CCS and NH_3 Emission Associated with Low-Mass Young Stellar Objects

In this work we present a sensitive and systematic single-dish survey of CCS emission (complemented with ammonia observations) at 1 cm, toward a sample of low- and intermediate-mass young star-forming regions known to harbor water maser emission, made with NASA's 70 m antenna at Robledo de Chavela, Spain. Out of the 40 star-forming regions surveyed in the CCS (2_(1)-1_(0)) line, only six low-mass sources show CCS emission: one transitional object between the prestellar and protostellar Class 0 phase (GF9-2), three Class 0 protostars (L1448-IRS3, L1448C, and B1-IRS), a Class I source (L1251A), and a young T Tauri star (NGC 2071 North). Since CCS is considered an "early-time" (≲10^5 yr) molecule, we explain these results by either proposing a revision of the classification of the age of NGC 2071 North and L1251A, or suggesting the possibility that the particular physical conditions and processes of each source affect the destruction/production of the CCS. No statistically significant relationship was found between the presence of CCS and parameters of the molecular outflows and their driving sources. Nevertheless, we found a significant relationship between the detectability of CCS and the ammonia peak intensity (higher in regions with CCS), but not with its integrated intensity. This tendency may suggest that the narrower ammonia line widths in the less turbulent medium associated with younger cores may compensate for the differences in ammonia peak intensity, rendering differences in integrated intensity negligible. From the CCS detection rate we derive a lifetime of this molecule of ≃(0.7-3) × 10^4 yr in low-mass star-forming regions

Semi-infinite boundary conditions for the simulation of interfaces: The Ar/CO2(s) model revisited

We propose a method to account for the long tail corrections of dispersive forces in inhomogeneous systems. This method deals separately with the two interfaces that are usually present in a simulation setup, effectively establishing semi-infinite boundary conditions that are appropriate for the study of the interface between two infinite bulk phases. Using the wandering interface method, we calculate surface free energies of vapor–liquid, wall–liquid, and wall–vapor interfaces for a model of Lennard– Jones argon adsorbed on solid carbon dioxide. The results are employed as input to Young’s equation, and the wetting temperature located. This estimate is compared with predictions from the method of effective interface potentials and good agreement is found. Our results show that truncating Ar–Ar interactions at two and a half molecular diameters results in a dramatic decrease of the wetting temperature of about 40%.We would like to thank Marcus Müller for suggesting us to describe the cutoff dependence of wetting properties by means of the sharp-kink approximation (cf., Sec. V). We also benefitted from helpful discussions with P. Bryk, A. Archer, and E. de Miguel. Generous financial support of Ministerio de Educacion y Ciencia through Project Nos. FIS2010- 22047-C05-05 and FIS2010-14866; Comunidad Autónoma de Madrid through Project No. MODELICO-P2009/ESP- 1691; and Junta de Andalucía through Project No. P07- FQM02884 is gratefully acknowledged

Calidad de vida y sintomatología depresiva en esclerosis múltiple: un estudio transversal entre EE.UU. y España

