Increase in self-efficacy in prospective teachers through theory-based lesson study

This paper explores the education of prospective teachers with regard to the Theory of Didactical Situations when they engage in lesson study. We particularly focus on studying how a lesson study process oriented towards the Theory of Didactical Situations contributes to increasing prospective teachers’ self-efficacy to plan and teach lessons based on such theory, reducing the gap between theory and practice. Prior to the study, we will discuss how the theoretical postulates assumed in lesson study affect crucial aspects of the process. The study is implemented with 47 prospective early childhood education teachers. We also consider another group of 47 prospective teachers that were engaged in practicum at the time the lesson study process took place. Using a quasi-experimental methodology based on a questionnaire developed ad hoc that captures the particularities of the didactic paradigm assumed, the results of our study show that both lesson study and practicum lead to a statistically significant increase in future teachers’ self-efficacy to plan and teach lessons in line with the paradigm assumed. However, size effect measures show that the increase observed in the lesson study group is significantly higher, which supports the benefits of lesson study in initial teacher education. We discuss what the features of lesson study are that could be related to this increase. Finally, we sketch new lines of research connected with the benefits of lesson study versus other teacher education experiences like practicum, as well as with links between self-efficacy and knowledge growth in lesson study.Contrato predoctoral FPU14/06496, Ministerio de Educación, Cultura y Deporte. Proyecto de investigación PID2021-126717NB-C32, Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación

Limited SHIV env diversification in macaques failing oral antiretroviral pre-exposure prophylaxis

BACKGROUND: Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) with daily Truvada [a combination of emtricitabine (FTC) and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF)] is a novel HIV prevention strategy recently found to prevent HIV transmission among men who have sex with men and heterosexual couples. Acute infection in adherent persons who fail PrEP will inevitably occur under concurrent antiretroviral therapy, thus raising questions regarding the potential impact of PrEP on early viral dynamics. We investigated viral evolution dynamics in a macaque model of PrEP consisting of repeated rectal exposures to SHIV(162P3) in the presence of PrEP. RESULTS: Four macaques were infected during daily or intermittent PrEP with FTC or FTC/TDF, and five were untreated controls. SHIV env sequence evolution was monitored by single genome amplification with phylogenetic and sequence analysis. Mean nucleotide divergence from transmitted founder viruses calculated 17 weeks (range = 12–20) post peak viremia was significantly lower in PrEP failures than in control animals (7.2 × 10(-3) compared to 1.6 × 10(-2) nucleotide substitutions per site per year, respectively, p < 0.0001). Mean virus diversity was also lower in PrEP failures after 17 weeks (0.13% vs. 0.53% in controls, p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Our results in a macaque model of acute HIV infection suggest that infection during PrEP limits early virus evolution likely because of a direct antiviral effect of PrEP and/or reduced target cell availability. Reduced virus diversification during early infection might enhance immune control by slowing the selection of escape mutants

High-Throughput System for the Early Quantification of Major Architectural Traits in Olive Breeding Trials Using UAV Images and OBIA Techniques

The need for the olive farm modernization have encouraged the research of more efficient crop management strategies through cross-breeding programs to release new olive cultivars more suitable for mechanization and use in intensive orchards, with high quality production and resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses. The advancement of breeding programs are hampered by the lack of efficient phenotyping methods to quickly and accurately acquire crop traits such as morphological attributes (tree vigor and vegetative growth habits), which are key to identify desirable genotypes as early as possible. In this context, an UAV-based high-throughput system for olive breeding program applications was developed to extract tree traits in large-scale phenotyping studies under field conditions. The system consisted of UAV-flight configurations, in terms of flight altitude and image overlaps, and a novel, automatic, and accurate object-based image analysis (OBIA) algorithm based on point clouds, which was evaluated in two experimental trials in the framework of a table olive breeding program, with the aim to determine the earliest date for suitable quantifying of tree architectural traits. Two training systems (intensive and hedgerow) were evaluated at two very early stages of tree growth: 15 and 27 months after planting. Digital Terrain Models (DTMs) were automatically and accurately generated by the algorithm as well as every olive tree identified, independently of the training system and tree age. The architectural traits, specially tree height and crown area, were estimated with high accuracy in the second flight campaign, i.e. 27 months after planting. Differences in the quality of 3D crown reconstruction were found for the growth patterns derived from each training system. These key phenotyping traits could be used in several olive breeding programs, as well as to address some agronomical goals. In addition, this system is cost and time optimized, so that requested architectural traits could be provided in the same day as UAV flights. This high-throughput system may solve the actual bottleneck of plant phenotyping of "linking genotype and phenotype," considered a major challenge for crop research in the 21st century, and bring forward the crucial time of decision making for breeders

