Characterization of behavior of correctors when grading mathematics tests

In this work, we present some results obtained from the analysis of the behavior of 91 mathematics teachers (prospective, secondary education and university) when they grade three different types of correct answers to a classical high school problem through a questionnaire. In addition to a descriptive analysis that studies the variability and the interrater reliability, we analyze the role of experience and training as well as the influence of the different solving methods. Furthermore, we try to identify profiles of correctors among secondary education teachers using both quantitative (cluster analysis) and qualitative (content analysis) methods. In particular, we observe a great variability on the assigned grades as well as a low interrater reliability. The belonging to a particular group has impact over the assigned rates while experience has no significant influence. The grades are higher when methods closer to the corrector are used. Finally, we have been able to identify three different clusters, which are determined by the comments and actions regarding three aspects of the students’ answers: argumentation, correctness and method

Transcriptomics and the mediterranean diet: A systematic review

The Mediterranean diet has been proven to be highly effective in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases and cancer and in decreasing overall mortality. Nowadays, transcriptomics is gaining particular relevance due to the existence of non-coding RNAs capable of regulating many biological processes. The present work describes a systematic review of current evidence supporting the influence of the Mediterranean diet on transcriptomes of different tissues in various experimental models. While information on regulatory RNA is very limited, they seem to contribute to the effect. Special attention has been given to the oily matrix of virgin olive oil. In this regard, monounsaturated fatty acid-rich diets prevented the expression of inflammatory genes in different tissues, an action also observed after the administration of olive oil phenolic compounds. Among these, tyrosol, hydroxytyrosol, and secoiridoids have been found to be particularly effective in cell cycle expression. Less explored terpenes, such as oleanolic acid, are important modulators of circadian clock genes. The wide range of studied tissues and organisms indicate that response to these compounds is universal and poses an important level of complexity considering the different genes expressed in each tissue and the number of different tissues in an organism

Cleaning of ultrafiltration membranes after the treatment of surface water: static–dynamic test

Access to safe drinkable water is a basic human right and an international development goal. AQUAPOT international project, created by Chemical and Nuclear Engineering Department of the Polytechnic University of Valencia, has been focused on research and development of low-cost and effective water treatment technologies based on membrane technology able to be used in developing countries. After several years of intensive laboratory and field research, Aquapot's ultrafiltration (UF) plants have been settled in different locations of Ecuador (province of Azuay) and Mozambique (province of Maputo). At present, most of the installed plants work successfully, producing drinking water suitable for human consumption and even for industrial use. However, installation of the designed UF-drinking water treatment facilities has shown that cleaning standard protocol of ultrafiltration membranes is not effective. This fact could affect microbiological quality and volume of the pure water produced and also life of the membrane and the UF-plant. In order to develop optimized cleaning protocols based on the use of common and accessible chemicals, Aquapot started an applied research studying several cleaning methods. Previous studies have been focused in applying different types of cleaning: chemical cleaning (by means of static tests and dynamic tests) and physico-chemical cleaning (combining chemical reagents with the hydrodynamic action of air bubbles). This work describes the experimental procedure performed in static-dynamic cleaning test, which combines soaking with dynamic circulation of cleaning solutions. Sodium hypochlorite and hydrogen peroxide at 25 degrees C performed the best results, recovering permeate flux from 10 to 12 times, respectively, compared with fouled membranes. Main results obtained for the different chemical solutions tested at 25 and 40 degrees C were also compared with previous chemical (static and dynamic test) and physicochemical cleaning. Results showed that the tested cleaning protocol improves the effectiveness of the cleaning and recovers UF membrane performance even until 30 times, when sequence of cleaning is done by sodium hypochlorite followed by hydrogen peroxide.García Fayos, B.; Arnal Arnal, JM.; Sancho Fernández, MP. (2013). Cleaning of ultrafiltration membranes after the treatment of surface water: static–dynamic test. Desalination and Water Treatment. 51(1-3):609-616. doi:10.1080/19443994.2012.704687S609616511-

Alternatives to the use of synthetic organic coagulant aids in drinking water treatment: improvements in the application of the crude extract of Moringa oleifera seed

