Hector's dolphins (Cephalorhynchus hectori) produce both narrowband high-frequency and broadband acoustic signals.

Odontocetes produce clicks for echolocation and communication. Most odontocetes are thought to produce either broadband (BB) or narrowband high-frequency (NBHF) clicks. Here, we show that the click repertoire of Hector's dolphin (Cephalorhynchus hectori) comprises highly stereotypical NBHF clicks and far more variable broadband clicks, with some that are intermediate between these two categories. Both NBHF and broadband clicks were made in trains, buzzes, and burst-pulses. Most clicks within click trains were typical NBHF clicks, which had a median centroid frequency of 130.3 kHz (median -10 dB bandwidth = 29.8 kHz). Some, however, while having only marginally lower centroid frequency (median = 123.8 kHz), had significant energy below 100 kHz and approximately double the bandwidth (median -10 dB bandwidth = 69.8 kHz); we refer to these as broadband. Broadband clicks in buzzes and burst-pulses had lower median centroid frequencies (120.7 and 121.8 kHz, respectively) compared to NBHF buzzes and burst-pulses (129.5 and 130.3 kHz, respectively). Source levels of NBHF clicks, estimated by using a drone to measure ranges from a single hydrophone and by computing time-of-arrival differences at a vertical hydrophone array, ranged from 116 to 171 dB re 1 µPa at 1 m, whereas source levels of broadband clicks, obtained from array data only, ranged from 138 to 184 dB re 1 µPa at 1 m. Our findings challenge the grouping of toothed whales as either NBHF or broadband species.

Combination of Bisphenol A and Its Emergent Substitute Molecules Is Related to Heart Disease and Exerts a Differential Effect on Vascular Endothelium.

Plastic production, disposal, and recycling systems represent one of the higher challenges for the planet's health. Its direct consequence is the release of endocrine disruptors, such as bisphenol A (BPA), and its emerging substitute molecules, bisphenol F and S (BPF and BPS), into the environment. Consequently, bisphenols are usually present in human biological fluids. Since BPA, BPS, and BPF have structural analogies and similar hormonal activity, their combined study is urgently needed. The present manuscript studied the effect of the mixture of bisphenols (BPmix) in one of the world's largest human cohorts (NHANES cohort). Descriptive and comparative statistics, binomial and multinomial logistic regression, weighted quantile sum regression, quantile g-computation, and Bayesian kernel machine regression analysis determined a positive association between BPmix and heart disease, including confounders age, gender, BMI, ethnicity, Poverty/Income Ratio, and serum cotinine. Endothelial dysfunction is a hallmark of cardiovascular disease; thus, the average ratio of bisphenols found in humans was used to conduct murine aortic endothelial cell studies. The first results showed that BPmix had a higher effect on cell viability than BPA, enhancing its deleterious biological action. However, the flow cytometry, Western blot, and immunofluorescence assays demonstrated that BPmix induces a differential effect on cell death. While BPA exposure induces necroptosis, its combination with the proportion determined in the NHANES cohort induces apoptosis. In conclusion, the evidence suggests the need to reassess research methodologies to study endocrine disruptors more realistically.

Adaptive echolocation behavior of bats and toothed whales in dynamic soundscapes.

Journal of Experimental Biology has a long history of reporting research discoveries on animal echolocation, the subject of this Centenary Review. Echolocating animals emit intense sound pulses and process echoes to localize objects in dynamic soundscapes. More than 1100 species of bats and 70 species of toothed whales rely on echolocation to operate in aerial and aquatic environments, respectively. The need to mitigate acoustic clutter and ambient noise is common to both aerial and aquatic echolocating animals, resulting in convergence of many echolocation features, such as directional sound emission and hearing, and decreased pulse intervals and sound intensity during target approach. The physics of sound transmission in air and underwater constrains the production, detection and localization of sonar signals, resulting in differences in response times to initiate prey interception by aerial and aquatic echolocating animals. Anti-predator behavioral responses of prey pursued by echolocating animals affect behavioral foraging strategies in air and underwater. For example, many insect prey can detect and react to bat echolocation sounds, whereas most fish and squid are unresponsive to toothed whale signals, but can instead sense water movements generated by an approaching predator. These differences have implications for how bats and toothed whales hunt using echolocation. Here, we consider the behaviors used by echolocating mammals to (1) track and intercept moving prey equipped with predator detectors, (2) interrogate dynamic sonar scenes and (3) exploit visual and passive acoustic stimuli. Similarities and differences in animal sonar behaviors underwater and in air point to open research questions that are ripe for exploration.

Traducción y adaptación transcultural en español de criterios consolidados para reportar investigaciones cualitativas / Spanish Translation and Cross-Cultural Adaptation of Consolidated Criteria for Reporting about Qualitative Research

Introducción: Las listas de verificación para reporte de estudios son un recurso necesario para investigadores y revisores; es indispensable contar con listas para estudios cualitativos disponibles en idioma español. Objetivo: Desarrollar la traducción y adaptación transcultural de la lista de verificación Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research al español. Métodos: Se estructuraron cinco fases metodológicas: traducción, síntesis, retrotraducción, prueba piloto y entrega. Cada una auditada por un comité de expertos, que consolidó las distintas versiones de la lista de verificación y generó consensos. Se calculó concordancia entre evaluadores y fiabilidad. Resultados: La traducción y retrotraducción siguieron los pasos metodológicos relacionados con las equivalencias de la lista de verificación original. En la prueba piloto participaron 10 expertos en investigación cualitativa; cuyas evaluaciones llevaron a la mejora del 50 por ciento (n = 16) de los dominios e ítems de la lista, 43,80 por ciento (n = 7) en redacción y 56,20 por ciento (n = 9) en explicación. Después, con la moderación del comité de expertos se implementaron ajustes finales con una equivalencia semántica alta; la valoración de concordancia fue de 0,69 con Kappa de Fleiss y la fiabilidad de 0,88 con Alfa de Cronbach. Conclusiones: Se obtuvo una versión traducida y con adaptación transcultural al español de la lista de verificación Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research que conservó las equivalencias semánticas, idiomáticas, experimentales y conceptuales de la versión original, útil para el desarrollo de investigaciones cualitativas en salud, pues Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research se ha posicionado como referente de la calidad metodológica, teniendo en cuanta que su aplicación precisa ser contextualizada a la tipología y contenido de cada investigación(AU)