Humanisation dans l art paléolithique européen : nouvelles preuves visuelles des interactions hommes/oiseaux à L Hort de la Boquera (Margalef, Tarragone, Espagne)

[EN] This paper reports the discovery of a new example of portable art in North-eastern Iberia dating to the Late Upper Palaeolithic (12.250 60 BP). The piece is analysed in relation to the European Palaeolithic art assemblage to determine its significance and how it contributes to our understandings of Palaeolithic artistic practices. Both the motifs depicted (birds and humans) and the patterns of composition (a narrative scene) are unusual in Palaeolithic assemblages. In addition, this new find contributes to filling a geographic gap in the artistic record as evidence of Palaeolithic art is rare in Catalonia. The anatomical features of one of the birds suggest that it is a crane, a species that has been depicted in a limited number of sites, as summarized in this paper. Moreover, there are only three known example of birds and humans interacting in a narrative scene in Palaeolithic art. Exhibiting innovations in media, subject matter and compositional norms, this new find has the potential to change the classic definition of European Upper Palaeolithic art and integrate the region in the artistic trends circulating along Mediterranean Iberia during the Upper Magdalenian. (C) 2019 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.[Otros] Cette étude présente la découverte d¿un nouvel exemple d'art mobilier dans le nord-est de la Péninsule Ibérique qui remonte au Paléolithique supérieur final (12,250 ± 60 BP). La pièce est examinée dans le contexte de l¿art paléolithique européen pour déterminer son importance et sa contribution à notre compréhension des pratiques artistiques paléolithiques. Les motifs représentés (oiseaux et humains) et les schémas de composition (une scène narrative) sont, dans les deux cas, rares dans les ensembles paléolithiques. En outre, cette nouvelle découverte contribue à combler un vide géographique dans le registre artistique car les évidences matérielles de l'art paléolithique sont rares en Catalogne. Les caractéristiques anatomiques d¿un des oiseaux suggèrent qu'il s¿agit d¿une grue, une espèce qui a été représentée dans un nombre limité de sites, comme cet article le synthétise. En outre, il n¿y a que trois exemples connus d¿oiseaux et d¿humains en interaction dans une scène narrative dans l¿art paléolithique. Exposant des innovations dans le support graphique, les thématiques et les normes de composition, cette nouvelle découverte a le potentiel de changer la définition classique de l¿art paléolithique européen et d¿intégrer la région dans les tendances artistiques circulant en Ibérie méditerranéenne pendant le Magdalénien Supérieur. @2019 Elsevier Masson SAS. Tous droits réservés.The authors would like to thank several researchers for their contribution at different stages of this paper preparation. To E. Brieva for her significant contribution in the field. We also thank our colleagues V. Villaverde for his suggestions regarding the potential interpretation of the motifs, and G. Bosinski, J. Zilhão, F. D Errico and M. García-Diez for providing references and/or publications of interest to this work. Finally, we thank C. Smith for her suggestions regarding content and English translation, and M. Teixidó for her comments on the French abstract. The authors acknowledge the support of several funding programs and projects: Fieldwork funds granted to P. García-Argüelles and J. Nadal by Generalitat de Catalunya (CL T009/18/00001). Projects HAR2017-86509-P granted to J.M. Fullola and P. García-Argüelles and HAR-2016-80693-P granted to I. Domingo by the Spanish Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness; and the Quality Research Group 2017SGR-11, granted to J.M. Fullola by Generalitat de Catalunya.Domingo Sanz, I.; García-Argüelles, P.; Nadal, J.; Fullola, JM.; Lerma, JL.; Cabrelles López, M. (2019). Humanizing European Paleolithic art: A new visual evidence of human/bird interactions at L Hort de la Boquera site (Margalef de Montsant, Tarragona, Spain). L'Anthropologie. 123(1):1-18. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anthro.2019.01.001S118123

