Impact of working memory capacity on predominance of parietal over frontal P300 amplitude.

Working memory-related neural activity varies with task load, and these neural variations can be constrained by working memory capacity (WMC). For instance, some studies suggest that parietal and frontal P300 amplitudes, reflecting working memory functioning, vary differentially with task load and WMC. The present study explored whether the predominance of parietal over frontal P300 amplitude is related to WMC, and whether this relationship varies according to task load. Thirty-one adults aged 20-40 years performed a Sternberg task with two set sizes (2 vs. 6 items), during which event-related potentials were recorded. This allowed us to explore the P300 and estimate the magnitude of its parietal over frontal predominance, calculated as a parietal over frontal predominance index (PFPI). Participants also performed the Digit Span and alpha span tests, which were used to compute an independent index of WMC. Results revealed the classic parietal over frontal P300 predominance. They also indicated that the PFPI decreased as task load increased, owing mainly to an increase in frontal P300 amplitude. Interestingly, WMC was positively correlated with the PFPI, suggesting that individuals with greater WMC exhibited greater parietal over frontal predominance. These correlations did not vary across set sizes. Parietal over frontal predominance was reduced in individuals with lower WMC, who relied more on frontal neural resources. This frontal upregulation may have reflected the recruitment of supplementary attentional executive operations to compensate for less efficient working memory maintenance operations.

Involvement of executive control in neural capacity related to working memory in aging: an ERP P300 study.

Executive control could be involved in neural capacity, which corresponds to the modulation of neural activity with increased task difficulty. Thus, by exploring the P300-an electrophysiological correlate of working memory-we examined the role played by executive control in both the age-related decline in working memory and neural capacity in aging. Event-related potentials (ERPs) were recorded while younger and older participants performed a Sternberg task with two set sizes (2 vs. 6 items), allowing us to calculate a neural capacity index. Participants also completed two control tasks (Stroop and 3-back tests), which were used to calculate a composite executive control index. Results indicated that working memory performance decreased with aging and difficulty. At the neural level, results indicated that the P300 amplitude varied with aging and also with task difficulty. In the low difficulty condition, frontal P300 amplitude was higher for older than for younger adults, whereas in the high difficulty condition, the amplitude of frontal and parietal P300 did not differ between both age groups. Results also suggest that task difficulty led to a decrease in parietal amplitude in both age groups and to an increase in frontal amplitude in younger but not older adults. Both executive control and frontal neural capacity mediated the age-related variance in working memory for older adults. Moreover, executive control mediated the age-related variance in the frontal neural capacity of older adults. Thus, the present study suggests a model for older adults in which executive control deficits with advancing age lead to less efficient frontal recruitment to cope with task difficulty (neural capacity), which in turn has a negative impact on working memory functioning.

CT-based pathological lung opacities volume as a predictor of critical illness and inflammatory response severity in patients with COVID-19.

Objective: The aim of the study was to assess the impact of CT-based lung pathological opacities volume on critical illness and inflammatory response severity of patients with COVID-19. Methods: A retrospective, single center, single arm study was performed over a 30-day period. In total, 138 patients (85.2%) met inclusion criteria. All patients were evaluated with non-contrast enhanced chest CT scan at hospital admission. CT-based lung segmentation was performed to calculate pathological lung opacities volume (LOV). At baseline, complete blood count (CBC) and inflammation response biomarkers were obtained. The primary endpoint of the study was the occurrence of critical illness, as defined as, the need of mechanical ventilation and/or ICU admission. Mann-Whitney U test was performed for univariate analysis. Logistic regression analysis was performed to determine independent predictors of critical illness. Spearman analysis was performed to assess the correlation between inflammatory response biomarkers serum concentrations and LOV. Results: Median LOV was 28.64% (interquartile range [IQR], 6.33-47.22%). Correlation analysis demonstrated that LOV was correlated with higher levels of D-dimer (r = 0.51, p < 0.01), procalcitonin (r = 0.47, p < 0.01) and IL6 (r = 0.48, p < 0.01). Critical illness occurred in 51 patients (37%). Univariate analysis demonstrated that inflammatory response biomarkers and LOV were associated with critical illness (p < 0.05). However, multivariate analysis demonstrated that only D-dimer and LOV were independent predictors of critical illness. Furthermore, a ROC analysis demonstrated that a LOV equal or greater than 60% had a sensitivity of 82.1% and specificity of 70.2% to determine critical illness with an odds ratio of 19.4 (95% CI, 4.2-88.9). Conclusion: Critical illness may occur in up to 37% of the patients with COVID-19. Among patients with critical illness, higher levels of inflammatory response biomarkers with larger LOVs were observed. Furthermore, multivariate analysis demonstrated that pathological lung opacities volume was an independent predictor of critical illness. In fact, patients with a pathological lung opacities volume equal or greater than 60% had 19.4-fold increased risk of critical illness.

