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Is it possible to measure how critical soft skills like leadership or teamwork are from the viewpoint of graduate studies offerings? This paper provides a conceptual and methodological framework that introduces the concept of a bipartite network as a practical way to estimate the importance of soft skills as socio-emotional abilities trained in graduate studies. We examined 230 graduate programs offered by 49 higher education institutions in Colombia to estimate the empirical importance of soft skills from the viewpoint of graduate studies offerings. The results show that: (a) graduate programs in Colombia share 31 soft skills in their intended learning outcomes; (b) the centrality of these skills varies as a function of the graduate pro- gram, although this variation was not statistically significant; and (c) while most central soft skills tend to be those related to creativity (i.e. creation or generation of ideas or projects), leadership (to lead or teamwork), and analytical orientation (e.g. evaluating situations and solving problems), less central were those related to empathy (i.e. understanding others and acknowledgment of others), ethical thinking, and critical thinking, posing the question if too much emphasis on most visible skills might imply an unbalance in the opportunities to enhancing other soft skills such as ethical thinking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Customer's trust in vendors' reputation is a key factor that facilitates economic transactions in e-commerce platforms. Although the trust-sales relationship is assumed robust and consistent, its empirical evidence remains neglected for Latin American countries. This work aims to provide a data-driven comprehensive framework for extracting valuable knowledge from public data available in the leading Latin American e-commerce platform with commercial operations in 18 countries. Only Argentina, Brasil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Uruguay, and Venezuela showed the highest trust indexes among all nations analyzed. The trust-sales relationship was statistically inconsistent across nations but worked as the most important predictor of sales, followed by purchase intention and price. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Imprecise articulation has a negative impact on speech intelligibility. Therefore, treatment of articulation is clinically relevant in patients with dysarthria. In order to be effective and according to the principles of motor learning, articulation therapy needs to be intensive, well organized, with adequate feedback and requires frequent practice. Aims: The aims of this pilot study are (1) to evaluate the feasibility of a virtual articulation therapy (VAT) to guide patients with dysarthria through a boost articulation therapy (BArT) program; (2) to evaluate the acousticmodels' performance used for automatic phonological error detection; and (3) to validate the system by end-users from their perspective. Methods & Procedures: The VAT provides an extensive and well-structured package of exercises with visual and auditory modelling and adequate feedback on the utterances. The tool incorporates automatedmethods to detect phonological errors, which are specifically designed to analyse Dutch speech production. A total of 14 subjects with dysarthria evaluated the acceptability, usability and user interaction with the VAT based on two completed therapy sessions using a self-designed questionnaire. Outcomes & Results: In general, participants were positive about the new computer-based therapy approach. The algorithm performance for phonological error detection shows it to be accurate, which contributes to adequate feedback of utterance production. The results of the study indicate that the VAT has a userfriendly interface that can be used independently by patientswith dysarthriawho have sufficient cognitive, linguistic, motoric and sensory skills to benefit from speech therapy. Recommendations were given by the end-users to further optimize the program and to ensure user engagement. Conclusions&Implications: The initial implementation of an automatic BArT shows it to be feasible and well accepted by end-users. The tool is an appropriate solution to increase the frequency and intensity of articulation training that supports traditional methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Colombia, the citrus industry is at risk since 2016 due to HLB (Huanglongbing) disease. The Ponedera municipality (Atlántico) is one of the most affected by the disease; however, there is little information about the impact of HLB on the citrus production system. With the purpose of categorizing the farmers, identifying their conditions, and assessing HLB impact, a semi-structured survey with 79 questions on socioeconomic, environmental, and agronomic aspects, with emphasis on knowledge of the disease, was applied to 134 farmers. Through descriptive analysis and multiple