New Teaching Strategies to Improve Student Performance in Fundamentals of Biotechnology

<p>Fundamentals in Biotechnology is part of the Chemical Engineering curriculum at the National University at Salta, in northwest Argentina. This course, given for four months in the fourth year of a five-year program of study, includes concepts of general microbiology, biochemistry, and industrial microbiology and is the first contact by the students with biological issues. Probably due to the long content of the course and to the lack of previous knowledge of biological and microbiological concepts, students have a lot of difficulty passing this course. In order to reach a better understanding of the concepts, to encourage students to learn biotechnology, and to develop critical thinking skills with the ultimate aim of improving performance, two new strategies were adopted, which consisted of including “Complementary Activities” and an “Integration Seminar.”</p

Experiencias del examen global en línea de la UEA de complementos de matemáticas, DCBI-A

1 archivo PDF (21 páginas)Desde 2011 se han aplicado en línea tanto el examen global como el de recuperación de la UEA Complementos de Matemáticas, que pertenece al Tronco General de las licenciaturas de Ingeniería en la UAM-A. En esta comunicación se describen las experiencias, retos y logros de llevar a cabo la aplicación de estos exámenes en línea en forma presencial a todos los sustentantes en tiempo y en forma de acuerdo con la legislación. Se utilizaron aulas virtuales con evaluación continua en los grupos de los autores en 2009, lo que dio lugar a la creación del sistema galoisenlinea, donde se encuentra ahora un Centro de Evaluación en Línea de Matemáticas. Ahí aparecen también autoevaluaciones, una gran variedad de recursos didácticos e información general para los usuarios del sistema, que puede ser un alumno o un académico de la comunidad UAM-A. En 2007 se aprobó un cambio en el programa de estudios de Complementos de Matemáticas. En el programa sinóptico se estableció el alcance de cada evaluación periódica, algo inusual en esa fecha en la DCBI-A. Se anexó el programa analítico con indicadores de evaluación, que marcan el nivel taxonómico del curso y que señalan al alumno lo que se espera sea capaz de realizar al término de cada tema. Los indicadores son la base de la evaluación en línea. Hemos utilizado una gama amplia de sistemas algebraicos computacionales para la creación de reactivos; este hecho brinda la posibilidad de renovar frecuentemente las bases de reactivos, las cuales son confiables. La escritura se hace en LaTeX. Abstract: Since 2011 the terminal evaluation in the subject “Mathematics Supplement” has been implemented in line. This subject belongs to Engineering careers at UAM-A and it is obligatory for all of them. This paper will describe the experiences, challenges and achievements of conducting these tests applying online and face to face to all examinees and in accordance with law. Virtual classrooms were used for continuous assessment authors’ groups since 2009, which led to the establishment of galoisenlinea system, being now a Center for Online Assessment. There are also self-assessments, teaching resources and general information for users of the system, which can be a student or an academic community UAM-A. A change in the program of “Mathematics Supplement” was approved in 2007 in a synoptic scope. This program indicates the material to evaluate in each partial exam, something unusual at that time in the DCBI-A. The extended program was included also, with evaluation indicators marking the taxonomic level of the subject, providing help to student population to understand what is expected to be able to perform at the end of each topic. They are the basis of the online assessment. We applied computer algebraic systems programming for creating process for questions-answers, that provides the ability to renew frequently the database with a good margin of reliability. The writing is done in LaTeX, providing accuracy in formal presentation

Experiencias desde la formación del alumnado de Ingeniería: historias de vida

Na Universidade Autônoma Metropolitana, unidade de Azcapotzalco, México, se levou a cabo (outono de 2013) a nova implementação de um novo tronco inter e multidisciplinar (TIM), na &nbsp;Divisão de Ciências Básicas e Engenharia, dos planos e programas de estudo das dez graduações em Engenharia, às qual busca a formação integral do alunado. No interior do tronco fornece-se até data&nbsp;um curso eletivo chamado "Poder e Gênero", cujo objetivo é que os alunos sejam capazes de ser vistos de uma perspectiva de gênero em suas vidas diárias, com impacto sobre a seu crescimento interno e, por sua vez, que isso se reflita nas tarefas da vida diária a partir de tolerância e empatia para a tomada de decisão e as relações com o seu ambiente e família. Como parte do processo e, portanto, a metodologia consistiu em desenvolver a sua história de vida durante o curso, a qual nas palavras dos estudantes criou uma conscientização e valorização da dimensão humana, uma mudança de paradigma para a tolerância entre os sexos, dentro e fora da universidade, o que equidade, além de emoções e sentimentos humanos têm ressurgido sem medo

