Micropropagation and genetic uniformity of Kalanchoe daigremontiana (Crassulaceae)

Kalanchoe daigremontiana is an ornamental species propagated exclusively asexually. However, no in vitro studies have been conducted to assess the relationship between changes in the culture environment and genetic variations of K. daigremontiana. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the optimal concentration of salts in the Murashige & Skoog (MS) medium and the optimal concentration of sucrose in the culture medium, in addition to the quality of light, in the development of in vitro plantlets from leaf explants of K. daigremontiana. Additionally, a genetic evaluation of the resulting plantlets was conducted to study phenotypic changes that could be attributed to somaclonal variation using Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers. For this purpose, leaf explants of K. daigremontiana were disinfected and inoculated in different salt concentrations (25, 50, and 100%) of MS medium without sucrose. The cultures were transferred to a growth chamber and subjected to three light conditions (white, blue, and red) with a 16-hour photoperiod, plus the absence of light, at a temperature of 27 ± 1 °C. Explants were also inoculated in 50% salt concentrations of MS medium supplemented with various concentrations of sucrose (control - without sucrose, 1.5, 3.0, 4.5, and 6.0%). K. daigremontiana leaf explants showed optimal development under white light and in any MS medium salt concentrations. A sucrose-free culture medium was viable, and no genetic variation was observed in the plantlets compared to the parent plants under the tested conditions

Can ChatGPT AI Replace or Contribute to Experts’ Diagnosis for Renovation Measures Identification?

Building energy renovations demand expertise from professionals to guide processes, including diagnostics, project planning, interventions, and maintenance. The emergence of open-access AI, like ChatGPT in November 2022, offers new possibilities for improving these processes by assisting or potentially replacing human experts. This study explores the effectiveness of ChatGPT in diagnosing energy renovation measures. Initial assessments involve basic queries to the AI, followed by the inclusion of additional data and secondary questions to gauge its full diagnostic potential. An existing building case from the literature is given to the AI to define the best energy renovation measures. Expert evaluations and comparisons with research-backed solutions assess the AI’s performance using different degrees of questioning details over 60 repetitions. The results indicate that ChatGPT can provide valuable insights and generate comprehensive lists of feasible measures and preliminary cost calculations and payback, but, in general, it lacks depth and quality without specialized input and preparation. A significant quality improvement was found between the tests with 2023 and 2024 AI versions. Open-access AI proves capable of enhancing renovation diagnostics but remains a complement rather than a replacement for building renovation expert judgment. This research underscores the potential of mainstream AI to democratize access to knowledge, albeit with limitations tied to its dependence on quality inputs and contextual expertise.This publication is part of the R+D+i project PID2021-126739OB-C22, financed by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033/ and “ERDF A way of making Europe”

Bending performance of concrete with coarse recycled aggregate and raw-crushed wind-turbine blade at an early age

The bonded mortar in the Coarse Recycled Aggregate (CRA) reduces both the adhesion in the interfacial transition zones and the stiffness of concrete, which worsens concrete bending behavior. These aspects are more remarkable at early ages due to the lower strength and stiffness developed by the concrete matrix. The stitching effect of the 66.8% by weight of Glass Fiber-Reinforced Polymer (GFRP) fibers contained in Raw-Crushed Wind-Turbine Blade (RCWTB) can counteract these phenomena. This research analyzes the bending behavior of concrete made with up to 100% CRA in combination with 6% RCWTB as aggregate replacement. Early ages (1, 3, and 7 days) and both moist and ambient curing are considered to cover all possible put-into-service situations of concrete elements. Compared to concrete with the same composition but without RCWTB, this waste increased the pre-failure compliance by up to 26.9%, the failure deflection by up to 12.8%, and the failure stress by up to 37.5% when combined with as much as 50% CRA. An earlier concrete age and ambient curing made such effects more notable due to the weaker cementitious matrix. Furthermore, RCWTB provided post-failure load-bearing capacity to concrete, the incorporation of 6% RCWTB to concrete with 50% CRA increasing the absorbed energy under bending loading by 135%. RCWTB also allowed the energy absorbed by concrete to be almost unaffected when adding any CRA amount. All these effects were statistically significant and demonstrate that RCWTB improves the bending deformability of concrete produced with CRA, mainly because of the deflection improvement it caused.g Open access funding provided by FEDER European Funds and the Junta de Castilla y León under the Research and Innovation Strategy for Smart Specialization (RIS3) of Castilla y León 2021-2027. This research work was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Universities, MICINN, AEI, EU, ERDF and NextGenerationEU/PRTR [grant numbers PID2023- 146642OB-I00;https://doi.org/10.13039/501100011033; TED2021-129715B-I00]; the Junta de Castilla y León (Regional Government) and ERDF [grant number UIC-231; BU033P23]; and, fnally, the University of Burgos [grant number SUCONS, Y135.GI]

