Radical scavenging activity of an inulin-gallic acid graft and its prebiotic effect on Lactobacillus acidophilus in vitro growth

Dietary fibre contained in some vegetable food products can be associated with phenolic compounds and therefore exhibits a significant antioxidant activity (Saura-Calixto, Pérez-Jiménez, & Goñi, 2009). This kind of fibre is known as antioxidant dietary fibre (ADF) and because of its polymer structure it could show a considerable prebiotic capacity as well. Some studies have suggested that polyphenols associated with this dietary fibre could be released in the gastrointestinal tract during digestion (Mercado-Mercado et al., 2015). Hence, besides its prebiotic activity ADF could increase the radical scavenging activity of the human gut environment.In order to generate a new antioxidant and prebiotic dietary fibre, gallic acid (GA) was grafted onto native inulin. Inulin-gallic acid (IGA) graft was confirmed by UV and infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The antioxidant activity was evaluated by spectroscopic methods and the prebiotic activity of IGA was determined by In-Vitro growth of Lactobacillus acidophilus. UV spectra show absorbance peaks at 214 and 266–268 nm showing aromatic ring presence in the IGA graft and FT-IR spectra showed a band at 1743 cm 1, confirming the covalent bond between the polymer and GA. GA provides a significant antioxidant capacity to IGA graft. Inulin shows a significant capacity to stimulate the growth of L. acidophilus and GA grafted onto inulin (16.3 mg/g polymer) does not interfere with its prebiotic capacity. It is possible to provide radicalscavenging capacity to inulin-type fructo-oligosaccharides avoiding the decrease of its prebiotic properties, which could extend their potential use as functional foods.CONACYT 37057

Sexual and Reproductive Health for Young Adults in Colombia: Teleconsultation Using Mobile Devices

Background: Sexual risk behaviors associated with poor information on sexuality have contributed to major public health problems in the area of sexual and reproductive health in teenagers and young adults in Colombia. Objective: To report our experience with the use of DoctorChat Mobile to provide sexual education and information among university students in Bogota, Colombia, and knowledge about the sexual risk factors detected among them. Methods: A mobile app that allows patients to ask about sexual and reproductive health issues was developed. Sexual and reproductive risk behaviors in a sample of young adults were measured before and after the use of the app through the validated survey Family Health International (FHI) Behavioral Surveillance Survey (BSS) for Use With Adults Between 15 and 49 Years. A nonprobabilistic convenience recruitment was undertaken through the study´s webpage. After completing the first survey, participants were allowed to download and use the app for a 6-month period (intervention), followed by completion of the same survey once again. For the inferential analysis, data was divided into 3 groups (dichotomous data, discrete quantitative data, and ordinal data) to compare the results of the questions between the first and the second survey. The study was carried out with a sample of university students between 18 and 29 years with access to mobile phones. Participation in the study was voluntary and anonymous. Results: A total of 257 subjects met the selection criteria. The preintervention survey was answered by 232 subjects, and 127 of them fully answered the postintervention survey. In total, 54.3% (69/127) of the subjects completed the survey but did not use the app, leaving an effective population of 58 subjects for analysis. Of these subjects, 53% (31/58) were women and 47% (27/58) were men. The mean age was 21 years, ranging between 18 and 29 years. The differences between the answers from both surveys were not statistically significant. The main sexual risk behaviors identified in the population were homosexual intercourse, nonuse of condoms, sexual intercourse with nonregular and commercial partners, the use of psychoactive substances, and lack of knowledge on symptoms of sexually transmitted diseases and HIV transmission. Conclusions: Although there were no differences between the pre- and postintervention results, the study revealed different risk behaviors among the participating subjects. These findings highlight the importance of promoting high-impact educational strategies on this matter and the importance of providing teenagers and young adults with easily accessible tools with reliable health information, regardless of their socioeconomic status

Spanish version of the Dundee Ready Education Environment Measure (DREEM) applied to undergraduate physical therapy students in Spain using Google Form

