Connexions entre educació matemàtica i educació per a la sostenibilitat: definició d'un perfil de mestre de matemàtiques

Citizens with good mathematical knowledge will be better prepared to make social commitments and accept the social responsibilities presented by a changing and complex world. This thesis proposes to link mathematics education with education for sustainable development, a proposal that will provide the right tools to really make mathematics a discipline for life. In the study I define common areas for action and investigation in mathematics education and education for sustainability. The theoretical framework used to explore them encompasses the paradigm of complexity, a socio-cultural perspective on learning and realistic learning. The result is a compilation of 20 points that define a model teacher in mathematics education. These points indicate the skills, in line with education for sustainability criteria that a teacher should have to work in mathematics educationTenir una bona cultura matemàtica farà ciutadans més ben preparats per assumir el compromís i la responsabilitat socials que el món canviant i complex en què vivim necessita. Aquesta tesi es proposa de connectar l’educació matemàtica, concretament, amb l’educació per al desenvolupament sostenible, que ens dóna eines adequades perquè la matemàtica sigui verdaderament una disciplina per a la vida. En l’estudi he determinat espais d’acció i de recerca comuns entre l’educació matemàtica i l’educació per a la sostenibilitat. El marc teòric que m’ha servit per fer-ho és el paraigua del paradigma de la complexitat, la perspectiva sociocultural de l’aprenentatge i l’aprenentatge realista. El resultat és la redacció en 20 punts d’un perfil de mestre en educació matemàtica. Són 20 punts que indiquen en què ha d’estar capacitat un mestre per treballar l’educació matemàtica en connexió amb els criteris de l’educació per a la sostenibilita

BRCA1 haploinsufficiency cell-autonomously activates RANKL expression and generates denosumab-responsive breast cancerinitiating cells

Denosumab, a monoclonal antibody to the receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL), might be a novel preventative therapy for BRCA1-mutation carriers at high risk of developing breast cancer. Beyond its well-recognized bone-targeted activity impeding osteoclastogenesis, denosumab has been proposed to interfere with the cross-talk between RANKL-producing sensor cells and cancer-initiating RANK+ responder cells that reside within premalignant tissues of BRCA1-mutation carriers. We herein tested the alternative but not mutually exclusive hypothesis that BRCA1 deficiency might cell-autonomously activate RANKL expression to generate cellular states with cancer stem cell (CSC)-like properties. Using isogenic pairs of normallike human breast epithelial cells in which the inactivation of a single BRCA1 allele results in genomic instability, we assessed the impact of BRCA1 haploinsufficiency on the expression status of RANK and RANKL. RANK expression remained unaltered but RANKL was dramatically up-regulated in BRCA1mut/+ haploinsufficient cells relative to isogenic BRCA1+/+ parental cells. Neutralizing RANKL with denosumab significantly abrogated the ability of BRCA1 haploinsufficient cells to survive and proliferate as floating microtumors or “mammospheres” under non-adherent/non-differentiating conditions, an accepted surrogate of the relative proportion and survival of CSCs. Intriguingly, CSC-like states driven by epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition or HER2 overexpression traits responded to some extent to denosumab. We propose that breast epithelium-specific mono-allelic inactivation of BRCA1 might suffice to cellautonomously generate RANKL-addicted, denosumab-responsive CSC-like states. The convergent addiction to a hyperactive RANKL/RANK axis of CSC-like states from genetically diverse breast cancer subtypes might inaugurate a new era of cancer prevention and treatment based on denosumab as a CSC-targeted agen

