Functional recovery in patients with schizophrenia: recommendations from a panel of experts

emission and encompasses multiple aspects of the patient's life, making it difficult to settle on a definition and to develop reliable assessment criteria. In this consensus process based on a panel of experts in schizophrenia, we aimed to provide useful insights on functional recovery and its involvement in clinical practice and clinical research. Methods: After a literature review of functional recovery in schizophrenia, a scientific committee of 8 members prepared a 75-item questionnaire, including 6 sections: (I) the concept of functional recovery (9 items), (II) assessment of functional recovery (23 items), (III) factors influencing functional recovery (16 items), (IV) psychosocial interventions and functional recovery (8 items), (V) pharmacological treatment and functional recovery (14 items), and (VI) the perspective of patients and their relatives on functional recovery (5 items). The questionnaire was sent to a panel of 53 experts, who rated each item on a 9-point Liken scale. Consensus was achieved in a 2-round Delphi dynamics, using the median (interquartile range) scores to consider consensus in either agreement (scores 7-9) or disagreement (scores 1-3). Items not achieving consensus in the first round were sent back to the experts for a second consideration. Results: After the two recursive rounds, consensus was achieved in 64 items (85.3%): 61 items (81.3%) in agreement and 3 (4.0%) in disagreement all of them from section II (assessment of functional recovery). Items not reaching consensus were related to the concepts of functional recovery (1 item, 13%), functional assessment (5 items, 6.7%), factors influencing functional recovery (3 items, 4.0%), and psychosocial interventions (2 items, 5.6%). Conclusions: Despite the lack of a well-defined concept of functional recovery, we identified a trend towards a common archetype of the definition and factors associated with functional recovery, as well as its applicability in clinical practice and clinical research.This project was funded by Janssen. The funding body participated in study design and data interpretation

Echelle long-slit optical spectroscopy of evolved stars

We present echelle long-slit optical spectra of a sample of objects evolving off the AGB, most of them in the pre-planetary nebula (pPN) phase, obtained with the ESI and MIKE spectrographs at Keck-II and Magellan-I, respectively. The total wavelength range covered with ESI (MIKE) is ~3900 to 10900 A (~3600 to 7200A). In this paper, we focus our analysis mainly on the Halpha profiles. Prominent Halpha emission is detected in half of the objects, most of which show broad Halpha wings (up to ~4000 km/s). In the majority of the Halpha-emission sources, fast, post-AGB winds are revealed by P-Cygni profiles. In ~37% of the objects Halpha is observed in absorption. In almost all cases, the absorption profile is partially filled with emission, leading to complex, structured profiles that are interpreted as an indication of incipient post-AGB mass-loss. All sources in which Halpha is seen mainly in absorption have F-G type central stars, whereas sources with intense Halpha emission span a larger range of spectral types from O to G. Shocks may be an important excitation agent of the close stellar surroundings for objects with late type central stars. Sources with pure emission or P Cygni Halpha profiles have larger J-K color excess than objects with Halpha mainly in absorption, which suggests the presence of warm dust near the star in the former. The two classes of profile sources also segregate in the IRAS color-color diagram in a way that intense Halpha-emitters have dust grains with a larger range of temperatures. (abridged)Comment: 68 pages, 14 figures, accepted for publication in ApJS (abstract abridged

Aperture effects on the oxygen abundance determinations from CALIFA data

This paper aims at providing aperture corrections for emission lines in a sample of spiral galaxies from the Calar Alto Legacy Integral Field Area Survey (CALIFA) database. In particular, we explore the behavior of the log([OIII]5007/Hbeta)/([NII]6583/Halpha) (O3N2) and log[NII]6583/Halpha (N2) flux ratios since they are closely connected to different empirical calibrations of the oxygen abundances in star forming galaxies. We compute median growth curves of Halpha, Halpha/Hbeta, O3N2 and N2 up to 2.5R_50 and 1.5 disk R_eff. The growth curves simulate the effect of observing galaxies through apertures of varying radii. The median growth curve of the Halpha/Hbeta ratio monotonically decreases from the center towards larger radii, showing for small apertures a maximum value of ~10% larger than the integrated one. The median growth curve of N2 shows a similar behavior, decreasing from the center towards larger radii. No strong dependence is seen with the inclination, morphological type and stellar mass for these growth curves. Finally, the median growth curve of O3N2 increases monotonically with radius. However, at small radii it shows systematically higher values for galaxies of earlier morphological types and for high stellar mass galaxies. Applying our aperture corrections to a sample of galaxies from the SDSS survey at 0.02<=z<=0.3 shows that the average difference between fiber-based and aperture corrected oxygen abundances, for different galaxy stellar mass and redshift ranges, reaches typically to ~11%, depending on the abundance calibration used. This average difference is found to be systematically biased, though still within the typical uncertainties of oxygen abundances derived from empirical calibrations. Caution must be exercised when using observations of galaxies for small radii (e.g. below 0.5R_eff) given the high dispersion shown around the median growth curves.Comment: Accepted for publication in Ap

