Determining prognostic factors in the treatment of primary hemifacial spasm: Clinical outcomes and complications. A literature review.

Objective: Primary Hemifacial Spasm (PHFS) significantly impacts quality of life, necessitating effective treatment like microvascular decompression of the facial nerve. This study aims to identify prognostic factors related to surgical treatment to enhance outcomes and minimize complications. A systematic review of literature from the past five years was conducted. Methods: Following PRISMA guidelines, we systematically searched databases like PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Ovid, EBSCO, and Cochrane using keywords such as 'Hemifacial spasm,' 'Microvascular decompression,' 'Neurovascular conflict,' and 'Surgical techniques.' The search spanned January 2018 to November 2023. The 'Rayyan' program facilitated data compilation. Each author reviewed abstracts, applying inclusion criteria like systematic reviews, clinical trials, observational studies, and case series, while excluding theoretical or non-English articles. Results: Of 26 selected articles, those solely addressing PHFS treatment with botulinum toxin and lacking surgical procedure data were excluded. Thus, our analysis focused on 16 articles, including meta-analyses, systematic reviews, clinical trials, and observational studies. Discussion: Microvascular decompression at the cerebellar pontine angle is the mainstay treatment for hemifacial spasm. Despite limited statistically significant prognostic factors in the literature, overarching recommendations aim to improve outcomes, minimize complications, and prevent recurrences. Key considerations include surgeon expertise, precise techniques, thorough nerve exploration, identifying the conflict's cause, and intraoperative monitoring. Conclusions: PHFS significantly impacts patients' lives, necessitating timely surgical intervention if initial treatments fail. While statistically significant prognostic factors may be lacking, this study highlights crucial considerations for successful treatment.

Validity evidence for the Family Role Overload Scale

Role overload in the family can be understood as a feeling of inability to complete duties that are the individual's responsibility, and this hardship occurs due to the accumulation of tasks in the family, which can cause discomfort. The aim of this study was to obtain valid evidence of Family Role Overload in Brazilian samples. Six hundred and forty Brazilian workers of both genders took part in the study. Confirmatory factor analyses showed that the Brazilian version remained single-factor and had six items. The multi-group analyses showed configural, metric, and scalar invariance between the groups divided in terms of gender and the existence or absence of children. The scale showed positive correlations with perceived family demands and family-work conflict and a negative correlation with perceived social support in the family. It was therefore concluded that the instrument had psychometric properties that recommend its use in future research.

A sobrecarga de papeis na família pode ser compreendida como sentimento de incapacidade em concluir obrigações que são de responsabilidade do indivíduo, e essa dificuldade acontece devido ao acúmulo de tarefas na família, que podem trazer desconforto. O presente trabalho teve por objetivo obter evidências de validade da Sobrecarga de Papéis na Família em amostras brasileiras. Participaram do estudo 640 trabalhadores brasileiros, de ambos os gêneros. As análises fatoriais confirmatórias evidenciaram que a versão brasileira se manteve unifatorial e com seis itens. As análises multigrupo atestaram a invariância configural, métrica e escalar entre os grupos divididos em termos de gênero e sobre a presença ou ausência de filhos. A escala apresentou correlações positivas com demandas percebidas da família e conflito família-trabalho e correlação negativa com suporte social percebido na família. Concluiu-se, assim, que o instrumento apresentou propriedades psicométricas que recomendam seu uso em investigações futuras.

La sobrecarga de rol en la familia puede ser entendida como un sentimiento de incapacidad para completar las obligaciones que son responsabilidad del individuo, y esta dificultad ocurre debido a la acumulación de tareas en la familia, lo que puede causar malestar. El objetivo de este estudio fue obtener evidencias de la validez de la Escala de Sobrecarga del Rol Familiar en muestras brasileñas. Participaron en el estudio 640 trabajadores brasileños de ambos sexos. Los análisis factoriales confirmatorios mostraron que la versión brasileña se mantuvo monofactorial y con seis ítems. Los análisis multigrupo mostraron invariancia configuracional, métrica y escalar entre los grupos divididos en función del género y de la presencia o ausencia de hijos. La escala mostró correlaciones positivas con las demandas familiares percibidas y el conflicto familia-trabajo y una correlación negativa con el apoyo social percibido en la familia. Por lo tanto, se concluyó que el instrumento posee propiedades psicométricas que recomiendan su uso en futuras investigaciones.