[EN] Drinking water treatment is a process based on multiple stages that has a main objective to provide water safe enough to be consumed by humans. Coagulation–flocculation is used to remove colloidal and suspended solids. This process improves the performance of subsequent stages (as sedimentation or filtration) as well as the water quality with a desired end-use. For many years, inorganic and organic synthetic polyelectrolytes have been used in coagulation–flocculation processes. However, its use has been deeply studied recently to determine the potential impact of residual concentration of these substances on human health and the environment. Strict regulations limit the concentration of free residual monomer after the addition of polyacrylamide (PAM) in drinking water treatment and study the effect of interaction of the residues with disinfection products. Therefore, in the last years there has been a resurgence of interest to use natural materials with the same performance that synthetic, but with lower hazard for the environment and humans. This work studies the use of the flocculant extracted from Moringa oleifera seed, in combination with polyaluminum chloride (PAC). The performance is compared with the combination PAC–PAM in terms of coagulant activity and physical–chemical quality of the water treated. Jar test was carried out using two types of natural water (with presence of bentonites) and different combinations of coagulant and flocculants. Results show that coagulant activity of PAC–Moringa combination is comparable with the results obtained with PAC–PAM, reducing initial turbidity up to 90% in all the tests. With regard to physical–chemical quality of the treated water, PAC–Moringa produces values under the drinking water quality standards for all the parameters analyzed. It is remarkable that the decrease of 50% in the trihalomethanes formation potential rate shown for PAC–Moringa combination, observed when treating natural water with presence of bentonites. Therefore, the results obtain in this work encourage the use of Moringa oleifera extract as a natural, low cost, effective, and low-toxicity alternative to the use of synthetic organic polyelectrolytes as polyacrylamide for drinking water treatment.This research has been done in the framework of the project “Study of synthetic and natural coagulants susceptible of being used in the water treatment plant of “Ribarroja del Turia” (Valencia) as substitutes for polyacrylamide”. The authors wish to thank the staff of the laboratory of the Department of Water Quality of the company “Aguas de Valencia” located in La Presa (Manises) for its collaboration in the water tests of this work.García Fayos, B.; Arnal Arnal, JM.; Monforte Monleon, L.; Sancho Fernández, MP. (2015). Alternatives to the use of synthetic organic coagulant aids in drinking water treatment: improvements in the application of the crude extract of Moringa oleifera seed. Desalination and Water Treatment. 55(13):3635-3645. doi:10.1080/19443994.2014.939487S363536455513Van Benschoten, J. E., & Edzwald, J. K. (1990). Chemical aspects of coagulation using aluminum salts—I. Hydrolytic reactions of alum and polyaluminum chloride. Water Research, 24(12), 1519-1526. doi:10.1016/0043-1354(90)90086-lBOLTO, B. (1995). Soluble polymers in water purification. Progress in Polymer Science, 20(6), 987-1041. doi:10.1016/0079-6700(95)00010-dCrapper, D. R., Krishnan, S. S., & Dalton, A. J. (1973). Brain Aluminum Distribution in Alzheimer’s Disease and Experimental Neurofibrillary Degeneration. Science, 180(4085), 511-513. doi:10.1126/science.180.4085.511Davison, A. M., Oli, H., Walker, G. S., & Lewins, A. M. (1982). WATER SUPPLY ALUMINIUM CONCENTRATION, DIALYSIS DEMENTIA, AND EFFECT OF REVERSE-OSMOSIS WATER TREATMENT. The Lancet, 320(8302), 785-787. doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(82)92678-2Rondeau, V., Commenges, D., Jacqmin-Gadda, H., & Dartigues, J.-F. (2000). Relation between Aluminum Concentrations in Drinking Water and Alzheimer’s Disease: An 8-year Follow-up Study. American Journal of Epidemiology, 152(1), 59-66. doi:10.1093/aje/152.1.59Rondeau, V. (2001). RE: ALUMINUM IN DRINKING WATER AND COGNITIVE DECLINE IN ELDERLY SUBJECTS: THE PAQUID COHORT. American Journal of Epidemiology, 154(3), 288-a-290. doi:10.1093/aje/154.3.288-aGauthier, E., Fortier, I., Courchesne, F., Pepin, P., Mortimer, J., & Gauvreau, D. (2000). Aluminum Forms in Drinking Water and Risk of Alzheimer’s Disease. Environmental Research, 84(3), 234-246. doi:10.1006/enrs.2000.4101Kawamura, S. (1976). Considerations on Improving Flocculation. Journal - American Water Works Association, 68(6), 328-336. doi:10.1002/j.1551-8833.1976.tb02421.xA.D. Faust, O.M. Aly, Chemistry of Water Treatment, Butterworths, Boston, MA, 1983, pp. 326–328.Martenson, C. H., Sheetz, M. P., & Graham, D. G. (1995). In Vitro Acrylamide Exposure Alters Growth Cone Morphology. Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology, 131(1), 119-129. doi:10.1006/taap.1995.1053Kaggwa, R. C., Mulalelo, C. I., Denny, P., & Okurut, T. O. (2001). The impact of alum discharges on a natural tropical wetland in uganda. Water Research, 35(3), 795-807. doi:10.1016/s0043-1354(00)00301-8Dearfield, K. L., Abernathy, C. O., Ottley, M. S., Brantner, J. H., & Hayes, P. F. (1988). Acrylamide: its metabolism, developmental and reproductive effects, genotoxicity, and carcinogenicity. Mutation Research/Reviews in Genetic Toxicology, 195(1), 45-77. doi:10.1016/0165-1110(88)90015-2McCollister, D. D., Oyen, F., & Rowe, V. K. (1964). Toxicology of acrylamide. Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology, 6(2), 172-181. doi:10.1016/0041-008x(64)90103-6BOLTO, B., & GREGORY, J. (2007). Organic polyelectrolytes in water treatment. Water Research, 41(11), 2301-2324. doi:10.1016/j.watres.2007.03.012World Health Organization, Guidelines for drinking-water quality: Incorporating first and second addenda, in: World Health Organization (Ed.) Recommendations, third ed., vol. 1, World Health Organization, Geneva, 2008, pp. 188–194.Hamilton, M. A. (1994). A Statistician’s View of the U.S. Primary Drinking Water Regulation on Coliform Contamination. Environmental Science & Technology, 28(11), 1808-1811. doi:10.1021/es00060a009J. Criddle, A review of the mammalian and aquatic toxicity of polyelectrolites, NR 2545 Medmenhan, Foundation for Water Research 1990.Hebert, A., Forestier, D., Lenes, D., Benanou, D., Jacob, S., Arfi, C., … Levi, Y. (2010). Innovative method for prioritizing emerging disinfection by-products (DBPs) in drinking water on the basis of their potential impact on public health. Water Research, 44(10), 3147-3165. doi:10.1016/j.watres.2010.02.004Gerecke, A. C., & Sedlak, D. L. (2003). Precursors ofN-Nitrosodimethylamine in Natural Waters. Environmental Science & Technology, 37(7), 1331-1336. doi:10.1021/es026070iCharrois, J. W. A., Arend, M. W., Froese, K. L., & Hrudey, S. E. (2004). DetectingN-Nitrosamines in Drinking Water at Nanogram per Liter Levels Using Ammonia Positive Chemical Ionization. Environmental Science & Technology, 38(18), 4835-4841. doi:10.1021/es049846jS.A.A. Jahn, Proper use of African natural coagulants for rural water supplies- Research in the Sudan and a guide for new projects, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarheit (GTZ), Eschborn, 1986.Dorea, C. C. (2006). Use of Moringa spp. seeds for coagulation: a review of a sustainable option. Water Science and Technology: Water Supply, 6(1), 219-227. doi:10.2166/ws.2006.027Kawamura, S. (1991). Effectiveness of Natural Polyelectrolytes in Water Treatment. Journal - American Water Works Association, 83(10), 88-91. doi:10.1002/j.1551-8833.1991.tb07236.xLee, S. H., Lee, S. O., Jang, K. L., & Lee, T. H. (1995). Microbial flocculant from Arcuadendron sp. TS-49. Biotechnology Letters, 17(1), 95-100. doi:10.1007/bf00134203Effect of synthetic and natural coagulant on lignin removal from pulp and paper wastewater. (1997). Water Science and Technology, 35(2-3). doi:10.1016/s0273-1223(96)00943-2Broekaert, W. F., Cammue, B. P. A., De Bolle, M. F. C., Thevissen, K., De Samblanx, G. W., Osborn, R. W., & Nielson, K. (1997). Antimicrobial Peptides from Plants. Critical Reviews in Plant Sciences, 16(3), 297-323. doi:10.1080/07352689709701952Jahn, S. A. A. (1988). Using Moringa Seeds as Coagulants in Developing Countries. Journal - American Water Works Association, 80(6), 43-50. doi:10.1002/j.1551-8833.1988.tb03052.xMuyibi, S. A., & Okuofu, C. A. (1995). Coagulation of low turbidity surface waters withMoringa oleiferaseeds. International Journal of Environmental Studies, 48(3-4), 263-273. doi:10.1080/00207239508710996Ndabigengesere, A., Narasiah, K. S., & Talbot, B. G. (1995). Active agents and mechanism of coagulation of turbid waters using Moringa oleifera. Water Research, 29(2), 703-710. doi:10.1016/0043-1354(94)00161-yOkuda, T., Baes, A. U., Nishijima, W., & Okada, M. (2001). Isolation and characterization of coagulant extracted from moringa oleifera seed by salt solution. Water Research, 35(2), 405-410. doi:10.1016/s0043-1354(00)00290-6Ghebremichael, K. A., Gunaratna, K. R., Henriksson, H., Brumer, H., & Dalhammar, G. (2005). A simple purification and activity assay of the coagulant protein from Moringa oleifera seed. Water Research, 39(11), 2338-2344. doi:10.1016/j.watres.2005.04.012Sánchez-Martín, J., Ghebremichael, K., & Beltrán-Heredia, J. (2010). Comparison of single-step and two-step purified coagulants from Moringa oleifera seed for turbidity and DOC removal. Bioresource Technology, 101(15), 6259-6261. doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2010.02.07