correspondence, variables with the highest contribution level to producers categorizing were selected. Five groups were chosen according to training attendance, citrus species, origin of plant material, key lime age (Citrus aurantifolia Swingle), and Tahiti lime age and planting frame (Citrus ×latifolia Tanaka ex Q. Jiménez). The study found that between 2016 and 2020, more than 85% of farmers lost at least 50% trees due to limitations such as lack of: irrigation (67,6%), fertilization (75,4%), Asian citrus psyllid management (76,9%) or HLB (87,3%) management. Likewise, it evidenced the devastating effect of HLB disease on crops. The producer characterization established training as a differentiating variable, a result that will serve for developing technological offers, agricultural extension, and productive clusters formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article proposes the use of computationally efficient inverse regression Bayesian method for analysis of tweet propagation of political messages. Our example focuses on the Colombian case, though our method can be used in any election where social media messaging has a direct impact on political outcomes. We find strong evidence that politicians were able to identify the combination of sensitive words to enhance the probability of retweet of the message, which, in turn, had an impact on political outcomes. The contributions of our work entail: (a) an examination of a neglected unit of analysis (trigram) in a language less studied (i.e. Spanish), (b) based on an innovative Bayesian efficient approach and (c) exploiting the predictive power that retweets have on electoral results as an informational diffusion tool in social media. A practical implication of this new methodology is the possibility to adjust political messages as a means to increase voters engagement in political campaigns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The accumulation of knowledge required to produce economic value is a process that often relates to nations economic growth. Some decades ago many authors, in the absence of other available indicators, used to rely on certain measures of human capital such as years of schooling, enrollment rates, or literacy. In this paper, we show that the predictive power of years of education as a proxy for human capital started to dwindle in 1990 when the schooling of nations began to be homogenized. We developed a structural equation model that estimates a metric of human capital that is less sensitive than average years of education and remains as a significant predictor of economic growth when tested with both cross-section data and panel data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A peace agreement was recently subjected to a plebiscite as a solution to finish the Colombian armed conflict. With 62.57% of abstention, 18.44% of the Colombian electorate rejected this agreement. This paper aims to propose a methodological approach that shows how to linguistically analyze peace agreements as political products that are acceptable or not according to their text difficulty. Given the socio-political similarities of the armed conflicts of Colombia, Guatemala, and El Salvador, we scrutinized with sufficient computational detail these peace agreements. The results revealed that the text difficulty of these accords was more appropriate for a person with at least 19 years of education, suggesting that these sort of texts are not written for broader and less-educated audiences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Snapchat offers a distinctive feature from other social networks in that its users control the visibility of the contents they share with others by defining how long these contents may be available. Snapchat is changing the way men and women perceive online information privacy and content management. This paper aims to illustrate the relevance of social representation theory to evaluate perceived privacy in Snapchat users, with a sample of 268 young adults residing in Bogotá. A survey method was employed for data collection purposes. The results reveal that Snapchat users are concerned about their networks’ privacy, with no significant sex differences, although men's perception of Snapchat privacy is safer than that of women. Finally, a discussion is presented as to the limitations and implications of these results for further studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Propagation of political ideologies in social networks has shown a substantial impact on voting behavior. Both the contents of the messages (the ideology) and the politicians' influence on their online audiences (their followers) have been associated with such an impact. In this study we evaluate which of these factors exerted a major role in deciding electoral results of the 2015 Colombian regional elections by evaluating the linguistic similarity of political ideologies and their influence on the Twitter sphere. The electoral results proved to be strongly associated