University students’ assessment of people with disabilities

Actualmente en las aulas universitarias hay alumnado con alguna discapacidad, desarrollando con normalidad sus estudios, en algunos casos con las adaptaciones oportunas en metodologías, recursos, entre otros. El objetivo del estudio fue conocer la valoración que el alumnado universitario tiene hacia las personas con discapacidad, incidiendo en sus capacidades y limitaciones. Metodológicamente se ha aplicado la escala de Verdugo, Arias y Jenaro (1998) a estudiantes de primero y segundo curso de los Grados de Pedagogía y Educación Social de la Universidad de Burgos (España). Se muestran datos descriptivos de 137 participantes, tablas de contingencia, contraste de hipótesis, t de Student, y correlaciones. Los resultados constatan que mayoritariamente los estudiantes presentan actitudes positivas hacia las personas con discapacidad, existiendo diferencias significativas en el alumnado en relación a la edad y no significativas en el factor de valoración y limitaciones. En conclusión, se constata un avance hacia la inclusión social de las personas con discapacidad. Actualmente en el ámbito universitario el alumnado con discapacidad se encuentra cada vez más integrado, y en el caso de la Universidad de Burgos a través de la Unidad de Atención a la Diversidad, se apuesta por garantizar la igualdad de oportunidades del alumnado universitario con discapacidadCurrently, there are students with disabilities in university classrooms, who are carrying out their studies normally, in some cases with the appropriate adaptations in methodologies, resources, among others. The objective of the study was to find out the assessment that university students have towards people with disabilities, focusing on their capabilities and limitations. Methodologically, the scale of Verdugo, Arias and Jenaro (1998) was applied to first and second year students of the Degrees in Pedagogy and Social Education at the University of Burgos (Spain). Descriptive data from 137 participants, contingency tables, hypothesis contrast, Student t test, and correlations are shown. The results confirm that the majority of students have positive attitudes towards people with disabilities, with significant differences in the students in relation to age and non-significant differences in the assessment and limitations factor. In conclusion, progress towards the social inclusion of people with disabilities is confirmed. Currently, students with disabilities are increasingly integrated in the university environment, and in the case of the University of Burgos, through the Diversity Care Unit, there is a commitment to guarantee equal opportunities for university students with disabilities

Obtención de miel en polvo e investigación de sus propiedades físico-químicas y biológicas

La presente Tesis Doctoral titulada «Obtención de miel en polvo e investigación de sus propiedades físico-químicas y biológicas», tiene como objetivo general la obtención de miel en polvo seleccionando el procedimiento tecnológico y el coadyuvante más adecuado, así como evaluar el impacto de los procesos de desecación sobre las propiedades físico-químicas, funcionales y microbiológicas del producto final, comparándolo con los valores de las mismas mieles naturales. Para el desarrollo de este trabajo se utilizaron nueve muestras de mieles castellano-leonesas de diferentes orígenes botánicos: 3 mieles de brecina (Calluna vulgaris, (L.) Hull), 2 mieles de tomillo (Thymus sp.), 3 mieles de lavanda (Lavandula sp.), 1 miel de veza (Leguminosae tipo Vicia sp.) y tres mieles de milflores.This Doctoral Thesis, entitled «Production of powdered honey and investigation of its physicochemical and biological properties», is aimed to research the production of powdered honey by choosing the most suitable technological process and carrier, as well as evaluating the impact of the drying technique on the physicochemical, functional, and microbiological properties of the final product, comparing them with those of natural raw honey. For this study, nine honeys from Castilla y León, were dehydrated and powdered. Botanical origins were the following: Three samples were lingheather (Calluna vulgaris, (L.) Hull) honeys. Two samples were thyme (Thymus spp.) honeys. Three samples were lavender (Lavandula spp.) honeys. One sample was vetch (Leguminosae type Vicia spp.) honey and three samples were multifloral honeys.La autora de esta Memoria ha sido beneficiaria de una ayuda destinada a la contratación de personal técnico de apoyo a la investigación por las Universidades Públicas de Castilla y León, para jóvenes incluidos en el Sistema Nacional de Garantia Juvenil cofinanciadas por el Fondo Social Europeo y la Iniciativa de Empleo Juvenil convocada por Orden de 30 de noviembre de 2018, de la Consejería de Educación. El trabajo de investigación que ha dado lugar a esta Tesis Doctoral ha sido desarrollado en la Universidad de Burgos y ha sido financiado a través del proyecto BU041G18 de la Consejería de Educación de la Junta de Castilla y León

