Memoria operativa y procesos de integración en la comprensión de textos

The aim was to examine the influence of working memory capacity on the integration of information across sentences during reading. Subjects high or low in reading span read texts under three conditions: (a) reading regressions and self-paced reading allowed, (b) self-paced reading (no regressions), and (e) fixed-pace reading (no regressions or selfpaced reading). Two kinds of regressive fixations - between- and withinsentence- were measured; and two types of comprehension questions - detail and integration - were used. The results indicated that (a) highspan subjects made more regressive movements, especially between-sentence regressions, than low-anxiety subjects; but (b) comprehension performance and efficiency were lower for low-span than for high-span readers, with both integration and detail questions, under all three reading conditions. The findings on regressive movements are consistent with the idea that subjects low in working memory capacity resort to reading regressions as un auxiliary strategy to carry out integration processes, in order to compensate for their capacity lirnitations. In contrast, the data concerning comprehension suggest that the frequent use of regressive fixations and reading time by readers low in working memory capacity is not a real compensatory mechanism for comprehension, but has a metacognitive function which provides reassurance. Defcits in working memory capacity constrain reading comprehension in general, but not specifically integration processes.Se examina el efecto de la capacidad de la memoria operativa sobre los procesos de integración de información en la lectura de textos. Sujetos con diferente capacidad de memoria operativa leyeron textos bajo tres condiciones: (a) retrocesos posibles y tiempo libre de lectura, (b) tiempo libre (pero no retrocesos), y (e) presentación prejijada (tiempo fijo y no retrocesos). Se midieron dos tipos de retrocesos durante la lectura: intra-frase e inter-frases; y se presentaron dos tipos de preguntas de comprensión: detalle e integración. Los resultados indicaron que: (a) los lectorescon menor capacidad hicieron mas retrocesos que los de mayor capacidad, especialmente inter-frases; pero (b) los primeros tuvieron peor comprensión y eficiencia que los segundos en todas las condiciones de lectura y en ambos tipos de preguntas. El dato relativo a los retrocesos hace suponer que los lectores con menor capacidad recurren a los retrocesos como una estrategia auxiliar para llevar a cabo los procesos de integración, a fin de compensar sus propias deficiencias en capacidad. En contraste, los datos relativos a la comprensión sugieren que el uso extraordinario de retrocesos y el tiempo de lectura adicional en las personas con menor capacidad cumplen una función metacognitiva más que cognitiva, ya que no son eficaces para compensar esas deficiencias. Además, las limitaciones en capacidad de la memoria operativa afectan negativamente a la comprensión lectora de modo general, no específicamente a los procesos de integración

