Standard Non-Personalized Electric Field Modeling of Twenty Typical tDCS Electrode Configurations via the Computational Finite Element Method: Contributions and Limitations of Two Different Approaches

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a non-invasive brain stimulation procedure to modulate cortical excitability and related brain functions. tDCS can effectively alter multiple brain functions in healthy humans and is suggested as a therapeutic tool in several neurological and psychiatric diseases. However, variability of results is an important limitation of this method. This variability may be due to multiple factors, including age, head and brain anatomy (including skull, skin, CSF and meninges), cognitive reserve and baseline performance level, specific task demands, as well as comorbidities in clinical settings. Different electrode montages are a further source of variability between tDCS studies. A procedure to estimate the electric field generated by specific tDCS electrode configurations, which can be helpful to adapt stimulation protocols, is the computational finite element method. This approach is useful to provide a priori modeling of the current spread and electric field intensity that will be generated according to the implemented electrode montage. Here, we present standard, non-personalized model-based electric field simulations for motor, dorsolateral prefrontal, and posterior parietal cortex stimulation according to twenty typical tDCS electrode configurations using two different current flow modeling software packages. The resulting simulated maximum intensity of the electric field, focality, and current spread were similar, but not identical, between models. The advantages and limitations of both mathematical simulations of the electric field are presented and discussed systematically, including aspects that, at present, prevent more widespread application of respective simulation approaches in the field of non-invasive brain stimulatio

Oportunistic diagnosis based on age and hepatitis C virus clearance: an essential step to improve the overall health of the liver

© Copyright 2023 y Creative Commons (CC-BY-NC-ND). Sociedad Española de Patología Digestiva (SEPD) y © Arán Ediciones S.L.Back in January 2022, an EASL-Lancet Commission on the impact of liver disorders in the European region commissioned by the WHO demonstrated that this condition is, actually, the second leading cause of loss of labor years in Europe after ischemic heart disease (1). This is a very relevant piece of information since this is something that is going to impact the new generations of Europeans unless a significant change is made in public health policies. Despite the advances made over the last few years in hepatitis C virus clearance—understood as a significant reduction of morbidity and mortality associated with Hepatitis B and C viruses—there are still challenges ahead to improve liver health due to the high use of alcohol, and the inseparable triad obesity / diabetes mellitus / metabolic associated fatty liver disease. Also, access to healthcare for several population groups at risk of presenting higher rates of liver disease has become a problem.This article was supported by the Spanish Association for the Study of the Liver (AEEH), the Alliance for the Clearance of Viral Hepatitis in Spain (AEHVE), the Viral Hepatitis Working Group (GEHEP) of the Spanish Society of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology (SEIMC), the Spanish Society of Digestive Pathology (SEPD), and the Spanish Society of Family and Community Medicine (SEMFyC).Peer reviewe

Effectiveness of a strategy that uses educational games to implement clinical practice guidelines among Spanish residents of family and community medicine (e-EDUCAGUIA project):A clinical trial by clusters

This study was funded by the Fondo de Investigaciones Sanitarias FIS Grant Number PI11/0477 ISCIII.-REDISSEC Proyecto RD12/0001/0012 AND FEDER Funding.Background: Clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) have been developed with the aim of helping health professionals, patients, and caregivers make decisions about their health care, using the best available evidence. In many cases, incorporation of these recommendations into clinical practice also implies a need for changes in routine clinical practice. Using educational games as a strategy for implementing recommendations among health professionals has been demonstrated to be effective in some studies; however, evidence is still scarce. The primary objective of this study is to assess the effectiveness of a teaching strategy for the implementation of CPGs using educational games (e-learning EDUCAGUIA) to improve knowledge and skills related to clinical decision-making by residents in family medicine. The primary objective will be evaluated at 1 and 6months after the intervention. The secondary objectives are to identify barriers and facilitators for the use of guidelines by residents of family medicine and to describe the educational strategies used by Spanish teaching units of family and community medicine to encourage implementation of CPGs. Methods/design: We propose a multicenter clinical trial with randomized allocation by clusters of family and community medicine teaching units in Spain. The sample size will be 394 residents (197 in each group), with the teaching units as the randomization unit and the residents comprising the analysis unit. For the intervention, both groups will receive an initial 1-h session on clinical practice guideline use and the usual dissemination strategy by e-mail. The intervention group (e-learning EDUCAGUIA) strategy will consist of educational games with hypothetical clinical scenarios in a virtual environment. The primary outcome will be the score obtained by the residents on evaluation questionnaires for each clinical practice guideline. Other included variables will be the sociodemographic and training variables of the residents and the teaching unit characteristics. The statistical analysis will consist of a descriptive analysis of variables and a baseline comparison of both groups. For the primary outcome analysis, an average score comparison of hypothetical scenario questionnaires between the EDUCAGUIA intervention group and the control group will be performed at 1 and 6months post-intervention, using 95% confidence intervals. A linear multilevel regression will be used to adjust the model. Discussion: The identification of effective teaching strategies will facilitate the incorporation of available knowledge into clinical practice that could eventually improve patient outcomes. The inclusion of information technologies as teaching tools permits greater learning autonomy and allows deeper instructor participation in the monitoring and supervision of residents. The long-term impact of this strategy is unknown; however, because it is aimed at professionals undergoing training and it addresses prevalent health problems, a small effect can be of great relevance. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02210442.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

