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Abstract Background Processing environments can be an important source of pathogenic and spoilage microorganisms that cross contaminate meat and meat products. The aim of this study was to characterize the microbiome of raw materials, processing environments and end products from 19 facilities producing different meat products. Results The taxonomic profiles of the microbial communities evolved along processing, from raw materials to end products, suggesting that food contact (FC) surfaces play an important role in modulating the microbiome of final products. Some species persisted with the highest relative abundance in raw materials, food processing environments and/or in the final product, including species from the genera Pseudomonas, Staphylococcus, Brochothrix, Acinetobacter and Psychrobacter. Processing environments showed a very diverse core microbiota, partially shared with the products. Pseudomonas fragi and Pseudomonas sp. Lz4W (in all sample and facility types) and Brochothrix thermosphacta, Psychrobacter sp. and Psychrobacter sp. P11F6 (in raw materials, FC surfaces and end products) were prominent members of the core microbiota for all facilities, while Latilactobacillus sakei was found as a dominant species exclusively in end products from the facilities producing fermented sausages. Processing environments showed a higher amount of antimicrobial resistance genes and virulence factors than raw materials and end products. One thousand four hundred twenty-one medium/high-quality metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) were reconstructed. Of these, 274 high-quality MAGs (completeness > 90%) corresponded to 210 putative new species, mostly found in processing environments. For two relevant taxa in meat curing and fermentation processes (S. equorum and L. sakei, respectively), phylogenetic variation was observed associated with the specific processing facility under study, which suggests that specific strains of these taxa may be selected in different meat processing plants, likely contributing to the peculiar sensorial traits of the end products produced in them. Conclusions Overall, our findings provide the most detailed metagenomics-based perspective up to now of the microbes that thrive in meat, meat products and associated environments and open avenues for future research activities to better understand the microbiome functionality and potential contribution to meat quality and safety. Video Abstract

Introduction The Long Coronavirus Disease (COVID) Symptom and Impact Tools (ST and IT) were published in English in 2022 to monitor the symptoms and impact of persistent COVID-19. ST includes 53 symptoms selected by the patient. IT includes six aspects of life that the patient must rate from 1 to 10 points. We aim to report the results of the cultural adaptation of both instruments for the Chilean population, together with the content validity of the adapted instrument. Methods The cultural adaptation was carried out in five steps: 1) translation from English to Spanish, 2) synthesis, 3) back-translation, 4) review by the editorial board, and 5) testing the questionnaire with ten patients; they answered both questionnaires and seven questions assessing their understanding of the TI and their opinion on whether the instrument reflected the impact of prolonged COVID-19 on their lives. The content validity of the final version of the IT was assessed by 14 experts. Results The main outcome is the two final questionnaires adapted for use in Chile. Most patients responded with the best concept or approval for all items. Content validity showed acceptable results, with an average content validity index of 0.9 and Aiken's V for the relevance of the questionnaire in general of 0.83 (95% CI 0.69 to 0.92). For one item, Aiken's V was less than 0.7 (95% CI 0.5 to 0.8). Conclusions This study provides Chilean health authorities and health providers with an instrument for assessing the impact of prolonged COVID-19 on core aspects of people's lives.

Low- middle-income countries (LMICs) are facing challenges for reaching outstanding performance on indicators related to wellbeing during the first 1000 days of life, therefore it is expected to observe difficulties for improving their Human Capital Index (HCI). These come from the impact of inadequate antenatal care, maternal short stature, inadequate breastfeeding, prematurity, low birthweight, small for gestational age newborns, and pregnancy in adolescent years on human capital from the first thousand days of life to long term on life. Therefore, the aim of this study was to implement a non-systematic review of the existing literature between February 2000 and October 2022 using MeSH terms related to each factor. Results: in LMICs antenatal care does not meet the required goals. High rate of adolescent pregnancies, and lower maternal stature are being reported; 6.5 million newborns in LMICs are small for gestational age, 50% LBW newborns are preterm. Exclusive breastfeeding is low in LMICs: 28-70%. Survival, schooling, and health are strongly associated with growth and adult height showing the impact of the disadvantages experienced in early life over HC. We can conclude: the determinants of good health in the first 1000 days of life do not meet the goals needed to improve growth and health during this critical period of life in LMICs, leading to important obstacles for achieving adequate health conditions and reaching an optimal HCI.

Abstract Background Artisanal cheeses usually contain a highly diverse microbial community which can significantly impact their quality and safety. Here, we describe a detailed longitudinal study assessing the impact of ripening in three natural caves on the microbiome and resistome succession across three different producers of Cabrales blue-veined cheese. Results Both the producer and cave in which cheeses were ripened significantly influenced the cheese microbiome. Lactococcus and the former Lactobacillus genus, among other taxa, showed high abundance in cheeses at initial stages of ripening, either coming from the raw material, starter culture used, and/or the environment of processing plants. Along cheese ripening in caves, these taxa were displaced by other bacteria, such as Tetragenococcus, Corynebacterium, Brevibacterium, Yaniella, and Staphylococcus, predominantly originating from cave environments (mainly food contact surfaces), as demonstrated by source-tracking analysis, strain analysis at read level, and the characterization of 613 metagenome-assembled genomes. The high abundance of Tetragenococcus koreensis and Tetragenococcus halophilus detected in cheese has not been found previously in cheese metagenomes. Furthermore, Tetragenococcus showed a high level of horizontal gene transfer with other members of the cheese microbiome, mainly with Lactococcus and Staphylococcus, involving genes related to carbohydrate metabolism functions. The resistome analysis revealed that raw milk and the associated processing environments are a rich reservoir of antimicrobial resistance determinants, mainly associated with resistance to aminoglycosides, tetracyclines, and β-lactam antibiotics and harbored by aerobic gram-negative bacteria of high relevance from a safety point of view, such as Escherichia coli, Salmonella enterica, Acinetobacter, and Klebsiella pneumoniae, and that the displacement of most raw milk-associated taxa by cave-associated taxa during ripening gave rise to a significant decrease in the load of ARGs and, therefore, to a safer end product. Conclusion Overall, the cave environments represented an important source of non-starter microorganisms which may play a relevant role in the quality and safety of the end products. Among them, we have identified novel taxa and taxa not previously regarded as being dominant components of the cheese microbiome (Tetragenococcus spp.), providing very valuable information for the authentication of this protected designation of origin artisanal cheese. Video Abstract

Introducción: La formación del profesorado para las competencias inclusivas ha ganado importancia recientemente ya que los profesores reconocen la necesidad de estar plenamente formados para ofrecer la mejor respuesta educativa al alumnado con necesidades educativas especiales. El objetivo de esta investigación es realizar una Revisión Sistemática y analizar las publicaciones en base a sus características, temas de investigación y competencias docentes, siguiendo las directrices PRISMA. Método: Se realiza una búsqueda en las bases de datos de Scopus y WoS obteniendo 75 publicaciones entre 2016 y 2022. Se plantean 10 preguntas de investigación enmarcadas dentro de 3 áreas temáticas. Resultados: Los resultados dan respuesta a las preguntas planteadas destacando las características de los artículos, la metodología y método que se ha utilizado en cada estudio, así como las competencias estudiadas. Discusión: Se concluye que las competencias con mayor análisis de estudio están parcialmente relacionadas con las propuestas por la Agencia Nacional de Evaluación de Calidad y Acreditación (ANECA) en los Libros Blancos. A la luz de los resultados, se proponen programas formativos para los docentes que contemplen contenido vinculado con competencias específicas para favorecer la inclusión educativa del alumnado con necesidades educativas especiales.

