Knowledge, Cognitive demand and contexts in the assessment of scientific literacy in PISA

La alfabetización científica responde a qué es importante saber, valorar y saber hacer en situaciones en las que intervienen la ciencia y la tecnología y como objetivo educativo, requiere un cuestionamiento de las formas de enseñar y evaluar el aprendizaje de las ciencias. Este trabajo presenta el análisis sistemático de 106 ítems de las pruebas realizadas entre los años 2000 y 2015 dentro del programa PISA (Programme for International Student Assessment). La finalidad es analizar el tipo de conocimiento evaluado y el papel que los contextos y la demanda cognitiva juegan en la evaluación de la alfabetización científica en dicho programa. Los resultados muestran que las actividades se ubican mayoritariamente en contextos cotidianos o utilitarios y requieren no solo el dominio de conceptos científicos, sino también la comprensión de aspectos epistémicos de la ciencia con una infrarrepresentación de aspectos procedimentales. El análisis bidimensional del tipo de conocimiento evaluado y la demanda cognitiva exigida muestra que más del 80% de las actividades se asocian con una demanda cognitiva baja (recordar y comprender). Los resultados sugieren la necesidad de reforzar el número de actividades que requieren la aplicación, evaluación y creación de conocimiento con objeto de enfatizar habilidades cognitivas de orden superior, especialmente relevantes en un mundo dominado por la ciencia y la tecnología.Scientific literacy responds to what is important to know, value and be able to do in situations involving science and technology and as an educational goal, requires rethinking science teaching and the corresponding assessment methods. This work presents the systematic analysis of 106 items from tests to assess scientific literacy run from 2000-2015 in PISA (Programme for International Student Assessment). In line with recommendations from the specialised research, results show that questions are mainly situated in real life contexts and scenarios that bring purpose and meaning to the knowledge to be used, demanding not only conceptual knowledge but also an understanding of epistemic aspects of science, though procedural knowledge is underrepresented. Nevertheless, the bi-dimensional analysis of the type of knowledge and the cognitive demand shows that over 80% of questions focus on the application of low order skills (remember and understanding). These results suggest the need to increase activities that require the evaluation and creation of knowledge to enhance high order cognitive skills and to better prepare individuals for a critical and active participation in a world shaped by science and technology

Economic activity and climate change

In this paper,we surve yrecent econometric contributions t omeasure the relationship between economic activity and climate change.Due to the critical relevance of these effectsfor the well-being of future generations,there is an explosion of publications devoted to measuring this relationship and its main channels.The relation between economic activity andclimate change is complex with the possibility of causality running in both directions. Starting from economic activity,the channels that relate economic activity and climate changeare energy consumption and the consequent pollution. Hence, we first describe the main econometric contributions about the interactions between economic activity and energy consumption, moving then to describing the contributions on the interactions between economicactivity and pollution. Finally, we look at the main results on the relationship between climate change and economic activity. An important consequence of climate change is the increasing occurrence of extreme weather phenomena. Therefore,we also survey contributions on the economice effects of catastrophic climate phenomena

Importancia de la vigilancia pasiva y análisis de factores de riesgo en la prevención frente a las garrapatas asociadas a la especie humana en un hábitat mediterráneo.

