University Student Volunteering (USV): Instruments for Its Comprehensive Diagnosis (ICD-USV)

University Student Volunteering (USV) requires attention to guarantee its pedagogic quality and its fulfilment of community service. However, a review of the literature reveals a lack of tools for assessing the quality of USV. Thus, our research question was: how can we evaluate the efficacy of volunteer programs in higher education? This article follows a qualitative methodology through an evaluative case study of the creation of a set of instruments for the comprehensive diagnostic of USV (ICD-USV) with a 360° perspective, which provide feedback and feedforward for the development of USV, thus offering indicators of its quality. The application of the ICD-USV at a Spanish university and the participation of one volunteer student, five participating entities' technicians and two USV unit managers allowed for the identification of new analysis criteria for the adequate management of a USV program. Measures that could be used to guarantee the quality of basic, pedagogic, logistic and processual criteria, and to address the proposals and difficulties detected, are suggested

El Smartphone como herramienta pedagógica. Perfiles de estudiantes universitarios en relación al uso y conocimiento

ABSTRACT: The Smartphone has become the device that offers the greatest number of possibilities to Mobile Learning dynamics, and university students are increasingly optimizing its potential. This research offers a classification of student profiles according to their knowledge and use of Smartphones, and analyzes their relationship between their interest towards training, the perceived academic benefits and the time spent using the device as a pedagogic resource. For this, through a quantitative methodology, a cluster analysis was conducted, which allowed for the defining of student profiles, and through non-parametric tests, the significance was analyzed with respect to their interest in training, the academic benefits perceived, and the time spent using the Smartphone. The results showed the existence of three profiles, namely: High degree of knowledge and academic use of the Smartphone; Average degree of knowledge and use of the Smartphone; and Low degree of knowledge and use of the Smartphone. Also, differences between the profiles were found in the time spent using it, the benefits perceived and the interest for being trained on the academic use of the Smartphone. The students with the Low profile were the ones that detected the least number of positive aspects and had the least interest in training towards this aim.RESUMEN: El Smartphone, se ha convertido en uno de los dispositivos que mayores posibilidades ofrece al Mobile Learning y los estudiantes universitarios están optimizando sus potencialidades. Esta investigación presenta una clasificación de perfiles de estudiantes según el conocimiento y uso de los Smartphone y analiza su relación con el interés hacia la formación, los beneficios académicos percibidos y el tiempo de uso del dispositivo como recurso pedagógico. Para ello, a través de una metodología cuantitativa, se ha realizado un análisis de conglomerados, que ha permitido establecer perfiles de estudiantes y mediante pruebas no paramétricas se ha analizado la significación respecto al interés formativo, los beneficios académicos percibidos y el tiempo de uso del Smartphone a nivel educativo. Los resultados indican la existencia de tres perfiles de estudiantes denominados: Alto conocimiento y uso académico del Smartphone; Medio conocimiento y uso del Smartphone; y Bajo conocimiento y uso del Smartphone. Además, se obtienen diferencias respecto al tiempo de uso, los beneficios percibidos e interés por formarse en usos del Smartphone entre los perfiles de estudiantes. Así, por ejemplo, los estudiantes del perfil bajo son los que menos aspectos positivos detectan en el uso del Smartphone para tareas académicas y los que menos interés tienen por formarse para este fin

Estatísticas e gestão política do primeiro ano da pandemia de COVID-19 na Argentina