Introduction: Checklists for reporting about studies are a necessary resource for researchers and revisers; it is indispensable to have checklists in Spanish available for qualitative studies. Objective: To carry out the Spanish translation and cross-cultural adaptation of the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ) checklist. Methods: Five methodological phases were structured: translation, synthesis, back translation, pilot testing and delivery. Each was audited by an expert committee, which consolidated the different versions of the checklist and reached consensus. Inter-rater agreement and reliability were calculated. Results: Both translation and back translation followed the methodological steps related to the equivalences of the original checklist. Ten qualitative research experts participated in the pilot test; their evaluations led to the improvement of 50 percent (n = 16) of the domains and items of the checklist: 43.80 percent (n = 7) in writing and 56.20 percent (n = 9) in explanation. Then, with the revision from the expert committee, final adjustments were implemented in view of a high semantic equivalence; the concordance rating was 0.69 with Fleiss' Kappa and reliability was 0.88 with Cronbach's alpha. Conclusions: A Spanish-translated version, together with a transcultural adaptation, was obtained for the (COREQ) checklist, which preserved the semantic, idiomatic, experimental and conceptual equivalences of the original version, useful for the development of qualitative research in health, since the (COREQ) checklist has positioned itself as a reference of methodological quality, taking into account that its application needs to be contextualized according to the typology and content of each research(AU)

ANIMAL-SPOT enables animal-independent signal detection and classification using deep learning.

Bioacoustic research spans a wide range of biological questions and applications, relying on identification of target species or smaller acoustic units, such as distinct call types. However, manually identifying the signal of interest is time-intensive, error-prone, and becomes unfeasible with large data volumes. Therefore, machine-driven algorithms are increasingly applied to various bioacoustic signal identification challenges. Nevertheless, biologists still have major difficulties trying to transfer existing animal- and/or scenario-related machine learning approaches to their specific animal datasets and scientific questions. This study presents an animal-independent, open-source deep learning framework, along with a detailed user guide. Three signal identification tasks, commonly encountered in bioacoustics research, were investigated: (1) target signal vs. background noise detection, (2) species classification, and (3) call type categorization. ANIMAL-SPOT successfully segmented human-annotated target signals in data volumes representing 10 distinct animal species and 1 additional genus, resulting in a mean test accuracy of 97.9%, together with an average area under the ROC curve (AUC) of 95.9%, when predicting on unseen recordings. Moreover, an average segmentation accuracy and F1-score of 95.4% was achieved on the publicly available BirdVox-Full-Night data corpus. In addition, multi-class species and call type classification resulted in 96.6% and 92.7% accuracy on unseen test data, as well as 95.2% and 88.4% regarding previous animal-specific machine-based detection excerpts. Furthermore, an Unweighted Average Recall (UAR) of 89.3% outperformed the multi-species classification baseline system of the ComParE 2021 Primate Sub-Challenge. Besides animal independence, ANIMAL-SPOT does not rely on expert knowledge or special computing resources, thereby making deep-learning-based bioacoustic signal identification accessible to a broad audience.

Memory for own actions in parrots.

The ability to recall one's past actions is a crucial prerequisite for mental self-representation and episodic memory. We studied whether blue-throated macaws, a social macaw species, can remember their previous actions. The parrots were trained to repeat four previously learned actions upon command. Test sessions included repeat trials, double repeat trials and trials without repeat intermixed to test if the parrots repeated correctly, only when requested and not relying on a representation of the last behavioral command. Following their success, the parrots also received sessions with increasing time delays preceding the repeat command and successfully mastered 12-15 s delays. The parrots successfully transferred the repeat command spontaneously at first trial to three newly trained behaviors they had never repeated before, and also succeeded in a second trial intermixed with already trained actions (untrained repeat tests). This corroborates that successful repeating is not just an artifact of intense training but that blue-throated macaws can transfer the abstract "repeat rule" to untrained action. It also implies that an important aspect of self-representation has evolved in this avian group and might be adaptive, which is consistent with the complex socio-ecological environment of parrots and previous demonstrations of their complex cognition.

