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Samartin-Veiga N, González-Villar AJ, Pidal-Miranda M, Vázquez-Millán A, Carrillo-de-la-Peña MT. Active and sham transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) improved quality of life in female patients with fibromyalgia. Qual Life Res 2022; 31:2519-2534. [PMID: 35229253 PMCID: PMC9250466 DOI: 10.1007/s11136-022-03106-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic pain syndrome with a strong impact on quality of life (QoL). Treatment of this condition remains a challenge, due to the scarce evidence for the effectiveness of the therapeutic approaches available. Current attention is focused on transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), which has yielded promising results for pain treatment. Rather than focusing only on pain relief, in this study, we aimed to determine how active or sham tDCS (over three cortical targets -the primary motor cortex, the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and the operculo-insular cortex-) affect QoL in patients with FM. METHODS Using a double-blind, placebo-controlled design, we applied fifteen tDCS sessions of 20' to initial 130 participants (randomized to any of the four treatment groups). We evaluated the QoL (assessed by SF-36) and the symptoms' impact (assessed by FIQ-R) in baseline, after treatment and at 6 months follow-up. RESULTS All groups were comparable as regards age, medication pattern and severity of symptoms before the treatment. We found that QoL and symptoms' impact improved in all treatment groups (including the sham) and this improvement lasted for up to 6 months. However, we did not observe any group effect nor group*treatment interaction. CONCLUSIONS After the intervention, we observed a non-specific effect that may be due to placebo, favoured by the expectations of tDCS efficacy and psychosocial variables inherent to the intervention (daily relationship with therapists and other patients in the clinic). Therefore, active tDCS is not superior to sham stimulation in improving QoL in FM.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Samartin-Veiga
- Brain and Pain (BaP) Lab, Departamento de Psicoloxía Clínica y Psicobioloxía, Facultade de Psicoloxia, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Campus Vida, 15782, Santiago de Compostela, A Coruña, Spain.
| | - A J González-Villar
- Psychological Neuroscience Lab, Research Center in Psychology, School of Psychology, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
| | - M Pidal-Miranda
- Brain and Pain (BaP) Lab, Departamento de Psicoloxía Clínica y Psicobioloxía, Facultade de Psicoloxia, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Campus Vida, 15782, Santiago de Compostela, A Coruña, Spain
| | - A Vázquez-Millán
- Brain and Pain (BaP) Lab, Departamento de Psicoloxía Clínica y Psicobioloxía, Facultade de Psicoloxia, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Campus Vida, 15782, Santiago de Compostela, A Coruña, Spain
| | - M T Carrillo-de-la-Peña
- Brain and Pain (BaP) Lab, Departamento de Psicoloxía Clínica y Psicobioloxía, Facultade de Psicoloxia, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Campus Vida, 15782, Santiago de Compostela, A Coruña, Spain
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Rivero M, Vilaseca R, Cantero MJ, Navarro-Pardo E, Ferrer F, Valls-Vidal C, Bersabé RM. Parenting of Spanish mothers and fathers playing with their children at home. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0266762. [PMID: 35648755 PMCID: PMC9159595 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0266762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2021] [Accepted: 03/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The aims of this study were to compare the parenting behaviors of mothers and fathers when evaluated in a free play situation at home and to study how these behaviors were related to the sociodemographic variables of the family. The study included 155 mothers and 155 fathers from the same families in Spain. The children (90 boys and 65 girls) were typically developing and were aged between 10 and 47 months old. The parents completed a sociodemographic questionnaire, and parenting behaviors in four domains (Affection, Responsiveness, Encouragement, and Teaching) were assessed from self-recorded videotapes, in accordance with the Spanish version of the PICCOLO. Our results showed both commonalities and differences between the mothers and fathers. The mean scores for the four parenting domains followed a similar pattern in both mothers and fathers: the highest mean score was in the Responsiveness domain, followed by the Affection, Encouragement, and the Teaching domains. Regarding the second aim, no differences were observed in parenting according to the child’s gender and the only domain related to the child’s age was mother’s Teaching. Mothers with a higher educational level scored higher on all parenting domains, except for Responsiveness. Family income was positively related to maternal Affection, Encouragement, and the total PICCOLO score, and to the father’s score in the Teaching domain. This study provides evidence that Spanish mothers and fathers show very similar strengths for promoting children’s development during interactions. These results are relevant to inform social public policies and family programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magda Rivero
- Department of Cognition, Developmental and Educational Psychology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- * E-mail:
| | - Rosa Vilaseca
- Department of Cognition, Developmental and Educational Psychology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - María-José Cantero
- Department of Developmental and Educational Psychology, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - Esperanza Navarro-Pardo
