In vivo characterization of the novel ebolavirus Bombali virus suggests a low pathogenic potential for humans

Ebolaviruses cause outbreaks of haemorrhagic fever in Central and West Africa. Some members of this genus such as Ebola virus (EBOV) are highly pathogenic, with case fatality rates of up to 90%, whereas others such as Reston virus (RESTV) are apathogenic for humans. Bombali virus (BOMV) is a novel ebolavirus for which complete genome sequences were recently found in free-tailed bats, although no infectious virus could be isolated. Its pathogenic potential for humans is unknown. To address this question, we first determined whether proteins encoded by the available BOMV sequence found in Chaerephon pumilus were functional in in vitro assays. The correction of an apparent sequencing error in the glycoprotein based on these data then allowed us to generate infectious BOMV using reverse genetics and characterize its infection of human cells. Furthermore, we used HLA-A2-transgenic, NOD-scid-IL-2γ receptor-knockout (NSG-A2) mice reconstituted with human haematopoiesis as a model to evaluate the pathogenicity of BOMV in vivo in a human-like immune environment. These data demonstrate that not only does BOMV show a slower growth rate than EBOV in vitro, but it also shows low pathogenicity in humanized mice, comparable to previous studies using RESTV. Taken together, these findings suggest a low pathogenic potential of BOMV for humans.

Executive Functions and Theory of Mind in Teachers and Non-Teachers

Human teaching is a key behavior for the socialization of cultural knowledge. Previous studies suggest that human teaching behavior would support the development of executive and ToM skills, which in turn would refine the teaching behavior. Given this connection, it raises the question of whether subjects with professional training in teaching also have more efficient executive and ToM systems. To shed light on this issue, in the present study we compared the performance of professional teachers (N = 20, age range = 35-61 years) with a matched control group of non-teachers (N = 20, age range: 29-64 years) on tasks measuring working memory (Sternberg Task), cognitive flexibility (Wisconsin Card Sorting Test), executive control (Attention Network Test), along with online ToM skills (Frith-Happé Animations Task), emotion recognition (Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test) and first-order and second-order ToM (Yoni Task). We found that teachers were significantly more accurate on tasks involving cognitive flexibility (p = .014) and working memory (p = .040), and more efficient on tasks requiring executive control of attention (p = .046), compared to non-teachers. In ToM tasks, differences in accuracy between teachers and non-teachers were not found. But, teachers were slower to respond than non-teachers (about 2 s difference) on tasks involving emotion recognition (p = .0007) and the use of second-order affective ToM (p = .006). Collectively, our findings raise an interesting link between professional teaching and the development of cognitive skills critical for decision-making in challenging social contexts such as the classroom. Future research could explore ways to foster teachers' strengths in cognitive flexibility, working memory, and executive control of attention to enhance teaching strategies and student learning outcomes. Additionally, exploring factors behind slower response times in affective ToM tasks can guide teacher-training programs focused on interpersonal skills and improve teacher-student interactions.

Assessing Spatial User Experience for Design Guidelines: A Comparative Study of Outpatient Waiting Rooms With Conventional Versus Modern Features

OBJECTIVES

Identify waiting room design features that are most appreciated by outpatients and their companions in conventional and modern waiting rooms. Evaluate if end users evaluate the environment differently from experts and in what aspects. Provide evidence-based design guidelines that orient designers and healthcare managers.

BACKGROUND

Built environments are relevant in patients' evaluation of overall healthcare service. For outpatients, waiting frequently consumes the largest amount of time; thus, waiting room interior design has great potential to enhance their experience.

METHODS

This study compares perceptions of two types of waiting rooms-conventional and modern-based on the spatial user experience (SUE) model. In the first stage of the study, we compared user evaluations of conventional waiting rooms (n = 137) and modern waiting rooms (n = 426) with respect to the eight SUE model dimensions using multigroup structural equation modeling. In the second stage, an expert ergonomist and two professional interior designers assessed both types of waiting rooms.

RESULTS

Results showed that modern waiting rooms were perceived to be significantly better in all SUE dimensions. We also found experts' evaluations were overall consistent with users' perceptions. Discrepancies were only found in temperature perception, signage evaluation, and spatial appreciation.

CONCLUSIONS

Participants valued modern style waiting room features such as good quality signage, use of armchairs and sofas, a controlled environment, and decoration. We suggest involving end users in the design process to respond to their needs and promote a positive experience. Finally, we provide easy-to-adopt design guidelines to improve patients' waiting room experience.

