257 research outputs found
Evaluating Learner Engagement with Gamification in Online Courses
Several reasons underlie the low retention rates in MOOCs. These reasons can be analysed from different perspectives, either in terms of the course design or the enrolled students. On the student side, we find little social interaction, boredom, tiredness, and a lack of motivation and time. These challenges can be addressed by adaptive gamification that proposes the design of personalised, hedonic learning experiences. Studies to date have adopted either the one-fits-all approach or the adaptive approach. Nevertheless, the adaptive solutions have considered a static player profile throughout the entire experience. This paper presents the design and evaluation of a dynamic adaptive gamification approach which—based on students’ interactions with game elements and also their opinions about these elements—dynamically updates the students’ player profile to
better figure out which game elements suit them. We evaluated the engagement of students with gamification elements by means of a course composed of a knowledge "pill" related to the topic of “recycling plastics from the sea”, offered through the nanoMOOCs learning platform. We propose metrics such as the mean number of interactions with the gamification dashboard, the time spent by participants with game elements, and the opinions of students about these elements to compare the Dynamic Adaptive Gamification (DynamicAG) and the Static Adaptive (StaticAG) approaches. An experimental study with 66 high school students showed significant differences between both approaches. Specifically, the DynamicAG group spent twice as much time with the Dashboard than
the StaticAG group. Moreover, students in the DynamicAG group were more engaged with game elements (mean number of interactions = 12.13) than those in the StaticAG group (mean number of interactions = 3.21)
Desarrollo de un ERP para una clínica veterinaria
El presente Proyecto Fin de Carrera consiste en el desarrollo de un Enterprise Resource Planning(ERP) para la gestión de una clínica veterinaria y la posterior implantación en una clínica real: la Clínica Veterinaria Sinaí situada en Villanueva de Gállego (Zaragoza). Un ERP es un sistema de información gerencial que integra y automatiza muchas de las prácticas de negocio asociadas con los aspectos operativos o productivos de una empresa. El sistema de información desarrollado consta de dos partes, una aplicación de escritorio y una aplicación Web. ICAROVET es la aplicación de escritorio cuya finalidad es la organización de la información del día a día de la empresa llevando la información de empleados de la clínica, clientes y mascotas, economía de la empresa, información sobre los servicios que se ofrecen, y otro tipo de funcionalidades como la integración Web y la gestión de copias de seguridad. ICAROVET tiene un sistema de usuarios y permisos que permite que los diferentes empleados de una clínica veterinaria tengan acceso exclusivamente a la información que el administrador de la aplicación decida. Además el sistema ofrece la posibilidad de gestionar la información de los clientes de la clínica veterinaria y el historial médico de sus mascotas. Se almacena toda la información de un cliente, como puede ser visitas, citas, historial económico, asociación entre clientes, mascotas de un cliente, historial clínico, recordatorios o vacunaciones. La aplicación también es capaz de llevar la economía de la clínica veterinaria, tanto la de ingresos como la de gastos. También gestiona la información relativa al almacén, es decir, la organización de artículos y servicios que ofrece la clínica veterinaria a sus clientes, incluyendo un control de stock. Cada usuario en el sistema tendrá una agenda personal, donde podrá visualizar toda la información de la clínica que esta relacionada con él, ya sean citas, tareas a desarrollar, recordatorios de mascotas o alertas acerca del almacén. ICAROVET Web es un portal Web cuyo objetivo es publicitar los servicios de la clínica y ofrecer a sus clientes registrados un medio para ver los datos relativos a su historial y el de sus mascotas en la clínica. La aplicación Web tiene dos zonas diferenciadas, una de acceso público con información corporativa de la clínica, oferta de servicios, imágenes, formas de contacto, noticias e información general para publicitar la clínica. Y otra zona con acceso mediante identificación por usuario y contraseña con dos tipos de usuario, administrador y cliente. Un administrador tiene posibilidades similares a las de un gestor de contenidos Web, pudiendo editar la cabecera o pie de la página, así como información de contacto, noticias, anuncios y el resto de información que se genera dinámicamente en la página Web. Un cliente tiene acceso a través de la página, entre otras cosas, a la información existente en ICAROVET relativa a él y a sus mascotas
Estudio de algunos casos de fisuración descendente en carreteras españolas
Tradicionalmente se ha admitido que la mayor parte de las fisuras que aparecen en la superficie del pavimento procede de las capas inferiores, afectadas por la fatiga o por la retracción que acompaña al fraguado de materiales tratados con cemento. Con dicho enfoque las fisuras superficiales no serían más que la evolución o el reflejo de un problema originado en las capas inferiores. Sin embargo, en la última década diversos trabajos de investigación han puesto de manifiesto la relevancia de otro problema muy diferente: la iniciación de fisuras en la capa de rodadura que progresivamente van afectando a las capas inferiores. Es lo que se ha denominado fisuración descendente (top-down cracking). En este artículo se muestran varios casos estudiados en carreteras españolas, en los que se ha constatado que las fisuras observadas en la superficie afectaban sólo a la capa de rodadura, aunque en algunos casos habían progresado, dañando ya la parte superior de la capa intermedia. Para caracterizar las mezclas asfálticas afectadas por este problema, más generalizado de lo que se creía hasta ahora, al menos en determinadas zonas climáticas, se extrajeron testigos, comprobando la granulometría de las mezclas, sus características mecánicas y el estado del ligante. Como resultado general puede concluirse que las mezclas afectadas tenían problemas de segregación granulométrica en vertical, y en todos los casos el ligante había envejecido sensiblemente, a pesar de tratarse de actuaciones algunas de ellas con sólo unos pocos años en servicio
Does the ACE I/D polymorphism, alone or in combination with the ACTN3 R577X polymorphism, influence muscle power phenotypes in young, non-athletic adults?
