bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Systematic Decision-Making for Using Technological Strategies to Implement Evidence-Based Interventions: An Illustrated Case Study
Authors: Kim Bo , Wilson Sarah M. , Mosher Tiffany M. , Breland Jessica Y.
Published: May 2021

Technology can improve implementation strategies' efficiency, simplifying progress tracking and removing distance-related barriers. However, incorporating technology is meaningful only if the resulting strategy is usable and useful. Hence, we must systematically assess technological strategies' usability and usefulness before employing them. Our objective was therefore to adapt the effort-vs-impact assessment (commonly used in systems science and operations planning) to decision-making for technological implementation strategies. The approach includes three components – assessing the effort needed to make a technological implementation strategy usable, assessing its impact (i.e., usefulness regarding performance/efficiency/quality), and deciding whether/how to use it. The approach generates a two-by-two effort-vs-impact chart that categorizes the strategy by effort (little/much) and impact (small/large), which serves as a guide for deciding whether/how to use the strategy. We provide a case study of applying this approach to design a package of technological strategies for implementing a 5 A's tobacco cessation intervention at a Federally Qualified Health Center. The effort-vs-impact chart guides stakeholder-involved decision-making around considered technologies. Specification of less technological alternatives helps tailor each technological strategy within the package (minimizing the effort needed to make the strategy usable while maximizing its usefulness), aligning to organizational priorities and clinical tasks. Our three-component approach enables methodical and documentable assessments of whether/how to use a technological implementation strategy, building on stakeholder-involved perceptions of its usability and usefulness. As technology advances, results of effort-vs-impact assessments will likely also change. Thus, even for a single technological implementation strategy, the three-component approach can be repeatedly applied to guide implementation in dynamic contexts.
The Risk of Bullying and Probability of Help-Seeking Behaviors in School Children: A Bayesian Network Analysis
Authors: Sitnik-Warchulska Katarzyna , Wajda Zbigniew , Wojciechowski Bartosz , Izydorczyk Bernadetta
Published: May 2021

An increase in aggressive behaviors in adolescents has been observed for a few years. The participation in bullying is associated with many psychosocial difficulties in adolescent development. On the other hand, the help-seeking behavior can be one of the most important protective factors that reduce the risk for this type of violence. The study was aimed at estimating the risk factors, as well as the protective factors of school bullying, by using the Bayesian networks to build a model allowing to estimate the probability of occurrence of the aggressive and help-seeking behaviors among school children. The focus was on individual risk/protective factors related to EAS temperament (emotionality, activity, and sociability) and variables related to the family context (level of cohesion, flexibility, family communication, and family life satisfaction). Bayesian methods have not been particularly mainstream in the social and medical sciences. The sample comprised 75 students (32 boys and 43 girls), aged 13–15 (M = 13.82; SD = 0.47). Assessment comprised The EAS Temperament Questionnaire, Family Adaptability & Cohesion Evaluation Scales FACES IV-SOR (Family Rating Scale), and Survey questionnaire. The Bayesian networks were applied. Depending on the values of the identified variables, very high a posteriori probability of bullying and help-seeking behaviors can be predicted. Four EAS subscales (Distress, Fear, Activity, Sociability) and two SOR subscales (Balanced Flexibility and Balanced Cohesion) were identified as predictors of bullying. Moreover, two SOR subscales (Family Communication and Life Family Satisfaction) and one EAS subscale (Sociability) were identified as predictors of help-seeking behaviors. The constructed network made it possible to show the influence of variables related to temperament and variables related to the family environment on the probability of bullying or the probability of seeking help and support. The Bayesian network model used in this study may be used in clinical practice.
The Seven Selves of Dementia
Authors: Bomilcar Iris , Bertrand Elodie , Morris Robin G. , Mograbi Daniel C.
Published: May 2021

The self is a complex and multifaceted phenomenon, encompassing a variety of cognitive processes and psychosocial influences. Considering this, there is a multiplicity of “selves,” the current review suggesting that seven fundamental self-processes can be identified that further our understanding of the experience of dementia. These include (1) an embodied self, manifest as corporeal awareness; (2) an agentic self, related to being an agent and influencing life circumstances; (3) an implicit self, linked to non-conscious self-processing; (4) a critical self, which defines the core of self-identity; (5) a surrogate self, based on third-person perspective information; (6) an extended self, including external objects or existences that are incorporated into the self; and, finally, (7) an emergent self, a property of the self-processes that give rise to the sense of a unified self. These are discussed in relation to self-awareness and their use in making sense of the experience of dementia.
Unraveling the Optimum Latent Structure of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: Evidence Supporting ICD and HiTOP Frameworks
Authors: Gomez Rapson , Liu Lu , Krueger Robert , Stavropoulos Vasileios , Downs Jenny , Preece David , Houghton Stephen , Chen Wai
Published: May 2021