with tweets and retweets and not with the linguistic content of their ideologies or politicians' followers in Twitter. Finally, suggestions for new ways to analyze electoral processes are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. To evaluate the effectiveness of alcohol-based handrubs (ABH) in reducing acute diarrheal diseases (ADD) and acute respiratory infections (ARI) among children 1-5 years of age in childcare centers with limited tap water. Methods. This was the first cluster-randomized controlled trial in a developing country. The study took place at 42 childcare centers with sporadic and limited water availability in six towns in Colombia. Participants were randomly assigned to use ABH as a complement to handwashing (intervention arm: 21 centers/794 children); or to continue existing handwashing practices (control arm: 21 centers/933 children). ADD and ARI cases were identified through teacher-reported signs and symptoms of illness. Adverse events were monitored. Hazard ratios (HR) were obtained using Cox proportional hazards multivariate regression shared frailty models. Results. Child-days of surveillance totaled 336 038. Loss to follow up was 14.5%. For both ADD and ARI, there were no differences in hazard ratios during the first trimester of the study. In the second and third trimesters, significant reductions in the risk of ADD were found in the intervention compared to control arm (HR = 0.55, P < 0.001 and HR = 0.44, P < 0.001, respectively). There were also significant risk reductions for ARI in the second trimester (HR = 0.80, P < 0.05) and in the third trimester (HR = 0.69, P < 0.001). No adverse events occurred. Conclusions. ABH effectively prevent ADD and ARI, and are safe. Colombia's national public health policies for prevention of these diseases should include use of ABH, especially in settings where handwashing with soap and water is limited by water availability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents the analysis of the performance of a flexible wind turbine blade. The simulation analysis is based on a 3 m span blade prototype. The blade has a flexible surface and a cam mechanism that modifies the aerodynamic profile and adapts the surface to different configurations. The blade surface was built with a flexible fiberglass composite, and the internal mechanism consists of a flexible structure actuated with an eccentric cam. The cam mechanism deforms five sections of the blade, and the airfoil geometry for each section was measured from zero cam displacement to full cam displacement. The measured data were interpolated to obtain the aerodynamic profiles of the five sections to model the flexible blade in the simulation process. The simulation analysis consisted of determining the different aerodynamic coefficients for different deformed surfaces and a range of wind speeds. The aerodynamic coefficients were calculated with the BEM method (QBlade®); as a result, the data performance of the flexible blade was compared for the different deformation configurations. Finally, a decrease of up to approximately 6% in the mean bending moment suggests that the flexible turbine rotor presented in this article can be used to reduce extreme and fatigue loads on wind turbines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fusarium wilt of banana, caused by the pathogen Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense tropical race 4 (Foc TR4), is a threat to food security as it affects the global banana industry. Control of this pathogen is complex due to the lack of resistant banana or plantain genotypes, lack of effective commercial fungicides, the production of chlamydospores, late appearance of symptoms in infected plants, high adaptability of the pathogen to diverse soil conditions and the polycyclic nature of the disease. Currently, the management strategy for Foc TR4 is exclusion and eradication, which is costly for the producer and the environment because the plants are treated with glyphosate and the affected area is quarantined for a long time. Thus, the development of early detection strategies for Foc TR4 from environmental samples and asymptomatic tissues with low inoculum concentration is essential; this would enable restriction of pathogen spread and minimize the environmental impact by eradication only in areas with accurate data of the pathogen's presence. In this study, three different PCR technologies (conventional PCR, quantitative PCR and droplet digital [dd] PCR) were evaluated for Foc TR4 detection in complex environmental samples. We report the development of a sensitive and specific ddPCR primer/probe set and protocols that can be used as a tool for Foc TR4 detection from symptomatic and asymptomatic plant tissue without prior DNA extraction. The limits of detection in drainage waters, footbaths and soil samples were evaluated using artificial inoculation assays. Finally, environmental samples from Foc TR4‐affected fields were analysed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, the