Constructing three emotion knowledge tests from the invariant measurement approach

Background. Psychological constructionist models like the Conceptual Act Theory (CAT) postulate that complex states such as emotions are composed of basic psychological ingredients that are more clearly respected by the brain than basic emotions. The objective of this study was the construction and initial validation of Emotion Knowledge measures from the CAT frame by means of an invariant measurement approach, the Rasch Model (RM). Psychological distance theory was used to inform item generation. Methods. Three EK testsemotion vocabulary (EV), close emotional situations (CES) and far emotional situations (FES)were constructed and tested with the RM in a community sample of 100 females and 100 males (age range: 18-65), both separately and conjointly. Results. It was corroborated that data-RM fit was sufficient. Then, the effect of type of test and emotion on Rasch-modelled item difficulty was tested. Significant effects of emotion on EK item difficulty were found, but the only statistically significant difference was that between "happiness" and the remaining emotions; neither type of test, nor interaction effects on EK item difficulty were statistically significant. The testing of gender differences was carried out after corroborating that differential item functioning (DIF) would not be a plausible alternative hypothesis for the results. No statistically significant sex-related differences were found out in EV, CES, FES, or total EK. However, the sign of d indicate that female participants were consistently better than male ones, a result that will be of interest for future meta-analyses. Discussion. The three EK tests are ready to be used as components of a higher-level measurement process.Fil: Delgado, Ana R.. Universidad de Salamanca; EspañaFil: Prieto, Gerardo. Universidad de Salamanca; EspañaFil: Burin, Debora Ines. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Psicología; Argentin

Recognition of active biomolecules with antimibrobial capacity produced by filamentous fungi in different culture media

Fungi growing in natural environments, like many other microorganisms, are forced to interact with surrounding organisms and the physicochemical characteristics of the environment. As a consequence of these interactions, metabolites with varied biological activities which play an important role in survival are produced. Defensive bioactive compounds with varied structural identity, such as antimicrobials, are thus synthesized to develop a natural competence tool. In this study, filamentous fungi were isolated from different samples collected from Las Yungas rainforest (Tucumán), and their ability to produce antimicrobials after cultivation in different culture media was evaluated. These culture media included LB, Czapek-Dox, Czapek-malta, GMY and R2A. Antimicrobial activity was tested according to a modification of the protocol proposed by Kekessy and Piguet (1970). Selected isolates showed inhibition against the growth of Gram(+) and Gram(-) pathogen microorganisms such as Salmonella enterica ser. Tiphymurium, Salmonella enterica ser. Newport, Salmonella enterica ser. Enteritidis, E. coli ATCC35218, Enterobacter aerogenes, Enterobacter cloacae, Shigella sonnei, Enterococcus faecalis ATCC29212, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 29213 and Staphylococcus epidermidis. Eight fungal isolates were selected according to their outstanding capacity to produce antimicrobials and their molecular identification through the analysis of the 28S ADNr D1/D2 domain revealed their closest relationship with Lanatonectria, Trichoderma, Gibberella, Hipocrea and Fusariun genera. Results varied according to the culture media evaluated. In carbon-source rich media or media containing aminoacids, like LB or GMY, no significant antimicrobial production was noted, or this capacity was importantly reduced. Antimicrobial activity was variable according to the isolate and the test strain used. In Czapek-Malta and R2A, antimicrobial production became increased with respect to that produced in LB and GMY media, although it also exhibited certain variability depending on the isolate and the pathogen indicator strain. Meanwhile, poor or minimal culture media such as Czapek revealed qualitative and quantitatively higher antimicrobial production, mainly for two fungal isolates of the Hipocrea and Fusarium genera. In accordance to these findings, Czapek resulted as the most suitable culture medium for evaluating bioactive antimicrobial production by fungal isolates.Fil: Vergara, Jorge Rene. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Planta Piloto de Procesos Industriales Microbiológicos; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Catamarca. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; ArgentinaFil: Delgado, Osvaldo Daniel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Planta Piloto de Procesos Industriales Microbiológicos; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Catamarca. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; ArgentinaFil: Fariña, Julia Ines. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Planta Piloto de Procesos Industriales Microbiológicos; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Catamarca. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; ArgentinaVIII Congreso de Microbiología GeneralMar del PlataArgentinaSociedad Argentina de Microbiología Genera

Cost-effective optimized scleroglucan production by Sclerotium rolfsii ATCC 201126 at bioreactor scale. A quantity-quality assessment

