Determinants of Teacher Quality: Pedagogical Excellence Accreditation Program

Garcia, LY (Garcia, Leidy Y.); Cerda, AA (Cerda, Arcadio A.); Donoso-Diaz, S (Donoso-Diaz, Sebastian)Teachers at primary and secondary schools constitute a hey factor in the educative process and learning results of their students. Given the constitutional mandate that defines the slate's responsibility to provide high-quality public education, it must attract. retain and motivate "good" teachers through diverse mechanisms and incentives, and in the Chilean case it must generate efficient mechanisms to evaluate their teaching performance. The Program to Reward Pedagogical Excellence (AEP from its Spanish acronym) conic about in this framework as a mechanism lot evaluation and incentives, because it aims to evaluate significant aspects of the quality of teachers, awarding bonuses to the roost outstanding. Given the importance of educational quality in establishments subsidized by the state (both municipal and private) for the development of the country and society, this work aims to determine the characteristics of teachers who have obtained ALP quality accreditation, through a conditional probit model using data from a longitudinal Teaching Survey (ELD from its Spanish acronym), while also calculating the probability of participating in this program. We conclude that the factors that explain the probability of being accredited are: experience, the family's socioeconomic condition. the mother's educational level, the teacher's educational level training and internships, quality of health conditions, vocation and quality of the AEP program, which have significant hut reduced effect

The (Evolving) vineyard\u2019s age structure in the valencian community, Spain. A new demographic approach for rural development and landscape analysis

Vineyards have assumed a key role as rural landmarks in recent decades. Investigating vineyard dynamics and contexts may reveal various economic, cultural, and environmental aspects of rural landscapes, which can be linked to land-use changes and major soil degradation processes, including soil erosion. As a contribution to rural landscape studies, the purpose of this work is to investigate the spatial distribution of vineyard plots in the Valencian community, located in the eastern area of the Iberian Peninsula, focusing on the final product, the type of vineyard and how long each vineyard has been settled over time. The work provides a comprehensive analysis of a wine-growing landscape, considering strategic (spatial) assets in present and past times. Vineyards were interpreted as a distinctive landmarks that give value to local economies, basic knowledge of how long different types of wine plots have been present in the Valencian community is useful when estimating their degree of sustainability and formulating suggestions, policies, and strategies to prevent processes of landscape degradation at various spatial scales

Generation of a human iPS cell line from a patient with retinitis pigmentosa due to EYS mutation

Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is an inherited retinal degenerative disease. Mutations in EYS have been associated with autosomal recessive RP. The human iPS cell line, CABi002-A, derived from peripheral blood mononuclear cells from a patient carrying a heterozygous double mutation in EYS gene was generated by non-integrative reprogramming technology, using hOCT3/4, hSOX2, hc-MYC and hKLF4 reprogramming factors. Pluripotency and differentiation capacity were assessed by immunocytochemistry and RT-PCR. This iPSC line can be further differentiated towards the affected cells to understand the pathophysiology of the disease and test new therapeutic strategies.Cellex FoundationFundación Progreso y Salu

Consumer preferences and willingness to pay for organic apples

Cerda, AA (reprint author), Univ Talca, Fac Ciencias Empresariales, 2 Norte 685, Talca, Chile.This study provides marketing data regarding consumer preferences and willingness to pay for organic agricultural products in Chile. The main objectives of this study were to assess consumer willingness to pay for organic apples and to determine the main attributes that consumers look for when purchasing apples. The methodology applied to reach the first objective was the contingent valuation method using a logistic probability function and a single-bound dichotomous choice format. Additionally, this study estimates the marginal willingness to pay (WTP) of consumers for organic apples by using conjoint analysis with ranking procedures. This study was performed in the city of Talca, Chile, where a total of 400 individuals from a probability sampling were interviewed. The results of our study show that the estimation of part-worth utilities of each attribute confirms that the Fuji variety, organic method of production, sweet apples and lowest price are the most preferred levels of each attribute. However, an analysis of the relative utility index shows that price and variety are much more important to consumer choice and behavior than the method of production and flavor. Finally, our study shows a positive willingness to pay an additional 130 Chilean pesos per kilogram for organic apples and a greater preference for apples produced organically than by conventional methods. These results provide important information about market opportunities as well as policy implementation regarding the production of organic agricultural products

