Becoming a techie and improving your English with audiovisual translation. The two-for-one formula offered by TRADILEX

Audiovisual translation (AVT) as a tool in the teaching/learning of a foreign language has increasingly attracted the attention of researchers in the latest years. The TRADILEX Project team is currently working on the pedagogic use of AVT in the teaching /learning of English as a Foreign language (EFL) in an online environment, in a good number of Spanish universities. This paper presents the results of the TRADILEX experience, carried out at the University of Zaragoza (Spain). The methodology designed and applied for that end has required the use of technological tools to guide students through different steps, from an Initial Test of Integrated Skills (ITIS) to a Final Test of Integrated Skills (FITIS), both designed by members of the team. On their way from the former to the latter, students were invited to carry out a series of B1-level tasks in five AVT modes. The materials previously designed and tested aimed at a progressive autonomy of the student in their advance in the lesson plans of each mode. The analysis of the results obtained in each of the AVT modes, as well as the comparative results between the ITIS and the FITIS will highlight the virtues of the methodology used

Analysis of perceptual, psychological, and behavioral factors that affect the academic performance of education university students.

The aim of this study was the effect of different perceptual, psychological, and behavioural factors in the academic performance of university students. A total of 172 students (23.5 ± 5.4 years) were recruited. Physical activity patterns, nutritional habits, personality factors, perceptions of difficulty, expected grade, grade average, and academic performance of students were analyzed. No significant differences were found in physical activity levels in relation to academic performance. Significant differences were found in the agreeableness domain in relation to higher academic performance, higher perception of healthy diet and higher body mass index values. With these results we can conclude that university student with higher academic performance were characterized by higher levels of agreeableness, perception of healthy diet and body mass index

Recomendaciones para obtener resultados confiables de resistencia de cilindros de concreto.

This paper is about a series of recommendations to assure the reliability of concrete strength results sampled in the field. Each of the steps to achieve this goal is described. Those are: sampling, molding, curing, protecting and testing. The provided recommendations are based on a deep study of the practices and standards as well as the experience acquired in the process of testing concrete cylinders at LanammeUCR. This paper is intended mainly for testing laboratories which execute sampling and testing of concrete but also for engineers and professionals that work in the construction of buildings.A continuación se presenta una serie de recomendaciones para asegurar la confiabilidad de los resultados de resistencia de concreto muestreado en obra. Se describe cada uno de los pasos para lograr ese objetivo. Estos son: muestreo, moldeo, curado, protección y falla. Las recomendaciones brindadas se basan en un estudio profundo de las prácticas y normas así como en la experiencia adquirida en el proceso de falla de cilindros de concreto en el Lanamme UCR. Este artículo está dirigido principalmente a los laboratorios de ensayo que ejecutan muestreos y pruebas de concreto pero también a los ingenieros y profesionales que trabajan en la construcción de obras civiles

Combination of complementary data mining methods for geographical characterization of extra virgin olive oils based on mineral composition

This work explores the potential of multi-element fingerprinting in combination with advanced data mining strategies to assess the geographical origin of extra virgin olive oil samples. For this purpose, the concentrations of 55 elements were determined in 125 oil samples from multiple Spanish geographic areas. Several unsupervised and supervised multivariate statistical techniques were used to build classification models and investigate the relationship between the mineral composition of olive oils and their provenance. Results showed that Spanish extra virgin olive oils exhibit characteristic element profiles, which can be differentiated based on their origin by three geographical areas: the Atlantic coast (Huelva province), the Mediterranean coast, and inland regions. Furthermore, statistical modeling yielded high sensitivity and specificity, principally when random forest and support vector machines were employed, thus demonstrating the utility of these techniques in food traceability and authenticity research.This work was supported by the Consejería de Innovación, Ciencia y Empresa, Junta de Andalucía (grant number P10-FQM-6185). Authors also thank to Prof. Jesús de la Rosa for his selfless assistance in the interpretation of results.Departamento de Química "Profesor José Carlos Vílchez Martín

A school-based motivational intervention to promote physical activity from a self-determination theory perspective

