BRAVO self-confined expression through WOX5 in the Arabidopsis root stem-cell niche.

In animals and plants, stem-cell niches are local microenvironments that are tightly regulated to preserve their unique identity while communicating with adjacent cells that will give rise to specialized cell types. In the primary root of Arabidopsis thaliana, two transcription factors, BRAVO and WOX5, among others, are expressed in the stem-cell niche. Intriguingly, BRAVO, a repressor of quiescent center divisions, confines its own gene expression to the stem-cell niche, as evidenced in a bravo mutant background. Here, we propose through mathematical modeling that BRAVO confines its own expression domain to the stem-cell niche by attenuating a WOX5-dependent diffusible activator of BRAVO. This negative feedback drives WOX5 activity to be spatially restricted as well. The results show that WOX5 diffusion and sequestration by binding to BRAVO are sufficient to drive the experimentally observed confined BRAVO expression at the stem-cell niche. We propose that the attenuation of a diffusible activator can be a general mechanism acting at other stem-cell niches to spatially confine genetic activity to a small region while maintaining signaling within them and with the surrounding cells.

Psychological Wellbeing, Dyadic Adjustment, and Parental Stress among Spanish Families during the COVID-19 Outbreak.

Due to COVID-19, many countries, like Spain, imposed lockdown on the entire population to prevent the virus from spreading. The purpose of this exploratory study is to investigate the severity of psychological symptoms, dyadic adjustment, and parental stress of parents during the first three weeks of the outbreak. It also aims to identify several risk factors that contribute to this distress. A total of 727 parents completed a form on an online platform with sociodemographic data, BSI- 18, EAD-13, and the Spanish version of the PPS. Linear regression analyses were used to explore the significant associations between the sample characteristics (sociodemographic variables and their lockdown circumstances) and parents' psychological symptoms, dyadic adjustment, and parenting stress level during the COVID-19 epidemic. Most parents maintained good emotional, personal, conjugal, and family stability; however, female gender, not living with the partner, having a child with a mental disorder and were unable to balance the work and family lives were significantly associated with greater psychological distress. Being receiving psychiatric or psychological treatment has also been associated with poorer psychological and partner adjustment during the outbreak. It is essential to continue researching the impact of lockdowns on families so that, both the government and public health authorities, can offer resources to the most vulnerable families.

Estudio del efecto de una formación basada en observación directa en la capacidad de mentalización del personal de guarderías / Estudi de l'efecte d'una formació basada en observació directa en la capacitat de mentalització del personal d'escoles bressol / Studying the effect of a training based on the direct observation on the mentalization capacity of kindergarten staff

Se ha demostrado que la alta capacidad de mentalización del personal educativo pre-escolar(PEd) incide en el desarrollo socioemocional de la teoría de la mente y del lenguaje del infante y que tiene efecto compensador en contextos sociales y familiares desfavorables. Pocos estudios evalúan los efectos de formaciones en la mentalización en PEd. Este estudio evaluó el efecto de una formación que promueve la observación y comprensión de la subjetividad propia y del infante en una muestra de 17 educadoras de tres guarderías de Barcelona. Se encuentra una mejora estadísticamente significativa en la mentalización global y diferentes dimensiones. Se proponen líneas de investigación que incluyan la mentalización en PEd y su impacto en la infancia.(AU)

The high mentalization capacity of pre-school education (PEd) staff has been shown to have an impact onthe socio-emotional development of the infant's theory of mind and language and to have a compensatory effect in unfavourable social and family contexts. Few studies have evaluated the effects of training on mentalization in ECD. This study evaluated the effect of training that promotes observation and understanding of self and infant subjectivity in a sample of 17 educators from three nurseries in Barcelona. A statistically significant improvement was found in global mentalization and different dimensions. Lines of research that include mentalization in PEdand its impact on children are proposed.(AU)

S'ha demostrat que l'alta capacitat de mentalització del personal educatiu preescolar (PEd)incideix en el desenvolupament socioemocional de la teoria de la ment i del llenguatge de l'infant i que té un efectecompensador en contextos socials i familiars desfavorables. Pocs estudis avaluen els efectes de formacions en lamentalització a PEd. Aquest estudi va avaluar l'efecte d'una formació que promou l'observació i la comprensióde la subjectivitat pròpia i de l'infant en una mostra de 17 educadores de tres escoles bressol de Barcelona. Hi hauna millora estadísticament significativa en la mentalització global i diferents dimensions. Es proposen línies derecerca que incloguin la mentalització a PEd i el seu impacte a la infància.(AU)

Precise transcriptional control of cellular quiescence by BRAVO/WOX5 complex in Arabidopsis roots.

