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This study explains the relationship between psychopathy and recidivism, just as the type of (instrumental and/or expressive) agression more characteristic of psychopathy. The results obtained from a sample of 285 prisoners showed the existence of a relationship between psychopathy and risk of recidivism. This risk was higher in groups with moderate and high scores in psychopathy. In addition, our results show the association between psychopathy and both types of aggression, instrumental and expressive, and the stronger connection with moderate and high score groups in psychopathy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forest soils are the most important terrestrial sink of atmospheric methane (CH4). Climatic, soil and anthropogenic drivers affect CH4 fluxes, but it is poorly known the relative weight of each driver and whether all drivers have similar effects across forest biomes. We compiled a database of 478 in situ estimations of CH4 fluxes in forest soils from 191 peer‐reviewed studies. All forest biomes (boreal, temperate, tropical and subtropical) but savannahs act on average as CH4 sinks, which presented positive fluxes in 65% of the sites. Mixed effects models showed that combined climatic and edaphic variables had the best support, but anthropogenic factors did not have a significant effect on CH4 fluxes at global scale. This model explained only 19% of the variance in soil CH4 flux which decreased with declines in precipitation and increases in temperature, and with increases in soil organic carbon, bulk density and soil acidification. The effects of these drivers were inconsistent across biomes, increasing the model explanation of observed variance to 34% when the drivers have a different slope for each biome. Despite this limited explanatory value which could be related to the use of soil variables calculated at coarse scale (~1 km), our study shows that soil CH4 fluxes in forests are determined by different environmental variables in different biomes. The most sensitive system to all studied drivers were the temperate forests, while boreal forests were insensitive to climatic variables, but highly sensitive to edaphic factors. Subtropical forests and savannahs responded similarly to climatic variables, but differed in their response to soil factors. Our results suggest that the increase in temperature predicted in the framework of climate change would promote CH4 emission (or reduce CH4 sink) in subtropical and savannah forests, have no influence in boreal and temperate forests and promote uptake in tropical forests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Knowing the different strategies of shrub species in arid zones allows selecting them to restore a specific site. According to Grime's strategy scheme, plants of arid zones diverge into two main types: stresstolerant, on the one hand, and ruderal, on the other. The objective of this study was to evaluate the adaptations to water stress of three shrub species (Atriplex lampa, Larrea cuneifolia and Senecio subulatus) widely distributed along the Monte region, as to be able to select them properly in future restoration projects. Three levels of water stress (watered when soil water content decreased by 50, 70 and 85%, control, moderate and severe water stress, respectively) were applied to 60 seedlings per species in a glasshouse study; pressure-volume curves were obtained and then, dry weight, tissue water relations parameters and ecophysiological indices associated with drought tolerance were measured. The strategies according to Grime were obtained using the StrateFy tool. Under severe water stress, the three species accumulated less dry matter and decreased their leaf area, and the growth of S. subulatus was the most affected. A. lampa and L. cuneifolia showed low leaf dry matter content, and A. lampa had the lowest specific leaf area. Through these foliar characters, the three species were classified as stress-tolerant according to Grime. Besides, A. lampa and L. cuneifolia perform osmotic adjustment under water stress conditions, while S. subulatus maintains high water potentials and does not modify its hydric parameters under these conditions. Therefore, S. subulatus has few mechanisms to cope with water stress and could be used to restore microsites where water accumulates, while A. lampa and L. cuneifolia, due to their stress-tolerant characteristics, are recommended for wide use to restore degraded areas of the Monte region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Breast cancer is the second cause of death in women in developed and undeveloped countries, including Colombia. A high percentage of these tumors is estrogen dependent, for which the hormonal treatment is the most used therapy in breast cancer. Currently, the first line treatment for breast tumor in postmenopausal women is the letrozole, an aromatase enzyme inhibitor that avoids the transformation of androgens to estrogens. Since letrozole produced adverse effects on patients, there is a requirement for new alternative treatments. Furthermore, omega fatty acids (ω-FA), essential as they are obtained from the normal diet or