The recent discovery of “ultrahot” ( P < 1 day) Neptunes has come as a surprise: some of these planets have managed to retain gaseous envelopes despite being close enough to their host stars to trigger strong photoevaporation and/or Roche lobe overflow. Here, we investigate atmospheric escape in LTT 9779b, an ultrahot Neptune with a volatile-rich envelope. We observed two transits of this planet using the newly commissioned WINERED spectrograph ( R ∼ 68,000) on the 6.5 m Clay/Magellan II Telescope, aiming to detect an extended upper atmosphere in the He 10830 Å triplet. We found no detectable planetary absorption: in a 0.75 Å passband centered on the triplet, we set a 2 σ upper limit of 0.12% ( δ R _p / H < 14) and a 3 σ upper limit of 0.20% ( δ R _p / H < 22). Using a H/He isothermal Parker wind model, we found corresponding 95% and 99.7% upper limits on the planetary mass-loss rate of $\dot{M}\lt {10}^{10.03}$ g s ^−1 and $\dot{M}\lt {10}^{11.11}$ g s ^−1 , respectively, smaller than predicted by outflow models even considering the weak stellar X-ray and ultraviolet emission. The low evaporation rate is plausibly explained by a metal-rich envelope, which would decrease the atmospheric scale height and increase the cooling rate of the outflow. This hypothesis is imminently testable: if metals commonly weaken planetary outflows, then we expect that JWST will find high atmospheric metallicities for small planets that have evaded detection in He 10830 Å.

The signal from a transiting planet can be diluted by astrophysical contamination. In the case of circumstellar debris disks, this contamination could start in the mid-infrared and vary as a function of wavelength, which would then change the observed transmission spectrum for any planet in the system. The MIRI/Low Resolution Spectrometer WASP-39b transmission spectrum shows an unexplained dip starting at ∼10 μ m that could be caused by astrophysical contamination. The spectral energy distribution displays excess flux at similar levels to that which are needed to create the dip in the transmission spectrum. In this Letter, we show that this dip is consistent with the presence of a bright circumstellar debris disk, at a distance of >2 au. We discuss how a circumstellar debris disk like that could affect the atmosphere of WASP-39b. We also show that even faint debris disks can be a source of contamination in MIRI exoplanet spectra.

Resumen: ¿Qué cambios trae el mundo digital a la forma como abordamos la salud? ¿Cómo están incidiendo las tecnologías digitales en la medicina? Este artículo presenta una panorámica sobre estos temas, dirigida a los profesionales de la salud, con el objetivo de apoyar la comprensión de las transformaciones que las tecnologías digitales están produciendo en la salud, la medicina y el mundo de los cuidados. Organiza las transformaciones en el área en cinco dimensiones: los datos como la base del nuevo mundo digital; la Web como nuevo espacio de información y conocimiento; la comunicación y medios digitales; las herramientas y máquinas digitales en salud que conforman la medicina digital; y el impacto de la inteligencia artificial en el área de salud.El enfoque es introductorio, enfatizando temas claves y literatura para profundizar en ellos. Abstract: What changes does the digital world bring to the way we approach health? How are digital technologies affecting medicine? This article presents an overview of these issues, aimed at health professionals, with the aim of supporting the understanding of the transformations that digital technologies are producing in health, medicine and the world of care. It organizes the transformations in the area in five dimensions: data as the basis of the new digital world; the Web as a new space for information and knowledge; communication and digital media; the digital tools and machines in health that make up digital medicine; and the impact of artificial intelligence in the health area.The approach is introductory, emphasizing key themes and literature to encourage further study.

Abstract Introduction Outcome measures traditionally used in spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) clinical trials are inadequate to assess the full range of disease severity. The aim of this study was to assess the psychometric properties of a set of existing questionnaires and new items, gathering information on the impact of SMA from the patient and caregiver perspectives. Methods This was a multicenter, prospective, noninterventional study including patients with a confirmed diagnosis of 5q-autosomal-recessive SMA aged 8 years and above, or their parents (if aged between 2 and 8 years). The set of outcome measurements included the SMA Independence Scale (SMAIS) patient and caregiver versions, the Neuro-QoL Fatigue Computer Adaptive Test (CAT), the Neuro-QoL Pain Short Form—Pediatric Pain, the PROMIS adult Pain Interference CAT, and new items developed by Fundación Atrofia Muscular España: perceived fatigability, breathing and voice, sleep and rest, and vulnerability. Reliability, construct validity, discriminant validity, and sensitivity to change (4 months from baseline) were measured. Results A total of 113 patients were included (59.3% 2–17 years old, 59.3% male, and 50.4% with SMA type II). Patients required moderate assistance [mean patient and caregiver SMAIS (SD) scores were 31.1 (12.8) and 7.6 (11.1), respectively]. Perceived fatigability was the most impacted domain, followed by vulnerability. Cronbach’s alpha coefficient for perceived fatigability, breathing and voice, and vulnerability total scores were 0.92, 0.88, and 0.85, respectively. The exploratory factor analysis identified the main factors considered in the design, except in the sleep and rest domain. All questionnaires were able to discriminate between the Clinical Global Impression—Severity scores and SMA types. Sensitivity to change was only found for the SMAIS caregiver version and vulnerability items. Conclusions This set of outcome measures showed adequate reliability, construct validity, and discriminant validity and may constitute a valuable option to measure symptom severity in patients with SMA.

Background: Whole-breast irradiation (WBI) after breast conserving surgery (BCS) is indicated to improve loco-regional control and survival. Former studies showed that addition of tumor bed boost in all age groups significantly improved local control although no apparent impact on overall survival but with an increased risk of worse cosmetic outcome. Even though shortened regimens in 3 weeks are considered the standard, recent studies have shown the non-inferiority of a treatment regimen of 5 fractions in one-week in both locoregional control and toxicity profile, although simultaneous integrated boost (SIB) in this setting has been scarcely studied. Materials and Methods: From March-2020 to March-2022, 383 patients with early breast cancer diagnosis and a median age of 56 years-old (range 30–99)were included in a prospective registry of ultra-hypofractionated WBI up to a total dose of 26 Gy in 5.2 Gy/fraction with a SIB of 29 Gy in 5.8 Gy/fraction in 272 patients (71%), 30–31 Gy in 6–6.2 Gy/fraction in 111 patients (29%) with close/focally affected margins. Radiation treatment was delivered by conformal 3-D technique in 366 patients (95%), VMAT in 16patients (4%) and conformal 3-D with deep inspiration breath hold (DIBH) in 4patients (1%). Ninety-three per cent of patients received endocrine therapy and 43% systemic or targeted chemotherapy. Development of acute skin complications was retrospectively reviewed. Results: With a median follow-up of 18 months (range 7–31), all patients are alive without evidence of local, regional or distant relapse. Acute tolerance was acceptable, with null o mild toxicity: 182 (48%) and 15 (4%) patients developed skin toxicity grade 1 and 2 respectively; 9 (2%) and 2 (0.5%) patients breast edema grade 1and 2 respectively. No other acute toxicities were observed. We also evaluated development of early delayed complications and observed grade 1 breast edema in 6 patients (2%); grade 1 hyperpigmentation in 20 patients (5%); and grade 1 and 2 breast induration underneath boost region in 10(3%) and 2 patients (0.5%) respectively. We found a statistically significant correlation between the median PTVWBI and presence of skin toxicity (p = 0.028) as well as a significant correlation between late hyperpigmentation with the median PTVBOOST (p = 0.007) and the ratio PTVBOOST/PTVWBI (p = 0.042). Conclusion: Ultra-hypofractionated WBI + SIB in 5 fractions over one-week is feasible and well tolerated, although longer follow-up is necessary to confirm these results.