Neural correlates of episodic memory change in increasing age: a longitudinal event-related potential study.

Using a longitudinal design, we examined whether event-related brain potentials (ERPs) correlates of successful episodic memory retrieval varied over a 4-year period according to the level of memory change. ERPs were recorded while participants performed a word-stem cued-recall task, and this procedure was repeated 4 years later. We compared the ERP old/new effect patterns of participants whose memory performance remained stable over time (stable group) with those of participants experiencing episodic memory decline (decline group). The pattern of change of the old/new effect differed between groups. At T1, the two groups exhibited the same pattern, with a positive frontal and parietal old/new effect. For the decline group, the old/new effect pattern did not change between T1 and T2. By contrast, for the stable group, the positive parietal old/new effect at T1 no longer appeared at T2, but a negative old/new effect was exhibited at frontal sites. This brain reorganization pattern could be a compensatory mechanism supporting strategic processes and allowing memory abilities to be maintained over time.

Effect of self-reported internal memory strategy use on age-related episodic and working memory decline: Contribution of control processes.

We explored whether control processes could account for age-related differences in internal strategy use, which in turn would contribute to episodic and working memory decline in aging. Young and older adults completed the internal strategy subscale of the Metamemory in Adulthood (MIA) questionnaire, a free-recall task (FRT), a reading span task (RST), and 3 executive control tasks (the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, the Initial Letter Fluency Test, and the Digit Symbol Substitution Test) allowing us to calculate a composite index of control processes. Results indicated that both self-reported internal strategy use and control processes index accounted for a significant proportion of the age-related variance in the FRT and the RST. However, once the control processes index was controlled for, variance in both the FRT and RST explained by internal strategy use were significantly reduced. Additionally, age-related variance in internal strategy use was mediated by the control processes index. These results suggest a cascade model in which individual control level would mediate age-related differences in internal strategy use, which in turn would mediate age-related differences in episodic and working memory performance. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

Adaptation and validation of the Screening Questionnaire for Family Abuse of the Elderly in the sociocultural context of Colombia.

In Colombia, like many countries in the world, due to the increase in population of elderly people, mistreatment has increased, which has physical, psychological and social consequences for the individual and major repercussions on society. The detection of abuse is a complex task, among other aspects, due to the concealment of victims and the lack of valid, reliable detection instruments that are in keeping with the sociocultural context. Professionals responsible for dealing with these situations must have an instrument that allows early detection. The objective of this study was to adapt and validate the Family Abuse Screening Questionnaire for Elderly People in Colombia. A cross-sectional study with mixed methods was carried out in two stages from 2017 to 2018. In the first stage, linguistic and semantic adaptation was carried out using translation, synthesis, back translation, expert analysis and pilot testing with 30 abused and non-abused elderly people. In the second stage, the validity and reliability of the questionnaire were obtained by means of an exploratory factor analysis and Cronbach's Alpha, using STATA 13. In the results, we provided a Socially and Culturally Adapted Family Abuse Screening Questionnaire for elderly people in Colombia with a Cronbach's Alpha of 0.82, sensitivity value of 86.9% (p < 0.05) and a specificity value of 84% (p < 0.05), detecting abuse with 4 or more positive responses to abuse. The application of the screening questionnaire by health and social services professionals will prevent further damage to social and physical health in the elderly people in Colombia, as well as reduce the costs of care in institutions.

Computed Tomography-based Lung Residual Volume and Mortality of Patients With Coronavirus Disease-19 (COVID-19).

