ENGINEERING EDUCATION: STUDENTS´ VOICES ON THEIR PROFESSIONAL TRAINNING

The reported study focuses on the academic practices of freshman and senior engineering students while gaining the required experience to become engineers. The theoretical framework derives from a socio cultural perspective, where the appropriation of disciplinary tools and artifacts, and the ways in which students participate in the disciplines, are crucial. The participants were 47 engineering students from a Mexican state university, who participated in six focus groups. The data obtained was analyzed using techniques of content analysis. In general, the students’ comments show different levels of appropriation of the disciplinary tools, and different ways of perceiving their professional training in terms of the challenges that it presents for them, and they mentioned which aspects of these differences they considered to be significant. Dissimilarities between the majors, in particular those regarding the professional internships, are also discussed. To conclude, the paper provides suggestions for improving engineer training right from the beginning of their university studies, and has implications for other state universities working with similar programs.&nbsp

Cambio curricular en el bachillerato tecnológico mexicano: el caso de Ciencia, Tecnología, Sociedad y Valores.

This article reports partial results of a research project that attempts, among other things, to identify the scope of educational policies concerning structural reforms to the Mexican high school curriculum. In particular, it covers the curricular reform implemented during the 2004-2005 school year in vocational technological high schools, paying special attention to teacher's adoption of the new pedagogical proposal. The research was carried out in three technological high schools: Agricultural, Marine, and Industrial, where three teachers were observed while teaching a new discipline entitled: Science, Technology, Society and Values I. This is one out of three sequential subjects included in the new curriculum that substitute four subjects from the former historicalsocial sciences area. Our results showed a lack of teachers' appropriation of the pedagogical proposal introduced with the reform due, in part, to a lack of knowledge regarding its conceptual framework.Este artículo presenta resultados parciales de un proyecto de investigación que tiene entre otros objetivos identificar las orientaciones de política educativa en las reformas estructurales del currículo para el nivel medio superior; centra su atención en la reforma curricular implementada en los centros de bachillerato tecnológico en el ciclo escolar 2004-2005, y de manera particular, examina el manejo y la apropiación de la nueva propuesta didáctica por parte de los docentes en el salón de clases. El trabajo de campo consistió en observaciones a maestros en el aula durante el desarrollo de una unidad temática de la materia Ciencia, Tecnología, Sociedad y Valores I en tres diferentes centros de bachillerato: industrial y de servicios, agropecuario y tecnológico del mar. Dicha asignatura es la primera de tres que incluye el nuevo currículo y que, en conjunto, sustituyen a cuatro materias que anteriormente conformaban el área histórico-social. Nuestros resultados muestran que los maestros no logran una apropiación de la propuesta didáctica pedagógica, debido a que no tienen conocimiento de los fundamentos en los que se basa la misma. También encontramos problemas relacionados al tiempo destinado a la revisión de los contenidos y a la organización del currículo