Age-associated systemic factors change central and peripheral immunity in adult male mice

Aging coincides with major changes in brain immunity that aid in a decline in neuronal function. Here, we postulate that systemic, pro-aging factors contribute to immunological changes that occur within the brain during aging. To investigate this hypothesis, we comprehensively characterized the central and peripheral immune landscape of 20-month-old male mice using cytometry by time-of-flight (CyTOF) and investigated the role of age-associated circulating factors. We found that CD8+ T cells expressing programmed cell death protein 1 (PD1) and tissue-resident memory CD8+ T cells accumulated in the aged brain while levels of memory T cells rose in the periphery. Injections of plasma derived from 20-month-old mice into 5-month-old receiving mice decreased the frequency of splenic and circulating naïve T cells, increased memory CD8+ T cells, and non-classical, patrolling monocytes in the spleen, and elevated levels of regulatory T cells and non-classical monocytes in the blood. Notably, CD8+ T cells accumulated within white matter areas of plasma-treated mice, which coincided with the expression of vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1), a mediator of immune cell trafficking, on the brain vasculature. Taken together, we here describe age-related immune cell changes in the mouse brain and circulation and show that age-associated systemic factors induce the expansion of CD8+ T cells in the aged brain.

Enhancement of Arthrospira sp. culturing for sulfate removal and mining wastewater bioremediation

Sulfate content in mining wastewater can reach concentrations over 2,000 mg·L^-1, which is considered as a pollutant of concern. In this article, two cyanobacteria species were cultured using highly sulfated wastewater (3,000 mg·L^-1) as the culture medium. This investigation aimed to analyze the sulfate bioremediation potential of microalgae while enhancing the uptaking of this pollutant through the design of a novel nutritional medium. The results obtained show the suitability of Arthrospira maxima as a bioremediation organism of sulfated wastewater. The appropriateness of this organism is based on its great growth performance when cultured in this residue, 2.16 times higher than the initial value. Moreover, the initially obtained sulfate reduction, 23.3%, was significantly enhanced to a final removal of 73% (2,247 mg·L^-1). In addition, scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy were used to evaluate sulfur crystallization. To the best of our knowledge, there are no previous works focused on microalgal sulfate removal that have reached such an uptaking rate. Accordingly, this study presents the highest performance on sulfate microalgal bioremediation published to date. Our findings suggest that A. maxima can be cultured for sulfated wastewater bioremediation while showing a removal yield that is theoretically sufficient for industrial applications.

Goethite-based carbon foam nanocomposites for concurrently immobilizing arsenic and metals in polluted soils

Although different amendments have been used for the immobilization of metals and metalloids in contaminated soils, in most of them there are still important challenges that need to be faced in order to achieve an optimal result. In this work, a new material based on a carbon foam impregnated with goethite nanoneedles has been developed with the aim of evaluating its effect on the mobility and availability of As, Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn in an industrial soil. For this purpose, leaching, sequential extraction and phytotoxicity studies have been carried out. The results were compared with the same carbon foam without goethite impregnation. When the soil was treated with goethite-based carbon foam nanocomposite, the mobility of metal(loid)s was markedly reduced, with the exception of Zn, which showed moderate immobilization. The presence of acid groups on the surface of the carbon foam, together with a high surface area, led to a strong immobilization of pollutants. Moreover, the modification of the foams using goethite nanoneedles, imply that the novel nanocomposite obtained is effective to remediate simultaneously metal and metalloid-polluted soils, without any relevant effect on soil toxicity.

Bi-Stable Perception: Self-Coordinating Brain Regions to Make-Up the Mind

Bi-stable perception is a strong instance of cognitive self-organization, providing a research model for how ‘the brain makes up its mind.’ The complexity of perceptual bistability prevents a simple attribution of functions to areas, because many cognitive processes, recruiting multiple brain regions, are simultaneously involved. The functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) evidence suggests the activation of a large network of distant brain areas. Concurrently, electroencephalographic and magnetoencephalographic (MEEG) literature shows sub second oscillatory activity and phase synchrony on several frequency bands. Strongly represented are beta and gamma bands, often associated with neural/cognitive integration processes. The spatial extension and short duration of brain activities suggests the need for a fast, large-scale neural coordination mechanism. To address the range of temporo-spatial scales involved, we systematize the current knowledge from mathematical models, cognitive sciences and neuroscience at large, from single-cell- to system-level research, including evidence from human and non-human primates. Surprisingly, despite evidence spanning through different organization levels, models, and experimental approaches, the scarcity of integrative studies is evident. In a final section of the review we dwell on the reasons behind such scarcity and on the need of integration in order to achieve a real understanding of the complexities underlying bi-stable perception processes.

