Physiological basis of language acquisition process. Learning and plasticity

[Resumen] Objetivo: El objetivo de esta revisión es conocer los métodos de estudio en la organización del lenguaje, el proceso de adquisición y aprendizaje del lenguaje y plasticidad cerebral, así como los beneficios de ésta en la rehabilitación de funciones en diferentes patologías. Método: Se realizó una búsqueda de artículos en las bases de datos MEDLINE, PubMed y en la versión online de la Revista de Neurología, ajustando la búsqueda desde el 2005 hasta la actualidad. Finalmente, teniendo en cuenta una serie de criterios de inclusión y exclusión se han seleccionado para esta revisión sistemática 29 artículos. Resultados: El total de los artículos seleccionados sostiene la importancia de la plasticidad cerebral en la rehabilitación de las funciones en patologías como el accidente cerebrovascular, traumatismo craneoencefálico, sordera y dificultades de aprendizaje, siendo más eficaz la intervención en edades tempranas. Además, en los estudios analizados se destaca la importancia de los métodos de neuroimagen y los procesos electromagnéticos para obtener información acerca de la organización cerebral del lenguaje, así como para evaluar la eficacia de la rehabilitación de las funciones como se cita anteriormente. Conclusiones: Los beneficios de la intervención temprana gracias a la importancia de la plasticidad cerebral en la rehabilitación de funciones afectadas como el lenguaje en patologías como el accidente cerebrovascular, traumatismo craneoencefálico, sordera y dificultades de aprendizaje están totalmente reconocidos. No obstante, es necesario seguir realizando investigaciones donde se combinen diferentes métodos de estudio permitiendo investigaciones con colectivos más grandes y específicos.[Abstract] Objective: The goal of this research is to have known of the study strategies related to brain organization for language, the language acquisition and learning process and cerebral plasticity as well as its benefits in the rehabilitation treatment of lost functions due to several diseases. Method: It was made a search of articles on the MEDLINE and PubMed databases and also on the online version of the “Revista de Neurología” adjusting the search from 2005 to present. Finally, 29 articles have been selected for this research on the basis of a series of inclusion and exclusion criteria. Results: All the selected articles support the importance of brain plasticity in the rehabilitation of lost functions due to diseases such as stroke, traumatic brain injury, deafness and learning disability being the intervention more effective in early years. Furthermore, neuroimaging and electromagnetic processes to obtain information on brain organization for language as well as to evaluate the effectiveness of the rehabilitation of lost functions mentioned above stand out in the analyzed studies. Conclusion: Benefits of early intervention are totally recognized thanks to the importance of brain plasticity in the rehabilitation of affected functions such as language in diseases such as stroke, traumatic brain injury, deafness and learning disability. Nevertheless, it is necessary to carry out investigations with a combination of several study strategies allowing investigations formed by bigger and more specific subjects.Traballo fin de grao (UDC.EDU). Logopedia. Curso 2012/1

Alternativas para la formulación de gofres y barquillos con mejor perfil nutricional

[ES] Actualmente existe una preocupación a nivel mundial por la prevalencia que la obesidad está adquiriendo en la población infantil, lo cual tiene que ver en gran medida (aunque no sólo) con los hábitos alimentarios. En este sentido, es necesaria la búsqueda de alternativas más saludables para la obtención de ciertos productos atractivos en este sector de la población (y no únicamente), como es el caso de los gofres y las obleas. El objetivo de este trabajo es realizar una revisión bibliográfica acerca de las posibles alternativas para la obtención de gofres y/o obleas con una densidad calórica e índice glicémico menor, además de un mejor perfil nutricional, sustituyendo parcial o totalmente la harina de trigo. Se ha constatado que la información existente acerca de la sustitución en estos productos es bastante escasa. Se proponen como posibles sustitutos la harina de trigo sarraceno, de mijo y de lino. La harina de mijo ha demostrado tener propiedades nutricionales que podrían ayudar a conseguir el objetivo del presente trabajo, dado que aporta una menor cantidad de carbohidratos y densidad calórica. La harina de lino también consigue una menor cantidad de carbohidratos. Ambas harinas ofrecen al producto un mejor perfil nutricional debido a su aporte en otros nutrientes.[EN] Nowadays there is a worldwide concern about the obesity prevalence in childhood. This fact is directly connected (although not only) to nutritional habits. In this sense, it is still necessary to find healthier alternatives to obtain attractive products in this sector of the population (and not only), such as are waffles and wafers. The aim of this work is to present a review on the possible alternatives to produce waffles and/or wafers with low caloric density and glycemic index, in addition to a better nutritional profile, by partly or fully replacing wheat flour. It can be confirmed that the existing information in these products is scarce. Buckwheat, millet and flaxseed flour are proposed as suitable substitutes. Millet flour has shown to have nutritional properties that could help to achieve the purpose of this work, since it provides lower amount of carbohydrates and calories. Flaxseed flour provides also lower carbohydrate content. Both flours offer to the product a better nutritional profile due to the contribution of other nutrients.Camara Mauri, S. (2020). Alternativas para la formulación de gofres y barquillos con mejor perfil nutricional. Universitat Politècnica de València. http://hdl.handle.net/10251/157875TFG

