MoLE: A web authoring tool for building mobile learning experiences

This paper presents a web authoring tool that allows teachers to build their own mobile learning experiences, so that their students can carry out a learning activity of the teachers authorship. In this work, a learning activity consists of a set of tasks organized through a workflow, which are given to students in relevant places (within a physical space). The workflow defines the way in which students access each of the tasks proposed in the activity. A preliminary case study and two technological implementations are presented. Although the present is a work in progress, it is based on previous works on the subject and proposes an evolution of them, incorporating technological and usability improvements both in the author's web tool and in the mobile learning application that it generates.XVIII Workshop de Tecnología Informática Aplicada en Educación.Red de Universidades con Carreras en Informátic

MoLE: A web authoring tool for building mobile learning experiences

This paper presents a web authoring tool that allows teachers to build their own mobile learning experiences, so that their students can carry out a learning activity of the teachers authorship. In this work, a learning activity consists of a set of tasks organized through a workflow, which are given to students in relevant places (within a physical space). The workflow defines the way in which students access each of the tasks proposed in the activity. A preliminary case study and two technological implementations are presented. Although the present is a work in progress, it is based on previous works on the subject and proposes an evolution of them, incorporating technological and usability improvements both in the author's web tool and in the mobile learning application that it generates.XVIII Workshop de Tecnología Informática Aplicada en Educación.Red de Universidades con Carreras en Informátic

Does the acidity of self-etching primers affect bond strength and surface morphology of enamel?

Purpose: This study examined the ultrastructure and microtensile bond strengths (TBS) of self-etching (with different acidity) and conventional adhesive systems bonded to unground enamel. Materials and Methods: Resin composite (Filtek Z250) buildups were bonded to unground enamel surfaces of third molars after adhesive application with the following materials: Clearfil SE Bond (CSE); Optibond Solo Plus Self-Etch (OP); Tyrian Self Priming Etching (TY), and the controls Scotchbond Multi-Purpose Plus (SBMP) and Single Bond (SB). Six teeth were assigned to each material. After storage in water for 24 h at 37 degrees C, the bonded specimens were sectioned into beams of approximately 0.8 mm(2) and subsequently subjected to mu TBS testing at a crosshead speed of 0.5 mm/min. The average values were subjected to one-way ANOVA (alpha = 0.05). The effect of surface conditioning of each material was observed under scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Results: The highest resin-enamel bond strength was observed for SBMP (22.7 +/- 5.2) and SB (26.7 +/- 5.2 MPa). The lowest mean bond strengths were 10.9 +/- 3.2 and 7.8 +/- 1.5 MPa for TY and OP, respectively. CSE showed an intermediate performance (18.7 +/- 4.6 MPa). An overall increase in porosity was evident along the entire enamel surface treated with the self-etching primers; however, no selective demineralization similar to that with 35% phosphoric acid was observed. Conclusion: The highest bond strength means and the more retentive etching pattern were observed for the two-step etch-and-rinse adhesives. Among the self-etching systems studied, Clearfil SE Bond should be preferred.82758

Una herramienta de autor web para generar aplicaciones educativas basadas en posicionamiento con interacción física

Este trabajo presenta una propuesta para que, mediante el uso de una herramienta de autor, docentes puedan generar sus propias soluciones para llevar adelante aprendizaje móvil basado en posicionamiento, considerando la interacción del alumno con elementos del mundo físico. Se describe también una herramienta de autor prototípica web que implementa los conceptos de la solución propuesta. La herramienta fue usada exitosamente para configurar una actividad educativa basada en posicionamiento en la temática de "Alimentación saludable".XVII Workshop Tecnología Informática Aplicada en Educación (WTIAE)Red de Universidades con Carreras en Informática (RedUNCI

Una herramienta de autor web para generar aplicaciones educativas basadas en posicionamiento con interacción física

Este trabajo presenta una propuesta para que, mediante el uso de una herramienta de autor, docentes puedan generar sus propias soluciones para llevar adelante aprendizaje móvil basado en posicionamiento, considerando la interacción del alumno con elementos del mundo físico. Se describe también una herramienta de autor prototípica web que implementa los conceptos de la solución propuesta. La herramienta fue usada exitosamente para configurar una actividad educativa basada en posicionamiento en la temática de "Alimentación saludable".XVII Workshop Tecnología Informática Aplicada en Educación (WTIAE)Red de Universidades con Carreras en Informática (RedUNCI

Prevalence of Plasmodium falciparum infection in asymptomatic rural Gabonese populations

