerve. Results: In the APPNL-F/NL-F group compared to WT animals, the total retinal thickness changes observed were the following: (i) At 6-months-old, a significant thinning in the outer temporal sector was observed; (ii) at 15-months-old a significant thinning in the inner temporal and in the inner and outer inferior retinal sectors was noticed; (iii) at 17-months-old, a significant thickening in the inferior and nasal sectors was found in both inner and outer rings; and (iv) at 20-months-old, a significant thinning in the inner ring of nasal, temporal, and inferior retina and in the outer ring of superior and temporal retina was seen. In RNFL thickness, there was significant thinning in the global analysis and in nasal and inner-temporal sectors at 6 months old. Thinning was also found in the supero-temporal and nasal sectors and global value at 20 months old. Conclusions: In the APPNL-F/NL-F AD model, the retinal thickness showed thinning, possibly produced by neurodegeneration alternating with thickening caused by deposits and neuroinflammation in some areas of the retina. These changes over time are similar to those observed in the human retina and could be a biomarker for AD. The APPNL-F/NL-F AD model may help us better understand the different retinal changes during the progression of AD.This research was funded by the Ophthalmological Network OFTARED (RD16/0008/0005) of the Institute of Health of Carlos III of the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation; and the Research Network RETIBRAIN (RED2018-102499-T) and Grant PID2019-106581RB-I00 of the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation; and Leducq Foundation for Cardiovascular Research TNE-19CVD01. IL-C was currently supported by a Pre-doctoral Fellowship (CT42/18-CT43/18) from the Complutense University of Madrid. JF-A was currently supported by a Pre-doctoral Fellowship (FPU17/01023) from the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation, and Universities.S

Automated Large Vessel Occlusion Detection Software and Thrombectomy Treatment Times: a Cluster Randomized Clinical Trial

IMPORTANCE: The benefit of endovascular stroke therapy (EVT) in large vessel occlusion (LVO) ischemic stroke is highly time dependent. Process improvements to accelerate in-hospital workflows are critical. OBJECTIVE: to determine whether automated computed tomography (CT) angiogram interpretation coupled with secure group messaging can improve in-hospital EVT workflows. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This cluster randomized stepped-wedge clinical trial took place from January 1, 2021, through February 27, 2022, at 4 comprehensive stroke centers (CSCs) in the greater Houston, Texas, area. All 443 participants with LVO stroke who presented through the emergency department were treated with EVT at the 4 CSCs. Exclusion criteria included patients presenting as transfers from an outside hospital (n = 158), in-hospital stroke (n = 39), and patients treated with EVT through randomization in a large core clinical trial (n = 3). INTERVENTION: Artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled automated LVO detection from CT angiogram coupled with secure messaging was activated at the 4 CSCs in a random-stepped fashion. Once activated, clinicians and radiologists received real-time alerts to their mobile phones notifying them of possible LVO within minutes of CT imaging completion. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Primary outcome was the effect of AI-enabled LVO detection on door-to-groin (DTG) time and was measured using a mixed-effects linear regression model, which included a random effect for cluster (CSC) and a fixed effect for exposure status (pre-AI vs post-AI). Secondary outcomes included time from hospital arrival to intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (IV tPA) bolus in eligible patients, time from initiation of CT scan to start of EVT, and hospital length of stay. In exploratory analysis, the study team evaluated the impact of AI implementation on 90-day modified Rankin Scale disability outcomes. RESULTS: Among 243 patients who met inclusion criteria, 140 were treated during the unexposed period and 103 during the exposed period. Median age for the complete cohort was 70 (IQR, 58-79) years and 122 were female (50%). Median National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score at presentation was 17 (IQR, 11-22) and the median DTG preexposure was 100 (IQR, 81-116) minutes. In mixed-effects linear regression, implementation of the AI algorithm was associated with a reduction in DTG time by 11.2 minutes (95% CI, -18.22 to -4.2). Time from CT scan initiation to EVT start fell by 9.8 minutes (95% CI, -16.9 to -2.6). There were no differences in IV tPA treatment times nor hospital length of stay. In multivariable logistic regression adjusted for age, National Institutes of Health Stroke scale score, and the Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score, there was no difference in likelihood of functional independence (modified Rankin Scale score, 0-2; odds ratio, 1.3; 95% CI, 0.42-4.0). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Automated LVO detection coupled with secure mobile phone application-based communication improved in-hospital acute ischemic stroke workflows. Software implementation was associated with clinically meaningful reductions in EVT treatment times. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05838456