Bioconversion of L-Tyrosine into p-Coumaric Acid by Tyrosine Ammonia-Lyase Heterologue of Rhodobacter sphaeroides Produced in Pseudomonas putida KT2440.

p-Coumaric acid (p-CA) is a valuable compound with applications in food additives, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals. However, traditional production methods are often inefficient and unsustainable. This study focuses on enhancing p-CA production efficiency through the heterologous expression of tyrosine ammonia-lyase (TAL) from Rhodobacter sphaeroides in Pseudomonas putida KT2440. TAL catalyzes the conversion of L-tyrosine into p-CA and ammonia. We engineered P. putida KT2440 to express TAL in a fed-batch fermentation system. Our results demonstrate the following: (i) successful integration of the TAL gene into P. putida KT2440 and (ii) efficient bioconversion of L-tyrosine into p-CA (1381 mg/L) by implementing a pH shift from 7.0 to 8.5 during fed-batch fermentation. This approach highlights the viability of P. putida KT2440 as a host for TAL expression and the successful coupling of fermentation with the pH-shift-mediated bioconversion of L-tyrosine. Our findings underscore the potential of genetically modified P. putida for sustainable p-CA production and encourage further research to optimize bioconversion steps and fermentation conditions.

Executive functions and their relationship with age: Insights from a novel neuropsychological Assessment Battery in Children-a pilot study.

Executive functions (EFs) are a set of cognitive processes that enable individuals to manage and coordinate their thoughts and actions toward achieving specific goals. EFs include planning, organizing, initiating, and monitoring actions, and have been found to improve with age due to the maturation of the brain, especially during childhood. Therefore, our correlational study sought to determine the relationship between the performance in executive functions and age in 79 children (36 girls, 45.6%) throughout development, between the ages of 6 and 12 (mean = 9.25; SD = 2.05), using a battery designed in Chile: BEFE (Batería de Evaluación de las Funciones Ejecutivas: Executive Function Assessment Battery) based on traditional neuropsychological tests to evaluate Working Memory, Inhibitory Control, Cognitive Flexibility, and Planning skills. Our results showed various correlations between the variables age and performance in various behavioral parameters, demonstrating an increase in the number of correct responses (positive correlation) and/or a decrease in errors (negative correlation) with age (6-12) in the subtests that correspond to dimensions of Cognitive Flexibility (Semantic and Phonological Fluency, Card Sorting Game, and Tracing Tasks), Inhibitory Control (ENA-F and Sentence Completion), Working Memory (Audio-verbal WM Forward and Ordering, and Visuospatial WM Forward and Backward), and Planning (La Portada de Antofagasta and FISA Maps). These results are consistent with previous empirical evidence and support the notion of a developmental relationship between EF performance and age. Additionally, this study contributes to understanding EF development in culturally specific contexts, highlighting the importance of contextually relevant assessment tools in evaluating cognitive development.

Using a nonparametric item response theory model to identify patterns of cognitive decline: The Mokken scale analysis.

Cognitive decline, particularly in dementia, presents complex challenges in early detection and diagnosis. While Item Response Theory (IRT) has been instrumental in identifying patterns of cognitive impairment through psychometric tests, its parametric models often require large sample sizes and strict assumptions. This creates a need for more adaptable, less demanding analytical methods. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of Mokken scale analysis (MSA), a nonparametric IRT model, in identifying hierarchical patterns of cognitive impairment from psychometric tests. Using data from 1164 adults over 60 years old, we applied MSA to the orientation subscale of ACE-III. Our analysis involved calculating scalability, monotone homogeneity, invariant item ordering (IIO) and response functions. The MSA effectively retrieved the hierarchical order of cognitive impairment patterns. Most items showed strong scalability and consistent patterns of cognitive performance. However, challenges with IIO were observed, particularly with items having adjacent difficulty parameters. The findings highlight MSA's potential as a practical alternative to parametric IRT models in cognitive impairment research. Its ability to provide valuable insights into patterns of cognitive deterioration, coupled with less stringent requirements, makes it a useful tool for clinicians and researchers.

