Foundations of a smart toy development for the early detection of motoric impairments at childhood

Introduction: Monitoring of neurodevelopment from birth until the age of six aims to enhance children's abilities and autonomy. Early detection of motoric impairments at childhood can facilitate necessary diagnosis and/or treatment. Ambient Intelligence (AmI) technologies could support future application domains like motoric impairments' detection at the home environment. Objective: The creation of adequate smart monitoring solutions at home can provide professionals with reliable information about the health status of a child. Furthermore, toys and playing are crucial for the overall development of a human being. Hence, the aim of this research is to improve the exactitude of traditional evaluation methods by embedding sensors into daily life toys that provide professionals with added value supplementary evidence enhanced by Decision Support Systems (DSS). It will be possible to detect potential motoric disorders in a standard child's development that might keep undetected by traditional ways. Materials and methods: A smart toy was designed by a trans-disciplinary team of professionals under a research consortium of Madrid universities supported by EDUCERE project. The main target of this nationally funded project is to create and evaluate innovative solutions to early detect neurodevelopment disorders and trigger requested actions of early intervention. This paper focuses on the "Smart Cube", an evolution of the traditional building blocks toy. Results: The research led to validate a scalable methodology to push the creation of innovative smart toys for early prevention of disabilities. The implementation of a web based Decision Support System (DSS) allows to support the reasoning procedures required by the smart toy solution. Ongoing validation data paves the way for long scale field trials to be performed at 3 nursery schools. Conclusion: The methodology allows the interaction between a trans-disciplinary team of professionals in order to undertaken the smart toys design and construction. Furthermore, toys verification stage needs to be measured in order to adjust diagnostic and therapeutic actions to pediatric patients

Models of Future Teachers’ Adaptation to New Post-Pandemic Digital Educational Scenarios

The aim of this study was to determine the post-pandemic learning adaptation scenarios from the perspective of university students from the Faculty of Education Science of the University of Seville (Spain) as a function of the competencies identified in the context of digital transformation. This was a non-experimental, descriptive study that used a short version of the Scale of Attitudes on the Perceptions of Future Teachers toward the New Post-pandemic Educational Scenarios (SANPES). The sample consisted of 972 students of the University of Seville (Spain) (72% women, 28% men), registered in the academic year 2021–2022. A cluster analysis was performed, using a hierarchical procedure (dendrogram), followed by a non-hierarchical procedure (k-means algorithm). The results show significant differences in the responses of the university students. Conclusions: progressive models or scenarios of adaptation to post-pandemic learning based on some student competencies, such as motivation, collaboration, self-learning and digital methodology: (a) initial adaptation model, (b) moderate adaptation model, and (c) advanced adaptation model

Dry reforming of methane over sub-stoichiometric NiAl2O4-mediated Ni/Al2O3 catalysts

A series of Ni/Al2O3 catalysts were prepared from substoichiometric NiAl2O4 precursors (Ni/Al molar ratio between 0.5 and 0.05) were examined for the dry reforming of methane. The calcined spinel precursors and the corresponding reduced catalysts were characterised by N2 physisorption, X-ray fluorescence, X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, electronic microscopy coupled to elemental mapping, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and temperature-programmed techniques. Compared with the stoichiometric counterpart, nickel species present in Ni-deficient precursors were mostly in the form of a spinelic phase. After high-temperature reduction, narrow particle size distributions centred at 10 nm were obtained. The largest available nickel surface area (18 m2/g) was exhibited by the catalyst derived from the precursor with a Ni/Al of 0.15. The NiAl2O4-mediated catalysts, especially those with Ni/Al molar ratio in the 0.15–0.25 range, exhibited a notable performance at 90,000 h-1 and 650 ◦C. The optimal catalyst (14%wt.%Ni), with 93%CH4 and 80%CO2 conversions, was also able to operate for 200 h despite the significant formation of carbonaceous nanotubes (around 1g/gCAT ) and were examined.Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (PDC2022-133897-I00 and PID2022-141583OB-I00), Basque Government (IT1509-22), University of The Basque Country UPV/EHU (DOCREC21/23

