Choosing among correlative, mechanistic, and hybrid models of species' niche and distribution.

Different models are available to estimate species' niche and distribution. Mechanistic and correlative models have different underlying conceptual bases, thus generating different estimates of a species' niche and geographic extent. Hybrid models, which combining correlative and mechanistic approaches, are considered a promising strategy; however, no synthesis in the literature assessed their applicability for terrestrial vertebrates to allow best-choice model considering their strengths and trade-offs. Here, we provide a systematic review of studies that compared or integrated correlative and mechanistic models to estimate species' niche for terrestrial vertebrates under climate change. Our goal was to understand their conceptual, methodological, and performance differences, and the applicability of each approach. The studies we reviewed directly compared mechanistic and correlative predictions in terms of accuracy or estimated suitable area, however, without any quantitative analysis to support comparisons. Contrastingly, many studies suggest that instead of comparing approaches, mechanistic and correlative methods should be integrated (hybrid models). However, we stress that the best approach is highly context-dependent. Indeed, the quality and effectiveness of the prediction depends on the study's objective, methodological design, and which type of species' niche and geographic distribution estimated are more appropriate to answer the study's issue.

Healthcare Mistreatment and Cultural Beliefs Impact HbA1c in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus / La Negligencia Médica y las Creencias Culturales impactan BhA1C en Pacientes con Diabetes Mellitus tipo 2

Abstract The aim of this research was to examine the effects of healthcare mistreatment and cultural beliefs on psychological, behavioral, and biological phenomena relevant to treatment adherence and health outcome among patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM). The study was conducted in Chile, where the prevalence of T2DM is one of the highest in Latin America and is increasing at an accelerated rate. The research was guided by Betancourt's Integrative Model and bottom-up mixed-method cultural research approach. Consistent with the hypotheses of the study, the test of a structural equation model based on the Integrative Model, including exposure to healthcare mistreatment, diabetes-related cultural beliefs, psychological distress, and medical avoidance as determinants of HbA1c, a biological measure of diabetes control, fit the data. The fact that the analysis of structural equations accounted for significant variance in HbA1c provides supporting evidence for extending the Integrative Model, to explain biological phenomena based on cultural and psychological factors.

Resumen El propósito de este trabajo fue evaluar los efectos de la negligencia médica y las creencias culturales sobre fenómenos biológicos, conductuales y psicológicos relevantes para la adherencia al tratamiento y consecuencias de salud en pacientes con diabetes mellitus tipo 2 (DMT2). El estudio se llevó a cabo en Chile, donde la prevalencia de DMT2 es una de las más altas de América Latina y sigue en aumento de manera acelerada. La investigación se basó en el Modelo Integrativo de Betancourt y en el enfoque mixto-abajo-arriba de investigación cultural. Congruente con las hipótesis del estudio, el modelo de ecuaciones estructurales basado en el modelo integrativo, que incluyó la exposición a negligencia médica, creencias culturales vinculadas a la diabetes, estrés psicológico, y evitación médica como determinantes del HbA1c, una medición biológica de control diabético, mostró buen ajuste. El hecho de que el modelo de ecuaciones estructurales explique gran parte de la varianza del HbA1c aporta suficiente evidencia para ampliar el modelo integrativo en la explicación del fenómeno biológico con base en factores culturales y psicológicos.

Modelo de Testagem Universal Aplicado à Área da Avaliação Psicológica / Universal Testing Model Applied to the Area of Psychological Assessment / Modelo de Prueba Universal Aplicado al Área de Evaluación Psicológica

O Desenho Universal (DU) é passível de ser adotado no planejamento de espaços, instrumentos e tecnologias que permitam o seu uso por pessoas com um escopo variado de características físicas e psicológicas. No presente artigo são descritos os desdobramentos alcançados pelo DU, ressaltando o desenvolvimento de instrumentos em Psicologia ­ Testagem Universal (TU). É delineado um roteiro para elaboração de testes segundo os princípios da TU. Uma das principais contribuições da Testagem Universal é a redução da necessidade de adaptações pós-elaboração do instrumental e consequente redução de custos com novos estudos. Ainda, alguns desdobramentos dos modelos de Desenho Universal são apresentados seguidos da perspectiva da diversidade cognitiva em Testagem Universal e a possibilidade de mediação destas demandas no processo de testagem. Finaliza com a proposta de um Modelo Integrativo de Testagem Universal....(AU)