Attention Deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is conceptualized differently in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-5), the International Classification of Diseases-10 (ICD-10), and the Hierarchical Taxonomy of Psychopathology (HiTOP) frameworks. This study applied independent cluster confirmatory factor analysis (ICM-CFA), exploratory structure equation model with target rotation (ESEM), and the S-1 bi-factor CFA approaches to evaluate seven ADHD models yielded by different combinations of these taxonomic frameworks. Parents and teachers of a community sample of children (between 6 and 12 years of age) completed the Disruptive Behavior Rating Scale (for ADHD symptoms) and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (for validation). Our findings for both parent and teacher ratings provided the most support for the S-1 bi-factor CFA model comprised of (i) a g-factor based on ICD-10 impulsivity symptoms as the reference indicators and (ii) inattention and hyperactivity as specific factors. However, the hyperactivity-specific factor lacked clarity and reliability. Thus, our findings indicate that ADHD is best viewed as a disorder primarily reflecting impulsivity, though with a separable inattention (but no hyperactivity) component, i.e., “ADID (attention deficit/impulsivity disorder).” This model aligns with the HiTOP proposals.
Patient's Death From the Perspective of Nursing Students
Authors: Szczupakowska Magdalena , Stolarek Patrycja , Roszak Magdalena , Głodowska Katarzyna , Baum Ewa
Published: May 2021

Introduction: An exceedingly small amount of scientific research concerns the response to patient death among nursing students. There was a need to examine their perspective on patient death with which they experience during their studies. The authors wanted to check the subjective assessment of students' preparation for patient death and their perception of classes conducted in this area.

Methods: The research used the diagnostic survey method and was conducted in May 2019 using Google Form on social media. The 467 nursing students answered 14 questions in the original questionnaire about their experience with patient death. The analyzed data were expressed as median, minimum and maximum values, or percentage, as appropriate. Comparison of groups was performed using the Mann–Whitney U-test or the Kruskal–Wallis test. The relationship between variables was analyzed with Spearman correlation coefficient or contingency coefficient (the χ2-test).

Results: The authors analyzed 452 responses of nursing students, and 86.3% of them encountered death of a patient in the course of their studies. In the second-year master's studies, this value reached 99.3%. Among the most frequently mentioned accompanying emotions, students mentioned “reflection on the fragility of life” and “compassion.” Students do not feel sufficiently prepared for the death of a patient.

Conclusions: Nursing students encounter the death of a patient very often and very early. Although the curriculum includes content related to the care of a dying patient, students believe that there is still too little of it and that it does not prepare it in a satisfactory manner. Students feel different, often negative emotions related to patient death, and also have various methods of dealing with such a situation. They also feel the need to increase education in this area.
Exploring Co-creative Drawing Workflows
Authors: Jansen Chipp , Sklar Elizabeth
Published: May 2021

This article presents the outcomes from a mixed-methods study of drawing practitioners (e.g., professional illustrators, fine artists, and art students) that was conducted in Autumn 2018 as a preliminary investigation for the development of a physical human-AI co-creative drawing system. The aim of the study was to discover possible roles that technology could play in observing, modeling, and possibly assisting an artist with their drawing. The study had three components: a paper survey of artists' drawing practises, technology usage and attitudes, video recorded drawing exercises and a follow-up semi-structured interview which included a co-design discussion on how AI might contribute to their drawing workflow. Key themes identified from the interviews were (1) drawing with physical mediums is a traditional and primary way of creation; (2) artists' views on AI varied, where co-creative AI is preferable to didactic AI; and (3) artists have a critical and skeptical view on the automation of creative work with AI. Participants' input provided the basis for the design and technical specifications of a co-creative drawing prototype, for which details are presented in this article. In addition, lessons learned from conducting the user study are presented with a reflection on future studies with drawing practitioners.
Asteroseismology of Close Binary Stars: Tides and Mass Transfer
Authors: Guo Zhao
Published: May 2021

The study of stellar oscillations allows us to infer the properties of stellar interiors. Meanwhile, fundamental parameters such as mass and radius can be obtained by studying stars in binary systems. The synergy between binarity and asteroseismology can constrain the parameter space of stellar properties and facilitate the asteroseismic inference. On the other hand, binarity also introduces additional complexities such tides and mass transfer. From an observational perspective, we briefly review the recent advances in the study of tidal effects on stellar oscillations, focusing on upper main sequence stars (F-, A-, or OB- type). The effect can be roughly divided into two categories. The first one concerns the tidally excited oscillations (TEOs) in eccentric binaries where TEOs are mostly due to resonances between dynamical tides and gravity modes of the star. TEOs appear as orbital-harmonic oscillations on top of the eccentric ellipsoidal light curve variations (the “heartbeat” feature). The second category is regarding the self-excited oscillations perturbed by static tides in circularized and synchronized close binaries. It includes the tidal deformation of the propagation cavity and its effect on eigenfrequencies, eigenfunctions, and the pulsation alignment. We list binary systems that show these two types of tidal effect and summarize the orbital and pulsation observables. We also discuss the theoretical approaches used to model these tidal oscillations and relevant complications such as non-linear mode coupling and resonance locking. Further information can be extracted from the observations of these oscillations which will improve our understanding of tides. We also discuss the effect of mass transfer, the extreme result of tides, on stellar oscillations. We bring to the readers' attention: (1) oscillating stars undergoing mass accretion (A-, F-, and OB type pulsators and white dwarfs), for which the pulsation properties may be changed significantly by accretion; (2) post-mass transfer pulsators, which have undergone a stable or unstable Roche-Lobe overflow. These pulsators have great potential in probing detailed physical processes in stellar interiors and mass transfer, as well as in studying the binary star populations.
Relative Age-Related Biases in Objective and Subjective Assessments of Performance in Talented Youth Soccer Players
Authors: Leyhr Daniel , Bergmann Fynn , Schreiner Robert , Mann David , Dugandzic Damir , Höner Oliver
Published: May 2021