Laboratorios tradicionales versus nuevas tecnologías para el estudio de anatomía humana en estudiantes de medicina: revisión sistemática y meta análisis / Traditional laboratories versus new technologies for the study of human anatomy in medical students: a systematic review and meta-analysis

RESUMEN: El estudio de la anatomía humana, ha transcendido con diversos recursos y escenarios. El objetivo fue compararlos estudios publicados sobre prácticas de laboratorio tradicionales con nuevas tecnologías para el estudio del cuerpo humano en estudiantes de medicina. Se realizó revisión sistemática y meta-análisis. Cuatro revisores efectuaron búsqueda sistemática y exhaustiva de la literatura, a partir de la localización y selección de 54 estudios primarios publicados en diez bases de datos, tres revisores cegados evaluaron calidad metodológica de 33 estudios, con listas de chequeo para la evaluación crítica de la validez interna, según tipo de estudio y el cuarto revisor cegado, calculó grado de acuerdo entre revisores con Kappa de Fleiss y valoró riesgo de sesgo, sensibilidad, heterogeneidad y análisis combinado a través del Software RevMan 5.4. Se obtuvo revisión sistemática cualitativa y combinación mediante métodos estadísticos de los resultados con meta-análisis de siete estudios primarios, con muestra de 465 participantes, 260 expuestos a laboratorios tradicionales y 205 a nuevas tecnologías. Encontrando satisfacción del proceso y resultados positivos de aprendizaje comprensión y aplicación con favorabilidad inicial a las prácticas tradicionales no significativa al valorar los intervalos de confianza. Así, el contraste entre métodos para estas prácticas reveló desenlaces relacionados con reacciones físico-emocionales, focalización en el constructo rendimiento académico y con los procesos de aprendizaje. Concluyendo que los laboratorios con nuevas tecnologías para estudio de anatomía, no impactan en forma prerrogativa a los estudiantes, dada su experiencia favorable con los laboratorios tradicionales, y pueden emplearse como una estrategia útil complementaria.

SUMMARY: The study of human anatomy has transcended with various resources and scenarios. The objective was to compare published studies on traditional laboratory practices with new technologies for the study of the human body in medical students. A systematic review and meta-analysis were carried out. Four reviewers carried out a systematic and exhaustive search of the literature, based on the location and selection of 54 primary studies published in ten databases, three reviewers evaluated the methodological quality of 33 studies, with checklists for the critical evaluation of internal validity, according to type of study. The fourth blinded reviewer, calculated degree of agreement between reviewers with Kappa de Fleiss and assessed risk of bias, sensitivity, heterogeneity and combined analysis using RevMan 5.4. A qualitative systematic review and combination by statistical methods of the results were obtained with meta-analysis of seven primary studies, with a sample of 465 participants, 260 exposed to traditional laboratories and 205 to new technologies. Finding satisfaction with the process and positive results of learning, understanding and application, with initial favorability to traditional practices not significant when assessing the confidence intervals. Thus, the contrast between methods for these practices revealed outcomes related to physical-emotional reactions, focus on the academic performance construct and with the learning processes. Concluding that laboratories with new technologies for the study of anatomy do not prerogatively impact students, given their favorable experience with traditional laboratories, and can be used as a useful complementary strategy.

Relación entre el tipo de fisura labiopalatina y la disfunción de la trompa de Eustaquio en niños, Perú 2020 / Relationship between type of cleft palate and Eustachian tube function in children, Peru 2020

RESUMEN Introducción y objetivos : Determinar si el tipo de fisura labio palatina está asociada a mayor riesgo de alteración de la trompa de Eustaquio. Materiales y métodos : Se realizó un estudio descriptivo serie de casos con análisis inferencial de niños operados de fisura labiopalatina en el Hospital San Bartolomé durante el 2018 y 2019. Resultados : Se evaluó a un total de 48 pacientes a quienes se les realizó timpanometría, encontrándose 62,5 % varones (n=30) y 37,5 % mujeres (n=18) y la media de edad fue de 1,3 años, para determinar el tipo de fisura labiopalatina se usó la clasificación de Veau, el tipo más frecuente hallado fue Veau tipo III, con 62,5 % (n=30), siendo la menos frecuente Veau tipo I con 4,2 % (n=2). La evaluación de la función de la trompa de Eustaquio se realizó mediante timpanometría definiéndose como patológica la curva tipo B, en el grupo de estudio se encontró una prevalencia global de curvas tipo B de 66,7 % (n= 32), mientras que las curvas A y C, tuvieron 33,3 % (n=16). La probabilidad que el diagnóstico Veau IV tenga curvas tipo B de forma más frecuentes que los otros tipos, mediante la prueba Binomial fue significativo. (p=0,000038<0,05). Conclusiones : El tipo de fisura palatina mayormente asociado con alteración de la función del oído medio, expresado mediante curvas de timpanometría tipo B, es la fisura tipo IV según clasificación de Veau, esta relación es estadísticamente significativa.

ABSTRACT Introduction and objectives : The objective of this study is to determine if the type of cleft lip and palate is associated with a higher risk of alteration of the Eustachian tube. Materials and methods : A descriptive case series study was carried out with an inferential analysis of children operated on for cleft lip and palate at the San Bartolomé hospital during the years 2018 and 2019. Results : 48 patients with tympanometry were evaluated, 62.5% male (n = 30) and 37.5% female (n = 18), the mean age was 1.3 years. The type of cleft lip and palate was determined using the Veau classification, the most frequent type found was Veau type III: 62.5% (n = 30), the least frequent type was Veau I with 4.2% (n = 2). The evaluation of the function of the Eustachian tube was performed with tympanometry, defining the type B curve as pathological. In the study group, there was an overall prevalence of type B curves of 66.7% (n = 32), while type A and C curves were 33.3% (n = 16). The probability that the Veau IV crack type has an association with type B curves more frequently than the other types, using the Binomial test, was significant. (p = 0.000038 <0.05). Conclusions : The type of cleft palate that is most associated with impaired middle ear function, expressed by type B tympanometry curves, is type IV cleft according to Veau's classification, this relationship is statistically significant.

