Description of the Early Mathematics Attitude Scale (ESAMAT)

Dentro de lo que se conoce como dominio afectivo, las actitudes hacia las matemáticas han cobrado gran interés en las últimas décadas. Diversos estudios encuentran que estas son un factor clave a la hora de comprender y explicar la variabilidad de resultados de los estudiantes en matemáticas. No obstante, los instrumentos en castellano disponibles en la actualidad para medir estas actitudes no son muy numerosos y están destinados en su mayoría, a la etapa de Educación Secundaria. En menor medida, a la etapa universitaria y primaria. En la etapa de la Educación Infantil no se disponen de este tipo de instrumentos de evaluación. Este estudio trata de presentar el diseño y la elaboración de una Escala de Actitudes hacia la Matemática Temprana (ESAMAT). Se describen las diferentes etapas para el diseño de la prueba. Asimismo, se exponen las distintas dimensiones incluidas dentro del concento general de Actitudes, como son: el gusto hacia las matemáticas, la percepción de dificultad, la percepción de importancia, el autoconcepto matemático y la curiosidad hacia la materia. La detección precoz de una predisposición desfavorable a las matemáticas puede resultar de gran relevancia para disminuir el riesgo de fracaso académico en esta materia.Within what is known as the affective domain, attitudes towards mathematics have received strong interest over the last decades Several studies point out that attitudes are a key factor in understanding and explaining the of high students’ variability results in mathematics. However, currently there are few instrument available for math attitudes assessment in Spanish They are mostly targeted to colleges, high school, and primary school students. Few assessment tools are available for Early Childhood Education. This study aims to outline the design and development of an Early Mathematics Attitudes Scale (ESAMAT). The different phases for the instrument design are described. Likewise, the dimensions included within the general concept of attitudes are also exposed, such as: math enjoyment, perceived difficulty, math importance or usefulness, math self-concept and curiosity towards math. The early finding of a negative predisposition to mathematics can be very significant to reduce the risk of academic failure in mathematic.peerReviewe

Low density Porcicoll separates spermatozoa from bacteria and retains sperm quality

[EN] Antibiotics are added to semen extenders to control the growth of bacteria contaminating semen during collection but may contribute to the development of antibiotic resistance. An alternative would be physical separation of spermatozoa from bacteria. The objective of the present study was to evaluate two low densities of Porcicoll for removal of bacteria, and for their effect on sperm recovery and sperm quality. Semen was collected from boars at a commercial station. Aliquots of 8 extended ejaculates were subjected to colloid centrifugation through 20% Porcicoll (P20) and 30% Porcicoll (P30) in 500 mL tubes and then stored at 17 °C. Microbiological examination and sperm quality evaluation (computer assisted sperm analysis and flow cytometry) were carried out on controls and all colloid-selected samples immediately after preparation and again after storage for 3 and 7 days. The microorganisms found were mainly bacteria from the environment, gut or skin. There was a considerable reduction or complete removal of some bacteria by both colloids. Recovery rates were 86% for P20 and 81% for P30. Sperm quality was not adversely affected by colloid centrifugation on day 0, and thereafter showed a more gradual deterioration in colloid centrifuged samples than in controls, possibly due to lower bacterial contamination. There were no differences in sperm quality between the two colloid treatments. Thus, these results show that contaminating bacteria in semen can be controlled by centrifugation through low density colloidsSIThis work was funded by a pump grant from the Society for Reproduction and Fertility, UK, to JMM and by grants to FMP (RTI2018-095183-B-I00, MCI/AEI/FEDER, EU, and LE023P20, Junta de Castilla y León/Consejería de Educación/FEDER, EU