Talent research has recommended that multidimensional assessments of performance are needed to improve the identification and development of talented young athletes. However, factors such as the relative age effect may cloud our ability to assess factors related to performance. The aim of this study was to determine the extent of any relationship between soccer players' chronological and relative age, and objective and subjective performance assessments. Data for highly talented male soccer players selected into the German Soccer Associations' talent promotion program (N= 16,138) for U12 to U15 age groups (Mage= 12.62 ± 1.04 years) were examined. Besides anthropometric assessments, players completed a battery of five motor tests that objectively assessed speed abilities and technical skills (specifically sprint, agility, dribbling, ball control, and juggling). In addition, coaches subjectively rated players on their kicking, tactical, and psychosocial skills, as well as providing holistic evaluations of each player's current and future performance levels. Correlation analyses were used to investigate the extent of any relationships between the chronological and relative age of players and their results for each of the assessments. A strong linear decrease in the frequency of later-born players confirmed the overrepresentation of early-born players in all age groups (0.92 ≤ |r|≤ 0.95, eachp< 0.001). From U12 to U15, significant (eachp< 0.001) correlations were found between the chronological age of players and their height (|r| = 0.70), weight (|r| = 0.69), speed abilities (|r|= 0.38), and technical skills (|r|= 0.43). When evaluating each age group separately, small effects were found when correlating relative age with the anthropometric assessments (0.18 ≤ |r|≤ 0.26), and only trivial effects with speed abilities and technical skills (0.01 ≤ |r|≤ 0.06). Similarly, low correlations were found for the subjective evaluations of kicking, tactical, and psychosocial skills with chronological age across age groups (0.03 ≤ |r| ≤ 0.07), and with relative age in each age group (0.01 ≤ |r| ≤ 0.11). The results show a skewed distribution toward early-born players and—in reference to their relative age—advanced performance in late-born athletes. However, trends toward a better holistic rating of early-born players for current and future performance levels were found. Coaches should be aware of these effects during talent selection, but also when interpreting results from subjective and objective assessments of performance.
Standing Still at Full Speed: Sports in an Overheated World
Authors: Eriksen Thomas Hylland
Published: May 2021

In evolutionary biology, the “Red Queen Effect” refers to a form of inter- or intra-species competition where continuous improvement is necessary in order to survive and thrive, since the other species/individuals evolve. In sport, the same mechanism can be easily observed, and this article explores its implications. It discusses improved training regimes, scientific diets, innovative techniques enhancing performance, and technological improvements such as fibreglass skis. It argues that the upward spiral of improved achievement can be seen as an effect of the global market, or of the modern values of development and growth which are celebrated in modern sports. The world of competitive sports is not just an integral part of global capitalism, but it also mirrors and mimes its internal logic. The kinship between sport and war is obvious, and many sports grew out of military training. But since much of the world has been spared the horrors of war for generations, in the very same period that capitalism has become ever more hegemonic and globalised, sports in the 21st century have come to resemble market competition more than bloody events on the battlefield. Not least for this reason, the treadmill paradox, or Red Queen effect, easily discernable in market economies as a driver for change, whether progressive or destructive or both, can fruitfully be applied as an analytical lens through which to view sport. The question nevertheless remains to be answered as to whether the improved achievements of athletes lead to an improved spectator experience or the opposite. In this question lies an inherent paradox of contemporary world civilisation, with a literal as well as a metaphorical bearing on the critique of the unsustainable growth economy.
Infrared Drying Trends Applied to Fruit
Authors: Zartha Sossa Jhon Wilder , Orozco Gina Lía , García Murillo Liz Mercedes , Peña Osorio Miguel , Sánchez Suarez Nevardo
Published: May 2021

Aims: This article seeks to identify the main products to which drying is applied, mainly by infrared, as well as the mathematical models used to evaluate a product.

Background: The drying of agro-industrial products is a very important unitary operation to avoid post-harvest losses.

Objective: This article looks to respond to the following questions: Which raw materials are subjected to far-infrared drying? What are the mathematical models used in the application of far-infrared?

Method: To identify the most focused articles on the topic, we worked with the search equation “TITLE-ABS-KEY (‘infrared drying’) AND fruits AND [LIMIT-TO (SUBJAREA, ‘AGRI’) OR LIMIT-TO (SUBJAREA, ‘ENGI’)],” which was run in the Scopus database for scientific articles.

Result: After knowing the different technologies, more than 23 applications in agro-industrial products were identified. In these applications, it is observed how quality is one of the most important factors in the preservation of dehydrated products; far-infrared drying helps retain sensory quality in products such as sweet potatoes, grapes, Cordyceps militaris, and mangoes.