Study of overall and local electrochemical responses of oxide films grown on CoCr alloy under biological environments

The interaction of the physiological medium and living tissues with the implant surfaces in biological environments is regulated by biopotentials that induce changes in the chemical composition, structure and thickness of the oxide film. In this work, oxide films grown on CoCr alloys at 0.5 V vs Ag/AgCl and 0.7 V vs Ag/AgCl have been characterized through overall and localized electrochemical techniques in a phosphate buffer solution and 0.3% hyaluronic acid. Nanopores of 10–50 nm diameter are homogeneously distributed along the surface in the oxide film formed at 0.7 V vs Ag/AgCl. The distribution of the Constant Phase Element studied by local electrochemical impedance spectroscopy showed a three-dimensional (3D) model on the oxide films grown at 0.5 V vs Ag/AgCl and 0.7 V vs Ag/AgCl. This behaviour is especially noticeable in oxide films grown at 0.7 V vs Ag/AgCl, probably due to surface inhomogeneities, and resistive properties generated by the potentiostatic growth of the oxide film.This work was supported by the Spanish National government [MINECO-MAT2011-29152-C02-01].Peer reviewe

Measuring Enzymatic HIV-1 Susceptibility to Two Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors as a Rapid and Simple Approach to HIV-1 Drug-Resistance Testing

Simple and cost-effective approaches for HIV drug-resistance testing are highly desirable for managing increasingly expanding HIV-1 infected populations who initiate antiretroviral therapy (ART), particularly in resource-limited settings. Non-nucleoside reverse trancriptase inhibitor (NNRTI)-based regimens with an NRTI backbone containing lamivudine (3TC) or emtricitabine (FTC) are preferred first ART regimens. Failure with these drug combinations typically involves the selection of NNRTI- and/or 3TC/FTC- resistant viruses. Therefore, the availability of simple assays to measure both types of drug resistance is critical. We have developed a high throughput screening test for assessing enzymatic resistance of the HIV-1 RT in plasma to 3TC/FTC and NNRTIs. The test uses the sensitive “Amp-RT” assay with a newly-developed real-time PCR format to screen biochemically for drug resistance in single reactions containing either 3TC-triphosphate (3TC-TP) or nevirapine (NVP). Assay cut-offs were defined based on testing a large panel of subtype B and non-subtype B clinical samples with known genotypic profiles. Enzymatic 3TC resistance correlated well with the presence of M184I/V, and reduced NVP susceptibility was strongly associated with the presence of K103N, Y181C/I, Y188L, and G190A/Q. The sensitivity and specificity for detecting resistance were 97.0% and 96.0% in samples with M184V, and 97.4% and 96.2% for samples with NNRTI mutations, respectively. We further demonstrate the utility of an HIV capture method in plasma by using magnetic beads coated with CD44 antibody that eliminates the need for ultracentifugation. Thus our results support the use of this simple approach for distinguishing WT from NNRTI- or 3TC/FTC-resistant viruses in clinical samples. This enzymatic testing is subtype-independent and can assist in the clinical management of diverse populations particularly in resource-limited settings

Presence of palm oil in foodstuffs: consumers' perception

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to determine the presence of palm oil in food products on sale, and to study and compare consumers' opinions about this oil type in Spain (importing country) and Peru (producing country). Design/methodology/approach - Recent news published in both countries, which could influence consumer perceptions, were analysed. A study on the labelling of foodstuffs in Spain was carried out, as was a survey with Spanish and Peruvian consumers. Findings - Palm oil was found in a large number of products and in a wide range of foods, especially those from the bakery sector. The percentages of saturated fats varied substantially within the same product type. Spanish consumers showed much more interest in the labelling and information on nutritional properties, especially energy values, saturated fats and sugars, while Peruvians focused more on energy values, and protein, vitamin and mineral contents. In Spain, palm oil was considered the worst quality fat/oil and had a clearly negative effect on both health and the environment. In Peru, palm oil was neither perceived by the majority of respondents as low quality oil nor associated with negative health effects. However, they were aware of the environmental problems that could result from its production. Originality/value - These results confirm that the food industry should make efforts to reduce or replace palm oil in foods, mainly in Spain, as most consumers believe that palm oil negatively affects their health and the environmen

