PTEN: A master regulator of neuronal structure, function, and plasticity.

PTEN (phosphatase and tensin homolog on chromosome ten) is a dual protein/lipid phosphatase that dephosphorylates PIP3, thereby inhibiting the AKT/mTOR pathway. This inhibition ultimately decreases protein translation, cell proliferation and cell growth. In the central nervous system, inhibition of PTEN leads to increased stem cell proliferation, somatic, dendritic and axonal growth, accelerated spine maturation, diminished synaptic plasticity, and altered intrinsic excitability. In agreement with these findings, patients carrying single-copy inactivating mutations of PTEN suffer from autism, macrocephaly, mental retardation, and epilepsy.(1) (-) (9) Understanding the mechanisms through which PTEN modulates the structure, function, and plasticity of cortical networks is a major focus of study. Preventing and reversing the changes induced by loss of Pten in model animals will pave the way for treatments in humans

Illegal immigration and a heterogeneous labour force. When can quotas generate an internal conflict?

In this paper we analyze the effects on the welfare of heterogeneous native workers in the context of the presence of legal and illegal immigrants, and where the main instrument of economic policy takes the form of entry quotas. In the framework of a model of overlapping generations, we find that these effects are not monotonous. More particularly, we note that in certain circumstances the effects on the native workers of a change in the quota are opposite in nature, depending on whether or not these workers are qualified. The key aspect of this result is, on the one hand, the effect of illegal immigration on wages and, on the other, the part of income generated by the illegal immigrants that is appropriated by the natives for managing this “informal” labour market. Keywords: Illegal immigration; entry quotas; qualification. JEL: F22, J61,J68.

State-Dependent Subnetworks of Parvalbumin-Expressing Interneurons in Neocortex.

Brain state determines patterns of spiking output that underlie behavior. In neocortex, brain state is reflected in the spontaneous activity of the network, which is regulated in part by neuromodulatory input from the brain stem and by local inhibition. We find that fast-spiking, parvalbumin-expressing inhibitory neurons, which exert state-dependent control of network gain and spike patterns, cluster into two stable and functionally distinct subnetworks that are differentially engaged by ascending neuromodulation. One group is excited as a function of increased arousal state; this excitation is driven in part by the increase in cortical norepinephrine that occurs when the locus coeruleus is active. A second group is suppressed during movement when acetylcholine is released into the cortex via projections from the nucleus basalis. These data establish the presence of functionally independent subnetworks of Parvalbumin (PV) cells in the upper layers of the neocortex that are differentially engaged by the ascending reticular activating system

Les facteurs écologiques de la pédogenèse dans la réserve biologique de Donana (Espagne)

L'article présente les principaux facteurs écologiques de l'évolution des sols sableux du parc national de Donana (Espagne). Le matériau originel et le climat peuvent être considérés comme homogènes sur l'ensemble du territoire. Par conséquent la végétation et la géomorphologie sont les facteurs qui déterminent la diversité pédologique observé

Autism and Faux Pas. Influences of Presentation Modality and Working Memory

People diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often have difficulties on Theory of Mind (ToM) tasks involving social situations, such as ‘faux pas’. The objective of this study was to find the modality of presentation (visual, verbal, or mixed) that yields the best understanding of a ‘faux pas’, and the possible influence of other variables, including intelligence (IQ), age, and working memory. Thirty autistic children and 30 neurotypical children, all aged 7 to 12 years old and comparable in age and IQ, participated in this study. They were asked to resolve nine ‘faux pas’ stories (three per modality). Significant between-groups differences were found in the visual (t = 2.99, p = .004) and verbal modalities (t = 2.64, p = .011), such that the neurotypical (NT) group had higher scores than the ASD group. The ASD group’s comprehension was better via the mixed modality than the verbal modality (t = 2.48, p = .019). In addition, working memory had a bigger impact on Faux Pas understanding in cases of autism than in typical development (R2 explained between .19 and .28 of variance in Faux Pas test outcomes), and could therefore explain some of the difficulties previously reported in this area. Future research should include a measure of working memory and a control among the stimuli presented to test for group differences in faux pas understanding

A importância das visitas no combate à solidão nos idosos institucionalizados

O envelhecimento é um desafio com o qual as sociedades se têm debatido e a sociedade portuguesa não é exceção. Quando o idoso já não consegue dar resposta aos seus cuidados e às suas necessidades, recorre-se em muitos casos à rede de apoio formal, dado que nem sempre a família consegue suportar com tal responsabilidade. Sendo a institucionalização um momento de grandes mudanças e transformações para o idoso, é importante assegurar que a sua integração seja bem-sucedida, de forma a que este venha a ter alguma qualidade de vida. Um dos aspetos fundamentais que traz qualidade de vida é a continuação da participação ativa da família na vida do idoso, participação esta que ficou comprometida devido à pandemia COVID-19