effect of leather residues from chrome tanning on the vulcanization kinetics and rheometric properties of a natural rubber composite was evaluated using three kinetic models proposed in the literature. Leather wastes were classified according to their size as fine (smaller than 0.6 mm) or coarse (between 0.84 and 2 mm). Subsequently, they were chemically treated with a sodium bicarbonate solution to neutralize their acidic nature derived from the tanning processes. The composites studied in this paper were obtained using a torque rheometer. Fine and coarse leather wastes were added to a natural rubber matrix in proportions of 20, 40, 60, 80, and 100 phr. The rheometric properties of all the composites were monitored during the curing process using a moving die rheometer. The addition of leather wastes increased the vulcanization time and stiffness of the composites; however, materials with fine leather wastes achieved lower vulcanization times than materials with coarse residues. The curves obtained during vulcanization rheometry were fitted to the three kinetic models, which made it possible to determine the kinetic parameters k and n. The fits for the three models were satisfactory based on the R-squared results. The values and trends of the kinetic parameters of each model were analyzed and related to the vulcanization phenomenon of each composite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hunting is a potentially dangerous phenomenon related to the lateral oscillation of the wheels that impacts the rails and causes the wear of the infrastructure's components. Therefore, the analysis and timely detection of hunting can lead to the application of corrective maintenance tasks, reducing damages, and costs and even derailments as a result. In this work, the vibration response of a finite element model of a rail with hunting-induced loads by a single wheel is analyzed in three directions: longitudinal, lateral, and vertical. The contact patch forces are calculated by means of Simpack® using the Kalker linear theory and the contact Hertz theory. The system is solved by using the Newmark-β approach. The results of the deflection and vibration analysis, following the proposed methodology, show how the different characteristics of the loads impact the rail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A difficult problem to address is to determine the minimum sample size and the numbers of bootstrap samples to be used for obtain sampling distribution that makes a better fit to the true sampling distribution using the bootstrap methodology. We evaluate the effect of sample size and the number of bootstrap samples in the estimates of the mean, variance and some quantiles for probability distribution under different measures of skewness. We give some recommendations for using the non-parametric bootstrap. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Exposure to traffic-related particulate matter (PM) has been associated with adverse respiratory health outcomes in children. Diesel exhaust particles (DEPs) are a local driver of urban fine PM [aerodynamic diameter ≤ 2.5 µm (PM2.5)]; however, evidence linking ambient DEP exposure to acute respiratory symptoms is relatively sparse, and susceptibilities of urban and asthmatic children are inadequately characterized. OBJECTIVES: We examined associations of daily ambient black carbon (BC) concentrations, a DEP indicator, with daily respiratory symptoms among asthmatic and nonasthmatic adolescents in New York City (NYC) and a nearby suburban community. METHODS: BC and PM2.5 were monitored continuously outside three NYC high schools and one suburban high school for 4-6 weeks, and daily symptom data were obtained from 249 subjects (57 asthmatics, 192 nonasthmatics) using diaries. Associations between pollutants and symptoms were characterized using multilevel generalized linear mixed models, and modification by urban residence and asthma status were examined. RESULTS: Increases in BC were associated with increased wheeze, shortness of breath, and chest tightness. Multiple lags of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) exposure were associated with symptoms. For several symptoms, associations with BC and NO2 were significantly larger in magnitude among urban subjects and asthmatics compared with suburban subjects and nonasthmatics, respectively. PM2.5 was not consistently associated with increases in symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Acute exposures to traffic-related pollutants such as DEPs and/or NO2 may contribute to increased respiratory morbidity among adolescents, and urban residents and asthmatics may be at increased risk. The findings provide support for developing additional strategies to reduce diesel emissions further, especially in populations susceptible because of environment or underlying respiratory disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Relatively little is known about exposures to traffic-related particulate