Very-high-frequency oscillations in the main peak of a magnetar giant flare

Magnetars are strongly magnetized, isolated neutron stars^1-3 with magnetic fields up to around 10¹⁵ gauss, luminosities of approximately 10³¹-10³⁶ ergs per second and rotation periods of about 0.3-12.0 s. Very energetic giant flares from galactic magnetars (peak luminosities of 10⁴⁴-10⁴⁷ ergs per second, lasting approximately 0.1 s) have been detected in hard X-rays and soft γ-rays⁴, and only one has been detected from outside our galaxy⁵. During such giant flares, quasi-periodic oscillations (QPOs) with low (less than 150 hertz) and high (greater than 500 hertz) frequencies have been observed^6-9, but their statistical significance has been questioned¹⁰. High-frequency QPOs have been seen only during the tail phase of the flare⁹. Here we report the observation of two broad QPOs at approximately 2,132 hertz and 4,250 hertz in the main peak of a giant γ-ray flare¹¹ in the direction of the NGC 253 galaxy^12-17, disappearing after 3.5 milliseconds. The flare was detected on 15 April 2020 by the Atmosphere-Space Interactions Monitor instrument^18,19 aboard the International Space Station, which was the only instrument that recorded the main burst phase (0.8-3.2 milliseconds) in the full energy range (50 × 10³ to 40 × 10⁶ electronvolts) without suffering from saturation effects such as deadtime and pile-up. Along with sudden spectral variations, these extremely high-frequency oscillations in the burst peak are a crucial component that will aid our understanding of magnetar giant flares.

Connection between quasisymmetric magnetic fields and anisotropic pressure equilibria in fusion plasmas

The stellarator as a concept of magnetic confinement fusion requires careful design to confine particles effectively. A design possibility is to equip the magnetic field with a property known as quasisymmetry. Though it is generally believed that a steady-state quasisymmetric equilibrium can only be exact locally (unless the system has a direction of continuous symmetry such as the tokamak), we suggest in this work that a change in the equilibrium paradigm can ameliorate this limitation. We demonstrate that there exists a deep physical connection between quasisymmetry and magnetostatic equilibria with anisotropic pressure, extending beyond the isotropic pressure equilibria commonly considered.

Predictors of the perceived risk of COVID-19 and adherence to confinement guidelines in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic

Introduction

Complete adherence to public health guidelines is essential to reduce the spread of COVID-19. Studies on the factors associated with increased/decreased adherence to these measures have the potential to inform public policies directed at increasing adherence, and thus helping to control the spread of the current pandemic.

Objectives

This study aimed at assessing the demographic and psychosocial predictors of the perceived risk of the COVID-19 and adherence to confinement guidelines during the first mandatory lockdown in Portugal.

Methods

A convenience sample of 430 adults living in Portugal between March 19th and May 2nd, 2020 completed an online survey asking participants about the perceived risk of the COVID-19 and adherence to confinement guidelines. Participants also completed a sociodemographic questionnaire and measures of psychological function. Multiple regression analysis was performed.

Results

Teleworking and Risk and COVID-19 controllability were significant predictors of the perceived risk of COVID-19 as measured by the perceived risk of being infected with COVID-19. Teleworking participants and those perceiving COVID-19 as less controllable reported a higher perceived risk of being infected with COVID-19 than those who were not in telework and perceived COVID-19 as a controllable condition. Adherence to confinement guidelines was predicted by the mental health status and perceived risk of COVID-19. Participants who reported worse mental health status, who perceived COVID-19 as a dangerous condition, and who trusted the public health system reported greater adherence to confinement guidelines.

Conclusions

The results of this study will be discussed considering their implications to public health policymaking to promote adherence to public health policies.

Disclosure

No significant relationships.

Influence of Manufacturing Process in Structural Health Monitoring and Mechanical Behaviour of CNT Reinforced CFRP and Ti6Al4V Multi-Material Joints

Co-cured multi-material metal–polymer composites joints are recent interesting structural materials for locally reinforcing a structure in specific areas of high structural requirements, in fibre metal laminates and lightweight high-performance structures. The influence of manufacturing processes on the morphological quality and their mechanical behaviour has been analysed on joints constituted by sol-gel treated Ti6Al4V and carbon fibre reinforced composites (CFRP). In addition, carbon nanotubes (CNT) have been added to an epoxy matrix to develop multiscale CNT reinforced CFRP, increasing their electrical conductivity and allowing their structural health monitoring (SHM). Mechanical behaviour of manufactured multi-material joints is analysed by the measurement of lap shear strength (LSS) and Mode I adhesive fracture energy (GIC) using double cantilever beam specimens (DCB). It has been proven that the addition of MWCNT improves the conductivity of the multi-material joints, even including surface treatment with sol-gel, allowing structural health monitoring (SHM). Moreover, it has been proven that the manufacturing process affects the polymer interface thickness and the porosity, which strongly influence the mechanical and SHM behaviour. On the one hand, the increase in the adhesive layer thickness leads to a great improvement in mode I fracture energy. On the other hand, a lower interface thickness enhances the SHM sensibility due to the proximity between MWCNT and layers of conductive substrates, carbon woven and titanium alloy.

