Inhibition and working memory capacity modulate the mental space-time association.

This research aimed to investigate whether the mental space-time association of temporal concepts could be modulated by the availability of cognitive resources (in terms of working memory and inhibitory control capacities) and to explore whether access to this association could be an automatic process. To achieve this, two experiments were carried out. In Experiment 1, participants had to classify words with future and past meanings. The working memory load (high vs. low) was manipulated and the participants were grouped into quartiles according to their visuospatial working memory capacity (WMC). Temporal concepts were displayed subliminally (immediate masking) and supraliminally (delayed masking). The ANOVA showed a performance pattern consistent with the left-past right-future conceptual scheme, regardless of both the type of masking and the working memory load, except in high WMC participants, in which, interestingly, the space-time association effect was absent. In Experiment 2, participants were asked to respond to the colour of the font of the temporal words, and their attentional control capacity was assessed. The results indicated a timeline effect that was irrespective of the WM load and the type of perceptual processing, but not of the WM capacity or the inhibitory abilities. These findings partially endorse the automatic and implicit access to the mental space-time association and suggest the involvement of the availability of cognitive resources. Individual WMC differences appear to modulate the automatic nature of the effect rather than the processing conditions themselves.

Cognitive inhibition abilities explain inter-individual variability in gender-space associations.

There is a great deal of research describing the close association that exists between numerical and spatial representations, illustrating the SNARC (Spatial-Numerical Association of Response Code) effect. This effect signals the spatial mental representation of small numbers to the left and larger numbers to the right, coinciding with the direction of reading and writing. Subsequent research has found a similar spatial representation for other stimuli (e.g., size of objects and animals, and words associated with time). Some of these spatially represented stimuli are social in nature, even suggesting a spatial mental organization of stimuli based on gender (e.g., the upper part of a vertical axis for males and the lower part for females). The aim of the present study was threefold (1) to replicate and extend results on the existence of a mental gender line (as a function of response hand: female-left hand and male-right hand) when responding simply to gender of stimuli; (2) to explore the influence of inhibitory control; and, (3) to determine whether gender-space associations depend on the explicit or implicit nature of a gender task. Three experiments were designed to pursue these objectives. In Experiment 1, female, male and neutral faces and names were displayed, and the participants were asked to identify their gender. Experiment 2, which also included a Stroop task, followed the same procedure as Experiment 1, but displayed objects that could be designated as female or male and others not related to any gender. Finally, in Experiment 3, in which participants were asked to respond to the direction of an arrow, object gender was not relevant to the task. Consistent with previous research and confirming our hypotheses, the results showed a spatial mental representation of the stimuli based on gender in all three experiments, regardless of whether the stimulus was consciously perceived. Moreover, inhibitory ability showed a relationship with the gender-space line effect. The contributions and implications of this study are discussed, as are possible limitations and future lines of research.

Hospital-Wide SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence in health care workers in a Spanish teaching hospital.

INTRODUCTION: Hospital-wide SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence is rarely explored and can identify areas of unexpected risk. We determined the seroprevalence against SARS-CoV-2 in all health care workers (HCW) at a hospital. METHODS: Cross-sectional study (14-27/04/2020). We determined SARS-CoV-2 IgG by ELISA in all HCW including external workers of a teaching hospital in Madrid. They were classified by professional category, working area, and risk for SARS-CoV-2 exposure. RESULTS: Among 2919 HCW, 2590 (88,7%) were evaluated. The mean age was 43.8 years (SD 11.1), and 73.9% were females. Globally, 818 (31.6%) workers were IgG positive with no differences for age, sex or previous diseases. Of these, 48.5% did not report previous symptoms. Seropositivity was more frequent in high- (33.1%) and medium- (33.8%) than in low-risk areas (25.8%, p=0.007), but not for hospitalization areas attending COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 patients (35.5 vs 38.3% p>0.05). HWC with a previous SARS-CoV2 PCR-positive test were IgG seropositive in 90.8%. By multivariate logistic regression analysis seropositivity was significantly associated with being physicians (OR 2.37, CI95% 1.61-3.49), nurses (OR 1.67, CI95% 1.14-2.46), nurse assistants (OR 1.84, CI95% 1.24-2.73), HCW working at COVID-19 hospitalization areas (OR 1.71, CI95% 1.22-2.40), non-COVID-19 hospitalization areas (OR 1.88, CI95% 1.30-2.73), and at the Emergency Room (OR 1.51, CI95% 1.01-2.27). CONCLUSIONS: Seroprevalence uncovered a high rate of infection previously unnoticed among HCW. Patients not suspected of having COVID-19 as well as asymptomatic HCW may be a relevant source for nosocomial SARS-CoV-2 transmission.