- Department of Developmental and Educational Psychology, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | | | - Clara Valls-Vidal
- Department of Psychology, University Abat Oliba-CEU, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Rosa M. Bersabé
- Department of Methodology for the Behavioral Sciences, University of Malaga, Malaga, Spain
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Aguilera-Alcalá N, Arrondo E, Pascual-Rico R, Morales-Reyes Z, Gil-Sánchez JM, Donázar JA, Moleón M, Sánchez-Zapata JA. The value of transhumance for biodiversity conservation: Vulture foraging in relation to livestock movements. Ambio 2022; 51:1330-1342. [PMID: 34874529 PMCID: PMC8931130 DOI: 10.1007/s13280-021-01668-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2021] [Revised: 10/28/2021] [Accepted: 11/04/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
In recent decades, intensive techniques of livestock raising have flourished, which has largely replaced traditional farming practices such as transhumance. These changes may have affected scavengers' behaviour and ecology, as extensive livestock is a key source of carrion. This study evaluates the spatial responses of avian scavengers to the seasonal movements of transhumant herds in south-eastern Spain. We surveyed the abundance of avian scavengers and ungulates, and analysed the factors affecting the space use by 30 GPS-tracked griffon vultures (Gyps fulvus). Griffons' foraging activity increased in the pasturelands occupied by transhumant herds, which implied greater vulture abundance at the landscape level during the livestock season. In contrast, facultative scavengers were more abundant without transhumant livestock herds, and the abundance of wild ungulates did not change in relation to livestock presence. We conclude that fostering transhumance and other traditional farming systems, to the detriment of farming intensification, could favour vulture conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natividad Aguilera-Alcalá
- Department of Applied Biology, Miguel Hernández University, 03202 Elche, Spain
- Centro de Investigación e Innovación Agroalimentaria y Agroambiental (CIAGRO-UMH), Miguel Hernández University, Elche, Spain
| | - Eneko Arrondo
- Department of Applied Biology, Miguel Hernández University, 03202 Elche, Spain
- Centro de Investigación e Innovación Agroalimentaria y Agroambiental (CIAGRO-UMH), Miguel Hernández University, Elche, Spain
- Department of Conservation Biology, EBD-CSIC, 41092 Seville, Spain
| | - Roberto Pascual-Rico
- Research Institute of Hunting Resources (IREC - CSIC, UCLM, JCCM), 13005 Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - Zebensui Morales-Reyes
- Department of Applied Biology, Miguel Hernández University, 03202 Elche, Spain
- Centro de Investigación e Innovación Agroalimentaria y Agroambiental (CIAGRO-UMH), Miguel Hernández University, Elche, Spain
| | - José M. Gil-Sánchez
- Department of Applied Biology, Miguel Hernández University, 03202 Elche, Spain
| | - José A. Donázar
- Department of Conservation Biology, EBD-CSIC, 41092 Seville, Spain
| | - Marcos Moleón
- Department of Zoology, University of Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain
| | - José A. Sánchez-Zapata
- Department of Applied Biology, Miguel Hernández University, 03202 Elche, Spain
- Centro de Investigación e Innovación Agroalimentaria y Agroambiental (CIAGRO-UMH), Miguel Hernández University, Elche, Spain
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Vallés-Saiz L, Peinado-Cahuchola R, Ávila J, Hernández F. Microtubule-associated protein tau in murine kidney: role in podocyte architecture. Cell Mol Life Sci 2022; 79:97. [PMID: 35084555 PMCID: PMC8794918 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-021-04106-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2021] [Revised: 11/29/2021] [Accepted: 12/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Tau is a cytoskeletal protein that is expressed mainly in neurons and is involved in several cellular processes, such as microtubule stabilization, axonal maintenance, and transport. Altered tau metabolism is related to different tauopathies being the most important Alzheimer's disease where aberrant hyperphosphorylated and aggregated tau is found in the central nervous system. Here, we have analyzed that function in kidney by using tau knockout mice generated by integrating GFP-encoding cDNA into exon 1 of MAPT (here referred to as TauGFP/GFP). IVIS Lumina from PerkinElmer demonstrated GFP expression in the kidney. We then demonstrated by qPCR that the main tau isoform in the kidney is Tau4R. The GFP reporter allowed us to demonstrate that tau is found in the glomeruli of the renal cortex, and specifically in podocytes. This was further confirmed by immunohistochemistry. TauGFP/GFP mice present a podocyte cytoskeleton more dynamic as they contain higher levels of detyrosinated tubulin than wild-type mice. In addition, transmission electron microscopy studies demonstrated glomerular damage with a decrease in urinary creatinine. Our results prove that tau has an important role in kidney metabolism under normal physiological conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Vallés-Saiz
- Centro de Biología Molecular "Severo Ochoa", CSIC/UAM, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Cantoblanco, 28049, Madrid, Spain
| | - Rocio Peinado-Cahuchola
- Centro de Biología Molecular "Severo Ochoa", CSIC/UAM, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Cantoblanco, 28049, Madrid, Spain
| | - Jesús Ávila
- Centro de Biología Molecular "Severo Ochoa", CSIC/UAM, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Cantoblanco, 28049, Madrid, Spain
| | - Félix Hernández
- Centro de Biología Molecular "Severo Ochoa", CSIC/UAM, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Cantoblanco, 28049, Madrid, Spain.
