NFL during acute spinal cord lesions in MS: a hurdle for the detection of inflammatory activity.

INTRODUCTION: Levels of neuro-filament light chain (NFL) correlate with clinical and radiological activity in multiple sclerosis (MS) and have been used as a surrogate biomarker of axonal destruction related to inflammatory activity. The main objective of this work is to explore the specific contribution of acute inflammation within the spinal cord to the elevation of NFL levels. PATIENTS AND METHODS: MS patients with a baseline study of NFL at diagnosis of the disease and a brain and spinal cord MRI scan were selected. Patients were classified according to the presence, number and location of gadolinium enhancing lesion (GEL) and the relationship between NFL levels and both brain and spinal cord GEL were explored. RESULTS: Seventy-seven patients were selected. NFL levels were significantly higher in patients with only one GEL restricted to the brain than those without GEL (1702 pg/ml vs 722.7 pg/mL, p = 0.03) and correlated with number. However, no differences were seen among patients with GEL limited to the spinal cord and those without GEL (735.2 pg/ml vs 722.7 pg/mL). CONCLUSION: Our study reaffirms the value of NFL levels in monitoring asymptomatic inflammatory activity in the brain measured by GEL. However, NFL concentration is not as useful when only inflammatory activity occurs in the spinal cord.

Recent increase of ulcerative lesions caused by Anisakis spp. in cetaceans from the north-east Atlantic.

Species of Anisakis typically infect the stomach of cetaceans worldwide, often causing ulcerative lesions that may compromise the host's health. These nematodes also cause anisakiasis or allergic reactions in humans. To assess the risks of this emerging zoonosis, data on long-term changes in Anisakis infections in cetaceans are necessary. Here, we compare the prevalence and severity of ulcerative lesions caused by Anisakis spp. in five cetacean species stranded along the north-west Spanish coast in 2017-2018 with published data from 1991-1996. Open ulcers were found in 32/43 short-beaked common dolphins, Delphinus delphis; 3/5 striped dolphins, Stenella coeruleoalba; 1/7 bottlenose dolphins, Tursiops truncatus; and 1/3 harbour porpoises, Phocoena phocoena meridionalis; a single individual of long-finned pilot whale, Globicephala melas, was found uninfected. In common dolphins, the mean abundance of open ulcers per host was 1.1 (95% confidence interval: 0.8-1.3), with a maximum diameter (mean ± standard deviation) of 25.4 ± 16.9 mm. Stomachs with scars or extensive fibrosis putatively associated with Anisakis were detected in 14 and five animals, respectively. A molecular analysis based on the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase II gene using 18 worms from three cetacean species revealed single or mixed infections of Anisakis simplex sensu stricto and Anisakis pegreffii. Compared with the period 1991-1996, we found a strong increase of prevalence, abundance and extension of ulcerative lesions in most cetacean species. Anisakis populations could have increased in the study area over the last decades, although we cannot rule out that a higher environmental stress has also boosted the pathological effects of these parasites.

Influence of long-range Coulomb interaction in velocity map imaging.

The standard velocity-map imaging (VMI) analysis relies on the simple approximation that the residual Coulomb field experienced by the photoelectron ejected from a neutral or ion system may be neglected. Under this almost universal approximation, the photoelectrons follow ballistic (parabolic) trajectories in the externally applied electric field, and the recorded image may be considered as a 2D projection of the initial photoelectron velocity distribution. There are, however, several circumstances where this approximation is not justified and the influence of long-range forces must absolutely be taken into account for the interpretation and analysis of the recorded images. The aim of this paper is to illustrate this influence by discussing two different situations involving isolated atoms or molecules where the analysis of experimental images cannot be performed without considering long-range Coulomb interactions. The first situation occurs when slow (meV) photoelectrons are photoionized from a neutral system and strongly interact with the attractive Coulomb potential of the residual ion. The result of this interaction is the formation of a more complex structure in the image, as well as the appearance of an intense glory at the center of the image. The second situation, observed also at low energy, occurs in the photodetachment from a multiply charged anion and it is characterized by the presence of a long-range repulsive potential. Then, while the standard VMI approximation is still valid, the very specific features exhibited by the recorded images can be explained only by taking into consideration tunnel detachment through the repulsive Coulomb barrier.

