Academic performance, class attendance and seating location of university students in practical lectures

[EN] The question of where students sit in a classroom has been widely studied under different approaches since the beginning of the 20th century. In this study, the data related to the seating location of the students in the computer-aided design practice lecture at the university were recorded and arranged, to analyse their seating preferences, their consistency throughout the course and their relationship with several factors related to academic performance, class attendance, and punctuality. In general, it was observed that students are reluctant to seat on the first row, and that the most punctual students chose to occupy the places in the first rows, closer to the lecturer (r = 0.35, p = 0.015), although this had no impact on academic performance. While the following was indeed correlated with the attendance rate: those students who attended the most class achieved a better academic performance which was reflected in the final mark (r = 0.38, p = 0.007). No difference was observed in any aspect between male and female students.Navarro Jover, JM.; Martínez Ramírez, JA. (2018). Academic performance, class attendance and seating location of university students in practical lectures. Journal of Technology and Science Education (Online). 8(4):337-345. https://doi.org/10.3926/jotse.353S3373458

Building a molecular PrussianBlueAnalogue FeII/CoIII cube around a Cs+ ion; a preferred, tight, robust, water soluble, and kinetically inert encapsulator

The preparation of a caesium inclusion complex of the molecular cube [{CoIII(Me3-tacn)}4{FeII(CN)6}4]}]4–, a mixed valent molecular Prussian Blue Analogue bearing bridging cyanido ligands, has been achieved by following a redox-triggered self-assembly process in aqueous solution. The assembly has been shown to be Cs-preferred as, even in the presence of Na+ in solution, no Na-encapsulated have been found in the assembled product when Cs+ is present in the reaction medium. Even so, the tightness of the system produces large amounts of a void cubic structure whenever not large excesses of Cs+ are present. The species is robust, extremely soluble in aqueous media, pH-stable in the 1–13 range, and redox inactive between −400 and 600 mV. The molecular species has been characterised by UV–vis, ICP, multinuclear NMR spectroscopy, and electrochemistry. As expected from previous data reported, the complex in aqueous solution is totally inert to cation exchange, the leaching of the encapsulated Cs+ being hampered by the small size of the cube portal

Modeling the role of fixational eye movements in real-world scenes

Our eyes never remain still. Even when we stare at a fixed point, small involuntary movements take place in our eyes in an imperceptible manner. Researchers agree on the presence of three main contributions to eye movements when we fix the gaze: microsaccades, drifts and tremor. These small movements carry the image across the retina stimulating the photoreceptors and thus avoiding fading. Nowadays it is commonly accepted that these movements can improve the discrimination performance of the retina. In this paper, several retina models with and without fixational eye movements were implemented by mean of RetinaStudio tool to test the feasibility of these models to be incorporated in future neuroprostheses. For this purpose each retina model has been stimulated with natural scene images in two experiments. Results are discussed from the point of view of a neuroprosthesis development.This work has been supported in part by the ONCE (National Organization of the Spanish Blind), by the Research Chair on Retinitis Pigmentosa Bidons Egara and by the Grant SAF2008-03694 from the Spanish Government

Propiedades psicométricas de la satisfaction with life scale en jóvenes angoleños: análisis factorial confirmatorio y modelo de respuesta graduada

