Collaborative Learning Environments. A Response to the New Challenges of Colombian Education

EAFIT, a Colombian University, with financial support from Colciencias, the Infodev Program and other organizations, has been working on the Conexiones project since 1992. Conexiones developed an innovative model (now used in the classrooms of more than one hundred urban and rural schools), integrating pedagogical methodology, a computer literacy program (for teachers, students and community leaders), a technical support methodology (involving university students and more advanced trainees), a low-tech networking technology (using dial-up solutions to interconnect remote schools), computer interfaces and locally developed educational contents.EAFIT, a Colombian University, with financial support from Colciencias, the Infodev Program and other organizations, has been working on the Conexiones project since 1992. Conexiones developed an innovative model (now used in the classrooms of more than one hundred urban and rural schools), integrating pedagogical methodology, a computer literacy program (for teachers, students and community leaders), a technical support methodology (involving university students and more advanced trainees), a low-tech networking technology (using dial-up solutions to interconnect remote schools), computer interfaces and locally developed educational contents

Collaborative Learning Environments. A Response to the New Challenges of Colombian Education

EAFIT, a Colombian University, with financial support from Colciencias, the Infodev Program and other organizations, has been working on the Conexiones project since 1992. Conexiones developed an innovative model (now used in the classrooms of more than one hundred urban and rural schools), integrating pedagogical methodology, a computer literacy program (for teachers, students and community leaders), a technical support methodology (involving university students and more advanced trainees), a low-tech networking technology (using dial-up solutions to interconnect remote schools), computer interfaces and locally developed educational contents.EAFIT, a Colombian University, with financial support from Colciencias, the Infodev Program and other organizations, has been working on the Conexiones project since 1992. Conexiones developed an innovative model (now used in the classrooms of more than one hundred urban and rural schools), integrating pedagogical methodology, a computer literacy program (for teachers, students and community leaders), a technical support methodology (involving university students and more advanced trainees), a low-tech networking technology (using dial-up solutions to interconnect remote schools), computer interfaces and locally developed educational contents

Detection of Severe Respiratory Disease Epidemic Outbreaks by CUSUM-Based Overcrowd-Severe-Respiratory-Disease-Index Model

A severe respiratory disease epidemic outbreak correlates with a high demand of specific supplies and specialized personnel to hold it back in a wide region or set of regions; these supplies would be beds, storage areas, hemodynamic monitors, and mechanical ventilators, as well as physicians, respiratory technicians, and specialized nurses. We describe an online cumulative sum based model named Overcrowd-Severe-Respiratory-Disease-Index based on the Modified Overcrowd Index that simultaneously monitors and informs the demand of those supplies and personnel in a healthcare network generating early warnings of severe respiratory disease epidemic outbreaks through the interpretation of such variables. A post hoc historical archive is generated, helping physicians in charge to improve the transit and future allocation of supplies in the entire hospital network during the outbreak. The model was thoroughly verified in a virtual scenario, generating multiple epidemic outbreaks in a 6-year span for a 13-hospital network. When it was superimposed over the H1N1 influenza outbreak census (2008–2010) taken by the National Institute of Medical Sciences and Nutrition Salvador Zubiran in Mexico City, it showed that it is an effective algorithm to notify early warnings of severe respiratory disease epidemic outbreaks with a minimal rate of false alerts

Bactericide Effect of Silver Nanoparticles as a Final Irrigation Agent in Endodontics on Enterococcus faecalis

The objective of this study was to determine the bactericidal effect of silver nanoparticles as a final irrigation agent in endodontics. This study included 120 uniradicular extracted dental organs inoculated with Enterococcus faecalis (E. faecalis) and organized into 4 groups: (A) 30 teeth irrigated with a dispersion of silver nanoparticles (537 μg/mL); (B) 30 teeth irrigated with a sodium hypochlorite solution (2.25%); (C) 30 teeth irrigated with a dispersion of silver nanoparticles (537 μg/mL) + EDTA (17%); and (D) 30 teeth with a saline solution. After the irrigation protocol, the samples were analyzed through a spectrophotometer to measure the bactericidal effect and scanning electron microscope and atomic force microscope in order to observe the presence of dental smear layer. The results showed that nanoparticles of 10 nm and the sodium hypochlorite at 2.25% were effective for eliminating E. faecalis, with no significant difference between them

Clinical applications of the respiratory equation of motion to guide decision-making in the patient under invasive mechanical ventilation

Introduction: Mechanical ventilation is a common practice in intensive care units and anesthesiology with both therapeutic and potentially harmful implications for the respiratory system and distant organs, that is why it is of utmost importance to continually monitor ventilation parameters. Objective: To describe the equation of motion of the respiratory system and its clinical applications in the patient under invasive mechanical ventilation. Main: The equation of motion of the respiratory system integrates the dynamic forces generated by the ventilator with the intrinsic properties of the lung and chest wall. It expresses the pressure in the respiratory system in relation to volume, elastance, resistance, air flow and pressures generated by the ventilator and the patient. Elevated pressures in the respiratory system during mechanical ventilation are associated with greater mortality, that is why the identification of the components responsible for elevation of pressures through the equation of motion of the respiratory system allows to modify ventilator programmed parameters to maintain a protective ventilation. Conclusion: Decision-making based on the equation of motion of the respiratory system allows to modify ventilatory parameters according to the characteristics and diseases of the patient under mechanical ventilation

Anafilaxia en niños y adultos: prevención, diagnóstico y tratamiento

La anafilaxia es una condición que requiere asistencia inmediata para su resolución, se puede presentar en diferentes entornos: consultorio, hospital, escuela, hogar o en algún otro espacio público. La información aquí contenida forma parte de lineamientos conocidos sobre prevención, diagnóstico y tratamiento. Se abordan aspectos epidemiológicos, desencadenantes, factores de riesgo y cofactores; se explican de una manera didáctica los mecanismos fisiopatológicos que se traducen en fenotipos de presentación. Se enfatiza el diagnóstico clínico con base en criterios ya establecidos, se mencionan clasificaciones para evaluar la gravedad de la reacción, así como el rol de las pruebas clínicas o de laboratorio. Como aspectos de relevancia, se abordan el tratamiento de primera elección con adrenalina, instrucciones sobre autoinyectores y diferentes elementos para el tratamiento complementario y de segunda elección. También se refieren aspectos a considerar al dar de alta a un paciente y medidas de seguimiento, con un énfasis preventivo en la comunidad. Finalmente, se menciona el abordaje en el consultorio de alergia para decidir sobre opciones de inmunomodulación. ABSTRACT Anaphylaxis is a condition that requires immediate assistance for its resolution, it can occur in different settings: office, hospital, school, home or some other public space. The information contained herein forms part of known guidelines on prevention, diagnosis and treatment. Epidemiological aspects, triggers, risk factors and co-factors are addressed; physiopathological mechanisms that are translated into presentation phenotypes are explained in a didactic way. Clinical diagnosis is emphasized based on established criteria, classifications are mentioned to evaluate the severity of the reaction, as well as the role of clinical or laboratory tests. As relevant aspects, the first choice treatment with adrenaline, instructions on auto-injectors and different elements for the complementary and second choice treatment are dealt with. They also refer to aspects to consider when discharging a patient and followup measures, with a preventive emphasis on the community. Finally, the allergy clinic approach to deciding on immunomodulation options is mentione

EL AZAR Y LA NATURALEZA

El entendimiento de los fenómenos naturales como el crecimiento de las poblaciones, la propagación de las epidemias y las mutaciones genéticas, están sujetos a variaciones dependientes del azar