An App designed for early mathematics training. The number line estimation

Actualmente, venimos escuchando en diversos foros educativos y científicos la necesidad de trabajar en la mejora del aprendizaje matemático del alumnado. Las matemáticas son consideradas por los estudiantes unas de las materias más complejas para su comprensión. También son de las materias que presentan unos resultados menos alentadores en las calificaciones de nuestros estudiantes más jóvenes. Las investigaciones que se han centrado en el desarrollo de la competencia matemática, han destacado la necesidad de realizar una intervención temprana. Asimismo, es necesario facilitar el aprendizaje utilizando herramientas que puedan resultar atractivas a los alumnos, como puede ser el uso de las nuevas tecnologías para fines educativos. Por otro lado, la utilización de dispositivos electrónicos de uso muy extendido como “tablets” o “smartphones” pueden generar un acercamiento de la educación al entorno familiar de nuestros jóvenes, de tal manera que el niño puede acceder al aprendizaje mientras juega en casa. En este trabajo, se presenta una de las aplicaciones (APPs) diseñadas para tablet y smartphone adaptada a los diferentes sistemas operativos actuales. Están diseñadas y desarrolladas para incidir sobre la mejora del sentido numérico del niño, y destinadas al alumnado en sus primeras etapas educativas. La APP que se presenta tiene como objetivo el entrenamiento de la “estimación en la recta numérica”, siendo esta habilidad uno de los principales precursores específicos del aprendizaje en matemáticas. Esta APP se fundamenta en los modelos cognitivos de aprendizaje numérico, y a su vez aporta los beneficios derivados del uso de uno de los instrumentos más utilizados como reforzadores en la actualidad en el entorno familiar, como son las tablets y los smartphones. El objetivo principal del trabajo es contribuir en el desarrollo de las habilidades matemáticas de los niños/as de 4 a 7 años para afrontar con éxito los requerimientos de la escuela y resolver situaciones en sus vidas cotidianas.Currently, we have been hearing from various educational and scientific forums the need to improve students’ mathematical learning. Mathematics is considered one of the most complex topics for comprehension. Math also is the subject presenting lowest grades of our students. Research focused on of mathematical competence development, has highlighted the need to implement early intervention to improve further progress. Likewise, it is necessary to facilitate learning using tools that may be attractive to students, such as the use of new technologies for educational purposes. The use of high tech devices such as tablets or smartphones can approach education in the family environment of our young people. In such a way that children can learn while they are playing at home. In this work, we present one of the applications (APP) designed for tablet and smartphone, adapted to the different platforms. App is designed and developed for improvement children’s numerical sense. Apps is designed for Early Childhood Education. This APP is is focused on training number line estimation. This skill is one of the main specific mathematics learning precursor. APP is based on cognitive models of numerical learning, and provides the benefits derived from the use of one of the tools used as reinforces by families (tablets and smartphones). This work would contribute to the development of mathematical skills of children aged from 4 to 7 so that they can successfully face the school requirements for maths, solve daily lives features.peerReviewe

Bos taurus and Cervus elaphus as Non-Seasonal/Seasonal Models for the Role of Melatonin Receptors in the Spermatozoon

[EN] Melatonin is crucial in reproduction due its antioxidant, hormonal, and paracrine action. Melatonin membrane receptors (MT1/MT2) have been confirmed on spermatozoa from several species, but functionality studies are scarce. To clarify their role in ruminants as reproductive models, bull (Bos taurus, non-seasonal) and red deer (Cervus elaphus, highly seasonal) spermatozoa were analyzed after 4 h of incubation (38 °C, capacitating media) in 10 nM melatonin, MT1/MT2 agonists (phenylmelatonin and 8M-PDOT), and antagonists (luzindole and 4P-PDOT). Motility and functionality (flow cytometry: Viability, intracellular calcium, capacitation status, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and acrosomal and mitochondrial status) were assessed. In bull, MT1 was related to sperm viability preservation, whereas MT2 could modulate cell functionality to prevent excess ROS produced by the mitochondria; this action could have a role in modulating sperm capacitation. Deer spermatozoa showed resistance to melatonin and receptor activation, possibly because the samples were of epididymal origin and collected at the breeding season’s peak, with high circulating melatonin. However, receptors could be involved in mitochondrial protection. Therefore, melatonin receptors are functional in the spermatozoa from bull and deer, with different activities. These species offer models differing from traditional laboratory experimental animals on the role of melatonin in sperm biologySIThis research was funded by the Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitivenes MINECO (Spain), grant number AGL2013-43328

Cold-Shock Test Is a Practical Method for Selecting Boar Ejaculates Yielding Appropriate Seminal Plasma for Post-Thawing Supplementation