from dietary supplements, have demonstrated nutraceutical potential because of their anti-inflammatory or pro-inflammatory activity. Nonetheless, there is controversy in in vitro, in vivo and epidemiologic reports regarding their preventive or inducing activities of carcinogenesis in animals and humans, depending on the structure of the ω-FA. Objectives: This review aims to show the main in vitro, in vivo and epidemiologic evidences of the chemotherapeutic potential of ω-3 and ω-6 FA in different types of neoplasm, particularly in breast cancer, in individual or combined treatments with diverse antineoplastics. Methods: PubMed and Science Direct databases revealed the most representative studies, published during the last two decades, about ω-3 and ω-6 FA, breast cancer and the principal therapeutic strategies for this neoplasm. Findings were presented in separated topics to provide an overview of ω-FA and their potential in treatments for breast cancer. Results: Patients treated with estrogens and progesterone derivate have shown predisposition to develop breast cancer after two years of continued therapy. Furthermore, ω-FA with known nutraceutical potential have demonstrated their potential as adjuvants in the treatment against different neoplasms, like hepatic and colon cancer. Conclusions: Current therapies for breast cancer and their low efficacy in the long term led to explore new alternative treatments with ω-FA. These essential fatty acids in daily consumption could enhance the antineoplastic agent effect. Nevertheless, metabolism of the ω-FA must be considered for this use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Age at puberty is an important component of reproductive performance in cattle, so it is important to identify genes that contribute to the regulation of the onset of puberty and polymorphisms that explain differences between bulls. In a previous study, we found putative associations between age at puberty in Angus bulls and single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in Chromosomes 1 and X. In the present work we aimed to confirm these findings in a larger sample of Angus bulls (n?276). Four SNPs located in these regions were genotyped using SEQUENOM technology and the genotypes obtained were tested for association with age at puberty. The results showed that SNPs rs135953349 and rs110604205 on BTA1 were still significantly associated with age of puberty estimated at progressive sperm motility of 10% (P<0.05). The association previously found on Chromosome X could not be confirmed. Analysis of the bovine genome revealed that the associated region (99.17-99.99 Mb) contained four predicted loci: myelodysplasia syndrome 1 (MDS1) and ecotropic virus integration site 1 (EVI1) complex locus (MECOM), eGF-like and EMI domain-containing 1 pseudogene-like (LOC100337483), microRNA mir-551b (MIR551B) and mCG140927-like (LOC100139843). The results obtained could contribute to the understanding of puberty regulation and could be useful for further identification and annotation of gene function in the context of reproduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Short tandem repeats ( STR)s have been the eligible markers for forensic animal genetics, despite single-nucleotide polymorphisms ( SNP)s became acceptable. The technology, the type, and amount of markers could limit the investigation in degraded forensic samples. The performance of a 32- SNP panel genotyped through OpenArrays TM (real-time PCR based) was evaluated to resolve cattle-specific forensic cases. DNA from different biological sources was used, including samples from an alleged instance of cattle rustling. SNPs and STRs performance and repeatability were compared. SNP call rate was variable among sample type (average = 80.18%), while forensic samples showed the lowest value (70.94%). The repeatability obtained (98.7%) supports the used technology. SNPs had better call rates than STRs in 12 of 20 casework samples, while forensic index values were similar for both panels. In conclusion, the 32- SNPs used are as informative as the standard bovine STR battery and hence are suitable to resolve cattle rustling investigations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Postnatal olfactory bulb (OB) neurogenesis involves the generation of granule and periglomerular cells by neural stem cells (NSCs) located in the walls of the lateral ventricle (LV). Recent studies show that NSCs located in different regions of the LV give rise to different types of OB neurons. However, the molecular mechanisms governing neuronal specification remain largely unknown and new methods to approach these questions are needed. Results: In this study, we refine electroporation of the postnatal forebrain as a technique to perform precise and accurate delivery of transgenes to NSCs located in distinct walls of the LV in the mouse. Using this method, we confirm and expand previous studies showing that NSCs in distinct walls of the LV produce neurons that invade different layers of the OB. Fate mapping of the progeny of radial glial cells located in these distinct LV walls reveals their specification into defined subtypes of granule and periglomerular neurons. Conclusions: Our results provide a baseline with which future studies aiming at investigating the role of factors in postnatal forebrain neuronal specification can be compared. Targeted electroporation of defined LV NSC populations will prove valuable to study the genetic factors involved in forebrain neuronal specification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the dissemination of ENCOREplus, which is a breast and cervical cancer outreach, education, and screening referral program implemented by the YMCA of the U.S. and funded by the Breast Cancer Awareness Crusade of the U.S. company Avon. Topics include an overview of elements of ENCOREplus that enhanced its adoption and implementation and procedures for diffusing the program nationally.

