Assessment of the attention processes in patients with anxiety-depressive disorders through virtual reality

The purpose of this study is to characterize the attention deficits in a sample in these 2 types of clinical profiles through a continuous execution test in virtual reality. Methods: A total of 115 participants were recruited by consecutive sampling. The experimental sample was collected from patients diagnosed with depression and anxiety. The three tests that have been used for this study are Nesplora Aquarium, BDI and STAI. Results: Here, we show that significant differences (CI = 95%) can be seen between the control group and the group with depression in the variables related to the speed of visual processing (V_correctreactime_mean, p = 0.008) in the absence of distractors (S_correctreactime_mean, p = 0.041) and during the first dual execution task (XnoDUALab_correctreactime_mean, p = 0.011). Unlike in the clinical depression group, no significant differences were observed in any of the variables related to the processing speed of patients with anxiety disorders, compared to control subjects. If significant differences (CI = 95%) can be seen between the control group and the anxiety group in all variables related to the level of attentional arousal, that would indicate a lower performance of the clinical group with anxiety in this function. Both patients with depression and anxiety did not differ from controls in scores related to sustained attention. Conclusions: Therefore, our results suggest that attentional deficits are present in both clinical populations when performing a continuous execution test with dual execution components that involve the participation of the central executive system of working memory.  Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Assessment of Attentional Processes in Patients with Anxiety-Depressive Disorders Using Virtual Reality

To characterize the attention deficits in one-hundred-fifteen participants, comprising two types of clinical profiles (affective and anxiety disorder), through a test of continuous VR execution. Method: Three tests (i.e., Nesplora Aquarium, BDI, and STAI) were used to obtain a standardized measure of attention, as well as the existence and severity of depression and anxiety, respectively. Results: Significant differences (CI = 95%) were found between the control group and the group with depression, in variables related to the speed of visual processing (p = 0.008) in the absence of distractors (p = 0.041) and during the first dual execution task (p = 0.011). For scores related to sustained attention, patients with depression and those with anxiety did not differ from controls. Our results suggest attentional deficits in both clinical populations when performing a continuous performance test that involved the participation of the central executive system of working memoryHorizon 2020 research and innovation program of the European Union under the grant agreement (733901

Techno-economic assessment of carboxylic acids, furfural, and pellet production in a pine sawdust biorefinery

Pine sawdust is an important lignocellulosic waste from the primary industrialization of wood, and its valorization using the biorefinery concept could add new value chains to the forest industry. Compared with large-scale biorefineries, small-scale ones involve lower capital and logistics costs, lower risk, and can increase the use of labor in rural areas. A scheme was proposed for the use of the hemicelluloses obtained from the spent liquor of a steam explosion pretreatment of pine sawdust. With the proposed scheme, levulinic acid (LA), formic acid (FA), acetic acid and furfural are obtained from the liquid fraction while pellets are produced from the solid fraction. This pine sawdust biorefinery allows about 747 kg of pellets, 57 kg of LA, 23 kg of FA, 18 kg of acetic acid, and 22 kg of furfural per 1000 kg of dry sawdust to be obtained. The energy used for LA production is one of the main production costs. When 95% of the residual solid is used to generate steam, there is an improvement in the internal rate of return (IRR). The heat integration allows a reduction of 10% in the steam consumption for LA, increasing the capacity for pellet production. The results obtained are therefore essential when seeking alternatives for pine sawdust biorefineries, focusing on the improvement of the production processes, satisfaction of energy requirements, and the reduction of the recovery costs. Three alternatives for the valorization of pine sawdust were analyzed and the best of them obtained an IRR of about 17%.Fil: Clauser, Nicolás Martín. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Instituto de Materiales de Misiones. Universidad Nacional de Misiones. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Químicas y Naturales. Instituto de Materiales de Misiones; ArgentinaFil: Area, Maria Cristina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Instituto de Materiales de Misiones. Universidad Nacional de Misiones. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Químicas y Naturales. Instituto de Materiales de Misiones; ArgentinaFil: Felissia, Fernando Esteban. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Instituto de Materiales de Misiones. Universidad Nacional de Misiones. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Químicas y Naturales. Instituto de Materiales de Misiones; ArgentinaFil: Vallejos, María Evangelina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Instituto de Materiales de Misiones. Universidad Nacional de Misiones. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Químicas y Naturales. Instituto de Materiales de Misiones; ArgentinaFil: Gutiérrez, Soledad. Universidad de la República; Urugua