Assortative mixing of opinions about COVID-19 vaccination in personal networks.

Many countries worldwide had difficulties reaching a sufficiently high vaccination uptake during the COVID-19 pandemic. Given this context, we collected data from a panel of 30,000 individuals, which were representative of the population of Romania (a country in Eastern Europe with a low 42.6% vaccination rate) to determine whether people are more likely to be connected to peers displaying similar opinions about COVID-19 vaccination. We extracted 443 personal networks, amounting to 4430 alters. We estimated multilevel logistic regression models with random-ego-level intercepts to predict individual opinions about COVID-19 vaccination. Our evidence indicates positive opinions about the COVID-19 vaccination cluster. Namely, the likelihood of having a positive opinion about COVID-19 vaccination increases when peers have, on average, a more positive attitude than the rest of the nodes in the network (OR 1.31, p < 0.001). We also found that individuals with higher education and age are more likely to hold a positive opinion about COVID-19 vaccination. With the given empirical data, our study cannot reveal whether this assortative mixing of opinions is due to social influence or social selection. However, it may nevertheless have implications for public health interventions, especially in countries that strive to reach higher uptake rates. Understanding opinions about vaccination can act as an early warning system for potential outbreaks, inform predictions about vaccination uptake, or help supply chain management for vaccine distribution.

Research Ethics in the Age of Digital Platforms.

Scientific research is growingly increasingly reliant on "microwork" or "crowdsourcing" provided by digital platforms to collect new data. Digital platforms connect clients and workers, charging a fee for an algorithmically managed workflow based on Terms of Service agreements. Although these platforms offer a way to make a living or complement other sources of income, microworkers lack fundamental labor rights and basic safe working conditions, especially in the Global South. We ask how researchers and research institutions address the ethical issues involved in considering microworkers as "human participants." We argue that current scientific research fails to treat microworkers in the same way as in-person human participants, producing de facto a double morality: one applied to people with rights acknowledged by states and international bodies (e.g., the Helsinki Declaration), the other to guest workers of digital autocracies who have almost no rights at all. We illustrate our argument by drawing on 57 interviews conducted with microworkers in Spanish-speaking countries.

Water table prediction through causal reasoning modelling.

This research is mainly aimed to analyze and model the relationship of the binomial Rainfall-Piezometry. In this sense, the inherent causality contained in temporal hourly Rainfall and Groundwater levels (piezometry) data records has been taken. This has been done through Bayesian Causal Reasoning (BCR) which is technique belonging to Artificial Intelligence (AI) based on Bayesian Theorem. The methodology comprises two main stages, first an analytical method from classic regression analysis, and second, a Bayesian Causal Modelling Translation (BCMT) that itself comprises several iterative steps. This research ultimately becomes a tool for aquifers management that comprises a bivariate function made of two variables Rainfall and Piezometry (Temporal Groundwater level evolution). This innovative methodology has been successfully applied in the Quaternary aquifer of the Campo de Cartagena groundwater body, which is an aquifer system that directly is connected to Mar Menor coastal lagoon (Murcia region, SE Spain).

Can an ultrathin strut stent design and a polymer free, proendothelializing probucol matrix coating improve early strut healing? The FRIENDLY-OCT trial. An intra-patient randomized study with OCT, evaluating early strut coverage of a novel probucol coated polymer-free and ultra-thin strut sirolimus-eluting stent compared to a biodegradable polymer sirolimus-eluting stent.

BACKGROUND: incomplete strut coverage determines the risk of stent thrombosis in the first months after stent implantation. AIMS: To evaluate the potential better early healing of a novel probucol coated polymer free ultra-thin strut sirolimus eluting stent (PF-SES). [Clinical trial unique identifier: NCT02785237]. METHODS: Patients with two (angiographically similar) lesions with clinical indication for PCI were enrolled. The investigated stent was compared to a thin strut, bioresorbable polymer, sirolimus eluting stent (BP-SES). Every patient received both stents, one in each lesion, assigned in a randomized sequence. OCT was systematically performed at 3 months. Primary end point was the difference in the proportion of covered struts at 3 months (defined as ≥20 µm of tissue coverage). Secondary end points included differences in percentage of uncovered struts (0 µm coverage), mean strut coverage thickness, and malapposed struts' coverage proportion. Major adverse cardiac events (cardiac death, myocardial infarction, target lesion revascularization, and definite or probable stent thrombosis) at 12 months were also evaluated. RESULTS: 70 patients were included. At 3 months, a consistent and significantly higher strut coverage rate (≥20 µm) was observed in PF-SES as compared to BP-SES, both for well apposed (87.3% versus 79.1%, p < 0.001) and malapposed struts (50.4% vs 37.8%, p 0.00). Uncoverage rate (0 µm) was also significantly lower for the PF-SES (3.1% vs 5.3%, p < 0.001). There were no differences in clinical endpoints. CONCLUSION: The probucol coated non-polymeric ultra-thin strut sirolimus eluting stent showed a significantly better early strut coverage at 3 months.

