Las prácticas de enseñanza de los docentes que se desempeñan en la modalidad a distancia de la Facultad de Ciencias Económicas de la Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto

La perspectiva metodológica que orientó el estudio de las prácticas de enseñanza de los docentes en la modalidad a distancia de la Facultad de Ciencias Económicas (FCE) de la Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto (UNRC) se sustentó en la investigación cualitativa de enfoque interpretativo. Este enfoque permite abordar comportamientos complejos y de difícil observación que ponen de manifiesto elementos para la comprensión de los fenómenos educativos, por lo cual plantea una explicación de las realidades de la enseñanza y del aprendizaje desde una posición socialmente crítica. Desde esta perspectiva, el diseño de la investigación es etnográfico con estudio de caso. La adopción de la etnografía parte del supuesto que las prácticas de enseñanza en estudio están condicionadas, entre otros factores, por lo que piensan los docentes en torno al potencial didáctico de las Tecnologías de la Información y la Comunicación (TIC), por las actitudes que los docentes asumen hacia las mismas y hacia la innovación educativa propuesta por la Facultad y por las expectativas hacia el impacto de las TIC en el aprendizaje. Asimismo, la razón del estudio de caso es su especificidad para abordar los fenómenos contextuales que envuelven a los docentes de la Facultad al incorporar las TIC como medio a través del cual se desarrollan sus prácticas de enseñanza, y no su representatividad. Es decir, el estudio de caso en esta tesis tiene como finalidad comprender el caso en sí mismo y no para conocer en qué se diferencia de otros

Estatus oxidativo, antioxidante, del selenio, y aceptabilidad del consumidor de la carne de ave enriquecida con selenio dietari

The effect of selenium supplementation with an organic form (SeMet) and an inorganic form (SeNa) in the poultry finishing diet, on the oxidative and antioxidative status of Pectoralis and Gastrocnemius muscles, refrigerated at 2 °C during 0, 3 and 7 days, was studied. Also, selenium enrichment and sensory evaluation of each muscle was studied in fresh (0 days) meat. At 35 days old, chicks were distributed into three groups (30 birds each), and were fed with a corn-soybean basal diet without Se supplementation (Control) or with 0.30 ppm of selenium as selenomethionine (SeMet) or as sodium selenite (SeNa) until day 56 d-old. In Pectoralis muscle, significantly lower TBARS values were found at day 0 in meat from birds supplemented with both sources of Se (P<0.05). A higher GPx activity and selenium content was observed in meat from birds supplemented with SeMet compared with the Control (P<0.05). In SeMet raw meat from both muscles, selenium is increased and conserved after cooking in Gastrocnemius. The organic source enhanced the antioxidant enzyme activity in fresh Gastrocnemius muscle, and the inorganic source enhanced it in the fresh and in the refrigerated stored Pectoralis muscle (P<0.05). Inorganic selenium in poultry diet increase textural attributes as cohesiveness and chewed need to form a bolus. Perception of an aromatic aftertaste in Gastrocnemius (P<0.05) and Pectoralis (P<0.06) muscle felt as a metallic taste was perceived with SeMet diet. Swallowing ability was increased by SeNa and SeMet sources only in Gastrocnemius. In conclusion, selenium in the poultry diet improved antioxidant status, nutritional value by Se-enriching and textural and taste sensory perception in meat but differences are found depending on the muscle type.Se estudió el efecto de la suplementación con selenio con una forma orgánica (SeMet) y una forma inorgánica (SeNa) en la dieta de acabado de aves de corral, sobre el estado oxidativo y antioxidante de los músculos Pectoralis y Gastrocnemius, refrigerados a 2 ° C durante 0, 3 y 7 días. Además, se estudió el enriquecimiento de selenio y la evaluación sensorial de cada músculo en carne fresca (0 días). A los 35 días de edad, los polluelos se distribuyeron en tres grupos (30 aves cada uno), y fueron alimentados con una dieta basal de maíz y soja sin suplementos de Se (Control) o con 0,30 ppm de selenio como selenometionina (SeMet) o como selenito de sodio (SeNa) hasta el día 56 d-edad. En el músculo pectoral, se encontraron valores significativamente más bajos de TBARS en el día 0 en la carne de aves suplementadas con ambas fuentes de Se (P<0,05). Se observó una mayor actividad de GPx y contenido de selenio en la carne de aves suplementadas con SeMet en comparación con el Control (P<0,05). En la carne cruda SeMet de ambos músculos, el selenio se aumenta y se conserva después de la cocción en Gastrocnemius. La fuente orgánica mejoró la actividad de la enzima antioxidante en el músculo Gastrocnemius fresco, y la fuente inorgánica la mejoró en el músculo Pectoralis fresco y refrigerado almacenado (P<0.05). El selenio inorgánico en la dieta de las aves de corral aumenta los atributos texturales como la cohesión y la necesidad masticada de formar un bolo. La percepción de un regusto aromático en el músculo Gastrocnemius (P<0,05) y Pectoralis (P<0,06) se percibió como un sabor metálico con la dieta SeMet. La capacidad de deglución fue aumentada por las fuentes de SeNa y SeMet solo en Gastrocnemius. En conclusión, el selenio en la dieta avícola mejoró el estado antioxidante, el valor nutricional por el enriquecimiento de Se y la percepción sensorial textural y gustal en la carne, pero se encuentran diferencias según el tipo de músculo