[Intro] The educational climate (EC) is an important factor in determining the effectiveness and success of the curriculum in a school of medical sciences. The Dundee Ready Education Environment Measure (DREEM) questionnaire was used to assess EC in a competency-based curriculum in the physical therapy program analyzing the mean total, subscale, and item scores, as well as response rates. To carry out a psychometric evaluation of the Spanish-language version of the DREEM applied to undergraduate physical therapy students, a total of 671 students enrolled on Degrees in Physiotherapy at 22 faculties across public and private universities in Spainresponded to the DREEM questionnaire using Google Form. (...

Semipresencialidad en tiempos de COVID-19: adaptación de la docencia en el ámbito de Fundamentos de Informática

El mundo ha cambiado desde la aparición del nuevo virus de la familia de los coronavirus (COVID-19), el cual fue declarado pandemia en tan sólo unos pocos meses. El COVID-19 ha tenido un alto impacto en todos los ámbitos conocidos, incluida la docencia. Las medidas de seguridad impartidas por las autoridades sanitarias implicaron una necesaria adaptación de la docencia en general, y más en concreto la universitaria. Este artículo se centra en cómo ha afectado la pandemia a la asignatura de Informática en el ámbito del Grado de Ingeniería Química Industrial. En dicha asignatura se introducen a los alumnos los conceptos básicos de la informática, incluyendo sistemas operativos, bases de datos y redes de computadores, además de un bloque de sesiones de laboratorio dedicado a la programación en lenguaje C. La situación actual ha dado lugar a la semipresencialidad en la docencia de la asignatura durante el curso 2020/2021, repercutiendo tanto a las metodologías de enseñanza como a los contenidos teórico-prácticos. En el presente trabajo se describen los cambios realizados de cara a adaptar el contenido de la asignatura a la semipresencialidad, reportando resultados tanto a nivel de evaluación como a nivel de seguimiento y motivación del alumnado.The world has changed due to the emergence of the new virus from the coronavirus family (COVID-19), which was declared as a pandemic a few months after its appearance. COVID-19 has had a high impact in every single field, including education and teaching. The safety measures and prevention protocol against COVID-19 has involved an adaptation process in the education, particularly in the university. This article is focused on how the pandemic has affected the Computer Science subject in the field of the Industrial Chemical Engineering Degree at the University of Seville. In this subject, students are introduced to the basic concepts of computer science, including operating systems, databases and computer networks, as well as a set of laboratory sessions dedicated to programming in C language. The current situation has led to a blended learning in the subject during the 2020/2021 academic year, affecting both the methodology and theoretical-practical contents. The present paper describes the changes performed as a consequence to adapt the subject content to blendedness, reporting results in terms of evaluation marks and also at students’ motivation level

Aprendizaje basado en proyectos en el ámbito de la Ingeniería de la Salud: desarrollo de sistemas para la rehabilitación y la ayuda a la discapacidad