Structural measures of personal networks predict migrants' cultural backgrounds: an explanation from Grid/Group theory.

Culture and social structure are not separated analytical domains but intertwined phenomena observable in personal networks. Drawing on a personal networks dataset of migrants in the United States and Spain, we show that the country of origin, a proxy for diverse languages and cultural institutions, and religion may be predicted by specific combinations of personal network structural measures (closeness, clustering, betweenness, average degree, etc). We obtain similar results applying three different methods (a multinomial logistic regression, a Random Forest algorithm, and an artificial neural network). This finding is explained within the framework of the Grid/Group theory that has long posed the interdependence of social structural and cultural features of human groups.

The Relational Vulnerability of People Experiencing Multiple Exclusion Homelessness (MEH) in Spain.

This paper draws on research analyzing the emotional and relational impacts of poverty and exclusion on charities' clients in Spain since the 2008-2009 economic crisis, including people experiencing multiple exclusion homelessness (MEH). The study adopts a mixed-methods approach in which twenty in-depth cases were collected in different geographical locations, including twelve cases experiencing MEH. Unlike other disadvantaged groups, those affected by MEH suffer material shortages, traumatic experiences, psychological disorders, physical illnesses, and a high degree of relational vulnerability, as reflected in the structure and composition of their personal networks, which tend to be smaller in size, with just a few weak and temporary contacts, and with care professionals playing an important role. These charity users often need long-term socio-sanitary care, which challenges public and private health-care systems. Therefore, our contribution to this Special Issue is directed toward improving understanding of the relational characteristics of severely excluded people, how social support affects their personal networks, and the challenges this assistance poses to care services.

Measuring transnational social fields through binational link-tracing sampling.

We advance bi-national link-tracing sampling design, an innovative data collection methodology for sampling from so-called "transnational social fields", i.e. transnational networks embedding migrants, returned migrants and non-migrants. This paper describes our contributions to this methodology and its empirical implementation, and evaluates the features of the resulting networks (sample), with the aim to guide future research. We performed 303 face-to-face structured interviews on sociodemographic variables, migration trajectories and personal networks of people living in a Romanian migration sending community (Dâmbovița) and in a migration receiving Spanish town (Castellón). Inter-connecting the personal networks, we built a multi-layered complex network structure embedding 4,855 nominated people, 5,477 directed ties (nominations) and 2,540 edges. Results indicate that the link-tracing nomination patterns are affected by sex and residence homophily. Our research contributes to the emerging efforts of applying social network analysis to the study of international migration.

First record of hybridization in Caranx Lacepède, 1801 (Carangidae: Perciformes) in the Tropical Eastern Pacific Ocean.

During a recreational fishing trip on May 2017 to Isla Montuosa, Pacific coast of Panama (7.467472, -82.266556; 30 m depth), a specimen belonging to the genus Caranx was captured. The specimen showed an unusual combination of external characters, intermediate among the species known to occur in the Tropical Eastern Pacific (TEP), which caught the attention of the fishermen. A detailed analysis involving traditional morphology and molecular techniques revealed that the specimen corresponds to a hybrid of the species C. melampygus and C. sexfasciatus. This represents, to the best of our knowledge, the first confirmed record of hybridization within the genus and family in the TEP and the second record for the entire Pacific Ocean.

Satisfaction with Social Support Received from Social Relationships in Cases of Chronic Pain: The Influence of Personal Network Characteristics in Terms of Structure, Composition and Functional Content.