Combination of metabolomic and proteomic analysis revealed different features among Lactobacillus delbrueckii subspecies bulgaricus and lactis strains while in vivo testing in the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans highlighted probiotic properties

Lactobacillus delbrueckii represents a technologically relevant member of lactic acid bacteria, since the two subspecies bulgaricus and lactis are widely associated with fermented dairy products. In the present work, we report the characterization of two commercial strains belonging to L. delbrueckii subspecies bulgaricus, lactis and a novel strain previously isolated from a traditional fermented fresh cheese. A phenomic approach was performed by combining metabolomic and proteomic analysis of the three strains, which were subsequently supplemented as food source to the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans, with the final aim to evaluate their possible probiotic effects. Restriction analysis of 16S ribosomal DNA revealed that the novel foodborne strain belonged to L. delbrueckii subspecies lactis. Proteomic and metabolomic approaches showed differences in folate, aminoacid and sugar metabolic pathways among the three strains. Moreover, evaluation of C. elegans lifespan, larval development, brood size, and bacterial colonization capacity demonstrated that L. delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus diet exerted beneficial effects on nematodes. On the other hand, both L. delbrueckii subsp. lactis strains affected lifespan and larval development. We have characterized three strains belonging to L. delbrueckii subspecies bulgaricus and lactis highlighting their divergent origin. In particular, the two closely related isolates L. delbrueckii subspecies lactis display different galactose metabolic capabilities. Moreover, the L. delbrueckii subspecies bulgaricus strain demonstrated potential probiotic features. Combination of omic platforms coupled with in vivo screening in the simple model organism C. elegans is a powerful tool to characterize industrially relevant bacterial isolates

Learning through challenges and enigmas: educational escape room as a predictive experience of motivation in university students

(1) Background. One of the most innovative gamification techniques emerging in the current educational context is the escape room, whose implementation aims to promote student motivation and learning. A review of the literature shows that many of the previous works lack a solid theoretical basis when it comes to explaining the motivational effects associated with student participation in this experience. Therefore, the aim of this study is to analyze the relationship between gamification and motivation and identify which dimensions of gamification experience—through an educational escape room—better predict students’ motivation, based on the framework of self-determination theory. (2) Methods. This research develops a quantitative and correlational methodology. A total of 135 first-year university students participated. (3) Results. The results of the regression models showed that creative thinking, activation, and dominance predicted intrinsic motivation toward knowledge, achievement, and stimulating experiences. Likewise, a higher level of negative affect was predictive of amotivation and external regulation motivation in students. (4) Conclusions. These findings provide new empirical evidence that could guide the design of educational experiences through escape rooms in the context of higher education

Nature Inspired Manganese(III)-Calcium Complexes: Towards Synthetic Models for the WOC of PSII

For some time, the presence of high oxidation state Mn ions and Ca(II) in the active center of Photosystem II has been known. However, coordination complexes that combine both Mn(III) and Ca(II) have been difficult to obtain, with only a handful of examples reported. In this paper we report the synthesis of two new Mn(III)-Ca(II) complexes, 1 [Pr2NH2]3[Mn6CaO2(OH)(OMe)3(SALO)6 (SALOH)3] and 2 [Mn18Ca6O12(OH)6(MeO)12(PhCOO)18(MeOH)6]. The complexes have been characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction to establish the oxidation state of manganese. The use of salicylato ligands with tert-butyl substituents leads to effective encapsulation of a Ca(II) ion in a cavity that has both hydrophobic and hydrophilic regions, mimicking the enzyme environment

Validation of an enhanced recovery after surgery protocol in gynecologic surgery: an Italian randomized study

