Effects of two training workshops upon university students' learning of critical thinking.

We evaluated the effect of two workshops on learning about critical thinking amongst first- year university students. 66 Chilean pedagogy students participated, all female, with ages ranging between 18 and 37 years. Two experimental groups were organized, one with direct teaching (n = 22) and another one with semi-directed teaching (n = 19), plus a control group (n = 25).

Excitatory-inhibitory homeostasis and bifurcation control in the Wilson-Cowan model of cortical dynamics.

Although the primary function of excitatory-inhibitory (E-I) homeostasis is the maintenance of mean firing rates, the conjugation of multiple homeostatic mechanisms is thought to be pivotal to ensuring edge-of-bifurcation dynamics in cortical circuits. However, computational studies on E-I homeostasis have focused solely on the plasticity of inhibition, neglecting the impact of different modes of E-I homeostasis on cortical dynamics. Therefore, we investigate how the diverse mechanisms of E-I homeostasis employed by cortical networks shape oscillations and edge-of-bifurcation dynamics.

Effect of power training on function and body composition in older women with probable sarcopenia. A study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Sarcopenia is a clinical syndrome characterized by the loss of muscle mass and strength. Hormonal changes that occur early in women may influence protein synthesis and promote muscle atrophy, leading to probable sarcopenia, defined as a loss of muscle strength without an obvious decrease in muscle mass. Various types of exercise have already proven effective in treating sarcopenia.

NMR spectroscopy derived plasma biomarkers of inflammation in human populations: Influences of age, sex and adiposity.

Understanding the distribution and variation in inflammatory markers is crucial for advancing our knowledge of inflammatory processes and evaluating their clinical utility in diagnosing and monitoring acute and chronic disease. 1H NMR spectroscopy of blood plasma and serum was applied to measure a composite panel of inflammatory markers based on acute phase glycoprotein signals (GlycA and GlycB) and sub-regions of the lipoprotein derived Supramolecular Phospholipid Composite signals (SPC1, SPC2 and SPC3) to establish normal ranges in two healthy, predominantly white cohorts from Australia (n = 398) and Spain (n = 80; ages 20-70 years). GlycA, GlycB, SPC1 and SPC3 were not significantly impacted by age or sex, but SPC2 (an HDL-related biomarker) was significantly higher in women across all age ranges by an average of 33.

Age-related variations in physical activity, happiness, and psychological well-being: Evidence from Iran.

Background: Physical activity (PA) is associated with higher levels of PWB and happiness. The high prevalence of physical inactivity among the Iranian population is concerning. Moreover, according to the Happiness Report 2024, Iran is ranked 100th out of 143 countries.

Effectiveness of Low Doses of Semaglutide on Weight Loss and Body Composition Among Women in Their Menopause.

Menopause is a complex period in women's life, when weight gain and predisposition to obesity are frequent. Moreover, even during menopause transition, women begin to lose lean mass up to 0.5% and, therefore, an increase in the percentage of fat mass with central distribution and an increased risk of metabolic syndrome.

Computational Characterization of the Interaction of CARD Domains in the Apoptosome.

The apoptosome, a critical protein complex in apoptosis regulation, relies on intricate interactions between its components, particularly the proteins containing the Caspase Activation and Recruitment Domain (CARD). This work presents a thorough computational analysis of the stability and specificity of CARD-CARD interactions within the apoptosome. Departing from available crystal structures, we identify important residues for the interaction between the CARD domains of Apaf-1 and Caspase-9.

Fluoride Exposure and Children's IQ Scores: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Importance: Previous meta-analyses suggest that fluoride exposure is adversely associated with children's IQ scores. An individual's total fluoride exposure comes primarily from fluoride in drinking water, food, and beverages.

Objective: To perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of epidemiological studies investigating children's IQ scores and prenatal or postnatal fluoride exposure.

Association of radiation-induced normal tissue toxicity with a high genetic risk for rheumatoid arthritis.

Purpose: Overlapping genes are involved with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and DNA repair pathways. Therefore, we hypothesised that patients with a high polygenic risk score (PRS) for RA will have an increased risk of radiotherapy (RT) toxicity given the involvement of DNA repair.

Methods: Primary analysis was performed on 1494 prostate cancer, 483 lung cancer and 1820 breast cancer patients assessed for development of RT toxicity in the REQUITE study.

Predators in the Dark: Metabarcoding Reveals Arcellinida Communities Associated with Bat Guano, Endemic to Dinaric Karst in Croatia.

Karst caves, formed from the dissolution of soluble rocks, are characterized by the absence of photosynthetic activity and low levels of organic matter. Organisms evolve under these particular conditions, which causes high levels of endemic biodiversity in both macroorganism and microbes. Recent research has highlighted the presence of testate amoebae (Arcellinida) group in cave environments.

Life after benign paroxysmal positional vertigo: one-year analysis of recurrence, headaches, neck pain, falls, and functional vestibular symptoms.

Purpose: Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is a vestibular disorder causing recurrent episodes of vertigo. Despite symptom resolution at discharge, events such as relapses, migraines, neck pain, falls, and persistent postural-perceptual dizziness (PPPD) may occur. This study aims to estimate the incidence, timing, and risk factors for these symptoms.

Efficacy of Lurasidone in First-Episode Psychosis: Patient Phenotypes, Dosage, and Recommendations from an Expert Panel.

Introduction: For patients with psychosis, early, intensive therapeutic intervention is thought to improve long-term outcomes. Furthermore, patients with a first-episode psychosis (FEP) who experience a good early response to antipsychotic medication show a clinical and functional benefit over the longer term if they continue low-dose antipsychotic treatment. Lurasidone is an atypical antipsychotic agent which is approved in Europe for the treatment of schizophrenia in adults and adolescents (13-17 years).