Exopolysaccharide (EPS) secretion by Sclerotium rolfsii ATCC 201126 in submerged cultures, already identified as high-osmolarity responsive, was assessed by reducing C-source without compromising EPS yields. A designed medium with 80 g sucrose L−1 (MOPT80) was tested at 3 L-bioreactor scale at different temperature, agitation, aeration and pH (uncontrolled vs. controlled) values. Optimal operative conditions (200 rpm, 28 °C, 0.5 vvm and initial pH -pHi- 4.5) were validated, as well as the possibility to work at pHi 5.5 to reduce biomass production. Purified EPSs produced in MOPT80 at optimal and other valid operative conditions exhibited refined grade (<1 % proteins and ash, 3–4 % reducing sugars, 87–99 % total sugars). EPS purity, MW and rheological parameters led to discourage pH controlled at 4.5. Relatively constant MW (6–8 × 106 Da) and outstanding viscosifying ability were found. Polyphasic EPS analysis (titre, purity, macromolecular features and rheological fitness) would support to properly select production conditions.Fil: Valdez, Alejandra Leonor. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Planta Piloto de Procesos Industriales Microbiológicos; ArgentinaFil: Delgado, Osvaldo Daniel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Planta Piloto de Procesos Industriales Microbiológicos; ArgentinaFil: Fariña, Julia Ines. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Planta Piloto de Procesos Industriales Microbiológicos; Argentin

Aspergillus terreusstrain improvement for enhanced lovastatin production

Cholesterol plays a vital role in body metabolism and membrane transport, and acts as precursor for the synthesis of several key biomolecules. Nevertheless, changes in cholesterol level lead to cardiovascular disorders, like atherosclerosis and hypercholesterolemia, which are currently the maincauses of death. This is why controlling cholesterol by inhibition of its biosynthesis is a promising approach. Cholesterol is synthetized from acetyl-CoA through a complex pathway, where the rate-limiting step is the conversion of HMG-CoA to mevalonate, catalyzed by HMG-CoA reductase.This key enzyme is selectively and competitively inhibited by lovastatin, a fungal secondary metaboliteused as a hypocholesterolemic which can therefore reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases.Fil: Babot, Jaime Daniel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Planta Piloto de Procesos Industriales Microbiológicos; ArgentinaFil: Caro, Florencia Cecilia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Planta Piloto de Procesos Industriales Microbiológicos; ArgentinaFil: Delgado, Osvaldo Daniel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro de Investigaciones y Transferencia de Catamarca. Universidad Nacional de Catamarca. Centro de Investigaciones y Transferencia de Catamarca; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Catamarca. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; ArgentinaFil: Fariña, Julia Ines. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Planta Piloto de Procesos Industriales Microbiológicos; ArgentinaXI Congreso Argentino de Microbiología GeneralCórdobaArgentinaSociedad Argentina de Microbiología Genera

Escala Mexicana de Satisfacción de las Necesidades Psicológicas Básicas en Educación Física

El objetivo del presente trabajo consistió en traducir al español hablado en México y examinar las propiedades psicométricas de la versión mexicana de la Escala de Satisfacción de las Necesidades Psicológicas Básicas en la Educación Física (ESNPB-EF) en estudiantes de secundaria. En el estudio 1 se realizó la traducción y adaptación de la escala, se examinó su estructura factorial, así como su fiabilidad en una muestra de 293 estudiantes (Medad = 13.68 años; DT = 1.01); y en el segundo estudio se evaluó la fiabilidad de la escala, se examinó su estructura factorial, y se analizó la invarianza del instrumento a través del género en una muestra de 734 estudiantes (Medad = 13.7 años; DT = 1.09). Los resultados revelaron que el modelo de tres factores era aceptable (competencia, autonomía y relaciones). Los análisis apoyaron la replicabilidad de la estructura factorial a través del género, así como la consistencia interna de la escala (α > .77). En suma, la versión mexicana de la ESNPB-EF representa una adaptación válida y fiable para medir la satisfacción de las necesidades psicológicas básicas de los estudiantes de educación física en México.The aim of this study was to translate into Spanish spoken in Mexico and examine the psychometric properties of the Mexican version of the basic psychological needs satisfaction in physical education scale (ESNPB-EF) in Mexican high school students. In the Study 1, translation and adaptation of the scale were done, factorial structure and reliability were tested in a sample of 293 students (Mage = 13.68 years, SD = 1.01); and in the second study the factorial structure and the invariance across gender were examined in a sample of 734 students (Mage = 13.7 years, SD = 1.09). The results revealed that a three factors structure (competence, autonomy and relatedness) was acceptable. Results supported the invariance of the ESNPBEF across gender and provided support for the internal consistency of the scale (α > .77). Overall, the Mexican version of the ESNPB-EF represents a valid and reliable adaptation of the instrument, which can be confidently used to measure satisfaction of the basic psychological needs in physical education students.O objetivo deste estudo foi traduzir para o espanhol falado no México e examinar as propriedades psicométricas da versão mexicana da Escala de Satisfação das Necessidades Psicológicas Básicas em Educação Física (ESNPB-EF) em estudantes do ensino médio. No Estudo 1, a tradução e a adaptação da escala foi realizada, foi examinada a estrutura fatorial e a fiabilidade de uma amostra de 293 estudantes (Midade = 13,68 anos, DP =1,01); e no segundo estudo, a fiabilidade da escala foi avaliada, a estrutura fatorial foi examinada, e a invariância do instrumento foi analisada através de gênero em uma amostra de 734 estudantes (Midade = 13,7 anos, DP = 1,09). Os resultados revelaram que o modelo de três fatores foi aceitável (competência, autonomia e relações). As análises suportaram a replicabilidade da estrutura fatorial atraves do gênero, mesmo assim como a consistência interna da escala (α > 0,77). Em suma, a versão mexicana do ESNPB-EF representa uma adaptação válida e confiável para medir a satisfação das necessidades psicológicas básicas de estudantes de educação física no México