Relación entre motivación, compromiso y autoconcepto en adolescentes: estudio con futbolistas / Relacao entre motivacao, compromisso e autoconceitoem futebolistas adolescentes de categorias desportivas diferentes / Relationship between motivation, commitment and selfconcept in adolescent soccer players of different sport categories

El objetivo de este trabajo fue analizar las relaciones entre motivación, compromiso deportivo y autoconcepto físico en futbolistas adolescentes de la provincia de Zaragoza en categorías Cadete (14-16 años) y Juvenil (16-18 años) así como atender a posibles diferencias entre las divisiones que las componen, más o menos competitivas. Para ello, se utilizó una muestra de 512 sujetos pertenecientes a 37 equipos de 12 clubes de la ciudad (M=16,00; DT: 1,465) a quienes se suministró la Sport Motivation Scale (Pelletier et al.,1995) validada y traducida al español por Núñez, Martín-Albo, Navarro y González (2006), Sport Commitment Questionnaire (SCQ), desarrollado por Scanlan, Simons, Carpenter, Schmidt y Keeler (1993), en una versión traducida y validada al castellano por Sousa, Torregrosa, Viladrich, Villamarín y Cruz (2007) y Physical Self-Questionnaire (C-PSQ) de Fox y Corbin (1999) utilizando una versión traducida al castellano de Moreno, Cervelló, Vera y Ruiz (2007) orientada hacia jóvenes. Los resultados mostraron diferencias significativas entre los diferentes niveles de competición así como dos perfiles conductuales; el primero caracterizado por comportamientos más autodeterminados (motivaciones intrínsecas, compromiso adquirido, diversión deportiva, oportunidades de implicación, competencia percibida, autoconfianza…) y otro, de conductas menos adaptativas (motivaciones extrínsecas, amotivación, coacciones sociales, atractivo físico…) (AU)

O objetivo deste trabalho foi analisar as relações entre motivação, compromisso desportivo e autoconceito físico em futebolistas adolescentes da província de Zaragoza nas categorias de 'Cadetes' (14 - 16 anos) (Equivalente a Iniciados e Juvenis) e 'Juveniles' (16 - 18 anos) (Equivalente a Juvenis e Juniores) assim como atender possíveis diferenças entre as divisões que as compõem, mais ou menos competitivas. Para isso, utilizou-se uma amostra de 512 sujeitos pertencentes a 37 equipas de 12 clubes da cidade (M=16,00; DT: 1,465) aos que se forneceu a Sport Motivation Scale (Pelletier et al., 1995) validada e traduzida ao espanhol por Núñez, Martín-Albo, Navarro y González (2006), Sport Commitment Questionnaire (SCQ), desenvolvido por Scanlan, Simons, Carpenter, Schmidt y Keeler (1993), numa versão traduzida ao castelhano de Moreno, Cervelló, Vera y Ruiz (2007) orientada aos jovens. Os resultados mostraram diferenças significativas entre os diferentes níveis de competição assim como dois perfis de conduta; o primeiro é caracterizado por comportamentos mais autodeterminados (motivações intrínsecas, compromisso adquirido, diversão desportiva, oportunidades de implicação, competência apercebida, autoconfiança…) e outro, de condutas menos adaptativas (motivações extrínsecas, amotivação, coações sociais, atrativo físico…) (AU)

The aim of this research was toanalyse the relationships between motivation, sport commitment and physical self-concept among adolescent footballers in the province of Zaragoza in the categories of Juniors I (14-16 years) and Juniors II (16-18 years) as well as exploring possible differences between the more or less competitive divisions. In order to carry this out, a sample of 512 subjects belonging to 37 teams of 12 clubs around the city were involved(M=16,00; SD: 1,465) and who were provided with the Sport Motivation Scale (Pelletier et al., 1995) translated into Spanish by Núñez, Martín-Albo, Navarro y González (2006), the Sport Commitment Questionnaire (SCQ), elaborated by Scanlan, Simons, Carpenter, Schmidt y Keeler (1993), in a version translated into Spanish bySousa, Torregrosa, Viladrich, Villamarín y Cruz (2007), and Fox and Corbin’s (1999) Physical Self-Questionnaire (C-PSQ), using the version of Moreno, Cervelló, Vera y Ruiz (2007) aimed at young people and translated into Spanish. The results showed significant differences among the distinct levels of competitiveness as well as two behavioural profiles: the first one characterised by more selfdetermined behaviour (intrinsic motivation, sport commitment, sport enjoyment, involvement opportunities, competence, self-confidence…) and the second one distinguished by less adaptive behaviour (extrinsic motivation, amotivation, social constraints, attractive body…) (AU)

Visualizing the coupling between red and blue stark states using photoionization microscopy.

