Instructional Changes Adopted for an Engineering Course: Cluster Analysis on Academic Failure

As first-year students come from diverse backgrounds, basic skills should be accessible to everyone as soon as possible. Transferring such skills to these students is challenging, especially in highly technical courses. Ensuring that essential knowledge is acquired quickly promotes the student’s self-esteem and may positively influence failure rates. Metaphors can help do this. Metaphors are used to understand the unknown. This paper shows how we made a turn in student learning at the University of Almeria. Our hypothesis assumed that metaphors accelerate the acquisition of basic knowledge so that other skills built on that foundation are easily learned. With these goals in mind, we changed the way we teach by using metaphors and abstract concepts in a computer organisation course, a technical course in the first year of an information technology engineering degree. Cluster analysis of the data on collective student performance after this methodological change clearly identified two distinct groups. These two groups perfectly matched the before and after scenarios of the use of metaphors. The study was conducted during 11 academic years (2002/2003 to 2012/2013). The 475 observations made during this period illustrate the usefulness of this change in teaching and learning, shifting from a propositional teaching/learning model to a more dynamic model based on metaphors and abstractions. Data covering the whole period showed favourable evolution of student achievement and reduced failure rates, not only in this course, but also in many of the following more advanced courses.The paper is structured in five sections. The first gives an introduction, the second describes the methodology. The third section describes the sample and the study carried out. The fourth section presents the results and, finally, the fifth section discusses the main conclusions

Selective expression of the neurexin substrate for presenilin in the adult forebrain causes deficits in associative memory and presynaptic plasticity

Presenilins (PS) form the active subunit of the gamma-secretase complex, which mediates the proteolytic clearance of a broad variety of type-I plasma membrane proteins. Loss-of-function mutations in PSEN1/2 genes are the leading cause of familial Alzheimer's disease (fAD). However, the PS/gamma-secretase substrates relevant for the neuronal deficits associated with a loss of PS function are not completely known. The members of the neurexin (Nrxn) family of presynaptic plasma membrane proteins are candidates to mediate aspects of the synaptic and memory deficits associated with a loss of PS function. Previous work has shown that fAD-linked PS mutants or inactivation of PS by genetic and pharmacological approaches failed to clear Nrxn C-terminal frag-ments (NrxnCTF), leading to its abnormal accumulation at presynaptic terminals. Here, we generated transgenic mice that selectively recreate the presynaptic accumulation of NrxnCTF in adult forebrain neurons, leaving unaltered the function of PS/gamma-secretase complex towards other substrates. Behavioral characterization identified selective impairments in NrxnCTF mice, including decreased fear-conditioning memory. Electro-physiological recordings in medial prefrontal cortex-basolateral amygdala (mPFC-BLA) of behaving mice showed normal synaptic transmission and uncovered specific defects in synaptic facilitation. These data functionally link the accumulation of NrxnCTF with defects in associative memory and short-term synaptic plasticity, pointing at impaired clearance of NrxnCTF as a new mediator in ADMinisterio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades (RTI2018-101886-B-100)Junta de Andalucía (PY18-823)Junta de Andalucía (P11- CVI-7599)Ministerio de Economía, Industria y Competitividad (BES-2016-076579)Garantía Juvenil contract from Universidad de Sevill

Calidad de vida y percepción de apoyo social en personas con HIV en Bogotá, Colombia

Introducción. En estudios llevados a cabo en países desarrollados se ha establecido que las personas con HIV/sida refieren tener una menos calidad de vida y menor apoyo social. Objetivo. Explorar la asociación entre la percepción del apoyo social afectivo o de personas de confianza y cada dimensión de la calidad de vida relacionada con la salud en personas con HIV/sida en Bogotá. Materiales y métodos. Se hizo un estudio de corte transversal en personas con HIV/sida seleccionadas por conveniencia, en el marco de un programa de atención en una red hospitalaria de Bogotá. Se utilizaron los cuestionarios de calidad de vida relacionada con la salud SF36 y el cuestionario genérico de apoyo social funcional Duke-UNC-11. Se utilizaron modelos de regresión lineal en el análisis. Resultados. Se evidenció una relación directa entre la dimensión del bienestar emocional de la calidad de vida, el apoyo social afectivo (ß=7,36; IC95% 1,04-13,68) y el de personas de confianza (ß=11,63; IC95% 5,30-17,96), así como entre las dimensiones de la función física, el desempeño emocional y el dolor corporal y la percepción del apoyo social de tipo afectivo, y entre el apoyo social de personas de confianza y las dimensiones de la vitalidad y la función social. Se encontró una relación inversa entre los promedios de los puntajes de las dimensiones de desempeño emocional, desempeño físico y salud general y la percepción del apoyo social de tipo afectivo con la primera dimensión y el de personas de confianza con las dos últimas. Conclusiones. Los sujetos con una mejor percepción del apoyo social reportaron una mejor calidad de vida relacionada con la salud, lo cual puede servir de base para la planeación, el diseño y la implementación de planes de atención médica que incorporen variables clínicas, paraclínicas y del entorno del paciente