Relationship between self-reported dietary intake and physical activity levels among adolescents: The HELENA study

Background Evidence suggests possible synergetic effects of multiple lifestyle behaviors on health risks like obesity and other health outcomes. Therefore it is important to investigate associations between dietary and physical activity behavior, the two most important lifestyle behaviors influencing our energy balance and body composition. The objective of the present study is to describe the relationship between energy, nutrient and food intake and the physical activity level among a large group of European adolescents. Methods The study comprised a total of 2176 adolescents (46.2% male) from ten European cities participating in the HELENA (Healthy Lifestyle in Europe by Nutrition in Adolescence) study. Dietary intake and physical activity were assessed using validated 24-h dietary recalls and self-reported questionnaires respectively. Analyses of covariance (ANCOVA) were used to compare the energy and nutrient intake and the food consumption between groups of adolescents with different physical activity levels (1st to 3rd tertile). Results In both sexes no differences were found in energy intake between the levels of physical activity. The most active males showed a higher intake of polysaccharides, protein, water and vitamin C and a lower intake of saccharides compared to less active males. Females with the highest physical activity level consumed more polysaccharides compared to their least active peers. Male and female adolescents with the highest physical activity levels, consumed more fruit and milk products and less cheese compared to the least active adolescents. The most active males showed higher intakes of vegetables and meat, fish, eggs, meat substitutes and vegetarian products compared to the least active ones. The least active males reported the highest consumption of grain products and potatoes. Within the female group, significantly lower intakes of bread and cereal products and spreads were found for those reporting to spend most time in moderate to vigorous physical activity. The consumption of foods from the remaining food groups, did not differ between the physical activity levels in both sexes. Conclusion It can be concluded that dietary habits diverge between adolescents with different self-reported physical activity levels. For some food groups a difference in intake could be found, which were reflected in differences in some nutrient intakes. It can also be concluded that physically active adolescents are not always inclined to eat healthier diets than their less active peers.The HELENA study took place with the financial support of the European Community Sixth RTD Framework Programme (Contract FOOD-CT: 2005-007034). This work was also partially supported by the European Union, in the framework of the Public Health Programme (ALPHA project, Ref: 2006120), the Swedish Council for Working Life and Social Research (FAS), the Spanish Ministry of Education (EX-2007-1124, and EX-2008-0641), and the Spanish Ministry of Health, Maternal, Child Health and Development Network (number RD08/0072) (JPRL, LAM)

GrassPlot - a database of multi-scale plant diversity in Palaearctic grasslands

GrassPlot is a collaborative vegetation-plot database organised by the Eurasian Dry Grassland Group (EDGG) and listed in the Global Index of Vegetation-Plot Databases (GIVD ID EU-00-003). GrassPlot collects plot records (releves) from grasslands and other open habitats of the Palaearctic biogeographic realm. It focuses on precisely delimited plots of eight standard grain sizes (0.0001; 0.001;... 1,000 m(2)) and on nested-plot series with at least four different grain sizes. The usage of GrassPlot is regulated through Bylaws that intend to balance the interests of data contributors and data users. The current version (v. 1.00) contains data for approximately 170,000 plots of different sizes and 2,800 nested-plot series. The key components are richness data and metadata. However, most included datasets also encompass compositional data. About 14,000 plots have near-complete records of terricolous bryophytes and lichens in addition to vascular plants. At present, GrassPlot contains data from 36 countries throughout the Palaearctic, spread across elevational gradients and major grassland types. GrassPlot with its multi-scale and multi-taxon focus complements the larger international vegetationplot databases, such as the European Vegetation Archive (EVA) and the global database " sPlot". Its main aim is to facilitate studies on the scale-and taxon-dependency of biodiversity patterns and drivers along macroecological gradients. GrassPlot is a dynamic database and will expand through new data collection coordinated by the elected Governing Board. We invite researchers with suitable data to join GrassPlot. Researchers with project ideas addressable with GrassPlot data are welcome to submit proposals to the Governing Board

A multilayered post-GWAS assessment on genetic susceptibility to pancreatic cancer