Recursos hospitalarios y letalidad por infarto de miocardio. Estudio IBERICA

[Abstract] Introduction and objectives. To determine the proportion of patients with myocardial infarction (MI) not admitted to a coronary care unit (CCU), the variables associated with admission into a CCU, and whether admission to a CCU, and the availability of coronary angiography in the same hospital, were associated with 28-day case fatality. Patients and method. Population-based registry of MI in patients 25 to 74 years of age, admitted during 1996-1998. Demographic and clinical characteristics were recorded, as well as management, clinical course and survival after 28 days. Hospitals were classified according to the availability of a CCU and catheterization laboratory (advanced hospital), CCU only (intermediate hospital) or neither (basic hospital). Admission to the CCU was also recorded. Results. In all, 9046 cases of MI were recorded; in 11.3% the patient was not admitted to a CCU. Age, smoking (OR=1.33; 95% CI, 1.08-1.64), non-Q MI (OR=0.62; 95% CI, 0.49-0.78) or undetermined location of MI (OR=0.34; 95% CI, 0.23-0.50), Killip 4 score on admission (OR=0.63; 95% CI, 0.40-1.00) and delay in arrival at the hospital >6 h were associated with CCU admission. Patients admitted to a CCU showed a lower case fatality in the first 24 h (4.2% vs 23.5%), which was independent of comorbidity, severity and treatment. The 24-hour survivors admitted to a basic hospital had higher case fatality (17.3% vs 7.8%) than other groups, which was related to differences in treatment. Conclusions. CCU admission is associated with a lower case fatality in the first 24 h. Admission to a basic hospital is associated with a higher 28-day case fatality even in patients who survive 24 h.[Resumen] Introducción y objetivos. Determinar el porcentaje de pacientes con infarto agudo de miocardio (IAM) que no ingresan en una unidad de cuidados intensivos coronaries (UCIC), las variables asociadas al ingreso en una UCIC y si el ingreso en una UCIC, su disponibilidad y la de hemodinámica en el hospital se asocian a la letalidad a 28 días. Pacientes y método. Registro poblacional (1996-1998) de casos de IAM en pacientes con edades comprendidas entre los 25 y los 74 años. Se recogieron variables demográficas, clínicas, el ingreso en UCIC y la letalidad a los 28 días. Se clasificaron los hospitales según la disponibilidad de UCIC y hemodinámica (hospital avanzado), solamente UCIC (hospital intermedio) o ninguno (hospital básico). Resultados. Se registraron 9.046 casos; el 11,3% no ingresó en una UCIC. La edad, el consumo de tabaco (odds ratio [OR] = 1,33; intervalo de confianza [IC] del 95%, 1,08-1,64), el infarto sin onda Q (OR = 0,62; IC del 95%, 0,49-0,78) o ilocalizable (OR = 0,34; IC del 95%, 0,23-0,50), el grado Killip 4 al ingreso (OR = 0,63; IC del 95%, 0,40-1,00) y el retraso > 6 h en llegar al hospital se asociaron al ingreso en UCIC. Los pacientes ingresados en UCIC presentaban menor letalidad que los ingresados en hospitales básicos en las primeras 24 h (el 4,2 frente al 23,5%), independientemente de la gravedad del IAM y de las variables relacionadas con el tratamiento. Los su-pervivientes a 24 h que ingresaban en un hospital bÁsico presentaban mayor letalidad a los 28 días (el 17,3 frente al 7,8%), relacionada con las variables de tratamiento. Conclusiones. El ingreso en una UCIC se asocia a una menor letalidad de los pacientes con IAM en las primeras 24 h. El ingreso en un hospital bÁsico se asocia a una mayor letalidad a los 28 días.Insituto de Salud Carlos III; FIS96/0026-01 to 05Insituto de Salud Carlos III; FIS97/1270Insituto de Salud Carlos III; FIS98/153

Evaluation of the humoral and mucosal immune response of a multiepitope vaccine against COVID-19 in pigs

IntroductionThis study evaluated the immune response to a multiepitope recombinant chimeric protein (CHIVAX) containing B- and T-cell epitopes of the SARS-CoV-2 spike’s receptor binding domain (RBD) in a translational porcine model for pre-clinical studies.MethodsWe generated a multiepitope recombinant protein engineered to include six coding conserved epitopes from the RBD domain of the SARS-CoV-2 S protein. Pigs were divided into groups and immunized with different doses of the protein, with serum samples collected over time to determine antibody responses by indirect ELISA and antibody titration. Peptide recognition was also analyzed by Western blotting. A surrogate neutralization assay with recombinant ACE2 and RBDs was performed. Intranasal doses of the immunogen were also prepared and tested on Vietnamese minipigs.ResultsWhen the immunogen was administered subcutaneously, it induced specific IgG antibodies in pigs, and higher doses correlated with higher antibody levels. Antibodies from immunized pigs recognized individual peptides in the multiepitope vaccine and inhibited RBD-ACE2 binding for five variants of concern (VOC). Comparative antigen delivery methods showed that both, subcutaneous and combined subcutaneous/intranasal approaches, induced specific IgG and IgA antibodies, with the subcutaneous approach having superior neutralizing activity. CHIVAX elicited systemic immunity, evidenced by specific IgG antibodies in the serum, and local mucosal immunity, indicated by IgA antibodies in saliva, nasal, and bronchoalveolar lavage secretions. Importantly, these antibodies demonstrated neutralizing activity against SARS-CoV-2 in vitro.DiscussionThe elicited antibodies recognized individual epitopes on the chimeric protein and demonstrated the capacity to block RBD-ACE2 binding of the ancestral SARS-CoV-2 strain and four VOCs. The findings provide proof of concept for using multiepitope recombinant antigens and a combined immunization protocol to induce a neutralizing immune response against SARS-CoV-2 in the pig translational model for preclinical studies

