Parental Perception of Remote Education in Pandemic: An Analysis Based on Children's Cognitive Performance.

The COVID-19 pandemic significantly changed patterns of human interaction, including in the educational sector, which was forced to transform relationships among students, families, and the academic community. The present study sought to establish the interrelationships between performance on cognitive tests during the preschool stage and the perceptions of parents about remote education in school children during the pandemic. The study included 100 preschool children from socially vulnerable sectors who underwent remote and distance learning in 2020 and 2021. The reliability of the applied questionnaire was determined through a confirmatory factor analysis. A structural equation model was constructed to determine the perceptions of parents about remote education based on cognitive performance during the preschool stage. The model fit yielded favorable results for predictive variables (χ2 = 7.734, DF = 9 [p = 0.561], the comparative goodness-of-fit index [CFI] = 1.000, root mean square error of approximation [RMSEA] = 0.000, standardized mean square residual [SRMR] = 0.069), and executive function (χ2 = 3.711, DF = 5 [p > 0.592], CFI = 1.000, RMSEA = 0.000, SRMR = 0.039) as latent variables that affected parents' perceptions. These results indicate that parents' perceptions of remote education are mediated by predictive aspects of learning and executive function during the preschool stage.

Prevalence of Mild Cognitive Impairment in Southern Regions of Colombia.

Background: Recent reports suggest that by 2050 there will be an increase of around 310% of cases affected by dementia in Latin American countries. A previous study in a Southern region reported one of the highest prevalences of dementia in Latin America. Objective: To investigate the prevalence of mild cognitive impairment associated with low education, rurality, and demographic characteristics. Methods: A cross-sectional study recruited a community-dwelling sample of 823 adults from rural and urban areas of two Southern provinces of Colombia from 2020-2022. Participants were assessed with a neuropsychological protocol validated in Colombia. To obtain general and region-specific prevalence rates, age, sex, schooling, and socioeconomic level were considered and controlled for. Results: Most of the participants reported low education and socioeconomic level, the participation of women was higher. It was determined that the prevalence of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) was 53.6%, with 56.6% in the province of Caquetá followed by 51.9% in the province of Huila. The amnestic MCI represented 42.6%, the amnestic multi-domain was 39%, the non-amnestic 16.55%, and the non-amnestic multi-domain 1.81%. Our participants reported comorbidities such as diabetes and hypertension. We also observed a relationship between exposure to pesticides and MCI. Conclusions: We observed one of the highest prevalences of MCI in Latin America reported to date. Variables such as age, gender, and education proved risk factors for MCI in the explored regions. Our findings are very much in line with recent studies that highlight the influence of non-canonical risk factors of dementia in underrepresented countries from Latin America.

Influence of COVID-19 quarantine on the health of adults with mild cognitive impairment.

COVID-19 is an infectious disease declared by the World Health Organization as a public health emergency of international concern. Objective: The objective of this article was to determine the physical, psychological, and social health conditions and mood of COVID-19 quarantine in adults with mild cognitive impairment. Methods: The sample consisted of 129 participants, most of them were healthy, but some have mild cognitive impairment. The data were collected with a questionnaire and the Yesavage Geriatric Depression Scale applied through phone calls from April to June 2020. Results: Statistically significant differences were found in the changes in sleep habits of the healthy participants (p=0.018). Intragroup comparisons of the Yesavage Geriatric Depression Scale in healthy participants were significant (p=0.010) and at the intergroup level before and after quarantine showed significant differences in pretest scores (p=0.003). Conclusions: Social isolation had a negative psychological effect on sleep habits, depressed mood, and physical health, mainly in healthy participants.

COVID-19 é uma doença infecciosa declarada pela Organização Mundial da Saúde como emergência de saúde pública de interesse internacional. Objetivo: O objetivo deste artigo é determinar as condições de saúde física, psicológica, social e de humor na quarentena de COVID-19 em adultos com comprometimento cognitivo leve. Métodos: A amostra foi composta de 129 participantes, a maioria saudável, mas alguns com comprometimento cognitivo leve. Os dados foram coletados por meio de questionário e da escala de depressão geriátrica de Yesavage, aplicada por meio de ligações telefônicas no período de abril a junho de 2020. Resultados: Diferenças estatisticamente significantes foram encontradas nas mudanças nos hábitos de sono dos participantes saudáveis (p=0,018). As comparações intragrupo da escala de depressão geriátrica de Yesavage em participantes saudáveis foram significativas (p=0,010) e, no nível intergrupo, antes e depois da quarentena mostraram diferenças significativas nos escores do pré-teste (p=0,003). Conclusões: O isolamento social teve efeito psicológico negativo sobre os hábitos de sono, humor deprimido e saúde física, principalmente em participantes saudáveis.

Bioinformatic Tools for the Analysis and Prediction of ncRNA Interactions.

Noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) play prominent roles in the regulation of gene expression via their interactions with other biological molecules such as proteins and nucleic acids. Although much of our knowledge about how these ncRNAs operate in different biological processes has been obtained from experimental findings, computational biology can also clearly substantially boost this knowledge by suggesting possible novel interactions of these ncRNAs with other molecules. Computational predictions are thus used as an alternative source of new insights through a process of mutual enrichment because the information obtained through experiments continuously feeds through into computational methods. The results of these predictions in turn shed light on possible interactions that are subsequently validated experimentally. This review describes the latest advances in databases, bioinformatic tools, and new in silico strategies that allow the establishment or prediction of biological interactions of ncRNAs, particularly miRNAs and lncRNAs. The ncRNA species described in this work have a special emphasis on those found in humans, but information on ncRNA of other species is also included.