Carga del cuidador del paciente con parálisis cerebral moderada-grave: ¿influye el estado nutricional?

Introducción: Los pacientes con parálisis cerebral moderada-grave precisan de sus cuidadores para realizar las actividades básicas de la vida diaria (ABVD). Objetivos: Describir la presencia de comorbilidades, la percepción de dificultad de los cuidadores para las ABVD y analizar la influencia del grado de afectación motora, el estado nutricional y otras alteraciones neurológicas. Métodos: Estudio transversal y observacional. Se estudió a pacientes con parálisis cerebral grados III-IV-V según el Sistema de Clasificación de la Función Motora Gruesa (GMFCS). Se registraron las comorbilidades y se estudió la composición corporal mediante antropometría y bioimpedanciometría. Además, se hizo una encuesta de carga del cuidador sobre ABVD (10 ítems que exploran las diferentes actuaciones: higiene, vestido, transferencias, sueño y alimentación). Se estudió qué variables influyen más en la percepción de dificultad para las ABVD. Resultados: Muestra de 69 pacientes (50,7% mujeres, edad media de 10,46 ± 0,4 años), con los siguientes grados de GMFCS: grado III 36,2% (N = 25), grado IV 29,0% (N = 20) y grado V 34,8% (N = 24). Se halló relación entre la puntuación de carga del cuidador y el grado GMFCS (p = 0,003) y la discapacidad intelectual (p < 0,001). Además, independientemente del grado de GMFCS y de la discapacidad intelectual, existe mayor dificultad para las ABVD en relación con valores más bajos en peso (Z) (p = 0,028), masa grasa (kg) (p = 0,035), masa grasa (%) (p = 0,094) e índice de masa corporal (Z) (p = 0,086). Conclusiones: Además del grado de afectación motora y de la discapacidad intelectual, el estado nutricional es uno de los factores modificables que influyen en la dificultad del cuidador para realizar las ABVD en los pacientes con parálisis cerebral

Predominant Role of Nuclear Versus Membrane Estrogen Receptor α in Arterial Protection: Implications for Estrogen Receptor α Modulation in Cardiovascular Prevention/Safety

