Correlation between studying strategies, personal and psychological factors with academic achievement and intelligence in health sciences university students: a cross-sectional study.

INTRODUCTION: To date, there are no sufficient studies aimed to determine a correlation between personal, academic, and psychological variables with academic achievement, measured with the grade point average (GPA) and intelligence in university students according to each sex. STUDY AIM: To determine the correlation between studying strategies, personal and psychological factors with GPA and intelligence in a sample of health sciences university students. METHODS: Health Sciences university students, were invited to participate, those who accepted were cited in a computer room where they signed an informed consent and filled an electronic questionnaire with sociodemographic, behavioral, psychological variables and studying strategies (from the MLSQ instrument) afterwards they performed a verbal and non-verbal intelligence test (Shipley-2). RESULTS: A total of 439 students were included, from which 297 (67.7%) were women. The mean of age was 20.34 ± 2.61 years old. We found that no differences in GPA where observed between sexes. We detected a higher correlation between combined intelligence and GPA in women than in men. In addition, most studying strategies showed a higher correlation with GPA than intelligence scores in men´s sample. All these findings coincide with the fact that preparatory GPA was the most correlated variable with university GPA in both sexes. Finally, women showed higher levels of the sum of diseases, somatization, anxiety, depression and academic stress than men, and all these variables showed low significant correlations with the combined intelligence score only in women´s sample. CONCLUSION: Verbal and non-verbal intelligence scores show a lower association to GPA in men than in women, while studying strategies showed a higher association with GPA in men than in women.

Alpha hemolysin of E. coli induces hemolysis of human erythrocytes independently of toxin interaction with membrane proteins.

Alpha hemolysin (HlyA) is a hemolytic and cytotoxic protein secreted by uropathogenic strains of E. coli. The role of glycophorins (GPs) as putative receptors for HlyA binding to red blood cells (RBCs) has been debated. Experiments using anti-GPA/GPB antibodies and a GPA-specific epitope nanobody to block HlyA-GP binding on hRBCs, showed no effect on hemolytic activity. Similarly, the hemolysis induced by HlyA remained unaffected when hRBCs from a GPAnull/GPBnull variant were used. Surface Plasmon Resonance experiments revealed similar values of the dissociation constant between GPA and either HlyA, ProHlyA (inactive protoxin), HlyAΔ914-936 (mutant of HlyA lacking the binding domain to GPA) or human serum albumin, indicating that the binding between the proteins and GPA is not specific. Although far Western blot followed by mass spectroscopy analyses suggested that HlyA interacts with Band 3 and spectrins, hemolytic experiments on spectrin-depleted hRBCs and spherocytes, indicated these proteins do not mediate the hemolytic process. Our results unequivocally demonstrate that neither glycophorins, nor Band 3 and spectrins mediate the cytotoxic activity of HlyA on hRBCs, thereby challenging the HlyA-receptor hypothesis. This finding holds significant relevance for the design of anti-toxin therapeutic strategies, particularly in light of the growing antibiotic resistance exhibited by bacteria.

G-Protein Phosphorylation: Aspects of Binding Specificity and Function in the Plant Kingdom.

Plant survival depends on adaptive mechanisms that constantly rely on signal recognition and transduction. The predominant class of signal discriminators is receptor kinases, with a vast member composition in plants. The transduction of signals occurs in part by a simple repertoire of heterotrimeric G proteins, with a core composed of α-, ß-, and γ-subunits, together with a 7-transmembrane Regulator G Signaling (RGS) protein. With a small repertoire of G proteins in plants, phosphorylation by receptor kinases is critical in regulating the active state of the G-protein complex. This review describes the in vivo detected phosphosites in plant G proteins and conservation scores, and their in vitro corresponding kinases. Furthermore, recently described outcomes, including novel arrestin-like internalization of RGS and a non-canonical phosphorylation switching mechanism that drives G-protein plasticity, are discussed.

Teamwork skills in higher education: is university training contributing to their mastery?