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González-Domínguez R, Castellano-Escuder P, Lefèvre-Arbogast S, Low DY, Du Preez A, Ruigrok SR, Lee H, Helmer C, Pallàs M, Urpi-Sarda M, Sánchez-Pla A, Korosi A, Lucassen PJ, Aigner L, Manach C, Thuret S, Samieri C, Andres-Lacueva C. Apolipoprotein E and sex modulate fatty acid metabolism in a prospective observational study of cognitive decline. Alzheimers Res Ther 2022; 14:1. [PMID: 34980257 PMCID: PMC8725342 DOI: 10.1186/s13195-021-00948-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2021] [Accepted: 12/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Fatty acids play prominent roles in brain function as they participate in structural, metabolic and signaling processes. The homeostasis of fatty acids and related pathways is known to be impaired in cognitive decline and dementia, but the relationship between these metabolic disturbances and common risk factors, namely the ɛ4 allele of the apolipoprotein E (ApoE-ɛ4) gene and sex, remains elusive. METHODS In order to investigate early alterations associated with cognitive decline in the fatty acid-related serum metabolome, we here applied targeted metabolomics analysis on a nested case-control study (N=368), part of a prospective population cohort on dementia. RESULTS When considering the entire study population, circulating levels of free fatty acids, acyl-carnitines and pantothenic acid were found to be increased among those participants who had greater odds of cognitive decline over a 12-year follow-up. Interestingly, stratified analyses indicated that these metabolomic alterations were specific for ApoE-ɛ4 non-carriers and women. CONCLUSIONS Altogether, our results highlight that the regulation of fatty acids and related metabolic pathways during ageing and cognitive decline depends on complex inter-relationships between the ApoE-ε4 genotype and sex. A better understanding of the ApoE-ɛ4 and sex dependent modulation of metabolism is essential to elucidate the individual variability in the onset of cognitive decline, which would help develop personalized therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raúl González-Domínguez
- Biomarkers and Nutrimetabolomics Laboratory, Food Innovation Network (XIA), Nutrition and Food Safety Research Institute (INSA), Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, University of Barcelona, Av. de Joan XXIII, 27-31, 08028, Barcelona, Spain.