Hospital-Wide SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence in health care workers in a Spanish teaching hospital / Seroprevalencia frente a SARS-CoV-2 en 2.590 trabajadores de un hospital universitario español

Introduction: Hospital-wide SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence is rarely explored and can identify areas of unexpected risk. We determined the seroprevalence against SARS-CoV-2 in all health care workers (HCW) at a hospital. Methods: Cross-sectional study (14-27/04/2020). We determined SARS-CoV-2 IgG by ELISA in all HCW including external workers of a teaching hospital in Madrid. They were classified by professional category, working area, and risk for SARS-CoV-2 exposure. Results: Among 2919 HCW, 2590 (88,7%) were evaluated. The mean age was 43.8 years (SD 11.1), and 73.9% were females. Globally, 818 (31.6%) workers were IgG positive with no differences for age, sex or previous diseases. Of these, 48.5% did not report previous symptoms. Seropositivity was more frequent in high- (33.1%) and medium- (33.8%) than in low-risk areas (25.8%, p=0.007), but not for hospitalization areas attending COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 patients (35.5 vs 38.3% p>0.05). HWC with a previous SARS-CoV2 PCR-positive test were IgG seropositive in 90.8%. By multivariate logistic regression analysis seropositivity was significantly associated with being physicians (OR 2.37, CI95% 1.61–3.49), nurses (OR 1.67, CI95% 1.14–2.46), nurse assistants (OR 1.84, CI95% 1.24–2.73), HCW working at COVID-19 hospitalization areas (OR 1.71, CI95% 1.22–2.40), non-COVID-19 hospitalization areas (OR 1.88, CI95% 1.30–2.73), and at the Emergency Room (OR 1.51, CI95% 1.01–2.27). Conclusions: Seroprevalence uncovered a high rate of infection previously unnoticed among HCW. Patients not suspected of having COVID-19 as well as asymptomatic HCW may be a relevant source for nosocomial SARS-CoV-2 transmission.(AU)

Introducción: Los estudios de seroprevalencia frente a SARS-CoV-2 en los trabajadores sanitarios (TS) permiten identificar áreas de riesgo inesperado en los hospitales. Métodos: Estudio transversal (14-27/04/2020). Se determinó IgG frente a SARS-CoV-2 mediante ELISA en todos los TS, incluidos los externos, de un hospital universitario de Madrid. Se clasificaron por categoría profesional, área de trabajo y riesgo de exposición al SARS-CoV-2. Resultados: Entre 2.919 TS, se evaluaron 2.590 (88,7%); edad media 43,8años (DE11,1) y 73,9% mujeres. Globalmente, 818 (31,6%) trabajadores tuvieron IgG positiva, sin diferencias por edad, sexo o enfermedades previas. De estos, el 48,5% no comunicaron síntomas previos. La seropositividad fue más frecuente en las áreas de alto (33,1%) y medio (33,8%) que en las de bajo riesgo (25,8%, p=0,007), pero similar en las áreas de hospitalización que atendían a pacientes con y sin COVID-19 (35,5 vs 38,3%, p>0,05). El 90,8% de los TS con PCR previa positiva frente a SARS-CoV-2 tuvieron IgG positiva. Por análisis multivariante, la seropositividad se asoció con ser médico (OR2,37, IC95%: 1,61-3,49), enfermero (OR1,67, IC95%: 1,14-2,46), auxiliar de enfermería (OR1,84, IC95%: 1,24-2,73), trabajar en áreas de hospitalización COVID-19 (OR1,71, IC95%: 1,22-2,40) y no COVID-19 (OR1,88, IC95%: 1,30-2,73) y en Urgencias (OR1,51, IC95%: 1,01-2,27). Conclusiones: El estudio de seroprevalencia desveló una alta tasa de infección que pasó desapercibida entre los trabajadores sanitarios. Los pacientes sin sospecha clínica de COVID-19 y los trabajadores sanitarios asintomáticos pueden ser una fuente importante de transmisión nosocomial del SARS-CoV-2.(AU)

