The Development of Digital Competencies through Video Games

Using today's video games in the classroom is beginning to become a reality. It’s perceived as a way to approach technology from early childhood and drawn as a complement to the curriculum development of the young. This new perspective is becoming a trend in the mind of the teachers, who are gradually incorporating it into the classroom as a tool. This article presents the results of an experience carried out with students from elementary school. The overall objective was to determine whether video games could become an additional tool in curriculum development for children during this educational stage, as seen from the perspective of future teachers doing initial elementary education training, and if its integration would determine behavioral patterns towards the development of the socialization process. A Likert scale questionnaire was constructed in response to an ex post facto research model. The initial results obtained demonstrated the willingness of the current students enrolled in the education program to employ video games in their classrooms, after a didactic introduction to the use was given, in addition to confirming the hypothesis in regards to socialization, pointing which are behavioral modulators, stereotypes and peer group views, among others aspect

Anomalous optical absorption in a random system with scale-free disorder

We report on an anomalous behavior of the absorption spectrum in a one-dimensional lattice with long-range-correlated diagonal disorder with a power-like spectrum in the form S(k) ~ 1/k^A. These type of correlations give rise to a phase of extended states at the band center, provided A is larger than a critical value A_c. We show that for A < A_c the absorption spectrum is single-peaked, while an additional peak arises when A > A_c, signalling the occurrence of the Anderson transition. The peak is located slightly below the low-energy mobility edge, providing a unique spectroscopic tool to monitor the latter. We present qualitative arguments explaining this anomaly.Comment: 4 pages, 4 postscript figures, uses revtex

The Perceptions of Early Childhood Educators Regarding the Uses of the Interactive Whiteboard

Nowadays, there is an increase in the use of the Interactive White Board (IWB) in the classroom. This allows the instructor to integrate new and more attractive learning methodologies towards the learning process. In early childhood education the instructor relies too much on images, making the IWB a great teaching resource. However, are teachers prepared to use and implement the IWB? Do they consider it a good resource towards this educational stage? From these questions and through an ad-hoc questionnaire, a multiple case study was conducted with early childhood educators (N=30) from different public schools in Córdoba, Spain. From these questions and through an ad-hoc questionnaire, a multiple case study was conducted with early childhood educators (N=30) from different public schools in Córdoba, Spain. As a result, it’s recommended that the government takes action and implement a teacher training program along with improving the Internet accessibility of the school

Development of an adequate model for verification of design safety-margins of the HTTR nuclear test facility

This work is based on the prototype High Engineering Test Reactor (HTTR) of the Japan Agency of Energy Atomic (JAEA). Its objective is to describe an adequate deterministic model to be used in the assessment of its design safety margins via damage domains. The concept of damage domain is defined and it is shown its relevance in the ongoing effort to apply dynamic risk assessment methods and tools based on the Theory of Stimulated Dynamics (TSD). To illustrate, we present results of an abnormal control rod (CR) withdrawal during subcritical condition and its comparison with results obtained by JAEA. No attempt is made yet to actually assess the detailed scenarios, rather to show how the approach may handle events of its kin

Wannier-Stark ladders in one-dimensional elastic systems

The optical analogues of Bloch oscillations and their associated Wannier-Stark ladders have been recently analyzed. In this paper we propose an elastic realization of these ladders, employing for this purpose the torsional vibrations of specially designed one-dimensional elastic systems. We have measured, for the first time, the ladder wave amplitudes, which are not directly accessible either in the quantum mechanical or optical cases. The wave amplitudes are spatially localized and coincide rather well with theoretically predicted amplitudes. The rods we analyze can be used to localize different frequencies in different parts of the elastic systems and viceversa.Comment: 10 pages, 6 figures, accepted in Phys. Rev. Let

Caracterización química y cuantificación del rendimiento de extracción de pigmento en siete accesiones mexicanas de Bixa orellana