In nonhydrogenic atoms in a dc electric field, the finite size of the ionic core introduces a coupling between quasibound Stark states that leads to avoided crossings between states that would otherwise cross. Near an avoided crossing, the interacting states may have decay amplitudes that cancel each other, decoupling one of the states from the ionization continuum. This well-known interference narrowing effect, observed as a strongly electric field-dependent decrease in the ionization rate, was previously observed in several atoms. Here we use photoionization microscopy to visualize interference narrowing in helium atoms, thereby explicitly revealing the mechanism by which Stark states decay. The interference narrowing allows measurements of the nodal patterns of red Stark states, which are otherwise not observable due to their intrinsic short lifetime.

Hydrogen atoms under magnification: direct observation of the nodal structure of Stark states.

To describe the microscopic properties of matter, quantum mechanics uses wave functions, whose structure and time dependence is governed by the Schrödinger equation. In atoms the charge distributions described by the wave function are rarely observed. The hydrogen atom is unique, since it only has one electron and, in a dc electric field, the Stark Hamiltonian is exactly separable in terms of parabolic coordinates (η, ξ, φ). As a result, the microscopic wave function along the ξ coordinate that exists in the vicinity of the atom, and the projection of the continuum wave function measured at a macroscopic distance, share the same nodal structure. In this Letter, we report photoionization microscopy experiments where this nodal structure is directly observed. The experiments provide a validation of theoretical predictions that have been made over the last three decades.

Single-size thermometric measurements on a size distribution of neutral fullerenes.

We present measurements of the velocity distribution of electrons emitted from mass-selected neutral fullerenes, performed at the intracavity free electron laser FELICE. We make use of mass-specific vibrational resonances in the infrared domain to selectively heat up one out of a distribution of several fullerene species. Efficient energy redistribution leads to decay via thermionic emission. Time-resolved electron kinetic energy distributions measured give information on the decay rate of the selected fullerene. This method is generally applicable to all neutral species that exhibit thermionic emission and provides a unique tool to study the stability of mass-selected neutral clusters and molecules that are only available as part of a size distribution.

Wave function microscopy of quasibound atomic states.

In the 1980s Demkov, Kondratovich, and Ostrovsky and Kondratovich and Ostrovsky proposed an experiment based on the projection of slow electrons emitted by a photoionized atom onto a position-sensitive detector. In the case of resonant excitation, they predicted that the spatial electron distribution on the detector should represent nothing else but a magnified image of the projection of a quasibound electronic state. By exciting lithium atoms in the presence of a static electric field, we present in this Letter the first experimental photoionization wave function microscopy images where signatures of quasibound states are evident. Characteristic resonant features, such as (i) the abrupt change of the number of wave function nodes across a resonance and (ii) the broadening of the outer ring of the image (associated with tunneling ionization), are observed and interpreted via wave packet propagation simulations and recently proposed resonance tunneling mechanisms. The electron spatial distribution measured by our microscope is a direct macroscopic image of the projection of the microscopic squared modulus of the electron wave that is quasibound to the atom and constitutes the first experimental realization of the experiment proposed 30 years ago.

Decay of C60 by delayed ionization and C2 emission: experiment and statistical modeling of kinetic energy release.

C(60) molecules highly excited in the nanosecond regime decay following ionization and dissociation by emitting a series of carbon dimers, as well as other small fragments if excitation is strong enough. The fragmentation mass spectrum and kinetic energy release of all charged fragments obtained in these experiments are interpreted within the framework of the Weisskopf theory, using a realistic Monte Carlo procedure in which the rates of all relevant decay channels are modeled using Arrhenius expressions. Comparison between the measurements and the simulated spectra allows the distribution of deposited energy to be accurately estimated. The dependence of the fragment kinetic energies on the laser fluence, found in the simulation but not observed in the experimental results, indicates that the small fragments are not necessarily emitted from small fullerenes resulting from C(60) by sequential decay. Rather, direct multifragmentation of C(60) is invoked to interpret the observed patterns. The possible role of post-ionization of neutral emitted fragments is discussed.

Combined electrospray ionization source with a velocity map imaging spectrometer for studying large gas phase molecular ions.

