Forecasting model with machine learning in higher education ICFES exams

In this paper, we proposed to make different forecasting models in the University education through the algorithms K-means, K-closest neighbor, neural network, and naïve Bayes, which apply to specific exams of engineering, licensed and scientific mathematical thinking in Saber Pro of Colombia. ICFES Saber Pro is an exam required for the degree of all students who carry out undergraduate programs in higher education. The Colombian government regulated this exam in 2009 in the decree 3963 intending to verify the development of competencies, knowledge level, and quality of the programs and institutions. The objective is to use data to convert into information, search patterns, and select the best variables and harness the potential of data (average 650.000 data per semester). The study has found that the combination of features was: women have greater participation (68%) in Mathematics, Engineering, and Teaching careers, the urban area continues to be the preferred place to apply for higher studies (94%), Internet use increased by 50% in the last year, the support of the family nucleus is still relevant for the support in the formation of the children

Morphological and Molecular Characterization of Grapevine Accessions Known as Albillo

Twenty-eight accessions identified under the name of Albillo or cited as a synonym of this ancient Spanish grapevine variety were characterized using 43 morphological descriptors, four different isozyme systems (CO, ACPH, GOT, and SOD) and two Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism (AFLP) primer combinations. Genetic similarity data resulting from these analyses allowed three different groups of Albillo to be distinguished that corresponded with geographical and historical origin of representative varieties: Turruntés, Malvasía de El Bierzo, and the classical Albillo de Madrid, related to the oldest Albillo ampelographical descriptions. In addition, homonyms as well as varieties incorrectly cited as Albillo synonyms were identified. To ensure accurate variety identification, association among historical descriptions based on morphological descriptors and molecular fingerprints was required. Isozymes proved to be useful markers for varietal identification. However, only AFLP allowed distinction among closely related varieties as well as the analysis of intravarietal variation.M.T.C. was funded by a Ministerio de Educación y Cultura contract; I.R., J.A.C., and J.C. were funded by predoctoral fellowships from the European Union, Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Agrarias y Agroalimentarias, and Agencia Española de Cooperación Internacional, respectively. This research was funded in part by projects INIA SC96-010, SC94-092, and CM 07B-0010-1997. Support for research activity at the Centro Nacional de Biotecnología is provided by a CSIC-INIA specific agreement.Peer reviewe

Exercise for Hypertension

High blood pressure (HBP) does not cause discomfort but still, you need to take care of and treat it. Otherwise, over time, it can damage the heart, kidneys, brain, and eyes. Lifestyle changes are essential in HBP, and physical activity is a parameter of great influence. In order to achieve the benefits derived from physical activity, it must be adequately prescribed, an aspect that will be developed in this chapter. The first section addresses the physiopathology of hypertension, with special interest in the pathological mechanisms that may induce hypertension, devices for monitoring blood pressure (BP), and an overview of the particularities that present hypertension in the presence of other pathologies and over the life span. Second section focuses on exercise prescription for hypertensive people, exploring each type of exercise that has been proved to be effective. We discuss for each type of exercise, the benefits, mechanisms involved in these benefits, the appropriate dose of exercise, and other methodological considerations including risk management issues. We conclude with a clinical case study. A detailed exercise training program will be developed for this particular case study in order to try to bridge the gap between theory and practice

A Multiple Stakeholder Multicriteria Decision Analysis in Diabetic Macular Edema Management: The MULTIDEX‑EMD Study

Background The clinical and economic management of retinal diseases has become more complex following the introduction of new intravitreal treatments. Multicriteria decision analysis (MCDA) offers the potential to overcome the challenges associated with traditional decision-making tools. Objectives A MCDA to determine the most relevant criteria to decision-making in the management of diabetic macular edema (DME) based on the perspectives of multiple stakeholders in Spain was developed. This MCDA was termed the MULTIDEX-EMD study. Methods Nineteen stakeholders (7 physicians, 4 pharmacists, 5 health authorities and health management experts, 1 psychologist, and 2 patient representatives) participated in this three-phase project. In phase A, an advisory board defined all of the criteria that could influence DME treatment decision-making. These criteria were then screened using a discrete choice experiment (DCE) (phase B). Next, a multinomial logit model was fitted by applying the backward elimination algorithm (relevant criteria: p value = 15 letters (p value < 0.001), effect duration per administration (p value = 0.008), retinal detachment (p value < 0.001), endophthalmitis (p value = 0.012), myocardial infarction (p value < 0.001), intravitreal hemorrhage (p value = 0.021), annual treatment cost per patient (p value = 0.001), health-related quality of life (HRQoL) (p value = 0.004), and disability level (p value = 0.021). Conclusions From a multi-stakeholder perspective, the selection of an appropriate treatment for DME patients should guarantee patient safety and maximize the visual acuity improvement and treatment effect duration. It should also contribute to system sustainability by being affordable, it should have a positive impact on HRQoL, and it should prevent disability

