Abnormalities in the processing of emotional prosody from single words in schizophrenia

Background: Abnormalities in emotional prosody processing have been consistently reported in schizophrenia and are related to poor social outcomes. However, the role of stimulus complexity in abnormal emotional prosody processing is still unclear. Method: We recorded event-related potentials in 16 patients with chronic schizophrenia and 16 healthy controls to investigate: 1) the temporal course of emotional prosody processing; and 2) the relative contribution of prosodic and semantic cues in emotional prosody processing. Stimuli were prosodic single words presented in two conditions: with intelligible (semantic content condition—SCC) and unintelligible semantic content (pure prosody condition—PPC). Results: Relative to healthy controls, schizophrenia patients showed reduced P50 for happy PPC words, and reduced N100 for both neutral and emotional SCC words and for neutral PPC stimuli. Also, increased P200 was observed in schizophrenia for happy prosody in SCC only. Behavioral results revealed higher error rates in schizophrenia for angry prosody in SCC and for happy prosody in PPC. Conclusions: Together, these data further demonstrate the interactions between abnormal sensory processes and higher-order processes in bringing about emotional prosody processing dysfunction in schizophrenia. They further suggest that impaired emotional prosody processing is dependent on stimulus complexity.

The music of language: an ERP investigation of the effects of musical training on emotional prosody processing

Recent studies have demonstrated the positive effects of musical training on the perception of vocally expressed emotion. This study investigated the effects of musical training on event-related potential (ERP) correlates of emotional prosody processing. Fourteen musicians and fourteen control subjects listened to 228 sentences with neutral semantic content, differing in prosody (one third with neutral, one third with happy and one third with angry intonation), with intelligible semantic content (semantic content condition--SCC) and unintelligible semantic content (pure prosody condition--PPC). Reduced P50 amplitude was found in musicians. A difference between SCC and PPC conditions was found in P50 and N100 amplitude in non-musicians only, and in P200 amplitude in musicians only. Furthermore, musicians were more accurate in recognizing angry prosody in PPC sentences. These findings suggest that auditory expertise characterizing extensive musical training may impact different stages of vocal emotional processing.

Study to determine the cardiovascular risk ofthe population of Guimarães/Vizela, includingthe prevalence of arterial stiffness and early vascular aging syndrome

Tese de Doutoramento em Medicina.

La difusió de la producció científica a la UPF : optimització de recursos

Un dels objectius estratègics de la Universitat Pompeu Fabra és que la recerca produïda a la universitat tingui la major visibilitat i projecció. La Biblioteca ha promogut dues iniciatives importants, i complementaries entre si, com a contribució principal a la realització d'aquest objectiu: el Portal de Producció Científica (PPC) i el Repositori Digital de la UPF (l'e-Repositori). En la presentació s'explicaran diverses actuacions (implementació de programaris de suport, reutilització de metadades, organització del personal, etc.) que permeten optimitzar els fluxos de treball, per tal que, amb pocs recursos, es pugui assegurar la sostenibilitat d'aquests projectes.

AUTOREGULATION CEREBROVASCULAIRE SOUS ANESTHESIE GENERALE

 En situation post-­‐opératoire, les complications de type accident vasculaire cérébral (AVC), délires et confusions sont plus fréquemment observées chez les personnes âgées que chez les jeunes. L'âge a d'ailleurs été défini comme un facteur de risque d'atteinte cognitive post-­‐opératoire [14, 15]. Il a également été montré que pour diverses raisons expliquées ci-­‐dessus, le mécanisme d'AC était perturbé sous anesthésie générale par volatils [12]. Ainsi, l'AC étant moins fiable sous sédation, le DSC est moins constant et les variations de PPC peuvent être à l'origine d'épisodes ischémiques cliniquement silencieux. Il est alors légitime de se demander si l'atteinte du système d'AC sous anesthésie générale par volatil ne serait pas en lien avec les complications post-­‐ opératoires observées chez la personne âgée. L'objectif de l'étude est de déterminer le comportement du système d'AC et ses valeurs seuils sous anesthésie générale par volatil, chez la personne âgée comparativement au sujet jeune. Si une différence de seuil d'AC peut-­‐être mise en évidence entre les deux populations, il sera intéressant de voir si elle est applicable en clinique, ceci afin de prévenir les complications post-­‐opératoires. Peu de travaux ont été menés sur le lien entre le système d'AC et l'âge, qui plus est sous sédation par volatil. Et pourtant, avec le vieillissement de la population, le nombre d'anesthésie générale chez des patients âgés est en constante augmentation. Les AVC, à l'origine d'handicaps physiques et cognitifs majeurs, et leur prise en charge représentent un coût certain pour l'assurance maladie. Il devient donc de plus en plus urgent de comprendre le comportement du système d'AC chez la personne âgée sous anesthésie générale. Plus qu'un simple intérêt scientifique, cette étude est directement appliquée à la clinique et est pleinement d'actualité.