Understanding the relation between Zika virus infection during pregnancy and adverse fetal, infant and child outcomes: a protocol for a systematic review and individual participant data meta-analysis of longitudinal studies of pregnant women and their infants and children

IntroductionZika virus (ZIKV) infection during pregnancy is a known cause of microcephaly and other congenital and developmental anomalies. In the absence of a ZIKV vaccine or prophylactics, principal investigators (PIs) and international leaders in ZIKV research have formed the ZIKV Individual Participant Data (IPD) Consortium to identify, collect and synthesise IPD from longitudinal studies of pregnant women that measure ZIKV infection during pregnancy and fetal, infant or child outcomes.Methods and analysisWe will identify eligible studies through the ZIKV IPD Consortium membership and a systematic review and invite study PIs to participate in the IPD meta-analysis (IPD-MA). We will use the combined dataset to estimate the relative and absolute risk of congenital Zika syndrome (CZS), including microcephaly and late symptomatic congenital infections; identify and explore sources of heterogeneity in those estimates and develop and validate a risk prediction model to identify the pregnancies at the highest risk of CZS or adverse developmental outcomes. The variable accuracy of diagnostic assays and differences in exposure and outcome definitions means that included studies will have a higher level of systematic variability, a component of measurement error, than an IPD-MA of studies of an established pathogen. We will use expert testimony, existing internal and external diagnostic accuracy validation studies and laboratory external quality assessments to inform the distribution of measurement error in our models. We will apply both Bayesian and frequentist methods to directly account for these and other sources of uncertainty.Ethics and disseminationThe IPD-MA was deemed exempt from ethical review. We will convene a group of patient advocates to evaluate the ethical implications and utility of the risk stratification tool. Findings from these analyses will be shared via national and international conferences and through publication in open access, peer-reviewed journals.Trial registration numberPROSPERO International prospective register of systematic reviews (CRD42017068915).</jats:sec

Cambio Institucional y Trabajo Académico en una Universidad Pública Estatal

Décimo Congreso Internaciona

Diseño y evaluación de un curso en línea para estudiantes de licenciatura

Se describe el diseño de un prototipo de curso en línea desarrollado para el nivel licenciatura y probado en un curso de matemáticas de primer semestre de la carrera de Oceanología. El diseño gira alrededor de seis ejes fundamentales que se tienen que considerar para la selección y uso de tecnologías orientadas a la educación en línea: a) transmisión y acceso, b) control, c) interacción, d) características simbólicas del medio, e) la presencia social creada a través del medio y f) la interfaz entre el usuario y la máquina. Asimismo, se describen los resultados sobre el grado de satisfacción de los participantes respecto a la estructura y diseño del curso, los cuales se obtuvieron mediante cuestionarios de opinión y entrevistas semiestructuradas. Los participantes resaltaron la facilidad de "navegar" por el curso, así como la comunicación efectiva lograda entre todos los participantes, al utilizar las herramientas electrónicas del prototipo

Design and Evaluation of an Online Freshmen Course

This paper describes the development of a prototype for an undergraduate online course tested with freshmen students taking mathematics for a B.Sc. in Oceanography.  The design of the prototype focuses on the six basic components for the selection and use of technologies in online teaching and learning; namely, a) delivery and access, b) control, c) interaction, d) symbolic characteristics of the medium e) social presence and f) human-machine interface. The results report the degree of satisfaction with the prototype and the course.  These results, obtained through questionnaires and semi-structured interviews, address issues concerning the structure and design of the online course.  The participants’ answers highlighted the easiness of navigation within the course and the effective communication obtained with the use of the course's electronic tools.</span