Metaanálisis de generalización de la fiabilidad de los mitos de violación / Meta-analysis of reliability generalization of the rape myths

Resumen Los mitos de violación son actitudes y creencias generalmente falsas, amplias y persistentes, acerca de la violación, la víctima y el agresor, que son utilizadas para negar o justificar la agresión sexual hacia las mujeres. En las últimas dos décadas, los instrumentos más utilizados para medir este constructo corresponden a la escala de aceptación de mitos de violación de Illinois (IRMAS), que utiliza expresiones directas y explícitas mediante un lenguaje clásico, y la escala de aceptación de mitos modernos de agresión sexual (AMMSA) que usa un lenguaje sutil, indirecto y moderno. Se realizó un metaanálisis de generalización de la fiabilidad de 69 estudios empíricos que utilizaron alguna de las dos escalas de mitos de violación. El objetivo fue estimar la fiabilidad media de las puntuaciones combinadas de las escalas IRMAS y AMMSA para obtener un valor aproximado de su fiabilidad general y evaluar el posible efecto moderador de algunas variables de interés. El promedio de la fiabilidad por consistencia interna de las puntuaciones de las escalas para las 98 muestras estudiadas fue de .85, IC95 % [.84, .86]. Se observó una alta heterogeneidad (I. = 96 %), y el número de ítems es la única variable moderadora que explica significativamente la variabilidad de la fiabilidad observada. Estos resultados muestran que ambas escalas presentan índices de consistencia interna aceptables en sus diversas aplicaciones. Por lo tanto, las medidas de aceptación de mitos de violación cumplen con los criterios de fiabilidad adecuados para ser utilizadas en investigaciones empíricas en distintos contextos.

Abstract Rape myths are widespread and persistent attitudes, beliefs, and stereotypes, usually false, about rape, the victim, and the perpetrator. Their function is to deny and justify sexual assaults against women, affecting the victim's attributions of responsibility and the perpetrator's attributions of guilt in rape cases. These myths exert a bias in the processing of information, directing attention and perception toward stimuli that justify the victim's responsibility for sexual aggression. These beliefs can be grouped into several types of myths: Myths that hold the victim responsible by arguing that women should be careful and not expose themselves to avoid sexual aggression, myths that justify and reduce the responsibility of the aggressor by stating that the man could not contain his sexual desire and those myths that deny or normalize sexual aggression, which propose that rape occurs only in very specific contexts. In the last two decades, the instruments most commonly used to measure these beliefs are The Illinois Rape Myth Acceptance Scale (IRMAS), which uses direct and explicit expressions through classic language, and the Modern Sexual Assault Myth Acceptance Scale (AMMSA), where its expressions are modern, subtle and indirect. Considering the wide use of these instruments, it is justified to provide empirical evidence showing information on the psychometric properties of these scales. One of the procedures for synthesizing empirical results is meta-analyses (MA). This methodology can synthesize studies of specific variables and analyze the psychometric properties of the measurement instruments, providing relevant information on the quality of a given scale. Within this last type of RM are reliability generalizations (RG), those that study the reliability coefficients obtained in different applications of a scale, providing evidence on the properties of the measures used in measuring a construct. A meta-analysis of the RGs of 69 empirical studies that used any of the rape myth scales was performed. The objective was to estimate the mean reliability of the combined scores of the IRMAS and AMMSA scales to obtain an approximate value of their overall reliability and to assess the possible moderating effect of some variables of interest (e.g., research design, culture, sample type, etc.). The mean internal consistency reliability of the scale scores for the 98 samples studied was .85, 95 % C.I. [.84, .86] and the mean coefficient for each of the IRMAS and AMMSA scales was .84 and .85 respectively. All these values are above .80, a value established as satisfactory reliability of the instrument for general research. The Cronbach's alpha coefficients reported by the studies ranged from .71 to .98, with values considered moderate to excellent. These results show that both scales present acceptable internal consistency indices in various applications. There is high heterogeneity (I. = 96 %), with the number of items being the only moderating variable significantly explaining the observed reliability variability. This result was to be expected, given that the effect of test length on the estimation of reliability indices has a long tradition and is widely known in the psychometric literature.

