Intimate partner violence and household decision making autonomy : effects of the Malian conflict on women

Rates of intimate partner violence vary widely across regions. Evidence suggests that some of this variation can be attributed to exposure to armed conflict. This study exploits variation in the timing and location of conflict events related to the war in Mali to examine the effect of conflict on intimate partner violence and some women’s empowerment outcomes. The study used data from the Demographic and Health Survey spatially linked to conflict data from the Armed Conflict Location and Events Database. Wartime conflict increases the prevalence of women’s experiences of intimate partner violence. It also increases women’s household decision making autonomy but decreases women’s ability to decide how their earnings are deployed. The results imply that to be successful, programs to mitigate these adverse effects of conflict on women need to be context specific and rely on data-driven evidence from situations of conflict whenever possible. Policy makers are called to design programs that address harmful gender norms and intimate partner violence at the individual/household and community levels, especially for women residing in areas with high-intensity conflict. Measurement of women’s empowerment should consistently include several domains of women’s lives to gauge progress in voice and agency, financial autonomy, and violence reduction

Links Between Forced Displacement, Conflict and Intimate Partner Violence in Colombia and Liberia

Displacement and conflict substantially heighten the risk of gender-based violence including intimate partner violence (IPV), experienced by women and girls. This study aims to examine the links between conflict, forced displacement and IPV using nationally representative survey data measuring IPV combined with data on conflict-related violence from two different conflict-affected settings: Colombia and Liberia. We find that forced displacement is strongly associated with increased lifetime and past year IPV. Displaced women and girls in Colombia and Liberia have a 36 and 55 per cent, respectively greater risk of experiencing past year IPV and 39 and 49 per cent greater risk of experiencing lifetime IPV in each country respectively, compared to their non-displaced counterparts. Both conflict and displacement are independently and significantly associated with past year IPV. Taking conflict intensity into account increases the associated IPV risk to 40 and 60 per cent in Colombia and Liberia respectively. Recognising the increased prevalence of IPV for displaced women is vital to providing effective assistance. Humanitarian, state and peace-building efforts, should encompass the provision of a range of assistance services to help displaced and conflict-affected women heal from the impacts of the violence

Impacto del comercio electrónico en las redes sociales sobre la decisión de compra en ciudadanos asentados en el Valle de Aburrá

Electronic commerce, also known as e-commerce, involves buying and selling products, goods and services, through electronic devices, mainly on internet and other data networks. This research study was carried out in order to analyze the impact of advertising both on social networks and on the participants’ buying decisions for products, goods and services, as well as to identity the means of payment used. Finally, this study will help to know the preferences of the studied population regarding the platforms and web pages used when making purchases. For this purpose, a quantitative methodology with a descriptive-relational approach was used through a non-parametric analysis with the Chi-square test, contrasting the hypotheses and the population, with the purpose of determining the consumer's behavior in a virtual shopping environment. A measuring instrument focused on the analysis of the data obtained was applied, based on a survey administered to a population group of different ages.  Additionally, the Cronbach Alpha test was used, which assesses the reliability based on the measurability tool administered to individuals over 18 years of age. One of the most relevant findings was that social networks, due to its dynamics and growing use, are a very feasible option to expand sales.El comercio electrónico, también conocido como e-commerce, consiste en la compra y venta de productos, bienes y servicios, a través de dispositivos electrónicos, principalmente internet y otras redes de datos. Esta investigación se desarrolla con el fin de analizar el impacto que tiene la publicidad en las redes sociales y cómo incide en las personas al momento de decidir adquirir productos, bienes y servicios, así mismo, identificar los medios de pago que utilizan. Finalmente, ayudará a conocer cuáles son sus preferencias respecto a las plataformas y páginas que utilizan al momento de realizar sus compras. Para tal fin, se utiliza una metodología cuantitativa de corte descriptivo-relacional a través de análisis no paramétrico con la prueba de Chi-cuadrado, contrastando las hipótesis y la población, con el propósito de determinar el comportamiento del consumidor en el entorno de las compras virtuales, por lo cual se aplica un instrumento de medición enfocado al análisis de datos obtenidos, a partir de una encuesta a un grupo poblacional de diferentes edades. De igual forma, se emplea la prueba Alfa de Cronbach, que determina la confiabilidad a partir del instrumento de mensurabilidad, realizada a personas mayores de 18 años, arrojando como resultado más relevante que las redes sociales, por su uso y su dinámica que crece año a año, son una opción muy viable para apuntarle a nuevas formas de tener ventas en los negocios

Naturalización del acoso sexual en ámbitos universitarios: Un análisis de la Universidad EAFIT en Medellín, Colombia

