Using the Social-Local-Mobile App for Smoking Cessation in the SmokeFreeBrain Project: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial

Background: Smoking is considered the main cause of preventable illness and early deaths worldwide. The treatment usually prescribed to people who wish to quit smoking is a multidisciplinary intervention, combining both psychological advice and pharmacological therapy, since the application of both strategies significantly increases the chance of success in a quit attempt. Objective: We present a study protocol of a 12-month randomized open-label parallel-group trial whose primary objective is to analyze the efficacy and efficiency of usual psychopharmacological therapy plus the Social-Local-Mobile app (intervention group) applied to the smoking cessation process compared with usual psychopharmacological therapy alone (control group). Methods: The target population consists of adult smokers (both male and female) attending the Smoking Cessation Unit at Virgen del Rocío University Hospital, Seville, Spain. Social-Local-Mobile is an innovative intervention based on mobile technologies and their capacity to trigger behavioral changes. The app is a complement to pharmacological therapies to quit smoking by providing personalized motivational messages, physical activity monitoring, lifestyle advice, and distractions (minigames) to help overcome cravings. Usual pharmacological therapy consists of bupropion (Zyntabac 150 mg) or varenicline (Champix 0.5 mg or 1 mg). The main outcomes will be (1) the smoking abstinence rate at 1 year measured by means of exhaled carbon monoxide and urinary cotinine tests, and (2) the result of the cost-effectiveness analysis, which will be expressed in terms of an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio. Secondary outcome measures will be (1) analysis of the safety of pharmacological therapy, (2) analysis of the health-related quality of life of patients, and (3) monitoring of healthy lifestyle and physical exercise habits. Results: Of 548 patients identified using the hospital’s electronic records system, we excluded 308 patients: 188 declined to participate and 120 did not meet the inclusion criteria. A total of 240 patients were enrolled: the control group (n=120) will receive usual psychopharmacological therapy, while the intervention group (n=120) will receive usual psychopharmacological therapy plus the So-Lo-Mo app. The project was approved for funding in June 2015. Enrollment started in October 2016 and was completed in October 2017. Data gathering was completed in November 2018, and data analysis is under way. The first results are expected to be submitted for publication in early 2019. Conclusions: Social networks and mobile technologies influence our daily lives and, therefore, may influence our smoking habits as well. As part of the SmokeFreeBrain H2020 European Commission project, this study aims at elucidating the potential role of these technologies when used as an extra aid to quit smoking

Integración de proyectos universitarios al desarrollo local: Caso de estudio Municipio Camajuaní.

La finalidad del trabajo que se presenta fue estudiar, con enfoque de Estudio de Redes del Conocimiento, la integración entre un grupo de proyectos de la Universidad Central Marta Abreu de las Villas (UCLV) y el Centro Universitario Municipal (CUM) Camajuaní, a las acciones de desarrollo local en el municipio.Se aplicaron métodos y técnicas de los niveles teórico y empírico. El plan de acciones se elaboró a partir de referentes teóricos y resultados obtenidos en investigaciones y  trabajo de campo por estudiantes del CUM y la UCLV y conocimientos de los proyectos universitarios

New citations of the genus Filago at the autonomous communities of Castilla y León and Aragón, Spain

[EN]New citations of the genus Filago at the autonomous communities of Castilla y León and Aragón, Spain. Four new Iberian localities for two species of the genus Filago L. (Gnaphaliaea: Asteraceae) are provided in this work: Filago crocidion (Pomel) Chrtek & Holub and F. congesta Guss. ex DC. Three of these new localities are first citations of F. crocidion at the regions of Castilla y León (So) and Aragón (Te). In addition, we provide with the first report of F. congesta for the region of Castilla y León (So).[ES] Se aportan cuatro nuevas localidades españolas para dos especies del género Filago L. (Gnaphaliaea: Asteraceae) poco frecuentes en la mitad septentrional de la Península Ibérica: Filago crocidion (Pomel) Chrtek & Holub y F. congesta Guss. ex DC. Tres de estas localidades corresponden a las primeras citas de F. crocidion en las comunidades autónomas de Castilla y León (So) y Aragón (Te). También se aporta la primera cita de F. congesta para la comunidad autónoma de Castilla y León (So)