Fungal grapevine trunk pathogens associated with Syrah decline in Spain

Syrah decline has been increasingly seen and reported in many vineyards worldwide. In recent years, an increase in samples of Vitis vinifera cv. Syrah showing general decline has also been noted in Spain. Sixty-two samples of Syrah grafted grapevines with such symptoms were collected from grapevine nurseries and young vineyards between 2007 and 2009 and subjected to fungal isolation. Species were identified with morphological and molecular methods. Species recovered included Phaeoacremonium, Botryosphaeriaceae and Cylindrocarpon, as well as Pa. chlamydospora and Ca. luteo-olivacea. The study demonstrates that fungal pathogens should be considered potential factors associated with Syrah decline

Aroma composition of wines produced from grapes treated with organic amendments

The application to agriculture of wheat-straw spent mushroom substrate amendments (compost/vermicompost) used to grow Pleurotus ostreatus has been analyzed. The study was conducted in a vineyard where the effect on (1) the physicochemical properties of the soil and the leaf and (2) the analytical characteristics and the aromatic composition of the wine were analyzed. The application of the amendments resulted in an increase in organic matter and macronutrients (NO3−, P2O5 and K2O) in the soil. With regard to the leaves, the NO3− and K2O contents of those vines fertilized with vermicompost were higher, and the metallic content was the same regardless of the treatment applied. The analysis of the colorimetric parameters showed that there was a higher content of compounds with red and violet colorations in the case of wine obtained after treatment with vermicompost. In addition, for this type of wine, a higher concentration of volatile compounds was obtained. Thus, after grouping the aroma compounds into aroma series, the greatest differences among vermicompost wines and the rest were obtained in the fruit, floral, herbaceous, and green fruit series. The principal component analysis showed that the vermicompost treatment clearly differentiated the wine from the rest of the wines, in addition to its effects on the aromatic series, the values in the total polyphenol index, and the compounds responsible for brown tones

Modulation of argon pressure as an option to control transmittance and resistivity of ZnO:Al films deposited by DC magnetron sputtering: on the dark yellow films at 10^-7 Torr base pressures

In a previous paper, we reported that thin films of ZnO:Al [aluminum-zinc oxide (AZO)] deposited after achieving a very low base pressure [from 4.0×10-7 Torr (5.6×10-5 Pa) to 5.7×10-7 Torr (7.6×10-5 Pa)] result dark yellow in color and are resistive. These are undesirable characteristics for the application of AZO thin films as front electrodes in solar cells. However, given the increasingly tendency in the acquisition of equipment that allow us to reach excellent vacuum levels, it is necessary to find the deposition conditions that lead to an improving of transmittance without greatly impacting the electrical properties of materials deposited after achieving these levels of vacuum. In this way, the present work is focused on AZO thin films deposited after achieving a very low base pressure value: 4.2×10-7 Torr (5.6×10-5 Pa). For this, we studied the effect of the variation of the oxygen volume percent in the argon/oxygen mixture (by maintaining the deposition pressure constant) and the effect of deposition pressure with only argon gas on the main properties of AZO thin films. The depositions were done at room temperature on glass substrates by direct-current magnetron sputtering with a power of 120 W (corresponding to a power density of 2.63 W/cm2). As results, we found that the variation of deposition pressure with only argon gas is a good option for the control of optical and electrical properties, since the addition of oxygen, although improves transmittance, greatly impacts on the electrical properties. Furthermore, an interesting correlation was found between the optical and electrical properties and the chemical composition of the AZO films, the latter depending on the argon pressure (for this, a careful X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis was performed). Also, the inverse relationship between crystallinity and deposition rate was confirmed, in which deposition rate inversely depends on argon pressure