Research about subjective well-being has had an increase during the last decades. Therefore, it is of great interest to have validated measurement instruments in the contexts of use, in order to increase the quality of this. The most used instrument to measure life satisfaction is the “Satisfaction with Life Scale” (SWLS). Thus, the purpose of the present study has been to analyze the psychometric properties of this scale for its use in Angolan young adults. 1,332 people formed the sample, with ages varying from 18 to 30 years, coming from different northern, center and southern Angolan localities. The factorial validation analyzes confirm that the five (5) items that make up the scale conform a unifactorial structure. Internal consistency indexes, as well as nomological validity, again indicate that SWLS is a valid and reliable scale for assessing satisfaction with life. Finally, the item response theory analyzes provide valuable information on the reliability of the measure and on the highly discriminatory nature of the items that compose it. Finally, the theory analysis of the item response provide valuable information on the reliability of the measure and on the discriminatory nature of the items that compose it.La cantidad de investigaciones sobre bienestar subjetivo ha experimentado un aumento durante las últimas décadas. Por lo tanto, supone un gran interés disponer de instrumentos para su medición validados en los contextos de uso, para así aumentar la calidad de esta. El instrumento que más se emplea para medir la satisfacción con la vida es la “Satisfaction With Life Scale” (SWLS). Por ello, el propósito de este trabajo ha sido analizar las propiedades psicométricas de esta escala. La muestra la conformaron 1332 jóvenes angoleños, con edades comprendidas entre los 18 y los 30 años, procedentes de distintas localidades del norte, centro y sur de Angola. Los análisis de validación factorial confirman que los 5 ítems que configuran la escala conforman una estructura unifactorial. Los índices de consistencia interna, al igual que la validez nomológica, indican de nuevo que la SWLS es una escala válida y fiable para evaluar la satisfacción con la vida. Por último, los análisis de Teoría de respuesta del ítem ofrecen valiosa información sobre la fiabilidad de la medida, y sobre el carácter altamente discriminatorio de los ítems que la componen

The Vitamin D Receptor Regulates Glycerolipid and Phospholipid Metabolism in Human Hepatocytes

The vitamin D receptor (VDR) must be relevant to liver lipid metabolism because VDR deficient mice are protected from hepatosteatosis. Therefore, our objective was to define the role of VDR on the overall lipid metabolism in human hepatocytes. We developed an adenoviral vector for human VDR and performed transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses of cultured human hepatocytes upon VDR activation by vitamin D (VitD). Twenty percent of the VDR responsive genes were related to lipid metabolism, including MOGAT1, LPGAT1, AGPAT2, and DGAT1 (glycerolipid metabolism); CDS1, PCTP, and MAT1A (phospholipid metabolism); and FATP2, SLC6A12, and AQP3 (uptake of fatty acids, betaine, and glycerol, respectively). They were rapidly induced (4-6 h) upon VDR activation by 10 nM VitD or 100 µM lithocholic acid (LCA). Most of these genes were also upregulated by VDR/VitD in mouse livers in vivo. Ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS) metabolomics demonstrated intracellular accumulation of triglycerides, with concomitant decreases in diglycerides and phosphatidates, at 8 and 24 h upon VDR activation. Significant alterations in phosphatidylcholines, increases in lyso-phosphatidylcholines and decreases in phosphatidylethanolamines and phosphatidylethanolamine plasmalogens were also observed. In conclusion, active VitD/VDR signaling in hepatocytes triggers an unanticipated coordinated gene response leading to triglyceride synthesis and to important perturbations in glycerolipids and phospholipids

Automatic Tuning of a Retina Model for a Cortical Visual Neuroprosthesis Using a Multi-Objective Optimization Genetic Algorithm

The retina is a very complex neural structure, which contains many different types of neurons interconnected with great precision, enabling sophisticated conditioning and coding of the visual information before it is passed via the optic nerve to higher visual centers. The encoding of visual information is one of the basic questions in visual and computational neuroscience and is also of seminal importance in the field of visual prostheses. In this framework, it is essential to have artificial retina systems to be able to function in a way as similar as possible to the biological retinas. This paper proposes an automatic evolutionary multi-objective strategy based on the NSGA-II algorithm for tuning retina models. Four metrics were adopted for guiding the algorithm in the search of those parameters that best approximate a synthetic retinal model output with real electrophysiological recordings. Results show that this procedure exhibits a high flexibility when different trade-offs has to be considered during the design of customized neuro prostheses

A combined kinetico-mechanistic and computational study on the competitive formation of seven- versus five-membered platinacycles; the relevance of spectator halide ligands