Armed Conflict and IHL from the Colombian Caribbean: A methodological proposal for its understanding and implementation / Conflicto armado y dih desde el caribe colombiano: una propuesta metodológica para su compresión

RESUMEN Tomando como punto de referencia, en términos de la temporalidad, el desarrollo de la última década del siglo actual, este estudio aborda la imperiosa tarea de comprender y promover una implementación efectiva del DIH en el contexto del conflicto armado en la región Caribe colombiana. Ahora bien, en virtud de este análisis, se identifica la necesidad de un enfoque armónico fundamentado en premisas participativas, tomando en cuenta a los residentes locales como a los actores directamente involucrados en el conflicto. Cabe resaltar que este análisis destaca como ejemplo el caso del Clan del Golfo. Con una metodología primordialmente cualitativa, consecuente con su naturaleza, este estudio busca ofrecer una perspectiva renovada y contextual que pueda orientar futuras investigaciones y políticas públicas en los ámbitos del DIH. En consonancia con sus objetivos, se enfatiza la importancia de afinar las metodologías ante la naturaleza cambiante de los conflictos en la región.

ABSTRACT Using the development of the last decade of the current century as a temporal reference point, this study tackles the urgent task of understanding and promoting an effective implementation of IHL (International Humanitarian Law) within the context of the armed conflict in the Colombian Caribbean region. Based on this analysis, there's an identified need for a harmonious approach grounded in participatory premises, considering both local residents and actors directly involved in the conflict. It's worth noting that this analysis particularly highlights the case of the Gulf Clan as an example. Employing a primarily qualitative methodology, in line with its nature, this study aims to provide a refreshed and contextual perspective that can guide future research and public policies in the realms of IHL. Consistent with its objectives, the importance of refining methodologies given the ever-changing nature of conflicts in the region is emphasized.

Beyond Role Conflict and Ambiguity: A Global Measure of Role Stress among South African School Teachers / Más allá del conflicto y la ambigüedad de roles: una medida global del estrés de rol entre los profesores sudafricanos

Abstract Background: Role stress is linked to reduced work performance, diminished organizational commitment, increased intention to leave a job, and negative physical and mental health effects. Given the significant implications of role stress, researchers have sought to understand and quantify the concept. The Role Conflict and Ambiguity (RCA) scales are widely utilized in job stress research as the predominant measurement tools. They were originally conceptualized as consisting of two independent dimensions: role conflict and role ambiguity. Objective: This study advances the validation research of the RCA scales by exploring its dimensionality through Mokken Scale Analysis (MSA) and Classical Test Theory (CTT). Method: South African school teachers responded to the RCA scales, Maslach Burnout Inventory, and Teaching Satisfaction Scale. Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) and MSA were employed for data analysis. Results: The research determined that a second-order model provided the optimal fit, indicating that role ambiguity and role conflict are subordinate dimensions within the overarching construct of role stress. Conclusion: The findings from the CFA and supplementary bifactor indices reinforce the view that the instrument comprises 13 items, which assess a general dimension of role stress along with two sub-dimensions: role conflict and role ambiguity. Such specificity may lead to more effective strategies to mitigate role-related stress, thereby enhancing overall employee well-being, job satisfaction, and organizational productivity.