Aging and social representations on political participation in Portugal and Brazil

Este estudo construído a partir de uma pesquisa qualitativa exploratória busca compreender as representações sociais sobre a participação política dos idosos em Portugal e no Brasil. Para delimitar o estudo foram escolhidas duas regiões, Braga em Portugal e Santa Maria no Brasil. Aplicou-se entrevistas semiestruturadas à 29 idosos (pessoas com mais de 60 anos) 14 em Braga e 15 em Santa Maria. As análises dos dados tiveram como embasamento a Teoria das Representações Sociais, conforme proposta por Serge Moscovici e a técnica de Análise de Conteúdo proposta por Laurence Bardin. Encontrou-se que há distinções nas formas de significar a participação em cada país e a interpretação e o sentimento dos idosos portugueses e brasileiros é de que não os querem presentes nos espaços de representação política.This study constructed from an exploratory qualitative research, search to understand the social representations about the political participation of the elderly in Portugal and Brazil. To delimited the study it were chosen two regions, Braga in Portugal and Santa Maria in Brazil. Semi-structured interviews were applied to 29 elderly (people with more than 60 years) 14 in Braga and 15 in Santa Maria. The analysis of the data had as basis the Theory of Social Representations, as proposed by Serge Moscovici and the Content Analysis technique proposed by Laurence Bardin. It was found that there are distinctions in the ways of meaning participation in each country and the interpretation and sentiment of the Portuguese and Brazilian elders is that they don’t want them present in the spaces of political representation

Servicios de Apoyo Social a las personas mayores en Braga, Portugal

Objective: To present what services are available to access the elderly in the city of Braga in Portugal, which belongs to the European community and pledged together with the other member countries of the United Nations in meeting the agreements proposed by the Action Plan International for Aging 2002. Methods: Research carried out from March to September 2015, namely, the analysis of social support services to older persons in the municipality of Braga, as well as data available from the Population Census 2011, Laws and Decrees Portuguese targeted the elderly. Results: There are currently seven types of social support services offered the elderly in Portugal: home care service, community center, day center, night center, Foster care, residential structures, holiday center and leisure. Conclusion: We conclude that these reinforce the importance of planning, and the regionalization of protection policies for quality of life, but does not cover the entire population of the elderlyObjetiva-se apresentar quais os serviços que estão disponíveis ao acesso dos idosos no município de Braga, em Portugal, que pertence à comunidade europeia, e que se comprometeu, juntamente com os demais países membros da Organização das Nações Unidas, em atender aos acordos propostos pelo Plano de Ação Internacional para o Envelhecimento de 2002. Métodos: A investigação realizada de março a setembro de 2015, baseou-se em fontes secundárias, nomeadamente, na identificação dos Serviços de Apoio Social aos idosos existentes no município de Braga, bem como dos dados disponíveis no Recenseamento Geral da População de 2011, Leis e Decretos Portugueses direcionados aos idosos. Resultados: Atualmente existem sete tipos de Serviços de Apoio Social ofertados aos idosos em Portugal: Serviço de apoio domiciliário, Centro de convívio, Centro de dia, Centro de noite, Acolhimento familiar, Estruturas residenciais, Centro de férias e lazer. Conclusão: Conclui-se que estes Serviços de Apoio Social reforçam a importância do planejamento, e da regionalização das políticas de proteção para a qualidade de vida; no entanto, não abrangem a toda a população dos idosos do municípioObjetivo: Presentar cuáles son los servicios que están disponibles al acceso de los ancianos en el municipio de Braga en Portugal, que pertenece a la comunidad europea y que, se comprometió junto con los demás países miembros de la Organización de las Naciones Unidas en atender a los acuerdos propuestos por el Plan de Acción Internacional para el Envejecimiento de 2002. Métodos: La investigación realizada de marzo a septiembre de 2015, se basó en fuentes secundarias, en particular, en la identificación de los servicios de apoyo social a los ancianos existentes en el municipio de Braga, así como de los datos disponibles en el Censo General de la Población de 2011, y Decretos Portugueses dirigidos a los ancianos. Resultados: Actualmente existen siete tipos de servicios de apoyo social ofrecidos a los ancianos en Portugal: Servicio de apoyo a domicilio, Centro de convivencia, Centro de día, Centro de noche, Acogida familiar, Estructuras residenciales, Centro de vacaciones y ocio. Conclusión: Se concluye que estos refuerzan la importancia de la planificación, y de la regionalización de las políticas de protección para la calidad de vida, pero no abarca a toda la población de los anciano