The most attractive companies in the labour market based on culture place of origin

This paper analyses the differences in the attractiveness of companies according to their country of origin. The aim is to expand knowledge about which characteristics make organisations more attractive to workers based on their place of origin (Anglo-Saxon, Northern-Central European, Mediterranean, Asian regions). In addition, it is analysed if the COVID-19 has caused changes in the elements that make up the attractiveness.The sample comprises the ranking published by the journal Actualidad Económica about the most attractive companies to work for in Spain, during 2013-21. The variables used in the ranking are: Talent-Management, Remuneration, Work-Environment, CSR and Training. Other control variables like geocultural area are used. For this purpose, an econometric model of unbalanced panel data with random effects is proposed.Results show there are differences in the assessment of professional attractiveness according to the companies' place of origin and culture. Remuneration and permanence in the ranking are the only variables which are relevant regardless of the culture. Talent Management, Working Environment and Training, size, and stock price influence Western countries&nbsp;unequally. The opposite occurs for SCR, which only affects Asian companies. Also, COVID-19 has affected unequally the assessment of the attractiveness of companies

Prevention of β-Glucosidase Inhibition by High Molecular Mass Compounds During Enzymatic Wine Aroma Enhancement Using a Hollow Fiber Reactor

Pretpostavlja se da su aktivnost i stabilnost enzima veći u membranskom reaktoru koji se upotrebljava za poboljšanje arome vina nego kad je enzim prisutan u slobodnom obliku, jer je u kontaktu samo sa sastojcima vina koji imaju malu molekularnu masu. Da bi se ta pretpostavka dokazala, izmjerena je stabilnost i aktivnost dvaju komercijalnih β-glukozidaza u vinu Tannat i njegovoj frakciji male molekularne mase (<10 kDa), dobivenoj ultrafiltracijom. Relativna je aktivnost β-glukozidaza Endozym Rouge i Endozym β-split bila veća u frakciji (3,8 odnosno 7,6 %), nego u izvornom uzorku vina (0,9 odnosno 5,6 %). Oba su enzima bila stabilnija u frakciji vina. Nakon 14 dana β-glukozidaza Endozym β-split zadržala je otprilike 75 % početne aktivnosti u frakciji male molekularne mase, u usporedbi s uzorkom vina, u kojem je aktivnost bila samo 37,5 %. U šaržnom je membranskom reaktoru ispitana sposobnost enzima Endozym Rouge da hidrolizira sintetski supstrat pnitrofenilglukozid, a brzina je hidrolize bila usporediva s onom dobivenom aktivnošću slobodne β-glukozidaze. Enzim Endozym β-split primijenjen je za hidrolizu sintetskog supstrata u reaktoru sa šupljim vlaknima, te je postignuta konverzija supstrata od gotovo 58 %.Enzyme activity and stability in a membrane reactor for wine aroma enhancement can be higher than when the enzyme is present in a free state since the catalyst would only be in contact with the low molecular mass components of this beverage. To test this hypothesis, the activity and stability of two commercial β-glucosidases were measured in the presence of Tannat wine and of its low molecular mass fraction (<10 kDa) obtained by ultrafiltration. The relative activities of Endozym Rouge and Endozym β-split β-glucosidases were higher in this fraction (3.8 and 7.6 %, respectively) than in the whole wine (0.9 and 5.6 %, respectively). Both enzymes were also more stable in the low molecular mass fraction. Endozym β-split β-glucosidase retained about 75 % of its initial activity after 14 days in the low molecular mass fraction, as contrasted with only 37.5 % in the wine. The ability of Endozym Rouge β-glucosidase to hydrolyze the synthetic substrate p-nitrophenylglucoside was examined in a simple batch membrane reactor. A rate of hydrolysis comparable to that obtained with the free Endozym Rouge β-glucosidase was reached. Finally, Endozym β-split β-glucosidase was used to hydrolyze the synthetic substrate in a hollow fiber membrane reactor and a substrate conversion near 58 % was achieved