Antecedentes: en los ensayos clínicos multinacionales en esclerosis múltiple (EM) es fundamental identificar diferencias entre países en calidad de vida (CV) para comprender la variabilidad de respuesta entre pacientes. Ningún estudio comparó la CV en EM entre España y EE. UU. Los objetivos de este estudio son: 1) comparar la CV y sintomatología depresiva entre pacientes españoles y estadounidenses, frente a datos normativos; 2) comparar la interrelación de tales constructos entre países; y 3) comparar predictores sociodemográficos y clínicos. Método: 114 participantes con EM fueron emparejados por género, discapacidad y educación. SF-36 y BDIFastScreen (BDI-FS) fueron las variables criterio. ANCOVA, correlaciones parciales y análisis de regresión múltiple fueron comparados entre países. Resultados: los españoles muestran peor sintomatología depresiva, CV y deterioro clínicamente significativo en todas las dimensiones, mientras que los estadounidenses presentan deterioro clínicamente significativo en dominios físicos. En España, más Dolor corporal se asoció con peor Funcionamiento social y Vitalidad; y peor Vitalidad se relacionó con peor Funcionamiento social. Además, Funcionamiento físico predijo BDI-FS mucho más entre los estadounidenses; pero en España, la discapacidad y Rol emocional predijeron mucho más BDI-FS y Salud mental, respectivamente. Conclusiones: los españoles muestran peor CV y sintomatología depresiva con mayor deterioro clínicamente significativo.Background: For multinational clinical trials in multiple sclerosis (MS), identifying cross-country differences on quality of life (QoL) is important for understanding patients’ response variability. No study has compared QoL between Spanish and American MS samples. This study aims to: 1) compare QoL and depressive symptomatology between Spanish and American patients, and against normative data; 2) compare the interrelationship between such constructs between countries; and 3) compare sociodemographic and clinical predictors on these outcomes. Method: 114 participants with MS were included and matched for gender, disability and education. The SF-36 Health Survey and BDI-FastScreen (BDI-FS) were the outcomes. ANCOVA, partial-correlations and multiple regression analyses were compared between countries. Results: Spaniards reported worse depressive symptomatology and QoL, and clinically significant impairment in all QoL dimensions, while Americans showed clinically significant impairment only in physical domains. Among Spaniards, more Bodily pain was more related to worse Social functioning and Vitality, and worse Vitality was more related to worse Social functioning than among Americans. From the regression models, Physical functioning predicted BDI-FS greater among Americans. Conversely, disability and Role-emotional predicted BDI-FS and Mental health, respectively, significantly stronger in Spain. Conclusions: Spaniards show worse QoL and depressive symptomatology and greater clinically significant impairment than the Americans

Short review about diverse anxious manifestations described in children

El presente trabajo trata de revisar diferentes formas de ansiedad en la infancia, destacándose ocho tipologías al respecto: reacciones de angustia episódicas, manifestaciones pre-verbales de angustia, ataques de ansiedad, estados de ansiedad crónica, ansiedad normal de separación, manifestaciones hipocondríacas y reacciones obsesivo-compulsivas. Se establecen, por fin, algunas conclusiones que, aunque no definitivas, sí ofrecen una visión bastante actual del estado de la cuestión.The present paper intends to revise different forms of anxiety states in infancy, emphasizing eight types: Episodic anxiety reaction, panic attacks chronic anxiety states, normal separation anxiety, phobias, hypochondriac manifestations, and obsessive-compulsive reactions. At least, we establish some conclusions, that although not definitive, it does offer an up to date view of the state of the matter

Outflow - Core Interaction in Barnard 1

In order to study how outflows from protostars influence the physical and chemical conditions of the parent molecular cloud, we have observed Barnard 1 (B1) main core, which harbors four Class 0 and three Class I sources, in the CO (J=1-0), CH3OH (J_K=2_K-1_K), and the SiO (J=1-0) lines using the Nobeyama 45 m telescope. We have identified three CO outflows in this region; one is an elongated (~ 0.3 pc) bipolar outflow from a Class 0 protostar B1-c in the submillimeter clump SMM 2, another is a rather compact (~ 0.1 pc) outflow from a Class I protostar B1 IRS in the clump SMM 6, and the other is an extended outflow from a Class I protostar in SMM 11. In the western lobe of the SMM 2 outflow, both the SiO and CH3OH lines show broad redshifted wings with the terminal velocities of 25 km/s and 13 km/s, respectively. It is likely that the shocks caused by the interaction between the outflow and ambient gas enhance the abundance of SiO and CH3OH in the gas phase. The total energy input rate by the outflows (1.1x10^{-3} Lsun) is smaller than the energy loss rate (8.5x10^{-3} Lsun$) through the turbulence decay in B1 main core, which suggests that the outflows can not sustain the turbulence in this region. Since the outflows are energetic enough to compensate the dissipating turbulence energy in the neighboring, more evolved star forming region NGC 1333, we suggest that the turbulence energy balance depends on the evolutionary state of the star formation in molecular clouds.Comment: 34 pages, 8 figures, accepted for the publication in Ap

