Variación sociofonética: comparación de análisis graduales y categóricos

This paper compares results of two different sociophonetic analysis models: a continuous model and a categorical one. The sociophonetic variable investigated is the production of intervocalic /d/ in Madrid. In the continuous model, the weakening of /d/ was calculated by taking acoustic intensity measurements, in such a way that said analysis can accurately inform on the entire spectrum of possible productions of /d/(i.e., from very occlusive to very weakened). In the categorical model, the weakening of /d/ was coded in a binary way (retention or total elision) so that this analysis only informs of the most extreme case of consonant weakening: elision. The same linguistic and extralinguistic independent variables were included in both statistical analyses. Although the results of both analyses show significant similarities regarding the effect of the independent variables, differences were also found. In addition to providing a sociophonetic characterization of the production of /d/ in Madrid, this article highlights some considerations that must be taken into account when examining sociophonetic phenomena with both continuous and categorical methods.En este artículo se comparan los resultados de dos modelos de análisis sociofonético diferentes: un modelo continuo y uno categórico. La variable sociofonética investigada es la producción de /d/ intervocálica en Madrid. En el modelo continuo, el debilitamiento de /d/ fue calculado tomando medidas acústicas de intensidad, de tal forma que dicho análisis puede dar cuenta de manera precisa de todo el espectro de posibles realizaciones de /d/ (i.e., desde muy oclusivas hasta muy debilitadas). En el modelo categórico, el debilitamiento de /d/ fue codificado de manera binaria (retención o elisión total) de modo que este análisis da cuenta únicamente del caso más extremo de debilitamiento consonántico: la elisión. En ambos análisis estadísticos se incluyeron las mismas variables independientes lingüísticas y extralingüísticas. Aunque los resultados de ambos análisis muestran semejanzas significativas en cuanto al efecto de las variables independientes, también se encontraron diferencias. Además de proveer una caracterización sociofonética de la producción de /d/ en Madrid, en este artículo se resaltan algunos de los beneficios de usar técnicas y métodos graduales en la investigación sociofonética.Cet article compare les résultats de deux modèles différents d’analyse sociophonique: un modèle continu et un modèle catégoriel. La variable socio-phonique étudiée est la production du / d / intervocalique à Madrid. Dans le modèle continu, l’affaiblissement de / d / a été calculé en prenant des mesures acoustiques del’intensité, de sorte qu’une telle analyse puisse rendre compte avec précision de tout le spectre des réalisations possibles de / d / (c’est-à-dire de très occlusif à très affaibli). Dans le modèle catégoriel, l’affaiblissement de / d / a été codé de manière binaire (rétention ou élision totale) afin que cette analyse ne prenne en compte que le cas le plus extrême d’affaiblissement consonantique: l’élision. Les mêmesvariables indépendantes linguistiques et extralinguistiques ont été incluses dans les deux analyses statistiques. Bien que les résultats des deux analyses montrent des similitudes significatives en termes d’effet des variables indépendantes, des différences ont également été constatées. En plus de fournir une caractérisation socio-phonique de la production du / d / à Madrid, cet article met en évidence certaines considérationsa prendre lors de l’examen des phénomènes socio-phoniques avec des méthodes à la fois continues et catégorielles

Tracking the dynamic nature of learner individual differences: Initial results from a longitudinal study

Individual differences (IDs) have long been considered one of the most important factors explaining variable rates and outcomes in second language acquisition (Dewaele, 2013). While traditional operationalizations of IDs have, explicitly or implicitly, assumed that IDs are static traits that are stable through time, more recent research inspired by complex dynamic systems theory (Larsen-Freeman, 1997, 2020) demonstrates that many IDs are dynamic and variable through time and across contexts, a theme echoed throughout the current issue. This study reports the initial semester of a diachronic project investigating the dynamicity of four learner IDs: motivation, personality, learning and cognitive styles, and working memory. In the initial semester, data from 323 participants in their first year of university-level Spanish were collected and analyzed to determine what type of variability may be present across learners with respect to the four IDs studied at one time point and to discern possible learner profiles in the data or patterns via which the data may be otherwise meaningfully described. The results revealed four types of learner profiles present in the dataset

Electrophoretic fingerprinting of benzodiazepine tablets in spike drinks

Over the last few years, there has been an increase in the reports of drug-facilitated crimes. The list of drugs associated with these crimes is extensive and benzodiazepines constitute one of the groups of substances more commonly used. The sedative properties, which characterize benzodiazepines, are enhanced when such drugs are combined with alcohol, being more attractive for committing these types of crimes. In this work, a capillary electrophoresis method was applied to the analysis of 63 different samples of club drinks spiked with benzodiazepine tablets. The resulting electropherograms were processed and analyzed with the chemometric multivariate techniques: principal component analysis (PCA) and soft independent modeling of class analogies (SIMCA) classification. The PCA results allowed a clear differentiation of each drug class in a 3D plot. In addition, the SIMCA classification model (5% significance level) showed that eight out of nine test samples were automatically assigned by software to their proper sample class. The conflicting sample was correctly classified in the Coomans? plot (95% confidence). This novel approach based on the comparison of electrophoretic profiles of spiked drinks by chemometric tools allows determining the benzodiazepine used for drink spiking without the use of drug standards.Moreover, it provides an opportunity for the forensic laboratories to incorporate the identification capability provided by the electrophoretic fingerprinting of benzodiazepine solutions in existing or new databases