The precise determination of the window of implantation significantly improves ART outcomes

The human endometrium is receptive to the embryo for a specific period of time known as the window of implantation (WOI). During this period, the endometrium shows a specific gene expression profile suitable for endometrial function evaluation. ER Map is a molecular tool able to accurately predict endometrial receptivity status by transcriptomic analysis. In this retrospective study, including 2256 subfertile patients undergoing ART treatment, the clinical value of precise WOI determination is studied in detail. Results obtained when single embryo transfers (sET) were scheduled either within the WOI timeframe as established by ER Map, or deviating from this WOI, are assessed and compared. Data obtained showed that 34.18% (771/2256) of patients had a displaced WOI. Analysis of ART outcomes showed significantly higher pregnancy rates in transfers scheduled within the WOI predicted compared to transfers that deviated more than 12h from this WOI (44.35% vs 23.08%, p < 0.001). The deviation from the WOI had also an impact on the progression of pregnancy, with a significant increase in pregnancy loss (~ twofold) observed in transfers that deviated more than 12h from the WOI predicted. These results indicate that the precise determination of the WOI and personalised embryo transfer can significantly improve clinical outcomes.

Narrative psychiatry: Healing through storytelling

Introduction

We all have the innate ability to tell our story and the way we do it can determine the impact that each problem has on our lives. Storytelling can play a critical role in psychiatric practice and, from this premise, a new way of practicing psychiatry has recently emerged: narrative psychiatry.

Objectives

The objective is to offer a unified vision of narrative psychiatry, providing details on the historical and academic context of this approach.

Methods

A narrative-type literary review focused on narrative psychiatry will be presented.

Results

Narrative psychiatry is an innovative clinical approach in line within narrative medicine and with a specific subtype of postmodern psychotherapy, the narrative therapy of Michael White and David Epston. This novel way of practicing psychiatry arises from critical movements within the discipline but it is an integrative and collaborative perspective: the position of each problem in the patient’s personal narrative is discussed and different therapeutic proposals are addressed, including for instance psychotropic drugs. This integrative posture gives the narrative psychiatrist enough flexibility to equally integrate the scientific achievements of biological psychiatry and the humanizing component of narrative practice. In this literature review, the key tools proposed by the main narrative psychiatrists worldwide for the narrative clinical interview will be exposed.

Conclusions

Narrative psychiatry is a novel approach that narrows the therapeutic relationship and that puts in evidence the history of resistance of the consultant, healing through its own storytelling.

Increase in Beta Power Reflects Attentional Top-Down Modulation After Psychosocial Stress Induction

Selective attention depends on goal-directed and stimulus-driven modulatory factors, each relayed by different brain rhythms. Under certain circumstances, stress-related states can change the balance between goal-directed and stimulus-driven factors. However, the neuronal mechanisms underlying these changes remain unclear. In this study, we explored how psychosocial stress can modulate brain rhythms during an attentional task and a task-free period. We recorded the EEG and ECG activity of 42 healthy participants subjected to either the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST), a controlled procedure to induce stress, or a comparable control protocol (same physical and cognitive effort but without the stress component), flanked by an attentional task, a 90 s of task-free period and a state of anxiety questionnaire. We observed that psychosocial stress induced an increase in heart rate (HR), self-reported anxiety, and alpha power synchronization. Also, psychosocial stress evoked a relative beta power increase during correct trials of the attentional task, which correlates positively with anxiety and heart rate increase, and inversely with attentional accuracy. These results suggest that psychosocial stress affects performance by redirecting attentional resources toward internal threat-related thoughts. An increment of endogenous top-down modulation reflected an increased beta-band activity that may serve as a compensatory mechanism to redirect attentional resources toward the ongoing task. The data obtained here may contribute to designing new ways of clinical management of the human stress response in the future and could help to minimize the damaging effects of persistent stressful experiences.

Laparoscopic pyelolithotomy in pelvic ectopic kidney: Case report and literature review

INTRODUCTION

Pelvic kidney is a rare congenital anomaly. The ectopic kidney is more susceptible to developing lithiasis. The management of this type of lithiasis is a challenge. The objective of this paper was to conduct a review of available literature on the treatment of stone in ectopic kidney.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Description of a case of transperitoneal laparoscopic pyelolithotomy for the treatment of inferior calyceal lithiasis in a right pelvic kidney. A literature review was performed by using Pubmed. The following terms and combination terms were searched: «pelvic ectopic kidney», «ureterorenoscopy», «extracorporeal lithotripsy», «PCNL», «pyelolithotomy». We included original articles, meta-analysis, review and case reports.