Abstract Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is a worldwide leading cause of death. Recognized risk factors in some severe cases have not been identified. Lymphocytopenia has been frequently described in CAP. Since IL-7, membrane-bound receptor (IL7Rα;CD127) and soluble IL7Rα (sIL7R) are critical in lymphocytes homeostasis, in this work we aimed to evaluate the involvement of the IL-7/IL7Rα axis in the severity of adult CAP, since it has not been explored. The IL7Rα SNPs rs6897932, rs987106, and rs3194051 SNPs in IL7α were genotyped, the systemic expression of the IL7R gene, sIL7R, IL-7, and levels of peripheral IL7Rα+ T lymphocytes were quantified in 202 hospitalized CAP cases. rs3194051GG was more frequent in non-survivors than in survivors; rs987106TT was more frequent and rs3194051AA less frequent in patients at intensive care unit (ICU) than in those not admitted to ICU. IL7Rα gene expression was lower in non-survivors than in survivors, and in severe than in mild cases. CD3+CD127+ lymphocytes were lower in severe than in mild cases; in non-survivors than in survivors and in ICU than in non- ICU admitted cases. sIL7Rα plasmatic levels were higher in non-survivors than in survivors, and in severe than in mild cases. rs6897932CC, rs987106AA and rs3194051GG carriers showed the highest while rs6897932TT showed the lowest sIL7Rα levels. The AUC of sIL7Rα levels predicting 30-day mortality was 0.71. Plasma IL-7 levels were lower in ICU-admitted than in not ICU-admitted and in non-survivors than in survivors. No additional association was detected. In conclusion, rs3194051GG and rs987106TT IL7R genotypes were associated with a poorer prognosis. A significant association between sIL7R levels and SNPs of the IL7R gene is described for the first time in adult CAP. Increased plasmatic sIL7R could contribute to identifying adult CAP cases at risk of death.

We present the first broadband near- to mid-infrared (3–12 μ m) transmission spectrum of the highly irradiated ( T _eq = 981 K) M-dwarf rocky planet L 168-9 b (TOI-134 b) observed with the Near-infrared Spectrograph and Mid-infrared Instrument (MIRI) instruments aboard JWST. We measure the near-infrared transit depths to a combined median precision of 20 ppm across the three visits in 54 spectroscopic channels with uniform widths of 60 pixels (∼0.2 μ m wide; R ∼ 100), and the mid-infrared transit depths to 61 ppm median precision in 48 wavelength bins (∼0.15 μ m wide; R ∼ 50). We compare the transmission spectrum of L 168-9 b to a grid of 1D thermochemical equilibrium forward models, and rule out atmospheric metallicities of less than 100× solar (mean molecular weights 1 bar), cloudless atmospheres. Based on photoevaporation models for L 168-9 b with initial atmospheric mass fractions ranging from 2% to 100%, we find that this planet could not have retained a primordial H/He atmosphere beyond the first 200 Myr of its lifetime. Follow-up MIRI eclipse observations at 15 μ m could make it possible to confidently identify a CO _2 -dominated atmosphere on this planet if one exists.

We present a JWST Near-InfraRed Spectrograph (NIRSpec) transmission spectrum of the super-Earth exoplanet L 98-59 c. This small ( R _p = 1.385 ± 0.085 R _⊕ , M _p = 2.22 ± 0.26 R _⊕ ), warm ( T _eq = 553 K) planet resides in a multiplanet system around a nearby, bright ( J = 7.933) M3V star. We find that the transmission spectrum of L 98-59 c is featureless at the precision of our data. We achieve precisions of 22 ppm in NIRSpec G395H’s NRS1 detector and 36 ppm in the NRS2 detector at a resolution R ∼ 200 (30 pixel wide bins). At this level of precision, we are able rule out primordial H _2 –He atmospheres across a range of cloud pressure levels up to at least ∼0.1 mbar. By comparison to atmospheric forward models, we also rule out atmospheric metallicities below ∼300× solar at 3 σ (or, equivalently, atmospheric mean molecular weights below ∼10 g mol ^−1 ). We also rule out pure methane atmospheres. The remaining scenarios that are compatible with our data include a planet with no atmosphere at all, or higher-mean-molecular-weight atmospheres, such as CO _2 - or H _2 O-rich atmospheres. This study adds to a growing body of evidence suggesting that planets ≲1.5 R _⊕ lack extended atmospheres.

We present a JWST/Near Infrared Camera (NIRCam) transmission spectrum from 3.9 to 5.0 μ m of the recently validated sub-Earth GJ 341b ( R _P = 0.92 R _⊕ , T _eq = 540 K) orbiting a nearby bright M1 star ( d = 10.4 pc, K _mag = 5.6). We use three independent pipelines to reduce the data from the three JWST visits and perform several tests to check for the significance of an atmosphere. Overall, our analysis does not uncover evidence of an atmosphere. Our null hypothesis tests find that none of our pipelines’ transmission spectra can rule out a flat line, although there is weak evidence for a Gaussian feature in two spectra from different pipelines (at 2.3 and 2.9 σ ). However, the candidate features are seen at different wavelengths (4.3 μ m versus 4.7 μ m), and our retrieval analysis finds that different gas species can explain these features in the two reductions (CO _2 at 3.1 σ compared to O _3 at 2.9 σ ), suggesting that they are not real astrophysical signals. Our forward-model analysis rules out a low-mean-molecular-weight atmosphere (

Superpuffs are planets with exceptionally low densities ( ρ ≲ 0.1 g cm ^−3 ) and core masses ( M _c ≲ 5 M _⊕ ). Many lower-mass ( M _p ≲ 10 M _⊕ ) superpuffs are expected to be unstable to catastrophic mass loss via photoevaporation and/or boil-off, whereas the larger gravitational potentials of higher-mass ( M _p ≳ 10 M _⊕ ) superpuffs should make them more stable to these processes. We test this expectation by studying atmospheric loss in the warm, higher-mass superpuff TOI-1420b ( M = 25.1 M _⊕ , R = 11.9 R _⊕ , ρ = 0.08 g cm ^−3 , T _eq = 960 K). We observed one full transit and one partial transit of this planet using the metastable helium filter on Palomar/WIRC and found that the helium transits were 0.671% ± 0.079% (8.5 σ ) deeper than the TESS transits, indicating an outflowing atmosphere. We modeled the excess helium absorption using a self-consistent 1D hydrodynamics code to constrain the thermal structure of the outflow given different assumptions for the stellar XUV spectrum. These calculations then informed a 3D simulation, which provided a good match to the observations with a modest planetary mass-loss rate of 10 ^10.82 g s ^−1 ( ${M}_{p}/\dot{M}\approx 70$ Gyr). Superpuffs with M _p ≳ 10 M _⊕ , like TOI-1420b and WASP-107b, appear perfectly capable of retaining atmospheres over long timescales; therefore, these planets may have formed with the unusually large envelope mass fractions they appear to possess today. Alternatively, tidal circularization could have plausibly heated and inflated these planets, which would bring their envelope mass fractions into better agreement with expectations from core-nucleated accretion.