El reciente Grado en Ingeniería de la Salud se originó con el planteamiento de cubrir la carencia de conocimiento sobre la rama sanitaria de un Ingeniero Informático. Es en dicho grado donde, de forma optativa, el alumno cursa la asignatura Sistemas de Rehabilitación y Ayuda a la Discapacidad, que tiene un papel fundamental para el diseño de sistemas enfocados tanto a la rehabilitación como a proveer facilidades a pacientes con ciertas dificultades. En este artículo se describe la metodología de las prácticas de laboratorio para la docencia en dicha asignatura, la cual se basa en el concepto de aprendizaje basado en proyectos. Las distintas sesiones de laboratorio se reparten en dos bloques, diferenciando entre sesiones de introducción a ciertos contenidos y dispositivos hardware, y un gran bloque donde los alumnos desarrollan un proyecto de rehabilitación o ayuda a la discapacidad con los conocimientos adquiridos, que posteriormente documentan en formato artículo. Esta dinámica ha conseguido una gran acogida y ha incrementado la motivación de los alumnos, llevando a muchos a desarrollar un Trabajo Fin de Grado relacionado con la asignatura. La dinámica propuesta tiene un papel fundamental en futuros Ingenieros de la Salud tanto a nivel de aprendizaje como a nivel laboral.The recently created Degree in Health Engineering was originated from the idea of covering the need of knowledge related to Computer Engineering within the healthcare industry. In this degree, last-year students can take an optional subject titled Rehabilitation and Disabity aid systems, which has a fundamental role for the design of systems focused on both rehabilitation and providing support and aiding patients with certain difficulties. This paper describes the methodology of this subject’s lab classes, which are based on the concept of project-based learning methodology. The different laboratory sessions are divided into two blocks, differentiating between introductory sessions to fundamental contents and hardware devices, and a block where students develop a group project related to rehabilitation or disability aid with the concepts and knowledge acquired in the introductory session plus other literature research conducted by them, which is later documented using an IEEE manuscript template. This teaching approach has been very well received and has increased the motivation of the students, leading many of them to continue working in the same topic for their Final Degree Project. The proposed approach plays a key role in future Health Engineers both in terms of education and as a future field of employment

Paraneoplastic Cerebellar Degeneration Secondary to BRAF Mutant Melanoma Metastasis from an Occult Primary Cancer

Melanoma metastasis from an unknown primary cancer has an incidence of 3.2% among melanoma patients. Furthermore, paraneoplastic neurological syndromes (PNS) are rare, occurring in 1-3% of patients with malignancies. Paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration (PCD) is one of the classic PNS and is characterized by acute or subacute onset of ataxia and/or presence of onconeural antibodies. A 61-year-old male with ataxia, vertigo, and headache later developed dysarthria, multidirectional nystagmus, hyperactive delirium, auditory hallucinations, psychomotor agitation, and myoclonus. Toxicological, metabolic, infectious, and autoimmune etiologies were assessed and reported negative. An osteolytic lesion was observed in the right iliac crest via computed tomography (CT). A positron emission tomography-CT reported increased fluorodeoxyglucose uptake of a right iliac and right inguinal ganglion. After biopsy of the right inguinal ganglion, a BRAF mutation-positive melanoma metastasis from an occult primary cancer was diagnosed. Dermatologic, ophthalmologic, and endoscopic gastrointestinal assessment did not reveal a primary malignant melanoma. The patient's movement disorders and neuropsychiatric symptoms improved with quetiapine, prednisone, azathioprine, and cyclophosphamide. Oncological management was conducted with MAPK pathway inhibitors (i.e., dabrafenib and trametinib). Movement disorders associated with neuropsychiatric symptoms are complex to diagnose. PNS are rare and often associated with antibodies against neural antigens expressed by the tumor. The case presented above describes a patient with a BRAF-positive malignant melanoma metastasis from an occult primary associated with PCD - to the best of our knowledge, the first reported in the literature.</p

Práctica de desarrollo de un dispositivo de accesibilidad controlado mediante extremidades distales superiores basado en la plataforma Leap Motion