Instrumentos para evaluar las percepciones físico-emocionales en estudiantes de anatomía de medicina: revisión sistemática / Instruments to evaluate physical-emotional perceptions in medical anatomy students: systematic review

RESUMEN: Las percepciones físico-emocionales han comprobado connotaciones en la formación y futuro profesional. Se planteó analizar la evidencia sobre los instrumentos de medición para evaluar las percepciones físico-emocionales en estudiantes de Anatomía en medicina, estructurando una evisión sistemática en la que se consultaron estudios observacionales de 2010 a 2020 en las bases de datos Scopus, Ovid, PubMed, Science Direct, Google Scholar, Web of Science y ProQuest, con términos de búsqueda validados. El proceso de selección de estudios se sintetizó en diagrama de flujo. La extracción de datos y evaluación de la calidad se hizo por tres revisores independientes mediante escalas del National Institutes of Health de Estados Unidos; siendo valorada la concordancia entre revisores con el coeficiente kappa Fleiss. Se incluyeron 28 estudios diferenciados en instrumentos de medida validados (n 16) y estudios que usaron otros instrumentos de recolección (n 12). Los tipos de validación más frecuentes fueron consistencia interna, Alfa de Cronbach y constructo, análisis factorial. Se dispone de un número aceptable de instrumentos que evalúan el tema, se requieren nuevos estudios que aporten evidencia en el rigor en los procesos de medición con adaptación transcultural y de diferentes tipos de validación de instrumentos.

SUMMARY: Physical-emotional perceptions have proven connotations in training and professional future. To analyze the evidence on the measurement instruments to evaluate the physical-emotional perceptions in students of Anatomy in medicine. Systematic review in which observational studies from 2010 to 2020 were consulted in the Scopus, Ovid, PubMed, Science Direct, Google Scholar, Web of Science and ProQuest databases, with validated search terms. The study selection process was synthesized in a flow chart. Data extraction and quality assessment were done by three independent reviewers using scales from the National Institutes of Health in the United States; The agreement between reviewers was assessed with the Fleiss kappa coefficient. 28 differentiated studies were included in validated measurement instruments (n 16) and studies that used other collection instruments (n 12). The most frequent types of validation were internal consistency, Cronbach's alpha and construct, factor analysis. There is an acceptable number of instruments that evaluate the subject, new studies are required that provide evidence of the rigor in the measurement processes with cross-cultural adaptation and of different types of instrument validation.

Sífilis gestacional: análisis de factores de riesgo en un centro materno infantil de Lima, Perú (2015-2020) / Gestational syphilis: Analysis of risk factors in a maternal and child center in Lima, Peru (2015-2020)

Resumen OBJETIVO: Analizar los factores de riesgo asociados con la sífilis en embarazadas atendidas en un centro materno infantil de Lima, Perú. MATERIALES Y MÉTODOS: Estudio observacional, retrospectivo, analítico de casos y controles efectuado en una población de embarazadas, tamizadas para sífilis, en el Centro Materno Infantil Villa María del Triunfo, Lima, Perú, de enero de 2015 a julio del 2020. Se integró un grupo de casos de embarazadas con diagnóstico de sífilis, con prueba reactiva PRS-PRD o RPR-VDRL bajo cualquier título, conforme a la definición del Ministerio de Salud del Perú y un grupo control de embarazadas sin diagnóstico de sífilis. Para el análisis bivariado entre los factores sociodemográficos, obstétricos y conductuales con la sífilis gestacional se utilizó la prueba estadística exacta de Fisher y χ2 de Pearson. RESULTADOS: De las 189 embarazadas estudiadas 63 resultaron con prueba reactiva positiva a sífilis; de éstas, 34 eran adolescentes. De las embarazadas sin sífilis, la mayoría (n = 124) tenía más de 19 años y solo 2 eran adolescentes. Los factores de riesgo más significativos para sífilis en embarazadas fueron: ser adolescente (p < 0.01), proceder de una zona urbana marginal (p < 0.01), ser soltera (p < 0.01), baja escolaridad y ser ama de casa (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONES: Los factores que incrementan significativamente la probabilidad de padecer sífilis en las embarazadas atendidas en un centro materno infantil de Lima, Perú, fueron: edad adolescente, procedencia urbano-marginal, soltería, deserción prenatal, inicio de temprano de relaciones sexuales, dos o más parejas sexuales y no usar preservativo.

Abstract OBJECTIVE: To analyze the risk factors associated with syphilis in pregnant women attended at a mother and child center in Lima, Peru. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Observational, retrospective, analytical case-control study performed in a population of pregnant women screened for syphilis at the Centro Materno Infantil Villa María del Triunfo, Lima, Peru, from January 2015 to July 2020. A group of cases of pregnant women diagnosed with syphilis, with reactive test PRS-PRD or RPR-VDRL under any title, according to the definition of the Ministry of Health of Peru and a control group of pregnant women without syphilis diagnosis were integrated. For the bivariate analysis between sociodemographic, obstetric and behavioral factors with gestational syphilis, the Fisher's exact and Pearson´s 2 exact statistical test was used. RESULTS: Of 189 pregnant women attended during the study period, 63 had a positive reactive test for syphilis; of these, 34 were adolescents. Of the pregnant women without syphilis, the majority (n = 124) were older than 19 years and only 2 were adolescents. The most significant risk factors for syphilis in pregnant women were being an adolescent (p < 0.01), coming from a marginal urban area (p < 0.01), being single (p < 0.01), low schooling, and being a housewife (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The factors that significantly increase the probability of having syphilis in pregnant women attended at a maternal and child center in Lima, Peru, were adolescent age, urban-marginal origin, single, prenatal desertion, early onset of sexual intercourse, two or more sexual partners, and not using a condom.