This paper aims to identify the factors and consequences of the naturalization of sexual harassment behaviors to which undergraduate students at Universidad EAFIT are subjected. It seeks to contribute to the national academic discussion on the subject, to conceptualize the naturalization of sexual harassment in university environments and to provide inputs from the existing literature and the analysis of comparative cases to the current University instruments. A quantitative and qualitative methodology was used, in which a bibliographic analysis of more than 65 references was made, from which the state of the art and the theoretical framework of this research were constructed. As a second result, a survey-type diagnostic instrument and a focus group guide were elaborated, by means of which the magnitude of the phenomenon within the University was evaluated. This research article is the third and last result of this project. In general terms, it was possible to conclude that, in addition to the fact that this topic is little researched within the Colombian context, sexual harassment is a manifestation of violence that is perpetuated mostly against women and that the patriarchal culture has achieved its naturalization in many social spheres, including the university.El presente trabajo pretende identificar los factores y las consecuencias de la naturalización de las conductas de acoso sexual a las que se ven sometidas las estudiantes de pregrado de la Universidad EAFIT. Por medio de este, se busca contribuir a la discusión académica nacional sobre el tema, conceptualizar la naturalización del acoso sexual en ámbitos universitarios y aportar insumos desde la literatura existente y el análisis de casos comparados a los instrumentos universitarios vigentes. Se utilizó una metodología cuantitativa y cualitativa, en la que se hizo un análisis bibliográfico de más de 65 referencias y a partir del cual se construyó el estado del arte y el marco teórico de esta investigación. Como segundo resultado, se elaboró un instrumento de diagnóstico tipo encuesta y una guía de grupos focales, por medio de los cuales se evaluó la magnitud del fenómeno de la naturalización del acoso sexual dentro de la Universidad. El presente artículo de investigación es el tercer y último resultado de este proyecto. A grandes rasgos fue posible concluir que, además de que este tema es poco investigado dentro del contexto colombiano, el acoso sexual es una manifestación de violencia que se perpetúa mayoritariamente contra las mujeres y que la cultura patriarcal ha logrado su naturalización en muchos ámbitos sociales, incluido el universitario

Brain ageing in schizophrenia: evidence from 26 international cohorts via the ENIGMA Schizophrenia consortium

Schizophrenia (SZ) is associated with an increased risk of life-long cognitive impairments, age-related chronic disease, and premature mortality. We investigated evidence for advanced brain ageing in adult SZ patients, and whether this was associated with clinical characteristics in a prospective meta-analytic study conducted by the ENIGMA Schizophrenia Working Group. The study included data from 26 cohorts worldwide, with a total of 2803 SZ patients (mean age 34.2 years; range 18-72 years; 67% male) and 2598 healthy controls (mean age 33.8 years, range 18-73 years, 55% male). Brain-predicted age was individually estimated using a model trained on independent data based on 68 measures of cortical thickness and surface area, 7 subcortical volumes, lateral ventricular volumes and total intracranial volume, all derived from T1-weighted brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans. Deviations from a healthy brain ageing trajectory were assessed by the difference between brain-predicted age and chronological age (brain-predicted age difference [brain-PAD]). On average, SZ patients showed a higher brain-PAD of +3.55 years (95% CI: 2.91, 4.19; I$^{2}$ = 57.53%) compared to controls, after adjusting for age, sex and site (Cohen's d = 0.48). Among SZ patients, brain-PAD was not associated with specific clinical characteristics (age of onset, duration of illness, symptom severity, or antipsychotic use and dose). This large-scale collaborative study suggests advanced structural brain ageing in SZ. Longitudinal studies of SZ and a range of mental and somatic health outcomes will help to further evaluate the clinical implications of increased brain-PAD and its ability to be influenced by interventions

Brain ageing in schizophrenia: evidence from 26 international cohorts via the ENIGMA Schizophrenia consortium

Schizophrenia (SZ) is associated with an increased risk of life-long cognitive impairments, age-related chronic disease, and premature mortality. We investigated evidence for advanced brain ageing in adult SZ patients, and whether this was associated with clinical characteristics in a prospective meta-analytic study conducted by the ENIGMA Schizophrenia Working Group. The study included data from 26 cohorts worldwide, with a total of 2803 SZ patients (mean age 34.2 years; range 18-72 years; 67% male) and 2598 healthy controls (mean age 33.8 years, range 18-73 years, 55% male). Brain-predicted age was individually estimated using a model trained on independent data based on 68 measures of cortical thickness and surface area, 7 subcortical volumes, lateral ventricular volumes and total intracranial volume, all derived from T1-weighted brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans. Deviations from a healthy brain ageing trajectory were assessed by the difference between brain-predicted age and chronological age (brain-predicted age difference [brain-PAD]). On average, SZ patients showed a higher brain-PAD of +3.55 years (95% CI: 2.91, 4.19; I2 = 57.53%) compared to controls, after adjusting for age, sex and site (Cohen's d = 0.48). Among SZ patients, brain-PAD was not associated with specific clinical characteristics (age of onset, duration of illness, symptom severity, or antipsychotic use and dose). This large-scale collaborative study suggests advanced structural brain ageing in SZ. Longitudinal studies of SZ and a range of mental and somatic health outcomes will help to further evaluate the clinical implications of increased brain-PAD and its ability to be influenced by interventions

Large-scale analysis of structural brain asymmetries in schizophrenia via the ENIGMA consortium