- CIBER Fragilidad y Envejecimiento Saludable (CIBERfes), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Pol Castellano-Escuder
- Biomarkers and Nutrimetabolomics Laboratory, Food Innovation Network (XIA), Nutrition and Food Safety Research Institute (INSA), Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, University of Barcelona, Av. de Joan XXIII, 27-31, 08028, Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER Fragilidad y Envejecimiento Saludable (CIBERfes), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Genetics, Microbiology and Statistics, University of Barcelona, 08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Sophie Lefèvre-Arbogast
- Inserm, Bordeaux Population Health Research Center, UMR 1219, University of Bordeaux, F-33000, Bordeaux, France
| | - Dorrain Y Low
- Université Clermont Auvergne, INRAE, UNH, F-63000, Clermont Ferrand, France
| | - Andrea Du Preez
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, SE5 9NU, UK
| | - Silvie R Ruigrok
- Brain Plasticity Group, Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, Center for Neuroscience, University of Amsterdam, 1098 XH, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Hyunah Lee
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, SE5 9NU, UK
| | - Catherine Helmer
- Inserm, Bordeaux Population Health Research Center, UMR 1219, University of Bordeaux, F-33000, Bordeaux, France
| | - Mercè Pallàs
- Pharmacology Section, Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, and Institut de Neurociències, University of Barcelona, 08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Mireia Urpi-Sarda
- Biomarkers and Nutrimetabolomics Laboratory, Food Innovation Network (XIA), Nutrition and Food Safety Research Institute (INSA), Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, University of Barcelona, Av. de Joan XXIII, 27-31, 08028, Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER Fragilidad y Envejecimiento Saludable (CIBERfes), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029, Madrid, Spain
| | - Alex Sánchez-Pla
- CIBER Fragilidad y Envejecimiento Saludable (CIBERfes), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Genetics, Microbiology and Statistics, University of Barcelona, 08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Aniko Korosi
- Brain Plasticity Group, Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, Center for Neuroscience, University of Amsterdam, 1098 XH, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Paul J Lucassen
- Brain Plasticity Group, Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, Center for Neuroscience, University of Amsterdam, 1098 XH, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Ludwig Aigner
- Institute of Molecular Regenerative Medicine, Spinal Cord Injury and Tissue Regeneration Center Salzburg, Paracelsus Medical University, 5020, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Claudine Manach
- Université Clermont Auvergne, INRAE, UNH, F-63000, Clermont Ferrand, France
| | - Sandrine Thuret
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, SE5 9NU, UK
| | - Cécilia Samieri
- Inserm, Bordeaux Population Health Research Center, UMR 1219, University of Bordeaux, F-33000, Bordeaux, France
| | - Cristina Andres-Lacueva
- Biomarkers and Nutrimetabolomics Laboratory, Food Innovation Network (XIA), Nutrition and Food Safety Research Institute (INSA), Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, University of Barcelona, Av. de Joan XXIII, 27-31, 08028, Barcelona, Spain.
- CIBER Fragilidad y Envejecimiento Saludable (CIBERfes), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029, Madrid, Spain.
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Mariel P, Demel S, Longo A. Modelling welfare estimates in discrete choice experiments for seaweed-based renewable energy. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0260352. [PMID: 34843549 PMCID: PMC8629263 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0260352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2021] [Accepted: 11/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
We explore what researchers can gain or lose by using three widely used models for the analysis of discrete choice experiment data-the random parameter logit (RPL) with correlated parameters, the RPL with uncorrelated parameters and the hybrid choice model. Specifically, we analyze three data sets focused on measuring preferences to support a renewable energy programme to grow seaweed for biogas production. In spite of the fact that all three models can converge to very similar median WTP values, they cannot be used indistinguishably. Each model is based on different assumptions, which should be tested before their use. The fact that standard sample sizes usually applied in environmental valuation are generally unable to capture the outcome differences between the models cannot be used as a justification for their indistinct application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Petr Mariel
- Department of Quantitative Methods, University of the Basque Country, Bilbao, Spain
| | - Simona Demel
- School of Biological Sciences, IGFS, Gibson Institute, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Alberto Longo
- School of Biological Sciences, IGFS, Gibson Institute, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
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7