Memoria operativa y procesos de integración en la comprensión de textos

The aim was to examine the influence of working memory capacity on the integration of information across sentences during reading. Subjects high or low in reading span read texts under three conditions: (a) reading regressions and self-paced reading allowed, (b) self-paced reading (no regressions), and (e) fixed-pace reading (no regressions or selfpaced reading). Two kinds of regressive fixations - between- and withinsentence- were measured; and two types of comprehension questions - detail and integration - were used. The results indicated that (a) highspan subjects made more regressive movements, especially between-sentence regressions, than low-anxiety subjects; but (b) comprehension performance and efficiency were lower for low-span than for high-span readers, with both integration and detail questions, under all three reading conditions. The findings on regressive movements are consistent with the idea that subjects low in working memory capacity resort to reading regressions as un auxiliary strategy to carry out integration processes, in order to compensate for their capacity lirnitations. In contrast, the data concerning comprehension suggest that the frequent use of regressive fixations and reading time by readers low in working memory capacity is not a real compensatory mechanism for comprehension, but has a metacognitive function which provides reassurance. Defcits in working memory capacity constrain reading comprehension in general, but not specifically integration processes.Se examina el efecto de la capacidad de la memoria operativa sobre los procesos de integración de información en la lectura de textos. Sujetos con diferente capacidad de memoria operativa leyeron textos bajo tres condiciones: (a) retrocesos posibles y tiempo libre de lectura, (b) tiempo libre (pero no retrocesos), y (e) presentación prejijada (tiempo fijo y no retrocesos). Se midieron dos tipos de retrocesos durante la lectura: intra-frase e inter-frases; y se presentaron dos tipos de preguntas de comprensión: detalle e integración. Los resultados indicaron que: (a) los lectorescon menor capacidad hicieron mas retrocesos que los de mayor capacidad, especialmente inter-frases; pero (b) los primeros tuvieron peor comprensión y eficiencia que los segundos en todas las condiciones de lectura y en ambos tipos de preguntas. El dato relativo a los retrocesos hace suponer que los lectores con menor capacidad recurren a los retrocesos como una estrategia auxiliar para llevar a cabo los procesos de integración, a fin de compensar sus propias deficiencias en capacidad. En contraste, los datos relativos a la comprensión sugieren que el uso extraordinario de retrocesos y el tiempo de lectura adicional en las personas con menor capacidad cumplen una función metacognitiva más que cognitiva, ya que no son eficaces para compensar esas deficiencias. Además, las limitaciones en capacidad de la memoria operativa afectan negativamente a la comprensión lectora de modo general, no específicamente a los procesos de integración

Dendritic cell deficiencies persist seven months after SARS-CoV-2 infection

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (SARS-CoV)-2 infection induces an exacerbated inflammation driven by innate immunity components. Dendritic cells (DCs) play a key role in the defense against viral infections, for instance plasmacytoid DCs (pDCs), have the capacity to produce vast amounts of interferon-alpha (IFN-α). In COVID-19 there is a deficit in DC numbers and IFN-α production, which has been associated with disease severity. In this work, we described that in addition to the DC deficiency, several DC activation and homing markers were altered in acute COVID-19 patients, which were associated with multiple inflammatory markers. Remarkably, previously hospitalized and nonhospitalized patients remained with decreased numbers of CD1c+ myeloid DCs and pDCs seven months after SARS-CoV-2 infection. Moreover, the expression of DC markers such as CD86 and CD4 were only restored in previously nonhospitalized patients, while no restoration of integrin β7 and indoleamine 2,3-dyoxigenase (IDO) levels were observed. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the immunological sequelae of COVID-19

COVID-19 outbreaks in a transmission control scenario: challenges posed by social and leisure activities, and for workers in vulnerable conditions, Spain, early summer 2020

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 community-wide transmission declined in Spain by early May 2020, being replaced by outbreaks and sporadic cases. From mid-June to 2 August, excluding single household outbreaks, 673 outbreaks were notified nationally, 551 active (>6,200 cases) at the time. More than half of these outbreaks and cases coincided with: (i) social (family/friends’ gatherings or leisure venues) and (ii) occupational (mainly involving workers in vulnerable conditions) settings. Control measures were accordingly applied

Clonal chromosomal mosaicism and loss of chromosome Y in elderly men increase vulnerability for SARS-CoV-2

The pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19) had an estimated overall case fatality ratio of 1.38% (pre-vaccination), being 53% higher in males and increasing exponentially with age. Among 9578 individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 in the SCOURGE study, we found 133 cases (1.42%) with detectable clonal mosaicism for chromosome alterations (mCA) and 226 males (5.08%) with acquired loss of chromosome Y (LOY). Individuals with clonal mosaic events (mCA and/or LOY) showed a 54% increase in the risk of COVID-19 lethality. LOY is associated with transcriptomic biomarkers of immune dysfunction, pro-coagulation activity and cardiovascular risk. Interferon-induced genes involved in the initial immune response to SARS-CoV-2 are also down-regulated in LOY. Thus, mCA and LOY underlie at least part of the sex-biased severity and mortality of COVID-19 in aging patients. Given its potential therapeutic and prognostic relevance, evaluation of clonal mosaicism should be implemented as biomarker of COVID-19 severity in elderly people. Among 9578 individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 in the SCOURGE study, individuals with clonal mosaic events (clonal mosaicism for chromosome alterations and/or loss of chromosome Y) showed an increased risk of COVID-19 lethality