La evaluación inicial de la competencia digital del alumnado de primer curso de educación secundaria obligatoria en el proyecto 1x1

La implementación de las Tecnologías de la Información y la Comunicación (TIC) en un instituto público de Educación Secundaria Obligatoria (ESO) entraña necesariamente una reflexión sobre las competencias digitales que deberá asumir el alumnado y, con ello, el cambio metodológico necesario para su completa impregnación. Un primer paso es el cuestionario que aquí se presenta, en el contexto de la implementación del plan Escuela 2.0 en Cataluña, el innovador «Educat 1 x 1». Con él se pretende concoer el punto de partida respecto a la competencia TIC del alumnado de primero de ESO para estar en mejores condiciones al planificar la inclusión de las TIC en el proceso de enseñanza aprendizaje.The implementation of Information Technology and Communication (ICT) in a public institute of Secondary Education (ESO) must be preceded by a reflection about the digital skills students should assume, and thus the desirable methodological change for their full utilization. A first step is a questionnaire we present here within the context of the implementation of the School 2.0 plan in Catalonia, called «Educat 1 x 1». It aims to offer an initial assessment of our students’ ICT competence when they arrive to High Schools: only then we will do our best for planning the teachinglearning process of this competence

Genetic selection of maternal lines and digestive efficiency in rabbits: long term selection for litter size at weaning versus hyper selection for reproductive longevity

The objective of the present paper is to evaluate how long-term selection for litter size at weaning or short-term hyper selection for reproductive longevity, affect the digestive utilisation of growing and lactating rabbits. A digestibility trial was carried out during the 3rd week of lactation with a total of 27 multiparous does: 14 females came from a line selected for litter size at weaning over 32 generations (V), and 13 from a recently constituted, long lived-productive line (LP). Another digestibility trial was performed during the growing period with a total of 48 growing rabbits (24 from each line). After a 7 d adaptation period, faeces were collected individually for 4 d (from 13 to 16 d of lactation or from 49 to 53 d of age, respectively). Daily feed intake and weight gain recorded during the experimental growing period were similar for both lines (137 g of dry matter (DM)/d and 48 g/d, respectively). Growing rabbits from the V-line showed greater values for the digestibility of the DM and OM (+1 percentage point; P<0.10) and signifi cantly higher values for the acid detergent fi bre (+3 percentage points; P=0.03) than animals from the LP line. No signifi cant differences for the apparent digestibility coeffi cients of crude protein, neutral detergent fi bre, crude fi bre and gross energy were observed between lines, these being on average 65.7, 23.0, 10.7 and 52.6%, respectively. Females from the LP line were initially heavier (+258 g of live weight; P=0.06), and presented a signifi cantly greater daily feed intake (+22 g DM/d; P=0.04) and milk yield (+37 g/d; P=0.01) during the pre-experimental and faeces collection phases (from 6 to 16 d of lactation). V-line lactating does displayed greater values for digestibility for all those nutrients evaluated (from +0.9 and +3.7 percentage points for the crude protein and acid detergent fi bre) compared to the LP line females, although these were only signifi cant for the DM, organic matter and gross energy (+2.3, +2.5, +2.1 percentage points; P<0.05). In conclusion, rabbits selected for litter size at weaning seem to have greater effi ciency for digestive utilisation than those hyper selected for reproductive longevity.This study has been supported by the Spanish CICYT project AGL 2004-02710/GAN.Pascual Amorós, JJ.; Ródenas, L.; Martínez, E.; Cervera, C.; Blas, E.; Baselga, M. (2008). Genetic selection of maternal lines and digestive efficiency in rabbits: long term selection for litter size at weaning versus hyper selection for reproductive longevity. World Rabbit Science. 16(3). doi:10.4995/wrs.2008.62516

Lifestyle changes and mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic: A repeated, cross-sectional web survey