A Validation Study on the Frequency and Natural History of Miscarriages Using the Spanish Primary Care Database BIFAP.

(1) Background: There is a major gap of knowledge towards the natural history of miscarriages in electronic medical records. We aimed to calculate the frequency of miscarriages using data from BIFAP database. (2) Methods: We identified all pregnancy losses and carried out a multistep validation exercise. Potential cases with positive predictive values (PPV) of miscarriage confirmation <85% or those confirming other pregnancy loss were excluded. Kaplan-Meier figures and incidence rates (IRs) of miscarriage with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) expressed by 1000 person-weeks were calculated. Stratifying analysis by age, specific high-risk groups, and drug exposure within the pre-pregnancy period were performed restricted to women with recording last menstrual period (LMP). (3) Results: Women with confirmed miscarriage (N = 18,070), tended to be older, with higher frequency of comorbidities and drug utilization. Restricting to women with LPM recorded, IR of miscarriage was 10.89 (CI 95% 10.68-11.10) per 1000 women-weeks, with a median follow-up of 10 weeks (IQR: 8-12). The IR according to age was: 2.71 (CI 95% 2.59-2.84) in those aged <30 years compared to 9.11 (CI 95% 8.55-9.70) in women aged ≥40 years. Advanced maternal age (Hazard Ratio (HR, 95% confidence interval) CI 95%: 3.34 (3.08-3.62)), use of antihypertensives (1.49 (1.21-1.84), and use of drugs classified as D or X during pregnancy (1.17 (1.07-1.29)) showed to be positive predictors associated with increased risk of miscarriages. (4) Conclusion: BIFAP database can be used to identify women suffering from miscarriages, which will serve to further study risk factors associated with miscarriages with special attention to drug utilization.

Thermal and non-thermal effects off capacitive-resistive electric transfer application on the Achilles tendon and musculotendinous junction of the gastrocnemius muscle: a cadaveric study.

BACKGROUND: Calf muscle strain and Achilles tendon injuries are common in many sports. For the treatment of muscular and tendinous injuries, one of the newer approaches in sports medicine is capacitive-resistive electric transfer therapy. Our objective was to analyze this in vitro, using invasive temperature measurements in cadaveric specimens. METHODS: A cross-sectional study designed with five fresh frozen cadavers (10 legs) were included in this study. Four interventions (capacitive and resistive modes; low- and high-power) was performed for 5 min each by a diathermy "T-Plus" device. Achilles tendon, musculotendinous junction and superficial temperatures were recorded at 1-min intervals and 5 min after treatment. RESULTS: With the low-power capacitive protocol, at 5 min, there was a 25.21% increase in superficial temperature, a 17.50% increase in Achilles tendon temperature and an 11.27% increase in musculotendinous junction temperature, with a current flow of 0.039 A ± 0.02. With the low-power resistive protocol, there was a 1.14% increase in superficial temperature, a 28.13% increase in Achilles tendon temperature and an 11.67% increase in musculotendinous junction temperature at 5 min, with a current flow of 0.063 A ± 0.02. With the high-power capacitive protocol there was an 88.52% increase in superficial temperature, a 53.35% increase in Achilles tendon temperature and a 39.30% increase in musculotendinous junction temperature at 5 min, with a current flow of 0.095 A ± 0.03. With the high-power resistive protocol, there was a 21.34% increase in superficial temperature, a 109.70% increase in Achilles tendon temperature and an 81.49% increase in musculotendinous junction temperature at 5 min, with a current flow of 0.120 A ± 0.03. CONCLUSION: The low-power protocols resulted in only a very slight thermal effect at the Achilles tendon and musculotendinous junction, but current flow was observed. The high-power protocols resulted in a greater temperature increase at the Achilles tendon and musculotendinous junction and a greater current flow than the low-power protocols. The high-power resistive protocol gave the greatest increase in Achilles tendon and musculotendinous junction temperature. Capacitive treatments (low- and high-power) achieved a greater increase in superficial temperature.

An algorithm to identify pregnancies in BIFAP Primary Care database in Spain: Results from a cohort of 155 419 pregnancies.

PURPOSE: There has been a notable progress on the development of methods for identification of pregnancies using primary care databases. We aimed to evaluate the prescription of medications during pregnancy applying a novel algorithm. METHODS: We identified pregnancies in women aged 15 to 49 years registered in the Database for Pharmacoepidemiological Research in Primary Care (BIFAP) between 2002 and 2015. The algorithm applied sequential cycles that searched in hierarchical order for indicators of conception, delivery or pregnancy loss, and other codes suggestive of pregnancy. Length of pregnancy was assessed by searching for last menstrual period (LMP) date, gestational age, and outcomes of pregnancy. Prescription of specific drugs during the pre-pregnancy period and first trimester and time trends during pregnancy were evaluated. RESULTS: We identified a total of 155 419 pregnancies during the study period (77.5% completed pregnancies, 21.5% pregnancies losses, 0.8% ectopic pregnancies, and 0.2% stillbirths). Excluding vitamins and supplements, 43.8% of women received at least one prescription during the pre-pregnancy period and 68.4% during the first trimester. During the first trimester, the most commonly drugs prescribed were analgesics (16.3%) followed by antibiotics (11.8%). From 2002/2003 to 2014/2015, there was an increase of prescriptions for thyroid hormones (1.0% vs 4.7%), H2 blockers (1.0% vs 2.2%), and PPIs (1.4% vs 2.2%). While antidepressants (2.0% vs 1.5%) and benzodiazepines (3.1% vs 2.4%) decreased in the last period. CONCLUSION: Having in mind the challenges of identifying pregnancies in health care databases, this study demonstrates the usefulness of BIFAP database for studies on drug utilization during pregnancy.