Impact of continuous glucose monitoring on pregnancy outcomes in women with pregestational diabetes.

Aims: This study aims to evaluate the impact of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) on pregnancy outcomes in women with pregestational diabetes mellitus (PGDM).

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted on 387 pregnant women with PGDM at Virgen del Rocío University Hospital in Seville, spanning from 2016 to 2022. The patients were categorized into two groups: 212 women who used continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) and 175 women who self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG).

Maintenance treatment of catatonia with benzodiazepines: A case series and literature review.

Objective: Benzodiazepines, particularly lorazepam, are good options for acute catatonia treatment. Published catatonia literature on benzodiazepine maintenance treatment and benzodiazepine tolerance is limited.

Methods: This is a chart review covering 30 years of clinical experience in the state of Kentucky, (United States of America), where there was no easy access to electroconvulsive therapy.

[Level of compliance with validation processes and analysis of measurement scales in pediatrics].

Unlabelled: The use of latent construct measurement scales is widespread in the medical literature. An essential condition is that the instrument be validated, in addition to being highly reliable.

Objective: To evaluate the level of compliance with various methodological and statistical premises of validation studies of psychometric instruments in pediatrics, which are necessary to ensure adequate interpretation of the results, in order to offer recommendations for future research.

[Validation and cross-cultural adaptation of the Pediatric Sleep Questionnaire Sleep-Related Breathing Disorder Scale (PSQ-SRBD) to spanish language].

Unlabelled: In the Chilean pediatric population, to date, there is no validated screening instrument for sleep-related breathing disorders (SRBD).

Objective: to develop and validate a cross-cultural adaptation of the Pediatric Sleep Questionnaire - sleep-related breathing disorder scale (PSQ-SRBD), by creating the Chilean Spanish version (PSQ-CL).

Patients And Method: The PSQ-SRBD was translated from English into Chilean Spanish, obtaining the PSQ-CL, which was subsequently validated.

[Estimation of cardiorespiratory fitness from the Six-Minute Walk Test in schoolchildren].

Unlabelled: Cardiorespiratory fitness can be assessed by direct, indirect, maximal, and moderate effort, running, cycling, or walking methods.

Objective: To predict maximum oxygen consumption (V O2max) from the six-minute walk test in schoolchildren.

Patients And Method: 459 students were included, 215 were male and 244 were female, aged 11.

Association between body mass index and all-cause mortality in older people: A prospective analysis of the Chilean National Health Survey 2009-2010.

Unlabelled: There is a divergence in the results of studies that have explored the association between body mass index (BMI) and health outcomes in different contexts.

Aim: This study investigated the association between BMI and all-cause mortality in older Chilean people.

Methods: 1.

Fractional exhaled nitric oxide in a respiratory healthy general population through the lifespan.

Introduction And Objectives: The fractional exhaled fraction of nitric oxide (FeNO) is used in clinical practice for asthma diagnosis, phenotyping, and therapeutic management. Therefore, accurate thresholds are crucial. The normal FeNO values over lifespan in a respiratory healthy population and the factors related to them remain unclear.

Multiscale modelling of active hydrogel elasticity driven by living polymers: softening by bacterial motor protein FtsZ.

We present a neo-Hookean elasticity theory for hybrid mechano-active hydrogels, integrating motor proteins into polymer meshes to create composite materials with active softening due to modulable chain overlaps. Focusing on polyacrylamide (PA) hydrogels embedded with FtsZ, a bacterial cytokinetic protein powered by GTP, we develop a multiscale model using microscopic Flory theory of rubbery meshes through mesoscopic De Gennes' scaling concepts for meshwork dynamics and phenomenological Landau's formalism for second-order phase transitions. Our theoretical multiscale model explains the active softening observed in hybrid FtsZ-PA hydrogels by incorporating modulable meshwork dynamics, such as overlapping functionality and reptation dynamics, into an active mean-field of unbinding interactions.

Rapidly spreading with OXA-48-like carbapenemases.

(mostly , ) with OXA-48-like carbapenemases (e.g., OXA-48, -181, -232, -244) are undermining the global efficiency of carbapenem therapy.

Biological activation of Fenton reaction in polymeric nanoreactors driven by ferrocene-containing membranes: a microenvironment dependent study.

Nanocatalytic medicine for treating cancer requires effective, versatile and novel tools and approaches to significantly improve the therapeutic efficiency for the interactions of (non-)enzymatic reactions. However, it is necessary to develop (non-)enzymatic nanotechnologies capable of selectively killing tumour cells without harming normal cells. Their therapeutic characteristics should be the adaption of tumours' extra- and intracellular environment to being specifically active.

Temporal distribution of schedule-induced behavior depends on the essential value of the reinforcer.

The development of schedule-induced drinking depends on different variables affecting the food delivered at the end of the interfood interval. There are mixed results concerning the effects of varying magnitude and/or preference of different reinforcers in the development of schedule-induced drinking, with some studies showing higher levels and other studies showing lower levels of drinking. The purpose of this study was to observe how differences in preference for a flavor of equally nutritious food pellets influence the development and maintenance of schedule-induced drinking.

Diversification of Lipopeptide Analogues Drives Versatility in Biological Activities.

Cyclic lipopeptides (CLPs) are potent secondary metabolites with diverse biological functions. strains primarily produce CLPs of three key families, namely, iturins, fengycins, and surfactins, each comprising structural variants characterized by a cyclic peptide linked to a fatty acid chain. Despite extensive research on CLPs, the individual roles of these analogues and their proportion in driving biological activity have remained largely overlooked.