BACKGROUND: Although estrogen receptor α (ERα) acts primarily as a transcription factor, it can also elicit membrane-initiated steroid signaling. Pharmacological tools and transgenic mouse models previously highlighted the key role of ERα membrane-initiated steroid signaling in 2 actions of estrogens in the endothelium: increase in NO production and acceleration of reendothelialization. METHODS AND RESULTS: Using mice with ERα mutated at cysteine 451 (ERaC451A), recognized as the key palmitoylation site required for ERα plasma membrane location, and mice with disruption of nuclear actions because of inactivation of activation function 2 (ERaAF20 = ERaAF2°), we sought to fully characterize the respective roles of nuclear membrane-initiated steroid signaling in the arterial protection conferred by ERα. ERaC451A mice were fully responsive to estrogens to prevent atheroma and angiotensin II-induced hypertension as well as to allow flow-mediated arteriolar remodeling. By contrast, ERαAF20 mice were unresponsive to estrogens for these beneficial vascular effects. Accordingly, selective activation of nuclear ERα with estetrol was able to prevent hypertension and to restore flow-mediated arteriolar remodeling. CONCLUSIONS: Altogether, these results reveal an unexpected prominent role of nuclear ERα in the vasculoprotective action of estrogens with major implications in medicine, particularly for selective nuclear ERα agonist, such as estetrol, which is currently under development as a new oral contraceptive and for hormone replacement therapy in menopausal women

Physiology and toxicology teachers’ coordination. A case study in the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Barcelona

El aprendizaje es un proceso continuo que no debería finalizar una vez aprobada una determinada asignatura. En cualquier estudio universitario hay muchas materias que, para su comprensión, requieren de conocimientos adquiridos previamente en otras. En los estudios de Farmacia del plan 2002, los profesores de toxicología habían constatado que los estudiantes de dicha asignatura no recordaban conceptos básicos cursados en asignaturas de semestres anteriores. La asignatura de toxicología necesita para su comprensión conocimientos de, entre otras materias, fisiología y fisiopatología. Por esta razón se planteó la necesidad de hacer una actuación conjunta entre los profesores de Fisiología y Toxicología. Los objetivos de este proyecto fueron: a) Identificación de los contenidos fisiológicos y fisiopatológicos que los alumnos deben conocer para el seguimiento de la asignatura de toxicología. b) Unificación terminológica. c) Realización de un conjunto de preguntas básicas sobre estos contenidos. d) Detección, a través de estas preguntas, de los temas o grupos de temas con porcentajes más altos de respuestas incorrectas. e) Detectar los temas de fisiología y fisiopatología en los que hay que hacer más hincapié para favorecer el seguimiento de toxicología. En esta comunicación se describe la experiencia y los resultados obtenidos.Learning is a continuous process that should be still performed once a particular subject has been passed. In the university, many subjects require prior knowledge of others subjects for better understanding. During the Pharmacy curriculum of 2002, toxicology teachers observed that students did not seem to remember the basic concepts presumably acquired in previous semesters. For example, for the toxicology subject, students should have basic knowledge of physiology and pathophysiology. For this reason, a joint action among physiology and toxicology teachers was considered. The objectives of this project were: a) Identifying the physiological and pathophysiological aspects that students should know to follow the toxicology course. b) Reaching agreement over the common terminology. c) Executing a set of basic questions about these physiological and pathophysiological aspects. d) Detecting through these questions, the topics with a highest percentage of incorrect answers. e) Identifying which physiology and pathophysiology topics should be emphasized to encourage students to follow the toxicology subject. This communication describes the experience and outcomes of this project

Expansions of algebras and superalgebras and some applications

After reviewing the three well-known methods to obtain Lie algebras and superalgebras from given ones, namely, contractions, deformations and extensions, we describe a fourth method recently introduced, the expansion of Lie (super)algebras. Expanded (super)algebras have, in general, larger dimensions than the original algebra, but also include the Inonu-Wigner and generalized IW contractions as a particular case. As an example of a physical application of expansions, we discuss the relation between the possible underlying gauge symmetry of eleven-dimensional supergravity and the superalgebra osp(1|32).Comment: Invited lecture delivered at the 'Deformations and Contractions in Mathematics and Physics Workshop', 15-21 January 2006, Mathematisches Forschungsinstitut Oberwolfach, German

Search for direct production of charginos and neutralinos in events with three leptons and missing transverse momentum in √s = 7 TeV pp collisions with the ATLAS detector

A search for the direct production of charginos and neutralinos in final states with three electrons or muons and missing transverse momentum is presented. The analysis is based on 4.7 fb−1 of proton–proton collision data delivered by the Large Hadron Collider and recorded with the ATLAS detector. Observations are consistent with Standard Model expectations in three signal regions that are either depleted or enriched in Z-boson decays. Upper limits at 95% confidence level are set in R-parity conserving phenomenological minimal supersymmetric models and in simplified models, significantly extending previous results