Emotional Intelligence, Sense of Coherence, Engagement and Coping: A Cross-Sectional Study of University Students’ Health

11 páginasIt is important to consider university settings as sustainable environments that promote student well-being. Our aim in this study was to determine how the variables of engagement, emotional intelligence, sense of coherence, and coping influence the health of students at a Spanish university. This was a descriptive, cross-sectional study. The instruments of measures administered were: The General Health Questionnaire, Trait Meta-Mood Scale, UterchWork Engagement Scale, sense of coherence and brief coping scale to 463 students. The results showed that better-perceived health was associated with higher scores for dedication, vigor, clarity, repair, sense of coherence, active coping, positive reframing, and humor. Conversely, poorer perceived health was associated with higher scores for attention, instrumental support, self-distraction, venting, religion, denial, self-blaming, emotional support, and behavioral disengagement. In addition, the variables analyzed presented di erences by sex. Our proposed predictive model of health and the associations between variables indicate the need to cultivate emotional skills, such as mood repair, a sense of coherence, and coping strategies, in order to promote student health. Facilitating students’ acquisition of knowledge and resources by analyzing these and other variables can contribute to individual well-being and help university students to cope with present and future academic challenges.S

Abordaje de la insuficiencia cardiaca amiloidótica desde la pluripatología

A 88-year-old patient with personal clinical record of heart failure with left ventricular hypertrophy preserved ejection fraction and paroxysmal atrial flutter, is admitted due to a right heart failure, being diagnosed of natural transthyretin cardial amyloidosis. We approach the diagnostic process and its implications under the view of pluripathology which allows us to maintain the balance between nihilism and obstinacy upon the advances of the disease.  Paciente de 88 años con antecedentes de insuficiencia cardíaca, hipertrofia ventricular izquierda con fracción de eyección preservada y flutter auricular paroxístico. Ingresó por insuficiencia cardíaca de predominio derecho, siendo diagnosticada finalmente de amiloidosis cardíaca por transtiretina natural. Abordamos el proceso diagnóstico y las implicaciones del mismo desde una visión global e integradora que nos permite mantener el equilibrio entre el nihilismo y la obstinación ante los avances que se están produciendo en esta enfermedad

Multispectroscopic methodology to study Libyan desert glass and its formation conditions

Libyan desert glass (LDG) is a melt product whose origin is still a matter of controversy. With the purpose of adding new information about this enigma, the present paper analyzes the inner part of LDG specimens and compares them with the results of LDG surfaces. An integrated analytical methodology was used combining different techniques such as Raman spectroscopy, in point-by-point and imaging modes, scanning electron microscopy with X-ray microanalysis (SEM-EDS), energy-dispersive micro X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (μ-EDXRF), electron probe micro analyzer (EPMA), and optical cathodoluminescence (Optical-CL). According to our results, flow structures of the melt and the amorphous nature of the matrix could be discerned. Moreover, the observed displacement of Raman bands, such as in the cases of quartz and zircon, and the identification of certain compounds such as coesite (the most clarifying phase of high pressures), α-cristobalite, gypsum, anhydrite, corundum, rutile, amorphous calcite, aragonite, and calcite allowed us to know that LDGs could be subjected to shock pressures between 6 and more than 30 GPa, and temperatures between 300 and 1470 °C. The differences of temperature and pressure would be provoked by different cooling processes during the impact. Besides, in most cases the minerals corresponding to high pressure and temperatures were located in the inner part of the LDGs, with some exceptions that could be explained because they were trapped subsequently to the impact; there was more than one impact or heterogeneous cooling. Furthermore, nitrogen and oxygen gases were identified inside bubbles, which could have been introduced from the terrestrial atmosphere during the meteorite impact. These data helped us to clarify some clues about the origin of these enigmatic samples.Proyecto MINECO Retos de la Sociedad. Ref. ESP2014-56138-C3-2-

A circular economy framework for seafood waste valorisation to meet challenges and opportunities for intensive production and sustainability