We present two transit observations of the ∼870 K, 1.7 R _⊕ super-Earth TOI-836b with JWST NIRSpec/G395H, resulting in a 2.8–5.2 μ m transmission spectrum. Using two different reduction pipelines, we obtain a median transit depth precision of 34 ppm for Visit 1 and 36 ppm for Visit 2, leading to a combined precision of 25 ppm in spectroscopic channels 30 pixels wide (∼0.02 μ m). We find that the transmission spectrum from both visits is well fit by a zero-sloped line, by fitting zero-sloped and sloped lines as well as step functions to our data. Combining both visits, we are able to rule out atmospheres with metallicities

We search for excess in-transit absorption of neutral helium at 1.083 μ m in the atmospheres of the young (

The Hubble Space Telescope (HST) has been our most prolific tool to study exoplanet atmospheres. As the age of JWST begins, there are a wealth of HST archival data that are useful to strengthen our inferences from JWST. Notably, HST/Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (STIS), with its 0.3–1 μ m wavelength coverage, extends past JWST’s 0.6 μ m wavelength cutoff and holds an abundance of potential information: alkali (Na, K) and molecular (TiO, VO) species opacities, aerosol information, and the presence of stellar contamination. However, time-series observations with HST suffer from significant instrumental systematics and can be highly dependent on choices made during the transit fitting process. This makes comparing transmission spectra of planets with different data reduction methodologies challenging, as it is difficult to discern whether an observed trend is caused by differences in data reduction or underlying physical processes. Here we present the Sculpting Hubble’s Exoplanet Legacy (SHEL) program, which aims to build a consistent data reduction and light-curve analysis methodology and associated database of transmission spectra from archival HST observations. In this paper, we present the SHEL analysis framework for HST/STIS and its low-resolution spectroscopy modes, G430L and G750L. We apply our methodology to four notable hot Jupiters, WASP-39 b, WASP-121 b, WASP-69 b, and WASP-17 b, and use these examples to discuss nuances behind analysis with HST/STIS. Our results for WASP-39 b, WASP-121 b, and WASP-17 b are consistent with past publications, but our analysis of WASP-69 b differs and shows evidence of either a strong scattering slope or stellar contamination. The data reduction pipeline and tutorials are available on Github and Zenodo.

Planets between the sizes of Earth and Neptune are the most common in the Galaxy, bridging the gap between the terrestrial and giant planets in our solar system. Now that we are firmly in the era of JWST, we can begin to measure, in more detail, the atmospheres of these ubiquitous planets to better understand their evolutionary trajectories. The two planets in the TOI-836 system are ideal candidates for such a study, as they fall on either side of the radius valley, allowing for direct comparisons of the present-day atmospheres of planets that formed in the same environment but had different ultimate end states. We present results from the JWST NIRSpec G395H transit observation of the larger and outer of the planets in this system, TOI-836c (2.587 R _⊕ , 9.6 M _⊕ , T _eq ∼ 665 K). While we measure average 30-pixel binned precisions of ∼24 ppm for NRS1 and ∼43 ppm for NRS2 per spectral bin, we do find residual correlated noise in the data, which we attempt to correct using the JWST Engineering Database. We find a featureless transmission spectrum for this sub-Neptune planet and are able to rule out atmospheric metallicities

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a devastating genetic neurodegenerative disease caused by the insufficient production of Survival Motor Neuron (SMN) protein. It presents different phenotypes with frequent contractures and dislocations, scoliosis, and pain. This study aims to report the prevalence and description of pain and how it affects daily life by analyzing a new ad hoc questionnaire. An observational study of patients under 18 years of age with SMA was conducted at two referral centers in Spain. Data were analyzed using a descriptive analysis and a Bayesian ordinal regression model to assess the association with clinical and demographic variables. Fifty-one individuals were included in this study, 27% of whom reported pain with a median duration of 5.2 years and a mean Visual Analogic Scale (VAS) score of 5. Notably, 77% were receiving disease-modifying treatment, with more than 50% receiving analgesic treatment. The Bayesian model showed that functional status, lower limb contractures, and number of visits have a high probability (>90%) of influencing pain. Thus, the prevalence of pain in the SMA population under 18 years is substantial, and its presence could be associated with lower limb contractures, better functional status, and higher RULM (Revised Upper Limb Module) scores.

Reseña de Enzo Traverso, Revolución. Una historia intelectual, Buenos Aires, FCE, 2022, 615 pgs.

Plasmids are relevant reservoirs of antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) which confer adaptive advantages to their host and can be horizontally transferred. The aims of this study were to develop a conjugation procedure to monitor the horizontal transfer of a 193 kb plasmid containing the extended-spectrum β-lactamase production gene blaCTX-M-14 between two Escherichia coli strains under a range of food chain-related scenarios, including temperature (20–37 °C), pH (5.0–9.0) or the presence of some biocidal agents (benzalkonium chloride, sodium hypochlorite or peracetic acid). The average conjugation rate in LB broth after 18 h at 37 °C was 2.09e-04 and similar rates were observed in a food matrix (cow's milk). The conjugation was reduced at temperatures below 37 °C, at alkaline pH (especially at pH 9.0) or in the presence of benzalkonium chloride. Peracetic acid and sodium hypochlorite slightly increased conjugation rates, which reached 5.59e-04 and 6.77e-03, respectively. The conjugation procedure described can be used to identify risk scenarios leading to an enhanced ARGs transmission via plasmid conjugation, as well as to identify novel intervention strategies impairing plasmid conjugation and tackling antimicrobial resistance.

Planets orbiting M-dwarf stars are prime targets in the search for rocky exoplanet atmospheres. The small size of M dwarfs renders their planets exceptional targets for transmission spectroscopy, facilitating atmospheric characterization. However, it remains unknown whether their host stars’ highly variable extreme-UV radiation environments allow atmospheres to persist. With JWST, we have begun to determine whether or not the most favorable rocky worlds orbiting M dwarfs have detectable atmospheres. Here, we present a 2.8–5.2 μ m JWST NIRSpec/G395H transmission spectrum of the warm (700 K, 40.3× Earth’s insolation) super-Earth GJ 486b (1.3 R _⊕ and 3.0 M _⊕ ). The measured spectrum from our two transits of GJ 486b deviates from a flat line at 2.2 σ − 3.3 σ , based on three independent reductions. Through a combination of forward and retrieval models, we determine that GJ 486b either has a water-rich atmosphere (with the most stringent constraint on the retrieved water abundance of H _2 O > 10% to 2 σ ) or the transmission spectrum is contaminated by water present in cool unocculted starspots. We also find that the measured stellar spectrum is best fit by a stellar model with cool starspots and hot faculae. While both retrieval scenarios provide equal quality fits ( ${\chi }_{\nu }^{2}=1.0$ ) to our NIRSpec/G395H observations, shorter wavelength observations can break this degeneracy and reveal if GJ 486b sustains a water-rich atmosphere.

