Draft Genome Sequence of Firmicute Strain S0AB, a Heterotrophic Iron/Sulfur-Oxidizing Extreme Acidophile

The draft whole-genome sequence of the extremely acidophilic and novel Firmicutes strain S(0)AB is reported. The genome comprises 3.3 Mbp and has a GC content of 43.72%. In total, 3,240 protein-coding genes, 56 tRNA genes, and 11 rRNA genes were predicted

Does narrator variability facilitate incidental word learning in the classroom?

Published online: 20 September 2021Recent studies have revealed that presenting novel words across various contexts (i.e., contextual diversity) helps to consolidate the meaning of these words both in adults and children. This effect has been typically explained in terms of semantic distinctiveness (e.g., Semantic Distinctiveness Model, Jones et al., Canadian Journal of Experimental Psychology, 66(2), 115, 2012). However, the relative influence of other, non-semantic, elements of the context is still unclear. In this study, we examined whether incidental learning of new words in children was facilitated when the words were uttered by several individuals rather than when they were uttered by the same individual. In the learning phase, the to-be-learned words were presented through audible fables recorded either by the same voice (low diversity) or by different voices (high diversity). Subsequently, word learning was assessed through two orthographic and semantic integration tasks. Results showed that words uttered by different voices were learned better than those uttered by the same voice. Thus, the benefits of contextual diversity in word learning extend beyond semantic differences among contexts; they also benefit from perceptual differences among contexts.Open Access funding provided thanks to the CRUE-CSIC agreement with Springer Nature. Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation, and Universities: PSI2017-86210-P

Open Access of COVID-19-related publications in the first quarter of 2020: a preliminary study based in PubMed

Background: The COVID-19 outbreak has made funders, researchers and publishers agree to have research publications, as well as other research outputs, such as data, become openly available. In this extraordinary research context of the SARS CoV-2 pandemic, publishers are announcing that their coronavirus-related articles will be made immediately accessible in appropriate open repositories, like PubMed Central (PMC), agreeing upon funders' and researchers' instigation.Methods: This work uses Unpaywall, OpenRefine and PubMed to analyse the level of openness of the papers about COVID-19, published during the first quarter of 2020. It also analyses Open Access (OA) articles published about previous coronavirus (SARS CoV-1 and MERS CoV) as a means of comparison.Results: A total of 5,611 COVID-19-related articles were analysed from PubMed. This is a much higher amount for a period of 4 months compared to those found for SARS CoV-1 and MERS during the first year of their first outbreaks (337 and 125 articles, respectively). Regarding the levels of openness, 97.4% of the SARS CoV-2 papers are freely available; similar rates were found for the other coronaviruses. Deeper analysis showed that (i) 68.3% of articles belong to an undefined Bronze category; (ii) 72.1% of all OA papers don't carry a specific license and in all cases where there is, half of them do not meet Open Access standards; (iii) there is a large proportion that present a copy in a repository, in most cases in PMC, where this trend is also observed. These patterns were found to be repeated in most frequent publishers: Elsevier, Springer and Wiley.Conclusions: Our results suggest that, although scientific production is much higher than during previous epidemics and is open, there is a caveat to this opening, characterized by the absence of fundamental elements and values ​​on which Open Science is based, such as licensing[version 2; peer review: 2 approved, 1 approved with reservations

Factores explicativos de la deserción de estudiantes de pedagogía

El objetivo del artículo es identificar los factores que influyen en la deserción de estudiantes de pedagogía, considerando sus características individuales y académicas. El estudio se realizó con 531 estudiantes de la cohorte 2009. La investigación es de tipo cuantitativo, con un diseño explicativo, longitudinal y no experimental. La información se recolectó a partir de datos secundarios, los cuales fueron analizados según el método de análisis de supervivencia, modelados a través de la regresión de riesgos proporcionales de Cox. Los resultados demostraron que las variables individuales que explican la deserción de los estudiantes corresponden al sexo y la procedencia de la región del Bio Bio. Por otro lado, las variables académicas que explican la deserción universitaria corresponden al promedio de notas de enseñanza media, el lugar en la lista de seleccionados, provenir de un establecimiento secundario científico-humanista, el total de asignaturas inscritas, el último promedio curricular y la suspensión de estudios. Se concluye que las capacidades asociadas al nivel de logro de los resultados académicos y la gestión de apoyo social para los estudiantes, se constituyen en aspectos significativos para mantener el compromiso por permanecer en el programa académico. En la medida que las capacidades y la gestión de apoyo sean positivas, los estudiantes contarán con interacciones favorables que apoyarán su participación a nivel institucional, lo cual favorecerá su desarrollo intelectual y académico. Finalmente, se concluye que a nivel de política institucional resulta relevante gestionar el apoyo de las capacidades y la adaptación de los estudiantes, ya que se contribuirá en la generación de un equilibrio positivo entre la integración académica y social, a partir de la configuración de elementos que apoyarán el desarrollo de un contexto de motivación que permitirá mantener el compromiso de los estudiantes por el logro de la meta de graduación

Does narrator variability facilitate incidental word learning in the classroom?