Resumen Antecedentes: El estrés de rol está relacionado con la reducción del rendimiento laboral, la disminución del compromiso organizativo, el aumento de la intención de abandonar el trabajo y los efectos negativos sobre la salud física y mental. Dadas las importantes implicaciones del estrés de rol, los investigadores han tratado de comprender y cuantificar este concepto. Las escalas de Conflicto y Ambigüedad de Roles (RCA) se utilizan ampliamente en la investigación del estrés laboral como herramientas de medición predominantes. Al principio, se conceptualizaron como dos dimensiones independientes: conflicto de rol y ambigüedad de rol. Objetivo: Este estudio avanza en la investigación de validación de las escalas RCA, explorando su dimensionalidad mediante el Análisis de Escalas de Mokken (MSA) y la Teoría Clásica de los Test (CTT). Método: Profesores sudafricanos respondieron a las escalas RCA, Maslach Burnout Inventory y Teaching Satisfaction Scale. Se emplearon el Análisis Factorial Confirmatorio (AFC) y el MSA para el análisis de los datos. Resultados: La investigación determinó que un modelo de segundo orden proporcionaba el ajuste óptimo, indicando que la ambigüedad de rol y el conflicto de rol son dimensiones subordinadas dentro del constructo global del estrés de rol. Conclusiones: Los resultados del AFC y los índices bifactoriales suplementarios refuerzan la opinión de que el instrumento consta de 13 ítems, que evalúan una dimensión general de estrés de rol junto con dos subdimensiones: conflicto de rol y ambigüedad de rol. Esta especificidad puede conducir a estrategias más eficaces para mitigar el estrés relacionado con el rol, mejorando así el bienestar general de los empleados, la satisfacción en el trabajo y la productividad de la organización.

Evaluation of Conflicts of Financial Interest in Publications on the Consumption of High-Intensity Sweeteners and Body-Weight Changes: A Systematic Review.

CONTEXT: Diseases related to excessive sugar consumption have become a public health concern. However, there may be a direct association between the consumption of artificial sweeteners and changes in body weight. OBJECTIVE: The aim was to evaluate potential industry financial conflicts of interest in publications on the relationship between high-intensity sweetener consumption and changes in body weight in observational and intervention studies. DATA SOURCES: The systematic review used the Medline, Embase, Cochrane, Scopus, and the VHL (Virtual Health Library) Regional Portal, including the LILACS databases. The PICOS strategy were used in the search strategy for intervention studies and for observational studies used the exposure factor as the criterion. DATA EXTRACTION: Inclusion criteria were observational and intervention studies in adults, without population or health status restrictions, without restriction on the year of publication, but restricted to full articles in Portuguese, English, and Spanish. Exclusion criteria were humans younger than 18 years, cross-sectional studies, and animal and in vitro studies. DATA ANALYSIS: There were extracted effect estimates, odds ratios, and linear associations, quantifying the effects per unit of intake of high-intensity sweeteners. The risk of bias in the intervention studies was assessed using the Cochrane Collaboration Risk of Bias tool (RoB). The Newcastle Ottawa Scale was used for observational studies (case-control and cohort). CONCLUSION: Most clinical trials favor using artificial sweeteners and receive contributions from the food industry. Observational studies, for the most part, show that the use of artificial sweeteners is unfavorable. In these studies, there was no sponsorship from the food industry, only from regulatory bodies. This result suggests that studies that had the support of the food industry had their influence on their outcomes. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: PROSPERO registration no: CRD42016036204.

Continuity of care during severe civil unrest with a model of community-based HIV care: a retrospective cohort study from Haiti.

Background: There are limited data on the effectiveness of differentiated service delivery (DSD) for HIV care during sociopolitical turmoil. We assessed outcomes with a DSD model of care that includes patient choice between community-based antiretroviral therapy (ART) centres, home-based ART dispensing, or facility-based care at GHESKIO clinic during a period of severe civil unrest in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Methods: This retrospective analysis included data on patients with at least one HIV visit at GHESKIO between May 1, 2019, and December 31, 2021. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to assess predictors of attending ≥1 community visit during the study period, and failure to attend timely visits. HIV-1 RNA test results were reported among patients who had been ART for ≥3 months at last visit. Findings: Of the 18,625 patients included in the analysis, 9659 (51.9%) attended at least one community visit. The proportion of community visits ranged from 0.3% (2019) to 44.1% (2021). Predictors of ≥1 community visit included male sex (aOR: 1.13; 95% CI: 1.06, 1.20), secondary education (aOR: 1.07; 95% CI: 1.01, 1.14), income > $USD 1.00/day (aOR: 1.24; 95% CI: 1.14, 1.35), longer duration on ART (aOR: 1.08 per additional year; 95% CI: 1.07, 1.09), and residence in Carrefour/Gressier (p < 0.0001 in comparisons with all other zones). Younger age and shorter time on ART were associated with late visits and loss to follow-up. Among 12,586 patients with an on-time final visit who had been on ART for ≥3 months, 11,131 (88.4%) received a viral load test and 9639 (86.6%) had HIV-1 RNA < 1000 copies/mL. Interpretation: The socio-political situation in Haiti has presented extraordinary challenges to the health care system, but retention and viral suppression rates remain high with a model of community-based HIV care. Additional interventions are needed to improve outcomes for younger patients, and those with shorter time on ART. Funding: No funding.