Phenotypic and genotypic characterization of resistance to macrolides and lincosamides in streptococcus agalactiae isolated from pregnant women in Misiones, Argentina

The aim of this work was to determine the susceptibility, molecular profile, and clonal relationship in Streptococcus agalactiae (group B Streptococcus [GBS]) isolated from vaginal-rectal swab samples. We worked with 200 isolates collected from pregnant women between 35 and 37 weeks of gestation. The macrolide-lincosamide-streptogramin B (MLSB) resistance phenotypes were determined using the double-disc assay. Susceptibility to erythromycin (ERI) and clindamycin (CLI) was performed with the E-test. Resistance genes ermB and ermTR were detected by polymerase chain reaction. Clonal studies were performed using the random amplification of polymorphic DNA. Twelve (6%) of the isolates were resistant to ERI and 10 (5%) of them to CLI. Fifty percent of the resistant strains corresponded to serotype III, 25% to serotype V, and the remaining 25% to serotype Ia, II, and nontypeable strains. The cMLSB phenotype was detected in eight strains (66.67%) and the iMLSB phenotype in four (33.33%). The minimum inhibitory concentration values were between 1.5 and 16 μg/mL for ERI, and between 1 and 32 μg/mL for CLI. Out of the 25 strains susceptible to ERI and CLI, the presence of the ermB gene was detected in eight of them and the ermTR gene in one strain. The ermB gene was detected in the 12 strains that initially had some macrolide resistance phenotype. The ermTR gene was detected in three out of the four strains with the iMLSB phenotype. The resistance to macrolides in the province of Misiones is due to multiclonal spread. The phenotypic and genotypic characterization of macrolide resistance in GBS strains are crucial to contribute to the correct intrapartum prophylactic antibiotic therapy of allergic pregnant women and the epidemiological surveillance of these strains.Fil: Novosak, Marina Gisel. Universidad Nacional de Misiones. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Químicas y Naturales. Departamento de Microbiología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste; ArgentinaFil: Bobadilla, Fernando Javier. Universidad Nacional de Misiones. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Químicas y Naturales. Departamento de Microbiología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste; ArgentinaFil: Delgado, Osvaldo Daniel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Planta Piloto de Procesos Industriales Microbiológicos; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Catamarca; ArgentinaFil: Vergara, Marta Ines. Universidad Nacional de Misiones. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Químicas y Naturales. Departamento de Microbiología; ArgentinaFil: Laczeski, Margarita Ester. Universidad Nacional de Misiones. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Químicas y Naturales. Departamento de Microbiología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Misiones. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Químicas y Naturales. Departamento de Bioquímica Clínica. Laboratorio de Biotecnología Molecular; Argentin

Molecular versus morphological markers to describe variability in sugar cane (Saccharum officinarum) for germplasm management and conservation = Marcadores moleculares y morfológicos para la descripción de variabilidad en caña de azúcar (Saccharum officinarum) con fines de manejo y conservación de germoplasma