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: To assess the effect of computed tomography (CT)-based residual lung volume (RLV) on mortality of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A single-center, retrospective study of a prospectively maintained database was performed. In total, 138 patients with COVID-19 were enrolled. Baseline chest CT scan was performed in all patients. CT-based automated and semi-automated lung segmentation was performed using the Alma Medical workstation to calculate normal lung volume, lung opacities volume, total lung volume, and RLV. The primary end point of the study was mortality. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to determine independent predictors of mortality. RESULTS: Overall, 84 men (61%) and 54 women (39%) with a mean age of 47.3 years (±14.3 y) were included in the study. Overall mortality rate was 21% (29 patients) at a median time of 7 days (interquartile range, 4 to 11 d). Univariate analysis demonstrated that age, hypertension, and diabetes were associated with death (P<0.01). Similarly, patients who died had lower normal lung volume and RLV than patients who survived (P<0.01). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that low RLV was the only independent predictor of death (odds ratio, 1.042; 95% confidence interval, 10.2-10.65). Furthermore, receiver operating characteristic curve analysis demonstrated that a RLV ≤64% significantly increased the risk of death (odds ratio, 4.8; 95% confidence interval, 1.9-11.7). CONCLUSION: Overall mortality of patients with COVID-19 may reach 21%. Univariate and multivariate analyses demonstrated that reduced RLV was the principal independent predictor of death. Furthermore, RLV ≤64% is associated with a 4-fold increase on the risk of death.

Aproximación a los factores predisponentes a la deprivación sociocultural en los ámbitos familia, escuela, comunidad / Approach to Predisposing Factors to Sociocultural Deprivation in the Family, School, and Community Settings

Resumen El presente artículo presenta los factores predisponentes a la deprivación sociocultural en escuelas públicas en los ámbitos familia, escuela y comunidad. Los resultados evidencian que la dimensión apoyo social comunitario presenta los niveles más altos y la dinámica familiar los más bajos. Asimismo, se presenta un marco expositivo que relaciona la escuela, familia y comunidad como factores predisponentes a la deprivación sociocultural. El abordaje metodológico fue de un estudio mixto de prevalencia cualitativa. En la primera fase se empleó el método cuantitativo, de tipo descriptivo y transversal y en la fase cualitativa se utiliza un enfoque biográfico narrativo.

Abstract This article introduces the predisposing factors to sociocultural deprivation in public schools in the family, school and community environments. The results show that the dimension community social support presents the highest levels and family dynamics presents the lowest. Likewise, an expository framework is presented, which relates school, family, and community as predisposing factors to sociocultural deprivation. The methodological approach was a mixed qualitative prevalence study. In the first phase, a quantitative, descriptive and cross-sectional method was used, and in the qualitative phase, a biographical narrative approach was used.

Eventos vitales estresantes, estrategias de afrontamiento y resiliencia en adolescentes en contexto de pandemia / Stressful life events, coping strategies and adolescent resilience in the context of a pandemic

Resumen Introducción: El impacto psicológico causado por la pandemia Covid-19 en los adolescentes escolarizados conlleva la necesidad del análisis de las estrategias de afrontamiento y la resiliencia, al momento de enfrentar los eventos vitales estresantes. Objetivo: Identificar la correlación entre las variables eventos vitales estresantes, estrategias de afrontamiento y resiliencia en un grupo de adolescentes de la ciudad de Pasto, Colombia en el contexto de la Pandemia Covid-19. Método: Estudio descriptivo correlacional, no experimental transversal. Se aplicaron las versiones adaptadas del Cuestionario de Eventos Vitales Estresantes CEVE-A-R para Adolescentes (Villalobos et al., 2011), la Escala Estrategias de Coping Modificada EEC-M (Londoño et al., 2006) y la Escala de Resiliencia Escolar E.R.E (Obando et al., 2020). Se seleccionó una muestra intencional de 145 adolescentes entre hombres y mujeres con edades comprendidas entre los 14 y 19 años. Resultados: La variable eventos vitales estresantes se correlacionó de forma inversa estadísticamente significativa con resiliencia (p= -0,250) y de manera directa con las estrategias de afrontamiento tales como evitación emocional (p= 0,164), reacción agresiva (p= 0,228) y expresión de la dificultad de afrontamiento (p= 0,254). Por el contrario, se encontró una correlación inversa con las estrategias de solución de problemas (p=-0,172) y búsqueda de apoyo social (p=-0,04). Conclusiones: Se identifica en población adolescente en tiempos de pandemia una correlación débil entre las variables eventos vitales estresantes y estrategias de afrontamiento, y una correlación moderada entre resiliencia y las estrategias de solución de problemas y búsqueda de apoyo social.