The metalation reactions between [Pt2(4-MeC6H4)4(μ-SEt2)2] and 2-X,6-FC6H3CHvNCH2CH2NMe2 (X = Br, Cl) have been studied. In all cases, seven-membered platinacycles are formed in a process that involves an initial reductive elimination from cyclometallated PtIV intermediate compounds, [PtX(4-CH3C6H4)2(ArCHvNCH2CH2NMe2)] (X = Br, Cl), followed by isomerization of the resulting PtII complexes and a final cyclometallation step. For the process with X = Br, the final seven-membered platinacycle and two intermediates, isolated under the conditions implemented from parallel kinetic studies, have been characterized by XRD. Contrary to previous results for the parent non-fluorinated imine 2-BrC6H4CHvNCH2CH2NMe2 the presence of a fluoro substituent prevents the formation of the more stable five-membered platinacycle. Temperature and pressure dependent kinetico-mechanistic and DFT studies indicate that the final cyclometallation step is strongly influenced by the nature of the spectator halido ligand, the overall reaction being much faster for X = Cl. The same DFT study conducted on the previously studied systems with imine 2-BrC6H4CHvNCH2CH2NMe2 indicates that, when possible, fivemembered platinacycles are kinetically preferred for X = Br, while the presence of Cl as a spectator halido ligand leads to a preferential faster formation of seven-membered analogues

Diarylplatinum(II) Scaffolds for Kinetic and Mechanistic Studies on the Formation of Platinacycles via an Oxidative Addition/Reductive Elimination/Oxidative Addition Sequence

Oxidative addition and reductive elimination reactions are fundamental steps in processes related to synthetic chemistry involving organometallic compounds. In these reactions a metal in two available oxidation states (generally differing in two units) is needed, platinum centers being a very good example. The relative inertness of diamagnetic PtII and PtIV organometallic species (having, respectively, d8 square-planar or d6 octahedral arrangements), enables an easy monitoring of time-resolved reactivity, including its posterior kinetic analysis. Specifically, imine ligands containing C-X bonds have been observed to oxidatively add to {PtII(Aryl)2} moieties, which sequentially undergo C-C reductive elimination and C-H bond activation on the new ligand formed. These new species have been found to contain mostly seven-membered metallacycles, despite the obvious thermodynamic preference for five-membered cycles, which are found only in some rather specific instances. The kinetic preference of the complexes obtained has been studied from a kinetico-mechanistic perspective, that included obtaining thermal- and pressure-derived activation parameters, and a dramatic influence on the spectator halido ligands, and the substituents on the aryl groups has been established. To complete this kinetic and mechanism (kinetico-mechanistic) study, theoretical calculations have also been conducted to model the data collected and propose both the elementary steps and the factors determining the specificity of the full process

The Onset of the English Agricultural Revolution: Climate Factors and Soil Nutrients

he English Agricultural Revolution began during a period of climate change in which temperatures decreased significantly. Lower temperatures meant less bacterial activity, a slower release of mineral nitrogen into cultivated soils, and a shorter growing season for crops a combination that tended to diminish yields. The English farmers reacted by increasing the flow of organic matter and manure into the soil, thus mitigating the negative effect of the colder temperatures to some extent. When the temperatures rose again, the faster mineralization of soil organic matter led to bountiful yields that encouraged English farmers to continue with these innovative strategies. The upshot is that the English agricultural revolution was more a discovery than an invention, that induced by a combination of climate challenges, social and institutional settings, and market incentives

Elimination of Vitamin D Signaling Causes Increased Mortality in a Model of Overactivation of the Insulin Receptor: Role of Lipid Metabolism

Vitamin D (VD) deficiency has been associated with cancer and diabetes. Insulin signaling through the insulin receptor (IR) stimulates cellular responses by activating the PI3K/AKT pathway. PTEN is a tumor suppressor and a negative regulator of the pathway. Its absence enhances insulin signaling leading to hypoglycemia, a dangerous complication found after insulin overdose. We analyzed the effect of VD signaling in a model of overactivation of the IR.We generated inducible double KO (DKO) mice for the VD receptor (VDR) and PTEN. DKO mice showed severe hypoglycemia, lower total cholesterol and increased mortality. No macroscopic tumors were detected. Analysis of the glucose metabolism did not show clear differences that would explain the increased mortality. Glucose supplementation, either systemically or directly into the brain, did not enhance DKO survival. Lipidic liver metabolism was altered as there was a delay in the activation of genes related to -oxidation and a decrease in lipogenesis in DKO mice. High-fat diet administration in DKO significantly improved its life span. Lack of vitamin D signaling increases mortality in a model of overactivation of the IR by impairing lipid metabolism. Clinically, these results reveal the importance of adequate Vitamin D levels in T1D patients