Teamwork skills are considered essential for personal, academic and professional achievement, so universities are increasingly integrating them into their syllabuses. However, little is known about how some specific features of students and their educational development can affect their acquisition. Accordingly, this study aims to fill this gap and describe higher education students' mastery of teamwork skills and its relation to certain socio-academic variables (gender, academic year and grade point average-GPA). With the aim of determining the level of teamwork skills among university students, an observational, transversal descriptive study was designed with an intentional sample of Spanish university students. The sample is made up of 615 social science degree students. The results suggest significant gender differences, highlighting that female students outdid their male counterparts in most teamwork skills, except leadership. Likewise, students' skills improved as they progressed in their studies, particularly those skills related to adaptability and decision-making. Finally, a positive relationship was observed between teamwork skills and GPA, except for interpersonal development. A regression analysis confirmed the influence of both academic year and GPA for women whilst no effect was detected in the case of men. Based on these results, it is suggested to make changes in university education programmes to compensate for the influence of socio-academic factors and benefit from the most positive features of each gender regarding teamwork to achieve an equal and fair higher education.

Teamwork skills in higher education: is university training contributing to their mastery?

Teamwork skills are considered essential for personal, academic and professional achievement, so universities are increasingly integrating them into their syllabuses. However, little is known about how some specific features of students and their educational development can affect their acquisition. Accordingly, this study aims to fill this gap and describe higher education students' mastery of teamwork skills and its relation to certain socio-academic variables (gender, academic year and grade point average—GPA). With the aim of determining the level of teamwork skills among university students, an observational, transversal descriptive study was designed with an intentional sample of Spanish university students. The sample is made up of 615 social science degree students. The results suggest significant gender differences, highlighting that female students outdid their male counterparts in most teamwork skills, except leadership. Likewise, students' skills improved as they progressed in their studies, particularly those skills related to adaptability and decision-making. Finally, a positive relationship was observed between teamwork skills and GPA, except for interpersonal development. A regression analysis confirmed the influence of both academic year and GPA for women whilst no effect was detected in the case of men. Based on these results, it is suggested to make changes in university education programmes to compensate for the influence of socio-academic factors and benefit from the most positive features of each gender regarding teamwork to achieve an equal and fair higher education. (AU)

Outcomes after stereotactic radiosurgery of brain metastases in patients with malignant melanoma and validation of the melanoma molGPA.

INTRODUCTION: Malignant melanoma is the third most common primary in the diagnosis of brain metastases. Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) is a well-established treatment option in limited brain disease. We analyzed outcomes of SRS with a particular focus on the graded prognostic assessment (GPA, melanoma molGPA), prognostic factors, and toxicity. METHODS: We evaluated 173 brain metastases in 83 patients with malignant melanoma. All were treated with SRS median dose of 20 Gy prescribed to the 80 or 100% isodose line between 2002 and 2019. All patients were followed-up regularly, including contrast-enhanced brain imaging as well as clinical examination, initially 6 weeks after treatment, then in quarterly follow-up. RESULTS: The median age was 61 years (range 27-80); 36 female and 47 male patients were treated. After a median follow-up of 5.7 months, median OS (overall survival) was 9.7 months 95%-KI 4.7-14.7). LC (local control) at 6 months, 12, 24 months was 89%, 86%, and 72%, respectively (median was not reached). Median DBC (distant brain control) was 8.2 months (95%-KI 4.7-11.7). For OS, a KPS ≥ 80%, a positive BRAF mutation status, a small PTV (planning target volume), the absence of extracranial metastases, as well as a GPA and melanoma molGPA > 2 were prognostic factors. In the MVA, a small PTV and a melanoma molGPA > 2 remained significant. CONCLUSION: The present survival outcomes support the use of the disease-specific melanoma molGPA as reliable prognostic score. Favorable outcomes for SRS compared to other studies were observed. In the treatment of brain metastases of malignant melanoma patients, a multidisciplinary approach consisting of surgery, SRS, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy should be considered.

Prediction of neuropeptide precursors and differential expression of adipokinetic hormone/corazonin-related peptide, hugin and corazonin in the brain of malaria vector Nyssorhynchus albimanus during a Plasmodium berghei infection.

