Wave attenuation modelling by submerged vegetation: ecological and engineering analysis

The correct address of wave characteristics in the vicinity of submerged vegetation is crucial to perform an ecological analysis. Although several attempts have been done in the past using an analytical approach or depth averaged models, the rigidity of the assumptions used to solve the physics produced limited application to real cases. The use of a NS model called IH-2VOF is used first to minimize the number of predefined assumptions for wave propagation and the non-linear interactions between waves and plants and second to explore the possibility to improve existing turbulence models to consider wave interaction with vegetation. The IH2-VOF model has been validated using large scale experiments developed by Stratigaki et al. (2011). The model has shown a high degree of accordance between the lab data and the numerical predictions in free surface evolution. Numerical predictions of the velocity field have been compared both over and inside the vegetation showing also a high degree of accordance. Drag coefficients obtained during the model calibration are in accordance with previous studies such as Mendez et al. (1999). The influence of wave height, wave period, water depth and patch density have been studied using additional numerical simulations with irregular waves. Both the wave period and the water depth have been revealed as the most important parameters in the modification of the flow patterns around the patch

Psychometric analysis of the prospective and retrospective memory questionnaire

Para poder cuantificar e investigar científicamente las quejas mnésicas de los pacientes, se hace necesario contar con un instrumento adaptado y que presente análisis psicométricos adecuados. El objetivo del presente trabajo fue estudiar propiedades psicométricas de una versión argentina del Cuestionario de Memoria Prospectiva y Retrospectiva. Para ello se administró el Cuestionario de Memoria Prospectiva y Retrospectiva de forma individual a 192 participantes sanos con más de 27 puntos en el Mini Mental State Examination. La media de edad fue de 39.67 años (DE = 12.3). La media de escolaridad fue de 14.5 años (DE = 2.72). A un subgrupo de participantes (n = 45) denominado Subgrupo A, también se les administraron pruebas de memoria prospectiva y retrospectiva. El Índice Global del Cuestionario presentó una distribución normal. Según el análisis factorial exploratorio se estableció la extracción de un factor que explicó el 35.19 % de la varianza. El coeficiente α de Cronbach fue de .87. La confiabilidad estimada por el método de la división por mitades fue de .73 y de .84 luego de la corrección con la fórmula de Spearman-Brown. No hubo correlación significativa entre las respuestas del cuestionario y los test de memoria retro y prospectiva en el subgrupo A. Estos resultados permiten concluir que el Cuestionario de Memoria Prospectiva y Retrospectiva presenta adecuados índices de confiabilidad y una estructura de un solo factor. Si bien no se asocia con el rendimiento objetivo en pruebas de memoria, muestra ser apropiado para el registro de las quejas subjetivas de los pacientes en la región de estudio.Memory complaints are the reason for consultation in many cases of neurological injuries and in the majority of aged people who attend the neurological clinic. The presence of memory complaints is a diagnostic criterion for mild cognitive impairment, for which it is necessary to have an appropriate and specific instrument, which would allow us to quantify and scientifically investigate it. The aim of the present study is to analyze the psychometric properties of an Argentine version of the Prospective and Retrospective Memory Questionnaire: the factorial structure of the test; its internal consistency; correlations of the questionnaire with an objective measurement of retro and prospective memory; and correlations of the questionnaire with affective-emotional variables. The Mexican version of the Prospective and Retrospective Memory Questionnaire was administered individually to 192 healthy participants who achieved more than 27 point in the Mini Mental State Examination. A modification was made to the syntax of two sentences in order to increase the comprehensibility. A Global, Prospective and a Retrospective Index of the questionnaire was calculated for each participant. Anxiety (the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory: STAI) and depression (the Beck’s Depression Inventory-II) scales were also administered. The mean age was 39.67 years (SD = 12.3). The average of schooling was 14.5 years (SD = 2.72). We also selected a subgroup of participants (n = 45) with a mean age of 37.58 years (SD = 11.4), and an average schooling in years of 14.36 (SD = 3). In addition to the memory questionnaire, this subgroup, called the A Subgroup, was administered prospective (El Cóndor test) and retrospective (The Selective Memory Test) objective memory tests. The mean in the Global Index was 32.25 (SD = 8.49), in the Prospective Index it was 17.3 (SD = 5.01) and in the Retrospective Index it was 14.95 (SD = 4.07). The test for normality of the distribution of the Global Index Kolmogorov-Smirnov (K-S) was Z = 1.031, p = .238. In the same way, the other two scores of the questionnaire show a normal curve, K-S of the Prospective Index Z = 1.109, p = .171; K-S of the Retrospective Index Z = 1.264, p = .082. According to the exploratory factor analysis through the Maximum Likelihood extraction method, a single factor explained 35.19 % of the variance. The Cronbach’s α coefficient was .87. The reliability estimated by the split-half method was .73 and .84 after correction with the Spearman-Brown formula. There was a significant positive correlation of mild degree between the Global Questionnaire Index and the STAI Trait, r = .33, p = .013, and with the IDB-II, r = .23, p = .127. There was no significant correlation between the questionnaire responses and the retro and prospective memory objective tests in the A Subgroup. The Prospective and Retrospective Memory Questionnaire presents adequate reliability indexes and a single factor structure. The results indicate that the questionnaire associates with anxiety and depression in a positive way, but not with the objective measures of retro and prospective memory, in coincidence with the literature about the relationship between cognitive complaints and cognitive tests performance. In sum, this study shows that the questionnaire is an appropriate instrument to quantify patient’s memory complaints and particularly for its use in the study region. This study is the first in the country to investigate the psychometric properties of the Prospective and Retrospective Memory Questionnaire, widely used in neuropsychological clinic and research around the world. Efforts should be made to obtain normative data and validation in the pathological population of interest.Fil: Cores, Evangelina Valeria. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Provincia de Buenos Aires. Ministerio de Salud. Hospital Interzonal de Agudos "Eva Perón"; ArgentinaFil: Crespi, Melina Claudia. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Psicología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Eizaguirre, María Bárbara. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital General de Agudos; ArgentinaFil: Merino, Ángeles. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital General de Agudos; ArgentinaFil: Yastremiz, Cecilia Mariel. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital General de Agudos; ArgentinaFil: Vanotti, Sandra. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital General de Agudos; ArgentinaFil: Politis, Daniel Gustavo. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Psicología; Argentina. Provincia de Buenos Aires. Ministerio de Salud. Hospital Interzonal de Agudos "Eva Perón"; Argentin