The worldwide burden of chronic illnesses, constitutes a major public health concern and a serious challenge for health systems. In addition to the strategies of self-management support developed by nursing and health organizations, an individual's personal network represents a major resource of social support in the long-term. Adopting a cross-sectional design based on personal network analysis methods, the main aim of this study is to explore the relationship between satisfaction with the social support received by individuals suffering chronic pain and the structure, composition, and functional content in social support of their personal networks. We collected personal and support network data from 30 people with chronic pain (20 person's contacts (alters) for each individual (ego), 600 relationships in total). Additionally, we examined the level of satisfaction with social support in each of the 600 relationships. Bivariate and multivariate tests were performed to analyze the satisfaction with the social support received. Using cluster analysis, we established a typology of the 600 relationships under study. Results showed that higher satisfaction was associated with a balance between degree centrality and betweenness (i.e., measures of network cohesion and network modularity, respectively). Finally, new lines of research are proposed in order to broaden our understanding of this subject.

Changes in the process performance and microbial community by addition of the metabolic uncoupler 3,3',4',5-tetrachlorosalicylanilide in sequencing batch reactors.

A complete study about the effects of 3,3',4',5-tetrachlorosalicylanilide (TCS) on organic matter elimination performance, sludge production and on the microbial community of a biological wastewater treatment process has been performed. For this purpose two sequencing batch reactors (SBR) worked in parallel for 43 days with 0.8 mg·L-1 of TCS (SBR-1) and without this metabolic uncoupler (SBR-2). Results indicated that 63.3% of sludge reduction was achieved in SBR-1. However, COD removal efficiency was maintained in similar values in both reactors (89.1% and 92.1% in SBR-1 and SBR-2, respectively). The exhaustive mixed liquor characterization led to know deeply the action mechanism of TCS. In this way, a 69% of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) reduction was observed in SBR-1 in comparison with values measured in SBR-2. On the contrary, an increase in soluble microbial products (SMP) and DNA concentrations occurred as a consequence of TCS addition. Thus, it could be concluded that sludge reduction due to TCS addition was due to both uncoupling effect and cellular lysis. Also, increase in all microbial hydrolytic enzymatic activities measured was observed, which explained the stable performance achieved in SBR-1 despite to the results explained above. It should be highlighted that this uncoupler should not be used in biological treatments that require nitrogen elimination because nitrifying bacteria were affected by its addition (Nitrosomonas and Nitrospira). Finally, the 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing informed that an important reduction of bacterial diversity resulted in SBR-1 due to TCS addition.

Personal Network Analysis in the Study of Social Support: The Case of Chronic Pain.

In the context of chronic illness, the individual's social and relational environment plays a critical role as it can provide the informal support and care over time, beyond healthcare and social welfare institutions. Social Network Analysis represents an appropriate theoretical and methodological approach to study and understand social support since it provides measures of personal network structure, composition and functional content. The aim of this mixed method study is to present the usefulness of Personal Network Analysis to explore social support in the context of chronic pain. Personal and support network data of 30 people with chronic pain (20 alters for each ego, 600 relationships in total) were collected, obtaining measures of personal network structure and composition as well as information about social support characteristics. Also, semi-structured interviews with participants were conducted to identify the context of their experience of pain, their limitations as regards leading an autonomous life, their social support needs and other aspects concerning the effect of pain on their social and relational lives. This approach shows the importance of non-kin social support providers and the significant role of non-providers in the personal networks of people suffering chronic pain.

A mixed methods study of the social support networks of female sex workers and their primary noncommercial male partners in Tijuana, Mexico.

Female sex workers (FSWs) are at risk for multiple health harms, including HIV. This article describes a mixed methods study of the social support networks of 19 FSWs and their primary male sex partners in Tijuana, Mexico. We collected quantitative and qualitative social network data, including quantitative network measures, qualitative narratives, and network visualizations. Methodologically, we illustrate how a convergent mixed methods approach to studying personal social support networks of female sex workers can yield a more holistic understanding of network composition and role. From a health-related perspective, we show how migration/deportation and stigma shape social networks and might be leveraged to support HIV prevention interventions. We believe others can benefit from a mixed methods approach to studying social networks.

Reviewing Bayesian Networks potentials for climate change impacts assessment and management: A multi-risk perspective.

