Articulando el desarrollo con la ciudadanía global y la responsabilidad social: un experimento pedagógico

This paper is one of the research products derived from a pedagogical project carried out during Spring Semester 2010 between two universities: Kennesaw State University, in Atlanta, United States, and Corporación Universitaria Minuto de Dios, in Bogotá, Colombia. This project consisted in getting students from one course in each university to talk and work together based on a joint conceptual framework. The reflection process on the pedagogical process that constitutes this research, carried out by the three instructors responsible for this project, was divided in three parts. The first one, which is presented in this paper, consists of the conceptual framework; the second analyzes the learning outcomes and the third describes the reflections and lessons showed by this project while proposing ways to improve future implementations.Este artículo es uno de los productos de un proyecto pedagógico investigativo llevado a cabo en el primer semestre de 2010 entre las universidades Kennesaw State University, en Atlanta, Estados Unidos, y la Sede Principal de la Corporación Universitaria Minuto de Dios en Bogotá, Colombia. Este proyecto consistió en poner a dialogar y a trabajar en conjunto, a partir de un marco conceptual unificado, a los estudiantes de dos asignaturas, una de cada universidad. La reflexión que hicieron los tres docentes investigadores que participaron en el proceso acerca del ejercicio pedagógico realizado se dividió en tres partes: la primera, que se presenta a continuación, presenta el marco conceptual y el proceso de aprendizaje temático que guió el curso. La segunda profundiza en los aprendizajes logrados de los estudiantes y la tercera en las actividades específicas que se llevaron a cabo, analiza cuáles funcionaron, cuáles no, y plantea algunas propuestas de mejora para futuras implementaciones.&nbsp

Removal of nutrients and pesticides from agricultural runoff using microalgae and cyanobacteria

The use of pesticides in agriculture has ensured the production of different crops. However, pesticides have become an emerging public health problem for Latin American countries due to their excessive use, inadequate application, toxic characteristics, and minimal residue control. The current project evaluates the ability of two strains of algae (Chlorella and Scenedesmus sp.) and one cyanobacteria (Hapalosyphon sp.) to remove excess pesticides and other nutrients present in runoff water from rice production. Different concentrations of wastewater and carbon sources (Na2CO3 and NaHCO3 ) were evaluated. According to the results, all three strains can be grown in wastewater without dilution (100%), with a biomass concentration comparable to a synthetic medium. All three strains significantly reduced the concentration of NO3 and PO4 (95 and 85%, respectively), with no difference between Na2CO3 or NaHCO3 . Finally, Chlorella sp. obtained the highest removal efficiency of the pesticide (Chlorpyrifos), followed by Scenedesmus and Hapalosyphon sp. (100, 75, and 50%, respectively). This work shows that it is possible to use this type of waste as an alternative source of nutrients to obtain biomass and metabolites of interest, such as lipids and carbohydrates, to produce biofuels

Codificación de telefonía visual: empleando un conjunto de imágenes

En este artículo se presenta un método de codificación de secuencias de imágenes de escenas de telefonía visual que emplea como libro de códigos un conjunto de imágenes naturales. En el diseño del libro de códigos se utilizan métodos de cuantificación vectorial basados en el algoritmo de Lloyd-Max con el criterio de optimización min-max. Se presenta también un método de interpolación de imágenes intermedias empleando búsqueda de Viterbi para obtener secuencias óptimas

Alternativas práticas ao modelo de saúde ocidental, utilizadas pelos cuidadores de pacientes com neoplasia hematológicas

Introducción: Las neoplasias hematológicas tienen la carga cultural de la palabra cáncer lo cual lleva a los cuidadores a buscar diversas alternativas. Objetivo: Describir las prácticas consideradas alternativas al modelo de salud occidental utilizadas para el cuidado de la salud, desde la experiencia de los cuidadores de pacientes adultos con neoplasias hematológicas en un Servicio de Hematología. Metodología: Estudio cualitativo descriptivo. Participaron 17 cuidadores de pacientes adultos con neoplasias hematológicas, seleccionados por conveniencia del registro del servicio de Hematología. Como técnica de recolección se realizaron dos grupos de discusión. Las sesiones fueron grabadas y transcritas en su totalidad. El análisis se hizo de acuerdo con la propuesta de Janice M. Morse y se efectuó triangulación por parte de investigadores. Resultados: Emergieron tres tipos de prácticas. 1. Prácticas espirituales: la voluntad de Dios como influyente en la recuperación.; 2. Las prácticas afectivas: los lazos familiares hacen más llevadera la enfermedad y el tratamiento, y 3. Prácticas Corporales: productos de origen, vegetal, animal, semisintético y farmacológicos no convencionales. Conclusión: Los cuidadores de la población con Cáncer utilizan prácticas alternativas al tratamiento convencional, por tanto, el equipo de salud no puede ignorarlas y necesita fortalecerla orientación al paciente y sus cuidadores.Introduction: Hematological neoplasms have the cultural burden of the word cancer which leads caregivers to look for different alternatives. Objective: To analyse the anthropological link between care and tenderness to potentiate care as an essential “way to be” of the human being, who ontological way was born of care and needs care. Methodology: Descriptive qualitative study. The participants were 17 caregivers, who were selected by convenience. Two discussion groups’ sessions were performed. The sessions were recorded and transcribed in full. The analysis followed the Janice M. Morse framework. Results: The findings that emerged permitted an approach toward understanding the practices used to care for patients affected by malignant hematological disease. The practices were organized in three types: 1. Spiritual practices: God´s Will as determinant in the recovery process; 2. Emotional Practices: the familiar ties make more bearable the illness and the treatment, and, 3. Corporal practices: origin products, vegetal, animal, semi-synthetic and no conventional pharmacological products. Conclusion: The utilization of alternative practices is very common by caregivers. Healthcare practitioners cannot ignore this reality and need tools to adequately guide and inform patients and caregivers. Keywords: Complementary therapies, culture, hematology, neoplasms, qualitative research, caregivers