Characterization of the translaminar cohesive law

When a fibre-reinforced composite laminate is subjected to traction or compression, it develops a relatively large Fracture Process Zone where material toughening mechanisms such as matrix cracking, fibre-bridging and fibre pull-outs take place. The damage onset and damage propagation are well defined from a cohesive model point of view, although no standard procedure has been yet developed to characterize the translaminar Cohesive Law. The present Ph.D. thesis proposes an objective inverse method for obtaining the Cohesive Law from a single Compact Tension test. The proposed methodology has been correlated with numerical results, and has been satisfactorily used to characterize this property in various laminates, both in traction and compressionQuan un laminat compost de polímer reforçat amb fibres és sotmès a tracció o compressió, aquest desenvolupa una Zona de Procés de Fractura relativament gran, on mecanismes d'enduriment com ara l'esquerdament de la matriu, bridging i pull-out de fibres tenen lloc. La iniciació i propagació del dany estan ben definits des del punt de vista del model cohesiu, tot i que actualment encara no hi ha cap procediment estàndard per caracteritzar la Llei Cohesiva translaminar. La present tesi doctoral proposa un mètode invers per a l'obtenció de la Llei Cohesiva utilitzant únicament un assaig de la proveta Compact Tension. La metodologia proposada ha estat correlada amb resultats numèrics, i ha estat empleada satisfactòriament per a caracteritzar aquesta propietat en diversos laminats, tant a tracció com a compressi

Efecte de la granulometria i la profunditat en l’estructura del biofilm microbià en sediments fluvials de dos rius de capçalera

The following study was carried out to determine the structural variations in fluvial biofilm depending on the depth and type of sediment (particle size) taken from headwaters of two tributaries. Biofilm parameters were analysed from sediment obtained at two different sampling points from Arbúcies and Gualba rivers, two different tributaries of the Tordera river. Both water and sediment samples were obtained through field work, and analysed at a laboratory in accordance to sampling location and sediment depth. The field samples were taken using a sediment sampler. In each sampling point, samples from surface and depth had been analysed separately, and physicochemical conditions of water had been analysed too. Samples of water had been taken in each point. On the laboratory on the one hand, the general parameters of each point were analysed, those include nutrients, particle size and organic matter analysis, and on the other hand the parameters of biofilm structure through chlorophyll, bacterial density and EPS analysis. Statistical analysis has been performed to see the relation between these parameters. The physicochemical analysis showed a similarity between the two streams sampled. The results from sediment revealed differences in biofilm structure depending on the depth of sediment, being the highest concentrations of organic matter, chlorophyll, bacterial density and EPS at surface layers. This can be related to the presence of high solar radiation and availability of oxygen and nutrients in the surface compared to deeper sediment layers. Particle size only affects significantly on organic matter concentration that is higher in fine sediment than coarse. A relation has been found between the parameters composing the biofilm structure. Thanks to a correlation matrix it has been observed that these relations may vary depending on the depth of the sediment. The results revelled that on the surface, algae have a more important role in the EPS matrix formation and in organic matter concentration, whilst at depth the concentration of organic matter is related to bacterial densit

Genetic characterization of the Asian clam species complex (Corbicula) invasion in the Iberian Peninsula

The Asian clam (Corbicula sp.) is an invasive freshwater bivalve native to Asia, the Middle East, Australia, and Africa. It is now widely distributed around the world producing large ecological and economic impacts. Three well-described invasive lineages form a cryptic species complex with asexual reproduction based on androgenesis. In this study, we collected 175 individuals from different Iberian, European, and North American locations to genetically study Corbicula invasion in the Iberian Peninsula using COI and 28S genes. The use of mitochondrial and nuclear markers allows us to characterize both maternal and paternal inheritance from androgenetic Corbicula locations and to deal with the incongruences caused by egg parasitism. We identified 7 COI and 10 28S haplotypes that grouped individuals within the three invasive Corbicula lineages. Haplotype distribution of mitochondrial and nuclear markers detected genetic divergence between the Ebro Delta location and the rest of Iberian sites, suggesting that at least two invasion episodes occurred in the Iberian Peninsula. Haplotype distribution also suggested secondary contacts between Iberian and other European invaded regions. Additionally, results revealed that nuclear hybridization, a feature more widespread than previously reported, contributes to retain gene diversity in the Corbicula invasionThis research was carried out within the objectives of the research project CGL200909407 of the Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovacio´n (MICINN). LP received a PhD fellowship support of the Spanish MICINN with reference BES—201003744

Estudi dels canvis promoguts per la cirurgia bariàtrica a nivell d'expressió gènica del teixit adipós subcutani i la relació amb la sensibilitat a la insulina