Nutritional lipidomics for the characterization of lipids in food.

Lipids represent one out of three major macronutrient classes in the human diet. It is estimated to account for about 15-20% of the total dietary intake. Triacylglycerides comprise the majority of them, estimated 90-95%. Other lipid classes include free fatty acids, phospholipids, cholesterol, and plant sterols as minor components. Various methods are used for the characterization of nutritional lipids, however, lipidomics approaches become increasingly attractive for this purpose due to their wide coverage, comprehensiveness and holistic view on composition. In this chapter, analytical methodologies and workflows utilized for lipidomics profiling of food samples are outlined with focus on mass spectrometry-based assays. The chapter describes common lipid extraction protocols, the distinct instrumental mass-spectrometry based analytical platforms for data acquisition, chromatographic and ion-mobility spectrometry methods for lipid separation, briefly mentions alternative methods such as gas chromatography for fatty acid profiling and mass spectrometry imaging. Critical issues of important steps of lipidomics workflows such as structural annotation and identification, quantification and quality assurance are discussed as well. Applications reported over the period of the last 5years are summarized covering the discovery of new lipids in foodstuff, differential profiling approaches for comparing samples from different origin, species, varieties, cultivars and breeds, and for food processing quality control. Lipidomics as a powerful tool for personalized nutrition and nutritional intervention studies is briefly discussed as well. It is expected that this field is significantly growing in the near future and this chapter gives a short insight into the power of nutritional lipidomics approaches.

Emotion regulation strategies and the two-dimensional model of adult attachment: a pilot study.

Introduction: Emotion Regulation plays a crucial role in human's daily lives. Extensive research has shown that people with different attachment orientations exhibit divergencies in how they perform emotion regulation strategies. Methods: 44 adults performed an experimental emotion regulation task in which they were instructed to attend, reappraise, or suppress their emotions while viewing negative and neutral images taken from the International Affective Picture System (IAPS). Afterward, participants rated valence, arousal, and emotional dominance elicited by the images. Additionally, attachment orientations were measured using the ECR-12 questionnaire. Results: Results showed a relationship between attachment avoidance and the level of arousal during the reappraisal condition; specifically, the higher attachment avoidance levels, the greater the emotional intensity during the implementation of cognitive reappraisal strategy. Such results suggest an association between failing in downregulate intense emotions using cognitive reappraisal when there are higher levels of attachment avoidance. Consistently, we also found that lower dominance during reappraisal was associated with more levels of avoidance. Conclusion: These results indicate that people with higher levels of attachment avoidance experience difficulties when using the cognitive reappraisal strategy to reduce the emotional impact produced by negative emotional stimuli. Our findings reinforce the idea that avoidant people experience high physiological activation when experience emotions.

Propuesta de Valores de Referencia para el Cuestionario de Evaluación del Apego Adulto: Experiences in Close Relationships (ECR-12), en población adulta chilena / Reference values for the Adult Attachment Assessment Questionnaire: Experiences in Close Relationships (ECR-12) in the Chilean Adult Population

El cuestionario de Experiencias en Relaciones Cercanas (ECR) es un instrumento de auto-reporte ampliamente utilizado para evaluar el apego en la adultez, a partir de dos dimensiones: la ansiedad y la evitación asociadas al apego. Este instrumento ha sido adaptado en múltiples contextos, incluyendo el chileno, del cual existe una versión abreviada (ECR-12), objeto de análisis del presente estudio. Si bien existe consenso en que la seguridad en el apego es mejor descrita en términos dimensionales, hay ámbitos, como en la práctica clínica donde contar con valores de referencia podría ser de utilidad. El objetivo de este estudio es proveer valores de referencia para la interpretación de los valores del ECR-12 en el contexto chileno. Para ello, una muestra de 6779 participantes respondió el ECR-12. Se utilizó el método de puntuación z con normalización para obtener los valores de referencia. Los análisis realizados evidenciaron la necesidad de construir baremos diferenciados por edad. Así, para el grupo de 29 años o menos, el punto de corte en la dimensión de ansiedad es de un promedio igual o superior a 4.4 puntos, y para la evitación, el punto de corte es de un promedio igual o superior a 2.5. En cambio, para el grupo de 30 años o más, el punto de corte en la dimensión de ansiedad es de un promedio igual o superior a 4.2, y para la evitación, es de un promedio igual o superior a 2.9. Estos hallazgos pueden ser relevantes no sólo para identificar a personas que puedan presentar niveles sustancialmente altos de ansiedad y/o evitación en el apego, sino, también puede constituirse como una herramienta clínica complementaria en contextos terapéuticos.