Problem-solving in a cooperative task in peach-fronted conures (Eupsittula aurea).

Cooperation is a complex behaviour found in many kinds of organisms and occurs between individuals of the same and different species. Several studies have examined the intentionality of this behaviour by testing the animals' understanding of the need for a partner when working in pairs. The mammalian species tested express such understanding, whereas most tested birds fail, especially when the test involves a delayed access to the setup by one of the co-operators. In the present study, the cooperative problem-solving capability of four peach-fronted conures (Eupsittula aurea) was investigated with the loose string test. All four parrots solved the paradigm by simultaneously pulling the ends of the same string to bring a platform with a food reward within reach. They were also capable of solving the task when one of the co-operators was delayed, even when visually isolated from each other. To further test their comprehension and to exclude the birds relying on task-associated cues, we video-recorded the trials and quantified possible cues and strategies for timing the pulling behaviour (e.g., sound of the partner's door when opening, sound of steps of partner approaching). The preferred cue to start pulling was to wait for their partner's arrival to the string. The number of vocalisations was significantly higher during visually isolated conditions and for successful trials compared to failed trials, suggesting possible information exchange. Our findings show that peach-fronted conures can solve a cooperative task, and that cooperation success is not determined by external cues or by partner identity or affinity.

Validación de contenido del Cuestionario de Percepción del Aprendizaje de la Anatomía a través del sistema interactivo en 3D, Cyber Anatomy / Content validation of the Anatomy learning perception questionnaire through the interactive 3-D system, Cyber Anatomy / Validação de conteúdo do Questionário de Percepção de Aprendizagem de Anatomia por meio do sistema interativo 3D, Cyber Anatomy

Introducción: la validez garantiza la medición, al dar cuenta del atributo que contribuye a mejorar estrategias de enseñanza y aprendizaje de la anatomía. Objetivo: determinar la validez de contenido del Cuestionario de Percepción del Aprendizaje de la Anatomía con el software Cyber Anatomy en estudiantes de ciencias de la salud. Métodos: evaluación por juicio de cinco expertos (grado de acuerdo por ítem), desde el modelo de planilla para la validez de contenido. Los datos obtenidos se registraron en Excel, y el análisis, en ReCal Statistics, a fin de con-seguir el coeficiente de confiabilidad para múltiples codificadores nominales, porcentaje medio de concordancia por parejas y kappa de Fleiss, consistencia interna mediante el coeficiente alfa de Cronbach y análisis factorial para correlación entre los ítems. Además, se empleó la estrategia varimax. Resultados: la fuerza de concordancia según el coeficiente kappa de Fleiss para el instrumento general es casi per-fecta (0,861), el porcentaje de acuerdo entre los expertos evaluadores fue del 92 % en la comprensión y el alfa de Cronbach (0,806) expone una fuerte aglutinación entre las preguntas desde las dos dimensiones del instrumento: proceso de aprendizaje y ambiente de aprendizaje. Desde el análisis factorial, los factores corresponden a 2, que explican en un 66 % la varianza, y el componente 1, con 50 %. Finalmente, la rotación varimax indica que el com-ponente 1 explica la varianza en un 42 %. Conclusiones: la implementación de estrategias investigativas para el uso de cuestionarios validados en recursos didácticos como el Cyber Anatomy permiten comprender la percepción del aprendizaje mediante herramientas tecnológicas.

Introduction: The validity guarantees the measurement, when giving account of the attribute contri-buting to the improvement of teaching and learning strategies of the Anatomy. Objective: To determine the content validity of the Anatomy learning perception questionnaire with the Cyber Anatomy software in Health Sciences students. Methods: Evaluation by trial of 5 experts (degree of agreement per item), from the form model for the validity of content, the data obtained were recorded in Excel and the analysis in ReCal statistics, obtaining the reliability coefficient for multiple nominal encoders, average percentage of concordan-ce in pairs and Kappa de Fleiss. Internal consistency using Cronbach's alpha coefficient and factor analysis for correlation between the items, in addition the varimax strategy was used. Results: The force of agreement according to the Fleap Kappa coefficient, for the general instrument is almost perfect (0.861), percentage of agreement between the evaluating experts of 92% in the understanding, and Cronbach's alpha (0.806) exposes a strong agglutination between the questions from the two dimensions of the instrument: learning process and learning environment. From the factorial analysis, the factors correspond to 2, which explain in 66% the variance, the component 1 with 50%, finally, the varimax rotation indicates that the component 1 explains the variance in 42%. Conclusions: The implementation of research strategies for the use of validated questionnaires in teaching resources such as Cyber Anatomy, allow the understanding of the perception of learning through technological tools.

