In the field of word recognition and reading, it is commonly assumed that frequently repeated words create more accessible memory traces than infrequently repeated words, thus capturing the word-frequency effect. Nevertheless, recent research has shown that a seemingly related factor, contextual diversity (defined as the number of different contexts [e.g., films] in which a word appears), is a better predictor than word-frequency in word recognition and sentence reading experiments. Recent research has shown that contextual diversity plays an important role when learning new words in a laboratory setting with adult readers. In the current experiment, we directly manipulated contextual diversity in a very ecological scenario: at school, when Grade 3 children were learning words in the classroom. The new words appeared in different contexts/topics (high-contextual diversity) or only in one of them (low-contextual diversity). Results showed that words encountered in different contexts were learned and remembered more effectively than those presented in redundant contexts. We discuss the practical (educational [e.g., curriculum design]) and theoretical (models of word recognition) implications of these findings.

The germinative behavior of nine plant species of the Iberian Peninsula, four of them catalogued as vulnerable or endangered by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, was studied under controlled laboratory conditions. Most of the species studied germinated better at relatively low temperatures (15 °C and 20 °C) and, in general, high germination rates were also obtained at alternating temperatures (25/15 °C). Coronopus navasii germinated over 60% at 25 °C, the highest temperature used in this study. Lavatera oblongifolia did not surpass 20% germination under any of the conditions assayed. Seed coat scarification increased germination in Helianthemum squamatum, while seed pretreatments with hot water or sulfuric acid were effective in H. polygonoides. Less favorable results were obtained in Lavatera oblongifolia, whereas scarification was completely ineffective in Onobrychis peduncularis ssp. matritensis.

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.

El género Myrmecophila Rolfe ha sido tradicionalmente incluido dentro de un concepto amplio de Schomburgkia Lindl. Sin embargo, recientes reconstrucciones filogenéticas basadas en secuencias de ADN indican que el grupo es basal dentro del complejo de taxa alrededor de Cattleya Lindl. s.l. y sólo lejanamente relacionado con las verdaderas Schomburgkia (las que están relacionadas con Laelia Lindl., un género restringido a elevaciones por encima de 1000 m en México central). Las "semejanzas" entre Schomburgkia s.s. y Myrmecophila (e.g., los miembros del perianto ondulados, las inflorescencias con largos pedúnculos y los ocho polinios) son el resultado de convergencia o de retención de caracteres plesiomórficos. La distinción entre ambos grupos ha sido reconocida desde hace mucho tiempo, pero a nivel seccional (e.g., Schlechter 1913, Foldats 1979. En 1917, Rolfe por primera vez sugiere tratar el grupo como un género aparte pero su propuesta no fue seguida por los autores posteriores (e.g., Williams 1946, Ames & Correll 1953. Más recientemente, Kennedy (1979) hizo una propuesta convincente para la resurrección del género, que ha sido aceptada por la mayoría de los orquideólogos que trabajan en el área de distribución del grupo (e.g. Dressler 1993, McLeish et al. 1995, Espejo-Serna & López-Ferrari 1997, Carnevali, Tapia-Muñoz & Ramírez 2001, Carnevali et al. 2001.Un análisis cladístico de todas las Laeliinae usando secuencias de ADN (van den Berg et al. 2000), identifica claramente a Myrmecophila como el grupo hermano del clado que incluye a los géneros del antiguamente llamado complejo Cattleya. En otras palabras, se trata de un grupo basal que hizo divergencia temprana de los ancestros que originaron a los géneros Brassavola R.Br., Rhyncholaelia Schltr., Cattleya, Sophronitis Lindl. y los miembros brasileños del género Laelia tal como se los ha circunscrito hasta hace poco. Por ello, no está relacionado con las verdaderas Laelias, tipificadas por Laelia grandiflora (Llave & Lex. ) Lindl. [= Laelia speciosa (H.B.K.) Schltr.)] ni con Schomburgkia (tipificadas por Schomburgkia crispa Lindl.), grupos que no pertenecen a este clado de taxa alrededor de Cattleya.Myrmecophila es fácilmente reconocible entre otras Laeliinae por sus plantas relativamente grandes con pseudobulbos homoblásticos (de varios entrenudos no diferenciados), huecos, portando (1-)2-3(-4) hojas en los entrenudos apicales y con inflorescencias largamente pedunculadas con flores vistosas que típica-mente poseen sépalos y pétalos ondulados. Las plantas, usualmente epífitas (raramente litófitas o subterrestres), viven siempre asociadas con hormigas que forman colonias que habitan el interior de los pseudobulbos huecos. Se sabe que estas hormigas protegen tanto a la orquídea como a los forofitos de la herbivoría (Dejean et al. 1995).Un estudio sistemático del género permite reconocer ocho especies y un híbrido natural. Las especies y sus distribuciones se presentan en la Tabla 1. Las especies se distribuyen naturalmente desde la costa caribe de Venezuela, ...

Background: Sleep disturbances represent a major health burden today, affecting up to one-third of the population worldwide. Computerized cognitive stimulation has been proven as an effective approach in diminishing negative symptomatology and improving the quality of life in a range of medical conditions. Given its nature in enhancing neural networks, such as those involved in stimulus monitoring and inhibitory processes, computerized cognitive stimulation is arising as a potential tool to overcome underlying cognitive deficits found among patients suffering from insomnia. In the current study, we report the results of Phase 1 and Phase 2 clinical trials of a home-based computerized cognitive stimulation program. Methods: The cognitive stimulation intervention followed a home-based approach with online supervision by a psychologist. The training activities were gamified cognitive tasks that had been designed to improve executive functions, with a focus on inhibition skills. The Insomnia Severity Index and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index scales were used as the main assessment measures. Data from the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function, the Beck Depression Inventory, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and the Penn State Worry Questionnaire were also recorded before and after the intervention. During 15 consecutive days, participants performed on alternate days a total of 7 training sessions (each lasting 45 minutes). Results: Twelve patients with clinical insomnia were administered the home-based online cognitive stimulation program. After seven training sessions, mean changes in sleep quality, depressive and anxiety symptoms, worry thoughts, and everyday function were found, with significant improvements in these domains in the full absence of safety issues. Conclusions: In patients with insomnia, cognitive stimulation demonstrated improvements in sleep quality, mood, and cognitive performance over a 15-day protocol. No relevant side effects were reported. The long-term effectiveness of the intervention is still unknown. Clinical Trial Registration: The study protocol has been reviewed and published in ClinicalTrials.gov, assigning it the code NCT05050292 https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05050292?term=NCT05050292&draw=2&rank=1.