INTRODUCTION: Bariatric surgery (CB) is the only treatment option that has proved capable of solving the DM2. In addition to the impact on weight and comorbidities, the CB has shown a great impact on adipose tissue. THEORY: The CB modifies gene expression of subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) and helps explain changes in insulin sensitivity. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate changes in gene expression SAT after weight loss promoted by the CB and the association with clinical variables that change after the CB. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: To evaluate changes in gene expression SAT promoted by the CB, a cohort study comprised 25 women morbidly obese, bariatric surgery operated by gastric bypass (Cohort 1). The associations found are explored in a cohort of 25 women matched by age (Cohort 2) and in a cohort of patients (n = 132) men and women, obese and non-obese (Cohort 3). RESULTS: Statistically significant changes observed in the expression of 5,018 transcripts explored the 49,852 level SAT. A decrease in the expression of genes related to pro-inflammatory and iron metabolism and an increase in the expression of genes involved in lipogènics and insulin sensitivity. CONCLUSIONS: Weight loss promoted by CB drastically modifies gene expression in SAT, inducing the transition to a less dysfunctional adipose tissue and metabolically favorableINTRODUCCIÓ: La cirurgia de la obesitat (cirurgia bariàtrica, CB) és la única opció de tractament que ha demostrat ser capaç de resoldre la DM2. A més de l’impacte en el pes i les comorbilitats, la CB ha demostrat tenir un gran impacte en el teixit adipós. HIPÒTESI: La CB modifica l’expressió gènica del teixit adipós subcutani (SAT) i contribueix a explicar els canvis en la sensibilitat a la insulina. OBJECTIUS: Avaluar els canvis en l’expressió gènica de SAT després de la pèrdua de pes promoguda per la CB i l’associació amb les variables clíniques que més modifiquen després de la CB. SUBJECTES I METODOLOGIA: Per valorar els canvis en l’expressió gènica de SAT promoguts per la CB, s’estudia una cohort conformada per 25 dones obeses mòrbides, operades de cirurgia bariàtrica mitjançant bypass gàstric (Cohort 1). Les associacions trobades són explorades en unacohort conformada per 25 dones primes aparellades per edat (Cohort 2) i en una cohort ampliada de pacients (n=132) homes i dones, obesos i no obesos (Cohort 3). RESULTATS: S’observa canvis estadísticament significatius en l’expressió de 5.018 dels 49.852 trànscrits explorats a nivell de SAT. S’observa una disminució de l’expressió de gens pro-inflamatoris i relacionats amb el metabolisme del ferro i un increment en l’expressió de gens lipogènics i implicats en la sensibilitat a la insulina. CONCLUSIONS: La pèrdua de pes promoguda per la CB modifica dràsticament l’expressió gènica en SAT, induint el pas a un teixit adipós menys disfuncional i metabòlicament més favorabl

Comparison of two treatment patterns with aflibercept for neovascular age-related macular degeneration: a cohort study

Background: Age-releated macular degeneration (AMD) is a very prevalent disease worldwide and it is the most common cause of severe vision loss in developed countries. Choroidal Neovascularization (CNV), previously known as “wet AMD”, is the most aggressive form of AMD. Nowadays, new pharmacological therapies are being developed, such as anti-vascular endothelial growth factors (anti-VEGFs) that have changed the progression of the illness, but AMD is still a chronic disease. Aflibercept (Eylea®) is one of the most used drugs for treating CNV due to the good results in the latest clinical trials. There is still a lack of published data about the results in the group of patients with bilateral affection of CNV AMD. Objectives: The goal of this study is to determine if the concurrent treatment with Aflibercept (Eylea®) of both eyes in the same intervention has better results (a reduction of more than 5% of the fovea thickness measured by optical coherence tomography (OCT)) than treating each eye with one week of separation. Design: A multi-centric cohort study in the Ophthalmology Department of Hospital Universitari de Girona Doctor Josep Trueta (Girona), Hospital Santa Caterina (Salt), Hospital de Figueres (Figueres), Hospital Comarcal de Blanes (Blanes), Hospital de Palamós (Palamós) and Hospital d’Olot I Comarcal de la Garrotxa (Olot). Method: 85 patients with more than 50 years and bilateral NVC AMD from Girona province will be recruited in our study. The two cohorts are going to be done with the patients who receive the treatment with Aflibercept the same day and with those who refuse being treated the same day and are going to receive the injections with 7 days of separation. Each patient is going to be followed during one year since initiating the treatment. This prospective cohort study will be realized in 3 years at the area of Giron