Brain tissue recovery in obstructive congenital hydrocephalus after intraventricular transplantation of mesenchymal stem cells

Introduction: Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSC) are a potential therapeutic tool due to their ability for migrating and producing neuroprotector factors when transplanted. The aim of this study was to evaluate the short-time effects of a BM-MSC experimental therapy in the hyh mouse model with severe obstructive hydrocephalus. Methods: BM-MSC were characterized in vitro and then injected into the ventricles of hyh mice. Wild-type and saline-injected hyh mice were used as controls. Samples were studied by analyzing and comparing mRNA, protein and metabolites level expression in control and damaged tissue. Results: Undifferentiated BM-MSC were found to: i) spread into the periventricular astrocyte reaction region after four days post-injection, and, ii) be producing neuroprotector factors (GDNF and VEGF). Astrocytes located in periventricular edematous region increased their aquaporin-4 expression, as well as Slit2 expression (neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory molecule). There was also a significant reduction of osmolytes such as taurine and neuroexcytotoxic glutamate. Halved apoptotic cell death was detected in the periventricular walls. Conclusions: BM-MSC lead to recovery of the severe neurodegenerative conditions associated to congenital hydrocephalus mediated by reactive astrocytes.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech. Supported by Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech, and PI15/0619 (ISCIII/FEDER)

Rare Recombinant GI.5[P4] Norovirus That Caused a Large Foodborne Outbreak of Gastroenteritis in a Hotel in Spain in 2021

Noroviruses are among the most important causes of acute gastroenteritis (AGE). In summer 2021, a large outbreak of norovirus infections affecting 163 patients, including 15 norovirus-confirmed food handlers, occurred in a hotel in Murcia in southeast Spain. A rare GI.5[P4] norovirus strain was identified as the cause of the outbreak. The epidemiological investigation determined that norovirus transmission might have been initiated through an infected food handler. The food safety inspection found that some symptomatic food handlers continued working during illness. Molecular investigation with whole-genome and ORF1 sequencing provided enhanced genetic discrimination over ORF2 sequencing alone and enabled differentiation of the GI.5[P4] strains into separate subclusters, suggesting different chains of transmission. These recombinant viruses have been identified circulating globally over the last 5 years, warranting further global surveillance. IMPORTANCE Due to the large genetic diversity of noroviruses, it is important to enhance the discriminatory power of typing techniques to differentiate strains when investigating outbreaks and elucidating transmission chains. This study highlights the importance of (i) using whole-genome sequencing to ensure genetic differentiation of GI noroviruses to track chains of transmission during outbreak investigations and (ii) the adherence of symptomatic food handlers to work exclusion rules and strict hand hygiene practices. To our knowledge, this study provides the first full-length genome sequences of GI.5[P4] strains apart from the prototype strain.We thank the Genomics and Bioinformatic Departments at the ISCIII for technical assistance. This study was partially funded through project PI20CIII/00005.S

Elaboración de contenidos narrativos audiovisuales y su evaluación en el aula para Wikipedia en la enseñanza de Máster y Doctorado

Memoria ID12-0072. Ayudas de la Universidad de Salamanca para la innovación docente, curso 2012-2013

La interseccionalidad como búsqueda de una sociedad inclusiva desde la comunicación, la educación y las ciencias sociales: Elaboración de materiales audiovisuales

Memoria ID-100.Ayudas de la Universidad de Salamanca para la innovación docente, curso 2020-2021

Evaluación de acolchados para el control de la flora arvense en un cultivo de tomate

Publishe

El desarrollo sostenible, la acción social y la justicia social, como búsqueda de una sociedad inclusiva desde la comunicación, la educación y las ciencias sociales: elaboración de materiales audiovisuales

Memoria ID-033. Ayudas de la Universidad de Salamanca para la innovación docente, curso 2021-2022