Environmental management of seaport water bodies: application to the port of Tarragona

RESUMEN. Puertos del Estado, tras la aprobación de la Directiva Marco del Agua (DMA), consideró esencial el proporcionar herramientas científica y técnicamente sólidas que pudieran contribuir a la gestión de las aguas portuarias. Fruto de esta inquietud, se desarrolló la ROM 5.1 “Calidad de aguas litorales en áreas portuarias”, procedimiento fácil de implementar dentro de los esquemas de gestión portuaria, y económicamente viable. La aplicación de la ROM 5.1 al Puerto de Tarragona ha permitido confirmar que dicha recomendación permite llevar a cabo una gestión integral de los sistemas acuáticos portuarios coherente con los principios establecidos por la Directiva Marco del Agua.ABSTRACT. On the passing of the EU Water Framework Directive (WFD), Puertos del Estado, Spain’s national port agency, considered it essential to provide scientific and technically proven tools to contribute to the management of seaport waters. This led to the development of the ROM 5.1 (Recommendations for Maritime Works) “Quality of coastal waters in seaport areas”, an economically viable procedure that may be readily implemented within port management schemes. The application of the ROM 5.1 to the Port of Tarragona has confirmed the validity of these recommendations to ensure the integral management of port water bodies in accordance with the guidelines established by the Water Framework Directive