Introdução: a validade garante a medição, por considerar o atributo que contribui para o aprimo-ra-mento das estratégias de ensino e aprendizagem da anatomia. Objetivo: determinar a validade de con-teúdo do Questionário de Percepção de Aprendizagem de Anatomia com o software Cyber Anatomy em estudantes de ciências da saúde. Métodos: avaliação por julgamento de cinco especialistas (grau de concordância por item), a partir do template de validade de conteúdo. Os dados obtidos foram regis-trados no Excel, e a análise, no ReCal Statistics, para obtenção do coeficiente de confiabilidade para múltiplos codificadores no-minais, porcentagem média de concordância por pares e kappa de Fleiss, consistência interna pelo coeficiente alfa de Cronbach e análise fatorial para correlação entre items. Além disso, a estratégia varimax foi usada. Resultados: a força de concordância pelo coeficiente kap-pa Fleiss para o instrumento geral é quase perfeita (0,861), o percentual de concordância entre os ava-liadores especialistas foi de 92% na com-preensão e o alfa de Cronbach (0,806) expõe forte aglutinação entre as perguntas desde as duas dimensões do instrumento: processo de aprendizagem e ambiente de aprendizagem. Desde a análise fatorial, os fatores correspondem a 2, que explicam a variância em 66%, e ao componente 1, a 50%. Finalmente, a rotação varimax indica que o componente 1 explica a variância em 42%. Conclusões: a implementação de estratégias de pesquisa para a utilização de ques-tionários valida-dos em recursos didáticos como a Cyber Anatomy permite compreender a percepção da aprendiza-gem por meio de ferramentas tecnológicas

Aspectos de la salud sexual y reproductiva de las mujeres adolescentes de tres comunidades del Resguardo Indígena San Lorenzo, Caldas: trabajo doméstico, partería tradicional y procesos organizativos de mujeres indígenas / Aspects of Sexual and Reproductive Health of Teen Women of the Three Communities of the Indigenous Reserve of San Lorenzo, Caldas: Domestic Work, Traditional Midwifery and Organizational Processes of Indigenous Women / Aspectos da saúde sexual e reprodutiva das mulheres adolescentes das de três comunidades de Resguardo Indígena San Lorenzo, Caldas: trabalho doméstico, obstetrícia tradicional e processos organizativos de mulheres indígenas

Resumen Introducción: Se busca comprender la salud sexual y reproductiva de las adolescentes de las comunidades de San José, Tunzará y Veneros del Resguardo Indígena San Lorenzo, departamento de Caldas, Colombia, desde una visión que abarque la interrelación entre una descripción de las vivencias y percepciones individuales del comportamiento reproductivo, principalmente de la primera menstruación, una caracterización del acceso a los sistemas médicos para su salud sexual y reproductiva, como la partería tradicional, y un análisis de esta a partir de algunas condiciones grupales y estructurales, como el trabajo doméstico de las mujeres indígenas en las ciudades y los procesos organizativos de ellas. Desarrollo: Para esta comprensión, se optó por el paradigma cualitativo, con una metodología etnográfica basada principalmente en observación, observación participante, 21 entrevistas abiertas, 30 entrevistas semiestructuradas y 3 grupos de discusión, con el complemento de una técnica cuantitativa que implicó la realización de 23 historias reproductivas. Conclusiones: Se visibiliza cómo la salud sexual y reproductiva de las adolescentes indígenas requiere de una comprensión basada en la contextualización e interrelación de los niveles individuales, grupales y estructurales que influyen y afectan a las mujeres indígenas para poder adecuar un sistema de salud propio e intercultural.

Abstract Introduction: The objective is to comprehend the sexual and reproductive health of teen women of the communities of San José, Tunzará and Veneros in the Indigenous Reserve of San Lorenzo using a perspective that interrelates a description of the individual experiences and perceptions of the reproductive behavior principally with the menarche, a characterization of the access to medical systems, and an analysis of sexual and reproductive health based on structural and group conditions like the indigenous women's options of work. Development: For it, researchers chose the qualitative paradigm, more specifically the ethnographic description and interpretation with a quantitative component, and divided the fieldwork into four phases with a total of three months and two weeks, in which they conducted 21 open interviews, 30 semi-structured interviews, 23 reproductive stories, and 3 group discussions. Conclusions: This study gives evidence of how sexual and reproductive health of indigenous teen requires a comprehension based on a contextualization and an interrelation of the individual, group and structural level that influence and affect indigenous women to adequate an intercultural health system.

Resumo Introdução: Compreender a saúde sexual e reprodutiva (SSR) das adolescentes das comunidades de San José, Tunzará e Veneros do Resguardo Indígena San Lorenzo, departamento de Caldas, Colômbia, desde uma visão que abarque a interrelação entre uma descrição das vivências e percepções individuais do comportamento reprodutivo, principalmente da primeira menstruação, uma caracterização do acesso aos sistemas médicos para sua SSR, como a obstetrícia tradicional, e uma análise desta a partir de algumas condições grupais e estruturais como o trabalho doméstico das mulheres indígenas nas cidades e os processos organizativos delas. Desenvolvimento: Para esta compreensão, optou-se pelo paradigma qualitativo com uma metodologia etnográfica baseada principalmente em observação participante, 21 entrevistas abertas, 30 entrevistas semiestruturadas e 3 grupos de discussão, com o complemento de uma técnica quantitativa que implicou a realização de 23 histórias reprodutivas, é dizer, este trabalho é QUAL+quan. Conclusões: Visibiliza-se como a SSR das adolescentes indígenas requere de uma compreensão baseada na contextualização e interrelação dos níveis individuais, grupais e estruturais que influem e afetam às mulheres indígenas para conseguir adequar um sistema de saúde próprio e intercultural.

Memory for own behaviour in pinnipeds.

