Human Exposure to Trace Elements (Al, B, Ba, Cd, Cr, Li, Ni, Pb, Sr, V) from Consumption of Dried Fruits Acquired in Spain.

Dried fruits are one of the most frequently consumed products by the population. Drying fruits prolongs their shelf life and also concentrates more nutrients. However, these products may contain dangerous levels of trace elements that can be harmful to health. The content of trace elements (Al, B, Ba, Cd, Cr, Li, Ni, Pb, Sr, V) in 42 samples of different dried fruits (dates, prunes, sultanas, dried apricot kernels, and dried figs) was determined by inductively coupled plasma spectrometry (ICP-OES). The concentrations of Al found in prunes (12.7 ± 5.13 mg Al/kg) and the concentrations of B found in dried plums (6.26 ± 4.45 mg B/kg) were significantly higher (p < 0.05). Regarding the risk assessment, the percentages of contribution to the maximum recommended intakes by Li in all the dried fruits studied stand out, reaching 35.3% in the case of dried plums. This study concludes that the recommended daily intake of dried fruit (30 g/day) does not pose a toxicological risk about these trace elements.

Barriers and Facilitators for Participation in Brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Scans in Cancer Research: A Feasibility and Acceptability Analysis.

Purpose: A growing body of research suggests that the brain is implicated in cognitive impairment, fatigue, neuropathy, pain, nausea, sleep disturbances, distress, and other prevalent and burdensome symptoms of cancer and its treatments. Despite anecdotal evidence of difficulties using gold-standard magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to study the brain, no studies have systematically reported reasons that patients with cancer do or do not complete research MRI scans, making it difficult to understand the role of the brain related to these symptoms. The goal of this study was to investigate these reasons and to suggest possible solutions. Methods: We analyzed data from 72 patients with cancer (mostly breast and gastrointestinal) from 3 studies: MRI was mandatory in Study 1; MRI was optional in Studies 2-3. Patients provided reasons for completing or not completing optional research MRI scans. Results: The percentage of scans completed when MRI was mandatory was 76%, and when optional, it was 36%. The most common reasons for not completing optional scans were claustrophobia (40%), safety contraindications (11%), discomfort (5%), a busy MRI schedule (5%), and the scanner being too far away (4%). Older patients were more likely to complete at least one scan (log(odds) = 0.09/year, p = 0.02). Conclusion: Although brain MRI is feasible for many patients with cancer, it can be difficult or not feasible for patients with claustrophobia, safety issues, busy schedules, or transportation issues. Improving communication, comfort, and access to a scanner may help. Reducing inequities related to study participation can improve research supportive care research.

Academic motivation at early ages: Spanish validation of the Elementary School Motivation Scale (ESMS-E).

The Elementary School Motivation Scale (ESMS) is the only validated and adapted instrument to assess motivation in early ages and in specific domains using the Self-Determination Theory. The present study aims to validate the ESMS in Spanish population (ESMS-E). To this end, 1,190 students from the first half of Elementary education (6-10 years old) filled in the ESMS-E. To translate the instrument the back translation method was used. Internal consistency was assessed through composite reliability (CR), correlations among the dimensions and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) were used to analyze the theoretical structure proposed by the original instrument. Results showed optimal internal consistency in the different dimensions (CR = 0.701-0.901) and showed a great fit for the model (RMSEA = 0.064, CFI = 0.929, TLI = 0.913), confirming the original model with nine dimensions and the self-determination continuum. The ESMS-E is valid and reliable in the Spanish version. This validation offers a tool for researchers interested in exploring the motives that drive students in early stages in relation to specific learning domains (i.e., reading, writing and mathematics).

Factores asociados al fracaso de las terapias neuroprotectoras en fase clínica en modelos animales con isquemia cerebral / Factors associated with the failure of the neuroprotector therapies in the clinical phase of animal models with cerebral ischemia

Los accidentes cerebrovasculares se han mantenido, a nivel mundial, como la tercera causa de muerte y la primera de discapacidad. Para disminuir la incidencia de casos de isquemia o hemorragia cerebral, así como sus consecuencias, se deben poseer los conocimientos sobre dichas entidades clínicas, los factores de riesgo asociados y las alternativas preventivas y terapéuticas como estrategias neuroprotectoras. Muchas de las intervenciones médicas realizadas hasta la fecha en modelos animales han resultado insatisfactorias en la fase clínica. Por ello, se realizó una revisión de las publicaciones más recientes donde se abordan los modelos experimentales para la isquemia cerebral más utilizados en las evaluaciones de las terapias neuroprotectoras, y se pudo concluir que si se analizan los protocolos empleados en la fase preclínica podrán optimizarse las investigaciones para lograr resultados más acertados en este campo.