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Misurare la didattica: un’idea finlandese in Italia

School and sport are, often, considered as separate units while should be reciprocalfacts to improve students both from intellectual and physical pointof view. Inspired by projects already implemented in other European countries,such as Finland and Switzerland, we carried out an original project initalian context: “Smuovilascuola”. “Smuovilascuola” brings physical activityinto primary school classrooms, making it an integral part of the lessons, andnot just an accessory for the gym. Thus the improvements can be detect in ageneral way: contemporary aspects of the motor and cognitive areas. Then,children, could gain attitude for sport practice, quiet in class room and willbecome able to better manage emotions and fears. The aim is to educate studentsat 360 degrees. We used validated psychophysical tests and assessedhow this kind of intervention increased the self-efficacy of the student.La scuola e lo sport sono due realtà che troppo spesso vengono consideratecome unità a sé stanti, quando, invece, dovrebbero collaborare per miglioraregli studenti sia dal punto di vista intellettivo che fisico. Prendendo spunto daprogetti già in atto in altri stati europei come la Finlandia e la Svizzera, dovesport e scuola viaggiano in parallelo da molti anni, nasce il progetto: “Smuovilascuola”.“Smuovilascuola” porta l’attività fisica nelle aule delle scuole primarie,facendo sì che diventi parte integrante delle lezioni curricolari, e nonsolo un accessorio per la palestra, così che si possano avere miglioramentisia per l’area motoria che quella cognitiva dei bambini. Questi saranno piùpredisposti allo sport, più attenti in aula, coinvolti, e sapranno gestire meglioemozioni e paure. Lo scopo è educare gli studenti a 360°. Utilizzando dei testpsicofisici validati si è riusciti a valutare come questo intervento sia riuscitoad aumentare l’autoefficacia degli studenti, il loro apprezzamento verso l’attivitàfisica e soprattutto la padronanza del loro corpo

Parasuicide and drug self-poisoning: analysis of the epidemiological and clinical variables of the patients admitted to the Poisoning Treatment Centre (CAV), Niguarda General Hospital, Milan

Epidemiological knowledge of parasuicides and drug self-poisoning is still limited by a lack of data. A number of preliminary studies, which require further analysis, evidenced that parasuicidal acts occur more often among females, that the peak rate is generally recorded between the ages of 15 and 34 years and psychotropic medications seems to be the most frequently used. The aim of this study was to describe the demographic and clinical variables of a sample of subjects admitted to the Posisoning Treatment Centre (CAV), Niguarda General Hospital, Milan, following drug self-poisoning. Furthermore, this study is aimed to identify the risk factors associated to parasuicidal gestures, with special care for the used drugs, the presence of psychiatric or organic disorders, alcoholism and drug addiction. The study included the 201 patients attending the CAV in 1999 and 2000 who satisfied the criteria of self-poisoning attempts: 106 cases in 1999 and 95 in 2000. The sample had a prevalence of females (64%). The peak rates of parasuicides from drug self-poisoning were reached between 21 and 30 years among the females, and 31 and 40 years among the males. 81.6% of the patients used one or more psychoactive drugs, the most frequent being the benzodiazepines (58.7%), classic neuroleptics (16.9%) and new-generation antidepressants (SSRIs, SNRIs, NARIs) (12.9%). The prevalence of mood disorders was higher among females (64% vs 42%), whereas schizophrenia was more frequently diagnosed in males (22% vs 10%). 61% (33%) had a history of previous attempted suicides. The presence of clinically relevant organic diseases was observed in 24.9% of the sample

Computational methods for resting-state EEG of patients with disorders of consciousness

Patients who survive brain injuries may develop Disorders of Consciousness (DOC) such as Coma, Vegetative State (VS) or Minimally Conscious State (MCS). Unfortunately, the rate of misdiagnosis between VS and MCS due to clinical judgment is high. Therefore, diagnostic decision support systems aiming to correct any differentiation between VS and MCS are essential for the characterization of an adequate treatment and an effective prognosis. In recent decades, there has been a growing interest in the new EEG computational techniques. We have reviewed how resting-state EEG is computationally analyzed to support differential diagnosis between VS and MCS in view of applicability of these methods in clinical practice. The studies available so far have used different techniques and analyses; it is therefore hard to draw general conclusions. Studies using a discriminant analysis with a combination of various factors and reporting a cut-off are among the most interesting ones for a future clinical application