The O3N2 and N2 abundance indicators revisited: improved calibrations based on CALIFA and Te-based literature data

The use of IFS is since recently allowing to measure the emission line fluxes of an increasingly large number of star-forming galaxies both locally and at high redshift. The main goal of this study is to review the most widely used empirical oxygen calibrations, O3N2 and N2, by using new direct abundance measurements. We pay special attention to the expected uncertainty of these calibrations as a function of the index value or abundance derived and the presence of possible systematic offsets. This is possible thanks to the analysis of the most ambitious compilation of Te-based HII regions to date. This new dataset compiles the Te-based abundances of 603 HII regions extracted from the literature but also includes new measurements from the CALIFA survey. Besides providing new and improved empirical calibrations for the gas abundance, we also present here a comparison between our revisited calibrations with a total of 3423 additional CALIFA HII complexes with abundances derived using the ONS calibration by Pilyugin et al. (2010). The combined analysis of Te-based and ONS abundances allows us to derive their most accurate calibration to date for both the O3N2 and N2 single-ratio indicators, in terms of all statistical significance, quality and coverage of the space of parameters. In particular, we infer that these indicators show shallower abundance dependencies and statistically-significant offsets compared to those of Pettini and Pagel (2004), Nagao et al. (2006) and P\'erez-Montero and Contini (2009). The O3N2 and N2 indicators can be empirically applied to derive oxygen abundances calibrations from either direct abundance determinations with random errors of 0.18 and 0.16, respectively, or from indirect ones (but based on a large amount of data) reaching an average precision of 0.08 and 0.09 dex (random) and 0.02 and 0.08 dex (systematic; compared to the direct estimations),respectively.Comment: 12 pages, 5 figures, accepted for publication in A&

Dolor crónico: relación con sintomatología prefrontal y estrés percibido

ABSTRACT Objective: The quality of perceived stress coping in chronic pain is related to the performance of the prefrontal cortex as the main structure of control and coordination of superior behavior control. The present study explores the presence of prefrontal symptomatology, in the form of problems to manage cognition, emotions and behavior, and perceived stress in a sample of people suffering from chronic pain. Material and methods: We studied 78 participants with a diagnosis of chronic pain ranging in age from 27 to 81 years (mean 54.2 and d.t 13.4). Sociodemographic and clinical variables were analyzed together with the results in the 11-item Short Brief Pain Questionnaire (CBD) to assess the intensity and interference of pain, the Prefrontal Symptom Inventory (ISP), both in its complete version of 46 items and in the abbreviated of 20, and the 10-itme Perceived Scale of Perceived Stress (EEP). Results and discussion: Significant correlations between the prefrontal symptomatology and the intensity (r = 0.32) and the interference (r = 0.53) of the pain, as well as between the stress and the interference of the pain in the mood (r = 0.36). People report more painful feelings when they refer more cognitive and emotional management problems surrounding the environment. The general interference of pain is related to more motivational and attention problems, while the interference that the pain produces in the mood also increases the problems with executive and emotional control. A preliminary structural equation explaining the effect is proposed. Conclusion: The data suggest that the stress perceived by people with chronic pain depends on the inability of the prefrontal cortex to cope with a changing or threatening situation and this problem is fed back over and over as the person is less able to cope with the environment. Therefore, comprehensive treatment of chronic pain should include psychological interventions focused on coping with stress and cognitive optimization of skills related to prefrontal functioning.RESUMEN Objetivo: La calidad del afrontamiento del estrés percibido en el dolor crónico está relacionada con el rendimiento de la corteza prefrontal como estructura principal de control y coordinación de control superior de la conducta. El presente trabajo estudia la presencia de sintomatología prefrontal, en forma de problemas para gestionar la cognición, las emociones y el comportamiento, y de estrés percibido en una muestra de personas que sufren dolor crónico. Material y métodos: Se estudiaron 78 participantes con diagnóstico de dolor crónico con edades comprendidas entre 27 y 81 años (media 54,2 y d.t. 13,4). Se analizaron variables sociodemográficas y clínicas junto con los resultados en el Cuestionario Breve de Dolor (CBD) abreviado de 11 ítems para valorar la intensidad e interferencia de dolor, el Inventario de Síntomas Prefrontales (ISP), tanto en su versión completa de 46 ítems como en la abreviada de 20, y la Escala de Estrés Percibido (EEP) abreviada de 10 ítems. Resultados y discusión: Aparecen correlaciones significativas entre la sintomatología prefrontal y la intensidad (r = 0,32) y la interferencia (r = 0,53) del dolor, así como entre el estrés y la interferencia del dolor en el estado del ánimo (r = 0,36). Las personas declaran más sensación dolorosa cuando refieren más problemas de gestión cognitiva y emocional del entorno que las rodea. La interferencia general del dolor se relaciona con más problemas motivacionales y de atención, mientras que la interferencia que el dolor produce en el estado del ánimo incrementa, además, los problemas con el control ejecutivo y emocional. Se propone una ecuación estructural preliminar explicativa del efecto. Conclusión: Los datos sugieren que el estrés percibido por las personas con dolor crónico depende de la incapacidad de la corteza prefrontal para afrontar una situación cambiante o amenazante, y este problema se retroalimenta una y otra vez al ser la persona cada vez menos capaz de afrontar el ambiente. Por tanto, el tratamiento integral del dolor crónico debe incluir intervenciones psicológicas centradas en el afrontamiento del estrés y la optimización cognitiva de las habilidades relacionadas con el funcionamiento prefrontal