Evaluación de las competencias adquiridas para la mejora de la inserción laboral de los egresados en Comercio y Turismo

La Memoria de seguimiento se basa en analizar desde un punto de vista cualitativo el desarrollo efectivo de la implantación y de los niveles de calidad alcanzados en el título oficial objeto de seguimiento. La detección de las posibles deficiencias en el desarrollo efectivo de las enseñanzas y el planteamiento de las acciones necesarias para su subsanación es uno de los objetivos de seguimiento de la Memoria de Calidad y es la clave de nuestro proyecto, es decir, nos hemos de centrar en la evaluación de las competencias de los títulos desde un doble punto de vista. 1. En función del perfil del profesional que en los grados en Comercio y Turismo se quieren formar, se establecen una serie de objetivos y competencias. Para cumplir con estas competencias, se definen las estrategias del sistema de enseñanza-aprendizaje en cada una de las materias y asignaturas. El alumno que supera con éxito las diferentes asignaturas, en principio, debería haber adquirido las competencias correspondientes. 2. El graduado en Comercio y Turismo, que ya ha adquirido dichas competencias, debe estar capacitado para ser profesionales en las diferentes áreas tanto en Comercio y Turismo. Lo que se pretende con este proyecto es analizar si los alumnos que superan las materias y asignaturas, han adquirido las competencias y analizar el impacto que ello supone con el grado de empleabilidad y la satisfacción de los graduados en la inserción laboral. Se hace fundamental indagar sobre el concepto de la competencia como el conjunto de conocimientos, habilidades y actitudes que se tienen que integrar para hacer una tarea específica y de esta forma, mejorar la empleabilidad en el futuro de los estudiantes

A Mobile Health Solution Complementing Psychopharmacology-Supported Smoking Cessation: Randomized Controlled Trial

Background: Smoking cessation is a persistent leading public health challenge. Mobile health (mHealth) solutions are emerging to improve smoking cessation treatments. Previous approaches have proposed supporting cessation with tailored motivational messages. Some managed to provide short-term improvements in smoking cessation. Yet, these approaches were either static in terms of personalization or human-based nonscalable solutions. Additionally, long-term effects were neither presented nor assessed in combination with existing psychopharmacological therapies. Objective: This study aimed to analyze the long-term efficacy of a mobile app supporting psychopharmacological therapy for smoking cessation and complementarily assess the involved innovative technology. Methods: A 12-month, randomized, open-label, parallel-group trial comparing smoking cessation rates was performed at Virgen del Rocío University Hospital in Seville (Spain). Smokers were randomly allocated to a control group (CG) receiving usual care (psychopharmacological treatment, n=120) or an intervention group (IG) receiving psychopharmacological treatment and using a mobile app providing artificial intelligence–generated and tailored smoking cessation support messages (n=120). The secondary objectives were to analyze health-related quality of life and monitor healthy lifestyle and physical exercise habits. Safety was assessed according to the presence of adverse events related to the pharmacological therapy. Per-protocol and intention-to-treat analyses were performed. Incomplete data and multinomial regression analyses were performed to assess the variables influencing participant cessation probability. The technical solution was assessed according to the precision of the tailored motivational smoking cessation messages and user engagement. Cessation and no cessation subgroups were compared using t tests. A voluntary satisfaction questionnaire was administered at the end of the intervention to all participants who completed the trial. Results: In the IG, abstinence was 2.75 times higher (adjusted OR 3.45, P=.01) in the per-protocol analysis and 2.15 times higher (adjusted OR 3.13, P=.002) in the intention-to-treat analysis. Lost data analysis and multinomial logistic models showed different patterns in participants who dropped out. Regarding safety, 14 of 120 (11.7%) IG participants and 13 of 120 (10.8%) CG participants had 19 and 23 adverse events, respectively (P=.84). None of the clinical secondary objective measures showed relevant differences between the groups. The system was able to learn and tailor messages for improved effectiveness in supporting smoking cessation but was unable to reduce the time between a message being sent and opened. In either case, there was no relevant difference between the cessation and no cessation subgroups. However, a significant difference was found in system engagement at 6 months (P=.04) but not in all subsequent months. High system appreciation was reported at the end of the study. Conclusions: The proposed mHealth solution complementing psychopharmacological therapy showed greater efficacy for achieving 1-year tobacco abstinence as compared with psychopharmacological therapy alone. It provides a basis for artificial intelligence–based future approaches. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03553173; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03553173 International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID): RR2-10.2196/12464H2020 European Commission research and innovation program grant agreement 68112

