National Autonomous University of Nicaragua

About: National Autonomous University of Nicaragua is a education organization based out in Managua, Nicaragua. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Public health. The organization has 775 authors who have published 715 publications receiving 9791 citations.

Stratigraphy, chemistry, and eruptive dynamics of the 12.4 ka plinian eruption of Apoyeque volcano, Managua, Nicaragua

Abstract: Apoyeque volcano, located 9 km northwest of Managua city, erupted explosively at 12.4 ka. The Plinian eruption deposited a widespread pumice fall deposit known as the Upper Apoyeque Tephra (UAq). The UAq is massive, reversely graded, and consists of white juvenile pumice (~78 vol.%), a variety of cognate lithics and accidental altered lithics. The whole-rock pumice composition is rhyodacitic (SiO2 = 66.9–68.5 wt.%) with a mineral paragenesis of plagioclase, orthopyroxene, clinopyroxene, amphibole, titanomagnetite, and ilmenite in a rhyolitic glass groundmass (SiO2 = 74.4 ± 0.6 wt.%). The deposit’s dispersal axis is to the south, with the deposit covering a minimum area of 877 km2 within the 50 cm isopach and has a total volume of 3 km3 (dense rock equivalent, 1.15 km3). The eruption column reached a maximum height of ca.28 km. The eruption ejected a total mass of 3 × 1012 kg at an average rate of 2 × 108 kg/s, and based on available models, we infer duration of almost 4 h. Petrographic and geochemical characteristics suggest that the eruption was triggered by magma mixing.

Estrategias de reproducción de las unidades domésticas campesinas de Jucuapa centro, Nicaragua

Abstract: En este articulo se analizan las estrategias de reproduccion de las Unidades Domesticas Campesinas (UDC) de la Comunidad Jucuapa Centro, ubicada en el departamento de Matagalpa - Nicaragua, para evaluar su viabilidad de desarrollo. Las estrategias campesinas hacen referencia a los mecanismos que las unidades familiares practican para hacer frente a minimos nutricionales y satisfacer sus necesidades basicas y asegurar la supervivencia y reproduccion social. La agricultura campesina en esta comunidad esta inmersa en un proceso de recomposicion productiva, con la introduccion o ampliacion de rubros como cafe, frutas, ganaderia mayor y menor, que les han permitido mayores ingresos economicos. Sin embargo, la reorientacion de las actividades agricolas resulta insuficiente para garantizar la reproduccion socioeconomica de las UDC, donde sus miembros deben recurrir al desempeno de actividades fuera de la finca, las que no son actividades agricolas, sino complementarias, cuya logica se orienta a la obtencion de los maximos ingresos economicos y potencialidades ecologicas

Necesidades de investigación y transferencia de tecnologías sobre cambio climático en Nicaragua: Una oportunidad en la Bioeconomía

Abstract: This study focused on identifying the gaps that exist in relation to knowledge of climate change, its impacts and opportunities, as well as identifying its potentialities and restrictions as an alternative to the Bioeconomy. An interview model was developed, whose universe was aimed at selecting three types of populations: Private Companies, Institutions of Higher Education: Teachers and / or administrators and decision makers of these institutions, Public Institutions and Non-Governmental Organizations. The results showed that the private sector gives higher priority to reducing costs and increasing efficiency, increasing profitability and customer retention in relation to responding effectively to the threats and opportunities of climate change, indicating that there is a knowledge gap in relation to the impacts and opportunities offered by climate change, while in teaching it was observed that there is an abundant training of master's degrees related to environmental issues, however the courses taught in universities on climate change are very scarce and on the other hand, there is no national postgraduate training program on Climate change and only 58% of the teachers interviewed carry out research tasks. In public institutions and NGOs they believe that the frequency of access to scholarships to acquire knowledge about climate change is low and that at the national level the source of knowledge about climate change very frequently used by teachers and researchers is the Internet.

How Community and Individual Risk Factors Mutually Impact Youth's Perceived Safety: A Syndemic Analysis Using Structural Equation Modeling.

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the mutual impact of community and individual factors on youth's perceptions of community safety, using structural equation modeling (SEM) conceptualized by syndemic theory. This study used survey data collected from a county wide sample of middle and high school students (N=25,147) in West Central Florida in 2015. The outcome variable was youth's perceptions of community safety. Predictors were latent individual and community factors constructed from 14 observed variables including gun accessibility, substance use, depressive symptoms, and multiple neighborhood disadvantage questions. Three structural equation models were conceptualized based on syndemic theory and analyzed in Mplus 8 using weighted least squares (WLS) estimation. Each model's goodness of fit was assessed. Approximately seven percent of youth reported feeling unsafe in their community. After model modifications, the final model showed a good fit of the data and adhered to the theoretical assumption. In the final SEM model, an individual latent factor was implied by individual predictors measuring gun accessibility without adult's permission (β=0.70), sadness and hopelessness (β=0.52), alcohol use (β=0.79), marijuana use (β=0.94), and illegal drug use (β=0.77). Meanwhile, a community latent factor was indicated by multiple community problems including public drinking (β=0.88), drug addiction (β=0.96), drug selling (β=0.97), lack of money (β=0.83), gang activities (β=0.90), litter and trash (β=0.79), graffiti (β=0.91), deserted houses (β=0.86), and shootings (β=0.93). A second-order syndemic factor that represented the individual and community factors showed a very strong negative association with youth's safe perception (β=-0.98). This study indicates that individual risk factors and disadvantaged community conditions interacted with each other and mutually affected youth's perceptions of community safety. To reduce these co-occurring effects and improve safe perceptions among youth, researchers and practitioners should develop and implement comprehensive strategies targeting both individual and community factors.

Socioeconomic Inequalities in Visits to the Dentist to Receive Professionally Applied Topical Fluoride in a Developing Country

Abstract: Objective: To determine the frequency and associated factors of visits to the dentist in the last year by Nicaraguan schoolchildren to receive professionally applied topical fluoride (PATF). Material and Methods: A cross-sectional study was designed in children from public schools in the city of Leon, Nicaragua, were included. A series of socioeconomic, sociodemographic, and behavioural variables were collected through a questionnaire. The dependent variable was the visit to the dentist to receive professionally applied topical fluoride in the last year, which was dichotomised as (0) Did not receive PATF and (1) Yes received PATF. In the statistical analysis, binary logistic regression was used. Results: The mean age of the students included was 9 years, and 49.9% were girls. The prevalence of visits to the dentist in the last year to receive PATF was 3.1%. In the multivariate model, the associated characteristics (p < 0.05) were: female (OR = 2.73, 95% CI = 1.34–4.50); the positive attitude of the mother to the oral health of her child (OR = 2.15, 95% CI = 1.03–4.50); and the best socioeconomic position (OR = 2.68, 95% CI = 1.36—5.31). Conclusions: The prevalence of visits to the dentist in the last year to receive professionally applied topical fluoride was very low (3.1%). The results of the socioeconomic position suggest the existence of certain inequalities in oral health. It is necessary to implement policies and programs aimed at improving this scenario.