The evolution of the ventilatory ratio is a prognostic factor in mechanically ventilated COVID-19 ARDS patients

Background: Mortality due to COVID-19 is high, especially in patients requiring mechanical ventilation. The purpose of the study is to investigate associations between mortality and variables measured during the first three days of mechanical ventilation in patients with COVID-19 intubated at ICU admission. Methods: Multicenter, observational, cohort study includes consecutive patients with COVID-19 admitted to 44 Spanish ICUs between February 25 and July 31, 2020, who required intubation at ICU admission and mechanical ventilation for more than three days. We collected demographic and clinical data prior to admission; information about clinical evolution at days 1 and 3 of mechanical ventilation; and outcomes. Results: Of the 2,095 patients with COVID-19 admitted to the ICU, 1,118 (53.3%) were intubated at day 1 and remained under mechanical ventilation at day three. From days 1 to 3, PaO2/FiO2 increased from 115.6 [80.0-171.2] to 180.0 [135.4-227.9] mmHg and the ventilatory ratio from 1.73 [1.33-2.25] to 1.96 [1.61-2.40]. In-hospital mortality was 38.7%. A higher increase between ICU admission and day 3 in the ventilatory ratio (OR 1.04 [CI 1.01-1.07], p = 0.030) and creatinine levels (OR 1.05 [CI 1.01-1.09], p = 0.005) and a lower increase in platelet counts (OR 0.96 [CI 0.93-1.00], p = 0.037) were independently associated with a higher risk of death. No association between mortality and the PaO2/FiO2 variation was observed (OR 0.99 [CI 0.95 to 1.02], p = 0.47). Conclusions: Higher ventilatory ratio and its increase at day 3 is associated with mortality in patients with COVID-19 receiving mechanical ventilation at ICU admission. No association was found in the PaO2/FiO2 variation

Quorum sensing network in clinical strains of A. baumannii : AidA is a new quorum quenching enzyme

Acinetobacter baumannii is an important pathogen that causes nosocomial infections generally associated with high mortality and morbidity in Intensive Care Units (ICUs). Currently, little is known about the Quorum Sensing (QS)/Quorum Quenching (QQ) systems of this pathogen. We analyzed these mechanisms in seven clinical isolates of A. baumannii. Microarray analysis of one of these clinical isolates, Ab1 (A. baumannii ST-2-clon-2010), previously cultured in the presence of 3-oxo-C12-HSL (a QS signalling molecule) revealed a putative QQ enzyme (α/β hydrolase gene, AidA). This QQ enzyme was present in all nonmotile clinical isolates (67% of which were isolated from the respiratory tract) cultured in nutrient depleted LB medium. Interestingly, this gene was not located in the genome of the only motile clinical strain growing in this medium (A. baumannii strain Ab421-GEIH-2010 [Ab7], isolated from a blood sample). The AidA protein expressed in E. coli showed QQ activity. Finally, we observed downregulation of the AidA protein (QQ system attenuation) in the presence of HO (ROS stress). In conclusion, most of the A. baumannii clinical strains were not surface motile (84%) and were of respiratory origin (67%). Only the pilT gene was involved in surface motility and related to the QS system. Finally, a new QQ enzyme (α/β hydrolase gene, AidA protein) was detected in these strains

Espacios y destinos turísticos en tiempos de globalización y crisis

2 volúmenesXII Coloquio de Geografía del Turismo, Ocio y Recreación de la Asociación de Geógrafos Españoles. Colmenarejo (Madrid), del 17 al 19 de junio de 2010.Este libro ha sido editado con la colaboración económica del Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (ref. CS02010-10416-E)