Conclusion: A common factor that could be found from the articles and patents was the application of this infrared drying technique in fruits and vegetables with high water content, such as kiwi, chives, and mushroom varieties. These articles and patents based their studies on optimizing the technique by varying drying times, temperatures, and pressures, even sometimes combining different drying techniques—all to preserve the organoleptic characteristics of the product, avoiding damage to thermolabile compounds and obtaining a dry food of very good quality, performance, and characteristics.
Thermal Safety of Endoscopic Usage in Robot-Assisted Middle Ear Surgery: An Experimental Study
Authors: Pan Jinxi , Tan Haoyue , Shi Jun , Wang Zhaoyan , Sterkers Olivier , Jia Huan , Wu Hao
Published: May 2021

Objectives: The widespread application of endoscopic ear surgery (EES), performed through the external auditory canal, has revealed the limitations of the one-handed technique. The RobOtol® (Collin ORL, Bagneux, France) otological robotic system has been introduced to enable two-handed procedures; however, the thermal properties of dedicated endoscopes, which are usually used in neurosurgery, called “neuro-endoscopes,” have not yet been clarified for the robotic systems. In this study, we aimed to profile the thermal characteristics of two dedicated neuro-endoscopes, as compared to endoscopes used routinely in manual EES, called “oto-endoscopes,” and defined by a smaller diameter and shorter length, and to discuss the safe application of robotic assistance in EES.

Methods: Two neuro-endoscopes (3.3 mm, 25 cm, 0°/30°) were studied using two routine light sources (LED/xenon), and two routine oto-endoscopes (3 mm, 14 cm, 0°/30°) were initially measured to provide a comprehensive comparison. Light intensities and temperatures were measured at different power settings. The thermal distributions were measured in an open environment and a human temporal bone model of EES. The cooling measures were also studied.

Results: Light intensity was correlated with stabilized tip temperatures (P < 0.01, R2 = 0.8719). Under 100% xenon power, the stabilized temperatures at the tips of 0°, 30° neuro-endoscopes, and 0°, 30° oto-endoscopes were 96.1, 60.1, 67.8, and 56.4°C, respectively. With 100% LED power, the temperatures decreased by about 10°C, respectively. For the 0° neuro-endoscope, the illuminated area far away 1cm from the tip was below 37°C when using more than 50% both power, while this distance for 30° neuro-endoscope was 0.5 cm. In the EES temporal bone model, the round window area could reach 59.3°C with the 0° neuro-endoscope under 100% xenon power. Suction resulted in a ~1–2°C temperature drop, while a 10 mL saline rinse gave a baseline temperature which lasted for 2.5 min.

Conclusion: Neuro-endoscope causes higher thermal releasing in the surgical cavity of ESS, which should be especially cautious in the robotic system usage. Applying submaximal light intensity, a LED source and intermittent rinsing should be considered for the safer robot-assisted EES using a neuro-endoscope that allows a two-handed surgical procedure.
Porcine Myeloid Antimicrobial Peptides: A Review of the Activity and Latest Advances
Authors: Shi Shuaibing , Shen Tengfei , Liu Yongqing , Chen Liangliang , Wang Chen , Liao Chengshui
Published: May 2021

Traditional antibiotics have made great contributions to human health and animal husbandry since the discovery of penicillin in 1928, but bacterial resistance and drug residues are growing threats to global public health due to the long-term uncontrolled application of antibiotics. There is a critical need to develop new antimicrobial drugs to replace antibiotics. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are distributed in all kingdoms of life, presenting activity against pathogens as well as anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory activities; consequently, they have prospects as new potential alternatives to antibiotics. Porcine myeloid antimicrobial peptides (PMAPs), the porcine cathelicidin family of AMPs, have been reported in the literature in recent years. PMAPs have become an important research topic due to their strong antibacterial activity. This review focuses on the universal trends in the biochemical parameters, structural characteristics and biological activities of PMAPs.
Pensamiento posmoderno constructivo y psicoterapia.
Authors: Botella Luis , Pacheco Meritxell , Herrero Olga
Published: May 2021

Este artículo trata de la influencia que han ejercido los planteamientos posmodernos propios del contexto cultural contemporáneo sobre las dos orientaciones psicoterapéuticas en las que parecen haber tenido más eco: las terapias sistémicas y las terapias cognitivas. Presenta, asímismo, el posicionamiento de los autores, enmarcado en las tradiciones constructivista, construccionista, narrativa y discursiva.
El postmodernismo como una forma de humanismo.
Authors: Gergen Kenneth J.
Published: May 2021

En este artículo se analiza el impacto del postmodernismo en la psicología humanista tradicional para llegar a la conclusión de que la consecuencia principal del razonamiento postmoderno es la destrucción de los principios básicos para cualquier sociedad moral, humana y creativa. Sin embargo, al revisar algunos conceptos como los de agentividad y experiencia en lo referente a la primacía de las relaciones, el postmodernismo nos obliga a inventar múltiples maneras de generar conversaciones integradoras, de un modo acorde a las esperanzas más profundas de la tradición humanista.
Tratamiento de un caso de vaginismo.
Authors: Tió i Rotllan Núria
Published: May 2021