Gpm6a was identified as a stress-responsive gene in the hippocampal formation. This gene is down-regulated in the hippocampus of both socially and physically stressed animals, and this effect can be reversed by antidepressant treatment. Previously we showed that the stress-regulated protein M6a is a key modulator for neurite outgrowth and filopodium/ spine formation. In the present work, mutational analysis was used to characterize the action of M6a at the molecular level. We show that four cysteines 162, 174, 192, and 202 within EC2 are functionally crucial sites. The presence of cysteines 162 and 202 is essential for the efficient cell surface expression of the M6a protein. In contrast, cysteines 174 and 192, which form a disulfide bridge as shown by biochemical analysis, are not required for the efficient surface expression of M6a. Their mutation to alanine does not interfere with the localization of M6a to filopodial protrusions in primary hippocampal neurons. The neurons expressing C174A and/or C192A mutants display decreased filopodia number. In non-permeabilized cells, these mutant proteins are not recognized by a function-blocking monoclonal antibody directed to M6a. Moreover, neurons in contact with axons expressing C174A/C192A mutant display significantly lower density of presynaptic clusters over their dendrites. Taken together, this study demonstrates that cysteines in the EC2 domain are critical for the role of M6a in filopodium outgrowth and synaptogenesis. hsd [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. We tested the effectiveness of a lay health worker intervention to increase breast and cervical cancer screening among low-income Hispanic women. Methods. Participants were women 50 years and older who were nonadherent to mammography (n = 464) or Papanicolaou (Pap) test (n = 243) screening guidelines. After the collection of baseline data, lay health workers implemented the Cultivando la Salud (CLS; Cultivating Health) intervention. Data collectors then interviewed the participants 6 months later. Results. At follow-up, screening completion was higher among women in the intervention group than in the control group for both mammography (40.8% vs 29.9%; P<.05) and Pap test (39.5% vs 23.6%; P<.05) screening. In an intent-to-treat analysis, these differences remained but were not significant. The intervention increased mammography self-efficacy, perceived susceptibility, perceived survivability, perceived benefits of mammography, subjective norms, and processes of change. The intervention also significantly increased Pap test self-efficacy, perceived benefits of having a Pap test, subjective norms, and perceived survivability of cancer. It did not change Pap test knowledge, perceived susceptibility, or perceptions about negative aspects of Pap test screening. Conclusions. Our results add to the evidence concerning the effectiveness of lay health worker interventions for increasing Pap test screening and mammography. Future research should e'xplore the effectiveness of CLS in other Hispanic groups, the mechanisms through which interpersonal communication influences decisions about screening, and how effective interventions such as CLS can best be adopted and implemented in community-based organizations or other settings. {Am J Public Health. 2009;99:936-943. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2008.136713) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) and deoxyribonucleic acid typing methods. Genes on the short arm of chromosome six control the HLA. The HLA loci is included in the genetic region known as the major histocompatibility complex (MHC). The identification of HLA antigens is referred as tissue typing.

