¿Hablamos de lo mismo? Estudio contrastivo de programas de lenguas para fines específicos en dos universidades de Estados Unidos y España

Language courses for specific purposes vary due to their context and purpose. However, it is possible to find common features between programs in two different countries, with different characteristics and languages in question. It is interesting then toobserve how different courses work according to their specific characteristics to highlight in addition to their similarities their limitations and challenges. In this sense, this paper addresses the cases of Spanish for specific purposes in the Faculty of Foreign Languages of Valdosta State University in the United States and English in the Faculty of Education of the University of Alcalá in Spain. The contrastive study refers to the characteristics of both programs, their courses and students, the methodology and materials used for instruction, the use of the target language and evaluation. The paper concludes that in spite of the different nature of the programs and courses in question, more similarities can be found than differences of substance, so that future studies will address these contrasts in the elaboration of an international common framework.Las asignaturas de idiomas para fines específicos varían debido a su contexto y sus propósitos. Sin embargo, es posible encontrar rasgos comunes entre programas en dos países diferentes, con diferentes características y lenguas en cuestión. Es interesante entonces observar cómo funcionan diferentes asignaturas según sus rasgos específicos para destacar además de sus similitudes sus limitantes y retos. En este sentido, este trabajo aborda los casos de español para fines específicos en la Facultad de Lenguas Extranjeras de la Universidad Estatal de Valdosta en Estados Unidos y de inglés en la Facultad de Educación de la Universidad de Alcalá en España. El estudio contrastivo se refiere a las características de ambos programas, de sus asignaturas y alumnos, la metodología y los materiales utilizados para la instrucción, el uso de la lengua objetivo y la evaluación. El documento concluye que a pesar de la distinta naturaleza de los programas y asignaturas en cuestión se pueden encontrar más similitudes que diferencias de fondo, para que estudios futuros aborden estos contrastes en la elaboración de un marco común internacional

¿CUÁNTO APRENDÍ EN LA ENSEÑANZA SECUNDARIA? LAS ACTITUDES DE LOS ESTUDIANTES UNIVERSITARIOS DE PRIMER AÑO RESPECTO A LA RELACIÓN ENSEÑANZA APRENDIZAJE DE SU SEGUNDA LENGUA EN LA ESCUELA SECUNDARIA EN TRES CONTEXTOS INTERNACIONALES

El objetivo fundamental de este estudio es observar y recopilar información sobre las percepciones de los alumnos y las dificultades detectadas en sus estudios en la escuela secundaria en tres diferentes contextos: Valencia (España), Flandes (Bélgica) y Valdosta (Georgia, EEUU). Los participantes en este estudio fueron 82 estudiantes universitarios de primer año matriculados en la Universidad Politécnica de Valencia, la Universidad de Amres y la Universidad de Valdosta State. Los datos se obtuvieron a través de cuestionarios y un estudio en tres niveles: investigadores, profesores y una pequeña muestra de estudiantes. Debido a la muestra limitada, los resultados no pueden ser generalizados pero ofrecen cierta luz para futuros estudios en el campo de la enseñanza de idiomas en la escuela secundaria. El análisis de los datos indicó que los tres grupos comparten problemas comunes como el uso limitado de materiales educativos u oportunidades de aprendizaje fuera del aula, la metodología de los profesores de enseñanza secundaria y las actitudes hacia la lengua extranjera. Estos hallazgos enfatizan la importancia de metodologías globales que guíen a los estudiantes en el uso de recursos tanto dentro como fuera de clase. Los resultados también indican que los estudiantes de secundaria podrían no ser tan diferentes, a pesar de pertenecer a culturas de origen distintas y poseer lenguas maternas diferentes.ABSTRACTThe ultimate goal of this study is to observe and gather information on the students’ perceptions on the factual constraints during their high school studies in three different contexts: Valencia (Spain), Flandes (Belgium) and Valdosta (USA). The participants in this study were 82 first year college students enrolled in the Polytechnic University of Valencia, the University of Amres and the State University of Valdosta. Data were gathered by means of questionnaires and preceded by a focus group and a careful design of the questionnaire at three levels: researchers, teachers and a small sample of students. Because the sample is rather limited, the findings cannot be over generalized but they show some light for further studies in the field of high school language instruction. Analysis of data indicated that the three groups share common problems such as the limited use of out of class language learning materials or learning opportunities, the high school teachers’ methodology and the students’ attitudes towards the target language. These findings stress the importance of using global methodologies that appropriately lead the students in their use of in and out of the classroom resources. The results also indicate that high school language learners may not be so different despite their original cultures and mother tongue

How much did i learn in high school? First year university students’ attitudes in relation to the teaching-learning process in a second language in high school in three international contexts