Alternativas práticas ao modelo de saúde ocidental, utilizadas pelos cuidadores de pacientes com neoplasia hematológicas

Introducción: Las neoplasias hematológicas tienen la carga cultural de la palabra cáncer lo cual lleva a los cuidadores a buscar diversas alternativas. Objetivo: Describir las prácticas consideradas alternativas al modelo de salud occidental utilizadas para el cuidado de la salud, desde la experiencia de los cuidadores de pacientes adultos con neoplasias hematológicas en un Servicio de Hematología. Metodología: Estudio cualitativo descriptivo. Participaron 17 cuidadores de pacientes adultos con neoplasias hematológicas, seleccionados por conveniencia del registro del servicio de Hematología. Como técnica de recolección se realizaron dos grupos de discusión. Las sesiones fueron grabadas y transcritas en su totalidad. El análisis se hizo de acuerdo con la propuesta de Janice M. Morse y se efectuó triangulación por parte de investigadores. Resultados: Emergieron tres tipos de prácticas. 1. Prácticas espirituales: la voluntad de Dios como influyente en la recuperación.; 2. Las prácticas afectivas: los lazos familiares hacen más llevadera la enfermedad y el tratamiento, y 3. Prácticas Corporales: productos de origen, vegetal, animal, semisintético y farmacológicos no convencionales. Conclusión: Los cuidadores de la población con Cáncer utilizan prácticas alternativas al tratamiento convencional, por tanto, el equipo de salud no puede ignorarlas y necesita fortalecer la orientación al paciente y sus cuidadores.Introduction: Hematological neoplasms have the cultural burden of the word cancer which leads caregivers to look for different alternatives. Objective: To analyse the anthropological link between care and tenderness to potentiate care as an essential “way to be” of the human being, who ontological way was born of care and needs care. Methodology: Descriptive qualitative study. The participants were 17 caregivers, who were selected by convenience. Two discussion groups’ sessions were performed. The sessions were recorded and transcribed in full. The analysis followed the Janice M. Morse framework. Results: The findings that emerged permitted an approach toward understanding the practices used to care for patients affected by malignant hematological disease. The practices were organized in three types: 1. Spiritual practices: God´s Will as determinant in the recovery process; 2. Emotional Practices: the familiar ties make more bearable the illness and the treatment, and, 3. Corporal practices: origin products, vegetal, animal, semi-synthetic and no conventional pharmacological products. Conclusion: The utilization of alternative practices is very common by caregivers. Healthcare practitioners cannot ignore this reality and need tools to adequately guide and inform patients and caregivers.Introdução: As neoplasias hematológicas têm carga cultural da palavra câncer, levando aos cuidadores das pessoas que o sofrem a procurar diversas alternativas. Objetivo: Descrever as práticas consideradas alternativas ao modelo de saúde Ocidental usado para cuidados de saúde, a partir da experiência de cuidadores de pacientes adultos com doenças hematológicas malignas no servicio de Hematologia Hospital San José de Bogotá. Metodologia: Estudo qualitativo descritiva. Participaram 17 cuidadores de pacientes adultos com neoplasias hematológicas, seleccionados por conveniência dos registos do servicio Hematologia. Como uma técnica de coleta de informações dois grupos de discussão foram realizadas. As sessões foram gravadas e transcritas em sua totalidade. A análise foi feita de acordo com a proposta Janice M Morse e se efectou uma triangulação foi realizado por pesquisadores. Resultados: Surgiram três tipos de práticas utilizadas para cuidar de pessoas afectadas pela doença hematológica maligna; 1. As práticas espirituais: a vontade de Deus tão influente na recuperação;. 2. práticas Affective: laços familiares tornar mais suportável a doença e o tratamento, e 3. práticas corporais: produtos de origem vegetal, animal, semi-sintético e farmacológico não convencional. Conclusão: Os cuidadores de pessoas com câncer muitas vezes usam alternativa às práticas convencionais de tratamento, assim, a equipe de saúde não pode ignorar esta realidade e precisa de reforçar a orientação aos pacientes e seus cuidadores

In vivo cholinergic basal forebrain degeneration and cognition in Parkinson's disease: Imaging results from the COPPADIS study