Increasing use of evidence-based interventions (EBIs) in local settings will help reduce the research-practice gap and improve health equity. Because adaptation to new settings and populations is essential to effective EBI use, frameworks to guide practice are receiving more attention; most, however, only provide broad guidelines without instructions for making adaptations in practice. Therefore, practitioners may need additional training or technical assistance (TA) to implement and adapt EBIs. This study explores whether practitioners' and students' general EBI training or TA and level of adaptation experience are associated with self-efficacy in adapting EBIs and with attitudes toward EBI use. We analyzed baseline survey data of participants in an evaluation of IM-Adapt Online, a newly developed decision support tool. We asked about previous training on EBIs, general and specific adaptation behaviors, and attitudes toward EBIs and found an association between previous training or TA in using EBIs with higher self-efficacy for using and adapting EBIs. Respondents with prior EBI training were significantly more likely to have higher self-efficacy in EBI behaviors across subdomains and in total than those without training. Respondents reported lowest self-efficacy for planning adaptations (M = 3.35) and assessing fit of EBIs to their local context (M = 3.41). This study suggests the importance of EBI adaptation training and TA to increase adoption and adaptation of EBIs, subsequently. More adaptation-specific training is warranted to assist students, practitioners, and researchers undertaking the adaptation process and implement EBIs. Future training on EBI adaptation can help practitioners tailor EBIs to meet the specific needs of their populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The historical tag of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) as carcinogenesis promoter has not been uniformly reproduced, since, in some experiments, malignant cells are bound to growth inhibition and apoptosis. The present study intends to obtain additional data on the interaction of EGF with cancer cells by analyzing its effect in vitro on the growth of cultured A431 cells, and in vivo on nude mice xenotransplanted with this cell line; identifying, in addition, the gene expression patterns for a selected group of genes related to EGF and cancer pathways in the solid tumor. EGF-treated animals showed significantly smaller tumor volumes than controls, suggesting cellular growth inhibition mediated by this factor. Similar results were obtained regarding the proliferation of cultured A431 when treated with 2.2, 33 and 165 nM of EGF. These results may imply a common mechanism for the EGF-mediated growth inhibition of A431 cells in both biological conditions (in vivo and in vitro). The action of EGF at nanomolar concentrations may trigger a transient recovery of the tumor suppressor ability of tumor cells through the reduction of the biological action of mutated TP53, cell cycle arrest due to a decrease in Cdk4 expression levels and the initiation of caspase through the activation of CASP9. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The Human papillomavirus vaccine (HPV) is an essential tool for the prevention of HPV-related cancers. In Puerto Rico, the Secretary of Health established a school entry requirement of at least one dose of HPV vaccination in girls and boys aged 11 and 12 years, taking effect in August 2018. Our study aimed to examine parents' and guardians' views of unvaccinated children about the process of implementation of the new HPV vaccination school entry policy in Puerto Rico and identify potential barriers and facilitators related to the implementation of this requirement.Methods: During April through November 2019, we conducted three focus groups (n = 12) and eight in-depth semi-structured interviews with parents of children aged 11 and 12 who had not yet initiated the HPV vaccine series. The interview topics addressed were: perception of vaccination, HPV vaccine and it is inclusion as new school entry requirement practice, procedure of the sources of information, influencers, and willingness to change. The interviews were recorded and transcribed by our staff members. We identified emergent themes through thematic analysis.Results: The participants' perspective on the HPV vaccine school requirement was mixed. Lack of information of the HPV vaccines and lack of communication about the school-entry requirement were the themes most mentioned in the interviews. Moreover, previous negative experiences from friends or family members and adverse effects deterred some participants from vaccinating their kids. We discussed barriers in the process of soliciting an exemption.Conclusion: Most barriers mentioned by study participants are modifiable. Information about the HPV vaccine mandate's implementation and educational materials regarding HPV vaccine safety need to be provided to address parents' concerns related to the vaccine's side effects. Schools (teachers, principal directors, and administrative staff), the government, and parent organizations need to be part of these efforts. This multilevel approach will help to improve disseminating information about HPV vaccination to clarify doubts and misinformation among parents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During a one-year period, methane (CH4) fluxes from soil were studied in a southern temperate region system using a static chamber technique. Four treatments on neighboring areas with similar environmental characteristics but different vegetation cover were considered: a natural grassland (NG), an agricultural land (AL), a low tree density radiata pine afforestation (P1 – suitable for silvopastoral use), and a dense radiata pine afforestation (P2). CH4 uptake increased in the following order: AL < NG < P1 and P2 (statistically significant differences), without differences between