A phylogenetic study of the phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase multigene family in Poaceae: understanding the molecular changes linked to C4 photosynthesis evolution

Phylogenetic reconstructions have supported several independent appearances of C₄ photosynthesis within grasses (Poaceae). These recurrent appearances appear to contradict the large number of biochemical and morphological changes required to change from C₃ to C₄, a paradox that leads to questions about the genetic changes underlying C₄ evolution. In this study, we analysed sequences encoding phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylases (PEPCs) in grasses in order to gain insights into the origin of the ppc-C₄ gene, which encodes a key enzyme in the C₄ pathway. We screened databanks for PEPC genes or cDNAs in grasses. A coding sequence of 1130 base pairs was used to build phylogenetic trees that supported the existence of four distinct PEPC gene lineages. Ppc-C₄ present in all C₄ grasses was also found in two C₃ species. The ppc-C₄ clade was congruent with the species tree, suggesting orthologous evolution. This result would imply that ppc-C₄ appeared without any duplication event. Nevertheless, caution is needed since the sampling of our study is still far from comprehensive. Further investigation with an increased sampling is recommended to elucidate the evolutionary changes underlying ppc-C₄ gene evolution in grasses.

The effects of electron-hole separation on the photoconductivity of individual metal oxide nanowires

The responses of individual ZnO nanowires to UV light demonstrate that the persistent photoconductivity (PPC) state is directly related to the electron¿hole separation near the surface. Our results demonstrate that the electrical transport in these nanomaterials is influenced by the surface in two different ways. On the one hand, the effective mobility and the density of free carriers are determined by recombination mechanisms assisted by the oxidizing molecules in air. This phenomenon can also be blocked by surface passivation. On the other hand, the surface built-in potential separates the photogenerated electron¿hole pairs and accumulates holes at the surface. After illumination, the charge separation makes the electron¿hole recombination difficult and originates PPC. This effect is quickly reverted after increasing either the probing current (self-heating by Joule dissipation) or the oxygen content in air (favouring the surface recombination mechanisms). The model for PPC in individual nanowires presented here illustrates the intrinsic potential of metal oxide nanowires to develop optoelectronic devices or optochemical sensors with better and new performances.

Phylogenomics of C(4) photosynthesis in sedges (Cyperaceae): multiple appearances and genetic convergence.

C(4) photosynthesis is an adaptive trait conferring an advantage in warm and open habitats. It originated multiple times and is currently reported in 18 plant families. It has been recently shown that phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC), a key enzyme of the C(4) pathway, evolved through numerous independent but convergent genetic changes in grasses (Poaceae). To compare the genetics of multiple C(4) origins on a broader scale, we reconstructed the evolutionary history of the C(4) pathway in sedges (Cyperaceae), the second most species-rich C(4) family. A sedge phylogeny based on two plastome genes (rbcL and ndhF) has previously identified six fully C(4) clades. Here, a relaxed molecular clock was used to calibrate this tree and showed that the first C(4) acquisition occurred in this family between 19.6 and 10.1 Ma. According to analyses of PEPC-encoding genes (ppc), at least five distinct C(4) origins are present in sedges. Two C(4) Eleocharis species, which were unrelated in the plastid phylogeny, acquired their C(4)-specific PEPC genes from a single source, probably through reticulate evolution or a horizontal transfer event. Acquisitions of C(4) PEPC in sedges have been driven by positive selection on at least 16 codons (3.5% of the studied gene segment). These sites underwent parallel genetic changes across the five sedge C(4) origins. Five of these sites underwent identical changes also in grass and eudicot C(4) lineages, indicating that genetic convergence is most important within families but that identical genetic changes occurred even among distantly related taxa. These lines of evidence give new insights into the constraints that govern molecular evolution.

Medicaid Value Management Program SFY 2008 Report Executive Summary, 2007

In June, 2007, the Commonwealth Fund released a report entitled, “Aiming Higher: Results from a State Scorecard on Health System Performance.” The report ranked states’ health care performance based upon four areas: access, quality, potentially avoidable use of hospitals and costs of care, and healthy lives. Iowa was ranked second overall and was the only state to rank in the top 25 percent on each of the four measures.1 Coupling the HEDIS measures and CAHPS survey results with the Commonwealth report outcomes provides additional information for determining how the state performs with regard to the health care system, in general, and the Medicaid program specifically. For the past five years the results of eight outcome measures encompassing children and adults, and preventive, chronic and acute care have been reported by the University of Iowa Public Policy Center (PPC). The PPC is the independent evaluator for the Medicaid managed care programs and assists the state in an effort to understand the process of care within the Medicaid program. Seven of the eight measures are recommended by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid, while the eighth, annual dental visit, is used in recognition of the challenges found in providing dental care to Medicaid‐enrolled children and adults.