The Effect of Culture on Two Information-Processing Speed Tests

The Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT) has been proposed to replace the Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test-3 (PASAT-3) in the Multiple Sclerosis Functional Composite because it has the same validity but easy and shorter administration. However, among the two tests, the one that is most affected by culture is still unknown. The purpose of this study was to compare the performance of Argentinian and North American populations on the SDMT and PASAT-3. The SDMT and PASAT-3 were administered to 137 healthy volunteers from Buffalo, NY, and 137 healthy participants from Buenos Aires, Argentina. Participants were matched by gender, age (±2), and education (±1). Significant differences were found on the SDMT but not on the PASAT-3. Significant and low correlations were found between the tests and years of education. The SDMT is more affected by culture than is the PASAT-3. Possible interpretations of this result are presented.Fil: Cores, Evangelina Valeria. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital General de Agudos "Ramos Mejía"; ArgentinaFil: Vanotti, Sandra. Instituto de Neurociencias Buenos Aires S. A.; ArgentinaFil: Eizaguirre, María Bárbara. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital General de Agudos "Ramos Mejía"; ArgentinaFil: Fiorentini, Leticia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital General de Agudos "Ramos Mejía"; ArgentinaFil: Garcea, Orlando. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital General de Agudos "Ramos Mejía"; ArgentinaFil: Benedict, Ralph. State University of New York; Estados UnidosFil: Caseres, Feraando. Instituto de Neurociencias Buenos Aires S. A.; Argentin

Estatus laboral y rendimiento cognitivo en pacientes con esclerosis múltiple de curso recurrente-remitente

La discapacidad física y el curso de la enfermedad son fuertes predictores del estatus laboral en los pacientes con Esclerosis Múltiple (EM). Sin embargo, la cognición no tiene el mismo grado de evidencia. Este estudio plantea el objetivo de investigar la relación entre la situación laboral y el rendimiento cognitivo en la EM. Se recogieron los datos de 61 pacientes con EM de curso recurrente-remitente (EMRR) que fueron a atenderse en un hospital público entre abril de 2014 y abril de 2015. El 29.5% estaban desempleados, el 54.1% estaban empleados y el 10.4% eran estudiantes o amas de casa. Se implementaron como test neuropsicológicos la Batería Neuropsicológica Breve para Esclerosis Múltiple y el test Símbolo-Dígito. Además se administraron la Escala de Estatus de Discapacidad Expandida y el Inventario de Depresión de Beck II. La evaluación se realizó de forma individual en dos sesiones, una con el neurólogo y otra con el neuropsicólogo en un consultorio privado. Las diferencias no fueron significativas en edad y años de instrucción entre los pacientes con y sin empleo. En cambio, los pacientes desempleados tenían un puntaje más bajo en el Símbolo-Dígito, así como la Escala de Estatus de Discapacidad Expandida y un Inventario de Depresión de Beck más altos que aquellos con trabajos. Los pacientes con EMRR que estaban desempleados tenían un peor desempeño en la velocidad de procesamiento de la información, más depresión y discapacidad física que aquellos que conservan sus trabajos.Background: Physical disability and disease course are both strong predictors of work status in Multiple Sclerosis (MS) patients, however, cognition does not have the same degree of evidence. This study raises the aim of investigating the relationship between employment status and cognitive performance in MS.Methods: We collected the data of 61 patients with relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) who had attended consultation between April 2014 and April 2015, in a public hospital. 29.5% were unemployed; 54.1% were employed; and 10.4% were students or housewives. The Brief Repeatable Battery of Neuropsychology Tests; Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT), Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) and Beck Depression Inventory, were administered individually in two sessions, one with a neurologist and one with the neuropsychologist in a private consulting room.Results: Age and years of instruction differences between patients with and without employment were not significant. Unemployed patients had lower SDMT score and higher EDSS and depression, than those with jobs.Conclusions: Patients with RRMS who are unemployed have worse performance in speed of information processing, more depression and physical disability than those who retain their jobs.Fil: Cores, Evangelina Valeria. Provincia de Buenos Aires. Ministerio de Salud. Hospital Interzonal de Agudos "Eva Perón"; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Silva, Berenice Anabel. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital General de Agudos "Ramos Mejía"; ArgentinaFil: Eizaguirre, María Bárbara. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital General de Agudos "Ramos Mejía"; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Filosofía y Letras; ArgentinaFil: Merino, Angeles. Instituto de Neurociencias Buenos Aires S. A.; Argentina. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital General de Agudos "Ramos Mejía"; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: Vanotti, Sandra Inés. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital General de Agudos "Ramos Mejía"; ArgentinaFil: Garcea, Orlando. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital General de Agudos "Ramos Mejía"; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires; Argentin