A Filosofia Política em Paul Ricoeur. Um Olhar a Partir do Paradoxo Político

Este trabalho gira em torno da filosofia política de Paul Ricoeur, tendo, como foco principal, a compreensão do conceito de Paradoxo Político. Nas palavras de Paul Ricoeur, é preciso pensar conjuntamente quer a racionalidade quer a irracionalidade do político, porquanto racionalidade específica, mal específico, tal é a dupla e paradoxal originalidade do político. Neste sentido, cabe à filosofia política a tarefa de explicitar esta originalidade e elucidar o seu carácter paradoxal. Reflecte-se, igualmente, sobre o funcionamento do poder político, a sua autonomia, e questões de grande actualidade que o preocuparam, tais como, a fragilidade da democracia e o Estado de Direito, existentes na praxis actual bem como os eventuais abusos do poder. Segundo Ricoeur, o mal-estar actual das democracias deve-se essencialmente ao facto de que a soberania do Estado se tornar, no seu próprio seio, indecifrável em virtude da complexidade das esferas de pertença que governam a sociedade civil. Nesta Perspectiva, o projecto político-filosófico do pensador francês, afigura-se fundamental para iluminar a reflexão sobre o paradoxo político e a problemática do poder

Intervenció en Teoria de la Ment d’Alt Nivell. Més enllà de “Sally i Anne” Anàlisi d’un cas

XIX Jornades de Foment de la Investigació de la Facultat de Ciències Humanes i Socials (Any 2014)Les habilitats mentalistes s’adquireixen de forma progressiva; així doncs, existeixen diferents nivells dintre de la Teoria de la Ment (ToM), diferents esglaons per a assolir l’adequada lectura de la ment aliena. Però, no s’hi troba gran varietat en la intervenció amb tasques de nivell alt. És per açò que, l’objectiu principal d’aquest treball és esbossar unes pinzellades del que vindrà a ser un llibre més ampli d’activitats d’intervenció en les habilitats requerides per resoldre tasques de ToM d’Alt Nivell, com ara: ironies, ficades de pota i històries morals. Pensades aquestes perquè les resolguin nens i nenes d’entre 8 i 15 anys, no tan sols dintre del Trastorn de l’Espectre Autista de gravetat lleu o moderada, sinó també per a aquells que vulguin realitzar un entrenament en llenguatge de referència mental d’alt nivell, com ara nens amb retard de llenguatge, hipoacusia, o problemes pragmàtics, com ara el nou diagnòstic de: social (pragmatic) communication disorder (SCD) al DSM-5. Les històries han sigut administrades a una nena de 6 anys sense cap problemàtica en cap àrea del llenguatge (forma, contingut, ús). Les seves respostes van ser anotades i gravades, i es presenten a continuació per tal de donar validesa a un projecte futur necessari en aquest àmbit. Els resultats mostren que l’enteniment de totes les tasques ha sigut bo i que per tant, el present material ha passat una primera fase per tal de que en un temps pugui utilitzar-se per a la intervenció d’aquells nens i nenes que així ho necessitin

L’impacte familiar que suposa tenir un fill o una filla amb el trastorn d’Asperger

L’objecte d’estudi que es presenta a continuació és l’impacte familiar, a través de les respostes de 10 famílies amb fills amb el trastorn d’Asperger; tots ells de l’Associació Asperger de Castelló. Es tracta d’un estudi que utilitza com a instrument un qüestionari adaptat de Donenberg i Baker. A més, aquest també conté respostes qualitatives en molts dels seus ítems. Els resultats semblen indicar que, el major impacte familiar vesa sobre l’àmbit econòmic, seguint-lo de ben a prop l’emocional i actitudinal, i en últim lloc, l’àmbit social. S’ha realitzat una anàlisi no paramètrica, servint la U de Mann-Whitney amb altres variables tals com: Edat, Estat civil i Grau d’afectació de l’Asperger. S’hi destaca que només el grau d’afectació de l’Asperger (aquell grup més afectat dintre l’espectre autista) té una tendència significativa amb els Sentiments i actituds d’aquests pares. Per últim, en referència a les respostes qualitatives, es troben les situacions i els perquès més recurrents en les diferents respostes obertes; aquelles que els provoquen més estrès i també les de més felicitat.The study presented below shows the impact in the family based on the responses of 10 families with children presenting Asperger’s Disorder, members of the Asperger’s Association of Castellon. This study used a questionnaire adapted from Donenberg and Baker, containing qualitative responses. The results suggest that the greatest impact is produced on the family economy, closely followed by emotional and attitude issues, and lastly, on the social life. In addition, has been performed a non-parametric analysis, using the Mann-Whitney U, including other variables such as: age, marital status and level of involvement of the Asperger. It is remarkable that the severity of Asperger (those in the most affected group within the autistic spectrum) has a significant trend with the feelings and attitudes of the parents studied. Finally, regarding the qualitative responses, the most common answers are related to situations that caused stress and happiness