Carbon monoxide (CO) is predicted to be the dominant carbon-bearing molecule in giant planet atmospheres and, along with water, is important for discerning the oxygen and therefore carbon-to-oxygen ratio of these planets. The fundamental absorption mode of CO has a broad, double-branched structure composed of many individual absorption lines from 4.3 to 5.1 μ m, which can now be spectroscopically measured with JWST. Here we present a technique for detecting the rotational sub-band structure of CO at medium resolution with the NIRSpec G395H instrument. We use a single transit observation of the hot Jupiter WASP-39b from the JWST Transiting Exoplanet Community Early Release Science (JTEC ERS) program at the native resolution of the instrument ( R ∼ 2700) to resolve the CO absorption structure. We robustly detect absorption by CO, with an increase in transit depth of 264 ± 68 ppm, in agreement with the predicted CO contribution from the best-fit model at low resolution. This detection confirms our theoretical expectations that CO is the dominant carbon-bearing molecule in WASP-39b’s atmosphere and further supports the conclusions of low C/O and supersolar metallicities presented in the JTEC ERS papers for WASP-39b.

Studies of exoplanetary atmospheres have found no definite correlations between observed high-altitude aerosols and other system parameters. This could be, in part, because of the lack of homogeneous exoplanet samples for which specific parameters can be isolated and inspected. Here, we present a set of seven exoplanets with very similar system parameters. We analyze existing photometric time series, Gaia parallax, and high-resolution spectroscopic data to produce a new set of homogeneous stellar, planetary, and orbital parameters for these systems. With this, we confirm that most measured parameters for all systems are very similar, except for the host stars’ metallicities and possibly high-energy irradiation levels, which require UV and X-ray observations to constrain. From the sample, WASP-6b, WASP-96b, and WASP-110b have observed transmission spectra that we use to estimate their aerosol coverage levels using the Na i doublet 5892.9 Å. We find a tentative correlation between the metallicity of the host stars and the planetary aerosol levels. The trend we find with stellar metallicity can be tested by observing transmission spectra of the remaining planets in the sample. Based on our prediction, WASP-25b and WASP-55b should have higher levels of aerosols than WASP-124b and HATS-29b. Finally, we highlight how targeted surveys of alike planets similar to the ones presented here might prove key for identifying driving factors for atmospheric properties of exoplanets in the future and could be used as a sample selection criterion for future observations with, e.g., JWST, ARIEL, and the next generation of ground-based telescopes.

Carbon monoxide was recently reported in the atmosphere of the hot Jupiter WASP-39b using the NIRSpec PRISM transit observation of this planet, collected as part of the JWST Transiting Exoplanet Community Early Release Science Program. This detection, however, could not be confidently confirmed in the initial analysis of the higher-resolution observations with NIRSpec G395H disperser. Here we confirm the detection of CO in the atmosphere of WASP-39b using the NIRSpec G395H data and cross-correlation techniques. We do this by searching for the CO signal in the unbinned transmission spectrum of the planet between 4.6 and 5.0 μ m, where the contribution of CO is expected to be higher than that of other anticipated molecules in the planet’s atmosphere. Our search results in a detection of CO with a cross-correlation function (CCF) significance of 6.6 σ when using a template with only ^12 C ^16 O lines. The CCF significance of the CO signal increases to 7.5 σ when including in the template lines from additional CO isotopologues, with the largest contribution being from ^13 C ^16 O. Our results highlight how cross-correlation techniques can be a powerful tool for unveiling the chemical composition of exoplanetary atmospheres from medium-resolution transmission spectra, including the detection of isotopologues.

The search for rocky planet atmospheres with JWST has focused on planets transiting M dwarfs. Such planets have favorable planet-to-star size ratios, enhancing the amplitude of atmospheric features. Since the expected signal strength of atmospheric features is similar to the single-transit performance of JWST, multiple observations are required to confirm any detection. Here, we present two transit observations of the rocky planet GJ 1132 b with JWST NIRSpec G395H, covering 2.8–5.2 μ m. Previous Hubble Space Telescope WFC3 observations of GJ 1132 b were inconclusive, with evidence reported for either an atmosphere or a featureless spectrum based on analyses of the same data set. Our JWST data exhibit substantial differences between the two visits. One transit is consistent with either an H _2 O-dominated atmosphere containing ∼1% CH _4 and trace N _2 O ( ${\chi }_{\nu }^{2}=1.13$ ) or stellar contamination from unocculted starspots ( ${\chi }_{\nu }^{2}=1.36$ ). However, the second transit is consistent with a featureless spectrum. Neither visit is consistent with a previous report of HCN. Atmospheric variability is unlikely to explain the scale of the observed differences between the visits. Similarly, our out-of-transit stellar spectra show no evidence of changing stellar inhomogeneity between the two visits—observed 8 days apart, only 6.5% of the stellar rotation rate. We further find no evidence of differing instrumental systematic effects between visits. The most plausible explanation is an unlucky random noise draw leading to two significantly discrepant transmission spectra. Our results highlight the importance of multivisit repeatability with JWST prior to claiming atmospheric detections for these small, enigmatic planets.

The recent advances in information and communication technology have given rise to radical changes in how we interact and communicate in our social, educational, and working environments. However, the potential and opportunities offered by these technologies are not fully available across society due to huge differences in their use and uptake, that is, what has traditionally been called the digital divide. Current research indicates that this divide is intimately connected to economic inequalities and social exclusion. The digital divide manifests primarily for those groups where economic resources are scarcest, and among such groups we find the lowest rates of device ownership and personal internet connection. Secondary to this, and the focus of the majority of literature on the subject, the digital divide further aggravates existing socioeconomic differences and even generates new forms of social exclusion. Taking a positive point of view, this situation does also imply that eliminating the digital divide could help alleviate social exclusion. Nevertheless, for social and educational intervention programmes to have any real effect on social exclusion, we need to have a more in-depth understanding of processes and variables that cause it at an individual level. In this way we could design interventions tailored to the personal interests, needs, limitations, and potential of every individual and that would prioritise particularly disadvantaged groups, which, according to this study include older people, the less well educated, those with health problems, and the unemployed.