Efecto del genotipo y fuente de citoquinina en la etapa de iniciación de cultivo in vitro de tejido adulto de Castanea sativa Mill.

Castanea sativa Mill. is a specie of agroforestry interest widely grown in Europe, its current production it is mainly focused on the extraction of a quality brown fruit, highly demanded in the gourmet industry. In Chile, this specie might be successfully grown due to the climate and lack of diseases that may affect it. However, there is not a propagation system that can provide a plant massification for the establishment of fruit orchards. Given this situation, the micropropagation is a possible alternative to apply since this method is extensively studied in this species. The propagation in vitro of Castanea sativa has created successful results in terms of introduction and multiplication. Nevertheless, the propagation in vitro of direct-producer varieties of brown fruit is still poorly studied and for this situation, in order to stablish a production system of a variety of plants of great interest is necessary to evaluate the effects of some variables that affects the in vitro culture of woody as it is the genotype and cytokine source. For this, six varieties of chestnut from Italy and France and two types of cytokines were studied to evaluate their effects on the parameters in vitro establishment as survival, contamination, formation of basal callus, axillary bud break, etc. The results indicate that in the same culture conditions the varieties with better response is Marrone Citta di Castello (CC) and Marrone Chiusa di Pesio (CP), in relation to the formation of basal callus and morphological reaction capacity, where the percentage of explants was greater than 80% and 85%, respectively, independent of the type of cytokinin used. Moreover, the amount of explants with axillary bud break was higher in the treatment with 0.5 mg L-1 of 6 benzylaminopurine (BAP) with 100% in CC and 55% in CP, being there significant differences with the obtained response in the treatment with 0.5 mg L-1 of Thidiazuron (TDZ), where 10% and 15% of explants with axillary bud break were observed, respectively. These results indicate that the genotype and cytokine source have influence on the response of in vitro establishment of nodal segments of chestnut variety, therefore, to establish a propagation system it is necessary to adjust a specific protocol for each variety.Castanea sativa Mill. es una especie de interés agroforestal ampliamente cultivada en Europa, cuya producción actual está principalmente enfocada en la obtención de fruto calidad marrón, apetecido en la industria gourmet. En Chile, esta especie puede ser cultivada exitosamente debido al clima y a la ausencia de enfermedades que la afecten. Sin embargo, no existe un sistema de propagación que permita la masificación de plantas para el establecimiento de huertos frutales. Ante esto, la micropropagación se presenta como una alternativa posible de aplicar, ya que es un método muy estudiado en esta especie. La propagación in vitro de Castanea sativa ha generado resultados exitosos en cuanto su introducción y multiplicación, sin embargo la propagación in vitro de variedades productoras de fruto marrón, es aún escasamente estudiada. Ante esta situación, para establecer un sistema de producción de plantas variedades de interés es necesario evaluar los efectos de algunas variables que influyen en el cultivo in vitro de leñosas, como son el genotipo y la fuente de citoquinina. Para esto, se estudiaron seis variedades de castaño provenientes de Italia y Francia y dos tipos de citoquininas, evaluándose su efecto en parámetros de inicio de establecimiento in vitro, tales como sobrevivencia, contaminación, formación de callo basal, apertura de yema axilar, entre otros. Los resultados muestran que en iguales condiciones de cultivo las variedades con mejor respuesta son Marrone Citta di Castello (CC) y Marrone Chiusa di Pesio (CP), en relación a la formación de callo basal y capacidad de reacción morfológica, donde el porcentaje de explantos fue superior al 80 y 85%, respectivamente, independiente del tipo de citoquinina utilizada. Por otra parte, la cantidad de explantos con yemas brotadas fue superior en el tratamiento con 0,5 mg L-1 de 6-bencilaminopurina (BAP) con un 100% en CC y 55% en CP, existiendo diferencia significativas con la respuesta obtenida en el tratamiento con 0,5 mg L-1 de Thidiazuron (TDZ), donde se observó un 10 y 15% de explantos con yemas brotadas, respectivamente. Estos resultados nos indican que el genotipo y la fuente de citoquinina influyen en la respuesta al establecimiento in vitro de segmentos nodales de variedades de castaño; por lo tanto, para establecer un programa de propagación es necesario ajustar un protocolo específico para cada variedad