The evaluation and management of climate change impacts on natural and human systems required the adoption of a multi-risk perspective in which the effect of multiple stressors, processes and interconnections are simultaneously modelled. Despite Bayesian Networks (BNs) are popular integrated modelling tools to deal with uncertain and complex domains, their application in the context of climate change still represent a limited explored field. The paper, drawing on the review of existing applications in the field of environmental management, discusses the potential and limitation of applying BNs to improve current climate change risk assessment procedures. Main potentials include the advantage to consider multiple stressors and endpoints in the same framework, their flexibility in dealing and communicate with the uncertainty of climate projections and the opportunity to perform scenario analysis. Some limitations (i.e. representation of temporal and spatial dynamics, quantitative validation), however, should be overcome to boost BNs use in climate change impacts assessment and management.

Streptozotocin diabetogenic action in an experimental neonatal induction model.

INTRODUCTION: The use of experimental models is essential to study the pathophysiological mechanisms of diabetes.  OBJECTIVES: To compare in adult Wistar rats the diabetogenic action of streptozotocin according to the moment and route of administration during the neonatal period by evaluating biochemical, metabolic and histological variables.  MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eight groups of neonatal female Wistar rats (n=10) were formed. We evaluated the induction with streptozotocin (100 mg/kg of body weight) on days 2 and 5 after birth, as well as the administration routes (subcutaneous or intraperitoneal). Controls were injected with sodium citrate buffer. Blood glucose level, body weight, food and water intake were monitored for 12 weeks. We also performed tolerance tests for oral glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin, and a histopathological pancreas morphometric study.  RESULTS: The mortality rate was about 100% among rats given streptozotocin on their fifth day of life. All rats receiving the drug on day 2 of life survived, and they showed a marked hyperglycemia, polyphagia, polydipsia and decreased body weight gain in addition to increased glycosylated hemoglobin rates and impaired results in the oral glucose tolerance test. Histopathological lesions of the pancreas as well as a decreased number of islets were significantly more frequent in rats receiving the drug subcutaneously on day 2, which confirms that streptozotocin administered subcutaneously produces greater damage.  CONCLUSIONS: Subcutaneous injection of streptozotocin in a dose of 100 mg/kg of body weight in the second day after birth induced moderate diabetes in adult Wistar rats more effectively.

Acción de la estreptozotocina en un modelo experimental de inducción neonatal de la diabetes / Streptozotocin diabetogenic action in an experimental neonatal induction model

Introducción. El estudio de la diabetes mediante modelos experimentales es fundamental para entender los mecanismos fisiopatológicos de la enfermedad. Objetivos. Comparar en ratas Wistar adultas la acción de inducción de la diabetes de la estreptozotocina según el momento y la vía de inoculación del fármaco durante el periodo neonatal mediante la evaluación de variables bioquímicas, metabólicas e histológicas. Materiales y métodos. Se conformaron ocho grupos con ratas Wistar hembras recién nacidas (n=10). Se evaluó la inducción con estreptozotocina (100 mg/kg de peso corporal) según el día (segundo y quinto después del nacimiento) y la vía de inoculación (subcutánea o intraperitoneal). Los controles se inyectaron con solución tampón de citrato sódico. Durante 12 semanas se evaluaron la glucemia, el peso, y la cantidad de alimento y de agua consumida. Se hicieron pruebas de tolerancia a la glucosa oral, se evaluó la hemoglobina ´glicosilada´, y se hizo el estudio morfométrico e histopatológico del páncreas. Resultados. Casi todos los animales inoculados con estreptozotocina en el quinto día murieron, en tanto que todos los inoculados en el segundo día sobrevivieron. La administración subcutánea de estreptozotocina en el segundo día produjo hiperglucemia, polifagia, polidipsia y disminución de la ganancia de peso corporal, así como alteración de los valores de hemoglobina ´glicosilada´ y en la prueba de tolerancia a la glucosa. Las lesiones histopatológicas del páncreas, así como la disminución del número de islotes, se observaron con mayor frecuencia con la estreptozotocina aplicada de forma subcutánea en el segundo día, lo cual corroboró que el efecto de este agente inoculado de forma subcutánea causa mayor daño. Conclusiones. La inyección subcutánea de una dosis de 100 mg/kg de estreptozotocina en el segundo día después del nacimiento logró mayor efectividad en la inducción de diabetes moderada en ratas Wistar adultas.