matter at schools located in dense urban areas. The purpose of this study was to examine the influences of diesel traffic proximity and intensity on ambient concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and black carbon (BC), an indicator of diesel exhaust particles, at New York City (NYC) high schools. Outdoor PM2.5 and BC were monitored continuously for 4–6 weeks at each of 3 NYC schools and 1 suburban school located 40 km upwind of the city. Traffic count data were obtained using an automated traffic counter or video camera. BC concentrations were 2–3 fold higher at urban schools compared with the suburban school, and among the 3 urban schools, BC concentrations were higher at schools located adjacent to highways. PM2.5 concentrations were significantly higher at urban schools than at the suburban school, but concentrations did not vary significantly among urban schools. Both hourly average counts of trucks and buses and meteorological factors such as wind direction, wind speed, and humidity were significantly associated with hourly average ambient BC and PM2.5 concentrations in multivariate regression models. An increase of 443 trucks/buses per hour was associated with a 0.62 μg/m3 increase in hourly average BC at an NYC school located adjacent to a major interstate highway. Car traffic counts were not associated with BC. The results suggest that local diesel vehicle traffic may be important sources of airborne fine particles in dense urban areas and consequently may contribute to local variations in PM2.5 concentrations. In urban areas with higher levels of diesel traffic, local, neighborhood-scale monitoring of pollutants such as BC, which compared to PM2.5, is a more specific indicator of diesel exhaust particles, may more accurately represent population exposures. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Purpose To propose a random forest normal tissue complication probability (RF-NTCP) model to predict late rectal toxicity following prostate cancer radiation therapy, and to compare its performance to that of classic NTCP models. Methods and Materials Clinical data and dose-volume histograms (DVH) were collected from 261 patients who received 3-dimensional conformal radiation therapy for prostate cancer with at least 5 years of follow-up. The series was split 1000 times into training and validation cohorts. A RF was trained to predict the risk of 5-year overall rectal toxicity and bleeding. Parameters of the Lyman-Kutcher-Burman (LKB) model were identified and a logistic regression model was fit. The performance of all the models was assessed by computing the area under the receiving operating characteristic curve (AUC). Results The 5-year grade ≥2 overall rectal toxicity and grade ≥1 and grade ≥2 rectal bleeding rates were 16%, 25%, and 10%, respectively. Predictive capabilities were obtained using the RF-NTCP model for all 3 toxicity endpoints, including both the training and validation cohorts. The age and use of anticoagulants were found to be predictors of rectal bleeding. The AUC for RF-NTCP ranged from 0.66 to 0.76, depending on the toxicity endpoint. The AUC values for the LKB-NTCP were statistically significantly inferior, ranging from 0.62 to 0.69. Conclusions The RF-NTCP model may be a useful new tool in predicting late rectal toxicity, including variables other than DVH, and thus appears as a strong competitor to classic NTCP models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The presence of Organochlorine Pesticides (OCPs) in biological and environmental samples has been studied for decades in many countries. Nonetheless, studies in Latin American countries like Colombia have been scarce. Determining the presence of OCPs in breast milk will be of relevance to assess exposures, potential health risks, and for surveillance among Latin American populations. Thirty-two breast-feeding mothers were selected to voluntarily participate in the study. Breast milk samples were analyzed for 10 OCPs (α-, β-, γ-, δ-HCH, Heptachlor, α-, γ-Chlordane, 4,4′ DDT, 4,4′ DDE, 4,4′ DDD). Milk samples were analyzed using liquid–liquid extraction, followed by sulfuric acid clean-up, and quantified using GC/μECD. Results were confirmed by GC/MS. OCPs concentrations were normalized using fat content. In all but one sample, 4,4′ DDE was quantified in concentrations ranging between<17 and 14948ngg−1 (ng of OCP per g of lipids), with a mean value of 203ngg−1. One woman had 4,4′ DDE concentrations that were orders of magnitude above the average concentrations observed worldwide. Concentrations of 4,4′ DDE in a second breast milk sample collected in a different time period of lactation from a sub-group of 13 women from the original participants, showed no statistically significant difference with the concentrations found in the first sample. Based on the results obtained from the Persistent Organic Pollutants Global Monitoring Plan report of 2009 of the Stockholm Convention, Colombia ranks fourth from bottom to top in terms of 4,4′ DDE average concentrations. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