There is a growing concern among societies and consumers over food security and the sustainability of food production systems. For seafood, it has been highly advocated as a healthy food source and its sustainability credentials. However, the increasing global demand for seafood and the need to supply the quantities are creating sustainability issues, e.g., the importation of plant and marine proteins for aquafeed production. Consequently, there is a necessary need to analyse the supply chain and life cycle of these systems to determine their sustainability merits and how to enhance them. The circular economy (CE) aims to reduce processing by-product underutilisation, increase the rate of reuse, and reduce pressure on natural resources and systems. For seafood, there are large quantities of biomass that are being lost through bycatch/discards, waste from aquaculture (e.g., sludge and wastewater), and by-products generated through processing (e.g., trimmings and offal). These can all be valorised for the generation of feeds, value-added products, or further food production. This review will focus on seafood by-products generated during the processing into consumer products, and the current methods that could be used to manage or treat these waste streams. The review presents a stepwise framework that outlines valorisation opportunities for seafood by-products. This framework can enable producers, operators, regulators, and investors to integrate with the principles of the CE with the consideration of achieving economic viability. The challenges of seafood loss due to climate change and emerging recycling strategies will also need to be considered and integrated into the valorisation pathways. Communication, education, and engagement with stakeholders are key to transitioning to a circular economy. Where increase awareness and acceptance will create drivers and demand for seafood by-product valorisation. Overall, the impact of such a circular production system will potentially lead to higher production efficiency, reduce demand for natural resources, and greater seafood production. All of which addresses many of the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals by contributing towards future food security and sustainability.This work was supported by the EAPA_576/2018 NEPTUNUS project. The authors would like to acknowledge the financial support of Interreg Atlantic Area. A.H.L Wan was co-funded under the HYDROfish project (2019–2022) which was funded under the Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund (DTIF), established under Project Ireland 2040, run by the Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment with administrative support from Enterprise Ireland. His opinions expressed are his own. The authors would also like to thank Matt Bell for his editorial assistance

Endothelial Progenitor Cells as a Potential Biomarker in Interstitial Lung Disease Associated with Rheumatoid Arthritis

Interstitial lung disease (ILD) increases morbidity and mortality in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Although the pathogenesis of ILD associated with RA (RA-ILD+) remains poorly defined, vascular tissue is crucial in lung physiology. In this context, endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) are involved in endothelial tissue repair. However, little is known about their implication in RA-ILD+. Accordingly, we aimed to investigate the potential role of EPC related to endothelial damage in RA-ILD+. EPC quantification in peripheral blood from 80 individuals (20 RA-ILD+ patients, 25 RA-ILD? patients, 21 idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) patients, and 14 healthy controls) was performed by flow cytometry. EPC were considered as CD34+, CD45low, CD309+ and CD133+. A significant increase in EPC frequency in RA-ILD+ patients, as well as in RA-ILD? and IPF patients, was found when compared with controls (p < 0.001, p = 0.02 and p < 0.001, respectively). RA-ILD+ patients exhibited a higher EPC frequency than the RA-ILD? ones (p = 0.003), but lower than IPF patients (p < 0.001). Our results suggest that EPC increase may represent a reparative compensatory mechanism in patients with RA-ILD+. The degree of EPC frequency may help to identify the presence of ILD in RA patients and to discriminate RA-ILD+ from IPFThis work was partially supported by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and ‘Fondo de Investigación Sanitaria’ [PI18/00043] from Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Health Ministry, Spain. VP-C is supported by a pre-doctoral grant from IDIVAL [PREVAL 18/01]. SR-M is supported by funds of RETICS Program [RD16/0012/0009, ISCIII, co-funded by ERDF]. BA-M is a recipient of a ‘López Albo’ Post-Residency Programme funded by Servicio Cántabro de Salud. LL-G is supported by funds of ISCIII, co-funded by ERDF [PI18/00042]. OG is beneficiary of a grant funded by Xunta de Galicia, Consellería de Educación, Universidade Formación Profesional and Consellería de Economía, Emprego e Industria (GAIN), GPC IN607B2019/10. RL-M is a recipient of a Miguel Servet type I fellowship [ISCIII, co-funded by European Social Fund—ESF, CP16/00033]

Structure and function of the N-terminal extension of the formin INF2

In INF2—a formin linked to inherited renal and neurological disease in humans—the DID is preceded by a short N-terminal extension of unknown structure and function. INF2 activation is achieved by Ca2+-dependent association of calmodulin (CaM). Here, we show that the N-terminal extension of INF2 is organized into two α-helices, the first of which is necessary to maintain the perinuclear F-actin ring and normal cytosolic F-actin content. Biochemical assays indicated that this helix interacts directly with CaM and contains the sole CaM-binding site (CaMBS) detected in INF2. The residues W11, L14 and L18 of INF2, arranged as a 1-4-8 motif, were identified as the most important residues for the binding, W11 being the most critical of the three. This motif is conserved in vertebrate INF2 and in the human population. NMR and biochemical analyses revealed that CaM interacts directly through its C-terminal lobe with the INF2 CaMBS. Unlike control cells, INF2 KO cells lacked the perinuclear F-actin ring, had little cytosolic F-actin content, did not respond to increased Ca2+ concentrations by making more F-actin, and maintained the transcriptional cofactor MRTF predominantly in the cytoplasm. Whereas expression of intact INF2 restored all these defects, INF2 with inactivated CaMBS did not. Our study reveals the structure of the N-terminal extension, its interaction with Ca2+/CaM, and its function in INF2 activatio