Imaginería motriz en pacientes con Parkinson: el paradigma de la cronometría mental

Introducción y Objetivos: La Imaginería Motriz (IM) es la habilidad de crear imágenes mentales de un acto motor. Puede ser evaluada a través del paradigma de cronometría mental que mide el tiempo que tarda el paciente en imaginarse mentalmente un movimiento y compararlo con el tiempo de ejecución del mismo. El objetivo es evaluar la IM en pacientes con Enfermedad de Parkinson (EP). Material y Métodos Fueron reclutados 29 pacientes con EP. Edad M=66,03 (DE=7,79); escolaridad M=9,48 (DE=4,22), y 19 participantes sanos de edad M=69,53 (DE=6,97); escolaridad M=9,84 (DE=4,75). La IM fue evaluada a través del test Box and Block donde el participante transfiere 20 bloques de un lado al otro de una caja durante la ejecución real y hace lo mismo pero de forma imaginaria en la fase de IM. Resultados: El tiempo de ejecución de los pacientes fue de M=34,67 segundos (DE = 11,1) y el tiempo de IM fue de M=28,88 (DE =10,7). Para los controles el tiempo de ejecución fue de M=27,15 (DE=6,89); y el de IM fue de M=22,56 (DE=6,54). La diferencia entre pacientes y controles fue estadísticamente significativa en Ejecución (p=.012), aunque no alcanzó la significación en IM (p=.051). Asimismo, el tiempo de IM fue menor que el tiempo de Ejecución tanto en los pacientes (p =.005) como en el grupo control (p =.027). Discusión: Los pacientes son más lentos para imaginarse y realizar la tarea motriz. Además, muestran una diferencia similar entre los tiempos de ambas tareas que las personas sanas.Introduction and Objective: Motor Imagery (MI) is the ability to create mental representations of a motor act. It can be assessed trough the mental chronometry paradigm, in which the time it takes to make a movement by a patient is recorded and then compared to the time it takes to actually performed it. The aim is to assessed MI in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD). Materials and Method: Twenty nine patients with PD were recruited, age M=64.68 (SD=9,1), education M=28,88 (DE =10,7), and 19 healthy participants, age M=64,68 (SD=6,97); education M=9,84 (SD=4,75). The MI was assessed trough the Box and Block test were participants must transfer 20 blocks from one side of a box to the other in the execution phase and the same movement mentally in the MI phase. Results: The execution time of patients was M=34,67 seconds (SD = 11,1) and the MI time was M=28,88 (SD =10,7). For the control group execution time was M=27,15 (SD=6,89) and the MI time was M=22,56 (SD=6,54). Difference between patients and controls were significant in the execution phase, (p=.012), although in MI the difference did not reach statistical significance (p=.051). Meanwhile, MI time was lower than execution time in both patients (p =.005) and controls (p =.027). Discussion: Patients with PD are slower in the imagination and in the real performance of a movement. Also, they show a similar difference between the times of both conditions than healthy participants.Fil: Cores, Evangelina Valeria. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital General de Agudos "Ramos Mejía"; ArgentinaFil: Merino, Ángeles. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital General de Agudos "Ramos Mejía"; ArgentinaFil: Eizaguirre, María Bárbara. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital General de Agudos "Ramos Mejía"; ArgentinaFil: Vanotti, Sandra. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital General de Agudos "Ramos Mejía"; ArgentinaFil: Rodríguez Quiroga, Sergio Alejandro. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital General de Agudos "Ramos Mejía"; ArgentinaFil: Arakaki, Tomoko. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital General de Agudos "Ramos Mejía"; ArgentinaFil: Garreto, Nélida Susana. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital General de Agudos "Ramos Mejía"; Argentin

Contextual Factors Matter: The Role of Social Support in Work-Related Difficulties and Employment Status in Persons with Multiple Sclerosis