Quality of life and perceived social support in people with HIV in Bogotá, Colombia

Introducción. En estudios llevados a cabo en países desarrollados se ha establecido que las personas con HIV/sida refieren tener una menos calidad de vida y menor apoyo social. Objetivo. Explorar la asociación entre la percepción del apoyo social afectivo o de personas de confianza y cada dimensión de la calidad de vida relacionada con la salud en personas con HIV/sida en Bogotá. Materiales y métodos. Se hizo un estudio de corte transversal en personas con HIV/sida seleccionadas por conveniencia, en el marco de un programa de atención en una red hospitalaria de Bogotá. Se utilizaron los cuestionarios de calidad de vida relacionada con la salud SF36 y el cuestionario genérico de apoyo social funcional Duke-UNC-11. Se utilizaron modelos de regresión lineal en el análisis. Resultados. Se evidenció una relación directa entre la dimensión del bienestar emocional de la calidad de vida, el apoyo social afectivo (ß=7,36; IC95% 1,04-13,68) y el de personas de confianza (ß=11,63; IC95% 5,30-17,96), así como entre las dimensiones de la función física, el desempeño emocional y el dolor corporal y la percepción del apoyo social de tipo afectivo, y entre el apoyo social de personas de confianza y las dimensiones de la vitalidad y la función social. Se encontró una relación inversa entre los promedios de los puntajes de las dimensiones de desempeño emocional, desempeño físico y salud general y la percepción del apoyo social de tipo afectivo con la primera dimensión y el de personas de confianza con las dos últimas. Conclusiones. Los sujetos con una mejor percepción del apoyo social reportaron una mejor calidad de vida relacionada con la salud, lo cual puede servir de base para la planeación, el diseño y la implementación de planes de atención médica que incorporen variables clínicas, paraclínicas y del entorno del paciente.Introduction: People living with HIV/AIDS in developing countries tend to have a lower quality of life and less social support compared with those in developed countries. Objective: To explore the association between affective social support or social support generating confidence and each dimension of the quality of life related to health among people with HIV/AIDS from Bogotá Materials and methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of people living with HIV/AIDS using convenience sampling of a care program in a hospital network in Bogotá. The quality of life questionnaire SF36 and the generic social support questionnaire Duke-UNC-11 were used, along with linear regression models for the analyses. Results: There was a direct relationship between the emotional well-being dimension of quality of life and the social support systems of affectivity (ß =7.36;95% CI: 1.04; 13.68) and those generating confidence (ß =11.63;95% CI: 5.30; 17.96). There was a correlation between the dimensions of physical function, emotional performance, pain, and perceived affective social support. Likewise, we detected relations between the perception of social support generating confidence and the dimensions of vitality and social function. Contrarily, we found an inverse relationship between the averages of the dimension of emotional performance and the perceived affective social support, as well as between the dimension of physical performance and general health with social support generating confidence

Hybrid learning environments in graduate studies

presente trabajo fue realizado por un equipo de académicas que formamos parte del núcleo básico de profesores de la Maestría en Gestión y Desarrollo Social, de la Universidad de Guadalajara. Nos interesa realizar una propuesta educativa que apoye los procesos de enseñanza y aprendizaje en el actual escenario y que responda a entender y atender las situaciones de incertidumbre tales como las que estamos viviendo ante la crisis sanitaria que originó la pandemia causada por el virus SARS-COV 2. Para ello, conjuntamos nuestros diferentes puntos de vista para integrar una propuesta de Modelo Híbrido de Enseñanza bajo el cual ejercer la docencia en el posgrado en comento, partiendo de la recreación de nuestras prácticas educativas y renovándolas de cara al futuro Post Pandemia que, a nuestro juicio, no regresará a la llamada normalidad del pasado. La nueva normalidad deberá estar constituida por nuevas formas de percibir, pensar, crear y actuar en los diferentes escenarios de la vida que se han visto en la necesidad de recrearse con motivo de la emergencia, pero profundamente cimentada en las innovaciones surgidas en la teoría pedagógica (andragógica, en nuestro caso), metodológicas, didácticas y tecnológicas aplicables a la educación, campo que durante tantas décadas se mostró reacio al cambio.The present work was carried out by a team of academics that are part of the basic core of professors of the Master in Management and Social Development, of the University of Guadalajara. We are interested in making an educational proposal that supports the teaching and learning processes in the current scenario and responds to understand and address situations of uncertainty such as those we are experiencing in the face of the health crisis that caused the pandemic caused by the SARS-COV virus. 2. For this, we combine our different points of view to integrate a proposal for a Hybrid Model of Teaching under which to teach in the postgraduate course in question, starting from the recreation of our educational practices and renewing them for the future Post Pandemic that, in our judgment, it will not return to the so-called normality of the past. The new normality must be constituted by new ways of perceiving, thinking, creating and acting in the different scenarios of life that have been in need of recreation due to the emergency, but deeply grounded in the innovations that emerged in pedagogical theory (andragogic, in our case), methodological, didactic and technological applicable to education, a field that for so many decades was reluctant to change.Facultad de Informátic