Abstract Introduction: The psychological impact caused by the Covid-19 pandemic on adolescents in school entails the need for analysis of coping strategies and resilience, when facing stressful life events. Objective: To identify the correlation between the variables of stressful life events, coping strategies and resilience in a group of adolescents from the city of Pasto, Colombia in the context of the Covid-19 Pandemic. Method: descriptive, correlational, non-experimental cross-sectional study. The adapted versions of the CEVE-AR Stressful Life Events Questionnaire for Adolescents (Villalobos et al., 2011), the Coping Strategies ScaleModifiedEEC-M (Londoño et al., 2006) and the School Resilience Scale were applied E.R.E (Obando et al., 2020). An intentional sample of 145 adolescents between men and women aged between 14 and 19 years was selected. Results: The stressful life events variable was statistically significantly inversely correlated with resilience (p= -0,250) and directly with coping strategies such as emotional avoidance (p=0,164), aggressive reaction (p= 0,228) and expression of coping difficulty (p=0,254). On the contrary, an inverse correlation was found with problem solving strategies (p=-0,172) and seeking social support (p=-0,04). Conclusions: A weak correlation between stressful life events and coping strategies, and a moderate correlation between resilience and problem-solving strategies and seeking social support, is identified in the adolescent population in times of pandemic.

Bienestar psicológico y estrategias de afrontamiento frente a la COVID-19 en universitarios / Psychological well-being and coping strategies in dealing with COVID-19 in university students

Resumen Introducción: La pandemia causada por la COVID-19 es una situación sin precedentes a nivel mundial, y es previsible que tenga un importante impacto en los seres humanos, al causar un cambio en las dinámicas, hábitos y rutinas que inciden en el bienestar psicológico y las estrategias de afrontamiento. Objetivo: Identificar si existe asociación entre el bienestar psicológico y las diferentes estrategias de afrontamiento frente al impacto psicosocial de la COVID-19 en universitarios. Materiales y métodos: Estudio cuantitativo, no experimental, de tipo descriptivo-correlacional y transversal, con una muestra de 201 estudiantes universitarios del sur-occidente de Colombia. Se administró la Escala de Bienestar Psicológico de Ryff y la Escala de Estrategias de Coping - Modificada (EEC-M). El análisis de datos se realizó con el Software SPSS. Resultados: Se encontró una asociación directa estadísticamente significativa entre el bienestar psicológico y las estrategias de afrontamiento, solución de problemas, búsqueda de apoyo social, religión, evitación cognitiva, reevaluación positiva y negación. Conclusiones: Las estrategias de afrontamiento se encuentran asociadas con el bienestar psicológico de los estudiantes, y su intervención podría generar insumos importantes para el afrontamiento de las consecuencias psicosociales generadas por la pandemia.

Abstract Introduction: The pandemic caused by COVID-19 is an unprecedented worldwide situation. It is predicted that COVID-19 will have a significant impact on humans as it can cause changes in their dynamics, habits, and routines that affect their psychological well-being and coping strategies. Objective: To identify whether there is an association between psychological well-being and the different coping strategies in confronting the psychological impact of COVID-19 in university students. Materials and methods: A quantitative, non-experimental, descriptive-correlational, and cross-sectional study was carried out on a sample of 201 university students from the southwestern region of Colombia. The Ryff 's Psychological Well-Being Scale and the Modified Coping Strategies Scale (EEC-M) were used. Data analysis was performed with SPSS software. Results: A statistically significant direct association was found between psychological well-being and coping strategies, problem solving, seeking social support, religion, cognitive avoidance, positive reassessment, and denial. Conclusion: Coping strategies are related to the psychological well-being of students, so their use can provide important inputs to face the psychological consequences generated by the pandemic.

La violencia urbana como fenómeno multicausal: un estudio en tres comunas de la ciudad de San Juan de Pasto / Urban violence as a multi-causal phenomenon: a study in three communes of the city of San Juan de Pasto

Resumen Objetivo: Describir y comprender los factores socioambientales de la violencia urbana en tres comunas de la ciudad de San Juan de Pasto (Colombia). Método: Investigación cualitativa en la que participaron 47 estudiantes, entre los 11 y 17 años (26 mujeres y 21 hombres) de tres Instituciones Educativas públicas, 16 docentes de diferentes asignaturas y 5 agentes comunitarios clave. El estudio se desarrolló en tres comunas con estrato socioeconómico bajo, de la ciudad de San Juan de Pasto-Colombia. La información se obtuvo mediante grupos focales y entrevistas semiestructuradas. Resultados: La violencia urbana es un fenómeno multicausal atravesado por diferentes factores como, el abandono del Estado a las comunidades más vulnerables, la inequidad en la oferta de oportunidades de desarrollo para sus habitantes, el estigma y la exclusión propiciados por formas de organización social ilegales como las pandillas, las cuales pese a que satisfacen ciertas necesidades en los jóvenes, también favorecen comportamientos criminales y ejercen un control territorial inadecuado. Finalmente, las dinámicas familiares disfuncionales como el maltrato, la falta de apoyo familiar y la ausencia de los padres, son factores de riesgo que al interactuar con otros, contribuyen a la consolidación de la violencia urbana. Conclusiones: Las intervenciones frente a la violencia urbana deben garantizar la presencia del Estado en las comunidades afectadas, mediante el despliegue de políticas públicas y programas sociales que propendan por mejorar las condiciones socioambientales y el empoderamiento. Se requiere impulsar estrategias para mejorar la seguridad y la convivencia ciudadana, proveer de mejores oportunidades de empleo y de educación formal y no formal en las que se incluyan también a las familias, garantizando el desarrollo integral de las comunidades, especialmente las más vulnerables, las cuales han sido afectadas sensiblemente por la violencia.