Mudanças genéticas em linhas puras de frango de corte

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar as mudanças genéticas ocorridas no desempenho, na composição da carcaça e no tamanho e resistência dos ossos, em linhagens experimentais, após seis gerações de seleção. As aves pertenciam às linhas paternas LL, LLc (controle), ZZ e LC1 (comercial), e às maternas PP, PPc (controle), KK e LC2 (comercial). As mudanças genéticas foram obtidas a partir dos desvios entre cada linha selecionada e a respectiva linha controle (LL-LLc e PP-PPc). A seleção para peso corporal resultou em respostas correlacionadas na conversão alimentar, mas não nas características de carcaça. As mudanças genéticas no ganho de peso não estão sendo acompanhadas por mudanças correlacionadas na resistência dos ossos. A ênfase de seleção diferenciada entre linhas puras paternas e maternas está alterando o conteúdo de Ca, água e de gordura das carcaças de frango de corte.

Comportamento da pressão intracraniana, da perfusão cerebral e dos parâmetros hemodinâmicos durante a síndrome do compartimento abdominal em cães

OBJETIVO: Estudar as alterações hemodinâmicas e as repercussões sobre o sistema nervoso central ocasionados pela síndrome do compartimento abdominal. MÉTODO: Utilizou-se cães sem raça definida submetidos à anestesia geral e monitorização das pressões arterial média(PAM), intracraniana(PIC), de perfusão cerebral(PPC), da artéria pulmonar(PAP) e venosa central(PVC), do débito cardíaco(DC) e da freqüência cardíaca(FC). Aumentou-se a pressão intra-abdominal(PIA) para níveis de 10,20,30 e 40cmH2O . Após atingir-se nível PIA=40cmH2O realizou-se a descompressão cirúrgica da cavidade abdominal. Em cada etapa realizou-se a medida dos parâmetros PIA, PIC, PAM, PPC, PVC e DC. RESULTADOS: Observou-se que o aumento da PIA causou as seguintes alterações fisiológicas: aumento progressivo da PIC; aumento da PAM até PIA=20cmH2O e diminuição progressiva da mesma após PIA= 40cmH2O; aumento da PPC até PIA=10cmH2O e diminuição progressiva da mesma após PIA= 30cmH2O; aumento progressivo da PVC; diminuição progressiva do DC após PIA= 30cmH2O; Após a descompressão da cavidade, notou-se o retorno da PIC, PAM, PPC, PVC e do DC para valores próximos aos dos iniciais (antes do aumento da PIA). CONCLUSÕES: Concluímos que o aumento da PIA provocou alterações nos sistemas cardiovascular e nervoso central, que foram revertidas após a descompressão cirúrgica da cavidade abdominal.

Análise das aderências resultantes da fixação de telas cirúrgicas com selantes de fibrina e sutura: modelo experimental intraperitoneal

OBJETIVO: Comparar fixação cirúrgica de telas de polipropileno (PP) e telas de polipropileno revestido (PCD), usando fio de sutura de polipropileno e cola biológica, quanto à formação de aderências intraperitoneais. MÉTODOS: Amostra de 46 ratas Wistar, randomizadas em seis grupos: dois grupos-controle, com cinco ratas cada, que foram submetidos um à incisão medial (IM) e o outro à uma incisão em forma de U (IU); nenhum desses grupos recebeu tela. Dois grupos com tela de PP, um com dez ratas, fixada com sutura (PPF), e o outro, com seis ratas, fixada com cola biológica (PPC). E Dois grupos com tela de PCD, no primeiro, com dez animais, a tela foi fixada com sutura (PCDF), e no segundo, com dez animais, com cola biológica (PCDC). RESULTADOS: Após o prazo de 21 dias, os grupos-controle não apresentaram aderências significantes. O grupo PPC apresentou menor grau de aderência do que o grupo PPF (p=0,01). Não houve diferença entre as fixações nos grupos com PCD. CONCLUSÃO: A comparação da fixação apresentou diferença estatística significativa apenas à tela de PP, com menor grau de aderência utilizando a cola. As aderências se localizaram predominantemente nas extremidades das telas estudadas.