Abstract Background The microorganisms that inhabit food processing environments (FPE) can strongly influence the associated food quality and safety. In particular, the possibility that FPE may act as a reservoir of antibiotic-resistant microorganisms, and a hotspot for the transmission of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) is a concern in meat processing plants. Here, we monitor microbial succession and resistome dynamics relating to FPE through a detailed analysis of a newly opened pork cutting plant over 1.5 years of activity. Results We identified a relatively restricted principal microbiota dominated by Pseudomonas during the first 2 months, while a higher taxonomic diversity, an increased representation of other taxa (e.g., Acinetobacter, Psychrobacter), and a certain degree of microbiome specialization on different surfaces was recorded later on. An increase in total abundance, alpha diversity, and β-dispersion of ARGs, which were predominantly assigned to Acinetobacter and associated with resistance to certain antimicrobials frequently used on pig farms of the region, was detected over time. Moreover, a sharp increase in the occurrence of extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcaceae was observed when cutting activities started. ARGs associated with resistance to β-lactams, tetracyclines, aminoglycosides, and sulphonamides frequently co-occurred, and mobile genetic elements (i.e., plasmids, integrons) and lateral gene transfer events were mainly detected at the later sampling times in drains. Conclusions The observations made suggest that pig carcasses were a source of resistant bacteria that then colonized FPE and that drains, together with some food-contact surfaces, such as equipment and table surfaces, represented a reservoir for the spread of ARGs in the meat processing facility. Video Abstract

Abstract Background Humans spend the bulk of their time in indoor environments. This space is shared with an indoor ecosystem of microorganisms, which are in continuous exchange with the human inhabitants. In the particular case of hospitals, the environmental microorganisms may influence patient recovery and outcome. An understanding of the bacterial community structure in the hospital environment is pivotal for the prevention of hospital-acquired infections and the dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes. In this study, we performed a longitudinal metagenetic approach in a newly opened ward at the Charité Hospital (Berlin) to characterize the dynamics of the bacterial colonization process in the hospital environment after first patient occupancy. Results The sequencing data showed a site-specific taxonomic succession, which led to stable community structures after only a few weeks. This data was further supported by network analysis and beta-diversity metrics. Furthermore, the fast colonization process was characterized by a significant increase of the bacterial biomass and its alpha-diversity. The compositional dynamics could be linked to the exchange with the patient microbiota. Over a time course of 30 weeks, we did not detect a rise of pathogenic bacteria in the hospital environment, but a significant increase of antibiotic resistance determinants on the hospital floor. Conclusions The results presented in this study provide new insights into different aspects of the environmental microbiome in the clinical setting, and will help to adopt infection control strategies in hospitals and health care-related buildings. Video Abstract

La figura laboral del asistente personal es fundamental para que las personas con discapacidad hagan realidad su derecho a vivir de forma independiente. Sin embargo, en España su regulación es casi nula, lo que se traduce en un escaso uso, debido a que las personas con discapacidad encuentran muchas dificultades a la hora de contratarlos/las directamente, ya que no existe un encaje adecuado en la relación laboral que se debe establecer ni en el régimen de la seguridad social que debe utilizarse para estos/as profesionales. Con este artículo se pretende poner de manifiesto la necesidad de aprobar una normativa jurídica y laboral que regule estos aspectos, y para ello se ha realizado un análisis de las diferentes normativas sobre los derechos de las personas con discapacidad y la asistencia personal, así como un estudio de esta figura laboral y su encuadre jurídico en las distintas formas de contratación.

El cierre de los centros educativos en España ha supuesto una adaptación inmediata sobre la forma de garantizar el aprendizaje. Los docentes han tenido que adaptarse de manera inmediata a un entorno digital de enseñanza y las familias han debido de atender con garantías a las tareas virtuales de sus hijos. El presente estudio tiene dos objetivos: a) analizar las variables relativas a la relación existente entre la familia, los centros educativos y los docentes, así como sus problemas para apoyar a los alumnos; b) analizar el efecto que tiene el modelo de enseñanza empleado por el docente en el seguimiento de la enseñanza virtual. Se ha utilizado una metodología cuantitativa con un diseño ex post facto descriptivo por encuesta, en el que han participado 3700 docentes y 5867 familias de todo el territorio español. Las principales dificultades se han encontrado en la falta de apoyo por parte de la administración y en la formación en competencia digital del profesorado. También ha quedado de manifiesto la necesidad de trabajar la autonomía y la autorregulación de los estudiantes y además existieron deferencias significativas en función del modelo de enseñanza (centrado en contenido versus en competencia) de los docentes.

We present high-precision radial velocities (RVs) from the HARPS-N spectrograph for HD 79210 and HD 79211, two M0V members of a gravitationally bound binary system. We detect a planet candidate with a period of ${24.421}_{-0.017}^{+0.016}$ days around HD 79211 in these HARPS-N RVs, validating the planet candidate originally identified in CARMENES RV data alone. Using HARPS-N, CARMENES, and RVs spanning a total of 25 yr, we further refine the planet candidate parameters to P = 24.422 ± 0.014 days, K = 3.19 ± 0.27 m s ^−1 , M sin i = 10.6 ± 1.2 M _⊕ , and a = 0.142 ± 0.005 au. We do not find any additional planet candidate signals in the data of HD 79211, nor do we find any planet candidate signals in HD 79210. This system adds to the number of exoplanets detected in binaries with M-dwarf members and serves as a case study for planet formation in stellar binaries.

Radial velocity (RV) measurements of transiting multiplanet systems allow us to understand the densities and compositions of planets unlike those in the solar system. Kepler-102, which consists of five tightly packed transiting planets, is a particularly interesting system since it includes a super-Earth (Kepler-102d) and a sub-Neptune-sized planet (Kepler-102e) for which masses can be measured using RVs. Previous work found a high density for Kepler-102d, suggesting a composition similar to that of Mercury, while Kepler-102e was found to have a density typical of sub-Neptune size planets; however, Kepler-102 is an active star, which can interfere with RV mass measurements. To better measure the mass of these two planets, we obtained 111 new RVs using Keck/HIRES and Telescopio Nazionale Galileo/HARPS-N and modeled Kepler-102's activity using quasiperiodic Gaussian process regression. For Kepler-102d, we report a mass upper limit M _d < 5.3 M _⊕ (95% confidence), a best-fit mass M _d = 2.5 ± 1.4 M _⊕ , and a density ρ _d = 5.6 ± 3.2 g cm ^−3 , which is consistent with a rocky composition similar in density to the Earth. For Kepler-102e we report a mass M _e = 4.7 ± 1.7 M _⊕ and a density ρ _e = 1.8 ± 0.7 g cm ^−3 . These measurements suggest that Kepler-102e has a rocky core with a thick gaseous envelope comprising 2%–4% of the planet mass and 16%–50% of its radius. Our study is yet another demonstration that accounting for stellar activity in stars with clear rotation signals can yield more accurate planet masses, enabling a more realistic interpretation of planet interiors.

K2-136 is a late-K dwarf (0.742 ± 0.039 M _⊙ ) in the Hyades open cluster with three known, transiting planets and an age of 650 ± 70 Myr. Analyzing K2 photometry, we found that planets K2-136b, c, and d have periods of 8.0, 17.3, and 25.6 days and radii of 1.014 ± 0.050 R _⊕ , 3.00 ± 0.13 R _⊕ , and 1.565 ± 0.077 R _⊕ , respectively. We collected 93 radial velocity (RV) measurements with the High-Accuracy Radial-velocity Planet Searcher for the Northern hemisphere (HARPS-N) spectrograph (Telescopio Nazionale Galileo) and 22 RVs with the Echelle SPectrograph for Rocky Exoplanets and Stable Spectroscopic Observations (ESPRESSO) spectrograph (Very Large Telescope). Analyzing HARPS-N and ESPRESSO data jointly, we found that K2-136c induced a semi-amplitude of 5.49 ± 0.53 m s ^−1 , corresponding to a mass of 18.1 ± 1.9 M _⊕ . We also placed 95% upper mass limits on K2-136b and d of 4.3 and 3.0 M _⊕ , respectively. Further, we analyzed Hubble Space Telescope and XMM-Newton observations to establish the planetary high-energy environment and investigate possible atmospheric loss. K2-136c is now the smallest planet to have a measured mass in an open cluster and one of the youngest planets ever with a mass measurement. K2-136c has ∼75% the radius of Neptune but is similar in mass, yielding a density of ${3.69}_{-0.56}^{+0.67}$ g cm ^−3 (∼2–3 times denser than Neptune). Mass estimates for K2-136b (and possibly d) may be feasible with more RV observations, and insights into all three planets’ atmospheres through transmission spectroscopy would be challenging but potentially fruitful. This research and future mass measurements of young planets are critical for investigating the compositions and characteristics of small exoplanets at very early stages of their lives and providing insights into how exoplanets evolve with time.