RESULTS

130 articles were excluded by title or duplication. 62 abstracts articles and them 50 full text articles were evaluated. Stone free rate were 75% (SLW), 85% (URSf), 85-90% (PCNL) and 100% (laparoscopic pyelolithotomy). The literature on treatment on pelvic kidney is poor.

CONCLUSION

Factors such stone size, density and location, and upper urinary tract abnormalities, influence the choice of therapeutic approach (retrograde, percutaneous and/or laparoscopic/robotic). Laparoscopic pyelolithotomy is a safe and minimally invasive treatment option for large kidney stones with unfavorable anatomy for the endoscopic approach.

Fostering leadership competence and satisfaction in nursing undergraduates through a student-led conference: A quasi-experimental pre-post study

BACKGROUND

Numerous benefits have been reported for student-led conferences, such as increased leadership. This competence has been recognized as important for nurses so as to ensure the provision of safe and high-quality care in complex environments. However, research has yet to examine empirically the impact of student-led conferences on students' leadership behaviours.

OBJECTIVES

To examine the impact that participation in a student-led conference had on the self-perceived leadership competence of nursing undergraduates.

DESIGN

Quasi-experimental single group pre-post intervention study.

SETTING

Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences at the Universitat Internacional de Catalunya.

PARTICIPANTS

31 students enrolled in two elective modules offered during the final year (fourth year) of a nursing degree programme.

METHODS

Pre-post assessment of self-perceived leadership behaviours among nursing students involved in planning and organizing a scientific conference. In addition to carrying out the tasks of organizing the Conference, all students participated as co-authors of an oral communication, thus being able to develop both cognitive and non-cognitive domains. Leadership was measured using ES_SALI scale, the Spanish version of the Self-Assessment Leadership Instrument.

RESULTS

Involvement in the student-led conference led to a statistically significant increase in self-perceived leadership competence among nursing undergraduates (p < .001). Both the total ES_SALI score and scores on each of its four dimensions (Strategic thinking, Emotional intelligence, Impact and influence, and Teamwork skills) increased significantly, and the percentage change was above 8% in all cases (p < .01). The greatest increase (10.99%) corresponded to the 'Impact and influence' dimension of leadership.

CONCLUSIONS

The results suggest that student-led conferences are an effective way of helping nursing undergraduates to develop their leadership competence.

Brain-to-Brain Coupling in the Gamma-Band as a Marker of Shared Intentionality

Cooperation and competition are two ways of social interaction keys to life in society. Recent EEG-based hyperscanning studies reveal that cooperative and competitive interactions induce an increase in interbrain coupling. However, whether this interbrain coupling effect is just a reflection of inter-subject motor coordination or can also signal the type of social interaction is unknown. Here, we show that behavioral coordination and social interaction type can be distinguished according to the frequency of oscillation in which the brains are coupled. We use EEG to simultaneously measure the brain activity of pairs of subjects, while they were performing a visual cue-target task in a cooperative and competitive manner. Behavioral responses were quasi-simultaneous between subject pairs for both competitive and cooperative conditions, with faster average response times for the competitive condition. Concerning brain activity, we found increased interbrain coupling in theta band (3–7 Hz) during cooperation and competition, with stronger coupling during competitive interactions. This increase of interbrain theta coupling correlated with a decrease in reaction times of the dyads. Interestingly, we also found an increase in brain-to-brain coupling in gamma band (38–42 Hz) only during cooperative interactions. Unlike the theta coupling effect, the gamma interbrain coupling did not correlate with dyads’ reaction times. Taken together, these results suggest that theta interbrain coupling could be linked to motor coordination processes common to cooperative and competitive interactions, while gamma brain-to-brain coupling emerges as an electrophysiological marker of shared intentionality during cooperative interactions.

A multiplanet system of super-Earths orbiting the brightest red dwarf star GJ 887

The closet exoplanets to the Sun provide opportunities for detailed characterization of planets outside the Solar System. We report the discovery, using radial velocity measurements, of a compact multiplanet system of super-Earth exoplanets orbiting the nearby red dwarf star GJ 887. The two planets have orbital periods of 9.3 and 21.8 days. Assuming an Earth-like albedo, the equilibrium temperature of the 21.8-day planet is ~350 kelvin. The planets are interior to, but close to the inner edge of, the liquid-water habitable zone. We also detect an unconfirmed signal with a period of ~50 days, which could correspond to a third super-Earth in a more temperate orbit. Our observations show that GJ 887 has photometric variability below 500 parts per million, which is unusually quiet for a red dwarf.