Adolescent pregnancy amongst displaced women in Bogota: playing between the barbs of structural violence-a qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: Colombia has high numbers of internally displaced people, forced to migrate due to the conflict. 1 in 3 displaced women undergo pregnancy during adolescence, compared to around 1 in 5 in the non-displaced population, alongside health and resource inequalities between these groups. There is limited qualitative information available from the perspectives of displaced women experiencing adolescent pregnancy. This research explores how structural violence may feature in their experiences. METHODS: Qualitative methods were used. Participants were recruited with purposive sampling, using key informants and snowball sampling technique. 14 semi-structured interviews were conducted in Ciudad Bolívar, Bogotá, involving 11 displaced women who began childbearing age 15-19 in the past 10 years, and 4 participants' mothers. Data was analysed using the theoretical framework of structural violence, and emergent themes categorised using thematic analysis. RESULTS: Pregnancy was considered advantageous in many ways, but this was contradicted by resulting disadvantages that ensued. Structural violence was embedded in life stories, manifesting in poverty and difficulties accessing reliable income, poor access to healthcare and education following pregnancy. Institutional and interpersonal discrimination confounded these challenges. CONCLUSIONS: Pregnancy during adolescence was a contradictory experience, representing both a safety net and a trap due to a complex interplay of structural and cultural violence in everyday survival. Policymakers must consider the importance of the context surrounding adolescent pregnancy and address systematic disadvantages affecting women in these positions.

The violent conflict in Colombia has left many people forced to leave their homes and become 'internally displaced'. Internally displaced women are more likely to become pregnant during their adolescence than non-displaced women. This work tries to understand more about the everyday lives of displaced women who experience adolescent pregnancy, through interviews. The interviews were analysed and results interpreted using the theory of 'structural violence'. Structural violence describes how social structures such as racism, sexism, war and poverty determine life choices, leading to suffering and inequality. The work found that pregnancy and motherhood in adolescence for displaced women was positive in many ways by bringing purpose, status and companionship. However, these women also experienced many challenges after pregnancy, such as exclusion from education and secure employment and difficulty accessing healthcare. This demonstrated that structural violence features in multiple interconnected forms in the daily lives of displaced adolescent mothers. The work urges policymakers to appreciate the complexity of context surrounding adolescent pregnancy and motherhood, and to address the structural disadvantages facing women in these situations.

Providing healthcare under the threat of gang-violence: a survey of Haitian healthcare providers.

In addition to having some of the worst health outcomes in the region, Haiti faces a political and economic crisis. The most recent humanitarian crisis includes an increase in homicides and kidnappings in the capital Port-au-Prince. This study is a cross-sectional, mixed methods online survey of health workers and medical students in Port-au-Prince from May 20 - September 15, 2023. It provides evidence of the kidnapping risk healthcare workers face and shares the perspective of a medical community operating in a challenging context to provide a continuity of care under the threat of violence. The survey of Haitian health workers and students show a significant risk of kidnapping with 44% of respondents reporting that they had a colleague kidnapped in the previous 2 years. 5 of the 249 respondents had been kidnapped and all were young, female health workers. 74% of health workers and students surveyed reported they plan to continue their profession abroad. Although teletraining was viewed as a positive opportunity to continue training cadres of medical professionals, health workers shared numerous limitations present for the expansion of telemedicine in the Haitian context. In addition to describing the experience of the Haitian healthcare professional during this crisis and documenting barriers to teletraining and telemedicine, this survey documents design considerations for mobile phone surveys with healthcare providers working in areas affected by conflict.