1.RESUMEN Introducción: La emergencia de las zoonosis puede explicarse por diversos mecanismos, que se asocian a cambios ecológicos y del entorno. La reciente epidemia de Fiebre Hemorrágica de Crimea Congo en Turquía, transmitida por garrapatas, el creciente número de casos en áreas que no eran consideradas como endémicas y el hallazgo reciente de un foco activo del virus en España, ha llevado a los investigadores a desarrollar diferentes estudios centrados en comprender la influencia del ambiente y los reservorios en la circulación del virus por las garrapatas. Metodología: Se siguió un diseño de estructura múltiple con dos partes diferenciadas de carácter analítico: por un lado, una búsqueda bibliográfica, y por otro, un estudio epidemiológico observacional. Resultados y discusión: Se llevó a cabo un análisis sobre la distribución temporal y espacial de las garrapatas (2006-2011) extraídas de personas que habían sufrido su picadura y que acudieron a los hospitales para su extracción. Se identificaron las especies y estadios de las garrapatas recogidas, se estudió la estacionalidad de los registros, y se obtuvieron varios datos relativas cada paciente. de esta forma, se analizó la influencia, del género y edad de los pacientes, sobre la presencia de las diferentes especies de garrapatas, y se asoció el tipo de vegetación dominante y su fragmentación con la distribución de diferentes garrapatas. Conclusiones: Si bien estacionalidad y edad de las personas constituyen factores de riesgo para la picadura de garrapatas, es necesario referenciar los registros con la zona geográfica de picadura y no referirlos al hospital, para poder evaluar correctamente las características del hábitat que favorecen la presencia o ausencia de los parásitos. La vigilancia epidemiológica debe ir enfocada a personas con actividades que conlleven riesgo de sufrir una picadura por garrapata

Anàlisi de les accions defensives del porter en el futbol 7

L’anàlisi de la competició serà un mitjà per millorar el coneixement del joc del porter des d’una perspectiva física i tecnicotàctica. A més a més, suposarà una font d’informació per a l’organització i el disseny de les tasques específiques per a l’entrenament del porter, que han d’assegurar un treball en què es realitzin situacions semblants a la mateixa competició. Per tal de desenvolupar el joc defensiu, el porter ha de coordinar les seves accions amb la defensa del seu equip i, alhora, el joc defensiu de l’equip estarà condicionat per l’atac de l’equip contrari. Per això, per analitzar l’aportació del porter en el joc defensiu de l’equip, es va valorar l’atac contrari, l’acció tècnica defensiva, l’acció física i la zona d’intervenció on realitza l’acció el porter. La mostra de l’estudi la formaven 34 porters de les seleccions nacionals participants en 56 partits del Mundial de Corea i el Japó 2002. L’instrument d’observació que es va utilitzar va ser el sistema de categories. Abans de la recollida de les dades es va realitzar l’entrenament dels observadors, per a la qual cosa es va fer servir la metodologia exposada per Behar (1993). Es van utilitzar 5 observadors i es va establir un índex de confiança (Coeficient de Correlació Intraclasse o Índex de Kappa) del 0,95. Es va realitzar una anàlisi estadística de caràcter descriptiu, dintre de la qual es van calcular les mitjanes, desviacions típiques, mínims i màxims dels comportaments efectuats pels diferents porters; es va utilitzar el programa estadístic SPSS.11.5

Effect of a New Natural Seasoning on the Formation of Pyrazines in Barbecued Beef Patties

The formation of pyrazines in food cooking is required to obtain satisfactory “roasted” flavor.The aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of a new red wine pomace seasoning (RWPS) on the formation of pyrazines in barbecued beef patties. Five pyrazines were successfully identified, 2,5-dimethylpyrazine being the most abundant. Although 2-ethyl-5-methylpyrazine was in lower levels, it presented the highest odor units, due to its low threshold. RWPS enhanced the formation of the five identified pyrazines (2.1 times), without relevant changes in the proportion between them.The highest increase was observed for 2-ethyl-6-methylpyrazine (3 times higher than in control). These results were corroborated by electronic nose analysis, presenting RWPS beef patties higher odor intensities. Mechanisms to explain these effects are also proposed in the present work, and the high content of polyphenols seems to be the major cause of the observed results.The use of RWPS could improve the flavor characteristics of meat products or enable using less intense cooking conditions with no changes in the flavor.Autonomous Government of Castilla y Le´on through the research Projects BU282U1