Femtosecond control of electric currents at the interfaces of metallic ferromagnetic heterostructures

The idea to utilize not only the charge but also the spin of electrons in the operation of electronic devices has led to the development of spintronics, causing a revolution in how information is stored and processed. A novel advancement would be to develop ultrafast spintronics using femtosecond laser pulses. Employing terahertz (10$^{12}$ Hz) emission spectroscopy, we demonstrate optical generation of spin-polarized electric currents at the interfaces of metallic ferromagnetic heterostructures at the femtosecond timescale. The direction of the photocurrent is controlled by the helicity of the circularly polarized light. These results open up new opportunities for realizing spintronics in the unprecedented terahertz regime and provide new insights in all-optical control of magnetism.Comment: 3 figures and 2 tables in the main tex

Pipe3d, a pipeline to analyze integral field spectroscopy data: II Analysis sequence and califa dataproducts

Presentamos una version mejorada de FIT3D, una herramienta de ajuste para el analisis de las poblaciones estelares y el gas ionizado en espectros de galaxias de resolucion intermedia. La misma se desarrollo para el análisis de datos de espectroscopía de campo integral y es la base de Pipe3D, un dataducto usado en el analisis de datos de los muestreos CALIFA, MaNGA y SAMI. Describimos la filosof´ıa y los pasos seguidos en el ajuste, presentando un conjunto amplio de simulaciones con el fin de estimar la precisión de los parametros derivados, mostrando el resultado de dichas simulaciones. Finalmente, comparamos el resultado del analisis con FIT3D y el obtenido mediante otros paquetes de uso frecuente, encontrando que los parametros derivados son totalmente compatibles.We present Pipe3D, an analysis pipeline based on the FIT3D fitting tool, developed to explore the properties of the stellar populations and ionized gas of integral field spectroscopy (IFS) data. Pipe3D was created to provide coherent, simple to distribute, and comparable dataproducts, independently of the origin of the data, focused on the data of the most recent IFU surveys (e.g., CALIFA, MaNGA, and SAMI), and the last generation IFS instruments (e.g., MUSE). In this article we describe the di fferent steps involved in the analysis of the data, illustrating them by showing the dataproducts derived for NGC 2916, observed by CALIFA and P-MaNGA. As a practical example of the pipeline we present the complete set of dataproducts derived for the 200 datacubes that comprises the V500 setup of the CALIFA Data Release 2 (DR2), making them freely available through the network. Finally, we explore the hypothesis that the properties of the stellar populations and ionized gas of galaxies at the e ffective radius are representative of the overall average ones, finding that this is indeed the case.Fil: Sánchez, S. F.. Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico. Instituto de Astronomia; MéxicoFil: Pérez, E.. Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía; España. Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas; EspañaFil: Sanchez Blazquez, P.. Departamento de Fisica Teorica ; Facultad de Ciencias ; Universidad Autonoma de Madrid;Fil: García Benito, Rubén. Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía; España. Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas; EspañaFil: Ibarra Mede, H. J.. Space Telescope Science Institute; Estados UnidosFil: González, J. J.. Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico. Instituto de Astronomia; MéxicoFil: Rosales Ortega, F. F.. Instituto Nacional de Astrofísica, Optica y Electrónica ; MéxicoFil: Sánchez Menguiano, L.. Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía; España. Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas; EspañaFil: Ascasibar, Y.. Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona. Facultad de Física. Departamento Astronomía y Meteorología; EspañaFil: Bitsakis, T.. Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico. Instituto de Astronomia; MéxicoFil: Law, D.. Space Telescope Science Institute; Estados UnidosFil: Cano Díaz, M.. Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico. Instituto de Astronomia; MéxicoFil: López Cobá, C.. Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico. Instituto de Astronomia; MéxicoFil: Marino, R. A.. Universidad Complutense de Madrid; EspañaFil: Gil de Paz, A.. Australian Astronomical Observatory; AustraliaFil: López Sánchez, A.. Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (iac); EspañaFil: Barrera Ballesteros, Jorge K.. Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias; EspañaFil: Galbany, Lluís. Millennium Institute Of Astrophysics; Chile. Universidad de Chile; ChileFil: Mast, Damian. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Astronomía Teórica y Experimental. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Observatorio Astronómico de Córdoba. Instituto de Astronomía Teórica y Experimental; ArgentinaFil: Abril Malgarejo, V.. Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico. Instituto de Astronomia; MéxicoFil: Roman Lopes, A.. Universidad de La Serena; Chil