Introduction: The use of experimental models is essential to study the pathophysiological mechanisms of diabetes. Objectives: To compare in adult Wistar rats the diabetogenic action of streptozotocin according to the moment and route of administration during the neonatal period by evaluating biochemical, metabolic and histological variables. Materials and methods: Eight groups of neonatal female Wistar rats (n=10) were formed. We evaluated the induction with streptozotocin (100 mg/kg of body weight) on days 2 and 5 after birth, as well as the administration routes (subcutaneous or intraperitoneal). Controls were injected with sodium citrate buffer. Blood glucose level, body weight, food and water intake were monitored for 12 weeks. We also performed tolerance tests for oral glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin, and a histopathological pancreas morphometric study. Results: The mortality rate was about 100% among rats given streptozotocin on their fifth day of life. All rats receiving the drug on day 2 of life survived, and they showed a marked hyperglycemia, polyphagia, polydipsia and decreased body weight gain in addition to increased glycosylated hemoglobin rates and impaired results in the oral glucose tolerance test. Histopathological lesions of the pancreas as well as a decreased number of islets were significantly more frequent in rats receiving the drug subcutaneously on day 2, which confirms that streptozotocin administered subcutaneously produces greater damage. Conclusions: Subcutaneous injection of streptozotocin in a dose of 100 mg/kg of body weight in the second day after birth induced moderate diabetes in adult Wistar rats more effectively.

"Tertius gaudens": germplasm exchange networks and agroecological knowledge among home gardeners in the Iberian Peninsula.

BACKGROUND: The idea that knowledge flows through social networks is implicit in research on traditional knowledge, but researchers have paid scant attention to the role of social networks in shaping its distribution. We bridge those two bodies of research and investigate a) the structure of network of exchange of plant propagation material (germplasm) and b) the relation between a person's centrality in such network and his/her agroecological knowledge. METHODS: We study 10 networks of germplasm exchange (n = 363) in mountain regions of the Iberian Peninsula. Data were collected through participant observation, semi-structured interviews, and a survey. RESULTS: The networks display some structural characteristics (i.e., decentralization, presence of external actors) that could enhance the flow of knowledge and germplasm but also some characteristics that do not favor such flow (i.e., low density and fragmentation). We also find that a measure that captures the number of contacts of an individual in the germplasm exchange network is associated with the person's agroecological knowledge. CONCLUSION: Our findings highlight the importance of social relations in the construction of traditional knowledge.

Stochastic hydro-economic model for groundwater quality management using Bayesian networks.

A strong normative development in Europe, including the Nitrate Directive (1991) and the Water Framework Directive (WFD) (2000), has been promulgated. The WFD states that all water bodies have to reach a good quantitative and chemical status by 2015. It is necessary to consider different objectives, often in conflict, for tackling a suitable assessment of the impacts generated by water policies aimed to reduce nitrate pollution in groundwater. For that, an annual lumped probabilistic model based on Bayesian networks (BNs) has been designed for hydro-economic modelling of groundwater quality control under uncertain conditions. The information introduced in the BN model comes from different sources such as previous groundwater flow and mass transport simulations, hydro-economic models, stakeholders and expert opinion, etc. The methodology was applied to the El Salobral-Los Llanos aquifer unit within the 'Easter Mancha' groundwater body, which is one of the largest aquifers in Spain (7,400 km(2)), included in the Júcar River Basin. Over the past 30 years, socioeconomic development within the region has been mainly depending on intensive use of groundwater resources for irrigating crops. This has provoked a continuous groundwater level fall in the last two decades and significant streamflow depletion in the connected Júcar River. This BN model has proved to be a robust Decision Support System for helping water managers in the decision making process.

