A virtual peer mentoring intervention for baccalaureate nursing students: A mixed-methods study.

Background: Final-year baccalaureate nursing students can experience a significant amount of stress that negatively impacts their well-being, academic performance, and transition to professional practice.

Purpose: This pilot study aimed to evaluate the impact of a Virtual Peer Mentoring (VPM) program using alumni mentors in addressing mental well-being, self-compassion, and professional development needs of final-year baccalaureate nursing students.

Methods: An explanatory sequential mixed-methods design was employed.

Mathematical Abilities in School-Aged Children: A Structural Magnetic Resonance Imaging Analysis With Radiomics.

Structural magnetic resonance imaging (sMRI) studies have shown that children that differ in some mathematical abilities show differences in gray matter volume mainly in parietal and frontal regions that are involved in number processing, attentional control, and memory. In the present study, a structural neuroimaging analysis based on radiomics and machine learning models is presented with the aim of identifying the brain areas that better predict children's performance in a variety of mathematical tests. A sample of 77 school-aged children from third to sixth grade were administered four mathematical tests: Math fluency, Calculation, Applied problems and Quantitative concepts as well as a structural brain imaging scan.

Gender-Based Performance in Mathematical Facts and Calculations in Two Elementary School Samples From Chile and Spain: An Exploratory Study.

Gender differences in mathematical performance are not conclusive according to the scientific literature, although such differences are supported by international studies such as the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS). According to TIMSS 2019, fourth-grade male students outperformed female students in Spanish-speaking countries, among others. This work approaches the study on gender difference by examining the basic calculation skills needed to handle more complex problems.

Quantifying electron-correlation effects in small coinage-metal clusters calculations.

We investigate many-electron correlation effects in neutral and charged coinage-metal clusters Cun, Agn, and Aun (n = 1-4) via ab initio calculations using fixed-node diffusion Monte Carlo (FN-DMC) simulations, density functional theory (DFT), and the Hartree-Fock (HF) method. From very accurate FN-DMC total energies of the clusters and the HF results in the infinity large complete-basis-set limit, we obtain correlation energies in these strongly correlated many-electron clusters involving d orbitals. The obtained bond lengths of the clusters, atomic binding and dissociation energies, ionization potentials, and electron affinities are in satisfactory agreement with the available experiments.

The role of connectivity on COVID-19 preventive approaches.

Preventive and modelling approaches to address the COVID-19 pandemic have been primarily based on the age or occupation, and often disregard the importance of heterogeneity in population contact structure and individual connectivity. To address this gap, we developed models based on Erdős-Rényi and a power law degree distribution that first incorporate the role of heterogeneity and connectivity and then can be expanded to make assumptions about demographic characteristics. Results demonstrate that variations in the number of connections of individuals within a population modify the impact of public health interventions such as lockdown or vaccination approaches.

Rising arsenic concentrations from dewatering a geothermally influenced aquifer in central Mexico.

This study identifies causes of rising arsenic (As) concentrations over 17 years in an inter-montane aquifer system located just north of the Trans-Mexican-Volcanic-Belt in the Mesa central physiographic region that is extensively developed by long-screened production wells. Arsenic concentrations increased by more than 10 µg/L in 14% (3/22) of re-sampled wells. Similarly, in a larger scale analysis wherein As concentrations measured in 137 wells in 2016 were compared to interpolated, baseline concentrations from 246 wells in 1999, As concentrations rose more than 10 µg/L in 30% of wells.

Development of a dual infrared and visible near-infrared measurement system for the observation of adiabatic shear bands.

This paper presents the development of a new system designed to measure the local temperature field in adiabatic shear bands. Transient temperature fields are simultaneously recorded by using an array of 32 InSb infrared (IR) detectors and a streak camera working in visible-near infrared (VIS-NIR). Observations in IR offer a low temperature detection limit (550 K), but they are highly sensitive to uncertainties in emissivity.

Changing recharge pathways within an intensively pumped aquifer with high fluoride concentrations in Central Mexico.

Fluoride (F), naturally found in aquifers around the world at toxic concentrations, causes disease in millions of people. The long-term stability, however, of those concentrations within intensively pumped aquifers is poorly characterized. We assessed long-term stability in the spatial distribution of F concentrations in an intensively pumped aquifer within the semi-arid, inter-montane Independence Basin in central Mexico between 1999 and 2016.

Computer-Based Training in Math and Working Memory Improves Cognitive Skills and Academic Achievement in Primary School Children: Behavioral Results.