P1 and P2. CH4 fluxes were mainly influenced by soil water content (R = 0.78; p =.0001) and bulk density (R = 0.75; p =.0004) indicating that CH4 uptake by soils is primarily connected to methane soil diffusivity. The statistical differences of these parameters could partially justify CH4 flux differences found among treatments. However, a multiple linear regression analysis indicated that other factors such as soil temperature also control CH4 fluxes (R2 = 0.86, p≪4x10−6), and could explain temporal patterns. Results suggest that the low tree density afforestations, suitable for silvopastoral use, have a functional role (CH4 uptake) similar to that of dense forests, and could be a good option to mitigate CH4 emissions by livestock and agricultural sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A fundamental challenge of implementation is identifying contextual determinants (i.e., barriers and facilitators) and determining which implementation strategies will address them. Numerous conceptual frameworks (e.g., the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research; CFIR) have been developed to guide the identification of contextual determinants, and compilations of implementation strategies (e.g., the Expert Recommendations for Implementing Change compilation; ERIC) have been developed which can support selection and reporting of implementation strategies. The aim of this study was to identify which ERIC implementation strategies would best address specific CFIR-based contextual barriers.Methods: Implementation researchers and practitioners were recruited to participate in an online series of tasks involving matching specific ERIC implementation strategies to specific implementation barriers. Participants were presented with brief descriptions of barriers based on CFIR construct definitions. They were asked to rank up to seven implementation strategies that would best address each barrier. Barriers were presented in a random order, and participants had the option to respond to the barrier or skip to another barrier. Participants were also asked about considerations that most influenced their choices.Results: Four hundred thirty-five invitations were emailed and 169 (39%) individuals participated. Respondents had considerable heterogeneity in opinions regarding which ERIC strategies best addressed each CFIR barrier. Across the 39 CFIR barriers, an average of 47 different ERIC strategies (SD = 4.8, range 35 to 55) was endorsed at least once for each, as being one of seven strategies that would best address the barrier. A tool was developed that allows users to specify high-priority CFIR-based barriers and receive a prioritized list of strategies based on endorsements provided by participants.Conclusions: The wide heterogeneity of endorsements obtained in this study's task suggests that there are relatively few consistent relationships between CFIR-based barriers and ERIC implementation strategies. Despite this heterogeneity, a tool aggregating endorsements across multiple barriers can support taking a structured approach to consider a broad range of strategies given those barriers. This study's results point to the need for a more detailed evaluation of the underlying determinants of barriers and how these determinants are addressed by strategies as part of the implementation planning process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: A recent study has shown variability on the perception of verticality during unilateral centrifugation among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus; it is yet unknown if it is related to symptoms of unreality. OBJECTIVE: In patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus compared to age matched healthy volunteers, to assess depersonalization/derealization (DD) symptoms before and after unilateral centrifugation, according to the subjective visual vertical (SVV). METHODS: 47 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and 50 age matched healthy volunteers participated in the study. They replied to standardized questionnaires of symptoms related to balance, depression, and anxiety. Then, after neuro-otological evaluation, they completed a DD inventory before and after unilateral centrifugation (300°/s, 3.85 cm) with SVV estimation. RESULTS: Right/left asymmetric SVV during centrifugation was identified in 17 patients (36%) and no SVV change during centrifugation was identified in 6 patients (13%). Before centrifugation, patients with asymmetric SVV already reported some of the DD symptoms, while patients with no SVV change reported almost no DD symptoms. Unilateral centrifugation provoked an increase of DD symptoms in both healthy volunteers and the entire group of patients (repeated measures ANOVA, p < 0.01), except in the 6 patients with no SVV change. Before centrifugation, the DD score showed influence from the SVV subgroup and the evidence of depression (MANCoVA, p < 0.01); after centrifugation, which provoked asymmetry of the right/left utricular input, only the influence from depression persisted. No influence was observed from the characteristics of the subjects, including retinopathy, peripheral neuropathy (assessed by electromyography) or weight loss, or from the total score on the questionnaire of symptoms related to balance. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and healthy volunteers, utricular stimulation by unilateral centrifugation may provoke DD symptoms, with an influence from depression. The results support that the aphysiological utricular input given by unilateral centrifugation may contribute to create a misleading vestibular frame of reference, giving rise to 'unreal' perceptions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective:Although opportunities to vaccinate against human papillomavirus (HPV) are available, vaccination rates in Puerto Rico remain low. Communication between parents and adolescents about sexual topics may influence decisions about HPV vaccination uptake, particularly among young women; yet, few studies have addressed this issue. This qualitative study explored Puerto Rican mothers’ and daughters’ communication on sex-related topics, and HPV, including the HPV vaccine. Design:Thirty participants, including 9 mothers and 21 daughters, participated in seven focus groups. Participants were divided into groups of mothers and daughters, and further stratified by vaccination status. Transcripts were analyzed using a modified grounded theory approach to identify emergent themes. Results:Focus group data revealed four main themes: (1) limited parent–daughter communication about sex-related topics; (2) daughters’ discomfort discussing sex-related topics with their parents; (3) parental focus on abstinence; and, (4) limited parent–daughter communication about HPV and the HPV vaccine. Conclusion:Although daughters in this study struggled with feelings of embarrassment, invasion of privacy, encouragement of abstinence, and the fear of parents’ reaction to them being sexually active prior to marriage, they also recognized the need to increase the parent–daughter communication about sex-related topics including HPV and the HPV vaccine. Educational efforts should target both daughters and parents to increase communication skills and self-efficacy and to enable them to discuss sexual health in open and nonjudgmental conversations. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Objective: To estimate the cost of implementing lay health worker delivered print-based photonovella intervention and iPad-based tailored interactive multimedia intervention (TIMI) to promote Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine uptake and completion among Hispanic parents of daughters 9-17years old.Methods: We recruited 301 participants in control, 422 in photonovella, and 239 in TIMI clinics. Intervention costs were estimated using micro-costing from the societal perspective. Cost included time spent planning, training the promotoras, recruiting study participants, and delivering the interventions. Overhead for utilities and project administration was estimated at 30% of direct costs.Results: The total cost per person for the photonovella and TIMI interventions were $88 and $108, respectively. Less than 10% of costs were fixed and therefore the average cost estimates were insensitive to the size of the target groups.Conclusion: The electronic medium for HPV vaccine education was 23% more costly than the standard low-tech print based approach. The cost difference should be considered relative to the effectiveness of these methods in achieving increases in immunization rates. The cost estimates provide information for cost-effectiveness and budget impact assessments of new HPV immunization intervention programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Most biospecimens in the US are collected from non-Hispanic Whites, limiting the generalizability of findings. There is a need to increase participation in biobanking among ethnic and racial minorities. The purpose of this study was to use qualitative methods to identify factors that may influence Mexican-American individuals' willingness to participate in biobanking. Methods: We conducted 15 focus groups in three Texas cities with Mexican-American individuals, in both Spanish and English. Results: Lack of knowledge about medical research and biobanks, lack of information about the specifics of biobanking participation, lack of communication of the results, fear of pain or harm, and distrust of the healthcare system or health research were identified as barriers to biobanking participation. Facilitators to participation were altruism, safety, understanding biobanking procedures and purposes, perceived benefits to participation, and culturally appropriate recruitment strategies. Although Mexican-Americans living in Texas are willing to donate biospecimens for altruistic reasons, such as helping society or advancing science, they want more information about what biobanking entails. They want to be assured that participation will not cause them harm and that the research is conducted with good intentions. Conclusion: Results from this study can inform educational materials or interventions to increase Hispanic participation in biobanking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we introduce the Intervention Mapping (IM) taxonomy of behaviour change methods and its potential to be