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I study the interaction between epidemics and economic decisions in a model where: (i) agents allocate their time to market and home production and social and home leisure, (ii) these activities ...differ in their degree of contagiousness, (iii) some infected individuals are indistinguishable from susceptible individuals and (iv) agents are not necessarily rational. For baseline parameter values for the COVID‐19 pandemic, I find that agents partially self‐isolate by allocating more time to home activities and that the effective reproduction number of the disease stabilizes at 1. Detection and isolation of infected individuals severely mitigate the recession and deaths caused by the pandemic.
Résumé.
Modèle macroéconomique d'une épidémie avec transmission silencieuse et isolement volontaire endogène. Dans cet article, j'étudie les liens entre les épidémies et les décisions économiques à l'aide d'un modèle dans lequel : (i) les agents répartissent leur temps entre la production d'un bien marchand et la production d'un bien domestique ainsi quéntre des activités sociales et des loisirs à domicile; (ii) ces activités varient quant à leur degré de contagiosité; (iii) certains individus infectés ne se distinguent en rien des personnes vulnérables et (iv) les agents ne sont pas nécessairement rationnels. En ce qui concerne les valeurs des paramètres de base de la COVID‐19, je constate que les agents s'isolent partiellement en consacrant davantage de temps à des activités domestiques, et que le taux de reproduction effectif se stabilise aux alentours de un. Le dépistage et l'isolement des individus infectés atténuent fortement la récession engendrée par la pandémie.
The Multiple Sclerosis Intimacy and Sexuality Questionnaire-15 (MSISQ-15) is a valid and reliable tool to assess the sexuality of people with multiple sclerosis. The objectives of this study were: 1) ...to cross-culturally adapt and examine the psychometric properties of the MSISQ-15 in the Spanish context and 2) to examine the association between sexual dysfunction and other related factors.
We conducted a instrumental study. People diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and members of multiple sclerosis associations in Spain were included. The linguistic adaptation of the questionnaire was performed through a translation-back translation procedure. For the psychometric validation, the confirmatory factor analysis was used while the internal consistency was examined by the ordinal alpha test. The construct validity was examined by correlating the results with the Male Sexual Function (FSH), Female Sexual Function-2 (FSM-2), Dyadic Adjustment Scale-13 (EAD-13) and Multiple Sclerosis International Quality of Life Questionnaire (MusiQoL) questionnaires.
A total of 208 participants were included. Both the fit of the Spanish version of the MSISQ-15 to the original scale and the internal consistency were adequate (
= 0.89). The construct validity showed correlations with the FSH, FSM-2, and MusiQoL but not with the EAD-13.
The Spanish version of the MSISQ-15 is a valid and reliable tool to assess the sexuality of people with multiple sclerosis in the Spanish context.
•Cardiopulmonary Death Donation has increased substantially over the last decades. However, sociocultural perception of this type of donation in population is not known.•Cardiopulmonary Death ...Donation remains an area of ethical and legal controversy. Because of the dire need for donors, it is clinically necessary to resolve these controversies as soon as possible.•Attitudes toward the ethical issues surrounding death and organ donation may influence support for and participation in organ donation but differences between and among diverse populations have not been studied.
The sociocultural perception of Cardiopulmonary Death Donation by the population is an important issue, especially at this time when this type of donation is growing. However, the data that are currently available are insufficient to draw definitive conclusions on public reactions. Controlled organ donation after cardiocirculatory determination of death has generated an ethical and social debate since its implementation. The objective is to analyze the most relevant ethical-moral and social issues that involve this type of donation.
We were selected the 30 articles about this area with the PRISMA methodology. 72.2% of the articles that analyze the ethical conflicts on the withdrawal of life support treatment state that the staff that carries it out must be separate from the donation staff. 38.9% believe that it should be done in the ICM and 44.4% that it should be done by the ICM staff themselves. Regarding who should suggest controlled organ donation after cardiocirculatory determination of death, they all agree that it should be totally unrelated to ICM staff. 71.4% of the articles that analyze the use of premortem procedures justify their use based on scientific evidence and declare that they do not harm the potential donor. 42.1% accept the use of permanent circulatory cessation in determining death and 78.9% believe that a consensus should be reached on the waiting time in asystole. Despite some detractors, the use of ECMO is fully justified. Christian and Jewish culture are in favor of non-heart beating donation, but religious and economic objections continue to be raised in the Middle East. 80% of the articles that mention euthanasia classify it as a subject completely unrelated to controlled organ donation after cardiocirculatory determination of death
In conclusion, Organ donation after cardiocirculatory determination of death has experienced a boom in recent years and continues to lead to ethical-moral and social debate.