Evaluating industry payments to editorial board members of otolaryngology journals.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the extent of payments from medical device and pharmaceutical companies to editorial board members of leading otolaryngology journals. METHODS: Editorial board members of the top 10 otolaryngology journals from Google Scholar rankings were identified in this cross-sectional study. Payments between 2017 and 2022 were identified via the Open Payments Database from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. All payment data was adjusted for inflation in 2022 US dollars. Descriptive analyses were performed and journal websites were evaluated for individual editor disclosures. RESULTS: Out of 581 board members, 306 (53 %) received industry payments between 2017 and 2022, median journal percentage 55 % (interquartile range: 26.5 %-73.5 %). A sum of $45.8 million was paid out between 2017 and 2022, comprising $32.0 million in associated research funding, $1.2 million in research payments, $1.4 million in ownership and investment interests, and $11.2 million in general payments. The largest general payments were made out for "services other than consulting and speaking" ($3.9 million), "consulting" ($3.8 million), "travel and lodging" ($0.99 million), "education" ($0.87 million), "royalty or license" ($0.56 million), and "food and beverage" ($0.55 million). Individual editor disclosures were only available for International Forum of Allergy and Rhinology (9 % of all included editors). CONCLUSIONS: Industry payments to editors of otolaryngology journals are not uncommon. We highlight the need for improved reporting of individual editor disclosures for transparency to journal readers and for minimizing biased editorial decisions.

Are companies ethically justified in offering nonmedical egg freezing as an employee benefit?

All over the world, many companies are including oocyte cryopreservation for nonmedical reasons, also popularly known as nonmedical egg freezing (NMEF), within their employee benefits packages. However, it is important to ask whether companies are ethically justified in offering NMEF as a benefit for their employees. The inclusion of NMEF within companies' employee benefits packages could be ethically justified in two ways. On the one hand, company-sponsored NMEF can serve as a strategy to mitigate or eliminate gender inequalities in the workplace, such as female underrepresentation in positions of authority and leadership and the so-called work/motherhood conflict. On the other hand, company-sponsored NMEF can be a means to expand women's reproductive autonomy by making egg freezing accessible to those women who are not able to afford it otherwise. This article calls into question these ethical justifications. We argue that by offering NMEF as an employee benefit, companies maintain current workplace inequalities and impose an option for women with multiple risks and externalities. Therefore, companies' offering of NMEF benefits cannot be ethically justified. Furthermore, we argue that companies that offer NMEF benefits incur fiduciary responsibilities related to the physiological, emotional, psychological, and financial costs of the use of company-sponsored NMEF.

Armed conflict effects in intimate partner violence: Revealing pathways using the socioecological framework.

We explored women's narratives about their experiences as victim-survivors of multiple forms of armed conflict violence and intimate partner violence (IPV) in Colombia and examined pathways that clarify the relationships between these two types of violence. Thematic analysis of 47 interviews identified connections that explain how armed conflict influences IPV at all levels of the socio-ecology. At the societal level, armed conflict events amplified patriarchal notions and intensified men's expressions of hypermasculinity through violence. At the community level, rules imposed by armed groups excused IPV if women did not comply with their traditional gender roles as wives and caretakers. At the relationship level, husbands/partners blamed victim-survivors of sexual violence perpetrated by armed groups, which intensified IPV situations. At the individual level, the armed conflict generated high levels of stress that contributed to increasing IPV. Results highlight the need to recognise armed conflict as an IPV risk factor that penetrates multiple socio-ecological domains. Post-conflict societies should consider the effects of the armed conflict on family dynamics and intimate partner relationships. Interventions should be developed to deconstruct hyper-militarised masculinity identities and traditional gender roles as an integral part of peace efforts.

The web of conflict-related interactions in Colombia: exploring causal linkages between ecological and social variables by the qualitative loop analysis.