Mental health and quality of life in liver transplant and cirrhotic patients with various etiologies

In this study we aimed to: 1) examine whether there were differences in mental health and quality of life of liver transplant recipients according to etiology that led to transplantation (alcoholic cirrhosis, Hepatitis B/C Virus, hepatocellular carcinoma and others); and 2) to compare mental health and quality of life between liver transplant and cirrhotic patients, according to etiologies that most often lead to liver transplantation (alcoholic and Hepatitis C Virus). Two patient groups participated: 168 transplant recipients and 63 cirrhotic patients. Mental health was assessed by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and quality of life by the SF-36 Health Survey. We found the following results: 1) statistically significant differences were found in anxiety, depression, general health, and vitality; in all of them, transplant patients due to Hepatitis C Virus showed the highest impairment and transplant patients due to alcoholic cirrhosis showed the lowest deterioration; 2) cirrhotic patients, compared to transplanted, and patients with Hepatitis C Virus, compared to alcoholic liver patients, were the groups with greater biopsychosocial impairment. In the absence of interactive effects between factors groups and etiology, Hepatitis C Virus patients had higher biopsychosocial impairment than alcoholic liver patients, regardless of whether or not they underwent transplant.En este estudio se plantea: 1) analizar diferencias en salud mental y calidad de vida entre trasplantados hepáticos en función de la etiología desencadenante del trasplante (etílica, Virus de la Hepatitis B/C, hepatocarcinoma y otras), y 2) comparar la salud mental y la calidad de vida entre trasplantados hepáticos y enfermos cirróticos en función de las etiologías que con más frecuencia desencadenan el trasplante hepático (etílica y Virus de la Hepatitis C). Se seleccionaron dos grupos: 168 trasplantados y 63 cirróticos. Se empleó la Escala Hospitalaria de Ansiedad y Depresión y el Cuestionario de Salud SF-36. Los resultaron indicaron: 1) diferencias significativas en las variables ansiedad, depresión, salud general y vitalidad; en todas ellas el mayor deterioro correspondió a trasplantados con el Virus de la Hepatitis C y el menor a etílicos, 2) enfermos cirróticos versus trasplantados hepáticos, y enfermos con el Virus de la Hepatitis C versus etílicos, fueron los grupos con mayor deterioro biopsicosocial. Ante la inexistencia de efectos interactivos entre los factores grupo y etiología, se concluye que los pacientes con Virus de la Hepatitis C presentan mayor deterioro biopsicosocial en comparación con pacientes etílicos, independientemente de que hubieran sido o no trasplantados.Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación de España PSI2009-0771

Psychometric properties of a revised Spanish 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale adaptation in multiple sclerosis patients