Achiote (Bixa orellana) is a plant used for obtaining a natural dye rich on carotenoids (mainly bixin and norbixin); it is also the plant species with the highest content of tocotrienols in nature. In the present work, the pigment extraction yield of seven Mexican accessions of Bixa orellana was quantified. Also color parameters and content of tocotrienols, tocopherols, norbixin, bixin, total phenolic compounds and antioxidant capacity were evaluated in the corresponding annatto extracts. The highest percentage of pigment extraction yield was obtained with KOH (4.84%). Accessions 43 (L*= 4.01 ± 0.79, C*= 7.33 ± 1.07, h= 25.76 ± 6.35) and 50 (L*= 3.17 ± 0.64, C*= 6.81 ± 0.53, h= 26.41 ± 4.41) had the lowest color values, meaning these accessions had a darker and redder color. Four accessions showed the highest content of bixin: accession 48 (3.1%), 45 (2.6%) 43 (2.4%) and 47 (2.2%). Accession 50 had showed the highest content of total phenolic compounds and of tocotrienols (T3), mainly the isoform δ-T3 (5.03 ± 0.64 mg g−1 Seed Dry Weight), as well as the highest antioxidant capacity.El achiote (Bixa orellana) es una planta utilizada para obtener un colorante natural rico en carotenoides (principalmente bixina y norbixina); además, es la especie vegetal con el mayor contenido de tocotrienoles. En este trabajo, se determinó el rendimiento de extracción de pigmento de siete accesiones mexicanas de Bixa orellana. También se evaluaron los parámetros de color y el contenido de tocotrienoles, tocoferoles, norbixina, bixina, compuestos fenólicos totales y la capacidad antioxidante en extractos de annato. El mayor porcentaje de rendimiento de extracción de pigmento fue obtenido con KOH (4.847905%). Las accesiones 43 (L*= 4.01 ± 0.79, C*= 7.33 ± 1.07, h= 25.76 ± 6.35) y 50 (L*= 3.17 ± 0.64, C*= 6.81 ± 0.53, h= 26.41 ± 4.41) presentaron los valores más bajos de los párametros de color, lo que significa que estas accesiones tuvieron un color más oscuro y más rojo. Cuatro accesiones mostraron el mayor contenido de bixina: accesión 48 (3.1%), 45 (2.6%) 43 (2.4%) and 47 (2.2%). La accession 50 mostró el mayor contenido de compuestos fenólicos totales y de tocotrienoles (T3), principalmente la isoforma δ-T3 (5.03 ± 0.64 mg g-1 Peso Seco), así como también la mayor capacidad antioxidante.Fil: Raddatz Mota, D.. Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana; MéxicoFil: Pérez Flores, L. J.. Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana; MéxicoFil: Carrari, Fernando Oscar. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro de Investigación en Ciencias Veterinarias y Agronómicas. Instituto de Biotecnología; ArgentinaFil: Insani, Ester Marina. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro de Investigación en Ciencias Veterinarias y Agronómicas. Instituto de Biotecnología; ArgentinaFil: Asis, Ramón. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Córdoba. Centro de Investigaciones en Bioquímica Clínica e Inmunología; ArgentinaFil: Mendoza Espinoza, J. A.. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México; MéxicoFil: Díaz de León Sánchez, F.. Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana; MéxicoFil: Rivera Cabrera, F.. Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana; Méxic