Este artículo presenta una práctica de laboratorio impartida en el contexto de la asignatura Sistemas de Rehabilitación y Ayuda a la Discapacidad, la cual se imparte como optativa en el Grado en Ingeniería de la Salud – Mención en Ingeniería Biomédica. El objetivo principal de dicha práctica es la de adquirir la capacidad de desarrollar un dispositivo enfocado a la accesibilidad, el cual permita controlar el ratón del ordenador únicamente mediante gestos realizados con las manos. Los dispositivos y herramientas empleados para dicho fin son el hardware Leap Motion, que recoge los movimientos de las manos y los dedos gracias a los sensores de los que se compone, junto con el entorno de desarrollo Visual Studio, en el que se desarrolla una aplicación de escritorio mediante Windows Forms, .NET y C#. El proceso de desarrollo está guiado y documentado, aportando al alumno todo un entorno base sobre el que construir e ir aprendiendo mientras se avanza en el desarrollo. El proyecto a desarrollar por el alumno abarca competencias clave propias del grado en el que se lleva a cabo, incluyendo la resolución de problemas de carácter multidisciplinar, además de la programación orientada al desarrollo de dispositivos asistenciales.This article presents a laboratory practice given in the context of the course Rehabilitation Systems and Disability Assistance, which is taught as an elective in the Degree in Health Engineering - Mention in Biomedical Engineering. The main objective of this practice is to acquire the ability to develop a device focused on accessibility, which allows to control the computer mouse using only hand gestures. The devices and tolos used for this purpose are the Leap Motion hardware, which collects the movements of the hands and fingers thanks to the sensors of which it is composed, along with the Visual Studio development environment, in which a desktop application is developed using Windows Forms, .NET and C#. The development process is guided and documented, providing the student with a base environment on which to build and learn as the development progresses. The project to be developed by the student covers key competences of the degree in which it is carried out, including the resolution of multidisciplinary problems, as well as programming oriented to the development of assistance devices.Este trabajo ha sido financiado parcialmente por el proyecto MINDROB (PID2019-105556GB-C33/AEI/10.13039/501100011033). Daniel Casanueva-Morato ha sido apoyado por una ayuda de Formación de Profesorado Universitario del Ministerio de Educación, Cultura y Deporte

Práctica de desarrollo de una red de sensores basada en la programación de microcontroladores para sistemas en tiempo real

Este artículo presenta una práctica de laboratorio impartida mediante una metodología de aprendizaje basado en proyectos cuyo objetivo principal es adquirir la capacidad de programación de microcontroladores para el diseño e implantación de una red de comunicación inalámbrica de bajo consumo en el ámbito de las comunicaciones industriales. Este proyecto se desarrolla en las sesiones prácticas de la asignatura Comunicaciones Industriales del Máster Universitario en Sistemas Inteligentes en Energía y Transporte cuyas competencias contemplan la capacidad para planificar la instalación de redes de comunicación en entornos industriales, así como la aplicación de los conocimientos adquiridos en la resolución de problemas multidisciplinares. El proyecto de laboratorio expuesto en este trabajo abarca ambas competencias, ya que propone establecer una red de control jerárquica en las comunicaciones industriales mediante la programación de microcontroladores, abordando el desarrollo de sistemas empotrados en tiempo real. Los dispositivos empleados para establecer la red de sensores son módulos XBee conectados a un puerto UART de un microcontrolador ARM Cortex-M0 para establecer comunicación serie asíncrona entre el módulo XBee y el microcontrolador. La arquitectura de la red está basada en la topología estrella. El módulo XBee central está conectado a través de un puerto COM Virtual a un PC. En el PC se ejecuta una interfaz de usuario desarrollada en lenguaje C# usando el entorno Visual Studio basada en la interfaz gráfica Windows Forms.This article presents a laboratory practice taught by project-based learning methodology whose main objective is to acquire the ability to program microcontrollers for the design and implementation of a low-power wireless communication network in the field of industrial communications. This project is developed during the practical sessions of the Industrial Communications subject of the Máster Universitario en Sistemas Inteligentes en Energía y Transporte, whose skills include the ability to plan the communication network installation in industrial environments, as well as the application of the knowledge acquired in the resolution of multidisciplinary problems. The laboratory project exposed in this work covers both skills because it proposes to establish a hierarchical control network in industrial communications through the programming microcontrollers, addressing the development of embedded real time systems. The devices used to establish the sensor network are XBee modules connected to a UART of an ARM Cortex-M0 microcontroller to establish asynchronous serial communication between the XBee module and the microcontroller. The network’s architecture is based on a star-shaped topology. The central XBee module is connected through a Virtual COM port to a PC. A user interface is executed on the PC; it is developed in C# language using the Visual Studio environment based on a graphical interface Windows Forms