El objetivo fundamental de este estudio es observar y recopilar información sobre las percepciones de los alumnos y las dificultades detectadas en sus estudios en la escuela secundaria en tres diferentes contextos: Valencia (España), Flandes (Bélgica) y Valdosta (Georgia, EEUU). Los participantes en este estudio fueron 82 estudiantes universitarios de primer año matriculados en la Universidad Politécnica de Valencia, la Universidad de Amres y la Universidad de Valdosta State. Los datos se obtuvieron a través de cuestionarios y un estudio en tres niveles: investigadores, profesores y una pequeña muestra de estudiantes. Debido a la muestra limitada, los resultados no pueden ser generalizados pero ofrecen cierta luz para futuros estudios en el campo de la enseñanza de idiomas en la escuela secundaria. El análisis de los datos indicó que los tres grupos comparten problemas comunes como el uso limitado de materiales educativos u oportunidades de aprendizaje fuera del aula, la metodología de los profesores de enseñanza secundaria y las actitudes hacia la lengua extranjera. Estos hallazgos enfatizan la importancia de metodologías globales que guíen a los estudiantes en el uso de recursos tanto dentro como fuera de clase. Los resultados también indican que los estudiantes de secundaria podrían no ser tan diferentes, a pesar de pertenecer a culturas de origen distintas y poseer lenguas maternas diferentes.The ultimate goal of this study is to observe and gather information on the students’ perceptions on the factual constraints during their high school studies in three different contexts: Valencia (Spain), Flandes (Belgium) and Valdosta (USA). The participants in this study were 82 first year college students enrolled in the Polytechnic University of Valencia, the University of Amres and the State University of Valdosta. Data were gathered by means of questionnaires and preceded by a focus group and a careful design of the questionnaire at three levels: researchers, teachers and a small sample of students. Because the sample is rather limited, the findings cannot be over generalized but they show some light for further studies in the field of high school language instruction. Analysis of data indicated that the three groups share common problems such as the limited use of out of class language learning materials or learning opportunities, the high school teachers’ methodology and the students’ attitudes towards the target language. These findings stress the importance of using global methodologies that appropriately lead the students in their use of in and out of the classroom resources. The results also indicate that high school language learners may not be so different despite their original cultures and mother tongue.Ministerio de Educación y CienciaMinisterio de Ciencia e Innovació

Contamination level and spatial distribution of heavy metals in water and sediments of El Guájaro Reservoir, Colombia

Heavy metals have become a subject of special concern worldwide, mainly due to high persistence in the environment, toxicity, biogeochemical recycling and ecological risk. Therefore, the objective of this investigation was to analyze the spatial–temporal distribution of heavy metals in water and sediments to determine the environmental status of El Guájaro Reservoir, where such studies have not been developed. Two measurement campaigns (dry and wet period) were carried out and eight sampling stations were selected. A comparison of water and sediment quality parameters with existing national and international regulations was done. Also, heavy metal distribution maps were generated, and the geoaccumulation index was calculated to identify sources and sediments contamination level. Based on the obtained results, agriculture and mining activities are the main causes of the reservoir contamination. This metals levels could be a potential risk for the aquatic life and the populations that are supplied from this water body

Comparative efficacy of two primary care interventions to assist withdrawal from long term benzodiazepine use: A protocol for a clustered, randomized clinical trial

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Although benzodiazepines are effective, long-term use is not recommended because of potential adverse effects; the risks of tolerance and dependence; and an increased risk of hip fractures, motor vehicle accidents, and memory impairment. The estimated prevalence of long-term benzodiazepine use in the general population is about 2,2 to 2,6%, is higher in women and increases steadily with age. Interventions performed by General Practitioners may help patients to discontinue long-term benzodiazepine use. We have designed a trial to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of two brief general practitioner-provided interventions, based on gradual dose reduction, and will compare the effectiveness of these interventions with that of routine clinical practice.</p> <p>Methods/Design</p> <p>In a three-arm cluster randomized controlled trial, general practitioners will be randomly allocated to: a) a group in which the first patient visit will feature a structured interview, followed by visits every 2-3 weeks to the end of dose reduction; b) a group in which the first patient visit will feature a structured interview plus delivery of written instructions to self-reduce benzodiazepine dose, or c) routine care. Using a computerized pharmaceutical prescription database, 495 patients, aged 18-80 years, taking benzodiazepine for at least 6 months, will be recruited in primary care health districts of three regions of Spain (the Balearic Islands, Catalonia, and Valencia). The primary outcome will be benzodiazepine use at 12 months. The secondary outcomes will include measurements of anxiety and depression symptoms, benzodiazepine dependence, quality of sleep, and alcohol consumption.</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>Although some interventions have been shown to be effective in reducing benzodiazepine consumption by long-term users, the clinical relevance of such interventions is limited by their complexity. This randomized trial will compare the effectiveness and safety of two complex stepped care interventions with that of routine care in a study with sufficient statistical power to detect clinically relevant differences.</p> <p>Trial Registration</p> <p>Current Controlled Trials: <a href="http://www.controlled-trials.com/ISRCTN13024375">ISRCTN13024375</a></p

A Relationship between Carotenoid Accumulation and the Distribution of Species of the Fungus Neurospora in Spain