The Experiences in Close Relationships (ECR) questionnaire is a widely used self-report measure to assess adult attachment, based on two dimensions: attachment anxiety and attachment avoidance. This instrument has been adapted in multiple contexts, including the Chilean, for which there is an abbreviated version (ECR-12), that is the object of analysis in the present study. Although there is consensus that attachment security is best described in dimensional terms, there are areas, such as clinical practice, where having reference values could be useful. The aim of this study is to provide reference values for the interpretation of ECR-12 scores in the Chilean context. To do this, a sample of 6779 participants was evaluated using the ECR-12. The z-score normalization method was used to obtain the reference values. The analyzes carried out showed the need to build scales differentiated by age. Thus, for the group of 29 years or less, the cut-off point in the anxiety dimension is an average equal to or greater than 4.4 points, and for avoidance, the cut-off point is an average equal to or greater than 2.5. On the other hand, for the group aged 30 or older, the cut-off point in the anxiety dimension is an average equal to or greater than 4.2, and for avoidance, it is an average equal to or greater than 2.9. These findings can be relevant not only for identifying people who may present substantially high levels of anxiety and/or avoidance in attachment, but also as a complementary clinical tool in therapeutic contexts.

Modern Rape Myths: Justifying Victim and Perpetrator Blame in Sexual Violence.

Rape myths are beliefs, stereotypes, and attitudes usually false, widespread, and persistent about rape, victims, and perpetrators. They aim to deny and justify men's sexual assault against women. This study evaluates the mediating effect of modern rape myths on the relationship between gender system justification and attribution of blame to both victim and perpetrator in a fictional case of sexual violence. A total of 375 individuals residing in Chile, 255 women and 120 men, 19-81 years (M = 37.6 SD = 13.06) participated in the study. Results from a Structural Equation Model show that gender system justification is directly related to the attribution of blame to the victim, showing an indirect relationship throughout the modern rape myth. However, gender system justification and attribution of blame to the aggressor are indirectly related, being mediated by modern rape myths. The study of the relationship between the acceptance of modern rape myths, gender-specific system justification, and victim and aggressor blame for rape is a contribution to understanding beliefs justifying sexual violence against women.

Application of machine learning techniques for dementia severity prediction from psychometric tests in the elderly population.

Previous research has shown the benefits of early detection and treatment of dementia. This detection is usually performed manually by one or more clinicians based on reports and psychometric testing. Machine learning algorithms provide an alternative method of prediction that may contribute, with an automated process and insights, to the diagnosis and classification of the severity level of dementia. The aim of this study is to explore the use of neuropsychological data from a reduced version of the Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination III (ACE-III) to predict absence or different levels of dementia severity using the Global Deterioration Scale (GDS) scores through the implementation of the kNN machine learning algorithm. A sample of 1164 elderly people over sixty years old were evaluated using a reduced version of the ACE-III and the GDS. The kNN classifier provided good accuracies using 15 items from the ACE-III and adequately differentiating people with absence and mild impairment, from those with more severe levels of impairment according to the GDS rating. Our results suggest that the kNN algorithm may be used to automate aspects of clinical cognitive impairment classification in the elderly population.

Safety of Stromal Vascular Fraction Cell Therapy for Chronic Kidney Disease of Unknown Cause (Mesoamerican Nephropathy).