En este articulo se presenta el tratamiento psicofisioterapéutico de un caso clínico de trastorno psicosexual de vaginismo, detallado sesión a sesión.
Conceptualización, evaluación y terapia de la paidofilia: ilustración de la aplicación de la terapia conductual a un trastorno paidofilico.
Authors: Alario Bataller Salvador
Published: May 2021

En este artículo revisamos la paidofilia, sus posibles causas, las investigaciones sobre personalidad que correlacionan con algunas de las conductas paidofílicas y la terapia de tipo biológico y cognitivo-conductual. El presente trabajo presenta la intervención conductual en un paciente paidofílico. La terapia incluía control de estímulos, recondicionamiento orgásmico, sensibilización encubierta, exposición y terapia cognitiva. Presentamos los resultados que muestran una buena mejora al final del tratamiento y en los controles de seguimiento, realizados al mes, a los 3 meses, a los seis meses y al año, en los cuales se mantenían los objetivos conseguidos con el tratamiento.
La identidad de género.
Authors: Jayme Zaro María
Published: May 2021

Tradicionalmente las diferencias de sexo han constituido la base sobre la que articular unas diferencias entre hombres y mujeres que transciendan lo biofisiológico y determinen en mayor o menor medida su existencia. Dicha diferenciación es resultado de una doble construcción, sociocultural y psicológica, cuyos contenidos definen lo que en la actualidad se entiende por género. El componente sociocultural es el responsable de categorizar la realidad en una dualidad de opuestos, masculinidad vs. feminidad, nutrida de estereotipos y articulada en roles que se han transmitido generacionalmente a lo largo del proceso de socialización desde el nacimiento. El componente psicológico refiere la construcción activa que toda persona realiza de ese mensaje sociocultural y le enseña qué es ser hombre o mujer y cómo ha de comportarse. Este proceso define la identidad de género del individuo, en el núcleo del autoconcepto: cómo ha entendido su sexo y cómo le ha atribuido unas características y unos contenidos que le hacen identificarse, al fin, con una masculinidad y/o feminidad únicas respecto al resto de seres humanos, pero a la vez congruente con las expectativas sociales. En el presente artículo se destaca, además, la importancia de los agentes socializadores en la transmisión de la identidad de género.
Tratamiento conductual de un caso de homosexualidad egodistónica.
Authors: Alario Bataller Salvador
Published: May 2021

En este artículo se describe el tratamiento de un homosexual egodistónico mediante aversión por vergüenza, recondicionamiento orgásmico y exposición in vivo. Después de cinco años de seguimiento, el paciente se encontraba muy mejorado, con una reducción notable de las conductas problema y una mayor adaptación global.
Un caso de reorientación sexual en el ciclo medio de la vida.
Authors: Villegas Besora Manuel , Turco Luigi
Published: May 2021

En este artículo se presenta un caso de reorientación sexual en el ciclo medio de la vida a través del análisis de textos representativos del proceso psicoterapéutico seguido por el paciente. Este proceso de reorientación sexual permite al paciente liberarse igualmente de los síntomas agorafóbicos que le afectaban desde el día de su matrimonio.
Vittorio f. Guidano, en homenaje.
Authors: Miró Barrachina Mayte
Published: May 2021

Nos hemos reunido aquí para rendir homenaje a Vittorio F.Guidano. Rendir homenaje es dar testimonio de alguien que mantuvo un modo de ser persona y que deja una obra. Tomar la palabra hoy constituye un momento muy especial, porque al hablar de nuestra experiencia de él, actualizamos su figura, que ya no pertenece a la vida, pero todavía no ha entrado en la historia. La muerte es el elemento de la historia, mientras que el tiempo es el elemento de la vida, como Ortega y Zambrano supieron ver.
Cómo la metáfora estructura los sueños.
Authors: Lakoff George
Published: May 2021

Los sueños constituyen un proceso natural a través del cual se expresan miedos, deseos y experiencias cargadas emotivamente, por medio de representaciones metafóricas. En este artículo se analiza de qué modo las metáforas, como esquemas conceptuales, estructuran los sueños y permiten su interpretación.
El discurso onírico: aplicación de las técnicas de análisis textual a los sueños en psicoterapia.
Authors: Villegas Besora Manuel , Ricci Monica
Published: May 2021

La consideración del sueño como texto analógico permite llevar a cabo su interpretación en base a las técnicas del análisis textual. En el artículo se explican detalladamente los procedimientos metodológicos a seguir para realizar este tipo de análisis mediante su aplicación a numerosos relatos oníricos.
El trabajo terapéutico con sueños: una aproximación adleriana-constructivista.
Authors: Oberst Ursula E.
Published: May 2021

En este artículo se ofrece una breve síntesis de la Psicología Adleriana (PA), sobre todo de sus aspectos constructivistas, y una revisión crítica de la teoría adleriana de la interpretación de los sueños. Finalmente, se presenta una técnica integradora adleriana/constructivista para el trabajo terapéutico con sueños.
El caso Alicia. El ensueño despierto dirigido desde una perspectiva centrada en la persona.
Authors: Artiles Manuel F.
Published: May 2021