The Following Robot

The objective of this project is to design, build, and test an autonomous robot with an associated Android application. The robot uses on board inertial measurement sensors (magnetometer, accelerometer, gyroscope) and coordinates itself through Bluetooth communication with the similar built­in measurement sensors on the Android phone to mimic and follow movement. The Following Robot incorporates the same basic movement functionality as a typical RC car. The robot follows the user’s phone through an application on one’s phone. This application accesses the phone’s accelerometer and gyroscope data and translates into appropriate conversions. Methods of tracking and calculating distance or angular displacement includes numeric integration. Once a certain turning angle or certain distance has reached a predefined threshold, the application sends a command to the robot via Bluetooth indicating which movement to execute: left, right, forward, or backward. The Following Robot has its own sensors to accurately match the threshold of the phone. Combining these two interfaces, the Following Robot can mimic the movements of the user hence the name “following”. Additionally, the application accesses its magnetometer to send the current direction and/or orientation of the phone. The robot uses this information and aligns its direction to match the phone with a click of a button on the application

Towards NNLO accuracy for epsilon '/epsilon

The quantity $\varepsilon'/\varepsilon$ measures direct CP violation in Kaon decays. Recent SM predictions show a $2.9\sigma$ tension with data, with the theoretical uncertainty dominating. As rapid progress on the lattice is bringing nonperturbative long-distance effects under control, a more precise knowledge of short-distance contributions is needed. We describe the first NNLO results for $\varepsilon'/\varepsilon$ and discuss future prospects, as well as issues of scheme dependence and the separation of perturbative and nonperturbative effects. Finally we also comment on the solution of the renormalisation-group evolution in one of the talks at this conference and present the correct solution.Comment: 8 pages, Proceedings of the Kaon 2016 Conferenc

The Bile Response Repressor BreR Regulates Expression of the Vibrio cholerae breAB Efflux System Operon

Enteric pathogens have developed several resistance mechanisms to survive the antimicrobial action of bile. We investigated the transcriptional profile of Vibrio cholerae O1 El Tor strain C6706 under virulence gene-inducing conditions in the presence and absence of bile. Microarray analysis revealed that the expression of 119 genes was affected by bile. The mRNA levels of genes encoding proteins involved in transport were increased in the presence of bile, whereas the mRNA levels of genes encoding proteins involved in pathogenesis and chemotaxis were decreased. This study identified genes encoding transcriptional regulators from the TetR family (vexR and breR) and multidrug efflux pumps from the resistance-nodulation-cell division superfamily (vexB and vexD [herein renamed breB]) that were induced in response to bile. Further analysis regarding vexAB and breABexpression in the presence of various antimicrobial compounds established that vexAB was induced in the presence of bile, sodium dodecyl sulfate, or novobiocin and that the induction of breAB was specific to bile. BreR is a direct repressor of the breAB promoter and is able to regulate its own expression, as demonstrated by transcriptional and electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSA). The expression of breR and breAB is induced in the presence of the bile salts cholate, deoxycholate, and chenodeoxycholate, and EMSA showed that deoxycholate is able to abolish the formation of BreR-PbreR complexes. We propose that deoxycholate is able to interact with BreR and induce a conformational change that interferes with the DNA binding ability of BreR, resulting in breAB and breR expression. These results provide new insight into a transcriptional regulator and a transport system that likely play essential roles in the ability of V. cholerae to resist the action of bile in the host

Characterization of Polyphosphoesters by Fourier Transform Ion Cyclotron Resonance Mass Spectrometry