Chronic kidney disease of unknown cause (CKDu), also known as Mesoamerican nephropathy, typically presents as an ischemic nephropathy with chronic tubulointerstitial fibrosis in normotensive patients, rapidly progressing to kidney failure. In this first-in-human, open-label, safety study, we followed 18 patients with CKDu (stages 3-5) for 36 months after receiving a single infusion of angiogenic/anti-fibrotic autologous adipose-derived stromal vascular fraction (SVF) cells into their kidneys bilaterally via renal artery catheterization. SVF therapy was safe and well tolerated. There were no SVF-related serious adverse events and no procedural complications. Color Doppler evaluation at 2 months demonstrated increased perfusion to the interlobar and/or arcuate artery levels in each kidney evaluated (36/36) with a reduction in resistance index at the hilar artery (35/36) kidneys. Beyond 12 months, patients with initial eGFR <30 mL/minute/1.73 m2 deteriorated, whereas those ≥30 mL/minute/1.73 m2 further sustained their renal function, suggesting a possible renal protective effect in that group.

Education bias in typical brief cognitive tests used for the detection of dementia in elderly population with low educational level: a critical review.

Dementia is a significant decline in cognition that interfere with independent, daily functioning. Dementia is a syndrome caused by a myriad and include primary neurologic, neuropsychiatric, and medical conditions. It has been projected that the prevalence of dementia will triple in the elderly population by the year 2050. Despite the benefits of early diagnosis, there is an effective under-detection of around 62% of people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or dementia. One of the factors associated with this problem is that diagnostic techniques are affected by the educational level of those evaluated. This is an important aspect to consider in the use of brief cognitive tests for the detection of dementia. This review presents and critically analyzes the available evidence regarding the effect of educational level on the diagnostic utility of three of the most widely used tools in the clinical setting: the Mini-mental Test Examination (MMSE), the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), and the Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination (ACE). Previous evidence shows that the tasks that require reading, writing, calculation, phonological fluency, and visuoconstruction are affected by educational level. These results lead to discourage the use of these tests in older people with less than 6 years of schooling. The development of brief cognitive tests appropriate for people with a low educational level is recommended. We posit that adequate cognitive tests should not consider tasks or items that resemble characteristics of academic contexts and should be more analogous to daily activities situations.

La planificación cognitiva en el contexto de la evaluación neuropsicológica e investigación en neurociencia cognitiva: una revisión sistemática / Cognitive planning in the context of neuropsychological assessment and research in cognitive neuroscience: a systematic review

La planificación es definida como la habilidad de desarrollar un plan secuenciado de pasos conductuales para alcanzar una meta y forma parte de un conjunto de funciones cognitivas de alto orden denominadas funciones ejecutivas. Esta función se ve afectada en diversas situaciones de la vida cotidiana y en una variedad de trastornos neuropsiquiátricos (por ej., depresión, ansiedad, déficit atencional, esquizofrenia, etc.). Tanto el diseño de pruebas cognitivas para evaluar planificación en el contexto clínico, como también el diseño de paradigmas experimentales de evaluación de la planificación en el contexto de investigación, continúa siendo un desafío para la neuropsicología clínica y para las neurociencias. En este artículo de revisión sistemática que sigue las direcciones PRISMA, revisamos la teoría e investigación en relación con la evaluación clínica y la investigación de las bases neurobiológicas de la planificación y los aportes a la comprensión de los mecanismos de su implementación. Se reportan medidas metodológicas comunes y se resumen las aproximaciones teóricas que contribuyen en su comprensión. Nuestros hallazgos muestran la implicancia de la corteza prefrontal en el rendimiento en planificación, en particular el área dorsolateral, corteza cingulada anterior y frontopolar. Mayores estudios clínicos, instrumentales y experimentales son necesarios para comprender mejor la planificación en el contexto de una teoría integrativa de las funciones ejecutivas y del rol de la corteza prefrontal.