El autor, de orientación rogeriana, presenta en este trabajo una sesión completa de psicoterapia según la modalidad creada por el francés Robert Desoille, denominada «Rêve Eveillé Dirigé» (Ensueño Despierto Dirigido). El ensueño despierto dirigido presenta una analogía con los acontecimientos realmente vividos, sintetizados en un escenario imaginario que nos ayuda a comprender el fondo afectivo que determina el comportamiento neurótico del paciente. Constituye igualmente un ejemplo valioso de la importancia crucial que juega la experiencia emocional correctiva en los significados del paciente. La comprensión empática del terapeuta, junto a la localización constante en el paciente y la actitud no-directiva, juegan igualmente un papel central.
Terapia grupal, terapia familiar y psicofarmacología.
Authors: Pagés Sergio , Fernández-Alvarez Héctor
Published: May 2021

En este artículo se considera la conveniencia de combinar la terapia farmacológica con los tratamientos terapéuticos de grupo o de familia en relación a las características diferenciales de distintos trastornos psicológicos tales como: la esquizofrenia, la depresión, las obsesiones compulsivas, la agorafobia y los trastornos alimentarios tanto en condiciones ambulatorias como de hospitalización.
The Participation of Microbiota in the Transformation of Nitrogen Compounds in the Soil—A Review
Authors: Paśmionka Iwona Beata , Bulski Karol , Boligłowa Elżbieta
Published: May 2021

Due to the growing costs of agricultural production and the need to protect the environment, there has been a need to intensify activities leading to an increase in the effectiveness of natural biological processes. These measures should increase the biodiversity of the environment, enable the adaptation of microorganisms and the protection of plants and soils against the background of the concept of sustainable agricultural development. The soil is an important environment in which many elements are transformed, including nitrogen necessary for the proper yielding of plants. The aim of the article is to present the microbiological aspect of nitrogen transformation, starting with a review of historical findings and then to discuss the progress of the latest developments that have contributed to a detailed understanding of the biochemical reactions occurring during nitrogen transformation in soil. Moreover, the aim of the study is to present the current state of knowledge on the dynamics of nitrogen uptake and conversion by various species of microorganisms and the relationship between the activity of nitrogen microorganisms and nitrogen uptake by plants. The article also includes the latest information on the possibility of using microbiological biostimulants supporting plant growth (PGPR) and protection against the effects of phytopathogens.
Modifications Induced by Rootstocks on Yield, Vigor and Nutritional Status on Vitis vinifera Cv Syrah under Hyper-Arid Conditions in Northern Chile
Authors: Verdugo-Vásquez Nicolás , Gutiérrez-Gamboa Gastón , Díaz-Gálvez Irina , Ibacache Antonio , Zurita-Silva Andrés
Published: May 2021

Hyper-arid regions are characterized by extreme conditions for growing and lack of water (<100 mm annual rainfall average), where desertification renders human activities almost impossible. In addition to the use of irrigation, different viticultural strategies should be taken into account to face the adverse effects of these conditions in which rootstocks may play a crucial role. The research aim was to evaluate the effects of the rootstock on yield, vigor, and petiole nutrient content in Syrah grapevines growing under hyper-arid conditions during five seasons and compare them to ungrafted ones. St. George induced lower yield than 1103 Paulsen. Salt Creek induced higher plant growth vigor and Cu petiole content than ungrafted vines in Syrah, which was correlated to P petiole content. However, Salt Creek and St. George rootstocks induced an excess of vigor in Syrah according to Ravaz Index. Rootstocks with V. berlandieri genetic background should be used in Syrah growing under hyper-arid conditions to maintain adequate levels of plant vigor and to avoid deficiencies or toxicity of macro and micronutrients.
Enhanced Nutritional Quality of Sweet Maize Kernel in Response to Cover Crops and Bio-Fertilizer
Authors: Dragicevic Vesna , Dolijanović Željko , Janosevic Biljana , Brankov Milan , Stoiljkovic Milovan , Dodevska Margarita S. , Simić Milena
Published: May 2021

Cover crops (CC) are an important low-input strategy in sustainable agricultural systems. The impact of different CC (common vetch, field pea, winter oats, fodder kale, common vetch + winter oats and field pea + winter oats), organic mulch, control treatment-fallow, and bio-fertilizer (BF) application, on yield and quality of sweet maize kernel was evaluated. CC biomass was higher in mixtures: field pea + winter oats, and common vetch + winter oats, as well as in fodder kale. Kernel yield and its chemical composition varied significantly by CC, BF, year, and their interaction. Organic mulch enhanced the concentration of sugars and glutathione in maize kernel. BF increased kernel yield, the concentration of sugars, vitamin C, Mg, Fe, Zn, and reduced phytate concentration. The highest Mg and Mn concentration in maize kernel was achieved with fodder kale, Zn concentration with common vetch + winter oats + BF, and Fe concentration with winter oats. The same treatments expressed the highest impact on variability in concentration of the phytate, phenolics, and yellow pigment, thus affecting further bio-availability of essential elements. Results indicate that in a semi-arid climate, under rain-fed conditions, CC such as fodder kale and winter oats + common vetch could enhance sweet maize productivity and kernel quality, serving as an important part of a sustainable cropping system, to facilitate food security.
Automated Operant Conditioning Devices for Fish. Do They Work?
Authors: Gatto Elia , Santacà Maria , Verza Ilaria , Dadda Marco , Bisazza Angelo
Published: May 2021