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Malaria may be perennial or epidemic in sub-Saharan Africa, and its transmission may be stable or unstable, depending on the region. The prevalence of asymptomatic <it>Plasmodium falciparum </it>carriage is poorly documented in Gabon. A large survey of <it>P. falciparum </it>infection was conducted in asymptomatic individuals living in rural Gabon.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Two hundred and twenty-two villages were randomly selected in the nine administrative regions. With the participants' informed consent, blood samples were collected for thick and thin blood film examination after 20% Giemsa staining. Prevalence rates were calculated per village, per region and per ecosystem, and nationwide. Demographic risk factors were identified with STATA software version 9.0. Significance was assumed at p < 0.05.</p> <p>Results and discussion</p> <p>The prevalence of <it>P. falciparum </it>in adults was 6.2% (269/4342) nationwide, with a maximum of 37.2% in one village; a linear decrease was observed with increasing age (p = 0.045). Only 5% of the 399 children from forest areas tested positive. The prevalence was significantly higher in forest areas (7%) than in savannah (4%) and lakeland (2.5%). Within the forest region, the prevalence was significantly higher in forest grassland (10.9%) than in the mountain forest (3.5%), interior forest (6.8%) and north-eastern forest (4.5%).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p><it>Plasmodium falciparum </it>carriage remains high among adults in rural Gabon. Control measures must be adapted to the region and ecosystem. Routine treatment of asymptomatic individuals should be considered.</p

Phase I randomized dose-ascending placebo-controlled trials of ferroquine - a candidate anti-malarial drug - in adults with asymptomatic Plasmodium falciparum infection

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The development and spread of drug resistant <it>Plasmodium falciparum </it>strains is a major concern and novel anti-malarial drugs are, therefore, needed. Ferroquine is a ferrocenic derivative of chloroquine with proven anti-malarial activity against chloroquine-resistant and -sensitive <it>P. falciparum </it>laboratory strains.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Adult young male aged 18 to 45 years, asymptomatic carriers of <it>P. falciparum</it>, were included in two-dose escalation, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled Phase I trials, a single dose study and a multiple dose study aiming to evaluate oral doses of ferroquine from 400 to 1,600 mg.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Overall, 54/66 patients (40 and 26 treated in the single and multiple dose studies, respectively) experienced at least one adverse event, 15 were under placebo. Adverse events were mainly gastrointestinal symptoms such as abdominal pain (16), diarrhoea (5), nausea (13), and vomiting (9), but also headache (11), and dizziness (5). A few patients had slightly elevated liver parameters (10/66) including two patients under placebo. Moderate changes in QTc and morphological changes in T waves were observed in the course of the study. However, no adverse cardiac effects with clinical relevance were observed.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>These phase I trials showed that clinically, ferroquine was generally well-tolerated up to 1,600 mg as single dose and up to 800 mg as repeated dose in asymptomatic young male with <it>P. falciparum </it>infection. Further clinical development of ferroquine, either alone or in combination with another anti-malarial, is highly warranted and currently underway.</p

Progression of mitral regurgitation in rheumatic valve disease : role of left atrial remodeling

Introduction: Mitral regurgitation (MR) is the most common valve abnormality in rheumatic heart disease (RHD) often associated with stenosis. Although the mechanism by which MR develops in RHD is primary, longstanding volume overload with left atrial (LA) remodeling may trigger the development of secondary MR, which can impact on the overall progression of MR. This study is aimed to assess the incidence and predictors of MR progression in patients with RHD. Methods: Consecutive RHD patients with non-severe MR associated with any degree of mitral stenosis were selected. The primary endpoint was a progression of MR, which was defined as an increase of one grade in MR severity from baseline to the last follow-up echocardiogram. The risk of MR progression was estimated accounting for competing risks. Results: The study included 539 patients, age of 46.2 ± 12 years and 83% were women. At a mean follow-up time of 4.2 years (interquartile range [IQR]: 1.2–6.9 years), 54 patients (10%) displayed MR progression with an overall incidence of 2.4 per 100 patient-years. Predictors of MR progression by the Cox model were age (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] 1.541, 95% CI 1.222–1.944), and LA volume (HR 1.137, 95% CI 1.054–1.226). By considering competing risk analysis, the direction of the association was similar for the rate (Cox model) and incidence (Fine-Gray model) of MR progression. In the model with LA volume, atrial fibrillation (AF) was no longer a predictor of MR progression. In the subgroup of patients in sinus rhythm, 59 had an onset of AF during follow-up, which was associated with progression of MR (HR 2.682; 95% CI 1.133–6.350). Conclusions: In RHD patients with a full spectrum of MR severity, progression of MR occurs over time is predicted by age and LA volume. LA enlargement may play a role in the link between primary MR and secondary MR in patients with RHD

Uso de tecnología móvil para concientizar sobre la conservación de condrictios en el mar de la costa atlántica argentina

Objetivo: Visibilizar la problemática acerca de la conservación de condrictios (tiburones y rayas) en el mar de la costa atlántica argentina, concientizando a estudiantes secundarios acerca de la vulnerabilidad de dichas especies y por ello, la necesidad de su conservación. Para esto, en el presente trabajo se busca facilitar a los docentes la tarea de divulgación de la problemática a sus alumnos mediante el uso de tecnología móvil. El público destinatario se transforma en un actor multiplicador del mensaje, llegando donde los científicos no siempre pueden llegar.Facultad de Informátic