The ascomycete fungus Neurospora is present in many parts of the world, in particular in tropical and subtropical areas, where it is found growing on recently burned vegetation. We have sampled the Neurospora population across Spain. The sampling sites were located in the region of Galicia (northwestern corner of the Iberian peninsula), the province of Cáceres, the city of Seville, and the two major islands of the Canary Islands archipelago (Tenerife and Gran Canaria, west coast of Africa). The sites covered a latitude interval between 27.88° and 42.74°. We have identified wild-type strains of N. discreta, N. tetrasperma, N. crassa, and N. sitophila and the frequency of each species varied from site to site. It has been shown that after exposure to light Neurospora accumulates the orange carotenoid neurosporaxanthin, presumably for protection from UV radiation. We have found that each Neurospora species accumulates a different amount of carotenoids after exposure to light, but these differences did not correlate with the expression of the carotenogenic genes al-1 or al-2. The accumulation of carotenoids in Neurospora shows a correlation with latitude, as Neurospora strains isolated from lower latitudes accumulate more carotenoids than strains isolated from higher latitudes. Since regions of low latitude receive high UV irradiation we propose that the increased carotenoid accumulation may protect Neurospora from high UV exposure. In support of this hypothesis, we have found that N. crassa, the species that accumulates more carotenoids, is more resistant to UV radiation than N. discreta or N. tetrasperma. The photoprotection provided by carotenoids and the capability to accumulate different amounts of carotenoids may be responsible, at least in part, for the distribution of Neurospora species that we have observed across a range of latitudes

Propuesta de un nuevo modelo microquirúrgico para el estudio de la endometriosis inducida en rata Wistar. Resultados preliminares

The current knowledge status on the patogenesis of endometriosis as well as devastating consequences of disease evolution in women's reproductive health, have promoted researchers advances in a great manner during last years. The immunologic and neangiogenesis systems implication have opened new ways of knowledge over classic theories from the beginning of the xx century. The experimental resesearch, using animal induction models. Below we explain the first steps a new induction model ("PGR1-HotDog"), based on Wistar rats using a new disease autogeneration system, created for te study of the early stages of the endometriosis

Mapping geographical inequalities in access to drinking water and sanitation facilities in low-income and middle-income countries, 2000-17

Background: Universal access to safe drinking water and sanitation facilities is an essential human right, recognised in the Sustainable Development Goals as crucial for preventing disease and improving human wellbeing. Comprehensive, high-resolution estimates are important to inform progress towards achieving this goal. We aimed to produce high-resolution geospatial estimates of access to drinking water and sanitation facilities. Methods: We used a Bayesian geostatistical model and data from 600 sources across more than 88 low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) to estimate access to drinking water and sanitation facilities on continuous continent-wide surfaces from 2000 to 2017, and aggregated results to policy-relevant administrative units. We estimated mutually exclusive and collectively exhaustive subcategories of facilities for drinking water (piped water on or off premises, other improved facilities, unimproved, and surface water) and sanitation facilities (septic or sewer sanitation, other improved, unimproved, and open defecation) with use of ordinal regression. We also estimated the number of diarrhoeal deaths in children younger than 5 years attributed to unsafe facilities and estimated deaths that were averted by increased access to safe facilities in 2017, and analysed geographical inequality in access within LMICs. Findings: Across LMICs, access to both piped water and improved water overall increased between 2000 and 2017, with progress varying spatially. For piped water, the safest water facility type, access increased from 40·0% (95% uncertainty interval [UI] 39·4–40·7) to 50·3% (50·0–50·5), but was lowest in sub-Saharan Africa, where access to piped water was mostly concentrated in urban centres. Access to both sewer or septic sanitation and improved sanitation overall also increased across all LMICs during the study period. For sewer or septic sanitation, access was 46·3% (95% UI 46·1–46·5) in 2017, compared with 28·7% (28·5–29·0) in 2000. Although some units improved access to the safest drinking water or sanitation facilities since 2000, a large absolute number of people continued to not have access in several units with high access to such facilities (>80%) in 2017. More than 253 000 people did not have access to sewer or septic sanitation facilities in the city of Harare, Zimbabwe, despite 88·6% (95% UI 87·2–89·7) access overall. Many units were able to transition from the least safe facilities in 2000 to safe facilities by 2017; for units in which populations primarily practised open defecation in 2000, 686 (95% UI 664–711) of the 1830 (1797–1863) units transitioned to the use of improved sanitation. Geographical disparities in access to improved water across units decreased in 76·1% (95% UI 71·6–80·7) of countries from 2000 to 2017, and in 53·9% (50·6–59·6) of countries for access to improved sanitation, but remained evident subnationally in most countries in 2017. Interpretation: Our estimates, combined with geospatial trends in diarrhoeal burden, identify where efforts to increase access to safe drinking water and sanitation facilities are most needed. By highlighting areas with successful approaches or in need of targeted interventions, our estimates can enable precision public health to effectively progress towards universal access to safe water and sanitation