FT-ICR mass spectrometry, together with collision-induced dissociation and electron capture dissociation, has been used to characterize the polyphosphoester poly[1,4-bis(hydroxyethyl)terephthalate-alt-ethyloxyphosphate] and its degradation products. Three degradation pathways were elucidated: hydrolysis of the phosphate–[1,4-bis(hydroxyethyl)terephthalate]bonds; hydrolysis of the phosphate–ethoxy bonds; and hydrolysis of the ethyl–terephthalate bonds. The dominant degradation reactions were those that involved the phosphate groups. This work constitutes the first application of mass spectrometry to the characterization of polyphosphoesters and demonstrates the suitability of high mass accuracy FT-ICR mass spectrometry, with CID and ECD, for the structural analysis of polyphosphoesters and their degradation products

Impacto de la convivencia escolar sobre el rendimiento académico, desde la percepción de estudiantes con desarrollo típico y necesidades educativas especiales

This descriptive correlational study aims to compare the perception about eight dimensions of school coexistence of typically developing high school students (n = 545) and students with special educational needs (n = 75) from Chile and their relationship with the general academic performance.  Based on the analysis of hierarchical and non-hierarchical clusters, multiple regression and logistic regression, it was found that students with special educational needs have a less favorable perception in almost every dimension analyzed; especially, in those aspects related to school victimization, aggression, and indiscipline. Likewise, they perceive that they have a limited peer social network, as well as limited normative adjustment and a lower perception about their own positive interpersonal skills. The multiple regression and logistic regression models allow confirming that the dimensions of school coexistence account for between 20% and 27% of the academic performance variability. The aforementioned models highlight the role and negative effect of the level of victimization perceived by students, as well as the perception about the occurrence of indiscipline situations in the classroom, and the fact of belonging to the group of students with special educational needs, and to the group of male students. The findings are analyzed and discussed in light of the implications for high social vulnerability educational contexts.This descriptive correlational study aims to compare the perception about eight dimensions of school coexistence of typically developing high school students (n = 545) and students with special educational needs (n = 75) from Chile and their relationship with the general academic performance.  Based on the analysis of hierarchical and non-hierarchical clusters, multiple regression and logistic regression, it was found that students with special educational needs have a less favorable perception in almost every dimension analyzed; especially, in those aspects related to school victimization, aggression, and indiscipline. Likewise, they perceive that they have a limited peer social network, as well as limited normative adjustment and a lower perception about their own positive interpersonal skills. The multiple regression and logistic regression models allow confirming that the dimensions of school coexistence account for between 20% and 27% of the academic performance variability. The aforementioned models highlight the role and negative effect of the level of victimization perceived by students, as well as the perception about the occurrence of indiscipline situations in the classroom, and the fact of belonging to the group of students with special educational needs, and to the group of male students. The findings are analyzed and discussed in light of the implications for high social vulnerability educational contexts.Estudio descriptivo-correlacional que busca comparar la percepción acerca de ocho dimensiones de la convivencia escolar de estudiantes chilenos de educación media con desarrollo típico (n=545) y con necesidades educativas especiales (n=75), y su relación con el rendimiento académico general. A partir de los análisis de conglomerados jerárquico y no jerárquico, regresión múltiple y regresión logística, se constata que los estudiantes con necesidades educativas especiales tienen una percepción más desfavorable en casi todas las dimensiones analizadas, especialmente en aquellos aspectos asociados a la victimización escolar y agresión e indisciplina, de igual forma, perciben tener una menor red social de iguales, menor ajuste normativo y una más baja percepción respecto de la gestión interpersonal positiva. Los modelos de regresión múltiple y regresión logística, permiten constatar que las dimensiones de la convivencia escolar explican entre el 20% y el 27% de la variabilidad del rendimiento académico. En dichos modelos destaca el papel y efecto negativo que tiene la el grado de victimización que perciben los estudiantes, como también la percepción respecto de la ocurrencia o presencia de situaciones de indisciplina al interior del aula, como también el hecho de pertenecer al grupo de estudiantes con necesidades educativas especiales, y el pertenecer al grupo de estudiantes hombres. Se analizan y discuten los hallazgos a la luz de las implicaciones para contextos educativos de alta vulnerabilidad social