The growing use of teleosts in comparative cognition and in neurobiological research has prompted many researchers to develop automated conditioning devices for fish. These techniques can make research less expensive and fully comparable with research on warm-blooded species, in which automated devices have been used for more than a century. Tested with a recently developed automated device, guppies (Poecilia reticulata) easily performed 80 reinforced trials per session, exceeding 80% accuracy in color or shape discrimination tasks after only 3–4 training session, though they exhibit unexpectedly poor performance in numerical discrimination tasks. As several pieces of evidence indicate, guppies possess excellent numerical abilities. In the first part of this study, we benchmarked the automated training device with a standard manual training procedure by administering the same set of tasks, which consisted of numerical discriminations of increasing difficulty. All manually-trained guppies quickly learned the easiest discriminations and a substantial percentage learned the more difficult ones, such as 4 vs. 5 items. No fish trained with the automated conditioning device reached the learning criterion for even the easiest discriminations. In the second part of the study, we introduced a series of modifications to the conditioning chamber and to the procedure in an attempt to improve its efficiency. Increasing the decision time, inter-trial interval, or visibility of the stimuli did not produce an appreciable improvement. Reducing the cognitive load of the task by training subjects first to use the device with shape and color discriminations, significantly improved their numerical performance. Allowing the subjects to reside in the test chamber, which likely reduced the amount of attentional resources subtracted to task execution, also led to an improvement, although in no case did subjects match the performance of fish trained with the standard procedure. Our results highlight limitations in the capacity of small laboratory teleosts to cope with operant conditioning automation that was not observed in laboratory mammals and birds and that currently prevent an easy and straightforward comparison with other vertebrates.
Empirical Evaluation and Prediction of Protein Requirements for Maintenance and Growth of 18–24 Months Old Thai Swamp Buffaloes
Authors: Paengkoum Siwaporn , Tatsapong Pattaraporn , Taethaisong Nittaya , Sorasak Thongpea , Purba Rayudika Aprilia Patindra , Paengkoum Pramote
Published: May 2021

In some geographical areas and in certain breeding situations, the interpretation of increased gain in the bovine is difficult to investigate. Due to their inherent genetic variations, their energy and protein needs vary as a function of inherent genetic differences, making these requirements difficult to accurately assess in bull species, e.g., Thai swamp buffalo. The study aimed at investigating and predicting protein requirement systems, by the provision of an abundant energy intake of 2.2 Mcal/kg DM for the maintenance and growth of Thai swamp buffaloes using a comparative prolonged feeding trial for 90 days. Sixteen bull Thai swamp buffaloes at the initial (Age: 18–24 months; BW: 233 ± 25.0 kg) were assigned into four treatment groups, four buffaloes each, fed 5.4, 6.6, 8.5, and 10.5% DM crude protein (CP). CP intake, BW, and physiological fluid were determined. The net CP requirements for maintenance and growth of Thai swamp buffaloes were 5.41 g CP/kg W0.75 and 0.46 g CP/g average daily gain (ADG), respectively. Our results indicated that CP requirement increases when the BW increases. An increased dietary CP resulted in increased amounts of blood urine nitrogen (N), N absorption, total volatile fatty acid, urinary purine derivative, and the microbial N. Notably, the net CP requirement for growth of Thai swamp buffalo was higher than it reported in NRC, but the maintenance was lower.
Helminth Infection of the Loggerhead Sea Turtle Caretta caretta along the Coasts of Sicily and the North West Adriatic Sea
Authors: Gentile Antonino , Amato Tullia , Gustinelli Andrea , Fioravanti Maria Letizia , Gambino Delia , Randazzo Vincenzo , Caracappa Giulia , Vicari Domenico , Arculeo Marco
Published: May 2021

We provide new data on the presence of helminth parasites in 64 individual loggerhead sea turtles Caretta caretta stranded along the coasts of Sicily and the northwest Adriatic Sea between June 2014 and August 2016. The necropsy examination revealed 31 individuals (48.4%) positive for endoparasites, showing a greater prevalence of trematodes than nematodes. In particular, seven species and a single genus of Trematoda (Hapalotrema) and a single species and genus of Nematoda (Kathlania) were identified. Among the Digenea flukes the species with the highest prevalence of infection were Rhytidodes gelatinosus (34.6%) and Hapalotrema sp. (33.3%), while among the Nematoda they were Kathlania sp. (33.3%) and Sulcascaris sulcata (33.3%). Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was applied among the recovery sites of the stranded loggerhead sea turtles and prevalence of endoparasites was used to highlight any relationship between the parasites and the origin of the hosts. ANOVA showed significant differences (p < 0.001) among the data used.
Health Monitoring of Laboratory Rodent Colonies—Talking about (R)evolution
Authors: Buchheister Stephanie , Bleich André
Published: May 2021