Molecular oxygen is a strong indicator of life on Earth and may indicate biological processes on exoplanets too. Recent studies proposed that Earth-like O _2 levels might be detectable on nearby exoplanets using high-resolution spectrographs on future extremely large telescopes (ELTs). However, these studies did not consider constraints like relative velocities, planet occurrence rates, and target observability. We expanded on past studies by creating a homogeneous catalog of 286,391 main-sequence stars within 120 pc using Gaia DR3 and used the Bioverse framework to simulate the likelihood of finding nearby transiting Earth analogs. We also simulated a survey of M dwarfs within 20 pc accounting for η _⊕ estimates, transit probabilities, relative velocities, and target observability to determine how long ELTs and theoretical 50–100 m ground-based telescopes need to observe to probe for Earth-like O _2 levels with an R = 100,000 spectrograph. This would only be possible within 50 yr for up to ∼21% of nearby M-dwarf systems if a suitable transiting habitable-zone Earth analog was discovered, assuming signals from every observable partial transit from each ELT can be combined. If so, Earth-like O _2 levels could be detectable on TRAPPIST-1 d–g within 16–55 yr, respectively, and about half that time with an R = 500,000 spectrograph. These results have important implications for whether ELTs can survey nearby habitable-zone Earth analogs for O _2 via transmission spectroscopy. Our work provides the most comprehensive assessment to date of the ground-based capabilities to search for life beyond the solar system.

Characterizing the bulk compositions of transiting exoplanets within the M dwarf radius valley offers a unique means to establish whether the radius valley emerges from an atmospheric mass-loss process or is imprinted by planet formation itself. We present the confirmation of such a planet orbiting an early-M dwarf ( T _mag = 11.0294 ± 0.0074, M _s = 0.513 ± 0.012 M _⊙ , R _s = 0.515 ± 0.015 R _⊙ , and T _eff = 3690 ± 50 K): TOI-1695 b ( P = 3.13 days and ${R}_{p}={1.90}_{-0.14}^{+0.16}\ {R}_{\oplus }$ ). TOI-1695 b’s radius and orbital period situate the planet between model predictions from thermally driven mass loss versus gas depleted formation, offering an important test case for radius valley emergence models around early-M dwarfs. We confirm the planetary nature of TOI-1695 b based on five sectors of TESS data and a suite of follow-up observations including 49 precise radial velocity measurements taken with the HARPS-N spectrograph. We measure a planetary mass of 6.36 ± 1.00 M _⊕ , which reveals that TOI-1695 b is inconsistent with a purely terrestrial composition of iron and magnesium silicate, and instead is likely a water-rich planet. Our finding that TOI-1695 b is not terrestrial is inconsistent with the planetary system being sculpted by thermally driven mass loss. We present a statistical analysis of seven well-characterized planets within the M dwarf radius valley demonstrating that a thermally driven mass-loss scenario is unlikely to explain this population.

We report the confirmation of three exoplanets transiting TOI-4010 (TIC-352682207), a metal-rich K dwarf observed by the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite in Sectors 24, 25, 52, and 58. We confirm these planets with the High Accuracy Radial velocity Planet Searcher for the Northern Hemisphere radial velocity observations and measure their masses with 8−12% precision. TOI-4010 b is a sub-Neptune ( P = 1.3 days, ${R}_{p}={3.02}_{-0.08}^{+0.08}\,{R}_{\oplus }$ , ${M}_{p}={11.00}_{-1.27}^{+1.29}\,{M}_{\oplus }$ ) in the hot-Neptune desert, and is one of the few such planets with known companions. Meanwhile, TOI-4010 c ( P = 5.4 days, ${R}_{p}={5.93}_{-0.12}^{+0.11}\,{R}_{\oplus }$ , ${M}_{p}={20.31}_{-2.11}^{+2.13}\,{M}_{\oplus }$ ) and TOI-4010 d ( P = 14.7 days, ${R}_{p}={6.18}_{-0.14}^{+0.15}\,{R}_{\oplus }$ , ${M}_{p}={38.15}_{-3.22}^{+3.27}\,{M}_{\oplus }$ ) are similarly sized sub-Saturns on short-period orbits. Radial velocity observations also reveal a super-Jupiter-mass companion called TOI-4010 e in a long-period, eccentric orbit ( P ∼ 762 days and e ∼ 0.26 based on available observations). TOI-4010 is one of the few systems with multiple short-period sub-Saturns to be discovered so far.

One of the most well-studied exoplanets to date, HD 189733 b, stands out as an archetypal hot Jupiter with many observations and theoretical models aimed at characterizing its atmosphere, interior, host star, and environment. We report here on the results of an extensive campaign to observe atmospheric escape signatures in HD 189733 b using the Hubble Space Telescope and its unique ultraviolet capabilities. We have found a tentative, but repeatable in-transit absorption of singlyionized carbon (C ii , 5.2% ± 1.4%) in the epoch of June–July/2017, as well as a neutral hydrogen (H i ) absorption consistent with previous observations. We model the hydrodynamic outflow of HD 189733 b using an isothermal Parker wind formulation to interpret the observations of escaping C and O nuclei at the altitudes probed by our observations. Our forward models indicate that the outflow of HD 189733 b is mostly neutral within an altitude of ∼2 R _p and singly ionized beyond that point. The measured in-transit absorption of C ii at 1335.7 Å is consistent with an escape rate of ∼1.1 × 10 ^11 g s ^−1 , assuming solar C abundance and an outflow temperature of 12,100 K. Although we find marginal neutral oxygen (O i ) in-transit absorption, our models predict an in-transit depth that is only comparable to the size of measurement uncertainties. A comparison between the observed Ly α transit depths and hydrodynamics models suggests that the exosphere of this planet interacts with a stellar wind at least 1 order of magnitude stronger than solar.

We present new optical transmission spectra for two hot Jupiters: WASP-25b ( M = 0.56 M _J ; R = 1.23 R _J ; P = 3.76 days) and WASP-124b ( M = 0.58 M _J ; R = 1.34 R _J ; P = 3.37 days), with wavelength coverages of 4200–9100 Å and 4570–9940 Å, respectively. These spectra are from the ESO Faint Object Spectrograph and Camera (v.2) mounted on the New Technology Telescope and Inamori-Magellan Areal Camera & Spectrograph on Magellan Baade. No strong spectral features were found in either spectra, with the data probing 4 and 6 scale heights, respectively. Exoretrievals and PLATON retrievals favor stellar activity for WASP-25b, while the data for WASP-124b did not favor one model over another. For both planets the retrievals found a wide range in the depths where the atmosphere could be optically thick (∼0.4 μ –0.2 bars for WASP-25b and 1.6 μ –32 bars for WASP-124b) and recovered a temperature that is consistent with the planets’ equilibrium temperatures, but with wide uncertainties (up to ±430 K). For WASP-25b, the models also favor stellar spots that are ∼500–3000 K cooler than the surrounding photosphere. The fairly weak constraints on parameters are owing to the relatively low precision of the data, with an average precision of 840 and 1240 ppm per bin for WASP-25b and WASP-124b, respectively. However, some contribution might still be due to an inherent absence of absorption or scattering in the planets’ upper atmospheres, possibly because of aerosols. We attempt to fit the strength of the sodium signals to the aerosol–metallicity trend proposed by McGruder et al., and find WASP-25b and WASP-124b are consistent with the prediction, though their uncertainties are too large to confidently confirm the trend.