Evaluation of different air dosing strategies to enhance H2S removal in microaerobic systems treating low-strength wastewaters

This study aimed to evaluate different air dosing strategies such as microaeration flow rates and air dosing points to enhance H₂S removal in microaerobic systems treating low-strength wastewaters. Efficiency and stability of the reactors, as well as biogas quality, were assessed, and microbial community changes were evaluated using the PCR-DGGE technique. The results showed that the air dosing point affected the H₂S concentration and that air dosing at the headspace promoted the highest H₂S removal efficiency. The airflow rate also affected the process, since H₂S concentration in the biogas was higher at 0.1 mL air.min^-1 than at 0.3 mL air.min^-1. The methane concentration in the biogas was also affected by both air dosing point and flow rate, since the lowest value was observed at the highest airflow rate of the headspace dosing point, due to dilution by the N₂ influx applied to the system. The highest productivity and operational efficiency were observed at this air dosing point, with this airflow (HD_0.3), which corroborates with the operational results and the ecological parameters, since the microaeration at this stage promoted high bacterial and archaeal species richness and diversity, optimum functional organization, high COD and H₂S removal efficiencies.

Humor Improves Women's but Impairs Men's Iowa Gambling Task Performance

The Iowa Gambling Task (IGT) is a popular method for examining real-life decision-making. Research has shown gender related differences in performance, in that men consistently outperform women. It has been suggested that these performance differences are related to decreased emotional control in women compared to men. Given the likely role of emotion in these gender differences, in the present study, we examine the effect of a humor induction on IGT performance and whether the effect of humor is moderated by gender. IGT performance and parameters from the Expectancy Valence Model (EVM) were measured in 68 university students (34 men; mean age 22.02, SD = 4.3 and 34 women; mean age 22.3, SD = 4.1) during a 100 trial-IGT task. Participants were exposed to a brief video before each of the IGT decisions available; one half of the samples (17 men and 17 women) was exposed to 100 humor videos, while the other half was exposed to 100 non-humor videos during the task. We observed a significant interaction between gender and humor, such that under humor, women's performance during the last block (trials 80-100) improved (compared to women under non-humor), whereas men's performance during the last block was worse (compared to men under non-humor). Consistent with previous work, under non-humor, men outperformed women in the last block. Lastly, our EVM results show that humor impacts the learning mechanisms of decision-making differently in men and women. Humor impaired men's ability to acquire knowledge about the payoff structure of the decks, and as a consequence, they were stuck in suboptimal performance. On the other hand, humor facilitated women's ability to explore and to learn from experience, improving performance. These findings deepen our understanding of the mechanisms underlying IGT decision-making and differential effects of humor in men and women.

Effectiveness of a multimodal training programme to improve general practitioners' burnout, job satisfaction and psychological well-being

BACKGROUND

The changes in the models of care for mental disorders towards a community focus and deinstitutionalisation might have risen General practitioners' (GPs) workload, increasing their mental health concerns and the need for solutions. Pragmatic research into improving GPs' work-related health and psychological well-being is limited by focusing mainly on stressors and through not providing systematic attention to the development of positive mental health via interventions that develop psychological resources and capacities. The aim of this study was twofold: a) to determine the effectiveness of an intensive multimodal training programme for GPs designed to improve their management of mental-health patients; and b) to ascertain if the program could be also useful to improve the GPs management of their own burnout, job satisfaction and psychological well-being.

METHOD

Eighteen GPs constituted a control group that underwent the routine clinical Mental health support programme for primary care. An experimental group (N = 20) additionally received a Multimodal training programme (MTP) with an Integrated Brief Systemic Therapy (IBST) approach. Through questionnaires and a clinical interview, level of burnout, professional satisfaction, psychopathological state and various indicators of the quality of administrative and healthcare management were analysed at baseline and 10 months after the programme.

RESULTS

In relation to government of mental-health patients indicators, on the one hand MTP group showed statistically significant improvements in certain administrative health parameters, but on the other it did not improve opinions and attitudes towards mental illness. Regarding GPs management of their own burnout, job satisfaction and psychological well-being assessments, the MTP presented better scores on global psychopathological state and better evolution of satisfaction at work; psychopharmacology use dropped in both groups; in contrast, the MTP did not improve burnout levels.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings of this preliminary study are promising for the MTP (with an IBST approach) practice in primary care. More research evidence is required from larger samples and randomized controlled trials to support both the hypothetical adoption of MTP (with an IBST approach) as a part of a continuing professional-training programme for GPs' management of mental-health patients and its positive effects on work-related health factors.

