Metodologia innovadora per fomentar l'aprenentatge de competències transversals durant les pràctiques de l'especialitat farmàcia galènica i industrial (TEFIG): optimització d'una formulació farmacèutica comercialitzada

Aquest treball forma part dels projectes 2013PID-UB/009 i 2014PID-UB/050En aquest treball s'explicarà una metodologia innovadora per tal de promoure les competències d'iniciativa, creativitat, treball en equip, presa de decisió i autosuficiència dels alumnes del Títol d'Especialista en Farmàcia Industrial i Galènica(TEFIG). L'objectiu va consistir en millorar les característiques reològiques d'una premescla medicamentosa, fent ells la recerca bibliogràfica, desenvolupant les formulacions i fent la fabricació, valorant després l'assoliment de l'objectiu

Crane collision modelling using a neural network approach

The objective of the present work is to find a Collision Detection algorithm to be used in the Virtual Reality crane simulator (UVSim®), developed by the Robotics Institute of the University of Valencia for the Port of Valencia. The method is applicable to box-shaped objects and is based on the relationship between the colliding object positions and their impact points. The tool chosen to solve the problem is a neural network, the multilayer perceptron, which adapts to the characteristics of the problem, namely, non-linearity, a large amount of data, and no a priori knowledge. The results achieved by the neural network are very satisfactory for the case of box-shaped objects. Furthermore, the computational burden is independent from the object positions and how the surfaces are modelled; hence, it is suitable for the real-time requirements of the application and outperforms the computational burden of other classical methods. The model proposed is currently being used and validated in the UVSim Gantry Crane simulator

Structural Insights into the Mechanism of Protein O-Fucosylation

Protein O-fucosylation is an essential post-translational modification, involved in the folding of target proteins and in the role of these target proteins during embryonic development and adult tissue homeostasis, among other things. Two different enzymes are responsible for this modification, Protein O-fucosyltransferase 1 and 2 (POFUT1 and POFUT2, respectively). Both proteins have been characterised biologically and enzymatically but nothing is known at the molecular or structural level. Here we describe the first crystal structure of a catalytically functional POFUT1 in an apo-form and in complex with GDP-fucose and GDP. The enzyme belongs to the GT-B family and is not dependent on manganese for activity. GDP-fucose/GDP is localised in a conserved cavity connected to a large solvent exposed pocket, which we show is the binding site of epidermal growth factor (EGF) repeats in the extracellular domain of the Notch Receptor. Through both mutational and kinetic studies we have identified which residues are involved in binding and catalysis and have determined that the Arg240 residue is a key catalytic residue. We also propose a novel SN1-like catalytic mechanism with formation of an intimate ion pair, in which the glycosidic bond is cleaved before the nucleophilic attack; and theoretical calculations at a DFT (B3LYP/6-31+G(d,p) support this mechanism. Thus, the crystal structure together with our mutagenesis studies explain the molecular mechanism of POFUT1 and provide a new starting point for the design of functional inhibitors to this critical enzyme in the future

Development of improved low-cost ceramic water filters for viral removal in the Haitian context

Household-based water treatment (HWT) is increasingly being promoted to improve water quality and, therefore, health status in low-income countries. Ceramic water filters (CWFs) are used in many regions as sustainable HWT and have been proven to meet World Health Organization (WHO) microbiological performance targets for bacterial removal (24 log); however, the described viral removal efficiencies are insufficient to significantly reduce the associated risk of viral infection. With the objective of improving the viral removal efficiencies of ceramic water filters, new prototypes with different oxide compositions and firing atmospheres have been developed and evaluated. For removal efficiencies human adenoviruses, MS2 bacteriophage and Escherichia coli were quantified in all prototypes. A new model of CWF that was fired in a reductive atmosphere presented virus and bacteria removal efficiencies greater than 3.0 log and 2.5 log, respectively, which would fulfill the viral targets that are recommended by the WHO. Ceramic characterization of the selected filters, which were fired in a reductive atmosphere, showed that a larger specific surface area than those of control filters and higher fraction of a positive Z-potential fraction are the most likely explanations for this increase in virus removal

Valoración de la fragilidad en un centro de diálisis. ¿son más frágiles los pacientes con diabetes?