Fuentes alternativas de conocimiento para el desarrollo de las competencias para la cultura democrática: una propuesta práctica utilizando metodologías activas

En línea con la preocupación del Consejo de Europa de formar ciudadanos comprometidos con los valores democráticos y capaces de afrontar los retos del siglo XXI, la investigación tiene como objetivo explorar cómo desarrollar la educación democrática en el aula de 1º de Bachillerato de Historia del Mundo Contemporáneo a través de las fuentes alternativas de conocimiento. La investigación se basa en una propuesta didáctica innovadora titulada “La música en la Primera Guerra Mundial, de Granados…a Iron Maiden”. Esta propuesta, diseñada para desarrollar diez competencias para la cultura democrática seleccionadas de entre las que fija el Consejo de Europa, busca conectar los contenidos curriculares de la materia con el desarrollo de las competencias democráticas a través de fuentes alternativas y la metodología de Aprendizaje Basado en Problemas (APB). A partir de su aplicación en un grupo-clase de 1º de Bachillerato del IES Diego de Silóe de Burgos, que involucró a 32 estudiantes, se realizó una investigación en la que se empleó metodología cualitativa. Se utilizaron como instrumentos la observación directa, debates grupales, entrevistas escritas, análisis de cuadernos de trabajo y la creación de un vídeo final. Los resultados, codificados y categorizados para evaluar el impacto de la propuesta en el desarrollo de las competencias agrupadas en las cuatro categorías del Modelo de Competencias para la cultura democrática del Consejo de Europa (Valores, Actitudes, Habilidades y Conocimiento crítico del mundo), apuntan a que la experiencia: fomenta la participación de los estudiantes, enriquece su comprensión de conceptos clave como democracia, justicia, equidad, igualdad y Estado de derecho, resulta efectiva en el desarrollo de la capacidad para conectar y establecer relaciones entre pasado y presente y por lo tanto al desarrollo de la conciencia histórica contribuye al desarrollo del pensamiento crítico y análisis de fuentes. Finalmente, la metodología APB y la plataforma Genially mostraron ser herramientas valiosas para el aprendizaje cooperativo y las habilidades de investigación, lo que abre la posibilidad al desarrollo de este tipo de experiencias en el aula.In line with the Council of Europe's concern to train citizens committed to democratic values and capable of facing the challenges of the 21st century, the research aims to explore how to develop democratic education in the 1st year of the Baccalaureate (Alevels) in the Contemporary World History subject through alternative sources of knowledge. The research is based on an innovative teaching proposal entitled ‘Music in the First World War, from Granados... to Iron Maiden’. This proposal, designed to develop ten competences for democratic culture selected from among those set by the Council of Europe, seeks to connect the curricular contents of the subject with the development of democratic competences through alternative sources of knowledge and the Problem- Based Learning (PBL) methodology. Based on its application in a group-class of 1st year Baccalaureate students at IES (high school) Diego de Siloé in Burgos, Spain, which involved 32 students, a research was carried out using qualitative methodology. The instruments used were direct observation, group discussions, written interviews, analysis of workbooks and the creation of a final video. The results, coded and categorised to assess the impact of the proposal on the development of the competences grouped in the four categories of the Council of Europe's Model of Competences for a democratic culture (Values, Attitudes, Skills and Critical knowledge of the world), indicate that the experience: encourages students' participation, enriches their understanding of key concepts such as democracy, justice, equity, equality and the rule of law, is effective in developing the ability to connect and make connections between past and present and thus in developing historical awareness and contributes to the development of critical thinking and analysis of sources. Finally, the APB methodology and the Genially platform proved to be valuable tools for cooperative learning and research skills, which opens the possibility for the development of such experiences in the classroom

Lesson 1: What is social education?

If you have a look at the Course guide, you will see that the first block concerns to the introduction to the subject. In this first block, we will study and analyze the role of social educators, including the definition of the profession, its meaning and the competencies that a social educator must own