Sugarcane is one of the most important industrial crops in tropical and subtropical regions. INTA (Argentina) administrates a Sugarcane Germplasm Bank and carries out a breeding program. The current study was designed to assess the phenotypic and genetic diversity among 65 sugarcane accessions selected from the INTA. Clustering and ordination methods based on quantitative and qualitative morphological traits and SSR data were applied. Generalized Procrustes Analysis allowed evaluating the correlation between relationships established with both markers A good of fit between dendrograms and similarity matrices were revealed by high cophenetic coefficients (r=0.82, p<0.0001; r=0.73, p<0.0001; r=0.82, p<0.0001 for phenotypic quantitative, phenotypic qualitative and molecular data respectively). The presence of different reliable population structure was observed when considering different data sources. Procrustes allowed finding those accessions that should have been responsible for the low correlation found between the individual configurations (73%). Both morphologic and molecular markers resulted discriminative enough to differentiate among accessions. It was not possible, however, to correlate associations of markers with the origin of materials. Phenotypic and genetic distances based on morphology and molecular information serves to assist conservation and organization of collection of materials, and the choice of parent combinations for breeding purposes.La caña de azúcar es uno de los cultivos industriales más importantes de regiones tropicales y subtropicales. El INTA (Argentina) administra un Banco de Germoplasma de caña de azúcar y lleva a cabo un programa de mejora. El presente trabajo fue diseñado para estimar la variabilidad fenotípica y genética entre 65 accesiones de caña de azúcar seleccionadas del INTA. Se aplicaron métodos de clasificación y ordenamiento en el análisis de datos morfológicos y de SSR. EL Análisis de Procrustes Generalizado permitió evaluar la correlación entre las relaciones establecidas a partir de ambos tipos de marca-dores. Un buen ajuste entre los dendrogramas y las matrices de similitud fue soportado por un alto coeficiente de correlación cofenética (r=0,82, p<0,0001; r=0,73, p<0,0001; r=0,82, p<0,0001 para datos cuantitativos, cualitativos y moleculares respectivamente). La presencia de una estructura poblacional fue reconocida cuando se consideraron los diferentes tipos de datos. El Procrustes permitió detectar aquellas accesiones que serían responsables de la baja correlación detectada entre configuraciones individuales (73%). Tanto los marcadores morfológicos como los moleculares resultaron lo suficientemente discriminativos para diferenciar accesiones. No obstante, no fue posible correlacionar las asociaciones establecidas por los marcadores con el origen de los materiales. Las distancias fenotípicas y genéticas basadas en información morfológica y molecular será de utilidad para asistir en la conservación y organización de los materiales de la colección y elegir combinaciones parentales con propósito de mejora.EEA FamailláFil: Pocovi, Mariana Ines. Universidad Nacional de Salta. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales. Laboratorio de Marcadores Moleculares; ArgentinaFil: Collavino, Norma Graciela. Universidad Nacional de Salta. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales. Laboratorio de Marcadores Moleculares; ArgentinaFil: Gutiérrez, Ángela. Universidad Nacional de Salta. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales. Laboratorio de Marcadores Moleculares; ArgentinaFil: Taboada, Gisel María. Universidad Nacional de Salta. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales. Laboratorio de Marcadores Moleculares; ArgentinaFil: Castillo, Verónica. Universidad Nacional de Salta. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales. Laboratorio de Marcadores Moleculares; ArgentinaFil: Delgado, Romina. Universidad Nacional de Salta. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales. Laboratorio de Marcadores Moleculares; ArgentinaFil: Mariotti Martinez, Jorge Alberto. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Famaillá; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Salta. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales. Laboratorio de Marcadores Moleculares; Argentin

Financial Return on Equity (FROE) as a new extended DuPont analysis, applied to industrial companies in Chile

In 2020, Arana publishes an article in which he proposes an extended Dupont Analysis from a financial perspective applied to industrial companies listed on the Lima Stock Exchange. Based on this research, it was proposed to apply the same methodology to the Chilean context. The objective of the article is to define what are the elements that a DuPont analysis should have, not from an accounting point of view, but from a financial perspective, starting from three elements: asset turnover, profit margin and financial leverage. For this purpose, the data of 38 industrial companies listed on the Santiago Stock Exchange (Chile) from 2014 to 2019 were analyzed. The methodology used was multiple linear regression for the main elements of a DuPont analysis focused on finance or Financial Return on Equity (FROE). The value of this research lies in its contribution to scientific knowledge by delving into financial models and providing a new and useful tool for business decision making.Campus Huancay