Individual Differences in Working Memory Capacity Modulate Electrophysiological Correlates of Semantic Negative Priming From Single Words.

In the present study, event-related potentials (ERPs) were registered during a semantic negative priming (NP) task in participants with higher and lower working memory capacity (WMC). On each trial participants had to actively ignore a briefly presented single prime word, which was followed either immediately or after a delay by a mask. Thereafter, either a semantically related or an unrelated target word was presented, to which participants made a semantic categorization judgment. The ignored prime produced a behavioral semantic NP in delayed (but not in immediate) masking trials, and only for participants with a higher-WMC. Both masking type and WMC also modulated ERP priming effects. When the ignored prime was immediately followed by a mask (which impeded its conscious identification) a reliable N400 modulation was found irrespective of participants' WMC. However, when the mask onset following the prime was delayed (thus allowing its conscious identification), an attenuation of a late positive ERP (LPC) was observed in related compared to unrelated trials, but only in the higher-WMC group showing reliable behavioral NP. The present findings demonstrate for the first time that individual differences in WMC modulate both behavioral measures and electrophysiological correlates of semantic NP.

Working memory capacity modulates expectancy-based strategic processing: Behavioral and electrophysiological evidence.

The present research measured participants' event-related brain activity while they performed a Stroop-priming task that induced the implementation of expectancy-based strategic processes. Participants identified a colored (red vs. green) target patch preceded by a prime word (GREEN or RED), with incongruent prime-target pairings being more frequent (75 %) than congruent pairs (25 %). The prime-target stimulus onset asynchrony (SOA) was manipulated at two levels: 300 vs. 700 ms. Participants also performed a change localization task to assess their working memory capacity (WMC). At the 300 ms SOA, all participants presented a Stroop-priming congruency effect (slower responses on incongruent than on congruent trials) and an increased N2 amplitude in incongruent trials, irrespective of their WMC. At the 700-ms SOA, the lower-WMC group showed again a larger negative-going waveform to incongruent targets, whereas the higher-WMC group exhibited a reversed Stroop-priming congruency effect (faster responses to incongruent targets) and the N2 component was absent.

Hospital-Wide SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence in health care workers in a Spanish teaching hospital / Seroprevalencia frente a SARS-CoV-2 en 2.590 trabajadores de un hospital universitario español

INTRODUCTION: Hospital-wide SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence is rarely explored and can identify areas of unexpected risk. We determined the seroprevalence against SARS-CoV-2 in all health care workers (HCW) at a hospital. METHODS: Cross-sectional study (14-27/04/2020). We determined SARS-CoV-2 IgG by ELISA in all HCW including external workers of a teaching hospital in Madrid. They were classified by professional category, working area, and risk for SARS-CoV-2 exposure. RESULTS: Among 2919 HCW, 2590 (88,7%) were evaluated. The mean age was 43.8 years (SD 11.1), and 73.9% were females. Globally, 818 (31.6%) workers were IgG positive with no differences for age, sex or previous diseases. Of these, 48.5% did not report previous symptoms. Seropositivity was more frequent in high- (33.1%) and medium- (33.8%) than in low-risk areas (25.8%, p = 0.007), but not for hospitalization areas attending COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 patients (35.5 vs 38.3% p > 0.05). HWC with a previous SARS-CoV2 PCR-positive test were IgG seropositive in 90.8%. By multivariate logistic regression analysis seropositivity was significantly associated with being physicians (OR 2.37, C I95% 1.61-3.49), nurses (OR 1.67, CI 95% 1.14-2.46), nurse assistants (OR 1.84, CI 95% 1.24-2.73), HCW working at COVID-19 hospitalization areas (OR 1.71, CI 95% 1.22-2.40), non-COVID-19 hospitalization areas (OR 1.88, CI 95% 1.30-2.73), and at the Emergency Room (OR 1.51, CI 95% 1.01-2.27). CONCLUSIONS: Seroprevalence uncovered a high rate of infection previously unnoticed among HCW. Patients not suspected of having COVID-19 as well as asymptomatic HCW may be a relevant source for nosocomial SARS-CoV-2 transmission