Overcoming the engineering constraints for scaling-up the state-of-the-art catalyst for tail-gas N2O decomposition

An efficient process is reported for preparing a state-of-the-art Fe-ferrierite catalyst for N2O decomposition under industrial tail-gas conditions. In the synthesis procedure we evaluate the very demanding constraints for scale-up; i.e. large reactor volumes are typically needed, long processing times and considerable amounts of waste water is generated. The proposed synthesis minimizes the amount of water used, and therefore the amount produced waste water is minimal; in this approach there is no liquid residual water stream that would need intensive processing. This has remarkable benefits in terms of process design, since the volume of equipment is reduced and the energy-intensive filtration is eliminated. This route exemplifies the concept of process intensification, with the ambition to re-engineer an existing process to make the industrial catalyst manufacture more sustainable. The so-obtained catalyst is active, selective and very stable under tail gas conditions containing H2O, NO and O2, together with N2O; keeping a high conversion during 70 h time on stream at 700 K, with a decay of 0.01%/h, while the standard reference catalyst decays at 0.06%/h; hence it deactivates six times slower, with ~5% absolute points of higher conversion. The excellent catalytic performance is ascribed to the differential speciation

Usefulness of two independent DNA and rna tissue-based multiplex assays for the routine care of advanced NSCLC patients

Personalized medicine is nowadays a paradigm in lung cancer management, offering important benefits to patients. This study aimed to test the feasibility and utility of embedding two multiplexed genomic platforms as the routine workup of advanced non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. Two parallel multiplexed approaches were performed based on DNA sequencing and direct digital detection of RNA with nCounter® technology to evaluate gene mutations and fusions. The results were used to guide genotype-directed therapies and patient outcomes were collected. A total of 224 advanced non-squamous NSCLC patients were prospectively included in the study. Overall, 85% of samples were successfully characterized at DNA and RNA levels and oncogenic drivers were found in 68% of patients, with KRAS, EGFR, MET∆ex14, BRAF, and ALK being the most frequent (31%, 19%, 5%, 4%, and 4%, respectively). Among all patients with complete genotyping results and follow-up data (n = 156), the median overall survival (OS) was 1.90 years (confidence interval (CI) 95% 1.69-2.10) for individuals harbouring an actionable driver treated with a matched therapy, compared with 0.59 years (CI 95% 0.39-0.79) in those not eligible for any targeted therapy and 0.61 years (CI 95% 0.12-1.10) in patients with no drivers identified (p < 0.001). Integrating DNA and RNA multiplexing technologies into the routine molecular testing of advanced NSCLC patients is feasible and useful and highlights the necessity of widespread integrating comprehensive molecular diagnosis into lung cancer care

Multiplex RNA-based detection of clinically relevant MET alterations in advanced non-small cell lung cancer

We studied MET alterations in 474 advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients by nCounter, an RNA-based technique. We identified 3% with MET Δex14 mRNA and 3.5% with very-high MET mRNA expression, a surrogate of MET amplification. MET alterations identified by nCounter correlated with clinical benefit from MET inhibitors. Quantitative mRNA-based techniques can improve the selection of patients for MET-targeted therapies. MET inhibitors have shown activity in non-small-cell lung cancer patients (NSCLC) with MET amplification and exon 14 skipping (METΔex14). However, patient stratification is imperfect, and thus, response rates have varied widely. Here, we studied MET alterations in 474 advanced NSCLC patients by nCounter, an RNA-based technique, together with next-generation sequencing (NGS), fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), immunohistochemistry (IHC), and reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), exploring correlation with clinical benefit. Of the 474 samples analyzed, 422 (89%) yielded valid results by nCounter, which identified 13 patients (3%) with MET Δex14 and 15 patients (3.5%) with very-high MET mRNA expression. These two subgroups were mutually exclusive, displayed distinct phenotypes and did not generally coexist with other drivers. For MET Δex14, 3/8 (37.5%) samples positive by nCounter tested negative by NGS. Regarding patients with very-high MET mRNA, 92% had MET amplification by FISH and/or NGS. However, FISH failed to identify three patients (30%) with very-high MET RNA expression, among which one received MET tyrosine kinase inhibitor treatment deriving clinical benefit. Our results indicate that quantitative mRNA-based techniques can improve the selection of patients for MET-targeted therapies

Molecular markers of endometrial carcinoma detected in uterine aspirates.