Funder: Fundación Científica Asociación Española Contra el Cáncer (ES)Funder: Cancer Focus Northern Ireland and Department for Employment and LearningFunder: Intramural Research Program of the Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, USAAbstract: Background: Pancreatic cancer (PC) is a complex disease in which both non-genetic and genetic factors interplay. To date, 40 GWAS hits have been associated with PC risk in individuals of European descent, explaining 4.1% of the phenotypic variance. Methods: We complemented a new conventional PC GWAS (1D) with genome spatial autocorrelation analysis (2D) permitting to prioritize low frequency variants not detected by GWAS. These were further expanded via Hi-C map (3D) interactions to gain additional insight into the inherited basis of PC. In silico functional analysis of public genomic information allowed prioritization of potentially relevant candidate variants. Results: We identified several new variants located in genes for which there is experimental evidence of their implication in the biology and function of pancreatic acinar cells. Among them is a novel independent variant in NR5A2 (rs3790840) with a meta-analysis p value = 5.91E−06 in 1D approach and a Local Moran’s Index (LMI) = 7.76 in 2D approach. We also identified a multi-hit region in CASC8—a lncRNA associated with pancreatic carcinogenesis—with a lowest p value = 6.91E−05. Importantly, two new PC loci were identified both by 2D and 3D approaches: SIAH3 (LMI = 18.24), CTRB2/BCAR1 (LMI = 6.03), in addition to a chromatin interacting region in XBP1—a major regulator of the ER stress and unfolded protein responses in acinar cells—identified by 3D; all of them with a strong in silico functional support. Conclusions: This multi-step strategy, combined with an in-depth in silico functional analysis, offers a comprehensive approach to advance the study of PC genetic susceptibility and could be applied to other diseases

Finite Element Analysis of a Transtibial Prosthesis for a Paralympic Cyclist

Nowadays, finite element analysis techniques are employed are used to reduce costs in the manufacturing process of sports prostheses. This study particularly focuses on the finite element analysis of a design for a transtibial prosthesis of a paralympic cyclist, in which integrated the biomechanics of an athlete with amputation in both legs below the knee with two prostheses categorized before the Union Cycling International (UCI) with a disability of degree C-3, considering the characteristics of the terrain and the dynamic model. The analysis by means of finite elements aims to evaluate the static and dynamic behavior of the proposed design when subjected to a competition in the track-cycling category. As a result of this analysis, mechanical aspects such as: static forces, buckling, frequency, fatigue, free fall, impact and aerodynamics can be evaluated, allowing to verify that the design of the proposed transtibial prosthesis meets an suitable aerodynamic profile and its mechanical characteristics to be used in a high performance Paralympic cycling competition.En la actualidad se emplean técnicas de análisis por elementos finitos para reducir costos en el proceso de fabricación de prótesis deportivas. Este estudio particularmente se centra en el análisis por elementos finitos de un diseño para una prótesis transtibial de un ciclista paralímpico, en el que se integra la biomecánica de un atleta con amputación en ambas piernas por debajo de la rodilla, con dos prótesis categorizado ante la Unión Ciclista Internacional (UCI) con una discapacidad de grado C-3, considerando características del terreno y el modelo dinámico. El análisis por medio de elementos finitos tiene como objetivo evaluar el comportamiento estático y dinámico del diseño propuesto cuando se somete a una competencia en la categoría de ciclismo de pista. Como resultado de este análisis, se pueden evaluar aspectos mecánicos como: esfuerzos estáticos, pandeo, frecuencia, fatiga, caída libre, impacto y aerodinámica, permitiendo verificar que el diseño de la prótesis transtibial propuesto cumple con un perfil aerodinámico idóneo  y sus características mecánicas para ser utilizada en una competencia de ciclismo paralímpico de alto rendimiento

Decision Making, Stress Assessed by Physiological Response and Virtual Reality Stimuli