Chitosan applications on pharmaceutical sciences: A review

Background: Chitosan (CS) is a biomaterial derived from chitin, known for its excellent biological properties. One of the most interesting features of CS is its potential for chemical derivatization, which makes it a versatile material and allows to expand its applications. In the last years, the interest on this polymer and its pharmaceutical applications has notably increased. This biopolymer is being widely studied for its interesting properties, such as bioadhesion, antimicrobial activity, biocompatibility, and biodegradability. Other promising properties of CS include its modulation of immunological response, hemostasis, and wound and bone healing activity. Objective: In this work, a critical review is performed covering its conventional and novel applications, specially focused on pharmaceutical area, providing a clear picture of the current state of art to serve as a basis to direct future research in this field. Conclusion: Despite all the qualities of this polymer, there are only few CS-based products in the market, so it is a priority to enhance the research to develop new technologies and CS-based systems to enforce this biopolymer in the industry.Fil: Briones Nieva, Cintia Alejandra. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Salta. Instituto de Investigaciones para la Industria Química. Universidad Nacional de Salta. Facultad de Ingeniería. Instituto de Investigaciones para la Industria Química; ArgentinaFil: Villegas, Mercedes. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Salta. Instituto de Investigaciones para la Industria Química. Universidad Nacional de Salta. Facultad de Ingeniería. Instituto de Investigaciones para la Industria Química; ArgentinaFil: Cid, Alicia Graciela. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Salta. Instituto de Investigaciones para la Industria Química. Universidad Nacional de Salta. Facultad de Ingeniería. Instituto de Investigaciones para la Industria Química; ArgentinaFil: Romero, Analía Irma. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Salta. Instituto de Investigaciones para la Industria Química. Universidad Nacional de Salta. Facultad de Ingeniería. Instituto de Investigaciones para la Industria Química; ArgentinaFil: Bermudez, Jose Maria. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Salta. Instituto de Investigaciones para la Industria Química. Universidad Nacional de Salta. Facultad de Ingeniería. Instituto de Investigaciones para la Industria Química; Argentin

The anorexigenic effect of intra-mesopallium ghrelin is related to high plasma corticosterone levels in broiler chicks during the first week of life

La grelina es un péptido secretado principalmente en el estómago que actúa sobre el sistema nervioso central para regular el metabolismo energético y las respuestas al estrés. En el pollo disminuye la ingesta de alimentos y se ha sugerido que la hormona liberadora de corticotropina podría mediar esta respuesta. En el presente trabajo se estudia si la anorexia inducida por grelina intra-mesopallium podría involucrar la activación del eje hipotalámico pituitario adrenal en pollos de 4-6 días de edad. Los resultados demuestran que la grelina, administrada en el mesopallium intermedio, disminuyó la ingesta de alimentos y aumentó los niveles plasmáticos de corticosterona. Además, se observó una relación negativa significativa entre ambas respuestas, donde mayores concentraciones de corticosterona estuvieron asociadas a una menor ingesta de alimentos. Sin embargo, no se observaron cambios significativos en los niveles plasmáticos de la hormona adrenocorticótropa inducidos por la grelina intra-mesopallium. Por lo tanto, esta activación suprarrenal podría desempeñar un papel mediador en el efecto anorexigénico de la grelina central en pollos de engorde. Además, no puede descartarse que esta área del prosencéfalo y el eje hipotalámico pituitario adrenal puedan constituir una red cerebral para el control de la alimentación de pollos parrilleros.Ghrelin is peptide secreted primarily in the stomach that acts on the central nervous system to regulate energy metabolism and responses to stress. In chicken, it decreases feed intake, and it has been suggested that corticotropin-releasing hormone could mediate this response. The present study investigates whether intra-mesopallium ghrelin-induced anorexia could involve the activation of the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal axis in 4-6-day-old chickens. The results showed that ghrelin, administered in the intermediate mesopallium, decreased feed intake and increased plasma corticosterone levels. In addition, a significant negative relationship was observed between both responses, where higher concentrations of corticosterone were associated with lower food intake. However, no significant changes were observed in plasma levels of ACTH induced by intra-mesopallium ghrelin. Therefore, this adrenal activation could play a mediating role in the anorectic effect of central ghrelin in broilers. Furthermore, it cannot be ruled out that this area of the forebrain and the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal axis may constitute a brain network for the control of chicken feeding.Fil: Gastón, María Soledad. Universidad Nacional de Jujuy. Instituto de Ecorregiones Andinas. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Salta. Instituto de Ecorregiones Andinas; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas y Tecnológicas. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas y Tecnológicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Cid, Mariana Paula. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas y Tecnológicas. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas y Tecnológicas; ArgentinaFil: Salvatierra, Nancy Alicia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas y Tecnológicas. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas y Tecnológicas; Argentin

An appraisal of the scientific current situation and new perspectives in the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis

Leishmaniasis is a Neglected Tropical Diseases caused by protozoan parasites of the genus Leishmania. It is a major health problem in many tropical and subtropical regions of the world and can produce three different clinical manifestations, among which cutaneous leishmaniasis has a higher incidence in the world than the other clinical forms. There are no recognized and reliable means of chemoprophylaxis or vaccination against infections with different forms of leishmaniasis. In addition, chemotherapy, unfortunately, remains, in many respects, unsatisfactory. Therefore, there is a continuing and urgent need for new therapies against leishmaniasis that are safe and effective in inducing a long-term cure. This review summarizes the latest advances in currently available treatments and improvements in the development of drug administration. In addition, an analysis of the in vivo assays was performed and the challenges facing promising strategies to treat CL are discussed. The treatment of leishmaniasis will most likely evolve into an approach that uses multiple therapies simultaneously to reduce the possibility of developing drug resistance. There is a continuous effort to discover new drugs to improve the treatment of leishmaniasis, but this is mainly at the level of individual researchers. Undoubtedly, more funding is needed in this area, as well as greater participation of the pharmaceutical industry to focus efforts on the development of chemotherapeutic agents and vaccines for this and other neglected tropical diseases.Fil: Briones Nieva, Cintia Alejandra. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Salta. Instituto de Investigaciones para la Industria Química. Universidad Nacional de Salta. Facultad de Ingeniería. Instituto de Investigaciones para la Industria Química; ArgentinaFil: Cid, Alicia Graciela. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Salta. Instituto de Investigaciones para la Industria Química. Universidad Nacional de Salta. Facultad de Ingeniería. Instituto de Investigaciones para la Industria Química; ArgentinaFil: Romero, Analía Irma. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Salta. Instituto de Investigaciones para la Industria Química. Universidad Nacional de Salta. Facultad de Ingeniería. Instituto de Investigaciones para la Industria Química; ArgentinaFil: Garcia Bustos, Maria Fernanda. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Salta. Instituto de Patología Experimental. Universidad Nacional de Salta. Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud. Instituto de Patología Experimental; ArgentinaFil: Villegas, Mercedes. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Salta. Instituto de Investigaciones para la Industria Química. Universidad Nacional de Salta. Facultad de Ingeniería. Instituto de Investigaciones para la Industria Química; ArgentinaFil: Bermúdez, José María. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Salta. Instituto de Investigaciones para la Industria Química. Universidad Nacional de Salta. Facultad de Ingeniería. Instituto de Investigaciones para la Industria Química; Argentin

Evaluation of the Drug Release Kinetics in Assembled Modular Systems Based on the Dome Matrix Technology

Mathematical models are an important tool in pharmaceutical formulationsdevelopment, to evaluate in vitro and in vivo drug release processes and to optimize the design of new systems. Dome Matrix technology allows the combination of modules with different types of drugs, doses, and releases kinetics. This work aimed to design drug release systems based on DomeMatrix technology, with different swelling and erosion properties, to obtain complex drug release profiles and analyze them with simple mathematical models. Most of the release profiles followed a sigmoid curve, with an inflection point corresponding to a change in the release rate behavior. The experimental data were fitted with a simple model recently developed, named the Dual Releasemodel, which consists in the combination of a modified Korsmayer-Peppas model from the beginning to the inflection point and the Lumped model from there until the end. This approach allowed determining relevant pharmaceutical parameters, such as the maximum release rate and the dissolution efficiency, among others. The use of the Dual Release model and the pharmaceutical parameters that characterize the different Dome Matrix modules allows optimizing the choice of the composition and the configuration during the development of a drug delivery system.Fil: Cid, Alicia Graciela. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Salta. Instituto de Investigaciones para la Industria Química. Universidad Nacional de Salta. Facultad de Ingeniería. Instituto de Investigaciones para la Industria Química; ArgentinaFil: Sonvico, Fabio. Università di Parma; ItaliaFil: Bettini, Ruggero. Università di Parma; ItaliaFil: Colombo, Paolo. Università di Parma; ItaliaFil: Gonzo, Elio Emilio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Salta. Instituto de Investigaciones para la Industria Química. Universidad Nacional de Salta. Facultad de Ingeniería. Instituto de Investigaciones para la Industria Química; ArgentinaFil: Jimenez Kairuz, Alvaro Federico. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Unidad de Investigación y Desarrollo en Tecnología Farmacéutica. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas. Unidad de Investigación y Desarrollo en Tecnología Farmacéutica; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas. Departamento de Farmacia; ArgentinaFil: Bermudez, Jose Maria. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Salta. Instituto de Investigaciones para la Industria Química. Universidad Nacional de Salta. Facultad de Ingeniería. Instituto de Investigaciones para la Industria Química; Argentin