Student academic achievement has been positively related to further development outcomes, such as the attainment of higher educational, employment, and socioeconomic aspirations. Among all the academic competences, mathematics has been identified as an essential skill in the field of international leadership as well as for those seeking positions in disciplines related to science, technology, and engineering. Given its positive consequences, studies have designed trainings to enhance children's mathematical skills.

Electrochemical Behaviour and Galvanic Effects of Titanium Implants Coupled to Metallic Suprastructures in Artificial Saliva.

The aim of the present study is to analyze the electrochemical behavior of five different dental alloys: two cobalt-chromium alloys (CoCr and CoCr-c), one nickel-chromium-titanium alloy (NiCrTi), one gold-palladium alloy (Au), and one titanium alloy (Ti6Al4V), and the galvanic effect when they are coupled to titanium implants (TiG2). It was carried out by electrochemical techniques (open circuit measurements, potentiodynamic curves and Zero-Resistance Ammetry) in artificial saliva (AS), with and without fluorides in different acidic conditions. The studied alloys are spontaneously passivated, but NiCrTi alloy has a very narrow passive domain and losses its passivity in presence of fluorides, so is not considered as a good option for implant superstructures.

How do different components of Effortful Control contribute to children's mathematics achievement?

This work sought to investigate the specific contribution of two different components of Effortful Control (EC) -attentional focusing (AF) and inhibitory control- to children's mathematics achievement. The sample was composed of 142 children aged 9-12 year-old. EC components were measured through the Temperament in Middle Childhood Questionnaire (TMCQ; parent's report); math achievement was measured via teacher's report and through the standard Woodcock-Johnson test.

Intentional and automatic numerical processing as predictors of mathematical abilities in primary school children.

Previous studies have suggested that numerical processing relates to mathematical performance, but it seems that such relationship is more evident for intentional than for automatic numerical processing. In the present study we assessed the relationship between the two types of numerical processing and specific mathematical abilities in a sample of 109 children in grades 1-6. Participants were tested in an ample range of mathematical tests and also performed both a numerical and a size comparison task.

Tribocorrosion behavior of beta titanium biomedical alloys in phosphate buffer saline solution.

The tribo-electrochemical behavior of different β titanium alloys for biomedical applications sintered by powder metallurgy has been investigated. Different mechanical, electrochemical and optical techniques were used to study the influence of the chemical composition, Sn content, and the electrochemical conditions on the tribocorrosion behavior of those alloys Ti30NbxSn alloys (where "x" is the weight percentage of Sn content, 2% and 4%). Sn content increases the active and passive dissolution rate of the titanium alloys, thus increasing the mechanically activated corrosion under tribocorrosion conditions.

Disentangling the effects of working memory, language, parental education, and non-verbal intelligence on children's mathematical abilities.

It is assumed that children's performance in mathematical abilities is influenced by several factors such as working memory (WM), verbal ability, intelligence, and socioeconomic status. The present study explored the contribution of those factors to mathematical performance taking a componential view of both WM and mathematics. We explored the existing relationship between different WM components (verbal and spatial) with tasks that make differential recruitment of the central executive, and simple and complex mathematical skills in a sample of 102 children in grades 4-6.

Effects of retinol on the in vitro development of Bos indicus embryos to blastocysts in two different culture systems.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of retinol on the in vitro development of early embryos of cultured Bos indicus (Expt 1) to the blastocyst stage in medium simplex of optimization (KSOM) or sintetic fluid of oviduct (SOF) or co-cultured (Expt 2) with an oviduct cell monolayer (OCM) in KSOM or SOF. A total of 3149 cumulus-oocyte complexes obtained by aspirating follicles (2-5 mm diameter) from ovaries of slaughtered animals were selected for IVM and incubated in TCM 199 supplemented with 25 mM HEPES at 39 degrees C in air with 5% CO(2) and maximum humidity for 24 h. In vitro fertilization (IVF) was performed in modified defined medium (mDM) medium.

The use of steroid hormones in superovulation of Nelore donors at different stages of estrous cycle.

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the superovulatory response and ova/embryo recovery from Nelore donors following treatment with a controlled internal drug releasing device and estradiol benzoate (CIDR-B program) at different stages of the estrous cycle. The control group (TI; n=40) received a standard superovulation protocol with females of this group being between days 9 and 12 of the estrous cycle (estrus = day 0). The donors that received a CIDR-B program containing 1.

Use of steroid hormone treatments prior to superovulation in Nelore donors.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of synchronization of follicular wave emergence using steroid hormone treatments in Nelore cows. Donors were placed into three groups. Those that were between days 9 and 12 of their cycle (estrus=day 0) formed the TI group (n=60), whilst those that were in any other stages of their estrus cycle constituted groups TII (n=60) and TIII (n=60).