Revisión genérica de Fulcidacini Jakobson, 1924 (Chrysomelidae, Cryptocephalinae) para México

Los fulcidacinos son insectos fitófagos que se caracterizan por la presencia de tubérculos pronotales y elitrales bien desarrollados, lo que les permite confundirse con pequeños terrones o incluso con excretas de otros insectos. A nivel mundial la tribu Fulcidacini cuenta con 500 especies, incluidas en 11 géneros. De acuerdo con los listados de especies, para México se estimaban entre 54 y 74 especies, mientras que en este trabajo se registran 76 especies. Sin embargo, actualmente son escasas las claves taxonómicas para la identificación de especies mexicanas, por ello con el propósito de contribuir al conocimiento de la tribu en México, en este trabajo se presenta la revisión taxonómica de los géneros de Fulcidacini registrados para el país. Se proporciona una clave dicotómica para su identificación y se ilustran especies representativas. También se incluye la lista de especies mexicanas de cada género, con datos de distribución estatal. Exema punctatipes es transferida al género Aulacochlamys por las carinas presentes en el pronoto; una característica particular del género.The fulcidacinos are phytophagous insects characterized by the presence of well-developed pronotal and elytral tubercles, which lead them to be confused with small clods or even excrement from other insects. Worldwide, the tribe Fulcidacini has 500 species, included in 11 genera. According to the species lists, were estimated that there are 54 to 74 species for Mexico, 76 species are recorded in this work. However, the taxonomic keys for identification of Mexican species are scarce; thus, with the purpose to contribute to the knowledge of the tribe in Mexico, taxonomic revision of the genera of Fulcidacini registered for the country is presented in this work. A dichotomous key is provided for identification and representative species are illustrated. Also included is a list of the Mexican species of each genus, with data on state distribution. Exema punctatipes is transferred to the genus Aulacochlamys due the carinae present in the pronotum; a particular feature of the genus

Co-creation Initiatives in Healthcare in Small Communities

The uses of technology in public spaces are not new, but now we find new forms of social interactions and practices, socio-spatial representations and relationships. The close relationship between real and virtual worlds also opens up new ways of advancing knowledge. In order to facilitate the implementation of Open Science, we explore different co-creation methods with multiple stakeholders. All groups are involved and have influence throughout the project lifecycle: from the beginning, to planning, to implementation, to dissemination. Research activities should involve a wide variety of stakeholders interested, including government, educators, nurses, charities, civil societies, patient groups and the publics, based in a way to (1) obtaining contributions by customers, (2) selecting the best of these contributions, and (3) incorporating these selected contributions into products, processes, or services. Interactions between Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), public spaces, and healthcare are considered as s a tool for connecting people in small communities (enhancing participation). A Platform (DXP - Digital eXperience Platform) through “headless” technologies may provide content management capabilities and easy integration with devices and various sources, driven by user needs and developed with the concept of “Community in mind” in order to create strong and active communities and transform our small communities into more human environments, rather than just more high-tech places, and to understand that “smartness” should be people-friendly. It was applies the Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) principles on the scientific process and governance, identify drivers and barriers, interests and values for current and future societal challenges.This research was financially supported by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the grant agreement No 741527 (project ORION).S