developed into a coding taxonomy. That is, although IM and its taxonomy of behaviour change methods are not in fact new, because IM was originally developed as a tool for intervention development, this potential was not immediately apparent. Second, in explaining the IM taxonomy and defining the relevant constructs, we call attention to the existence of parameters for effectiveness of methods, and explicate the related distinction between theory-based methods and practical applications and the probability that poor translation of methods may lead to erroneous conclusions as to method-effectiveness. Third, we recommend a minimal set of intervention characteristics that may be reported when intervention descriptions and evaluations are published. Specifying these characteristics can greatly enhance the quality of our meta-analyses and other literature syntheses. In conclusion, the dynamics of behaviour change are such that any taxonomy of methods of behaviour change needs to acknowledge the importance of, and provide instruments for dealing with, three conditions for effectiveness for behaviour change methods. For a behaviour change method to be effective: (1) it must target a determinant that predicts behaviour; (2) it must be able to change that determinant; (3) it must be translated into a practical application in a way that preserves the parameters for effectiveness and fits with the target population, culture, and context. Thus, taxonomies of methods of behaviour change must distinguish the specific determinants that are targeted, practical, specific applications, and the theory-based methods they embody. In addition, taxonomies should acknowledge that the lists of behaviour change methods will be used by, and should be used by, intervention developers. Ideally, the taxonomy should be readily usable for this goal; but alternatively, it should be clear how the information in the taxonomy can be used in practice. The IM taxonomy satisfies these requirements, and it would be beneficial if other taxonomies would be extended to also meet these needs. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Fear arousal-vividly showing people the negative health consequences of life-endangering behaviors-is popular as a method to raise awareness of risk behaviors and to change them into health-promoting behaviors. However, most data suggest that, under conditions of low efficacy, the resulting reaction will be defensive. Instead of applying fear appeals, health promoters should identify effective alternatives to fear arousal by carefully developing theory- and evidence-based programs. The Intervention Mapping ( IM) protocol helps program planners to optimize chances for effectiveness. IM describes the intervention development process in six steps: (1) assessing the problem and community capacities, (2) specifying program objectives, (3) selecting theory-based intervention methods and practical applications, (4) designing and organizing the program, (5) planning, adoption, and implementation, and (6) developing an evaluation plan. Authors who used IM indicated that it helped in bringing the development of interventions to a higher level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The first objective of this paper was to develop a series of algorithms for sizing group milking parlours (herringbone and parallel) that guarantee the best approximation to maximum efficiency and allow the variability of some important design parameters to be considered. The maximum efficiency was defined as that achieved when the total milking time worked by milkers was minimised given recommended milking duration. The main parameters considered were milking routine time, milk extraction time and milking duration. The second aim was to study the effect of variations in these parameters on parlour efficiency. To this end, the number of milking units and milkers required was determined for various combinations of cow number (40–240), milking routine times (30–100s) and milk extraction times (250–600s), considering the effects of each option on the duration of milking and total time worked. The results showed that the achieved efficiency varies as a function of the different combinations of values tested, and that using these algorithms, it is possible to establish an approximation for maximum efficiency for each combination. The best approximations are obtained when the milking duration is lower. Our study of the influence of parameter variability on efficiency found two models of farms: the first model combined a slow routine, low production and high inter-cow variability in production, and the second model combined a quick routine, high production and low variability. In the first model, the efficiency of labour is very close to maximum; even when using a large parlour or more workers, the performance in cows per hour will remain relatively stable, and no improvement is observed compared with using smaller parlours or fewer workers. For this reason, the increase in parlour performance can only be obtained by improving farm management, including milking routine times or grouping cows. In the second model, an increase in the number of milkers and milking units usually