Insect neuropeptides, play a central role in the control of many physiological processes. Based on an analysis of Nyssorhynchus albimanus brain transcriptome a neuropeptide precursor database of the mosquito was described. Also, we observed that adipokinetic hormone/corazonin-related peptide (ACP), hugin and corazonin encoding genes were differentially expressed during Plasmodium infection. Transcriptomic data from Ny. albimanus brain identified 29 pre-propeptides deduced from the sequences that allowed the prediction of at least 60 neuropeptides. The predicted peptides include isoforms of allatostatin C, orcokinin, corazonin, adipokinetic hormone (AKH), SIFamide, capa, hugin, pigment-dispersing factor, adipokinetic hormone/corazonin-related peptide (ACP), tachykinin-related peptide, trissin, neuropeptide F, diuretic hormone 31, bursicon, crustacean cardioactive peptide (CCAP), allatotropin, allatostatin A, ecdysis triggering hormone (ETH), diuretic hormone 44 (Dh44), insulin-like peptides (ILPs) and eclosion hormone (EH). The analysis of the genome of An. albimanus and the generated transcriptome, provided evidence for the identification of myosuppressin neuropeptide precursor. A quantitative analysis documented increased expression of precursors encoding ACP peptide, hugin and corazonin in the mosquito brain after Plasmodium berghei infection. This work represents an initial effort to characterize the neuropeptide precursors repertoire of Ny. albimanus and provides information for understanding neuroregulation of the mosquito response during Plasmodium infection.

Satisfaction of Basic Psychological Needs Leads to Better Academic Performance via Increased Psychological Capital: A Three-Wave Longitudinal Study Among High School Students.

This brief report proposes a model in which academic psychological capital (PsyCap) mediates between the satisfaction of student's basic psychological needs and their academic performance, as assessed by students' GPA. Participants were 407 adolescents, aged 12-18, recruited from three Chilean schools. Through structural equation modeling, direct and indirect effects were calculated. Results show that academic PsyCap (assessed at time 2) fully mediates the relationship between the satisfaction of basic psychological needs (assessed at time 1) and academic performance (assessed at time 3). This means that students whose basic psychological needs are satisfied at school experience more hope, efficacy, resilience, and optimism (PsyCap), which, in turn, leads to better academic performance. Both theoretical and practical implications of the results are addressed, as well as strengths and weaknesses and directions for future research.

School start times matter, eveningness does not.

Morningness-Eveningness (M-E) has been associated with school performance when school activities are arranged early in the morning. This study aims to evaluate this association in 224 adolescents of a secondary school in Montevideo, Uruguay, attending either morning or afternoon shifts. Students' socio-demographic characteristics and performance indicators were similar across shifts, while afternoon-shift students exhibited later circadian preferences. After controlling for socio-demographic and other educational variables, eveningness was associated with lower grades only in morning-shift students. Our study suggests that eveningness influence on school performance is contingent on the temporal arrangement of scholar activities.

Variables académicas y sociodemográficas relacionadas con el Síndrome de Burnout, en estudiantes de Ingenierías y Ciencias de la Salud de una universidad estatal de Colombia / Academic and demographic variables related to Burnout syndrome in engineering and health sciences programs students of universidad estatal from Colombia