Low-cost virtual presence platform for people with severe motor disability

[ES] Debido a la falta de autonomía y a la dificultad en las interacciones sociales, las personas con discapacidades físicas, generalmente sufren de una calidad de vida disminuida. El siguiente documento describe el desarrollo de una plataforma móvil de bajo costo capaz de asistir a las personas con severas discapacidades motoras en diferentes interacciones sociales. La plataforma requiere una base móvil inalámbrica; adaptando dos dispositivos, una cámara y un rastreador ocular; adicionalmente se requiere un software que permite integrar todos los componentes para elaborar una aplicación fácil de usar. Luego, para validar la operación de la plataforma se realizaron varias pruebas, usando una metodología de medición de usabilidad, con diferentes usuarios dentro de un cierto rango de edad, con y sin discapacidades. En consecuencia, como primera instancia de validación, la plataforma de bajo costo cumple con la función esperada para la asistencia de interacción social de personas con discapacidad. Finalmente, al ser un diseño abierto y verificado su funcionamiento, toda la información necesaria para la construcción del aparato es de libre acceso, a través de la página electrónica del proyecto.[EN] Due to a lack of autonomy and diculty in social interactions, people with physical disabilities generally suer from a diminished quality of life. The following document describes the development of a low-cost mobile platform capable of assisting people with severe motor disabilities on independent social interactions.Platform requires a wireless mobile base; adapting two interaction devices, a camera and an eye tracker; and developing a software to integrate all components for an easy-to-use application. Then, in order to validate the operation of the platform, several tests were carried out, using a usability measurement methodology, with different users within a certain age range, with and without disabilities. Consequently, as a first instance of validation, the low-cost platform fulfills the expected function of social interaction assistance for people with disabilities. Finally, as it is an open design and its functioning has been verified, all the necessary information for the construction of the device is freely accessible through the project’s electronic page.Este proyecto ha sido financiado por la Comisión Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología (CONICYT) a través del proyecto Fondecyt 1110343 y el proyecto Concurso Centros de Investigación Interdisciplinaria VRI UC 2014.Flores-Calero, M.; Torres-Torriti, M.; Retamales-Ortega, F.; Rosas-Díaz, F. (2020). Plataforma de presencia virtual de bajo costo para personas con discapacidades motoras severas. Revista Iberoamericana de Automática e Informática industrial. 17(2):215-228. https://doi.org/10.4995/riai.2019.10634OJS215228172Adept Technology, Inc., 2018. Pioneer 3-AT. URL: www.mobilerobots.comBrooke, J., 2013. SUS A Retrospective. Journal of Usability Studies 8, 29-40. Centro de Desarrollo de Tecnologías de Inclusión, CEDETI, 2018. Escuela de Psicología. URL: http://www.cedeti.cl/CONADIS, Consejo Nacional para la Igualdad de Discapacidades, 2019. Estadísticas de Discapacidad. URL: https://www.consejodiscapacidades.gob.ec/ estadisticas-de-discapacidad/Corporación Ciudad Accesibilidad, 2019. Estadísticas de Discapacidad Chile. URL:http://www.ciudadaccesible.cl/?page_id=26Del-Castillo, M., Serrano, J., Lerma, S., Martínez, I., Rocon, E., 2018. Evaluación neurofisiológica del entrenamiento de la imaginación motora con realidad virtual en pacientes pediátricos con parálisis cerebral. RIAI: Revista Iberoamericana de Automática e Informática industrial 15 (2), 174-179. https://doi.org/10.4995/riai.2017.8819Double Robotics, 2018. Double 2. URL: http://www.doublerobotics.com/pricing.htmlFoscam home security, 2018. FI9821P 720P HD IP Camera Make your home & office more safety without changing your lifestyle. URL: https://www.foscam.com/FI9821P.htmlHeath, M., 2008. Naudio Library. URL: https://naudio.codeplex.com/iRobot, 2018. Irobot Ava 500. URL: https://telepresencerobots.com/robots/ava-robotics-ava-500Leeb, R., Tonin, L., Rohm, M., Desideri, L., Carlson, T., Millan, J. d. R., 2015. Towards independence: A bci telepresence robot for people with severe motor disabilities. Proceedings of the IEEE 103 (6), 969-982. https://doi.org/10.1109/JPROC.2015.2419736Ly, V.-K., Nguyen, T.-N., Nguyen, H. T., 2016. Real-time video streaming with multi-camera for a telepresence wheelchair. International Conference on Control, Automation, Robotics and Vision (ICARCV).Mantaro Robot, 2018. TeleMe 2. URL: www.mantarobot.comNovak, D., 2019. Biomechatronic Applications of Brain-Computer Interfaces. Academic Press, Handbook of Biomechatronics. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-812539-7.00008-8OECD, 2018. Average wages. URL: https://data.oecd.org/earnwage/average-wages.htmOED, Observatorio de la Discapacidad, 2018. Personas con discapacidad y situación de pobreza. URL: https://www.observatoriodeladiscapacidad.info/personas-con-discapacidad-y-situacion-de-pobreza/OMS, Organización Mundial de la Salud, 2019. Informe mundial sobre la discapacidad. URL: https://www.who.int/disabilities/world_report/2011/es/Pacaux-Lemoine, M.-P., Habib, L., Carlson, T., 2018. Human-robot cooperation through brain-computer interaction and emulated haptic supports. IEEE International Conference on Industrial Technology (ICIT). https://doi.org/10.1109/ICIT.2018.8352489Pinilla-Roncancio, M., 2017. The reality of disability: Multidimensional poverty of people with disability and their families in Latin America. Disability and Health Journal. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dhjo.2017.12.007Resolve Robotics, 2018. Kubi. URL: https://www.revolverobotics.com/Rogers, W. A., Mitzner, T. L., 2017. Envisioning the future for older adults: Autonomy, health, well-being, and social connectedness with technology support. Futures 87, 133-139. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.futures.2016.07.002Salarios, P., 2019. Salarios m'ınimos en Latinoamérica. URL: https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plantilla:Salarios_minimos_en_LatinoamericaSiegwart, R., Nourbakhsh, I. R., Scaramuzza, D., 2011. Introduction to Autonomous Mobile Robots, 2nd Edition. Vol. 23. The MIT Press.Tobii, 2018. Tobii eye tracker. URL: https://tobiigaming.com/eye-tracker-4c/TurtleBot, 2018. Turtlebot3. URL: https://www.turtlebot.com/Ubibot: Mini-robot de telepresencia, 2015. Robotics and Automation Laboratory. URL: http://ral.ing.puc.cl/ubibot.ht