Raman spectral signatures for the differentiation of benzodiazepine drugs

The identification of benzodiazepine drugs is important in the forensics field because they are used in drugfacilitated crimes. Raman spectroscopy has been proven as a non-invasive, fast and reliable technique highly promising for the analysis of drug products. Until recently, attention has been paid to active ingredients, but the spectral drug product signature has rarely been used in spite of having potential valuable information. In this work, confocal Raman microscopy was used to obtain the spectral signature of the most widely used benzodiazepine products. Firstly, the study aimed at determining appropriate Raman mapping spectra to obtain each benzodiazepine signature with low sampling error. Then, PCA scores and loadings showed that the variability, measured on the variance, among batches of the same benzodiazepine drug was similar to the variability of the spectral signature of the same tablet (or capsule content) and the same batch, mainly attributed to the heterogeneity of such drug products. Interestingly, differentiation among doses of the same active ingredient (AI), benzodiazepine drugs with different AIs manufactured by the same pharmaceutical company, and drugs with the same AI but manufactured by different companies were demonstrated. It is remarkable that for low doses, the active ingredient is almost absent of the spectral signature, but the differentiation is mainly achieved by excipients. As a consequence, the spectral signature obtained by confocal Raman microscopy can be used for discriminating among these benzodiazepine drugs without requiring a clearly identifiable band related to the active ingredient in the corresponding Raman spectra

Ecological studies in Alto Guadalquivir wetlands : a first step towards the application of conservation plans

This paper reviews the most recent studies carried out in the Alto Guadalquivir wetlands. Data on wetland inventory and classification in typologies, faunal and floral community values are presented as well as the effects that agricultural pollutants have on some aquatic species. These results support the need for a correct wetland policy that allows for the conservation of these aquatic ecosystems.Este trabajo revisa los estudios más recientes llevados a cabo en los humedales de la comarca del Alto Guadalquivir. Se presentan datos sobre el inventario de humedales y su clasificación en tipologías, los valores más relevantes de sus comunidades de flora y fauna y los efectos que ejercen los contaminantes agrícolas sobre algunas especies. Estos resultados apoyan la necesidad de una correcta política de humedales que permita la conservación de estos ecosistemas acuáticos

Unusual striped dolphin mass mortality episode related to cetacean morbillivirus in the Spanish Mediterranean sea

BACKGROUND In the last 20 years, Cetacean Morbillivirus (CeMV) has been responsible for many die-offs in marine mammals worldwide, as clearly exemplified by the two dolphin morbillivirus (DMV) epizootics of 1990-1992 and 2006-2008, which affected Mediterranean striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba). Between March and April 2011, the number of strandings on the Valencian Community coast (E Spain) increased. CASE PRESENTATION Necropsy and sample collection were performed in all stranded animals, with good state of conservation. Subsequently, histopathology, immunohistochemistry, conventional reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Universal Probe Library (UPL) RT-PCR assays were performed to identify Morbillivirus. Gross and microscopic findings compatible with CeMV were found in the majority of analyzed animals. Immunopositivity in the brain and UPL RT-PCR positivity in seven of the nine analyzed animals in at least two tissues confirmed CeMV systemic infection. Phylogenetic analysis, based on sequencing part of the phosphoprotein gene, showed that this isolate is a closely related dolphin morbillivirus (DMV) to that responsible for the 2006-2008 epizootics. CONCLUSION The combination of gross and histopathologic findings compatible with DMV with immunopositivity and molecular detection of DMV suggests that this DMV strain could cause this die-off event

Challenge 6: Open Science: reproducibility, transparency and reliability

Open Science is becoming a new paradigm in scientific research and complex changes are being done. This new way in knowledge development requires a great transformation that will allow science to adapt efficiently and effectively to the urgency of the problems to be solved while ensuring the reproducibility, transparency and reliability of scientific results. This chapter analyzes the impact of this change of model, the challenges to be addressed and the expected benefits.Peer reviewe

Pseudomonas pseudoalcaligenes CECT5344, a cyanide‑degrading bacterium with by‑product (polyhydroxyalkanoates) formation capacity