There have been a small number of investigations of alexithymia in multiple sclerosis (MS) using the 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20). However, the TAS-20 factor structure has not yet been evaluated in a MS patient sample, and earlier Spanish translations of this instrument require some improvement. We aimed to evaluate the factorial validity and reliability of an improved Spanish translation of the TAS-20 (the TAS-20-S). The TAS-20-S was completed by 221 MS patients. Confirmatory factor analysis was used to compare the fit of six different factor models. Internal consistency and retest reliability coefficients were also computed. The correlated three-factor model and the higher-order factor model made up of Difficulty Identifying Feelings, Difficulty Describing Feelings, and Externally Oriented Thinking achieved the best fit. Alpha coefficients ranged between .87 and .67; mean inter-item correlations ranged between .48 and .20; and retest correlations after 6 months ranged between .61 and .52. A high degree of alexithymia was present in 18.1% of the sample. Reliability and the traditional three-factor structure were demonstrated for the TAS-20-S, which can now be recommended for assessing an aspect of emotional processing in MS patients.En la esclerosis múltiple (EM) son escasas las investigaciones centradas en evaluar la alexitimia con la Escala de Alexitimia de Toronto (TAS-20). A pesar de ello, no se ha evaluado aún su estructura factorial en dicha población y, además, las anteriores traducciones al español necesitan modificaciones. Los objetivos del presente estudio fueron evaluar la validez factorial y la fiabilidad de una traducción mejorada en español de la TAS-20 (la TAS-20-S), la cual fue administrada en una muestra de 221 pacientes con EM. Se realizaron análisis factoriales confirmatorios para comparar el ajuste de seis modelos factoriales. También se calcularon coeficientes de consistencia interna y de fiabilidad test-retest. Los modelos trifactorial correlacionado y el de orden superior conformados por Dificultad en Identificar Sentimientos, Dificultad en Describir Sentimientos y Pensamiento Externamente Orientado lograron el mejor ajuste. Los coeficientes alfa oscilaron entre 0,87 y 0,67; las correlaciones medias inter-ítem entre 0,48 y 0,20; y las correlaciones test-retest tras 6 meses oscilaron entre 0,61 y 0,52. El 18,10% de la muestra presentó niveles elevados de alexitimia. La TAS-20-S presentó una adecuada fiabilidad así como la tradicional estructura trifactorial, por lo que su uso es ahora recomendable para evaluar un aspecto del procesamiento emocional en EM.Ministerio de Educación, Cultura y Deporte de España Programa FPU (Formación del Profesorado Universitario

Personality traits and eating disorders: mediating effects of self-esteem and perfectionism

The purpose of this ex post facto study has been to test a structural model of the mediating roles of self-esteem and perfectionism in the relationship between personality traits and eating disorders (ED). The sample consisted of 155 women (from 18 to 31 years). Ninety three met the DSM-IV diagnostic criteria for some type of ED, 31 women formed the symptomatic group, with high risk of ED, and 31 women, the non-symptomatic group, without known pathology or alteration of eating behaviours. The instruments used were the MCMI-II, EDI-2, EAT-40 and BSQ. Data analysis was conducted using structural equation modelling by means of LISREL 8.71. The estimated model fi t satisfactorily. The results confi rm the relationship between schizoid, paranoid, self-destructive and borderline personality traits with ED, the role of self-esteem as the main mediating variable in the effect exerted by certain personality traits in ED, and perfectionism as a mediating variable of the effect of borderline personality traits on ED and self-esteem.El objetivo de este estudio ex post facto ha sido poner a prueba un modelo estructural sobre el papel mediador de la autoestima y el perfeccionismo en la relación entre los rasgos de personalidad y los trastornos de la conducta alimentaria (TCA). La muestra estuvo compuesta por 155 mujeres (18 a 31 años): 93 cumplían criterios diagnósticos DSM-IV para alguno de los tipos de TCA, 31 formaron el grupo sintomático, con alto riesgo de padecer un TCA y 31, grupo no sintomático, no presentaban patología conocida y sin alteraciones de la conducta alimentaria. Los instrumentos de evaluación utilizados fueron el MCMI-II, EDI-2, EAT-40 y BSQ. Para el análisis de los datos se utilizó el método de estimación de máxima verosimilitud mediante el programa LISREL 8.71. El modelo estimado se ajustó satisfactoriamente. Los resultados confi rman la relación de los rasgos de personalidad esquizoide, paranoide, autodestructiva y límite con los TCA, el papel de la autoestima como principal variable mediadora en el efecto ejercido por ciertos rasgos de personalidad sobre los TCA y del perfeccionismo como variable mediadora del efecto del rasgo de personalidad límite sobre dichos trastornos y sobre la autoestima