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Chacón-Díaz C, Zabalza-Baranguá A, San Román B, Blasco JM, Iriarte M, Salas-Alfaro D, Hernández-Mora G, Barquero-Calvo E, Guzmán-Verri C, Chaves-Olarte E, Grilló MJ, Moreno E. Brucella abortus S19 GFP-tagged vaccine allows the serological identification of vaccinated cattle. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0260288. [PMID: 34807952 PMCID: PMC8608319 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0260288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2021] [Accepted: 11/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Bovine brucellosis induces abortion in cows, produces important economic losses, and causes a widely distributed zoonosis. Its eradication was achieved in several countries after sustained vaccination with the live attenuated Brucella abortus S19 vaccine, in combination with the slaughtering of serologically positive animals. S19 induces antibodies against the smooth lipopolysaccharide (S-LPS), making difficult the differentiation of infected from vaccinated bovines. We developed an S19 strain constitutively expressing the green fluorescent protein (S19-GFP) coded in chromosome II. The S19-GFP displays similar biological characteristics and immunogenic and protective efficacies in mice to the parental S19 strain. S19-GFP can be distinguished from S19 and B. abortus field strains by fluorescence and multiplex PCR. Twenty-five heifers were vaccinated withS19-GFP (5×109 CFU) by the subcutaneous or conjunctival routes and some boosted with GFP seven weeks thereafter. Immunized animals were followed up for over three years and tested for anti-S-LPS antibodies by both the Rose Bengal test and a competitive ELISA. Anti-GFP antibodies were detected by an indirect ELISA and Western blotting. In most cases, anti-S-LPS antibodies preceded for several weeks those against GFP. The anti-GFP antibody response was higher in the GFP boosted than in the non-boosted animals. In all cases, the anti-GFP antibodies persisted longer, or at least as long, as those against S-LPS. The drawbacks and potential advantages of using the S19-GFP vaccine for identifying vaccinated animals in infected environments are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Chacón-Díaz
- Centro de Investigación en Enfermedades Tropicales, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San Pedro, San José, Costa Rica
- * E-mail:
| | - Ana Zabalza-Baranguá
- Instituto de Agrobiotecnología, CSIC-Gobierno de Navarra, Mutilva, Navarra, Spain
| | - Beatriz San Román
- Instituto de Agrobiotecnología, CSIC-Gobierno de Navarra, Mutilva, Navarra, Spain
| | - José-María Blasco
- Unidad de Sanidad Animal, Centro de Investigación y Tecnología Agroalimentaria (CITA), Gobierno de Aragón, Aragón, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Maite Iriarte
- Departamento de Microbiología y Parasitología, Instituto de Salud Tropical, Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Navarra, Spain
| | - Dariana Salas-Alfaro
- Centro de Investigación en Enfermedades Tropicales, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San Pedro, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Gabriela Hernández-Mora
- Servicio Nacional de Salud Animal, Ministerio de Agricultura y Ganadería, Lagunilla, Heredia, Costa Rica
| | - Elías Barquero-Calvo
- Programa de Investigación en Enfermedades Tropicales (PIET), Escuela de Medicina Veterinaria, Universidad Nacional, Lagunilla, Heredia, Costa Rica
| | - Caterina Guzmán-Verri
- Programa de Investigación en Enfermedades Tropicales (PIET), Escuela de Medicina Veterinaria, Universidad Nacional, Lagunilla, Heredia, Costa Rica
| | - Esteban Chaves-Olarte
- Centro de Investigación en Enfermedades Tropicales, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San Pedro, San José, Costa Rica
| | - María-Jesús Grilló
- Instituto de Agrobiotecnología, CSIC-Gobierno de Navarra, Mutilva, Navarra, Spain
| | - Edgardo Moreno
- Programa de Investigación en Enfermedades Tropicales (PIET), Escuela de Medicina Veterinaria, Universidad Nacional, Lagunilla, Heredia, Costa Rica
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Barbosa J, Lozano-Soldevilla D, Compte A. Pinging the brain with visual impulses reveals electrically active, not activity-silent, working memories. PLoS Biol 2021; 19:e3001436. [PMID: 34673775 PMCID: PMC8641864 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3001436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2021] [Revised: 12/03/2021] [Accepted: 10/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Persistently active neurons during mnemonic periods have been regarded as the mechanism underlying working memory maintenance. Alternatively, neuronal networks could instead store memories in fast synaptic changes, thus avoiding the biological cost of maintaining an active code through persistent neuronal firing. Such "activity-silent" codes have been proposed for specific conditions in which memories are maintained in a nonprioritized state, as for unattended but still relevant short-term memories. A hallmark of this "activity-silent" code is that these memories can be reactivated from silent, synaptic traces. Evidence for "activity-silent" working memory storage has come from human electroencephalography (EEG), in particular from the emergence of decodability (EEG reactivations) induced by visual impulses (termed pinging) during otherwise "silent" periods. Here, we reanalyze EEG data from such pinging studies. We find that the originally reported absence of memory decoding reflects weak statistical power, as decoding is possible based on more powered analyses or reanalysis using alpha power instead of raw voltage. This reveals that visual pinging EEG "reactivations" occur in the presence of an electrically active, not silent, code for unattended memories in these data. This crucial change in the evidence provided by this dataset prompts a reinterpretation of the mechanisms of EEG reactivations. We provide 2 possible explanations backed by computational models, and we discuss the relationship with TMS-induced EEG reactivations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joao Barbosa
- Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
- Laboratoire de Neurosciences Cognitives et Computationnelles, Département d’Études Cognitives, École Normale Supérieure, PSL University, Paris, France
| | - Diego Lozano-Soldevilla
- Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Madrid, Spain
- Laboratory for Clinical Neuroscience, Centre for Biomedical Technology, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Campus de Montegancedo, Pozuelo de Alarcón, Madrid, Spain
| | - Albert Compte
- Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
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Valldeperes M, Moroni B, Rossi L, López-Olvera JR, Velarde R, Molinar Min AR, Mentaberre G, Serrano E, Angelone S, Lavín S, Granados JE. First report of interspecific transmission of sarcoptic mange from Iberian ibex to wild boar. Parasit Vectors 2021; 14:481. [PMID: 34538252 PMCID: PMC8451136 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-021-04979-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2021] [Accepted: 08/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sarcoptic mange is a globally distributed parasitic disease caused by the burrowing mite Sarcoptes scabiei. This mite has a certain degree of host specificity, although interspecific transmission can occur among phylogenetically related species or through prey-predator mediated exposure. In 2018, a wild boar (Sus scrofa) with lesions compatible with sarcoptic mange was hunted in Ports de Tortosa i Beseit Natural Park (PTB, north-eastern Spain), where an active epizootic outbreak of sarcoptic mange is affecting Iberian ibexes (Capra pyrenaica) since 2014. METHODS A complete necropsy, skin scrapings and skin digestions with hydroxide potassium were performed to confirm the diagnosis. Routine histopathological analysis, toluidine blue staining and immunohistochemistry were used to characterize the lesions and the inflammatory infiltrate. Finally, 10 specific S. scabiei microsatellites were molecularly genotyped through polymerase chain reactions in mites obtained from the affected wild boar. For phylogenetic comparison, mites obtained from sympatric Iberian ibexes and allopatric wild boars and Iberian ibexes from southern Spain were analysed. RESULTS Sarcoptes scabiei was visually and molecularly identified in the infested wild boar from PTB, causing skin lesions with dermal inflammatory infiltrate rich in T and B cells, which indicate an adaptive immune response. Three S. scabiei genetic clusters were identified: one included mites from southern Iberian ibexes, another included mites from southern wild boars, and a third one distinctively grouped the wild boar from PTB with the sympatric ibexes. CONCLUSIONS To the authors' knowledge, this is the first reported case of sarcoptic mange in wild boar in Spain and the first documented case of S. scabiei cross-transmission from a wild ruminant host to a wild boar. The wild boar presented an ordinary scabies type reaction, which is typical of the self-limiting infestations reported in other cases of interspecific transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Valldeperes
- Wildlife Ecology & Health group (WE&H) and Servei d’Ecopatologia de Fauna Salvatge (SEFaS), Departament de Medicina i Cirurgia Animals, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Bellaterra, Spain
| | - Barbara Moroni
- Dipartimento di Scienze Veterinarie, Universitá di Torino, Grugliasco, Turin, Italy
| | - Luca Rossi
- Dipartimento di Scienze Veterinarie, Universitá di Torino, Grugliasco, Turin, Italy
| | - Jorge Ramón López-Olvera
- Wildlife Ecology & Health group (WE&H) and Servei d’Ecopatologia de Fauna Salvatge (SEFaS), Departament de Medicina i Cirurgia Animals, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Bellaterra, Spain
| | - Roser Velarde
- Wildlife Ecology & Health group (WE&H) and Servei d’Ecopatologia de Fauna Salvatge (SEFaS), Departament de Medicina i Cirurgia Animals, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Bellaterra, Spain
| | | | - Gregorio Mentaberre
- Wildlife Ecology & Health group (WE&H) and Departament de Ciència Animal, Escola Tècnica Superior d’Enginyeria Agrària (ETSEA), Universitat de Lleida (UdL), Lleida, Spain
| | - Emmanuel Serrano
- Wildlife Ecology & Health group (WE&H) and Servei d’Ecopatologia de Fauna Salvatge (SEFaS), Departament de Medicina i Cirurgia Animals, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Bellaterra, Spain
| | - Samer Angelone
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies (IEU), University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Santiago Lavín
- Wildlife Ecology & Health group (WE&H) and Servei d’Ecopatologia de Fauna Salvatge (SEFaS), Departament de Medicina i Cirurgia Animals, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Bellaterra, Spain
| | - José Enrique Granados
- Espacio Natural de Sierra Nevada and Wildlife Ecology & Health Group (WE&H), Pinos Genil, Granada, Spain