A giant exoplanet orbiting a very-low-mass star challenges planet formation models

Surveys have shown that super-Earth and Neptune-mass exoplanets are more frequent than gas giants around low-mass stars, as predicted by the core accretion theory of planet formation. We report the discovery of a giant planet around the very-low-mass star GJ 3512, as determined by optical and near-infrared radial-velocity observations. The planet has a minimum mass of 0.46 Jupiter masses, very high for such a small host star, and an eccentric 204-day orbit. Dynamical models show that the high eccentricity is most likely due to planet-planet interactions. We use simulations to demonstrate that the GJ 3512 planetary system challenges generally accepted formation theories, and that it puts constraints on the planet accretion and migration rates. Disk instabilities may be more efficient in forming planets than previously thought.

Fast sweeping probe system for characterization of spokes in E × B discharges

We have developed a rapidly swept, back-to-back 100 kHz Langmuir probe system using a tunable compensating network to study the temporal evolution of low frequency oscillations in Penning discharges, Hall Thrusters, and other E × B discharges. Experimental validation of the probe system is performed at low and high sweeping frequencies in a stable Penning discharge. Then application of the probe system to measurements of plasma parameter fluctuations in a low frequency (4 kHz) rotating spoke and an analysis method using the Hilbert transform are shown. We find that the rotating spoke oscillation conducts approximately a third of the cross field current in our Penning device.

Beta Oscillations Distinguish Between Two Forms of Mental Imagery While Gamma and Theta Activity Reflects Auditory Attention

Visual sensory processing of external events decreases when attention is internally oriented toward self-generated thoughts and also differences in attenuation have been shown depending on the thought’s modality (visual or auditory thought). The present study aims to assess whether such modulations occurs also in auditory modality. In order to investigate auditory sensory modulations, we compared a passive listening condition with two conditions in which attention was internally oriented as a part of a task; a visual imagery condition and an inner speech condition. EEG signal was recorded from 20 participants while they were exposed to auditory probes during these three conditions. ERP results showed no differences in N1 auditory response comparing the three conditions reflecting maintenance of evoked electrophysiological reactivity for auditory modality. Nonetheless, time-frequency analyses showed that gamma and theta power in frontal regions was higher for passive listening than for internal attentional conditions. Specifically, the reduced amplitude in early gamma and theta band during both inward attention conditions may reflect reduced conscious attention of the current auditory stimulation. Finally, different pattern of beta band activity was observed only during visual imagery which can reflect cross-modal integration between visual and auditory modalities and it can distinguish this form of mental imagery from the inner speech. Taken together, these results showed that attentional suppression mechanisms in auditory modality are different from visual modality during mental imagery processes. Our results about oscillatory activity also confirm the important role of gamma oscillations in auditory processing and the differential neural dynamics underlying the visual and auditory/verbal imagery.

Selecting native perennial plants for ecological intensification in Mediterranean greenhouse horticulture

Natural control by predators and parasitoids provides an important and often unnoticed ecosystem service to agricultural landscapes by reducing pest populations in crops. The current model of horticultural intensification in south-eastern Spain produces high yields but has also resulted in a landscape almost completely covered by plastic. Promoting natural areas among greenhouses could enhance biodiversity, by being beneficial insects, and reduce pest pressure outdoors. The first step is to ascertain how pests and their natural enemies (NEs) use Mediterranean vegetation for selecting the best plants for pest suppression outdoors. The abundance of the two major horticultural pests, the tobacco whitefly, Bemisia tabaci, and the western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis, together with their NEs, were assayed in 22 flowering perennial plants, which were newly planted in an experimental field surrounded by greenhouses. Eight plant species were identified as the most critical species for sustaining pest populations outdoors. A set of five plant species supported a medium level of pests, and another set of ten plant species supported the lowest level of both pests. Tobacco whitefly occurred in a few plants species, whereas western flower thrips occurred on almost all the plant species studied, and was favoured by the presence of flowers in perennial plants. The results suggest that plant diversity may provide relatively few acceptable host plants for tobacco whitefly than for western flower thrips. NEs were generally collected in plants that also supported abundance of pests, indicating that host/prey availability, more than food resources from flowers, was a stronger predictor of NE abundance in perennial plants. Field trials using the plants with the lowest host acceptance by pests are needed in order to ascertain whether pest abundance outdoors is reduced.

Assessing the competences associated with a nursing Bachelor thesis by means of rubrics

BACKGROUND

Writing a Bachelor thesis is the last step in obtaining a university degree. The thesis may be job- or research-orientated, but it must demonstrate certain degree-level competences. Rubrics are a useful way of unifying the assessment criteria.