We investigated the association of the angiotensin converting enzyme gene (ACE) insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism, alone or in combination with the α-actinin-3 gene (ACTN3) R577X polymorphism, with jumping (vertical squat and counter-movement jump tests) and sprint ability (30 m dash) in non-athletic, healthy young adults [N = 281 (214 male), mean (SD) age 21 (2) years]. We did not observe any effect of the ACE I/D polymorphism on study phenotypes. We repeated the analyses separately in men and women and the results did not materially change. Likewise, the mean estimates of the study phenotypes were similar in subjects with the genotype combinations ACE II + ID and ACTN3 XX or ACE DD and ACTN3 RR + RX. We found no association between the ACE DD and ACTN3 RR + RX genotype combination and performance (≥90th of the sex-specific percentile). In summary, though the ACE I/D polymorphism is a strong candidate to modulate some exercise-related phenotypes or athletic performance status, this polymorphism, alone or in combination with the ACTN3 R577X polymorphism, does not seem to exert a major influence in the muscle ‘explosive’ power of young healthy adults, as assessed during multi-joint exercise tests
The K153R Polymorphism in the Myostatin Gene and Muscle Power Phenotypes in Young, Non-Athletic Men
The Lys(K)153Arg(R) polymorphism in exon 2 (rs1805086, 2379 A>G replacement) of the myostatin (MSTN) gene is a candidate to influence skeletal muscle phenotypes. We examined the association between the MSTN K153R polymorphism and ‘explosive’ leg power, assessed during sprint (30 m) and stationary jumping tests [squat (SJ) and counter-movement jumps (CMJ)] in non-athletic young adults (University students) [n = 281 (214 men); age: 21–32 years]. We also genotyped the MSTN exonic variants E164K (rs35781413), I225T, and P198A, yet no subject carried any of these variant MSTN alleles. As for the K153R polymorphism, we found only one woman with the KR genotype; thus, we presented the results only for men. The results of a one-way ANCOVA (with age, weight and height entered as covariates) showed that men with the KR genotype (n = 15) had a worse performance in vertical jumps compared with those with the KK genotype [SJ: vertical displacement of center of gravity (CG) of 35.17±1.42 vs. 39.06±0.39 cm, respectively, P = 0.009; CMJ: vertical displacement of CG of 36.44±1.50 vs. 40.63±0.41 cm, respectively, P = 0.008]. The results persisted after adjusting for multiple comparisons according to Bonferroni. Performance in 30 m sprint tests did however not differ by K153R genotypes. In summary, the MSTN K153R polymorphism is associated with the ability to produce ‘peak’ power during muscle contractions, as assessed with vertical jump tests, in young non-athletic men. Although more research is still needed, this genetic variation is among the numerous candidates to explain, alone or in combination with other polymorphisms, individual variations in muscle phenotypes
Validation of an experimental animal model for corneal additive surgery
Producción CientíficaPurpose: To assess the hen cornea as a model for training and future wound healing studies after implantation
of intrastromal corneal ring segments (ICRS) by clinical and optical outcomes.
Setting: University of Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain.
Design: Experimental study.
Methods: One 90°, 150-μm thick polymethyl methacrylate Ferrara ICRS segment was manually implanted at
70-80% depth of 192 Gallus domesticus corneas. Clinical follow-up for 6 months included monitoring corneal
thickness, epithelial wound closure, edema, haze, and the location and severity of deposits. The refractive state was
also measured. After each animal was euthanized, corneas were processed for direct transmittance and histological
analysis.
Results: Complications were present in 16% of the eyes. Epithelial wound closure was completed at 3 ± 2 days.
A slight corneal edema in the channel site was present for the first 15 days. All corneas had deposits by 4 months
located along the inner, outer curvatures and under the segments. Corneal haze was present only at the incision
site. ICRS induced hyperopic changes in the refractive state without changes in direct transmitance of central
cornea. New cells and extracellular matrix were present around the segment where deposits were seen on clinical
follow-up.
Conclusions: With hen as an animal model, ICRS were implanted in a precise and reproducible way after a
learning curve. Similar to humans, the follow-up period during the first 6 months after implantation showed fast
wound closure, deposits, and haze at the incision site. ICRS in hens also reduced the refractive power withoutaffecting the central cornea
Tissue reaction after intrastromal corneal ring implantation in an experimental animal model
Producción CientíficaPurpose To evaluate corneal wound healing in the hen animal
model after additive surgery with an intracorneal ring segment
(ICRS).