Minor malformations and other morphological abnormalities in series of fetal and perinatal necropsies in Bogota

OBJETIVO: Revisar las definiciones de los cambios morfológicos y clasificaciones de las alteraciones observadas en necropsias fetales y neonatales y analizar su relación con la causa de muerte y los demás padecimientos fetales y maternos conocidos. MATERIALES Y MÉTODOS: Estudio observacional y descriptivo de necropsias fetales y perinatales para detallar las características anatómicas de fetos y recién nacidos excluidas de los criterios de normalidad y su correlación con los factores placentarios, las condiciones clínicas maternas, y los desenlaces fetales y del recién nacido. RESULTADOS: En 87 necropsias perinatales se observó predominio de los hallazgos de malformaciones en el sexo femenino, en madres entre 18 y 35 años y en individuos con maceración severa. Las malformaciones mayores más frecuentes ocurrieron en la cara, el abdomen y el esqueleto. En las malformaciones menores predominaron las esqueléticas (clinodactilia (36.75%), braquidactilia (23.52%), brecha de la separación entre el primer y segundo dedos del pie (Sandal gap) (14.7%); faciales (puente nasal deprimido (58.24%), glosoptosis (16.64%) hipertelorismo (8.32%)) y de cuello (alado (31.25%), corto (37.5%) y elongado (18.75%)). Como rupturas se encontraron bandas amnióticas que abarcaban amplios segmentos (2.29%). La deformidad más frecuente fue el pie en equino varo (6.89%). CONCLUSIÓN: En nuestra observación interdisciplinaria enfocada a las muertes perinatales se encontró relación entre cromosomopatía y aborto retenido. Los cambios morfológicos más frecuentes correspondieron a malformaciones menores. Todo cambio en la morfología de un recién nacido o de un feto puede ser la clave del diagnóstico principal, por ello deben reconocerse y distinguirse entre sí para orientar el futuro obstétrico de las familias, brindar consejería genética y lograr que trasciendan a la salud pública.1-10BACKGROUND: During autopsy morphological abnormalities should be classified in major or minor malformations, disruptions, sequences, deformities, trauma, changes attributable to fixation, intrauterine death, or manipulation, among others. Appropriate counseling in genetics and obstetrics is going to depend on this approach. In the current study we want to know the frequencies of morphological changes and their association with clinical presentations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Observational descriptive study carried out on consecutive perinatal autopsies product from natural deaths in which morphological changes were classified. RESULTS: In 87 perinatal autopsies a female predominance was observed, as well as a major occurrence in mothers between 18 and 35 years and in individuals with severe maceration. The most frequent major malformations were found in the face, abdomen and skeleton. Among minor malformations, the skeletal ones were the most predominant (clinodactyly (36.75%), brachydactyly (23.52%), sandal gap (14.7%)); followed by facial anomalies (depressed nasal bridge (58.24%), glossoptosis (16.64%), hypertelorism (8.32%); and, neck defects (winged neck (31.25%), short (37.5%), elongated (18.75%). Among disruptions, amniotic bands were found covering large segments (2.29%). The most frequent deformity was equinovarus foot (6.89%). CONCLUSIONS: In the present interdisciplinary observation focused on perinatal deaths, a relation between cromosomopathies and severe maceration was identified. The most frequent morphological features corresponded to minor malformations. Any change in the morphology of a newborn or a fetus may be the key to the main diagnosis. For this reason, morphological changes must to be recognized and distinguished among them to guide the reproductive future of the families, provide genetic counseling and achieve a positive impact on public health

Resilient Response to Combined Heat and Drought Stress Conditions of a Tomato Germplasm Collection, Including Natural and Ethyl Methanesulfonate-Induced Variants