This study aimed to compare self-reported changes on lifestyle behaviors during two phases of the COVID-19 pandemic in Spain, and to evaluate clinical and sociodemographic factors associated with lifestyles. Methods: Two cross-sectional web surveys were conducted during lockdown (April 15-May 15, 2020) and seven months later (November 16-December 16, 2020). Lifestyle behaviors were self-reported by a multidimensional scale (SMILE-C). Two separate samples of respondents were analyzed. A multivariate regression model was performed to evaluate the association of SMILE-C scores with demographic and clinical variables. Results: The sample comprised, 3412 participants from the first survey (S1) and in the S1 and 3635 from the second (S2). SMILE-C score decreased across surveys (p < 0.001). The rates of positive screenings for depression and anxiety were similar between the surveys, whereas those for alcohol abuse decreased (p < 0.001). Most participants in S2 reported that their lifestyle had not changed compared to those before the pandemic. Variables independently associated with an unhealthier lifestyle were working as an essential worker, lower educational level, previous mental disease, worse self-rated health, totally/moderate changes on diet, sleep or social support, as well as positive screenings for alcohol abuse, anxiety and depression. Limitations: The cross-sectional design and recruitment by non-probabilistic methods limit inferring causality and the external validity of the results.Instituto Carlos III, PI16/01770Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación, PI15/00283, PI18/0080

Effects of feeding programme on the performance and energy balance of nulliparous rabbit does

A total of 190 rabbit females were used to evaluate five feeding programmes from 9 weeks of age to the first parturition: CAL, fed ad libitum with a control diet (C: 11.0 MJ digestible energy (DE) and 114 g digestible protein (DP)/kg dry matter (DM)) until first parturition; CR, fed ad libitum with C diet until 12 weeks of age and then C diet restricted (140 g/day) until first parturition; F, fed ad libitum with a low-energy, high-fibre diet (F: 8.7 MJ DE and 88 g DP/kg DM) until first parturition; FC, fed with F diet ad libitum until 16 weeks of age, and C diet ad libitum until first parturition; FCF, fed with F diet ad libitum until 16 weeks of age, then C diet ad libitum until 20 weeks and then F diet ad libitum until first parturition. The rabbits were artificially inseminated at 18 weeks of age. CAL group had a higher mortality rate compared with the other groups between 9 and 12 weeks of age (34% v. 3%; P,0.05) and during the last 3 weeks of first pregnancy (14% v. 3%; P,0.05). The CAL and FC females presented higher BW and perirenal fat thickness (PFT) than CR females at 11 days of pregnancy (10.41 kg and 10.6 mm; P,0.05), with F females showing medium values. The type of feeding procedure did not affect the fertility rate of young females at first artificial insemination. Differences in BW disappeared at parturition, when only CAL females presented a greater PFT than CR and FC females (10.3mm; P,0.05). In comparison with FCF, CAL females had smaller and thinner live born litters (22.5 kits and 2139 g, respectively; P,0.05), with CR, F and FC females showing medium values. The low number of kits born alive for CAL females was because of their lesser total number of kits born (21.7 kits; P,0.05) and the greater mortality of their litters at birth (113.9%; P,0.05) compared with FCF females. Non-esterified fatty acid was higher in the blood of females fed C diet (CAL and CR) than in others at partum day (on average 10.15 mmol/l; P,0.05). In conclusion, the ad libitum use of diets for lactating rabbit does throughout the rearing period could lead young rabbit females to present a higher risk of early death and smaller litter size at first parturition. Feed restriction or earlier use of suitably fibrous diets led females to achieve the critical BW and fat mass at first mating to ensure reproduction.The authors thank the Spanish Ministry of Education and Science (Project AGL2006-07596) for the economic support to conduct this study.Martínez Paredes, EM.; Ródenas Martínez, L.; Martínez Vallespín, B.; Cervera Fras, MC.; Blas Ferrer, E.; Brecchia, G.; Boiti, C.... (2012). Effects of feeding programme on the performance and energy balance of nulliparous rabbit does. Animal. 6(7):1086-1095. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1751731111002643S1086109567Pascual, J. J., Castella, F., Cervera, C., Blas, E., & Fernández-Carmona, J. (2000). 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Nutrition of the rabbit, 222-232. doi:10.1079/9781845936693.0222Rommers, J. M., Kemp, B., Meijerhof, R., & Noordhuizen, J. P. (2001). The effect of litter size before weaning on subsequent body development, feed intake, and reproductive performance of young rabbit does. Journal of Animal Science, 79(8), 1973. doi:10.2527/2001.7981973xRommers, J. M., Meijerhof, R., Noordhuizen, J. P. T. M., & Kemp, B. (2002). Relationships between body weight at first mating and subsequent body development, feed intake, and reproductive performance of rabbit does. Journal of Animal Science, 80(8), 2036-2042. doi:10.1093/ansci/80.8.2036Moschos, S., Chan, J. L., & Mantzoros, C. S. (2002). Leptin and reproduction: a review. Fertility and Sterility, 77(3), 433-444. doi:10.1016/s0015-0282(01)03010-2Xiccato, G., Bernardini, M., Castellini, C., Dalle Zotte, A., Queaque, P. I., & Trocino, A. (1999). Effect of postweaning feeding on the performance and energy balance of female rabbits at different physiological states. Journal of Animal Science, 77(2), 416. doi:10.2527/1999.772416xChilliard, Y., Ferlay, A., Faulconnier, Y., Bonnet, M., Rouel, J., & Bocquier, F. (2000). Adipose tissue metabolism and its role in adaptations to undernutrition in ruminants. Proceedings of the Nutrition Society, 59(1), 127-134. doi:10.1017/s002966510000015xNicodemus, N., García, J., Carabaño, R., & De Blas, J. C. (2007). Effect of substitution of a soybean hull and grape seed meal mixture for traditional fiber sources on digestion and performance of growing rabbits and lactating does1. Journal of Animal Science, 85(1), 181-187. doi:10.2527/jas.2005-365Bezille P 1995. Toxémie de gestation et hypocalcémie chez la brebis. In Maladies métaboliques des rumiants (ed. Jean Marc Bichet), pp. 101–104. Le Point Vétérinarie 27(special number), WK Publications, Paris, France.Blas, E., & Gidenne, T. (s. f.). 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Presión arterial : ¿esfigmomanómetro manual o digital?