The Universal Design (DU) can be adopted in the planning of spaces, instruments and technologies that allow its use by people with a varied scope of physical and psychological characteristics. In the present article the DU achievements are described, emphasizing the development of instruments in Psychology - Universal Testing (TU). A road map for the preparation of tests accordingto TU principles is outlined. One of the main contributions of the Universal Test is the reduction of the need for post-instrument adaptation and consequent reduction of costs with new studies. Still, some developments of the Universal Design models are presented followed by the perspective of cognitive diversity in Universal Testing and the possibility of mediating the interference of these demands in the testing process. It ends with the proposal of an Integrative Model of Universal Testing....(AU)

El Diseño Universal (DU) puede ser adoptado en la planificación de espacios, instrumentos y tecnologías que permitan su uso por personas con un variado alcance de características físicas y psicológicas. En el presente artículo se describen los logros de la DU, enfatizando el desarrollo de instrumentos en Psicología: evaluaciones diseñadas universalmente (EDU). Se describe una hoja de ruta para el desarrollo de pruebas de acuerdo con los principios de EDU. Una de las principales contribuciones de las Evaluaciones diseñadas universalmente es la reducción de la necesidad de adaptación posterior al instrumento y la consiguiente reducción de costos con nuevos estudios. Aún así, se presentan algunos desarrollos de los modelos de Diseño Universal seguidos por la perspectiva de la diversidad cognitiva en las Evaluaciones diseñadas universalmente y la posibilidad de mediación de estas demandas en el proceso de prueba. Termina con la propuesta de un Modelo Integrativo de Evaluaciones Diseñados Universalmente....(AU)

Factors associated with seeking preventive dental care: an integrative model exploration of behaviors in Mexican immigrants in Midwest America.

BACKGROUND: Mexican immigrants in the United States suffer from poor oral health. The objective of the current study was to explore the utility of applying theory-based factors associated with seeking preventive dental care in a sample of Mexican American adults. METHODS: Data were collected from a cross-sectional survey of a sample of 157 people of Mexican origin (64% female; age 34 ± 11 years) recruited primarily from church congregations and lay community organizations in Central Indiana. Using the Integrative Model of Behavioral Prediction as the guiding framework, structural equation modeling was used to test factors associated with intention to seek preventive dental care. RESULTS: Attitude towards seeking preventive dental care (estimate = 0.37; p < .0001) and self-efficacy for seeking preventive dental care (estimate = 0.68; p < .0001) were associated with intention to seek preventive dental care. The association between dental beliefs and intention to seek preventive dental care was mediated by attitude and self-efficacy (indirect effect = 0.26, p = .002), and the association between past behavior and intention to seek preventive dental care was mediated by self-efficacy (indirect effect = 0.26, p = .003). CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that interventions to increase preventive dental care seeking behavior among Mexican Americans should focus on changing attitudes toward seeking preventive dental care and on increasing self-efficacy to seek preventive dental care. Findings also support the use of interventions to influence dental beliefs.

Alcohol abuse and other factors associated with risky sexual behaviors among adolescent students from the poorest areas in Costa Rica.

OBJECTIVES: We applied the Integrative Model of Behavioral Prediction to analyze factors associated with risky sexual behaviors for adolescent students living in the poorest segments in Costa Rica. METHODS: We used data from a school-based knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors survey from the poorest districts of Costa Rica, collected for Salud Mesoamerica Initiative. We analyzed responses of 919 male and female students (12-19 years old) to determine factors associated with sexual intercourse and condom use. RESULTS: One of every four students reported being sexually active. Students that reported being sexually active were more likely to consume excessive alcohol (OR 3.04 [95 % CI 1.94-4.79]). While 88.0 % [95 % CI 73.5-95.1] of sexually active adolescents said they would use a condom the next time they have sex, only 53.1 % [95 % CI 39.3-66.5] reported condom use the last time. Non-condom-users felt purchasing condoms was uncomfortable (OR 0.34 [95 % CI 0.12-0.93]). CONCLUSIONS: Poor adolescents in Costa Rica begin sexual activities early and undertake behaviors that increase their risk for unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections. We found the urgent need to address alcohol abuse, and recognize gender differences in youth health programs.

Simulating Human and Environmental Exposure from Hand-Held Knapsack Pesticide Application: Be-WetSpa-Pest, an Integrative, Spatially Explicit Modeling Approach.

This paper presents an integrative and spatially explicit modeling approach for analyzing human and environmental exposure from pesticide application of smallholders in the potato-producing Andean region in Colombia. The modeling approach fulfills the following criteria: (i) it includes environmental and human compartments; (ii) it contains a behavioral decision-making model for estimating the effect of policies on pesticide flows to humans and the environment; (iii) it is spatially explicit; and (iv) it is modular and easily expandable to include additional modules, crops, or technologies. The model was calibrated and validated for the Vereda La Hoya and was used to explore the effect of different policy measures in the region. The model has moderate data requirements and can be adapted relatively easily to other regions in developing countries with similar conditions.