Background: People with Multiple Sclerosis (PwMS) have reported a higher unemployment rate compared to the general population. The complexity of environmental-contextual factors, such as structural and functional social support, may influence employment status (ES). Objectives: to study the relationship between perceived social support and ES, assess the effects of potential mediators, and analyze how these predictors influence components of ES, including absenteeism, work harassment, negative work events, and the use of accommodations. Material and Method: 90 PwMS were recruited. A single-visit assessment included: the Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Survey (MOS-SSS), the Buffalo Vocational Monitoring Survey, the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT), patient-reported outcomes measuring depression (Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) and fatigue (Fatigue Severity Scale), and the EDSS. Results: Sixty-three (70%) of PwMS were employed. Mediation analysis revealed the involvement of BDI-II and SDMT in the relationship between social support and ES. The functional social support of friends had a significant effect onabsenteeism and NWEs. Total functional support was related to harassment, while family support had a significant effect on accommodations. Conclusion: These results show that structural and functional social support, in relation to the clinical variables of the disease, increase the probability of employment and a better quality of work.Fil: Román, María Sol. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Psicología; ArgentinaFil: González, Federico Martín. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Psicología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Bardoneschi, Lara. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Psicología; ArgentinaFil: Herrera Fernández, Matias. No especifíca;Fil: Eizaguirre, María Bárbara. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Psicología; Argentina. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital General de Agudos "Ramos Mejía"; ArgentinaFil: Cáceres, Fernando. No especifíca;Fil: Benedict, Ralph H. B.. University Of Buffalo; Estados UnidosFil: Rivera, Victor M.. Baylor College Of Medicine (baylor College Of Medicine);Fil: Vanotti, Sandra. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Psicología; Argentin

Symbol digit modalities test-oral version: an analysis of culture influence on a processing speed test in Argentina, Mexico, and the USA

The Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT) is an information processing speed test. The aim of this study was to compare the SDMT across three samples: the USA, Mexico, and Argentina. The hypothesis is that performance will vary based on native language and cultural differences between these countries. The SDMT was administered to 129 healthy volunteers. Participants from the USA performed better than participants from Argentina and Mexico (p < .01), and no differences were observed between the latter groups (p = .15). Processing speed differs between the studied populations of Latin America and Anglo-America. Possible interpretations of this result are presented.Fil: Eizaguirre, María Bárbara. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Psicología. Instituto de Investigaciones; ArgentinaFil: Vanotti, Sandra. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Psicología. Instituto de Investigaciones; Argentina. Instituto de Neurociencias Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: Aguayo Arelis, Adriana. Universidad de Guadalajara; MéxicoFil: Rabago Barajas, Brenda. Universidad de Guadalajara; MéxicoFil: Cores, Evangelina Valeria. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Provincia de Buenos Aires. Ministerio de Salud. Hospital Interzonal de Agudos "Eva Perón"; ArgentinaFil: Macías, Miguel Angel. Universidad de Guadalajara; MéxicoFil: Benedict, Ralph H. B.. University at Buffalo; Estados UnidosFil: Cáceres, Fernando. Instituto de Neurociencias Buenos Aires; Argentin

Contemporary use of cefazolin for MSSA infective endocarditis: analysis of a national prospective cohort

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the real use of cefazolin for methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) infective endocarditis (IE) in the Spanish National Endocarditis Database (GAMES) and to compare it with antistaphylococcal penicillin (ASP). Methods: Prospective cohort study with retrospective analysis of a cohort of MSSA IE treated with cloxacillin and/or cefazolin. Outcomes assessed were relapse; intra-hospital, overall, and endocarditis-related mortality; and adverse events. Risk of renal toxicity with each treatment was evaluated separately. Results: We included 631 IE episodes caused by MSSA treated with cloxacillin and/or cefazolin. Antibiotic treatment was cloxacillin, cefazolin, or both in 537 (85%), 57 (9%), and 37 (6%) episodes, respectively. Patients treated with cefazolin had significantly higher rates of comorbidities (median Charlson Index 7, P <0.01) and previous renal failure (57.9%, P <0.01). Patients treated with cloxacillin presented higher rates of septic shock (25%, P = 0.033) and new-onset or worsening renal failure (47.3%, P = 0.024) with significantly higher rates of in-hospital mortality (38.5%, P = 0.017). One-year IE-related mortality and rate of relapses were similar between treatment groups. None of the treatments were identified as risk or protective factors. Conclusion: Our results suggest that cefazolin is a valuable option for the treatment of MSSA IE, without differences in 1-year mortality or relapses compared with cloxacillin, and might be considered equally effective