We present a new compact and versatile experimental set-up that has been designed to perform electron and ion imaging experiments on large multiply charged gas phase molecular and cluster species. It combines an electrospray ionization source, a quadrupole mass filter guiding ion optics and a velocity map imaging spectrometer. Characterization of the spectrometer has been performed on atomic ions. Results obtained on molecular species (stilbene 420 dianions) demonstrate the possibility offered by this experimental set-up.

Transfer-matrix-based method for an analytical description of velocity-map-imaging spectrometers.

We propose a simple and general analytical model describing the operation of a velocity-map-imaging spectrometer. We show that such a spectrometer, possibly equipped with a magnifying lens, can be efficiently modeled by combining analytical expressions for the axial potential distributions along with a transfer matrix method. The model leads transparently to the prediction of the instrument's operating conditions as well as to its resolution. A photoelectron velocity-map-imaging spectrometer with a magnifying lens, built and operated along the lines suggested by the model has been successfully employed for recording images at threshold photoionization of atomic lithium. The model's reliability is demonstrated by the fairly good agreement between experimental results and calculations. Finally, the limitations of the analytical method along with possible generalizations, extensions, and potential applications are also discussed. The model may serve as a guide for users interested in building and operating such spectrometers as well as a tutorial tool.

La producción científica en la REVISTA DE LOGOPEDIA, FONIATRÍA Y AUDIOLOGÍA / Scientific production in the REVISTA DE LOGOPEDIA, FONIATRÍA Y AUDIOLOGÍA

Se reflexiona sobre la calidad, contenido y diversidadde las publicaciones realizadas en la REVISTA DE LOGOPEDIA, FONIATRÍA Y AUDIOLOGÍA desde el año 2000 y como todo ello ha influido en el reconocimiento actual desu calidad científica. Se resalta la aportación realizadapor numerosas universidades españolas y de otrospaíses por medio de la publicación de artículos desus investigadores. Todo ello ha repercutido en uncambio cualitativo y cuantitativo muy importante enlos índices de calidad de la publicación. Además deanalizar las fuentes y diversidad de estas aportaciones,se reflexiona sobre cuáles pueden ser los objetivosa corto y medio plazo a fin de mejorar en el índicede impacto y en el reconocimiento internacional de larevista. Especialmente, se pretende una mayor colaboración de las universidades españolas e internacionales, a la vez que se continua mejorando el sistema de revisión y gestión de los artículos, por medio de la publicación de investigaciones financiadas por organismos públicos, sin dejar de cuidar la relación y la colaboración con los profesionales en temas de suinterés

Reflections are made on the quality, content anddiversity of the publications in the REVISTA DE LOGOPEDIA, FONIATRÍA Y AUDIOLOGÍA since the year 2000and how all of them have influenced the currentrecognition of its scientific quality. The contributionmade by numerous Spanish universities as well asthose from other countries through the publicationof articles on their research is emphasized. All ofthis has had an influence on a very important qualitativeand quantitative change in the publicationquality indexes. Besides analyzing the sources anddiversity of these contributions, consideration isgiven to what the short and middle term objectivescan be in order to improve the impact index andinternational recognition of the journal. It is especially aimed to obtain greater collaboration fromSpanish and International universities while continuingto improve the review system and managementof the articles by means of publishingresearch financed by public organizations withoutoverlooking the relationship and collaboration of the professionals in subjects of their interest (AU)

Evidence for cluster shape effects on the kinetic energy spectrum in thermionic emission.

Experimental kinetic energy release distributions obtained for the thermionic emission from C(n) (-) clusters, 10< or =n< or =20, exhibit significant non-Boltzmann variations. Using phase space theory, these different features are analyzed and interpreted as the consequence of contrasting shapes in the daughter clusters; linear and nonlinear isomers have clearly distinct signatures. These results provide a novel indirect structural probe for atomic clusters associated with their thermionic emission spectra.

Slow photoelectron imaging.

Experiments are reported on the detection of slow photoelectrons resulting from the photoionization of Xe atoms in a dc electric field by electron imaging. In the far-field photoelectron velocity distributions we can distinguish between direct and indirect ionization processes (involving long range Coulomb interactions with the Xe+ ion). Also, a new modulation of the velocity distribution is observed which cannot be explained by previously discussed mechanisms. Classical and quantum mechanical calculations are presented to support the interpretations.