Abstract Objective: Describe and understand the socio-environmental factors of urban violence in three communes of the city of San Juan de Pasto (Colombia). Method: Qualitative research in which participed 47 students, between 11 and 17 years old (26 women and 21 men) from three public educational institutions, 16 teachers from different subjects and 5 key community agents. The study was carried on in three communities with a low socioeconomic status, from the city of San Juan de Pasto, Colombia. The information was obtained through focus groups and semi-structured interviews. Results: Urban violence is a multi-causal phenomenon conditioned by different factors such as the abandonment of the State to the most vulnerable communities, the inequality in the offer of development opportunities for his inhabitants, the stigma and exclusion fostered by illegal forms of social organization like gangs, which, although they satisfy certain needs in young people, also favor criminal behavior and exercise inadequate territorial control. Finally, dysfunctional family dynamics such as abuse, lack of family support and the absence of parents are risk factors that, when interacting with others, contribute to the consolidation of urban violence. Conclusions: Interventions against urban violence must ensure the presence of the State in the affected communities, through the deployment of public policies and social programs that tend to improve socio-environmental conditions and empowerment. It is necessary to promote strategies to improve security and citizen coexistence, provide better employment opportunities and formal and non-formal education in which families are also included, guaranteeing the integral development of communities, especially the most vulnerable, which have been significantly affected by violence.

Procesos de desarrollo del talento humano en una clínica de especialidades de Pasto, Colombia / Human talent development processes in a specialty clinic in Pasto, Colombia

Resumen Introducción: Los trabajadores en la organización desempeñan un papel fundamental en el cumplimiento de los objetivos corporativos, en ese sentido, es importante identificar los procesos de desarrollo de talento humano en el sector salud puesto que éstos contribuyen en el desarrollo humano y organizacional. Objetivo: Se caracterizó los procesos de desarrollo de talento humano capacitación, calidad de vida laboral, salud laboral, clima organizacional y evaluación de desempeño en una clínica de especialidades de la ciudad de Pasto- Colombia. Materiales y métodos: El estudio se abordó desde el paradigma cuantitativo de tipo descriptivo con una muestra de 211 colaboradores. Se construyó la escala denominada "Percepción de los procesos de desarrollo del talento humano", cuyo alfa de Cronbach fue de 0,97. Resultados: Se encontraron diferencias estadísticamente significativas en la categoría de capacitación (en las subcategorías detección de las necesidades, plan y programas, evaluación de la capacitación, seguimiento), calidad de vida laboral (en las subcategorías significado del trabajo, compromiso laboral) y evaluación de desempeño (en las subcategorías métodos y resultados). Conclusiones: Se reconoce la necesidad de continuar fortaleciendo los procesos de capacitación, calidad de vida laboral y evaluación de desempeño.

Abstract Introduction: Workers in the organization play a fundamental role in meeting the corporate objectives. In this sense, it is important to identify the processes of human talent development in the health sector since they contribute to human and organizational development. Objective: The processes of human talent development training, quality of work life, occupational health, organizational climate and performance evaluation were characterized in a specialty clinic in the city of Pasto, Colombia. Materials and methods: The study was addressed from the quantitative paradigm of descriptive type with a sample of 211 collaborators. The scale called "perception of human talent development processes" was built, whose Alfa de Cronbach was 0.97. Results: The results were systematized in the statistical program IBM SPSS statistics. Statistically significant differences were found in the training category (in the categories of needs detection, plan and programmes, training evaluation and follow-up), quality of working life (in the sub-categories: meaning of work and labor commitment) and performance evaluation (in the subcategories: methods and results). Conclusions: The need to continue strengthening the processes of training, quality of work life and evaluation of performance is recognized.