Antimicrobial properties and volatile profile of bread and biscuits melanoidins

This work gives novel information about the antimicrobial effect and volatiles of melanoidins isolated from Maria biscuit, common and soft bread. Melanoidins were isolated from scraped and sieved crusts (1 mm), after gluten digestion, 10 kDa ultrafiltration, and diafiltration. Finally, they were freeze-dried. Headspace solid-phase dynamic extraction coupled with a gas chromatograph with a mass spectrometer was used to determine the volatile profiles. The antimicrobial effect was evaluated against isolated strains of the most relevant food spoilage and pathogen microorganisms, together with some molds and yeasts. Melanoidins from common bread exhibited the most extensive antimicrobial activities and showed the most composite volatile profile. No undesirable compounds, such as furfural and 5-hydroxy-methyl-furfural, were found in any of the melanoidins studied. The obtained data pointed out that bakery melanoidins can exert effective food technological properties as natural antimicrobials that can improve shelf-life and security of foodstuffs, together with a possible contribution to food aroma.Government of Autonomous Community of Castile-Leon and FEDER funds [JCyL/FEDER, BU243P18]

Structural insights into choline-O-sulfatase reveal the molecular determinants for ligand binding

This work was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation/FEDER grants PID2020-116261GB-I00 (JAG) and RTI2018-097991-B-I00 (JLN), Secretaria General de Universidades, Investigacion y Tecnologia, Junta de Andalucia (PY20-00149 and UAL18-BIO-B005-B; ACA) and the University of Granada (grant PPJI2017-1; SMR). Funding for open access charge: Universidad de Granada/CBUA.Choline-O-sulfatase (COSe; EC 3.1.6.6) is a member of the alkaline phosphatase (AP) superfamily, and its natural function is to hydrolyze choline-O-sulfate into choline and sulfate. Despite its natural function, the major interest in this enzyme resides in the landmark catalytic/substrate promiscuity of sulfatases, which has led to attention in the biotechnological field due to their potential in protein engineering. In this work, an in-depth structural analysis of wild-type Sinorhizobium (Ensifer) meliloti COSe (SmeCOSe) and its C54S active-site mutant is reported. The binding mode of this AP superfamily member to both products of the reaction (sulfate and choline) and to a substrate-like compound are shown for the first time. The structures further confirm the importance of the C-terminal extension of the enzyme in becoming part of the active site and participating in enzyme activity through dynamic intra-subunit and inter-subunit hydrogen bonds (Asn146A–Asp500B–Asn498B). These residues act as the ‘gatekeeper’ responsible for the open/closed conformations of the enzyme, in addition to assisting in ligand binding through the rearrangement of Leu499 (with a movement of approximately 5 A ° ). Trp129 and His145 clamp the quaternary ammonium moiety of choline and also connect the catalytic cleft to the C-terminus of an adjacent protomer. The structural information reported here contrasts with the proposed role of conformational dynamics in promoting the enzymatic catalytic proficiency of an enzyme.Spanish Government European Commission PID2020-116261GB-I00 RTI2018-097991-B-I00Secretaria General de UniversidadesJunta de Andalucia PY20-00149 UAL18-BIO-B005-BUniversity of Granada PPJI2017-

The heterologous expression of a plastocyanin in the diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum improves cell growth under iron-deficient conditions

We have investigated if the heterologous expression of a functional green alga plastocyanin in the diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum can improve photosynthetic activity and cell growth. Previous in vitro assays showed that a single-mutant of the plastocyanin from the green algae Chlamydomonas reinhardtii is effective in reducing P. tricornutum photosystem I. In this study, in vivo assays with P. tricornutum strains expressing this plastocyanin indicate that even the relatively low intracellular concentrations of holo-plastocyanin detected (≈4 μM) are enough to promote an increased growth (up to 60%) under iron-deficient conditions as compared with the WT strain, measured as higher cell densities, content in pigments and active photosystem I, global photosynthetic rates per cell, and even cell volume. In addition, the presence of plastocyanin as an additional photosynthetic electron carrier seems to decrease the over-reduction of the plastoquinone pool. Consequently, it promotes an improvement in the maximum quantum yield of both photosystem II and I, together with a decrease in the acceptor side photoinhibition of photosystem II—also associated to a reduced oxidative stress—a decrease in the peroxidation of membrane lipids in the choroplast, and a lower degree of limitation on the donor side of photosystem I. Thus the heterologous plastocyanin appears to act as a functional electron carrier, alternative to the native cytochrome c6, under iron-limiting conditions.Junta de Andalucía PAIDI BIO-022Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad BIO2015-64169-