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Background: Migraine diagnosis is mainly clinically based on symptomatology. The objectives of this study were (1) to determine the ability of pain thresholds to differentiate between women with and without migraines and (2) to determine the ability of clinical, psychological and psychophysical variables to differentiate between women with episodic and chronic migraines. A diagnostic accuracy study was conducted. Methods: Pressure-pain thresholds (PPTs) at one trigeminal (temporalis muscle) and one extra-trigeminal (cervical spine) and two distant-pain free (second metacarpal and tibialis anterior muscle) areas, as well as dynamic pain thresholds (DPTs), were bilaterally assessed in 100 women with migraines, recruited from tertiary hospitals (50% episodic, 50% chronic), and 50 comparable women without headaches. Migraine pain features (headache diary), migraine-associated burden (HDI), anxiety and depressive levels (HADS) and state (STAI-S)–trait (STAI-T) anxiety were also evaluated. The area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, with optimal cut-off points, as well as the sensitivity, specificity and positive/negative likelihood ratios (LR) for each variable, were calculated. The women with migraines showed lower PPTs and DPTs than those without migraines. Results: The women with chronic migraines showed lower PPTs in the temporalis muscle than the women with episodic migraines. No clinical, psychological or psychophysical variables exhibited acceptable ROC values (≥0.7) for differentiating between women with and without migraines or between women with episodic and chronic migraines. Conclusions: Although the women with migraines had widespread pressure-pain hyperalgesia, neither the clinical, psychological nor psychophysical (pain threshold) variable exhibited the proper diagnostic accuracy to distinguish between women with and without migraines or between women with episodic and chronic migraines. New studies should clarify the clinical relevance of the findings of the current study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work compares two technologies for the remediation of metal-polluted mine tailings based on lab-scale bioleaching experiments performed in (a) conventional agitated slurry-phase reactors and (b) in situ electrokinetic percolation. While ex situ bioleaching in agitated reactors has been widely studied, only a few previous works have studied the in situ option that couples bioleaching and electrokinetics. Real mine tailings from an abandoned sphalerite mine in southern Spain were used. The leaching medium was externally generated in a bioreactor using an autochthonous acidophilic culture and then added to tailings in batch experiments. This medium enabled metal leaching from mine tailings without the stringent operating conditions required by a classic bioleaching process. Metal removal efficiencies and kinetic rate constants after 15 d of treatments were calculated. Additionally, advantages or disadvantages between the two methods were discussed. The results for the innovative EK-percolation method showed rates and efficiencies that were comparable to, and in some cases better than, those achieved with conventional stirred slurry systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The aim of this study was to comprehensively assess how COVID-19 affected the levels of different mental health variables in prison inmates. Methods: A systematic review was conducted following the PRISMA format in the Pubmed, Scopus, Web of Science, PsycINFO, and ScienceDirect electronic databases between August and September 2023. Methodological quality was assessed using the critical appraisal tools for studies of the Joanna Briggs Institute. Results: Thirteen studies were included. The studies found increased levels of stress, anxiety, fear, depression, and negative emotions associated with lack of information about the pandemic and isolation leading to reduced social interaction. In addition, lack of access to common recreational spaces, limited access to support resources, especially mental health resources, fear of contracting the virus, and lack of trust in prison staff and in themselves to be protected were identified. Conclusion: Further research may be necessary in prison populations with added vulnerability, such as the elderly, women, transgender and non-binary persons, to determine specific interventions, after assessing the prevalent psychological sequelae. Prevention strategies and mental health promotion are also encouraged. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Prostaglandins are naturally occurring local mediators that can participate in the modulation of the cardiovascular system through their interaction with Gs/Gi-coupled receptors in different tissues and cells, including platelets. Thrombin is one of the most important factors that regulates platelet reactivity and coagulation. Clinical trials have consistently shown that omega-3 fatty acid supplementation lowers the risk for cardiovascular mortality and morbidity. Since omega-3 fatty acids are the main precursors of PGE3 in vivo, it would be relevant to investigate the effects of PGE3 on Thrombin Receptor Activating Peptide (TRAP-6)-induced platelet reactivity to determine the receptors and possible mechanisms of action of these compounds. Methods: We have measured platelet aggregation, P-selectin expression, and vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein (VASP) phosphorylation to evaluate platelet reactivity induced by TRAP-6 to determine the effects of PGE3 on platelet function. Results: We assessed the ability of DG-041, a selective prostanoid EP3 receptor antagonist, and of ONO-AE3-208, a selective prostanoid EP4 receptor antagonist, to modify the effects of PGE3. PGE3 inhibited TRAP-6-induced platelet aggregation and activation. This inhibition was enhanced in the presence of a Gi-coupled EP3 receptor antagonist and abolished in the presence of a Gs-coupled EP4 receptor antagonist. The effects of PGE3 were directly related to changes in cAMP, assessed by VASP phosphorylation. Conclusions: The general effects of PGE3 on human platelet