Purificación de curcumina por cromatografía en columna. Propuesta para la enseñanza experimental en química orgánica

Este trabajo describe una propuesta para el mejoramiento de la enseñanza experimental en un laboratorio de química orgánica para la carrera de ingeniería química que se imparte en la FES-Cuautitlán UNAM, por medio de la purificación de curcumina utilizando cromatografía en columna. Los resultados muestran que el protocolo presentado es una excelente alternativa que permite mejorar la enseñanza experimental de la química orgánica a través de un experimento sencillo y con el cual se puede demostrar un principio teórico aplicando diferentes técnicas previamente aprendidas.This paper describes a proposal for the improvement of experimental teaching in an organic chemistry laboratory for the chemical engineering career that is taught at FES-Cuautitlán UNAM, through the purification of curcumin using column chromatography. The results show that the presented protocol is an excellent alternative that allows to improve the experimental teaching of organic chemistry through a simple experiment and with which a theoretical principle can be demonstrated applying different previously learned techniques

A historical vertebrate collection from the Middle Miocene of the Peruvian Amazon

The Miocene aquatic and terrestrial fossil record from western Amazonia constitute a clear evidence of the palaeoenvironmental diversity that prevailed in the area, prior to the establishment of the Amazon River drainage. During the Miocene, the region was characterized by a freshwater megawetland basin, influenced by episodic shallow-marine incursions. A fossil vertebrate collection from the middle Miocene strata of the Pebas Formation is here studied and described. This historical collection was recovered in 1912 along the banks of the Itaya River (Iquitos, Peru), during a scientific expedition led by two scientists of the University of Zurich, Hans Bluntschli and Bernhard Peyer. Our findings include a total of 34 taxa, including stingrays, bony fishes, turtles, snakes, crocodylians, and lizards. Fishes are the most abundant group in the assemblage (~ 23 taxa), including the first fossil record of the freshwater serrasalmids Serrasalmus, and Mylossoma, and the hemiodontid Hemiodus for the Pebas system, with the latter representing the first fossil be discovered for the entire Hemiodontidae. The presence of a representative of Colubroidea in the middle Miocene of Iquitos supports the hypothesis of arrival and dispersal of these snakes into South America earlier than previously expected. This fossil assemblage sheds light on the palaeoenvironments, and the geographical/temporal range of several aquatic/terrestrial lineages inhabiting the Amazonian region

Research trends in science teaching in Spanish journals 2014-2018

Se presenta una revisión de los artículos publicados en las principales revistas españolas de investigación en didáctica de las ciencias experimentales entre 2014 y 2018. Se han analizado 504 artículos de las revistas Didáctica de las Ciencias Experimentales y Sociales, Enseñanza de las Ciencias, Revista Electrónica de Enseñanza de las Ciencias y Revista Eureka sobre Enseñanza y Divulgación de las Ciencias, con el objetivo de identificar las tendencias de investigación. El análisis se ha centrado en: 1) autores; 2) tipo de colaboración; 3) tipo de publicación; 4) etapa educativa; y 5) temática. Los resultados muestran que la mayoría de los autores pertenecen a instituciones iberoamericanas, la investigación suele desarrollarse en educación secundaria y la temática preferente es la enseñanza, el conocimiento didáctico del profesorado, el contenido científico y los libros de texto.A review of the papers published in the main Spanish research journals in science ed¬ucation from 2014 to 2018 is shown. A total of 504 papers from the reviews Didáctica de las Ciencias Experimentales y Sociales, Enseñanza de las Ciencias, Revista Electrónica de Enseñanza de las Ciencias and Revista Eureka sobre Enseñanza y Divulgación de las Ciencias were analyzed with the aim of identifying research trends. The analysis has focused on 1) authors; 2) type of collaboration; 3) type of publication; 4) educational stage; and 5) thematic. The results show that most of the authors belong to Latin American institutions; research is usually carried out in secondary education; and the preferred theme is teaching, teaching knowledge for teachers, scientific content and textbooks.Departamento de Didáctica de las Ciencias Experimentales (Universidad de Granada)Grupo de Investigación HUM613 (Didáctica de las Ciencias Experimentales y de la Sostenibilidad)Instituto Andaluz de Ciencias de la Tierra (CSIC-UGR

Damaged glyptodontid skulls from Late Pleistocene sites of northwestern Venezuela: evidence of hunting by humans?