We present the discovery of TOI-1420b, an exceptionally low-density ( ρ = 0.08 ± 0.02 g cm ^−3 ) transiting planet in a P = 6.96 days orbit around a late G-dwarf star. Using transit observations from TESS, LCOGT, Observatoire Privé du Mont, Whitin, Wendelstein, OAUV, Ca l’Ou, and KeplerCam, along with radial velocity observations from HARPS-N and NEID, we find that the planet has a radius of R _p = 11.9 ± 0.3 R _⊕ and a mass of M _p = 25.1 ± 3.8 M _⊕ . TOI-1420b is the largest known planet with a mass less than 50 M _⊕ , indicating that it contains a sizeable envelope of hydrogen and helium. We determine TOI-1420b’s envelope mass fraction to be ${f}_{\mathrm{env}}={82}_{-6}^{+7} \% $ , suggesting that runaway gas accretion occurred when its core was at most four to five times the mass of the Earth. TOI-1420b is similar to the planet WASP-107b in mass, radius, density, and orbital period, so a comparison of these two systems may help reveal the origins of close-in low-density planets. With an atmospheric scale height of 1950 km, a transmission spectroscopy metric of 580, and a predicted Rossiter–McLaughlin amplitude of about 17 m s ^−1 , TOI-1420b is an excellent target for future atmospheric and dynamical characterization.

Moons orbiting exoplanets (“exomoons”) may hold clues about planet formation, migration, and habitability. In this work, we investigate the plausibility of exomoons orbiting the temperate ( T _eq = 294 K) giant ( R = 9.2 R _⊕ ) planet HIP 41378 f, which has been shown to have a low apparent bulk density of 0.09 g cm ^−3 and a flat near-infrared transmission spectrum, hinting that it may possess circumplanetary rings. Given this planet’s long orbital period ( P ≈ 1.5 yr), it has been suggested that it may also host a large exomoon. Here, we analyze the orbital stability of a hypothetical exomoon with a satellite-to-planet mass ratio of 0.0123 orbiting HIP 41378 f. Combining a new software package, astroQTpy , with REBOUND and EqTide , we conduct a series of N -body and tidal migration simulations, demonstrating that satellites up to this size are largely stable against dynamical escape and collisions. We simulate the expected transit signal from this hypothetical exomoon and show that current transit observations likely cannot constrain the presence of exomoons orbiting HIP 41378 f, though future observations may be capable of detecting exomoons in other systems. Finally, we model the combined transmission spectrum of HIP 41378 f and a hypothetical moon with a low-metallicity atmosphere and show that the total effective spectrum would be contaminated at the ∼10 ppm level. Our work not only demonstrates the feasibility of exomoons orbiting HIP 41378 f but also shows that large exomoons may be a source of uncertainty in future high-precision measurements of exoplanet systems.

In memoriam

A propósito de la obra de Mercedes Eurrutia Cavero, Approche didactique du langage techno-scientifique : Terminologie et discours (Londres, Peter Lang, coll. Linguistic Insights: Studies in Language and Communication, 2018, 350 p., ISBN 978-3-0343-3511-9).

El presente texto aborda la necesidad de revalorar los aportes de la pedagogía crítica en relación al currículo y su potencial contribución a la resignificación del aprendizaje significativo en la educación básica. En base a los resultados obtenidos de esta investigación, realizada en la Unidad Educativa Fiscal Costa Azul de la ciudad de Manta, Ecuador, se considera el conocimiento y aplicación de la pedagogía crítica de Paulo Freire. Con ello se pretende potenciar el pensamiento crítico de los docentes y generar en los estudiantes una mejor forma de planteamiento y resolución de problemas. Se considera en este estudio que la resolución de estos problemas debe darse mediante la propuesta de talleres de estrategias pedagógicas para mejorar el desempeño académico de los docentes, con el fin de estar al nivel de las exigencias pedagógicas del currículo nacional vigente y desarrollar el intelecto de sus estudiantes, para que sean creadores de su propio conocimiento y mejorar el proceso de enseñanza-aprendizaje.

Introducción: la Enfermería surge con el origen de la humanidad y ella se ha desarrollado hasta llegar a ser considerada como la Ciencia del cuidado. Por la importancia social y humana que tiene la formación de los profesionales de este sector, para entregar a la sociedad un egresado que responda a sus exigencias. Objetivo: analizar la evolución histórica de la formación de Licenciados en Enfermería en Pinar del Río desde 1982 hasta el 2017. Métodos: se realizó una investigación descriptiva. El universo estuvo constituido por 797 sujetos, distribuidos en 434 profesores y 363 graduados. Se utilizó un muestreo probabilístico de 180 personas constituido por 100 profesores y 80 graduados. Se aplicaron entrevistas no estandarizadas y cuestionarios elaborados por las autoras. Se abordaron las variables: modelos de formación, total de graduados, atributos escolares, planes de estudios; centros docentes y profesores. Se aplicó el método estadístico descriptivo. Desarrollo: durante la etapa analizada se han implementado tres modelos formativos con diferentes características en los planes de estudio que permitió el desarrollo vertiginoso de la profesión, graduando del Curso Regular Diurno 2537, del Curso para trabajadores 1650 y del Nuevo Modelo Pedagògico1814 egresados. Conclusiones: han ocurrido profundas transformaciones en la evolución histórica de la formación de Licenciados en Enfermería en Pinar del Río, logrando alcanzar 6001 egresados, con un perfil amplio, comprometido en preservar, mejorar y restablecer la salud del ser humano, la familia y la comunidad.

The two main methods for partitioning crude methanolic extract from Amphidinium carterae biomass were compared. The objective was to obtain three enriched fractions containing amphidinols (APDs), carotenoids, and fatty acids. Since the most valuable bioproducts are APDs, their recovery was the principal goal. The first method consisted of a solid-phase extraction (SPE) in reverse phase that, for the first time, was optimized to fractionate organic methanolic extracts from Amphidinium carterae biomass using reverse-phase C18 as the adsorbent. The second method consisted of a two-step liquid-liquid extraction coupled with SPE and, alternatively, with solvent partitioning. The SPE method allowed the recovery of the biologically-active fraction (containing the APDs) by eluting with methanol (MeOH): water (H2O) (80:20 v/v). Alternatively, an APD purification strategy using solvent partitioning proved to be a better approach for providing APDs in a clear-cut way. When using n-butanol, APDs were obtained at a 70% concentration (w/w), whereas for the SPE method, the most concentrated fraction was only 18% (w/w). For the other fractions (carotenoids and fatty acids), a two-step liquid-liquid extraction (LLE) method coupled with the solvent partitioning method presented the best results.