Left-right asymmetry is an important organizing feature of the healthy brain that may be altered in schizophrenia, but most studies have used relatively small samples and heterogeneous approaches, resulting in equivocal findings. We carried out the largest case-control study of structural brain asymmetries in schizophrenia, using MRI data from 5,080 affected individuals and 6,015 controls across 46 datasets in the ENIGMA consortium, using a single image analysis protocol. Asymmetry indexes were calculated for global and regional cortical thickness, surface area, and subcortical volume measures. Differences of asymmetry were calculated between affected individuals and controls per dataset, and effect sizes were meta-analyzed across datasets. Small average case-control differences were observed for thickness asymmetries of the rostral anterior cingulate and the middle temporal gyrus, both driven by thinner left-hemispheric cortices in schizophrenia. Analyses of these asymmetries with respect to the use of antipsychotic medication and other clinical variables did not show any significant associations. Assessment of age- and sex-specific effects revealed a stronger average leftward asymmetry of pallidum volume between older cases and controls. Case-control differences in a multivariate context were assessed in a subset of the data (N = 2,029), which revealed that 7% of the variance across all structural asymmetries was explained by case-control status. Subtle case-control differences of brain macro-structural asymmetry may reflect differences at the molecular, cytoarchitectonic or circuit levels that have functional relevance for the disorder. Reduced left middle temporal cortical thickness is consistent with altered left-hemisphere language network organization in schizophrenia

Clonal chromosomal mosaicism and loss of chromosome Y in elderly men increase vulnerability for SARS-CoV-2

The pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19) had an estimated overall case fatality ratio of 1.38% (pre-vaccination), being 53% higher in males and increasing exponentially with age. Among 9578 individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 in the SCOURGE study, we found 133 cases (1.42%) with detectable clonal mosaicism for chromosome alterations (mCA) and 226 males (5.08%) with acquired loss of chromosome Y (LOY). Individuals with clonal mosaic events (mCA and/or LOY) showed a 54% increase in the risk of COVID-19 lethality. LOY is associated with transcriptomic biomarkers of immune dysfunction, pro-coagulation activity and cardiovascular risk. Interferon-induced genes involved in the initial immune response to SARS-CoV-2 are also down-regulated in LOY. Thus, mCA and LOY underlie at least part of the sex-biased severity and mortality of COVID-19 in aging patients. Given its potential therapeutic and prognostic relevance, evaluation of clonal mosaicism should be implemented as biomarker of COVID-19 severity in elderly people. Among 9578 individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 in the SCOURGE study, individuals with clonal mosaic events (clonal mosaicism for chromosome alterations and/or loss of chromosome Y) showed an increased risk of COVID-19 lethality

Design and baseline characteristics of the finerenone in reducing cardiovascular mortality and morbidity in diabetic kidney disease trial

Background: Among people with diabetes, those with kidney disease have exceptionally high rates of cardiovascular (CV) morbidity and mortality and progression of their underlying kidney disease. Finerenone is a novel, nonsteroidal, selective mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist that has shown to reduce albuminuria in type 2 diabetes (T2D) patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) while revealing only a low risk of hyperkalemia. However, the effect of finerenone on CV and renal outcomes has not yet been investigated in long-term trials. Patients and Methods: The Finerenone in Reducing CV Mortality and Morbidity in Diabetic Kidney Disease (FIGARO-DKD) trial aims to assess the efficacy and safety of finerenone compared to placebo at reducing clinically important CV and renal outcomes in T2D patients with CKD. FIGARO-DKD is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, event-driven trial running in 47 countries with an expected duration of approximately 6 years. FIGARO-DKD randomized 7,437 patients with an estimated glomerular filtration rate >= 25 mL/min/1.73 m(2) and albuminuria (urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio >= 30 to <= 5,000 mg/g). The study has at least 90% power to detect a 20% reduction in the risk of the primary outcome (overall two-sided significance level alpha = 0.05), the composite of time to first occurrence of CV death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, nonfatal stroke, or hospitalization for heart failure. Conclusions: FIGARO-DKD will determine whether an optimally treated cohort of T2D patients with CKD at high risk of CV and renal events will experience cardiorenal benefits with the addition of finerenone to their treatment regimen. Trial Registration: EudraCT number: 2015-000950-39; ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02545049

La internacionalización empresarial como mecanismo resiliente para las empresas colombianas

Un clúster es visto como un sistema que está inmerso en una complejidad debida al relacionamiento de sus actores, los cuales deben abordar sus estrategias en sentido colaborativo para contribuir en el logro de los objetivos propuestos en cada región. En el éxito de los clusters está inmersa también la competitividad que las empresas sólo alcanzan logrando un alto nivel de productividad en la economía internacional; deben ser innovadoras, factor fundamental para que las organizaciones que componen el clúster creen y mantengan empleos de calidad. Diferentes autores apuntan a que la productividad está relacionada con la capacidad de innovación que tienen las empresas en una región o país. Para dar una visión sobre la temática el Centro de Estudios e Investigaciones en Desarrollo Regional (CEIDER) de la Facultad de Ciencias Económicas y Empresariales de la Universidad Santiago de Cali, con la colaboración de sus investigadores presenta, con la enorme satisfacción del trabajo cumplido, la siguiente recopilación que recoge los resultados finales de las investigaciones desarrolladas sobre el tema de la exigencia del clúster empresarial