The Muaco and Taima-Taima sites, in Falcón State of northwestern Venezuela, are among the earliest sites of human occupation in South America containing artifacts associated with preserved megafaunal remains and dating between 19,810 and 15,780 calybp. Here we report novel visual and CT scanning analysis of six glyptodont skulls of Glyptotherium cf. cylindricum from these sites, of which four exhibit distinct and similar patterns of breakages in the frontoparietal region that suggest intentional blows by direct percussion by humans, with fractures not being diagenetic but instead antemortem or transmortem. This hypothesized and unreported hunting technique focused in an area of the skull where the cephalic shield becomes thin, thus increasing the effectiveness of the blow. From Taima-Taima other glyptodont remains included an inverted carapace, also previously reported as probable evidence of human– glyptodont interaction during the latest Pleistocene. We estimated that roughly 150-170 Kg of potentially accessible muscles and fat of an adult Glyptotherium cylindricum could be used as food sources.Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Muse

Proyecto FIDO: La Educación STEAM en las aulas del Grado de Educación Primaria. (ESTeam)

Este proyecto persigue el objetivo principal de introducir la educación STEAM en el alumnado de Educación Primaria. La educación STEAM supone un enfoque en el cual se trabajan conjuntamente Ciencias, Tecnología, Ingeniería, Arte y Matemáticas. Los trabajos del futuro cada vez están más unidos a la tecnología. Además, tienen una visión holística donde las distintas disciplinas tienen un aporte que encaja como un engranaje. La metodología usada en este proyecto es el Aprendizaje Basado en Proyectos (ABP) (Barrows, 1986). En este tipo de aprendizaje el alumno tiene un rol activo y el docente lo guía. Además, en el proyecto inicial se propuso conformar un “MakerSpace”. En este sentido, hay que indicar que nos tuvimos que adaptar a las condiciones impuestas con la pandemia del COVID-19 y procedimos como explicaremos a continuación. Este proyecto implementó en la asignatura de Ciencias Experimentales y su Transversalidad (CET en adelante). Se dedicaron varios seminarios al desarrollo de las actividades propuestas. Cuando se hizo la propuesta del proyecto, no se conocía cómo iba a ser la actividad docente debido a la situación sanitaria derivada del Covid-19, así que se pensó en presencial. Como esto no fue posible, el desarrollo de la primera actividad introductoria fue la siguiente: El profesor Rafael Gómez desarrolló una actividad (Escapada del planeta Gorogoa, reconstruyendo nuestro robot Joan Carlo, (ANEXO Ia y Ib donde se adjuntan guión y vídeos) donde el alumnado tenía que usar un robot tipo Mbot para desarrollar la actividad. El alumnado entregó un pequeño informe donde mostraba cómo había desarrollado esta tarea. Además, se invitaron a dos profesores que dieron dos charlas por videoconferencia. La primera conferencia llamada “El enfoque educativo STEM: un gran desconocido en boca de todos” (presentación en ANEXO IIa) la realizó el profesor experto en STEAM David Aguilera Morales, coautor, junto con F. Javier Perales Palacios, del artículo “Ciencia-Tecnología-Sociedad vs. STEM: ¿evolución, revolución o disyunción? “ (Perales Palacios y Aguilera, 2020). En esta charla el alumnado pudo conocer qué es STEAM e interactuar con el conferenciante. La segunda charla impartida fue “Docencia en STEAMs: Mi experiencia como ingeniera y profesora de ingeniería”, por la profesora de la Escuela de Informática y Telecomunicaciones de la Universidad de Granada Luz García Martínez (Presentación en ANEXO IIb). La segunda actividad que tuvieron que realizar los alumnos fue la elaboración de un proyecto con enfoque STEAM. Para ello se les dieron unas directrices (se adjunta guion en ANEXO III) y se les ofrecieron dos tipos de kits de robótica educativa: Makey Makey y Microbit. (Inicialmente en el presupuesto se incluía una partida para conferenciantes invitados y pósteres. Al pasar la docencia a virtual, este dinero se gastó en más material, para que el alumnado se lo pudiera llevar a casa y pudieran trabajar en grupos más pequeños, intentando así facilitar el trabajo online del alumnado). Como producto, cada grupo entregó un informe de su proyecto e hizo una presentación virtual del mismo. This project pursues the main objective of introducing STEAM education in Primary Education students. STEAM education is an approach in which Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics work together. The jobs of the future are increasingly linked to technology. In addition, they have a holistic vision where the different disciplines have a contribution that fits like a gear. The methodology used in this project is Project Based Learning (PBL) (Barrows, 1986). In this type of learning the student has an active role and the teacher guides him/her. In addition, in the initial project it was proposed to create a “MakerSpace”. In this sense, it should be noted that we had to adapt to the conditions imposed with the COVID-19 pandemic and we proceeded as we will explain below. This project was implemented in the subject of Experimental Sciences and its Transversality (CET). Several seminars were devoted to the development of the proposed activities. When the project proposal was made, it was not known what the teaching activity was going to be like, so it was thought in person. As this was not possible, the development of the first introductory activity was as follows: Professor Rafael Gómez developed an activity (Getaway from the planet Gorogoa, rebuilding our Joan Carlo robot, (ANNEX Ia and Ib where script and videos are attached) where the students had to use an Mbot-type robot to develop the activity. The students gave a small report showing how they had developed this task. In addition, two teachers were invited to give two talks by videoconference. The first conference called "The STEM educational approach: a great unknown on everyone's lips" (presentation in ANNEX IIa) was held the expert professor in STEAM David Aguilera Morales, co-author, together with F. Javier Perales Palacios, of the article “Science-Technology-Society vs. STEM: evolution, revolution or disjunction?” (Perales Palacios and Aguilera, 2020). The second talk given was "Teaching in STEAMs: My experience as an engineer and engineering teacher", by the Professor at the School of Informatics and Telecommunications of the University of Granada Luz García Martínez (Presentation in ANNEX IIb). The second activity, that the students had to carry out, was the elaboration of a project with a STEAM approach. For this, they were given guidelines (script is attached in ANNEX III) and two types of educational robotics kits were offered: Makey Makey and Microbit. (Initially, the budget included an item for invited speakers and posters. When teaching went virtual, this money was spent on more material, so that students could take it home and they could work in smaller groups, thus trying to facilitate students' online work). As a product, each group delivered a report on their project and made a virtual presentation of it.Universidad de Granad