Endometrial cancer (EC) is the most frequent of the invasive tumors of the female genital tract. Although usually detected in its initial stages, a 20% of the patients present with advanced disease. To date, no characterized molecular marker has been validated for the diagnosis of EC. In addition, new methods for prognosis and classification of EC are needed to combat this deadly disease. We thus aimed to identify new molecular markers of EC and to evaluate their validity on endometrial aspirates. Gene expression screening on 52 carcinoma samples and series of real-time quantitative PCR validation on 19 paired carcinomas and normal tissue samples and on 50 carcinoma and noncarcinoma uterine aspirates were performed to identify and validate potential biomarkers of EC. Candidate markers were further confirmed at the protein level by immunohistochemistry and Western blot. We identified ACAA1, AP1M2, CGN, DDR1, EPS8L2, FASTKD1, GMIP, IKBKE, P2RX4, P4HB, PHKG2, PPFIBP2, PPP1R16A, RASSF7, RNF183, SIRT6, TJP3, EFEMP2, SOCS2 and DCN as differentially expressed in ECs. Furthermore, the differential expression of these biomarkers in primary endometrial tumors is correlated to their expression level in corresponding uterine fluid samples. Finally, these biomarkers significantly identified EC with area under the receiver-operating-characteristic values ranging from 0.74 to 0.95 in uterine aspirates. Interestingly, analogous values were found among initial stages. We present the discovery of molecular biomarkers of EC and describe their utility in uterine aspirates. These findings represent the basis for the development of a highly sensitive and specific minimally invasive method for screening ECs

Long COVID in hospitalized and non-hospitalized patients in a large cohort in Northwest Spain, a prospective cohort study

Survivors to COVID-19 have described long-term symptoms after acute disease. These signs constitute a heterogeneous group named long COVID or persistent COVID. The aim of this study is to describe persisting symptoms 6 months after COVID-19 diagnosis in a prospective cohort in the Northwest Spain. This is a prospective cohort study performed in the COHVID-GS. This cohort includes patients in clinical follow-up in a health area of 569,534 inhabitants after SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 diagnosis. Clinical and epidemiological characteristics were collected during the follow up. A total of 248 patients completed 6 months follow-up, 176 (69.4%) required hospitalization and 29 (10.2%) of them needed critical care. At 6 months, 119 (48.0%) patients described one or more persisting symptoms. The most prevalent were: extra-thoracic symptoms (39.1%), chest symptoms (27%), dyspnoea (20.6%), and fatigue (16.1%). These symptoms were more common in hospitalized patients (52.3% vs. 38.2%) and in women (59.0% vs. 40.5%). The multivariate analysis identified COPD, women gender and tobacco consumption as risk factors for long COVID. Persisting symptoms are common after COVID-19 especially in hospitalized patients compared to outpatients (52.3% vs. 38.2%). Based on these findings, special attention and clinical follow-up after acute SARS-CoV-2 infection should be provided for hospitalized patients with previous lung diseases, tobacco consumption, and women

Cognitive reserve assessment scale in health (CRASH): its validity and reliability

Background: the cognitive reserve (CR) concept has not been precisely defined in severe mental disorders and has been estimated using heterogeneous methods. This study aims to investigate and develop the psychometric properties of the Cognitive Reserve Assessment Scale in Health (CRASH), an instrument designed to measure CR in people with severe mental illness; (2) Methods: 100 patients with severe mental illness (non-affective psychoses and affective disorders) and 66 healthy controls were included. The internal consistency and convergent validity of CRASH were assessed. Spearman's correlations coefficients were also performed to examine the relationship between CRASH and neuropsychological tests, psychosocial functioning, and clinical course; (3) Results: the internal consistency was high (Cronbach's alpha coefficient = 0.903). The CRASH global score had a large positive correlation with the Cognitive reserve questionnaire total score (r = 0.838, p < 0.001), demonstrating good convergent validity. The correlation coefficients between the CRASH total scores and clinical, functional, and neuropsychological performance were different between groups. In order to provide clinical interpretation, severity classification based on diagnosis (non-affective psychotic disorders, affective disorders, and healthy controls) have been created; (4) Conclusions: CRASH is the first CR measure developed specifically for patients with severe mental illness, facilitating reliable and valid measurement of this construct. The scale may aid in the stratification of patients and the implementation of personalized interventions