leads to a decrease in milking duration, but this comes at the cost of substantially increasing the total time worked; this case needs a detailed study to achieve the best efficiency. These results show that optimisation of parlour performance and approximation to maximum labour efficiency should be addressed differently depending on the characteristics of the farm; in some cases, an improvement in management activities is necessary. In others, a detailed study of the number of milkers and milking units is needed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Infection with genital human papillomavirus (HPV) may cause anogenital cancers, oropharyngeal cancers, anogenital warts, and respiratory papillomas. Two prophylactic vaccines (a bivalent and a quadrivalent vaccine) are now licensed and currently in use in a number of countries. Both vaccines prevent infection with HPV-16 and HPV-18, which together cause approximately 70% of cervical cancers, and clinical trials have demonstrated 90%-100% efficacy in preventing precancerous cervical lesions attributable to HPV-16 and HPV-18. One vaccine also prevents HPV-6 and HPV-11, which cause 90% of genital warts. A growing literature describes psychosocial, interpersonal, organizational, and societal factors that influence HPV vaccination acceptability. This review summarizes the current literature and presents an integrated perspective, taking into account these diverse influences. The resulting integrated framework can be used as a heuristic tool for organizing factors at multiple levels to guide intervention development and future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: We examined the effectiveness of a lay health worker (promotora)-delivered intervention on increasing breast and cervical cancer screening among low-income, primarily uninsured Latinas living in El Paso, Texas.Methods: In 2015, Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening (BCCS) program promotoras recruited Latinas overdue for breast and/or cervical cancer screening in community settings. Promotoras consented eligible women and conducted baseline surveys before individually randomizing women into control (n = 313) or intervention (n = 314) groups. Control participants received printed material providing basic information about breast and cervical cancer screening.Intervention participants received promotora-delivered one-on-one breast and cervical cancer screening education followed by navigation calls, providing assistance to address personal and logistic barriers to accessing clinical services. We assessed breast and cervical cancer screening outcomes using a 6-month follow-up survey. Per protocol (PP) and intent to treat (ITT) analyses are reported.Results: At follow-up, among women in need of breast cancer screening, those in the intervention group were significantly more likely to complete a mammogram than those in the control group (PP: 53.4% vs. 40.1%, p = .013; ITT: 47.9% vs. 35.2%, p = .011). Among women in need of Pap screening, only intervention group women 50 years and older were more likely to complete a Pap screening compared with control group women (PP: 64.5% vs. 43.5%, p = .019).Conclusions: A promotora-delivered behavioral intervention, embedded in a community-based organization, increased mammography uptake in all women and Pap uptake among women 50 years and older in a sample of low-income Latinas. NCT04397744. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cervical cancer remains a major burden for women around the world. In 2018, the World Health Organization called for the elimination of cervical cancer worldwide (<4 cases per 100,000 women-years), within the 21st century. In the U.S., despite great progress toward this goal, existing disparities among racial/ethnic groups in cervical cancer raise concerns about whether elimination can be achieved for all women. We describe: 1) disparities in cervical cancer among Hispanics in the U.S. and factors that contribute to their increased risk, 2) prevention and control efforts to increase equity in the elimination of cervical cancer in this population, and 3) cervical cancer control efforts in Puerto Rico (PR), a U.S. territory, as a case study for cervical cancer elimination among a minority and underserved Hispanic population. Hispanics have the highest incidence rates of cervical cancer among all racial/ethnic groups in the U.S. Despite being more likely to complete HPV vaccination series, lower cervical cancer screening and access to treatment may lead to a higher cervical cancer mortality in Hispanics compared to non-Hispanic White women. These disparities are influenced by multiple individual-, sociocultural-, and system-level factors. To achieve the goal of cervical cancer elimination in the U.S., systematic elimination plans that consider the needs of Hispanic populations should be included within the Comprehensive Cancer Control Plans of each state. Because PR has implemented coordinated efforts for the prevention and control of cervical cancer, it represents a notable case study for examining strategies that can lead to cervical cancer elimination among Hispanics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]