.Artificial insemination (AI) with cryopreserved semen is still unreliable for extensive pig industry application. Adding seminal plasma (SP) could improve post-thawing quality, but its suitability could vary. We applied a simple cold-shock test (CST, 5 min at 0 °C) on neat semen for classifying ejaculates (n = 63) as resistant or sensitive, obtaining two SP pools (CST-resistant: SPr, sensitive: SPs). Subsequently, frozen/thawed spermatozoa from six boars were incubated (37 °C) in MR-A® extender (control), 20% SPr, or 20% SPs, and analyzed at 0, 2, and 4 h. SP improved total and progressive motility, with a higher effect for SPr and STR (p < 0.05), decreasing kinematic parameters VCL and VAP, ALH, and BCF. Sperm viability was unaffected. SP increased apoptotic and membrane disorder ratios, and acrosomal damage, not affecting the chromatin structure (DNA fragmentation and immaturity by SCSA), protamination (CMA3), or disulfide levels (mBBr). However, the proportion of spermatozoa with elevated free thiols (disulfide bridges reduction) significantly increased. Results support a stimulatory role of SP on thawed semen, with additional benefits from SPr. The effect of SP and especially SPr after AI should be tested since CST could be a practical test for selecting suitable ejaculates in AI centers.S

Single layer centrifugation (SLC) for bacterial removal with Porcicoll positively modifies chromatin structure in boar spermatozoa

[EN] The storage of boar semen samples at 17 °C for artificial insemination (AI) doses enables the proliferation of the bacteria, making antibiotics necessary. This can contribute to the development of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). This study tested bacterial presence and sperm chromatin structure after using a low-density colloid (Porcicoll) as an antibiotic alternative to eliminate bacteria. Ejaculates (8 boars, 3 ejaculates each) were split as control and low-density colloid centrifugation (single layer centrifugation, SLC, 20%, and 30% Porcicoll) into 500 ml tubes. Analyses were carried out at days 0, 3, and 7 (17 °C) for microbial presence and sperm chromatin structure analysis: %DFI (DNA fragmentation) and %HDS (chromatin immaturity), monobromobimane (mBBr; free thiols and disulfide bridges), and chromomycin A3 (CMA3; chromatin compaction). Besides comparing bacterial presence (7 species identified) and chromatin variables between treatments, the associations between these sets of variables were described by canonical correlation analysis (CCA). Results showed a significant decrease of some bacteria or a complete removal after SLC (especially for P30). SLC also caused a decrease of %HDS and an increase of disulfide bridges and low and medium mBBr populations, suggesting the removal of immature sperm (poor chromatin compaction). CCA showed an association pattern compatible with the degradation of sperm chromatin parameters with bacterial contamination, especially Enterobacteria, P. aeuriginosa, and K. variicola. In conclusion, bacterial contamination affects sperm chromatin beyond DNA fragmentation; SLC with low-density colloid not only removes bacteria from boar semen, but also chromatin structure is enhanced after selectionSIThis work was funded by a pump grant from Society for Reproduction and Fertility, UK, to JMM and by the Ministry of Science and Innovation (Spain), grant number RTI2018-095183-B-I00 (MCI/AEI/FEDER, EU) and LE023P20, Junta de Castilla y León/Consejería de Educación/FEDER, EU). The authors thank I. Quintela, B. de Arriba, L. Tejerina, M. Pérez-Luengo, N. Sorarrain, and B. Martín for technical assistance, and all the personnel at Topigs Norsvin España SLU (AIM Iberica) for their help in providing sample

Comprehensive description of clinical characteristics of a large systemic Lupus Erythematosus Cohort from the Spanish Rheumatology Society Lupus Registry (RELESSER) with emphasis on complete versus incomplete lupus differences

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease characterized by multiple organ involvement and pronounced racial and ethnic heterogeneity. The aims of the present work were (1) to describe the cumulative clinical characteristics of those patients included in the Spanish Rheumatology Society SLE Registry (RELESSER), focusing on the differences between patients who fulfilled the 1997 ACR-SLE criteria versus those with less than 4 criteria (hereafter designated as incomplete SLE (iSLE)) and (2) to compare SLE patient characteristics with those documented in other multicentric SLE registries. RELESSER is a multicenter hospital-based registry, with a collection of data from a large, representative sample of adult patients with SLE (1997 ACR criteria) seen at Spanish rheumatology departments. The registry includes demographic data, comprehensive descriptions of clinical manifestations, as well as information about disease activity and severity, cumulative damage, comorbidities, treatments and mortality, using variables with highly standardized definitions. A total of 4.024 SLE patients (91% with ≥4 ACR criteria) were included. Ninety percent were women with a mean age at diagnosis of 35.4 years and a median duration of disease of 11.0 years. As expected, most SLE manifestations were more frequent in SLE patients than in iSLE ones and every one of the ACR criteria was also associated with SLE condition; this was particularly true of malar rash, oral ulcers and renal disorder. The analysis-adjusted by gender, age at diagnosis, and disease duration-revealed that higher disease activity, damage and SLE severity index are associated with SLE [OR: 1.14; 95% CI: 1.08-1.20 (P < 0.001); 1.29; 95% CI: 1.15-1.44 (P < 0.001); and 2.10; 95% CI: 1.83-2.42 (P < 0.001), respectively]. These results support the hypothesis that iSLE behaves as a relative stable and mild disease. SLE patients from the RELESSER register do not appear to differ substantially from other Caucasian populations and although activity [median SELENA-SLEDA: 2 (IQ: 0-4)], damage [median SLICC/ACR/DI: 1 (IQ: 0-2)], and severity [median KATZ index: 2 (IQ: 1-3)] scores were low, 1 of every 4 deaths was due to SLE activity. RELESSER represents the largest European SLE registry established to date, providing comprehensive, reliable and updated information on SLE in the southern European population