INTRODUCCIÓN: Los estudios de seroprevalencia frente a SARS-CoV-2 en los trabajadores sanitarios (TS) permiten identificar áreas de riesgo inesperado en los hospitales. MÉTODOS: Estudio transversal (14-27/04/2020). Se determinó IgG frente a SARS-CoV-2 mediante ELISA en todos los TS, incluidos los externos, de un hospital universitario de Madrid. Se clasificaron por categoría profesional, área de trabajo y riesgo de exposición al SARS-CoV-2. RESULTADOS: Entre 2.919 TS, se evaluaron 2.590 (88,7%); edad media 43,8 años (DE 11,1) y 73,9% mujeres. Globalmente, 818 (31,6%) trabajadores tuvieron IgG positiva, sin diferencias por edad, sexo o enfermedades previas. De estos, el 48,5% no comunicaron síntomas previos. La seropositividad fue más frecuente en las áreas de alto (33,1%) y medio (33,8%) que en las de bajo riesgo (25,8%, p = 0,007), pero similar en las áreas de hospitalización que atendían a pacientes con y sin COVID-19 (35,5 vs 38,3%, p > 0,05). El 90,8% de los TS con PCR previa positiva frente a SARS-CoV-2 tuvieron IgG positiva. Por análisis multivariante, la seropositividad se asoció con ser médico (OR 2,37, IC 95%: 1,61-3,49), enfermero (OR1,67, IC 95%: 1,14-2,46), auxiliar de enfermería (OR1,84, IC95%: 1,24-2,73), trabajar en áreas de hospitalización COVID-19 (OR 1,71, IC 95%: 1,22-2,40) y no COVID-19 (OR 1,88, IC 95%: 1,30-2,73) y en Urgencias (OR 1,51, IC 95%: 1,01-2,27). CONCLUSIONES: El estudio de seroprevalencia desveló una alta tasa de infección que pasó desapercibida entre los trabajadores sanitarios. Los pacientes sin sospecha clínica de COVID-19 y los trabajadores sanitarios asintomáticos pueden ser una fuente importante de transmisión nosocomial del SARS-CoV-2

Semantic Negative Priming From an Ignored Single-Prime Depends Critically on Prime-Mask Inter-Stimulus Interval and Working Memory Capacity.

The aim of this study is to examine the link between working memory capacity and the ability to exert cognitive control. Here, participants with either high or low working memory capacity (WMC) performed a semantic negative priming (NP) task as a measure of cognitive control. They were required to ignore a single prime word followed by a pattern mask appearing immediately or after a delay. The prime could be semantically related or unrelated to an upcoming target word where a forced-choice categorization was required. Each type of mask (immediate vs. delayed) appeared randomly from trial to trial. Results demonstrated that, when the ignored prime was immediately followed by the mask, neither of the groups (high or low WMC) showed reliable NP. In clear contrast, when the mask onset was delayed responses latencies were reliably slower for semantically related trials than for unrelated trials (semantic NP), but only for the high WMC group. The present results clearly demonstrate that semantic NP from single ignored primes depends on both the masking pattern that follows the prime (immediate vs. delayed mask), and on working memory capacity.