Resumen Objetivo: Comparar las dimensiones del Síndrome de Burnout en estudiantes de Ingenierías y Ciencias de la Salud, en relación con las variables académicas (promedio ponderado, semestre y programa cursado) y sociodemográficas (edad, género) de los participantes. Método: Dicho estu dio se abordó bajo el enfoque de Bandura (1989), referido a la autoeficacia, bajo el modelo del espiral negativo "hacia abajo", desarrollado por Salanova, Bresó y Schaufeli (2005). Para ello, se desarrolló una investigación de paradigma empírico-analítico, de tipo descriptivo comparativo y diseño transversal. La población estuvo constituida por 1.028 estudiantes de los cuales se obtuvo una muestra estratificada de 280 de ambas facultades participantes; con un porcentaje de error del 5 % y un nivel de confianza del 95 %. A ellos se les aplicó el Inventario de Burnout Académi co (MBI-SS), validado para este estudio. Luego de obtener los resultados de la prueba, se utilizó el estadístico ANOVA para el respectivo análisis de varianzas por grupos. Resultados: Indicaron un nivel bajo y medio de agotamiento emocional y cinismo, pero con un nivel alto de autoeficacia, con diferencias significativas en autoeficacia con respecto al promedio académico y semestre, y de agotamiento con respecto al semestre, programa y facultad; siendo los estudiantes de Odon tología, Medicina, Ingeniería Ambiental y de Sistemas quienes presentaron mayor agotamiento emocional, físico y mental que los otros. Se concluye que existen grupos de estudiantes con diferentes niveles de agotamiento emocional y cinismo, según el género y la carrera que cursan.

Abstract Objective: Comparison of the Burnout syndrome approach, taking into account academic vari ables such as: average, semester and program completion and also demographic variables such as: age and gender in students in the engineering and health sciences programs. This study is cen tered on self-efficacy according to Bandura's theory (1989) and the "downward negative spiral" model developed by Salanova, Breso y Schaufeli (2005). For this purpose, a paradigm of empirical comparative descriptive and cross sectional research is developed. 1,028 students Method: 280 students were a stratified sample; who belong to the two participant programs; 5 % percent level (the margin of error) with 95 % percent level/a confidence level). Academic Burnout Syndrome inventory (MBI-SS) was applied to those students, and it was validated for this study. ANOVA statistical test for the respective variance analysis by groups was used in order to get the results. Results: results showed a low and medium level of emotional exhaustion and cynicism but a high level of self-efficacy with significant differences in relation to semester, grade average, exhausting semester, program and faculty were evident. Students from dentistry, medicine, environmental, engineering and system program and faculty showed greater physical and mental - emotional exhaustion than the others. It is concluded that emotional exhaustion and cynicism level is differ ent according to gender and career path among the student groups.

Genetic and Morphological Differentiation of the Semiterrestrial Crab Armases angustipes (Brachyura: Sesarmidae) along the Brazilian Coast.

The genetic and morphometric population structures of the semiterrestrial crab Armases angustipes from along the Brazilian coast were examined. The influence of the Central South Equatorial Current on larval dispersal of A. angustipes also was evaluated. Six populations were sampled from estuarine areas in São Luis do Maranhão, Maranhão; Natal, Rio Grande do Norte; Maceió, Alagoas; Ilhéus, Bahia; Aracruz, Espírito Santo; and Guaratuba, Paraná. Patterns of genetic differentiation were assessed using DNA sequence data corresponding to parts of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1. Geometric morphometric techniques were used to evaluate morphological variation in shape and size of the carapace and right cheliped propodus. Our results revealed low genetic variability and lack of phylogeographic structure; geometric morphometrics showed statistically significant morphological differentiation and geographic structuring. Our data indicate the absence of possible barriers to gene flow for this mobile species, and no clear correlation of morphological or genetic variation with ocean currents and/or geographic distance. Our results also suggest that historical geological and climatological events and/or possible bottleneck effects influenced the current low genetic variability among the populations of A. angustipes.

Rituximab in ANCA-Associated Vasculitis.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The purpose of this review is to describe the efficacy and safety of rituximab (RTX) as a remission induction and maintenance therapy in ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV). RECENT FINDINGS: A PubMed search was carried out to track down articles published between February 2006 and February 2016. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that encompassed patients with AAV were included. The American College of Rheumatology (ACR) and the European League against Rheumatism (EULAR) 2014-2015 online abstracts were also reviewed whether they were RTCs or not. Ten PubMed RCTs were analyzed along with eight ACR and four EULAR abstracts. RTX was not inferior to cyclophosphamide (CYC) for remission induction in AAV; it was superior to CYC in patients with relapsing disease and superior for remission maintenance in comparison with azathioprine (AZA). Rituximab is a therapeutic option to induce and maintain remission in patients with AAV.