<i>Bos taurus</i> and <i>Cervus elaphus</i> as Non-Seasonal/Seasonal Models for the Role of Melatonin Receptors in the Spermatozoon

Melatonin is crucial in reproduction due its antioxidant, hormonal, and paracrine action. Melatonin membrane receptors (MT1/MT2) have been confirmed on spermatozoa from several species, but functionality studies are scarce. To clarify their role in ruminants as reproductive models, bull (Bos taurus, non-seasonal) and red deer (Cervus elaphus, highly seasonal) spermatozoa were analyzed after 4 h of incubation (38 °C, capacitating media) in 10 nM melatonin, MT1/MT2 agonists (phenylmelatonin and 8M-PDOT), and antagonists (luzindole and 4P-PDOT). Motility and functionality (flow cytometry: viability, intracellular calcium, capacitation status, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and acrosomal and mitochondrial status) were assessed. In bull, MT1 was related to sperm viability preservation, whereas MT2 could modulate cell functionality to prevent excess ROS produced by the mitochondria; this action could have a role in modulating sperm capacitation. Deer spermatozoa showed resistance to melatonin and receptor activation, possibly because the samples were of epididymal origin and collected at the breeding season’s peak, with high circulating melatonin. However, receptors could be involved in mitochondrial protection. Therefore, melatonin receptors are functional in the spermatozoa from bull and deer, with different activities. These species offer models differing from traditional laboratory experimental animals on the role of melatonin in sperm biology

Application of Flow Cytometry Using Advanced Chromatin Analyses for Assessing Changes in Sperm Structure and DNA Integrity in a Porcine Model

Chromatin status is critical for sperm fertility and reflects spermatogenic success. We tested a multivariate approach for studying pig sperm chromatin structure to capture its complexity with a set of quick and simple techniques, going beyond the usual assessment of DNA damage. Sperm doses from 36 boars (3 ejaculates/boar) were stored at 17 °C and analyzed on days 0 and 11. Analyses were: CASA (motility) and flow cytometry to assess sperm functionality and chromatin structure by SCSA (%DFI, DNA fragmentation; %HDS, chromatin maturity), monobromobimane (mBBr, tiol status/disulfide bridges between protamines), chromomycin A3 (CMA3, protamination), and 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-oxo-dG, DNA oxidative damage). Data were analyzed using linear models for the effects of boar and storage, correlations, and multivariate analysis as hierarchical clustering and principal component analysis (PCA). Storage reduced sperm quality parameters, mainly motility, with no critical oxidative stress increases, while chromatin status worsened slightly (%DFI and 8-oxo-dG increased while mBBr MFI—median fluorescence intensity—and disulfide bridge levels decreased). Boar significantly affected most chromatin variables except CMA3; storage also affected most variables except %HDS. At day 0, sperm chromatin variables clustered closely, except for CMA3, and %HDS and 8-oxo-dG correlated with many variables (notably, mBBr). After storage, the relation between %HDS and 8-oxo-dG remained, but correlations among other variables disappeared, and mBBr variables clustered separately. The PCA suggested a considerable influence of mBBr on sample variance, especially regarding storage, with SCSA and 8-oxo-dG affecting between-sample variability. Overall, CMA3 was the least informative, in contrast with results in other species. The combination of DNA fragmentation, DNA oxidation, chromatin compaction, and tiol status seems a good candidate for obtaining a complete picture of pig sperm nucleus status. It raises many questions for future molecular studies and deserves further research to establish its usefulness as a fertility predictor in multivariate models. The usefulness of CMA3 should be clarified