BACKGROUND: Cardiac autonomic dysfunction has been suggested as a possible biologic pathway for the association between fine particulate matter ≤ 2.5 µm in diameter (PM2.5) and cardiovascular disease (CVD). We examined the associations of PM2.5 with heart rate variability, a marker of autonomic function, and whether metabolic syndrome (MetS) modified these associations. METHODS: We used data from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis to measure the standard deviation of normal-to-normal intervals (SDNN) and the root mean square of successive differences (rMSSD) of 5,465 participants 45-84 years old who were free of CVD at the baseline examination (2000-2002). Data from the U.S. regulatory monitor network were used to estimate ambient PM2.5 concentrations at the participants' residences. MetS was defined as having three or more of the following criteria: abdominal obesity, hypertriglyceridemia, low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high blood pressure, and high fasting glucose. RESULTS: After controlling for confounders, we found that an interquartile range (IQR) increase in 2-day average PM2.5 (10.2 µg/m3) was associated with a 2.1% decrease in rMSSD [95% confidence interval (CI), -4.2 to 0.0] and nonsignificantly associated with a 1.8% decrease in SDNN (95% CI, -3.7 to 0.1). Associations were stronger among individuals with MetS than among those without MetS: an IQR elevation in 2-day PM2.5 was associated with a 6.2% decrease in rMSSD (95% CI, -9.4 to -2.9) among participants with MetS, whereas almost no change was found among participants without MetS (p-interaction = 0.005). Similar effect modification was observed in SDNN (p-interaction = 0.011). CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that autonomic dysfunction may be a mechanism through which PM exposure affects cardiovascular risk, especially among persons with MetS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. We examined asthma risk factors among 274 Puerto Rican children born in New York to atopic mothers. Methods. We prospectively followed the cohort to measure aeroallergens in their homes and assess allergic sensitization. Baseline data are presented. Results. Maternal smoking was significantly higher among women born on the continental United States (25%) vs. those born elsewhere (11%). Cat ownership was more frequent among mainland-born women (15%) compared with those born in Puerto Rico (4%). While some aeroallergens were prevalent, few dust samples contained detectable dust mite allergens. Conclusions. By following this cohort, we hope to identify the roles that socio-cultural factors play in the process of allergic sensitization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies of mouse allergens and laboratory-animal-worker-related allergy and asthma suggest that quantifying mouse allergen levels in homes could augment our understanding of innercity asthma. We hypothesized that levels of mouse allergen in inner-city homes would be related to certain household characteristics. Dust samples were collected from the kitchens and beds of 221 mothers enrolled in a prospective birth cohort study, 92 of African American and 129 of Dominican ethnicity. Samples were analyzed for mouse urinary protein. The geometric mean for kitchen samples was 4.6 µg/g [95% confidence interval (95% CI), 3.2-6.5] and for bed samples was 0.9 µg/g (95% CI, 0.8-1.1). The variables associated with mouse allergen levels in the home were frequency of mouse sightings, use of traps or pesticides for mice, presence of holes in ceilings or walls, absence of a cat, and living in a building with fewer than eight floors. Statistically significant neighborhood differences in levels of mouse allergen and report of rodents in the home were also observed. In conclusion, mouse allergen was prevalent among inner-city apartments, and the positive predictive value of self-reported frequent mouse sightings was high (90% for kitchens). However, high levels of mouse allergen were also found in many homes where mothers reported never seeing mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Asthma is now leading cause of school absence among children of color in impoverished urban neighborhoods. Environmental interventions have the potential to augment clinical approaches to asthma management by directly reducing exposure to environmental triggers (e.g., cockroaches, rodents, and mold). We implemented an apartment-based intervention to reduce exposures to indoor allergens among children living with asthma in 2 areas in New York City with rates of asthma morbidity and mortality that rank among the highest in the United States. Although the intervention phase of the present study is not yet complete, timely reporting of our field experiences may prove useful to other groups engaged in environmental intervention trials in urban communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]