Understanding soil water dynamics and transport of nutrients is challenging in tropical rainforests due to the uniqueness of several properties related to soils, vegetation and seasonality that make ...relating patterns found in temperate environments to tropical sites difficult. We address the need for better edaphic characterization in tropical environments by investigating soil water percolation rates and chemistry across topographic, soil texture and seasonal gradients in a mature tropical rainforest in Central Amazonia, Brazil. We utilized a passive wick flux meter (e.g., drainage lysimeter) to directly measure real‐time percolation fluxes at 60‐cm depth, and to sample a suite of chemical species across plateau, slope and valley topographic positions. We found percolation flux volume and chemical exports generally increase with decreasing elevation and clay content, which was lowest in the valley. Daily percolation flux was observed to be 2.39 ± 0.44 in plateau, 3.01 ± 0.50 in slope and 6.16 ± 0.83 mm in valley. Most solutes were present in small amounts of <1 mg L−1, such as PO₄3−, Fe2+/Fe3+ and Mn2+; however, NO3− concentrations were >20 mg L−1, even exceeding 100 mg L−1 in the valley. Based on additional isotopic analysis, we speculate high NO3− concentrations are partially an artefact of root decomposition following installation of the flux meters. The empirical relationships we show among percolation volume and nutrient exports under varying topographies and soil textures can improve Earth System Model performance by better constraining ecohydrological relationships to nutrient fluxes, which can in‐turn better illuminate the important factors that govern their behaviour.
We collected soil water percolation and nutrient flux at 60 cm depth to understand variability across topographic, soil texture and seasonal gradients within the remote Central Amazon region of Brazil. Main findings indicate percolation volume and solute concentration generally increase with decreasing elevation and clay content. Low phosphate to nitrate ratios highlight the limitation of phosphorous in highly weathered tropical soils. The empirical relationships of percolation water and nutrient fluxes we observed will provide important benchmarks for Earth System Models.
Healthy lifestyle factors, such as physical activity (PA) and Mediterranean diet (MD), decrease the likelihood of developing metabolic syndrome (MetS). The aim of this study was to report main ...lifestyle components and related factors according to the MetS severity. Cross-sectional analysis was done of baseline lifestyle factors from 5739 participants with overweight/obesity and MetS features (aged 55-75 years) included in the PREDIMED-PLUS primary cardiovascular prevention randomized trial. Participants were categorized in tertiles according to a validated MetS severity score (MetSSS). Anthropometrics, visceral adiposity index, dietary nutrient intake, biochemical marker levels, as well as a Dietary Inflammatory Index and depression symptoms (Beck Depression Inventory-II) were measured. Diet quality was assessed using a 17-item energy-restricted MD questionnaire. Duration and intensity of PA was self-reported using the Minnesota-REGICOR Short Physical Activity Questionnaire. Sedentary behaviours were measured using the Spanish version of the Nurses' Health Study questionnaire. The 30 s chair stand test was also assessed. Participants with highest MetSSS showed higher values of cardiovascular risk factors (except for total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol), depression risk, sedentary and TV viewing time, and lower moderate and vigorous leisure-time physical activity (LTPA). Highest MetSSS participants tended to a pro-inflammatory dietary pattern and tended to lower MD adherence. In addition, they showed lower carbohydrate and nut intake and higher intake of protein, saturated and trans fatty acids, cholesterol, iodine, sodium, red and processed meat products, other oils different from olive oil and spirit alcoholic drinks. The highest MetS severity score was associated with lower moderate and vigorous LTPA and higher sedentary time and depression risk, as they tended to a pro-inflammatory dietary pattern and lower MD adherence.
