Ethnic Differences in Physiological Responses to Fear Conditioned Stimuli

The idea that emotional expression varies with ethnicity is based largely on questionnaires and behavioral observations rather than physiological measures. We therefore compared the skin conductance responses (SCR) of Hispanic (Puerto Rican) and White non-Hispanic subjects in a fear conditioning and fear extinction task. Subjects were recruited from two sites: San Juan, Puerto Rico (PR), and Boston, Massachusetts (MA), using identical methods. A total of 78 healthy subjects (39 from PR, 39 from MA) were divided by sex and matched for age and educational level. Females from the two sites did not differ in their SCRs during any experimental phase of fear conditioning (habituation, conditioning, or extinction). In contrast, PR males responded significantly to the conditioned stimulus than MA males or PR females. Subtracting ethnic differences observed during the habituation phase (prior to conditioning) eliminated differences from subsequent phases, suggesting that PR males are elevated in their response to novelty rather than fear learning. Our findings suggest that, in addition to sex differences, there are ethnic differences in physiological responses to novel stimuli at least in males, which could be relevant for the assessment and treatment of anxiety disorders

Ethnic Differences in Physiological Responses to Fear Conditioned Stimuli

The idea that emotional expression varies with ethnicity is based largely on questionnaires and behavioral observations rather than physiological measures. We therefore compared the skin conductance responses (SCR) of Hispanic (Puerto Rican) and White non-Hispanic subjects in a fear conditioning and fear extinction task. Subjects were recruited from two sites: San Juan, Puerto Rico (PR), and Boston, Massachusetts (MA), using identical methods. A total of 78 healthy subjects (39 from PR, 39 from MA) were divided by sex and matched for age and educational level. Females from the two sites did not differ in their SCRs during any experimental phase of fear conditioning (habituation, conditioning, or extinction). In contrast, PR males responded significantly to the conditioned stimulus than MA males or PR females. Subtracting ethnic differences observed during the habituation phase (prior to conditioning) eliminated differences from subsequent phases, suggesting that PR males are elevated in their response to novelty rather than fear learning. Our findings suggest that, in addition to sex differences, there are ethnic differences in physiological responses to novel stimuli at least in males, which could be relevant for the assessment and treatment of anxiety disorders

Pie de Charcot. Cuando menos es más.

Paciente diabética de 71 años de edad, insulino-dependiente, obesa e hipertensa con mal con - trol metabólico que presentó una fractura de tobillo y una luxación subastragalina. Inicialmente fue tratada en su hospital con tracción transesquelética durante varias semanas que resultó infructuosa, evolucionando a una desestructuración completa del retropié y a una úlcera profunda y tórpida, al iniciar la marcha la paciente.Con este escenario acude la paciente a nuestras consultas, tras dos años de evolución, para valorar alternativas a la amputación.A 71-years-old female, diabetic pacient insulin-dependent, obese with high blood pressure and poor metabolic control suffered an ankle fracture and a subtalar dislocation. At the beginning skeletal traction was applied at her Institution but result was unsuccessful, so a complete breakdown of the hindfoot and a deep and torpid ulcer developed. Facing this scenario the patient came to our clinic, after two years of evolution, to assess alternatives to amputation

Synthesis, characterization and reactivity of high hydrothermally stable Cu-SAPO-34 materials prepared by one-pot processes

This paper focuses on the design of an innovative air-conditioning system, namely a magnetocaloric air-conditioner for an electric minibus. An integrated design of the complete system is necessary, as the hot and cold side of the regenerator will work under dynamic conditions which depend on the instantaneous thermal load in the cabin. In order to assist the design of the system, a dynamic model has been developed for the cabin, the hydraulic loops and heat exchangers, and the magnetocaloric unit. This paper presents (i) a description of the dynamic models, (ii) an analysis of the operating conditions of the magnetocaloric unit and (iii) a discussion on the design of the magnetocaloric air-conditioner. The results show that the electric minibus requests 1.60 kW of cooling power over a span of 37 K in cooling mode, and 3.39 kW of heating power over a span of 40 K.This work has been supported by Haldor-Topsoe, the Spanish Government through Consolider Ingenio 2010-Multicat, the "Severo Ochoa Program", and MAT2012-37160. Manuel Moliner also acknowledges to "Subprograma Ramon y Cajal" for the contract RYC-2011-08972. The authors thank Isabel Millet for technical support.Martínez Franco, R.; Moliner Marin, M.; Concepción Heydorn, P.; Thogersen, JR.; Corma Canós, A. (2014). Synthesis, characterization and reactivity of high hydrothermally stable Cu-SAPO-34 materials prepared by one-pot processes. Journal of Catalysis. 314:73-82. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcat.2014.03.018S738231

Correlations between psychological tests and physiological responses during fear conditioning and renewal

Background: Anxiety disorders are characterized by specific emotions, thoughts and physiological responses. Little is known, however, about the relationship between psychological/personality indices of anxiety responses to fear stimuli. Methods: We studied this relationship in healthy subjects by comparing scores on psychological and personality questionnaires with results of an experimental fear conditioning paradigm using a visual conditioned stimulus (CS). We measured skin conductance response (SCR) during habituation, conditioning, and extinction; subsequently testing for recall and renewal of fear 24 hours later. Results: We found that multiple regression models explained 45% of the variance during conditioning to the CS+, and 24% of the variance during renewal of fear to the CS+. Factors that explained conditioning included lower levels of conscientiousness, increased baseline reactivity (SCL), and response to the shock (UCR). Low levels of extraversion correlated with greater renewal. No model could be found to explain extinction learning or extinction recall to the CS+. Conclusions: The lack of correlation of fear extinction with personality and neuropsychological indices suggests that extinction may be less determined by trait variables and cognitive state, and may depend more on the subject’s current emotional state. The negative correlation between fear renewal and extraversion suggests that this personality characteristic may protect against post-treatment relapse of symptoms of anxiety disorders