Pinnipeds are aquatic predators feeding on a vast range of prey, and their social behaviour differs greatly between species (from extreme polygyny in some sea lions to monogamy in some true seals). It has been hypothesised that the foraging and social complexity of their lifestyle should drive the evolution of their cognitive abilities. To investigate how aware pinnipeds are of their own behaviour, a grey seal (Halichoerus grypus), two harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) and four South American sea lions (Otaria flavescens) were trained to repeat their own behaviour on command. Three already trained behaviours were used, and the animal was asked to repeat the behaviour twice to ensure that the animal recalled its own behaviour and not the command given for the previous behaviour. All three species could recall their own behaviour significantly better than by chance. The duration for which the animals could recall their behaviour was tested using a staircase paradigm. A delay was implemented between the completion of the behaviour and the command to repeat it. The delay was increased after correct responses and decreased after incorrect responses. The performance of all species fell towards chance level after 12-18 s, with no significant difference between species. These results indicate that sea lions and true seals are aware of their own behaviour and that true seals have similar short-term memory abilities. It also shows that pinnipeds have less developed short-term memory abilities compared to other aquatic predators, such as the bottlenose dolphin. The complexity of pinniped foraging and social behaviour does not seem to have driven the evolution of short-term memory abilities in these animals but might have contributed to their ability to recall their own behaviour.

Behavioural responses of humpback whales to food-related chemical stimuli.

Baleen whales face the challenge of finding patchily distributed food in the open ocean. Their relatively well-developed olfactory structures suggest that they could identify the specific odours given off by planktonic prey such as krill aggregations. Like other marine predators, they may also detect dimethyl sulfide (DMS), a chemical released in areas of high marine productivity. However, dedicated behavioural studies still have to be conducted in baleen whales in order to confirm the involvement of chemoreception in their feeding ecology. We implemented 56 behavioural response experiments in humpback whales using two food-related chemical stimuli, krill extract and DMS, as well as their respective controls (orange clay and vegetable oil) in their breeding (Madagascar) and feeding grounds (Iceland and Antarctic Peninsula). The whales approached the stimulus area and stayed longer in the trial zone during krill extract trials compared to control trials, suggesting that they were attracted to the chemical source and spent time exploring its surroundings, probably in search of prey. This response was observed in Iceland, and to a lesser extend in Madagascar, but not in Antarctica. Surface behaviours indicative of sensory exploration, such as diving under the stimulus area and stopping navigation, were also observed more often during krill extract trials than during control trials. Exposure to DMS did not elicit such exploration behaviours in any of the study areas. However, acoustic analyses suggest that DMS and krill extract both modified the whales' acoustic activity in Madagascar. Altogether, these results provide the first behavioural evidence that baleen whales actually perceive prey-derived chemical cues over distances of several hundred metres. Chemoreception, especially olfaction, could thus be used for locating prey aggregations and for navigation at sea, as it has been shown in other marine predators including seabirds.

Effectiveness of low-frequency electrical stimulation in proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation techniques in healthy males: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Hamstring muscle injuries are common in the sports field, with lack of hamstring flexibility being a risk factor. Stretching the hamstring muscles is an important part of the training and rehabilitation programs used to prevent or treat injury and improve performance. We aim to compare the immediate and follow-up effect on hamstring muscle flexibility between 2 different stretching protocols, proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) stretching and PNF stretching combined with electrostimulation. A second aim is to determine whether physical activity level is related to flexibility. METHODS: Design of study: Single-blind, randomized controlled trial; Participants: 30 healthy volunteers (30 men, 18-39 years old); Intervention: A 6-session intervention program spanning over 2 weeks and 1-week and 3-week follow-up. The control group underwent PNF stretching with a voluntary contraction. The experimental group underwent PNF stretching but the muscle contraction was triggered with an electrical stimulation device (TENS); Main outcome measu: Hamstring muscles flexibility was assessed using the Modified Sit and Reach (MSR) and the Back Saver Sit and Reach (BSSR) tests. Physical activity level was evaluated with the short form of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). RESULTS: Both groups showed an overall increase in hamstring muscle flexibility. However, when comparing flexibility gain between baseline and the end of the stretching program (session 6), and at the 1-week and 3-week follow-ups, only the experimental group showed significant differences. No correlation between the IPAQ score and the degree of hamstring muscle flexibility was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Hamstring muscle PNF stretching combined with electrical stimulation to trigger muscle contraction during the muscle contraction phase of the stretch achieves better flexibility results when compared to PNF alone.

Diurnal Temperature Range and Chikungunya Virus Infection in Invasive Mosquito Vectors.

Climate strongly influences the geographic distribution and timing of mosquito-borne disease outbreaks. Environmental temperature affects phenotypic traits of mosquitoes including vector competence for arboviruses mediated by changes in infection, extrinsic incubation period and in rates of transmission. Most experiments, however, are done at constant temperatures. In nature, mosquitoes are more likely to experience daily fluctuations in temperature. Here we compare disseminated infection (leg infection) and saliva infection of Aedes aegypti (L.) (Diptera: Culicidae) and Aedes albopictus (Skuse) (Diptera: Culicidae) from Florida following oral exposure to an Asian genotype of chikungunya virus emergent in the Americas. We evaluated experimentally the effect of variable temperature regimens on disseminated infection and saliva infection of these Aedes species. Each of three temperature regimes had approximately the same average temperature (27-28°C), but differed in the magnitude of the diurnal temperature range (DTR). The large DTR was 8.0°C (range 23-31°C) and the small DTR was 4.0°C (range 26-30°C) which approximate ranges in different locations of Florida during July-October when risk of transmission is highest. The constant temperature was set at 27°C. Testing three geographic populations of each mosquito species, significant effects on disseminated infection were detected for an interaction between temperature regime and geographic population for both Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus. There were no significant treatment effects of temperature, geographic population, or temperature by geographic population interaction on saliva infection for either mosquito species. Constant temperature resulted in a higher viral load in the saliva of Ae. albopictus, but not Ae. aegypti, compared to conditions where the temperature fluctuated.