Agricultural systems are currently facing significant issues, primarily due to population growth rates in the context of global climate change. Rising temperatures cause plant heat stress and impact crop yield, which in turn compromises global food production and safety. Climate change is also having a significant impact on water availability around the world, and droughts are becoming more frequent and severe in many regions. The combined effect of both heat and drought stresses increases plant damage, resulting in reduced plant development and productivity loss. Therefore, developing heat–drought-tolerant crop varieties is crucial for enhancing yield under these challenging conditions. Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.), a major vegetable crop highly appreciated for its nutritional qualities, is particularly sensitive to extreme temperatures, which have a significant negative impact on tomato fruit setting and cause male gametophyte abortion. In this work, a classical genetic approach was employed to identify tomato genotypes showing a resilient response to combined heat and drought stress conditions. A phenotype screening of a natural germplasm collection and an ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS) mutagenized population resulted in the identification of a significant number of tomato lines tolerant to combined heat and drought conditions, specifically 161 EMS lines and 24 natural accessions as tolerant. In addition, TILLING and Eco-TILLING analyses were used as proof-of-concept to isolate new genetic variants of genes previously reported as key regulators of abiotic stress responses in different species. The identification of these variants holds the potential to provide suitable plant material for breeding programs focused on enhancing tomato resilience to adverse climate conditions

Coordinate suppression of B cell lymphoma by PTEN and SHIP phosphatases

Mice lacking both PTEN and SHIP phosphatases develop spontaneous B cell lymphoma

Characteristics and outcomes of adult patients in the PETHEMA registry with relapsed or refractory FLT3-ITD mutation-positive acute myeloid leukemia

This retrospective study investigated outcomes of 404 patients with relapsed/refractory (R/R) FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3)-internal tandem duplication (ITD) acute myeloid leukemia (AML) enrolled in the PETHEMA registry, pre-approval of tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Most patients (63%) had received first-line intensive therapy with 3 + 7. Subsequently, patients received salvage with intensive therapy (n = 261), non-intensive therapy (n = 63) or supportive care only (n = 80). Active salvage therapy (i.e., intensive or non-intensive therapy) resulted in a complete remission (CR) or CR without hematological recovery (CRi) rate of 42%. More patients achieved a CR/CRi with intensive (48%) compared with non-intensive (19%) salvage therapy (p < 0.001). In the overall population, median overall survival (OS) was 5.5 months; 1- and 5-year OS rates were 25% and 7%. OS was significantly (p < 0.001) prolonged with intensive or non-intensive salvage therapy compared with supportive therapy, and in those achieving CR/CRi versus no responders. Of 280 evaluable patients, 61 (22%) had an allogeneic stem-cell transplant after they had achieved CR/CRi. In conclusion, in this large cohort study, salvage treatment approaches for patients with FLT3-ITD mutated R/R AML were heterogeneous. Median OS was poor with both non-intensive and intensive salvage therapy, with best long-term outcomes obtained in patients who achieved CR/CRi and subsequently underwent allogeneic stem-cell transplant.This study was supported by Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Cáncer (CIBERONC), Valencia, Spain [CB16/12/00284]

Relationship between olive oil consumption and ankle-brachial pressure index in a population at high cardiovascular risk

Background and aims: The aim of this study was to ascertain the association between the consumption of different categories of edible olive oils (virgin olive oils and olive oil) and olive pomace oil and ankle-brachial pressure index (ABI) in participants in the PREDIMED-Plus study, a trial of lifestyle modification for weight and cardiovascular event reduction in individuals with overweight/obesity harboring the metabolic syndrome. Methods: We performed a cross-sectional analysis of the PREDIMED-Plus trial. Consumption of any category of olive oil and olive pomace oil was assessed through a validated food-frequency questionnaire. Multivariable linear regression models were fitted to assess associations between olive oil consumption and ABI. Additionally, ABI ≤1 was considered as the outcome in logistic models with different categories of olive oil and olive pomace oil as exposure. Results: Among 4330 participants, the highest quintile of total olive oil consumption (sum of all categories of olive oil and olive pomace oil) was associated with higher mean values of ABI (beta coefficient: 0.014, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.002, 0.027) (p for trend = 0.010). Logistic models comparing the consumption of different categories of olive oils, olive pomace oil and ABI ≤1 values revealed an inverse association between virgin olive oils consumption and the likelihood of a low ABI (odds ratio [OR] 0.73, 95% CI [0.56, 0.97]), while consumption of olive pomace oil was positively associated with a low ABI (OR 1.22 95% CI [1.00, 1.48]). Conclusions: In a Mediterranean population at high cardiovascular risk, total olive oil consumption was associated with a higher mean ABI. These results suggest that olive oil consumption may be beneficial for peripheral artery disease prevention, but longitudinal studies are needed