Cáncer pulmonar: avances en el siglo XXI / lung cancer: advances in the XXI century

En la presente década, el cáncer pulmonar ha producido más de 4.800.000 muertes cada año, consolidándose como la primera causa de mortalidad por cáncer en todo el mundo, para ambos sexos. Según la Organización Mundial de la Salud, no hay esperanzas de soluciones para los próximos cincuenta años. La enfermedad es compleja, grave, mortal, epidémica, tabaco dependiente, formando parte del 6% de la mortalidad general por tabaquismo. El objeto principal de esta revisión es informar el avance que ha logrado la ciencia médica en el presente siglo. La contextualización del tema nos permite hacer una selección de los hallazgos más relevantes en: epidemiología como es, la incipiente introducción del comportamiento molecular gracias al uso de marcadores tumorales; en patología, las biopsias pueden informar sobre la variedad histológica y el perfil genético de la misma a objeto de evaluar el alto riesgo de morir de acuerdo a los genes identificados. Desde el punto de vista clínico, destaca a la séptima edición de la estadificación del cáncer de pulmón de células no pequeñas, por medio del sistema TNM, la cual ayuda a crear un mejor pronóstico y una mejor selección terapéutica; los procedimientos diagnósticos de última generación como: tomografía helicoidal, tomografía por emisión de positrones, ultrasonido transbronquial, broncoscopia autofluorescente, broncoscopia virtual, citometría cuántica automatizada y otros, han sido de gran valor para el diagnóstico temprano de la enfermedad. El tratamiento curativo está reservado a lesiones incipientes y el mejor esquema terapéutico para carcinoma de células no pequeñas es la cirugía y quimioterapia adyuvante. La genoterapia e inmunoterapia continúan en fase experimental, la quimioterapia con resultados controversiales y la prevención primaria la consideramos clave en el control definitivo de la enfermedad. Al final del trabajo se hacen proyecciones para el futuro y consideraciones preliminares...

In this decade. the pulmonary cancer has produced more than 4.800.000 dealths each year, consolidating as the first cause of mortality from cancer in the world, for both sexes. according to the World Health Organization, there is no hope of solution for the next fifty years. The disease is complex, serious, fatal, epidemic, tobacco depending and part of 6% of overall mortality by smoking. The main purpose of this review is to report the progress of science medical in this century. the contextualization of the them let to us to make a selection from the findings more relevant in: epidemiology as it is the early introduction of the molecular component through the use of tumor markers; in pathology, biopsies studies can report on histological variety and genetic profile to order to report on the high risk of dealth, according to the identified genes. From the clinical point of view, is the seventh edition of the standing of the lung cancer non small cell, in the TNM system, which helps create a better prognosis and better therapeutic: targeting cancer stading diagnosis procedures of last generation as: helical scans, tomography by emission of positrons, transbronchial ultrasound, autofluorescense bronchoscopy, virtual bronchoscopy, automated quantum citometry and others, have been of great value to the early disease diagnosis. Curative treatment has been reserved to emerging injuries and the best therapeutic scheme for non-small cell carcinoma is surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy. Genotherapy and immunotherapy continue in experimental phase, quimioprevention with vontroversial result and primary prebention mean the key in the final control of the disease. At the end of the work, there are proyection for the future and preliminary consideration with emphasis on the state of uncertainty that we have before the epidemic, the challenge it represents for the medical community and the need to futher study of the tumor genome with the prospect of a effective geno...

Inequality in social rank and adult nutritional status: evidence from a small-scale society in the Bolivian Amazon.

Research on the social determinants of health has highlighted (a) the adverse effects of social inequality on individual health and (b) the association between individual social rank and health. In this paper, we contribute to the growing literature on the health consequences of social inequalities by assessing the association between village level inequality in social rank, a form of non-material inequality, and indicators of nutritional status. We use quantitative survey information from 289 men (18+ years of age) from a society of forager-farmers in the Bolivian Amazon (Tsimane'). We construct village level measures of non-material inequality by using individual measures of men's positions in the village hierarchy according to prestige (or freely conferred deference) and dominance (or social rank obtained through power). We find that village inequality in dominance, but not village inequality in prestige, is associated with short-term indices of individual nutritional status. Doubling the coefficient of variation of dominance in a village would be associated to a 6.7% lower BMI, a 7.9% smaller mid-arm circumference, and a 27.1% smaller sum of four skin folds of men in the village. We also find that once we decouple individual social rank based on dominance from individual social rank based on prestige, only prestige-based social rank is associated with nutritional status. Potential explanations for our findings relate to the differential forms of resource access derived from the two forms of social hierarchies and to the social and psychological benefits associated with prestige versus the social costs and psychological stress generated by dominance.