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Jebari A, Álvaro-Fuentes J, Pardo G, Almagro M, del Prado A. Estimating soil organic carbon changes in managed temperate moist grasslands with RothC. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0256219. [PMID: 34415936 PMCID: PMC8378727 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0256219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2021] [Accepted: 08/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Temperate grassland soils store significant amounts of carbon (C). Estimating how much livestock grazing and manuring can influence grassland soil organic carbon (SOC) is key to improve greenhouse gas grassland budgets. The Rothamsted Carbon (RothC) model, although originally developed and parameterized to model the turnover of organic C in arable topsoil, has been widely used, with varied success, to estimate SOC changes in grassland under different climates, soils, and management conditions. In this paper, we hypothesise that RothC-based SOC predictions in managed grasslands under temperate moist climatic conditions can be improved by incorporating small modifications to the model based on existing field data from diverse experimental locations in Europe. For this, we described and evaluated changes at the level of: (1) the soil water function of RothC, (2) entry pools accounting for the degradability of the exogenous organic matter (EOM) applied (e.g., ruminant excreta), (3) the month-on-month change in the quality of C inputs coming from plant residues (i.e above-, below-ground plant residue and rhizodeposits), and (4) the livestock trampling effect (i.e., poaching damage) as a common problem in areas with higher annual precipitation. In order to evaluate the potential utility of these changes, we performed a simple sensitivity analysis and tested the model predictions against averaged data from four grassland experiments in Europe. Our evaluation showed that the default model's performance was 78% and whereas some of the modifications seemed to improve RothC SOC predictions (model performance of 95% and 86% for soil water function and plant residues, respectively), others did not lead to any/or almost any improvement (model performance of 80 and 46% for the change in the C input quality and livestock trampling, respectively). We concluded that, whereas adding more complexity to the RothC model by adding the livestock trampling would actually not improve the model, adding the modified soil water function and plant residue components, and at a lesser extent residues quality, could improve predictability of the RothC in managed grasslands under temperate moist climatic conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asma Jebari
- Basque Centre for Climate Change (BC3), Edificio Sede no. 1, Planta 1, Parque Científico de UPV/EHU, Barrio Sarriena s/n, Leioa, Bizkaia, Spain
| | - Jorge Álvaro-Fuentes
- Estación Experimental de Aula Dei (EEAD), Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Guillermo Pardo
- Basque Centre for Climate Change (BC3), Edificio Sede no. 1, Planta 1, Parque Científico de UPV/EHU, Barrio Sarriena s/n, Leioa, Bizkaia, Spain
| | - María Almagro
- Basque Centre for Climate Change (BC3), Edificio Sede no. 1, Planta 1, Parque Científico de UPV/EHU, Barrio Sarriena s/n, Leioa, Bizkaia, Spain
| | - Agustin del Prado
- Basque Centre for Climate Change (BC3), Edificio Sede no. 1, Planta 1, Parque Científico de UPV/EHU, Barrio Sarriena s/n, Leioa, Bizkaia, Spain
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Batista-Foguet JM, Esteve M, van Witteloostuijn A. Measuring leadership an assessment of the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0254329. [PMID: 34293007 PMCID: PMC8297756 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0254329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2020] [Accepted: 06/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Although the most used measure of transformational leadership, the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (MLQ), has been the subject of intense scrutiny among leadership scholars, little interest has been shown in analyzing the relationship between its underlying constructs and / or their measures. The present study identifies a formative factor structure for most MLQ first-order factors, replacing the usual reflective model. We demonstrate the value of this structure using data from two different samples. First, we applied the MLQ to a sample of 129 police officers from the Catalan Police workforce. Second, we ran an online survey with 300 US citizens. We argue that three second-order factors (transformational, transactional, and laissez faire) should be used as emergent aggregate multidimensional models to describe three different leadership styles, challenging the ubiquitous multidimensional latent models favored in the extant literature. We then propose that transformational/charismatic leadership should be treated as a multidimensional emergent profile model, replacing the leadership development order of precedence, which is dominant in modern leadership research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joan Manuel Batista-Foguet
- Department of People Management and Organisation, ESADE Business School, Ramon Llull University, Barcelona, Spain
- * E-mail:
| | - Marc Esteve
- School of Public Policy, University College London, London, United Kingdom
- Department of Society, Politics and Sustainability, ESADE Business School - Ramon Llull University, Barcelona, Spain