Long-term benefits of the cardiac rehabilitation programme in Girona: a three-year follow-up study

Background: Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is the most effective approach following a cardiovascular event as a secondary preventive strategy. It consists of a multidisciplinary approach to overall cardiovascular risk reduction. Evaluation of the patient’s cardiovascular risk factor profile is a crucial part for the management of CR patients. There is strong evidence about the short-term benefits of CR programmes in the control of the cardiovascular risk factors (CVRF), reducing mortality and improving quality of life. However, the beneficial effect of CR programmes on the risk reduction is not clear longer term. Objective: Our aim was to determine the long-term control of CVRF, after a 3-year follow-up period, in patients referred to the CR programme of Santa Caterina Hospital of Girona, after suffering an acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Methods: A retrospective observational follow-up study was conducted on a cohort of 213 patients (mean age 56 years) referred to the CR programme of Santa Caterina Hospital following ACS, between 2008 and 2013. We evaluated the long-term control of CVRF and the occurrence of major adverse cardiac events (MACE) in a 3-year period of follow-up. The short-term control of CVRF was analysed and the demographic and clinical characteristics of patients were determined. A comparison depending on the length of the CR programme was also performed. Results: Of the 213 patients included, long-term control of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c) blood levels (85.45mg/dL vs 86.27mg/dL, P=0.669) and tobacco consumption (14.85% vs 18.78%, P=0.293) was maintained from post-CR to year three, although both showed a trend towards deterioration. There was a significant increase in systolic blood pressure (BP) (124.58mmHg vs 128.76mmHg, P<0.001), glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1C) in diabetic patients (6.52% vs 7.10%, P<0.001) and body mass index (BMI) (28.36kg/m2 vs 29.41kg/m2, P<0.001) from post-CR to year three. Short-term CVRF control was significantly improved after discharge from the CR unit for all CVRF analysed. The incidence of MACE at the end of the follow-up was 16.4% and the total death was 2.8%. An extended-length CR programme was reported in 19.25% of the study population. No significant differences in the CVRF control were found between standard-length and extended-length CR programme in all CVRF analysed. Conclusion: The long-term control of CVRF after enrolment in a CR programme has a trend towards deterioration after 3 years of follow-up, which has been significant for systolic BP, HbA1C and BMI. Further studies might be advantageous to confirm our finding

The database of the PREDICTS (Projecting Responses of Ecological Diversity In Changing Terrestrial Systems) project

The PREDICTS project—Projecting Responses of Ecological Diversity In Changing Terrestrial Systems (www.predicts.org.uk)—has collated from published studies a large, reasonably representative database of comparable samples of biodiversity from multiple sites that differ in the nature or intensity of human impacts relating to land use. We have used this evidence base to develop global and regional statistical models of how local biodiversity responds to these measures. We describe and make freely available this 2016 release of the database, containing more than 3.2 million records sampled at over 26,000 locations and representing over 47,000 species. We outline how the database can help in answering a range of questions in ecology and conservation biology. To our knowledge, this is the largest and most geographically and taxonomically representative database of spatial comparisons of biodiversity that has been collated to date; it will be useful to researchers and international efforts wishing to model and understand the global status of biodiversit

La percepción de los estudiantes acerca de la presencia de las TIC en la universidad: un estudio en el ámbito de la Ingeniería en Colombia

La penetración de las TIC en la docencia universitaria sigue siendo superficial, y en ocasiones lejana de un verdadero cambio pedagógico. En la descripción de los diferentes contextos universitarios habitualmente se tiene en cuenta la percepción del profesorado universitario acerca de su propio uso de la tecnología, pero no se atiende a la visión del alumnado. Esta investigación analiza la percepción del alumnado sobre el uso de las TIC por parte de sus docentes de Ingeniería en Colombia por medio de una encuesta (n=515). Los informantes confirman que las TIC están presentes de en la docencia, pero ligadas a usos tradicionales y con un impacto positivo pero superficial en su aprendizaje. En parte, ello se debe a que las tecnologías más usadas son aquellas que los docentes usan en otros contextos de su desarrollo profesional, y no aquellas que podrían resultar más provechosas para el aprendizaje del alumno. Dicho impacto es percibido mayor cuando las TIC se usan con más frecuenci