Limited detraditionalization of intimacy: Growing socioeconomic differences in contraceptive use at first intercourse in Italy

This paper investigates links between social inequality and reproductive behavior. It complements the extensive research on the stratification of young adults' life chances in education and the labor market by considering changes over time in the stratification of contraceptive use at first intercourse by parental background. We seek to understand detraditionalization trends in young people’s sexually intimate behavior by investigating whether these trends were driven by particular social groups and how they were supported by policy initiatives. We study Italy from 1950-2006, which shows strong regional and socioeconomic disparities, and comparatively slow changes in religion and gender norms. Data from the “Survey on Italians’ Sexual Behavior” (2006) and macro indicators on family planning centers are used. The findings show a steep increase in contraceptive use at first sexual intercourse over time, stratified by parental background, but only for condom use. We did not find that family planning centers intervened in these relationships.

A longitudinal neuroimaging dataset on language processing in children ages 5, 7, and 9 years old

This dataset examines language development with a longitudinal design and includes diffusion- and T1-weighted structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), task-based functional MRI (fMRI), and a battery of psycho-educational assessments and parental questionnaires. We collected data from 5.5-6.5-year-old children (ses-5) and followed them up when they were 7-8 years old (ses-7) and then again at 8.5-10 years old (ses-9). To increase the sample size at the older time points, another cohort of 7-8-year-old children (ses-7) were recruited and followed up when they were 8.5–10 years old (ses-9). In total, 322 children who completed at least one structural and functional scan were included. Children performed four fMRI tasks consisting of two word-level tasks examining phonological and semantic processing and two sentence-level tasks investigating semantic and syntactic processing. The MRI data is valuable for examining changes over time in interactive specialization due to the use of multiple imaging modalities and tasks in this longitudinal design. In addition, the extensive psycho-educational assessments and questionnaires provide opportunities to explore brain-behavior and brain-environment associations.

Mapping and assessing sexual and reproductive health policy changes over time in Colombia: measuring their impact on pregnancy terminations

Sexual and reproductive health and rights policies (SRHRPs) and their association with reproductive and non-reproductive behavior require precise theoretical and methodological frames. By studying the case of Colombia, we move forward with a comprehensive framework that considers simultaneously multiple SRHRP conceptualizations and their impacts over time on induced pregnancy terminations (IPT). With a mixed-method approach, we first map the evolution of SRHRPs and then analyze their direct and indirect effects on IPTs, using the provision of contraceptive methods by the government, female use of contraceptive methods, and conversations with health professionals in a mediation approach. We build a unique data set from more than 2100 policy documents, and then use data on 81,760 women (20–40 years) from four waves (2000–2015) of Colombia’s Demographic and Health Surveys. We find that SRHRPs are directly associated with an 18% reduction in reported IPTs. Associations between these variables are explained by the increased use of modern contraceptive methods (6%), and the government’s provision of those contraceptive methods (13%). Studies interested in the impact of SRHRPs need to consider not only the direct effects of legal changes on abortion outcomes but also show changes over time may operate through different sub-programs embedded in these policies, such as access to contraceptive methods and family planning. This will add further nuances to how SRHRPs are both multilayered and implemented.

Beyond categories: dynamic qualitative analysis of visuospatial representation in arithmetic

Visuospatial representations of numbers and their relationships are widely used in mathematics education. These include drawn images, models constructed with concrete manipulatives, enactive/embodied forms, computer graphics, and more. This paper addresses the analytical limitations and ethical implications of methodologies that use broad categorizations of representations and argues the benefits of dynamic qualitative analysis of arithmetical-representational strategy across multiple semi-independent aspects of display, calculation, and interaction. It proposes an alternative methodological approach combining the structured organization of classification with the detailed nuance of description and describes a systematic but flexible framework for analysing nonstandard visuospatial representations of early arithmetic. This approach is intended for use by researchers or practitioners, for interpretation of multimodal and nonstandard visuospatial representations, and for identification of small differences in learners’ developing arithmetical-representational strategies, including changes over time. Application is illustrated using selected data from a microanalytic study of struggling students’ multiplication and division in scenario tasks.

Regulation of Clostridium tetani Neurotoxin Expression by Culture Conditions

Background: Ensuring consistency of tetanus neurotoxin (TeNT) production by Clostridium tetani could help to ensure consistent product quality in tetanus vaccine manufacturing, ultimately contributing to reduced animal testing. The aim of this study was to identify RNA signatures related to consistent TeNT production using standard and non-standard culture conditions. Methods: We applied RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) to study C. tetani gene expression in small-scale batches under several culture conditions. Results: We identified 1381 time-dependent differentially expressed genes (DEGs) reflecting, among others, changes in growth rate and metabolism. Comparing non-standard versus standard culture conditions identified 82 condition-dependent DEGs, most of which were specific for one condition. The tetanus neurotoxin gene (tetX) was highly expressed but showed expression changes over time and between culture conditions. The tetX gene showed significant down-regulation at higher pH levels (pH 7.8), which was confirmed by the quantification data obtained with the recently validated targeted LC-MS/MS approach. Conclusions: Non-standard culture conditions lead to different gene expression responses. The tetX gene appears to be the best transcriptional biomarker for monitoring TeNT production as part of batch-to-batch consistency testing during tetanus vaccine manufacturing.

Comparison and Transition of Research Focus on Application of IT in Education

The application of Information Technology (IT) in education has opened new scenarios for this ancient process. With rapidly changing field of IT, the adoption of IT in education has been changed drastically. It is quite difficult for researchers to keep pace with changing research trends. An analysis based on the keywords could provide a synopsis on the use of IT in education. The keywords can be extracted and clustered to draw a sketch of trend changes over time. In this paper, we propose two empirical methods based on classic TF/IDF, i.e., overall rating (OR) and dynamic character (DC) of a keyword for in-depth keyword analysis to examine changing trends in research. The method help in disclosing time based changes in research focuses by comparing TF/IDF weights of keywords in different years. A total of 8131 scholarly articles from 12 well recognized journals were used in this analysis. The analysis shows that proposed methods provide sufficient insight into the research trends of application of IT in education in 11 years, i.e., 2007-2017.

Re-Thinking Health Behaviour Change Models From an Integrated Perspective

Scientific evidence indicates that theory-based health interventions are more effective in promoting health behavior change (BC) and in maintaining health changes over time. Previous work identified more than 80 BC theories; however, there is little guidance on how to best choose between them. More than creating new theories, an essential challenge now is to integrate these theories to reach a more complete understanding of the BC process. The chapter is an effort to integrate some of the most central theories in this field, aiming to reach an integrated framework by 1) identifying and merging similarities between theories, reducing conceptual complexity, and by 2) building from dissimilarities as key aspects to overcome limitations. This framework is a practical visual tool that intends to support researchers and practitioners working in the field, guiding on the crucial constructs to address in interventions to promote health BC. This framework also integrates the ACP model as an approach that offers valuable insights to support communication in health interventions.