Summary
The Latin American (LA) population resident in the USA is a growing subgroup of the population. To find out the structure of attitude towards organ donation in the LA population resident in ...Florida (USA). A sample was taken of LA residents in Florida, randomized and stratified by nationality, age and sex (n = 1524). Attitude was assessed using a validated questionnaire (PCID–DTO Rios) that was self‐completed anonymously. The survey completion rate was 95% (n = 1450). Attitude was favourable in 33% of respondents (n = 485), against in 40% (n = 575) and undecided in 27% (n = 390). The following variables were associated with a favourable attitude: country of origin (Dominican Republic; P = 0.038); sex (female; P < 0.001); marital status (married; P < 0.001); level of education (university; P < 0.001); previous experience of the subject (P < 0.001); considering the need for a transplant in the future (P < 0.001); understanding the concept of brain death (P = 0.003); attitude towards donating a family member's organs (P < 0.001); having discussed organ donation and transplantation with one's family (P < 0.001) or with one's partner (P < 0.001); participation in pro‐social type activities (P < 0.001); the respondent's religion (atheist–agnostic; P < 0.001); a respondent's knowledge of the attitude of his or her religion towards organ donation (P < 0.001); no concern about mutilation after donation (P < 0.001); acceptance of cremation (P < 0.001); burial (P < 0.001); and an autopsy if one were needed (P < 0.001). The attitude towards donation of LA in Florida is worse than that reported in the native population and is associated with certain psychosocial factors.
Hypocalcemia is one of the most common complications after total thyroidectomy. Recently, indocyanine green (ICG) angiography of the parathyroid glands (PGs) has been suggested as a reliable tool for ...predicting postoperative hypocalcemia. The aim of our study was to evaluate the performance of a simple quantitative score based on ICG angiography of the PGs (4-ICG score) for predicting postoperative hypocalcemia.
Thirty nine consecutive patients who underwent total thyroidectomy for multinodular goiter were included. For each patient, the 4-ICG score was calculated, adding the individual viability value of the four PGs. Discrimination and correlation analyses were performed.
In 32/39 patients, the four PGs were identified. Patients with postoperative hypocalcemia (n = 6, 19%) had a lower 4-ICG score (2.5 1.8–3.3 vs. 4.0 3.0–6.0; p = 0.003). The 4-ICG score showed good discrimination in terms of predicting postoperative hypocalcemia (AUC = 0.875 (0.710–0.965); p = 0.001) and a good correlation with postoperative parathyroid function.
The 4-ICG score predicts postoperative hypocalcemia and correlates well with postoperative parathyroid function in patients undergoing total thyroidectomy for multinodular goiter.
•The 4-ICG score had good discrimination in predicting postoperative hypocalcemia.•A 4-ICG score > 3 had high negative predictive value for postoperative hypocalcemia.•This score may be useful in identifying patients eligible for early discharge.
The association between ultra-processed food (UPF) and risk of cardiometabolic disorders is an ongoing concern. Different food processing-based classification systems have originated discrepancies in ...the conclusions among studies. To test whether the association between UPF consumption and cardiometabolic markers changes with the classification system, we used baseline data from 5636 participants (48.5% female and 51.5% male, mean age 65.1 ± 4.9) of the PREDIMED-Plus (“PREvention with MEDiterranean DIet”) trial. Subjects presented with overweight or obesity and met at least three metabolic syndrome (MetS) criteria. Food consumption was classified using a 143-item food frequency questionnaire according to four food processing-based classifications: NOVA, International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), International Food Information Council (IFIC) and University of North Carolina (UNC). Mean changes in nutritional and cardiometabolic markers were assessed according to quintiles of UPF consumption for each system. The association between UPF consumption and cardiometabolic markers was assessed using linear regression analysis. The concordance of the different classifications was assessed with intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC3, overall = 0.51). The highest UPF consumption was obtained with the IARC classification (45.9%) and the lowest with NOVA (7.9%). Subjects with high UPF consumption showed a poor dietary profile. We detected a direct association between UPF consumption and BMI (p = 0.001) when using the NOVA system, and with systolic (p = 0.018) and diastolic (p = 0.042) blood pressure when using the UNC system. Food classification methodologies markedly influenced the association between UPF consumption and cardiometabolic risk markers.
This article proposes a novel regression-based approach to the estimation of Gaussian dynamic term structure models. This new estimator is an asymptotic least-square estimator defined by the ...no-arbitrage conditions upon which these models are built. Further, we note that our estimator remains easy-to-compute and asymptotically efficient in a variety of situations in which other recently proposed approaches might lose their tractability. We provide an empirical application in the context of the Canadian bond market.
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