Factores que Influyen en el Desarrollo y Rendimiento Escolar de los Jóvenes de Bachillerato / Factors that Influence Development and School Achievement on High School Youth / Fatores que Influenciam no Desenvolvimento e no Rendimento Escolar dos Jovens do Ensino Fundamental e Médio

El objetivo de este estudio fue analizar las variables que influyen en el aprovechamiento escolar de los jóvenes. Se configuró una batería de pruebas para medir autoeficacia, autodeterminación, autorregulación, aspectos del contexto escolar y familiar, y espiritualidad. La muestra fue de 250 estudiantes regulares de nivel medio superior. Se estimaron estadísticas univariadas, se calcularon índices y se probó un modelo de ecuaciones estructurales en el que se formaron 2 factores: desarrollo positivo del joven y recurso institucional familiar. La variable de contexto escolar tuvo una influencia directa en el factor familiar y este, a su vez, en el desarrollo positivo del joven, el cual afectó directamente al promedio de los alumnos.

The objective of this study was to analyze the variables that influence the school achievement of young people. A battery of tests was organized to measure self-efficacy, self-determination, self-regulation, aspects of the school and family context, and spirituality. The sample consisted of 250 regular students on the middle school level. Univariate statistics were estimated, indexes were calculated and a model of structural equations was tested in which 2 factors emerged: positive development of the youngster and family institutional resource. The school context directly influenced the family factor and this, in turn, influenced the positive development of youngsters, which directly affected students' GPA.

O objetivo deste estudo foi analisar as variáveis que influenciam no aproveitamento escolar dos jovens. Configurou-se uma série de provas para medir autoeficácia, autodeterminação, autorregulação, aspectos do contexto escolar e familiar, e espiritualidade. A amostra foi de 250 estudantes regulares de nível médio superior. Foram estimadas estatísticas univariadas; calcularam-se índices e provou-se um modelo de equações estruturais no qual se formaram dois fatores: desenvolvimento positivo do jovem e recurso institucional familiar. A variável de contexto escolar teve uma influência direta no fator familiar e este, por sua vez, no desenvolvimento positivo do jovem, o que afetou diretamente a média dos alunos.

Relación del burnout y las estrategias de afrontamiento con el promedio académico en estudiantes universitarios / Relationship between burnout and coping strategies with GPA in university students

Se indagó la relación del burnout académico y las estrategias de afrontamiento con el promedio académico de una muestra de 283 universitarios tomados al azar de los programas de psicología y fisioterapia de la jornada diurna de una universidad privada de Barranquilla, quienes respondieron al MBI-SS y a la Escala de Estrategias de Afrontamiento-Modificada. Los resultados mostraron que la mayoría de los estudiantes presentaban bajos niveles de burnout académico, sin embargo se corroboró que el alto Agotamiento y Cinismo, afectan negativamente el promedio académico; mientras que la Autoeficacia ante los estudios, lo favorecía significativamente, por lo que se establece una relación negativa entre burnout y el promedio académico. Dentro de las estrategias de afrontamiento más frecuentemente utilizadas por los estudiantes, se halló la de Solución de Problemas, la cual se asocia con resultados más favorables en el promedio académico.

The academic burnout might be accompanied of inadequate strategies of coping, contributing to the accentuation of difficulties in the GPA or academic performance. Taking into account the implications of these variables in the performance and the dropout rate at university level, is relevant to investigate the relationship of the academic burnout and coping strategies with the academic performance. A correlational study with a sample of 283 students of the programs of Psychology and Physical therapy of the daytime hours of a private university of Barranquilla, who answered to the MBI-SS and to the Scale of Strategies of Coping Modified (EEC-M) was conducted. The results showed that the majority of the students were presenting low levels of academic burnout. Nevertheless, it was corroborated that the high Exhaustion and Cynicism can negatively affect academic performance; on the contrary, the Self-efficacy to studies, favored it significantly; for what it is possible to establish a negative relation between burnout and the academic performance. Inside the strategies more frequently used by the students, it was found that those that use the one of Solution of Problems in university activities tend to obtain more favorable results in their academic performance.