MEIS1, PREP1, and PBX4 Are Differentially Expressed in Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia: Association of MEIS1 Expression with Higher Proliferation and Chemotherapy Resistance

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The Three-amino acid-loop-extension (<it>TALE</it>) superfamily of homeodomain-containing transcription factors have been implicated in normal hematopoiesis and in leukemogenesis and are important survival, differentiation, and apoptosis pathway modulators. In this work, we determined the expression levels of <it>TALE </it>genes in leukemic-derived cell lines, in blood samples of patients with Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), and in the blood samples of healthy donors.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Here we show increased expression of <it>MEIS1, MEIS2, </it>and <it>PREP1 </it>genes in leukemia-derived cell lines compared with blood normal cells. High levels of <it>MEIS1 </it>and <it>PREP1</it>, and low levels of <it>PBX4 </it>expression were also founded in samples of patients with ALL. Importantly, silencing of <it>MEIS1 </it>decreases the proliferation of leukemia-derived cells but increases their survival after etoposide treatment. Etoposide-induced apoptosis induces down-regulation of MEIS1 expression or <it>PREP1 </it>up-regulation in chemotherapy-resistant cells.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Our results indicate that up-regulation of <it>MEIS1 </it>is important for sustaining proliferation of leukemic cells and that down-regulation of <it>MEIS1 </it>or up-regulation of <it>PREP1 </it>and <it>PBX </it>genes could be implicated in the modulation of the cellular response to chemotherapeutic-induced apoptosis.</p

"Potential Use of Mango Waste and Microalgae Spirulina sp. for Bioelectricity Generation"

"Potential use of organic waste and microalgae generates bioelectricity and thereby reduces harmful effects on the environment. These residues are used due to their high content of electron-generating microorganisms. However, so far, they have not been used simultaneously. Therefore, this research uses mango waste and microalgae Spirulina sp. in double-chamber microbial fuel cells to generate bioelectricity. The cells were made at a laboratory scale using zinc and copper electrodes, achieving a maximum current and voltage of 7.5948 ± 0.3109 mA and 0.84546 ± 0.314 V, with maximum electrical conductivity of the substrate being 157.712 ± 4.56 mS/cm and an optimum operating pH being 5.016 ± 0.086. The cells showed a low internal resistance of approximately 205.056 ± 25 Ω, and a maximum power density of 657.958 ± 21.114 mW/cm2 at a current density of 4.484 A/cm2 . This research provides an excellent opportunity for mango farmers and exporting and importing companies because they can use their own waste to reduce their electricity costs when this prototype is brought to a large scale.