Antimicrobial activity of the fiber produced by “pochote” Ceiba aesculifolia subsp. parvifolia

Background: The cotton-like fiber from the fruit of Pochote (Ceiba aesculifolia subsp. parvifolia) can be applied to wounds for healing purposes. As microorganisms can infect wounds and hamper the wound healing process, the aim of this study was to determine the antimicrobial activity and chemical composition of the methanolic extract of Pochote fiber.Materials and Methods: The methanolic extract was tested against bacteria and fungi. For bacteria, the Kirby-Baüer disc diffusion and broth dilution methods were employed to determine the MIC and MBC. In addition, bactericidal kinetic curves were generated. The antifungal activity was determined by the radial diffusion method. The antioxidant activity, total phenolic content, and the flavonoid content were determined. Bioassay guided fractionation was also performed.Results: The methanolic extract showed activity against Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus and Vibrio cholerae (cc). The tested V. cholerae strains were the most sensitive strains, and exhibited a clear CFU size reduction from the bactericidal kinetic curves. The methanolic extract had activity against T. mentagrophytes and R. lilacina. The antioxidant activity (SC50= 36.42 μg/mL) was related to the total phenolic (74.4 mg eAG/g) and flavonoid content (21.982 mg (eQ)/g). The bioassay guided fractionation results suggested that the antimicrobial properties of the extract may act through synergism because the total extract had higher activity against bacteria compared to the collected fractions.Conclusion: This study scientifically validates the application of the fruit fiber from Pochote as a part of a traditional medicine approach to alleviate infections caused by bacteria and fungi.Keywords: antimicrobial, Ceiba, Bombacaceae, fruit fib

Levels and spatial distribution of organochlorinated compounds and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in fishes from a Mediterranean coastal lagoon

The seasonal input and distribution of organic contaminants in the Mar Menor lagoon have been recently characterized in seawater and sediments, showing the significant impact of flash flood events. Mar Menor is a hypersaline (42-47 psu) coastal lagoon located in the Cartagena Field area at the South East of Spain subjected mainly to intensive agriculture, seasonal tourism and recreational activities. The bioaccumulation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorinated pesticides (OCPs) has been also determined in bivalves, but no information was available about their accumulation in fishes. In this study the concentrations of PAHs, PCBs and OCPs in golden grey mullet (Liza aurata) and red mullet (Mullus barbatus) muscle were determined. Their spatial distribution throughout the Mar Menor lagoon was characterized considering 9 sampling areas and two different sampling periods, spring and autumn in 2010 for golden grey mullet and only one (autumn) for red mullet. PAHs and organochlorinated pollutants were extracted using specific Soxhlet procedures. After cleanup and purification steps the final extracts were analyzed by HPLC for PAHs, and by GC-MS for PCBs and OCPs. The higher concentrations of all pollutants were found close to main urban and port areas of this lagoon and in the influence area of El Albujón watercourse. PAHs concentrations (sum of 14 congeners) in both species varied between 1 and 20.7 g/kg w.w. being pyrene and phenanthrene the most abundant ones. p,p’DDE showed higher concentrations than PAHs in golden grey mullet (concentration range: 0.2-32.7 g/kg w.w.), specially close to the main navigation channel between this lagoon and the Mediterranean Sea.This work has been supported by the Spanish Inter-Ministerial Science and Technology Commission through ‘DECOMAR’ project (CICYT, CTM2008-01832) and by Seneca Foundation (Region of Murcia, Spain) through ‘BIOMARO’ project (15398/PI/10). Rubén Moreno-González wishes to thank the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation for the FPI grant (BES 2009-014713)

Campaña de sensibilización para el proyecto Ciudad Amigable con los Mayores en Guadalajara, Jalisco: equipo de producción

El siguiente reporte, habla de las estrategias para dar continuidad al proyecto junto con la reedición de algunos contenidos que ya formaban parte de los productos a entregar y la creación de contenido nuevo y estrategias de comunicación realizadas a lo largo del periodo Verano 2018 para Alter Código, desarrollado por alumnos del Departamento de Estudios Socioculturales (DESO) del ITESO, este con el fin de crear una campaña de sensibilización para dignificar la imagen de los adultos mayores y difundir el proyecto Alter Código entre estudiantes y académicos. El objetivo de este proyecto fue mostrar una imagen digna e íntegra de grupos estructuralmente desfavorecidos con el fin de generar una visión variante de cómo se vive la vejez en los mayores. Esto representado con los productos audiovisuales que se pre produjeron este verano 2018, productos nuevos, contenido listo para difundir, así como trabajos y asesorías donde se trabajó la sensibilización del tema con los alumnos del escenario de adultos mayores. Partiendo de ahí, los resultados fueron una guía de estudio con los lineamientos aprobados para el uso en futuros alumnos, contenidos audiovisuales y gráficos, nuevos contenidos y una estrategia de comunicación en marcha.ITESO, A.C