reactivity are the consequence of a balance between activatory and inhibitory effects at receptors that have contrary effects on adenylate cyclase. These results indicate a potential mechanism by which omega-3 fatty acids underlie cardioprotective effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ability to adapt interpersonal interactions to temperamental characteristics is essential for high-quality care. We analyzed how temperamental and self-regulation differences among children in residential care were related to the affective relationships and discipline styles of their caregivers. A total of 144 children aged 9–16 years (42.6% boys) and their caregivers from 22 residential care homes (Spain) participated. The Early Adolescent Temperament Questionnaire-Revised (EATQ-R) was used to assess temperament, the Affect Scale and Rules and Demands Scale was used to assess children's perceptions of affective relationships and discipline styles among their caregivers, and BRIEF-2 was used to assess children's self-regulation. Perceived warmth/communication was significantly higher than criticism/rejection and children perceived more inductive than rigid or permissive styles. Temperamental-scale fear was positively related to warmth/communication and an inductive style, and negatively related to criticism/rejection and a rigid style, whereas high-intensity pleasure showed the opposite pattern. In addition, some self-regulation and temperament scales explained 26% of the perception of warmth/communication, while others explained 15% of the variability of the rigid discipline style used by care workers. These results can help care workers to adjust their educational strategies according to the temperamental characteristics of this specific population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Protein phosphorylation and membrane proteins play an important role in the infection of plants by phytopathogenic fungi, given their involvement in signal transduction cascades. Botrytis cinerea is a well-studied necrotrophic fungus taken as a model organism in fungal plant pathology, given its broad host range and adverse economic impact. To elucidate relevant events during infection, several proteomics analyses have been performed in B. cinerea, but they cover only 10% of the total proteins predicted in the genome database of this fungus. To increase coverage, we analysed by LC-MS/MS the first-reported overlapped proteome in phytopathogenic fungi, the "phosphomembranome" of B. cinerea, combining the two most important signal transduction subproteomes. Of the 1112 membrane-associated phosphoproteins identified, 64 and 243 were classified as exclusively identified or overexpressed under glucose and deproteinized tomato cell wall conditions, respectively. Seven proteins were found under both conditions, but these presented a specific phosphorylation pattern, so they were considered as exclusively identified or overexpressed proteins. From bioinformatics analysis, those differences in the membrane-associated phosphoproteins composition were associated with various processes, including pyruvate metabolism, unfolded protein response, oxidative stress response, autophagy and cell death. Our results suggest these proteins play a significant role in the B. cinerea pathogenic cycle.

The effectiveness of asynchronous online discussions as a learning tool in higher education critically depends on the participants’ ability to create a cohesive social space. Referring to one another’s messages is a key way to display a sense of affiliation and solidarity, and contribute to the consolidation of the learning community. However, research has shown that students often fail to adequately exploit this dimension of the online forum, as it requires considerable involvement in the activity and is very time-consuming.In the current study, we examined references to previous posts in a set of online discussions held during a one-term undergraduate course. The overall frequency of citations was low, with slightly over half of the 885 analyzed posts containing at least one reference. While this seems to indicate that a large number of participants conceived the activity as hardly interactive, for those who did quote their classmates, the preferred practice was using their first names, although the more formal name+surname pattern increased in the second half of the course, possibly indicating an awareness of the academic character of the activity. If the frequency and kind of mutual references can be taken as a measure of how successful asynchronous online discussions can prove as a collaborative learning tool, our results invite deep reflection regarding task design to ensure that students and instructors understand their goals in the same way.

Background/purpose – Few psychometric tests have been identified in the literature that analyze digital competencies in school-aged children. The Evaluation Test of Digital Competencies in Compulsory Education Students (ECODIES, Casillas-Martín et al., 2020) is considered one of the most robust for its measurement. The aim of the study was to assess the psychometric validity of the “ECODIES – Area 1: Information” test with high school students from two Peruvian cities in 2021. Materials/methods – The research was formed as a basic level, non-experimental, and cross-sectional study. Content validity was analyzed through expert judges (n = 8), while construct validity, factorial invariance, and reliability were tested with a sample of high school students from Lima and Cusco (N = 201). Results – The content validity obtained satisfactory results (Aiken’s V = 0.952, p < .01). Through construct validity, it was corroborated that the instrument measures the information competence (RMSEA = 0.052, CFI = 0.948, TLI = 0.928, PNFI = 0.67) and that this theoretical construct remains invariant between both of the groups studied. The instrument also demonstrates adequate internal consistency (α = 0.736, ω = 0.751, ordinal α = 0.869). Conclusion – “ECODIES - Area 1: Information” is a valid and reliable instrument for the assessment of the information digital competence, including cultural differences, in high school students.