Self-learning and classroom activities

This document consists of a set of practical activities proposed for the “Research techniques” and “Statistics” course of the Degree in Psychology, covering topics such as the scientific method and descriptive and inferential statistics applied to this disciplines. These activities are the product of two main aims: 1) illustrate explicitly the relationship between the methodological content and real life and/or real psychological practice, in order to motivate students to work with and fully understand the usefulness of this type of content; and 2) offer teachers several alternatives for classroom and self-learning activities for constructing knowledge related to methodological content. The document includes mainly practical activities presented in a fully detailed psychological context whose bases are to be found in scientific research, apart from offering some theoretical explanations where needed.The document was created during the teaching innovation project “Actividades de aprendizaje autónomo y presencial en Metodología de las Ciencias del Comportamiento” (2014PID_UB/003). This text was revised by Joe Graham working at Serveis Lingüístics at the University of Barcelona. The revision was made with the support of the Serveis Lingüístics, thanks to a grant “Interlingua” by the Generalitat de Catalunya

Dissecting ultra-processed foods and drinks : Do they have a potential to impact the brain?

Ultra-processed foods and drinks (UPF) are formulation of ingredients, mostly of exclusive industrial use, that result from a series of industrial processes. They usually have a low nutrient but high energy density, with a high content of saturated and trans fats, and added sugars. In addition, they have characteristic organoleptic properties, and usually contain sophisticated additives, including artificial sweeteners, to intensify their sensory qualities and imitate the appearance of minimally processed foods. In addition, recent research has warned about the presence of chemicals (e.g., bisphenol) and neo-formed contaminants in these products. UPF production and consumption growth have been spectacular in the last decades, being specially consumed in children and adolescents. UPF features have been associated with a range of adverse health effects such as overeating, the promotion of inflammatory and oxidative stress processes, gut dysbiosis, and metabolic dysfunction including problems in glucose regulation. The evidence that these UPF-related adverse health effects may have on the neural network implicated in eating behavior are discussed, including the potential impact on serotonergic and dopaminergic neurotransmission, brain integrity and function. We end this review by placing UPF in the context of current food environments, by suggesting that an increased exposure to these products through different channels, such as marketing, may contribute to the automatic recruitment of the brain regions associated with food consumption and choice, with a detrimental effect on inhibitory-related prefrontal cortices. While further research is essential, preliminary evidence point to UPF consumption as a potential detrimental factor for brain health and eating behavior

Some common indexes of group diversity: upper boundaries

Workgroup diversity can be conceptualized as variety, separation, or disparity. Thus, the proper operationalization of diversity depends on how a diversity dimension has been defined. Analytically, the minimal diversity must be obtained when there are no differences on an attribute among the members of a group, however maximal diversity has a different shape for each conceptualization of diversity. Previous work on diversity indexes indicated maximum values for variety (e.g., Blau"s index and Teachman"s index), separation (e.g., standard deviation and mean Euclidean distance), and disparity (e.g., coefficient of variation and the Gini coefficient of concentration), although these maximum values are not valid for all group characteristics (i.e., group size and group size parity) and attribute scales (i.e., number of categories). We demonstrate analytically appropriate upper boundaries for conditional diversity determined by some specific group characteristics, avoiding the bias related to absolute diversity. This will allow applied researchers to make better interpretations regarding the relationship between group diversity and group outcomes

Flow dimensions on daily activities with the Spanish version of the flow scale (DFS)

A sample of 250 students of psychology with an average age of 20.37 years, answered the Flow Q questionnaire indicating their favorite flow activity, and the Spanish version of the Dispositional Flow Scale (DFS). A confirmatory factor analysis assessed the DFS construct validity of the flow model on daily activities. Both a hierarchical model of eight first order factors reflecting a second order global flow factor, and a model with eight formative first order flow dimensions, showed good fit and discriminant power. Most optimal activities were found to be individual and structured, such as studying, reading and certain forms of individual sports. Leisure activities turned out to be more rewarding than studying. Sports displayed more flow, clear goals, merging of action and awareness, and autotelic experience. Reading also showed more flow, balance of challenge and skills, feedback, merging of action and awareness, and loss of self-consciousness. On the other hand, studying displayed less flow, merging of action and awareness, and autotelic experience

Un caso de cooperación entre Defensa y Relaciones Exteriores. La resolución del conflicto internacional por la retención del buque escuela de la Armada Argentina en Ghana

Foreign policy and defense constitute two essential functions of the modern state. There are various fields of intervention where both converge and the political leaders of these areas of public intervention are compelled to interact and combine actions to resolve conflicts or work out operational issues. In the case analyzed in this article, inter-ministerial coordination is put into action to deal with the request for seizure of the Frigate Libertad, training ship of the Argentine Navy, made by a vulture fund (holdout) in litigation with the Argentine Republic before the Ghanaian justice, as soon as the ship moors in the port of Tema in Ghana on October 1, 2012. To reconstruct the case, we rely on different documentary and journalistic sources, as well as interviews with key informants.La política Exterior y la Política de Defensa constituyen dos funciones esenciales del Estado. Existen diversos campos de intervención donde ambas convergen y los responsables políticos de estos ámbitos de intervención pública se encuentran obligados a interactuar y combinar acciones para resolver conflictos o destrabar cuestiones operativas. En el caso analizado en este artículo, la coordinación interministerial se pone en acto para hacer frente al pedido de embargo de la Fragata Libertad, buque escuela de la Armada Argentina, realizado por un fondo buitre (holdout) en litigio con la República Argentina ante la justicia ghanesa, nada más amarrar el buque en el puerto de Tema en Ghana el 1 de octubre de 2012. Para reconstruir el caso nos apoyamos en distintas fuentes documentales y periodísticas, así como en entrevistas realizadas con informantes clave