Planning is defined as the ability to develop a sequenced plan of behavioral steps to achieve a goal and is part of a set of high-order cognitive functions called executive functions. This function is affected in various daily life situations and in a variety of neuropsychiatric disorders (e.g., depression, anxiety, attention deficit disorder, schizophrenia, etc.). Both the design of cognitive tests to assess planning in the clinical context, as well as the design of experimental paradigms for evaluating planning in research context, continues to be a challenge for clinical neuropsychology and neurosciences. In this PRISMA systematic review article, we review theory and research regarding clinical assessment and research into the neurobiological bases of planning and contributions to understanding the mechanisms of its implementation. Common methodological measures are reported and the theoretical approaches that contribute to their understanding are summarized. Our findings show the involvement of the prefrontal cortex in planning performance, particularly the dorsolateral area, the anterior cingulate cortex, and the frontopolar cortex. Further clinical, instrumental, and experimental studies are needed to better understand planning in the context of an integrative theory of executive functions and the role of the prefrontal cortex.

The cumulative effect of fibromyalgia symptoms on cognitive performance: The mediating role of pain.

Fibromyalgia (FMS) is a chronic condition that encompasses widespread pain associated with cognitive impairment and significant emotional distress related to functional disability. This study aimed to obtain evidence of the role of pain in the effect of time since FMS diagnosis and cognitive performance using a novel online protocol of neuropsychological evaluation since the COVID-19 pandemic has challenged traditional neuropsychology testing leading to the need for novel procedures transitioning to tele-neuropsychology. A sample of 70 adult women was evaluated (50 with FMS and 19 controls) using online questionnaires that evaluated pain and executive functioning (impulsivity, inhibition control, monitoring, and planning). Afterward, participants were evaluated by trained neuropsychologists in a 30 min online session using virtually adapted cognitive tests: the Hopkins Verbal Learning Test (memory), the Symbol-Digit Modalities Test (attention and speed processing), the F-A-S test (verbal fluency), and Digit Span tests (working memory). We found that the time of FMS diagnosis has an effect on cognitive functioning predominantly mediated by pain. Our results point out the role of pain as a mediator on cognitive performance, specifically in executive functions which are directly affected by the cumulative effect of the time of diagnosis. Furthermore, the importance of considering a broader perspective for assessment and treatment including novel procedures via tele-neuropsychology.

Enantioselective metabolomics by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry.

Metabolomics strives to capture the entirety of the metabolites in a biological system by comprehensive analysis, often by liquid chromatography hyphenated to mass spectrometry. A particular challenge thereby is the differentiation of structural isomers. Common achiral targeted and untargeted assays do not distinguish between enantiomers. This may lead to information loss. An increasing number of publications demonstrate that the enantiomeric ratio of certain metabolites can be meaningful biomarkers of certain diseases emphasizing the importance of introducing enantioselective analytical procedures in metabolomics. In this work, the state-of-the-art in the field of LC-MS based metabolomics is summarized with focus on developments in the recent decade. Methodologies, tagging strategies, workflows and general concepts are outlined. Selected biological applications in which enantioselective metabolomics has documented its usefulness are briefly discussed. In general, targeted enantioselective metabolomics assays are often based on a direct approach using chiral stationary phases (CSP) with polysaccharide derivatives, macrocyclic antibiotics, chiral crown ethers, chiral ion exchangers, donor-acceptor phases as chiral selectors. Rarely, these targeted assays focus on more than 20 analytes and usually are restricted to a certain metabolite class. In a variety of cases, pre-column derivatization of metabolites has been performed, especially for amino acids, to improve separation and detection sensitivity. Triple quadrupole instruments are the detection methods of first choice in targeted assays. Here, issues like matrix effect, absence of blank matrix impair accuracy of results. In selected applications, multiple heart cutting 2D-LC (RP followed by chiral separation) has been pursued to overcome this problem and alleviate bias due to interferences. Non-targeted assays, on the other hand, are based on indirect approach involving tagging with a chiral derivatizing agent (CDA). Besides classical CDAs numerous innovative reagents and workflows have been proposed and are discussed. Thereby, a critical issue for the accuracy is often neglected, viz. the validation of the enantiomeric impurity in the CDA. The majority of applications focus on amino acids, hydroxy acids, oxidized fatty acids and oxylipins. Some potential clinical applications are highlighted.