Situación epidemiológica del Dengue en la ciudad de Encarnación 2018

Resumen Introducción: El dengue se encuentra en 128 países a nivel mundial, produciendo 390 millones de infecciones cada año, solo 96 millones se manifiestan clínicamente. En el Paraguay, la primera epidemia se registró en el período 1988-1989 con la circulación de DEN-1. En el año 2018, se ha registrado 3.414 casos confirmados en todo el país, en Itapúa se registraron 684 probables y167 confirmados. Objetivo: Describir la situación epidemiológica del Dengue en Encarnación 2018. Materiales y Métodos: Estudio observacional de diseño retrospectivo en el cual se revisaron fichas epidemiológicas del 2018, se incluyeron solo aquellas notificaciones de pacientes provenientes de la ciudad de Encarnación. Este estudio contó con la aprobación del Comité de Ética de la Universidad Autónoma. Resultados: En el 2018 se registraron en Encarnación 1418 notificaciones de los cuales 8% fueron confirmados, y 48% sospechosos, el 33 % correspondieron a la zona rural y el 67 % a la zona urbana. Discusión: Al observar las cifras de casos confirmados para Dengue se tienen valores inferiores al 10%, sin embargo, el 2018 se caracterizó por tener una epidemia a nivel regional, así como también nacional, por lo tanto, resulta clave el análisis en el contexto epidemiológico. Conclusión: El reporte de casos confirmados revela un bajo porcentaje de la enfermedad, en contraposición al alto valor en número de casos sospechosos, por lo tanto, allí radica la importancia de la epidemiología pues en caso de no ser confirmada por métodos laboratoriales podrá ser igualmente tratada a tal manera de evitar posibles complicaciones.

Abstract Introduction : Dengue is found in 128 countries worldwide, producing 390 million infections every year, only 96 million manifests clinically. In Paraguay, the first epidemic was recorded in the period 1988-1989 with the circulation of DEN-1. In 2018, 3,414 confirmed cases were registered throughout the country, in Itapúa 167 confirmed and 684 probable were registered. Objective: Describe the epidemiological situation of Dengue in Encarnacion 2018 Materials and Methods : An observational retrospective study in which epidemiological records of 2018 were reviewed, only those notifications of patients from the city of Encarnacion were included. This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Autonomous University. Results: In 2018, 1418 notifications were registered in Encarnacion, 8% of which were confirmed, and 48% suspected, 33% corresponded to the rural area and 67% to the urban area, 39% corresponded to the San Pedro neighborhood, 25% the downtown area, 19% San Isidro and 18% San Roque Gonzales. The age range with the highest number of cases was 20 to 39 years, 34% corresponded to the male sex and 39% to the female sex. Conclusion: The report of confirmed cases reveals a low percentage of the disease, as opposed to the high value in the number of suspected cases, therefore, therein lies the importance of epidemiology because if it is not confirmed by laboratory methods it can also be treated Such a way to avoid possible deaths

Shall We Dance? Dancing Modulates Executive Functions and Spatial Memory.

BACKGROUND: Aging is generally considered to be related to physical and cognitive decline. This is especially prominent in the frontal and parietal lobes, underlying executive functions and spatial memory, respectively. This process could be successfully mitigated in certain ways, such as through the practice of aerobic sports. With regard to this, dancing integrates physical exercise with music and involves retrieval of complex sequences of steps and movements creating choreographies. METHODS: In this study, we compared 26 non-professional salsa dancers (mean age 55.3 years, age-range 49-70 years) with 20 non-dancers (mean age 57.6 years, age-range 49-70 years) by assessing two variables: their executive functions and spatial memory performance. RESULTS: results showed that dancers scored better that non-dancers in our tests, outperforming controls in executive functions-related tasks. Groups did not differ in spatial memory performance. CONCLUSIONS: This work suggests that dancing can be a valid way of slowing down the natural age-related cognitive decline. A major limitation of this study is the lack of fitness assessment in both groups. In addition, since dancing combines multiple factors like social contact, aerobic exercise, cognitive work with rhythms, and music, it is difficult to determine the weight of each variable.

Hospital-Wide SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence in health care workers in a Spanish teaching hospital.