In Colombia, the long-lasting internal conflict heavily shaped the socio-ecological context and imposed relationships that persisted after the peace agreement was signed in 2016. One question of interest is whether policies or interventions conceived to attain desirable goals for the post-conflict society may be effective or, rather, if the constraints imposed by the conflict scenario might produce unintended effects, either on the environmental or the social side. To explore this issue, we envisaged the socio-ecological system as a parsimonious set of characteristic ecological and social variables within the conflict-related framework and reconstructed their interactions, exploiting elicitation-based information and the literature. We visualized the resulting interactive networks as signed digraphs. Applying the qualitative technique of loop analysis combined with numerical simulations, we predicted the response of the system to policies as drivers of change, such as subsidized credit to capital-intensive activities or policies that increase small farming competitiveness and access to markets. Highlighting causal linkages reveals that the persistence of conflict factors may produce unexpected interdependencies between licit and illicit activities and that, only in a few cases, the persistence of these mechanisms allows synergies between desirable goals.This article is part of the theme issue 'Connected interactions: enriching food web research by spatial and social interactions'.

Research on commercial milk formulas for young children: A scoping review.

A scoping review of publications about commercial milk formulas intended for or consumed by children 12-36 months (CMF 12-36) was conducted. This review aimed to comprehensively map the existing literature, identify key concepts in the field and understand its evolution through time. A total of 3329 articles were screened and 220 were included, published between 1986 and 2024. Most works were published after 2016 (70.0%) and in high-income countries (71.8%). Original studies were the vast majority (81.8%) of publications. Most publications dealt with feeding practices or analysed the composition and/or contamination of specific products (44.1% and 35.9%), but since the late 2000s, publications about marketing, policy, legislation, and consumer perception started to appear. Most published works (65.5%) did not focus exclusively on CMF 12-36 and included formulas for other demographics or other foods. About half of the works (55.5%) did not consider CMF 12-36 to be a breast milk substitute. We found 81 distinct product denominations used to refer to CMF 12-36, Growing Up Milk was the most common (25.9%). CMF industry was involved in 41.8% of all analysed works, and industry participation and funding were not always clearly informed (22.5% lacked a conflict of interest statement, and 25.5% did not present any information about funding). In the last decade, publications about CMF 12-36 have increased in volume and diversified in scope and subject matter. CMF-industry participation has always been and still is present in the field, so possible vested interests should be taken into account when appreciating the literature.

Overvaluation of weight and shape in obesity: a comparative study between people with and without binge eating disorder.

Introduction: The overvaluation of weight and shape is a diagnostic criterion in eating disorders, except in binge eating disorder (BED), where it has received less attention. This aspect is also not usually analyzed in people with overweight or obesity without an eating disorder. This research aims to identify the indicators of symptomatology, as well as those of self-construction and cognitive structure, that are associated with overvaluation in obesity, either alone or in conjunction with BED. Method: A sample of 102 overweight or obese participants was accessed. The sample was divided into four groups: one without overvaluation or BED (n = 33); a second with overvaluation and without BED (n = 21); a third with BED, but without overvaluation (n = 15), and a fourth with BED and overvaluation (n = 33). The groups completed instruments regarding eating symptomatology, anxiety, depression, and stress. In addition, they were administered the Repertory Grid Technique, a semi-structured interview to evaluate the cognitive structure involved in the construal of the self and others. Results: The factors of overvaluation and the presence of BED independently explained eating symptomatology, and the latter also showed a tendency to influence anxiety, depression, and stress. In terms of cognitive structure, weight polarization was explained by overvaluation, while BED was associated with a high presence of cognitive conflicts. In self-construction, BED was the factor that explained the differences, particularly in Self-Ideal discrepancy. Discussion: The results highlight the importance of overvaluation in obesity, even in the absence of BED. Its evaluation and treatment are recommended. Furthermore, in the case of BED, it is also advisable to evaluate the overvaluation of weight and shape since it can be a severity specifier.

Evolution and challenges of DDR: A policy review through the prism of Colombia's DDR experience.

Disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration (DDR) processes have undergone significant evolution in recent decades, reflecting the complex dynamics of the transition from conflict to peace. This paper presents a comparative analysis of three generations of DDR processes, illustrating the shift from a primarily security-focused approach to a comprehensive strategy that includes socioeconomic development, political participation, and community engagement. In Colombia, a country with a long history of armed conflict, the process of DDR has undergone significant changes. These changes were made to adapt to the intricate realities of war, peace agreements, and social integration. During its evolution, DDR in Colombia has encountered challenges in expanding beyond the traditional scope of disarmament and demobilization to include the crucial aspect of reintegration. This highlights the significance of addressing the varied needs of ex-combatants and ensuring their sustainable integration into civilian life. The findings emphasize the importance of flexible and context-sensitive DDR frameworks that acknowledge the distinct challenges and opportunities of each post-conflict scenario. This provides valuable insights for future peacebuilding efforts worldwide.

Marital Conflict and Healthy Dietary Habits Among Preschoolers: A Study of the Experience of Coupled Women in Urban Mexico.

In Mexico social dynamics are changing toward less traditional arrangements. With a qualitative interview study, we explore the link between marital conflict and mothers' ability to foster healthy dietary habits. Sample consisted of 21 middle-class cohabitating mothers of preschoolers. Results suggests that marital conflict leads women to experiences of tension, ambivalence, or inaction on fostering healthy eating habits. Parents' mismatch in gender beliefs, food preferences, time orientation, and risk aversion play a role in creating disagreements. When men participate, women feel "helped" and grateful, but the forms and extent of desired participation may vary among traditional, ambivalent and non-traditional women.

The effect of intergroup competition outcome on ingroup cooperation: insights from the male warrior hypothesis.

Introduction: The Male Warrior Hypothesis (MWH) proposes that sex-specific selective pressures have promoted male cooperation with the ingroup members to outcompete rival groups. However, intergroup conflicts do not occur in isolation and the outcomes of previous competitions may influence group cooperativeness. Since this phenomenon is not well understood, we aimed to shed light on the effect of previous competition outcome on later cooperative behavior under intergroup conflicts. Based on the MWH, we hypothesized that repeated contests between groups could enhance ingroup cooperation, regardless of the outcome of the previous contest because status is at risk, but when competition is not present, participants would move to the symmetric equilibria. Methods: To test this hypothesis, we recruited 246 individuals organized in groups of 6 and measured cooperation using a threshold public good game over two rounds, manipulating the outcome in the first round to create groups of winners and losers. Results: Our results show that intergroup conflict scenarios promoted cooperation in both victory and defeat conditions, whereas, in the control scenario only losers increased their cooperation. Discussion: We argue that winners under the presence of an external threat may enhance in-group cooperation in order to assure their status; whereas, losers may be attempting to regain it.

Pedagogical research for conflict resolution from early childhood education, as a contribution to territorial peace / Investigación pedagógica para solución de conflictos desde la educación de la primera infancia como aporte a la paz territorial

RESUMEN Este estudio tuvo como propósito establecer la forma en que la inteligencia emocional y los valores pueden ser aprovechados en la solución de conflictos y la construcción de escenarios de paz de niños y docentes del área rural, para lo cual se abordó el caso del municipio colombiano de Chitagá (Norte de Santander), en el que se presenta escaza atención institucional infantil y baja solución de conflictos en el ámbito escolar. Para ello se utilizó enfoque cualitativo basado en un diseño etnográfico, con un muestreo aleatorio de participantes para la aplicación de instrumentos. El procesamiento y análisis de la información se realizó con ayuda de una matriz de antecedentes y otra matriz de categorización axial. Como resultado se obtuvo el diseño de una propuesta pedagógica dirigida a la educación de la primera infancia en actitudes y valores para la construcción de paz en entidades educativas y de salud.