Forgiveness in the Context of Divorce: A Cross-Cultural Measurement Invariance Study via Multiple-Group Factor Analysis (CFA) across Chile and Spain.

(1) Background: Current research on the factors involved in the adaptation process to divorce or separation has explored cross-cultural differences. An initial step in the cross-cultural field is to investigate whether the measurements applied are comparable in different cultural contexts. The aim of the present study is to test the measurement invariance of the Questionnaire of Forgiveness in Divorce-Separation (CPD-S); (2) Methods: The CPD-S was completed by 556 (M = 44.52, SD = 10.18) and 240 (M = 41.44, SD = 7.87) Chilean and Spanish divorced individuals, respectively. Confirmatory factor analyses in single samples and measurement invariance testing in a multi-group framework were conducted to test the cross-group equivalence; (3) Results: The single-factor structure of the CPD-S was supported in both countries. Measurement invariance analysis demonstrated that the CPD-S had partial scalar measurement invariance; (4) Conclusions: The evidence supports the conclusion that CPD-S operates similarly across both countries. Findings are discussed from a cross-cultural and methodological perspective.

Analyzing the 2019 Chilean social outbreak: Modelling Latin American economies.

In this work, we propose a quantitative model for the 2019 Chilean protests. We utilize public data for the consumer price index, the gross domestic product, and the employee and per capita income distributions as inputs for a nonlinear diffusion-reaction equation, the solutions to which provide an in-depth analysis of the population dynamics. Specifically, the per capita income distribution stands out as a solution to the extended Fisher-Kolmogorov equation. According to our results, the concavity of employee income distribution is a decisive input parameter and, in contrast to the distributions typically observed for Chile and other countries in Latin America, should ideally be non-negative. Based on the results of our model, we advocate for the implementation of social policies designed to stimulate social mobility by broadening the distribution of higher salaries.

Mitos de violación, creencias que justifican la violencia sexual: una revisión sistemática / Rape myths, beliefs that justify sexual violence: a systematic review / Mitos do estupro, crenças que justificam a violência sexual: uma revisão sistemática

Resumen En investigación social existe una importante línea de estudios que intentan comprender el fenómeno de la violencia sexual. Un constructo que ha centrado el interés de no pocos investigadores corresponde al de "mitos de violación". Este concepto agrupa creencias erróneas respecto a la atribución de culpabilidad del agresor y la responsabilidad de la víctima en caso de violación sexual. El objetivo del presente artículo fue realizar una revisión sistemática de los estudios empíricos que reportan evidencia acerca de la relación entre la aceptación de mitos de violación y variables psicosociales. Las bases de datos consultadas fueron, ProQuest, Web of Science, Scopus, PsycINFO, EBSCOhost y JSTOR. Se seleccionaron estudios empíricos en español e inglés publicados entre los años 2009 y 2019. Se encontraron 96 artículos que cumplían con los criterios de selección. Dentro de los resultados el 63,4 % de las investigaciones se desarrollaron en Estados Unidos, 24,7 % en países de Europa y solo 1 % en América Latina. Los hallazgos muestran que los hombres son los que mantienen mayores niveles de aceptación de los mitos de violación en la mayoría de los estudios. Además, se encontraron relaciones con variables como violencia interpersonal y violencia sexual, rasgos de personalidad, variables ideológicas, psicosociales, sexuales y de género. Finalmente se discute sus implicancias y limitaciones.