INTRODUCTION: Hospital-wide SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence is rarely explored and can identify areas of unexpected risk. We determined the seroprevalence against SARS-CoV-2 in all health care workers (HCW) at a hospital. METHODS: Cross-sectional study (14-27/04/2020). We determined SARS-CoV-2 IgG by ELISA in all HCW including external workers of a teaching hospital in Madrid. They were classified by professional category, working area, and risk for SARS-CoV-2 exposure. RESULTS: Among 2919 HCW, 2590 (88,7%) were evaluated. The mean age was 43.8 years (SD 11.1), and 73.9% were females. Globally, 818 (31.6%) workers were IgG positive with no differences for age, sex or previous diseases. Of these, 48.5% did not report previous symptoms. Seropositivity was more frequent in high- (33.1%) and medium- (33.8%) than in low-risk areas (25.8%, p=0.007), but not for hospitalization areas attending COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 patients (35.5 vs 38.3% p>0.05). HWC with a previous SARS-CoV2 PCR-positive test were IgG seropositive in 90.8%. By multivariate logistic regression analysis seropositivity was significantly associated with being physicians (OR 2.37, CI95% 1.61-3.49), nurses (OR 1.67, CI95% 1.14-2.46), nurse assistants (OR 1.84, CI95% 1.24-2.73), HCW working at COVID-19 hospitalization areas (OR 1.71, CI95% 1.22-2.40), non-COVID-19 hospitalization areas (OR 1.88, CI95% 1.30-2.73), and at the Emergency Room (OR 1.51, CI95% 1.01-2.27). CONCLUSIONS: Seroprevalence uncovered a high rate of infection previously unnoticed among HCW. Patients not suspected of having COVID-19 as well as asymptomatic HCW may be a relevant source for nosocomial SARS-CoV-2 transmission.

The implementation of expectancy-based strategic processes is delayed in normal aging.

The present research examined if the time needed to implement expectancy-based strategic processes is different in younger and healthy older adults. In four experiments participants from both age groups performed different strategic priming tasks. These included a greater proportion of incongruent (or unrelated; 80%) than of congruent (or related; 20%) trials. With this procedure performance is worse for congruent (less frequent) than for incongruent (more frequent) trials, thus demonstrating that the relative frequency information can be used to predict the upcoming target. To explore the time course of these expectancy-based effects, the prime-target SOA was manipulated across experiments through a range of intervals: 400, 1000 and 2000 ms. Participants also performed a change localization and an antisaccade task to assess their working memory and attention control capacities. The results showed that increases in age were associated with (a) a slower processing-speed, (b) a decline in WM capacity, and (c) a decreased capacity for attentional control. The latter was evidenced by a disproportionate deterioration of performance in the antisaccade trials compared to the prosaccade ones in the older group. Results from the priming tasks showed a delay in the implementation of expectancies in older adults. Whereas younger participants showed strategic effects already at 1000 ms, older participants consistently failed to show expectancy-based priming during the same interval. Importantly, these effects appeared later at 2000 ms, being similar in magnitude to those by the younger participants and unaffected by task practice. The present findings demonstrate that the ability to implement expectancy-based strategies is slowed down in normal aging.

Ten years younger: Practice of chronic aerobic exercise improves attention and spatial memory functions in ageing.

Aerobic exercise is associated with changes in brain morphology and improvement of cognitive functions. Physical activity may be especially important after age 60 when cognitive decline is more pronounced. In this paper, the effect of chronic practice of aerobic sports was studied in old adults by assessing their executive and mnesic functions, supported by frontal and temporal brain structures. Two groups were formed according to their age (60-69 and 70-79 years-old) including sportsmen (n = 23) and sedentary men (n = 24). Spatial memory and efficiency of attentional networks were measured, as well as general intelligence. Results showed that sportsmen outperformed sedentary participants in many of the tests employed. Thus their alerting, orienting and executive networks worked more effectively in the ANT-I task for executive functions, and they were more accurate in the spatial memory task, displaying a better spatial orientation. Scores in other neuropsychological tasks followed the same tendency. These data support the protective effect of aerobic exercise on cognitive functions.