Recent studies have revealed that presenting novel words across various contexts (i.e., contextual diversity) helps to consolidate the meaning of these words both in adults and children. This effect has been typically explained in terms of semantic distinctiveness (e.g., Semantic Distinctiveness Model, Jones et al., Canadian Journal of Experimental Psychology, 66(2), 115, 2012). However, the relative influence of other, non-semantic, elements of the context is still unclear. In this study, we examined whether incidental learning of new words in children was facilitated when the words were uttered by several individuals rather than when they were uttered by the same individual. In the learning phase, the to-be-learned words were presented through audible fables recorded either by the same voice (low diversity) or by different voices (high diversity). Subsequently, word learning was assessed through two orthographic and semantic integration tasks. Results showed that words uttered by different voices were learned better than those uttered by the same voice. Thus, the benefits of contextual diversity in word learning extend beyond semantic differences among contexts; they also benefit from perceptual differences among contexts.Psicologí

PH-dependent bioavailability, speciation, and phytotoxicity of Tungsten (W) in Soil Affect Growth and Molybdoenzyme Activity of Nodulated Soybeans

Increasing use of tungsten (W)-based products opened new pathways for W into environmental systems. Due to its chemical alikeness with molybdenum (Mo), W is expected to behave similarly to its "twin element", Mo; however, our knowledge of the behavior of W in the plant-soil environment remains inadequate. The aim of this study was to investigate plant growth as well as W and nutrient uptake depending on soil chemical properties such as soil pH and texture. Soybean (Glycine max cv. Primus) was grown on two acidic soils differing in soil texture that were either kept at their natural soil pH (pH of 4.5-5) or limed (pH of ≥7) and amended with increasing concentrations of metallic W (control and 500 and 5000 mg kg-1). In addition, the activity of molybdoenzymes involved in N assimilation (nitrate reductase) and symbiotic N2 fixation (nitrogenase) was also investigated. Our results showed that the risk of W entering the food web was significantly greater in high-pH soils due to increased solubility of mainly monomeric W. The effect of soil texture on W solubility and phytoavailability was less pronounced compared to soil pH. Particularly at intermediate W additions (W 500 mg kg-1), symbiotic nitrogen fixation was able to compensate for reduced leaf nitrate reductase activity. When W soil solution concentrations became too toxic (W 5000 mg kg-1), nodulation was more strongly inhibited than nitrogenase activity in the few nodules formed, suggesting a more-efficient detoxification and compartmentalization mechanism in nodules than in soybean leaves. The increasing presence of polymeric W species observed in low-pH soils spiked with high W concentrations resulted in decreased W uptake. Simultaneously, polymeric W species had an overall negative effect on nutrient assimilation and plant growth, suggesting a greater phytotoxicity of W polymers. Our study demonstrates the importance of accounting for soil pH in risk assessment studies of W in the plant-soil environment, something that has been completely neglected in the past.Fil: Oburger, Eva. Universidad de Viena; AustriaFil: Vergara Cid, Carolina. Universitat Fur Bodenkultur Wien; Austria. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal; ArgentinaFil: Preiner, Julian. Universidad de Viena; Austria. Universitat Fur Bodenkultur Wien; AustriaFil: Hu, Junjian. Universitat Fur Bodenkultur Wien; AustriaFil: Hann, Stephan. Universitat Fur Bodenkultur Wien; AustriaFil: Wanek, Wolfgang. Universidad de Viena; AustriaFil: Richter, Andreas. Universidad de Viena; Austri

Percepción de calidad y sentido de vida en confinamiento social por la pandemia mundial Covid-19 en estudiantes universitarios.

The purpose of this investigation was to describe the perception of the quality and sense of life under a social lockdown on university students due of the Covid-19 pandemic. A quantitative methodology was implemented, using as instruments: a survey, an instrument (WhooQho-Brief) and the PIL sense of life scale. The findings allow us to identify that the quality of life of the 219 students was moderately affected by social confinement in about 85% of the student population, finding that many of these students have protective factors such as their social relationships, helping them to maintain live these relationships by the use of social networks tools, likewise another protective factor identified was the family union since these students were mostly accompanied by relatives at the time of mandatory lockdown. Likewise, in relation to their sense of life, we can identify that 49% manifest a high orientation towards achievement (8%), fulfillment (22%) and inner fulfillment (19%); 34.7% of the students have a very high perception of the meaning of life, alike the experience of the meaning is located in a 54.8% and the attitude towards death in a 15.9%El propósito de esta investigación fue describir la percepción de la calidad y sentido de vida en confinamiento social por la pandemia mundial del Covid-19 de estudiantes universitarios. Se utilizó una metodología cuantitativa, utilizando como instrumentos: una encuesta, un instrumento (WhooQho-Brief) y la escala de sentido de vida PIL. Los hallazgos encontrados permiten identificar que la calidad de vida de vida de los 219 estudiantes se vio medianamente afectada por el confinamiento social en un en un 85%, reflexionando esta información se analiza que estos estudiantes cuentan con factores protectores como lo son sus relaciones sociales, ayudados a mantener estas relaciones a través de las redes sociales utilizadas, así mismo se puede identificar otro factor protector - la familia -, ya que estos estudiantes en su gran mayoría estaban acompañado por familiares en el momento del confinamiento obligatorio. Así mismo en relación a su sentido de vida podemos identificar que el 49% manifiesta una alta orientación hacia el logro (8%), plenitud (22%) y realización interior (19%); los estudiantes tienen una muy alta percepción del sentido de vida en un 34,7% asimismo la vivencia del sentido se ubica en un 54,8 % y la actitud hacia la muerte en un 15,9%