Introducción: El incremento en la inclusión de personas de edad avanzada a los programas de hemodiálisis se relaciona con un aumento de la prevalencia de fragilidad, considerada predictora de discapacidad y asociada a eventos adversos de salud. Dado su carácter reversible, es importante hacer un cribaje para mejorar la práctica clínica. Objetivo: Evaluar el grado de fragilidad y estado funcional del paciente en nuestra unidad de hemodiálisis y analizar las diferencias entre diabéticos y no diabéticos. Material y Método: Estudio observacional de corte transversal. La fragilidad se midió utilizando el fenotipo de Fried y la valoración funcional mediante las escalas Barthel, Lawton, Downton y la Short Physical Performance Battery. Se evaluó comorbilidad y riesgo de caídas con las escalas Charlson y Downton respectivamente. Se comparó entre grupos de diabéticos y no diabéticos y se analizó la relación entre la fragilidad y la edad, dependencia, comorbilidad y riesgo de caídas. Resultados: Se incluyeron 128 pacientes. El 45% tenían Diabetes. Los pacientes con diabetes tenían una edad media mayor que los no diabéticos (74,2±11 vs 67,8±15 años) y mayor comorbilidad (Charlson 8,2±2,2 vs 5,8±2,4). El 25% de los pacientes presentaron fragilidad, observando una tendencia que sugirió mayor fragilidad, peor capacidad funcional y mayor grado de dependencia en los pacientes diabéticos, aunque de forma no significativa. Conclusiones: Una cuarta parte de la población estudiada presenta fragilidad, con una tendencia más acusada a padecerla los pacientes diabéticos, que podría estar relacionada con mayor edad, mayor comorbilidad y menor capacidad funcional que los no diabéticos

Guided weekly reflection papers: a strategy for Achieving academic goals

Rapid changes in innovative teaching need multidisciplinary efforts to accomplish a variety of goals through a collaborative tool which inspires and stimulates the students to learn and use the knowledge in a more a critical way. In this context, our team of lecturers concerned by educational innovation had carried out during three academic years a learning tool based on “Weekly Reflection Papers” (WRP). With the experience gained in this process we have implemented an essential modification in the procedure in order to improve the teaching-learning process. The goal of this communication is to show the development of the initial tool and how it has been changed until the actual proposal called Guided Weekly Reflection Papers” (GWRP)

Improving learning environment at different academic Levels throughout guided weekly reflection papers

A group of lecturers from different teaching areas at Alcalá University concern by Innovative Education had implemented during four academic years a learning tool based on “reflective weekly papers”. With the experience gained in this process we have carried out an essential modification in the procedure which provides the students the possibility of a more active and participative learning called Guided Weekly Reflective Papers. In this communication we present the adaptation of this educational method for the first time as a valuable strategy for improving the learning environment in secondary schools, as an extension of its implementation at the University level and as a contribution to the integral formation and meaningful learning of the secondary level students

Guided Weekly Reflection Papers

The experience gained by our team of educational innovation with the implementation of the “Weekly Reflection Papers” has led us to diversify and make more flexible the employed methodology. The modified tool, applied during the academic year 2010-2011, was called “Guided Weekly Reflection Papers”. The aim of this modification has been the development of certain abilities and skills of the students, with particular emphasis on their ability to integrate, review and apply knowledge in a critical and reflective way. The professors guide the student´s work through a series of questions on which the students must apply the most significant concepts studied each week, to prove the acquisition of such aptitudes and skills

Guided Weekly Reflection Papers

The experience gained by our team of educational innovation with the implementation of the “Weekly Reflection Papers” has led us to diversify and make more flexible the employed methodology. The modified tool, applied during the academic year 2010-2011, was called “Guided Weekly Reflection Papers”. The aim of this modification has been the development of certain abilities and skills of the students, with particular emphasis on their ability to integrate, review and apply knowledge in a critical and reflective way. The professors guide the student´s work through a series of questions on which the students must apply the most significant concepts studied each week, to prove the acquisition of such aptitudes and skills

An information literacy approach within the "Guided weekly reflection papers"

INTED 2015, 9 th International Technology, Education and Development Conference, March 2 nd-4 th, 2015-Madrid, SpainA group of lecturers from diverse areas of knowledge of the University of Alcalá have implemented an experience of teaching innovation based on “reflective diaries”. The students hand in to the lecturer every week their “Weekly Reflection Papers” (WRP), in which they schematically express the most important ideas related with the topic presented during the classes of the previous week. They must include their reflections about the aspects they found especially interesting. After having applied this tool for some academic years we introduced a modification called “Guided Weekly Reflection Papers” (GWRP), where the professors suggest a series of questions on which the students must apply the most significant concepts studied each week. This modification enhances student’s motivation, encourages them to achieve more significant and reflective knowledge and generates interest in emergent topics. However, we often detect that the information management needed to solve the proposed questions in the GWRP is not the most suitable one. Therefore our present work is aimed at helping students develop the necessary skills and acquire a searching criterion in the framework of the information literacy. The strategy was focussed on some important items for the acquisition of information competencies. In this communication we analyze the progress of the GWRP tool and we explore the response of students to the information literacy approach