The Influence of Working Memory Load on Expectancy-Based Strategic Processes in the Stroop-Priming Task.

The present study investigated whether a differential availability of cognitive control resources as a result of varying working memory (WM) load could affect the capacity for expectancy-based strategic actions. Participants performed a Stroop-priming task in which a prime word (GREEN or RED) was followed by a colored target (red vs. green) that participants had to identify. The prime was incongruent or congruent with the target color on 80 and 20% of the trials, respectively, and participants were informed about the differential proportion of congruent vs. incongruent trials. This task was interleaved with a WM task, such that the prime word was preceded by a sequence of either a same digit repeated five times (low load) or five different random digits (high load), which should be retained by participants. After two, three, or four Stroop trials, they had to decide whether or not a probe digit was a part of the memory set. The key finding was a significant interaction between prime-target congruency and WM load: Whereas a strategy-dependent (reversed Stroop) effect was found under low WM load, a standard Stroop interference effect was observed under high WM load. These findings demonstrate that the availability of WM is crucial for implementing expectancy-based strategic actions.

Individual Differences in Working Memory Capacity Modulates Semantic Negative Priming from Single Prime Words.

The present study investigated whether semantic negative priming from single prime words depends on the availability of cognitive control resources. Participants with high vs. low working memory capacity (as assessed by their performance in complex span and attentional control tasks) were instructed to either attend to or ignore a briefly presented single prime word that was followed by either a semantically related or unrelated target word on which participants made a lexical decision. Individual differences in working memory capacity (WMC) mainly affected the processing of the ignored primes, but not the processing of the attended primes: While the latter produced reliable positive semantic priming for both high- and low-WMC participants, the former gave rise to reliable semantic negative priming only for high WMC participants, with low WMC participants showing the opposite positive priming effect. The present results extend previous findings in demonstrating that (a) single negative priming can reliably generalize to semantic associates of the prime words, and (b) a differential availability of cognitive control resources can reliably modulate the negative priming effect at a semantic level of representation.

Temperament and negative semantic priming in children 7 to 12 years old.

The present research assessed whether children with high and low scores on temperament traits differed in their ability to inhibit irrelevant task information in a lexical decision task. Children from 7 to 12 years old were classified based on temperament dimensions measured using a version of the Temperament in Middle Childhood Questionnaire. The participants were instructed to either attend to (and remember) or to ignore a masked prime word followed by a central probe target on which they made a lexical decision. The results revealed several notable outcomes. First of all, recognition memory was better for attended than ignored words, providing further evidence that attention instructions influenced the processing of the primes. Secondly, although no negative priming effect was obtained in the "ignore" condition, 43% of children showed this effect. Thirdly, children scoring high on Inhibitory Control and Impulsivity showed ignored negative priming, whereas children scoring high on Inhibitory Control and low on Impulsivity ignored facilitation. Data are discussed within the framework of negative priming as a complex phenomenon that involves the interaction of different factors such as age, type of task, and certain temperament traits.