The health monitoring of laboratory rodents is essential for ensuring animal health and standardization in biomedical research. Progress in housing, gnotobiotic derivation, and hygienic monitoring programs led to enormous improvement of the microbiological quality of laboratory animals. While traditional health monitoring and pathogen detection methods still serve as powerful tools for the diagnostics of common animal diseases, molecular methods develop rapidly and not only improve test sensitivities but also allow high throughput analyses of various sample types. Concurrently, to the progress in pathogen detection and elimination, the research community becomes increasingly aware of the striking influence of microbiome compositions in laboratory animals, affecting disease phenotypes and the scientific value of research data. As repeated re-derivation cycles and strict barrier husbandry of laboratory rodents resulted in a limited diversity of the animals’ gut microbiome, future monitoring approaches will have to reform—aiming at enhancing the validity of animal experiments. This review will recapitulate common health monitoring concepts and, moreover, outline strategies and measures on coping with microbiome variation in order to increase reproducibility, replicability and generalizability.
Does Bacteria Colonization of Canine Newborns Start in the Uterus?
Authors: Rota Ada , Del Carro Andrea , Bertero Alessia , Del Carro Angela , Starvaggi Cucuzza Alessandro , Banchi Penelope , Corrò Michela
Published: May 2021

The assumption that requires the uterus to be a sterile environment to sustain a successful pregnancy has been recently challenged in humans, and is still under debate. The aim of this study was to assess whether bacteria can be isolated from the pregnant uterus and from amniotic fluid and meconium of healthy canine fetuses at term, delivered through cesarean section. Fifteen dams of different breed, age and parity, undergoing either elective (n = 10) or emergency (n = 5) cesarean section after a healthy pregnancy, were included in the study. Swabs for bacterial culture were collected from the uterus, and from amniotic fluid and meconium. Bacteria were isolated from all the sampled sites and materials, irrespective of cesarean type. In most cases, different bacteria were isolated from the different sites. Acinetobacter spp., coagulase-negative Staphylococci and Bacillus spp. were frequently found while Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Micrococcus spp., Moraxella spp., Macrococcus spp., Glutamicibacter spp., Stenotrophomonas spp. and Psychrobacter spp. were only occasionally identified. Our data show that uterus and fetuses may not be sterile in healthy term canine pregnancies.
Recombinant Antibody Production Using a Dual-Promoter Single Plasmid System
Authors: Carrara Stefania C. , Fiebig David , Bogen Jan P. , Grzeschik Julius , Hock Björn , Kolmar Harald
Published: May 2021

Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) have demonstrated tremendous effects on the treatment of various disease indications and remain the fastest growing class of therapeutics. Production of recombinant antibodies is performed using mammalian expression systems to facilitate native antibody folding and post-translational modifications. Generally, mAb expression systems utilize co-transfection of heavy chain (hc) and light chain (lc) genes encoded on separate plasmids. In this study, we examine the production of two FDA-approved antibodies using a bidirectional (BiDi) vector encoding both hc and lc with mirrored promoter and enhancer elements on a single plasmid, by analysing the individual hc and lc mRNA expression levels and subsequent quantification of fully-folded IgGs on the protein level. From the assessment of different promoter combinations, we have developed a generic expression vector comprised of mirrored enhanced CMV (eCMV) promoters showing comparable mAb yields to a two-plasmid reference. This study paves the way to facilitate small-scale mAb production by transient cell transfection with a single vector in a cost- and time-efficient manner.
Presepsin (Soluble CD14 Subtype) as an Early Marker of Neonatal Sepsis and Septic Shock: A Prospective Diagnostic Trial
Authors: Pietrasanta Carlo , Ronchi Andrea , Vener Claudia , Poggi Chiara , Ballerini Claudia , Testa Lea , Colombo Rosaria Maria , Spada Elena , Dani Carlo , Mosca Fabio , Pugni Lorenza
Published: May 2021

In the context of suspected neonatal sepsis, early diagnosis and stratification of patients according to clinical severity is not yet effectively achieved. In this diagnostic trial, we aimed to assess the accuracy of presepsin (PSEP) for the diagnosis and early stratification of supposedly septic neonates. PSEP, C-reactive protein (CRP), and procalcitonin (PCT) were assessed at the onset of sepsis suspicion (T0), every 12–24 h for the first 48 h (T1–T4), and at the end of antibiotic therapy (T5). Enrolled neonates were stratified into three groups (infection, sepsis, septic shock) according to Wynn and Wong’s definitions. Sensitivity, specificity, and area under the ROC curve (AUC) according to the severity of clinical conditions were assessed. We enrolled 58 neonates with infection, 77 with sepsis, and 24 with septic shock. PSEP levels were higher in neonates with septic shock (median 1557.5 pg/mL) and sepsis (median 1361 pg/mL) compared to those with infection (median 977.5 pg/mL) at T0 (p < 0.01). Neither CRP nor PCT could distinguish the three groups at T0. PSEP’s AUC was 0.90 (95% CI: 0.854–0.943) for sepsis and 0.94 (95% CI: 0.885–0.988) for septic shock. Maximum Youden index was 1013 pg/mL (84.4% sensitivity, 88% specificity) for sepsis, and 971.5 pg/mL for septic shock (92% sensitivity, 86% specificity). However, differences in PSEP between neonates with positive and negative blood culture were limited. Thus, PSEP was an early biomarker of neonatal sepsis severity, but did not support the early identification of neonates with positive blood culture.