Effectiveness of the Epley’s maneuver performed in primary care to treat posterior canal benign paroxysmal positional vertigo: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND: Vertigo is a common medical condition with a broad spectrum of diagnoses which requires an integrated approach to patients through a structured clinical interview and physical examination. The main cause of vertigo in primary care is benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), which should be confirmed by a positive D-H positional test and treated with repositioning maneuvers. The objective of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of Epley’s maneuver performed by general practitioners (GPs) in the treatment of BPPV. METHODS/DESIGN: This study is a randomized clinical trial conducted in the primary care setting. The study’s scope will include two urban primary care centers which provide care for approximately 49,400 patients. All patients attending these two primary care centers, who are newly diagnosed with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, will be invited to participate in the study and will be randomly assigned either to the treatment group (Epley’s maneuver) or to the control group (a sham maneuver). Both groups will receive betahistine. Outcome variables will be: response to the D-H test, patients’ report on presence or absence of vertigo during the previous week (dichotomous variable: yes/no), intensity of vertigo symptoms on a Likert-type scale in the previous week, total score on the Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI) and quantity of betahistine taken. We will use descriptive statistics of all variables collected. Groups will be compared using the intent-to-treat approach and either parametric or nonparametric tests, depending on the nature and distribution of the variables. Chi-square test or Fisher’s exact test will be conducted to compare categorical measures and Student’s t-test or Mann–Whitney U-test will be used for intergroup comparison variables. DISCUSSION: Positive results from our study will highlight that treatment of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo can be performed by trained general practitioners (GPs) and, therefore, its widespread practice may contribute to improve the quality of life of BPPV patients. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01969513