Salmonella infection in nursery piglets and its role in the spread of salmonellosis to further production periods

Few studies have focused on assessing Salmonella infection in the nursery and its role in further pig production periods. Mesenteric lymph nodes, intestinal content, and meat juice from 389 6-week-old male piglets intended for human consumption from five breeding farms and 191 pooled floor fecal samples from gilt development units (GDU) from the same farms were analyzed to estimate and characterize (by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis and antimicrobial resistance analyses) Salmonella infection. The prevalence of infection and shedding among piglets was 36.5% and 37.3%, respectively, shedding being significantly associated with infection (Odds Ratio = 12.7; CI 7.3–22.0). Salmonella Rissen; S. 4, [5], 12:i:-; and S. Derby were the most common serotypes. A low level of Salmonella-specific maternal antibodies at the beginning of the nursery period suggested it was a period of high risk of infection. Resistance to 3rd-and 4th-generation cephalosporins was detected in piglet isolates although the piglets never received antibiotics, indicating they could be vectors of antimicrobial resistance. The same Salmonella clones were detected in piglet and GDU isolates, suggesting that infected piglets play a significant role in the infection of gilts and consequently of finishing pigs in the case of production farms. The control of Salmonella infection in nursery piglets may decrease the risk of abattoir and carcass contamination

La relación entre inteligencia emocional y problemas de conducta (exteriorización e interiorización de problemas) modulada por el mindfulness.

El presente trabajo analiza la relación entre la inteligencia emocional y los problemas de conducta (exteriorización de problemas e interiorización de problemas) modulada por el mindfulness. La muestra que se ha utilizado en este estudio es de 63 niños y niñas, de entre 2 y 7 años de edad. Los resultados muestran una correlación positiva entre inteligencia emocional y mindfulness. Por otro lado, los niños que puntúan más alto en inteligencia emocional, puntúan menos en exteriorización e interiorización de problemas. Además, los resultados muestran que la relación entre inteligencia emocional e interiorización de problemas está modulada por mindfulness. Concretamente una relación de inteligencia emocional e interiorización de problemas es negativa, siendo la intensidad de esta relación leve en bajo mindfulness, moderada en mindfulness medio y elevada en alto mindfulness.Palabras clave: Inteligencia emocional; mindfulness; problemas de conducta; exteriorización de problemas e interiorización de problemas; niños.<br /

Mechanical durability of hydrophobic surfaces fabricated by injection moulding of laser-induced textures

YesThe paper reports an investigation on the mechanical durability of textured thermoplastic surfaces together with their respective wetting properties. A range of laser-induced topographies with different aspect ratios from micro to nanoscale were fabricated on tool steel inserts using an ultrashort pulsed near infrared laser. Then, through micro-injection moulding the topographies were replicated onto polypropylene surfaces and their durability was studied systematically. In particular, the evolution of topographies on textured thermoplastic surfaces together with their wetting properties were investigated after undergoing a controlled mechanical abrasion, i.e. reciprocating dry and wet cleaning cycles. The obtained empirical data was used both to study the effects of cleaning cycles and also to identify cleaning procedures with a minimal impact on textured thermoplastic surfaces and their respective wetting properties. In addition, the use of 3D areal parameters that are standardised and could be obtained readily with any state-of-the-art surface characterisation system are discussed for monitoring the surfaces' functional response.European Commission H2020 ITN programme “European ESRs Network on Short Pulsed Laser Micro/Nanostructuring of Surfaces for Improved Functional Applications” (Laser4Fun) under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement No. 675063 (www.laser4fun.eu) and the UKIERI DST programme “Surface functionalisation for food, packaging, and healthcare applications”. In addition, the work was supported by three other H2020 programmes, i.e. the projects on “Modular laser based additive manufacturing platform for large scale industrial applications” (MAESTRO), “High-Impact Injection Moulding Platform for mass-production of 3D and/or large micro-structured surfaces with Antimicrobial, Self-cleaning, Anti-scratch, Anti-squeak and Aesthetic functionalities” (HIMALAIA) and “Process Fingerprint for Zero-defect Net-shape Micromanufacturing” (MICROMAN)

Pitfalls in the normalization of real-time polymerase chain reaction data

Real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is commonly used for a sensitive and specific quantification of messenger RNA (mRNA). The levels of mRNA are frequently compared between two or more experimental groups. However, such comparisons require normalization procedures, and reference genes are frequently used for this purpose. We discuss pitfalls in normalization and specifically in the choice of reference genes. Reference genes, which prove suitable for some experimental conditions, are not necessarily similarly appropriate for others. Therefore,a proper validation of the suitability of a given reference gene or sets thereof is required for each experimental setting. Several computer programmes are available to aid such validation