The Covid-19 pandemic triggered the generation as well as the ample circulation of health statistics. This article examines the role that Covid-19 statistics acquired in the management of the Argentine health emergency. Argentina adopted lockdown measures early and initially had a strict social confinement with subsequent relaxations that became a coordination challenge in a society in crisis. This research followed a qualitative methodological strategy supported by systematic analysis of regulations, government reports, press articles, and presidential press conferences. On the one hand, the article explores the institutional structure behind the elaboration of Covid-19 statistics, focusing on statistical classifications, and underlines the tensions to which it was exposed. On the other hand, it shows how statistics were used to bestow legitimacy to the decisions of the political authority, staged in true rituals of quantification, as they were a means through which that authority was exercised. In addition to attributing meaning to a shared experience, statistical indicators became a device for coordinating action at a distance and from the center, restricting the margins of discretionary action of the subnational authorities and operating as an external and impersonal mechanism of regulation in a society disrupted by an exceptional situation.La pandemia de Covid-19 estimuló la generación y amplia circulación de estadísticas sanitarias. Este artículo examina el rol que adquirieron las estadísticas del Covid-19 en la gestión política de la emergencia sanitaria en la Argentina, un país que se caracterizó por adoptar medidas tempranas, un confinamiento social estricto inicial y posteriores flexibilizaciones que significaban todo un desafío de coordinación en una sociedad en crisis. La investigación adoptó una estrategia metodológica cualitativa apoyada en el análisis sistemático de una variedad de fuentes: normativa, informes gubernamentales, prensa y registros en video de las conferencias de prensa presidenciales. Por un lado, el artículo explora la trama institucional de elaboración de esas estadísticas, deteniéndose en algunos puntos de esa cadena como las clasificaciones estadísticas, y subraya la serie de tensiones a las que estuvo expuesta. Por otro lado, muestra cómo las estadísticas fueron utilizadas para conferir legitimidad a las decisiones de la autoridad política, escenificadas en verdaderos rituales de cuantificación, a la vez que resultaron un medio a través del cual esa autoridad fue ejercida. Además de atribuir significado a la experiencia compartida, los indicadores estadísticos formaron parte de un dispositivo de coordinación de la acción a distancia y desde el centro que restringía los márgenes de acción discrecional de las autoridades subnacionales y operaba como un mecanismo externo e impersonal de regulación en una sociedad convulsionada por una situación tan excepcional como la pandemia.A pandemia de Covid-19 estimulou a geração e ampla circulação de estatísticas de saúde. Este artigo examina o papel assumido pelas estatísticas da Covid-19 na gestão política da emergência sanitária na Argentina, país que se caracterizou por adotar medidas precoces, um confinamento social estrito inicial e subsequentes flexibilizações que significaram um desafio de coordenação em uma sociedade em crise. A pesquisa adotou uma estratégia metodológica qualitativa apoiada na análise sistemática de diversas fontes: regulamentos, relatórios governamentais, imprensa e registros em vídeo de coletivas de imprensa presidenciais. Por um lado, o artigo explora a trama institucional de elaboração dessas estatísticas, detendo-se em alguns pontos dessa cadeia como as classificações estatísticas, e destaca a série de tensões a que foi exposta. Por outro lado, mostra como as estatísticas foram usadas para conferir legitimidade às decisões da autoridade política, encenadas por meio de verdadeiros rituais de quantificação, ao mesmo tempo em que serviram de instrumento para o exercício dessa autoridade. Além de atribuir significado à experiência compartilhada, os indicadores estatísticos faziam parte de um dispositivo de coordenação da ação à distância e a partir do centro, que restringia as margens de ação discricionária das autoridades subnacionais e funcionava como um mecanismo externo e impessoal de regulação em uma sociedade convulsionada por uma situação tão excepcional quanto a pandemia

Particle swarm optimization of nanoantennabased infrared detectors

The multi-resonant response of three-steps tapered dipole nano-antennas, coupled to a resistive and fast micro-bolometer, is investigated for the efficient sensing in the infrared band. The proposed devices are designed to operate at 10.6 µm, regime where the complex refractive index of metals becomes important, in contrast to the visible counterpart, and where a full parametric analysis is performed. By using a particle swarm algorithm (PSO) the geometry was adjusted to match the impedance between the nanoantenna and the microbolometer, reducing the return losses by a factor of 650 percent. This technique is compared to standards matching techniques based on transmission lines, showing better accuracy. Tapered dipoles, therefore, open the route towards an efficient energy transfer between load elements and resonant nanoantennas

Genome-wide profiling of human cap-independent translation-enhancing elements.

We report an in vitro selection strategy to identify RNA sequences that mediate cap-independent initiation of translation. This method entails mRNA display of trillions of genomic fragments, selection for initiation of translation and high-throughput deep sequencing. We identified >12,000 translation-enhancing elements (TEEs) in the human genome, generated a high-resolution map of human TEE-bearing regions (TBRs), and validated the function of a subset of sequences in vitro and in cultured cells

Chilean Digital Press Coverage of the Relation between Diet and Mental Health

Chile has a serious public health problem due to the high prevalence of both unhealthy dietary patterns and mental illnesses. Given that dietary quality is positively associated with the quality of mental health, it is urgent that healthy dietary patterns be promoted among Chileans. The WHO recommends the use of mass media for the dissemination of knowledge about mental health. Since health news affect people’s attitudes and health behaviors, this study analyzed the coverage by three Chilean online newspapers with the largest readership regarding the relation between diet and mental health in 2016. A previously constructed corpus of 2551 news items about food was analyzed quantitatively. The results show that the relevance of the topic diet and mental health was low in all three newspapers. The most frequent type of information was on “foods” and not “nutrients” that “benefit”—not that “damage”—mental health. The quality of the news was poor as a narrow range of sources was found. An individual responsibility frame predominated in the information to the detriment of a public health frame.Fil: Sanchez Sabate, Rubén. Universidad de La Frontera; ChileFil: Zunino, Esteban. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto de Ciencias Humanas, Sociales y Ambientales; ArgentinaFil: Badilla Briones, Yasna. Universidad de La Frontera; ChileFil: Celedón Celis, Natalia. Universidad de La Frontera; ChileFil: Caro Saldías, Daniel. Universidad de La Frontera; Chil