Achieving Target Pressures with Combined Surgery: Primary Patchless Ahmed Valve Combined with Phacoemulsification vs Primary Phacotrabeculectomy.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the ability of phacoemulsification combined with either primary trabeculectomy (PT) or primary Ahmed glaucoma valve implantation (PAVI) to achieve target intraocular pressures (TIOP) in adults with primary open angle glaucoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Chart review of 214 adult patients operated between January 2002 and June 2008 with a minimum follow-up of 6 months. Group 1 comprised 181 eyes of 166 patients undergoing PT while group 2 included 50 eyes of 49 patients in combination with primary AVI. Target lOPs were pre-determined for each patient and success was defined as an IOP at or lower than target with or without medications. An IOP above target, loss of light perception or need for additional procedures to lower IOP were considered a failure. RESULTS: Mean preoperative IOP was 17.2 mm Hg in group 1 and 17.3 in group 2. Mean postoperative IOPs were 10.2 and 9.2 on day 1, 12.2 and 11.6 at year 1, and 10.7 in both groups at year 5. Survival rates in groups 1 and 2 were 96.7 vs 96% at 6 months, 89 vs 96% at 12 months, 83.5 vs 96% at 24 months and 79.4 vs 89.1% at 36, 48 and 72 months. Transient bleb leaks were more frequent in group 1 (26 eyes, 14.4 vs 0%, p = 0.001) and transient choroidal detachments were more frequent in group 2 (7 eyes, 3.9 vs 6 eyes, 12%, p = 0.038). CONCLUSION: Midterm results for achieving target pressures using combined phacoemulsification with either PT or PAVI are comparable. The profile of complications is different for the two procedures. How to cite this article: Albis-Donado O, Sánchez-Noguera CC, Cárdenas-Gómez L, Castañeda-Diez R, Thomas R, Gil-Carrasco F. Achieving Target Pressures with Combined Surgery: Primary Patchless Ahmed Valve Combined with Phacoemulsification vs Primary Phacotrabeculectomy. J Curr Glaucoma Pract 2015;9(1):6-11.

High and low schizotypal female subjects do not differ in spatial memory abilities in a virtual reality task.

INTRODUCTION: Schizotypy is a psychological construct related to schizophrenia. The exact relationship between both entities is not clear. In recent years, schizophrenia has been associated with hippocampal abnormalities and spatial memory problems. The aim of this study was to determine possible links between high schizotypy (HS) and low schizotypy (LS) and spatial abilities, using virtual reality tasks. We hypothesised that the HS group would exhibit a lower performance in spatial memory tasks than the LS group. METHODS: Two groups of female students were formed according to their score on the ESQUIZO-Q-A questionnaire. HS and LS subjects were tested on two different tasks: the Boxes Room task, a spatial memory task sensitive to hippocampal alterations and a spatial recognition task. RESULTS: Data showed that both groups mastered both tasks. Groups differed in personality features but not in spatial performance. These results provide valuable information about the schizotypy-schizophrenia connections. CONCLUSION: Schizotypal subjects are not impaired on spatial cognition and, accordingly, the schizotypy-schizophrenia relationship is not straightforward.

Nursing research and bibliographic citation models.

This research focuses on the analysis of how nursing journals publish their papers. Basically, two models are analyzed, Vancouver, by the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors, and APA by the American Psychological Association. Their advantages and disadvantages are discussed. In view of how research papers are currently published and how research is judged, the authors propose that nursing journals adopt their own model, irrespective of how medical professionals publish.

Nursing research and bibliographic citation models / La investigación en enfermería y los modelos de citación bibliográfica / Pesquisa de enfermagem e modelos de citação bibliográfica

This research focuses on the analysis of how nursing journals publish their papers. Basically, two models are analyzed, Vancouver, by the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors, and APA by the American Psychological Association. Their advantages and disadvantages are discussed. In view of how research papers are currently published and how research is judged, the authors propose that nursing journals adopt their own model, irrespective of how medical professionals publish.

Esta investigación se centra en el análisis de la forma de publicar de las revistas de enfermería. Se analizan básicamente dos modelos, el modelo Vancouver, promovido por el Comité Internacional de Editores de Revistas Médicas, y el modelo APA, de la Asociación Norteamericana de Psicología. Se discuten sus ventajas e inconvenientes. A la vista de cómo se publica en la actualidad y de cómo se juzga la investigación, se propone que las revistas de enfermería adopten su propio modelo, independientemente de cómo publican los profesionales de la medicina.

Esta pesquisa concentra-se na análise de como os jornais de enfermagem publicam os seus artigos. Basicamente, dois modelos são analisados, o Vancouver, promovido pelo Comitê Internacional dos Editores de Revistas Médicas, e APA, pela Associação Psicológica Americana. As suas vantagens e desvantagens são aqui discutidas. Diante da maneira que os artigos de pesquisa estão sendo publicados, atualmente, e como a pesquisa está sendo julgada, os autores propõem um modelo próprio para a enfermagem, independentemente de como publicam os profissionais médicos.