El presente es un estudio prospectivo y comparativo entre la medición de la presión arterial obtenida de manera manual con esfigmomanómetro aneroide y la obtenida mediante monitor automático. El desarrollo de la práctica se realizó sobre un grupo de 100 pacientes hospitalizados en el servicio de Neurocirugía y Otorrinolaringología del Consorcio Hospital General de Valencia durante el primer trimestre del año 2007, mediante mediciones secuenciales y efectuadas por el mismo observador con ambos aparatos bien calibrados. Se observó mediante el método de correlación bivariada de Pearson que no existen diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre las presiones tomadas por ambos aparatos determinando así la fiabilidad del aparato automático utilizado en esta sala para el registro de la tensión arterial.This is a prospective and comparative work between arterial pressure obtained through manual measurement with aneroid sphygmomanometer and the arterial pressure obtained through automatic monitor. The practice was carried out in a group of 100 inpatients in the Neurosurgery and Otolaryngology Service in the Consortium of the General Hospital of Valencia during the first term of 2007. The development of this hospital training was made on each individual through sequential measurements and executed by the same observer with both well-calibrated machines. It was observed that through the method of Pearson's bivaried correlation there are not statistically significant differences between the pressures taken by both machines. As regards this fact, both automatic machines of arterial pressure register are [email protected] [email protected]

Utilización de marcadores AFLP y SAMPL en la identificación genética de especies y variedades de cítricos

Many species within the Citrus genus are economically important crops throughout tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Molecular marker technologies have eased and improved the genetic analysis of plants and promise to greatly assist Citrus breeding programs. Several types of molecular markers have been used to characterize the Citrus genome, but this is the first time where Amplified Restriction Fragment Polymorphism (AFLP) and Selective Amplification of Microsatellite Polymorphic Loci (SAMPL) techniques are used to identify varieties within species that belong to Citrus genus such as, C. sinensis, C. clementina, C. paradisi, C. aurantium, and C. limon. Both techniques were used to identify accessions belonging to the CIDA - Murcia, collection (Spain).Key words: AFLP, citrus, molecular markers, SAMPL, variety differentiatioMuchas especies del género Citrus son cultivos de gran importancia económica en regiones tropicales y subtropicales del mundo. La aplicación de marcadores moleculares ha facilitado y potenciado el análisis genético de plantas pudiendo resultar herramientas de gran ayuda en los programas de mejoramiento de cítricos. Se han empleado diversos tipos de marcadores moleculares para la caracterización del genoma de cítricos, pero este es el primer trabajo de empleo de AFLPs (Polimorfismos para la longitud de los fragmentos amplificados) y SAMPLs (Amplificación selectiva de loci polimórficos de microsatélites), en la identificación de variedades pertenecientes a especies del género Citrus, como son C. sinensis, C. clementina, C. paradisi, C. aurantium, y C.limon. Ambas técnicas fueron utilizadas para la identificación de muestras pertenecientes a la colección del CIDA-Murcia (España).Palabras clave: AFLP, citrus, marcadores moleculares, SAMPL, diferenciación varieta