Statistics and political management during the first year of the Covid-19 pandemic in Argentina

The Covid-19 pandemic triggered the generation as well as the ample circulation of health statistics. This article examines the role that Covid-19 statistics acquired in the management of the Argentine health emergency. Argentina adopted lockdown measures early and initially had a strict social confinement with subsequent relaxations that became a coordination challenge in a society in crisis. This research followed a qualitative methodological strategy supported by systematic analysis of regulations, government reports, press articles, and presidential press conferences. On the one hand, the article explores the institutional structure behind the elaboration of Covid-19 statistics, focusing on statistical classifications, and underlines the tensions to which it was exposed. On the other hand, it shows how statistics were used to bestow legitimacy to the decisions of the political authority, staged in true rituals of quantification, as they were a means through which that authority was exercised. In addition to attributing meaning to a shared experience, statistical indicators became a device for coordinating action at a distance and from the center, restricting the margins of discretionary action of the subnational authorities and operating as an external and impersonal mechanism of regulation in a society disrupted by an exceptional situation

The Health Consequences of Neocolonialism for Latin American Immigrant Women Working as Caregivers in Spain: A Multisite Qualitative Analysis

[Abstract] In Spain, most jobs available for Latin American immigrant women are in intimate labour (caregiving and domestic work). This work is usually performed under informal employment conditions. The objective of this study was to explain how the colonial logic mediates the experiences of Latin American women working in intimate labour in Spain, and the effects of such occupation on their health and wellbeing, using a decolonial theoretical framework. A multi-site secondary data analysis of qualitative data from four previous studies was performed utilizing 101 interviews with Latin American immigrant women working as caregivers in Spain. Three interwoven categories show how the dominant colonial logic in Spain creates low social status and precarious jobs, and naturalizes intimate labour as their métier while producing detrimental physical and psychosocial health consequences for these immigrant caregivers. The caregivers displayed several strategies to resist and navigate intimate labour and manage its negative impact on health. Respect and integration into the family for whom they work had a buffering effect, mediating the effects of working conditions on health and wellbeing. Based on our analysis, we suggest that employment, social, and health protection laws and strategies are needed to promote a positive working environment, and to reduce the impact of caregiving work for Latin American caregivers

Lecturers profiles: knowledge and professional use of smartphones

RESUMEN: La inmersión de las tecnologías de la información y la comunicación (TIC) en las aulas universitarias ha transformado las tradicionales dinámicas pedagógicas. Dispositivos móviles como el smartphone ofrecen múltiples posibilidades educativas para los docentes que se convierten en gestores, facilitadores y promotores de prácticas educativas de mobile learning mediadas por dispositivos como el smartphone. MÉTODO. El propósito de la investigación es ofrecer una clasificación de perfiles docentes relacionados con el conocimiento y uso de los smartphones, así como analizar su relación con el interés hacia la formación y el uso del dispo¬sitivo como recurso pedagógico en sus clases. Para ello se realizó un análisis de conglomerados, que permitió establecer perfiles y, mediante pruebas no parámetricas se analizó la significación respecto al interés hacia la formación y desarrollo de experiencias educativas. RESULTADOS. Los resultados indican la existencia de tres perfiles docentes denominados: impulsores del smartphone en tareas profesionales; iniciados profesionalmente en el smartphone y usuarios no profesionales del smartphone. El primer perfil es el que muestra un mayor interés hacia la for¬mación y el que ha desarrollado más experiencias educativas con el smartphone. DISCUSIÓN. Esta clasificación de docentes en tres perfiles, al igual que en las investigaciones previas, no establece diferencias significativas relativas al género y se gradúa en función de la profundidad y habilidad en el uso y manejo de los recursos tecnológicos. Igualmente, los resultados permiten aventurar las características de una formación tecnológica dirigida a potenciar el uso profesional del smartphone en la educación superior para optimizar sus posibilidades educativas

Crowdfunding Social. La alternativa a la financiación tradicional de proyectos de organizaciones de participación

El crowdfunding es una alternativa a los métodos de financiación tradicional que pueden emplear las organizaciones de participación, mediante el uso de la comunidad como medio para la captación de fondos. Empleando la metodología de revisión de fuentes bibliográficas, nos adentraremos en el mundo del crowdfunding, estudiando las diversas interpretaciones del concepto, entre las que encontraremos al denominado crowdfunding social, sus modalidades de actuación, orígenes y plataformas donde se desarrolla la captación de fondos. Así mismo, determinaremos los diferentes métodos de financiación que el emprendedor social puede emplear, para, posteriormente, realizar una comparación entre estos y el crowdfunding social, con el fin de conocer cuáles son las principales diferencias entre las variantes de búsqueda de financiación de proyectos, vista desde una óptica de beneficios e inconvenientes para el promotor del proyecto