The strokes have been considered, worldwide, as the third cause of death and the first cause of disability. To diminish the incidence of ischemia cases or cerebral hemorrhage, as well as their consequences, one should have the knowledge on this clinical entities, the associated risk factors and preventive and therapeutic alternatives as neuroprotector strategies. Many of the medical interventions carried out so far in animal models have been unsatisfactory in the clinical phase. Reason why, a review of the most recent publications was carried out, where the most used experimental models for the cerebral ischemia in the evaluations of the neuroprotector therapies are approached, and it was concluded that if protocols used in the preclinic phase are analyzed, the investigations could be optimize to achieve more relevant results in this field.

Beyond the Educational Context: Relevance of Intrinsic Reading Motivation During COVID-19 Confinement in Spain.

What role could have intrinsic motivation toward reading in an extraordinary situation like the recent confinement? This research examines the relationship between intrinsic reading motivation (IRM) and reading habits in an adult population considering types of reading (for leisure, work/study, social networks, and news), gender, and distress generated by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Participants were 3,849 adults from Spain who were surveyed about their reading practices: before, during the first weeks, and after several weeks of confinement. Linear mixed effects models (LMMs) were used to analyze data. Results showed a three-way interaction between reading frequency, IRM, and type of reading. Also, distress seems to pose a differential impact depending on the type of reading. The higher the IRM, the lesser the time devoted to study/work reading and the more to social and news reading (at the beginning of confinement). In this sense, IRM can function as a protective factor of reading behavior but only for leisure reading. Results support previous findings of the importance of consciously promoting this type of motivation in all individuals beyond educational contexts, since it seems to be positively related to well-being. Other results and implications are discussed.

Risk assessment of iodine intake from the consumption of red seaweeds (Palmaria palmata and Chondrus crispus).

Seaweeds are a basic food in the Asian diet. The search for functional and healthy foods has increased the seaweed consumption in Europe and the USA. Seaweeds are a source of essential elements such as iodine. However, high intake levels of iodine can cause damages to human health. Red seaweeds like dulse (Palmaria palmata) and Irish moss (Chondrus crispus) are common in shops and large stores. The iodine level in 30 samples of red seaweeds (dulse and Irish moss) has been determined by redox volumetry with sodium thiosulfate to determine the iodine content of both species and to assess the iodine dietary exposure from dulse and Irish moss consumption. Irish moss (3.86 ± 1.49 mg/kg dry weight) has the highest average iodine content. Four grams per day of dehydrated Irish moss seaweeds contributes greatly to the iodine recommended daily intake (DRI) for children (25.7%). The consumption of analyzed seaweeds (4 g/day) does not pose a health risk. However, the consumption of 286 g/day of Irish moss would lead to exceeding the UL for the adult population set at 1100 µg/day. It is necessary that the consumer respects the consumption guidelines of the seaweed packers.

Processing of situational information in story problem texts. An analysis from on-line measures.

In three experiments, we investigated the extent to which readers process information related to the construction of a situation model when they are confronted with solving word problems. Considering that generation of inferences to match actions with particular goals is part of constructing of the situation model, we constructed "rich story problems", that is, word problems included in the context of a story, in which the characters propose goals, and then these goals are followed by actions to achieve it. In Experiments 1 and 2 the story problems were designed so that the character's goal was related to the activation of a problem schema, either explicitly (Experiment 1) or implicitly (Experiment 2). In Experiment 3 the problem schema activation was clearly separated from the goal information. In all three experiments, goal information availability was assessed by on-line measures. The results showed that participants processed situational information by keeping track of characters' goals. These results fit nicely with those studies that emphasize the role of situation model construction in word problem solving.