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Pérez-Arques C, Navarro-Mendoza MI, Murcia L, Lax C, Sanchis M, Capilla J, Navarro E, Garre V, Nicolás FE. A Mucoralean White Collar-1 Photoreceptor Controls Virulence by Regulating an Intricate Gene Network during Host Interactions. Microorganisms 2021; 9:459. [PMID: 33672193 PMCID: PMC7927057 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9020459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2020] [Revised: 02/08/2021] [Accepted: 02/18/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Mucolares are an ancient group of fungi encompassing the causal agents for the lethal infection mucormycosis. The high lethality rates, the emerging character of this disease, and the broad antifungal resistance of its causal agents are mucormycosis features that are alarming clinicians and researchers. Thus, the research field around mucormycosis is currently focused on finding specific weaknesses and targets in Mucorales for developing new treatments. In this work, we tested the role of the white-collar genes family in the virulence potential of Mucor lusitanicus. Study of the three genes of this family, mcwc-1a, mcwc-1b, and mcwc-1c, resulted in a marked functional specialization, as only mcwc-1a was essential to maintain the virulence potential of M. lusitanicus. The traditional role of wc-1 genes regulating light-dependent responses is a thoroughly studied field, whereas their role in virulence remains uncharacterized. In this work, we investigated the mechanism involving mcwc-1a in virulence from an integrated transcriptomic and functional approach during the host-pathogen interaction. Our results revealed mcwc-1a as a master regulator controlling an extensive gene network. Further dissection of this gene network clustering its components by type of regulation and functional criteria disclosed a multifunctional mechanism depending on diverse pathways. In the absence of phagocytic cells, mcwc-1a controlled pathways related to cell motility and the cytoskeleton that could be associated with the essential tropism during tissue invasion. After phagocytosis, several oxidative response pathways dependent on mcwc-1a were activated during the germination of M. lusitanicus spores inside phagocytic cells, which is the first stage of the infection. The third relevant group of genes involved in virulence and regulated by mcwc-1a belonged to the "unknown function," indicating that new and hidden pathways are involved in virulence. The unknown function category is especially pertinent in the study of mucormycosis, as it is highly enriched in specific fungal genes that represent the most promising targets for developing new antifungal compounds. These results unveil a complex multifunctional mechanism used by wc-1 genes to regulate the pathogenic potential in Mucorales that could also apply to other fungal pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Pérez-Arques
- Departmento de Genética y Microbiología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain; (C.P.-A.); (M.I.N.-M.); (L.M.); (C.L.); (E.N.)
| | - María Isabel Navarro-Mendoza
- Departmento de Genética y Microbiología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain; (C.P.-A.); (M.I.N.-M.); (L.M.); (C.L.); (E.N.)
| | - Laura Murcia
- Departmento de Genética y Microbiología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain; (C.P.-A.); (M.I.N.-M.); (L.M.); (C.L.); (E.N.)
| | - Carlos Lax
- Departmento de Genética y Microbiología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain; (C.P.-A.); (M.I.N.-M.); (L.M.); (C.L.); (E.N.)
| | - Marta Sanchis
- Unidad de Microbiología, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, IISPV, 43003 Tarragona, Spain; (M.S.); (J.C.)
| | - Javier Capilla
- Unidad de Microbiología, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, IISPV, 43003 Tarragona, Spain; (M.S.); (J.C.)
| | - Eusebio Navarro
- Departmento de Genética y Microbiología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain; (C.P.-A.); (M.I.N.-M.); (L.M.); (C.L.); (E.N.)
| | - Victoriano Garre
- Departmento de Genética y Microbiología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain; (C.P.-A.); (M.I.N.-M.); (L.M.); (C.L.); (E.N.)
| | - Francisco Esteban Nicolás
- Departmento de Genética y Microbiología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain; (C.P.-A.); (M.I.N.-M.); (L.M.); (C.L.); (E.N.)
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Ferrando PJ, Lorenzo-Seva U. An External Validity Approach for Assessing Essential Unidimensionality in Correlated-Factor Models. Educ Psychol Meas 2019; 79:437-461. [PMID: 31105318 PMCID: PMC6506987 DOI: 10.1177/0013164418824755] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Many psychometric measures yield data that are compatible with (a) an essentially unidimensional factor analysis solution and (b) a correlated-factor solution. Deciding which of these structures is the most appropriate and useful is of considerable importance, and various procedures have been proposed to help in this decision. The only fully developed procedures available to date, however, are internal, and they use only the information contained in the item scores. In contrast, this article proposes an external auxiliary procedure in which primary factor scores and general factor scores are related to relevant external variables. Our proposal consists of two groups of procedures. The procedures in the first group (differential validity procedures) assess the extent to which the primary factor scores relate differentially to the external variables. Procedures in the second group (incremental validity procedures) assess the extent to which the primary factor scores yield predictive validity increments with respect to the single general factor scores. Both groups of procedures are based on a second-order structural model with latent variables from which new methodological results are obtained. The functioning of the proposal is assessed by means of a simulation study, and its usefulness is illustrated with a real-data example in the personality domain.
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