Background: Cyanide is one of the most toxic chemicals produced by anthropogenic activities like mining and jewelry industries, which generate wastewater residues with high concentrations of this compound. Pseudomonas pseudoalcaligenes CECT5344 is a model microorganism to be used in detoxification of industrial wastewaters containing not only free cyanide (CN−) but also cyano-derivatives, such as cyanate, nitriles and metal-cyanide complexes. Previous in silico analyses suggested the existence of genes putatively involved in metabolism of short chain length (scl-) and medium chain length (mcl-) polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) located in three different clusters in the genome of this bacterium. PHAs are polyesters considered as an alternative of petroleum-based plastics. Strategies to optimize the bioremediation process in terms of reducing the cost of the production medium are required. Results: In this work, a biological treatment of the jewelry industry cyanide-rich wastewater coupled to PHAs production as by-product has been considered. The functionality of the pha genes from P. pseudoalcaligenes CECT5344 has been demonstrated. Mutant strains defective in each proposed PHA synthases coding genes (Mpha−, deleted in putative mcl-PHA synthases; Spha−, deleted in the putative scl-PHA synthase) were generated. The accumulation and monomer composition of scl- or mcl-PHAs in wild type and mutant strains were confirmed by gas chromatographymass spectrometry (GC–MS). The production of PHAs as by-product while degrading cyanide from the jewelry industry wastewater was analyzed in batch reactor in each strain. The wild type and the mutant strains grew at similar rates when using octanoate as the carbon source and cyanide as the sole nitrogen source. When cyanide was depleted from the medium, both scl-PHAs and mcl-PHAs were detected in the wild-type strain, whereas scl-PHAs or mcl-PHAs were accumulated in Mpha− and Spha−, respectively. The scl-PHAs were identified as homopolymers of 3-hydroxybutyrate and the mcl-PHAs were composed of 3-hydroxyoctanoate and 3-hydroxyhexanoate monomers. Conclusions: These results demonstrated, as proof of concept, that talented strains such as P. pseudoalcaligenes might be applied in bioremediation of industrial residues containing cyanide, while concomitantly generate by-products like polyhydroxyalkanoates. A customized optimization of the target bioremediation process is required to gain benefits of this type of approaches

Gene therapy with mesenchymal stem cells expressing IFN-ß ameliorates neuroinflammation in experimental models of multiple sclerosis

Background and purpose: Recombinant IFN-ß is one of the first-line treatments in multiple sclerosis (MS), despite its lack of efficacy in some patients. In this context, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) represent a promising therapeutic alternative due to their immunomodulatory properties and multipotency. Moreover, by taking advantage of their pathotropism, these cells can be genetically modified to be used as carriers for delivering or secreting therapeutic drugs into injured tissues. Here, we report the therapeutic effect of systemic delivery of adipose-derived MSCs (AdMSCs), transduced with the IFN-β gene, into mice with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). Experimental approach: Relapsing-remitting and chronic progressive EAE were induced in mice. Cells were injected i.v. Disease severity, inflammation and tissue damage were assessed clinically, by flow cytometry of spleens and histopathological evaluation of the CNS respectively. Key results: Genetic engineering did not modify the biological characteristics of these AdMSCs (morphology, growth rate, immunophenotype and multipotency). Furthermore, the transduction of IFN-ß to AdMSCs maintained and, in some cases, enhanced the functional properties of AdMSCs by ameliorating the symptoms of MS in EAE models and by decreasing indications of peripheral and central neuro-inflammation. Conclusion and implications: Gene therapy was found to be more effective than cell therapy in ameliorating several clinical parameters in both EAE models, presumably due to the continuous expression of IFN-β. Furthermore, it has significant advantages over AdMSC therapy, and also over systemic IFN-ß treatment, by providing long-term expression of the cytokine at therapeutic concentrations and reducing the frequency of injections, while minimizing dose-limiting side effects

Resource Recovery Potential From Lignocellulosic Feedstock Upon Lysis With Ionic Liquids

Lignocellulosic residues from energy crops offer a high potential to recover bioproducts and biofuels that can be used as raw matter for agriculture activities within a circular economy framework. Anaerobic digestion (AD) is a well-established driver to convert these residues into energy and bioproducts. However, AD of lignocellulosic matter is slow and yields low methane potential, and therefore several pre-treatment methods have been proposed to increase the energy yield of this process. Hereby, we have assessed the pre-treatment of lignocellulosic biomass (barley straw) with the ionic liquid (IL) 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate and its effect on the biochemical methane potential (BMP). The BMP of the residue was evaluated at different inoculum to substrate (I/S) ratios and working under meso and thermophilic conditions. Solids destruction upon AD is highly enhanced by the IL-pretreatment. This also resulted in a higher BMP, both in mesophilic as well as thermophilic conditions. At the optimum I/S ratio of 2:1 (dried weight, dw), the BMP of the IL-pre-treated feedstock increased 28 and 80% for 35 days of thermophilic and mesophilic AD, respectively, as compared to the fresh feedstock, achieving values of 364 and 412 LCH4/kgTS. We also explored the effect of this pretreatment on the phosphorus recovery potential from the digestate upon release from the AD process. Thermophilic anaerobic digestion of IL-pre-treated biomass provided the highest P recovery potential from lignocellulosic residues (close to 100% of the theoretical P content of the lignocellulosic feedstock). Therefore, the pretreatment of lignocellulosic feedstock with IL before AD is a promising platform to obtain bioenergy and recover P to be regained for the agriculture sector