Effectiveness of the Epley's maneuver performed in primary care to treat posterior canal benign paroxysmal positional vertigo: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Background: Vertigo is a common medical condition with a broad spectrum of diagnoses which requires an integrated approach to patients through a structured clinical interview and physical examination. The main cause of vertigo in primary care is benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), which should be confirmed by a positive D-H positional test and treated with repositioning maneuvers. The objective of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of Epley's maneuver performed by general practitioners (GPs) in the treatment of BPPV. Methods/Design: This study is a randomized clinical trial conducted in the primary care setting. The study's scope will include two urban primary care centers which provide care for approximately 49,400 patients. All patients attending these two primary care centers, who are newly diagnosed with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, will be invited to participate in the study and will be randomly assigned either to the treatment group (Epley's maneuver) or to the control group (a sham maneuver). Both groups will receive betahistine. Outcome variables will be: response to the D-H test, patients' report on presence or absence of vertigo during the previous week (dichotomous variable: yes/no), intensity of vertigo symptoms on a Likert-type scale in the previous week, total score on the Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI) and quantity of betahistine taken. We will use descriptive statistics of all variables collected. Groups will be compared using the intent-to-treat approach and either parametric or nonparametric tests, depending on the nature and distribution of the variables. Chi-square test or Fisher's exact test will be conducted to compare categorical measures and Student's t-test or Mann-Whitney U-test will be used for intergroup comparison variables. Discussion: Positive results from our study will highlight that treatment of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo can be performed by trained general practitioners (GPs) and, therefore, its widespread practice may contribute to improve the quality of life of BPPV patients

Guia sobre la infecció pel VIH i la sida a l’atenció primària

Sida; Transmissió; Atenció socialAIDS; Transmission; Social careSida; Transmisión; Atención socialAquesta nova Guia sobre la infecció pel VIH i la sida a l’atenció primària vol ser una eina útil i facilitadora per als professionals del primer nivell assistencial a l’hora d’establir estratègies preventives i actuacions clíniques relacionades amb la infecció pel VIH amb la finalitat de contribuir a la millora de l’atenció a les persones afectades

Alternativas de desarrollo agropecuario con proyección sostenible para el distrito de riego del Zulia y su zona de influencia

La asociación de usuarios del Distrito de Adecuación de Tierras de Gran Escala del Río Zulia (ASOZULIA) Norte de Santander, con un área de influencia de 45.536 hectáreas, está interesada en la planificación productiva de su territorio. Dentro de sus actividades agropecuarias se encuentran el arroz (12.000 a 17.000 ha), la palma de aceite (1.534 ha), cítricos (limón, naranja; 346 ha), caña de azúcar (100 ha) y la ganadería. Su principal sistema de producción durante más de 50 años es el cultivo de arroz, sistema que presenta reducción de la productividad (7 a 3 tha), degradación del suelo y problemas de plagas y enfermedades, debido entre otros al uso continuo del fangueo como sistema de preparación de suelos. Adicionalmente, a pesar de tener el distrito de riego del río Zulia una concesión de 13,5 m3.s1, en épocas de verano la oferta hidrica es mucho menor como, por ejemplo, la correspondiente a los meses de febrero a marzo de 2016, con un caudal en la bocatoma del distrito de 10,8 m3s'y una captación real del distrito de solo 6 m.s' Asimismo, la construcción del nuevo acueducto para el área metropolitana de la ciudad de Cúcuta tomará 2,95 m3s del caudal antes de la bocatoma que provee agua al distrito, lo que disminuirá aún más la disponibilidad de agua para riego en esa región. Por lo anterior, se requiere la recuperación de los suelos para el establecimiento de nuevos sistemas productivos que demanden un menor consumo de agua y sean una alternativa viable para los productores.Acelga-Remolacha de hoja, Beta vulgaris var. Cicl

Clonal chromosomal mosaicism and loss of chromosome Y in elderly men increase vulnerability for SARS-CoV-2

The pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19) had an estimated overall case fatality ratio of 1.38% (pre-vaccination), being 53% higher in males and increasing exponentially with age. Among 9578 individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 in the SCOURGE study, we found 133 cases (1.42%) with detectable clonal mosaicism for chromosome alterations (mCA) and 226 males (5.08%) with acquired loss of chromosome Y (LOY). Individuals with clonal mosaic events (mCA and/or LOY) showed a 54% increase in the risk of COVID-19 lethality. LOY is associated with transcriptomic biomarkers of immune dysfunction, pro-coagulation activity and cardiovascular risk. Interferon-induced genes involved in the initial immune response to SARS-CoV-2 are also down-regulated in LOY. Thus, mCA and LOY underlie at least part of the sex-biased severity and mortality of COVID-19 in aging patients. Given its potential therapeutic and prognostic relevance, evaluation of clonal mosaicism should be implemented as biomarker of COVID-19 severity in elderly people. Among 9578 individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 in the SCOURGE study, individuals with clonal mosaic events (clonal mosaicism for chromosome alterations and/or loss of chromosome Y) showed an increased risk of COVID-19 lethality