Many decisions must be made under stress; therefore, stress and decision-making are intrinsically related not only at the behavioral level but also at the neural level. Additionally, virtual reality tools have been proposed as a method to induce stress in the laboratory. This review focuses on answering the following research question: Does stress assessed by physiological variables of a subject under virtual reality stimuli increase the chances of error in decision-making? The reviewed studies were consulted in the following databases: PubMed, IEEE Xplore, and Science Direct. The analysis of the consulted literature indicates that the stress induced in the laboratory using virtual reality tools and the physiological response of the central and autonomous nervous system are complementary subjects and allow the design of training and support systems for the decision-making process. How to cite this article: Mosquera-Dussán, O., Guzmán-Pérez, D., Terán-Ortega, P., García, J., Trujillo-Rojas, C., Zamudio-Palacio, J., & Botero-Rosas, D. (2020). Decision Making, Stress Assessed by Physiological Response and Virtual Reality Stimuli. Revista Colombiana de Psicología, 29(2), 89-103. https://doi.org/10.15446/rcp.v29n2.74280Muitas decisões devem ser tomadas sob estresse, portanto, o estresse e a tomada de decisão estão intrinsecamente relacionados não apenas no nível comportamental, mas também no nível neural. Além disso, ferramentas de realidade virtual têm sido propostas como um método para induzir estresse no laboratório. O presente trabalho de revisão temática se concentra em responder a seguinte questão de pesquisa: "O estresse avaliado por variáveis fisiológicas de um sujeito sob estímulos de realidade virtual aumenta as chances de erro na tomada de decisão?" Os estudos revisados foram consultados nas seguintes bases de dados: PubMed, IEEE Xplorer e Science Direct. A análise da literatura consultada indica que o estresse induzido em laboratório por meio de ferramentas de realidade virtual e a resposta fisiológica do sistema nervoso central e autônomo são temas complementares e permitem o desenho de sistemas de apoio e treinamento para o processo de tomada de decisãoMuchas decisiones deben tomarse bajo estrés, por lo tanto, el estrés y la toma de decisiones están intrínsecamente relacionados, no solo a nivel conductual sino también a nivel neural. Además, las herramientas de realidad virtual se han propuesto como un método para inducir estrés en el laboratorio. El presente trabajo de revisión temática se centra en responder la siguiente pregunta de investigación: ¿El estrés evaluado mediante variables fisiológicas de un sujeto bajo estímulos de realidad virtual aumenta las posibilidades de error en la toma de decisiones? Los estudios revisados fueron consultados en las siguientes bases de datos: PubMed, IEEE Xplore y Science Direct. El análisis de la literatura consultada indica que el estrés inducido en el laboratorio, por medio de herramientas de realidad virtual, y la respuesta fisiológica del sistema nervioso central y autónomo son temas que se complementan y permiten el diseño de sistemas de soporte y entrenamiento para el proceso de toma de decisiones.Cómo citar: Mosquera-Dussán, O., Guzmán-Pérez, D., Terán-Ortega, P., García, J., Trujillo-Rojas, C., Zamudio-Palacio, J., & Botero-Rosas, D. (2020). Decision Making, Stress Assessed by Physiological Response and Virtual Reality Stimuli. Revista Colombiana de Psicología, 29(2), 89-103. https://doi.org/10.15446/rcp.v29n2.7428

Las Escuelas Universitarias de Profesorado de EGB

Estudio descriptivo del subsistema educativo de Formación de Profesorado de EGB, intentando una visión crítica de su estado en todos sus niveles de forma que puedan extraer sugerencias de mejora. Alumnos: 350 de Escuelas Universitarias de Profesorado de EGB de Barcelona, Alicante, Zaragoza, La Coruña y Murcia. Muestra no representativa. -Profesores: fuentes documentales. Revisión de textos legales. -Programas de estudios: 500 alumnos y 400 maestros en ejercicio en la región de Murcia. Alumnado: aplicación de cuestionarios que evalúan aspectos motivacionales, económicos, culturales y recogen datos sociodemográficos. Profesorado: estudio de revisión histórica y legislativa. Canales legales de acceso. Tipos de contratos vigentes. Planes de estudios: antecedentes históricos. Análisis comparado con otros países. Proyectos de reforma curricular. Edificios y centros: análisis de la estructura, descripción de un centro y de un proyecto para un edificio en la Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona. Análisis de las necesidades teóricas de espacio y distribución. Consideraciones prácticas. Cuestionarios de alumnos referidos a los planes de estudio. Planos Centros. Fuentes documentales. Estadística descriptiva. Porcentajes. Alumnos: cierta contradicción, al afirmar haber elegido esta carrera por vocación, a la vez que influye su corta duración; un alto porcentaje piensa cursar otros estudios. Aspectos socio-económicos: predominio de clase media o media baja. Aspectos culturales: un alto porcentaje lee revistas y novelas, música preferida la clásica y frecuente asistencia a exposiciones y menos al cine y otros espectáculos. Profesores: se observa una situación precaria con procesos de selección poco adecuados. Los planes de estudios han estado demasiado vinculados a la Universidad. El actual destaca por la falta de organización y flexibilidad. Se considera adecuado aumentar la duración de los estudios e introducir modificaciones curriculares. Centros: se propone como unidad básica el departamento, en torno al cual se organiza el centro. Los estudios de Magisterio se consideran como trampolín. Nivel cultural medio, relacionado con el status social del alumnado. Profesores: se dan recomendaciones para su perfeccionamiento. Planes de estudios: se ofrece un programa experimental basado en la información manejada. Centros: se ofrecen consideraciones teóricas y prácticas para su diseño, basadas en cuestiones psicopedagógicas.MurciaBiblioteca de Educación del Ministerio de Educación, Cultura y Deporte; Calle San Agustín, 5 - 3 Planta; 28014 Madrid; Tel. +34917748000; Fax +34917748026; [email protected]