Methods We implanted one ICRS in each eye of 76 hens. In
control group 1 (n=22 hens), the stromal channel was prepared
but no ICRS was inserted. In control group 2 (n=2
hens), no surgery was performed. Animals were randomly
separated into groups and euthanized after clinical follow-up
of 4 and 12 hours, 1, 2, 3, and 7 days, and 1, 2, 3, 4, and
6 months. Corneas were stained with hematoxylin-eosin. Apoptosis
was measured by terminal uridine nick end-labeling
assays. Cell proliferation and myofibroblast-like differentiation
were assayed by BrdU and α-smooth muscle actin immunofluorescence
microscopy. Stromal matrix changes were
documented by electron microscopy.
Results Epithelial and stromal cell apoptosis around the
ICRS-implanted and control group 1 eyes peaked at
12 hours, but continued for 72 hours. In ICRSimplanted
eyes, epithelial and stromal proliferation was
present at 12 and 24 hours, respectively, and peaked at
7 days and 72 hours, respectively. Some proliferation in
the ICRS-implanted group continued through the 6-
month follow-up, and myofibroblast-like cells differentiated
one to three months after ICRS implantation. The
segments rotated within the stroma as the limbal inferior
angle approached the epithelium.
Conclusions Wound healing after ICRS implantation in hen
corneas was similar to that of other corneal surgical wounds in
stages. However, there were some specific features related to
the small size of the epithelial wound and the device permanently
implanted inside the cornea
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Is there an association between ACTN3 R577X polymorphism and muscle power phenotypes in young, non-athletic adults?
We investigated the association between ACTN3 R577X polymorphism and jumping (vertical squat and counter-movement jump tests) and sprint ability (30 m dash) in non-athletic, healthy young adults [N=284 (217 male), mean (SD) age: 21 (2) years]. We analyzed the differences in the study phenotypes among ACTN3 R577X genotypes by one-way analysis of covariance before and after adjusting for sex, age, weight and height (confounders). We also compared the genotype and allele frequencies between those with the best and worst results in the aforementioned tests (≥90th vs 0.05). In summary, α-actinin-3 deficiency does not negatively influence the ability to generate explosive leg muscle power in a young non-athletic population
‘Smoking Genes’: A Genetic Association Study
Some controversy exists on the specific genetic variants that are associated with nicotine dependence and smoking-related phenotypes. The purpose of this study was to analyse the association of smoking status and smoking-related phenotypes (included nicotine dependence) with 17 candidate genetic variants: CYP2A6*1×2, CYP2A6*2 (1799T>A) [rs1801272], CYP2A6*9 (−48T>G) [rs28399433], CYP2A6*12, CYP2A13*2 (3375C>T) [rs8192789], CYP2A13*3 (7520C>G), CYP2A13*4 (579G>A), CYP2A13*7 (578C>T) [rs72552266], CYP2B6*4 (785A>G), CYP2B6*9 (516G>T), CHRNA3 546C>T [rs578776], CHRNA5 1192G>A [rs16969968], CNR1 3764C>G [rs6928499], DRD2-ANKK1 2137G>A (Taq1A) [rs1800497], 5HTT LPR, HTR2A −1438A>G [rs6311] and OPRM1 118A>G [rs1799971]. We studied the genotypes of the aforementioned polymorphisms in a cohort of Spanish smokers (cases, N = 126) and ethnically matched never smokers (controls, N = 80). The results showed significant between-group differences for CYP2A6*2 and CYP2A6*12 (both P<0.001). Compared with carriers of variant alleles, the odds ratio (OR) for being a non-smoker in individuals with the wild-type genotype of CYP2A6*12 and DRD2-ANKK1 2137G>A (Taq1A) polymorphisms was 3.60 (95%CI: 1.75, 7.44) and 2.63 (95%CI: 1.41, 4.89) respectively. Compared with the wild-type genotype, the OR for being a non-smoker in carriers of the minor CYP2A6*2 allele was 1.80 (95%CI: 1.24, 2.65). We found a significant genotype effect (all P≤0.017) for the following smoking-related phenotypes: (i) cigarettes smoked per day and CYP2A13*3; (ii) pack years smoked and CYP2A6*2, CYP2A6*1×2, CYP2A13*7, CYP2B6*4 and DRD2-ANKK1 2137G>A (Taq1A); (iii) nicotine dependence (assessed with the Fagestrom test) and CYP2A6*9. Overall, our results suggest that genetic variants potentially involved in nicotine metabolization (mainly, CYP2A6 polymorphisms) are those showing the strongest association with smoking-related phenotypes, as opposed to genetic variants influencing the brain effects of nicotine, e.g., through nicotinic acetylcholine (CHRNA5), serotoninergic (HTR2A), opioid (OPRM1) or cannabinoid receptors (CNR1)
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