OBJECTIVES

To design a system of rubrics for assessing the competences associated with the Bachelor thesis of a nursing degree, to examine the system's reliability and validity and to analyse results in relation to the final thesis mark.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional and psychometric study conducted between 2012 and 2014.

SETTINGS

Nursing degree at a Spanish university.

PARTICIPANTS

Twelve tutors who designed the system of rubrics. Students (n = 76) who wrote their Bachelor thesis during the 2013-2014 academic year.

METHODS

After deciding which aspects would be assessed, who would assess them and when, the tutors developed seven rubrics (drafting process, assessment of the written thesis by the supervisor and by a panel, student self-assessment, peer assessment, tutor evaluation of the peer assessment and panel assessment of the viva). We analysed the reliability (inter-rater and internal consistency) and validity (convergent and discriminant) of the rubrics, and also the relationship between the competences assessed and the final thesis mark.

RESULTS

All the rubrics had internal consistency coefficients >0.80. The rubric for oral communication skills (viva) yielded inter-rater reliability of 0.95. Factor analysis indicated a unidimensional structure for all but one of the rubrics, the exception being the rubric for peer assessment, which had a two-factor structure. The main competences associated with a good quality Bachelor thesis were written communication skills and the ability to work independently.

CONCLUSION

The assessment system based on seven rubrics is shown to be valid and reliable. Writing a Bachelor thesis requires a range of degree-level competences and it offers nursing students the opportunity to develop their evidence-based practice skills.

Diagnosis of alpha1-antitrypsin deficiency not just in severe COPD

Alpha1-antitrypsin deficiency (AATD) is a well known genetic risk factor for pulmonary disease and is the most frequent hereditary disease diagnosed in adults. Despite being one of the most common hereditary diseases, AATD remains under-diagnosed because of its variable clinical presentation and the poor knowledge of this disease by physicians. With the aim of identifying clinical differences that could influence early diagnosis, we compared two groups of six AATD Pi*ZZ patients with different lung function severity and clinical expression at diagnosis. On comparing the two groups, we observed a younger mean age at diagnosis and more exacerbations in the severe group, but the percentage of smokers did not statistically differ between the two groups. Our results suggest that AATD continues being a disease suspected on younger patients with a worse lung function. In addition these findings confirm the clinical variability of the disease and that there are still unknown factors that contribute to its development. Therefore, early diagnosis may modify the prognosis of this disease.

Asbestos-related disease in upholsterers

Before its use was banned in developed countries, asbestos was widely applied in upholstery. However, the risk of asbestos diseases among upholsterers has only rarely been reported. In this case series, we present a first series of 6 workers employed in small workshops who developed several asbestos-related diseases, including pleural plaques, pleural fibrosis, and asbestosis. Exposures were intermittent and difficult to quantify, but lung asbestos content assessed by bronchoalveolar lavage was high in the 3 patients evaluated. In conclusion, upholstery work should be considered an at-risk occupation for developing asbestos-related diseases during the 20th century.

Phenotype and natural history of elderly onset inflammatory bowel disease: a multicentre, case-control study

BACKGROUND

Onset during old age has been reported in upto 10% of total cases of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

AIM

To evaluate phenotypic characteristics and the use of therapeutic resources in patients with elderly onset IBD.

METHODS

Case-control study including all those patients diagnosed with IBD over the age of 60 years since 2000 who were followed-up for >12 months, identified from the IBD databases. Elderly onset cases were compared with IBD patients aged 18 to 40 years at diagnosis, matched by year of diagnosis, gender and type of IBD (adult-onset).

RESULTS

One thousand three hundred and seventy-four elderly onset and 1374 adult-onset cases were included (62% ulcerative colitis (UC), 38% Crohn's disease (CD)). Among UC patients, elderly onset cases had a lower proportion of extensive disease (33% vs 39%; P < 0.0001). In CD, elderly onset cases showed an increased rate of stenosing pattern (24% vs 13%; P < 0.0001) and exclusive colonic location (28% vs 16%; P < 0.0001), whereas penetrating pattern (12% vs 19%; P < 0.0001) was significantly less frequent. Regarding the use of therapeutic resources, there was a significantly lower use of corticosteroids (P < 0.0001), immunosuppressants (P < 0.0001) and anti-TNFs agents (P < 0.0001) in elderly onset cases. Regarding surgery, we found a significantly higher surgery rate among elderly onset UC cases (8.3% vs 5.1%; P < 0.009). Finally, elderly onset cases were characterised by a higher rate of hospitalisations (66% vs 49%; P < 0.0001) and neoplasms (14% vs 0.5%; P < 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

Elderly onset IBD shows specific characteristics and they are managed differently, with a lower use of immunosuppressants and a higher rate of surgery in UC.