Follow-up with Telemedicine in Early Discharge for COPD Exacerbations: Randomized Clinical Trial (TELEMEDCOPD-Trial)

The results reported by different studies on telemonitoring in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have been contradictory, without showing clear benefits to date. The objective of this study was to ascertain whether an early discharge and home hospitalization telehealth program for patients with COPD exacerbation is as effective as and more efficient than a traditional early discharge and home hospitalization program. A prospective experimental non-inferiority study, randomized into two groups (telemedicine/control) was conducted. The telemedicine group underwent monitoring and was required to transmit data on vital constants and ECGs twice per day, with a subsequent telephone call and 2 home visits by healthcare staff (intermediate and at discharge). The control group received daily visits. The main variable was time until first exacerbation. The secondary variables were: number of exacerbations; use of healthcare resources; satisfaction; quality of life; anxiety-depression; and therapeutic adherence, measured at one and 6 months of hospital discharge. A total of 116 patients were randomized (58 to each group) without significant differences in baseline characteristics or time until first exacerbation, i.e. median 48 days (pp. 25-75:23-120) in the control group, and 47 days (pp. 25-75:19-102) in the intervention group; p = 0.52). A significant decrease in the number of visits was observed in the intervention versus the control group, 3.8 ± 1 vs 5.1 ± 2(p = 0.001), without significant differences in the number of exacerbations. In conclusion follow-up via a telemedicine program in early discharge after hospitalization is as effective as conventional home follow up, being the cost of either strategy not significantly different.This study was awarded a Health Research Fund (Fondo de Investigaciones Sanitarias/FIS) grant, dossier No. PI12/01161 of the Carlos III Institute of Health and the Ministry of Sciences, Innovation and Universities.S

Development of an activity disease score in patients with uveitis (UVEDAI)

To develop a disease activity index for patients with uveitis (UVEDAI) encompassing the relevant domains of disease activity considered important among experts in this field. The steps for designing UVEDAI were: (a) Defining the construct and establishing the domains through a formal judgment of experts, (b) A two-round Delphi study with a panel of 15 experts to determine the relevant items, (c) Selection of items: A logistic regression model was developed that set ocular inflammatory activity as the dependent variable. The construct "uveitis inflammatory activity" was defined as any intraocular inflammation that included external structures (cornea) in addition to uvea. Seven domains and 15 items were identified: best-corrected visual acuity, inflammation of the anterior chamber (anterior chamber cells, hypopyon, the presence of fibrin, active posterior keratic precipitates and iris nodules), intraocular pressure, inflammation of the vitreous cavity (vitreous haze, snowballs and snowbanks), central macular edema, inflammation of the posterior pole (the presence and number of choroidal/retinal lesions, vascular inflammation and papillitis), and global assessment from both (patient and physician). From all the variables studied in the multivariate model, anterior chamber cell grade, vitreous haze, central macular edema, inflammatory vessel sheathing, papillitis, choroidal/retinal lesions and patient evaluation were included in UVEDAI. UVEDAI is an index designed to assess the global ocular inflammatory activity in patients with uveitis. It might prove worthwhile to motorize the activity of this extraarticular manifestation of some rheumatic diseases

Gamification and flipped learning and their influence on aspects related to the teaching-learning process

Nowadays, education is going through a moment of methodological transformation. Two of the active methodologies with excellent projection within the educational field are gamification and flipped learning. This study analyzed the methodological contrast between gamification and flipped learning in the subject of Physical Education in three different educational stages to determine the most influential methodology in the training process. Research design was a quasi-experimental research with a sample of 356 students in Spain. Data collection took place with a questionnaire. The results show that gamification as a teaching and learning methodology is better valued at an early stage, while the more aged participants better value the flipped learning methodology. Both methodologies have shown great potential in the development of educational processes in Physical Education. Gamification indeed seems to have positive effects on students from the lower stages. On the other hand, flipped learning produces positive effects on the group stages, pre-university students