COPPADIS Study Group.[Introduction] We aimed to assess associations between multimodal neuroimaging measures of cholinergic basal forebrain (CBF) integrity and cognition in Parkinson's disease (PD) without dementia.[Methods] The study included a total of 180 non-demented PD patients and 45 healthy controls, who underwent structural MRI acquisitions and standardized neurocognitive assessment through the PD-Cognitive Rating Scale (PD-CRS) within the multicentric COPPADIS-2015 study. A subset of 73 patients also had Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) acquisitions. Volumetric and microstructural (mean diffusivity, MD) indices of CBF degeneration were automatically extracted using a stereotactic CBF atlas. For comparison, we also assessed multimodal indices of hippocampal degeneration. Associations between imaging measures and cognitive performance were assessed using linear models.[Results] Compared to controls, CBF volume was not significantly reduced in PD patients as a group. However, across PD patients lower CBF volume was significantly associated with lower global cognition (PD-CRStotal: r = 0.37, p < 0.001), and this association remained significant after controlling for several potential confounding variables (p = 0.004). Analysis of individual item scores showed that this association spanned executive and memory domains. No analogue cognition associations were observed for CBF MD. In covariate-controlled models, hippocampal volume was not associated with cognition in PD, but there was a significant association for hippocampal MD (p = 0.02).[Conclusions] Early cognitive deficits in PD without dementia are more closely related to structural MRI measures of CBF degeneration than hippocampal degeneration. In our multicentric imaging acquisitions, DTI-based diffusion measures in the CBF were inferior to standard volumetric assessments for capturing cognition-relevant changes in non-demented PD.This work was supported by the Alzheimer Forschung Initiative e.V. (AFI International Training Grant to MJG), the Instituto de Salud Carlos III-Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (ISCIII-FEDER) [PI14/01823, PI16/01575, PI18/01898, PI19/01576, PI20/00613], the Consejería de Economía, Innovación, Ciencia y Empleo de la Junta de Andalucía [CVI-02526, CTS-7685], the Consejería de Salud y Bienestar Social de la Junta de Andalucía [PI-0471-2013, PE-0210-2018, PI-0459-2018, PE-0186-2019], the Fundación Alicia Koplowitz and the Fundación “Curemos el Parkinson” (https://www.curemoselparkinson.org). MJG is supported by the “Miguel Servet” program [CP19/00031], MALE by the University of Seville [USE-20046-J], JFM by the “Sara Borrell” program [CD13/00229] and VI-PPIT-US from the University of Seville [USE-18817-A], SJ by the “Acción B-Clínicos-Investigadores” program [B-0007-2019], and DMG by the “Río Hortega” program [CM18/00142].Peer reviewe

Search for the standard model Higgs boson in the H to ZZ to 2l 2nu channel in pp collisions at sqrt(s) = 7 TeV

A search for the standard model Higgs boson in the H to ZZ to 2l 2nu decay channel, where l = e or mu, in pp collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 7 TeV is presented. The data were collected at the LHC, with the CMS detector, and correspond to an integrated luminosity of 4.6 inverse femtobarns. No significant excess is observed above the background expectation, and upper limits are set on the Higgs boson production cross section. The presence of the standard model Higgs boson with a mass in the 270-440 GeV range is excluded at 95% confidence level.Comment: Submitted to JHE

Search for anomalous t t-bar production in the highly-boosted all-hadronic final state

A search is presented for a massive particle, generically referred to as a Z', decaying into a t t-bar pair. The search focuses on Z' resonances that are sufficiently massive to produce highly Lorentz-boosted top quarks, which yield collimated decay products that are partially or fully merged into single jets. The analysis uses new methods to analyze jet substructure, providing suppression of the non-top multijet backgrounds. The analysis is based on a data sample of proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 7 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 5 inverse femtobarns. Upper limits in the range of 1 pb are set on the product of the production cross section and branching fraction for a topcolor Z' modeled for several widths, as well as for a Randall--Sundrum Kaluza--Klein gluon. In addition, the results constrain any enhancement in t t-bar production beyond expectations of the standard model for t t-bar invariant masses larger than 1 TeV.Comment: Submitted to the Journal of High Energy Physics; this version includes a minor typo correction that will be submitted as an erratu

Combined search for the quarks of a sequential fourth generation

Results are presented from a search for a fourth generation of quarks produced singly or in pairs in a data set corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 5 inverse femtobarns recorded by the CMS experiment at the LHC in 2011. A novel strategy has been developed for a combined search for quarks of the up and down type in decay channels with at least one isolated muon or electron. Limits on the mass of the fourth-generation quarks and the relevant Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa matrix elements are derived in the context of a simple extension of the standard model with a sequential fourth generation of fermions. The existence of mass-degenerate fourth-generation quarks with masses below 685 GeV is excluded at 95% confidence level for minimal off-diagonal mixing between the third- and the fourth-generation quarks. With a mass difference of 25 GeV between the quark masses, the obtained limit on the masses of the fourth-generation quarks shifts by about +/- 20 GeV. These results significantly reduce the allowed parameter space for a fourth generation of fermions.Comment: Replaced with published version. Added journal reference and DO