This study analyzed the effects of a multidimensional intervention to promote physical activity (PA) in school, based on self-determination theory. The study involved 88 students, aged between 14 and 17 years, who were divided into a control group (n = 59) and an experimental group (n = 29). In the experimental group, a 6-month intervention was conducted, applying a teaching unit of fitness and health in physical education (PE) classes, an extracurricular program of healthy PA, and meetings with families. Questionnaires were administered to measure different motivational variables and PA levels at four time points. Significant differences were found in favor of the experimental group in parental and peer autonomy support; integrated regulation in PE; autonomy, intrinsic and identified regulation in leisure-time PA; moderate, hard, and very hard PA; and physical self-worth. Motivational effects were maintained over time but the effects on PA levels disappeared at 6 month

High performance novel gadolinium doped ceria/yttria stabilized zirconia/nickel layered and hybrid thin film anodes for application in solid oxide fuel cells

Magnetron sputtering under oblique angle deposition was used to produce Ni-containing ultra thin film anodes comprising alternating layers of gadolinium doped ceria (GDC) and yttria stabilized zirconia (YSZ) of either 200 nm or 1000 nm thickness. The evolution of film structure from initial deposition, through calcination and final reduction was examined by XRD, SEM, TEM and TOF-SIMS. After subsequent fuel cell usage, the porous columnar architecture of the two-component layered thin film anodes was maintained and their resistance to delamination from the underlying YSZ electrolyte was superior to that of corresponding single component Ni-YSZ and Ni-GDC thin films. Moreover, the fuel cell performance of the 200 nm layered an- odes compared favorably with conventional commercially available thick anodes. The observed dependence of fuel cell performance on individual layer thicknesses prompted study of equivalent but more easily fabricated hybrid anodes consisting of simultaneously deposited Ni-GDC and Ni-YSZ, which procedure resulted in exceptionally intimate mixing and interaction of the components. The hybrids exhibited very unusual and favorable I---V characteristics, along with exceptionally high power densities at high currents. Their discovery is the principal contribution of the present work.European Union's Seventh Framework Programme FP7/2007–2013Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Technology Initiative under the T-CELL project, grant 298300MINECO (Spain), grants nº MAT2013-40852RJuan de la Cierva Programme FPDI-2013-1862

“You Measure Us and You Depress Us”: Healthism and the Subjective Impact of Body Measurements on Secondary School Students

This study explores adolescents’ subjective experiences when facing body measurements at school, performed to evaluate the effects of a school-based intervention to promote physical activity. Three semi-structured interviews (n = 3) and two focus groups (n = 7 and 3) were conducted with adolescents after measuring some variables related to their weight and adiposity. Observational data (n = 88) collected by the two researchers in charge of the measurements were also obtained. Findings derived from our thematic analysis question the suitability of body measurements as social contexts where the core ideas of healthism emerge. Some adolescents lived body measurements as negative social experiences, promoting body dissatisfaction, social comparison, embarrassment, and simplistic associations between health and body shape, which could hinder their adherence to healthy habits. We emphasize the role of qualitative research when evaluating pre/posttests of school-based intervention studies, not just the interventions themselves, to generate knowledge to improve research protocols and prevent unwanted psychological outcomes in participants

Autonomy support in an exercise intervention with colorectal cancer patients during chemotherapy: a qualitative perspective

Objective: Physical activity (PA) has emerged as an important element of supportive care for cancer patients, but few patients engage with exercise. Considering that autonomy support is associated with healthy lifestyles, it would be useful to know the specific autonomy-supportive techniques that can help to encourage PA in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. This study aims to qualitatively explore autonomy support perceptions through a self-determination-theory-based exercise program (FIT-CANCER) with CRC patients during chemotherapy treatment. Methods and Measures: A total of 27 participants were included, 16 CRC patients, six relatives, and five healthcare professionals. Qualitative data from semi-structured interviews and observational field notes were analyzed with thematic analysis. Results: Three main themes were identified: Healthcare professionals encouraging enrollment in the exercise program, Relatives supporting attendance to the exercise sessions, Exercise instructor favoring adherence to the exercise program. The different subthemes showed autonomy-supportive techniques from these social agents to promote CRC patients’ participation in the exercise program. Conclusion: The present research showed the importance of autonomy support from healthcare professionals, relatives and the exercise instructor to promote the initiation and maintenance of CRC patients’ PA behavior and improve their quality of life, health and well-being