ABSTRACT The purpose of the study was to establish how emotional intelligence and values can be used in conflict resolution and the construction of peace scenarios for children and teachers in rural áreas, for which the caseof the Colombian municipality of Chitagá (Norte de Santande)r, in which there is little institutional care for children and low resolution of conflicts in the school setting, was addressed. To this end, a qualitative approach based on an ethnographic design was used, with a random sampling of participants for the application of instruments. The information was processed and analysed using a background matrix and an axial categorization matrix. As a result, the design of a pedagogical proposal aimed at the education of early childhood in attitudes and values for peace-building in educational and health entities was obtained.

About humanitarianism and the political subject in Montes De María / Sobre el humanitarismo y el sujeto político en los montes de maría

RESUMEN A partir de la descripción etnográfica, el análisis del contexto y la lectura de la evolución del conflicto, examinamos el caso del corregimiento de San José del Peñón, en el municipio de San Juan Nepomuceno, y a partir de este caso concreto abordamos críticamente el modo como se ha venido atendiendo las situaciones de emergencia de los procesos de desplazamiento interno y evidenciamos, no solo los vacíos, sino problemas profundos en la intervención que tanto el Estado como las ONG vienen realizando en la zona de los Montes de María. Estas entidades parten de una concepción de víctima que es coherente con sus procesos, y por ello su intervención humanitaria, en lugar de generar unos procesos de empoderamiento social y sub-jetivación política, terminan favoreciendo unas relaciones de poder, conflicto y sumisión que afecta negativamente la convivencia de estas comunidades en sus territorios. Un abordaje fenomenológico de la realidad nos permite un acercamiento descriptivo de las prácticas y las reacciones de las comunidades a los procesos de intervención de los agentes externos. Proponemos la necesidad de repensar la función de la atención humanitaria en aras de reconocer y fortalecer las organizaciones comunitarias, su trayectoria, su autonomía y sus agendas territoriales como ruta de acompañamiento que les permita reconocerse de manera autónoma como sujetos políticos, individuales y colectivos y, especialmente, como protagonistas de su historia y de su futuro.

ABSTRACT Based on ethnographic description, context analysis and a review of the evolution of the conflict, we examine the case of the township of San José del Peñón in the municipality of San Juan Nepomuceno, and show how humanitarian interventions have weakened community organization by generating political and economic dependence that accentuates the breakdown of territorial, political and social cohesion in the midst of systematic violence against the population. These entities start from a conception of victim that is consistent with their processes and therefore their humanitarian intervention, instead of generating processes of social empowerment and political subjectivation, end up favoring relations of power, conflict and submission that negatively affect the coexistence of these communities in their territories. A phenomenological approach to reality allows us a descriptive approach to the practices and reactions of communities to the intervention processes of external agents. In the conclusions we propose the need to rethink the role of humanitarian assistance in order to recognize and strengthen community organizations, their trajectory, their territorial agendas and their autonomy as an accompaniment route that allows them to recognize themselves autonomously as political, individual and collective subjects and, especially, as protagonists of their history and their future.

Speculative computing for AAFM solutions in large-scale product configurations.

Parallel computing is a current algorithmic approach to looking for efficient solutions; that is, to define a set of processes in charge of performing at the same time the same task. Advances in hardware permit the massification of accessibility to and applications of parallel computing. Nonetheless, some algorithms include steps that require or depend on the results of other steps that cannot be parallelized. Speculative computing allows parallelizing those tasks and reviewing different execution flows, which can involve executing invalid steps. Speculative computing solutions should reduce those invalid flows. Product configuration refers to selecting features from a set of available options respecting some configuration constraints; a not complex task for small configurations and models, but a complex one for large-scale scenarios. This article exemplifies a videogame product line feature model and a few configurations, valid and non-valid, respectively. Configuring products of large-scale feature models is a complex and time-demanding task requiring algorithmic solutions. Hence, parallel solutions are highly desired to assist the feature model product configuration tasks. Existing solutions follow a sequential computing approach and include steps that depend on others that cannot be parallelized at all, where the speculative computing approach is necessary. This article describes traditional sequential solutions for conflict detection and diagnosis, two relevant tasks in the automated analysis of feature models, and how to define their speculative parallel version, highlighting their computing improvements. Given the current parallel computing world, we remark on the advantages and current applicability of speculative computing for producing faster algorithmic solutions.