Microbial Communities' Characterization in Urban Recreational Surface Waters Using Next Generation Sequencing.

Microbial communities in surface waters used for recreational purposes are indicators of contamination and risk of contact with human pathogens. Hence, monitoring microbial communities in recreational waters is important for potential public health threats to humans. Such monitoring is rare in Colombia, even in its capital, Bogotá, the most populous city in the country. This city encompasses metropolitan and linear parks with recreational water bodies that are used frequently by the public, and the presence of pathogens can compromise the health of the citizens. Therefore, we examined the bacterial, and eukaryotic communities in urban recreational lakes (URL) in four metropolitan parks in Bogotá, Colombia. Samples from four metropolitan parks (Los Novios, Simon Bolivar, El Tunal, and Timiza) and one stream contaminated with sewage from a linear park (El Virrey) were collected. We used amplicon next-generation sequencing of the 16S-rRNA gene and 18S-rRNA gene to characterize microbial communities followed by bioinformatics analyses. In addition, general water quality parameters-pH, hardness, acidity, alkalinity, dissolved oxygen, and nitrites-were recorded using a commercial kit. Genera of pathogens, including Legionella, Pseudomonas, Mycobacterium, Candida, and Naegleria, were found in lake waters. The stream El Virrey was, however, the only surface water that showed an abundance of fecal bacteria, often associated with low oxygen concentrations. All water bodies showed a predominance of fungal phyla, except for the lake at Timiza. This lake showed the highest pH, and its ecological dynamics are likely different from other water bodies. Likewise, some URLs displayed a greater abundance of cyanobacteria, including toxin-producing species. Algal genera associated with eutrophication were predominant among primary producing microorganisms. This study shows for the first time the description of the bacterial and eukaryotic communities of some URLs and a stream in Bogotá. The URLs and the stream harbored various pathogens that might pose a risk to the citizen's health.

Complex ecological interactions across a focus of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Eastern Colombia: novel description of Leishmania species, hosts and phlebotomine fauna.

This study aimed to analyse the patterns of diversity, blood sources and Leishmania species of phlebotomines in a focus of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Arboledas, Eastern Colombia. In total, 1729 phlebotomines were captured in two localities (62.3% Siravita and 37.7% Cinera) and five environments of Norte de Santander. We identified 18 species of phlebotomines: Pintomyia ovallesi (29.8%), Psychodopygus davisi (20.3%), Pi. spinicrassa (18.5%) and Lutzomyia gomezi (15.8%) showed the highest abundance. Species diversities were compared between Cinera (15.00) and Siravita (20.00) and among five microenvironments: forest remnants (19.49), coffee plantations (12.5), grassland (12.99), cane plantations (11.66) and citrus plantations (12.22). Leishmania DNA was detected in 5.8% (80/1380) of females, corresponding mainly to Pi. ovallesi (22/80; 27.2%), Lu. gomezi (17/80; 21.3%) and Pi. spinicrassa (11/80; 13.8%). Leishmania species were 63.1% L. braziliensis, 18.5% L. panamensis, 13.2% L. infantum and 6.1% L. amazonensis. The most frequent feeding sources were Homo sapiens (50%), Bos taurus (13.8%) and Canis lupus familiaris (10.3%). This focus of cutaneous leishmaniasis has a high diversity of Leishmania-carrying phlebotomines that feed on domestic animals. The transmission of leishmaniasis to human hosts was mainly associated with Lu. gomezi, Pi. ovallesi and L. braziliensis.

Correction to 'Complex ecological interactions across a focus of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Eastern Colombia: novel description of Leishmania species, hosts and phlebotomine fauna'.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1098/rsos.200266.].

Desempeño de la cognición social en niños y niñas inmersos en la dinámica del acoso escolar en la ciudad de Neiva, Colombia / Performance of social cognition in boys and girls immersed in the dynamics of bullying in the city of Neiva, Huila (Colombia)

Resumen La presente investigación tuvo como objetivo comparar el desempeño en ejecución de las pruebas de cognición social en los perfiles de niños y niñas vinculados al acoso escolar en una institución educativa pública de la ciudad de Neiva. Con un diseño de tipo transversal y a través de un muestreo no probabilístico de tipo intencional, se evaluaron 103 estudiantes de básica primaria, seleccionados de acuerdo con los criterios de elegibilidad. Los resultados mostraron una mayor frecuencia de niños que se identificaron como observadores-víctimas y un desempeño inferior en las pruebas de faux pas (metida de pata), historias extrañas de Happé y test de miradas en la comparación por perfiles de acoso escolar y la edad. Los resultados sugieren profundizar en estudios que relacionen la convivencia escolar y el desarrollo de la cognición social con las características sociodemográficas y culturales en la población estudiada.

Abstract The objective of this research was to compare the performance of social cognition tests in the profiles of boys and girls linked to bullying in a public educational institution in the city of Neiva. With a cross-type design and through a non-probabilistic sampling of intentional type, 103 primary school students selected according to the eligibility criteria were evaluated. The results showed a higher frequency of children who identified themselves as observers-victims and a lower performance in faux pas-boobs, strange stories by Happé and a comparison test by profiles of bullying and age. The results suggest deepening studies that relate school life and the development of social cognition with sociodemographic and cultural characteristics in the population studied.