Understanding stem cell regulatory circuits is the next challenge in plant biology, as these cells are essential for tissue growth and organ regeneration in response to stress. In the Arabidopsis primary root apex, stem cell-specific transcription factors BRAVO and WOX5 co-localize in the quiescent centre (QC) cells, where they commonly repress cell division so that these cells can act as a reservoir to replenish surrounding stem cells, yet their molecular connection remains unknown. Genetic and biochemical analysis indicates that BRAVO and WOX5 form a transcription factor complex that modulates gene expression in the QC cells to preserve overall root growth and architecture. Furthermore, by using mathematical modelling we establish that BRAVO uses the WOX5/BRAVO complex to promote WOX5 activity in the stem cells. Our results unveil the importance of transcriptional regulatory circuits in plant stem cell development.

Factores terapéuticos en psicoterapia grupal: un estudio desde la perspectiva de los participantes / Therapeutic factors in group psychotherapy: a study from the perspective of group members

En el presente trabajo, los autores Investigan qué factores terapéuticos grupales (FTG) son los de mayor importancia para los participantes de psicoterapia de grupo. Una adaptación del cuestionario Yalom fue completada por 88 usuarios de un servicio ambulatorio de salud mental, analizándose las diferencias según características sociodemográficas, diagnóstico y la valoración de los conductores grupales. A nivel jerárquico, la universalidad, el altruismo y la cohesión fueron los FTG más valorados; por el contrario, la conducta imitativa y los factores existenciales fueron los que menos. Aquellos usuarios con un mayor nivel de estudios valoraron significativamente la reactualización familiar, sin observarse diferencias en la edad ni el sexo. El diagnóstico de un trastorno del espectro de la esquizofrenia presentó una elevada correlación con la cohesión, la catarsis y la universalidad. Las valoraciones de los terapeutas concuerdan de forma significativa con las de la muestra. La evaluación de los FTG permite que los terapeutas contemplen aquellos elementos que más favorecen a los usuarios en su proceso psicoterapéutico y en su mejora del bienestar

In the present work, the authors investigate which group therapeutic factors (GTF) are the most important for group psychotherapy participants. 88 users of an outpatient mental health service completed an adaptation of the Yalom's questionnaire. Differences regarding sociodemographic characteristics, diagnosis and assessment of the group therapists were analyzed. At the hierarchical level, universality, altruism and cohesion were the most valued GTF; while identification and existential factors were the least ones. Those users with a higher level of studies valued the family reenactment significantly, without observing differences regarding age or sex. The diagnosis of a schizophrenia spectrum disorder showed a high correlation with cohesion, catharsis, and universality. The therapists' scores correlated significantly with the sample scores. The evaluation of the GTF allows therapists to contemplate those elements that are most helpful for the users in their psychotherapeutic process and in the improvement of their well-being

Quality of life in family caregivers of schizophrenia patients in Spain: caregiver characteristics, caregiving burden, family functioning, and social and professional support.

OBJECTIVE: Caregivers experience physical and mental stress that ends up lowering their quality of life (QoL). Our goal was to research (a) the level of caregivers QoL; (b) the relationships between the demographic characteristics of the caregivers, their caregiving burden, their family functioning, their social and professional support and their QoL and (c) the best predictors of caregivers QoL. METHODS: 100 key caregivers (70% parents, 8% spouses, 17% siblings and 5% children) were studied using the world health organization quality of life-Bref (WHOQOL-BREF) to research their QoL, the Zarit Scale to assess their perception of their caregiving burden, the Social Network Questionnaire to examine their social support, the Family APGAR to assess the satisfaction with social support from the family and a professional support scale (Escala de Apoyo Profesional) to determine the professional support received by caregivers was performed. RESULTS: Scores on the WHOQOL-BREF in the Physical, Psychological, Social and Environment domains were 15.0 (SD = 3.7), 13.3 (SD = 4.2), 11.0 (SD = 4.7) and 13.5 (SD = 3.1), respectively. Through bivariate analysis, the dimensions that showed a positive significant association with QoL were being a young male caregiver who was a working father with a high educational level and help from other family members. Caregivers of patients who were older and had a later onset of the illness, a lower score on the Zarit Scale and a high score on the Social Network Questionnaire, Family APGAR and Escala de Apoyo Profesional showed higher QoL. Many of these variables made a unique contribution in the multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: There is a significant association between the caregiver's burden and their QoL. Regression analysis showed that the best predictors of QoL were caregiving burden, social support and professional support.