Abstract In social research, there is an important line of studies that try to understand the phenomenon of sexual violence. A construct that has focused the interest of not a few researchers corresponds to that of "rape myths". This concept brings together a set of erroneous beliefs regarding the attribution of guilt of the aggressor and the responsibility of the victim in case of rape. The objective of this study was to conduct a systematic review of empirical studies that have reported evidence about the relationship between the acceptance of rape myths and psychosocial variables. The databases consulted were, ProQuest, Web of Science, Scopus, PsycINFO, EBSCOhost, JSTOR. We selected empirical studies in Spanish and English that have been published between 2009 and 2019. We found 96 articles that met the selection criteria. Within the results, 63.4% of the studies have been developed in the United States, 24.7% in European countries and only one in Latin America (1.0%). The findings show that men maintain the highest levels of acceptance of rape myths in most studies. In addition, relationships have been found with variables such as interpersonal violence and sexual violence, personality traits, ideological, psychosocial, sexual and gender variables. Finally, its implications and limitations are discussed.

Resumo Na pesquisa social, há uma importante linha de estudos que tentam entender o fenômeno da violência sexual. Uma construção que tem focado o interesse de poucos pesquisadores corresponde à de "mitos do estupro". Esse conceito reúne um conjunto de crenças errôneas sobre a atribuição de culpa do agressor e a responsabilidade da vítima em caso de estupro. O objetivo deste estudo foi realizar uma revisão sistemática de estudos empíricos que relataram evidências sobre a relação entre a aceitação de mitos de estupro e variáveis psicossociais. As bases de dados consultadas foram: ProQuest, Web of Science, Scopus, PsycINFO, EBSCOhost, JSTOR. Selecionamos estudos empíricos em espanhol e inglês que foram publicados entre 2009 e 2019. Encontramos 96 artigos que atenderam aos critérios de seleção. Dentro dos resultados, 63,4% dos estudos foram desenvolvidos nos Estados Unidos, 24,7% em países europeus e apenas um na América Latina (1,0%). Os achados mostram que os homens mantêm os mais altos níveis de aceitação dos mitos do estupro na maioria dos estudos. Além disso, têm sido encontradas relações com variáveis como violência interpessoal e violência sexual, traços de personalidade, variáveis ideológicas, psicossociais, sexuais e de gênero. Finalmente, suas implicações e limitações são discutidas.

Palmo-plantar hyperkeratosis associated with HTLV-1 infection: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Palmoplantar hyperkeratosis is a cutaneous manifestation that had not been clearly associated with infection by the human T-cell lymphotropic virus, which is a retrovirus that in most cases does not develop clinical pathologies and its symptoms may be undetected. The skin is one of the most affected organs, however until now only seborrheic dermatitis, xerosis/ichthyosis and infective dermatitis associated with HTLV-1 have been described as cutaneous clinical manifestations of this disease. CASE PRESENTATION: We present the case of a 36-year-old male patient with serologically documented HTLV-1 infection, who presented symptoms of diarrhea, malabsorption due to Strongyloides stercoralis, and in whom a physical examination revealed an association with generalized xerosis and palmoplantar keratoderma confirmed by skin biopsy. Other infectious etiologies and malignancy were ruled out. This clinical manifestation was managed with dermal hydration, and skin care which improved the thickened skin and make it less noticeable. CONCLUSIONS: According to our experience, this is the first reported case of palmoplantar keratoderma associated with a human lymphotropic virus infection. This is a skin manifestation that has not been confirmed in conjunction with HTLV-I before. This implies that palmoplantar keratoderma is a new clinical manifestation of this infection, that should be considered in the initial approach of patients in endemic areas with these dermatological characteristics.

Psychometric properties of Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination III (ACE-III): An item response theory approach.

The Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination III is one of the most widely used tests to assess cognitive impairment. Although previous studies have shown adequate levels of diagnostic utility to detect severe impairment, it has not shown sensitivity to detect mild decline. The aim of this study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination III in a large sample of elderly people through Item Response Theory, due to the lack of studies using this approach. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 1164 people from the age of 60 upwards, of which 63 had a prior diagnosis of Alzheimer dementia. The results showed that, globally, the Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination III possesses adequate psychometrics properties. Furthermore, the information function test shows that the subscales have different sensitivity to different levels of impairment. These results can contribute to determining patterns of cognitive deterioration for the adequate detection of different levels of dementia. An optimized version is suggested which may be an economic alternative in the applied field.