Tuotannonohjausjärjestelmän kehittäminen PK-yrityksessä

Työn tarkoitus on kehittää pk-konepajayrityksen tuotannonohjausta ja toteuttaa tuotannonohjausjärjestelmän hallittu käyttöönotto. Tavoitteena on parantaa yrityksen kapasiteetin hallintaa ja toimitusaikapitävyyttä sekä kehittää tuotannon päivittäisohjausta ja koordinointia. Työssä on sovellettu prosessijohtamisen kuvausmenetelmiä ja prosessin kehittämistyökaluja tuotannonohjausprosessin kehittämiseen ja tuotannonohjausjärjestelmän käyttöönottoon. Lisäksi työssä on lähdekirjallisuuden avulla tutkittu eri tuotannonohjausperiaatteiden soveltuvuutta asiakasohjautuvaan joustavaan konepajatuotantoon. Työ on toteutettu kvalitatiivisena toimintatutkimuksena. Tuotannonohjausjärjestelmän käyttöönoton avulla on mahdollista kehittää tuotannon kapasiteetin ohjausta ja tuotannonkoordinaatiota. Tämä kuitenkin edellyttää tuotannonohjausprosessin kuvaamista sekä ohjaukseen osallistuvien henkilöiden roolien ja vastuiden selkeää määrittelyä. Erityisen kriittistä on saada koko organisaatio suhtautumaan muutokseen positiivisesti.

Puberdade precoce: a experiência de um ambulatório de Ginecologia Infanto-Puberal

OBJETIVO: avaliar os casos com suspeita de puberdade precoce, em relação à classificação diagnóstica e etiológica, atendidos no período compreendido entre os anos de 2000 e 2005. MÉTODOS: foram revisados os prontuários de 58 pacientes com suspeita diagnóstica de puberdade precoce atendidas no período compreendido entre os anos de 2000 e 2005 para análise de dados relevantes. Os critérios de inclusão foram desenvolvimento de mamas e/ou pêlos pubianos antes dos oito anos de idade. As pacientes foram classificadas de acordo com o quadro clínico e os exames complementares em uma das seguintes categorias: puberdade precoce central (PPC), pseudopuberdade precoce, telarca precoce e pubarca precoce. RESULTADOS: dos 58 casos revisados, 28 tiveram diagnóstico de PPC, um de pseudopuberdade precoce, dez de telarca precoce e 19 de pubarca precoce. Todos os casos de PPC foram de origem idiopática, com exceção de uma paciente em que houve ativação do eixo hipotálamo-hipófise-ovariano secundária a hiperplasia adrenal congênita. Houve um caso com suspeita diagnóstica de pseudopuberdade precoce devido à síndrome de McCune-Albright. Todos os casos de telarca precoce foram de origem idiopática, exceto um caso que foi associado a hipotireoidismo primário. Todos os casos de pubarca precoce foram de origem idiopática. CONCLUSÕES: dentre os casos atendidos com diagnóstico de puberdade precoce no período de cinco anos, o diagnóstico final predominante foi PPC e a grande maioria dos casos foi de origem idiopática, havendo baixa incidência de patologias orgânicas.

Implications of extubation failure and prolonged mechanical ventilation in the postoperative period following elective intracranial surgery

Patients undergoing neurosurgery are predisposed to a variety of complications related to mechanical ventilation (MV). There is an increased incidence of extubation failure, pneumonia, and prolonged MV among such patients. The aim of the present study was to assess the influence of extubation failure and prolonged MV on the following variables: postoperative pulmonary complications (PPC), mortality, reoperation, tracheostomy, and duration of postoperative hospitalization following elective intra-cranial surgery. The study involved a prospective observational cohort of 317 patients submitted to elective intracranial surgery for tumors, aneurysms and arteriovenous malformation. Preoperative assessment was performed and patients were followed up for the determination of extubation failure and prolonged MV (>48 h) until discharge from the hospital or death. The occurrence of PPC, incidence of death, the need for reoperation and tracheostomy, and the length of hospitalization were assessed during the postoperative period. Twenty-six patients (8.2%) experienced extubation failure and 30 (9.5%) needed prolonged MV after surgery. Multivariate analysis showed that extubation failure was significant for the occurrence of death (OR = 8.05 [1.88; 34.36]), PPC (OR = 11.18 [2.27; 55.02]) and tracheostomy (OR = 7.8 [1.12; 55.07]). Prolonged MV was significant only for the occurrence of PPC (OR = 4.87 [1.3; 18.18]). Elective intracranial surgery patients who experienced extubation failure or required prolonged MV had a higher incidence of PPC, reoperation and tracheostomy and required a longer period of time in the ICU. Level of consciousness and extubation failure were associated with death and PPC. Patients who required prolonged MV had a higher incidence of extubation failure.