Automatic use of phonological codes during word recognition in deaf signers of Spanish Sign Language.

The poor reading skills often found in deaf readers are typically explained on the basis of underspecified print-to-sound mapping and poorer use of spoken phonology. Whilst prior research using explicit phonological tasks has shown that deaf readers can use phonological codes when required, an open question is whether congenitally deaf readers can automatically use phonological codes when reading. We designed a masked sandwich priming experiment to examine whether deaf readers can automatic activate phonological codes during the early stages of lexical processing. 24 deaf participants had to decide whether a target stimulus was a word or not. We also recruited a group of 24 hearing controls. Each target word was preceded by a pseudohomophone or by an orthographic control prime. Results showed faster word identification times in the pseudohomophone than in the control condition (i.e., masked phonological priming). The magnitude of this phonological effect was similar in the two groups, thus supporting the view that phonological codes are automatically activated during word identification. The pattern of correlations of the phonological priming effect with reading ability suggested that the amount of sub-lexical use of phonological information might be a main contributor to reading ability for hearing but not for deaf readers

3D printed monoliths: From powder to an efficient catalyst for antibiotic degradation

To improve the effectiveness and durability of wastewater treatment technologies, researchers are showing a growing interest in 3D printing technology. This technology has attracted significant interest owing to its ability to fabricate challenging complex geometries using different material compositions. This manuscript is focused on the development of 3D monoliths from noncommercial filaments, i.e., a powder blend of iron oxide and polylactic acid (PLA) at 15 wt% of the former. Different monolith designs have been prepared to improve the fluid dynamics of the process, so a simple cylinder (15-Fe3O4@PLA) and a cylinder with double the length and an internal mesh (15-Fe3O4@PLA-DM) were used. These monoliths were characterized by Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and Mossbauer ¨ spectroscopy, then used for water-based ofloxacin degradation in a continuous down-up flow configuration. Additionally, computational fluid dynamics simulations were performed to estimate the degradation rate constants and analyze the distribution of fluid velocity and pollutant concentration along the 15-Fe3O4@PLA-reactor. The oxidant dose was also optimized to develop the highest degradation rate. The degradation of the target pollutant for those monoliths was 55 and 82 % under optimized conditions. In addition, the 15-Fe3O4@PLA-DM monolith was operated for long term experiments, keeping the degradation performance at a good 67 % for up to 120 h. Finally a fixed-bed reactor was mounted with printed pellets of the mixture (15:85), Fe3O4:PLA, after being ground in a range of 125–200 μm. Under this setup configuration, we observed the total degradation of ofloxacin. 3D printing technology is cheap, reproducible and time saving in the development of supported catalysts in comparison with conventional deposition techniques. Moreover, the leaching of active sites on streams was largely diminished. In fact under continuous operation the leached Fe concentration is below 0.1 ppm, corroborating the good adhesion of the catalyst in the PLA supportThis research has been supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation thorough the project PID2021-123431OB-I0

Detección de la metabolización de sorbato en alimentos empleando tecnología MWIR.

Las levaduras son agentes cada vez más relevantes en el deterioro de alimentos siendo algunas de sus principales manifestaciones el crecimiento en superficie, y la producción de gas, sabores y olores desagradables. El ácido sórbico y sus sales derivadas son empleadas habitualmente como conservantes. Estos conservantes son agentes fungistáticos que originan alteraciones morfológicas y metabólicas en dichos microorganismos con el fin de evitar su crecimiento. Sin embargo, existen microorganismos que pueden metabolizarlos produciendo un deterioro del producto. En este trabajo se han empleado muestras procedentes de agua saborizada embotellada, cuya composición incluye agua, zumo de pera, ácido cítrico, zumo de maracuyá y melocotón, aromas naturales, edulcorantes, antioxidantes y conservadores (sorbato potásico). Dicha botella presentaba una contaminación fúngica y un fuerte olor a petróleo, presuntamente debido a la descarboxilación en 1-3 pentadieno del conservante alimenticio, sorbato potásico, que figuraba en su composición. La conclusión principal de este estudio es que es viable emplear la espectroscopía MIR para la cuantificación de la presencia de pentadieno en muestras líquidas de alimentos, siendo éste un compuesto derivado de la descarboxilación del ácido sórbico y sus sales asociadas