Neurodiseño y neurousabilidad de automóviles. Una propuesta desde la ingeniería neurokansei-chisei

En este trabajo de investigación se plantea una innovación metodológica en los procesos de diseño y desarrollo de productos industriales, con enfoque en el usuario. El objetivo central es el planteamiento de un modelo de orientación neurocientífica para la aplicación de la Ingeniería Kansei-Chisei al diseño de productos en el sector del automóvil. Esta propuesta participa en la ampliación del concepto de ergonomía aplicada a productos y a entornos de trabajo, la cual ha evolucionado desde los conceptos de ergonomía clásica o ergonomía física hacia otros ámbitos relacionados con la incorporación e interacción emocional y racional del diseño. En el ámbito de la ergonomía, el diseño productos ha evolucionado de una concepción racional centrada exclusivamente en la eficiencia práctica, a planteamientos de concepción emocional mediante la incorporación de soluciones de diseño afectivo por Ingeniería Kansei. El objetivo final de la Ingeniería Kansei Chisei es establecer la relación entre emoción, razón y propiedades vehículo, de tal manera que los resultados puedan ser utilizados para mejorar el confort y la eficiencia del producto.In this research work, is proposed a methodological innovation in the design and development processes of industrial products, with a focus on the user. The central aim is the approach of a neuroscientific orientation model for the application of Kansei-Chisei Engineering to the design of products in the automotive sector. This proposal participates in the expansion of the concept of ergonomics applied to products and work environments, which has evolved from the concepts of classical ergonomics or physical ergonomics to other areas related to the incorporation and emotional and rational interaction of design. In the field of ergonomics, product design has evolved from a rational conception focused exclusively on practical efficiency, to approaches of emotional conception through the incorporation of affective design solutions by Kansei Engineering. The final objective of the Kansei-Chisei Engineering is to establish the relationship between emotion, reason and vehicle properties, in such a way that the results can be used to improve the comfort and efficiency of the product.Plan Propio de la Universidad de Sevilla Proyecto: 2017/0000096

Assessing Body Esteem in Adolescents: psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the Body Esteem Scale (BESAA-S)

Background: “How do I perceive my own body?“ is a central question during adolescence, which addresses the subjective assessment of body image, called Body Esteem. Although concern about body esteem increases during adolescence, there is a lack of psychometrically validated measures to assess it specifically among Spanish adolescents. Objective: This study aims to validate the Body-Esteem Scale for Adolescents and Adult populations (BESAA), a widely used measure of body esteem across cultures, among the Spanish adolescent population. Methods: The cross-cultural adequacy and acceptability of the Argentinian-Spanish version by Forbes et al., (2012) were pilot tested and the questionnaire was completed by 1,258 students (Mage = 15.56). Next, several psychometric analyses were carried out: exploratory (AFE) and confirmatory (CFA) factorial structure, convergent and discriminant validity, nomological validity, internal consistency, and temporal reliability. Results: The AFE and CFA supported a reduced Spanish version of the BESAA of 14 items (BESAA-S) and maintained the original three-factor structure (BE-Weight, BE-Appearance, and BE-Attribution subscales). The BESAA-S showed acceptable internal consistency and strong test-retest reliability. Discriminant validity between subscales was appropriate, and convergent validity was appropriate except for the BE-Attribution subscale. Nomological validity was supported through significant correlations with body appreciation, general self-esteem, sociocultural attitudes towards appearance, and disordered eating symptoms. Body esteem was negatively associated with weight status. Conclusions: This study presents a culturally appropriate, shortened Spanish BESAA as a reliable instrument for body esteem assessment among Spanish speaking adolescentsFunding information The authors did not receive fnancial support from any organization for the submitted wor